Welcome back to a new term. This is now the fifth time we have had a three-week mid-year break at Scotch College and the feedback from students, staff and parents, which I receive in person and anecdotally, tells me the concept is still very well received. When we introduced the extended break, it took a couple of years until the group of seven PSA schools could determine what effect the schools having this form of break would have on the sporting fixtures. As you may realise, being part of the PSA is a major commitment and something all of the schools and colleges take very seriously. I am pleased to report that as a result of collaboration between the PSA schools, the three-week mid-year break has become a permanent part of the annual calendar for four of the PSA schools, assisted by the support of those who still have a two-week break.

Across the country this week marks ‘Homelessness Week’. I spoke about this to our Senior School students at last week’s assembly. It is not an easy construct to understand for many students, nor us, given that our reality is such a long way from experiencing homelessness or even seeing it in action. Through our College’s focus on Service and Citizenship, we do work with agencies who deal with this matter. Addressing long-term homelessness within our own state is not simply a matter of providing the usual food and clothing. Homelessness is a societal issue and requires sound government policy and action. Of course, for all of us, education and general awareness are just two of the keys to assist with the challenge of finding a longer-term solution.

To contextualise the issue of homelessness, following are some basic facts.

• The estimated number of people experiencing homelessness in Western Australia has remained consistent between the 2011 and 2016 Census, with over 9,000 people experiencing homeless on any one night.
• People become homeless for lots of different reasons. There are social causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment; and life events which cause individuals to become homeless. Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent.
• 116,427 people were experiencing homelessness each night. There are 50 homeless people for every 10,000 Australians.

Key Western Australian estimates tell us that:

• 9,000 plus people experience homelessness on any given night
• The rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homelessness is more than 13 times the non-Indigenous population

Of these people:

• 1200 were children were under the age of 12
• 3132 were people under the age of 25
• 1508 people were over the age of 55

Homelessness is a complex societal issue but there are some simple things we can all do to help reduce the impact, such as:

• Educating ourselves. There are myriad reasons why a person becomes homeless — lack of affordable housing, loss of a job, divorce, illness, substance abuse, domestic abuse, et cetera. One of the first steps you can take toward helping the homeless is trying to understand how they got there in the first place.
• Showing respect. Do not treat a homeless person as if they are invisible. Many people experiencing homelessness say that the loss of dignity that accompanies their situation is harder to bear than the actual loss of physical things.
• Donating. Possibly the item we most understand. Clothing is a big one here, as are shoes and food. Non-perishable items are always in short supply at food pantries and homeless shelters. Other items that might be needed include blankets, coats, books and small kitchen items, such as cups and utensils.
• Volunteering. Sign up to work an evening shift at your local homeless shelter. Answer phones, sort mail, serve food, wash dishes, distribute clothes, babysit kids, clean floors, fix a leaky toilet. Find out what they need and how your skills can help.

Sometimes, when we break a problem down, it is the simple things that can make such a difference for so many. Of course, the challenge is also to see this issue and many other challenges from a wider community perspective.

Speaking of community, this term marks the most important one for our Year 12s. Our School Captain, Harry Gilchrist, addressed this topic at our last Senior School assembly. It is our job to support our senior boys as they work towards finishing their educational journey at Scotch. I ask that wherever possible you support our boys in your thoughts, prayers and deeds. Just knowing we are journeying alongside them makes such a difference for each boy.

In his book 'The Art of Belonging' Hugh Mackay provides us with a reminder of the importance of communities:

'We are, by nature, social creatures who congregate; it's in our cultural DNA. We are not good at surviving in isolation. We rely on communities to support and sustain us, and if those communities are to survive and prosper, we must engage with them and nurture them. That's the beautiful symmetry of human society; we need communities and they need us.'

I look forward to an exciting term and the opportunity to meet with many of you and share the vibrancy of our own community through the numerous activities this term will deliver.

Have a great fortnight.

Reflection

Retired Uniting Church minister, author and activist, Dorothy McRae-McMahon, penned the following creed:  

We believe in God who takes our smallest moments of hope and grows them forth like a tree with spreading branches for the sheltering of new life.  

We believe in Jesus Christ who walks tall among us, seen in our faces, felt in our hearts, bedded deep in the longing of our souls for all that is true, just and full of hope.  

We believe in the Holy Spirit who waits on our moments of openness and springs into the unknowns with joy and delight, that we might be called on beyond where we thought we could go - where every step is walked on holy ground.  

McRae-McMahon's creed is an invitation to belief, to have faith.  When we do have faith, there is a sense that difficulties can be overcome.  But sometimes we lose this sense.     

As we journey into this winter term, may that Power that is so much greater than our own, lead us to fresh places of awareness, of compassion and of surprise.  May hope blossom and grow and may we face with serenity the uncertainty that frames our daily living.  

A Passion for Mathematics Part Two

It's official, William Steinberg won Gold! In the last edition of Thistle, I wrote about the amazing achievements of one of our Brisbane House boys who was about to embark on a journey that would see him travel to Bath, England, and compete in the most prestigious school age Mathematics competition in the world. Not only did the Australian team perform extremely well, placing 18^th out of 112 countries, William also achieved outstanding personal success. Out of the six Australian competitors, Williams individual results were the highest in his team placing him 28^th out of 672 competitors. This result earned William a Gold Medal and is just one of 22 that have been awarded to an Australian competitor since we joined the competition back in 1981.

