Welcome to the final Thistle for this term.

Since commencing at Scotch mid-way through 2011, I have composed approximately 180 Thistle articles thus far. On reflection, I am sure that my first edition would have demanded a lot of my nervous attention and soul searching. However, sitting here this week, as we embark on our fully online delivery strategy from Monday 30 March, I found myself wondering just what one should say at such a juncture in our College's history. Now more than ever, I encourage you to find as many ways as possible to remain connected as a College community throughout this period.

During times of change it is important to try to find constant and reliable underpinnings; I believe this resides in our staff. Starting this week, we will no doubt face a very different set of challenges, some predictable and many unknown. The one constant is that our staff know the boys, they know their content and they know that we have to make this new reality work in whatever way we can for the sake of our boys. In my view, at such a momentous time of uncertainty, our staff will provide the boys with as much educational and interpersonal normalcy as possible.

Henry Ford was known to have said that 'When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off into the wind, not with it.' At present it is hard to know if we are taking off into a wind or a Force 10 from Navarone. At Scotch we pride ourselves on focusing on the creation of community. Our challenge moving forward is to reenvisage the word community and work out ways to achieve this via a more disjointed in-person context and look for the potential to deliver new opportunities of community building via our online world. We simply have to create new opportunities to connect until the COVID-19 challenge is either behind us or at least under reasonable control.

If enough of us start looking to create other mediums of community in order to reinforce what truly matters to us, then as Gandhi put it, 'You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results.'

On the weekend I came across a beautiful post which I shared across my own Linkedin. Given the upcoming weeks and no doubt months, I think this simple prose from the site 'teacher goals', summarises to what we now have to commit for the sake of our students.

I will teach you now on Zoom (Teams)

I will teach you in your house

I will teach you with a mouse

I will teach you here and there

I will teach you because I care

So do your very best

And do not worry about the rest

At a time like this, all we hope is that you take care of yourselves and your family, keep in contact with us and ask us for assistance as required.  Be assured that just as we have to date, we will continue to ensure that Scotch remains a strong, connected and vibrant community focusing on all those who come together to make us one. I look forward to when we can fully reopen and welcome everyone back on campus.

Regards

Dr A J O'Connell

Headmaster

Many people around the world light a candle in times of trouble, fear or sorrow.  Each one of us can offer a candle of hope in our own way as we face up to viruses and other massive global problems.

Over the next few weeks either Rev Justine Wall or I will be spending half an hour each morning in the chapel, praying for everyone in our community.  If you are worried about someone or have any concerns that you would like us to pray for specifically, please send me an email.  We will include them in our prayers and light a candle for them.

Not being able to have our weekly Senior School chapel service, I have recorded 'a chapel' and will continue to do this each week [https://youtu.be/xLoKwmTBDMg].

'And the people stayed home.  And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being and were still.  And listened more deeply.  Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows.  And the people began to think differently.  And the people healed.  And in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.'

Kitty O'Meara

'God help us to change: to change ourselves and to change our world.  To know the need for it.  To deal with the pain of it.  To feel the joy of it.  To undertake the journey without understanding the destination, the art of gentle revolution.'

Michael Leunig

'I am thankful today for the privilege of being a small, frail, faulted, but integral part of the magic of life on earth.'

Author not known

Prayer

God of ancient calm, let your peace still us

And your light  illumines  us.

God of the flowing rivers, may we discover anew your flowing spirit.

God of the lonely plains, touch these empty places within us

Where we are vulnerable enough to meet you

And where we discover a new understanding of ourselves and the world.

(Prayer by Rev.  Dr.  Peter Millar, former warden of the Iona Community in Scotland)

Transition to Online Learning

The transition to online learning this week has been a steep learning curve for our entire community, however, the positive response that we have had to this rapid change fills me with a great sense of pride and gratitude for the people that we are sharing this journey with. The boys have stepped up with boundless maturity and shown tremendous progress towards becoming independent learners, the teachers have overcome obstacles and delivered curriculum in new and exciting ways and the parents have been kind, supportive and encouraging. This response is a credit to our community.

