No matter which way you look at it, the start of the 2018 school year still feels like it was just yesterday. I am now starting to worry that the old saying that 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 our young staff, they also feel that 2018 has disappeared in a blink.

Last Friday 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 College in that the boys return after exams and leavers to share in one more celebration with their family and the College. The night is special because it does not focus on individuals, rather on the whole cohort. The theme for the chapel and dinner was 'Renewal'. With the refurbishment of our Chapel and the recently commenced construction of the new Mathematics and Business building, we are certainly embarking on another phase of renewal and growth at Scotch College.

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, surprises and renewal.

We have already commenced preparing for the Junior School Speech Afternoon and the Middle and Senior School Speech Nights. As we know these special events include moments celebrating rites of passages and excellence. These events are special in that they represent an opportunity to review our year and celebrate in the successes of many.

As we commence the liturgical season of Advent, 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.

This time of the year is also associated with the preparation of gift giving. The Uniting Church tell us that CHRISTMAS and GIFTS seem to go together in everyone's mind. For many congregations the Christmas gift-giving begins early with packing shoeboxes to be sent to less fortunate children. Our Junior and Middle School boys, under the guidance of their Chaplain Rev Justine Wall, have been arranging these boxes for the last few weeks. The gift-giving may continue as we place gifts under 'giving trees' in shopping centres and assemble food and toys into Christmas hampers. We also prepare personal Christmas gift wish lists and try to find the 'perfect' gifts for family and friends. An interesting development in recent years is the practice of donating money to charitable causes in the name of (and as a special gift to) family and friends.

Notwithstanding the traditional concept of gifts, the greatest Christmas gift is God's gift of his Son, our Saviour. Jesus came, bringing joy, hope, love and peace: four gifts traditionally celebrated in Advent. At this time of the year, I believe the biggest gift we all have is that of family. I have recently had personal experience as to why family is so important in times of challenge and celebration. As we move ever closer to Christmas the need to refocus on the meaning of family is ever more important. In modern society, the definition of family is no longer as clear as it used to be. Michelle Blessing, a mental health professional states that: ''Family' is a single word, with many different meanings. People have many ways of defining a family and what being a part of a family means to them. Families differ in terms of economic, cultural, social, and many other facets, but what every family has in common is that the people who call it a family are making clear that those people are important in some way to the person calling them their family."

To be part of the Scotch College community already brings with it an incredible amount of connection and togetherness. Let us never take this for granted and always look for opportunities to enhance the lives of those with whom we come into contact. I read an article recently that commented on the fact that due to the pace of life, families quite often fail to find time to sit together and share in meal times. As we prepare for what can be yet another busy time of the year, let us all try to focus on our own families and if possible, assist families who may face uncertainty and loneliness at Christmas.

Thank you to the whole Scotch College community for all of your support and spirit of generosity throughout 2018. I would especially like to acknowledge the dedication and work of the staff who contribute so much to the educational and personal journey of each boy.

I spoke about renewal at the start of my article. This year marks the end of 31 years of spiritual service to Scotch College by our Chaplain, Rev Chas Lewis. On behalf of the many students and their families who have interacted with Chas during times of celebration and times of heartache, let me offer one simple word 'Thankyou'.

On behalf of my own family, Janny, Abbey and Grady, who without their support I simply could not do my job, I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you the best for the upcoming festive season and New Year.

God Bless and best wishes.

Dr A J O'Connell
Headmaster  

Thank you and Farewell

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you and farewell to the Scotch College Community. At the end of this year my time as Director of Teaching and Learning at the College will conclude.

My parting reflection relates to the tireless staff of the College. From the administrators, to the grounds team, the teachers through to the College leadership, we are truly blessed by the commitment these people make to educating your son on a daily basis.

Working across Pre-kindergarten to Year 12 has allowed me to see an extensive range of expertise conveyed with patience, perseverance and passion, all in the name of working to optimise your son's potential.

During my career at the College I have been fortunate to engage with educators from various local, interstate and international schools, without question our staff are amongst the most passionate, professional, innovative and skilled in the world.

The quality of education we deliver at Scotch College is world-class. The IB programmes have offered a challenging, rigorous framework for us to deliver an internationally comparable education. Operating an IB school is not easy, yet anything worth doing can be hard.

I have had the fortune of two experiences at Scotch College, the first as a student and the second as a member of staff. Both have shaped me in different ways. My student experiences have afforded me a foundation of lifelong values, friendship and a head-start that I was unable to realise at the time.

The second has provided me with rare professional opportunities and challenges that are usually reserved for those with more experience, I thank the College for the faith they have put in me. Additionally, I have received mentorship from some of the best educators in the country, something that has been truly defining for me personally.

Scotch College will always have a special place in my heart, while I never intended to return as a member of staff, I am grateful that I did.

Thank you for all of your support and I wish you and your son all the very best now and in the future.

Mr Peter Allen

Director of Teaching and Learning

An Attitude of Gratitude

As another year comes to its conclusion, I am mindful that whilst we have made progress in spreading the message about how important wellbeing is, we still have a distance to go. I am aware that members of our community struggle with aspects of their mental health, and I am full of admiration for the bravery of those who speak up and acknowledge that they need help. I cannot feel anything but pride for those in our midst who express their concern for their peers and act in ways to protect and enhance the lives of those around them. And I am grateful that we have so many who are willing to reach out and build connections between people. I am hopeful that we are on the right path and that our world will be better because of the good that begins here at Scotch College.

I am grateful to so many staff, students and parents who enrich my life on a daily basis. In so many little ways, they make me think about issues and explain my viewpoint and smile at each act of kindness and laugh at our idiosyncrasies. They make me want to be a better man, and they make me strive to do what I can to help them be better people as well. As Christmas time approaches, I hope everyone will take time to think about all of the reasons they have to be grateful, specifically the people and things around them. Too often, our negativity bias blinds us to the good that lurks in every corner of our lives. At Christmas time in particular, we should show we care, and express thanks for what we have and for what people do for us, and dream about what the future holds.

I hope the break provides you and your family time to rest and celebrate and do things together, even if that is sitting watching the Boxing Day test match or the start of the Sydney-Hobart yacht race on TV. Let your children be bored; let them entertain themselves; let them play outdoors; let them daydream; and let them go without their phone, or favourite computer games, or social media. And, please, let them see you doing the same.

P.S. I will return to Part III of "Resilience and Grit" at the start of 2019.

