Dear Community

Welcome back to 2020, a date which marks the start of a new year and decade at Scotch College. I have no doubt that like most years, 2020 will hold enriching, challenging and vibrant experiences for us all. Speaking to staff and parents across the three sub-schools, the first week appears to have gone very smoothly given the challenging start to the year due to the uncertainty of the Coronavirus. The most important places that seem to have got off to a smooth start is where it really matters, in our classrooms. I have no doubt there would have been some hidden challenges but then again there always are in such a large and vibrant college environment.

Speaking of challenges, it is important to recognise a lot of our schools and rural friends from across the country who have suffered so much as a result of the devastating bush fires. I happened to be overseas when the magnitude of this tragedy was unfolding, and the enormity of the 24/7coverage by the BBC left no doubt about just how significant this event was on the global stage. What did shine through the worldwide reporting, was the common thread of how rural communities support each other when the chips are down. Our own community has been involved in raising funds to donate to the rebuilding of these communities. There is a hard road ahead for so many families and we need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they commence the rebuilding process.

The tone and benchmark for the start of the year was well and truly set by our Scotch Parents Welcome Back BBQ. This came on the back of the work put in across the whole weekend from our boarding staff in transitioning our boarders back after their break. I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to Kate Reynolds, President of Scotch Parents, and her dedicated team for delivering such a great welcome back function.

During last week I attended some welcome back sessions where it was great to see so many returning and new faces. As Headmaster one of the main things I ask from all of the community is that we ensure we look after our new families during these initial settling back in weeks. I can still remember my first week at Scotch and how welcoming the community was and just what this meant to my own family. Engagement makes a huge difference for all of us when we start at somewhere new. To our new families I urge you to meet your class and year representatives and get involved in your son's journey. Furthermore, become engaged with Scotch Parents' meetings and activities. I know we are all busy but the more you get engaged with the Scotch community, the more you will realise just how special Scotch can be.

As we start a new year it is worth reinforcing that most successful organisations are those that keep the channels of communication open and streamlined. The school management structure of each sub-school is identical in that there is a Head of School, Dean of Teaching and Learning and Deputy of Administration and Pastoral. The first point of contact for all parents should be the person who can give you the quickest direct answer. In the first instance this is very often the classroom teacher or in Senior School the subject teacher. In essence if you are unsure who to contact then call the administrative support staff at the respective sub school and they will ensure your query is handled efficiently and effectively through getting the most relevant staff member to get back to you. In a world where we now overuse email and SMS due to convenience, an in-person chat or question can in many cases result in a far better outcome as opposed to a string of reply all emails.

Finally, if you are reading this message you have already made the correct start regarding College communication. The Thistle, in conjunction with the specific sub-school communications, is a critical part of our how our families keep abreast of what is happening. Over the course of a year it is extraordinary just how much occurs across our College. If in doubt just ask us for help.

On a personal note, if you are a new family and see me out and about either at the College or in the community, come up and say hello. This goes for returning parents who already have shown their willingness to have a chat over last week at various events.

Have a great start to the term and I look forward to catching up with you throughout the course of the year.

 

Chaplain Reflection

The distinguished Australian theologian, writer and prophet, 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.

The creed is an invitation to belief.  When we do believe, there is a sense that there is nothing that cannot be overcome.  Yet at times, we lose sight of this.  As you take the time to look within, 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 the new decade with serenity.

Success Breeds Success

I am delighted to share a snapshot of the success of the Class of 2019 as they move beyond the familiar routine of Scotch College towards the many and varied experiences that await them in their bright futures. As always, the results published in the media are only representative of our WACE students and not the thirty students who sat the International Baccalaureate examinations. Therefore, our own analysis is always critical to gain a full understanding of the cohort's collective performance. Unsurprisingly, the analysis proved very rewarding with statistics such as average points for a Diploma student once again being the highest Scotch has seen, at 37.5. An impressive 10 out of the thirty students earned 40 or more points out of a possible total of 45. The WACE students also performed as expected with a median of 86.5, compared to the state average of 81.05. However, even though the individual programmes were impressive, the analysis of this cohort's performance is always far more accurate when we convert the Diploma points to an ATAR using the TISC conversion table and evaluate the common statistics. In short, 91% of this cohort sat examinations, whilst an additional 10 students opted for the Certificate IV pathway to be eligible for university. The median ATAR was 90.00, placing the College in sixth position on the League Tables. Fifteen students received an ATAR of 99+, which is an incredible 9% of the cohort, whilst 86% of students were eligible for direct entry into university.

As the new school year commences, the present cohort of Year 12 students are already one term into their own final year and we look forward to sharing with them the experience of their predecessors. Pleasingly, according to our median converted ATAR, early indications are that the 2020 Leavers are on track to achieve a similar level of success. The Scotch ATAR predictor provides us with current, up to date tracking of student performance as the model accesses five years of Scotch College data to predict current cohort performance (https://scotch.atarpredictor.net.au/). This allows Teaching and Learning to advise students with a greater degree of accuracy on the pathway that is most likely to provide them with the greatest number of options beyond school. This ATAR predictor is also accurate for Year 11 students studying WACE and parents who are interested in measuring their son's predicted ATAR are encouraged to access this information.

The collective experience of the teachers, the positive work ethic displayed by the students and the continual support provided by the community ensures that every Year 12 group continues to flourish. Similarly, the aspects of their education that reach beyond the academic programme, such as wellbeing, service, sport and a myriad of co-curricular opportunities contribute to a positive experience for each of our students and provides them with a solid platform from which to embark upon their bright futures with confidence.

On Being

I got the opportunity to speak at the first Senior School assembly of the year and I wanted to share what I said to the young men seated in the Dickinson Centre. I began by posing the question:

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" 

At one level, there are the jobs we may end up performing, and the roles we may fulfill. At another level, there are concepts such as wanting to be rich, or famous or powerful or happy. Each of these may be less alluring than they first appear to be. The desire for happiness is a common refrain, but before we can be happy – however we define that – we  have to  be a host of other things first, such as hard-working or respectful. Happiness is really only a  bi-product  of being something else and pursuing other things.

I suggested our boys may wish to be Shane Battier, a former basketballer in the in the NBA; he retired around 2014. He used to guard the best players on the other team, trying to disrupt their performance. And whilst his own personal stats were never that impressive, what they worked out was that his team played better when he was on the court rather than when he was sitting on the bench. I suggested that our students might want to be the person who makes other people better – to be someone who makes others feel better and helps them perform better.  

