Orientation
At Scotch College we refer to our Boarding Orientation programme as ‘Welcome to Scotch Boarding’. We hold Orientations in May, July, and November each year.
In May, new Year 7 & Year 8 students for the next year are welcomed into Scotch Boarding with an afternoon in the Middle School followed by a tour of the boarding facilities, meeting key staff members for the first time, and attend a family gathering for dinner in the Dining Hall.
In July we hold a two- day ‘camp’ where the boys come into the Boarding House for a sleepover experience and also get access to their ILT device (iPad) and join an online class through Microsoft Teams. This online forum forms the basis of a semester-long transition programme that sees the boys connect with each other weekly to help form strong relationships in the months leading up to them entering boarding. The boys do a range of activities which connects their home life to boarding and they get the opportunity to present their projects to their peers. Boys also become familiar with key staff members during this time. There are opportunities for parents to connect together and also to ask any questions about what boarding is like at Scotch College.
In November, boys have another sleepover and then attend school the next day as the Middle School hosts their Orientation Day.
By the time the boys get to Scotch, they have built strong connections to their peers and to staff, they are familiar with their ILT device and they are optimistic about their transition to boarding at Scotch.