St.Theresa CollegeBirkirkara PrimaryMalta

The Maltese Islands

The

Maltese Archipelago

Population 419,000 people

Capital City Valletta

Largest Town B’Kara

Climate Mediterranean

• Country’s official languages Maltese and English

• The Archipelago includes the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, along a number of smaller, uninhabited islands.

• Member of the European Union (2004). Malta implemented the Schengen Agreement on December 21st, 2007.

• World heritage sites are Valletta and most prominently the Megalithic Temples which are the oldest free-standing structures in Europe.

• In AD 60, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked off what is today known as St.Paul’s Bay and the Islands were gradually converted to Christianity.

Valletta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and it is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta.

Valletta contains buildings from the 16th century onwards, built during the rule of the Order of The Knights of St. John.

The city was named after Jean Parisot de la Valette, the Grandmaster of Malta at that time, who succeeded in defending the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565.

In 2012, Valletta was named European Capital of Culture for 2018 by a jury of experts.

Mdina Mdina is the old capital city of Malta. It is a medieval walled town situates on a hill in the centre of the island.

Mdina is commonly called the ‘Silent City’ by natives and visitors. The town is still confined within its walls, and has a population of just over three hundred.

Prehistoric Temples The prehistoric temples

of Malta are unique in all the world. They are the oldest standing stone structures which remain to us from ancient times. The temples date from 4000 - 2500 BC. They are older than Stonehenge, older than the Pyramids.

Because of their uniqueness and beauty, the major temple complexes are deservedly designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Village Festa

The festa season in Malta is made up of a long series of extended weekends, starting from the end of May right through the entire summer and well into September. During this period, there is hardly any weekend when a town or a village is not celebrating the feast of its patron saint or other saints revered in different churches.The evenings often end with spectacular ground and aerial fireworks displays in an explosion of colour, firecrackers and loud petards

Traditional Maltese Food

Traditional Maltese food is rustic and based on the seasons. Look out for Lampuki Pie (fish pie), Rabbit Stew, Braġioli (beef olives), Kapunata, (Maltese version of ratatouille), and widow's soup, which includes a small round of Ġbejniet (sheep or goat's cheese). On most food shop counters, you'll see Bigilla, a thick pate of broad beans with garlic. The snacks that must be tried are ‘ħobż biż-żejt' (round of bread dipped in olive oil, rubbed with ripe tomatoes and filled with a mix of tuna, onion, garlic, tomatoes and capers) and pastizzi (flaky pastry parcel filled with ricotta or mushy peas.

Birkirkara

Birkirkara or B’Kara is a town in central Malta.

Birkirkara is the most populated town on the island.

Birkirkara

Birkirkara's motto is “In hoc signo vinces”, and its coat of arms is a plain red cross under a crown.

Birkirkara

Birkirkara's Civic Centre is a large building which is the premises of many civic services in Birkirkara, such as the Public Library, the Health Centre and the Local Council.

The main religious feast in Birkirkara is that of St Helen. The feast of St Helen is celebrated on the 18th of August if it falls on a Sunday, or on the first Sunday after the 18th . The procession with the titular statue of St Helen is the only procession on the island carried out in the morning.

Birkirkara

There are many places of interest in Birkirkara, amongst them is the Old Railway Station. The Old Railway Station is located within a public garden.

Birkirkara

Birkirkara

Other town features include the aqueducts built by Grandmaster Wignacourt in the 17th Century.

Birkirkara

Another place of interest in the town of Birkirkara is the Basilica of St Helen.This Basilica houses Malta’s largest church bell and many other interesting things.

Birkirkara

Birkirkara is known for its football club, Birkirkara F.C. and its multi-sports club Birkirkara St.Joseph Sports Club.

Birkirkara

In Birkirkara there are several schools, one of which is Birkirkara Primary School. Birkirkara Primary is a state school and is part of Saint Theresa College.

The School System in Malta

The Minister of Education has the Directorate for Services which manages the Educational system in Malta.

