From the Head of Senior School

As we approach the end of Spring Term and the calendar year and summer is fast approaching, it is a good time to reflect on 2019 and look forward to the break ahead.

For our leaving Year 12 cohort, who had a fantastic send off at the Valedictory Dinner on Friday night, life beyond Scotch is now a reality and they are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead - after a relaxing break over Christmas of course. Some have chosen further study, some are starting in the workforce, while others are looking at opportunities to travel. All leave the school as Old Scotch Collegians and join around 15,000 other members of this group. This community is strong and no matter where our Class of 2019 find themselves, I encourage them to maintain their ties with their classmates and the OSC. The memories they celebrate, laugh about, debate and occasionally embellish will be shared time and again in the years ahead, and this was evident on Friday night at the Valedictory Dinner. The connections and sense of belonging were clear and we look forward to many more celebrations in the years to come.

For our current students, now is a great opportunity to reflect on the year that has been and to take stock. We are one term into the academic year and, without doubt, there will have been triumphs and challenges in the classroom, pastorally and in the co-curricular domain. Each of us now has the opportunity to reflect on how we approached these challenges and how we acknowledged the triumphs. The peaks and troughs are often there, but are not as far apart in distance or time as we sometimes imagine. It is important to keep things in perspective, understand how we all operate when we are at our best and try to work towards that. So I encourage all of our students to take the opportunity to relax and spend time doing the things they enjoy over this break. Whatever your haven is, it is important to spend time there. This may be in a physical sense or it may be finding the time to take a mental break and clear your mind. This summer holiday provides a great opportunity to do this and then to reset in preparation for the start of next year.

I would also like to thank those staff who our travelling with students on tours during the break. These include the Service Tour to India and the Basketball Tour to the USA. We wish the groups well and know the experiences ahead will be ones they will cherish. To our students, staff and families, I wish you and your loved ones all the best for a restful and rewarding Christmas break and look forward to seeing you all in 2020.