I then spoke about the sorts of things I hoped they would be when they grow up. What I want our young men to be is brave. Brave enough to ask for help; brave enough to admit when they are wrong and  apologise ; brave enough to step in when someone else needs a hand.

What I want them to be is courageous. I want them to have the courage to get up and get through the day even when they know it is going to be hard. I want them to have the courage to reach out to others.   

What I want them to be is curious. Curious about the world around them; curious about the people with whom they share this planet; and curious about how they can make things just a little bit better. 

But most of all, I said that what I hoped they will be is kind. I know this is hard sometimes, because it involves thinking about others and being willing to put your life on hold while you do something for someone else. It means giving up moments of your life to make someone else's life a little better. But when you think about it, there is nothing more important.   

Being kind is a rather abstract concept; we all know we should be  kind but  being able to perform concrete acts on a regular basis is more challenging. In the Peer Relations survey that Senior School students completed last year, there were several acts of kindness which popped up on a regular basis: opening doors for others; picking up books when they dropped them; and providing food, or money for food (always important for boys). All nice things to do for someone, and it seems these are done regularly, which is pleasing. 

I encouraged our boys to be a bit more creative with their kindness. I suggested targeting their kind act towards someone who is  in particular need  of  something or  doing something unexpected which they know will help someone. Or they might do something kind without the recipient knowing that it was them who did it. 

I  emphasised  that the  boys  matter to us a great deal; that who they are and who they are becoming are a key part of what drives us. I reminded them that if they are struggling, they should speak to someone: someone in their family, a friend, a teacher, me, their mentor, or House Head. We are here to guide and help them to be whatever they want to be. 

I think we begin to grow up the moment we start being kind. And that is  actually a  very satisfying feeling. Whatever else we may want to be, we can be kind to others and be kind to ourselves. 

Brain Reset

To help with this, I will be sending the Year 11s and 12s an email regarding the Brain Reset sessions, which I would like to recommence in the next couple of weeks. Please encourage your son to attend – the benefits of these mindfulness sessions are immense.   

The Fathering Project

Fathers and father-figures who are interested in joining our Dad's Group can contact me or head to the Fathering Project's website:  https://thefatheringproject.org  . This group operates independently of the school to provide advice to father-figures and opportunities for boys to spend more time with these role models in their lives.

SchoolTV

We have a school subscription to  SchoolTV , an online parent information platform which covers topics affecting young people. There is plenty of easy-to-access information here on a variety of topics. Of  particular relevance  at this time are:

• Bushfires  https://scotch.wa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-talking-about-bushfires
• Surviving Year 12  https://scotch.wa.schooltv.me/newsletter/surviving-year-12
• Starting at a new school  https://scotch.wa.schooltv.me/newsletter/school-transitions

 

Relationships and serving others  

Welcome to 2020, a year that has already proved challenging but, like any other year, an opportunity for great things! It was wonderful to hear Rev Gary challenge our community to commit to two things in 2020; investing in relationships and getting involved in serving others.

The College Service and Citizenship Programme did not stop over the holiday period and a big thanks to the boys who were involved in activities through December and January. The biggest undertaking was most certainly the India Tour and a huge thanks to Michael and Dawn Scaife and Dr Nick Spaddacini . I am fully aware of the challenges of taking students to India and the only thing that matches these is the immense impact the country can have on individuals. It is an assault on the senses and tends to leave memories that last a lifetime and a positive impact on people's character and outlook on life. From Mr Scaife's report, I know the tour was a huge success and I am so pleased that we are ready to build the next phase of the India Tour which has been running since 1997.  I encourage you to read Mr Scaife's report '2019 Scotch India Tour' in this edition of the Thistle.

Other activities that the boys were involved in include  Disabled Surfing Australia , a  fundraiser for the fires  (that has raised over $35,000), a Scorchers game with the Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club All Abilities team  and  The Salvation Army  soup run. Thanks to all the boys who got involved.

      

Finally, on Friday we had the first week of our Year 10 Friday Service Programme. The afternoon was a great success with the boys being punctual, correctly dressed, and from my observations, displaying outstanding character. Thank  you boys  and thank you to our new partner,  North Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club , where we have started a 10 week 'introduction to surf lifesaving' course.

Please be aware that the Programme is an integral part of the Year 10 Curriculum and is noted on the student's Western Australian Certificates of Education. Attendance is compulsory and the school day finishes at 3.15pm.

Open Day

Year 7 2021 Scholarships

Scotch College offers  a number of  scholarships for boys who are Australian residents, entering Year 7 in 2021.  Scholarships are awarded  on the basis of  academic excellence determined by the scholarship examination and if required, an audition for music applicants.

Academic Scholarships

G  G  Gooch Scholarship - awarded to the top student

J A Gooch Scholarship - awarded to a Scotch College student

Open Entrance Scholarship - awarded to outstanding students from any school

• Boarding Scholarships  - awarded to outstanding students who will board at Scotch College
• Music Scholarship  - awarded to outstanding music student from any school

Scholarships are tenable until the end of Year 12, subject to satisfactory academic progress and commitment to the life of the School.

All applications, whether your son is a current student or a prospective student, are made online via the Scotch College website Scholarship link at https://www.scotch.wa.edu.au/view/scholarships

Local applications close Monday 16 March 2020.

Rural, Overseas and Inter-state applications close Monday 9 March 2020.

No late applications will be accepted after these dates. The Scholarship examination will be held at the College on Saturday, 21 March 2020 for local students. Overseas and rural testing will be held at your son's school.  More information will be sent to you once you register your son.

Please contact Mrs Di Moran, Registrar on 9383 6809 or dianne.moran@scotch.wa.edu.au  should you have any questions.

Uniform Shop

This is a reminder to parents that appointments with the Uniform Shop are not necessary during term time.

Purchasing Uniforms Online

Uniforms can be purchased online at the  Flexischools  website. All orders processed online can be picked up from the Uniform Shop after 10 am on the following Tuesday, Thursday or Friday (depending on when the order is placed). Orders can also be posted to you. If you are already using  Flexischools  for canteen orders, you will notice that uniforms are also available for purchase. If you need details on setting up  Flexischools  access, please email the uniform shop for further information:  uniform@scotch.wa.edu.au .

Year 12 Blazers

Year 12 Blazers are selling fast. Please visit the Uniform Shop as soon as possible if you wish to purchase a blazer  so as to  avoid the disappointment of not being able to get the correct size.

UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS

Tuesday            8.00am - 5.00pm

Thursday          7.30am - 11.30am

Friday               7.30 am - 11.30am

Staff Movements

Summer Term – Returning from Leave 

Tracey O'Shea	Early Learning Teacher
Kirra Muni	Creative Arts Teacher
Peter Tresise	Year 7 Teacher
Scott Whiston	Head of Junior School Sport JPSSA Co-ordinator
Robyn Bose	Middle School Teacher, Curriculum Co-ordinator
Pina Giglia	Deputy Head of Middle School
Scott Bycroft	Middle School Teacher

Summer Term – Significant Staff Leave

Michael Scaife	English Teacher | IB Diploma Co-ordinator
Dawn Scaife	English Teacher
Cas Gabriels	Curriculum Leader – Physical Education and Health Education
Kristen Gray	Year 1 Teacher
Katie Kent	Personal Assistant to Junior School Leadership Team

Summer Term – New Staff

Andy Gray	Science Teacher
Tanya Allen	Humanities Teacher
Olivia Harnwell	Kindergarten Teacher
Fiona Craig	Mathematics Teacher
Jayne De Silva	Mathematics Teacher
Andrew Mellor	Physical Education and Health Teacher
Austin Castiglione	Drama Teacher – Middle School
Leigh Barnes	English Teacher
Marilyn Tsolakis	English Teacher
Matthew Walker	Music Teacher
Lachlin Brooks-Crew	Music Teacher
Jeremy Snyder	Indonesian Teacher
Zoe Elliott	OHSC Coordinator
Grace McKell	Art Technician – Middle School

Summer Term – Internal changes

Nathan Eaton	Acting Physical Education and Health Teacher – Senior School
Matthew Jahn	Acting Curriculum Leader, Physical Education
Penny Hooper	Acting Head of Junior School
Amanda Ritchie	Acting Deputy Head of Junior School
Matthew Bradley	Head of Cameron House
Scott Duncan	Head of Alexander House
Jayne Ricciardello	Year 1 Teacher
Shirin Reyhani	Dean of Teaching and Learning  -  Senior  School
Denyse Houston	Acting Junior School Secretary
Claire Morton	Acting Personal Assistant to Junior School Leadership Team
Drew Templar	Residential Head of Year 7 and 8

Year Group Contact Lists 

Year group contact lists will be sent out this term, please advise any contact or address changes by email to  admissions@scotch.wa.edu.au  by Friday 7 February  2020 for the lists to be compiled and sent out in Week 3.

For any new enrolments, please make sure all paperwork has been completed and returned.

FlexiSchools  Canteen Online Ordering

For information on the  FlexiSchools  system operating at the school canteen please go to www.flexischools.com.au

Head of Junior School

It is always a pleasure to see our students return at the start of the new school year. With new shoes donned, fresh haircuts, uniforms ready for the potential growth to come with much anticipated excitement to be back at school to see everyone. The same can be said of the staff. The few days in the lead up to the boys' return is always a hive of busyness with everyone catching up and checking in, and this reminds me of the strong community we truly have here at Scotch. The level of productivity is echoed with excitement. A warm welcome back to everyone.

At the recent Commissioning service, I reflected on the strength of teams and my belief that the strongest teams are capable of achieving so much more than any individual. Team members are there to provide support to each other, to share the load, and to brainstorm fresh and better ways of doing things.

Key aspects to any team include; collaboration and the ability to work together even if we may not always agree.  It links closely to one of the key strengths of a good leader – being able to solve problems and analyze issues. It is a challenge to be able to work together knowing that there may be differences amongst members of the team. Great teams use the differences within to find creative solutions.

A good team is built on trust. Being trusted and trusting others is important in enabling a team to achieve their goal. A strong leader displays high integrity and honesty and by displaying these attributes, members of the team will see you for who you are and gain trust in you. When we can trust others to perform their role within the group, it gives us the confidence to perform our own.

Communication is critical to a team's success. All members need to understand what the goal is, and what their role is in reaching that goal. A strong leader communicates powerfully and prolifically. The key is how we deliver our messages. If something is important, it needs to be shared, but this can sometimes be challenging for members of the team to hear. Letting others see where we are going is essential, but so is listening to the views of others so we might reach that goal quicker.

Great teams will encourage their members to take risks and embrace change. If an effective leader inspires and motivates others, then team members will feel confident to use their individual talents to benefit the group and reach the goal. One of the keys is for team members to encourage courage - being available to talk to team members, workshop ideas and share thoughts whilst providing constructive feedback are just some of the ways a good team member and leader can assist.

If a quality of a strong leader is being able to drive for results, another important aspect of this must be to ensure that all members of the team understand not only what their role is, but how they are performing in that role. This means ensuring everyone understands what they are doing well as well as what else needs to be done. It involves setting and keeping to deadlines, as well as celebrating achievements. The only way we get better is by reflecting on the job we have done and successful teams embrace this.

At the end of last year, Mr Wells and Ms Louden took the First LEGO League team to compete in the nationals at Curtin University on Saturday 14 December. Our Year 5 boys, Brenn Armstrong, Jack Ashby, Zachary Blakey, Leon Hugo, Abe Prendiville and Luca Regli excelled in their teamwork and achieved first place for Strategy and Innovation. This award recognises a team that uses solid engineering practices competently and demonstrates the ability to develop strategies to design and build an innovative and high performing robot.

I welcome all new families to the start of 2020 and into the Junior School team. I remind myself what processes are put into place for new families and staff alike. Induction and set up of technology devices is a must, linking and helping connections to be formed is equally critical as is answering those additional questions in order to be ready for the year to begin. All completed by many teams who help with ensuring that the school starts as smoothly as possible. I look forward to a good term ahead seeing what our strong team can achieve.

Art News

Happy New Year!  I warmly welcome back familiar faces to the art studio and very much look forward to getting to know each of the new young artists.

Our initial creative focus will be upon the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Each artist will create an individual image to highlight the Year of the Rat. We shall be observing the history and traditions of the rooster whilst aiming to capture character within our final artistic depictions. The boys will explore a range of differentiated materials and techniques, taking risks and learning to develop new ways to extend and present their ideas.

I am looking forward to sharing with you the various approaches to the theme and eagerly anticipate a diverse, exciting display alongside an abundance of vivid colour!

