Parents disappointed as school closes for 'family mourning'

Parents of students who attend St Catherine’s High School in Pembroke were stunned to learn through an e-mail that their children’s school would be closed for a day “due to a family mourning”. Many parents who contacted The Sunday Times said they could not understand the school  directors’ decision to close it for an entire day so teachers could attend the funeral of the director’s uncle. Through an e-mail sent on October 17, seen by this newspaper, parents of the 500 students who attend the private independent school were informed by director Sue Mifsud Midolo that “there will be no school tomorrow due to a family mourning”. Excusing the school’s administration for the inconvenience caused, the director advised parents to “keep our family in your prayers”. While empathising with the school’s director for the loss, parents could not understand why the school decided to close its doors. “This is incomprehensible. Although these things can happen to everyone we can’t understand why 500 students, scores of teachers and all the parents had to suffer the consequences,” a 42-year-old single mother said. “I had to take a day off to stay with my children instead of going to work.” A...