Week 1, Summer Term 2020
Welcome from the Headmaster
Dear Boarding Community
Welcome back to 2020, a date which marks the start of a new year and decade at Scotch. I have no doubt that like most years, 2020 will hold enriching, challenging and vibrant experiences for us all.
Speaking of challenges, it is important to recognise a lot of our rural friends across the country who have suffered so much as a result of the devastating bush fires. I happened to be overseas when the magnitude of this tragedy was unfolding, and the enormity of the 24/7 coverage by the BBC left no doubt about just how significant this event was on the global stage. What did shine through the world wide reporting, was the common thread of how rural communities support each other when the chips are down. At Scotch we know this first hand and it is the very reason why boarding is so important to our DNA at Scotch. Along with our international enrolments, boarding reflects the type of community we strive to be at Scotch – eclectic, inclusive and diverse.
As many of you are aware, late last term Mr Wilkinson was offered a unique opportunity to head up a boarding community at a regional school in Cairns. As such, we commence 2020 with the news that Mr Richard Ledger, our Head of Middle School with extensive educational and rural experience, has agreed to act as Head of Boarding for at least term one. Mr Ledger and myself, in consultation with the current boarding staff, will be working on identifying someone to take over the reins of Head of Boarding in an ongoing capacity.
In 2020, we will also be working on a new organisational structure for our boarding operation with a view to a 2021 implementation. Any change will both complement and align with the organisational structure of the day school. This is a logical step in the evolution of Scotch boarding. What will not change is our emphasis on community and the student experience. Families will be kept up to date with the progress on both of these matters as the year unfolds.
Boarding across Australia is a very changing landscape and we must continue to adapt to the marketplace within which we operate. Just last week I heard that one of Australia’s pre-eminent boarding schools had some 150 less students that at its peak. This reflects both financial hardships and demographic challenges, both a reflection of the changing nature of rural populations across the country. Regrettably, most rural centres are either plateauing, or decreasing in size.
In recognition of the challenges faced by our own rural communities, I am pleased to report that this is the fourth consecutive year that we have held our boarding fees to a 0% increase. Boarding families need to understand that to run any boarding operation, it requires cross subsidy from the other operational units of the College. This is nothing new but in an ever decreasing rural market, we need to ensure we continue to be financially vigilant, while still offering a high quality boarding experience.
Schools are particular large communities and subject to great story telling. As they say in the classics, one should never let the facts get in the way of a great story. If you have any queries about anything to do with boarding, your true north of information will reside with Mr Ledger or myself, not via the conjecturing of someone not involved in overseeing our boarding operation.
As we commence a new year, may I take this opportunity to thank you for choosing to send your son to Scotch; and we hope that your son’s experience is everything it should be. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Ledger or your son’s Residential Head of Year.
I look forward to seeing all of our boarding families throughout the year, either at the college, or on one of my rural road trips in 2020.
Regards and best wishes
Dr A J O’Connell
Headmaster
Welcome from Richard Ledger, Executive responsible for Residential Life
Dear Parents,
To our new families joining the College for the first time, welcome to Scotch, and to our current families, welcome back to a new school year. 2020 has a really neat ring to it as a name and reference point in time and I am sure there will be plenty of comments about 2020 visions and perspectives from teachers, coaches and leaders throughout the year. I thought the appointment of Eye Surgeon Dr James Mueke as Australian of the Year a nice synchronistic touch to 2020 as well.
In terms of appointments, Drew Templar has taken on the role of RHOY for Year 6/7/8 and it has been impressive seeing him move in and take to Residential Life like a duck to water. Also arriving are our four new Gap Students: Jack, Yalusa, Nick and Keiraan all from South Africa who are residing in the Year 6/7/8 and Year 9 Houses.
The first few days of this week was an exciting time in Residential Life with the return of the boys back into the College and back into the Boarding Houses. The back slapping, the handshakes, the stories, the show and tell of all that is new and had gone on over the holidays creates an energy and an atmosphere that just makes you smile. Residential Life is a great place when the boys are in.
During the two Orientation Days for our new boys we held an extremely valuable Cyber Safety workshop run by Taryn Wren from YSafe. It was an important session and even for someone like me who feels pretty up to date with the connected world, I still managed to take a page of notes about new social media developments and ILT strategies to support our boys. A link to Taryn’s presentation is added here.
Three events I wish to flag for your attention:
- Year 6, 7 & 8 Parent Conferences in Week 4. If you are unable to make it to Perth, your son’s teacher will schedule a telephone conversation with you about how the first 4 weeks in the classroom have gone. I am confident you will have heard how life in boarding has been going from your sons, probably on a daily basis.
- Year 12 End to Enders. 16 boys cross the line in Albany in 4 weeks time and we look forward to celebrating this wonderful achievement, the walking of the 1003+ kilometres of the Bib Track on Saturday 29th February. If you are in the vicinity why not join us.