The IMO was first held in Romania in 1959, and, is now widely recognised as the most prestigious competition for high school age students around the world.  Notably, since 1978, sixteen successful participants of this competition have gone on to be awarded the Fields Medal, regarded as the highest honour a Mathematician can receive and has long been compared to the Nobel Prize for Mathematics. Similarly, outstanding participants of this competition have had successful careers in Universities, solving some of the most complex problems of the modern era, such as, Grigori Perelman who proved the Poincare conjecture (one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems).

Needless to say, for Scotch, we are incredibly proud to have a student of this calibre in our midst and earlier I had the opportunity to speak to William about his incredible achievement. Having started school in England, I was surprised to learn that William went to a small school of only 100 students where he was one of just 11 in his class.  Perhaps recognising his ability early, William worked with a tutor who exposed him to the world of Mathematics beyond the classroom curriculum.  Picking up concepts quickly, he moved to Scotch in Year 6 where he was already familiar with the curriculum up until Year 9. At that time, Mrs Erikson, the Dean of Teaching and Learning in the Middle School worked with William to start on the Year 10 curriculum and by Year 8, William was attending classes in the Senior School and topped Year 10 Mathematics.

In Year 9, William started the International Baccalaureate HL Mathematics course, along with WACE Physics. By the end of Year 10, he had finished both courses with an A grade in Physics and a rare Grade 7 in HL Mathematics. Fortunately, the IB offers a Further Level Mathematics course only studied by a handful globally, but this gave William and one other very talented Year 11 student Daniel Weise, the opportunity to broaden their Mathematics beyond the high school curriculum. As this course is only examined in the May session, due to the lack of students studying it in the Southern Hemisphere, both boys will complete this course in under 18 months giving them an incredible background to start University.  In asking Mrs Reyhani, to share her experience of teaching William, she wrote;

"Our lessons look very different to a typical Maths lesson.  William has so much experience with solving Mathematical problems.  Perhaps even more than I have as a teacher of Mathematics. He enjoys creating new problems and sharing them with others.  Often William will come to class ready with a problem for us to solve together.  If he has already solved it himself, he is excited to share the problem with us and see how we might approach it.  If he is yet to solve it, he is eager to discuss his thoughts and ideas with us and together we try and find the solution.  If one of us has a more "elegant", as he would describe it, way of solving the problem he acknowledges this and revises his own approach.  It is fascinating to watch the discussions between the two students and the way they talk about Mathematics."

William, like most Year 11 students, does not know what he wants to do with his life but whether he studies at Cambridge, Oxford, MIT or ANU, he certainly knows it will include Mathematics.  For now, like every student, he has to concentrate on his IB Diploma, prepare for assessments and examinations and think about what he might like to do for his 4000 word Extended Essay. Similarly, he also has to dedicate hours to Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), an IB requirement, and we are delighted that William has decided to share some of his passion for Mathematics with our younger budding Mathematicians in the Junior School.

Congratulations William, our community is incredibly proud of your achievement.

What I Learned these Holidays

The History Tour to Europe visited some amazing places over the July holiday, and in amongst the wonderful and moving experiences, I found myself thinking about what we can learn from such a voyage. I came up with the following:

1. Travel Builds Perspective

Leaving Perth gives you ample evidence of our relative unimportance in the grand scheme of things. Whilst it can also help us to appreciate what we have, it is also a wonderful reminder of what lies beyond our very little, insular world. It is a reminder that we should be paying more attention than we are to what is going on around us. The History Tour also offered us an opportunity to travel back in time in the hope that we might better comprehend why the world is the way it is.

2. The World Is Awesome (nature especially), but also Horrible

Travel and history also teach us that there is much beauty in the world (both natural and man-made) and there is joy and light in the hearts of human beings, but that there is also cruelty and darkness there. We should be careful not to sugar-coat everything, because there are difficult topics and uncomfortable truths which we need to confront. We should delight in the goodness which exists, but work to fix what needs to be fixed.

3. Technology Has Enslaved a Generation

One of my saddest observations was the way young people get drawn into their devices and withdraw from the world around them. This was most noticeable on the bus and train and airplane as we travelled between places. I have always loved just sitting and watching the world go by, observing the changing scenery, thinking about what I have been doing and seeing, or thinking about nothing. These days, it seems that such moments are to be eradicated by burying oneself in a mobile phone. Time being bored or day-dreaming is actually a critical part of being a human.

4. Boys Can Survive (and Thrive) Without Their Devices

One of the most uplifting things I saw was the way young people can engage and take stuff in without the filter of their mobile devices. There is a level of profundity which can only be reached through the real world. If we can provide them with a good enough reason, and we are willing to interact with them, they seem almost grateful for the opportunity to be a part of that.

5. Routines are Good (but so is breaking them)

Routines enable us to get the most out of each day; they allow us to achieve a long-held goal through discipline and consistent application. But we can also become stuck in our routines, simply going through the motions, day after day. Doing something different can give us a fresh lease on life, a new perspective and renewed resolve. It can also force us to look at how we normally approach life and question whether this is really the best pathway, or whether there is another upon which we would like to travel.

6. Squeeze as Much as You Can into Each Day (but know which day)

We tend to do this when we travel, but seem less willing to do so once we get back to our old life. I think sometimes we should do less when we travel and more when we are at home. Wherever we are, I think it is very important to factor in time to rest, to do nothing. Recharging is critical to us functioning at our optimal level.

7. Adventures Are So Important

These are things to look forward to; a trip planned or a milestone event or significant occasion. Adventures challenge us and shake us up; they take us to places where we can learn more about ourselves, and we grow as a result.

