During this scholastic year, all students at Gozo College Anton Cassar Primary School Ghajnsielem participated in the “Dan Pajjizna” Walks Competition launched by Ramblers Association Malta (RAM) earlier last October 2007. Children, teachers, parents and the local community in general participated in the village, country and coastal walks.

All walking activities were coordinated by the Students’ Council and Ekoskola Committee. As a follow-up, children set up a highly interesting exhibition in the assembly hall which spectacularly outlined the rich historical and natural beauty of walks in Ghajnsielem.

The village walks’ goals were three-fold, namely:

• Instill love and appreciation of our local historical, natural and archaeological heritage
• Create an awareness and a caring attitude among all community stakeholders
• Inspire healthy lifestyle through various walking activities

Places visited included: Our Lady of Loreto Church, Old Parish Church, Apparition Monument & Square, Imrejzbiet megalithic circle, Tal-Qighan Prehistoric temple, St.Cecilia Chapel and Tower, Panoramic playground, Lourdes Chapel, Fort Chambray fortifications, Il-Kbir Valley, Mgarr harbour, Garzes Tower point, Is-Sienja tax-Xatt, Taht il-Belt and Ras it-Tafal.

• Improvements to our countryside walks:
• New wooden platforms where paths collapsed
• New Walking Signs between Mgarr and Xatt l-Ahmar
• Practical Step-by-Step Walking Guides
• Restoring the rubble walls (hitan tas-sejjieh)
• Cleaning up litter areas
• More Bring-in Sites
• More litter bins at Mgarr Marina & fishing area
• Immediate Action to save St.Cecilia Chapel

It was definitely a time to celebrate for all on Wednesday, the 4th of June when Anton Cassar School was placed first throughout all the participating schools in Malta and Gozo. The winners were handed each a Certificate of Success and Participation as well a book token of Euro 465.87 (Lm200) each by Mr. Lino Bugeja, President of the Ramblers Association Malta (RAM) at the National Curriculum Centre, Hamrun.

Prize Winners: First Place: Anton Cassar, Primary C, Ghajnsielem San Anton Primary, Imselliet

Second Place: Not given

Third Place: Rosa Magro, Primary C School, Xewkija Francis Ebejer Primary B School, Zurrieq

Ghajnsielem Council thanked the Head and Assistant Head of School, all teachers, students, parents and the community in general who worked together as one team to help the students get aware and appreciate the natural and historical richness of the village. They also thanked the School Council members as well as the Ekoskola Committee who played a very important role in coordinating all the activities.

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