Remembrance

Last Wednesday 11 November, our whole school commemorated a very special day in the life of our servicemen and servicewomen, Remembrance Day.

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of November 1918, World War I ended. Germany signed an armistice, an agreement that peace would prevail and that fighting would cease. This had been prepared by Britain and France. At the time this was seen as the first step towards worldwide peace and the end to all world wars. It was a time of hope, a time of celebration but also a time to remember the sacrifices others have made to allow us to be in the position we are in today.

We were able to hold our service in the new Senior School quadrangle which has been formed by the completion of the new Mathematics and Commerce building. The space added genuine gravitas with the piper and the bugler performing from the risen veranda behind the flags. Congratulations to everyone who made this such a moving and fitting ceremony.

While reflecting on Remembrance Day, if you have not already done so, I strongly recommend you pay a visit to our Scotch Heritage Centre and the respective displays in the Memorial Hall which pays respect to past Scotch College students and staff who served both in the First and Second World Wars. Our heritage centre remains a great addition to our College and demonstrates our acknowledgment of sacrifice from those who graced our very halls and fields at Scotch College.

Acknowledging sacrifice is a concept that we can carry with us throughout all facets of life, whether that be through thanking your parents for getting up at 5am three times a week to take you to rowing training so that you can improve, or remembering all the hours your teachers put in to help you improve when you receive outstanding exam results. No matter who you are, your success and your happiness are usually never all of your own doing. Everyone gets help, everyone needs support and without others, in our lives, we would not achieve anywhere near our potential. We often get so caught up in our destination, that we actually forget how we got there, we forget everything that had to line up for us to be in our current position.

We often speak about how resilience is so important. For those who did not see the article in Friday's The West Australian, Scotch is undertaking GRIT Week. Many of our senior boys will be engaging in activities which will challenge their ability to succeed.

Exhibitions & Exams

Last Wednesday I had the honour of officially opening the Inspirations Art Exhibition for students from Pre-Primary to Year 8. I continue to be inspired at how our teachers get such young minds to produce such fine work. Well done to all of the staff who work on developing creativity in our students.

Last week also saw the opening of the Year 5 Primary Years Programme exhibition.  This night is the culmination of a term of concentration and focus by our Year 5 boys. The projects represent reflection, action and discernment. Well done to our Year 5 teachers and many others who acted as student mentors throughout the project.

As of this week, a majority of our Year 12s will complete their final exams. Some are still sitting papers, so we wish them well as they near the end of their formal schooling. I caught up with a lot of the boys before and after their exams and the general feeling is one of satisfaction and a sense that the exams were relatively fair.

Finally, our annual school exit surveys conducted with Year 5, 8 and 12 parents and students will be provided to me very soon for review and consideration. I look forward to reading the feedback as the results are an important data source for our strategic planning.

Gooch Pavilion

The work to upgrade, extend and refurbish the Gooch Pavilion is about to commence. You may have noticed that the area has been fenced off. This area is strictly out of bounds to anyone from the school, or public, as it is now a registered building site. We look forward to completing and opening the new facility in April 2021.

If you are interested in contributing to this substantial project, please get in touch with our Office of Advancement and Philanthropy.

Thanks for your ongoing support in all that we do, especially at this very busy time of the school year.

Have a great fortnight,

Dr Alec J O'Connell
Headmaster

Chaplain’s Reflections

While 2020 will be remembered as the year of the pandemic, rising unemployment and a critical time for the climate emergency, an alarming increase in hate crimes across the world has also taken place. In Poland, LGBTQ communities have become enemy number one. In Hungary, neo-Nazi crowds organise demonstrations to expel the Roma communities. In Germany, there has been a dangerous increase in attacks against minorities and refugees. In the UK, there has been a surge in hate crimes against sexual minorities and transgender citizens.

All these seemingly disparate events have one fundamental thing in common: a systematic hatred of and bias against people who are regarded as different. History suggests that this ‘othering’ doesn’t start with concentration camps or genocide, but with words – stereotypes, cliches. Opposing this ‘othering’ then also needs to start with words. With new stories. It is easier to make sweeping generalisations about others if we know nothing about them. As we get to know ‘them’, we invariably discover that we have more in common than we imagined.

While data and factual information are crucial, it is not enough to bring down the walls of numbness and indifference, to help us empathise with people outside our tribes. We need emotional connections. But more than that – we need stories of our common humanity; stories of struggle; stories of opposing bigotry. East or west, when we relate to others we do so through stories. The stories we tell become one of our main acts of resistance against dehumanisation.

With thanks to Elif Shafak, Turkish-British writer, academic and activist.

Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies

Most of us remember learning Australian history in school and how the voyage of Captain Cook began Australia's colonisation that became the foundation of our relatively short history. There is no doubt that the longest living culture was barely mentioned, and the wealth of Indigenous knowledge was essentially ignored in the Australian curriculum. During this era, racism was largely normalised and the abhorrent events of the past were brushed off as mistakes that were "acceptable in those days." The responsibility for healing a divided nation sat in the past, as Australia attempted to forge forward, mending relationships by offering financial support. It was clear that this approach lacked the much-needed understanding and respect for what are complex and dynamic cultural systems intricately woven around family, kinship, connection with the land and shared responsibility.

As Australian people are coming to terms with acknowledging the past is the responsibility of the present, society searches for ways to educate our community in an effort to deepen our understanding and appreciation of a rich and unique culture, whilst also learning how to empathise and share the pain of the past.

There is little doubt that education has to be the foundation for this change as it presents an opportunity to learn about culture and discuss and question what we believe to be true, in a safe and supportive environment. From this year onwards, Year 11 and 12 Scotch College and PLC students can learn the essential narrative of Australia's history through the new course of Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies General. The course provides both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students with the opportunity to explore shared histories and involve themselves in active reconciliation. The classes affirm the cultural experience and identity of Aboriginal students, and all students have opportunities to learn from, and with, Aboriginal people.

Understanding and valuing cultural diversity are key skills both for citizenship in contemporary multicultural Australia and for participation in an increasingly global community. The Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies General course is intended to equip students with the knowledge, skills and values to be active citizens at the local, national and global levels. These skills are also highly valued in today's workplaces. The ability to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment is important in a wide range of vocational contexts.

Jahlil Hajinoor-Fuller (Year 11) explained, "I chose AIS because I felt, although I know a lot about my culture, I still think there is a lot more I could learn. By participating in this course, I am learning more and encouraging my mates to learn more in the process. I hope to broaden my knowledge about my culture and maybe even use what I learn in this course to help my family act."

Jasmine Walter (Year 10) is a non-Aboriginal student who chose Aboriginal and Intercultural Studies because she wanted to learn more about other cultures. "I thought it would be good to learn as I am thinking of becoming an early childhood teacher. I think it is good to know about different cultures when becoming a teacher as you will have kids from different places and cultures," reflected Jasmine.

Ms Josephine Mfune, Assistant Head of Humanities and History Teacher, is a passionate educator who introduced this course and believes it is a vital part of our shared history. "Education is the fastest way to change how people see themselves and others. If we are truly to move forward as a reconciled nation, we must learn to acknowledge what the clash of cultures created and learn how to move beyond the problems together. This subject equips the next generation to do that," shared Josephine.

Although we have a long way to go, Scotch is committed to making sure our boys are capable of taking informed action that will bring about positive change.

Shine your shoes

There are many wonderful scenes in the movie, Shawshank Redemption. The scene where Andy Dufresne, the central character, locks himself in the office and plays a recording of an aria from 'The Marriage of Figaro' over the prison's PA system; the scene where Andy organises for him and a few mates to tar the prison roof and, at the end of the job, to have a couple of drinks on the roof as the sun sets. These are scenes about the incalculable value of freedom and the unappreciated importance of being in control of our lives to some degree.

Perhaps my favourite scene is the one where it is the night before Andy is about to escape. As he finishes up his day's work – cooking the books for the corrupt governor of the prison – he is also told to polish the governor's shoes. As he finishes, Andy swaps his old prison shoes for the governor's. As he walks back to his cell, nobody notices that Andy has swapped shoes. As the narrator, Red, comments:

"I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a man's shoes?"

Andy Dufresne has spent many, many years locked up in prison, but he still has the self-respect to want to wear polished shoes on his escape that night. We should not judge people by their possessions or by the clothes they wear. But I think we make a statement about ourselves and how we see ourselves by the way we present ourselves. Taking time to polish one's shoes says something about the person inside.

I have learned many things from my parents, two of which are pertinent here. From my mother, I have learned the importance of buying quality products, things that will last. From my father, I have learned the value of taking good care of things. He taught me to polish my shoes when I was at school. "They look better and last longer," he would say. And he's right.

I think teaching our boys to look after things is a critical responsibility – from our planet to our country to our community to their possessions. And the quest to look after things better starts with looking after the little things – it starts with getting him to polish his shoes. It is a sign of self-respect: that he takes enough pride in his appearance to spend a few minutes polishing his shoes. It shows respect for his parents, that he is willing to take good care of the things they provide for him; and it shows respect for the school as an institution, that he is willing to present himself in as positive a light as possible.

