Last week I hosted visiting principals from Independent Schools in Sydney and Melbourne. Our Middle School was also part of a school visit programme during a national conference held in Perth last week. A topic that is quite often raised by visitors pertains to how we handle our one-one device strategy.

When this question is posed it usually means how do we monitor and, if required, restrict certain types of usage.  I think it would be fair to say that the growth of one-one programmes is nothing new. It probably commenced in earnest during the mid 1990s and yet the same questions and issues appear to revolve around ICT in schools today. For all of the years that schools have been operating within the context of multi modal ICT, we still grapple with how much usage is too much.

A lot of parents, and I have no doubt many educators, still hold the view that ‘Prohibition’ is a concept that may work to control the growth of device over usage – in other words a total ban. Anyone familiar with history will no doubt know how well prohibition has worked in other areas of society.

As I was taking advantage of the long weekend, I reminded myself how important it is to ensure that cerebral activity is broken up by either exercise or some form of work involving physical activity. Furthermore, I made a decision to limit my online access. By the end of the weekend, I felt somewhat recharged and energised. Ironically, I had to break my long weekend device reduction to write this article.

With reference to getting the balance right, what is really important, is that families need to ensure that their sons find a balance between online activity and physical activity. Recently I was speaking to a dad who in his words dragged his son kicking and screaming for a bike ride. While the initial 10 minutes appeared far from welcomed by his son, the end result was a boy who loved the ride. This decision broke the cycle of sedentary activity; got everyone out of the house and as such, everyone's ICT devices were not the focus for the afternoon.

Why did this activity work? The answer is simple, it took a parent to model what they wanted; a change in environment from internal TV or device based to a physical outdoor activity. I witness this many times over each weekend when I see families bring their son to our playing fields for 30 minutes or so to run off some of their energy. On Sunday I found myself chatting to a number of Scotch families on our playing fields, in particular the dads, reliving the football match they had probably just watched on Fox or even better, reliving their own legendary football prowess from their by-gone years.

The Centre for Disease Control in the US also highlight why physical activity and getting outside is so important. Physical activity assists with:

• Building and maintaining healthy bones and muscles
• Reducing the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, in future years
• Reducing feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being
• Is associated with helping to improve students' academic performance, including, academic achievement and grades and academic behaviour, such as concentration and attentiveness in the classroom.

If we want our boys to achieve balance then we must show them how. Some of you may be aware of the song by Harry Chapin "Cats in the Cradle". If not, you may wish to listen to it some time. Essentially the song is about a young boy watching how his father lives his life and is exemplified by the lyrics:

"He learned to walk while I was away, and he was talking' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, he'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad"

The message is that we must role model to our boys at school and at home. If we fail to do so, how will they accept the importance of balance in their life? This is why Scotch ensures sport is compulsory and that we provide a breadth of co-curricular offerings.

Recently, I have had several conversations with parents regarding their perception that their son has become addicted to gaming or simply addicted to social media and device usage. We cannot avoid the use of ICT, nor should we. This is the reality of the world, within which our boys now operate. What we have to do is to ensure that ICT and associated activities are simply seen as part of a balanced lifestyle.

As with most things in life, moderation is the key. A simple way to address over usage of ICT or social media is to set usage times with your sons and stick to what is agreed. In essence, it is all about having meaningful conversations with boys in order to shape their way of operating. Remember you are the parents and that sometimes there are uncomfortable discussions to be had, and difficult calls to be made. Boys need to be given ‘lines in the sand’.

We must be the role models of desired behaviour. If our boys never see us display the type of behaviour we value, then how else will they ever come to understand the importance of a balanced life style? Balance incorporates getting out and about and experiencing more than just a virtual representation of life on a TV or computer screen.

Speaking of the importance of our outdoor life and balance, congratulations to our residential community on hosting a simply wonderful ‘Ag Day’ last Wednesday. It was the first time it was held at the boarding facility and the first time it included the whole school. It was such a great example of why we love having a boarding presence at Scotch College. Seeing our Pre-Ks through to Year 12s dressed in their farming attire was very heart-warming and sent an important message about celebrating the uniqueness of our community. Well done to everyone for organising such a great event. If you did not get to see the original Ag Day promotional video, I suggest you click here and enjoy the vision of the many places our young men come from to attend Scotch as boarders.

Congratulations must go to all students and staff who participated in the 50 Mile Walk and to those who provided support for the event to take place. A special thank you to Mrs Evans for her long standing support of this event at our school.  Events such as this are things that boys remember many years after school.

Have a great fortnight.

Chaplain’s Reflections

What I notice when I take our dog Mackie for a walk in the morning depends very much on my state of mind each day.

In a comment on the way ‘landscape’ refers not only to the natural world but also to how human beings know themselves and move through the world, John O’Donohue said:

‘It makes a huge difference how you wake up each morning and come out of your house.  Whether you believe you are walking into a dead geographical location, which is used to get to a destination, or whether you are emerging out into a landscape that is as alive as you, but in a totally different form.  If you go towards it with an open heart and a watchful reverence, you will be absolutely amazed at what it will reveal to you.  In Celtic Christianity there is a strong sense of mystery with a passionate embrace of nature, the body, and the senses.  The divine is understood as manifest everywhere in everything.’  (John O’Donohue, Irish poet, priest and philosopher).

May we encounter the presence of the Divine each day of our lives.

The lost arts – continued

In the last Thistle, I wrote about the importance of having good conversations, and of listening well. And whilst these are not yet lost arts, we should do what we can to preserve them and boost our boys’ capacity to engage in these artforms. When we talk with people – face-to-face, without interruption or distraction, we demonstrate to them that they matter to us. This is critical to building connection and making people feel that they matter and that they belong.

