- After Hours Programme -

Building on last year’s success

Last year, the Extra Curricular Department came up with a dynamic idea that offered a solution to several working parents who were encountering challenging situations whilst trying to juggle work, their children’s school and extra-curricular activities.  

San Andrea School, always sensitive to its students’ well-being put into action an After-Hours Programme wherein play, sports, healthy eating, homework club and catechism classes were integrated.  San Andrea School is proud to be the first school in Malta to have offered such a holistic programme and also being the first school on the Island to actually hold Catechism classes on our own premises. These classes have been officially authorised by the Commission for Religious Doctrine within the Archbishop’s Curia.

What does this programme offer?

This programme incorporates the child’s activities “under one roof” at School, with some sports activities taking place on our own facilities.  This programme runs from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30p.m. At 3 p.m. the students will go for their chosen activity (e.g. break dance). This lesson will be followed by a specially prepared healthy meal in-keeping with the School’s nutritional policy. During this time, the students have time to socialise and regenerate for the second part of their educational day. The students will then be allotted an hour for the school homework and reading. During the last hour the students will also have lessons in catechism. Supervision will be provided throughout the whole programme and each activity will be led by fully qualified professionals.

Who benefits from this Programme?

All stakeholders.

The children need not rush home or go a relative’s house, gobble up a meal, quick change of clothes, out for sports activities, then to catechism classes, back home for a homework session etc.  The children will return home much calmer in the knowledge that their homework is done, that they have enjoyed a Sports/Arts activity and that catechism class has also been attended.
 

The parents will do with less stress of planning out pick-ups and drop-offs for their children, usually involving other family members, neighbours or friends.  They will look forward to spending some quality time with their children with less nagging and coaxing for homework to start.  Time gained might be spent more fruitfully in family discussions and other family-oriented activities.  Parents need not ask for reduced hours during term time.

The School will be maximising on the use of its premises after school hours.

From the above, one can see that this programme gives parents the opportunity to balance their busy lifestyle with family time.  Nowadays parents have become aware that a holistic education forms part and parcel of their child’s education and such opportunities form the basis of a strong character, good moral values and solid principles.  It is a step further to make one’s child investment in education complete.

The positive feedback and encouraging letters and emails received from satisfied parents, instilled in us the impetus to run the programme again during the forthcoming scholastic year.
For any queries contact San Andrea School on 21438800 or send an email on info@sanandrea.edu.mt

Kevin Zammit
Extra-Curricular & After-Hours Co-ordinator