Student Council Minutes 2/3/2003

Present: Basheer, Clausen-Thue, Coffer, Cordes, Espin, Fink, Furniss, Gifford, Granger, Henniker, Jouzy, Morante, O’Boyle, Reizenstein, Thompson, Vandervolk, Viita,

Absent: Marmot, Zinkin

Last Week

The Council’s response for the selection of the new Highmaster was discussed. It was decided that members should concult with the younger years in their tutor sets and report back. The Council will produce a document compiling the results of the two meetings and submit it to the Surmaster.

Last week’s absentees were: Coffer, Cordes, Espin, Granger, Habib, Thompson

Leavers’ Ceremony

The Council reviewed the proposal for a brief leavers’ ceremony, which would be followed by drinks and dinner with parents and staff. It was felt that attendance should not be compulsory, but encouraged. The dress-code should not be school uniform, but a suit and tie. The date has not yet been confirmed. The Council were broadly pleased with the proposal, and look forward to it.

Prefects

The Student Council will produce their report on the Prefectural System next week.

8^th Form Exercise

It was proposed that the exercise requirements for 8^th formers were limited, such that boys need not even do exercise on their games half. It was discussed whether their should be compulsory PE in addition to the senior games half, or alternatively times when the fitness centre could be supervised in free periods. The Council did not draw any conclusions.

Private Study

The Council was pleased with the proposal to demolish many of the carrels and produce large study areas for use by all 8^th formers. However, the private study situation is such that during some periods, there are very large numbers of boys free, and it may be necessary for them to be in classrooms still.

American Football

There have been continued requests for American Football games half. The Council recognises that some students feel strongly about this, and recommend that they demonstrate how great the demand is. If there is sufficient demand in the school, the request is likely to be taken more seriously.

Student Council Manifesto

It was raised that the Council’s effectiveness and range was limited by the need to confront problems on an issue-by-issue basis, and sometimes more ideological questions were ignored. Thus it was decided that the Council would produce a document for the end of the year that would outline our stance on various areas of contention that remain unresolved, and record wider issues that were felt to have been neglected.

8^th Form Lateness

Currently, 8^th form boys are required to be in school for 8.35, even if they do not have lessons until 10.35. The Council feels this is an unnecessary prescription, and strongly recommend that it be changed. It was argued that being in school for morning tutors was an important part of Pauline life; however, it was viewed that missing tutors for a maximum of two times a week was no more destructive than attendance at assemblies.

New Highmaster Selection

The Council discussed over two weeks their recommendations for aspects that should be taken into consideration in the selection of a new Highmaster, who would begin in September 2004. The Surmaster gave advice on how to proceed, and said he would welcome any recommendations we could make on behalf of the students. The wide-ranging debate that followed covered the following aspects: the HM’s relationship with the student body; the profile of the school; the HM’s background, personality and previous experience; religion; whether the appointment should be internal or external; the future of St Paul’s as an independent school. The Council will produce a document for the Surmaster by the end of the week; it will be available on the Student Council noticeboard.

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