F’Diċembru tal-1944, filwaqt li t-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija kienet qed toqrob lejn tmiemha u l-gżejjer Maltin kienu qed jippruvaw jirkupraw mill-qerda kbira li ħallew il-bombi, raġel sempliċi iżda b’viżjoni straordinarja bl-isem ta’ Toni Agius ra li wasal iż-żmien li jwettaq ħolma kbira li kienet ilha mill-inqas seba’ snin tberren f’moħħu. Toni Agius kien special engine fitter bieżel fit-Tarzna tal-Ammiraljat, fejn ra mill-qrib id-diffikultajiet u l-isfidi kbar li kienu qed jiffaċċjaw iż-żgħażagħ u l-ħaddiema Maltin f’dawk iż-żminijiet marbuta ma’ nuqqas ta’ edukazzjoni…
Ħolma ta’ Ħaddiem tat-Tarzna
Toni Agius kien ukoll soċju attiv fis-Soċjetà tal-Museum, imwaqqfa minn Dun Ġorġ Preca fl-1907, is-sena li fiha inċidentalment twieled l-istess Agius. Permezz tal-esperjenza tiegħu fit-tagħlim, Agius kien jaf sew li ż-żgħażagħ ma kellhomx bżonn biss edukazzjoni formali, iżda kellhom bżonn formazzjoni sħiħa li tħejjihom sew għad-dinja tax-xogħol u l-ħajja. Huwa fehem li permezz ta’ skola sekondarja mmexxija minn lajċi tal-Museum, il-valuri nsara u l-formazzjoni akkademika setgħu jimxu id f’id.
Mibnija fuq dawn il-prinċipji, il-ħolma ta’ Agius bdiet tieħu l-forma. Huwa ppreżenta l-idea tiegħu lill-Fundatur Dun Ġorġ Preca. Dun Ġorġ mhux biss ra b’għajn favorevoli ħafna din l-inizjattiva, iżda fehem li skola bħal din kienet se tkun xogħol kbir ta’ karità spiritwali u soċjali u għalhekk taha l-barka sħiħa tiegħu. Biex jiddedika lilu nnifsu kompletament għal dan il-proġett nobbli, Toni Agius ħa d-deċiżjoni kuraġġuża li jirriżenja mill-impieg stabbli u sikur tiegħu fit-Tarzna—pass li f’dawk il-jiem kien jitqies bħala sagrifiċċju finanzjarju kbir u att kbir ta’ fidi fil-Provvidenza Divina.
4 ta’ Novembru 1946
Wara xhur twal ta’ tħejjija, fl-4 ta’ Novembru 1946, l-Iskola St Michael fetħet uffiċjalment il-bibien tagħha f’Villa Violette, dar kbira u antika fil-Marsa. L-ewwel jiem tal-iskola kienu kkaratterizzati minn entużjażmu kbir mill-għalliema u l-istudenti l-ewwel li rreġistraw, iżda l-post ma kienx mingħajr l-ostakli tiegħu.
Villa Violette kienet binja limitata fid-daqs, mingħajr spazju adegwat għal bitħa kbira u klassijiet moderni. Barra minn hekk, il-Power Station tal-Marsa fil-qrib kienet tfisser li t-trab u l-faħam kienu ta’ spiss jidħlu fil-klassijiet u jxekklu l-ambjent tat-tagħlim. Agius u s-soċji sħabu fehmu mill-ewwel li biex l-iskola tiżviluppa u toffri futur b’saħħtu lill-istudenti, kien hemm bżonn li jinstab post akbar u mfassal speċifikament għall-ħtiġijiet edukattivi moderni.
Skola ġdida f’Santa Venera
Bit-tama li jsib dar permanenti u adegwata għall-Iskola St Michael, Agius beda jfittex art tajba f’diversi inħawi ta’ Malta. Wara diversi konsultazzjonijiet u spezzjonijiet, għajnejn Toni Agius waqgħu fuq biċċa raba’ kbira u kwieta f’Santa Venera, viċin Triq il-Kanun. Dan il-post kien ideali peress li kien jinsab f’żona ċentrali tal-gżira u b’aċċess tajjeb għall-istudenti li kienu jiġu minn irħula differenti.
