St Elias College prize day

St Elias College prize day publicly recognises and rewards students' talents. With 88 per cent of its student population receiving prizes or awards, the college makes an effort to promote and encourage its students to persevere and develop their many talents.

The play at this year's prize day, held last month, was ll-Kristu Mkisser (The Broken Christ) by Sr Tessie Bezzina, OSA, based on a story by Ramon Cue, SJ.

To love Jesus Christ means to share him with others and not keep him to oneself. Robert (the protagonist) and other characters in the play (as well as the audience) learn this message as the play unfolds. Robert buys a broken crucifix from an auction and places it in his office. The crucifix is special to him. People get to know about this and want to borrow the crucifix. Robert's life is disrupted. His value system is challenged and finally re-organised around Christ's values.

A challenging play which the young actors performed splendidly. Special mention goes to Jurgen Gatt as Robert, who carried the play forward from beginning to end. Quite a long part; involving conversations with the crucifix, monologues and acting in silence. Ian Baldacchino dramatically pronounced Christ's interventions.

Kyle Beeston, confidently as narrator among the audience, kept his cool even when his microphone was not immediately switched on! Joseph Aquilina as the poor, old and abandoned man spoke very lovingly to the crucifix. Stephen Grech very convincingly played the part of Mrs Montaldo. The play was directed and produced by Mrs Carmen Pace Bezzina and Mr Joseph Pace.

The guest of honour this year was Ms Mary Vella, director of the Department of Curriculum Management at the Education Division. Other guests were Fr Amadeo Zammit, Carmelite Provincial; Fr Dominic Scerri, OP, Archbishop's delegate for Catholic education; Dr Joseph Grima, assistant director for Church Schools; Mr Michael Caruana, mayor of St Venera; Fr David Cilia, chairman of the Private Schools Association, other Education Division, Curia and PSA officials, parents, students and friends.

The evening started off with the school choir singing the national anthem and the college hymn. Both the choir and the college hymn have as their name the college motto: In Sublimi Virtus, by virtue we will reach what is on high (sublime). On a lighter note the boys then sang The Brothers Come to Egypt and Benjamin Calypso from the rock opera Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat and Michael Jackson's Heal the World. The choir was directed by Mrs Annamaria Cassar.

This was followed by the student's speech, ably delivered by Karl Munro. Karl commented on the college situation, and expressed the students' appreciation for a new and well-equipped gym. He also made a few suggestions.

The college ensemble, led by Mrs Veronique Degabriele Ferrante, then gave a pleasant interpretation of Ah! So Pure and Imagine.

In his address Fr Charles Mallia, rector of St Elias, discussed the suggestions made by the students and listed several developments such as the redefinition of class prefects as class co-ordinators and the reasons for giving positive reports. He also commented on the positive results obtained by last year's Fifth Formers.

Prizes were presented by Ms Vella, who afterwards explained many salient points of the national minimum curriculum. She praised the performances thus far and pointed out the skills and the knowledge exhibited by the students. She commented favourably on the dialogue going on between the students and the school and invited parents to join in. She also requested that the Education Division be included in the dialogue.

Ms Vella pointed out that while education and teaching should be paced and individualised, students should not abdicate their fundamental role as committed learners.

The prize day celebration was held at St Monica School Hall, Gzira.