Week 8, Autumn Term 2023
Dear Boarding Families
It has been a busy couple of weeks in boarding since the mid-term break, most notably with Boarding Week happening last week, which was a great success. The aim of boarding week is to celebrate the diversity of our boarding community, to celebrate the value the boarders bring to our wider community and the relationships that are formed between boarders and day boys. I sincerely hope that our boarders stood proud during the week, the feedback has certainly been very positive
Boarding Week
Boarding Week kicked off with some social media coverage over Scotch’s Facebook and Instagram pages, including photos from our boarding photo competition, videos of what boarders get up to when they are at home and photos of what boarders get up to on weekends through our Rec programme. Finally, the week finished with a podcast I did with some of our boarders, I encourage you to have a look here
There was also a focus on our Yr 7s as they began the first leg of their Bib Track Journey, including an outstanding Welcome to Country given by Mr Spratt and other Noongar Elders, to give a blessing to our boarders as the embark on a journey through our magnificent South West, Noongar Boodja. In many ways, the boys start a journey from boyhood to manhood and the Bib Track marks, follows, and symbolises that progress. There will be times of rain and big hills, and there will be times of bonding and celebration – and there is an overall goal in sight, that shows the boys that persistence and hard work does pay off, and it is made all the more achievable and enjoyable when we support each other through the journey.
On campus, we had a bunch of activities throughout the week. The Middle School boys held a footy kicking and basketball challenge to raise money for the RFDS, the Senior School boys had a netball game against PLC on the Chapel lawn and a tug of war against each other. We also held a sausage sizzle on the Thursday for the senior school and the Friday for the Middle School! On Thursday afternoon the Middle School boys invited a day boy friend to the boarding house for afternoon tea and a few games. Throughout the week, we invited teachers to join us for dinner in the dining hall and a tour of the boarding house, and had about 10 teachers each night throughout the week take us up on the invite, which was amazing! It was really good to see the boarders showing off their ‘home away from home’ to the wider community and everyone who visited also had a positive experience.
On Friday we held our biggest Ag Day yet! The weather was kind to us, which was a big relief. We had our very own Field Day down at the Gooch Pavilion, with a free dress day, marching and pipe band, an incredibly special indigenous dance, and special guest speaker Mr Ben Macnamara, an old Scotch boy and CEO of CBH address the assembly about the value of regional WA, career opportunities in the Ag sector and the value of boarding at Scotch. He shared some of his own personal journey and encouraged the boys to spread their wings and be open minded with career choices after school. Throughout the day there was a careers tent for the boys to see the many opportunities the regional WA presents from tourism to veterinary studies to agri-business, the Gooch carpark was jam packed with machinery, there were farm animals, and activities for the boys such as whip cracking and bubble soccer. At various time throughout the day, all three sub schools made it down, Senior School, Middle School and even the kindy kids!
That evening we took the Year 12s away for a special retreat to share some time together. As their journey is coming towards an end, we wanted to mark it with a special night, whilst everyone is still all together, as the boys will start to graduate and leave boarding at different times starting from next term. It was a special evening and Mr Mellor and myself certainly enjoyed spending this time with the boys. We were blessed that the Westerman family hosted us at their property in the Helena Valley and I can certainly recommend any boarding parents who want to have a weekend away at a retreat to visit the website of Amaroo Retreat and Spa in the Perth Hills.
Life Skills Programme
Our Life Skill programme continues to grow and next week we have another special day for the year 12s, a programme named “City After Dark” where the boys will be taken around the streets of Northbridge at night time by a couple of police officers and boarding staff, looking at how to be safe and make smart decisions when they are out in the big world in their life after school.
In another aspect of our Life Skills programme, we are about to start running a cooking course, led by Mrs Wilhelm on a Wednesday night for Yr 12s to learn how to cook some good healthy meals so that by the time they leave boarding, and often stay in Perth to work or study, they can better fend for themselves. By the time our boarders leave school, hopefully we have taken them through experiences that allow them to be ready for independent living, which is what our Life Skills programme is all about. We also recognise that older boys don’t use as much rec opportunities on weekends, so this is a good way to invest in them, appropriate to their age and stage.