Watch this space…

  

Ms Jane Roche

Junior Art Specialist

Information Learning Technology

There was great excitement in the Junior School when the new boys starting in Years 2 to 5 received their iPads and iPad Pros the day before school commenced.  Boys and parents attended their iPad rollout session, detailing all of the important information about using and taking care of their new devices, and how to be responsible digital citizens.

The Year 1 boys will get their chance to receive their new iPads on Tuesday 4 February.

We are ensuring 21st Century learning for our students with our 1:1 device programme.

Effective use of the iPads have:

• increased independent and self-initiated learning among students
• increased student motivation and active engagement in learning
• improved teachers' capacity to plan for and meet individual student needs
• led to an improvement in student learning outcomes
• extended students' learning beyond the classroom

There are many rich learning experiences occurring each day in the Early Learning Centre and Junior School.  While parents would love to be able to see them all, it is sometimes hard for the younger boys to articulate all they have done during that day. 

The Pre-Kindergarten to Year 2 classes will continue to use the Seesaw app to capture and share what is happening in their classrooms.  Seesaw allows teachers to provide an immediate and personalised window to share and communicate with their families.  

Boys in Years 2 to 5 use their Showbie app to collect and upload their digital work and receive feedback from their teachers.  

I encourage parents that the next time they enquire about what has been happening at school and hear the response ‘Not much’, ask your son to grab his iPad or open up Seesaw on your mobile device for a great way to discuss and help deepen the learning!

Mrs Amanda Ritchie

ILT Integration Specialist

Head of Middle School

It was a short week for our first week back but nonetheless, long enough for students to meet all their teachers and begin to understand the expectations on them in their new year level.  One of the expectations I have of boys in Middle School is that they spend the time doing the basics well.  That is, attending to, or grooving the simple foundational skills we need so that they become habits.  Like the tip of an iceberg poking out of the water, rarely do we in Middle School see the bulk, or the end result of the habit forming we place so much emphasis on.  Habits around time keeping, organisation, prioritising, referencing, reading, researching, questioning, being critical, being courteous, and being supportive to name a few.  These types of habits form the bedrock that boys in Senior School need to have to launch from as they acquire and synthesise new knowledge and to then evaluate, create and apply new possibilities.  The bedrock, the habits we work hard on now, so well described in the Approaches to Learning, become the character, the full iceberg so to speak, of the boy we see departing after Year 12.

Two habits I put particular emphasis on at our Day 1 Middle School meeting were:

• Good posture:
• Bringing others along with you

Both of these habits are actions that require continual attention.  Both if developed well will have enormous positive benefit for the rest of our boys' lives.  From a posture perspective the incorporation of mobile and hand-held technologies into our lives can be counterproductive to good posture.  Awareness of and attention to the effect of these devices is critical during the rapid physical growth phase Middle School boys are in.  Is it possible to incorporate devices into our lives and still have good posture?  It is, but it requires conscious and continual effort until good posture becomes the habit.

Thinking about the welfare of others is a habit that can be developed too.  Target setting, being goal focussed, these are important sub skills and most frequently considered in individual contexts.  However, when school, work and life get complex and difficult it is the strength of the network we have built, inspired and cared for that supports us in achieving the things that really matter when the time comes.  When our boys walk out of Scotch after Year 12 with their VET, WACE or IB score, I would like to think they also walk out with a bank of really good habits that we emphasised in Middle School, this includes really good posture and the ability to care about others.

Important Dates in Middle School Summer Term

Mon 3 Feb	Year 7 Parent Information Evening, 6.30pm – 8.30pm MacKellar Hall
Tue 4 Feb	MS Inter-House Swimming Carnival, 8.30am HBF Stadium
Wed 5 Feb	MS ID Photo Day Year 6 Parent Information Evening, 6.30pm – 8.30pm MacKellar Hall
Thu 6 Feb	Year 8 Community Project Student Launch 8.30am – 2.45pm DC Year 8 Parent Information Evening, 6.30pm – 8.30pm MacKellar Hall
Fri 7 Feb	MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC
Tue 11 Feb	Year 7 Vaccinations Round 1
Thu 13 Feb	Year 8 Community Project Excursion, Periods 5 & 6
Mon 17 Feb	Parent/Teacher Interviews Commence
Wed 19 Feb	Academic Assessment Testing  *Catch Up and New Enrolments* Galadent Mouth Guard Fittings, 4.00pm – 8.00pm MacKellar Hall
Fri 21 Feb	MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC Parent/Teacher Interviews Conclude Scotch Parents' MS Sundowner, 6.30pm MS Quad
Sat 22 Feb	Galadent Mouth Guard Fittings, 10.00am -2.00pm MacKellar Hall
Sun 23 Feb	Galadent Mouth Guard Fittings, 11.00am – 3.00pm MacKellar Hall
Mon 24 Feb	Ride2School
Tue 25 Feb	Ride2School MS Parents SEQTA Workshop 3.30pm – 4.30pm MS Parents SEQTA Workshop 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Wed 26 Feb	MS Parents SEQTA Workshop 9.00am – 10.00am
Fri 28 Feb	Mid-Term Break (no classes)
Mon 2 Mar	Mid-Term Break (Labour Day)
Tue 3 Mar	Year 7.7 Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 5 Mar	JPSSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival 1.00pm – 3.00pm HBF Stadium
Fri 6 Mar	College Open Day Year 7.7 Moray Expedition Returns 12.00pm MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC
Mon 9 Mar	Year 7.1 & 7.2 Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 12 Mar	Year 7.1 & 7.2 Moray Expedition Returns PSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival, 5.00pm HBF Stadium
Mon 16 Mar	Year 7.3 & 7.4 Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 19 Mar	Year 7.3 & 7.4 Moray Expedition Returns
Fri 20 Mar	MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC
Mon 23 Mar	Year 7.5 & 7.6 Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 26 Mar	Year 7.5 & 7.6 Moray Expedition Returns
Sun 29 Mar	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Boarders only)
Thu 2 Apr	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Returns (Boarders only)
Fri 3 Apr	MS Assembly, 12.30pm DC
Mon 6 Apr	MS Inter-House Philosothon
Thu 9 Apr	Summer Term Concludes

Welcome back and I hope your Christmas break was a rewarding one where families and friends had the opportunity to spend meaningful time together. The festive season is a time to be thankful for the people in our lives and to reflect on our relationships, responsibilities and personal situations. We are all part of many different communities and the break has allowed us the opportunity to celebrate with them and in some cases empathise.

