Week 6, Autumn Term 2 2021
Dear Boarding Families
As we come to the end of another action-packed fortnight in boarding, I am thoroughly looking forward to meeting some of our incoming boarding boys and parents at our Middle School Orientation Day today! However, it is amazing to see how many familiar faces are on the list, with a lot of younger brothers coming through in 2022, either of current boarders or recent graduates! It’s wonderful to see that family connection in our community and I hope the boys are looking forward to their afternoon.
One of the things we have planned is for a quick look around our Middle School Boarding House, which is ‘on the home stretch’ of its renovation. I’m sure this will make some of our current students a little jealous as they have been bugging the Headmaster for a couple of weeks now to take them through their new digs! We are still on schedule for the boys to be moving into the newly refurbished Boarding House after the July school holidays. This evening will be a good chance to meet each other and start the journey. The boys will also get a chance to meet the current Middle School boarders which will be really good.
As we near the Mid-Term Break, I’m sure all parents are looking forward to having their boys back home for a weekend and to share some quality time together. May I please ask that all “Holiday Travel Arrangements” leave requests be made through REACH as soon as possible so that our staff are fully aware of what is happening for each boy, especially for those who may be requiring transport to the East Perth Terminal or the Airport.
The boys have enjoyed some fantastic weekend recreation events recently and I have also been hearing about some great matches of community sport being played. There are two basketball teams made up of boarders that compete for Subiaco Basketball Club, and I know a lot of boys who play for local football and hockey teams. Apparently, there was quite the derby down at Swanny Tigers last weekend for the Year 9 boys, some of whom played against each other in a Grand Final replay, and it went down to the wire, with one team winning by 1 point! That certainly created some banter around the house for a few days. I would like to remind parents of a recent initiative from the Dining Hall to provide 20 packed lunches on a Sunday morning for any boys who are going to community sport and would miss lunch at the dining hall. Please remind your sons that they are most welcome to take a packed lunch with them to community sport.
This week is National Reconciliation Week, and our Indigenous Programme Coordinator has been doing some fantastic work with the boys recently. Mr Spratt has been down at the Middle School House teaching the boys didgeridoo and he is working on an art project as well as something special for our Bib Track walkers. He also gave a speech in chapel this week and wrote a blog article that can be seen here https://www.scotch.wa.edu.au/view/news-archive-2021/reconciliation-week
This weekend is also the Indigenous Round in the PSA as Scotch take on Wesley and two of our senior boarders, Ahmed Sgro and Raquell Bin Rashid played a big part in designing the jumper for the First football team to wear. Jamayden Chong will also have the honour of leading the rugby team out this weekend. Last night our Captain of Boarding Brenton Macauley and Ashlin Hall spoke about Reconciliation at a clan meeting, and it was very well received by the boys.
Not long after the Mid-Term Break, in Week 9 of this term, we are celebrating our Boarding Week at the College which will have our annual ‘Ag Day’ as its centrepiece as well as Friday Assembly. The Year 12 Boarders’ Council have been organising it and Mr Mecham has also been working on getting some of our famous boarding photo competition entrants to be showcased around the school for that week in both the Middle School and Senior School. We look forward to this week where we get to celebrate the traditions of boarding at Scotch. As we all know, boarders are the beating heart of the College!
Finally, I would like to acknowledge that current parent and OSC Mr Ben Macnamara has recently been appointed as Acting CEO of CBH, which is an amazing achievement. I remember Ben as a Year 12 when I was a Year 8 and his son Lachie went to Pre-Kindy last year with my son George and they became little buddies. Ben is also the uncle of one of our current boarders, Ollie and future boarder Archie. Congratulations to Ben and the Macnamara family on this appointment and Ben’s achievements are a great story for our boys to hear.
I wish all families a wonderful weekend and look forward to seeing some of you as you come to collect the boys for the long weekend. Please remember that we have a parent support group meeting that Thursday afternoon and I would love to see you there.
All the best
Jordan
Weekend Rec
Middle School boys at the Western Force game on Friday. The crowd also had the opportunity to listen to the Scotch College Pipe Band during the half time entertainment and by all accounts sounded really good and looked very impressive on field.
Community Sport
Middle School boys playing basketball for Subiaco on Saturday.
Reconciliation Week
Our Boys proudly showing off the 2021 Indigenous Jumper for the Indigenous round v Wesley this weekend. More great photos of the boys can be found on the Scotch College Facebook page so you can share them with friends and family.
Click on the link to download and view a fantastic movie of our Middle School boys learning how to play the didgeridoo with Mr Spratt, Indi even makes a cameo too : IMG_0293
In other news on campus
Mid week training
Ollie Gooding’s birthday celebrations in the Middle School Residence.
John McGinniss enjoying one of his favourite past times in the Residence – cooking up a storm with Mrs H.
Toby and Ollie shooting the breeze and playing pool after school.
Scotch on the Road – Save the Date
Pilbara Tour 10th – 15th June
Port Hedland Thursday 10th June
The Esplanade
2 – 4 Anderson Street
Port Hedland
6:30 – 8:30pm
Karratha Friday 11th June
The Conservatory
Karratha International Hotel
Cnr Hillview & Millstream Roads
Karratha
6:30 – 8:30pm
Tom Price Sunday 13th June
Tom Price Hotel
Central Rd
Tom Price
6:30 – 8:30pm
Newman Monday 14th June
Seasons Hotel Newman
77 Newman Street
Newman
6:30 – 8:30pm
Please refer to the booking link for all our Scotch on the Road events:
https://www.scotch.wa.edu.au/view/admissions/scotch-on-the-road
We hope to see you there!
Boarding Photo Competition