Celebrating and Reflecting on 2020

No matter which way you look at it; the start of the 2020 school year still feels like it was just yesterday. I am now starting to worry that the old saying, the older you get the quicker time goes, may well have substance. The only solace is that in speaking to many of the boys and their parents, they also feel that 2020 has disappeared in a blink.

Last Saturday, we celebrated what I feel is the most significant night of our school year, the Year 12 Valedictory Dinner. The timing of this is unique at Scotch in that the boys return after exams and leavers to share in one more celebration. The night is special because it does not focus on individuals, rather on the whole cohort. The theme for the chapel and dinner was 'We cant predict what may lay ahead' – very appropriate given what has transpired in 2020. On behalf of the whole community I extend our best wishes as our Year 12 valedictorians commence a new journey in their lives; a journey that will no doubt hold many highlights, challenges and surprises.

We now begin preparing for the Junior School Speech Afternoon and the Middle and Senior School Speech Nights that will bring the year to a close. These events are special in that they represent an opportunity to review our year and celebrate in the successes of many. These events are yet another opportunity to join in celebration.

As we commenced the liturgical season of Advent on Sunday past, it is important to recall what this time of our year means to a College founded on the Christian message of the Uniting Church. The Uniting Church in WA highlights that the Church year begins with Advent, observed on the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Advent has two foci related to the general theme of the coming of God in Jesus Christ (adventus, Latin, meaning arrival). The first emphasis is on Jesus' final coming in glory and the need for Christians to be vigilant and ever ready, because no-one knows the "time or the hour". The second is on the immediate preparation for the ministry of Jesus embodied in John the Baptist and his preaching. The Gospel readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent always prepare for the Christmas season by recalling the events in the life of Mary and Joseph prior to Jesus' birth.

Once again thank you for your support at this very hectic time of the year and I look forward to our ongoing celebrations.

Dr Alec O'Connell
Headmaster

Christmas Goodwill in the Junior School 

This term the Junior School has been a hive of activity, as students embrace the idea of Christmas by 'giving' to local communities in need. Every class has been collecting non-perishable food items as part of the Uniting Christmas Appeal to support Food Bank WA for families in hardship over the festive season.

In addition, some classes have cleverly combined their learning with fundraising activities. The boys in Year 1 drew wonderful self-portraits which their parent reps had printed on tea-towels for sale.

In Year 3, as part of a unit of inquiry on Fair Trade and Business Design, boys set up their own not-for-profit businesses to raise money for charity. They sold handmade gifts including cards, badges, biscuits and chocolates that they had made themselves.

Both of these  initiatives were highly successful, not only in terms of fundraising and the new experiences and skills the boys gained. Perhaps more importantly, through the ingenuity of their teachers and parents, the boys have learned to give of themselves for the benefit of others. They have truly shared in the goodwill of Christmas!

A Wonderful Way to End  

Gratitude

At the start of Week 6, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Year 5 camp at Moray. It was so wonderful to get back to Dwellingup – it had been too long. The boys worked in teams in an Amazing Race competition and went rafting along the Murray River. In the evening, we got the boys to pause and reflect on their time in Junior School coming to an end. We also got them to write thank you postcards to some of the people who had made a difference to their time in Junior School.

In the last couple of weeks, we have also spoken to the Year 8s about gratitude and they have been encouraged to write to say thank you to the people in their lives who have made a difference to the young man they are becoming. As I said to the boys, there are two very important things to note about a hand-written thank you notes: firstly, it takes time, which is the most precious commodity in any human life. Being willing to spend some time writing to express your gratitude is one of the highest forms of respect, in my opinion. And secondly, writing by hand is unique – there will never be another note so written, and that makes it terribly special.

In my position, I am so fortunate to interact with so many fine people – students, staff and parents. It is one of the joys of this job; often the only one! I take great joy from the small moments shared in a day – a smile, a laugh, a nod or other such acknowledgement. These are the strands which strengthen the fabric of our school and make it such a wonderful place to visit each day. For that, and for these people, I am grateful.

