"Themes" highlight of activities at Sliema Primary School

To keep in line with the SDP programme for this year, a Science and Technology Day was organised at Guzè Bonnici Primary School, Sliema, with the help of the Science Peripatetic Unit.

The team of science and class teachers together gave the pupils the opportunity to develop something of their own using skills like cutting, pasting and communicating ideas.

Space was the theme for Years One to Four, while Years Five and Six had genesis (lifecycle) as their theme. The end result was a moving picture or model, much to the delight of the pupils.

School Sports Day was this year given a different approach. It was games and fun for all and the element of competition was not present. Instead, all the pupils were awarded a medal. Games for parents were also organised and considering that this was the first time, there was a good number of participants. Their excitement was even greater than the pupils', especially when they too were presented with a medal.

The staff, together with the three peripatetic PE teachers, made sure this annual event was a success.

When Sports Day was over, pupils from Years Four to Six joined Sir Adrian Dingli Junior Lyceum students in the Run for your Health fun run, from the far end of Dingli Street to the school. The first were rewarded during a prize-giving ceremony at Sir Adrian Dingli J.L. Annexe. This was indeed a day full of exercise for the pupils.

It was great fun for the young and not-so-young when the snake, parrot and iguana from the Mediterraneo Marine Park found themselves in the school ground.

Well done to the personnel from the park for their very interesting explanation and for patiently answering pupils' questions. The pupils' interest was held throughout. Krest went down well with ftira which the school council and a group of parents so lovingly prepared for the pupils and staff.

Mother's Day was well attended. After Mass in the school hall for pupils and parents, there was a short coffee break for the parents while the pupils prepared for the concert.

Each class prepared a special item for the occasion. The climax of this activity was the children's presentation of gifts and flowers to the mothers present.

This year's final activity was the educational flight on Air Malta, a 90-minute flight over Malta and Sicily. The day was cloudy, unlike the day before, and there were a few drops of rain as well. However, this did not dampen the children's mood. Once at the airport, the pupils experienced check-in, passport control and duty-free shopping.

The teachers explained every detail to them while on the ground as well as during the flight. The pupils and the group of parents who went along were thrilled when they saw Mount Etna. This 90-minute flight was an unforgettable experience for the majority who had never flown before. Part of the expense of the flight was sponsored by Sliema mayor Robert Arrigo.

The highlight of the year was undoubtedly the school council visit to San Anton Palace and Gardens where members of the council were graciously met by Mrs Violet de Marco. Although having a tight schedule on the day, she found the time to speak to them and even took them round some of the rooms before she left them in the able hands of Mr Oscar Adami, who conducted them to the garden.

During the visit, which was also attended by the school council president C. Micallef, the head of school Jane Farrugia presented Mrs de Marco with a cheque in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.