Earth Day Celebrations – May 2023

On Wednesday 10^th May 2023, the school celebrated Earth Day with the main theme being Sustainability with an emphasis on sustainable mobility. This day served to showcase the work carried out by the school community during this scholastic year directly linked with the Environment and Sustainability.

This activity was attended by various guests. Sr Riches Grech, the coordinator of St Joseph Schools in Malta, Sr Eugenie Ghirlando, a sister within the Congregation of St Joseph, members of the Board of Governors – Mr Austin Walker, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Ms Maud Muscat, the Archpriest of Paola Parish, Rev. Marc Andre Camilleri, members of the EkoSkola coordinating team, Professor Paul Pace, Mr Vincent Attard, Ms Cynthia Caruana, Ms Audrey Gauci and Mr Johann Gatt, the Dinja Wahda+ coordinator, Ms MaryRit Zammit, as well as members of the Parent-Teachers Association.

After the introductory prayer recited by Emily Saliba, of Grade 5, and Nicole Spiteri, of Grade 6, Jade Azzopardi, the EkoSkola President, and Sarah Sacco, the EkoSkola Vice-President, outlined the main work carried out by our school in relation to the Environment and Sustainability during this scholastic year. Dr Kenneth Vella, the Head of School, highlighted the school’s great effort in working to promote sustainability at school and within the surrounding community. Professor Paul Pace, National Coordinator of EkoSkola in Malta, congratulated the school for its effort in working hard to raise awareness on environmental issues, mainly sustainability and climate change. He also mentioned the fact that our school was the first school in Malta to be awarded the Green Flag. Ms Cynthia Caruana, the EkoSkola teacher specialising in sustainable mobility commended the school for this year’s hard work and encouraged the students to keep on promoting sustainability among their families, peers and the wider community. Sr Riches also addressed the students where she congratulated the school for the hard and engaging work. During the ceremony Ms Mary Grace Grech, the Music teacher, directed the students in singing songs linked to sustainability. The activity was compered by Andrea Gauci, of Senior 1, and Julia Rose Attard, of Grade 6.

All the classes had a talk about sustainable mobility. Ms Laura Sue Galea, Assistant Manager at Transport Malta, had an interesting discussion with the girls about using alternative means of transport to travel from one place to another. At the same time, the older classes had an engaging discussion, led by Mr Pierre Vella, about road safety and sustainable mobility. The school thanks both Ms Galea and Mr Vella for their contribution.

After the ceremony, the school proceeded to Duminku Mintoff Garden where the EkoSkola students helped in the planting of a tree. Thanks to Paola Mayor, Mr Dominic Grima, for his help in holding this activity.

At the end of the celebration, the Senior 2 students performed the dance which they had been practising for several weeks.

Ms Cynthia Caruana, one of the EkoSkola coordinators, spoke to the EkoSkola girls where she showed them an electric bike and discussed the advantages of using an electric bike to travel from one place to another.

This celebration was coordinated by the EkoSkola link teachers, Ms Madeleine Agius Carbonaro, Ms Lycia Bezzina, Ms Alexia Brincau and Ms Cristina Spiteri.