With families experiencing loss through the bushfire tragedies in the eastern states and other events that have touched us over the break, it is a timely reminder of the importance of embracing those around us, supporting those in need and showing that we care. It has been great to see many Scotch students and families involved in fundraising efforts for those affected by the bushfires, and hearing of the support that friends have offered other members of our community who are in need. When times are tough, community strength shines through and whether we are directly affected or not, we all have a responsibility to look for a way to help, to show compassion and to seek to understand how others might be feeling. Our students and families have demonstrated this over the break and it has been heartening to hear of the various causes that have received support.

As we start a new year, this strength of community is also important. It has been great to have the students back at school and to have the Year 9 boys on the Senior School campus again after their brief orientation late last year. Many students look forward to returning after the summer; some cannot wait to see their friends, start new co-curricular pursuits and catch up on the news. The excitement of a new beginning is palpable and we share it and look forward to the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead. While most of our student groups are one term into the academic year, the Year 9 boys are experiencing Senior School for the first time. We know they will experience ups and downs - that is life - and the support of their peers, the staff and the Scotch community that has been on display over the break will also be there for those students. Some may feel a little apprehensive for varying reasons and support for those boys is available through our pastoral system and from their peers and the Scotch community.

This is one of the qualities of our school of which we are most proud – as a group, we get behind each other, we think of ways to help others and we aim to "be there" when needed. We are looking forward to 2020 and the adventures and challenges that lie ahead.

 

Senior School Important Dates  - Summer Term 2020

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 2B
Monday 3 February	Instrumental lessons and ensembles resume
	Year 9 Laptop Rollover
Tuesday 4 February	Senior School Photo Day
	Year 9 Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.30pm – 7.30pm
Wednesday 5 February	Senior School Inter-House Swimming Carnival (Year 9 sport training as per usual. No afternoon sport training unless otherwise arranged with coaches)	HBF Stadium	8.30am – 1.00pm
Thursday 6 February	Year 9 Laptop Rollover
	Year 11 Outdoor Education (General) Bronze Medallion Assessment
Friday 7 February	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	Senior School Photo Catch-Up Day
	PSA Sport – Scotch College v Trinity College (sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	1.30pm – various
	St Hilda's Swim Meet	St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls	5.15pm – 8.30pm
	Year 11 and 12 Drama Excursion – Perth International Arts Festival	Regal Theatre	7.00pm – 10.00pm
Saturday 8 February	PSA Sport – Scotch College v Trinity College (sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	8.30am – various
	PSA Rowing – Hale School Regatta	Champion Lakes	8.30am – noon
Sunday 9 February	Ross House Sundowner	Gooch Pavilion	4.00pm – 6.00pm
Week 3A
Monday 10 February	Year 11 Outdoor Education (General) Camp departs		Final day Wednesday 12 February
	NDIS Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.30pm – 8.00pm
Thursday 13 February	Year 11 Politics and Law Excursion	Parliament House	8.30am – 3.25pm
	Inspiring Male Role Models in Business Excursion	CBD	9.15am – 2.30pm
	School Aged Swimming Championships	HBF Stadium	6.30pm – 9.00pm
Friday 14 February	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	PSA Sport – Hale School v Scotch College (sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	1.30pm – various
	Year 11 and 12 Drama Excursion – Perth International Arts Festival	Heath Ledger Theatre	6.30pm – 9.30pm
Saturday 15 February	PSA Sport – Hale School v Scotch College (sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	8.30am – various
	PSA Rowing – Scotch College Regatta	Champion Lakes	8.30am – noon
	Residential Life Pre-Ball Gathering	Cottesloe Civic Centre	4.00pm – 5.00pm
	Year 12 Ball	Dickinson Centre	6.30pm – 11.30pm
Week 4B
Monday 17 February	INSTEP West Student Induction Day	Tradewinds Hotel, Fremantle	8.30am – 3.30pm
	Year 10 Cadets St Johns First Aid Course	Off campus	8.30am – 3.30pm

Senior School Inter-House Swimming Carnival 2020

The Senior School (Years 9 to 12) Inter-House Swimming Carnival will begin at 9.00am and finish at 1.00pm on Wednesday 5 February. Please find attached the Swimming Carnival Programme of Events.

There will be no classes in the afternoon. There will be no sport training for Years 9 - 12 in the afternoon unless instructed by coaches. Training in the morning is as normal.

Each individual boy can only swim in two individual events, one freestyle relay and one novelty relay, with the focus of this event on participation.

Boys are expected to wear Scotch bathers or blue PE shorts. They may also wear a Scotch rash vest if they wish. They will not be allowed to swim if they do have the correct clothing.

There are no false starts with boys simply being disqualified at the end of the race should they break at the start.

Sunscreen for each House will be provided. Please encourage students to wear Scotch hats and to apply sunscreen before they arrive at HBF Stadium. There is limited shade for spectators so parents and friends attending the carnival should bring a hat, apply sunscreen and stay hydrated. Parents are not permitted onto the pool deck.

Entry is from the McGillivray Oval side of HBF Stadium as with previous years and parents are required to pay an entrance fee of approximately $3.60.

Day boys are expected to make their own way to HBF Stadium.

Buses will depart from the Middle School bus bay on Shenton Road at 8.15am for boys who have training before school and for all boarders.

Boys can go home at the conclusion of the carnival from HBF Stadium. Buses will transport any boys back to school who are not able to get home from the stadium. Boys returning to school have the option to undertake private study in the Bunning Resource Centre (Senior School Library) until 3.25pm, where they will be supervised for the afternoon.

Please direct any queries to your son’s House Head. If boys are  injured  they should communicate this to their House Head as well.

Please click here for the Interhouse Swimming Carnival Programme.

Mr Richard Foster

Head of Sport

Kapture Photography

Senior School individual student photos will be taken on Tuesday 4 February 2020 with an opportunity for catch up photos on Friday 7 February 2020.

Parents may order photos online from Tuesday 4 February 2020. Orders placed by Friday 6 March 2020 will be delivered to the school and distributed via House Heads. Orders may be placed for the remainder of the current year, however, these will not be delivered to the school and a late order fee will apply.

To place orders please visit the Kapture Photography website www.kapture.com.au and use the school code C5RW7D. Please note, this page is for Senior School photo orders only. Parents are asked not to place orders for boys in Junior or Middle School.

Your son will be given a barcode when he has his photo taken. It will include his student number which is required (in lieu of the order envelope mentioned on the website) when ordering photos. When asked for 'Room, Class, Form', please select your son's House.

