Week 2, Winter Term 2023
Dear Boarding Families
I hope you have enjoyed the past fortnight and that your sons have settled well back into boarding. Please feel free to find a time to touch base with your son’s Head of Residence or myself to have a ‘mid-year chat’ on his progress and goals for the remainder of the year.
It was lovely to meet with the parent committee at the start of term and I remind parents that you are always welcome at those meetings. The next meeting is 9th October at 3pm in the Dining Hall Annexe. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our boarding parents to dinner in our dining hall at any time you are in Perth and visiting your boys.
One exciting project that we discussed in boarding for the next year is a refurbishment of our Senior Boarding House common rooms, both the downstairs and upstairs. We are currently consulting stakeholders, including a committee of boys, about what they would like to see in these spaces so if you are in the boarding house visiting or collecting your son, please feel free to have a chat to our House Mothers about the plans. We are currently looking at the downstairs area having a “café” theme and the upstairs being a “sports lounge” theme. This will have overflow effects on what we do with prep spaces, the entry foyer and the staff office. It is an exciting project.
Another topic we discussed and agreed upon was the value of having a soft curfew for boys when returning from leave on weekends and holidays. It would be great if boys returning from leave could please be back in boarding by 6pm (dinner time) so that they have time to pack their room, settle, and prepare for the next school day and then be in bed in time for a good night’s sleep. It would also help to build community amongst parents. We would love parents to stick around and socialise, perhaps stay for dinner on those days. It will be something we incorporate into our planning of the downstairs “café” space, the idea of hosting more barbeques in the boarding house and a casual place for everyone in our boarding community to socialise, especially at the start and end of term. In general, I think that boys should be home by 6pm on a Sunday evening so that they best prepare for the week ahead.
Last week we had our very special Spirit Award evening. Boys are celebrated for their Sparkle, Imagination, Resilience, Integrity, and Tenacity (SPIRIT). Congratulations to our nominees and our overall winner, Lochie Elliot (Yr 12). Please see below for photos of the evening.
This week we also kicked off our student leadership process for the Year 11s hoping to gain leadership positions in Boarding and in the Day School. In Boarding we have 4 senior leaders, our Captain of Boarding, Vice Captain of Boarding (Middle School), Vice Captain of Boarding (Stirling Clan) and Vice Captain of Boarding (Blair Clan). We also have a Year 12 Boarders’ Council which is a committee that gives voice to the boarders and helps with various portfolios, such as organising Boarding Week, our Clash of Clan tournament, Rec events, Peer mentoring and various other things. Yr 11 boys will nominate themselves for positions, prepare a speech and go through an interview process throughout this term in preparation for the changeover to new leaders at the beginning of the Academic year in October.
This week and next I am embarking on a bit of work travel. The Headmaster and I fly to Karratha on Friday 4th August for the FeNaClNG Festival to meet our families in the Pilbara. I return on Monday and then drive with Mr Gill up to Mingenew for the Mingenew Midwest Expo and then Geraldton for a sundowner event, returning on Sunday 13th August. I always love visiting boarding families in the regions, so please make a time to come and say hello whilst I am in your area. In terms of contact, I will be available on my mobile and intermittent emails. Please contact your Head of Residence or Jan in Boarding Admin in the first instance.
All the best
Jordan
Spirit Award
Congratulations to Lochie Elliott and the boys nominated. Very proud of you all.
NAIDOC Week
The week started on Monday 31 July with the Student vs Teachers basketball game which saw them tie at 30 all. On Wednesday, the Middle School was treated to a sausage sizzle of kangaroo and the SCIN’s Dance troupe performed for the Junior School. Another sausage sizzle for the Senior boys on Thursday and on Friday the flag raising, smoking ceremony, marching and assembly. See the videos of assembly below.
NAIDOC Week – Three dances 040823
NAIDOC Week Didgeridoo and Dance
Middle School Residence
As part of NAIDOC week Thomas W spoke to the Year 7 cohort about his culture and heritage. Well done Thomas!!
Senior School Residence
Jayden spoke about his experience in Melbourne for the Footy U15 at the Blair Clan meeting! By all accounts he had a great experience and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Mid Term Break – Friday 18th August to Monday 21st August – Reach Holiday Leave and Transport arrangements
Thank you to those that have already entered Holiday Travel Arrangements for your son’s. A reminder that leave for Mid term break needs to be put into Reach no later than Monday, 14th August.
The boarding houses will be closed on Friday 18th and open from 1:00pm on Monday 21st.
When you enter leave it is from Thursday 17th through to Monday 21st August. Please use Holiday Travel Arrangements when selecting the type of leave.
If your son is travelling over the break, you must send through flight, bus or train tickets to Boarding.Admin@scotch.wa.edu.au
Please add all the ticketing details to Reach, as this helps with our transport arrangements to get boys to the airport, bus and train stations on time.
Below are the instructions on how to enter leave into the Reach Leave Management System, please also email if you have any questions regarding Reach or leave entries.