SEPTEMBER 2011
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 01
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE ONLINE WEEKLY GAZETTE CREATING AN INTERACTIVE COLLEGE COMMUNITY OF INFORMATION & DEVELOPEMENT
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE The Edwardian Gazette
In this Issue
Weekly Online College Journal
Chief Editor
Message from the HM
Mr G Bowery Headmaster
OEA News
hm@stedwards.edu.mt
Important Notice
Editing, Design, Production, Photography & Advertising Ms M L Fenech
Library News
Marketing Executive marketing@stedwards.edu.mt
Sports Department Front Cover
SEPTA FAIR College Main Entrance
Weekly Calendar All Photographic material and other content is College property
ST EDWARD’S COLLEGE BIRGU (CITTA VITTORIOSA) BRG 9039 MALTA, EUROPE www.stedwards.edu.mt
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE Message from the Headmaster Dear Parents and Community Members I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all parents of students at St. Edward’s College and to thank those who have already welcomed me to the school and the island. There are exciting times ahead for us at St. Edward’s College and I hope everyone feels as energised as the staff and I feel. It is never easy moving from leading a school in a different country, but settling into St. Edwards could not have been more comfortable. Already this academic year we have installed a new School Data Management System which will streamline all our administrative tasks and make tracking of the students’ welfare and progress that much easier. Our Administrative Staff have been working tirelessly all summer to ensure it is functioning before the beginning of term. The Senior Management Team has already completed the most urgent tasks. a)
Compiling the School Calendar ( the revised publication is available on the school website). You can plan your vacations around the holiday times and prepare for examination periods. A copy will be issued to all pupils.
b)
Appointing new staff. Fortunately this has been a very easy task as there were few vacancies to fill. The vast majority of the staff from last year has committed itself to the school and this is a huge bonus for parents, pupils and myself as leader. The large number of applicants was another positive sign of the appeal of the school. We have appointed a new Maths teacher, English teacher, Maltese teacher and a Junior School teacher of Music/ Drama.
c)
Ensuring the school is equipped to commence boarding students again. The first year has been very encouraging with a full range of ages from 11-17 signing as boarders from as far afield as Russia, China, and Australia as well as local Maltese boarders.
With your help my aim within the next 5 years is to maintain the present 100 entrants into KG, expand the Junior premises to cope with a minimum of 400 pupils, have at least 40 full-time boarders contributing to an IB average pass mark of 30+ and increase IGCSE and Matsec pass percentages to 90. In addition to this our sports teams will be fully competitive across the full range of ages and activities. This will take maximum effort from the Pupils, Staff, Governing Body and Parents. I have every confidence in this happening. I look forward to your support and input over the coming months and years. Yours sincerely Mr G Bowery M.Ed NPQH
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE OEA News Old Edwardians Annual Dinner 4 November 2011 in the School Hall AGM at 7.30pm followed by a Silver Service Dinner at 8.00pm A Cash bar will be opened throughout the dinner Price €35.00 per head Dress code Lounge Bookings from Peter Calleja on callejja@onvol.net James Arrigo on jamesarrigo@marinamilling.com Edward Attard Montalto on burlington@onvol.net RobertGusman on robertgusman@melita.com Daniel Aquilina on daquilina@jmganado.com Or any other member of the committee Cheques payable to The Old Edwardian Association
New Scheme for OEA Memberships/ Contributions A recent Committee meeting of the Old Edwardians has approved a new scheme whereby all Old Edwardians would be able to contribute actively to the Association by opting for one of the two options below: (a)
A donation /contribution of €50 that would ensure membership of the Association for a ten
year period (b)
A donation /contribution of €10 for an annual membership
Kindly contact the Treasurer, Gusman for details on robertgusman@melita.com
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE Important Notice Teaching Support Consultant We are pleased to announce that Ms Charmaine Agius Ferrante has been appointed Teaching Support Consultant at the College. She shall, during the coming weeks, be carrying out an independent study of the School’s current policy with a view to evaluating and implementing a programme towards Inclusive Education. Ms Agius Ferrante joins the College with a wealth of experience in the field spanning over 20 years. She is a lecturer in Inclusive Education at the University and has been involved in Inclusive Education at Government policy level. She has been instrumental in implementing effective models of inclusive education in various Church and Independent Private Schools. Any parents wishing to meet or contact Ms Agius Ferrante during the summer recess to discuss their children’s particular requirements, can do so by contacting her personally on: Email: cagiusferrante@stedwards.edu.mt
Library News ‘Books for Schools’ Offer The vouchers you received when purchasing your textbooks from Agenda, can be donated to College. Agenda kindly exchanges these for free books for the College Library. By doing this, your child will benefit significantly, as the College will have a greater variety of books. If you wish to participate (and I encourage you to do so) please give your son/daughter the vouchers in an envelope marked 'library'. Thank you T. Sultana Librarian
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TA FAIR Dear Parents, You are no doubt aware, that in the first term of the scholastic year SEPTA hosts one of the main events on the College Calendar – The Annual School Fair. Although the event is organised by SEPTA, its success very much depends on the help of parents, teachers and pupils alike. Please have a look at the lottery tickets as there are a number of great prizes to be won. As usual, the draw will take place on the day of the Fair. You are kindly asked to return the ticket stubs, the money collected and any unsold tickets to your son’s teacher by Friday 14 October. Any cheques should be made payable to SEPTA. Should you manage to sell all the lottery tickets and would like another booklet to sell please contact your class teacher, Ms Tabone in Junior School or Mr Psaila in Middle and Senior School. This event is one of the fund raising activities organized at St. Edward’s College. Once again the funds raised this year will go towards financing projects that SEPTA considers appropriate, such as library books in the Junior and Senior School, assisting Kindergarten with educational games and toys as well as upgrading of sports’ facilities. This year we are organising a number of interesting activities which include the inflatable attractions such as a bungee run, human fly, spinner, go-karting, pony rides, chess competitions, bingo, football competition, penalty shootout and a basketball free throw competition, abseiling and much, much more. For the first time we will also be having a car boot sale. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to book his car space with any one of the SEPTA members listed below. We look forward to seeing you at the College Fair. Please bring your family and friends. Anyone wishing to assist on the day (even for just an hour) should contact Maryanne Selvagi on 99496165, Sharon Aquilina on 79264100 or Dorianne Bianco Mallia on 79791420. Yours sincerely,
Christopher J Naudi Chairperson SEPTA
THE EDWARDIAN GAZETTE This Week at St Edward’s College
Monday 3 October
Tuesday 4 October
Wednesday 5 October
10.00
Mass for Yr 9 & Yr 10 Students
Thursday 6 October
8.40
Mass for all Junior School (Yr 1 - Yr 5)
Friday 7 October
15.45
French Exchange Yr 10 Students & Parents, Meeting for confirmed Students & Parents Students & parents who would like to join the Exchange Visit are also welcome to attend the meeting
Saturday 8 October Sunday 9 October
Calendar Information The latest version of the Calendar is on our website. http://www.stedwards.edu.mt/page.asp?p=6102