8. We Can Always Learn More

I have been fortunate to go on the History tour three times, and I have taught History for many years, but I still long to know more about history and the places we visit and the events we examine. We can always learn more – about ourselves, about our peers, and about the world around us. We should never get bored of that, and we should never be too proud to admit that we don't know everything. Acknowledging that we do not know everything is a humbling experience.

9.Young People Can't Take Responsibility Until We Are Prepared to Give it To Them

One of the great things about the trip was the requirement for the boys to look after themselves to some degree. Whilst we were nervous about handing out their passports, and tickets for the Metro, at some stage they must take responsibility for their own lives. And it is our job to ease them into this, by allowing them to look after aspects of their lives. The sooner we can do this for them, the better off they will be; I am convinced of this.

10. Kids (and People) Don't Get Lost Any More

There are many times when I don't exactly know where I am, usually when exploring a place with which I am not particularly familiar. It is a slightly unsettling feeling – I am not entirely lost but I don't really know where I am. It is a good feeling, because it means I have to concentrate, and try to remember what I have seen. People don't seem to pay attention to their surroundings any more, because they have their heads buried in their mobile phones, following directions. And in doing so, they miss it: they miss the whole point of being there, of being in the moment, of realizing how amazing is the place where you are, rather than worrying about the place to which you are going. The destination is certainly important, but there is much to be learned by paying attention to the road upon which you are travelling.

2020 Exchange applications due now!

As written about in June, the Round Square network is extensive and allows us to implement a diverse exchange programme for the students. Year 9 parents are reminded that exchange applications are due on 22 August and they received a form on Friday via email.    

Exchanges are a great way to undertake an experience that will truly assist in building self-awareness and maturity. The opportunity to spend a significant amount of time overseas while still being in a structured school environment will not occur again and all boys are encouraged to apply. The only major cost of going on an exchange is the flights and visa and, being a reciprocal program, families do host a student at some point.  

If you'd like any more information, please let me know or visit this link. 

Please see the map of schools that we exchange with.

Dr Sujit to speak to medicine hopefuls

The Institute for Indian Mother and Child (IIMC) is a non- governmental organization with its main office in Kolkata, India. In 1989 the Indian physician Dr. Sujit founded the IIMC with the aim to improve the living conditions of the poorest in Calcutta and its surroundings on a long-term basis. Dr Sujit is visiting Perth as a guest of UWA and alumni who have spent time in India on medical exchanges at IIMC. See here for details of a talk next Monday evening at Iona. We are fortunate that Dr Sujit will visit Scotch in the afternoon and Year 11 and 12 students interested in studying medicine will have the opportunity to hear him speak during Period 6.  

Homelessness Week

This week is Homelessness Week, designed to raise awareness of homelessness around Australia. Statistics show that around 1000 people sleep rough in Perth each night and the anecdotal evidence is that the economic downturn is seeing this number increase. Throughout the week, Uniting Care West's Tranby Centre is opening 24/7, with the aim of increasingly the chances of their clients getting a good rest and being well prepared to do what they can to secure ongoing accommodation. Offering a 24/7 service is set down as a trial with hopes that it may become more permanent. We wish UCW all the best in their endeavours.      

The Final Quarter

On Friday at assembly, Harry Gilchrist and Dr O'Connell spoke about the final quarter of the academic year and the need to push through until the end. It reminded me of a recent documentary, The Final Quarter, that documented the last three years of Adam Goodes' illustrious football career. The documentary is an excellent way to encourage students to consider diversity and discuss empathy, respect and trust. As the College celebrates NAIDOC week, I encourage families to watch it together and discuss each other's opinions. It can be watched for another two weeks on 10play.com.au.

Best wishes for the term ahead!  

Integrated Technology + Teaching Strategies = Innovative Learning  

Office 365 is changing the way educators organise and teach in the classroom. This technology enables lessons to be more collaborative, interactive and enriched with embedded video, podcasts and surveys. At Scotch College this technology is integrated with tried and tested teaching strategies to maximise student engagement and learning. This integrated approach builds skills in research, communication, critical thinking and self-management, preparing the students for their digital futures.                  

Science and HASS students, asked to research current world issues, benefit from shared digital notebooks containing curated information from research guides and databases as well as a step-by-step research organiser to plan, collect, record, verify and reference information. Topics which were once restricted by the textbooks available are now limited only by the students' imagination, and recent student projects have shown how innovative the students are. This accessibility to resources ignites curiosity and challenges them to ask deeper questions.  

Students use creative and critical thinking strategies in a dedicated collaborative space in the notebook to brainstorm ideas, and record what they know and what they need further research. With the teacher providing a broad topic the challenge for the students is to come up with a deep and meaningful research question. The students communicate their results with the help of a step-by-step script writing tool. What was once mandated a PowerPoint presentation can now be a podcast, a "TED talk", an infographic, Q & A, a news broadcast or a documentary. Students are innovative in their use of technology to share ideas, collaboratively construct knowledge and to communicate.      

Digital notebooks in conjunction with effective strategies such as Cornell Note Taking, with online planners and timetables allow students to organise their study time and notes, building their self-management skills. The opportunity for students to source or create and then share their own online quizzes improves memory retention and helps exam preparation.    

By combining current and available technologies from with known and effective teaching strategies the educational needs of the students are be better met. The skills gained and outcomes achieved from integrating technology in the education process better prepares students for their personal and professional technological lives.  

