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This year, in order to facilitate the smoother operational

and administrative tolls of the different sectors of the

School, we have decided that the Junior 6 will now fall

under the direction of the Junior School Management

headed by Ms. Sue Mifsud Midolo. Thus, if you have any

queries about the Junior 6, kindly refer these to Ms. Sue

on sue.mifsud.midolo@stcatherines.eu.

The 4th of October marked Teachers’ Day. You will all

agree that a teacher’s job is a most delicate and strenu-

ous job, requiring of the teacher to be always nurturing,

encouraging, guiding, innovative, warm, helpful, and

making studying as pleasant and as interesting as al-

ways. Happy Belated Teachers’ day to our wonderful

team of Teachers!

Finally, we are happy to launch this new face to our

newsletter, branding also a new name too:- ‘…of tots,

tweens & teens!’ We hope that you find this newslet-

ter’s content both interesting as well as informative.

Also, in line with our policy to reduce the use of paper,

only this first issue will be circulated in hardcopy. From

the second issue onwards, you will be receiving the

newsletter via email. Those who do not have access to

email, are kindly requested to inform Mr. Brian Gauci in

writing that they need a hardcopy. In this letter kindly

specify the name of the child and the class. Thank you.

Brian Gauci

School Coordinator

St. Catherine’s High School

And then October came…and it is now almost over!

…of tots, tweens & teens!

October 2010

Newsletter

Life at St. Catherine’s High School is buzzing with life

again! And we love it! The School gets full of radiant

energy and brightens up, in contrast to the weather that

is slowly reminding us that we are in autumn.

We must say that this scholastic year had a very smooth

beginning, thanks to the teachers who were all very well

prepared, the students who were geared up for return-

ing to school, and their parents who collaborated well

with the School Administration. In spite of the occa-

sional child who has not yet settled in the system, now

we feel like we are back to normality…or sort of!

This year, we have the pleasure to welcome a good num-

ber of new teachers and helpers in our staff complement

– which means that we sadly had to bid farewell to some

members of staff who were really part of our family. We

welcome Ms. Josette, Ms. Claire, Ms. Josepha, Ms.

Stephanie, Ms. Belinda, Ms. Alison, Ms. Karen, Ms.

Charelle and Ms. Josianne (helper). We also greet a

good number of new students, coming from different

countries of the world, who

joined either Flutterby or Pre-

Junior, or else were enrolled

in the Junior or Senior levels.

We welcome you and your

parents, and we hope that

your educational journey with

St. Catherine’s is a happy, in-

teresting and inspiring one.

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Parents’ Committee

We have been approached by some parents with the

idea of setting up a Parents’ Committee, and we think it

would be a great idea to have such a team operating

within our School. Well done to the parents who came

up with the idea. It will surely enhance parent involve-

ment at St. Catherine’s.

The aim of this committee is to set up various activities

involving parents or parents and students, such as par-

ent to parent educational day or weekend seminars, fun

activities, fundraising activities, parents outings,

parents and students outings, field trips, etc.

We therefore take this opportunity to invite

you to join this team and if you have an area of

specialization or expertise that you would like

to share with other parents, or else have re-

sources you could give to the School, we ask

you to inform Mr. Brian Gauci by not later than

5th November 2010.

Change to Winter Uniform

Please note that all students (from Flutterby to Junior 2)

are required to change to their Winter Uniform as from

Thursday, 4thNovember. Junior 3 to Senior 5 students

will switch to their Winter Uniform on Monday 8th No-

vember. Please make sure that you purchase the neces-

sary components of the uniform, namely the jogging

suits till the Junior 2, and the tartan skirt, grey blouse

and blazer for the girls and the grey shirt, grey trousers

and blazer for the boys for the Junior 3 upwards. The

Junior 3 upwards will make use of the Sports Jogging suit

for PE. Thank you.