Kapture Photography offers a money back guarantee for any parent who is not fully satisfied with their photo package. Please direct any queries directly to the Kapture office on 9240 1714 or email enquiries@kapture.com.au.

Please ensure that personal presentation, including uniform, haircut and shaving, is addressed prior to the Photo Day.

Boys are required to wear their House tie for their photo.

Year 9 Parent Information Evening

The Year 9 Parent Information Evening will be held on Tuesday 4 February 2020. It is not necessary for students to attend. The evening will take place in Memorial Hall, commencing at 6.30pm and will include information to assist parents in planning for the year ahead. Should you have any queries please contact Heidi Locke  Heidi.Locke@scotch.wa.edu.au  or 9383 6954.   

SmartRider Cards - Senior School 

Please direct any queries to Lynn Murray in Student Services 9383 6928 .

Performing Arts  

I trust all families in our community have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year break. The Scotch Performing Arts team are looking forward to facilitating challenging and exciting programmes for our boys in 2020. The start of a school year can be a stressful time for students with  all  the perceived expectations, the academic goals, the myriad of new opportunities available, juggling co-curricular activities and meeting all of the demands of an increasingly complex daily life routine.  

I remember speaking to a recent graduate not long ago. He reminded me of the importance of doing something you enjoy or love while going through school. For him, it was music and drama and his reflection was that his involvement in these two areas were what motivated him to get up in the morning with a positive attitude about the day ahead. He would look forward to his involvement in music ensembles and drama productions and this gave him a sense of joy while he went about his daily school routine.

There can be so much gained through immersive involvement activities such as offered by the performing arts and sporting programmes. I trust that each boy's experience this term will be one of jumping in wholeheartedly to something they really enjoy.

New Music Faculty Leadership Structure

This year, we've implemented a new leadership structure for the Music Faculty. There are now three key leadership positions within the department each with a specific portfolio.

Mr Tim Simpson has been appointed to the position of Music Tuition Coordinator. Mr Simpson will be responsible for all music lessons held as part of our extensive Music Tuiton programme, from Kindergarten through Year 12.

Mrs Jenny Sullivan has been appointed to the position of Music Curriculum Coordinator. Mrs Sullivan will be responsible for all Music courses taught through the regular classroom programme, again from Kindergarten through to Year 12.

The Music Ensemble programme and all public performances, including chapel and assembly will now be overseen by Mr Scott Loveday directly in his role as Head of Performing Arts. 

Staffing changes

At the conclusion of Spring Term 2019, we farewelled the following staff:

• Mr Adrian Hicks: moving to the Department of Education IMSS programme
• Miss Elizabeth Moss: moving to John Septimus Roe ACS
• Mrs Wyana O'Keeffe: relocated with family to Townsville
• Mr Niran Dasika: relocated to Melbourne
• Mrs Niki Browne-Cooper: maternity leave
• Mr Rob Coleman
• Mr Matt Cole

During January, we also had the sad job of farewelling the following staff:

• Mrs Donna Hooson: relocating with family to Tom Price
• Ms Ibolya Mikajlo: moving to the Department of Education IMSS programme
• Miss Rosie Taylor

After eleven years of service, Ms Mikajlo has accepted a position within the Instrumental Music School Services division of the Department of Education. Ms Mikajlo was valued for her ability to relate to boys with varying abilities and ages and her passion for working with students who found it difficult to access learning because of cognitive or physical disadvantages. She revelled in the Junior School performance space and spent a lot of time and energy arranging music for special item performances at Junior school events. Ms Mikajlo will be publicly acknowledged and officially farewelled at a staff afternoon tea during the term. We thank Ms Mikajlo for her service to Scotch College and wish her all the best with her future work at IMSS and her future research studies.

In 2020, we welcome the following staff to the performing arts team:

Mr Matthew Walker

Mr Walker joins the music faculty full time working predominantly with Middle and Senior School students. Mr Walker is a professional trombonist, and has worked with both the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Perth Symphony Orchestra. Mr Walker joins us from Hale School, where he has spent the past nine years championing the band programme in the Hale Middle School. Mr Walker is married to Laura, and has two young daughters to keep him on his toes.

Mr Lachlin Brooks-Crew

Mr Brooks-Crew joins the music faculty full time until July, working predominantly with Middle and Senior School students in the general and VET music pathways. Mr Brooks-Crew is a professional saxophonist and joins Scotch from Melville Senior High School where he has spent the past five years delivering similar programmes to senior secondary students.

Mr Austin Castiglione

Mr Castiglione joins the drama team in a part time capacity, with his main focus being on middle school classes. Mr Castiglione has spent the past three years at PLC Perth, where he is still involved with the Wings programme. Mr Castiglione is a professional actor and director, with a wide and varied production experience with the Black Swan Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company and Class Act Theatre.

We are still in the process of appointing new Music Tuition staff for 2020 and will be in a position to announce new faculty members in due course.

Addition to the Music Tuition programme

For the first time, Scotch Music is pleased to offer individual study in Electronic Music and Music Production. Individual programmes in this area will be delivered by Mr Luke Minness, one of our faculty members who has extensive experience in this area. Mr Minness runs workshops in metropolitan and regional cities focussing on contemporary songwriting and production techniques. Mr Minness has been nominated for industry awards for his own production and electronic music works.

Music Fellowships

Aptitude testing for all Year Three students will occur on Friday 7 th  February during the school day. There is nothing students or parents can do to prepare for the test. The aptitude test is a measure of a boy's developmental musical potential. Following the test, selected students will be offered the opportunity of learning a string instrument with special subsidies through the College Music Tuition programme. Further details will be provided to families once testing is complete.

Mr Scott Loveday

Head of Performing Arts

2019 Scotch India Tour

In the early hours of a warm summer morning on 7 December 2019, six Scotch boys and three staff departed Perth airport for New Delhi, India. The aim of the tour was to provide Scotch boys with an opportunity to appreciate the quality of education they have received at the College over the years; to assist in their understanding that they possess the expertise to educate and bless their global brothers and sisters who are less fortunate, and to grow in their understanding of the social and cultural complexities that exist in a developing nation, India.

The boys travelled to New Delhi where they visited iconic, historical sites such as Humayun's Tomb, India's largest mosque Jama Masjid and took a rickshaw ride through the ancient bazaar Chandni Chowk. But the greatest joy the boys experienced was working in the Sikh Shrine Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, where they spent hours making chapatis in its holy community kitchen and serving food to hundreds of pilgrims and the homeless. They were also emotionally moved when they interacted with the children from the slums at the Mother Teresa Charity Home for the destitute. The experience generated a range of questions and discussions about the caste system and the Indian political system which was of special interest to a couple of the boys who had studied Global Politics in the Diploma Programme.

