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Academic Council Report 2004 - 2005
Speech by Domini Mac Rory, Chairperson of the Academic Council

The Academic Council (AC) is one of the 2 decision making bodies at The New School, the other body being the Executive Council (EC).  The AC is made up of all the teaching staff and one elected student representative from Years 7 - 13.  The AC meets on average about once a month and discusses issues ranging from strictly academic matters to issues that concern fund-raising to help people in need.

As Chairperson of the Academic Council it is my pleasure to give the Academic Council Report for 2004-2005.  The Academic Council is one of the two decision making bodies at The New School.  It is made up of all the members of staff and one elected representative from each group from Year 7 to Year 13.

We meet about once a month and discuss a wide range of matters that have to do with the life of the school community.  This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn about how meetings are run and how to participate and be active in decision making processes.  Looking back over the minutes of the last academic year you might be surprised by just how busy we have all been - the teachers and students certainly manage to achieve such a lot together. Below is a synopsis of the events which took place during the year 2004-2005.

• December 2004
• December is always a busy month what with the Primary Christmas Show; the Christmas card competition and all the festivities..
• January 2005
• The year kicks off with exams for our Year 12 and 13 and preparation for the Senior school production.  Following the terrible events in S.E. Asia and the Tsunami on 26th December - the students and teachers discussed ways to raise funds.
• February
• 4th February the Primary children had a 'Bring and Buy Sale' which raised €862.  The Senior students were busy with cake sales and 'guess the baby competition'.
  The idea of adding on a euro to the cost of the ticket to the Senior School Production was approved.
  February is also Carnival time and Valentine's Day and there is always a lot to discuss and organise.
  February was also the month in which we had our Academic Council Chairperson Elections. The Chairperson is elected for a term of 3 years and in the second year of office the AC is called on to elect its Chairperson for the next 3-year term. There were two candidates and I was elected to serve another term of office, which will run from 2006-2009.
  AC also discussed a proposal by Year 9 to use the lawn for football.   The proposal was rejected.
• School Calendar - various drafts were circulated for discussion. The school calendar is fixed by AC in line with other RISA schools.
• Following a number of fund-raising events, 2 girls from Year 9 and myself met with representatives from the Sri Lankan Embassy.
  Outcome - idea for building sheltered accommodation for children orphaned in the disaster.
• Ski Trip to Zoldo. A group of students and staff travelled to the north of Italy to spend the half term week skiing.
• March
• Senior school football team to Milan.
• The Interviewing Committee was formed and preparations made for four days of intense interviewing in London.  As in past years a 6th Form student joined 3 members of staff on the Committee.
• The Senior school Production - Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett (which was also in aid of our Tsunami appeal) raised money for the appeal.
• April
• A sponsored swim took place on 8th April thanks to Stefania Dennerlien who gave us the use of her swimming pool.
• Proposal to AC to request EC funding for school trips. This was subsequently incorporated into the Budget for 2005-2006.
• The Interviewing Committee reported to AC on a very successful recruitment in London.
• April - a month for getting out and about. Year 1 went to the Botanical Gardens and Early Years were planning a trip in a Hot Air balloon (the tethered one in Villa Borghese!).
• May
• Middle school trips -Year 7 to Pompeii, Year 8 to Siena and Year 9 to Florence (June)
• There were proposals brought to AC by the examination classes Years 11, 12 and 13 for periods of study leave.  Preparations were made for the visit of the Edexcel Art examiner from London.
• Furious preparations for May Fair.
• Lucy Michaels, who had been working away quietly on the new and very smart website, promised to announce the launch date.
• May - beginning of the Summer exam session.
• The final staff appointments were made for 2005.
• June
• A lot of hard work and excitement as the Primary Residential trips moved closer.
  Years 1 and 2 - Todi
  Years 3 and 4 - on Etruscan tour
  Years 5 and 6 - Lago Trasimeno
  Early Years day trip to a farm and a day trip to the beach.
• Exams in Years 11,12, 13 in full swing.
• News given to AC that two ex-students had offered a gift of €5,000 to be used as we felt best.
• May Fair - a great success.
• 15th June - Year 6 'Merry Wives of Windsor'.   Absolutely brilliant and most memorable performance.
• Visits from 3 of our new members of staff.
• Last day of term - we handed over a cheque to representatives from the Sri Lankan Embassy.
• Summer work

EC approved a series of other interventions designed to improve the working environment
- Biology laboratory received new furniture
- Early Years, French room, Italian room and the small office had air-conditioning installed
- new windows and doors were put in the Drama room and the Biology laboratory
- the area from the red circle to the swings was levelled and a new drainage system and covering was put in place
- soft-landing covering was also put under the swings
- major work on the Art studio, Drama room and Chemistry lab. and the dependance also took place
For the second year running, a lot of work took place on the site.

• September
• AC welcomed new members - Yvette Fulker - Early Years
  John Talbot - Biology
  Hugh Pizzi - Chemistry
  Kate Fleming - Year 1
  Susie Brookfield - ESL
  Welcome back to Una Eve after her maternity leave.
• Report to AC on excellent exam results.  Year 13 still around, glowing with success and excited about taking up their places at University.
• AC received a letter of acknowledgement from the Sri Lankan Embassy informing us that the funds gathered would be used to fund a project for homeless children.
• October
• After school activities get underway.
• Change to cleaning schedule made this easier and allowed more activities to take place indoors.
• Cultural Forum idea gets underway. Parents offer to talk on a particular area of expertise. So far we have had 3 get togethers and had talks on: ‘Macrobiotic and the Mediterranean diet’; ‘Intuition as a tool in decision making’; ‘How to survive Christmas’.
• Discussion concerning allocation of May Fair funds.
• Introduction of Italian for Italian mother tongue children in Year 2.
• Talk by Damien Prescott from 'Response’, an organisation based in Camden Town London. The talk was entitled 'Just say Know' and dealt with drug awareness and was given to Years 9 to 13.
• A parent of one of our Year 12 students gave a talk on the dangers of smoking to Years 7 to 10.
• Year 3 went to the dentist and visited Ponte Milvio as part of their study of the local area and as usual Year 6 students brought a proposal to AC requesting permission to use the lawn. It was rejected!
• November
• Our last AC was on the 22nd November - 2 weeks ago.  We reported on the Christmas Card competition; the Primary Christmas show which will take place on Sunday 18th December at 3pm, and all the other events that will be taking place before the end of term.
• And that brings us full circle!  I hope that I have been able to give you an insight into the rich and varied exchange of information and ideas that take place at the Academic Council.

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