Farewell

We are almost at the end of an amazing year. Amazing not so much for the events or unusual twists and turns of the year, but how we as a school community have responded in a positive, collegiate manner. I am very proud to be a part of the Scotch College community.

In our final Thistle of the year, I'd like to take a few lines to thank and farewell some departing Middle School teachers. Our wonderful Indonesian teacher Ms Francesca Gabby will be leaving us and will take up an Indonesian teaching role at Iona Junior School. Mrs Robyn Bose has taught across Year 6, 7 and 8 in her seven years at Scotch and her impact on our boys English has been considerable. Mrs Bose moves closer to home to St Mary's Girls School. The artistic and creative talents of Ms Gabrielle Kotai have been recognised too with a full-time Art Teacher role at the new Hammond Park College from next year. Mr Jared Faint, after fourteen years in Middle School teaching Year 6 and 7, Digital Design, Product Design, Indonesian, ILT Integration and been a stalwart of the Staff vs Students basketball competition moves to take up a position at Guildford Grammar School, two minutes from home. Finally, our King of the Handball Courts Mr Wayne Ramsay, after twenty-six years at Scotch College puts down his calculator, blackboard ruler and closes his marks book and heads off to a well-earned and well-deserved retirement. Each of these staff have gone above and beyond their curriculum duties and helped make the Middle School the positive, energetic and welcoming place it has become known for. I thank them on all of our behalfs and wish them the very best for the next phase of their careers.

At the end of this year, I will also be leaving the College and I cannot say thank you enough for the honour and privilege of leading the Middle School, of working with you and the fabulous Middle School staff in the education of your sons. I have been very, very lucky. Mr Gareth Williams, current Deputy Head of Senior School, will become Acting Head of Middle School from the start of next year.

For our Year 8 families, we get to say farewell at both the Year 8 Breakfast and the final event of 2020, the Year 8 Speech Night. For those I may not see between now and the holidays, I wish you a safe and relaxing holiday break and most importantly wish to say thank you for your time, support, enthusiasm, generosity and patience once again this year in the education of our boys.

Until we meet again.