The following webpages have been created to keep staff, parents and students up to date with all communications and protocol around our online learning. It is important that we have read these before making contact with  the school as these questions are being asked of us often and almost all information for parents and boys can be found on this site.

COVID-19 Response

Similarly, information surrounding this situation is rapidly evolving and therefore we will continue to update these pages, so you are clear on our response to the new circumstances. The last date the site was edited is located at the top of the page.

More excitingly, our staff have created videos so that parents have a better understanding of how your son will conduct his learning while at home. I think you will agree that our staff have done an outstanding job at replicating the classroom online with so many features that will keep our boys engaged and on track.

Understanding Virtual Classroom 6-12 

Understanding Virtual Classroom PK-5

I wish your family all the best in these challenging times and I hope you continue to find our community a strength to draw upon.

We'll See: How to Speak in Troubled Times

Once upon a time, there was a farmer. He lived in a small mountainous village in Japan, and one day his horse broke through the fence and bolted. All his  neighbours  came past that day and said, "What a terrible misfortune to befall you." But the farmer was apparently unconcerned. He replied, "We'll see."

The next day the horse returned, bringing with it a wild horse. His  neighbours  all stopped by to marvel at this beautiful new horse and said to the farmer, "Such a blessing!" But the farmer was equally unmoved. He said, "We'll see," before returning to his chores. 

The next day the farmer's son was riding the new horse to break it  in  and he fell, shattering his leg. The people of the village once again came by. "What terrible luck," they said. "We'll see," said the farmer. That very next day, an army stormed through the village, looking to conscript any able-bodied young men to go away with them and fight in a distant and dangerous war. They took one look at the farmer's son and left him alone. When the army left, the villagers approached the farmer and say to him, "Such fortune shines on your house!" And the farmer just said, "We'll see."

At times such as this, not only do we have to be sensible enough prepare for the short- to mid-term challenges, we must also be bold enough to wonder about what the future could look like, and the amazing possibilities that it holds. We also need to be wise enough to  look into  the moment, the now. There is still so much that can be taken out of these moments – little pinpoints of light and joy; simple pleasures and natural beauty; as well as deep insights into life. Why should we waste these? If we can see these, we can see the future more clearly and positively as well, I think.   

Some thoughts to share with our boys:

• Nothing is all bad and nothing is all good
• He won't miss out on as much as he thinks
• And what he gains may be far more important than he  realises . Who he becomes along the way as a result of hardship is much more significant than what grade or level he gets for a subject or what mark he ends up with as an  ATAR.  Having to work more by himself; having to take more responsibility for his own learning and wellbeing; and having to find ways to work with others and be creative with his time, will turn him into a far more remarkable human being than he  realises  right now   

Some more general thoughts:

• Perhaps this can be our finest hour
• Perhaps it can be our children's finest hour
• Perhaps it will make them into a strong, cohesive, compassionate, resilient generation who can do for others and for the planet what previous generations have talked about and promised without ever delivering. In large part, that is up to them. But we must also shine the light to guide them forward; in this sense, it is very much up to us as well.

This situation has magnified truths which should be self-evident:

• That we should learn to make do with less

• That we should be happy with what we have and who and what is around us

"Every now and then a man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions."

Oliver Wendell Holme s,  The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table

SchoolTV :

Our online subscription to  SchoolTV  means that we have access to their most recent special report: Preparing for Homeschooling. Parents may wish to have a look at this via the following link:

https://scotch.wa.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-preparing-homeschooling

Other useful links/good reads:

At times like this, I know people are bombarded with information, but if you have time and feel inclined, you may like to read through some of these:

• Six Daily Questions to Ask yourself in Quarantine
• FACE COVID: How to respond effectively to the Corona crisis
• How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family Australian Red Cross

Let me finish this fortnight's rumination with this lovely quote from Anne Frank, which highlights something of the delicate balance we all  have to  negotiate:

"At such moments I don't think about all the misery, but about the beauty that still remains. This is where Mother and I differ greatly. Her advice in the face of melancholy is: 'Think about all the suffering in the world and be thankful you're not part of it.' My advice is: 'Go outside, to the country, enjoy the sun and all nature has to offer. Go outside and try to recapture the happiness within yourself; think of all the beauty in yourself and in everything around you and be happy.'