Another art we would do well to preserve is the art of being patient. If you have not seen it already, at some stage you will most likely notice that your son is in a great hurry. This will often correspond with him knowing an awful lot. The great challenge for us is to gently get him to realise that neither of these is true. The capacity to delay gratification and demonstrate a willingness to work hard towards a distant goal have been shown to be big predictors of future achievement. Patience comes with perspective, and this is hard to develop in young people because it is essentially an activity involving comparison. A week is a long time for a young person because it is a bigger percentage of their lives than someone older. We can assist them by trying to explain to them the ‘big picture’, encouraging them to see beyond the horizon or the next hurdle, so that they can begin to appreciate that life goes on and, quite often, good things come with the passage of time. Helping them to see beyond themselves, through community service or time spent in nature, is also useful in developing patience as well as creating useful citizens.

A connected artform is the capacity to be bored. The ability to sit and wait – for a bus, for a meal, for someone else to turn up – actually creates an opportunity for reflection, for contemplation and for imagination. These are the building blocks of curiosity. Day-dreaming and doodling can help to fill in the time without there ever being a sense that such time is wasted. It seems that down time – the time in between activities – has become time that must be used for something. But we cannot be ‘on’ all the time. Too often, this time in between activities is spent on devices of one kind or another. This fills in the time without being productive and it robs us of an appreciation of how valuable time is. There is an opportunity for conversation, or for simply sitting still and being quiet, which has apparently become a forgotten and vastly under-rated luxury these days.

In all of this, the best way to foster these skills in our boys is to demonstrate those skills ourselves when we engage with them and with others around them. Whilst they might not say it, boys are keen observers of the important adults in their lives and when we role-model the behaviour we hope to see in them, this is the best form of instruction, because it is not something they feel forced to adopt, but rather they adopt it through observation and osmosis. 

Parents’ Workshops

We are keen to run some workshops and presentations for parents covering topics which are important for you in helping to ensure your son is at his best as often as possible, and to ensure you have as positive a relationship as possible with him. To assist us in setting up such a programme, we would be grateful if you could complete this very short (two question) survey 

The Fathering Project (TFP)

Just a reminder that we are hosting a presentation from The Fathering Project at Scotch on Thursday 13^th June in the Memorial Hall. TFP is a not-for-profit organisation which is dedicated to inspiring and equipping fathers and father-figures to engage more fully with, and to be more present for, their kids. We will be meeting for informal refreshments at 7pm and the presentation will run from 7.30 til 9.00pm. If you are keen to join us and learn more, then please email Pru Adams at Pru.Adams@scotch.wa.edu.au . This is a free event.

Differentiate yourself

As the year rapidly progresses, our young men are applying for university, seeking casual employment, and beginning to think about scholarships and being accepted into residential colleges. With this in mind, requests for academic transcripts and records of achievements and awards increase too. The boys are increasingly aware of the statistics around the use of the ATAR* and the need to differentiate themselves. And of course, Scotch College staff are always more than happy to oblige and do everything we can to project the young man we have come to know and the reasons why he should be accepted or appointed.

But there is more your son can do!   

All Year 12 students have been sent an email explaining to them how to log their Service and Citizenship commitments and reminding them that this is something they must prepare for now, not at the last minute later in the year.  Please visit the Service and Citizenship website to see the link to the Service log which links to their Service Record.

Another way that students should consider being prepared for future applications and interviews is by completing their Duke of Ed. The Award is celebrating its 60^th  birthday and is as relevant as ever. This recent article in Australian Geographic outlines the worth of the Award. Note that the Headmaster mentioned, Kurt Hahn, is also the founder of Round Square of which Scotch College is a proud global member. We know the Award is widely recognised and speaks universally of commitment and breadth of experiences.

Encourage your son to explore this link and be prepared for the university application period that will arrive quickly.     

* Statistics show that less than one in four students use an ATAR score to enter university and this has dropped from one in three in 2014, so the trend is clear.   

Tanzania 2020

The information evening for Tanzania 2020 is on Monday 17 June at 6.30pm in Memorial Hall.

For an insight into the 2018 experience have a look at this video and the website which has the 2018 Tour Report and an insight into the work undertaken in Matipwili. PLC and Scotch have built a relationship with Matipwili since 2004 and we are extremely proud to be able to offer a service experience that has been ongoing (or “continuation” as the letter read in the video says) and is built on mutual benefits and well-established relationships.  

The tour is aimed at 2020 Year 11 and 12 students and their parents, but all are welcome to attend.  

Rocky Bay and Scotch College featured on Channel 7’s Today Tonight

Last week, Scotch College and Rocky Bay were featured on Channel 7's Today Tonight. We are proud of the relationship we have built with Rocky Bay and Malcolm Burgess in particular. Our boys always leave the sessions with great awareness and feeling inspired by his determination to share his story.  Watch the video here. 

Annual Appeal 2019

The 2019 Annual Giving Programme will be dedicated to the Scotch College Scholarship and Bursary Fund. Each donation from the Scotch community will help us to offer the gift of a Scotch College education to students to whom it may not otherwise be available.

Donations to the Annual Appeal are tax deductible and can be made online here. Alternatively, please download and complete this form and return it to the College.

For more information, please contact Kate Quinn, Director of Marketing, Advancement & Community Relations on Kate.Quinn@scotch.wa.edu.au or (08) 9383 6832.

Year 11 and 12 Drama Production: The Government Inspector

Adapted by Jeffery Hatcher, based on the original by Nikolai Gogol

A Government Inspector is on his way to a small Russian town and the corrupt local officials are thrown into a frenzy. In their panic, they mistake a penniless gambler and con man as the Inspector – with hilarious results. Widely held to be Russia's greatest comedy, this timeless play is as fresh, feisty and funny today as it was at its first performance. Do not miss out on a rollicking night of slap-stick fun!