Ms Adelle Wilkes
ILT Integration Specialist 
Information and Research Specialist 

Parent and Student Contact Details  

All parents are reminded to keep the School up-to-date with their contact details on a regular basis. This is essential to ensure you are receiving the necessary information and correspondence regarding your son's education, newsletters, inclusion on contact lists etc. Please notify the School of any changes to:  

• Address, phone number, email address  
• Marital status and/or boy's living arrangements  
• Occupation details  
• Emergency contact details  
• Medical details  

  These details should be emailed to  admissions@scotch.wa.edu.au .  

Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Tuesdays:              8.00am - 5.00pm  

Thursdays:            7.30am - 11.30am  

Fridays:                 7.30am - 11.30am  

The Uniform Shop will be closed for the  Mid-term break on Friday 23 rd  August.  

Year 8 - 10 Production TEECHERS

Get in quick to book tickets to this fast moving and highly entertaining comedy.

Teechers evokes what school life was like at a secondary school in the U.K in the late 80's. Three leaving students set out to write a play about their finishing year with the guidance of the new Drama teacher, who faces many challenges along the way.

Tickets available here. 

Production Dates: 4 - 7 September, 2019

Venue: Dickinson Centre, Scotch College, 76 Shenton Road, Swanbourne

Time and Dates: 7.00pm - 4 – 6 September 2019 

Matinee: 2.00pm - 7 September 2019

Tickets: $20 Adult/ $15 Child/Concession

Contact Lists

Updated contact lists for each cohort will be emailed to parents in Week 3, Winter Term.

A friendly reminder to email any changes in your details to Kim Rawlings in Admissions by the end of Week 2  Kim.rawlings@scotch.wa.edu.au

Speakers at Scotch: Andrew Fuller

From the Head of  Junior School

Semester 2 brings with it some new changes for many familiar staff members and students as there are some new leadership roles amongst us.  I would like to welcome our new families to the Scotch community as well as welcoming back those families who have been on a leave of absence. It is great to have you all joining us this Semester.

On the staffing front, I welcome back Mrs Sue Mitchell who is taking over from Mrs Larree Springall in 3S and a warm welcome to Mr Nathan Eaton who replaces Mrs Ritchie in 5C on Thursdays. Congratulations to Mrs Ritchie who has taken on the position of Acting Deputy Head of the Junior School and I look forward to working with her even more closely in my new role.

The Junior School commissioned our new Semester 2 Captains and Class Representative on Friday 2 August and I spoke to the boys about some key aspects of leadership and what were common leadership skills. I shared these because they are common skills that student leadership displayed too.  The top skill that leaders need the most, regardless of their level, was the ability to inspire and motivate others. It was slightly higher than the need for a leader to display high integrity and honesty and the ability to solve problems and analyse issues. As I read through the information about necessary skills for strong leadership, I could see a strong correlation to the skills that the boys displayed in their captaincy and class representative roles within the Junior School.

Some of the other skills needed included;

• Driving for results,
• Communicating powerfully and prolifically,
• Collaborating and promoting teamwork,
• Building relationships

What I like about these identified skills is how strong the PYP program fosters and develops each of these. Educating the boys at Scotch includes being a good citizen, being mindful about how to make a difference and how we can work together to influence positive change within and beyond our Scotch community. The program aims to develop a student's commitment to help members of the community, the world around them and each other through mutual respect – all qualities that are enhanced through leadership as well.

I look forward to a busy and productive term seeing lots of opportunity for consolidation and learning amongst the Junior School. I hope to see you all at the Student Led Conferences scheduled this week.

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Guillaume Daoud (Year 5B) who has been selected as a finalist in the 2019 Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists.

Primary Years Programme (PYP) Learner Profile

Inquiry Learning

Scotch College Junior School is a registered member of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, and as such we use a guided-inquiry approach to the learning programme. Inquiry-based units of work, referred to as 'units of inquiry' or 'UOIs', are the focus for learning in all classrooms.

Inquiry may look very different from class to class as both staff and students create unique learning environments through their investigations and specific focus on targeted approaches to learning skills.

Specialist teachers have to work in a less-frequent approach and so generally focus more time on the learning skills than the research component of inquiry. They also target the reflection and action stages of the process within the perspective of their learning areas.

Early years classes (Pre-Kindergarten to Pre-Primary) will also differ vastly from those of an upper primary class. Pre-Kindergarten students may spend time explicitly learning how to ask an open question, whilst a Year 5 classroom may focus on the Thinking Skills, such as Dialectical Thought or Metacognition, to deepen the students' understanding of a particular idea or concept.

Regardless of these variations, you will see in all classes an increased emphasis on real life situations, decision-making, problem solving, research and action.

The majority of our staff work through an inquiry approach which often has six stages as shown below:

Tuning In: Exploring, wondering and questioning
Finding Out: Experimenting and playing with possibilities, Researching and seeking information
Sorting: Collecting data and reporting findings, Clarifying existing ideas and reappraising events
Going Further: Deepening understanding through the application of a concept or rule, Making and testing theories
Reflection: Making predictions and acting purposefully to see what happens
Action: Elaborating on solutions to problems and auctioning these solutions

Mr Warwick Norman
Junior School Dean of Teaching and Learning 

Hat Day

Bonjour everyone!

At the end of Term 2, our Language B Captains, Cooper Royle and James Stephan, organised their final event for their captaincy – Le Jour du Chapeau, otherwise known as “Hat Day”.

All Junior School students were invited to embrace the joys of high fashion and to wear a special hat on the final Thursday of term. The event was a great success with hats of all kinds, large and small, international and local, worn by students in every grade. Madame Vinton enjoyed teaching throughout the day with a collection of wild head gear on display every time she entered a room.