"I don't think Mother's advice can be right, because what are you supposed to do if you become part of the suffering? You'd be completely lost. On the contrary, beauty remains, even in misfortune. If you just look for it, you discover more and more happiness and regain your balance. A person who's happy will make others happy; a person who has courage and faith will never die in misery!"

Anne Frank,  The Diary of Anne Frank , March 6, 1944

Coronavirus; a test of citizenship.

There have been some fascinating insights into the world after Coronavirus, not least Foreign Policy who called on 12 contributors to give 12 different perspectives. Another fantastic article that has had a lot of publicity is by Yuval Noah Harari, the author of 'Sapiens' and 'Homo Deus'. The link is below, and you can either read or listen to it.

The world after coronvirus - Yuval Noah Harari

A huge thanks to the Scotch community who has produced an incredible amount of meals for The Salvation Army and Uniting Care West. Apart from the donations of non-perishables by the boys late last week, the staff have made almost 1000 meals. These have been labelled and frozen and are now getting to people who were already in a precarious position. These agencies are really struggling to support those in need, so any support is very much appreciated.

Another brilliant initiative is by Celia Hammond's office. Please see the link below.

http://celiahammond.com.au/covid19help/

Finally, our Year 9 and 10 boys spent some time researching OSC on Friday and reaching out to them with a letter. The College archives are an incredible resource and the boys were able to take screen shots of the OSC and include them in the letter. I will be sharing this activity with all senior boys in coming days in the hope they can spend some time reaching out to other OSC who may be particularly impacted by the current restrictions.

School Crossing - Claremont Crescent

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 risk the traffic warden who works at the children's crossing on Claremont Crescent near Australind Street is unable to work the rest of the term.

Those students who remain in attendance at school, and community members are asked to please be vigilant whilst crossing without the warden present.

Uniform Shop

As part of our COVID-19 response, the uniform shop will only be available online.  

Online shopping is available at www.flexischools.com.au payment is by credit card or PAYPAL. If you are already using the website for the canteen, you will be able to use it for uniforms as well.  

If you are new to f lexischools , please go to www.flexischools.com.au   and click on Register, then follow the instructions in the email that you will receive. Once you have registered at flexischools , you will need to add your son ('Add a student') as a student at Scotch ('Scotch College WA'). Be sure to enter him as a student in his current Year group. Once your son is registered, you will find that you are able to order uniform for him by selecting the 'Online Ordering' button, and then the 'Uniform' button.   

   
If you need help with this process pleasecontact the uniform shop on Uniform@scotch.wa.edu.au  

Tours Calendar 2021

To assist you in planning ahead, please see below the proposed schedule of domestic and international tours for the 2021 calendar year.

Each tour will be advertised via email to eligible students and their parents. Enquiries should be directed to Tours@scotch.wa.edu.au .

Please click here for the 2021 Calendar.

Teams

Working as a team is imperative to the success of any school. The current situation we find ourselves in challenges even the best of teams. The ability to work together, take turns and contribute means the school will ultimately achieve an end goal and that relies heavily on teamwork.

The Junior School staff are an example of a hard-working team. Each of the sub-schools are equally as capable but being able to watch a strong team in action is truly pleasing to witness and a privilege to lead. I have been in awe watching the staff work together, share resources and ensure that they are ready for any decision to be made whilst offering comfort to each other, as things are feeling slightly daunting.

Teams are found in every class and these same principles apply to the boys. In Academic Support, the boys that come in early, arrive on time and bring their equipment shows a great display of how ready they are for their session and keenness to make sure they play their part in the group. Boys preparing their equipment before school also assists and helps out their classroom team. Managing themselves and getting organised for the day sets them up for success.

No matter your age, you are a contributor if you are part of a group or team. All of the younger students in the Early Learning Centre are a team. The students from Pre-Kindergarten to Pre-Primary have been working as a team to ensure they are all thinking about their safety. This includes all types of safety; playing safely, hand hygiene safety, protective behaviour safety and what to do in each of these situations. Each of the boys have established who are their top five people that they can turn to if they are feeling unsafe.