SchoolTV – Mindfulness

This month's topic on SchoolTV is Mindfulness. I have written and spoken about this several times, and it is something which I consider to be vital for our wellbeing. Over the course of the year, we have been training our staff to give them a better understanding of the benefits of mindfulness for themselves and their students. Junior and Middle School staff have completed training with Mindful Meditation Australia, and in the Senior School, the House Heads have recently done the same. Our students continue to develop an awareness of mindfulness in Wellbeing lessons, pastoral care time and during other lessons, as well as through sessions run by outside experts. The Year 11s have taken part in mindfulness lessons as part of the Leadership course this term. This capacity to train our attention is a critical skill; it enables us to focus on the present without fretting about the future or being plagued by the past. It is a way to push all of the other stuff that fills our heads to one side, like sweeping a dirty floor, leaving room for thought and creativity.

We talk often about wellbeing being the capacity to ride life's waves. There are times when it feels as though we are being continually dumped – we just manage to get up and then the next wave comes crashing down on us. Mindfulness helps to calm that sea; it allows us to see the horizon and appreciate what is around us in that moment.

In 2019, we hope to be able to provide opportunities for parents to become involved in mindfulness training, to reinforce at home what we are working to develop at school. In the meantime, I encourage you to explore this link.

Merry Christmas.

Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing
Mr James Hindle

The end of poverty?

The story of global poverty has had some immense successes in recent decades which perhaps needs greater publicity. The First Millennium Development Goal established in 2000 was to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 which was met five years ahead of schedule. Statistics and measurements for poverty vary greatly and these statements should be read with caution but celebrating successes is also important and the world has certainly come a long way in recent decades.

The saying goes that Chairman Mao did a huge amount to end global poverty by dying in 1976 and it is certainly true that the changes in China, due to its sheer size, make a significant difference when it comes to facts and figures regarding the decline of poverty globally. This said, there are a number of other reasons the drop in people living in poverty.

Steven Pinker's book, Enlightenment Now, has stated that the primary reason for the decline in poverty is the decline of communism. A shift from collectivization and central control to more open economies has dramatically shifted people away from scarcity and famine. Pinker cites the difference between satellite imagery between North and South Korea as strong evidence of this theory and I know that a forensic look at maps of Germany still show a difference between development and infrastructure in the eastern and western regions, though in this case I am not suggesting people in the east are living poverty!

A second reason cited is poor leadership, generally seen in the context of the Cold War. Until the 1990s, the Soviet Union and the United States were willing to prop up leaders, no matter the impact on their citizens quality of life. The quote often attributed to Franklin Roosevelt when describing a Nicaraguan dictator that, "he may be a son of a bitch, but he is our son of a bitch", perfectly describes attitudes to dictators during the 20^th century. As the Cold War ended, many civil wars ended too and terrible leaders were deposed to be replaced by free marketers. The end of war means the beginning of infrastructure, education, and an increased workforce and development has followed.

Finally, Pinker cites globalisation and the ability for people to trade efficiently and effectively. Globalisation has certainly led to some boats rising more than others but the old adage still rings true with respects to poverty indicators, a rising tide floats all boats!

While global poverty is undoubtedly in decline and this is something to be celebrated, there are still a lot of people reliant on The Salvation Army. In Australia, latest reports (read the report here.) states that 13.2% of people live on half the median income which is the measurement it uses to measure poverty (in this instance, not considered extreme). It is these people which The Salvation Army plays a significant role in assisting and whom Scotch College's efforts are targeted at. Over the past year our students have been manning the morning soup kitchens at Plain Street and Wellington Square and we have seen first-hand the needs of people on our streets.

To assist The Salvation Army, last Friday we launched the Birthday Bag Project. The project, which is focused on the Junior School, aims to build empathy and gratitude (see Mr Hindle's article above on the importance of gratitude to healthy wellbeing) in our students, give families the opportunity for regular 'spring cleans' to recycle unwanted items and strengthening our links to the Salvos. Each boy with a birthday in December or January received a birthday card and donation bag which they will return to their classroom on their birthday. The Year 10 boys who visit the Salvos on Fridays, or the boys running the Wednesday morning soup kitchen, will then transport the bags to The Salvation Army headquarters.

Below are a few opportunities to get outside their comfort zone that your son may be interested in. Please contact me if you'd like more information or visit the website. (https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/service-and-citizenship/)

Year 11 and 12 – Abrolhos Islands Adventurous Journey, 12 – 18 April, 2019. This tour has been designed to support the requirements of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and will focus mainly on the Skills and Adventurous Journey, whilst promoting the experiences below:

• Maritime history and archaeology – the students will explore the 'Shipwreck Coast' and the maritime history of Western Australia and will have the unique opportunity to dive on the Batavia shipwreck.
• Exploring the importance of plankton and coral communities in the marine environment – the students will be immersed in this coral atoll and learn about the characteristics of coral communities.
• Management of marine resources – students will learn about the Western Australian rock lobster industry, regarded as one of the best managed fisheries in the world, and visit a pearl farm.
• SCUBA diving - students will complete the theory and practical component of their PADI SCUBA, including preparation prior to the trip.

Year 10 and 11 – 2019 Round Square International Service Big Build Projects in Morocco and Borneo.

• RSIS Big Build Morocco takes place from 6 – 19 July 2019
• RSIS Big Build Borneo takes place from 7 – 20 December 2019

All Abilities Cricket started on Friday 26 October. It runs every week from 5.00pm at Creswell Oval (Claremont Nedlands Cricket Club). All welcome.

Boardies Day is on Tuesday 4 December. All Scotch College students (ELC through Year 12 plus staff) are encouraged to wear boardshorts with their uniform or work clothes. This will raise funds and awareness for water safety as we enter the summer months.

Disabled Surfing Australia: the first event of the summer will take place at Leighton Beach on Saturday 1 December 2018. There is no PSA sport that day so we encourage everyone in the Scotch community to go along to Leighton and learn what it is all about. The community atmosphere is electric and the joy for all involved is contagious!

Volunteers required from 6.30am until 2.00pm at Leighton Beach Fremantle.

Registration at 9.00am with a 10.30am cut off followed by a pre-event safety briefing at 9.30am. Barbeque and presentations at 1.00pm with the event wrapping up at approximately 2.00pm. More details at the website.

Christmas Appeal - Uniting Care West

All boys are encouraged to support the Appeal. There is a Christmas Tree in the DC where donations can be left or alternatively with House Heads and Homeroom teachers. See poster below for what to donate.

Year 10 parents – there are a small number of exchange opportunities still to be filled. If your son is interested, please contact me.

