Author Archives: St.Nicholas College Malta

Thematic STEM Debate for Primary Schools

Posted on by

The Science Centre (Pembroke) within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes is launching the 4th edition of the Thematic STEM Debate within Primary Schools. The aim of this initiative is to engage students to become active critical thinkers and skilled debaters. Through active participation in the debate, students will:

•Examine ideas, reports, audio-visual material and policies;

•Verify the value of evidence for concepts;

•Recognize strengths and weaknesses of arguments;

•Engage with opposing views and speak strategically.

This year’s Thematic STEM debate for the primary sector will focus on Space Exploration. In preparation for the Thematic STEM debate, student participants together with their mentors are requested to carefully read and analyse the document ‘Space Exploration: Is it worth the investment?’. The document, which includes related audio-visual resources and links for further research/reading can be accessed through the Primary Science website under the section Thematic STEM Debate. The following criteria will be used by a team of professionals to adjudicate the debate:

•organization and clarity –main arguments and responses presented in a clear/orderly way;

•use of argument –response given to support the arguments;

•use of cross-examination and rebuttal –identification of weaknesses in other’s arguments and ability to defend own arguments;

•presentation style –tone of voice, clarity of expression, precision of arguments.

The Thematic STEM Debate will be held on Wednesday 25th January 2023 from 10.00 am to noon at St Clare College, St Julians Primary School. The full programme of events can be downloaded HERE. Each school can nominate one Year 6 student by accessing the registration LINK by Friday, 16thDecember 2022. Registrations are on a first come first served basis. Kindly note that travel to and from the venue should be coordinated by the participating school. Three participants will be presented the Top Debater Award. Winners will be announced towards the end of the debate. Certificates of participation will be presented to all students while winners will be awarded a set of Wireless Headphones each, sponsored by the HSBC Malta Foundation.

Any queries can be put forward to Mr Christopher Buttigieg, Head of Department, Primary Science on christopher-john.buttigieg@ilearn.edu.mt.

Scientix Webinar

Posted on by

Scientix (the largest community for science education in Europe http://www.scientix.eu/home) Malta will be organizing a webinar for educators regarding animal welfare and the three R’s (refinement, reduction, replacement) . The webinar may be of interest to educators teaching early years, primary, middle and secondary school who would like to learn more about how to communicate values and knowledge related to animal welfare and the three R’s. The three R’s are principles which need to be respected by scientists and researchers conducting testing which may involve the use of animals. Further information about this European project may be found here: http://www.scientix.eu/pilots/pilot-3rs

The webinar will explore both principles related to this subject as well as various resources available on the Scientix platform. The webinar is going to be delivered by Alexia Micallef Gatt, an ambassador for Scientix in Malta who has worked on this project with Scientix as a Pilot and Lead Teacher. For more information you may contact Alexia on alexia.micallefgatt@gmail.com.

Registration and application

The webinar is going to take place on the MS Teams platform on the 5th of December between 4.00pm and 5.30pm. Registration can be completed by submitting this form: https://forms.gle/WvXmyqitXyftv7YX9

Attivita’ Għall-Istrina fil-Kulleġġ San Nikola

Posted on by

Is-Sinjura Miriam Vella ħadet ħafna gost tiltaqa’ mal-istudenti mill-iskejjel ta’ Ħad-Dingli, l-Imġarr u l-Imtarfa li bi kburija kbira bdew jirrakkuntawlha kif qed iwarrbu xi ħaġa fil-ġimgħa biex jitfgħuha fil-karus tal-Istrina #BOV Piggy Bank Campaign. Hija ħeġġet lit-tfal kollha biex huma wkoll jaħsbu fi tfal u familji oħrajn li tant għandhom bżonn l-għajnuna ta’ The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Ritratti ta’ tufigno.com.

Mrs Miriam Vella thoroughly enjoyed meeting students from the schools of Dingli, Mġarr and Mtarfa who with great pride told her that they are saving a little money every week to put in the piggy bank of the l-Istrina #BOV Piggy Bank Campaign. She encouraged all children to also think of other children and families who really need the help of The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. Photos by tufigno.com.

Webinar: Supporting Students To Plan Their Learning Journey

Posted on by

The MFHEA is organising this webinar as part of the European Qualifications Framework National Coordination Point Malta 2021 – 2023 Project. The webinar will be presented by Dr Carlos Grima, the expert responsible for preparing the Lesson Plan on the MQF. In light of this, anyone related to guidance and supporting students is invited to attend this online webinar on Wednesday 7th December 2022 from 4.00pm till 5.00pm. PSCD teachers are particularly encouraged to attend due to their role in career learning and development.

Location: Online on Microsoft Teams. For further information kindly contact us on mqf@mfhea.mt. Registration can be done here. See draft: Agenda.

Mathematics Activities for Gifted and Talented Students (Year 10)

Posted on by

The Science Centre within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes is organising four Mathematics Activities for Gifted and Talented Students. These activities target students who have an interest and keen aptitude in Mathematics. The four after school activities will be held between 16.00 and 18.00 at the Digital Literacy Unit, Joseph Abela Scolaro Street,Ħamrun. Each activity is held on a Friday with a repeat session on the following Monday on the dates indicated below:

Heads of Schools are kindly requested to nominate not more than three Year 10 students. Please register the names of the students who will be participating in the four activities, via the link Gifted and Talented, by not later than Friday 25th November 2022. Kindly note that a limited number of participants will be accepted. Students who attend all four sessions during this scholastic year, will be awarded a certificate of participation. For further information kindly contact Ms Mariella Galea, Education Officer Mathematics (Secondary) mariella.galea@ilearn.edu.mt

FES announces longer opening hours at Childcare Centres

Posted on by

The Foundation for Educational Services (FES) is now  offering longer hours of service in its childcare centres. Parents are now choosing their hours of service between 6am and 6pm on weekdays, from Monday to Friday. This extended service is being offered in the centres at Birgu, Birkirkara, Naxxar, Pembroke,  Ħaż Żebbuġ, and Qawra.

