Blair Clan – Spring Term Update 2023
Spring term and the calendar year has finished with a flurry of events, from Valedictory to Paint Ball and a host of other school and boarding events. Here’s what your sons have been up to in boarding:
New Year 9’s
- We welcomed our new year 9’s for 2024 at our Boarder’s Assembly on Wednesday 22nd November. The boys then came into our Senior Residence on Sunday 26th November for some fun at the beach with our leaders for 2024, my son Aubrey who is in their year group tagged along. This was followed up with a sleepover in the Senior Boarding House. Monday 27th November saw these boys head to Senior School Orientation Day. Our new boys include three younger siblings of current Year 10-12 boys, the new boys are for 2024 are: Ben Carrington (Broome), Kade Gangell (Kulin), Milo Hewson (Broomehill) Van Jasper (Kulin), Archie Macnamara (Williams) younger brother of Oli (yr 12), Lennox Mongoo (Carnarvon) younger brother of Keion (yr 12), Riley Raffan (Badgingarra), Oliver Risinger (Dongara) younger brother of Xavier (yr 11), Harrison Smith (Cunderdin), Ethan Sullivan (Paraburdoo) and two new boys Rishi Munro from Bali, and Zac West, cousin of Toby Jones (yr 12) from Esperance.
Recreation Activities
- Boys enjoyed Recreation activities:
- The Marvels Movie with PLC @ Event Cinemas Innaloo Friday 10th November – Year 10-12
- Golf at Cottesloe Golf Club on Saturday 11th, 18th, 25th November – Year 11-12
- First Lights Kooranup Drone Show Saturday 11th November – Year 10-12
- South Perth Sunset Picnic @ Perth Zoo with All Schools on Friday 17th November – Year 10-11
- Surfing Lessons @ Brighton Beach on Saturday 18th & 25th November – Year 10
- Driving Range @ Wembley Golf Course on Saturday 18th November & Friday 1st December – Year 10
- Adventure World with PLC on Sunday 19th November – Year 11-12
- Bounce Cannington on Friday 24th November – Year 10
- Recreation Skippers Ticket on Sunday 26th November – Year 10-12
- Paintball Clan Games @ Dizzy Lamb on Saturday 1st December – Year 10-12
- Beach Shuttle Sunday 2nd December – Year 10-12
New Year 10’s
- Boys from both clans headed along to the “Try-a-Trade” Career Taster excursion at South Metro TAFE. From the smiles on faces, and the reviews these boys loved the day!
- Congratulations to Tom Falconer-Radford who continually received Theresa’s 5-Star Award for the tidiest room in the Year 10 wing throughout the last few weeks of term!
New Year 11’s
- John & Oscar of the boys (along with seven boys from Stirling Clan) made the commitment to keep walking the Bib Track. They walked 126.2km over 6 days, from Palings Rd (North of Beedelup) to Northcliffe, under the guidance of Mr. Scott Galipo (House Head of Shearer) and Mr. Callum Rigby (Outdoor Education Assistant). Boys enjoyed and welcomed the significant number of swimming spots, as well as the Pemberton Caravan Park. Well done John & Oscar on your choice to continue this significant Rite of Passage.
- Congratulations to Dallmyn Kelly, who has been elected Madalah Head Boy for 2024. Dallmyn attended a lunch at Parliament House on Wednesday 29th November. Ben Stack also received a Madalah Student Council for 2024, Congratulations Dallmyn & Ben, good luck with your roles for 2024!
- Congratulations to John McGinniss, who received Kerry Wilhelm (Stirling House Mum) award for Best room in the Year 11 Wing.
New Year 12’s
- We said goodbye to School Captain David Walton, although we (Boarding & Blair Clan will claim him for the rest of the year).
- I finally managed to get these boys over to my house for a BBQ. After trying a Monday, where it looked like only 3 of them would make it, a late switch to Tuesday worked well as it meant both Alex Wood (my Assistant Head of Residence) & Theresa Moss (House Mum) were able to join us, although we were missing Noah McCreery (who was unwell at home) and my wife who was at the MLC Boarding Christmas dinner! There was an attempt at a version of handball which Fergus was keen on playing with the big boys.
- 5 boys (along with 5 Stirling boys and 2 ex-boarders) completed the 115.6km leg from Inlet Rd (near Broke Inlet) to Peaceful Bay under the guidance of Mrs. Rochelle Gaudieri (Middle School Teacher) and Miss Katie Guy (Outdoor Education). From the photos and videos I have seen, the boys had a fantastic time, caught fish, built a river wave and generally enjoyed being with each other on our beautiful southern coast! Well done Hudson, Toby, Oli Mac, Noah, & Oli Wandel, it seems like only yesterday I walked into Balingup with you all, and you weren’t even half way! One more walk (148.1.km) boys!