Mr David Kyle
Director of Service and Citizenship

Uniform Shop  

Holiday Opening Times

 The Uniform Shop opening hours for the general school community during the holidays are as follows:

Summer Holiday Opening Hours (9.00am – 12.00pm and 1.00pm – 4.00pm)

• Monday 21 January
• Tuesday 22 January
• Wednesday 23 January
• Thursday 24 January
• Friday 25 January

As well as:

• Saturday 26 January (9.00am – 12.00pm)
• Tuesday 29 January (8.00am – 5.00pm)
• Wednesday 30 January (7.30am – 9.30am)

Normal trading hours resume on Thursday, 31 January 2019:

Tuesdays 8.00am – 5.00pm

Thursdays 7.30 am - 11.30 am

Fridays 7.30 am - 11.30 am

Secondhand Exchange

The Uniform Shop accepts all current items of uniform for resale. All items should be clean. Blazers must be dry cleaned and in good condition. The old-style blazer will be donated to charity. 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. 

The Scotch Music Instrument Return Amnesty

Over the past few weeks, the Scotch Music team have been busily stocktaking the College's instrument collection, which is one massive task given that our last full stocktake was completed many, many years ago.

What we have discovered is that many of our instruments still seem to have homes away from home: that is, they are probably in a cupboard or under a bed somewhere in one of the nearby suburbs!

Our music programme is growing, and with the success of our Year Six Band programme, we need all the instruments we can get our hands on.

Do you have a Scotch College instrument hiding somewhere at your place? Do you know someone who does? Over the coming two weeks, we are asking all current and past Scotch College community members to have a look in their storage cupboards, under their children's beds, in the garage, in the attic, wherever an old instrument might be stored. If there is one there, we will happily take it back, no questions asked. You might find a clarinet, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, flute, violin or viola, maybe even a percussion kit which looks like a strange shaped suitcase on wheels. If you find something, please drop it off to Scotch College Music Administration, located in the Senior Music building.

Note: students currently using a Scotch College instrument for their school studies should keep theirs at home! Do not return this one!

Mr Scott Loveday
Head of Performing Arts

From the Head of Junior School

Mud Day

It rains and the earth turns to mud. It gets everywhere, on your clothes, your shoes, your car. It can be a nuisance. When you think of mud, you think of the outdoors. The outdoors means fresh air and exercise, two of the best things for people.

The creators of International Mud Day wanted to prove that mud can be fun. In 2009, at a world forum event, Gilliam McAuliffe, from Australia, Bishnu Bhatta from Nepal had a talk about ways to encourage feelings, community and appreciation for the world around us. The collaboration that followed inspired educators, children and families across the globe from all over Nepal to Australia to celebrate International Mud Day together each year on 29 June. Regardless of age, race, religion, when covered in mud we all look the same.

On Friday 23 November, the Junior School celebrated their version of International Mud Day with an eight metre square mud pit, which was constructed on the edge of the pirate ship lawn. Several cubic metres of dirt was added along with a slip and slide to welcome the boys into the mud pit. Over the course of the day, each class was able to spend 45 minutes in the mud. While some were apprehensive at first, by the end of the session everyone was covered head to toe in mud, glorious mud. The boys made mud pies, they buried their faces in the mud, they laid back and relaxed, they slid down the slip and slide and splashed away joyously on a beautiful summer's day.

The Junior School has a long history of being committed to allowing the boys many opportunities to engage in play – free unstructured play. Whether it be loose parts play in the playground, an adventure in the local Bush School, travelling around Lake Claremont or wallowing in the mud. All this plays an integral part in providing some of the best memories in their educational experience. The risk taking that occurs on the day, the collaboration, the conversation and the pure joy makes the event worthwhile. The boys will also reflect the opportunity today to wallow in the mud with Dr O'Connell, Headmaster of the College, who joined us for a solid hour of mud play and definitely got into the spirit of the day.

2018 marks the second year that the school has run International Mud Day. In 2019, we will invite parents to join their children in the mud pit and make it a day to remember.

     

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School

Year 3W News

This term has seen the boys venturing afar with two excursions as well as an exciting mural project to be carried out in the Junior School.

Our first foray was to the John Forrest National Park where we were immersed in an indigenous workshop, learning the customs and culture of Noongar people. The boys learned how to craft jewellery, paint, follow animal tracks and spear their prey. They were fascinated by the stories and experiences that our guide shared with them; it even distracted them from the incessant flies that day!

Next, we took to the streets of Perth, completing a scavenger hunt to find and identify street art, justifying and reasoning about the choices that we had made based on our personal perspectives. After this, we visited the Art Gallery of WA, participated in a tour of some famous pieces and participated in a workshop to explore how 'Every Picture Tells a Story.'

As if that wasn't enough, we have recently enjoyed the expertise and excitement of our visiting artist, James Giddy. He is a former Scotch College pupil who is now fully employed in the Public Art scene, designing and painting large-scale works of art on buildings, grain silos and walls. He will work alongside the boys to create a mural for our school and we are very excited about the results. You will, quite literally, have to 'Watch This Space'!

With best wishes to all for a wonderful holiday.

  

Mrs Alison Webster
Year 3 Teacher

French News

On Wednesday 14 November, the Junior School celebrated French Dress Up Day. It was an event organised by our Language B Captain, Alexander Donald. Staff and students in the Junior School were invited to come dressed as a famous French character, a member of a French sporting team, or simply dressed in their best French attire. The sea of stripes and berets in the playground that day was superbe! Some boys even arrived with warm, fresh baguettes tucked under their arms which were consumed gleefully by peers before the day had even begun! It was absolutely fantastique to see the school embrace our foreign language in this way. A very big congratulations to Alexander for running such a successful event.

Madame Vinton
French Specialist

Pre-Primary News  

Our final Unit of Inquiry in Pre-primary for the 2018 academic year is 'How We Express Ourselves', the central idea is 'Understanding how our feelings help us to express and communicate'. The Pre-Primary boys have been highly engaged in all of the experiences incorporated into this unit. We welcomed REmida into the ELC in October to deliver an incursion which proved to be exceptional. The boys were presented with an array of loose parts and sent on a quest to make a puppet, adding character and expression. It was an open-ended experience that promoted exploration and creativity. It was made ever so challenging for the boys as there was a 'no glue' 'no sticky tape' rule. After much trial and error and problem-solving we ended up with some pretty impressive puppets that the boys were extremely proud of.

Throughout this unit, we have also had the opportunity to explore some of the most inspirational and much-loved picture books. One of the favourites has been 'Silly Billy' by Anthony Browne. This story inspired the Pre-Primary boys to create their very own worry dolls. There was an endless amount of research done and some important designs and sketches before the boys gathered the materials to create these delicate figurines.

During Spring Term, the boys have gradually been transitioning to the Junior School. It has been an exciting process. It is a big step in the Pre-Primary boys' educational journey as they prepare to finish their time in the ELC. They are all ready and eager to become Year 1 students and of course, spend some time at the extremely popular Pirate Ship!