Kicker Thompson

At the end of Week 6, I attended a performance of the Middle School production, Kicker Thompson. It was an inspired choice for this group of boys. It was a prescient choice for our times, touching on the themes of anxiety and the importance of letting those around us know when we are struggling. It was also a paean to kindness and the importance of a community to protect us. It highlighted for me the power of letters (from Kicker's grandfather, after his grandfather has died) and the power of kindness (when Innes arranges for the football development officer to visit Babanillin so he can see Kicker's skills).

It was so good to see the boys take on the challenge of performing; to see them in a different environment from the classroom is one of the great joys of working in education. To get so many young boys up on stage for the whole time and for them to be so engaging, working together, so focused…that is just a rarity these days and it is something special about the arts and Drama in particular. Congratulations to everyone involved, particularly the director, Austin Castiglione. Check out some photos from the production.

Porridge

Last week, we were also fortunate to take in the Year 5 performance of Porridge. It, too, was remarkable: to see all Year 5s up on stage, singing and performing choreography, delivering dad-jokes like seasoned professionals, was a joy to behold. At one point, there was an amazing four-part harmony – with four different sets of movements – which involved every boy. My thanks to Phebe Samson for her amazing work in bringing this together in such a short space of time. And to the many other helpers who make such a show possible – particularly Matt Beaver – a big shout-out to you as well.

GRIT Week

Making mistakes is a part of life. Learning from them is part of a successful life.

Last week, in the Senior School, we ran our first GRIT Week.  We were hoping to start conversations about the F-word – failure – how it feels, how we can deal with it effectively, learn and grow from the experience. GRIT, for us, is an acronym: Growth Resides in Trying.

Grit ties in with the work we do with the boys on resilience, which is one of the Three Pillars of Wellbeing at Scotch. It ties in with the work we do with boys when they reflect on their schoolwork and their co-curricular activities. It ties in with developing a 'growth mindset', something our Wellbeing programme promotes.

At lunchtime on Monday, we ran a series of activities where boys were encouraged to try activities they were unlikely to have had prior experience with (or at least, be unlikely to be good at) such as juggling or kicking a football with a non-preferred foot into a sulo bin.  One of our bands – 76 Shenton – played songs around the theme of failure: Confidence by Ocean Alley, Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters, Still Breathing by Green Day and Imagine Dragons' On Top of the World. During Mentor period, Student Council reps ran activities which focused on learning to deal with uncomfortable feelings associated with failure – disappointment, frustration or self-doubt. Chapel was also dedicated to the concept and at Assembly on Friday, Josh Ledger presented a video of some of the boys discussing failure.

The new Studio Scotch recorded interviews with several OSCs focusing on their experiences and thoughts on failure and grit.  Excerpts of these were shared with students.  It would be great for Scotch families to watch these together.  There are many gems of insight from Alex Aberle-Leeming (OSC 2008), Spencer Brooks (OSC 2012) and Michael Silbert (OSC 1979) worth discussion.  Watch the short, three-minute version of these interviews or an extended version (13 minutes).

Failure + Reflection + Adjustment = Progress

Of course, weeks such as this should not be seen as stand-alone events that can cure us of our fear of failure; it cannot remove the hesitance of tackling something when there is a risk that we will not be able to complete/or succeed in it. But such a week is important in terms of raising awareness. It can get us talking about failure so that we come to see it as something that everyone does every day. It brings to the fore our fears around failure and makes us more aware of how this can hold us back from reaching our potential. And hopefully, it can give each of us a little more confidence to approach failure as a starting point, rather than an end point, a temporary setback.  Our hope is that students will carry a little of this mentality into the rest of the year.

So, how can we encourage boys to 'fail forward'?

• Ensure they understand the benefits that come from regularly seeking guidance, advice and feedback
• Assist in setting reasonable and reachable expectations
• Encourage them to practice – but practise smarter, by figuring out what went wrong and correcting this
• Give them permission to be imperfect and sometimes to even be "average"
• Show that your caring is not based on performance (be careful not to over-celebrate success or over-analyse less-than-perfect results)
• Encourage them to try different activities which take them out of their comfort zone (even trying things with their non-dominant, non-preferred hand!)
• Role-model the fact that it is alright to try something and not succeed
• Laugh – making mistakes is a way of ensuring we do not take ourselves too seriously

A big thank you to Shauna Lipscombe, who has been the driving force behind the week. I must also commend Jim Allan and the Student Council for the way they took ownership of this initiative and ran a variety of activities through the Houses and the school.