Junior School staff even got into the event, borrowing fascinators and tiaras from the French dress up bags as well.

Here are some photos of the event for you to enjoy.

Au revoir! 

   

Headmaster's Commendations

Congratulations to these boys for receiving a Headmaster's Commendation.

Year 1G	Jaydon Dawson (from 21 June) Aiden Gibson Tobias Gliddon Samuel Hodder Henry Harris
Year 2A	Lucas Paino George Young Casey Savill Darcy Bartholomaeus
Year 3S	Lucas Fry Leo Niardone Benjamin Roberts
Year 3W	Brodie Gillett (from 21 June) Zachary McManus Fareeq Nor Aman Samuel Cimbaro
Year 4C	Flynn Howard (from 21 June) Berti Koth Dominic Van Niekerk Eugene Cha Jacob Timmcke
Year 4T	Johnny Newall (from 21 June) Hamish Cooper Xavier Fugill Tomas Robaina Chacon Jasper Levy Harrison Grant
Year 5C	Hamish Middleton (from 21 June) Charlie Robinson Elliot Gaspar Cooper Royle Harrison Bain
Year 5L	Gabriel Hunter Seth Loveday Thomas Lovegrove Angus Meadows
Year 5W	Alexander Fry (from 21 June,) Oliver Campbell Matthew Hale Dane Morrison James Mitchell Edward Meadows Cooper Lisle

Performing Arts News

On Friday 28 June, the Junior School boys met with the musicians from Doctor Stovepipe to take a journey back in time to when old songs were brand new. Together they collected tunes from the past from styles as varied as Appalachian string-band music, Hot Jazz, Gypsy Swing, Cowboy-Western combos and Popular Ragtime, and transported them back to the here and now. With the help of the boys, they dusted them off, polished them up, and made them brand new again by adding changes and stories as suggested by the Junior School lads.

Their visit marked the culmination of all of the learning undertaken by the boys in Performing Arts throughout Autumn Term, which was driven by curriculum-guided activities that explored the art and intricacies of four key pieces: Dog In The Doghouse, Take This Guitar, June Apple and Makin’ It Up. It is our hope that by keeping old songs new and alive, the boys will send them far off into the future to live on, and for them to continue sharing them for other people to enjoy.

  

Miss Phebe Samson
Performing Arts Teacher

A Wonderful Beginning

Last week, I had the honour to attend my first Middle School Assembly as the acting Head of Middle School.  I listened to the young men of the School share their learning adventures with the school community.  Whether they were talking about their Community Project and sharing information on the importance of the humble bumble bee, their action to help a dog shelter or the transformative nature of their experience of their tour to the Northern Territory, the boys spoke with confidence and passion beyond their years.

During our Assembly, we were able to recognise the success of many of our boys in their learning in school and for others, their success in representing the state in national and international competitions, be that in fencing (Alex finishing 3^rd out of 200 in under 15 at the Nationals), tennis (Austin representing the state in the Nationals) or floor ball Caden’s team winning the competition in Singapore).

The entire event was led by our Year 8 House Seniors and we had the pleasure of having the Middle School Pipe Band perform the school blessing and song.

What the Assembly said to me was that we have a group of boys who make up what is a very special place.  A Middle School that provides outstanding opportunities to its boys, fills them with the confidence to speak with passion about what they do and learn, and nurtures them to be the type of boys this College produces.  It was an inspiring event to be part of.

Looking forward to the next eight weeks, the opportunity to engage with the boys, teachers and parents of this School is one that I welcome. I have asked the boys to share with me what they like to read and to tell me about their interests and ideas.  I am looking at this term as a unique opportunity to learn about the wonderful people who make up the School and about the many special ways the Middle School works with and develops these fine young men.

NAIDOC Week Activities in Middle School

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, our Assembly on Friday began with the Middle School Pipes performing with Charlie Thomas (Year 12) accompanying them on the didgeridoo.  Tomorrow we will have the Year 7 and 8 boys creating Sand Mandala with future Footprints.  On Thursday, the boys will have the opportunity to taste some bush tucker with our Scotch College Indigenous Network Students (SCINS) cooking BBQ kangaroo, emu and camel sausages.  We will also have some special guests visiting the College.  Kam Bin Saleh, an Old Scotch Collegian (OSC) and an artist, is creating paintings of the six Noongar seasons that will hang in the Chapel.  Yarlalu Thomas, OSC and a current medical student, will be working with the boys to design an Indigenous school tie and apron.

Mr John Stewart
Acting Head of Middle School

All About French

Bonjour!

In Year 6, some Phase 1 and 2 boys have received responses to their letters sent to the French soldiers based in Jordan.  They had sent support letters in French last year in time for Christmas; and the soldiers have taken the time to answer most of them.  The boys were ecstatic to be reading the responses, all in French, from their pen pal. Some answers were very long with photos, and others were much shorter.

Year 6 and 7 boys were invited along to the Alliance Française Film Festival in March and what a great turn out we had!  The boys loved seeing what kind of new adventures Astérix and Obélix were getting themselves into this time around!

We have had another very successful year at the Alliance Française Poem Recitation Competition with four boys invited to the final round: Heath Arbuckle (6.4), Alexander Fine (6.4), Guy Teissier (7.5), and Thomas van Kranenburg (7.1).  We are delighted to announce that Thomas topped the Year 7 category! Bravo les garçons.

Some Year 8 students have been writing to their French pen pals.  The boys have enjoyed practising their written French and have loved reading the French students' answers in English.  They now realise that English can also be a difficult language to learn!  Some are still in contact today, which is fabuleux.