University of Sheffield Study Weekend

The 22nd – 24th October weekend welcomed back to our

school the post-graduate students following the Masters

and Doctoral programme with the University of Shef-

field. We are also proud to announce that this October

we will also have a second cohort of Masters and PhD

students joining this community of learners and we wel-

come them too on board. We are confident that their

venture with The University of Sheffield will be an ex-

perience of academic and personal growth!

School Blogs

In its endeavour to use ever-appealing and ever-

innovative methods of teaching and reaching the stu-

dents, the School has pursued with its commitment to

train the teachers in using tools that can complement

their pedagogical strategies.

The School has now a number of blogs, maintained and

updated at least twice weekly by Subject or Class Teach-

ers. These blogs provide both a window into our class-

rooms and an extension to it and can be easily accessed

from home via the

internet by visiting

the School Blogs

Page (left side) on

our School Web-

site and browsing

the particular blog

you want to see.

We have also

changed and upgraded our computers in the Computer

Lab for the use of the Senior School, added the facility of

a Projection Room, and introduced a computer station in

all of the Pre-Junior and Junior classrooms, Home Eco-

nomics and Arts Rooms.

After-School Extracurricular Programme

Talk of spoiled for options! St. Catherine’s High School

has announced a number of additional options in its af-

ter-school extracurricular programme for the 1st term.

We have built new partnerships with established clubs

or individuals, so that the programme is appealing and

enticing to the interests of many. In fact, we have

reached an agreement with GymStars to offer gymnas-

tics lessons that are graded in accordance with the Brit-

ish Gymnastics, and whereby aspiring gymnasts can pro-

gress from one level to the next and develop their skills

towards becoming established gymnasts in a gymnasium

which is both extremely safe but also equipped with the

best facilities. We have also started lessons in Guitar

and the Maltese Language. In January we will be start-

ing Piano lessons. At the moment we are exploring

other activities which will be announced come Decem-

ber.

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MATSEC Results - Senior 5 (year 2010)

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate

our former Senior 5 students on their excellent MATSEC

results (see table of Pass Rate Percentages hereunder).

We also would like to thank all the teachers of the Sen-

ior School, especially those who have taught the Senior 5

last year, for their sterling work and commitment to ex-

cellence!

Thank You for your Cooperation!

We would like to bring to your attention the following

important points:

parents are not allowed upstairs (on the Second

Floor), unless they have permission from the Man-

agement;

parents are kindly asked to leave the school by

8:00am when they accompany students to school

in the morning, unless they have permission from

the Management;

parents are kindly asked not to stop teachers to

discuss issues pertinent to their son/daughter at

8.00am or so. This time in the morning is essential

preparation time for the teachers as well as the

time for teachers to monitor the students and

help them get ready for the morning. If you have a

concern or query and you would like to talk to a

particular teacher, kindly email Ms. Sue on

Animal Awareness Week

On Tuesday 12th October, the School celebrated Animal

Awareness Day. On the day, we had several pets

brought to our School in the morning and our students

had the opportunity to meet birds, fish, hamsters, rab-

bits, dogs, cats and even a chipmunk! And we had Fr.

Frankie Cini mssp bless the pets and their owners! We

also had older students giving presentations to younger

ones about endangered animal species, etc. Represen-

tatives from the Malta Guide Dog Foundation and the

Stray Animals Sup-

port Group (SASG)

came to our School

and briefed our up-

per Junior students

about their respec-

tive organisations,

and how we can all

support their good

cause.

During the week we had all our students collect 10c

coins. On Friday, 15th October, we had all the classes

bring their 10c coins and fill part of the graffiti ‘We Love

Animals’ specifically formed for the occasion. Our aim

was to completely fill in the graffiti; we did not get quite

get there, but we do appreciate that some of the classes

contributed a considerable amount of the sum of money

that was collected. The nice amount of €230 was raised;

this money will go in aid of Malta Guide Dog Foundation

and the Stray Animals Support Group.

We thank you all for helping us help animal organiza-

tions, and we are especially proud of those students who

fervently took this up with so much enthusiasm!!