Year's End

As this is the last Thistle for 2020, I just want to wish everyone a safe, enjoyable break. I hope you get time to pause and reflect on what this year has taught us about what is important and prioritise this for next year. May you get a chance to stop to consider how amazing life is: even though it is not always immediately apparent, there is so much good which exists in the world. I hope you rest. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

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 Photographs

School photographs are available to be purchased. Use our school code C5RW7D to order yours.

Buy now  

Grandparents

What a delightful blend of laughter, caring deeds, wonderful stories and love!

Growing up without my grandparents close by meant I always longed to spend time with them. When I was with them, I remember the countless stories, endless food and warm gentle hugs I would receive.

Having just celebrated Grandparents' Afternoon in the Junior School, I was heart-warmed to see the love that the children have and receive from their own grandparents and the very special bond that exists between the two generations. The interest and awe that grandparents have for the boys' work, classroom and learning environments, had them feeling extremely proud.  They celebrated what amazing children they are and the talents they possess. I was inundated with stories from many grandparents about their own schooling and how their young lives were not so nurtured at school, unlike children now experience.

The afternoon was spent picnicking together on our beautiful grounds under the gum trees and many stories of what the children had been up to at school were shared. The children brought some work that the grandparents were keen to look at and hugs of congratulations were plentiful. Of course, the grandparents couldn't help but bring some special treats to the picnic, which the children indulged in.

A special assembly was presented for the enjoyment of our guests and our boys made us all laugh as they mimicked artists from our grandparents' era like Tom Jones, Leo Sayers, The Beatles and more. Our wonderful Junior School Choir also sang.

Quotes from the day

"The best part of Grandparents' Day was getting to perform in front of them." — Harrison Alder, 4C

"Seeing my grandparents made me feel happy because they had lunch with me." — Chase Nerlich, Pre-Primary

"My grandparents brought me sausage rolls and I gave them a sunflower I grew for them." — Charlie Higgins, Kindy

"I like my grandparents coming to school because they bring really yummy lunches." — Angus Noble, 4C

Grandparents, thank you for sharing the afternoon with us and being there for us when we need. You:

• Pick us up and drive us around
• Wipe our tears
• Calm our fears
• Cook us dinner and snacks
• Take us out
• Read to us
• Hold our hands
• Listen to our worries
• Tell our parents off
• Sneak us extra dessert
• Sit us on your lap
• Give us a hug
• And keep us safe

We are so lucky to have you!

 

Challenge and Change

As we come to the end of the 2020 school year, we are wonderfully busy as we face the many challenges that are upon us. We ride the creative chaos as we strive to reach the end whilst continuing to organise our day to day in order to finish off our year. For some boys, this will mark the end of their Junior School journey, whilst for others, the chance is here to step up and embark on leadership opportunities.

Year 2

In the Year 3 world, the boys of 3L and 3W have been working tirelessly on their Trade Fair. There is a magnificent buzz of activity as the boys deliver their homemade goods to consumers. The variety of crafts on offer, the products carefully made by the cohort and the efforts of the boys to bring this trade fair to fruition is exciting indeed. It takes confidence and commitment to work through the challenges of this project. The boys have shown an abundance of both these traits whilst they work through the production lines to deliver their goods to the classrooms. Congratulations to all of the Year 3 boys and the Junior School staff and parents who have been supporting the endeavours of these young men.

Year 3

In Year 4, we have just completed the leadership cycle in readiness for Semester 1, 2021. Whilst the announcement of the final result is still to come, the Year 4 boys are to be congratulated on the entire process. It is never easy to prepare and deliver a speech publicly and the efforts of our boys were nothing short of sensational. The manner in which they worked through the challenges and overcame obstacles is a sign of the strong leadership to come. It was a pleasure supporting the boys and listening to their speeches throughout the selection process. Well done Year 4 champions!