Mdm Emilie Perrot and Mdm Shaye Pett
Middle School French Teachers

Indonesian News 

Indonesia is a great holiday destination for Australians to visit, and many members of our Scotch community frequently do so especially during school holidays.  Our focus across all year groups in Semester 1 was to learn practical language that students can use during their travels to Indonesia.

Year 8 Indonesian students have been learning about Bali as a popular destination for Australian tourists.  They learned about interesting places and cultural activities not to be missed on the island paradise.  Students also learned the practical skills of giving and taking directions in the unit "Lost in the City".  As part of their learning, they worked on a virtual travelling activity where they have to navigate Indonesian streets using Google Maps and virtual reality goggles. They were enthusiastic in completing the direction challenges and learned about the differences between streets in Indonesia and at home.

Students in Year 7 Indonesian have learned about the very useful language of ordering food in an Indonesian restaurant.  Students were really motivated to learn about traditional dishes. They also had the opportunity to do food tasting in class, trying an Indonesian drink called es campur (mixed ice drink), Indonesian crackers kerupuk, and surprisingly many of the students were up for the challenge to try sambal, an Indonesian spicy sauce! 

Our Year 6 students had a smooth start in their journey of learning a new language in Semester 1.  Not only do they now know basic greetings, which they can use on their travels to Indonesia, but they also have learned about Indonesian culture through dressing up in traditional costumes and wearing peci hats.  They also got competitive playing the traditional game of congklak, enjoyed singing and dancing, and had the chance to show off their moves to Indonesian tunes. Students also indulged in Ibu Suri's nasi kuning (yellow rice) dish.

  

We hope that the practical language that they have learned can be used in their travels to Indonesia. I would also encourage our students to use it in school with their language learning peers and their Indonesian teachers. They can also speak with staff members that can speak the language, such as Mr Ledger and Mr Faint. In fact, there are quite a few Indonesian staff members around the College, including the canteen and cleaning staff. All in all, using Indonesian language is easy to do at Scotch, and practicing regularly will improve fluency in no time.

Pak Francesca Gabby Surijata
Middle School Indonesian Teacher

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Austin Prendiville (7.2) who has been selected to represent WA at the School Sport National Tennis Championships in October.

Congratulations to Alex Buswell (7.6) who won a silver and bronze medal representing Western Australia at the Under 15 National Fencing Championships in Sydney.

Congratulations to Caden Hart (6.3) who was selected to represent WA in the Under 14s team at the Singapore Floorball Open 2019.  The tournament was held during the holidays and the WA team took out the Championship, which was a huge achievement competing at an international level.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school and to Winter Term. I hope you enjoyed a great three-week break. During the holidays, we had 262 boys across Years 9 to 12 depart on Outdoor Education expeditions and schools tours. The three Outdoor Education expeditions experienced Sea Kayaking at Ningaloo, Scuba Diving at Exmouth and Whitewater Canoeing on the Murray River through Dwellingup. Boys on the Year 9 Canberra Tour, along with PLC, enjoyed skiing and a visit to our nation's capital, the European History Tour travelled to France and Germany, and the Pipe Band Tour performed at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland. All sensational adventures for our students.

There is a great collection of photographs from each of these tours on Vidigami, the online photo gallery. Supporting the tours were thirty-one staff who devoted a good chunk of their holiday to accompanying the boys and I take this opportunity to thank them for their time and commitment to managing and supervising these amazing broadening experiences for our boys.

This week the College celebrates NAIDOC Week. Across the three sub-schools there will be activities that help us learn, celebrate and respect Australian indigenous culture. In Senior School, our Hospitality boys are preparing kangaroo casserole, emu and crocodile meatballs, and lemon and myrtle herbed mashed potato served with butter and honey covered damper for anyone to try. Our Indigenous boys have challenged the staff to a basketball game on Thursday at lunchtime and will present a special ball to the staff member voted MVP (Most Valued Player). Prior to Marching and Assembly last Friday, we had a smoking ceremony before listening to our guest speaker Mr Darryl Bellotti, a well-respected artist who most recently designed and presented the West Coast Eagles with their Indigenous Round football jumper. Over the course of the next few weeks, Senior School boys will also be meeting and talking with Yarlalu Thomas (OSC 2015) and Kam Bin Salleh (OSC 2010) who are both working on design projects with our students. Activities in other parts of the school include sand mandalas on the grass area outside Keys House and Senior School boys running an art and language lesson with Junior School boys. It promises to be a really engaging week.

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.

Year 9 Canberra Tour  

Australian Government Assistance for National Capital Excursion  

Students from Scotch College have recently undertaken an educational tour of the National Capital. While on tour, the boys participated in a variety of educational programmes focused on Australia's history, culture, heritage and democracy.  

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the National Capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist you in meeting the cost of the excursion, the Australian Government contributes funding under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER) programme toward the travel expenses incurred. This contribution will be paid directly to the School upon completion of the excursion. Once it has been received by the School, it will be refunded to you and shown as a credit on your fees statement.  

We would like to thank the Australian Government for their support of this programme. The Canberra Tour was a rewarding experience for all students, with 93 boys and 10 teachers attending.  

