Welcome back to Spring Term.

I sincerely hope all families enjoyed the recent break and took the opportunity to spend invaluable time with each other. In a rapid paced world, quality family time can suffer at the hands of getting tasks done and by adhering to an unrealistic set of commitments. If you were considering getting more balance back into your life, then why not start now? Don’t wait to add it to the list of failed New Year resolutions or broken Lenten promises.

It is hard to comprehend that last week marked the change of school year for our Year 9, 10 and 11 students who all commenced their new academic year by moving up a grade. Commencing the new year in October is something that sets us apart from many other schools.

In Autumn Term I had lunch with all of our Year 12s, to ask them about their College and what they most appreciate about our offerings and structure. Amongst the many topics, the most unanimous positive feedback was about the change of year and how much it assists them in their journey through Year 11 and 12. While changing the school year in October presents some challenges, this strategy is aimed at maximising teaching and learning opportunities for both students and staff and will remain an integral part of our teaching and learning strategy for the foreseeable future.

Of course, one of the biggest events on our calendar occurred last Friday when we said farewell to our Year 12 students at March Out. This ceremony is just one of the many rites of passages that we have at Scotch College.

As Dr Arne Rubenstein highlights, ‘Our lack of formal rites of passage has meant young men are learning how to be a man through the media and internet’. His position is simple, that as a society, we have the ability to create contemporary rites of passage where teenage boys are challenged to think about what sort of men they are going to be. Our March Out delivers a moment in time where our Year 12s leave the ring fence of Scotch and move into their new world as a member of the 15,800+ strong Old Scotch Collegians (OSC) and, based on the values and experiences to which they have been exposed while at Scotch, go on to forge a new life after their formal schooling.

In my view, March Out is the most seminal event on our school calendar and seems to draw bigger crowds every year. The day is special not just because we say farewell to the Year 12s, but because it is one of the few times in a year when our whole school comes together. We do so because we want to say thanks and wish the Year 12s farewell. For our young boys, it provides yet another great moment for them to experience aspirational achievement and leadership as they watch our Year 12s march out and commence their next journey.

 

Speaking of great moments to celebrate, congratulations to Mr Stewart, our Head of Junior School, who was last week appointed as the new Head of Preparatory School at Prince Alfred College (PAC) Adelaide. In history and heritage, PAC is very similar to our own college and is one that carries great prestige within the Australian educational landscape. On behalf of the whole community, I wish John and his family all the very best as they commence their new journey in January 2020.

In closing, I ask all of the community to keep our Year 12 boys in their thoughts and prayers as they embark on their final examinations or workplace commitments. I know the boys appreciate the support of all of us at such a significant time of their Scotch journey.

I look forward to seeing everyone around the College, or in the wider community, this term.

2019 Scotch College Conferences

As the new academic year commenced in the Senior School, classes were delayed while the boys attended the annual Scotch College Conferences. The Conferences are two days, jam-packed with professional speakers, inspiring activities and a variety of  programmes  that support the boys in transitioning into their new grade, while nurturing an appropriate mindset brimming with motivation, hope and aspiring goals. 

The 2019 Conferences were a huge success and we were proud to bring the likes of Glen Gerreyn, an acclaimed Australian speaker, to address the boys on issues that may face them over the coming years. Glen was an aspiring track and field Olympian before being  struck-down  with an incurable illness. He found himself fighting to create a new life away from sport and now travels the world delivering a message that empowers his audiences to take control of their lives by making simple, but critical changes to their mindset, habits and daily routine. Most importantly, Glen instils a sense that any dream is possible if you believe in it and are willing to work hard to achieve it. The Year 11 students were fortunate to spend a full day with Glen in his workshop, 'Day of Hope', with the Year 10 and 12 boys hearing from Glen on the topics of 'Men of  Honour ' and 'Brilliant Young Minds'.

Other highlights from the Conferences are included below but of  particular note  is the breadth of experience that we were able to provide for our emerging young men. There is no doubt that this generation is entering a world that can be complicated to navigate. Our role as a school is to provide your sons with as much reassurance and guidance as possible to ensure they have the best start to their life beyond the College. We know that when we create a culture of care, trust and self-belief, we are providing a platform from which the boys can focus on taking small but measurable steps towards achieving their goals. 

Year 10

Adam Przytula - Issues facing young men in a digital age

Study Sensei - Effective study skills

F.I.T. Stay Safe - How to stay safe, fit and defend yourself

Mr Hindle - Looking after yourself

Glen Gerreyn - Men of Honour

  Year 11

Glen Gerreyn - Day of Hope

Mindfulness - Yoga and Pilates Breathe

Mr Gale - Beginning the Leadership journey

Mrs   Fugill and Mr Tyrrell - Transitioning your study from Year 10 to 11  

Year 12

Jane Genovese - Exam Hacks: Shortcuts to Study Success

Mr Hindle - Maintaining Wellbeing

Adam Przytula - Healthy Relationships

Starting and Finishing Well

Last week, as part of the conferences that were held in Senior School, I had the opportunity to speak with the new Year 10s about first impressions and lasting impressions and the importance of good manners. The beginning of a new term is an opportunity to start again, and to start well. For those young men in the Senior School, this term is the beginning of a new academic year. Sometimes, we delay starting because we are worried about what lies ahead. We procrastinate (a topic for a later Thistle article, I assure you) or we hesitate, waiting for what we consider to be the right moment. Or we drift into the new day, or week, or season, unable or unwilling to break the habits which have formed. The truth is that there is never a perfect time to start, or a perfect way of starting. Just making a start is the key; it is only with momentum that we can change direction and begin heading in the direction we desire. Every day presents us with the opportunity to start again; to do things a little bit better, to make another effort to reshape what sort of person we are and to improve how people see us. As I said to the new Year 10s, nobody gets it right  all of  the time. I said that it was important for them to ask themselves honestly what kind of person they were and who they wanted to become, not in the sense of copying someone else, but in the sense of which values will define them by the time they leave Scotch. This is something upon which they can embark right now. 

On Friday, we had the final assembly for this year’s Year 12s and the March Out following that. How we finish is also important. Hopefully we can finish things well, and that finishing can reflect how we have conducted ourselves throughout our time. The sadness of such endings is softened by the understanding that our Year 12s leave us to begin again in a world that, whilst it is full of challenges, is also filled with almost limitless potential. I have very much enjoyed my connection to this year group  and I wish them all the best for their futures beyond Scotch. 