Madankollu, l-akkwist ta’ din l-art kien jitlob somma finanzjarja konsiderevoli li s-Soċjetà tal-Museum ma kellhiex f’idejha. Kien hawnhekk li daħlet il-Provvidenza Divina permezz tal-ġenerożità kbir ta’ dik li Agius kien isejħilha “Is-Sinjura ta’ Tas-Sliema”. Din probabilment kienet is-Sinjura Ineż Galea, li għarfet il-valur nobbli ta’ dan il-proġett edukattiv u reliġjuż, u offriet għajnuna finanzjarja kbira biex tinxtara l-art. Bis-saħħa ta’ din il-donazzjoni, u ta’ benefatturi oħrajn, u bl-għajnuna u l-ħidma mingħajr waqfien tal-Assistent Superjur Ġenerali Carmelo Callus, l-art f’Santa Venera kienet uffiċjalment akkwistata fl-1950.
Waħda mill-iktar ġrajjiet li baqgħu stampati fl-istorja u l-memorja tal-iskola seħħet fit-13 ta’ Novembru 1950. Dawk il-jiem San Ġorġ Preca żar is-sit f’Santa Venera biex ibierek l-art fejn kellha tinbena l-iskola l-ġdida. Xhieda preżenti jirrakkuntaw li Dun Ġorġ ma waqafx biss ibierek l-art li kienet diġà mixtrija u f’idejn is-Soċjetà, iżda f’mossa mimlija fidi u profetika, baqa’ miexi u jbierek ukoll l-artijiet tal-madwar li dak iż-żmien kienu għadhom mhux tagħhom. Dun Ġorġ kien konvint li bl-għajnuna ta’ Alla, l-iskola kienet se tkompli tikber u tespandi fil-futur—profezija li matul is-snin li segwew seħħet u twettqet b’mod litterali.
F’Marzu tal-1951, bil-għan li jorganizza u jidderieġi l-proċess kollu tal-bini u l-iżvilupp, ġie ffurmat il-“Kumitat ta’ St. Michael’s Institute”. Dan il-kumitat kien immexxi b’entużjażmu u dedikazzjoni minn Carmelo Callus u Toni Agius. Mingħajr telf ta’ ħin, beda x-xogħol iebes tat-tħaffir tal-pedamenti tal-bini l-ġdid. Soċji tal-Museum bħal Wiġi Borg, flimkien ma’ voluntiera u ħaddiema oħra, kienu jxammru l-kmiem u jagħmlu xogħol manwali iebes wara l-ħinijiet tax-xogħol tagħhom, fejn kienu jaħdmu bil-fies biex iħaffru l-blat u jippreparaw il-pedamenti b’rieda soda u b’determinazzjoni kbira.
Diffikultajiet Interni Solvuti
Iżda l-proġett kbir tal-Iskola St Michael ma kienx mingħajr il-mumenti kritiċi tiegħu. Kif beda x-xogħol tal-bini, fi ħdan is-Soċjetà tal-Museum infirxu biżgħat u mistoqsijiet kbar fost uħud mill-membri u s-superjuri. Kien hemm min kien inkwetat li proġett ta’ skala hekk kbira seta’ jkun ta’ piż finanzjarju kbir wisq fuq is-Soċjetà, jew li x-xogħol fl-iskola seta’ jbiegħed lis-soċji mill-vokazzjoni ewlenija tagħhom li kienet it-tagħlim tal-katekiżmu fl-oqsma tar-raħal.
L-akbar biża’ kien li l-iskola tista’ ma tkunx tista’ titmexxa b’mod sostenibbli, jew saħansitra li maż-żmien tispiċċa tinqata’ mill-ispirtu u mill-awtorità tal-Museum. Dawn id-dubji u t-tħassib intern ħolqu mumenti ta’ tensjoni u diżgwid serju li kienu qed jheddu li jwaqqfu l-proġett kollu tal-iskola.
Kien f’dan il-mument sensittiv ħafna li intervjenew personalitajiet bħal Mons. Nerik Bonnici. Bis-saħħa tal-medjazzjoni għaqlija tiegħu, l-Arċisqof ta’ Malta Mikiel Gonzi, daħal ukoll fis-soluzzjoni ta’ din il-kwistjoni. L-Arċisqof Gonzi kien jagħraf tajjeb il-ħtieġa urġenti ta’ edukazzjoni Kattolika f’Malta u ra l-potenzjal enormi li kien fih dan il-proġett.
