Week 4, Autumn Term 2021
Dear Boarding Families
It has been an eventful couple of weeks in boarding and I write this as I nurse some sore feet from a week on the Bib track with the boys.
Our thanks to Mr Rhys Edwards and Ms Katelyn Guy from our Outdoor Education Department for organising the Year 10 and Year 11 Bibbulmun Track expeditions this week. The Year 10s walked through Donnelly River and the Year 11s walked through the beautiful karri forests in Northcliffe. It was great to have the Year 10s reach the halfway point of the track during this walk and hopefully they are inspired to keep up with the programme in their remaining two years of Senior School. From my point of view, it was a fantastic experience to walk with the Year 11s and get their insight into how boarding is working as well as have some low-key discussions about where they want to take boarding in their final year next year. The bibby is a great place to get to know the boys on a personal level and get to hear their voice on a few topics.
The Year 11 Dance was also on last week and the feeback from the boys was that they had a great time. They are excited to book the DJ from the Year 11 Dance for our upcoming boarder’s ball with PLC! A special thank you to our staff who stayed up late to welcome the boys back in as well as the staff who woke up early to ensure the boys made their Bib Track bus the very next morning.
We have our Boarding Parent Support Group meeting coming up on the 3rd June and I am keen to discuss ideas on our annual “Ag Day” and where we might want to take that day going forward. I am keen for parents to be involved in that day as a real showpiece and celebration of boarding at Scotch. In the last Parent Support Group meeting we discussed ideas around a Farmer’s Market and a special event down in front of the Boarding House, tying in with Friday morning marching. We could then follow that with a parent morning tea. This year, our Ag Day is set for the 17th June and the boys are working on organising a lunchtime event, centred in the Senior School. I think there is scope to expand this concept to make it a whole-school celebration and I have had productive conversations with Heads of School in this regard. I would love to speak with parents about ways in which we could utilise our networks to really promote regional WA and even future career opportunities for our boys through Agriculture, Mining, Environmental management and small business.
I would also like to alert our parents to the fact that we have recently introduced a packed lunch option for boys who attend Sunday community sport. This was off the back of a suggestion from a parent, so please keep the feedback coming because we love to hear of ways to improve our service. Boys are now able to pick up a packed lunch on a Sunday morning that they can take to their local sporting fixtures as often these fixtures go over our designated lunchtime in the Dining Hall. Please remind your sons of this option that is available to them.
In the next term we will be introducing our “Tomorrow Man” workshops to our Year 10 and 11 boys as a part of our Wellbeing programme. Tomorrow Man are an organisation that look at modern concepts of masculinity and the challenges that today’s teens face. I encourage parents to have a look through their website https://www.tomorrowman.com.au/ We see real value in this programme and think that the boys will get a lot out of it. We aim to help boys transition to adulthood and target specific programmes in boarding that help that. Last term we offered a beginners yoga course and in the coming term we will also look to offer job specific skill building such as a barista course and cooking classes. This is all in addition to the wonderful programmes that boys get to participate in in the Day School.
The Middle School Boarding House has been going very well in the last few weeks and the boys have been having a few conversations with Mrs Hannington and Mr Marginis about looking after themselves and each other in what has been dubbed “Campfire Conversations”. The boys have responded very well and it has been a great initiative by the staff involved. We have also had Year 8s going off in groups to Moray for camp and enjoying that experience. This term the Year 7s also begin the Bibbulum Track journey, starting at the Northern Terminus in Kalamunda on 8th June.
I wish all boarding families a wonderful weekend and trust that the boys will enjoy a rest for this bye week of PSA sport, perhaps even a chance to get home and recharge their batteries.
Kind regards
Jordan
Bibbulmun Track – Balingup to Palings Road – Year 10
There are many more photo’s available in Vidigami:
Yr 10 Bib Track Balingup to Palings Road
Bibbulmun Track – Northcliffe – Inlet Road – Year 11
There are many more photo’s available in Vidigami:
Yr 11 Bib Track Northcliffe – Inlet Rd
Scotch on the Road – Pilbara Tour
Please use this booking link: Scotch on the Road – Port Hedland
2021 Boarding Photography Competition
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