FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Welcome back and a special welcome to Lorenzo Piattoli who joins us in Year 11 from Italy for the next 12 months and Baptiste Henri, Year 11, who has joined us from France for the first half of this term. I know the boys in the Senior School enjoy having exchange students visit us and will make Lorenzo and Baptiste feel very welcome during their time with us.
During the recent term break, Mr Sterrett and I attended a conference on Gifted and Talented education. A key theme of this conference was the importance of student voice. This message resonated with my own experiences at Scotch over the past semester where students and staff have enjoyed hearing the thoughts and reflections of a number of boys on a wide range of topics. Many of these presentations have occurred as part of our weekly assemblies and while memorable, entertaining and occasionally moving for those in attendance, this important Student voice is not always heard by the broader school community.
As part of the Senior School's initiative to further promote the sharing of students' experiences and lessons, we will be including some thoughts and insights from our Senior School Leaders as part of this newsletter in the future. To this end, I have included some words of advice from Tim O'Donnell, School Vice-Captain to our Year 12 students who have just commenced their last term of timetabled classes at Scotch. For many the coming months will mark the end of many years at Scotch and will be filled with mixed feelings. Tim encourages all Year 12s to savour this time and strike a balance between longer-term goals and enjoying the journey.
Dr Rob McEwan
Head of Senior School
A message to Year 12
With only ten weeks of schooling remaining for the Year 12 boys, it is now a race to the finish. It's time to culminate 12 years of learning into one final burst, to repay the faith bestowed in us by our family, teachers, and friends.
Throughout the year, there have been moments of stress, and moments of happiness. Every boy, in their own fields, has worked to better themselves and everyone around them.
For the next ten weeks, we will, as a team, encounter the toughest period of our lives to this stage. However, it's important to always remember that no matter how difficult it seems, we always have two things - support, and a finish line that is very much in sight.
Amidst the effort, it will be key to find time to relax, and find something to refresh ourselves. It's a step-by-step journey, and by focusing on our process, rather than stressing over the result, we will fully be able to look in the mirror and know that we gave everything we could.
It's applicable for any Year group- by loving every moment we have away from our books, whether it is at sport, with friends, helping out in a community service capacity or sitting on the couch watching the footy on the weekend, we are granted the scope we need to reapply ourselves, and to continue to achieve.
Most importantly, we need to enjoy every moment we get, and love it all, because there's not much time left.
Tim O'Donnell
School Vice Captain