Similarly, when the boys play together, they form a team. We see this through the various playground games whether it be handball, chasey, soccer or cricket. Similarly, the JPSSA sport afternoons promote teamwork and how teams can succeed despite the various capabilities of the individuals. This certainly came through with the efforts in the Inter-School swimming carnivals.

Similarly, when students come together to represent the school this is classified as a team, for example our boys going on excursions together. The Year 3's displayed great teamwork on their excursion to Penguin Island at the beginning of the year. The Year 2's went to the Constable Care School and the Year 4's recently went to Sculptures by the Sea. All of these excursions are an example of teamwork where they represented the Junior School beautifully to the outside community.

Recently the Year 5 Captains, who make up the Junior School leadership team for Semester 1, were joined by one of the most influential teams in the Senior School – the Year 12 leadership team. The Year 12 leaders planned a fun morning with the boys where they discussed leadership, played a few team games as well as sharing and swapping emails.

We are extremely privileged to have such wonderful teams in our school and the need for teams is now greater than ever. I challenge the boys and the whole community to think about how they can contribute as a team to ensure we work our way through this challenging time as a society.

   

Cycling Club

Bonjour! Madame Vinton has been running a cycling club on Thursday mornings in conjunction with "Your Move", a government body that promotes cycling to schools in WA. At 7.30am each Thursday, an intrepid collection of cyclists have been gathering at the basketball courts to learn some specialist bike skills.  We have been putting these skills to the test whilst cycling around Lake Claremont.

An exciting culmination to this initiative was a group cycling day to visit Sculptures by the Sea on 13 March.  Our cycling group (minus the Year 5's as they had a Leadership event on this day) a staff member from 'Your Move', a representative from 'People on Bikes' and two Scotch staff cycled along the new, safe and comfortable bike path from Claremont to Cottesloe.  We were lucky enough to enjoy the delights of moving on two wheels and the beautiful beach-side exhibition for which WA is famous. We were treated to a 1-hour tour of the artworks and an ice-cold drink under the trees before cycling back to school for the end of the day. The outing was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Cycling Club will run again in Term 4 and we look forward to welcoming more keen cyclists.

   

5C News

There has been a happy and busy buzz throughout Term 1, as we have established a sensational classroom culture in 5C.

Inquiry learning has taken us into the past with a deep study of the Swan River colony. The boys' developed wonderings which sought to answer why the settlement was established, how it was originally set up and what life was like at the time. The boys then researched a range of sources with a focus on a chosen perspective: free settler, convict or indigenous person. This research enabled the boys to write a diary from their chosen perspective. Interesting sources included newspaper articles form the mid 1800s, advertisements persuading people to make the journey to the settlement, excerpts from actual journals from the 1830's and a range of books from our wonderfully resourced library. The boys used Book Creator to make the final copy of their diary entries and they also enjoyed creating watercolour images in the Sketches app to enhance their written work.

The narrative writing focus extended into our assembly for the term, where the boys planned to showcase our understanding of narrative features with a specific focus on picture books. We had written a script and rehearsals for our play were underway but this has now been postponed until later in the year where we hope to dazzle our audience with some comedy.

Our inquiry then took us to the future, where we explored the idea of colonising Mars through researching necessary resources and equipment before applying this knowledge in a collaborative group project using Minecraft. This was definitely a highlight of the term.

5C have enjoyed this term and we look forward to continuing to work together in whatever format this maybe in the near future.

Miss Renae Cirillo

Year 5 Teacher

Head of Middle School

Please tell your boys that we miss them already.  We miss the noise, the energy, the untucked shirts and the balls being bounced in the corridors.  It is a very different place today.  I have poked my head into a number of classes and can hear boys talking to teachers and can see lessons unfolding on white boards and laptops.  This week we will understand the things we weren't aware of in the online teaching world and systems at home and in the classroom will evolve.

Tip #1: Have boys set a phone or laptop alarm a minute before the scheduled start of each Period 1 - 4 lesson.  Good timekeeping is now devolved to the individual student.

One message I will reiterate is that during Periods 1 - 4 teachers are there online, taking the class, taking attendance and this includes Physical Education, Music, Design and Art.  In Period 5 & 6, the teachers are not online, boys check their scheduled P5 & 6 SEQTA lessons, see what is outlined there and/or carry on with any enduring work from the morning classes or extended assignment type tasks.