Tickets:   $15/$25 click here 
Venue:    Dickinson Centre
Dates:     4, 6, 7 and 8 June 7.00pm, also 8 June 2.00pm Matinee.

Year 7 Scholarships 2020

The Headmaster and College Council are delighted to announce the following awards:

GG Gooch Scholarship

Simon Pocock (Inglewood Primary School)

JA Gooch Scholarship

James Vaughan (Scotch College)

Academic Entrance Scholarship

Jasper Lindsay (West Leederville Primary School)

Callum Christie (Rosalie Primary School)

Isaac Oddy (Nedlands Primary School)

Foundation Academic Scholarship

Oliver Spurling (Carmel School)

Bruno Erickson (North Cottesloe Primary School)

Foundation Boarding Scholarship

Xavier Risinger (Carnamah District High)

Digby Smith (Frankland River Primary School)

Henry Dyke (St Matthew’s School Narrogin)

Uniform Shop

OPENING HOURS

Tuesday 8.00am to 5.00pm

Thursday, Friday 7.30am to 11.30am

Jazz Night

Scotch College presents Jazz Night Friday 28 June 2019.  Tickets available via www.scotch.wa.edu.au

Middle School Information Sessions

Scotch College invites interested families (new to the College) to attend our June Middle School Information Sessions on Wednesday 12 June, 5.30pm - 7.00pm andThursday 13 June, 9.00am - 10.30am. 

A critical time of transition for your son. Our Middle School is loaded with innovative thinking and practice, and rich in engagement. Meet Mr Richard Ledger, Head of Middle School and find out how your son will be supported, encouraged and challenged both academically and personally.

If you know a family who may be interested, please direct them to the College website for further information and to register: http://bit.ly/2GmdnIt

From the Head of Junior School

Gratitude: A Simple Act

‘Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude and gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.’ - Henri Frederic Amiel

Reflecting on our own childhoods, I am sure we can recall our parents repeatedly reminding us to say thank you. To look the person in the eye and acknowledge what they have done with these two simple words. That act of saying thank you was the beginning of our parents teaching us to express gratitude to the person who had done something for us. As our children grow up, the opportunities and reasons to say thank you to someone and express the gratitude they should have for what has been done for them increases.  This gratitude could be expressed to immediate members of their family, their coaches of the various teams they take part in or their teachers at school. So many people do so much for the children each and every day. That expression of a simple thank you and the expression of gratitude is important to learn and cultivate in young people. The more you give thanks, the more you end up having to be thankful for.

As parents, the modelling of this behaviour is integral to children taking it on as part of their conduct and behaviour. Teaching them how to appreciate what other people do for them by going beyond the simple act of saying thank you, expressing true gratitude in the way we behave and respond to people. This is the best way we can help them along that journey of understanding the importance of this simple act.

As parents, if we express to the coaches, to the person in the shop and to the children’s teachers the gratitude we have for what they do with a simple thank you or a kind comment. Encouraging our children to do the same will help make the paying of gratitude more than simple lip service but a matter of heart. This helps our children reflect on the many things that people do to help them each and every day.

‘When you see and feel gratitude, you cannot describe it. It fills every part of your mind, body and soul. It is exactly like love, you just know when are feeling it.” Lee Watanabe- Crocket

Physical Education News

The Junior School Inter-House Cross Country took place on the college grounds on Wednesday 29 May in beautiful conditions for running. Ryan Shine a previous student of the Junior School piped the boys and girls in from Pre-Kindergarten through to Year 5. Anticipation was high amongst the students as they watched the Pre-Kindergarten and their buddies set off for the first run of the day. The Kindergarten followed in what were two enjoyable and keenly contested races. Watching the young students run around the course was a highlight for many of the older boys and parents who attended to watch their children race. The Pre-Primary, Year 1 and Year 2 races were won convincingly by Thomas Millard, Otto Blackburne and Casey Savill respectively. The Year 3 and 4 races were hotly contested with Lucas Fry and Lincoln McIntosh crossing the line first. The house shield lay in the balance with The Year 5 race to come as the students cheered on their peers from the sidelines. Ben Campbell showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the Year 5 race with Abe Prendiville and Cooper Royle coming in second and third. David House won the overall shield for champion house in the Cross Country on what was a fantastic day out for boys and parents.

Mr Scott Whiston
Head of Junior School Physical Education

Year 4C News

Our second unit of inquiry, ‘How the world works’, focused on the celestial bodies in our solar system. The boys were fortunate to visit the Planetarium at Scitech as an immersion activity. They enjoyed a session with the amazing Professor Quinn and learned about radio astronomy. The boys also welcomed local astronomer, Richard Tonello, from Astronomy Education Services. He taught the boys about celestial bodies and technology which aids space exploration. He brought a solar telescope, which allowed the boys to view the sun safely. The boys enjoyed researching their own planets, creating their own orrery and learning about space phenomena such as Neutron stars and the Northern lights. They wrote fantastic expositions in response to topics about money being spent on space and whether they would like to be a settler on Mars. 

In our current unit of inquiry, ‘How we express ourselves’, the boys have explored traditional stories from different cultures. We invited Mark Greenwood, a local author and history hunter to visit Year 4. He told the boys about the origins and inspirations for his books. It was wonderful to learn about the legendary people in his books such as John Simpson, Ned Kelly and Moondyne Joe. Greenwood has certainly inspired the boys to develop their curiosity about legendary people, books and creative writing. 

