The Thistle - An E-Newsletter of Scotch College, Perth, Western Australia

From the Head of Middle School

The excitement of next year was thick in the air today as we ran Orientation Day for all of our new 2020 Year 6 & 7 students and parents.  Adding to the air of anticipation were the current Year 8 boys who spent the day in Senior School in their new Houses and working their way around the campus and coming to grips with their new expectations.  The lucky Year 7's, next year's Year 8's, spent the day with their Year 8 teachers at Adventure World.

Before we completely tune in on next year the final seven days of this year are critical, teaching and learning continues to the end.  Three events to be aware of:

  • On Friday we have our final Middle School Assembly, our IB Learner Profile Awards Assembly, in the Dickinson Centre.  At this Assembly we recognise the importance of the IB attributes highlighting boys in each year level who have embraced or exemplified these characteristics.  We also announce our Year 6, 7, and 8 Citizenship Award – the Mo Maslin Citizenship Award.  This assembly will commence at the earlier time 11:30am.
  • Scotch Parents Year 8 Breakfast: This breakfast event hosted by the Scotch Parents is for Year 8 students and parents.  It is a last chance for us to come together as a cohort of students and parents in an informal manner before the House structures and systems of Senior School organise us for the remaining four years.  Breakfast runs from 7:30am - 8:30am in the Middle School Quad. Bookings can be made via the website and "Book a Scotch Event".
  • Middle School Speech Night: This is a Year 8 event only, unless a Year 6 or 7 boy is a performer in a musical item.  All family members are welcome to attend.  The evening runs from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Staff Farewells

I take this final opportunity to farewell and thank two departing Middle School staff in Mr Scott Siekierka and Mr Adrian Hicks.  Mr Siekierka has been one of our Year 8 Maths and Science teachers and also the Head of the Year 7/8 Boarding House.  It has been a significant and complex combination of roles that Mr Siekierka has devoted a huge amount of time and energy to.  Mr Siekierka moves to take up an exciting position that has Science, the development of an AFL Academy and oversight of the Year 9 Glengarry Outward Bound experience at Scots College in Sydney.  Mr Hicks began life at Scotch as a Middle School Music teacher but quickly became a Year 6-12 Music Teacher such is his range of instruments and musical flexibility.  Mr Hicks moves to take up a position with the Education Department's School of Instrumental Music.  On behalf of the boys who have come into the sphere of these two very dedicated teachers we wish them all the best in the exciting times to come in their new roles.

Semester 2 Reports

Semester 2 Reports will be made available in SEQTA Engage with email notification sent to you on Wednesday 11 December.

My final note is a thank you to the Scotch Parents, in particular the Middle School Parent Representatives.  Throughout the year we have boys and families, and this includes staff, that are grateful for the recognition, the compassion and understanding that a support network such as the Scotch Parents offers.  It is a hard service to see but it exists and kicks in when members of our community are in need.  Thank you for the meals, the emails, the additional hands that arrive so readily when the call goes out.  For a more tangible and visible example of the Scotch Parents' support, are the new basketball precinct and cricket areas in Middle School which have been a huge hit with the boys; play spaces paid for by the Scotch Parents. Thank you for your contribution to our wellbeing and enjoyment.

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I wish you all a Merry Christmas and an enjoyable summer break.