  SchoolTV  – Surviving Year 12 ( https://scotch.wa.schooltv.me/newsletter/surviving-year-12 ) 

I thought it timely to remind parents about the school’s subscription to this online resource, which can be found on the Scotch homepage. It covers a vast array of topics in easy-to-manage video clips as well as providing handy resource sheets. The edition that covers ‘Surviving Year 12’ covers the importance of sleep, exercise and breakfast, as well as managing study time, social media and disappointment. Michael  Carr -Gregg, a well-known psychologist,  refers  to three apps in particular which are considered to be beneficial to managing stress and which I thought I would share with you:

• Smiling Mind, which is a mindfulness app. He mentions a Harvard study that showed that an 8-week mindfulness course produced a growth of brain tissue around the hippocampus (the area associated with memory and learning). There was also a decrease in brain tissue around the amygdala, which is where stress resides in the brain.
• ReachOut – Breathe, which uses the camera on the phone to measure your heart rate and then takes you through a process to slow your breathing down.
• ReachOut – Worry Time, where you literally store your worry in the phone and you set a time to return to that worry. Postponing the worry diminishes its power, so this can be very helpful as well. 

These apps and the other messages in this edition are relevant for other year groups and for adults, as well as our Year 12s. We can each do a better job of looking after ourselves and looking out for each other, and we can start this today in a multitude of little ways. In doing so, we can achieve more and be more.

Sarvodaya 

In the recent holidays the Emerald Heights International School in Indore, India, hosted the annual Round Square International Conference. The theme of the conference was Sarvodaya - the world we wish to see. Sarvodaya is a Sanskrit word meaning progress for all. The word is a combination of Sarva meaning one and all and Uday meaning uplift. Fittingly the conference took part in the week of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday, a man who lived a life dedicated to Sarvodaya.

There were many highlights of the conference, not least the opening and closing ceremonies when the flags of all 157 schools were flown proudly. It was exciting to see Simon Arnott (Year 10, Ross House) fly the College crest amongst so many other fantastic schools. The conference keynote speakers were the Nobel Peace Laureate Dr Kailash Satyarthi, Swami Gaur Gopal, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Sophia the Robot, Ms Kiran Gandhi, and Major D P Singh the Indian Blade Runner. Scattered in between these speakers were all sorts of activities, including visits to Mandu and Maheshwar, two of the oldest medieval fortifications in India, a range of service activities, and lectures and personal development sessions, all set amongst a spectacular campus.

My days were spent in conversation with teachers and students from all over the world. At a Round Square event it is not uncommon to have a group consisting of people from six continents, from privately owned and operated schools (common in the Middle East) and vocational schools, not to mention to the number of different languages being spoken. Much time was spent solidifying exchange arrangements and relationships and plenty of sessions on new and exciting developments around the Round Square network. I attended a workshop on privacy considerations for schools in China and have developed links with a school in Arusha that may be able to assist with some accommodation for our Tanzania Tour. On the final morning I spoke to a teacher from Istanbul and after our initial discussion around the great words of Ataturk, inscribed at Gallipoli, I got the insight of a young, educated Turk on the US decision to withdraw from northern Syria. When I caught up with Simon and Sam White (Year 11, Stuart House) they would regale me with stories of the Germans, the South Africans and the Danes that they were rooming with, the cold showers they were enduring, and the Bollywood style events they were dancing at. These are just some of the experiences possible by being involved in Round Square!

 

The conference was busy but a bountiful and ostentatious event with service to others at its core. This made complete sense in a country such as India, a country that is full of contradictions. I extend a most sincere thanks to our hosts and to Round Square. When we consider the world our students are entering, one that is changing so rapidly and so increasingly global, our Round Square membership is an integral part of us being a learning community with an international standard of excellence and developing young men who will become active members of the global community.

This  video gives a good insight into the Round Square International Conference experience.

Some Service opportunities that are coming up in Spring Term are outlined below.

CNCC All Abilities Cricket

Every Friday from 1 November, 5.30 – 7.00pm at Cresswell Park. All welcome.

Disabled Surfing WA

Fremantle Surf Lifesaving Club, Leighton Beach

Saturday 7 December (PSA sport has finished)

http://disabledsurfers.org/wa/perth-branch/

Boardies Day to raise awareness of water safety and support SLSWA

Tuesday 3 December at Scotch College.

Rotary Club of Cottesloe-Mosman Park Christmas Cans for Foodbank

Sunday 8th December from 8.45am - 11am at the Mosman Park Men's Shed - Tom Perrott Reserve, Mosman Park. 

Any age welcome but children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Children 15 and over can volunteer on their own.

Tasks are to pick up bags of donated food from houses in Mosman Park and load them onto an accompanying car for transport to the Men's Shed.

Note that all donations will be left outside houses - door knocking is not necessary.  Contact John Baxter for more information 0401 253 531.

Uniform Shop Opening Hours

Tuesdays: 8.00am - 5.00pm
Thursdays: 7.30am - 11.30am
Fridays: 7.30am - 11.30am

Scotch College and PLC present

We Will Rock You - The Musical!

 

Since 2002 over 16 million theatregoers in 28 countries have been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production which is based on the songs of Queen with a book by Ben Elton. This hilarious futurist comedy features more than 24 of Queen’s biggest hit songs including We Are The Champions, Radio Ga  Ga , I Want To Break Free, Somebody To Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Under Pressure, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and of course, We Will Rock You.

The musical takes place in a future age on a planet once called Earth that is now controlled by a mighty corporation...rock music is unheard, and all musical instruments are banned. The hope of breaking free rests with an unlikely resistance-an alliance of rebel Bohemians.

AUDITIONS 

Students can sign up to ONE singing/acting and ONE dance audition. 

Tuesday 29th October 3.30-6pm  Singing and Acting Audition, Foundation Theatre

Wednesday 30th October 3.30-6pm  Singing and Acting Audition, Foundation Theatre

Thursday 31st October 3.30-6pm Dance Audition, Memorial Hall  
Friday 1st November 3.30-6pm Dance Audition, Memorial Hall

Students from Year 8 (Year 9 2020) up to Year 12 (2020) are invited to audition.

Sign up here to receive an audition pack :  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/S2K2HY7   

Don’t miss out on being part of this ambitious and spectacular rock and roll extravaganza! We encourage ALL boys to audition, even if you have never sung or acted before. What have you got to lose?  

Ms Sarah Combes
Head of Drama

Spring Concert 2019

Please see the included flyer here for details regarding this years Spring Concert at Memorial Hall on 24 October 2019.

Tours of the College 

Scotch College invites interested families (new to the College) to attend the following upcoming Information Sessions: 

Early Learning Centre (Pre-Kindergarten -  Kindergarten)
Tuesday 22 October, 5.30pm - 7pm 

Junior School (Pre-Primary - Year 5) 
Thursday 31 October, 9am - 10.30am

Middle School (Year 6 - Year 8) 
Wednesday 6 November,  5.30pm - 7pm

Headmaster's Tour
Wednesday 13 November, 5.30pm - 7pm 

If you know a family who may be interested, please direct them to the College website for further information and to register: http://bit.ly/2GmdnIt

From the Head of  Junior School 

For years I have farewelled boys from Year 5 as they leave Junior School and move up to the Middle School. As the boys have visited us in the Junior School, they have told us about their wonderful experiences in the Middle School.  They shared with us how happy they were in their new surrounds, how they were challenged by the new level of independence they were expected to demonstrate, how they were supported by the teachers who were around them and how much they enjoyed the different learning opportunities that were presented to them each and every week in the Middle School.  Having heard the boys speak with such enthusiasm about their new sub-school, it made me proud that the boys were in capable hands of such committed teachers.