We have been very lucky to have Eugene Cha’s mum, Saki, come in and teach the boys about Japanese stories. They learned about the importance of stories in Japanese culture and particularly enjoyed reading the ‘The Child Gods’. They also loved reading Greek myths and learning about gods, monsters and brave heroes. The boys created their own version of ‘King Midas’ for our assembly item; their performance is sure to be amazing.

All in all, it has been a fantastic term in 4C. The boys are looking forward to exploring more traditional stories and beginning our next unit of inquiry, ‘Where we are in place and time’.

  

Miss Olivia Creagh
Year 4 Teacher

From the Head of Middle School

How good was Agricultural Day last week?! For the last three years the boys in Residential Life have put the spotlight on their homes, lifestyles and the workplaces of their parents through Ag Day.  Last week’s Ag Day was a beauty.  Big machinery, the animals, the fleece and grains, the RFDS and the excellent video put together by Toby Egerton-Warbuton (Year 12). When people ask “What are some of the great things about Scotch College?” one answer has to be that we have Boarders.

   

As a young boy my family frequently visited an ‘Aunties’ farm. Not really an aunty, but a nursing friend of my mothers.  Out of respect we called them Aunty and Uncle. There weren’t any farms within our family but through this friendship we were invited to enjoy farm visits during school holidays.  We fed the sheep, the chooks, the calves, stacked hay, watched the shearing, watched the big machinery rumbling past the house and working the fields and we picked mallee roots from the paddocks.  There seemed to always be mallee roots to pick.  Those holidays were weeks of wide-eyed wonder.  I even got to drive the ute in the stubble paddock.  Life on the farm was so different to my life in the city and so were the sounds, the smells, the activity and the work hours. 

Without being able to express it, I could sense my personal horizons shifting and perspectives on life and the understanding of the dimensions to it growing.  I’d like to think that my ‘cousin’ who spent summer holidays with us also got a similar wider view and appreciation of the world as we fished, swam, rowed boats, skateboarded, rode bikes and went to the movies.

At Scotch we have 145 boys boarding in Years 7-12 from all over the state.  They come from rural towns, farms, Aboriginal communities, fishing towns and mining centres.  That is a large slice of WA’s rural life represented in our boarding house.  In Middle School we have 35 boys across Year 7 & 8 living away from home.  Ag Day was a great reminder of the world and the experiences our boarding boys bring to the friendships they form with the day boys and the possibilities that exist for expanding your son’s world views. 

I would encourage you to take a look at the Ag Day promotional video via the link included in the Headmaster’s article this week.

Middle School Inter-House Cross Country

The annual Middle School Inter-House Cross Country was held last Wednesday 29 May, on what was a beautiful and sunny Autumn afternoon.

The first race of the event was the Year 6 students and coming through the finish line 1^st with an amazing performance was Oliver Knuckey (6.3).  Oliver broke the previous Year 6 2.5km record by a monumental 15 seconds, running 8:59min.  

The Year 7 students completed the same 2.5km course with excellent performances from many students.  In an extremely tight finish, Cody Curtin (7.4) completed the course in 9:17min and came in 1st, then one second behind him was Tex Cross (7.3) in 2^nd place finishing in 9:18min, and closely behind him was AJ Merry (7.6) finishing in 3^rd place in 9:19min.

Year 8 students completed the 3km course with Henry Feutrill (8.6) winning in 10:35min in a very impressive run.  Jack Cook (8.6) came in 2^nd place finishing in 10:44min, followed by Alexander Lee (8.2) 11:08min in what were really great performances.

The final House standing points were:

• 1^st            Robert House:           4782
• 2^nd        Andrew House:          4191
• 3^rd        Bruce House:             4099
• 4^th        James House:            4073
• 5^th        David House:             3840
• 6^th        Gordon House:          3769

It was fantastic to see so many students give their personal best on the day.  Thank you to all parents who came down to support their sons in what was a very successful afternoon.

 

Mr Michael Brinsden
Head of Middle School Sport

Technology Enriching Visual Art

The Visual Arts in Middle School has seen the introduction of the iPad into the programme in 2019, accompanying the current cohort of Year 6’s.  The technology and power of the iPad is impressive, and in planning for its introduction we carefully considered how it could be incorporated into the current structure as an additional art making tool, to both complement and enhance the range of skills the boys develop in the Visual Arts.

I am a firm believer that a good portion of the genuine value of a quality Visual Arts course at a Middle School level is in the transferable soft skills students learn and apply in tasks, which they can then utilise in other subject areas as well as into their life beyond school.  Skills such as: creative thinking, problem solving, lateral thinking, non-verbal communication, conceptualisation, mindfulness, perseverance, innovation and suspension of resolution, to name but a few.

We also have a responsibility to be forward thinking in trying to visualise and understand the kinds of key proficiencies these boys will require in their world as they begin to enter the workforce in around 2030, and see the Visual Arts as a learning area very well positioned to support that.

The 2018 World Economic Forum ‘Future of Jobs Report’ says of only 2022:

‘Proficiency in new technologies is only one part of the 2022 skills equation, however, as ‘human’ skills such as creativity, originality and initiative, critical thinking, persuasion and negotiation will likewise retain or increase their value, as will attention to detail, resilience, flexibility and complex problem-solving.’ P 11.

To this end, and in a practical sense, I have been extremely impressed with how dexterous the boys have been with their application of the technology in Summer Term in Visual Art, and I am certain that it has absolutely enriched the quality of the work they have produced so far.

    

By Joseph Finn Year 6.3                                     By Lachlan Cairns Year 6.1                               By Oliver Cooper Year 6.1  

Mr Scott Bycroft
Visual Arts Teacher

Middle School Design & Technology

The Middle School Design & Technology learning area started a new and exciting Digital Design Year 8 course which focused on coding and integrating electronics using the BBC Microbit.  The boys were faced with the challenge of prototyping and coding an electronic device that could help them around the house and garden which linked closely to the Science curriculum.  Some of the skills taught were problem solving and creative thinking with a strong emphasis on the inquiring and analysing stage of the Design Cycle.

