Dwardu's Scoops - The Christmas Edition

23.12.2022 Volume 2, Issue 6

St Edward’s College, Malta

Dwardu’s Scoops Responsibility is part of Leadership

By Nollaig Mac An Bhaird, Headmaster

Christmas is a very special time for all. Amongst many things it is a time for reflection, we try to remember have we been ‘good’ or ‘bad’, not just for Santa Claus, but as a person. How does the balance book look?

Christians remember the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who, on December 25th, brought the message of peace and goodwill to all on earth. Peace and goodwill, for many, have become somewhat of a cliché, everyone agrees that it is aspirational but during our busy, hectic, overfilled lives we shrug off the responsibility to others.

The Christmas message is that I/ we/you have a part to play in promoting ‘peace Continues on Pg 4

Inside this issue Let there be light .......................... 2 Helping Missio ............................... 3 Concerts in Pictures ..................... 4 A-caroling ........................................ 5 Good Reads .................................... 6 From Japan with Love.................. 10 Small Nations celebrate............... 11

Special points of interest • Headmaster’s message for Christmas highlights the importance of responsibility • A community celebration lights up the College • Christmas concerts for the Children • Creativity in art in the Christmas theme.

Amora The Amora show is about a man named Bruno who falls in love with a woman he sees in a window but she disappears and leaves him a feather. He goes on a mission to find her and win her heart and meets all these people who try to help him find her.

The people trying to help him were the actors in the show. They performed acts such as a woman

And then there was light

Daniel Vu Loehr Year 7Y.

standing on her head on a swinging trapeze, a man sitting on a pole horizontally and a man on a unicycle dancing with a woman.

My favourite part was when there were two platforms with two men on it throwing women to each other.

I recommend that you go to the show as it is very cool.

Sylvana Debono

It truly was a magical evening. I am referring to the first ever event LET THERE BE LIGHT. This was the brainchild of Headmaster Mr Nollaig Mac An Bhaird who, when I arrived at the College on the first day, took me round the campus. The trees were glorious and Mr Mac was justifiably proud. “You know, Sylvana,” drawled that Irish accent, “I really wish we could dress this up for Christmas one day.”

The months rolled by with many events coming and going but those words remained imprinted in my mind. As a self-proclaimed Christmas junkie, his dream became mine and this year I felt was the right time to go for it given that the Covid restrictions have become a thing of the past. So, sleeves were rolled and the work started in early September. It was hard to believe that, in the sweltering summer humidity, we were planning for winter, but that is just how fast the weeks roll by in a school.

The hurdles were many. In the first place we could not have a Christmas Market—so many were cropping up all over that it would have lost its novelty. Given the limited resources we also had to play to our strengths: a safe and happy community and gorgeous grounds. And so LET THERE BE LIGHT was born, focusing mainly on good Christmas food, Christmas carols, Santa’s Grotto and, of course, the lighting of the Christmas tree.

In the run up to the event, sleepless nights with hallucinations of an end-of-the-world storm were constant. People who sign out of commitments, others who need help, all these were part of the last week. Then there were those who, without fuss, came to give a helping hand: pricing books, making phone calls and generally helping out. Little elves who also gave their Christmas creations for use in Santa’s Grotto. Ah Santa! The indomitable Kieran Cassar Mullally took on the role of the bearded wrinkly and Julian Coppini was dance-master of the evening. Together with the other IB students, under the direction of Maxence whose mastery of the microphone was exemplary, the evening came to a close amid carols and dancing.

Truly an evening to remember. A breather and on to the next one!

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Helping Missio in its mission

By Samantha Abela

Growing up we all have different experiences in life. The location where we are born, who our parents are, who we meet, our friends etc… they all effect our chances of success in life. Whilst most of us in our community live a good, comfortable life, not all the children of the world have such a blessed start to life and some need our help more than others.

EDITORIAL Criticism is something we all face, appreciation less so. Therefore, this time round, I would like to use this space as a token of appreciation for all those who participated in the LET THERE BE LIGHT event

which took place on the 7th December.

The Missio Fund helps missionary communities around the world and especially children who unfortunately are born in a state of poverty and need all the support they can get.

A big thank you to all the

October is the month dedicated to ‘Missionary work’ however since it was the beginning of the scholastic year, our Middle School students dedicated time during the last days of November in break time under the supervision of Ms Malani to collect some funds to donate to such a worthy cause. This year the funds will go towards helping the families in the community of Emdibir.

swing a cat. Thank you to

parents who attended and helped in the event, including SEPTA. There truly was not enough space to the exhibitors, the bakers, the cooks, the artisans who brought over their wares. Thank you for the hot drinks, the mulled wine and the egg nog.