Year 5

The final hoorah is to the Year 5 boys, who are working very hard to complete a myriad of things by the end of the year. On the back of a successful exhibition, the boys are working daily on their musical production and have just stepped up to the challenge of camp. We were fortunate to reschedule the Year 5 camp from term one to the end of the year and the boys were remarkable in the way they embraced camping and Moray for the two-day experience in Dwellingup. There were many boys who overcame numerous challenges; climbing walls, sleeping out, team challenges, rafting, orienteering and even the simple challenge of being away from home. It was a pleasure to see the boys step up whilst enjoying the many experiences of the 2020 Year 5 Camp.

Miss Penny Hooper
Deputy Head of Junior School
Administration & Pastoral Care

Performing Arts News

On Wednesday 25 November, the Year 5 boys performed a matinee and an evening show of their musical Porridge. The boys were cast as familiar fairytale folk in a tale told like never before. Their audiences joined Private Detective Jack Spratt, Goldie Lox and a cast of crazy characters including barmy billy goats, loopy lumberjacks, a potty police squad and a runaway cow as they worked together to discover the dirty secret Papa Bear’s been hiding behind his porridge empire.

In order to be able to understand the comedic elements of the script, the boys had to study familiar stories and characters to be able to appreciate them in a different context. Their exhibition unit, How the World Works explored how scientific understanding impacts lives in the quest for truth, however, this story has highlighted the importance of understanding different perspectives and biases when embarking on this quest. The musical also linked with their final unit, Who We Are, which explored the emotional side of humanity and how we connect with each other through storytelling.

Miss Phebe Samson
Performing Arts Teacher

Farewell

We are almost at the end of an amazing year. Amazing not so much for the events or unusual twists and turns of the year, but how we as a school community have responded in a positive, collegiate manner. I am very proud to be a part of the Scotch College community.

In our final Thistle of the year, I'd like to take a few lines to thank and farewell some departing Middle School teachers. Our wonderful Indonesian teacher Ms Francesca Gabby will be leaving us and will take up an Indonesian teaching role at Iona Junior School. Mrs Robyn Bose has taught across Year 6, 7 and 8 in her seven years at Scotch and her impact on our boys English has been considerable. Mrs Bose moves closer to home to St Mary's Girls School. The artistic and creative talents of Ms Gabrielle Kotai have been recognised too with a full-time Art Teacher role at the new Hammond Park College from next year. Mr Jared Faint, after fourteen years in Middle School teaching Year 6 and 7, Digital Design, Product Design, Indonesian, ILT Integration and been a stalwart of the Staff vs Students basketball competition moves to take up a position at Guildford Grammar School, two minutes from home. Finally, our King of the Handball Courts Mr Wayne Ramsay, after twenty-six years at Scotch College puts down his calculator, blackboard ruler and closes his marks book and heads off to a well-earned and well-deserved retirement. Each of these staff have gone above and beyond their curriculum duties and helped make the Middle School the positive, energetic and welcoming place it has become known for. I thank them on all of our behalfs and wish them the very best for the next phase of their careers.

At the end of this year, I will also be leaving the College and I cannot say thank you enough for the honour and privilege of leading the Middle School, of working with you and the fabulous Middle School staff in the education of your sons. I have been very, very lucky. Mr Gareth Williams, current Deputy Head of Senior School, will become Acting Head of Middle School from the start of next year.

For our Year 8 families, we get to say farewell at both the Year 8 Breakfast and the final event of 2020, the Year 8 Speech Night. For those I may not see between now and the holidays, I wish you a safe and relaxing holiday break and most importantly wish to say thank you for your time, support, enthusiasm, generosity and patience once again this year in the education of our boys.

Until we meet again.

Semester 2 Reports

Our teachers are currently busy preparing the data and comments for our Semester 2 Reports. Whilst we operate a system of continuous reporting and feedback through SEQTA which provides timely information to parents regarding achievement and attitude, Semester Reports provide a useful periodic check-in on your son's progress and growth.

The MYP grading system can sometimes be quite difficult to interpret for parents who went through the A, B, C, D style of reporting when they were at school. To assist with interpreting your son's report I have provided the MYP Grade Descriptors document to this newsletter so that you can understand the knowledge, skills and understanding that your son is displaying in his work.