Last term I had the honour of being the Acting Head of Middle School.  It was a fortunate opportunity to see first-hand what the boys have been telling me for years.  One of the things I undertook to do during my time in the Middle School was to visit each teacher and learn alongside the boys in all the various lessons they were engaging in.  Having sat in every class, with every teacher, and the boys they teach, I was amazed at what I saw happening in each and every lesson.  The quality and commitment of the teachers has been outstanding.  Their ability as teachers to craft the lessons and engage the boys is something I have greatly enjoyed being part of.  Watching the attitude of the boys, their engagement in the lessons, their interactions with the teachers and each other, and the maturity they demonstrate in their learning was wonderful to see.

I joined boys in their PE lessons, as they engaged in gymnastic activities and ran coaching sessions in their units of work.  I sat in awe of the work the boys were doing in the media classes creating digital art. I was challenged in mathematics lessons, inspired by poetry written in their English classes and watched the boys do some amazing experiments in science.  I joined the boys in Metal Design, where they were using metal presses and welding equipment.  In Food Design, not only were they taught wonderful healthy meals, they also learned important skills in handling knives and cleaning up after themselves.  I spent time in Wood Design where the boys learned how to design, measure, cut and construct CO2 race cars.  I also had the opportunity to conduct the Middle School Concert Band, badly, as they prepared for their upcoming performance tour.  The boys are also blessed with the option of learning either French or Indonesian. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to learn alongside them in these classes.

The boys in the Middle School are at the halfway point in their journey through Scotch College.  They demonstrated an increased maturity in their interactions with their learning, but they are still boys on their learning journey.  They are still growing into the fine young men we hope they will be.  Guided along this journey with the support of their teachers and their parents, I was impressed in how well they are doing and how much they clearly value what is happening for them in the Middle School.  They are so very fortunate to have these experiences, to work with these teachers, in these wonderful surrounds which I believe will prepare them very well for their next stage through our College.

When I sit with parents now and talk about the journey for boys leaving the Junior School, I can speak with some authority having seen it first-hand.  I know with confidence that any boy leaving our Junior School and moving up to the Middle School will be cared for, looked after and will have a wonderful opportunity to extend himself, to embrace new learning challenges and to be the best he can be.

Deputy Head of Junior School

Throughout Winter Term, one of the Year 5 boys in the Junior School began the journey to plan and prepare for an event which he wanted to host. This drive came from his personal passion and for him it was a way he could give back to the those who have helped him over this past year.  Harry Nicholls was diagnosed with two auto-immune eye diseases – AMPPE and optic neuritis.

Harry has been a wonderful example of how you can overcome and accept adversity and work with setbacks in order to make good of a tough situation. On the last day of Winter Term, Harry’s efforts came to fruition. His quest to both fundraise and raise awareness of the importance of eye sight to the Junior School staff and students, culminated in a blind folded obstacle course. Harry with the help of staff and peers devised, planned and organised a somewhat challenging series of activities which all Junior School students walked through with the help of a ‘guide’, and then in turn switched to be able to guide someone else. 

Boys and staff had to walk across various levels of ground, navigate through witches hats, attempt to hit a tennis ball onto a tennis racquet three times, crawl through a tunnel, step through a ground ladder and kick a soccer ball into a net. All relatively simple you would presume but not so without the use of your sight.

Year 5 boys assisted Harry in his preparation and on the day several others manned stations in order to assist classes coming through. It was a wonderful success; the boys and staff shared their experiences and came to understand the complications and challenges of not having your eyesight. In addition to this over $650 was raised for VisAbility.

  

  

Miss Penny Hooper
Deputy Head of Junior School
(Administration and Pastoral Care)

French News

Bonjour everyone! It is that time of year again, when diplomatic mail bags are beginning to become full of early Christmas wishes and Scotch College Junior School want to be included in them! After the marvellous success of our Soldier Letter Project last year, in which the boys reached out to offer friendship to French soldiers fighting in Jordan, we are running it once more with the Year 5 cohort. The Soldier Letter Project (currently on display in the Junior School reception corridor), is a way for our boys to practice their writing skills, to put their French knowledge to good use, and to offer a ray of sunshine to a stranger in the form of three-paragraph letter about themselves, written entirely in French.

All three Year 5 classes have been working hard on their letters, drafting, editing and composing with determination. The boys have been talking about their families, their love of sports, their pets and hobbies. It has been a real pleasure for me to see how willingly the Year 5 boys have embraced such a wonderfully thoughtful and internationally minded task that upholds all we stand for at an IB school like Scotch. The letters should be ready for posting in another few weeks and we hope they bring a smile of delight to the dusty, hot environment of the French airbase in Jordan. Au revoir!

Madame Carolyn Vincent
Year 1 to 5 French Specialist

3W News

Winter Term proved to be the busiest, most active and enriching one to date. The holidays will have doubtless provided much needed rest and relaxation after an incredible 9 weeks, full of creativity and learning.

Our latest unit of inquiry explored the idea of a world with equal opportunity. Along with 3S, our boys were treated to incursions, where expert speakers came in to talk to the boys about their work in various underprivileged sectors; Jane Armstrong from Homelessness We Care, Matt McNally from Department of Communities, Sara Franklyn from Direct Reach Ethiopia and Rev Wall discussing refugees in a highly interactive and informative session. The boys had much food for thought and it spurred them forwards, taking action to try and offer their time and service to those less fortunate.

The following fortnight was a blur of activity; baking sessions, collecting items, designing and marketing posters, creating treasure hunts, writing to organisations and constantly updating our ‘to do’ lists with an ever-changing list of jobs. The classroom looked rather ‘busy’ with piles of donations, lemons, trays of cookies piled onto trolleys, baking equipment, that it was hard to see the carpet at times! However, the results proved to be hugely rewarding and meaningful as each boy contributed a mighty effort. Taking action proved to require collaboration and cooperation, drawing on the boys’ critical thinking skills and stretching them to think beyond their own world and experiences.

The boys and I must thank the huge team of supporters that we recruited along the way; our parents were amazing, the school community rallied to help us and donate and the Scotch Catering Staff were generous to a fault in lending us their equipment and ovens. We are so excited to be able to donate $560 to the Make a Wish Foundation and $220 to Direct Reach Ethiopia, not to mention oodles of sports clothes and equipment and piles of stationery for Indian schools.

