Week 4, Summer Term 2022
Dear Boarding families
It has been a huge fortnight in Boarding and there has been so many positive things happening which ought to be celebrated. We have such a thriving community here and the boys and staff deserve great credit for the way they have started the year. As I go through my planning for this newsletter, it becomes evident just how much our boys are thriving and how well supported they are.
On 12th Feb the Year 12s celebrated their Ball, which this year was an outside event on the Chapel lawn. I know that a number of boarding parents were involved in helping set the event up and I would like to express my sincere thanks for that. The pre-ball gathering for boarding happened on the lawn in front of Royce House and was a great success. The boys and girls looked great and had big smiles on their faces, excited for a big night. I think the boarders’ pre-ball event is really important for us as a community to get together and celebrate the journey through boarding. I know that often the boys have another pre-ball event that they like to attend, which is great and I love that there is such strong integration these days between day boys and boarders, but I think it is still important to make the occasion in boarding and I really appreciate that the boys made an effort, almost every boy was there.
Unfortunately, we do have some sad news for the Year 12s this week, in that their final Bibbulmun Track walk from Denmark to Albany has had to be postponed due to COVID. This decision was out of our hands and I know the Headmaster had worked very hard on trying to find a way to make this happen, but in the end we have had to postpone. We are hoping to be able to do the walk at a later date, once COVID restrictions ease up and we have earmarked some possible times in the calendar that could work in the Year 12’s busy schedule. I apologise for the inconvenience caused to families, particularly those who had booked accommodation in Albany for that weekend.
The boys have been busy with Rec this fortnight and I have been receiving positive feedback from parents and boys about the weekly rec email. Special thanks to our Rec officer Mr Stretch for organising these events with plenty of time for parents and boys to incorporate Rec into their weekend planning. We are catering for all year groups and the boys have shown a good level of participation and enthusiasm.
On top of our rec activities, we have a host of other ‘co-curricular’ boarding activities going on. This fortnight Mr Brent Van Ingen-Kal joined our boarding team and started a “workshop skills” course with the boys on Wednesdays after school. We have 12 boys attending which is a fantastic result. For our Year 11 and 12 boys we have also engaged in a partnership with Student Edge to give the boys the opportunity to do some online ‘life skills’ courses, anything from leaning about managing personal finances, to building a CV, to doing a course on developing EQ. The team from Student Edge came and presented each of the boys with a membership to Student Edge and helped set them up with their unique login. Parents of Year 11 and 12 boys please feel free to check out Student Edge. And ask your sons about it, we hope you encourage them to make use out of it! We have also launched a couple of wellbeing programmes this fortnight, with the Year 10s having their first session of their Tomorrow Man workshops, entitled “Breaking the Man Code” and some more information from their website can be found at Tomorrow Man. This is the start of a two-year, 10 workshop course for our Yr 10s and 11s which is part of our wellbeing course for boarders. Our Year 11s also had a workshop this week, carrying on from last year. We also had an expert yoga and mindfulness teacher coming into the MacKellar Hall to teach the Middle School boys some skills in yoga and meditation, including some exercises they could do in the relatively confined space of their cubie if they wanted some time just to chill out on their own. Lauren from Phys Zen will be coming in for 3 workshops throughout this term.
Another amazing thing that has happened this week has been the installation of a massive photo wall at the entrance to our Middle School Residence. It looks incredible! It includes photographic representations of regional WA, using the photos from our very own world famous boarding photo competition! There are student, staff and parent photos all represented. I urge you to come down and look at it when you are next in town. This week we are also launching the 2022 boarding photo competition so please get your entries in and who knows, you might be included in the next display!
Speaking of famous photos, readers of Farm Weekly may have seen some other very special photos this week and a great article about the Wandel family in Esperance. My heartfelt thanks to Jane, Scott, Ollie and the girls for their contribution and willingness to get involved. It is a wonderful article about Scotch, but also about boarding in general and the decisions and emotional investment that goes into it. To all of our boarding families, helping you raise your boys is not something that we take lightly, it is a great honour and a real passion for all of our dedicated staff.
I wish you all a great fortnight, not long now until the long weekend and a break with your boys back under your roof.
All the best
Jordan
Reach Holiday Travel Arrangements
With the mid-term break fast approaching, I wish to remind you that you will need to enter leave into the Reach Leave Management system for your son/s before Monday 28th February.
Leave needs to be entered for the period Thursday 3rd March from 3:25pm until Monday 7th March, when boys can return to the boarding houses from 3:00pm.
If you son/s require transport to the airport, bus or train stations, you need to add all the details to Voyage which is part of Leaving Transport Details and Return Transport Details. Just press on +Add Leg to enter flight/bus/train numbers etc.
Here is the link: Reach – Holiday Travel Arrangements Creating a Leave Request Please always use Holiday Travel Arrangements from the drop down list when adding leave for mid term breaks and school holidays.
If you are having trouble, please email me at Boarding.Admin@scotch.wa.edu.au or call the office on 9460 6655.
Year 12 Pre-Ball Function
Chinese New Year celebrations
Michael Gao helped organise the Chinese New Year celebrations for the second year running, including organising for local families and his Chinese Culture club to participate. Some of our local guardians even helped prepared 200 dumplings for the boys on the evening. Great night had by all, thanks to Michael for helping to create this annual tradition in boarding.
Recreation
Birthday celebration – MS Residence
PhysZen
MacKellar Hall became a shrine to yoga and meditation this week for the middle school boarders.
MS Residence Photo Wall
This week saw an overhaul of the MS Residence external wall and it looks fabulous.
Welcome to Country
Neville Collard, Whadjuk Nyoongar Elder joined the boarding boys to hold a Welcome to Country ceremony. Mr Owenell, Mr Gill Mr Jackson and Mr Spratt also attended.
Student Edge
Jeremy from Student Edge explaining what’s all about Student Edge
Tomorrow Man
Our Yr 10 boarders Breaking the Man Code!
ISA and AISWA Survey
A message from the Executive Director of AISWA, Valerie Gould,
Dear Parents,
Independent Schools Australia, in collaboration with Associations of Independent Schools, is undertaking an assessment of the socio-economic benefits of Boarding Schools to the state/territory and national economies. This information will be used in advocating for Boarding Schools to decision-makers and funders and will be particularly important in the run-up to the Federal election.
In support of this assessment, Independent Schools Australia (ISA) and Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA), would like your input regarding the main reasons parents and caregivers opt to send children to Boarding School, the alternative educational outcomes/experiences for these children were they not to attend boarding school, and the benefits these children receive from attending Boarding School.
We would appreciate it if as many parents/carers of boarders as possible, complete this short survey
The survey will take less than five (5) minutes to complete. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary and all responses will be held confidentially with no way to identify respondents. You may opt out at any time by exiting the survey. However, it is very important for us to learn your opinions. The more responses we get the more persuasive the findings. The survey will close on 18 March. Thank you very much for your time and support.
https://isaboardingschool.questionpro.com.au
Kind regards,
Valerie Gould
Executive Director of AISWA
2022 Boarding Photography Competition
Entries close 1st September 2020