Valletta Primary School's contribution to New Zealand Millennium Festival of the Children

The Hon. Jesmond Mugliett, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, recently visited an exhibition at the St. Elmo Primary School, Valletta. The exhibition was organized in conjunction with the Millennium Festival of the Children, Wellington, New Zealand.

New Zealand will be one of the first countries in the world to welcome the New Millennium (the very first will be the small, isolated Chatham Islands 650km east of New Zealand). In order to honour the importance of children to our global future and as a commitment to world peace and cultural understanding, an international gathering of children from all corners of the world will take place in Wellington, New Zealand, between the 1^st and 8^th January, 2000.

In preparation for this Millennium Festival of the Children, one primary school in each capital city has been invited to correspond with a link primary school in the Wellington area. The St. Elmo Primary School, Valletta, is contributing to this prestigious international event. During the last few months all classes, from pre-grade to year six, have participated in a variety of activities depicting different aspects of Maltese history, traditions and lifestyles, providing an excellent exposition of Maltese culture.

Mr. Mugliett praised the work prepared by the students and encouraged them to take part in competitions of this sort. He also stressed the importance for Maltese students of enriching their knowledge by exchanging views and news about each other's country, history, culture and the way of life.

Two children, a boy and a girl, and one adult from the St. Elmo Primary School have been invited to attend the Festival.

Activities planned to take place during the Festival include:

• A Dawn Ceremony -- to witness the first light of the year 2000
• A Children's Parliament -- to be housed in the New Zealand Parliament Building
• A Children's Science and Inventions Fair and Children's Art and Culture Fair
• The Fair of the Future -- a hands on electronic wizardry exhibition
• Recreation and Cultural Activities including internationally acclaimed Maori dance theatre Kahurangi, storytelling, circus, music events and more.
• A television studio session -- where children will be able to make their own videos, and
• A Children's Parade through the city of Wellington.