Just to add an extra layer of chaos, we enjoyed two excursions to PLC, where the girls treated us to a Maths Relay competition and also a few games of netball. It is fantastic to foster these links with our sister school and watch this space, plans are afoot for Scottish Country Dancing in the near future.

Spring will have a lot to live up to but somehow, I am sure, we will find a way to keep ourselves fully occupied and engaged. Scotch never disappoints in that domain.

  

Mrs Alison Webster
Year 3 Teacher

4C News

The 4C boys had a wonderful Winter Term filled with fun and excitement. We began the term with a scientific approach to our third unit of inquiry, ‘How we organise ourselves’. The boys enjoyed learning about the scientific process through a variety of hands-on experiments. They investigated acids and chemical reactions that result in new materials. The boys created balloon rockets and marble roller coasters to investigate different forces and collect data. We enjoyed reading about famous scientists such as Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison during our English lessons. It was very interesting to learn about their achievements and how they changed the world.

Our current unit of inquiry, ‘Where we are in place and time’ saw us investigate how exploration can lead to discoveries that present challenges and opportunities. The boys learned about the first voyage of Captain Cook and enjoyed creating a timeline and map of his journey. Additionally, they completed a research task about an explorer of their choice. The boys created an amazing treasure chest that contains a map, a timeline of the explorer's life, artefacts that they could have found and a journal entry. This week we will be focusing on life in 18^th Century England and the reasons that led to the colonisation of Australia. Using historical sources, the boys will research the life of an individual settler or convict before and after their arrival on the First Fleet. Our final task will be a historical narrative that explains how life has changed and/or stayed the same in Australia.

The boys have been working hard to put together an entertaining assembly item for Grandparent’s Day. We are looking forward to welcoming our wonderful grandparents to Scotch on Friday. All in all, it has been a fantastic year so far in 4C.

Miss Olivia Creagh
Year 4 Teacher

Scotch Boys Join A Community for Life

Spring Term is a special term and it starts with arguably our most seminal event: March Out.  The farewelling of the Year 12 cohort at March Out is an important, inspiring ceremony, and one that everyone looks forward to each year.  In a condensed form it is a showcase of who we are and what we value.  It is a significant ceremony to witness, with the pipes and marching working your emotions over, before all too soon it is your son's turn to be the centre of attention.

March Out was last Friday, then on Saturday and Sunday we hosted next year's new Boarding boys for meetings, lap top rollout, dinner and a sleep over for the start of their orientation to Scotch College.  It was a neat reminder that as a College the process of teaching, nurturing, developing, encouraging and celebrating is continual and in twelve short months' time we will be doing this again, farewelling another cohort of young men into the next phase of their lives.

Since Scotch College's inception in 1897 the College has farewelled over 15,000 graduates.  On Friday 11 October I had the joy of meeting with the OSC's, the Old Scotch Collegians, who graduated in 1954, sixty five years ago.  As an outsider who had arrived early to the function it was amazing watching the reaction, the excitement, the smiles and the back slapping as each of the men arrived.  It was like watching a crew of rowers who had just won the Head of the River.  It wasn't 2019, it was 1954 once again, and after a brief welcome and an update on College life and developments the pipes struck up and an afternoon of dining and reminiscing begun.  Again, another reminder that on becoming a Scotch student you have joined a community for life.  One of the thoughts I will try to get across to our boys this term is the question: "What actions will you be remembered for once you leave Scotch?  How will you be recalled at each reunion?"

One of the '54 OSC's highlighted that Year 12 is not necessarily the last time you represent Scotch College either.  John Henderson, John Snell and Rob Black OSC's 54 were all members of the Scotch College PSA Golf team that played, and won, the 59^th annual PSA Golf Tournament at Cottesloe Golf Club two weeks ago.  Congratulations gentlemen.

6.4 Being, Becoming, Belonging

Throughout Winter Term, the boys in 6.4 explored the concept of migration, specifically looking at who, why and how individuals migrate to Australia. Initially we looked into our own class migration history and discovered some fascinating stories about where our families originated from.  This led to our excursion to Fremantle Maritime Museum where we explored various stories about individuals who migrated to Australia and the reasons why they migrated.

As a culminating task, the boys were required to create a Museum display about a migrant of their choosing.  They inquired into the history of the individual and considered the reasons for why and how they migrated to Australia.  Research focused on the contributions that the individual has made to Australia's economic and social development.  In addition to this they explored the cultural influences that the country has provided.  Their creativity was challenged as they were required to create numerous artefacts to support and explain the research completed.

On the last day of term, all boys in Year 6 created a museum display in the classrooms to share their knowledge and understanding. This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the amazing work of the students.

 

Mrs Lauren McCormack
6.4 Homeroom Teacher

Exploring Earth Science in 7.6

A new term brings a new chapter of learning here for the boys in 7.6!  This term the boys will undertake Earth Science during iLearn lessons.  We will explore the world of Forces, Newton's Law, Gravity, Friction and The Earth.  Along the way many practical activities will take place.  Boys will have the opportunity to go into the Science Lab to learn physics, go online to create their own Formula 1 track and get their hands dirty with oil to learn about friction.

One of the burning questions the boys have already asked is "How do Tides work?"  As we uncover the world of Science this and much more will be revealed.  Pictured below is Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal island on France's northwest coast, which means that it's only connected to the mainland when the tide is low.  The medieval abbey and town took advantage of the tides to defend themselves from invaders.  As you can see our learning has already begun!

 

Mr Daniel Turco
7.6 Homeroom Teacher

Is Your Son Ready for Young Adult fiction?

In the Junior Middle School Library fiction collection, about one third of the general fiction novels have a YA sticker.  This means the book has been deemed to be a novel suitable for a boy who is 12 to 18-years-old.

The YA sticker is a flag that the novel might centre on a mature storyline or contain swearing, violence, drug-use, or sexual experiences.  Some examples of this wide-ranging YA determination include the later Harry Potter books, Twilight, Hunger Games, One of Us is Lying, The Book Thief, Lord of the Flies, and Walking Dead.  To guide a boy's selection within the YA range, there are some clues in the blurb that Teacher Librarians Marie Grech and Lisa Crofts discuss with the boys to help them work out if a book is a good pick for them.

The age of the protagonist is always the first clue as to what the target audience of a story is; is the central character a 12 - 18-year-old?  Experience shows that teens like to read about a character that is a couple of years older than themselves.  In a series, often the protagonist will age along with its readers; that is why often the first couple of titles in a series are suitable for upper JS/lower MS, but as the character ages, so does the maturity of the storylines.

Another key factor is whose voice do we hear from within a story?  YA is authored by adults; is it an adult voice or a teen voice the reader hears?  Ideally, YA should have a teenage/young adult voice.  That teen voice tells us their attitudes and priorities, and all the things a younger character would tell us (for example they generally don't swear or talk about adult life choices).  As a result of that voice, a book's style is determined, and YA tends to be first/third person or present tense prose.