  

Mrs Tracy O'Shea
Pre-Primary Teacher

The PYP Attitudes: Holiday Mission - Do you choose to accept?

As we come to the end of another year, I thought it timely to reflect on ourselves as learners, friends and family members. Have a read of the PYP Attitudes below and try to consider one or two that you feel you have achieved well either in home life or at school this year. Now select one that you think may need a little more practice and 'get on with it' over the holiday break.

PYP Attitudes

Appreciation:  Appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world and its people.   Commitment:  Being committed to their own learning, persevering and showing self- discipline and responsibility. Confidence:  Feeling confident in their ability as learners, having the courage to take risks, applying what they have learned and making appropriate decisions and choices. Cooperation:  Cooperating, collaborating, and leading or following as the situation demands. Creativity:  Being creative and imaginative in their thinking and in their approach to problems and dilemmas. Curiosity:  Being curious about the nature of learning, about the world, its people and cultures. Empathy:  Imagining themselves in another's situation in order to understand his or her reasoning and emotions, so as to be open-minded and reflective about the perspectives of others. Enthusiasm:  Enjoying learning and willingly putting the effort into the process. Independence:  Thinking and acting independently, making their own judgments based on reasoned argument, and being able to defend their judgments. Integrity:  Being honest and demonstrating a considered sense of fairness. Respect:  Respecting themselves, others and the world around them. Tolerance:  Being sensitive about differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others.

Mr Warwick Norman
Junior School Dean of Teaching & Learning

From the Head of Middle School

This time of year is an interesting one in the life of a teacher. On the one hand, our sights are firmly set on 2019, planning transition activities and creating class lists. On the other, it is tinged with sentiment. We have spent a year getting to know our students, working out what makes them tick, teaching them skills, sharing lots of laughs with them, and taking time to listen to them in times of stress or difficulty.  As we head to the summer holidays, we are acutely aware our time together is coming to an end.  We then part ways and start the cycle again with a new class.

This morning, our staff and students welcomed next year's new students to our Middle School Orientation Day, and our existing students had a taste of what lies ahead for them in 2019. The Year 5 boys came to spend the day in the Year 6 classrooms, the Year 6 boys moved up to Year 7, and our Year 7s spent the day at Adventure World building new relationships with the Year 8 teaching staff. Whilst all that was going on, the Year 8s moved up to the Senior School campus for the Year 9 Transition Day.

Middle School Orientation Day is an important day in our school calendar. It's an opportunity for our staff to meet the boys they'll be working with next year and it allows the boys to meet some of their teachers. It provides the new and old boys a chance to spend time together and begin to forge new friendships.  Our goal for the day is simple; to send the boys home excited for the year ahead and full of stories of the activities they participated in.  Having seen the enthusiasm, curiosity and respect on display this morning, we're looking forward to welcoming and working with all of the boys in the Middle School next year.

 

Mrs Sophie Berry
Acting Head of Middle School

Middle School Semester 2 Reports

Spring Term is always a busy time in Teaching and Learning in the Middle School. Staff are in the process of preparing to report on your son's progress in Semester 2. The boys are also reflecting back on their semester, specifically looking at how far they have come towards achieving their goals and any developments they have made in the Approaches to Learning. Their reflection also provides an opportunity for the boys to identify some highlights or achievements made throughout the year.  I have seen some very impressive gains in student results this semester, as the boys have committed themselves to their academic and personal goals.

Whilst the Semester 2 Report includes a graph that allows you to see where your son's results place him in the cohort, I would argue it is more valuable to view your son's results compared to his first semester.  I encourage you to sit with your son to read the report together and take a moment to celebrate the academic successes he has had.

Semester 2 Reports will be finalised on Friday 7 December and will be released through SEQTA Engage.

Miss Lauren Ellington
Acting Dean of Teaching and Learning

Headmaster's Commendations

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

8.1T	Louis Davis
8.2R	Dylan Falkiner
8.3O	Anton Headley
8.3O	Codi Cook
7.2H	Ryder Phillips
7.2H	Connor Smith
7.3GT	Xander Dore
7.3GT	Jack Palmer
7.4A	Daniel Kerfoot
7.4A	Bailey Banfield
7.4A	James Fraser
7.4A	Charlie Lewin
6.3T	Rory Fleming
6.3T	George Di Prinzio

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Ben Ceglinksi (7.5M) who was named Athlete of the Year for his level of trampolining at Peak Trampoline Club.  He successfully competed both at club and state level this year.  Well done Ben.

Important Dates in Middle School Spring Term

Tuesday 27 November	Year 8.5M Snorkeling Programme
Wednesday 28 November	Year 8.6S Snorkeling Programme
Thursday 29 November	Year 8.7B Snorkeling Programme
Friday 30 November	IB Learner Profile Awards Assembly, 11.30am DC Year 8 Scotch & PLC Students Social, 5.45pm MS Quad Year 6 Parent Function, 7.00pm Gray/Reddrop Residence
Monday 3 December	Year 7 Ancient Greece Showcase, 4.00pm MS Classrooms
Tuesday 4 December	Boardies Day Fundraiser
Thursday 6 December	Year 8 Breakfast, 7.30am MS Quad Middle School Speech Night, 6.30pm DC MS Spring Term Concludes

From the Head of Senior School

Knowing what you put into your body

Just over a fortnight ago the College engaged Sideffect, an organisation dedicated to substance awareness and the education of young people, to speak to the Community.

Sideffect was started by Rodney Bridge after the death of his son, Preston. Preston died at the age of 16, after taking a synthetic form of LSD in February 2013, during his school ball after party. Following his family tragedy, Rod discovered that the LSD substance was made up of 25i nBome as well as a shopping list of other synthetic drugs. Preston lost his life that night based on one choice and had he known what he was taking, he may have made an entirely different decision. Sideffect was born out of the understanding that our youth need to be educated on substance use and be empowered to make informed decisions, with the help of parents, teachers and their community.

Rod and co-presenter David Hobbs, presented a session to parents and one to students in Years 10 to 12 at the College. The very powerful message was driven home to the boys by the fact that Rod's son, Preston, was a boy not unlike many of them. He attended a school not too far from us and the images of him attending his school ball and playing sport for his local team would have felt very familiar to many of our boys. According to Rod, the substance taken by Preston was 60 times stronger than LSD and the substance, known as 25i nBome, was one that was being imported through the internet from China under the disguise of being a research chemical. The message from Rod was about being aware of what you are putting into your body as only the producer of the drug has any idea what they are mixing into these substances.