The tour travelled to Agra by bus, which provided the boys with further insights into the challenges facing the Indian farmers and their exploitation by local and foreign investors. These insights were further enhanced at Mukti when they had an opportunity to speak to Mukti farmers and an Australian farming consultant, John Butler, who was offering his services as a consultant to improve the efficiency of the Mukti farming programme.

In Agra, they attended a play which dramatised the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz, which contextualised the historical events and the Emperor's deep love for his wife that led to the building of the Taj Mahal. The next day the boys visited the Taj with greater appreciation for its purpose and architectural configuration.

The boys then travelled to the  Pandita  Ramabai  Mukti Mission School at Boripardhi, eighty kilometers east of Pune.  Here they spent seven days living and working on the school campus and interacting with the students. The boys taught classes in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English. Together with Dr Spadaccini, they also worked tirelessly to establish Mukti's IT laboratories which had sat idle for over eighteen months because no staff member knew how to set up these machines. The boys set an example for the educators at Mukti as they revealed the importance of being able to use technology and problem-solve which is not encouraged by an education system that privileges rote-learning and absolute obedience to the teacher; the teacher's work is never questioned. The boys worked to introduce a different mind-set and formulated a series of recommendations of how to improve their education through Scotch connections and shared these ideas with the Mukti Leadership at a briefing at the end of the tour.

Additionally, Mawson Barr- Willans  spent hours instructing Mukti teachers and technical assistants about how to engineer their media productions; he was instrumental in digitally organising the music required for their Christmas Production which involved more than a hundred students from both the  Marahati  and English Medium Schools and performed for the entire community of several hundred people. At the end of the theatrical performances, Mawson received public acknowledgement from the Headmistress for his significant contribution.

But it was not all work; after school had ended each day, the boys returned to the Mukti playgrounds where they were taught Indian games by the Mukti children: Kofi and Logori. The games soon evolved into an international competition between India and Australia; all played in good fun with plenty of teasing from both sides. Sebastian Barrett had also taken four chess sets and taught some of the girls how to play. So, whilst his peers were running around the barren, stony fields, Sebastian was seated nearby, on the ground, playing chess with several Mukti children. Thereafter, he left the chess sets with the children to continue to enjoy the game and to hone their skills. This was a special bonding experience for the boys and the Mukti children who are generally ignored by their wider community because of their status and yet, here were six Australian boys who valued them and believed that they were special and enjoyed spending time with them. Our boys showed sincere friendship that was a blessing to the children and their sense of self-worth. Likewise, the boys were also emotionally edified when they understood the impact they were having on the lives of others.

                   

The support and generosity of the Scotch Community was further demonstrated through the benevolent heart of Year 3 student (2019), Emerson McNally. After investigating the  marginalisation  of the disadvantaged in India, he chose to  organise  a stationery drive in the Junior School. Within a couple of weeks, Emerson had procured an overwhelming supply of pens, pencils, exercise books, rulers, glue sticks and pencil cases for the tour group to take to India. It gave us great joy to gift the stationery to the Mukti children and share with them Emerson's heart-felt desire to assist them with their education.

Upon their return to Australia and after the Christmas holidays had concluded, Sebastian Barrett generously hosted a luncheon at his family home for the group. All attended and outlined an on-going plan to support Mukti's educational  programmes , which has been submitted to the Director of Community Service,  Mr  Kyle, for consideration; it is an ambitious but worthwhile course of action involving Scotch Junior, Middle and Senior Schools, with implementation to commence in 2020.

Mr Michael Scaife

IB Diploma Coordinator | English Teacher

Tours Update

Year 9 Canberra Tour – July 2020

There are still a small number of places available for the Year 9 Canberra Tour to be held in the first week of the winter holidays. The tour includes an education component in Canberra and a recreational snow sports component at Perisher, NSW.

French Language Tour – December 2020

There are still places available on the French Language Tour. This tour begins in Nice on the French Riviera, where students will undertake a comprehensive five-day language course and experience the beauty of the Cote d’Azur and surrounds. They will then travel to Paris to explore the art, food, history and culture of France. This tour is aimed at current Year 10 and 11 students of French.

If you would like more information about either of these tours, please contact Mrs Joanne Hallis at tours@scotch.wa.edu.au

Information regarding tours to be offered in 2021 will be published later in Summer Term.

Driving to School

Boys in Year 12 wishing to drive to school may park at the Gooch Pavilion (there is no student parking on campus). We do not recommend the following:

• That boys transport other students to school events
• That boys ride a motor bike or scooter to school
• That boys drive to examinations in case of distractions

Boys may not go to their cars during the school day. This includes breaks.

Careers Information

Year 11/12 Subject Changes

By now all Year 11 and 12 students should have settled into the subjects that they are going to continue with for the remainder of the 2020 academic year with the final date for changes being Friday 7 February. This deadline is set so that students will have a realistic chance of catching up and successfully completing the new subject/s they have chosen. Subject changes after this time will only be made under exceptional circumstances in consultation with Mr Frusher and with approval from Ms Reyhani, Dean Teaching & Learning. These changes will mainly be students who are changing to General courses or Year 12 students who are dropping a subject to pick up a study period. The latter can be done at any time of the year.

Master Classes 2020

ATARGET is offering small group seminars for Year 10, 11 and 12 students in the ATAR Learning Areas of Chemistry, Physics, Maths,  English ,  Literature , Human Biology and Psychology throughout Term 1. The objective of this program is to give students on-going academic support which will reinforce and consolidate the skills and processes learnt during the week at school. It aims to better prepare them for success in school-based assessments and final ATAR examinations.

The program for Middle School secondary students focus on the Learning Areas English and Mathematics.

Venue: Christchurch Grammar School

For further information and/or registration visit:  www.atarget.com.au  or  email admin@atarget.com.au  Phone 94861337 or 0488102907.

Defence Forces Recruiting

Australian Defence for Academy (ADFA) and Royal Military Coll e ge Duntroon (RMC) intakes for 2021.

Given that the recruitment process for these avenues of entry into the ADF can take up to 12 months,  it is recommended that interested students visit the centre and start their application in the first quarter of 2020.