Finally, is the important aspect of theme.  YA themes can be just as mature as adult fiction and each reader has his own interests and preferences about those themes.  The pictures below shows our JML Graphic Novel collection which is divided into YA and non-YA books.  We also have a new 'Level-Up' permanent display for those mature Year 8 boys who are ready to be challenged by more adult fiction titles that they will find in the Senior School collection next year.  Our ebook/audiobooks available via Sora, also have age recommendations https://soraapp.com/library/scotchandplc

 

Just because a boy might be a fantastic reader, might not mean he is ready for YA novel content.  Or a boy might still be developing reading skills but wants to read about YA characters.  Choosing or not choosing a YA novel is a very individual choice but JML staff can provide support to boys and their parents in making the right choice.

Ms Marie Grech
Information and Research Specialist

Important Dates in Middle School Spring Term

Tuesday 22 October	Year 7.2 Sailing Programme Year 7 Scotch & PLC Quiz Night, 6.00pm DC
Wednesday 23 October	Talented Young Writers (select students) Year 6.2 Lancelin Surf Camp Departs Year 6.1 Lancelin Surf Camp Returns
Thursday 24 October	JPSSA SC v AC
Friday 25 October	MS Assembly, 12.00pm DC PSA SC v AC Year 6.2 Lancelin Surf Camp Returns
Saturday 26 October	WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad, 8.00am – 2.00pm UWA
Monday 28 October	Year 7.3 Sailing Programme Year 6.3 Lancelin Surf Camp Departs Year 6 NAP Civics Test (select students)
Wednesday 30 October	Year 6.4 Lancelin Surf Camp Departs Year 6.3 Lancelin Surf Camp Returns
Thursday 31 October	JPSSA CC v SC
Friday 1 November	PSA CC v SC Year 6.4 Lancelin Surf Camp Returns
Monday 4 November	Year 7.4 Sailing Programme
Tuesday 5 November	Year 7.4 Sailing Programme
Wednesday 6 November	Year 7.5 Sailing Programme
Thursday 7 November	Year 7.5 Sailing Programme Year 6 Academic Assessment Testing JPSSA SC v HS
Friday 8 November	MS Assembly (internal), 12.00pm MacKellar Hall PSA SC v HS
Monday 11 November	Remembrance Day, 11.00am – 11.45am Year 7.6 Sailing Programme
Tuesday 12 November	Year 7.6 Sailing Programme
Wednesday 13 November	Year 7.7 Sailing Programme Year 8 Vaccinations Round #2
Thursday 14 November	Year 7.7 Sailing Programme Talented Young Writers (select students) JPSSA TC v SC JS/MS Music Spring Soiree, 5.30pm – 7.30pm Memorial Hall
Friday 15 November	PSA TC v SC
Saturday 16 November	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Boarders only)
Thursday 21 November	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Returns JPSSA SC v GG
Friday 22 November	MS Assembly (internal), 12.00pm MacKellar Hall Year 6 Concert Band Showcase, 1.30pm – 3.15pm PSA SC v GG
Monday 25 November	Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Boarders only) Year 8.1 Snorkelling Programme
Tuesday 26 November	Year 8.2 Snorkelling Programme
Wednesday 27 November	Year 8.3 Snorkelling Programme Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Returns
Thursday 28 November	Year 8.4 Snorkelling Programme JPSSA Bye Year 8 2020 Community Project Launch, 6.30pm – 8.00pm Memorial Hall
Friday 29 November	PSA Bye (Sport Training)
Monday 2 December	Year 6 & 7 2020 MS Orientation Day Year 7 Adventure World Excursion Year 8 Transition Day in Senior School
Tuesday 3 December	Boardies Day Year 8.5 Snorkelling Programme
Wednesday 4 December	Year 8.6 Snorkelling Programme
Thursday 5 December	Year 8.7 Snorkelling Programme
Friday 6 December	IB Learner Profile Awards Final Assembly, 11.30am DC
Tuesday 10 December	Year 8 Scotch Parents' Breakfast MS Speech Night, 6.30pm DC (all Year 8 students required to attend) Spring Term Concludes

Reflecting on my term in the Middle School

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." – Mahatma Gandhi

Why service? At Scotch we spend a lot of time talking with boys about service, we teach them how to serve and lead them through it.  But why do we do that?  Why do we invest so much time?

Service can impact on an individual's wellbeing. In the wellbeing context, service refers to "understanding, believing in and serving something greater than yourself, and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefit of others." (Norrish, Robinson & Williams 2011).

Last term while I was Acting Head of Middle School, I had the pleasure of listening to our Year 8 boys talk passionately about the culminating experience of three terms of work.  The Year 8 Community Project is designed around community service.  Each group of boys had to identify a need in the local, national or international community.  They had to consider ways to assist, communicate with that group or organization, then plan action or service that would make a real difference.

A broad range of groups were helped by the boys through their service.  The environment was a significant focus.  We had boys cleaning our beaches, parks and waterways.  Some targeted over-fishing while local pet sanctuaries were served by our boys.  Others worked to better the lives of refugees, the elderly and the homeless.  Some recycled bicycles for disadvantaged children, or developed an AFL training programme for remote schools or provided equipment to schools.  We had one group who built 25 Solar Buddy battery power lights for use in villages overseas that do not have electricity.  The creativity of service solutions the boys came up with, and the thoughtful reasons they chose their actions was amazing to witness.

In addition to the Community Project last term, I walked with the Year 7 boys as they engaged in fundraising to help people in disadvantaged countries get access to clean water.  The Year 7 Mathematics unit taught the boys about pledges and equations but also linked to other work in iLearn.  They learned about the challenging circumstance 800 million people around the world go through on their daily 6km walk to get water.  Water that is not always clean or safe to drink.  They have written up proposals for helping these same people to clean the water they must drink.  The Walk for Water raised money that will help some very needy people as well as raised the awareness of our boys of what they could do to make a difference.

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how." – Friedrich Nietzsche

So back to my original question, why service?  "A meaningful life consists of belonging to and serving something that we believe is bigger than ourselves." (Seligman 2011).  To find meaning we need to look for the positive difference we are making for others in our daily lives.  We want our students to understand this and seek to serve others as adults.  As teachers we are fortunate that what we do does make a difference for others, especially our students.  To work with our boys to help them see and experience the value of helping others is a special gift.

Reflecting on my term in the Middle School, I have seen the boys do so many wonderful things under the guidance of their talented teachers.  I have engaged with them in their classes and been greatly impressed by their commitment to their learning and to each other.  What has struck me the most is that we work with boys who want to, and who do make a difference.  In short, they are kind, caring boys who serve.  What a wonderful trait to have.

I wish to thank the staff and boys of the Middle School for making me feel so very welcome during Winter Term.  It has been a wonderful experience to learn alongside the boys and to witness first-hand the outstanding teaching and learning that happens in this special place.