Biex jiġi solvut id-diżgwid darba għal dejjem, fit-8 ta’ Mejju 1951 ġiet imsejħa laqgħa straordinarja fil-Kurja l-Belt Valletta. Matul din il-laqgħa, fejn kienu preżenti l-mexxejja tas-Soċjetà u rappreżentanti tal-proġett, l-Arċisqof Mikiel Gonzi sema’ l-argumenti kollha b’attenzjoni. Fl-aħħar tal-diskussjoni, l-Arċisqof ta l-approvazzjoni uffiċjali u l-barka sħiħa tiegħu biex il-proġett iqum fuq saqajh u jitmexxa mis-soċji tal-Museum b’mod uffiċjali. Dan l-intervent ġab paċi, serħan il-moħħ u għaqda mill-ġdid fost kulħadd, u fetaħ it-triq biex il-ħolma tkompli ssir realtà fuq pedamenti sodi.
L-Ewwel Ġebla mbierka minn San Ġorġ Preca 75 sena ilu
L-akbar jum ta’ ferħ u ċelebrazzjoni wasal fid-19 ta’ Mejju 1951, meta tqiegħdet uffiċjalment l-Ewwel Ġebla tal-binja l-ġdida tal-Iskola St Michael f’Santa Venera. Iċ-ċerimonja kienet waħda emozzjonanti u mimlija spirtu ta’ talb u entużjażmu. Dun Ġorġ bierek il-ġebla u l-post, talab u qal kliem ta’ inkuraġġiment u fidi lill-membri tas-Soċjetà u l-benefatturi.
Madankollu, il-fidi u d-determinazzjoni ta’ Agius u sħabu ġew ittestjati l-għada stess. Meta l-ħaddiema marru fuq il-post l-għada filgħodu biex ikomplu x-xogħol, sabu li dik l-Ewwel Ġebla mbierka kienet ġiet imfarrka u mkissra matul il-lejl minn persuni mhux magħrufa li jidher li ma kinux favur il-proġett. Iżda minflok ma qatgħu qalbhom, Toni Agius u sħabu, qabdu u lestew ġebla oħra minflokha, birkuha mill-ġdid u poġġewha f’postha biex ix-xogħol tal-bini jkompli miexi b’pass mgħaġġel u bla waqfien.
Għal San Ġorġ Preca, l-Iskola St Michael ma kinitx sempliċiment binja, iżda kif kien isejħilha hu, kienet l-għaxqa ta’ qalbu. Kien jara fiha strument b’saħħtu biex jifforma rġiel ta’ integrità, fidi u servizz lejn is-soċjetà Maltija. Dun Ġorġ kien iżur l-iskola ta’ spiss, jitlob għall-ħaddiema u l-benefatturi tagħha, u baqa’ jsegwi l-progress tal-bini b’interess personali kbir sal-aħħar ta’ ħajtu.
L-Iskola tikber
Mis-snin disgħin ’il quddiem, il-binja tal-Iskola St Michael f’Santa Venera bdiet tieħu l-forma moderna li għandha llum. Is-swali, il-klassijiet, il-laboratorji xjentifiċi, il-bitħa ewlenija, u aktar tard il-kappella kienu lesti biex jilqgħu numru dejjem jikber ta’ studenti li xtaqu jidħlu jitgħallmu fiha.
Fl-Iskola St Michael spikka minn kmieni għall-approċċ edukattiv uniku tagħha f’Malta. Filwaqt li bħal fi skejjel oħra, St Michael minn dejjem offriet tagħlim akkademiku fis-suġġetti ewlenin bħall-Malti, l-Ingliż, il-Matematika, ix-Xjenza u l-Istorja, min-naħa l-oħra, minħabba r-rabta u l-esperjenza tal-fundaturi mal-industrija u t-Tarzna, sas-snin sebgħin l-iskola tat importanza kbira lis-suġġetti prattiċi u tekniċi bħax-xogħol fl-injam, il-metalwork u d-disinn tekniku.