For further information about ADFA please have a look at the following link  https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/students-and-education/australian-defence-force-academy/what-is-adfa?ci=0 .

The Royal Military College Duntroon prepares cadets and other selected candidates for careers in the Army by promoting leadership and integrity, by inspiring high ideals and the pursuit of excellence, and by inculcating a sense of duty, loyalty and service to the nation.  https://www.army.gov.au/taxonomy/term/132

If any students are interest in more information,  www.Defencejobs.gov.au is the best place to start and they can also book the first stage process ('Your Opportunities Unlimited (YOU)' Session) via this  site.  They can also contact 13 19 01 or visit Defence Force Recruiting located at Level 7, 66 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

Considering Medicine?

A new information section has been added to Study Medicine - Frequently Asked Questions and the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

This free resource provides detailed information to questions such as:

How do I increase my chances of getting into medical school?

What is Plan B if I don't get into Medicine?

You can find the new FAQ and the AMA section of Study Medicine at  www.studymedicine.com.au/ama/

Career Paths for High Achievers

If you're interested in applying to US and UK universities or Australian medical schools, please attend this free event being held on February 22 at UWA. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the application processes and how to  plan  and is suitable for students in Years 9-12. For more information go to:

Top of the Class - Career Paths for High Achievers

Code Master Institute

Next Level Code Club is an opportunity for high school  students to  learn how to code.  We have developers to teach students everything they need to know about programming and the Web App Development field. This course has been endorsed by SCASA and students can earn 4 WACE units.

Course is running every Tuesday from 4pm to 6pm at IQX UWA,

For more information:

https://www.codemasterinstitute.com/codeclub

Lattitude Global Volunteers 2020

There's no time like now. Priority deadline for the most popular placements is  March 9, 2020.  Students should apply early to secure an interview and sort their gap year before the crowd. Overseas volunteer opportunities range from 6 weeks to 12 months.

Volunteer Placements involve being immersed in one culture and finding out what it's like to live like a local! Go overseas from 3 to 12 months volunteering as a teacher, outdoor activities instructor, schools assistant, community worker or medical assistant.

APPLY NOW

Breaking bad study habits

Start the new school year off right with these great tips for staying focused while studying.

Check them out –  http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/breaking-bad-study-habits-16-effective-habits-for-success/

Mr Peter Frusher

Careers Adviser

Summer Uniform

School uniform is to be worn correctly by all day boys at School and when travelling to or from School. There are some special regulations for boarders.

When ties are worn the collar button must be done up. Shirts need to be tucked in properly. All clothing must be marked with the boy's name. Name tapes may be ordered through the Uniform Shop.

Hair should be neat, tidy, clean and brushed. It must be an even cut over the head with a minimum length Number 3. Hair should not fall over the collar, eyes or ears and is to be the natural colour (no added colours or dyes). If product, hair ties or head bands are required to keep hair from falling across the ears or face, the hair is too long. Boys must be clean-shaven.

No jewellery, other than a  wristwatch  or medic alert bracelet, is to be worn.

No tattoos of any kind are permitted.

Summer uniform must be worn in Summer Term and Spring Term. Winter uniform must be worn in Autumn Term and Winter Term. Boys who have earned a Colours or Honours tie may wear this tie instead of a House tie on Fridays. All boys will need to possess both a School tie and a House tie which are both obtained only from the Uniform Shop.

Boys who have Physical Education in Period 6 may wear their sport uniform home at the end of the school day.

Occasionally the School will have a Free Dress Day when boys will be permitted to wear casual clothing. This is usually run as a fund-raising exercise. On these days, clothing must be clean and neat without offensive wording, closed in shoes must be worn and the rules on jewellery remain unchanged.

House Braid 

So that each boy may be identified by his House when ties are not being worn, boys wear appropriately coloured braid on the pocket  of Summer  uniform shirts. Strips of braid in House colours are available from the Uniform Shop. The braid should be stitched along the top edge of the pocket.

Scotch Parents

 

Welcome parents to a new school year and what a fabulous way to begin with our Welcome BBQ on Tuesday 28 January. It was wonderful to see so many new (and old) families in attendance enjoying the many sausages, salads and refreshments on offer. In particular it was great to meet some of our boarding families dropping off their boys and this is why we always hold the event the afternoon before school starts. A huge thank you to our team of volunteers and Scotch Catering for what was a memorable evening.

 

Our Middle School Parent Sundowner will be held on Friday 21 February from 6.30pm. This is always a great evening where you have the opportunity to meet new parents in a casual environment. Please note the change of venue from the Gooch Pavilion to the Middle School Quad.

 

I’m really looking forward to meeting many of you throughout the year and would encourage you to visit the Scotch Parents group under “Scotch Groups” on Home.Scotch https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/. We will keep this updated with events, meeting dates and minutes and funding initiatives.

 

Year 10 Parents

We are still in need of a couple of people who are willing to be Scotch Parent Representatives for Year 10. If you and a friend would be willing to take this role on please email me on scotchparents@scotch.wa.edu.au as soon as possible.

 

Year 11 Parents

An email will be sent out shortly requesting volunteers for the Year 11 Dance Committee. If you would like to be a part of this committee please do not hesitate to email me on scotchparents@scotch.wa.edu.au

 

Upcoming Events:

 

Scotch Parents Meeting – Gooch Pavilion, Tuesday 11 February at 9.00am with special guest speaker Ryan Steenkamp, Head of Swimming

 

Year 12 Ball – Dickinson Centre, Saturday 15 February

 

Middle School Sundowner – Middle School Quadrangle, Friday 21 February at 6.30pm
Tickets are available by visiting the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and clicking on the “Book a Scotch Event” icon.

 

Year 9 Parent and House Head Dinner – Tuesday 3 March at 6.30pm

Please Save the Date, full details will be available shortly.

 

Mrs Kate Reynolds

President Scotch Parents

Old Scotch Collegians

We are pleased to advise that there will be a reunion for Old Scotch Collegians based in the Australian Capital Territory held on Saturday 22 February in Canberra. Full details will be advised shortly.

Old Scotch Collegians look forward to welcoming back past students from the Class of 2009 at their Ten Year Reunion on Friday 20 March. Other upcoming events include the Goland Club Reunion Dinner on Thursday 19 March and the OSC Annual General Meeting & Sundowner on Wednesday 25 March.

A more complete list of our 2019 can be found on the Upcoming Events page of the alumni website. Further details will be released shortly. We look forward with engaging with the alumni of Scotch College in 2020!