Mr John Stewart
Acting Head of Middle School – Winter Term

Achievement often takes a team effort

Last week Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours, completing it in one hour and 59.40 seconds. While the time will not count as an official record as it did not take place in open competition conditions, it was an incredible achievement and pushed the boundaries of human endeavour. 

Kipchoge also holds the official world record at 2.01.39 and he and his team meticulously planned for his run in Vienna on Saturday 12 October. They had learnt a great deal from an unsuccessful attempt two years previously and made the necessary adjustments in their planning and preparation. Kipchoge's team considered obvious things as the gradient of the course, weather conditions, altitude and the time zone in comparison to his training base and settled on a newly laid stretch of road in parkland in Vienna, Italy. 

In an achievement that Kipchoge reportedly compared to man first landing on the moon, the depth of the level of planning and the importance of the team working towards one goal was obvious. Over 40 professional runners were involved as pacemakers and they ran in a formation around Kipchoge to reduce air resistance, with a fresh group of runners replacing them when needed. The attempt also included lasers from a pace car and lines on the road to guide the runners along the shortest possible course and support cyclists to deliver carbohydrate shots and fluids. These people were just part of the team who worked tirelessly together towards the goal of breaking the two-hour marathon time. Their dedication and selflessness helped Kipchoge in his historic athletic achievement. 

While most people chase their goals without the resources that were available to Kipchoge, they often have a team around them, offering support and doing all they can to help. As our Senior School students start their new academic year, it is timely to remind them of the support of the large team around them, that includes family, friends, peers, staff, members of the College community and the wider community. Some will choose to engage more actively with this  team  and this is often guided by personality, but I encourage all of our students to reach out and utilise the support of 'their' team. Help is available and the ability to draw on previous personal experience, as well as the experiences of others is important.

Kipchoge's team used the hashtag "# nohumanislimited " to encapsulate his performance. What our boys can achieve may just surprise them.

Mr  Peter Burt
Head of Senior School

Careers Information

Year 12 WACE Examination Information

Examination Attendance

A message from Allan Blagaich, Executive Director School Curriculum & Standards Authority:

Students are reminded that unless they sit the examination for an ATAR course, then that course will be deemed to be incomplete and will not be counted for ANY element of the WACE, nor will the pair of units for the Year 12 course appear on the student's WASSA. This is also the case related to attendance and participation in courses with practical examinations (students need to sit both components).

This is particularly important if students are still counting the number of "C" grades they are required to achieve.

Sickness/Misadventure

If a student's performance in a WACE examination is affected by a temporary sickness, non-permanent disability or unforeseen misadventure suffered immediately before or during the examination period OR a student is prevented from attending an examination due to illness or misadventure, a SICKNESS/MISADVENTURE APPLICATION FORM can be obtained from Mr Frusher or downloaded from the SCSA website for completion and forwarding to School Curriculum & Standards Authority. There is a long list of reasons that will not be accepted by School Curriculum & Standards Authority but if a student is unsure he needs to check with Mr Frusher.

Personalised Examination Timetables

Students are able to download a copy of their Personalised examination timetable from: https://wace.wa.edu.au

Important - Please make your son aware of the following information which is also printed on the back of each personalised timetable.

1. You must sign the front of your timetable before sitting the examinations and take it to every written examination. Replacement timetables can be downloaded fromhttps://www.wace.wa.edu.au
2. You must arrive at the examination centre at least 30 minutes before the prescribed start time for an examination (8.50 am for a morning examination and 1.30pm for an afternoon examination). Supervisors will allow candidates into the examination room before the prescribed start time so that administrative procedures can occur and important examination information can be explained.
3. You must be familiar with the examination rules outlined in the Year 12 Information Handbook. This handbook can be downloaded fromhttp://www.scsa.wa.edu.au/internet/Publications/year12_information_handbook
4. You are responsible for taking the correct equipment into each examination. Unauthorised materials are not allowed. A list of all permitted equipment is detailed in the Year 12 Information Handbook. This list of all permitted equipment is also provided on the front cover of each examination paper, copies of which were distributed to schools in August. In particular, mobile phones and smart watches are not permitted in the examination room. Failure to comply will result in a penalty.
5. Calculators and any other electronic devices that allow communication via wireless technology with other calculators or electronic devices (by being connected to external attachments or by a built-in facility) are not permitted in any ATAR course examination. Failure to comply could result in a penalty.
6. You must abide by the directions and instructions given by the supervisors. In particular, you must not start reading or writing until instructed to do so by the supervisors.
7. You must not take part in any unfair practice in the examination room. You should note that impersonation of another candidate for an examination is a criminal offence.
8. If the Authority is satisfied you are involved in a breach of examination rules, your examination mark may be cancelled.
9. No allowance can be made for candidates who miss an examination through misreading the timetable. Examinations cannot be rescheduled.
10. Candidates who suffer a temporary sickness, non-permanent disability or event which they believe may affect their performance in the examination may apply for sickness/misadventure provisions. Application forms are available from examination centres and the School Curriculum and Standards website and must be received no later than Tuesday, 20 November 2018. Refer to the Year 12 Information Handbook for details.
11. Candidates who have two examinations in the one day may have been allocated to a common examination centre for both examinations. If this is not convenient please phone Robyn Cranley on 9273 6308, or email robyn.cranley@scsa.wa.edu.au
12. ATAR course examination information – telephone 9273 6377 www.scsa.wa.edu.au twitter.com/SCSAWA facebook.com/SCSAWA

WACE Results

Year 12 students will be able to access their results online at https://www.wace.wa.edu.au on Monday, 16 December 2019.

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.

TAFE Applications are open!

Applications are open for Semester 1, 2020.

How to apply

For full-time study, students need to visit TAFE Admissions and complete an online application. Students will then be required to send in their relevant documentation. They will then receive a Letter of Offer which will invite them to come on campus and enrol (in January 2020).

Term 4 Enrolments now open

Tuition for Years 7 – 10

English, Maths and Science tuition on Saturdays and Sundays

• An affordable way for your child to access highly qualified, excellent teachers who have proven success in improving student's school achievement.
• Individual help according to the learning needs and academic goals of your child.
• Your child will receive help on their specific needs, clarify problem areas and teachers can supplement learning with additional worksheets and questions.
• Students will build their skills and understanding in a small group environment (1 to max 4 students).

Venues:  Churchlands SHS, Perth Modern School and Rossmoyne SHS

Enrol Online: https://academicgroup.com.au/

Go to Our Programs - Year 7 and 8 or Year 9 and 10 and select Tuition Help

ATAR Exam Boost Seminars for Year 11 & 12

One-day boost seminars in various ATAR subjects

• Targeted exam help before final exams.
• Receive exclusive advice from an experienced exam markers who know what examiners look for in student's answers.
• Learn strategies and problem solving methods to boost exam performance.
• Work through exam style questions and receive feedback on your work.