For example, if your son receives a final grade of 4 this would mean that he: "Produces good-quality work. Communicates basic understanding of most concepts and contexts with few misunderstandings and minor gaps. Often demonstrates basic critical and creative thinking. Uses knowledge and skills with some flexibility in familiar classroom situations, but requires support in unfamiliar situations."

If your son receives a 6 or a 7 for his final summative grade, this means he is working at an excellent level. The descriptor for a Grade 7 refers to high-quality, frequently innovative work and sophisticated levels of thinking.

Download MYP General Grade Descriptors (pdf) [322kb]

In our Semester Reports, you will also receive an assessment of your son's skill development against particular Approaches to Learning skills. These skills have been selected by his teachers to support learning in that subject and levels of achievement range from Novice through to Leader. These levels should be viewed in the context of that subject and your son's year level. For example, your son may be a Novice when displaying the skill in French, but a Learner when displaying the skill in Mathematics.

Finally, whilst the Semester Reports include a graph that allows you to compare your son's results with his cohort, I believe it's more valuable to view your son's results in terms of his personal growth and efforts made. I encourage you to sit with your son to read the Semester 2 Report together and take a moment to celebrate the successes he has achieved.

Mrs Sophie Berry
Dean of Teaching & Learning Middle School

Important Dates — Middle School Spring Term

VIEW SCHOOL CALENDAR

Tue 1 Dec	Boardies Day (whole school fundraising event) 8.5 Snorkelling programme
Wed 2 Dec	8.6 Snorkelling programme Year 8 Parents Christmas Function, 7pm Teebox Café, Lake Claremont Golf Course
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. Year 8 families are encouraged to attend.

GRIT

Last week we celebrated our first GRIT Week (Growth Resides in Trying) and in reflecting on the themes and activities, I recalled some work from Research Professor and author Brené Brown on courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. While Professor Brown links these key emotions, I want to mention vulnerability in the context of GRIT Week at Scotch College.

Professor Brown focuses on connection and the ability of people to feel connected and cared for and the neurobiological importance of this to each individual.

We all need to feel we are worthy of love and connection and Professor Brown describes this as "whole-heartedness". She found that people who are strongest in this area have the following things in common:

• A sense of courage – the courage to be imperfect.
• The compassion to be kind to themselves and to others – we all need to be kind to ourselves first so we can also treat others with compassion.
• Connection with others as a result of authenticity – the willingness to let go of who they feel they should be, to be who they are.

The other thing these people have in common and a very important factor is that they fully embrace their vulnerability. These individuals have a willingness to do things where there are no guarantees about outcomes, they are willing to try and to invest in things, which may or may not work. This vulnerability can be seen as essential to creativity, to happiness and to understanding both ourselves and others.

Having worked through a number of different activities during GRIT Week and exposed the students to more situations where they might feel vulnerable but were learning skills including resilience and persistence, we also need to consider our own role in their growth.

Our children are hard-wired for struggle when they are born; it is part of life. Our role is not to make them 'perfect' or to smooth the path for them so they have an easy run as this may lessen their ability to navigate the ups and downs that are life. Our role is to support and guide our children but also to allow them to experience their own success and failure, to help them build their 'GRIT' and to understand that both are part of life.

As Professor Brown noted in her TED talk, The Power of Vulnerability, on June 2010 that "our job is to look at them and say you know what, you are imperfect and you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging".

I would like to acknowledge all those staff and students who contributed to the organisation of GRIT Week and embraced the numerous activities that ran on campus. It was a fantastic week. Thank you.

The Raven

The new Spring edition of The Raven is out. This is a bumper edition with lots of good summer holiday reading and viewing.