One important message that I would like to present is that, thankfully, drug use is not the norm amongst Australian teens. While we offer presentations such as Rod's in the hope that it may supply just one more piece of good information to allow students to make informed decisions about what they put into their bodies, statistically speaking, the taking of such substances is not normal and hence we do not wish to normalise this in the minds of our students.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2016 collects information on illegal drug use, and alcohol and tobacco consumption among the general population in Australia. The key findings of the survey are below:

Alcohol

• Young adults are drinking less and fewer 12 to 17 year olds are drinking.
• More people in their 50s are consuming 11 or more standard drinks in one drinking session.

Illicit use of drugs

• In 2016, around 3.1 million Australians reported using an illicit drug.
• In 2016, the most common illicit drug was cannabis, followed by misuse of pharmaceuticals, cocaine and then ecstasy.
• While overall use of methamphetamine has decreased, use of crystal methamphetamine (ice) continues to be a problem.
• People who are using crystal methamphetamine (ice), are using it more frequently which increases the risks and harm.

In 2014 more than 23,000 secondary students aged between 12 and 17 years participated in the Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug survey.

The key findings of the survey are below:

Alcohol

• In 2014, almost half of all Australian secondary students aged between 12 and 17 years had consumed alcohol in the year preceding.

Illicit substances

• Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance with 16 percent of students aged between 12 and 17 years ever using cannabis and seven percent using it in the month before the survey.
• • The proportion of students using cannabis increased with age.
• Around three percent of all students reported having used ecstasy/MDMA at some time in the past year and only one percent indicated they had used ecstasy in the previous month.
• The vast majority of secondary school students (98 percent) had never used amphetamines.
• • Lifetime use of amphetamines increased with age from one percent of 12-year-olds to four percent of 17-year-olds.
• Use of hallucinogens, such as LSD, was extremely low with 97 percent of all students never having used them.
• The use of opiates or narcotics such as heroin or morphine was very uncommon, with only two percent of all students ever having used this substance.
• A small proportion of students (two percent) reported ever using performance or image enhancing drugs, such as steroids, without a doctor's prescription.
• Use of synthetic substances such as synthetic cannabis was very low, with 98 percent of all students reporting no use in the past 12 months.

Synthetic Cannabis is a synthetic version of marijuana that mimics THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. It was discussed with the students by Rod and David and contains no marijuana. Often called K2/Spice, as well as several other names, synthetic marijuana is a mixture of plant material sprayed with synthetic psychoactive chemicals. Synthetic marijuana often looks like potpourri and typically is marked or labelled, "not for human consumption."

Drug use is a part of society and sheltering our loved ones from it is not always easy. There are no parenting skills or behaviours that guarantee a young person will never touch drugs. However, parents and guardians can reduce the possibility of a young person experiencing drug problems in a number of ways.

The following suggestions are from the Better Health Victoria website –

• Foster a close and trusting relationship with your child from an early age and support and encourage positive behaviour.
• Model appropriate behaviour such as drinking moderately, not smoking and not using illicit drugs.
• Establish agreements and guidelines about what is acceptable behaviour around alcohol and drugs.
• Encourage a healthy approach to life including good food, regular exercise and sports.
• Encourage your child to have more than one group of friends.
• Allow your child to practise responsibility and develop good decision-making skills from an early age.
• Keep yourself informed about drugs and educate your child on the dangers of drug use. Do not exaggerate or make up information.
• Have open and honest discussions about drugs.

Please view the Better Health website, if you would like further information.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School

Staff Movement

Spring Term – Leaving Staff

Chas Lewis                       Chaplain

Dean Shadgett                 Head of Senior School

Peter Allen                        Director of Teaching & Learning

Hayley Gale                      Science Teacher

Sally Budge                      Science Teacher

Kay Warwick                     Music Administrator

Felicity Byres                    Indigenous Co-ordinator

Julie Maiolo                       Personal Assistant to Academic Support & School Psychologist

Lil Watt                              HR Consultant

Jonty Fidge                       Outdoor Education Teacher

Kirsty Brando                    Education Assistant – SS

Senior School Important Dates – Spring Term

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 8B
Tuesday 27 November	Year 11 Marine and Maritime (ATAR) RST Excursion	Boat Shed	8.30am – 3.15pm
	AHISA Leadership Workshop	AIM WA	8.15am – 4.00pm
	Year 11 PE Studies (General) Surfing Programme	Trigg Beach	12.05pm – 12.55pm
	Year 12 Design Incursion	Design Room	6.00pm – 9.00pm
Wednesday 28 November	Year 10 Enrichment Spring Term Activity	UWA and BRC	8.30am – 3.30pm
	Year 11 and 12 Theatre Sports Workshop	Foundation Theatre	3.30pm – 5.00pm
Thursday 29 November	Year 12 Anderson House Breakfast	Typika, Claremont	7.15am – 8.30am
	Headmaster's Sundowner	Residence Lawn	5.00pm – 7.00pm
Friday 30 November	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	Year 10 Community and Service Information Session	Memorial Hall	1.25pm – 3.05pm
Saturday 1 December	No PSA Fixtures
	Disabled Surfing	Leighton Beach	9.00am – 2.00pm
Week 9A
Monday 3 December	Year 11 Music Group Performance	Spine and Limb Foundation	10.00am – 12noon
Tuesday 4 December	Boardies Day
	Year 10 Anderson House Breakfast	Typika, Claremont	7.15am – 8.30am
	Year 11 Outdoor Education (General) Bronze Medallion Assessment	Pool	8.30am – 10.45am
Thursday 6 December	Rowing Tour departs	Berri, South Australia
	Year 11 Anderson House Breakfast	Typika, Claremont	7.15am – 8.30am
Friday 7 December	Senior School Marching and Assembly (Christmas Hats)	Dickinson Centre	8.30am – 9.45am
	Spring Term ends for boys in Senior School		1.00pm
	Senior School Speech Night and Lights Outs	Dickinson Centre and Collegians' House Lawn	Please be seated by 6.15am for a 6.30pm start
Saturday 8 December	Volleyball Tour departs
	Year 9 French Tour departs
	Disabled Surfing (Special Event)	Leighton Beach	8.30am – 11.30am

Boys' Achievements

Heath Smyth (Year 10, Shearer) competed in the WA team at the International Peewee Ice Hockey Tournament in New Zealand, the team came 6^th overall.

William Steinberg (Year 11, Brisbane) has received an Academic Excellence Award from the University of Sydney.

Aidan Matthews (Year 11 Cameron) achieved a distinction in the recent Grade 5 flute examinations.