Venues:  Churchlands SHS, Perth Modern School and Rossmoyne

Enrol in Exam Boost Seminars Online:

https://academicgroup.com.au/course/exam-boost-seminars/

For more information:

Contact us at: learn@academicgroup.com.au

RFDS Jandakot Open Day

All West Australians, from city to country, are invited to tour the Jandakot base, view the interior of the aero medical aircraft and learn about the service's rich history.

The team of highly trained pilots, doctors, nurses, engineers and operations staff will be on hand to share their unique experiences and showcase the service's aero medical capabilities.

The family-friendly Open Day event is FREE and will feature kids activity zones, food trucks and interactive and educational exhibits.

Location: 3 Eagle Drive, Jandakot, WA 6164

Date: Saturday, October 26

Time: 10am-4pm

ECU | WAAPA Production Tour

14 November 2019, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)

Join us on this insightful tour of WAAPA's world-class facilities and venues from 'page to stage' as we take you through the process of producing a show. Visit design and costume studios, check out sound and lighting facilities, and explore our extensive props and scenery workshops on the way to a Q&A at the Geoff Gibbs Theatre.

Find out more: https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/events/waapa-production-tours

ECU | Careers In Sport Expo

11 November 2019, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Campus

This is a great opportunity to learn about a career in sports. Meet our experienced staff from areas, including:

• Exercise and Sport Science
• Motorsports Technology
• Sport Business
• Sport, Recreation and Event Management

A taste of what to expect:

• Presentations from West Coast Eagles Forwards Coach, Jaymie Graham; and AFL Women's Coach, Michelle Cowan
• The opportunity to take a selfie and get an autograph with Elite Sporting Professionals
• Course application information
• Network with like-minded people, industry leaders and specialist in their field
• Refreshments provided

Find out more: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/careers-in-sport-expo-tickets-71013018851

MasterMind Australia

Master Mind Australia will be running the following programs for 2019 and 2020  www.mastermindaustralia.com.au

Exam Focus Program for Year 11 and 12 students and Master Class Program for Year 7 to 12 students held on the Christ Church Grammar School campus commencing Saturday 19 October.

This is the last program before Year 12 students sit their final exams.

  January Jump-Start program for Year 7 to 12 students held on the Hale School Campus Thursday 16 to Tuesday 21 January, and Christ Church Grammar School Campus Sunday 19 to Friday 24 January.

Please click here for further information.

Mr Peter Frusher 

Careers Advisor 

Note-taking: Handwriting versus Typing 

Evidence demonstrates effective note-taking methods such as Cornell (used by Scotch College) increases student comprehension and retention of information, by some estimates up to 80% (UTA, 1999). What is less understood is whether the typing or handwriting of notes influences the level of comprehension and retention. The critical stages of  note-taking  include recording and summarising material; but is typing or handwriting more effective than the other?

Recording 

Students who type faster than they can write, can produce notes verbatim with little critical thinking and analysis. Research has shown that students who type their notes don't really use their brain to process what is being taught during the lesson. A compounding negative is users may face technical difficulties and distractions. Once complete they can copy and paste their notes in a neat and organised manner.

Recording notes through handwriting is slower and requires interpretation and summarising to produce a succinct version. This can result in increased understanding as students are more selective with the notes they take. Students can illustrate their thoughts using visual thinking techniques. However, handwriting is slower and can be messy.

Summarising

When typed notes are a straight transcript it is more difficult for the students to know how to summarise their information effectively. The lack of critical engagement at the time of recording results in limited comprehension, and difficulty identifying the main points and keywords. Consequently, memory retention can be low.

On the other hand, students who write their notes can't catch every word. It forces them to focus on listening, digesting and then summarising into their own words. This process engages critical thinking reducing the information into key words and phrases fostering comprehension and retention of the material.

Handwriting has been shown to be more effective for comprehension and retention, however typing has been shown to be faster and more organised. For the student who finds handwriting too slow or overwhelming, a mixture of the two approaches will result in the best overall outcome. The students can type their notes in class and then later handwrite them at home. This combination will ensure the material is captured, understood and remembered.

For more note-taking tips refer to the following website:

https://studyskills.com/students/note-taking/

Mrs Adelle Wilkes
ILT Integration Specialist

Senior School Important Dates Spring Term 2019

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 2B
Tuesday 22 October	Scotch Parents Meeting	Dining Room Annexe	9.00am – 10.30am
	Leaving Year 12 Statement of Results available for collection	Career Adviser's office	Until noon
	Year 10, 2020 House Heads Meetings	Library	3.30pm – 7.30pm
	FOSM Annual General Meeting	Music Department	6.45pm – 8.15pm
	British Parliamentary Debating Grand Final	Murdoch University	8.00pm – 10.00pm
Wednesday 23 October	Talented Young Writers Programme	Fremantle Literacy Centre	8.30am – 3.30pm
Thursday 24 October	Year 11 CAS Launch Day		8.30am – 3.30pm
	Spring Concert	Dickinson Centre	6.30pm – 9.30pm
Friday 25 October	Founders' Day Marching	Memorial Grounds	8.30am - 9.45am
	PSA Sport – Aquinas College v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	1.30pm - various
	Old Scotch Collegians' Founders Day Dinner	Dining Room Annexe	6.00pm – 10.30pm
Saturday 26 October	WA Junior Mathematics Olympiad	Alexander Lecture Theatre, UWA	8.00am – 2.00pm
	PSA Sport – Aquinas College v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	8.30am – various
Week 3A
Monday 28 October	Year 10, 2020 English Incursion (Poetry in Action)	Dickinson Centre	1.35pm – 2.25pm
	Summer Sports Captains Conference	Dining Room Annexe	3.45pm – 6.30pm
	Year 10, 2020 Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.30pm – 7.30pm
Wednesday 30 October	Year 12 WACE Examinations commence		Finish 19 November
	Year 11, 2020 House Heads Meetings	Library	3.30pm – 7.30pm
Friday 1 November	Senior School Marching (no Assembly)	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 8.50am
	PSA Sport – Christ Church Grammar School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	1.30pm – various
Saturday 2 November	PSA Sport – Christ Church Grammar School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	8.30am - various
	PSA Rowing – Aquinas Regatta	Canning River	8.30am onwards
Week 4B
Monday 4 November	Year 12 Diploma Examinations commence		Finish 21 November
	Year 12, 2020 Diploma Geography Internal Assessment		8.15am – 3.25pm

Boys' Achievements

Benjamin Scott (Year 10 Ross) and Heath Muller (Year 10 Ross)  competed in the semi-final of the British Parliamentary Debating Competition where they placed in the top two teams and will now progress to the Grand Final at Murdoch University. 

Sam Wake (Year 11 Brisbane)  and  Lachlan Norcott (Year 11 Anderson)  competed in the State Final of the UN Evatt Competition. They received a Highly Commended prize and were one of four teams chosen to compete in the National UN Evatt Competition in Brisbane in November.