On the weekend I discussed with my elderly neighbours how our restricted lifestyles would affect them.  Their weekly trips and social activities that give structure and purpose to their weeks have been cancelled and they are really house bound.  No more watching grandchildren play sport – a regular highlight of the weekend.

What can the boys do?  One idea is to ask the boys to set up a regular contact with their grandparents: a phone call, video chat, FaceTime.  The regular time aspect is important.  Negotiate it so that it is a convenient time and predictable.  It is a small act, but lots of small acts add up and a big difference can be made.

A little later in the day my neighbour's grandchildren arrived and gave their Grandad a paint by numbers kit and had one for themselves.  Over the next few weeks they planned to paint and share their progress via photos.  It seemed to me this was a great activity and way to connect, and talking with them again on Sunday evening they were really looking forward to both the activity and the conversations it would generate with their grandchildren.  I went and ordered one online for myself.

Headmaster's Commendations

Congratulations to the following Middle School boys who received a Headmaster's Commendation last week:

 

8.2	Alex Buswell
8.2	Tex Cross
8.6	Adrian Garbowski
8.7	Owen Ray
7.2	Hudson Weir
6.2	Abe Prendiville

Middle School Important Dates

For details of upcoming events, please refer to the online calendar through www.home.scotch.wa.edu.au

All in this together

These are obviously challenging times and we have all had to adapt to an ever-changing environment with the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back to the start of the year, it is clear to see how much has changed since the commencement of 2020. The feeling of excitement and anticipation that our students were feeling towards upcoming events was palpable. That situation has now changed, firstly at a steady rate and more recently very rapidly. Obviously, with the modification, postponement and cancellation of different events there has been disappointment and frustration. The  manner in which  our students have responded has been impressive. No doubt, at times there have been feelings of angst and disenchantment in a situation that is beyond everyone's control, however, people have continued to respond with grace, understanding and an attitude of perseverance. Things that are happening around us,  and also  beyond our school, our state and our country are confronting. We are all in this together, no matter where we  live  and we have a responsibility to work together to overcome this pandemic.

The COVID-19 situation has affected everyone and the ramifications for some families and communities have been very serious. Therefore, it is important that while acknowledging the impact on us, we also think of the many other people experiencing incredible hardship and loss. As a school, we continue to look for ways to show our care and support for others and it is great to see so many boys maintaining their involvement in events such as the World's Greatest Shave or continuing to make meals for the homeless, despite the necessary modifications to these activities.

As a school, we often speak about the importance of connectedness and with the social isolation requirements currently in place that can be difficult, but it is important that we explore opportunities to connect. Our student leaders and  a number of  staff have already suggested ideas to help in this regard and these will be implemented going forward. There have also been some incredible examples shared from around the world.

These are difficult times and it is important to come together, to stay connected as a group, whether that be with our peers, our House, as a School or more widely. It is important to remember what others are going through at this difficult time and to do what we can to make a difference to someone else. It might feel like a small thing but even sharing a meme, a funny video or picture or just picking up the phone and talking to someone can help.

On that note, I would like to share something that gave me a laugh this week:

"No, I'm not coming down….. I've been walked by every member of this family today already."

Senior School  Important Dates

For details of upcoming events, please refer to Daily Notices or the online calendar. Both are accessible via www.home.scotch.wa.edu.au

Senior School Photo Packages

Senior School photo packages have now arrived and will be distributed to your son via his House Head.

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 .

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.

Summer Edition -  The  Raven

Congratulations to the following boys for their excellent writing or art work which is published in the new Summer Edition of  The Raven  :

Samuel Bennett	Year 11 Cameron
Ryan Bourke	Year 12 Alexander
Ashley Edgar	Year 12 Brisbane
Benjamin  Fleay	Year 10 Brisbane
Kalani Locke	Year 10 Shearer
Samuel McGinniss	Year 10 Anderson
Tyler Messina	Year 10 Keys
Christopher Michael	Year 12 Cameron
Will Partridge	Year 12 Shearer
Matthew  Sofield	Year 12 Anderson
Lachlan Stephen	Year 12 St Andrews
David  Stulpner	Year 12 Cameron
Reuben  Westerman	Year 12 Keys
Daniel Wiese	Year 12 Brisbane
Cooper Young	Year 12 Brisbane

Please enjoy reading this work by visiting the electronic version of  The Raven  via the Scotch homepage. 