- Residential Life Parent Dinner: Progressive Dinner style across the Scotch campus this is an event that if you can make it, it is one to put in your calendar. Wednesday 8th April prior to the end of Summer Term. More on this in coming weeks.
With stories and photos of last years end of year paintballing day out still fresh in our minds, the boys are off to Adventure World this weekend, for a day of activity and building friendships. For a new person to Residential Life, boarding at Scotch seems a pretty good life.
I look forward to speaking with you over the course of this term. Please use your Head of Residential Year as a first reference point, but I would love to hear from you as well.
Kind regards,
Richard Ledger
Director to Residential Life
Welcome to Richard Ledger and Drew Templar
As you would now know, Richard Ledger will be the Executive responsible for Residential Life for the next term or two. If you wish to contact Richard Ledger, please email Residential Life Admin. Michelle and Jan are happy to assist or redirect enquiries and can be contacted on 08 9460 6655 or email ResidentialLife.Admin@scotch.we.edu.au.
We also wish to welcome Drew Templar, Residential Head of Yr 6, Yr 7 and Yr 8. Drew is working with Kim Whetters to ensure that the new Middle School boarding boys are happy, healthy and enjoying all that boarding life brings.
Housekeeping
Online Medical
At the beginning of each term we ask that you check your son’s online Medical details. Please go to Home.Scotch and search for the Medical & Information Check. It will ask you to log in and then please check both the Medical details and your Contact details.
Any changes are notified directly to the Health Centre for their information and action.
Haircuts
Just a reminder that boy’s returning to School need to have their hair neat, tidy, clean and brushed. It must be an even cut (blended and not two lengths) over the head with a minimum length of number 3. Hair should not be tucked behind the ears, fall over the collar, eyes or ears, and is to be natural colour (no added colours or dyes). Boys must be clean-shaven. If product, or in the case of – at sport, hair ties or head bands are required to keep hair from falling across the ears or anywhere else – then it is simply too long and requires cutting. Note: Any haircut, whether done by a professional or at home must meet the above standards.
If a boy returns with his hair long or cut in a manner that is not School policy, he will be taken to the barber and the cost will be added to your account.
Mouthguard Information 2020
Once again, the team from Galadent will be providing us with their services for our mouthguard requirements.
There will be a small change this year with regards to the boarders. Instead of doing the boarders separately in the Health Centre, as in previous years, they will be included in the dates and times offered to the whole school.
Therefore, parents or guardians will be required to go online to Galadent’s website to make their son’s mouthguard appointment.
Galadent will be attending the school on Wednesday 19th, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February 2020. All appointments will take place in MacKELLAR HALL.
Appointments will run in 5 minute intervals and the time slots are as follows:-
Wednesday 19th February (4.00pm – 8.00pm)
Saturday 22nd February (10.00am – 2.00pm)
Sunday 23rd February (11.00am – 3.00pm)
The steps that parents or guardians will need to follow are:-
Go online to the Galadent website @ www.galadent.com.au. Click on ‘Mouthguard Booking’ and follow the prompts. Upon successfully booking an appointment, a confirmation email will be sent to you. Parents or guardians of boarders, please forward this email onto your son as his notification for his appointment.
While on the Galadent website, you will also be required to complete an online mouthguard form. Please click on ‘Mouthguard Form’ then on ‘Download Form’ and save it before you complete your son’s details (some browsers will not save your typed information unless you have done this first). Completing the online form, does not mean that Galadent automatically receives this information. This only enables you to print the information instead of filling it in yourself. Please ensure that you have printed both pages, then give it to your son to bring with him to his appointment.
For the parents or guardians only that are completing an online mouthguard form from country or overseas destinations, please email this as an attachment to info@galadent.com.au. Please ensure that Scotch College, your son’s Year and Boarding House are clearly visible.
Alternatively, there will be hardcopy mouthguard forms available at the Health Centre for the Senior School. Middle School will be handing out forms to the boys via their Guided Literacy class, as they did last year. There will also be forms available on the day to fill in just prior to your son’s appointment. A parent or guardian must be present, as a signature is required from a person 18yrs and over. (Brochure attached for your information).
All the types, colours and costs of the various mouthguards are outlined in the online mouthguard form. Payment is required on the day and you can either fill in your Credit Card details on the form or pay in cash or a cheque (made payable to Galadent Dental). Please place your payment in a sealed envelope with your son’s details on the front.
The mouthguards will be returned to the school before the end of term and the boys will be notified of the date to collect them. An itemised account/receipt will be issued with their mouthguard and this will entitle you to claim your rebate through your private ancillary cover. For the parents insured with HBF, Galadent are a HBF Members Plus provider and this will entitle you to a higher rebate. Please remind your son to forward this account/ receipt onto you.
NOTE Please ensure that you have made an online appointment and completed the online mouthguard form. You will need to print the form (both pages) and give it to your son to bring with him. Alternatively, you can fill in a mouthguard form, prior to your son’s appointment. An impression cannot be done without this information.