The Year 6 and 7 boys complete a successful rotation with some impressive CO2 dragster cars and gumball machines completed.  As we live in an ever changing world we are constantly changing and adapting our programs to align with new technologies.  We have recently installed the new 3D printers and plasma cutter which will expose the boys to so many more possibilities and design options.  What an exciting time we live in!

Mr Brent Van Ingen-Kal & Mr Edward Grant
Middle School Design & Technology Teachers

Important Dates in Middle School Autumn Term

Wednesday 5 June	Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Boarders only)
Friday 7 June	Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Returns (Boarders only) Hale v Scotch (away)
Monday 10 June	Year 8.3 & 8.4 Moray Departs
Wednesday 12 June	MS Information Session (Prospective Parents), 5.30pm
Thursday 13 June	MS Information Session (Prospective Parents), 9.00am
Friday 14 June	Year 8.3 & 8.4 Moray Returns 12.00pm MS Assembly (internal), 12.00pm MacKellar Hall Scotch v Guildford Grammar (home) Year 8 Parent Function, 7.00pm Cottesloe Beach Hotel $20.00 pp
Monday 17 June	Year 8.5 & 8.6 Moray Departs
Tuesday 18 June	Year 6 Coffee Morning, 8.30am Shorehouse Swanbourne
Wednesday 19 June	State Schools WA Orienteering Championships, 8.30am Manning Park
Thursday 20 June	Year 7 Scotch v Dulwich Singapore Rugby March, 2.45pm JS/MS Music Winter Soiree, 5.30pm Memorial Hall
Friday 21 June	Year 8.5 & 8.6 Moray Returns Scotch v Aquinas College (home)
Monday 24 June	Ride2School
Tuesday 25 June	Ride2School Year 7 & 8 ySafe Incursion, Periods 5 & 6 Year 7 & 8 Parents ySafe Presentation, 6.30pm Memorial Hall
Thursday 27 June	Church in the City Excursion (Year 7 & 8), 9.00am – 12.30pm JPSSA Inter-School Cross Country, 1.00pm
Friday 28 June	MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC Trinity College v Scotch (away) Jazz Night, 6.30pm DC
Friday 5 July	Autumn Term Concludes Semester 1 Reports published in SEQTA Engage

 

From the Head of Senior School

Student Voice

Last week a number of our students and a selection of staff met with a visiting Head of School from New South Wales. We had the opportunity to discuss a number of similarities and differences between the schools; how we operate, the educational programmes on offer and the manner in which our structures provide support for our students.

One topic that we were asked about, and decided to focus on, was ‘student voice’. This made me think about the number of initiatives that our students had already brought forward and implemented this year. The students have been proactive in sharing their ideas and, where appropriate, leading change. Our Assemblies are a great example of this. We continue to embrace significant student involvement in these events, both in the preparation and involvement on stage, as they share their thoughts and experiences, and we celebrate their efforts across a variety of activities. Two highlights from our last Assembly were the promotion of the upcoming Drama Production, The Government Inspector and the Agricultural Day video. The time and effort put into these by our students, where their ideas were embraced and supported by dedicated staff, were fantastic.

Class time, where students are encouraged to share how they learn, and mentor and House groups have also provided pathways for students to share their ideas, as has our Student Council with representatives in each House providing the boys with opportunities to share their views. This group has been very proactive and implemented some fantastic initiatives. One of these is Live Music Mondays, where students have performed a variety of music genres for the students and staff in the Senior School. This has created a great vibe at lunchtimes and provided students with the opportunity to showcase their talents. Amongst a number of other initiatives, the Student Council have also run a Highland Games Week, supported the Maslin Foundation with a purple themed Free Dress Day and responded to student ideas about improving some of the facilities around the Senior School.

Students were involved in consultation about the set-up of the new Mathematics and Commerce building with a number of their ideas shared and some implemented in the design of that building. The ‘student voice’ is an important factor in any school. Sometimes there are hurdles to overcome or obstacles that require us to look at things from a different perspective, however we encourage our students to share their thoughts and ideas in the appropriate forums and help to initiate change, and support them in doing so. This comes more naturally to some than others and often sits with our older students, however, our Year 9 and 10 students have the same communication pathways available to them through their House and Student Council representatives. The thoughts, opinions and different perspectives of this group are an invaluable resource to our school community and it is important that the students feel confident in sharing them.

While discussing ‘student voice’ I cannot help but segue into the House Singing that is happening later this term. Preparations are in full swing and we look forward with anticipation to the various renditions of some Australian classics.