Loyalty Card

The InterContinental Malta (St. Julian’s) is offering all

parents a free InterContinental Dining Card which will

entitle them to 25% discount in any of its bars and res-

taurants. Those interested to receive this card are kindly

requested to complete the attached Registration Form

and return it to Ms. Sue or Mr. Brian’s office.

We thank Mr. Zuccala, parent of Flutterby, for this kind

gesture towards our community!

Accounts 68.75%

Maltese 90.60%

Italian 70.00%

English Language 100.00%

English Literature 75.80%

Religion 96.70%

French 80.00%

Mathematics 87.80%

Physics 90.60%

Environmental Studies 95.60%

Social Studies 73.90%

Biology 75.00%

Chemistry 100.00%

Art 100.00% Pas

s R

ate

Per

cen

tage

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Book your Diaries! Please take note of the following dates:

28th October (Thursday, 7.00pm) - Mid-Term Party

for the Senior students.

29th October (Friday, morning) - Mid-Term Party for

the Pre-Junior and Junior1 students.

29th October (Friday, 6.00pm) - Mid-Term Party for

the Junior 2 - 6 students.

1st, 2nd & 3rd November (Monday to Wednesday) -

Mid-Term Holidays.

12th November (Friday) - Marathon Walk

15th November (Monday) - School Visit by Mrs. A.

Abela to inaugurate Piggy Bank Campaign.

22nd November (Monday) - Parents’ Day for Flut-

terby, Pre-Junior, Junior and Senior Schools.

23rd November (Tuesday) - Parents’ Day for Pre-

Junior, Junior and Senior Schools.

10th December (Friday, late afternoon) - Christmas

Concert for Flutterby Groups 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

School finishes at noon for all Flutterby Groups

(Flutterby only).

14th December (Tuesday, morning) - Dress Re-

hearsal for Pre-Junior and Junior School. Please

note change in date.

15th December (Wednesday, morning, at school) -

Christmas Concert Matinée for Flutterby Groups 6,

7, 8, 9 and 10. Please note change in date.

18th December (Saturday, evening, at St. Agatha’s

Auditorium) - Christmas Concert for Pre-Junior and

Junior School. Please note change in date.

20th December (Monday, morning, at school) -

Christmas Concert for Senior School.

21st December (Tuesday) - Last Day of Term 1.

School finishes at 11.15am.

sue.mifsud.midolo@stcatherines.eu (Junior

School) or Ms. Paula Barbara on

giselle.mangion@stcatherines.eu (Senior School)

so that we can then set up an appointment at a

convenient time for all;

we have had a number of complaints from

neighbours that students are throwing food and

other waste, after school, in the adjacent fields/

gardens, which is damaging their plants as well as

littering their premises. We kindly ask students to

dispose of their rubbish adequately and we invite

parents to help us keep our neighbourhood clean!

Thank you.

Mid-Term Party

Our much-awaited Mid-Term

parties will soon be with us.

The Senior students have their

party on Thursday 28th Octo-

ber, 7.00pm – 9.00pm. The

Pre-Junior and Junior 1 stu-

dents will have their Mid-Term

Party on Friday 29th October

during school hours whereas

the Junior 2 to the Junior 6

students will celebrate the Mid-Term Party at our school

on Friday 29th October, 6.00pm – 8.00pm. So take out

those costumes and get ready for some spooky fun!

Tickets are out; they cost €2 and are available from Mr.

Midolo's office. The Class Teachers will be informing

their respective students what everyone should get for

the party and for the crafts (where applicable). More

information will be posted on the blogs by the Teachers.

School Visit by Mrs. A. Abela

This year as in previous years the School will be partici-

pating in the Piggy Bank Campaign organized by the

Malta Community Chest Fund. This will mean that in

December we will have a piggy bank in each class and

students will be asked to contribute towards this worthy

cause. To this effect Mrs. Abela, wife of His Excellency,

Dr. George Abela, President of Malta, will be visiting our

school on Monday, 15th November, at 9.00am to inaugu-

rate officially this campaign in our School.

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.

Sydney J. Harris