Iżda l-aktar element li spikka f’dawn it-tmenin sena kienet il-formazzjoni morali u tal-karattru tal-istudenti. Is-soċji tal-Museum li kienu jgħallmu u jmexxu l-iskola ma kinux jitħallsu salarji għoljin (u xi drabi saħansitra lanqas tħallsu) iżda minn dejjem offrew servizz b’dedikazzjoni u mħabba lejn l-istudenti. Il-motto u l-ethos tal-iskola huma msejsa fuq l-umiltà, il-ħbiberija, ir-rispett reċiproku u l-imħabba lejn il-proxxmu, valuri li ġew trażmessi lil eluf ta’ studenti li għaddew minn fuq il-bankijiet tagħha u li wara ħafna minnhom saru professjonisti, nies tas-snajja’ stmati u cittadini onesti fis-soċjetà Maltija.
L-Aħħar Snin
B’pedamenti sodi bħal dawn, fl-aħħar snin, l-Iskola St Michael kompliet tevolvi u tadatta ruħha għall-bidliet u l-iżviluppi mgħaġġla fid-dinja tal-edukazzjoni. Bit-tibdil fil-liġijiet edukattivi f’Malta u l-introduzzjoni ta’ riformi kurrikulari ġodda, l-iskola kontinwament aġġornat il-faċilitajiet tagħha biex tiżgura li l-istudenti tagħha jkollhom l-aħjar opportunitajiet edukattivi.
Saru laboratorji tal-kompjuter u t-teknoloġija tal-informazzjoni (ICT), librerija moderna u spazji adegwati għat-tagħlim tal-arti, il-mużika u l-isport. Billi n-numru ta’ soċji tal-Mużew li kienu jaħdmu bħala għalliema beda jonqos maż-żmien, l-iskola fetħet il-bibien tagħha għal għalliema lajċi kwalifikati li huma mistennija jimxu fuq l-istess prinċipji u valuri li fuqhom ġiet imwaqqfa l-iskola.
L-involviment tal-ġenituri kien ukoll element ewlieni fis-suċċess kontinwu tal-iskola. Permezz ta’ attivitajiet kulturali, sportivi u reliġjużi, l-Iskola St Michael stabbilixxiet ruħha mhux biss bħala ċentru edukattiv iżda wkoll bħala komunità familjari fejn kull student jiġi stmat u kkurat fl-individwalità tiegħu.
It-80 Anniversarju
L-istorja tat-twaqqif u l-iżvilupp tal-Iskola St Michael—mill-oriġini umli tagħha f’Villa Violette il-Marsa sal-iskola moderna li nsibu llum f’Santa Venera—hija xhieda ħajja ta’ x’jista’ jinkiseb meta l-fidi, il-viżjoni u d-determinazzjoni jingħaqdu flimkien. Dik li bdiet bħala ħolma fil-moħħ u fil-qalb ta’ Toni Agius fl-1937 b’mumenti ta’ prova, sagrifiċċju u sfidi kbar, biddlet il-ħajja ta’ eluf ta’ żgħażagħ Maltin u tat kontribut lill-edukazzjoni u l-iżvilupp soċjali f’Malta.
Illum, waqt li l-Iskola St Michael tħares lejn il-ġejjieni b’fiduċja u b’entużjażmu, hija tibqa’ leali lejn il-prinċipji tal-fundaturi tagħha: li tipprovdi edukazzjoni sħiħa, tifforma l-karattru tal-istudenti fuq il-valuri nsara u hekk tagħti tama lill-ġenerazzjonijiet futuri.
Fl-okkażjoni tat-80 anniversarju mill-bidu tal-Iskola u l-75 sena mill-Ewwel Ġebla, nistiednu lill-istudenti tal-lum u tal-bieraħ għal serata kommemorattiva li se ssir nhar il-Ħamis 5 ta’ Novembru fis-7pm fl-Iskola St Michael, Triq il-Kanun, Santa Venera. Minn hemm wieħed ikun jista’ wkoll jakkwista l-ktieb miktub u riċerkat minni “L-Iskola St Michael – l-Għaxqa ta’ San Ġorġ Preca”.