Colours and Honours Summer 2019

For a list of all recipients see here

Senior School Important Dates

Autumn Term 2019

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 6A
Tuesday 4 June	Year 10 into 11 Subject Selection meetings all week
	The Government Inspector Dress Rehearsal	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 3.30pm
	Year 12 Human Biology Excursion	Harry Perkins Institute	9.00am – 3.30pm
	WADL Debating Round 4, Week 2	Shenton College	6.30pm – 9.30pm
	Year 9 Canberra Tour Information Evening	PLC	7.00pm – 8.00pm
	The Government Inspector Preview Night	Dickinson Centre	7.00pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 5 June	Australian Schools Team Racing Sailing Championships departs
	Year 12 Career Focus Breakfast	Dining Room Annexe	7.15am – 8.30am
	Year 11 House Head Meetings (except Ferguson, Keys and Ross)	Library	3.30pm – 7.30pm
Thursday 6 June	Year 10 Photography Excursion	Fremantle	8.30am – 3.25pm
	The Government Inspector	Dickinson Centre	7.00pm – 9.30pm
Friday 7 June	Senior School Marching (no Assembly)	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 8.50am
	Four Schools Chess Competition	Guildford Grammar School	12.30pm – 4.30pm
	PSA Sport – Hale School v Scotch College (Please visit sport.scotch for details)	Away	1.30pm onwards
	Year 9 Cadet Camp departs		4.30pm
	The Government Inspector	Dickinson Centre	7.00pm – 9.30pm
Saturday 8 June	PSA Sport and Cross Country – Hale School v Scotch College (Please visit sport.scotch for details)	Away	8.30am onwards
	St John's Music Recital Series commences
	The Government Inspector – Matinee	Dickinson Centre	2.00pm – 4.30pm
	The Government Inspector – Final Night	Dickinson Centre	7.00pm – 9.30pm
Sunday 9 June	Brisbane House Tree Planting	Mosman Park Bushland	9.00am – 11.00am
Week 7B
Monday 10 June	Year 11 House Head Meetings (Ferguson, Keys and Ross)	Library	3.30pm – 7.30pm
	50 Mile Walk catch up	Hugh Baird Sports Centre	4.00pm – 5.00pm
Tuesday 11 June	Australian Schools Team Racing Sailing Championships final day
	Year 12 Career Focus Breakfast	Dining Room Annexe	7.15am – 8.25am
	Year 11 Marine and Maritime General Aquaculture Excursion	Fremantle TAFE	11.00am-3.20pm
	WADL Debating Round 5, Week 1	Shenton College	6.30pm – 9.30pm
	Year 12 ISDA Drama Afternoon	MLC	4.00pm – 6.00pm
	FOSM (Friends of Scotch Music) Meeting	Senior School Music Department	7.00pm – 8.30pm
Wednesday 12 June	Year 11 Residential Life PARTY Excursion	SJOG Midland	8.30am – 3.30pm
	Careers Expo	Dickinson Centre	5.00pm – 7.00pm
	European History Tour Meeting	Venue	7.00pm – 8.00pm
Thursday 13 June	The Fathering Project	Memorial Hall	7.00pm – 9.00pm
Friday 14 June	Senior School Marching (no Assembly)	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 8.50am
	Year 10 examinations commence
	PSA Sport – Scotch College v Guildford Grammar School (Please visit sport.scotch)	Home	1.30pm onwards
Saturday 15 June	PSA Sport and Cross Country – Scotch College v Guildford Grammar School (Please visit sport.scotch)	Home	8.30am onwards
	Year 11 Dance	Dickinson Centre	7.00pm – 11.00pm
Monday 17 June	Year 2 and 12 Morning Tea	Library	9.30am – 10.20am

Boys’ Achievements

Henry Vaughan (Year 9, Alexander) won Gold for Western Australia in the Under 15s National Hockey Championships in NSW.

The Pipe Band ‘A Team’ competed at the Fremantle Championships and came first in both Juvenile and Grade 4.

James Crawford (Year 11, Stuart) placed first in the D Grade Piping.

Alex Mallawarachchi (Year 12, Cameron) placed second in the D Grade Piping and first in the C Grade Piping.

David Stulpner (Year 11, Cameron) placed first in the B Grade Piping, third in the A Grade Piping and second in the Open Piobaireachd.

Daniel Wiese (Year 11, Keys) was awarded a Bronze certificate in the Australian Mathematical Olympiad.

William Steinberg (Year 11, Brisbane) was awarded a Gold certificate, having achieved a perfect score in the Australian Mathematics Olympiad. He will represent Australia in the 60^th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Bath, England in July.

 

Please see the list of boys who won certificates in the OzCLO Australian Computational and Linguistic Olympiad.

Careers Information

Scotch College Combined Schools Tertiary Expo 2019

Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are invited to attend the above Expo to be held in the Dickinson Centre at Scotch College on Wednesday 12 June 2019 from 5.00pm – 7.00pm. This Expo will feature university representatives from around Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania and the ACT) as well as Defence Force Recruiting, Apprenticeships Australia, aviation colleges, Engineers Australia, Gap Year organisations, Education USA and many more. This is a great opportunity for students to gather more information about possible further education and training opportunities, prerequisite subjects for university courses and alternatives to university.

Notre Dame Early Offer Programme  

Applications are now open for students wishing to apply for the Early Offer to commence studies at Notre Dame in 2020.

The Early Offer Programme carries personal and academic benefits for students looking to secure a place at university. If successful, a place is reserved at Notre Dame prior to sitting final exams, consideration is given for a place in the University leadership programme and consideration is given for an academic scholarship.

The selection criteria considers the following;

• Students who demonstrate exceptional personal or leadership qualities and are motivated to study;
• Students who are active members of their school, church, and/or community;
• Students who demonstrate a predicted benchmark ATAR of 93+ (Physiotherapy ands Law) 90+ for all other programmes.

Offers are based  on Year 11 and 12 reports to date, application information, school recommendation and admission interview. There is no obligation to enrol at Notre Dame if the application is successful. The Early Offer Program Guide  is now available online. Hard copies will be  available from Mr Frusher at Scotch.

Applications close Friday 31 July 2019.

During the July school holidays, UWA will host Year 12 Individual Advisory Sessions to answer any questions students may have about studying at UWA.

Dates: 15, 16 and 17 July 2019
Time: 10am–7.30pm

Register at:    Year 12 Individual Advisory Sessions

UWA Residential Colleges

UWA now guarantees college accommodation for new students.The UWA Guaranteed Accommodation Offer assures students of a place at one of our residential colleges, providing peace of mind that they'll have their home away from home organised before starting uni.