It is also a sign that we are in control of something, at the very least. Like making our bed in the morning; even if everything else goes wrong in our day, we have that. We decide whether our shoes are clean or dirty, whether we do that consciously or subconsciously. And that says something about us.

The act of polishing one's shoes is an act of self-discipline. Little things like this teach a young man that there are many tasks in life that we might not be terribly keen to perform, but there is still a point to doing them. They teach him that good preparation and attention to detail have their benefits. It gives him just a little more responsibility. This might, in time, extend to teaching him how to wash and iron his shirt, cook a couple of simple meals, and perform jobs around the house. These are unlikely to be tasks he really wants to do, or that he will enjoy. But they are life skills. And, more than that, these types of tasks are teaching him one of the most important lessons in life: it's not just about having fun.

My final observation regarding self-discipline and respect and where they may be found is in you encouraging, persuading, cajoling or insisting that your son does things on a regular basis that challenge him. This is a topic I have written about before. Playing cricket or doing rowing; learning a musical instrument or taking part in a production; creating art or undertaking the Bibbulmun Track. These are long, slow activities. They require patience and concentration. They require practice and time. They require a focus not just on the game or the finished product, but on the preparation. They are drenched in disappointment – how many wrong notes do we play? How many times do we get out in the nets, or in a game? How many misspoken lines or missteps are there along the path? But the person he becomes, as a result, is what makes the activity worthwhile. Overcoming difficulty and getting better are things we must learn to do if we are to make a real difference in the world.

Don't let your son give such things up too early. And please teach him to shine his shoes.

Remembrance Day 

On Wednesday 11 November, the school came together on the Chapel Oval to commemorate Remembrance Day. This is one of the rare opportunities in our busy lives where we can collectively pause and consider how fortunate we are, acknowledging that our good fortune is built upon the hard work and sacrifice of others.

Remembrance Day began as a memorial to those who fought and died in World War I and that this still a major focus. Four-hundred-and-seventy-five former studentsofScotch College had enlisted to serve by end of that conflict, which was over half of all Old Boys at that time. Of those enlisted, 104 were commissioned, 34 were decorated for bravery, and 78 students and four staff died. A critical part of our service is the reading out of the names of these men who never returned to Australia.

Our short but powerful Remembrance Day oration was given by Michael Silbert, President of the Old Scotch Collegians. His reflection revolved around the poem, In Flanders Field by John McCrae, written in 1915 whilst on the battlefront and just after he had buried one of his best friends. The poem is reproduced below. Michael reminded us of the unimaginable conditions and the almost unbearable pain of loss which so many families endured.

The poem is a simple reminder that there are things worth fighting for; that even amongst the death and mud and blood and stench, there is beauty in the world. It is a reflection on the tenuousness of life, and an exhortation to make the most of it; a plea from those who have sacrificed their lives for us to make something of ours. As Michael said, it is a poem which embodies the hope that their sacrifice will not have been in vain.

There is one line which captures this so clearly:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

It reminds me of the line in our own school song, passing the baton from one generation to the next, in the hope that they will be able to do right by others and make the world a better place.

Wreaths were laid by representatives from the three sub-schools and the OSC as our Pipe Major played The Flowers of the Forest. Our service concluded with the reading of the Ode, followed by the Last Post and a minute's silence – the opportunity to engage in silent contemplation. As the piper played Up in the Morning Early, the flag wasraisedand we continued with our lives.

Although the fields of Flanders have been returned to their previous serenity and the singular significance of agriculture once more holds sway there, that landscape still bears the geographic scars, and our memories should also carry those scars. When we forget, we begin the dangerous descent into disrespect.

Memory keeps us humble; it reminds us of the need for vigilance. Forgetting allows us to fall into the trap of arrogance, where we presume to be better able to manage our affairs than previous generations. That is an attitude to which we ascribe at our peril. Indeed, it is folly.

The opposite of memory is not forgetting, or even amnesia, which I think is an inability to remember. It is ignorance – a lack of desire to recall the past or find out what happened. Perhaps, in the long run, what those OSCs and others were actually fighting for was to release future generations from the grip of ignorance. Ignorance has always been the great weakness of human beings because it leads to fear, and fear is at the root of so much bitterness and cruelty.

Lest we forget 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place; and in the sky 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly 

Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the Dead. Short days ago 

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie, 

In Flanders fields.   

Take up our quarrel with the foe: 

To you from failing hands we throw 

The torch; be yours to hold it high. 