Leadership:

Cricket  Captain: Benjamin Gale (Year 12, Ross)

 

Colours:

Jack Taylor (Year 12, Brisbane) - Music Colours

Certificate II in Business:

Jack Avery (Year 12, Cameron)

Blair Bayly (Year 12, Stuart)

Jake Lewis (Year 12, Anderson)

Liam Lisewski (Year 12, Ross)

Nicholas Ryding (Year 12, Cameron)

Holden White (Year 12, Keys)

 

Certificate II in Music:

Harry Pasich (Year 12, Ross)

Joshua Croker (Year 12, Shearer)

 

Pre-Vocational Light Automotive Apprentice of the Year:

Oscar Lane (Leaving Year 12, Ross)

Australian Mathematics Competition

On 1 August 2018, 406 Scotch students from Junior, Middle and Senior School participated in the Australian Mathematics Competition. The Senior School had three prize winners and seven High Distinctions which is an outstanding achievement. Prizes are awarded to the top 0.3% of students in the state and High Distinctions awarded to the top 3% of students.

Distinctions:

Oliver Barrett (Year 10, Brisbane)

Leo Bowles (Year 10, Anderson)

Oscar Clements (Year 10, Alexander)

Max De-Nardi (Year 10, Stuart)

Xavier Dry (Year 10, St Andrews)

William Hudson (Year 10, Alexander)

James Shaw (Year 10, Ferguson)

Bailey Thomson (Year 10, Brisbane)

Zhencheng (Jack) Zhang (Year 10, Cameron)

Jack Adams (Year 11, Alexander)

Ronan Cameron (Year 11, Anderson)

Digby Cleland (Year 11, Brisbane)

Jake Faulkner (Year 11, St Andrews)

George Graham (Year 11, Keys)

Alexander Kirwood (Year 11, Ferguson)

Ethan Lamb (Year 11, Ross)

George Lewin (Year 11, Ferguson)

James Rex (Year 11, Keys)

Matthew Steinepreis (Year 11, Cameron)

Cooper Van-Rooyen (Year 11, Ross)

Sam Wake (Year 11, Brisbane)

Matthew Warne (Year 11, Stuart)

Sebastian Barrett (Year 12, Brisbane)

William Coutts (Year 12, Keys)

William Hellewell (Year 12, Ross)

Thomas Hodge (Year 12, St Andrews)

Lebo (Steve) Li (Year 12, Ferguson)

Benjamin Lilburne (Year 12, Stuart)

Lewis Orr (Year 12, Ferguson)

Scott Siu (Year 12, Keys)

James Warman (Year 12, Alexander)

Alistair Watters (Year 12, St Andrews)

Justin Kalugin (Leaver Year 12, St Andrews)

Daniel Manetas (Leaving Year 12, Ferguson)

Harry Penrose (Leaving Year 12, Stuart)

 

High Distinctions:

Jolyon Harrison-Murray (Year 10, Stuart)

Nathanael Kumar (Year 10, Alexander)

Heath Muller (Year 10, Ross)

Terry Zhou (Year 10, Cameron)

Arun Tibballs (Year 11, Shearer)

James Jenour (Year 12, Brisbane)

Joshua O'Dea (Year 12, Brisbane)

Prize winners:

Jim Allan (Year 10, Cameron)

William Steinberg (Year 11, Brisbane)

Daniel Wiese (Year 11, Keys) – Daniel was also the "Best in School" – achieving the highest standardised score (for the statisticians in the crowd, it was a standardised score of 5.3 which is incredible).

WA Night of Mathematics at UWA

William Steinberg (Year 11, Brisbane) was the guest of honour, giving a speech and handing out all the awards.

Daniel Wiese (Year 11, Keys) - top student in the state for the Australian Mathematics Competition.

Marilyn Zuidersma - Australian Mathematics Trust teacher award.

Philosothon

Should some scientific research be censored?

Why doesn't Hollywood cast more Asian actors in leading roles?

Is civil disobedience ever morally justified?

These were just some of the central questions students wrestled with as part of the Australasian Philosothon, an annual national philosophy competition that sees the best teams from each state duke it out in the spirit of deep philosophical inquiry. Having won the state Philosothon in 2017, for the third time consecutively, Scotch College were again invited to send a team to compete, this time at St Peter's College, Adelaide in October.

Unlike the debate format most of you will be familiar with, students at this competition engage in what are called 'communities of Inquiry' in which ten students sit in a circle, tackle a question over the course of an hour and take ownership of the conversation as a group. Students are rewarded for offering novel thought experiments, drawing creative analogies, challenging others' assumptions and employing many other techniques in the pursuit of the truth, whatever that may be.

This year, students were judged by an exceptional range of academic experts in various fields of Philosophy from across Australia. In a national competition dominated in recent years by a few exceptional girls schools, the boys placed a formidable third behind 1^st place North Sydney Girls School and 2^nd place, Seymour Girls College from Adelaide.

Scotch College Australasian team

Andrew Walker (Year 7, James)

Benjamin Waddell (Year 8, Gordon)

Nathanael Kumar (Year 10, Alexander)

Thomas Westcott (Year 10, Shearer)

Lachlan Norcott (Year 11, Anderson)

Sam Wake (Year 11, Brisbane)

Lewis Orr (Year 12, Ferguson)

Benjamin Steinberg (Year 12, Ferguson)

Andrew Walker, Thomas Westcott, Sam Wake and Lewis Orr went on to compete in the state competition. Once again the team were victorious.

Scotch College become the most successful school in the history of the competition, individual honours also went to:

Thomas Westcott - 3^rd place in the 14 yrs category

Benjamin Steinberg (Year 12, Ferguson) - 3^rd place in the 16 Years+ category.

Lewis Orr - Male Philosopher of the Year.

Year 9 Certificates of Excellence – Semester 2

Congratulations to the following students in Year 9 (now Year 10's) who achieved academic excellence for Semester Two.

First name	Surname	House
Jim	Allan	Cameron
Simon	Arnott	Ross
Taye	Barlow	St Andrews
Oliver	Barrett	Brisbane
Pearson	Chambel	St Andrews
Oscar	Clements	Alexander
Daniel	Cooper	Keys
Max	De Nardi	Stuart
Xavier	Dry	St Andrews
Benjamin	Edgar	Brisbane
Dylan	Field	Shearer
Rex	French	Shearer
Anthony	Ghiselli	Alexander
Harry	Hansom	Alexander
Jolyon	Harrison-Murray	Stuart
William	Hudson	Alexander
Matthew	Kerfoot	Keys
Nathanael	Kumar	Alexander
Hugh	Mitchell	Keys
Heath	Muller	Ross
Milan	Narula	Stuart
Andreas	Schultz	Cameron
Benjamin	Scott	Ross
William	Taylor	Ferguson
Richard	Walton	Keys
Maxwell	Weir	Brisbane
Thomas	Westcott	Shearer
Hudson	Wheeler	Anderson
Yan	Zhou	Cameron

Year 11 Certificates of Excellence – Semester 2

Congratulations to the following students in Year 11 (now Year 12's) who achieved academic excellence (and Colours) for Semester Two.