Any boy who has creative writing that he would like to submit to  The Raven  can send a copy to   jeannette.weeda@scotch.wa.edu.au     

Dr  Jeannette  Weeda

English Teacher – 2IC English

Careers Information  

Careers & University Information  

Schools Curriculum & Standards Authority Notices  

Non School-Candidates 2020  

Non-school candidates are typically Year 12 WACE students who wish to sit a language examination through Interstate Language offering where the course is not offered at Scotch College (e.g. Italian, German, Indonesian Background Speaker) or a Year 12 student who is undertaking the French background language examination where the course is not offered at Scotch College. 

Applications forms for Non-School Candidates are available from Mr Frusher at Scotch College. Applications close on Thursday 2 April 2020. 

Changes to Enrolments Year 12 students  

Year 12 students can withdraw from ATAR courses with practical examination components up until Thursday 23 July and from ATAR courses which do not have practical examination components up until Monday 10 August 2020.  

Year 12 students may withdraw from General courses up until Monday 10 August 2020. 

Students need discuss any changes of enrolments with Mr Frusher prior to the dates indicated above. 

COVID 19 University Up-dates  

All on-campus and off-campus events at  ALL  universities have been cancelled until further notice in response to the COVID 19 outbreak. Universities will be providing scheduled information evenings and events on-line where possible. 

Please check individual university website for updated information on events. 

Free UCAT Webinar (Perth):   
Final 90-Day Study Plan to Complete UCAT Prep!   
Friday, April 17th,   
1:00pm – 4:00pm 

This 3-hour webinar will cover:  

• 90-day, week-by-week study plan with objectives and recommendations 
• Detailed analysis of the  FIVE most common exam-day issues candidates faced in 2019, and how you  can AVOID them in 2020 
• Breakdown of  Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 questions , including sample questions and live teaching 
• Essential tools to  self-diagnose your progress and highlight your personal weaknesses 

ADFA Gap Year 2021 – now open.  

An ADF Gap Year is a unique opportunity to experience life in the Navy, Army or Air Force, without needing to make a long-term commitment. The skills obtained through the ADF Gap Year program will provide them valuable work and life experience and are completely transferable. It will enable your students to develop the confidence for their next endeavour. 

Students who take part in the ADF Gap Year program: 

• Gain valuable skills and work experience 
• Enjoy a great salary package plus free healthcare 
• Live a varied, active and healthy lifestyle 
• Make friends with like-minded people 
• Have the opportunity to see more of Australia 

Whatever their interest, there are a variety of roles to select that will provide young Australians valuable life skills. These include experiences as an officer, in management, engineering, logistics and warehousing, combat and security, and administration. 

Academic Group  

Academic Groups is adapting to the current environment so schools and students can be confident that our April Holiday ATAR Revision Courses will be going ahead. To safeguard everyone's health all of our April courses  will be online in our live interactive classroom.  

Courses will help boost students' confidence and reduce anxiety by offering all the great benefits of our revision classes in a safe environment.   
   
We are working hard to ensure that Year 11 and 12 students are not disadvantaged during this difficult time. 

   
You can be assured that that our excellent teachers will adapt their teaching and their content and will deliver excellent quality interactive revision classes that will help students to maximise their school and exam performance.   
   
As always, each subject will deliver 6 hours of revision content, including topic revision, tips and strategies to increase exam marks and personalised help from the teacher on how to answer problems.   
   
Students will learn in a virtual class with limited numbers so that it is optimised for live interaction with the teacher. Student will also be provided with a workbook to support their revision.   
   
This means, your students can expect to receive all the same great benefits and value of our regular revision courses but with that added safety of being online.    

Classes will be available in all our regular subjects with class time options in both Week 1 and Week 2 of the school holidays. 