If ye break faith with us who die 

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow 

In Flanders fields. 

Mr James Hindle
Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing 

Uniform Shop — Holiday Hours

The Uniform Shop will close for the term on Tuesday 8 December at 5pm.

Summer Holiday Opening Hours 

• Wednesday 27 January, 9am–12pm & 1–4pm
• Thursday 28 January, 9am–12pm & 1–4pm
• Friday 29 January, 9am–12pm & 1–4pm
• Saturday 30 January, 9am–12pm

Appointments are available at other times for boys who are new to the school in 2021. Please email the uniform shop for details uniform@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Standard Opening Hours

Normal trading hours will resume from Tuesday 2 February 2021.

• Tuesday: 8am–5pm
• Thursday: 7.30–11.30am
• Friday: 7.30–11.30am

Online Uniform Shop

Uniform can also be purchased via the online Uniform Shop with payment by credit card or PAYPAL

Visit flexischools.com.au to register, then follow the instructions in the email that you will receive. Once you have registered, you will need to add your child as a student at Scotch College WA. Please enter your child as a student in the year group they will be going into in 2021 (any class is fine).

If you need help with this process, please contact the Uniform Shop.

Secondhand Exchange

The Uniform Shop accepts all current items of uniform for resale. The old-style sports uniform will be donated to charity. All items should be clean. Blazers must be dry cleaned and in good condition. A frayed cuff, worn elbows, very old crests, rips and tears on blazers make them unacceptable for resale. Items will be purchased from you outright as long as they are in good condition and the shop is not overstocked. Bathers, hats, socks and restricted sportswear are not accepted for resale but will be donated to charity if handed in.

Year 12 Blazers 

Year 12 blazers are available for sale. Because of the unknown nature of the overall size of Year 12 boys and to avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you come in for sizing as soon as possible.

School Productions

Middle School Production (Years 6–8)  

Kicker Thompson by Julia Jarel

Our Middle School production for 2020 is Kicker Thompson by Julia Jarel – a Western Australian coming of age play about a promising young footy player moving to the city and the challenges he faces. 

• Wednesday 18 November, 7pm 
• Thursday 19 November, 7pm 
• Friday 20 November, 7pm 
• Saturday 21 November, 2pm

Tickets are now SOLD OUT.

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 Auditions: Senior School Production (Year 11 & 12)

The Laramie Project by Moisés Kaufman

The Scotch College Performing Arts Department are excited to announce auditions for The Laramie Project written by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project.

The Laramie Project is one of the most performed contemporary pieces of theatre in America. The ground-breaking play is a powerful documentary drama which explores the aftermath of a hate-crime committed against one of its citizens in a small Wyoming town.

Audition Dates

Tuesday 1 & Wednesday 2 December
Foundation Theatre

Callback

3.45–5pm, Thurday 3 December
Foundation Theatre

Register now

Exhibition

We have all heard the phrase 'the world is rapidly changing' and Bob Marley and the Wailers even wrote a song about it! This year, we have certainly experienced the need to ensure we are flexible in our responses and able to meet this changing world and the challenges it brings as we have seen with the incredible uniting of minds in the bid to maintain our safety throughout COVID-19. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework which sets children on their path to becoming life-long learners, future-focused problem solvers and internationally-minded citizens recognising and acting towards the guardianship of our planet. In summary, learners that will be able to respond, act and reflect on the needs of a changing world.

Our Year 5 students finish their Junior School years and the PYP with an amazing Exhibition showcasing the incredible learning they undertake. Students are charged with taking an inquiry journey into an area that they identify as a real-world problem, one significant to themselves and one that they aspire to contribute to the solution. This exploration sets the students to go beyond the traditional subject boundaries many schools enforce and allows them to take meaningful action in their direct community giving them a voice and agency to influence the world in which they live.

The Exhibition is highly collaborative and led by the students involving a significant research undertaking through interviews, surveys and other means to delve deep into learning the key factors around their identified questions. They are guided to find information through books, online research, industry materials and interviews with key people in key industries, taking ownership and responsibility for their own learning. Student inquiries are often linked to environmental, social or human rights issues, science or humanities topics.

Once information is collected, students work to create a statement piece to display at the Exhibition. This statement piece raises the curiosity of guests and is used by the students to inform the audience of their findings and actions that they wish to inspire as a result. Students prepare for the transfer of information to guests and what they wish to next occur to initiate change and action. This demonstration of agency by the children is a key component of the culmination of the work undertaken and demonstrates critical thinking as an important outcome in this process.

