Blair Clan – Winter Term Update 2023
What a hectic end to the academic year that was! We had Year 10’s finishing on Friday 15th September, then some off on Holidays and some off to Expeditions. Year 11 & 12 students with exams, some doing work experience, some earning important workplace qualifications such as White Cards, Responsible Service of Alcohol, First Aid Certificates etc…and this was with community sport finals all around us!
Here’s what your sons have been up to in boarding:
Year 9
- Bib Track Week 2 of Spring Term!
- We welcome two new boys into Blair Clan next term, thanks to Cooper for taking on the role of “buddy” for one of our new boys as they transition to Scotch Boarding:
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- Blair Haultain, from Dongara
- Zach Darling, from Albany
- Boys enjoyed Recreation activities:
- Roller-skating with All Schools @ Morley Rollerdrome on Friday 1st September
- Bounce @ Bounce Carousel on Saturday 26th August & 16th September
- Neon Glow Indoor Beach Volleyball with All Schools on Saturday 27th August
- The Meg @ Event Cinemas on Sunday 28th August
- Driving Range @ Wembley Golf Complex on Saturday 2nd September, Friday 8th September
- Ice Skating with All Schools @ Cockburn Ice Arena on Saturday 9th September
- Gym Floor for Games on Friday 15th September
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles @ Event Cinemas on Saturday 16th September
- Mini-Golf @ Holey Moley in Fremantle on Sunday 17th September
- Tom, Cooper, Harry, Lynton & Tate, along with Jake, Wil, Taka, Oli (Year 9, Stirling) and former boarder Oli Gooding, were all in the Subiaco Basketball team that Won their Grand Final. Well done guys!
- Lynton was runner-up Best on Ground in a premiership winning Mosman Park Redbacks team in the Year 9 Maroon Competition Grand Final for the Metro North Conference. Jake & Taka (Year 9, Stirling) were also in the team. Congratulations!
- Boys joined myself & Theresa for breakfast @ C Blu Restaurant in Cottesloe on Tuesday last week of Term. A great catch up, no technology, and despite bragging about how much they could eat, some of them did not finish their meals!
Year 9 Breakfast at C Blu
Year 10
- Year 11 and new pathways are just weeks away. If you have any queries regarding your sons course selection, please speak firstly with your sons House Head.
- We welcome three new boys into Blair Clan next term, thanks to Hudson, Noah & Oli Wandel for taking on the role of “buddy” for these new boys as they transition to Scotch Boarding:
- Shae Brown, from Cygnet Bay who has been a boarder before
- Dallmyn Kelly, from Ellenbrook, who is a day boy.
- Lachlan Kirkham, from Cowaramup
- Boys enjoyed the following Recreation activities:
- Roller-skating with All Schools @ Morley Rollerdrome on Friday 1st September
- Freo Torchlight Prison Tour with St. Mary’s on Friday 25th August
- Golf @ Cottesloe Golf Club on Saturday 26th August, 2nd, 9th September
- Neon Glow Indoor Beach Volleyball with All Schools on Saturday 27th August
- The Meg @ Event Cinemas on Sunday 28th August
- Driving Range @ Wembley Golf Complex on Saturday 2nd September, Friday 8th September
- Ice Skating with All Schools @ Cockburn Ice Arena on Saturday 9th September
- Gym Floor for Games on Friday 15th September
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles @ Event Cinemas on Saturday 16th September
- Mini-Golf @ Holey Moley in Fremantle on Sunday 17th September
- Congratulations to Oscar Male who was part of the UWA Hockey Club Year 9/10 Division 1 team that won their Grand Final! Fellow boarder, Scott Ericsson (Year 9, Stirling) was also in the team.
- Congratulations to Willem Buckley & Xavier Risinger, who were both members of the Subiaco AFC Under 16 Division 4 team that won the League and the Top 4 Cup. Digby Smith (Year 10, Stirling) was also in the team. Unfortunately Xavier missed the final, as he was on his Year 10 Expedition.
- Year 10 Boys as part of their curriculum at Scotch elect to attend a one week camp, with the final group of students enjoying one of the following camps in the final week of term:
- Margaret River Experience
- TJ
- Karijini
- Jordy Bowden
- Jayden Clarke
- Xavier Risinger
- Ben Stack
- Margaret River Experience
- The following students attended their camp in the third week of July:
- Sea Kayaking
- Mike Liu
- Oscar Male
- Whale Shark Diving
- John McGinniss
- Sonny Saunders
- Sea Kayaking
Year 11
- Year 12 officially starts Spring Term, Monday of Week 2. During Week 1, boys will take part in a seminar around the importance of sleep, managing their time and devices, as well as in induction on the Scotch College Boarding House Gymnasium. Once parental approval is received, boys will enjoy further privileges. I stress the word “privilege” as they must fulfill their responsibilities to keep their privileges.
