San Anton School had the distinct honor of welcoming Dr. Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, for a special visit today. The distinguished guest was warmly received by Head of School Ms. Bernadette Stivala, Chairman of the School Board Ms. Sunaina Attard, members of both student councils, and the School Leadership Team.
Dr. Metsola's visit began in the Early Years Sector, where our youngest students greeted her with enthusiasm and a heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem. The warm welcome continued as she moved to the Junior Sector, where students delivered a timely performance under the guidance of Drama Educator Ms. Chiara Hyzler. The children presented three short scenes from Disney stories featuring female characters who challenge laws and traditions—a particularly fitting theme on the eve of International Women's Day.
The highlight of the visit was an interactive Q&A session with our Senior Sector students. They engaged Dr. Metsola with thoughtful questions covering important topics including Women in Leadership, Workplace Equality, Balancing Career and Family Life, and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence. When asked about the highs and lows of her political journey, Dr. Metsola shared her profound pride in being Maltese. She candidly acknowledged that representing a small island nation like Malta often means working twice as hard to gain recognition on the international stage. Her message to our students was clear and powerful: persevere and never abandon your dreams and aspirations.
The visit concluded with a touching moment as Grade 12 student Ella Saliba Simpson presented Dr. Metsola with a hand-drawn portrait—a meaningful keepsake from her time at our school. We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Metsola for taking time from her busy schedule to inspire our students and for sharing her valuable insights on perseverance and representation. Her visit has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on our school community.