Teachers, parents and students find the PYP Exhibition to be an opportunity to bring together attributes, skills and knowledge learned throughout the PYP in Junior School. Add to this, the confidence the Exhibition creates for the students in their skills, attitudes, knowledge and presentation techniques. All of these skills will become critical components in their future education and lives.

I extend my congratulations to the Year 5 students, the Year 5 teachers Miss Cirillo, Mr Wells, Miss Russo and our Junior School community of specialist teachers, staff and parents for the spectacular 2020 Junior School Exhibition.

 

Primary Years Programme (PYP) Learner Profile

The 2020 PYP Exhibition

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition represents a significant event in the life of a Junior School student as it is the culminating event for a journey that, for some, is six years in the making. The PYP Exhibition is not only a celebration of what the boys have learnt but also a reflection of how they learn and what they will do with their learning in an inquiry-modelled approach.

This year the Year 5 boys were immersed in a nine-week collaboratively constructed unit of inquiry, under the transdisciplinary theme of 'How the World Works'. The central idea was, 'scientific understanding impacts lives' and students were encouraged to develop their own burning question to investigate based on one of the three lines of inquiry:

• The physical laws of the universe
• Advances in scientific knowledge
• Fair testing

The boys were involved in all of the essential elements of the PYP and shared them with the whole school community in an exhibition presentation. Our specialist staff took responsibility for driving some of the essential elements as well as looking at the central idea from their areas of expertise. Physical Education focused on social skills (approaches to learning), Art looked at the work of Leonardo DaVinci and his work The Vitruvian Man created in approximately 1487.

French focused on the work of Jacques Cousteau and his work on marine biology, whilst Performing Arts is in the process of creating a musical which explores the emotional side of humanity and how we connect with each other through storytelling.

Thank you to all the parents who came in as experts during the early stages of the inquiry and also thank you to all of the staff who gave up their time to mentor students at various times during the exhibition, however, a special thank you goes to the classroom teachers who guided their students through all stages of the inquiry process and constantly motivated their boys to keep a steady strong pace through a challenging yet rewarding period of their learning journey.

Warwick Norman
Junior School Dean of Teaching and Learning

3L News

There have been many highlights for the boys in their learning this term. Within the last two units of inquiry which were 'How we Organise Ourselves' and 'Sharing the Planet', the boys have linked their understanding of marketplaces and trading to learn how they could become entrepreneurs themselves and build their own businesses. Their immersion activities included visiting the Year 9/10 Design and Technology buildings in the Senior School, working with the students to discuss potential things that they could create by using the resources available to them. They learned about market research, supply and demand, the design process, profit and loss and are now well on their way to product creation and marketing their business.

Each of the teams explored creative ideas that provided a solution for the current needs of junior school-aged children. The teams created business names and logos, and discussed their understanding of fair trade, knowing that it is important to be able to make a profit for all their hard work. The businesses included: Mindfulness Pencils, Aussie Badges, The Gardeners, Creative Squad and The Big Books Business. The next step will be the Trade Fair itself. They are taking their ideas to the next level with an online catalogue and ordering so that buyers can simply click-and-collect. All the proceeds of their enterprise will go to charity.

The boys have also worked enthusiastically in preparation for our upcoming Scottish Afternoon with the PLC girls. We've had a number of practise sessions to learn the Dashing White Sergeant and the Flying Scotsman. We can't wait to perform our songs and share our version of a ceilidh with our families.

The boys have also been introduced to coding robots this term through working with their Year 10 buddies. Having had many opportunities to learn how to code with the iPad apps, it was time for the boys to put their coding into practice and into real-life learning experiences with the robots. They looked at the Mars Rover as inspiration for building their bot and designed a variety of tasks for the bot to complete; such as sensing terrain, pulling objects and buddying up with partner robots. Sharing our learning with the Year 10 boys is a highlight of our week.

Ms Irene Louden
Year 3 Teacher

French News

On Tuesday 10 November, our Year 5 students hosted some very special guests here in the Junior School. As a follow up to the Soldier Letter Project, we received a visit from Captain Jean-Marc Le Quilliec and First Mate Patrice Wallyn. Captain Le Quilliec is the newly appointed French Defence Attaché in Canberra, and as part of his first visit to Perth in the role, he visited Scotch College Junior School! His aim was to meet the Year 5 boys who have just sent off our most recent collection of letters to the French soldiers in Jordan. 

We held a small assembly in which Berti from 5C welcomed them in wonderful French, and Eugene and Will from 5W spoke about what it was like to be involved in the Soldier Letter Project. Captain Le Quilliec spoke about our relationship as Australians and Frenchmen – explaining that many of our closest neighbours in terms of island nations are actually French! He also acknowledged the challenge of learning French as a foreign language and encouraged the boys to maintain their linguistic studies, for the benefits that it will bring in adulthood. He also said a very big “merci” to our boys from the soldiers in Jordan.

