ST.MICHAEL’S  INTERNATIONAL  SCHOOL

                                                                 17-2  NAKAYAMATE-DORI  3-CHOME  CHUO-KU

                                                                                KOBE  650-0004  JAPAN

                                                                                      http://www.smis.org

                                                                               E-mail: head@smis.org

                                                               TEL: (078) 231-8885   FAX : (078) 231-8899

Dear all,

this is the first in a series of regular messages from the Council to report on our work over the course of a term and to look forward to upcoming issues.  I had intended to write before the Christmas break, and have to apologise for not managing to do so.

The Council met three times during the autumn term, on 23 September, 13 October and 4 December, and the various committees met several times in between.  After opening the new building and the reformed old building, the main focus of our work has again been on achieving accreditation for the school.  The resignation of the previous school head a few weeks before the end of the school year meant that some effort was needed to get the accreditation process back on track.  But with the help of volunteer parents, teachers and Council members we now have in place nearly all of the written policies and procedures that we will need to satisfy the accreditation board.  With so many people carrying out so much work it is probably invidious to single out individuals for special praise, but nevertheless I would like to mention from the teachers’ side Pauline Hunter and from the Council Myles Macauley as two who have made immense efforts for the benefit of the school.  They, and everyone else involved, deserve all our thanks.

We have just said goodbye to several Council members who have dedicated a great deal of their private time to the school in recent years.  After the last Council meeting certificates of appreciation were awarded to Tazu Makino, Pauline Hunter, Myles Macauley, Harry Cheng and Mark Benton for each one’s contribution to the life of St. Michael’s as a Council member.  We are reassured that, whether as teacher, parent or alumni, we will not be losing their combined experience and wisdom.

The search for new Council members has been underway for some time, beginning with an invitation for applications.  We have received some expressions of interest, and expect to have new members in place in January.  The selection process was outlined in the draft bye-laws which were distributed for comment last July to all members of the St. Michael’s community.  I received almost no comments or suggestions on the draft, but two parents did raise the question of holding elections for Council membership.  The Council responded that it would prefer to continue with the established process of selection, but further views from parents were sought as part of the Head’s survey in September.  The results of the survey showed no mandate for any particular form of selection process - 47% of parents opted for an election, 53% preferred not to hold an election or expressed no preference.  In light of the lack of strong desire for change, the Council has decided to stay with the system which has served the school well for so many years, which is used by other international schools in the Kobe area, and which was recommended to us during our accreditation training day.

A major issue for the Council in the coming months will be the financial stability of the school.  The major building works have been a drain on our reserves, and we need to look at ways of replenishing them.  The Council will come forward with proposals in the New Year for a three-year plan (a requirement of accreditation) to ensure that the school finances remain in good shape.  Among these we need to look closely at the role the ELS plays in the school.  We also need to make a decision on school catering, and a further opening meeting, following the one on 4 December, will be held early in the New Year.  The Council will have a training session in January for new and existing members as part of the preparations for the visit of the accreditation team in March.

The Council will continue to look at ways of exchanging views with parents, teachers and other stakeholders.  We now have space on the new school notice board to introduce Council members and to post a note of our meetings.  We will shortly be revamping the Council section of the SMIS web site.  And we hope that everyone will feel free to use the suggestion box outside the school office.  Or just write to me at any time.

Best wishes,

Paul Lynch

Chair, SMIS Council

26 December 2006