This year’s edition of Gozo Arbor Day, nationally known as ‘Jum is-Sigar f’Ghawdex’ was celebrated on Thursday at Gozo College Xewkija Primary.

The hands-on activities for children were jointly organised by the Xewkija EkoSkola Committee, the School Council, Hands-on farming Programme, Gozo College within the Ministry for Education and Employment and eco-Gozo within the Ministry for Gozo.

Xewkija Primary School, which in November 2013, celebrated winning the third consecutive international award – the Green Flag, was once again able to celebrate two further achievements, this time for the eco-Gozo funds provided for the school to purchase resources for a sustainable education, as well as being the National Tree Planting School Winners for 2012/2013, having been selected from all the schools throughout Malta and Gozo.

These successes were celebrated during the annual educational activities of Arbor Day.

At school, hands-on activities including story-telling and reading sessions about the Giving Tree, tree collages, paintings and potting of new trees were all organised in the classrooms.

The distinguished guests, including the Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo, visited each and every class and were able to see the children’s participation during the event. Some of the students had the opportunity to read their own prose and poem works about Arbor Day.

Later on the Year 6 children together with the Minister for Gozo and the Mayor of Xewkija Local Council, planted native trees and plants in the school garden.

The guests also attending this educational activity, included the Xewkija Mayor, Mr Paul Azzopardi, eco-Gozo Director Mr Anthony Zammit and Gozo College Principal, Mr Victor Galea.

Arbor Day was also marked by a message from the Minister for Gozo, Dr. Anton Refalo, who stressed the importance of the green initiatives of the school and that this example will be followed up on a regional level.

Dr. Charles F. Grech, Assistant Director (Environmental Affairs-Public Administration) presented the National Tree Planting Shield and a number of books to one of the Xewkija Primary students. In his short speech, Dr Grech also encouraged children and adults to make Gozo greener by planting more trees.

Mr Joe Grech, Hands-on Farming co-ordinator, donated packets of seeds of native trees to all children, as well as coordinated the potting of new plants at school.

In his message, the head of school, Mr Frank Tabone said that sustainable education is part and parcel of the school curriculum and together with all stakeholders, especially the Xewkija Local Council, the school promotes, encourages and awards children’s initiatives such as tree planting, cleaning up campaigns and energy saving activities.

A word of gratitude and appreciation goes to both teaching and non-teaching staff at Xewkija Primary who worked hard to ensure the educational objectives of these activities are reached, Mr Tabone said.

At the end of the event, all the children, staff members at Xewkija Primary and guests were treated to some fresh, local, food delicacies, thanks to local sponsors including Tax-Xiber Bakery (Xewkija), St. John Foodstore (Xewkija), Gozo Cottage (Xewkija), Farmers’ Foods (Xewkija) and Ta’ Dirjanu.

Permalink: Celebrating green success at Xewkija Primary School