- On Thursday 23rd November, we had our Year 12 Boys “Bring a Mate to Dinner”. 44 hungry, hot Year 12 boys descended on Keys House, a great opportunity for the day boys to see how our boarders live!
Year 13 (Leavers 2022)
- Valedictory on Saturday 25th November and then the Awards Assembly on Friday 1st December.
Christmas & Secret Santa
On Thursday November 30th, we had Christmas Dinner in the Dining Hall, this was followed with a Secret Santa’s for the three year groups. Many thanks to our 2024 leader, Oli Wandel for organising. A great initiative that allowed boys to show their “family away from home” that they care!
Final Week Beach Fish & Chips
On Monday 4th December Steven Montgomery & I took the entire Senior Boarding House for Fish & Chips at Cottesloe Beach.
We departed the house at 5pm and returned to Keys House at 7.30pm for Prep. Boys were well fed, played Spikeball on the beach and had a nice refreshing swim with the odd wave!
Academic Achievements
Excellence in any area should be celebrated, remembering that each boy is individual. It was pleasing to sit through Friday Assemblies and the Senior School Presentation Ceremony and see boys rewarded for their efforts, Well done guys!
Certificate of Academic Excellence
Congratulations to the following students on achieving a Certificate of Academic Excellence for Semester Two. These students were presented with their award at Senior School Assembly on Friday 24th November.
Year 11
- Jiahe (David) Shen
- David Walton
Academic Colours
Congratulations to David Walton for achieving Academic Colours for Semester Two.
https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/senior-school/2023/11/24/year-11-2023-academic-colours-24-nov-2023/
https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/senior-school/2023/11/24/student-achievements-24-nov-2023/
ASDAN Certificates
Congratulations to: John McGinniss & Mesheech Ozies
Vocational Education & Training Certificates
Congratulations to:
- Kai Allan for achieving a Certificate II in Fitness
- Oliver Macnamara & Keion Mongoo for achieving a Certificate II in Workplace Skills
Prize Winners
Congratulations to the following students who were presented with their prizes at the Senior School Presentation Ceremony on Friday 1st December.
https://home.scotch.wa.edu.au/senior-school/student-achievement/speech-night-awards/
“An Endeavour Prize is awarded to a student in Year 9, 10 or 11 who is industrious and who consistently demonstrates that they are striving to work to their full potential. The prize is achieved by nominations from at least six teachers in Years 9 and 10 and at least five teachers in Year 11. An Endeavour Prize is superseded by a Subject Prize or a Proficiency Prize.”
“A Subject Prize is awarded in each subject that runs for the whole year. A student who attends a cross campus class, is in a class with a small cohort or who studies a Diploma course through Pamajo can still win a Subject Prize if their results are of a prize winning standard (at least an A in WACE or a high Grade 6 or 7 in Diploma). In the Diploma program, Subject Prizes are available for Standard Level and Higher Level.”
“A Proficiency Prize is awarded for a high level of performance across all learning areas. In Year 9 and 10 this is determined by summing the course results achieved by each student and the top 5% receive a Proficiency Prize. In the Diploma program the grades of each student are summed and the students ranked. In the WACE program the school scores for each student’s best five subjects are summed and the students ranked. The top 5% receive a Proficiency prize. The top student in WACE, Diploma and VET programs are awarded Dux.”
Year 10
Academic Proficiency – Arts: Media
- Mike (Haotian) Liu
Academic Proficiency – Arts: Photography & Graphic Design, Health & Physical Education, Humanities, Philosophy
- Oscar Male
Year 11
Academic Proficiency – Accounting & Finance (ATAR)
- Rylan Firth
Academic Proficiency – Biology SL (IBDP), Business Management HL (IBDP), Chinese HL (IBDP), Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches SL (IBDP)
- Jiahe (David) Shen
Dux of Year 11 (WACE) – Economics (ATAR), Literature (ATAR), Mathematics: Methods (ATAR), Mathematics: Specialist (ATAR), Modern History (ATAR)
- David Walton
Year 12
Arts Purchase Prize – Visual Arts (General)
- Kaymus Brierly
Subject Prize – Mathematics: Essential (General)
- Sam Thompson
Clash of the Clans
Softball was held on Thursday 30th November just before Christmas dinner. We split the two games 1-1 with Stirling. The Year 9/12 Blair team getting up 12-11. Unfortunately, the Year 10/11 boys couldn’t prevail despite being well in control at 7-4 up going into the last innings, going down 7-12.
Other News
Blair Clan Teams Meeting
I will hold a MS Teams meeting for new families in the week before our January return to boarding, please keep an eye out for a calendar invite from me!
Finally, I wish you all a safe break, enjoy time with your sons, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Andy