The document provides information about St. Theresa College Birkirkara Primary in Malta. It discusses the school's participation in a Comenius project involving schools from several European countries. As part of this, a group of Year 5 students will visit Cyprus in December. It also summarizes events the school held related to the project, including craft activities, a logo competition, meetings with local officials, and plays/activities with environmental themes.

1. St.Theresa College
Birkirkara Primary
Malta

2. The Maltese Islands

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Birkirkara
Birkirkara or B’Kara is a town in central Malta.
Birkirkara is the most populated town on the island.

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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

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

15. 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.

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

17. 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.

18. The School System in Malta

19. 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.

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

23. 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.

24. Compulsory Education: Primary and Secondary

25. 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.

28. 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

30. Political System in Malta

31. 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

32. The Maltese Islands
were especially
influenced
by

33.  KNIGHTS:
Malta’s Golden Age (architectural and artistic
embellishments of the islands)
advances in overall health
education and prosperity of the islands

34.  BRITISH
radically transformed culture, politics and
language
Malta had a unique position in the British
Empire (excellent natural harbours and
strategic location)

35. 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

36.  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

37.  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

38. It’s Fun To Be In ....
And Green!
St.Theresa College
B’kara Primary

39. PRIMARJA, B’KARA
Tel: s21495417 email: tc.birkirkara.pr@gov.mt
November – 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!

40. Dissemination of Project
Comenius
Boards in
school
corridors

41. Students’
participation
in the
Project’s
Logo
Competition

42. 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

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

44. Arbor Day Morning Assembly

45. 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.

46. 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.

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

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

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

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