Great writing and engaging visual art have been contributed by the following boys during the 2020 academic year:

• Fletcher McIntosh (Year 9, Alexander)
• Thomas Jackson (Year 9, Brisbane)
• Alasdair Orr (Year 9, Ferguson)
• Sam Thompson (Year 9, Keys)
• Andrew Walker (Year 9, Keys)
• Mason Ness (Year 9, Ross)
• Jack Carroll (Year 9, Ross)
• Jaezari Wynne (Year 9, Shearer)
• Thomas (Tom) Gray (Year 9, Shearer)
• Thomas Corrie (Year 9, St Andrews)
• George Colley (Year 9, Stuart)
• Emanuel Radici (Year 10 Cameron)
• Macsen Friday (Year 11, Alexander)
• Richard Walton (Year 11, Keys)
• Hugo Ventouras (Year 11, Shearer)
• Michael Arts (Year 11, St Andrews)
• Pearson Chambel (Year 11, St Andrews)
• Jasper Blunt (Year 11, Stuart)
• Binqiao Ren (Year 12, Alexander)
• Isaac Mecham (Year 12, Brisbane)
• Daniel O'Meara (Year 12, Ferguson)
• Tom Keamy (Year 12, Keys)
• Robbie MacGregor (Year 12, Keys)
• Timothy (Tim) Valmadre (Year 12, Keys)
• Alexander) Wolf (Year 12, Keys)

Read now

Contributions

If you would like to submit creative writing to The Raven, please send a copy to jeannette.weeda@scotch.wa.edu.au.

All entries are considered for the Raven Speech Night prizes and other writing competitions.

Dr Jeannette  Weeda
English Teacher

2017 Dux of WACE visits Indonesian classes 

Study skill, setting goals, overcoming hurdles, and coping with failures. These are questions that are ever-present and ubiquitous in the daily life experience of Scotch students. These are the topics of the questions that students in two Indonesian classes asked Lewis  Weeda , a past Indonesian student and the highest achieving at Scotch to date. He had just completed his final exams at the University of Western Australia (UWA), double majoring in biomedical science and Indonesian. During his time at university, Lewis had also won grants that had allowed him to go on multiple study trips to Indonesia.

During   his visit on Monday 16 November, Lewis spoke to two groups of students, a Year 10 Language Acquisition class and a Year 12 combined IB Diploma and WACE class. Other than addressing the topics above, he  also shared his past experience as a learner of Indonesian language and culture. He also showed the current students a wider perspective on the academic pathways that they can take in the near future, up to and including at university.

       

Lewis' input was invaluable as not only was he the 2017 Dux of  WACE  but he also finished his Year 12 studies at Scotch with six subjects that he completed with high marks. He was also at the top of the state in Indonesian for that year. According to Lewis, his aptitude and fluency in Indonesian has opened a number of opportunities. Aside from the academic opportunities, it had also allowed him to be more culturally sensitive and to connect with Perth's large Indonesian community. 

A number of students testified to the benefit of Lewis' visit to how they are developing their own perspectives on their respective academic future. Year 12 Indonesian WACE student Tom Westcott remarked that it was "immensely beneficial to talk to someone like Lewis – someone who graduated with exemplary high school results and understand the ins-and-outs of studying. I certainly learnt one or two things about bettering my studies in the Indonesian language course." He also recommends others to talk to other Old Boys for this reason.

Likewise, fellow Year 12 student Oscar Clement, who is undertaking the IB Diploma program, thought that Lewis' presentation gave them a good strategy. "It had lots of insights on how to make learning Indonesian part of daily life in an enjoyable way," he said. He also appreciated how Lewis had opened his eyes to the various exciting opportunities for studying and speaking Indonesian beyond school. Finally, Year 10 Indonesian student Caelan  Browne, who is seriously considering doing Indonesian next school year, found the meeting informative and motivating. "Hearing from a student who is committed to learning Indonesian inspires me to do the same," he enthused. 

Wilfred Liauw and Jonathan Tay
Indonesian Teachers

Careers Information

University Information

Notre Dame's Twilight Tours

These Twilight Tours are a perfect opportunity to chat with current students and staff and enjoy an evening in Fremantle's West End. Take a tour of our unique town university and talk through any questions you may have about studying at this five-star rated university.

Date: Thursday 3 December & Tuesday 8 December 2020
Time: 5.30–6.30pm 
Location: Malloy Courtyard (ND2), 23 Mouat Street, Fremantle

Register now

Architecture Summer School

Ever wondered what it's like to design cities, buildings and landscapes? Thinking of exploring architecture as a profession?  Get a taste of Notre Dame's new  Bachelor of Arts (Architecture) and find out what it's like to study, work, and create amazing built environments as an architect. 