He and First Mate Wallyn then came back to 5W and joined in with the students, to complete a timed matching activity of weather flashcards with their correct phrases (yes, they were pretty quick!) Then they were part of the student teams for a quizlet weather challenge. We loved their willingness to join in the class and be part of the activities with the boys. We are so pleased they included us in their very tight schedule. We also can’t wait for our letters to arrive in Jordan to continue this great project for its fourth year.

Au revoir,

Madame Carolyn Vinton
French Teacher

Head of Middle School

We held our Spring Music Soiree last week with boys performing on stage as individuals and then in the grand finale as a concert band presenting a culmination of a year's worth of music development. It was a lovely evening.

This week Kicker Thompson, the Middle School Drama production hits the Foundation Theatre stage with performances on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and a matinee performance on Saturday. If you have the chance to come and see our young boys take a leap of faith without scripts and in front of a large audience, they would love to see you too.

As an International Baccalaureate school, we actively promote the concept of risk-taking, creativity and cooperation and the Drama production and the Spring Soiree are wonderful illustrations of these attributes packed together. We often think of sport being for the sporty boys and music and drama catering for the creative boys and activities such as the Da Vinci Decathlon, World Scholar's Cup and Maths Olympiad for the academically strong boys. We limit ourselves if we think like this or promote these activities in this vein. The big gains in development come when we challenge ourselves to do something that is new or difficult. Continuing to do what you can already do is valuable, but for quantum leaps in growth and development, try something different. The Middle School production, learning a new instrument, changing sport, signing up for an exchange or joining a co-curricular club can be one of those watershed challenges.

Scotch College is rich in opportunity, rich in challenges. As the boys in Kicker Thompson will find out, it is the first 20 seconds that is the challenge, then the enjoyment and excitement kicks in.

Headmaster's Commendations

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

Class	Name
8.4	Ethan Buzza
8.5	Max Burbury
8.5	William Salom
8.6	Max Thorpe
8.6	Miles Gaspar
8.7	Bram Ezekiel
8.7	Ned Fletcher-Harrison
7.2	Simon Pocock
7.2	Tommy Clements
7.3	William Arundel
7.4	Jack Nelson
7.4	Nicholas Livingston
7.5	Jonathan Gattorna
7.5	Charlie McCall
7.6	Heath Arbuckle
7.6	Joshua Hopkins
6.2	Oban Hopkins
6.2	Benji Landau
6.3	Hugo Atkins
6.4	Johntie Schultz

Student Achievements

Alliance Française Poem Recitation Competition

Congratulations to the following boys who placed in the top three in the Alliance Française Poem Recitation Competition:

Year 6
Jack Mayo	2nd Place
Daniel Weustink	3rd Place
Year 6 Background
James Stephen	1st Place
Oliver Montandon	3rd Place
Year 7 Background
Fletcher Drake Neal	1st Place

 

Year 8 Breakfast

Following discussions between the Scotch Parents and the College, and the further relaxing of social restrictions announced by the WA Government, we are delighted to announce that the annual Year 8 Breakfast will now go ahead on Tuesday 8 December, the last day of term. 

We hope all Year 8 boys and parents can attend this special Scotch Parents' event.

Event Details

7.30–8.30am, Tuesday 8 December 2020

Middle School Quadrangle 
Parking will be available on the Scotch Playing Fields.

Tickets

$16 per person
Please purchase a ticket for both adults and students. Please wear your parent name badge.

If you have any questions, please contact Penny Hale on 0419 042 220 or pjd100@gmail.com.