The National Minimum Curriculum, provides the framework for the Educational System.

There are State, Church and Independent School.

    

In the State Educational system there are 9 Colleges in Malta and 1 in Gozo.

Primary schools are co-ed but in secondary schools there are separate schools for boys and girls.

School is compulsory from age 5 to 16 years.

Compulsory Education: Primary and Secondary

At the end of Primary Education children sit for the Benchmark Exam.

The Benchmark Exam is a national Exam for all children aged 11 years and are in the last year of Primary school.

Subjects taught in Primary school are Maths, English, Maltese, Religion, Social Studies and extra curricular activities such as Physical Education, Artsand Drama, Personal and Social Development.

Subjects taught in Secondary School are Maths, English, Maltese, Religion, Italian, French, Spanish, German, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Studies, Technical Drawing, Accounts, Economics, Marketing, Geography, History, Environmental Studies, Personal and Social Development.

Support Services

Nurture Class – Supports Children with social and behavioural difficulties.

School Psychological Services (S.P.S) – Psychological screening.

Speech and Language Development (Sp.L.D.)

Nwar – after school help in basic skills

Klabb Naħla – after school H.W. help

Political System in Malta

Malta has been ruled by:

the Phoenicians

the Carthaginians

the Romans

the Arabs

the Normans

the Order of the Knights of St John

Napoleon

the British

The Maltese Islandswere especiallyinfluenced by

KNIGHTS:

Malta’s Golden Age (architectural and artistic

embellishments of the islands)

advances in overall health

education and prosperity of the islands

BRITISH

radically transformed culture, politics and

language

Malta had a unique position in the British

Empire (excellent natural harbours and

strategic location)

Malta

Is a Parliamentary democracy

Has been an independent nation since 1964

Has been a constitutional republic since 1974

Has joined the European Union in May 2004

Has joined Schengen in December 2007

Has joined the Eurozone in January 2008

Head of state is the President

President appointed by the House of Representatives

House of Representatives elected every 5 years by universal suffrage

Prime Minister is the leader of the party commanding the greatest support in the House

Ministers are nominated to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister from among the elected members

Various local administrative matters are delegated by specific legislation to the Local Councils

The Government is strongly committed to Human Rights

It’s Fun To Be In .... And Green!

St.Theresa CollegeB’kara Primary

PRIMARJA, B’KARA

Tel: s21495417 email: tc.birkirkara.pr@gov.mtNovember – December 2012

School’s Newsletter

Comenius Project:The school is once again participating in a Comenius Project. Apart from our school, schools from Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovenia are participating in the project. As part of this project, a group of 12 children from Year 5 accompanied by some teachers will be visiting Cyprus from 10th till 12th December 2012. These children were selected according to results obtained in the Year 4 English annual exam. The project is called: It’s Fun to be in... and Green!

Dissemination of Project

Comenius Boards in school corridors

Students’ participation in the Project’s Logo Competition

The best selected Logo for the Competition and bags full of crafts made by various kinder and primary classes, which were donated to our Comenius partners.

Logo created by Shaniah Bonello and Jeremy Borg Year 6.2

Crafts made by kinder and primary school children & Maltese traditional sweets.

Arbor Day Morning Assembly

Luke Borg, a year 6 student - Ekoskola President talking about the Ekoskola and Comenius project which have a common environmental theme - during a radio programme at the National Radio station Studios.

Ekoskola Committee members meeting B'kara Mayor to exchange Christmas greetings, present him with oranges harvested from the school garden while discussing environmental themes common in the Ekoskola and Comenius project, informed him about the visit of our Comenius partners in May 2013.

The Ekoskola President and member, being presented with the Green Flag by the President of Malta at San Anton Palace.

Prize Day Play with an environmental theme linked to the Comenius Project – A Whole Load Of Rubbish

Eco Fun Walk sponsored by HSBC bank in which children, parents and staff participated.

ACT NOW an environmental activity to participate in a calender picture competition.