Dates: 11–15 January or 18–22 January 2021
Cost: $380 per student (partial scholarships available for regional students and for students in need)

Register now 

UWA Application Help Day for School Leavers

Drop-in sessions are available from 10am–3pm on:

• Monday 14 December 2020
• Monday 21 December 2020
• Friday 15 January 2021

Location: UWA Campu (view on campus map)

Register now

Adventure Experience

Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation

Earn your Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Bronze Adventurous Journey. Practice and qualify on a three-day weekend leadership voyage.

Dates: 11–13 December 2020
Location: Sailing from Fremantle
Cost: $500

January Holiday Classes

Academic Task Force

Start the new school year with confidence. For students going into Years 11 and 12, the ATAR Head Start Program provides an overview of the syllabus with an ATAR subject specialist.

Preview important concepts and get an academic boost for the year ahead. This is an excellent refresher for students who commenced the year's work in Term 4. Maximise your preparation with a course in Study Skills and Essay Writing. Learn effective study methods, time management, goal setting, reading strategies and stress management techniques. In our essay writing course, learn how to write great essays using a structure that you can adapt to any subject.

Mastermind

January Jump-Start Holiday Classes

Tuition options are available for all students entering Years 7–12, including NAPLAN. The January Preparation Program aims to prepare students for Term 1 (2021) before the academic year begins. The classes will revise those important components from the 2020 syllabus that are vital for success in the new year. The program will also preview what students can expect in their courses in 2021. The program will be face to face in physical classrooms as well as online virtual classrooms.

Dates: 18–23 January 2021

At the following venues or online:

• Christ Church Grammar
• Hale School
• Online Year 11 & 12 programme

Career Research

myfuture gives you access to high-quality, up-to-date career information from reliable sources. The large range of resources and tools allows you to easily explore how your values, interests and skills relate to a wide range of career options and pathways. Create your free profile and find the below activities:

• Use Career bullseyes to learn about career pathways related to school learning areas
• Explore over 350 occupations
• Discover higher education and vocational education and training (VET) courses
• Access important industry information, including employment prospects
• Get tips and tricks by reading real-life career stories
• Read career articles to discover practical information to support career exploration
• Learn more about educational institutions and study options
• Find out about organisations, career resources, opportunities and career pathways
• Explore resources for teachers and career practitioners
• Begin the conversation about the world of work as a parent or carer

Lattitude's Trans-Tasman Programme

2020 Leavers who may be considering a gap year can learn about Trans-Tasman volunteer opportunities in 2021 with Lattitude Global Volunteering. There will be two sessions for young people in Australia looking to volunteer in New Zealand. Meet with the Lattitude Global Volunteering team and learn how to get involved and make 2021 a year to remember. The events will be hosted on Zoom by Lattitude staff. Register for the session of your choice by following the event links below.

• Wednesday 9 December 2020, 4pm AWST, Register
• Sunday 13 December 2020, 4pm AWST, Register

Mr Peter  Frusher
Careers Advisor

Boys' Achievements

Poetry Anthology

The following boys had poems published in   Primo Lux, the annual Western Australian Anthology of School Students Poetry, and have been asked to read their poems aloud at the launch of the anthology next month.        

• Jasper Blunt (Year 12, 2021, Stuart) and his poem rays pierce a clouded sky. 
• Hugo Elliot (Year 11, 2021, Stuart) and his poem Disconnect from the Online. 
• Tom Mutter (Year 11, 2021, Keys) and his poem Motorbike in the Wind. 

