Category: Archives

My experience at the EU Parliament in Brussels

My experience at the EU Parliament in Brussels Earlier in November 2018, along with a group of fifteen students from St Martin’s College Sixth Form, I travelled to the European Parliament in Brussels to participate in the first Youth Parliament.  Over seven hundred students from all over Europe gathered to debate and vote upon proposals which directly affect young people and which will positively impact the future of this powerful union of states in the immediate future.  One common factor was that all the students present will be voting for the first time in the European Parliament elections which will be held next May.   I was very pleased and excited to take up this opportunity especially because I have always been fascinated about the mechanism and workings of the European Parliament, as well as the law-making decision process.  The simulating and motivating learning experience was indeed unique and extremely beneficial for both my academic as well as my social development.   The day started with rigorous security checks, after which we re-grouped and made our way to the hemiscycle, where we found our seats. Sitting there in that striking auditorium filled me with awe for the work that is carried by so many representatives of the individual member States who regularly meet and directly impact the lives of the citizens of the European Union. We were then addressed by two Members of Parliament who shared their experiences and the reasons why they took on such a role. Their speeches were inspirational and helped me to appreciate that in order for our lives to improve in this globalised world one had to take a stand and not wait for others to act. Furthermore, meeting and debating with so many young people coming from different backgrounds and cultures made me realise that while there are differences, there are always unifying factors which should be worked upon in order to reach common goals for the common good.  Our young age should not be seen as a liability but as an asset!      All seven hundred participants were assigned to different working groups. We were given the opportunity to select the one we felt most passionate about. This allowed us time to carry out research on our subject-area and to start putting together proposals for discussion.  The topics discussed in my working group were how to attract and make rural areas more accessible
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Promotion of Reading Campaign

Promotion of Reading Campaign A campaign for the promotion of reading was once again organised by The National Literacy Agency in collaboration with the National Book Council and the Department of Curriculum Management.  Schools in Malta and Gozo were invited to nominate Reading Champions from among the Level 8 cohort. We are proud to announce the following students as Reading Champions: Kristabel Spiteri, Jacques Scott and Yasmin Sajeba. The presentation of book prizes was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. Well done students and keep up the good work. We are extremely proud of you!  
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Maths Mastery Programme

Maths Mastery Programme As part of our Maths Mastery programme, Level 3 pupils are using concrete resources to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts of multiplication and division. Our maths programme has maintained its outstanding level since our change to this approach three years ago. Chiswick House School continues to be Maths No Problem’s International Model School and staff members from other local schools continue to visit us to observe our great practices.
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Trip to Poland

Trip to Poland A group of Level 9 students experienced a rewarding one-week educational trip to Poland as part of the Erasmus Exchange Programme. During their stay, they visited a school in Biatobrzegi and were joined by 15 Polish students from the school. Their week in Poland included hands-on activities in a bakery, hiking and mushroom picking in the forest, a cultural visit to Poznan and a visit to the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. The school hosted a number of sports activities including a football game of Malta vs. Poland. Students also had the time to visit the mayor of the town, who honoured them with his presence at a special dinner organised for both the Maltese and Polish students. It was truly a rewarding experience they will never forget and a true example of how cultures can interact and learn from each other.
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Conference on Professional Learning

Conference on Professional Learning Ms Anita Seguna, Head of Curriculum Design and Professional Learning at St Martin’s College, and Ms Esmeralda Zerafa, Senior Middle Leader of Curriculum Design and Professional Learning at Chiswick House School, attended an inspirational conference on Professional Learning as a leadership opportunity and challenge organised by CCEAM and the University of Malta between the 12th and 16th of November. The conference was yet another learning experience which provided insightful research and innovative practices which we look forward to putting into practice in our schools.
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SMC Fundraising Fair

SMC Fundraising Fair Over €1000 collected during our annual fundraising fair held at St Martin’s College. Over 40 stalls were set up by students selling savory and sweet treats or fun gadgets. Many international students brought over traditional food items related to their native countries in celebration of the many nationalities at SMC. The money collected during this event will be donated to RIDT as well as the SMC Student Council. A big well done and thank you to the event co-ordinators, students, parents, and staff for their donations and participation in yet another successful event!
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DigiGirlz

DigiGirlz Event A group of St Martin’s College Level 8 girls attended the DigiGirlz event which was organised by Microsoft Global Diversity and Inclusion team. The aim of this event was to provide middle school girls with a better understanding of what a career in technology entails. During the event, students interacted with Microsoft and other partners to gain exposure about careers in business and technology. They also had the opportunity to learn about real-world STEM jobs, be exposed to female role models in the field and benefit from a hands-on exploration of the subject, all in an attempt to enhance their perception of a career in Computing.
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SMC Sixth Form participate in a Public Speaking Academy

SMC Sixth Form participate in a Public Speaking Academy A group of first-year sixth form students attending St Martin’s College Sixth Form participated in a Public Speaking Academy, which was organised by the English-Speaking Union of Malta (ESU Malta) and given by Ms Pia Zammit of the ESU.  The event which was held on Friday, 9th and Saturday, 10th November, consisted of intensive workshops that were delivered by Ms Pia Zammit. The interactive workshops were developed to help students boost their self-confidence, communicate more effectively, overcome the fear of public speaking, develop thinking skills through impromptu speeches, and provide and receive feedback.
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SMC students participate in Ohloq Kultura

SMC students participate in Ohloq Kultura Well done to Francesca Vella, Nikolas Konidaris Demajo and Alexander Apap Bologna, three Level 8 students, who represented Chiswick House School and St Martin’s College in a V18 project that began way back in Level 5. In this project, entitled Ohloq Kultura (Summit for Invented Cultures), students from 18 different schools around Malta used their creativity to create and represent different imaginative cultures. Students presented their projects during an event which was held at the House of Representatives in Valletta. The event was also broadcast live on Parliament TV.
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