Thanks you for the help in setting up and in dismantling. Thank you for the words of encouragement.

Finally, thank you Analise, Annalise, Trish and Irene— It was a team effort and

well worth the exhaustion.

Blessed Christmas everybody

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From Pg 1

A time for family conversation and goodwill’. Part of the St Edward’s Mission Statement is emphasizing ‘Leadership’.

Apart from teaching academics at St Edward’s, we believe in, and promote, the responsibility that is part and parcel of leadership, and part of being a leader is maintaining a strong moral compass.

Leaders must have a strong sense of right and wrong, good and bad, not always an easy task as we navigate through this journey called life. Our students know that they will be leaders, in business, academics, the arts, whatever path they find themselves on.

Please make the time to have a conversation with your children on the message of Christmas and that they, as individuals, can make ‘peace and goodwill’ happen, at college, with their friends and especially with their family Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Happy new Year! Stay safe and stress free over the holiday period and take time for you, yourself, your loved ones, and your family

Junior School in Concert

By Louise Mallia

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Junior School was in concert mode in the last week of term as Sheep rubbed shoulders with Angels and cherub cheeks too on a girlish mode as they willingly accepted to become Mary. And no one minded being a Donkey either!

Joy to the world, the children reign!

God rest you merry gentlefolk On the last day of Christmas term, my true love gave to me...a whole school a-caroling and a child who was not amused!

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Visit by reading ambassadors December Reads

Margaret Bartolo

Over the past weeks, our Year 4s and 5s took part in the Reading Ambassadors/Ambaxxaturi tal-Qari programme organised by National Literacy Agency. This school based-literacy initiative promotes a positive attitude towards reading through organised events involving local personalities including footballers, singers, actors, presenters, broadcasters, and journalists. We were visited by Gilbert Agius, Carmel Busuttil and Savior Darmanin, all ex-national football team players for our Maltese reading sessions.

The activity was made up of a live read-aloud session in Maltese, followed by a lively discussion about a book. The pupils were then engaged in an in -class Q&A session where they were given the opportunity to ask the Reading Ambassador a set of questions on their reading habits and experiences.

The book lists for December are out! With the holidays just round the corner, now is a great time to read up and lose yourself in a world where anything is possible.

Books are windows on lives you cannot otherwise live: choose to live as many lives as possible!

Click here for more info.

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Staff member of the Month - Mr Borislav Giorev And the winner is...Borislav Giorev! This month, our esteemed SMOTM comes from the sporting fraternity. Affectionately known as 'Mr. Bobby', Mr. Giorev's patience and commitment extend not simply to teaching but also to engendering among the students a healthy lifestyle. Malta and St Edward's College, adopted this committed Bulgarian footballer and he is a well loved and much respected member of the college teaching corps. Well Done Mr B!

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See story on Page 2

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With PUKA ….the Small Nations Games’ mascot

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By Ian Stilon

Preparations for Christmas take up most of December and creativity takes centre stage. It is always enriching to see how children interpret concepts. It is fascinating to try to understand how they translate instructions and continually come up with designs which are unique and personal.

St Edward’s College Founded in 1929, St Edward’s College is an all-boys college for both day and boarding students. Boarding is offered between the ages of 11 to 18. At nursery and kindergarten as well as at postsecondary level, the college is coeducational. As a private educational college, St Edwards offers excellent teaching facilities, high teacher-pupil ratio, a very wide range of sports facilities and scrupulous personal attention to the students.

At St Edward’s College, students receive a well—rounded education ending up in the IB Diploma. Most of the students go on to study at world class universities.

Our top students are leaders in society ranging from Science and Business to traditional professions and the arts. Most Edwardians retain a love and appreciation of sports throughout their lives.

St Edward’s College Triq San Dwardu Birgu BRG9039 Malta Email: Communications@stedwards.edu.mt Editor: Sylvana Debono

Making their pitch

Elaine Busuttil Gili

December is an important month for the IB students who enter for the JAYE. Formerly known as Young enterprise, the JAYE seeks to inculcate in youths the abilities required to start and run a business. This year St Edward’s College has 4 participating teams with ideas ranging from clutter management Marie Kondo style to tote-bag creations and online thrift stores. The initiative was sponsored by the accountancy firm Deloitte’s. The students have to present a business plan with aspects such as marketing, branding, financials, SWOT analyses and so on. They will be mentored and eventually graded on the success of their product.