The teacher animators of the Gozo College have, for the last five years been entrusted with the organisation of educational activities related to the role of promoting the Eco Gozo ideal in primary school pupils and the Gozitan community in general.
The Scholastic year 2014-2015 has been the most challenging so far, when through the experience acquired from having collaborated with several NGOs and Local Councils, and after undergoing an intensive self-assessment exercise, the unit managed to launch a series of important projects directly linked to the pupils’ syllabus in line with the new national minimum curriculum recommendations.
Gozo College said that the educational outing to the island of Comino was an excellent example of cross curricular teaching through a hands-on experience, undoubtedly the most cherished activity by pupils and parents alike.
Bus transport was provided from schools to Mgarr and back, and the crossing to and from Comino was already proved to be an exciting experience on its own. Besides involving all pupils from year 5 and 6, evening family trips were also organised and participation had to be limited due to reaching full capacity.
After disembarking at Santa Marija bay, pupils visited the bird ringing site. Here they experienced bird ringing at first hand, watching volunteers from BirdLife Malta delicately handle the birds and perform the ringing according to the different size and weight of the birds. Then, after trekking up along Wied l-Ahmar to the abandoned pig farm, the pupils proceeded to the Santa Marija Battery.
From there the next stop was the Knights’ seventeenth century tower where all could enjoy the breathtaking views of the whole rugged landscape of the island and the surrounding crystal clear waters.
Next visit was the old market centre and ‘il-Palazz.’ This served as an isolation hospital in colonial times and later found its use as a school in the mid twentieth century.
Other places of interest for the groups on the visit included the cemetery, the old bakery and the picturesque Chapel dedicated to the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt built in 1618.
While also serving as physical exercise, this outing proved to be an inclusive exercise and a holistic experience for all. The smile on the students’ faces was proof that, although worn out by the end of the activity, they relished being given this opportunity.