Check out the five residential colleges which each offer a unique on-campus living experience. The colleges offer a support network for study, socialising, playing sport and getting involved in a whole range of activities.

For more information on living on campus, visit the UWA Accommodation website or contact the  Residential Colleges Central Admissions Office

Scholarships

Curtin University Scholarship Alert

Year 12 students can sign up for Curtin's free scholarship email service to receive an email alert whenever a scholarship that matches their criteria is open for applications. An email reminder will also be sent before applications close.  To subscribe, visit the scholarship website at:  www.scholarships.curtin.edu.au/subscribe

Bond University Scholarships

Scholarships applications for Bond University are now open! These scholarships encompass a range full-fee and part-fee tuition remission. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, sport, leadership arts and community enhancement. For more information visit  www.bond.edu.au/scholarships Applications close on 1 August 2019.

Study in the USA - PSAT Testing

The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a preliminary version of the SAT. Not only does the PSAT help prepare students to take the SAT or ACT, a great score on the PSAT can also open the door to National Merit Scholarships and other awards. With $180 million dollars in scholarships awarded to students that achieve high scores on the PSAT, how students perform on this exam can help them earn scholarship dollars that change the direction of their college planning. The PSAT is much more than a practice test, it is seen as an essential preparation tools for students who are considering future study in the USA.

The new PSAT, is two hours and 45 minutes long and tests skills in Reading, Writing and Maths.

Scotch College is a registered test centre and will be offering students the opportunity to sit this test on Saturday 19 October 2019. The cost is $30 per student which includes preparation material, personalised feedback on test results and a suggested custom SAT study plan.

If students and/or parents are interested in finding out more about this test please contact Mr Frusher.

To purchase tickets please visit the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and click on the 'Book a Scotch Event' icon. Registrations will close on Monday 24 June 2019.

UK & US University Applications for August 2020

Year 12 students who are considering applying to overseas university commencing in July 2020 are advised to commence the application process sooner rather than later. The process can be quite involved and requires a lot of research in regard to courses and universities. Mr Frusher can be of assistance in this process.

College of Electrical Training Open Day  

On  Saturday 22 June 2019,  CET  Joondalup and Jandakot  will welcome students, their families, electricians and contractors to find out about CET's diverse range of electrical and telecommunications pre-apprenticeship and post-trade courses at the annual Open Day.

This event is a great opportunity for high school students considering a career in the electrical industry to find out more about studying to gain an electrical apprenticeship pathway at CET. Electrical Group Training (EGT), the largest employer of electrical apprentices in the country, will be in attendance to speak with students about potential employment opportunities.

Click here to  REGISTER YOUR INTEREST in attending CET Open Day.

Sound, & Audio Engineering Institute (SAE)  Study For A Day

Study For A Day gives students the opportunity to experience what it is like to be an SAE student for a day. More information on the event can be found below:

Discover what it means to be a creative professional in state-of-the-art facilities with industry experts by your side! Register for a course in your preferred discipline and work on a project to take away for use in a portfolio or showreel.

Date: Saturday 15 June, 9am - 4pm

Courses include: Animation Workshop, Audio - Studio Production Workshop, Design Workshop, Film Workshop

Purchase a ticket here  to secure your place.

Please note this event is only open to students 15 years or older. More information about the event can be found  here.

July Revision Programmes

Academic Task Force ATAR Revision Programme Year 11 and 12  subject revision, study skills, essay writing and exam preparation programmes will be offered at Churchlands Senior High from Monday 8 July – Friday 12 July. The same programmes will be offered at Perth Modern and Rossmoyne Senior High from Monday 15 July – Friday 19 July.

Enrol on-line at  www.acdemicgroup.com.au  or phone 93149500.

Academic Associates ATAR Year 12 ATAR Enrichment Programme at UWA  - Monday 15 July – Friday 19 July. You will receive academic extension in your ATAR courses with higher level exam questions, exam preparation workbooks, and small interactive classes with personal feedback.

Enrol at  www.academicgroup.com.au  or phone 9314 9500.

ATARGET

Revision and ATAR Exam program – Senior & Middle School programs in a range of subjects plus study skills and essay writing will be offered at Christchurch Grammar Monday 8 July – Friday 12 July. Year 12 subject revision and exam preparation only will be held at MLC from Monday 15 July – Friday 19 July. Enrol on-line at  www.atarget.com.au

TEE Consultants

TEE's July Intensive Exam Preparation: Year 12 ATAR

• 10 hours of pure exam preparation courses to maximise your marks.
• Specialist ATAR teachers will groom your exam technique to help you maximise your ATAR scores.

• Available in week 1 of the July School Holidays at UWA.
• Enrol online today at   www.tee.com.au   or call 9314 9599 or email   info@tee.com.au     

Career Search & Information

Information for parents is highly sought after when it comes to helping their children with their career choices. For that reason Myfuture has developed an  Assist your child feature page  containing links to the articles that provide tips and advice for parents and carers to assist their child with their career development. Visit myfuture at  https://myfuture.edu.au/  ​

Year 12 students who are considering university entry in 2020 should now be starting to research universities and courses. Information regarding all universities and courses in Australia can be found at: https://www.courseseeker.edu.au/courses

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Learners Permits and Driver Licenses – Proof of Address Documentation

This documentation is available upon request from the Headmaster's office. Please send emails through to seniorschoolsecretaries@scotch.wa.edu.au

Please allow at least two working days for the document to be prepared. It is preferred that requests are made during term.

Important Rowing Dates in Spring Term 2019 and Summer Term 2020

Albany Rowing Camp

Thursday 10 to Monday 14 October 2019

A camp for Year 10, 11 and 12 boys (as per Spring Term) will be held again in Albany. This is a valuable preparatory camp - more information to follow in August. The camp is held in the latter part of the October holidays.