Students can enrol online by clicking here.

Apprenticeship Opportunities  

Apprenticeship Central  advertises full- and part-time apprenticeships as well as a number of opportunities for school-based apprenticeships. 

http://www.apprenticeshipcentral.com.au/

Directions WA  is a community based, not for profit organisation working with employers, students and jobseekers in WA. Directions also take expressions of interest for a number of other positions that are not yet open.  https://directionswa.com.au/job-seekers/job-opportunities/

Which is the best University????  

I am often asked this question so here is a website that you can access to provide some insight into the question. The top 10 is made up by cities from eight countries, including one Australian entry.  Read More

When you open this site, there are links to many universities and the courses they offer. 

Interactive ICT Career Wheel  

This site provides an interactive way to explore your possible future in an IT career. It shows which kinds of skills are necessary for different jobs in IT. Check it out – https://www.careersfoundation.com.au/  

Career Exploration  

With subject selection for Year 10 students looming and Year 11/12 further study options becoming a reality explore the many careers available the website   www.careerplanet.earth

Thinking of Aviation  

Thinking what students can study if the schools are closed due to Covid-19? How about obtaining their Cert III in Aviation, which includes a Remote Pilots Licence, with an  online training program , which can be completed at home at their own pace. For more information contact 

Sarah Hussein  

School Program Coordinator 

0403 338 849 

sarah@gdronesolutions.com

www.gdronesolutions.com

UWA Information  

As you know, things are a little different  at the moment , and we hope that you're looking after yourself and supporting friends and family. We appreciate that there is a lot of uncertainty in the future, but we can assure you that we are working on ways to support you virtually. UWA is here for you! Keep reading to see how you can still stay in contact and be informed.    
  

Year 10 – 12 Course Information Webinar  

Monday 30 March, 5pm – 6pm

From the comfort of your very own home (note: trackpants optional), you can register to hear more about UWA. 

Led by current UWA students, our Course Information Webinar will tell you about our courses, entry requirements, student life, practical learning opportunities, support services and much more. We'll have Future Students team members available for Q+A during and after the webinar. 

Webinar is approximately 60mins. Live Chat Q+A included. Pre-booking essential. 

Online Individual Advisory Sessions  

Year 12 - Wednesday 15 & 16 April, 10am – 7.45pm

Year 10-11 - Wednesday 22 & 23 April, 10am – 7.45pm

Book a virtual appointment to meet with one of our friendly Future Students Team members to talk through all your own preferences and questions in a safe and informative session. With your booking, you can find out more about our courses, admissions requirements and alternative pathways. Parents and guardians are welcome. 

Each session is approximately 45mins. Pre-booking essential.

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Advisor

Old Scotch Collegians

As we write this, the Coronavirus is making its impact on our planned programmes, events and initiatives for the year ahead. Unfortunately, at this stage we will be deferring all of our upcoming events, including reunions and our Seniors Lunch (planned for 22 May) until we can identify a time when it is safe to reschedule.

OSC is taking its lead from the College on its response to the Coronavirus. This allows us to access the best evidence-based advice available about how we can keep all our members safe and prioritise your health. We will keep you all regularly updated about OSC events in the future as things develop.

While we are unable to connect with our alumni in a physical sense, we are doing our best to connect in other ways. We recently delivered a number of care packages to our senior alumni, that consisted of some food from our Dining Room staff, a bit of light reading and drawings and letters from Junior School students. This week we will also be rolling out a letter writing programme, connecting Senior School students with a senior OSC. These initiatives are to let our alumni, who may be feeling isolated and alone at this time, know that we are thinking about them.

We are also looking at ways to showcase our OSC businesses. The past few weeks have been tough on our small businesses, and it doesn't look like anything will ease in the coming weeks and months. We want to try and do our part to ease the burden on those OSCs who may be feeling the pressure due to reduced business. Whether you are a tradie who is following all the protocols, or a cafe who is now moving to a takeaway or delivery service, let us know! We will be also rolling out a tutorial on how to utilise the business directory feature on the alumni website, both as a business owner and a business seeker.

If you have any concerns or queries, or if you want to help out in any way, please do not hesitate to contact the OSC office.