- We welcome David Walton, Captain of School 2024, into boarding as a temporary boarder for the first 3 weeks of term.
- Boys enjoyed the following Recreation activities:
- Kings Park Pokemon Drive on Friday 25th August
- Golf @ Cottesloe Golf Club on Saturday 26th August, 2nd, 9th September
- The Meg @ Event Cinemas on Sunday 28th August
- Driving Range @ Wembley Golf Complex on Saturday 2nd September, Friday 8th September
- Gym Floor for Games on Friday 15th September
- Congratulations to the following boys on their appointments to leadership positions for 2024:
- Boarding
- Oliver Wandel – Vice Captain of Boarding – Senior Residence (Blair Clan Leader)
- Toby Jones – Vice Captain of Boarding – Middle School Residence
- House
- Hudson Hammond – Vice Captain of Keys – Operations
- Clem Hardie – Vice Captain of Stuart – Service
- Boarding
Year 12
- AAP Students only March Out & Valedictory to go……
- WACE/IB Students only March Out, WACE/IB Exams & Valedictory to go…..
- Important for boys to use this holiday period as a break from the rigours of studying before returning for one final stint.
- Boys enjoyed Recreation activities:
- Kings Park Pokemon Drive on Friday 25th August
- The Meg @ Event Cinemas on Sunday 28th August
- Driving Range @ Wembley Golf Complex on Saturday 2nd September, Friday 8th September
- Gym Floor for Games on Friday 15th September
- I’d like to extend my thanks to Jensen Westerman and Kaymus Brierly for their leadership and organisation of Boarding Events, and to Lewis Parsons, Harry Hammond & Myles Ross who helped with Boarder’s Council activities and events.
Co-Curricular
PSA Sport
Congratulations to:
- Willem Buckley who was awarded Colours for Soccer as a member of the 1st XI Soccer team.
- Oscar Male who was awarded Colours for Hockey as a member of the 1st XI Hockey team.
- Jayden Clarke, Toby Jones & Jaezari Wynne who were awarded Colours for Football as members of the 1stXVIII Football team.
- Donnacha Spencer who was awarded Colours for Rugby as a member of the 1st XV Rugby team.
Congratulations to:
- Jayden Clarke, Hudson Hammond, Solomon Short, Ben Stack & Jensen Westerman who were all members of the Winning Alcock Shield Interschool Athletics team, the 6th year in a row!
The Arts
Media
Thursday 7th September was the annual Directors Cut Media Night. Clem Hardie is undertaking Film as a course as part of his IB pathway. Clem contributed several short films to the Directors Cut.
Art
Tuesday 5th September saw the annual Senior School Art and Design Exhibition Opening Night, with a new location inside the Math’s & Commerce building, to display the 2023 exhibition, combining both traditional and innovative mediums and technology as it reflects our diverse range of students’ identities.
I particularly enjoyed seeing the excellent work from the Blair Clan boys, with Harry Russell, Noah McCreery and Kaymus Brierly all winning awards.:
Music
Solomon Short, as part of his Certificate III in Music performed with a band (created within his class with former boarder Dean Brown) at Scotch Rocks on Thursday 31st August at the Rosemount Hotel. Solomon and his band put on a good show, the highlight being “Jump” by Van Halen.
Interhouse Sport
A glorious day met the boys for the athletics carnival on Friday 25th August. St. Andrews house was successful with many of the Blair Clan boys involved across multiple disciplines.
Photos on vidigami are available here.
Clash of the Clans
Despite winning the final Clash of Clans (Gaelic Football) before the Mid-Term break, Stirling have claimed the Clash of Clans win for 2023, 12.5 points to 8.5 points. This means Stirling now leads overall 2-1.
Other News
Academic Assistance
A reminder, if you identify or believe your son may need specific academic assistance, please speak directly with Mr. Alex Wood (Assistant Head of Residence – Blair Clan) and CC me in. Alex oversees our academic tutors. While we do our best to monitor their academic achievements, sometimes boys will divulge information to you their parents, and as much as I preach strength in adversity, asking for help is a sign of strength, we know men in particular like to think they can solve their own problems themselves.
We have available Monday to Thursday up to four academic tutors as well as three boarding mentors to assist during Prep time.
Alex’s email is alex.wood@scotch.wa.edu.au
I hope you are able to spend some quality time with your sons this holiday period.
Thanks
Andy