First name	Surname	House
Owen	Edgar	Ferguson
Harry	Imison	Ross
Aidan	Mander	Cameron
Darcy	Owen	Anderson
Shayan	Saebi	Ferguson
Jack	Adams	Alexander
Sebastian	Barrett	Brisbane
Daniel	Buchhorn	Brisbane
William	Chalmers	St Andrews
Blake	Costello	St Andrews
Joshua	Croker	Shearer
Thomas	Hodge	St Andrews
James	Jenour	Brisbane
Benjamin	Lilburne	Stuart
Jock	Mactier	Stuart
Benjamin	Marshall	Ross
Liam	Newport	Shearer
Joshua	Nicholson	St Andrews
Joshua	O'Dea	Brisbane
Benjamin	Olson	St Andrews
Lewis	Orr	Ferguson
Harry	Pasich	Ross
Kobey	Rafferty	Shearer
Benjamin	Steinberg	Ferguson
Kristian	Stonier	Brisbane
Jack	Taylor	Brisbane
Nathan	Thomas	Anderson
Lucas	Triglavcanin	St Andrews
Max	Vaughan	Alexander
Alexander	van Hoek	Ross
Hamish	Watson	Ross
Lachlan	Wilson	Shearer

Year 11 Academic Colours

First name	Surname	House
Jack	Adams	Alexander
Sebastian	Barrett	Brisbane
Daniel	Buchhorn	Brisbane
William	Chalmers	St Andrews
Blake	Costello	St Andrews
Joshua	Croker	Shearer
Thomas	Hodge	St Andrews
James	Jenour	Brisbane
Benjamin	Lilburne	Stuart
Jock	Mactier	Stuart
Benjamin	Marshall	Ross
Liam	Newport	Shearer
Joshua	Nicholson	St Andrews
Joshua	O'Dea	Brisbane
Benjamin	Olson	St Andrews
Lewis	Orr	Ferguson
Harry	Pasich	Ross
Kobey	Rafferty	Shearer
Benjamin	Steinberg	Ferguson
Kristian	Stonier	Brisbane
Jack	Taylor	Brisbane
Nathan	Thomas	Anderson
Lucas	Triglavcanin	St Andrews
Max	Vaughan	Alexander
Alexander	van Hoek	Ross
Hamish	Watson	Ross
Lachlan	Wilson	Shearer

End of Year Information

A final Senior School marching and assembly will be held at 8.35am on Friday 7 December.

Senior School will finish for the term at 1.00pm on Friday 7 December. Boys must clear their locker by this time.

Senior School Speech Night will be held on Friday 7 December in the Dickinson Centre, followed by Lights Out on the lawn in front of Collegians House. Please be seated by 6.15pm in preparation for a 6.30pm start.

Parents are asked to note parking restrictions on the west-side of Australind Street, Central Avenue and other streets surrounding the College.

Uniform requirements:

Winter uniform for prize winners

Winter uniform for leaving Year 12 boys

Summer uniform for all other boys

Please note that only the graduating Year 12 boys wear their striped blazer. All other boys wear the maroon blazer.

While this event is not compulsory, all boys are welcome to attend.

Senior School will resume for all boys in Years 9 to 12 on Wednesday 30 January with Week 1A.

The Raven

The Spring edition of The Raven is out. Congratulations to the following boys who have had their creative writing or visual art published in it:

Jim Allan (Year 10, Cameron), Oliver Barrett (Year 10, Brisbane), Hunter Bergersen (Year 10, Keys), Jasper Blunt (Year 10, Stuart), Pearson Chambel (Year 10, St Andrews), Joshua Colliere (Year 10, Cameron), Oliver Constantine (Year 10, Shearer), Sidney Cullen Falconer (Year 8, Gordon), Andrew Eidne (Year 10, Ferguson), Harry Frodsham (Year 10, Alexander), Johan Gawan-Taylor (Year 10, Cameron), Ashlin Hall (Year 10, Stuart), Harry Hansom (Year 10, Alexander), Matthew Howie (Year 10, Ross), Robbie MacGregor (Year 11, Keys), Thomas Macknay (Year 8, Robert), Cole McLarty (Year 10, Cameron), Alexander Melville (Year 10, Ross), Daniel Messina (Year 11, Keys), Izayah Mongoo (Year 11, Stuart), Lachlan Phillips (Leaving Year 12, Anderson), Benjamin Scott (Year 10, Ross), Ahmad Sgro (Year 10, Ferguson), Benjamin Sharrin (Year 11, Keys), Lachlan Simpson (Year 11, Stuart), Jock Thomson (Leaving Year 12, Anderson), James Walker (Year 10, Keys), Lachlan Watters (Year 10, St Andrews), Thomas Westcott (Year 10, Shearer), Joshua Woodward (Year 10, Cameron) and Yan (Terry) Zhou (Year 10, Cameron).

Also, you will find at the beginning of this edition of The Raven Will Bosisto's (2010 Vice Captain of School) adaptation of Rupert McCall's poem "Green and Gold Malaria" which was read by Lachlan Phillips, Captain of School 2018 at the Final Year 12 Assembly.

You can visit this new Spring edition of The Raven via the Scotch homepage. Any boy who has creative writing that he would like to submit to The Raven can send a copy to jeannette.weeda@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Dr Jeannette Weeda
English Teacher

Careers Information

WACE Results

Year 12 students will be able to access their results online at https://www.wace.wa.edu.au on Monday, 17 December 2018. 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.

University Information

Notre Dame 1-on-1 Advice Sessions

26 November 2018 - 6 December 2018, 9.00am - 6.30pm

Considering your university options but unsure of the right degree for you? Notre Dame advisors can introduce you to a range of programs that align with your strengths and interests to help you find the right degree for you.

Book a 1-on-1 Course Advice session at:https://www.notredame.edu.au/events-items/1-on-1-advice-sessions-fremantle.

Can't make it? Contact Notre Dame on 08 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au to arrange an alternative time.

Notre Dame ATAR Advice Day

Tuesday 18 December, 9.00am – 4.00pm

Need some help now you have got your ATAR? Meet with our friendly Prospective Students Advisors, who can talk you through Notre Dame's programs, admission pathways and the application process.

No RSVP necessary.