Buy tickets

Important Dates — Middle School Spring Term

View school calendar

Tue 17 Nov	7.6 Sailing programme
Wed 18 Nov	7.7 Sailing programme Kicker Thompson production opening night, 7pm Foundation Theatre
Thu 19 Nov	7.7 Sailing programme
	Kicker Thompson production, 7pm Foundation Theatre
Fri 20 Nov	MS Assembly (staff & students only), 12pm MacKellar Hall
	Kicker Thompson production, 7pm Foundation Theatre
Sat 21 Nov	Kicker Thompson production matinee, 2pm Foundation Theatre
Mon 23 Nov	8.1 Snorkelling programme
Tue 24 Nov	8.2 Snorkelling programme
Wed 25 Nov	8.3 Snorkelling programme
Thu 26 Nov	8.4 Snorkelling programme
	Year 7 Parents – Community Project 2021 Launch, 6.30pm Memorial Hall
Fri 27 Nov	Year 6 Parents Christmas Function, details TBC
Mon 30 Nov	Year 6 & 7 2021 Orientation Day, MS
	Year 9 2021 Transition Day, SS
	Year 7 Excursion
Tue 1 Dec	Boardies Day
	8.5 Snorkelling programme
Wed 2 Dec	8.6 Snorkelling programme
Thu 3 Dec	8.7 Snorkelling programme
Fri 4 Dec	MS IB Learner Profile Awards Assembly, 9am Dickinson Centre
Tue 8 Dec	Year 8 Breakfast hosted by Scotch Parents, 7.30am MS Quad Spring Term concludes at 3.25pm MS Speech Night, 6.30pm Dickinson Centre Compulsory event for all Year 8 students.

Hero, hardship and highlight

Hero, hardship and highlight. These three words are now common in the vocabulary of our Year 11 and 12 students as they move through the Leadership programme. In the coming weeks, the new Year 11 cohort will present their speeches, in which they talk about a chosen hero in their life, a hardship they have endured or something that has been a highlight for them.

Over the past three years, our students have addressed their peers in their House groups and discussed something that is quite personal to them, in what has become known as their ‘triple H’ speeches.

The boys share something special or unique to them and this helps with the connectedness of the group as it relies on trust and support. In some cases, boys will share a story that might make them feel vulnerable or is something they feel emotionally connected to.  

While this programme helps to prepare the students for the important life skill of presenting in front of a group, the ‘triple H’ speeches are far more than that. Each student is required to reflect on their own feelings and experiences as they choose something from their own life under one of these three categories that they are comfortable sharing with their peers. It can be a very empowering moment for both the student presenting and for the group listening.

The students’ addresses are invariably fantastic and much of this can be attributed to the respect they show towards each other and their willingness to understand themselves and their peers. As a school community, while we share much in common, we are also different in many ways and to be able to listen to others, understand them and support them helps us to build stronger relationships and work more positively as a team.

Mr Gale, Year 11 and 12 Coordinator, introduced these speeches three years ago and he, along with Mr Williams, Deputy Head of Senior School have  shared  their ‘hero and hardship’ stories respectively with the Year 11 cohort, to set the students on the right path. I thank Mr Gale and Mr Williams for their willingness to share the personal experiences that have contributed to shaping who they are and for the example they have set for the boys in the Leadership programme.

While discussing the sharing of personal experiences, I would also like to acknowledge Mr Jones for his recent presentations in Chapel. While speaking about a traumatic time in his childhood took courage, it was also a poignant moment for everyone who heard his recollection. It focused on overcoming hardship, the importance of supporting others and on how much we have changed as a society. It certainly led those of us in the audience to reflect on difficult times in our own lives and on the  manner in which  we approached them.

While I have mentioned a few staff members who have shared some of their experiences and the impact they have had on those who have been fortunate enough to hear them, the ‘triple H’ speeches are about the 170 plus students in Year 11. By sharing their experiences with their House groups and listening to each other, they strengthen their bond. While they may feel vulnerable, they also trust that they will be supported. This is a very important outcome of the programme, and one that I feel is of great benefit for the boys as they prepare for the years ahead.

Careers Information

Year 12 Leavers

Year 12, 2020 students will be able to access their results online via the student portal on Sunday 20 December 2020.

To log on, students will need their student number and other personal identification information. It is advisable that students provide an alternate email address via the student portal. This is to avoid issues where school email accounts close prior to the release of results. Students who need their passwords reset need to do so via the forgot your password link on the student portal. The new password will be sent to the email address students have used to register in the student portal. Students who experience technical difficulties in accessing their information need to contact the School Curriculum and Standards Authority at wacehelp@scsa.wa.edu.au (monitored from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 8am to 4pm).

Year 12 students will be able to download digital copies of their folios of achievement (that is, Western Australian Certificate of Education, the Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement and ATAR course report) in mid-January 2021 from the student portal.

Students who are seeking details relating to university admission (including their ATAR) are advised to contact Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) via info@tisc.edu.au or 9318 8000.

C.A.S Hawker Memorial Scholarship

The C.A.S Hawker Memorial Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia.

Applications open soon, so keep an eye out and click here for more.

University Information

ECU

Future Student Information Evening

6–7.30pm, 1 December 2020  
Joondalup Campus

UWA

Application Help Day for School Leavers

The UWA Future Students Centre will answer questions about your application (direct or through TISC), UWA courses and more to help you figure out which path is right for you. Your results may be higher or lower than expected, you might still be deciding which course to pick, or just want to discuss your options.

