The Advent and Christmas season is lived in a very festive and joyful way in the state schools in Malta, celebrate with various festive activities. One can divide the activities into these three sections:

Creating a Christmas atmosphere

St Thomas More College Marsaskala St Anne Primary organised several Christmas activities, including a concert that included messages about helping each other and being peacemakers. There was also Christmas carolling with the help of the St Anne’s Band Club and a display of a Christmas crib in the corridor.

St Theresa College, St Venera Primary School also presented the display of Baby Jesus’ crib.

St Benedict Kirkop Middle School encouraged students, staff and the community to reflect on unity, diversity and the meaning of Christmas through the song called Angels We Have Heard on High.

San Ġorġ Preca College, Ħamrun Secondary school organized a Christmas display with objects and symbols related to Christmas, a Christmas crib, and a Nativity scene.

The spiritual and religious Christmas activities

The primary, middle and secondary state schools celebrated the Christmas Holy Mass in the local parish church or the school.

At St Thomas More College Fgura Primary B, year 5 students put on a nativity play called “It’s A Baby” in the school hall. St Thomas More College Marsaxlokk Primary also embraced the holiday spirit with year one students singing religious carols on the auditorium stage.

The students from St Margaret College Kalkara Primary, St Venera Primary School and many other schools took part in a procession with the statue of Baby Jesus from their school to the Parish church. They celebrated Mass and displayed the Christmas cribs they had prepared at school. St Venera Primary school also held online advent spiritual exercises catering for three age groups (years 1 and 2, years 3 and 4 and years 5 and 6).

Middle and secondary schools also got in on the holiday fun. At Migrant Learners’ Unit Malta, students at Blata l-Bajda Middle School participated in an activity about the theme of “good people everywhere.” Naxxar Induction Hub hosted a Christmas party for students, complete with a visit from Santa and a variety of games and activities, including a discussion about how different religions and philosophies celebrate Christmas.

Charitable activities

St Thomas More College Marsaskala St Joachim Primary donated food to families in need with the help of the Djakonija Commission. Maria Regina College – Mosta Primary B, St Nicholas Rabat primary, St Theresa College – St Venera Primary and Marsa, Floriana and Valletta Primary school within the St George Preca College and other schools gave collections they did at school.

Maria Regina College – Għargħur Primary saw the students’ council organize a food bank, with donations going to the Millennium Chapel. Students at Maria Regina College St Paul’s Bay Primary used VR kits to watch and write stories about Christmas, while kindergarten students at Maria Regina College Mosta Primary B participated in a nativity play. The school also held a Christmas crib and nativity figures exhibition, with all proceeds going to Puttinu Cares.

The Nurture Class students from St Margaret College Cospicua Primary visited Dar L-Annunzjata, a Home for the elderly in Tarxien. They performed a nativity play and distributed the Christmas crackers and ornaments they had prepared during their lessons.

Maria Regina Middle School Naxxar managed to create and decorate various Christmas cards donated to Roseville’s residents as a gesture of love and peace at Christmas time. In an exchange between the St Nicholas Middle school in Rabat, the students exchanged handmade Christmas cards and wrote Christmas messages during the English lesson.

St. Theresa College Middle School in Birkirkara organised a reverse Advent Calendar in which parents and students were encouraged to spread love and kindness by donating food to help Fondazzjoni Sebħ.

Conclusion

It’s wonderful to see these state schools spreading joy and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas through their festive activities.