Academic Certificates of Excellence and Colours

Year 9 Academic Certificate of Excellence

• Jaxon Douglas (Keys)
  

Year 10 Academic Certificate of Excellence

• Jurgens (Jurie) Terblanche (Anderson)
  

Year 11 Academic Certificate of Excellence

• Hamish Cameron (Shearer)
  
• Noah Embleton (Cameron)
  
• Dylan Field (Shearer)
  
• Rex French (Shearer)
  
• William Gale (Ross)
  
• Nicolas Le Page (Anderson)
  
• Joshua Ledger (Alexander)
  
• Thomas (Tom) Lynch (Brisbane)
  
• (Alexander) Melville (Ross)
  
• Elliott Mitchell (Ferguson)
  
• Milan Narula (Stuart)
  
• Oliver Perrin (Cameron)
  
• Charan (Kanwal) Singh (St Andrews)

Year 11 Academic Certificate of Excellence and Academic Colours

• Jim Allan (Cameron)
  
• Taye Barlow (St Andrews)
  
• Oliver Barrett (Brisbane)
  
• Pearson Chambel (St Andrews)
  
• Oscar Clements (Alexander)
  
• Max De Nardi (Stuart)
  
• Xavier Dry (St Andrews)
  
• Benjamin Edgar (Brisbane)
  
• Jolyon Harrison-Murray (Stuart)
  
• Matthew Kerfoot (Keys)
  
• William (Will) Marshall (Ross)
  
• Hugh Mitchell (Keys)
  
• Heath Muller (Ross)
  
• Dylan Palmer (Keys)
  
• Andreas Schultz (Cameron)
  
• Benjamin Scott (Ross)
  
• Connor Smith (Anderson)
  
• William Taylor (Ferguson)
  
• Thomas (Tom) Veitch (Keys)
  
• Richard Walton (Keys)
  
• Maxwell (Max) Weir (Brisbane)
  
• Thomas (Tom) Westcott (Shearer)
  
• Yan (Terry) Zhou (Cameron)

Scotch Parents

Valedictory

What a fantastic night Valedictory was for all involved! There were moments throughout the year where I thought it may not be possible for it to go ahead so it was even more special to be able to celebrate our 2020 leavers and thank our Year 12 Parents – some for the last time. Your contribution to our Scotch community has been greatly appreciated and you will all be missed.

Valedictory would never be possible without the help and hard work from so many individuals.

A HUGE thank you to the following helpers that worked tirelessly to pull a very successful Valedictory Dinner 2020 together…

• The 57 new Year 12 boys who gave up their Saturday night to be part of the celebrations and were fantastic waiters and ambassadors for Scotch
• To Claire, Chef Scott and the entire Scotch Catering team for preparing and delivering over 630 meals
• To the new cohort of Year 12 parents for their help in the lead-up, set-up and on the night – you worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly
• To Sonia Reed, Deb Pitter and all the team of fabulous 'flower arrangers' – the flowers were stunning!
• And to the exceptional Scotch team of Heidi, Matt, Mel and Pru – you made it all easy and your help and all your support was very much appreciated.

Scotch Parents AGM

The Scotch Parents AGM is this Wednesday 2 December in the Dining Room Annexe from 7pm. It is a great opportunity for you to come along and get some insight into what Scotch Parents is all about and hopefully think about being involved. I know that everyone is time-poor but the rewards from being part of such a vibrant and valuable association that greatly contributes to Scotch College are numerous. There will also be refreshments on offer and the opportunity for a last social outing before we break for the Summer holidays.

Many thanks to all of our Class and Year Reps for 2020 – you have pulled together many great activities and social events which have been very well attended, all whilst living through a pandemic!  I am very excited that we already have new year group parent reps in the senior school for Years 10, 11 and 12 – if you are a soon to be Year 9 parent and would like to be involved please let me know.

Thank you all for your support of Scotch Parents in 2020, I have enjoyed my time as President and meeting so many enthusiastic parents.  It has been a pleasure working with you. Even through COVID-19 and lockdown we managed some fantastic events and funded some incredible projects and infrastructure which our boys will benefit from in the years to come. I look forward to welcoming a new and energised committee to take us into 2021.

Upcoming Events

Scotch Parents AGM

7pm, Wednesday 2 December
Dining Room Annexe

Year 12 Coffee Morning

8.30am, Friday 4 December
The Shorehouse, Swanbourne

Year 8 Breakfast

7.30–8.30am, Tuesday 8 December 
MS Quadrangle

Save the Date

2021 Welcome Back BBQ

4pm, Sunday 31 January 2021
Location TBC

Join the Scotch Parents Groups