80 Years of St Michael’s School
Robert Aloisio
In December 1944, as World War II was drawing to a close and the Maltese islands were trying to recover from the massive destruction left behind by bombs, a humble man with an extraordinary vision named Toni Agius felt that the time had come to fulfill a grand dream that had been brewing in his mind for at least seven years. Toni Agius was a diligent special engine fitter at the Admiralty Dockyard, where he witnessed firsthand the great difficulties and challenges facing Maltese youth and workers during those times due to a lack of education…
A Dockyard Worker’s Dream
Toni Agius was also an active member of the M.U.S.E.U.M. Society, founded by St George Preca in 1907—incidentally the same year Agius was born. Through his teaching experience, Agius knew very well that young people needed more than just a formal education; they needed a complete formation that would properly prepare them for the working world and life itself. He understood that through a secondary school run by lay members of the M.U.S.E.U.M., Christian values and academic formation could go hand in hand.
Built upon these principles, Agius’s dream began to take shape. He presented his idea to the Founder, St George Preca. Not only did St George view this initiative very favorably, but he also understood that such a school would be a great work of spiritual and social charity, and therefore gave it his full blessing. To dedicate himself completely to this noble project, Toni Agius made the courageous decision to resign from his stable and secure job at the Dockyard—a step that in those days was considered a great financial sacrifice and a major act of faith in Divine Providence.
4 November 1946
After long months of preparation, on 4 November 1946, St Michael’s School officially opened its doors at Villa Violette, a large and old house in Marsa. The early days of the school were marked by great enthusiasm from the teachers and the first enrolled students, but the location was not without its obstacles.
Villa Violette was limited in size, lacking adequate space for a large courtyard and modern classrooms. Furthermore, the nearby Marsa Power Station meant that dust and coal frequently drifted into the classrooms, disrupting the learning environment. Agius and his fellow members understood immediately that for the school to develop and offer a secure future to its students, a larger location specifically tailored to modern educational needs had to be found.
A New School in Santa Venera
Hoping to find a permanent and adequate home for St Michael’s School, Agius began searching for suitable land across various parts of Malta. Following several consultations and inspections, Toni Agius’s eyes fell upon a large, quiet plot of land in Santa Venera, close to Cannon Road (Triq il-Kanun). This location was ideal as it was situated in a central area of the island with good access for students coming from different villages.
However, acquiring this land required a considerable sum of money that the M.U.S.E.U.M. Society did not have on hand. This is where Divine Providence stepped in through the immense generosity of the person Agius referred to as “The Lady of Sliema”. This was likely Mrs Inez Galea, who recognized the noble value of this educational and religious project and offered substantial financial help to purchase the land. Thanks to this donation, other benefactors, and the relentless assistance and work of Assistant Superior General Carmelo Callus, the land in Santa Venera was officially acquired in 1950.
One of the events most etched into the history and memory of the school took place on 13 November 1950. In those days, St George Preca visited the site in Santa Venera to bless the land where the new school was to be built. Witnesses present recount that St George did not stop only at blessing the land that was already purchased and in the Society’s possession, but in a move full of faith and prophecy, he kept walking and also blessed the surrounding lands that at the time did not yet belong to them. St George was convinced that with God’s help, the school would continue to grow and expand in the future—a prophecy that in the years that followed came true literally.
In March 1951, with the aim of organizing and directing the entire building and development process, the “St Michael’s Institute Committee” was formed. This committee was led with enthusiasm and dedication by Carmelo Callus and Toni Agius. Without wasting time, the hard work of digging the foundations of the new building began. M.U.S.E.U.M. members such as Wiġi Borg, together with other volunteers and workers, rolled up their sleeves and performed heavy manual labor after their regular working hours, working with pickaxes to break the rock and prepare the foundations with firm willpower and great determination.
Internal Difficulties Resolved
Yet, the grand project of St Michael’s School was not without its critical moments. As construction work began, deep fears and questions spread among some of the members and superiors within the M.U.S.E.U.M. Society. Some worried that a project of such a massive scale could become too heavy a financial burden on the Society, or that the work at the school might draw members away from their primary vocation of teaching catechism in the village centers.
The greatest fear was that the school might prove unsustainable to run, or even that over time it would end up detached from the spirit and authority of the M.U.S.E.U.M.. These doubts and internal concerns created moments of tension and serious disagreement that threatened to halt the entire school project.
It was at this very sensitive juncture that personalities like Monsignor Nerik Bonnici intervened. Thanks to his wise mediation, the Archbishop of Malta, Mikiel Gonzi, also stepped in to help resolve the issue. Archbishop Gonzi well recognized the urgent need for Catholic education in Malta and saw the enormous potential contained within this project.
