Christmas brings
with it a certain bustle that seems to hover in the air of St Patrick’s
corridors along with the tinsels and the quivering fairy lights of the
Christmas tree. There is always so much to prepare for. And as it should be,
our first thoughts turned to others as we embarked on fund-raising activities
in order to make our little contribution towards the Community Chest Fund.
Although a charitable institution itself, St Patrick’s knows full-well that
there is greater pleasure in giving than in receiving.
Thus the funds
grew as the crib lovingly built by the Headmaster Fr Jesmond Apap took on shape
and hue. Some of these funds were directed towards the excursions that have
become our annual tradition.
This year we had the good fortune to visit the Burmarrad Bird Park.
Our students could appreciate the beauty of some of our furred and feathered
friends at close hand rather than through the medium of television. A
particular favourite here was a donkey, which seemed appropriate, considering
that this humble creature has a special place at Christmas.
Another highlight
was the annual cook out.
Braving the weather, we ventured to L-Ahrax
tal-Mellieha, limits of Armier. It turned out to be a lovely day in all senses.
Such occasions help to weld stronger the bond that exists between staff and
students. This is the beauty of working in a Salesian school.
We did visit the
other Salesian School
in Malta as we met for a
friendly football match at Savio
College.
The match took
place after a treasure hunt at Mdina, the treasure being a collection of
pictures which the boys, divided into teams, had to find and write down the
street names. It encouraged the boys to take a second look at this gem which we
so often take for granted.
Alas, eleven of
our students had to miss all these as drama rehearsals went into full swing.
This year’s panto looked towards Maltese traditional folktale for inspiration.
So Gahan with his misunderstandings, his bravado and sometimes his pathos
graced the stage at the Salesian theatre. The drama group gave two
performances. In the morning, the theatre resounded to the excitement of
children from
St Clara College Sliema. The evening performance was viewed mostly by the parents
and St Patrick’s workers. It was also a joy to see so many past pupils who kept
their annual appointment and perhaps mentally re-live their own antics onstage.
Past pupils also
animated the mass on the 22
nd December. It was heart warming to hear
familiar songs played and sung by familiar faces. They are grown up faces now,
but for us who remember them scampering up and down stairs or pounding away in
the band room they will always be our boys. And as little boys they came to the
school party and played at musical chairs as did the teachers, circling around
to the throbbing music supplied by Form 4. The party ended with the
presentation of the prizes. The winners of this year’s Christmas games were the
Greens.
But in truth,
weren’t we all the winners, boys and staff? Didn’t we gain as much by giving as
by receiving?