Ashley Edgar (Year 11 Brisbane)and Lewis Miller (Year 12 Anderson) have been asked to publish their poems, 'Imbibe with Me for my Child Sees' and 'Sunset' in Primo Lux, in the annual Western Australian Anthology of School Students Poetry.

Andrew Walker (Year 8 James), Ben Waddell (Year 9 Stuart), Thomas (Tom) Westcott (Year 10 Shearer)  and  Sam Wake (Year 11 Brisbane)  competed in the 2019 Perth Philosothon on Wednesday evening and placed first in the competition for the  third year in a row . Individual honours also went to  Thomas (Tom) Westcott  who won Best Philosopher for his age group. Scotch College also competed in the recent Australasian Philosothon, in which  Thomas (Tom) Westcott  received the Most Promising Philosopher award.

Alex Chew(Year 11 Brisbane) represented Western Australia at the Under 17 National Cricket Championships in Queensland during the holidays. Alex played in all six games and contributed to Western Australia defeating NSW Metro in the final by one run and being crowned National Champions.

Please click here to read further detail regarding boys who have received the following awards:

ADF Long Tan Leadership Award

Australian National Chemistry Quiz

University of New South Wales Science Competition

PSA Inter-School Athletics Records

Scotch College Athletics Aged Champions for 2019

Academic Colours

PREFERRED	SURNAME	YEAR	HOUSE
Liam	Blok	12	St Andrews
Charles (Charlie)	Castleden	12	Stuart
Joshua (Josh)	Turibaka	12	St Andrews

To review the Spring Honours for 2019, please click here.

To review the Certificates I, II and IV awarded to boys, please click here.

To review the Colours, please click here.

To read the 2019 Leadership Positions, please click here.

The inaugural 2019 Hospitality Certificate Graduates

2019 saw the first Scotch College students graduate with the Certificate II in Hospitality qualification. Over the last two years, Hospitality students have become accomplished team players in both food preparation and service, gaining practical experience as wait staff while working at many College events. As part of the course, students also receive their Barista and Responsible Service of Alcohol qualifications, which are core skills in high demand. Click here to see the boys in action. 

With Hospitality and Tourism being major growth areas worldwide, the course offers a path to a wide and expanding range of job and career opportunities. The course attracts both VET students, for which it provides direct career opportunities, and ATAR students who may wish to work in cafes, restaurants or bars as they complete their further education. Students who take the course find it both enjoyable and rewarding. Besides these job and career pathways, the course also provides valuable life skills for the world beyond Scotch College.

Congratulations to the following students who attained:

Hospitality Certificate ll –

Preferred	Surname	Year	House
Cooper	Chapman	12	Ferguson
Jake	Lewis	12	Anderson
Lachlan	McGrath	12	Shearer
Nicholas	Ryding	12	Cameron
Tarkyn	Ward	12	Ferguson
Lachlan	Wray	12	Keys

Hospitality Certificate l

Preferred	Surname	Year	House
Jacquille	Chong	12	Alexander
Zac	Mainwaring	12	Cameron

Mrs Marie Bloodworth
Design and Technology Teacher

Scotch Parents

March Out is always a very special occasion and a lovely and moving tribute to our leaving Year 12 boys.  We wish you all the best of luck for your final exams and thank you for your wonderful leadership and for being amazing mentors for our younger boys.  A huge thank you to all of the parents who volunteered to help setup, serve and pack up morning tea at March Out – you were a great group to work with and extremely efficient!

 

There is a meeting of Scotch Parents tomorrow (Tuesday 22 October) in the Dining Room Annexe at 9.00am.  We have invited all of our departing Year 12 parents to attend morning tea after a very short meeting so that we can thank you for your valuable contribution to our parent community throughout your years at Scotch.

As I have a son who has just started Year 12, I will be vacating the role of President at the AGM in November.  Long serving committee members Lucia Barrett and Trish Hawkey will also be stepping down.  We are looking for some new and energetic parents to come onto the committee in 2020 – it is always a lot of fun and a great opportunity to be involved with the Scotch parent community.  If you are interested in finding out more please contact us at scotchparents@scotch.wa.edu.au.

The inaugural Scotch/PLC Sundowner at the end of last term was a great success.  Over 300 parents attended and the feedback was very positive so we will definitely put that on the calendar again for 2020.

Upcoming Events organised and supported by Scotch Parents:

• Tuesday 22 October @ 9am: Scotch Parents Meeting & Year 12 Parent Morning Tea, Dining Room Annexe
• Tuesday 29 October @ 8.30am: Year 8 Parents Coffee, Mel & Co Café, 38 Napoleon St, Cottesloe
• Tuesday 5 November @ 11.00am: Year 8 Mums Melbourne Cup Lunch, The Shorehouse. $150pp including a seated four course lunch including a glass of Pol Roger NV Brut Champagne on arrival. Fashion by Elle Boutique. RSVP essential as numbers are limited. RSVP by email to Caroline Hayers on thehayersfamily@iinet.net.au  or 0420 572 734.

Sara Hector
President
Scotch Parents

Old Scotch Collegians

2019 Founders’ Day Dinner

The 2019 OSC Founders’ Day Dinner is being held this Friday 25 October. All Old Scotch Collegians are encouraged to try and get a table of their peers together and hear from keynote speaker, Dr Ric Charlesworth (Cit WA, AO). Ric is a past parent of Scotch College, as well as a Doctor of Medicine with an Honorary Science degree and an Arts degree, majoring in Philosophy and History. He is a former Captain of the Australian Hockey Team and the Western Australian State Hockey Team and Cricket Team.

The annual Founders’ Day Dinner event is always a fantastic night and is a chance for OSCs to reconnect with their classmates, as well as alumni from other years. Tickets are available here and include a three-course meal and drinks. When registering, you are able to advise your seating preference – tables can be between six and ten attendees, with larger tables available upon request.

OSC Melbourne Reunion

Old Scotch Collegians from all years are invited to join Scotch College Headmaster, Dr Alec O'Connell, at a Melbourne reunion sundowner from 5.30pm on Friday 1 November. The sundowner will be held in the Junior Common Room at Trinity College, The University of Melbourne and drinks and canapes will be provided. For more details and to register, click here.

As a reminder, the OSC office has a number of Reporters from 2017, 2016 and 2015 that are yet to be collected. If your household is missing a copy, please contact the OSC office to collect one.

VacSwim 2019-20

VacSwim  is for all children - from beginners to more advanced swimmers. Your children can start as young as five years old.  There are over 180  VacSwim locations around Western Australia, so wherever your family is spending these summer holidays, there will be lessons near you.  To find a location near you visit education.wa.edu.au/swimming

Please click here for additional information regarding VacSwim and VacSwim Bronze Medallion.