December Camp  (to be confirmed)

Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 December

A camp for Year 10, 11 and 12 boys (as per Spring Term) is planned. Location yet to be confirmed.

January Rowing Camp

Thursday 16 to Wednesday 22 January 2020

For all rowing boys Years 9 to 12. Year 11 and 12 boys attend the camp on a residential basis. Year 9 and 10 boys attend on a day basis. Year 9 boys will train from the Scotch Boatshed on 16 and 17 January then at Champion Lakes for the remainder of the camp. Year 10, 11 and 12 boys will train at Champion Lakes.​

Mr Grant Ford
Head of Rowing

Exam Accommodations

At Scotch, we aim to support students to meet their full academic and personal potential.  Sometimes, things get in the way, such as disability or illness, and accommodations can be made.

In Years 9 and 10, accommodations are determined by the Senior School Psychologist upon the receipt of relevant documentation (e.g. evidence of a learning disability diagnosis).

In Years 11 and 12, accommodations will vary depending on which academic pathway a student has chosen: -

West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) or International Baccalaureate (IB)

The different pathways have different governing bodies who decide a student’s entitlements (please see below).

PATHWAY	OPTIONS	GOVERNING BODY
IBDP	International Baccalaureate	International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)
WACE	Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) GENERAL	School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA)

In Year 12 the governing bodies (IBO or SCSA) authorise special accommodations for final exams.  We look to mirror these accommodations in Years 9-12 to assist students who have a permanent or temporary disability to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills.  In all cases, appropriate evidence is required to access these accommodations.  Further to this, the granting of special examination arrangements by each examination board in Year 12 is not automatic but depends on the provision of medical and/or psychological evidence to justify the application.

Examples of the types of disabilities considered are:

• Physical disability e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, neurological conditions;
• Illness e.g. Diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome;
• Vision impairment;
• Hearing impairment;
• Fine motor disability;
• Specific Learning Disability – e.g. Dyslexia, Dysgraphia;
• Psychological conditions (such as Depression or Anxiety)
• ADD/ADHD
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Types of arrangements which may be granted include:

• Extra working time;
• Rest breaks;
• Assistive Technology – use of a computer, C Pen Exam Reader;
• Specified seating;
• Scribe.

Please note that students accessing special exam arrangements for final Year 12 WACE exams are usually required to sit their final examinations at another location (not Scotch College).  This should be considered and discussed with your son’s Case Manager.

IB students are able to sit their final Year 12 exams at Scotch College, regardless of whether they are accessing special exam arrangements.

All applications are submitted by the College.

If your son has been diagnosed with any of the conditions identified in the list above and you would like to discuss the accommodations which may be available, please contact: -

Contact	Responsible For
Ms Shauna Lipscombe Senior School Psychologist	Keys, Ross, Shearer, St Andrews and Stuart Houses
Mr Jon Marginis Senior School Psychologist	Alexander, Anderson, Brisbane, Cameron and Ferguson Houses
Mrs Libby Muddle Head of Academic Support	Year 9/10 or undertaking WACE
Mr Michael Scaife IB Diploma Coordinator	If undertaking IBDP

 

ILT – Digital Resources in Learning

Future focused education describes the need for to both teach subject disciplines and to develop and broaden student general capabilities in preparation for their entry into future employment. A recurring theme in the personal skills needed for the future workplace is the importance of collaboration and communication.

“Students must possess the ability to collaborate seamlessly in both physical and virtual spaces, with real and virtual partners equally” - Lee Watanabe-Crockett

Our students live in a digital age and are social by nature. They text, post, update, share, chat and constantly co-create in technological environments with each other. This is not always seen in a positive light, but perhaps we should appreciate the skills they are modelling, skills that may be necessary in their globalised future, where the organisation they work for is spread across several countries and time-zones and their teams need to constantly collaborate and communicate to meet the demands of their project.

For the past year Scotch College has been incorporating Office 365 into our teaching and learning programmes. Office 365 is the version of the Microsoft Office Suite operating from a cloud storage that enables traditional web browsers to provide all of the functionality available in Microsoft’s purpose-built Office applications. This seemingly simple idea represents a significant shift in philosophy, embracing the future demands of 21^st Century working environments.

With Office 365 our students create and access their digital resources, anytime, anywhere, on any device and on any architecture. What they create can be shared with anyone, can be a multi-authored collaboration and the authors can simultaneously edit the one document. OneNote has become integral in teaching with resources, instruction, assessment and day to day notes shared and constructed by teachers and students alike.

The technology seamlessly supports collaboration and communication, facilitating the development and practice of those skills in our students.

Dr Nick Spadaccini 
ILT Curriculum Integration Manager

Old Scotch Collegians 

Old Scotch Collegians look forward to welcoming back alumni from the Class of 1989 to their thirty year reunion this Saturday 8 June. Past students from this cohort (even if they left Scotch prior to 1989) are able to register here.

Past students who are in the legal industry are invited to attend the Tartan Lawyers Breakfast on Thursday 13 June, held in conjunction with PLC Old Collegians Association. The 2019 event will focus on work flexibility within the legal industry. More details and tickets are available here, and the full list of upcoming events for 2019 can be found here.

Old Scotch Collegians will host a series of Career Focus breakfasts for the Scotch College Year 12 students. The breakfasts will bring back Old Boys from a range of different industries including finance, marketing, engineering and medicine, and give the students access to real world advice from experienced professionals. For more information, please contact the OSC office .   

As a reminder, the OSC office has a number of Reporters from 2017, 2016 and 2015 that are yet to be collected. If your household is missing a copy, please contact the OSC office to collect one.