Parents interested in using this service are encouraged to contact FES, or any of the chosen centres,  or visit the service.gov hubs, for more information.

Queries to FES can be asked via 22586829 or via email to fes.gov.mt.

Birgu – Tel. 2180 9285

B’Kara -Tel. 2598 5561

Naxxar -Tel. 2598 6820

Pembroke -Tel. 2137 6644

Ħaż Żebbuġ -Tel. 2598 7681  

Qawra – Tel. 2598 6996

SWISH – Wheelchair Basketball & Frame Football for Secondary School Students

Posted on by

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and the Maltese Olympic Committee, in collaboration with the Physical Education Department within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes and Frame Football Malta, are offering Inclusive Sports Training sessions called Swish for Years 9, 10 & 11. Qualified coaches from the Malta Olympic Committee and Frame Football Malta will run a practice session through which students will be given the opportunity to experience a different dimension of sport. After each practice session, students will also benefit from a life skills session focusing on inclusion delivered by a youth worker from Aġenzija Żgħażagħ. All necessary equipment will be available to each school before the practice sessions.

Schools are to appoint a contact person (details to be included in the booking form). Aġenzija Żgħażagħ will communicate with the indicated person to make the necessary arrangements. Sessions will be delivered between Tuesday and Friday and are 80 minutes long (2 consecutive lessons). Tuesdays and Thursdays will be dedicated to wheelchair basketball, while Wednesdays and Fridays for frame football. Schools can also avail of multiple sessions, for different groups of students, on the same day or different sessions on different days. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and bookings are to be made through the following link.

Aġenzija Żgħażagħ will be in touch with the link person three days before the booked date to re-confirm all the arrangements. Further information about the sessions can be found on the Information Leaflet.

Junior Science Club 2022 – 2023

Posted on by

The Science Centre, Pembroke within the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes is currently launching the 8th edition of the Junior Science Club. This after-school programme has been extended further and will be held in eleven different localities in collaboration with Għarb, Ħ’Attard, Ħal Lija, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, Marsaxlokk, Naxxar, Pembroke, Victoria, Żabbar, Żejtun and Żurrieq and Local Councils. The Junior Science Club aims to provide young students (ages 7 to 11) opportunities to experience science investigations and practical science-related activities that extend their learning beyond the classroom environment. During the sessions, the students practise science-related process skills and nurture problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and self-appraisal skills and competences. A pilot Junior Science Club for Early Years children (ages 3 to 6) and their parents/guardians will be held in collaboration with Victoria Local Council. The aim of the pilot Junior Science Club in the Early Years is to provide children and their caregivers the opportunity to spend quality time together doing hands-on science. The Junior Science Club will run on a weekly basis from the end of October 2022 till the end of May 2023 as per schedule below.

Further details about the specific Junior Science Club within different localities and relevant application forms, can be obtained from the respective Local Council and from the Junior Science Club Facebook page. Applications will be received on a first come first served basis. A maximum of 20 students per club are accepted.

Seminar għall-Għalliema: Il-Proċess tal-Kitba

Posted on by

Id-Dipartiment tal-Malti fi ħdan id-Direttorat għall-Programmi ta’ Tagħlim u Assessjar flimkien mal-Għaqda tal-Għalliema tal-Malti jistiednu lil dawk kollha li jgħallmu l-Malti għal seminar dwar il-proċess tal-kitba. L-għalliema se jkollhom l-opportunità li jisimgħu taħdita dwar dan il-qasam u jieħdu sehem f’diskussjoni.

Data: Id-19 ta’ Novembru 2022

Ħin: Mid-9 ta’ filgħodu sa nofsinhar

Post: Iċ-Ċentru għall-Konferenzi, Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan, Santa Venera

Dawk kollha interessati għandhom jirreġistraw billi jimlew din il-formola https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv1nQVSJtgzGMxpi5lsJ742e6BSEswe2-OLIYK6m5N1h7nxw/viewform u jibagħtu l-ħlas tagħhom kif indikat fuqha.Għal aktar informazzjoni tista’ tħalli messaġġ fuq il-paġna ta’ Facebook tal-Għaqda Għalliema tal-Malti fuq https://www.facebook.com/ghghmlt/.

Book Champion School Awards

Posted on by

The Literacy and Information Support Unit within the National Literacy Agency in collaboration with the Directorate for Learning and Assessment Programmes organised the Book Champion Schools Awards as part of the World Book Day 2022 celebrations.
Eighty-four state and non-state primary, middle and secondary schools received the Book Champion Schools Awards. Winners in each category, (Gold, Silver and Bronze) were awarded a certificate and a book voucher.

Various schools across our College have participated and received the Book Champion School Awards. These are: Baħrija, Dingli, Mġarr, Mtarfa and Rabat Primaries; and Dingli Secondary. Well done to all the participants !