Boarding photos
I would really like to encourage both parents and boys to get involved in our boarding photo competition for 2023. They are such special representations of our families and help us create that home away from home. It is also growing a formidable reputation in our broader community, who love that we have now created a monthly calendar out of the photos and we can use them in various other ways in boarding. You may have noticed that Henry Dyke’s recent photo of his farm in Narrogin had made the front cover of the Clan! The deadline for photos is the end of the July holidays, so please take some snaps and encourage the boys to as well.
End of Term pack up
Finally, I would like to inform parents that at the end of this term, most boys will have to do a significant pack up. Over the July break, the Middle School boarding house is being used for an Orientation Camp for our incoming Year 7s in 2024, who will be spending a weekend in the house. All rooms need to be packed away. We have some storage rooms in boarding but it might also be a chance to take some things home. In the Senior House, we also have a Scotch Camp on, and that means all the downstairs bedrooms need to be fully packed away. That means all Year 9s and 10s and a couple of Year 11s. Again, we have storage boxes and storage rooms in boarding. Please be aware of this and talk about it with your sons.
I wish families all the best over the next two weeks and into the holidays.
Kind regards
Jordan
Boarding Week
In the Middle School Residence, boarders were asked to invite a day boy to afternoon tea. Looks like everyone enjoyed themselves and the day boys had a taste of what it’s like to be a boarder for an afternoon.
In the Senior School Residence, teaching staff were encouraged to join the boarders for dinner and a tour of the Boarding House.
Mrs Jane Mills, Senior School English teacher, joined Rory, Lachie and Noah for a look around their ‘home away from home’.
Netball with PLC
As part of Boarding Week, PLC were invited to play a game of netball with the Scotch Boys. You may notice that they swapped sport uniforms to undertake this task.
Mr Mellor provided this commentary of the game: The boys were under pressure as they adapted to the rules. Jensen and Myles held the defence early while Ben and Lachie struggled to score. Some swift coaching moves from Mr Owenell and the injection of Jett and Jack saw the momentum swing in Scotch’s favour with a run away victory.
Congratulations to the boys for pulling off a well deserved victory!
Ag Day
We were very lucky with the weather and a wonderful performance from the Pipe Band and Indigenous dance troupe accompanied by Micheal Spratt on didgeridoo.
Check out Ben Macnamara and the Indigenous Dance video link’s below.
Middle School Residence
Year 7 Bibbulmun Track
The Year 7’s arrived in Kalamunda at the Discovery Centre on a very cold, wet day. They were greeted by an Indigenous Smoking Ceremony and Didgeridoo playing my Micheal Spratt, to send them on a safe journey.
Mrs Sullivan and Mrs Guy’s group got the worst of the weather, being pelted with hail, saturated with rain or dodging ever increasing puddles. After stopping for lunch on day 1 the boys were too cold and there was no way they could start walking again towards a miserably cold first night on the track. However, after the night back at school with a hot shower and fire to warm up, we were blessed with a beautiful second day of walking and were able to knock off the remaining leg of day 1 and all of day 2 kms.
The boys were very appreciative, curious and lots of fun to hang out with for the two days! They were very grateful of all the experiences and opportunities that have been provided to them by you, and are such a supportive and kind bunch, looking out for each other. Their singing talent is also something of note!
Senior School Residence
Year 12 Retreat
On Friday 9 June, after a busy Ag Day, the Year 12’s headed off to the beautiful Amaroo Retreat and Spa in Mt Helena. A huge thank you to the Westerman family for their generosity to have they boys enjoy a wonderful dinner and evening together at the estate. It was a great night to spend together as they near the end of their journey at Scotch.
Claremont Colts
Jett and Jaezari ready to play for Claremont Football Club Colts last week. They are also part of the Dockers Next Generation Academy – well done boys.
Music Monday
Solomon Short in Year 12, who is doing a Certificate III in Music, played keyboards for the Senior School in the Band. It was great to see all their hard work pay off. Well done Solomon!
End of Autumn Term – Reach entries and Transport
As the term is coming to an end, I’d like to remind families that on Friday 30 June, both Middle and Senior School finish at 12:55pm.
I would appreciate you entering you son’s leave into Reach as soon as possible, so we can organise transport where needed.
Reach – Holiday Travel Arrangements Creating a Leave Request
I wish you all a very happy school holiday period and look forward to seeing you all next term.
Boarding Photography Competition
Don’t forget to get your entries in for the 2023 Photography Competition
Competition closes on 28 July 2023.
Meet the Mentor