To resolve the disagreement once and for all, an extraordinary meeting was called on 8 May 1951 at the Curia in Valletta. During this meeting, attended by Society leaders and project representatives, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi listened carefully to all arguments. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Archbishop gave his official approval and full blessing for the project to stand on its feet and be officially run by the M.U.S.E.U.M. members. This intervention brought peace, relief, and renewed unity among everyone, paving the way for the dream to continue becoming a reality on solid foundations.
The Foundation Stone Blessed by St George Preca 75 Years Ago
The greatest day of joy and celebration arrived on 19 May 1951, when the Foundation Stone of the new St Michael’s School building in Santa Venera was officially laid. The ceremony was emotional and filled with a spirit of prayer and enthusiasm. St George blessed the stone and the site, offering prayers and words of encouragement and faith to the Society’s members and benefactors.
However, the faith and determination of Agius and his companions were tested the very next day. When the workers went to the site the following morning to resume work, they found that the blessed Foundation Stone had been smashed and broken during the night by unknown individuals who apparently opposed the project. Rather than losing heart, Toni Agius and his companions immediately prepared another stone to replace it, blessed it once again, and placed it in position so that construction work could continue swiftly and without interruption.
For St George Preca, St Michael’s School was not simply a building, but as he called it, the delight of his heart (l-għaxqa ta’ qalbu). He saw in it a powerful instrument to shape men of integrity, faith, and service toward Maltese society. St George frequently visited the school, prayed for its workers and benefactors, and continued to follow the building’s progress with great personal interest until the end of his life.
The School Grows
From the 1990s onward, the St Michael’s School building in Santa Venera began to take on the modern form it has today. The halls, classrooms, science laboratories, main courtyard, and later the chapel were ready to welcome an increasing number of students wishing to enroll.
St Michael’s School stood out early on for its unique educational approach in Malta. While, like other schools, St Michael’s has always offered academic instruction in core subjects such as Maltese, English, Mathematics, Science, and History, its founders’ strong connection and background in industry and the dockyards meant that well into the 1970s, the school placed major importance on practical and technical subjects like woodwork, metalwork, and technical design.
Yet, the most prominent element throughout these eighty years has been the moral and character formation of the students. The M.U.S.E.U.M. members who taught and managed the school were not paid high salaries (and sometimes received no pay at all), consistently offering their service with dedication and love for the students. The school’s motto and ethos are rooted in humility, friendship, mutual respect, and love for one’s neighbor—values transmitted to thousands of students who passed through its desks, many of whom later became professionals, respected tradesmen, and honest citizens in Maltese society.
Recent Years
Built upon such solid foundations, in recent years St Michael’s School has continued to evolve and adapt to rapid changes and developments in the educational world. With shifting educational laws in Malta and the introduction of new curricular reforms, the school has continuously upgraded its facilities to ensure its students have the best educational opportunities.
Computer and Information Technology (ICT) laboratories, a modern library, and adequate spaces for teaching art, music, and sports have been established. As the number of M.U.S.E.U.M. members working as teachers gradually declined over time, the school opened its doors to qualified lay teachers expected to uphold the very same principles and values upon which the school was founded.
Parental involvement has also been a key element in the school’s ongoing success. Through cultural, sports, and religious activities, St Michael’s School has established itself not only as an educational center but also as a family-oriented community where every student is valued and cared for as an individual.
The 80th Anniversary
The story of the foundation and development of St Michael’s School—from its humble origins at Villa Violette in Marsa to the modern school found today in Santa Venera—is a living testimony to what can be achieved when faith, vision, and determination combine. What began as a dream in the mind and heart of Toni Agius in 1937, weathering trials, sacrifice, and great challenges, has transformed the lives of thousands of Maltese youths and contributed immensely to education and social development in Malta.
Today, as St Michael’s School looks to the future with confidence and enthusiasm, it remains loyal to the principles of its founders: providing a comprehensive education, shaping students’ character upon Christian values, and offering hope to future generations.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the school’s inception and the 75th anniversary of the Foundation Stone, current and former students are warmly invited to a commemorative evening to be held on Thursday, 5 November at 7:00 PM at St Michael’s School, Cannon Road, Santa Venera. During the event, attendees will also have the opportunity to acquire the book written and researched by the author, titled “L-Iskola St Michael – l-Għaxqa ta’ San Ġorġ Preca”.