Registrations open soon for the following dates:

• 14 December 2020, 10am–3pm
• 21 December 2020, 10am–3pm
• 15 January 2021, 10am–3pm

January ATAR Head Start Program

Give your child the skills to achieve success at school. The January Head Start Program will help your child equip themselves with the academic skills needed to develop their confidence, study habits and subject familiarity. See attachments for more details and registration.

Unwanted Textbooks

Time to de-clutter! If you have any unwanted textbooks that you have not already thrown out and would like to recycle them please drop them off to the Senior School reception and a good home will be found for them.

Year 12 (Leavers) — Laptop Return or Purchase

Year 12 (leavers), please remember to visit the Tech Centre before Friday 27 November if you are returning your laptop.

If you are purchasing the device, you have up until Friday 11 December to get your system wiped. Doing so will allow you to use your laptop independently and free of Scotch management software.

It is also important to note that your Scotch email address will cease as of Thursday 31 December so please take a moment to see if you used this address for University/TAFE applications or employment applications.

Tech Centre Opening Hours

The Tech Centre is open 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday and will only close during the Christmas and New Year period.

Christmas Fare and Gifts

Once again this year we are pleased to offer delightful Christmas treats from Coffee Table Delights including their cakes, shortbread, cookies and Christmas bark. We also have a selection of Pipe Band merchandise including the Scotch College apron and our coffee mugs with our Pipe Band caricatures or school crest. Please see the list of goods on offer.

To place your order, please complete the form and email it to PBPSG@scotch.wa.edu.au or to pay by credit card over the phone please call Fiona Allen on 0448 798 689.

Orders will close on Wednesday 25 November 2020.

Collecting your Order

Orders can be collected from the Pipe Band room on:

• Thursday 3 December, 8–8.30am & 2.30–3.30pm
• Friday 4 December, 8–8.30am & 1–2pm

All proceeds raised go towards uniforms and equipment for the Scotch College Pipe Band.

Thank you for your continued support of the Pipe Band. For any queries, please contact PBPSG@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Ashley Dry
Pipe Band Parent Support Group President

Scotch Parents

Valedictory Dinner

A reminder to leaving Year 12 parents that tickets for Valedictory 2020 are on sale until 5pm today only. If you have a son in the 2020 leavers cohort and have not yet purchased tickets to attend, please purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

Volunteers Needed

We are still looking for parent volunteers to assist with the dinner service at Valedictory on the evening of Saturday 28 November. If you are able to offer your time please sign up to volunteer. Any help you are able to provide is greatly appreciated.

Recent Events

On Friday 6 November the Junior School held their Annual Grandparents’ Day and what a huge success it was! Special thanks to Meg Kitcher and all her volunteers who made the day a special and memorable one for all.

A few weeks ago Scotch and PLC students came together for the Middle School Year 7 Quiz night. Thank you to Penny Hale and all the parent volunteers who helped make the night a success.

Upcoming Events

Year 10 End-of-Year Function

7pm, Friday 20 November
The Lounge, Floreat Hotel

Scotch Parents AGM

7pm, Wednesday 2 December
Dining Room Annexe
All parents are welcome!

Year 11 Parents Evening

Saturday 21 November
Coast

Year 12 Christmas Drinks

6pm, Thursday 26 November
The Beach Club, Cottesloe

Year 6 Christmas Drinks

4pm, Sunday 29 November
The Beach Club, Cottesloe

Year 12 Coffee Morning

8.30am, Friday 4 December
The Shorehouse, Swanbourne

Join online group

Kate Reynolds
Scotch Parents President

Players Choice Cricket Programme

Scotch College are delighted to announce that Players Choice will host a Holiday Cricket Programme at the College in January. Players Choice will run both a clinic style, and high-performance programme at the College's world-class Playing Fields.

Players Choice boast an array of coaches to match the facilities at Scotch, with current and former international coaches Mickey Arthur, Geoff Marsh, Charlie Burke alongside Director of Coaching and current WACA coach of the Year Jim Allenby in the coaching team.

Players Choice also have current professional cricketers and Scotch OSC Matt Kelly (WA and Perth Scorchers), Cameron Steel (Durham), Tim David (Perth Scorchers) and Nick Hobson (Perth Scorchers) as both Ambassadors and coaches. BBL fixtures depending, these Scotch Old boys will be around to assist the other coaches with the program.

Programme Dates

9am–12pm | Tuesday 19 – Thursday 21 January 2021

Book here