For further information please contact us on 08 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.

UWA Christmas/New Year Opening Hours

UWA Opening Hours during the Christmas /New Year period will be:

17 - 21 December 8.30am - 8.30pm

24 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

27 - 28 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

31 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

2 - 4 January 9.00am - 4.00pm

Students are welcome to meet with student advisers at any of these times to discuss courses and alternative options following the release of ATAR results on Monday 17 December and first round offers on 21 December.

Curtin University

Curtin special opening hours:

17 - 18 December from 7.00am – 9.00pm

19 - 21 December from 8.30am – 5.30pm

Students are welcome to meet with student advisers at any of these times to discuss courses and alternative options following the release of ATAR results on Monday 17 December and first round offers on 21 December.

TAFE Applications are open!

Applications are open for Semester 1, 2019 so here is some useful information to help on where to go and what to do, to get enrolled for next year. If your ATAR is in doubt, put in a safety net application for a TAFE course that will lead to the course you want at university.

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 to enrol (in January 2019). 

IE University Spain - Junior Advisory Board

New Year 12 students are invited to apply for an all expenses paid opportunity to visit IE University in Madrid from 8 - 12 April 2019. The Junior Advisory Board provides the opportunity for selected high academic performance students from around the world to immerse themselves in a university environment, participate in workshops to develop soft skills and share their ideas about higher education.

Further information and application details at: https://www.ie.edu/university/ieu-experience/pre-college-activities/jab/

Free UCAT Workshops

With the demise of the UMAT (Undergraduate Medical Admission Test) and the introduction of the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) in 2019, the following free workshops are being offered to students who are considering studying Medicine, Dentistry or other health related courses in 2020.

Perth (South) Free UCAT Workshop: How to Correctly Solve Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Qs

• Sunday, December 2, 2018

• 10:00 AM 12:30 PM

• Bull Creek Community Centre (map)

REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/2yHea0m

Click the link above for a full event description and free tickets to secure your seat!

Perth (CBD) Free UCAT Workshop: How to Correctly Solve Section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Qs

• Sunday, December 2, 2018
• 2:30 PM 5:00 PM
• State Library of Western Australia (map)

REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/2Cqe2FR

Click the link above for a full event description and free tickets to secure your seat!

US & UK Uni Basics Webinar - Applying, Funding and Academic Benchmarks

Saturday 8 December

Summer is the perfect time to learn how to get into top US and UK universities! Register for this free webinar which will go through all the basics including 12 and 24 month application timelines, the expected costs and the academic benchmarks of studying at the best universities in the world!

This webinar is perfect for Year 9-12 students and parents.  Register here

Defence Force Australia – Army Reserve Information Session

27 November, Perth

Enjoy unique rewards and earn tax-free pay with part-time work in the Army Reserve.

Find out more - https://www.facebook.com/pg/DefenceJobsAustralia/events/

SAE QANTM – Summer Series Workshops

Wednesday 23 – Friday 25 January 2019, Perth

Are you creatively inclined and thinking about studying creative media? We are offering an exclusive 3 Day workshop event in the January holidays – get behind the scenes and pursue your passion. This event is open to Year 10 and above.

Choose to study:

Animation     Learn skills in traditional 2D Animation, 3D modelling and visual effects.
Audio            Learn skills in studio production, electronic music production and live sound.
Design          Learn skills in graphic design for print media, and digital design for web and mobile devices.
Film              Learn skills in film pre-production, production and post-production techniques.
Games          Learn skills in Games Design and Games Programming.

Find out more - https://sae.edu.au/index.php/news-and-events/events/

ATAR Head Start Holiday Programs

Academic Task Force January Head Start Program

Various dates between Thursday 17 January & Wednesday 30 January 2019 at Churchlands SHS and Rossmoyne SHS.

Each subject course is six hours in total: three hours per day, over two days.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: Enrol by 17 December 2018 and receive a 10% early bird discount.

Enrol on-line: www.academicgroup.com.au

ATARGET January Jump-Start Programs

20 January – 25 January 2019

Preparation & revision courses for all students entering Years 10, 11 and 12

Enrol on-line: www.atarget.com.au

Unwanted Text Books

Time to de-clutter! If you have any unwanted text books that you haven't already thrown out and would like to recycle them please drop them off.  

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Scotch Parents

The Valedictory Dinner was held last Friday, a special evening to farewell our Year 12 Leavers and their parents as they came together for one last time. Thanks to a team effort from staff and parents, the Dickinson Centre was transformed from an assembly hall into a long-tabled dining room for almost 600 guests, and our new Year 12 boys and parents assisted with the meal service. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Valedictory Dinner a truly memorable night for our Year 12 families.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Middle School – Year 8 Breakfast

The Year 8 Breakfast for Year 8 Parents and Boys, will be held on Thursday 6  December from 7.30am - 8.30am in the Middle School Quadrangle.  We look forward to seeing our Year 8 families at the Year 8 Breakfast. This  event is a College tradition for the boys, and parents, to celebrate their last day of Middle School. The breakfast is a casual, stand up function that gives families the opportunity to get together and celebrate.

We hope you will be able to join us on the morning to mark a significant milestone in your son's journey at Scotch College.

For more details on this event and to purchase tickets please visit the Scotch College website   www.scotch.wa.edu.au  and click on the "Book a Scotch Event" icon.

This is my last Thistle article as President of Scotch Parents.  I have really enjoyed the last two years and have learnt a lot.  I have enjoyed helping to make the school a better place for the boys. Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me during the last two years. I encourage all parents to find a way to engage with Scotch College whether through volunteering, joining a support group, being a class rep or by joining our committee. It is a very rewarding experience. To  all the parents who have volunteered this year, I thank you. To our Year 12 parents who are leaving the College, we say farewell, you will be missed, and we look forward to continuing our friendships.

I am pleased to announce the new Scotch Parents Committee:

President – Sara Hector

Vice President – Class/Year Representatives – Lucia Barrett

Treasurer – Amanda Harris

Secretary – Trish Hawkey

We are also asking for nominations for  Vice President Special Purpose Grants, and for two people to sit on the Special Grants Committee. The Grants Committee meet once a term. If you would like to nominate for the Vice President or to sit on the committee, please email Sara Hector on ScotchParents@scotch.wa.edu.au

Wishing everyone safe and happy holidays.

Merry Christmas!

Ms Steph Debnam
President 
Scotch Parents

Rowing Support Group

Upcoming Events

A Parent Sundowner for Year 7 to 12 Rowing parents, will be held on Thursday 24 January 2019 from 5.00pm – 7.00pm at the Scotch College Boatshed, The Esplanade, Peppermint Grove.

For full details please click here