Important Dates Senior School Winter Term

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 2A	NAIDOC Week
Monday 5 August	Year 9 Camp (Group 1) departs	Moray	8.30am for 9.00am departure
	Year 11 Leadership Day
Tuesday 6 August	RACI Chemistry Quiz
	Alliance Francaise Examinations
	WADL Debating Double Octo Final	Perth College	6.30pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 7 August	Year 12 Reward Breakfast	UWA Club	7.10am – 8.30am
	Talented Young Writers' Programme	Fremantle Literacy Centre	8.30am – 3.30pm
	Year 10 Languages and Culture Lecture	UWA	10.45am – 12.15pm
Friday 9 August	Year 12 Chamber of Commerce and Industry Forum Excursion	CCI	7.30am – 1.15pm
	Senior School Smoking Ceremony, Marching and NAIDOC Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	Year 9 Camp (Group 1) returns in time for PSA sport
	PSA Sport – Scotch College v Hale School (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	1.30pm onwards
	WA Schools' Senior Concert Band Festival	Churchlands SHS	5.30pm onwards
Saturday 10 August	PSA Sport – Scotch College v Hale School (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	8.30am onwards
	PSA Cross Country Seniors All Schools 3 x 5kms Race	Aquinas College	8.30am onwards
	Scotch Parents' Year 12 Mothers' Sleepover	Moray
Week 3B	Science Week
Monday 12 August	Year 9 Camp (Group 2) departs	Moray	8.30am for 9.00am departure
	Year 11 Biology Camp departs	Dryandra Woodlands	Returns 13 August
	Year 10 English Incursion	Dickinson Centre	1.35pm – 2.25pm
Tuesday 13 August	Huntington's Disease Forum	Harry Perkins Institute	8.30am – 3.15pm
	FOSM Meeting	Music Department	7.00pm – 8.30pm
	WADL Debating Octo Final	Shenton College	6.30pm – 9.30pm
Wednesday 14 August	Mingenew Field Day
	Parent Support Groups Breakfast	Dining Room Annexe	7.30am - 9.00am
	AHISA Debating	Perth College	6.30pm - 9.30pm
Thursday 15 August	Mingenew Field Day
	Year 12 Career Focus Breakfast – Mining	Off campus	7.00am – 8.30am
Friday 16 August	Year 12 Chamber of Commerce and Industry Forum Excursion	CCI	7.30am – 1.15pm
	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	Year 9 Camp (Group 2) returns in time for PSA sport
	PSA Sport – Guildford Grammar School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	1.30pm onwards
	Year 12 Red Frogs Leavers' Presentation	Memorial Hall	1.30pm – 2.30pm
Saturday 17 August	PSA Sport – Guildford Grammar School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	8.30am onwards
	PSA Cross Country – Seniors All Schools Ray Brown 8kms Race	King's Park	8.30am onwards
Week 4B	Book Week
Monday 19 August	Year 9 Camp (Group 3) departs	Moray	8.30am for 9.00am departure
	Year 11 Outdoor Education Camp departs	Munda Biddi Trail

Careers Information

Year 12 Parents and Students 

Year 12 WACE and IB Diploma examination timetables have been released and are attached to this edition of Thistle. These attachments also contain additional important information  in regard to  the respective examinations. Please ensure that both you and your son are aware of this information and if you have any questions, check the respective websites or contact Michael Scaife for IB Diploma enquiries or Peter  Frusher  for WACE enquiries. https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/teaching-and-learning/assessments-and-reporting/exam-timetables/

2019 Year 12 ATAR course written examinations timetable 

2019 examination schedule Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme

TISC Online  is now open and students can explore this website and are able to enter their preferences for university studies in 2020. All Year 12 students will receive a copy of the 2020 TISC Guide that will outline all the procedures and dates that are relevant to the university application process and beyond. In August/September, Mr  Frusher  will be conducting one-on-one interviews with all Year 12 students to discuss applications and to offer advice. Even if applications have been submitted, they are still able to be adjusted for several months.

At this stage of the year all Year 12 students should have received a Prospectus from each of the WA Universities via the Careers Expo or Mr  Frusher  and a Year 12 WACE Information Handbook (on-line at Schools Curriculum & Standards Authority -  www.scsa.wa.edu.au ). Following on from the Scotch Careers Expo, students are encouraged to attend university and TAFE Open Days throughout August/September.

For information on interstate and overseas universities check the relevant websites or contact Mr  Frusher  who will be able to assist.

TISC Information 

Semester One 2020 Applications open on Monday 5 August. Student will receive the TISC Guide and personalised letters in the coming week. The application fee for current WACE and IB students is $40 until 30 September. After this date, a late application fee of $160 will apply.

Results and ATARs will be available online from Thursday 19 December 2019.

First round offers will available from Monday 23 December 2019 with another major round of offers being available from Thursday 16 January 2020. Most Year 12 students will get an offer in the December round. Those waiting on their  final results , (IB students) or those who need to sit a second chance English test will get an offer in the January round. Universities will make sure that there are places available in all courses in both offer rounds. No student will be disadvantaged by these changes to offer dates.

For further information go to the TISC website:  www.tisc.edu.au .

As a parent, what can your son and you do together? 

• Discuss various courses in the prospectuses that may be of interest to your son
• Gather more information by visiting university websites, or requesting further information from universities
• Attend university Open Days that are advertised in each prospectus and in this newsletter
• Be positive; don't panic (yet) and communicate with as many people as possible

Notre Dame University Open Day 
Sunday 11 August from 10.00am – 4.00pm    

Curtin University – Law Information Evening 
28 August, 2019  
Interested in a career in Law?   Attend the information evening at the Curtin Law School Perth city campus to find out more about studying Law at Curtin.  T his evening will provide you with an opportunity to experience the teaching facilities and ask any questions you might have.  
Find out more - https://news.curtin.edu.au/events/law-information-evening/  

University of New South Wales - Canberra  

ADFA Trainee Officers  study Arts, Business, Computing and Cyber Security, Engineering, Science, or Technology degrees (while receiving military training and subsidised accommodation and living costs)  

Defence Civilian Undergraduate Sponsorship students  study Computing and Cyber Security or specialist Engineering degrees in Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical (with full tuition fee scholarships and stipends)  

Non-Defence Undergraduate students  study specialist Engineering degrees in Aeronautical, Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical or Engineering / Science double degrees (with paid work experience opportunities).  

