We are very pleased to announce that we have found the teacher who will replace Prof.ssa Elisa Donzelli as the High School teacher of Italian GCSE in Grades 10 and 11 and the IB Diploma programme in Grade 12.

Alessandro Marucci is highly qualified and comes to us with very good references, thus ensuring the continuation of the highest standard of Italian teaching in our school.

He will work together with Prof.ssa Donzelli for several days and will take over his classes as from the 1^st March.

We are very happy to welcome Professore Marucci  on to our Middle/High School staff.

Grade 3 had a fascinating talk this week by one of our ex-parents, Alberto Luca Recchi, about his work as an undersea photographer and film-maker. He caught their attention by dressing in his diving clothes and emerging in the dark with a torch. He showed the equipment he uses including a special metal glove to avoid being bitten by sharks. He also showed some huge teeth, one from a whale and one from a prehistoric shark. He explained a lot about ocean exploration which helped the children to understand their unit of inquiry much better and emphasised our responsibility to show respect for and take care of the sea. His message was - never put anything in the sea and never take anything out. He also told us about a special campaign to preserve sharks and swordfish so please: DO NOT EAT THESE! It was a wonderful experience for everyone.

On Wednesday 16th February, Dr. Maura Cossutta and two of her colleagues (a psychologist - also working with UNICEF - and an Italian-Arabic interpreter) came to talk to Grade 5 about the Migrant Friendly Hospital project that Hospital San Camillo (where she works) is joining. The visit was associated with the current G5 Unit of Enquiry on 'Migrations'. More on this topic can be found on the hospital’s web site.

When I first accompanied Carlo, Francesco, Edoardo, Aloisio and Saverio, they were Grade 7 playing against Grades 8 and 9, and my words of advice were to enjoy the tournament, ‘try your best and experience football at this level’. We did not fair too well in the tournament, we felt fear. However, on Saturday the 12th February at Ambrit school, my words of advice were totally different: “We can win this, we have the experience and we have the ability.”

I have had time to reflect this weekend about how far our teams in the school have come on and progressed. We don’t just turn up anymore and play for experience, we turn up and compete and we expect to get into the semi-finals or the final. We now have higher expectation of our teams, other teams fear us; one part of sport that you need on your side.
The Grade 6 and 7 team played some great football against some very strong sides and lost only by one goal in the semi-finals. Again: our expectations of our teams are extremely high, they are playing together, passing and moving, working in unison, the major technique they have developed is teamwork, constantly reinforced by their manager Mr Scattalon. Work as a team, win as a team, draw as a team, lose as a team, stay together, as a team.
Well done all, and a special thanks to all the parents that accompanied the pupils to a fantastic day.

Mr Douglas
PE Coordinator

Recently some of our Grade 12 and 13 students were accompanied by Mr Murray and Ms Lambie on a challenging and unforgettable trek in the mountains in Morocco.
Along breathtaking landscapes, our team was shocked by the number of little children asking for basic school equipment. The Moroccan illiteracy rate is very high due to poverty. The expedition offered touching experiences and gave our team the opportunity to learn an important life lesson.
Children aged 5, sometimes even younger, politely asked whether you had ‘un stilo’ (a pen). Let’s be honest, for us, a pen is nothing.
Donating a simple blue biro, means donating a future. School equipment can make a difference.
Please bring in to school any of the below (in good condition) and leave them in the box in the foyer before Friday 18th February.
-    pens
-    pencils
-    rubbers
-    notebooks
-    pencil cases
-    sharpeners

A new issue of RIS Report is out! This month's magazine contains a preview of the upcoming Book Week, an article on our bright young minds in the Gifted and Talented Programme, a report on how we remembered the Holocaust, an outline on how we guide our students to the universities they choose, and more!
The latest issue is available in our main hall, or you can find the PDF version here.

Once again our young footballers have competed with the rest of the international schools in Rome at St. Georges school with some dazzling displays of skill and determination. This time it was the Grades 3 and 4 team, managed by Mrs Douglas, that won their tournament and we have another trophy to display down in the reception area.

The Grade 6 team played some great football against some very strong sides, losing only one game and drawing the rest. Our Grade 5 team was oversubscribed with lots of enthusiastic players all wanting to represent the school, in total we had 28 players from the elementary school play in the tournament.

Thanks again to Mr Fei and Mr Scattalon for their commitment and dedication to the teams guiding our young stars throughout the tournament.

Mr Douglas
PE Coordinator

This weekend, on 5th February, we’ll be playing in a football tournament at St. George’s British International School at their location in La Storta. Teams from our Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be competing. For more information, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .