The Weekly Gazette - 18 - 05/02/2010 Dear Parents and Community Members Visit of His Grace Archbishop Paul Cremona, OP, to College 9 February 2010 PROGRAMME 08.30               Arrival at College. Welcome in Boardroom. 09.00               Assembly for Year 7 – 8 in Chapel. 09.20               General Assembly for Junior School in yard. 09.30               Classroom visits (JS). 10.40               Archbishop to visit students during small break. 11.00               Year 12 students. 11.40               Year 11 students. 12.20               Year 9 and Year 10 students. 12.25               Presentation of gift to Archbishop. 12.26               Archbishop, accompanied by Ecoskola Committee plants tree outside                            College Chapel, marking 80 years since St Paul’s Shipwreck on Malta.                         Parents are most welcome for this stage of the visit. 13.00               Students depart.                        Archbishop meets all Staff 13.30               Archbishop departs. Staff Profiles As advised, I will be introducing new Staff for the 2010/11 Scholastic Year over the next  few Gazettes. I have previously stated that my aim is to achieve a balance in Staff backgrounds. Given this, I am placing an emphasis on employing overseas teachers to address the imbalance. These teachers, with their training and experience in other countries, bring a broader perspective to our education here at College. I have pleasure in introducing the new Head of English, Ms Elizabeth McQuiggan (replacing My Burton who regretfully must return to the United Kingdom for personal reasons, at the end of the year). Ms McQuiggan has the following qualifications: BA BA (French) PGCE Diploma (TESOL) Ms McQuiggan has been Head of English and Foreign Languages in many countries including:  England, El Salvador, Panama and Turkey.  She has also taught in Dubai and Sharjah, where she was curriculum coordinator and Head of Department (English). Ms McQuiggan’s current position is Director of the European School of Benghazi, Libya.  She also holds the following posts in this school: Head of English Department Head of Edexcel  Examinations Career Guidance Teacher Importantly, Ms McQuiggan is an experienced teacher of IB. On-Line Mid-Year Reports Parents are kindly asked to confirm that they can still access their sons' on-line reports (www.secreports.stedwards.edu.mt).  The same log-in details as last year are to be used.  New parents should have received their details by mail. If you come across any difficulties, please send email to: adminsec@stedwards.edu.mt Haiti Fundraising After hearing about the terrible earthquake in Haiti, Year 4x boys came up with the idea of doing some fundraising for the victims. They suggested a Cake Sale and a Casual Clothes Day - each boy paying one euro and coming to School in casual clothes. Both these activities were a great success and the Junior School raised nearly €462. The money will be given to the Salesians to send directly to their contacts in Haiti. Many thanks are extended to all the parents in the Junior School who baked cakes and buns, and to those who sent money for the victims. Student Card Please find attached some important information regarding the Student Card. If you wish to participate, kindly click HERE, complete the necessary documentation and send it to College marked: Student card – Headmaster’s Secretary by Tuesday 16 February. Approval for Leave ­­I would like to remind parents of the College’s Policy on leave. Students in Malta have one of the shortest scholastic years in the world. It is, therefore, imperative that they attend as many days as possible. Please refrain from making holiday arrangements during term time. I understand, however, that there will be exceptional circumstances. In these cases, please seek approval in writing from me before booking tickets etc.  Inter-house Cross-Country   On Thursday 28 January, both the Junior School and the Senior School boys had their Annual Inter-House Cross-Country. The weather was perfect and so was the sportsmanship among the three houses. Ducane dominated both sections of the School. Luke G (Yr8 Ducane) and Neil B (Yr9 Ducane) both broke the record of their respective year groups.   ===> Junior Results ===> Middle / Senior Results Sports Dept  Climate Change   Please click HERE for a very informative update. Comenius Deadline: Year 8 Trip to Bulgaria The deadline for applications was  originally advertised as 3 March. This has now been brought forward to Monday 8 February.  Carnival Show - KG and Junior School   Curtain Raiser Drama Company has been invited to put on an interactive Carnival Show  in the School Hall for Kindergarten and Junior School. This Company tours schools as part of their Educational Awareness Programme and has visited the College before. Curtain Raiser usually presents workshops on subjects such as global warming, health, among others. This time the show involves Disney characters such as Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh. Show 1: Friday 5 February 9 a.m. Yrs 4-6 Show 2: Monday 8 February 9 a.m. KG1, KG2, Yr1x Show 3: Monday 8 February 10.30 a.m. Yrs 1z, 1y, 2’s - 3’s Gazette The next edition of the Weekly Gazette will be issued on Friday 19 February.   Calendar        February  09  Tuesday  Archbishop’s Visit to College: Half Day  10  Wednesday  Public Holiday (Feast of St Paul)  11  Thursday  Lent Mid-Term Holiday  12  Friday  Lent Mid-Term Holiday  15  Monday  Lent Mid-Term Holiday  16  Tuesday  Return to School  17  Wednesday  Commencement of  Examinations (Half Day)  26  Friday  End of Examinations Best wishes   Michael Chittenden Headmaster