Week 8, Spring Term 2022
Blog Article 1 Dec 2022
Dear Boarding Families
I wish you a Merry Christmas on my final newsletter for the year. It has certainly been an action-packed fortnight in boarding, but that’s how we like it! We also have some significant events coming up to finish off the term, especially farewelling some of our valued staff members as they move on to different pastures in 2023.
Families have recently been informed that Mr Richard Hales and Mrs Fran Hannington will not be continuing next year as they move on to different opportunities. I have also recently spoken to Mrs Wendy Garreffa, who has been a House Mother with us for 6 months in the Senior Residence and she will not be continuing next year. Wendy has other commitments on her plate at the moment and has decided that she needs to spend more time with her family, especially her school aged children for those before school and after school moments. Luckily for us, Wendy will continue to care for our boys in her role within the Health Centre at Scotch. It will be sad to see Wendy go, but I fully understand and support her reasons. Families will have a chance to say goodbye to Wendy, Richard and Fran on Tuesday 6th December as they come to Perth to collect their sons. We are having a low key afternoon tea for Middle School families as they come to collect their boys from 4:30pm so that parents can come and see Fran and stay for a cup of tea. The Middle School boys will have dinner in the house before heading to their Valedictory Ceremony. On the same day, from 5:30pm, we are having a barbeque on the steps of the Senior Boarding House to say farewell to both Richard and Wendy. I realise that Senior boys finish school the next day, but I am hoping that enough families will be around Perth to take the opportunity to share a meal with us to end the term. For those that can’t make the 6th, Wendy and Richard’s last shift will be on Wednesday 7th so there will be a chance to see them there. Finally, Sophie de Jonge who has been working with us this year as a live-in mentor in the Middle School Residence, and most recently also been working in Boarding Admin this term, has made the decision to return to her native Netherlands at the end of the year to pursue her career at home. Sophie has done an amazing job this year and she will also be missed. I would like to thank all of these staff members for their time at the College.
On Thursday evening this week, we celebrated our annual Christmas dinner in boarding. This was a good chance for us all to get together and share a special meal. It was also a chance for us to say farewell to our staff in front of the boys and to give them a small gift as a token of our appreciation. The boys all enjoyed the spread put on by the catering staff and we invited special guests such as our Headmaster Dr O’Connell and Mrs O’Connell, Mr Burt and Mr Gill, our Health Centre staff and our Laundry staff. It was a great evening and a fitting way to ring in the holiday season!
Last weekend was one of our marquee days of the year, which is our annual paintballing activity! It was a rare ‘closed weekend’ for our boys as we encourage all boys and staff to get involved. It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all. There were the inevitable stories that came out of it, which is exactly what the day is about, creating shared memories. The big day on Saturday created a buzz around our community that lasted for the entire weekend which was really nice to see.
On Sunday of last weekend, we also had a couple of big events. Firstly, in the morning, all our boys who had signed up to complete their Recreational Skippers Ticket went down to the Scotch boatshed for their practical examination. I am pleased to say that all boys passed and they all had a good time. The instructor made a particular mention of how pleasant all the boys were to work with, which makes us all incredibly proud!
Orientation day was also last Sunday and Monday. All incoming families came to the boarding house on Sunday afternoon to meet up with each other and the staff. We organised some games in the afternoon, shared dinner and then the boys had sleepover in the boarding house that night. We had 17 Year 6s with us and 3 Year 7s who will enter Year 8 next year. We also had two Year 8 boys who will start in the Senior School next year. Our current students were incredibly welcoming and kind to the new boys and it was a fantastic experience for all. The boys then attended school the next day to experience life as a Scotch student and meet their teachers for next year. They were collected on Monday afternoon, hopefully feeling positive and well prepared for next year.
This week on Monday and Tuesday the Senior boys competed in their final Clash of Clans for the year, a game of softball on the ovals. On Monday the new Yr 10s battled it out and Stirling won 6-3. On Tuesday we had a game planned for the Yr 11s and the Yr 12s but the big brave boys decided it was too hot!
Last Wednesday our boarding management team had our annual strategic planning day. It was an inspirational day, where our staff has the chance to review our practices and to suggest and plan for new ideas and initiatives.
Some of the critical questions that prompted discussion and planning included
- How do we best partner with our parents to create shared goals and experiences?
- How do we best develop strong connection and recognition with our day school?
- How do we best develop a strong academic culture in our boarding students?
- How do we best develop 21st century skills – Resilience, Adaptability, Emotional Intelligence, Creativity in our boarding students?
We also spent a considerable amount of time looking at our Bibbulmun Track Programme and the ways to best develop that as a genuine Rite of Passage programme, which will be a big focus for 2023.
Next week we are looking forward to seeing families as they come and collect their boys for the long break. Some of our international boys will be heading home. I would like to make special mention of our international boys from China who will be returning home to see their parents for the first time since the pandemic began in January 2020, almost three years ago! It is an incredible story of resilience from both our boys and their parents that they have had to endure this hardship and we can only hope that they have felt well supported during this time by our boarding community and their wider Perth network of friends and family.
I wish all our boarding families the very best over the Christmas break and look forward to a new year of successes, challenges and shared stories in 2023!
All the best
Jordan
Christmas Dinner
Skippers Ticket
Alex and Dan went down to the Boat Shed with the Skipper Ticket boys. They sat the Theory and Practical test and everyone that went, passed in one go. Congratulations and drive safe!
Clan Announcement
The Year 8s have been allocated to their 2023 Boarding Clan, Stirling or Blair.
Paintball
It was a great day for some paintball, please see some really cool looking boys below. The Year 8s joined their new clan teams Stirling or Blair and the boys played against each other with Year 7s, mentors, Andy and Sean join their teams.
The Chicks have Hatched!
The little chicks get a lot of love and cuddles from the Middle School Boys in the mornings before school.
Goodbye’s
When the boys heard that Fran was leaving, they wrote down notes for her to read the next morning. I’m sure a lot more hugs and nice words will be shared with our leaving staff.
Clan Games
The senior boys played softball on a lovely afternoon.
Secret Santa
In the Middle School House, we had a lot of thoughtful presents being unwrapped. Boarding Captain Lochie had also organized secret santa for the Senior House.
Perth City
The Middle School House went to the city per train, they went for a walk, a play around and had a lovely dinner at the BamBamboo restaurant.
XLR8 Obstacle Course
The boys loved the Obstacle Course, it was a good day for it. They raced each other, played around and had some chats with the girls.
Games on the Ovals
With the good weather, the senior boys enjoy playing all sorts of games out on the ovals after school. Almost every day there will be a group playing soccer, handball or whatever they might like!
Orientation Day Sleepover
The new 2023 boarders came over to their new home last weekend. Lots of smiles when playing pool, table tennis, dodgeball and lots more! They also joined in with the morning workout routine..
Special Mention
Lynton has a real talent and love for basketball. Every single morning he goes to school half hour early to play basketball. It is incredible to see how much time and effort he puts into getting better.