All students are provided with a unique study experience, access to custom-built facilities and resources, outstanding industry networks, and graduate with a degree from one of the top universities in the world.  

Find out more -  http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/study .  

Medical School Admissions Seminar FREE EVENT! 
Saturday 31  August 2018 1.00pm – 3. 00pm  
Fremantle, venue TBC  

This presentation is also based around answering key questions including:  

• Why choosing a career in Medicine might be right for you
• Advice and information on applying to direct-entry Australian Medical Schools
• Requirements for admission into Medicine (ATAR, UMAT, Interview etc.)
• Information on interview systems across different Australian Medical Schools
• Insights into the academic life of a Medical student

Find out more -  https://www.facebook.com/pg/MedView/events/614177319102874/ 

WA Police Force are Recruiting 
22 August – Information Session  

https://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/information-sessions/recruit-information-session-thursday-22-august/  

Joining the WA Police Force as a Recruit is an exciting, life-changing decision. If you've got enthusiasm, a strong work ethic and a passion for protecting your community, you are all set for a highly challenging and incredibly rewarding career.   You must be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Australian Resident, hold a current manual 'C' class Motor Driver's Licence or equivalent and be at least 18 years of age.  

Apply here -  https://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/join-wa-police/recruit/  

Defence Force Australia  
7 August – Careers Information Sessions  

Find out more -   www.defencejobs.gov.au/events  

Scholarship Opportunity (Pilots of Tomorrow)  

The Company of Air Pilots and Flight Experience are offering scholarships to students in Year 10, 11 and 12 who may be interested in a career as an airline pilot. Applications are now open and will close on 14 September.  

For more information go to:  https://perth.flightexperience.com.au/scholarships/    

Skills West Careers Expo 

This is the final careers expo for 2019 and will feature tertiary, skills training and jobs.  

16- 18 August 2019,  Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre – free entry  "http://www.skillswestexpo.com.au/" ﷟HYPERLINK "http://www.skillswestexpo.com.au/" ﷟HYPERLINK "http://www.skillswestexpo.com.au/"  

(Insert hyperlink :)  " http://www.skillswestexpo.com.au/"  

Royal Lifesaving Society WA 

Students who may be looking for employment as a Swimming Instructor or a Pool Lifeguard can access the website below to gain the necessary qualifications.  

For full course details please visit the AUSTSWIM website:  http://www.austswim.com.au/Training/AUSTSWIMCourses/SwimmingandWaterSafety.aspx  

MASTER MIND AUSTRALIA - Master Classes Term 3 ATAR Subjects - For all students Years 7 to 12

Mr  Peter  Frusher     
Careers Advisor  

Annual Manure Drive

Spring is approaching and it is time to nourish your gardens!

Support the 'Annual Manure Drive' fundraiser for the Scotch College Pipe Band and get your 70L sealed plastic bags of high grade, weed free sheep manure for only $16.00 per bag.  Free delivery within the delivery zone, please view the map.

Orders are scheduled for delivery or collection on Saturday 21 September, 2019.

Place your order by Tuesday 10 September, 2019 by visiting the Scotch College website   www.scotch.wa.edu.au  and clicking on the 'Book a Scotch Event' icon and selecting the 'Annual Manure Drive'. Your gardens will love you for it!

To share this great offer with family and friends please share the information flyer.

Thank you for supporting the Scotch College Pipe Band!

Scotch Parents

Welcome back to another 'action packed' school term…. officially the last for our Year 12 boys before they sit their final exams in October/November.

Scotch and PLC Parents have combined forces to organise the inaugural 'Scotch and PLC Parent Sundowner' on Saturday 21 September at the Cottesloe Golf Club.  We have planned this as a casual get-together with parents from our sister school and have tried not to clash with other events and the footy finals!  PLC are managing the booking of tickets through Trybooking at www.trybooking.com/beefc - numbers are limited due to the venue capacity so book quickly.

The next meeting of Scotch Parents is on Tuesday 20 August at 9am in the Dining Room Annexe. The agenda for the meeting will be posted on the new 'Scotch Parents' page, which can be found on Home.Scotch under 'Scotch Groups'.  I would encourage you all to sign up to become a member of this group as it is a great interactive (and secure) communication tool.

Upcoming Events supported by Scotch Parents…

• Saturday 10 August: Year 12 Mum's Sleepover at Moray
• Tuesday 20 August: Scotch Parents Meeting at 9am in Dining Room Annexe
• Saturday 7 September: Year 10 Mum's Sleepover at Moray
• Saturday21 September: Scotch and PLC Parents Sundowner at the Cottesloe Golf Club from 6.30pm

Sara Hector
President
Scotch Parents

Winter Sport – End of Season Function Dates

Please save the date for the end of season sport functions.  

• Tuesday 27 August - Hockey
• Wednesday 28 August – Football
• Thursday 29 August – Soccer
• Saturday 31 August - Rugby

Tickets for the Rugby Dinner are now available by visiting the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and clicking on the “Book a Scotch Event” icon.  Tickets for the remaining events will be available shortly.