Community and Service
India Service Tour
The seventh India Service Tour took place in the first two weeks of the summer break. The impact of this tour on the participants from Scotch and St Mary's was transformational. All have come back with intensely personal stories of encounters with students and staff of orphanages, and schools, including schools in slums for the children of itinerant workers; encounters against a cultural and sensory background unequaled in intensity anywhere in the world.
The impact on the communities assisted was also significant with $28000 in aid distributed to various institutions. For some, the Perth connection is a lifeline and without it facilities would not be built and programmes would not run. Scotch, along with St Mary's in this case, should be cognisant of the importance of the ongoing partnerships we have in India. While remote from our everyday business, the bi-annual tour is important, not only to provide a unique opportunity for our students to serve, but also to undertake serious grassroots development work and give expression to our core values as a Christian college.
Tanzania Connections
The early Autumn Term, Scotch will be hosting some teachers from Tanzania. They are being funded by Rotary Australia and organized through the office of the Honorary Consul for Tanzania, Didier Murcia AM. These teachers will experience best practice in teaching and learning, working alongside out staff in the classrooms. It will be a good opportunity for Scotch College to contribute to teaching training in Tanzania and further strengthen our ties with that country. No doubt there will be plenty of opportunities for our boys at all year levels to learn a little about life in Tanzania from the visitors.
Matipwili Trade Training Centre Launch
The launch of the Matipwili (Tanzania) Trade Training Centre will take place at 6.30pm in the evening of March 20th in the Dickinson Centre. This joint Scotch-PLC-CEFPI (Council of Educational Planners International) event will feature photographs taken in the village of Matipwili, a performance by a Tanzanian choir and commentary by various invited guests including the Honorary Consul to Tanzania, Didier Murcia AM. There will be an opportunity to assist with fundraising through the purchase of 'building blocks' with mounted photographs and framed photographs. Scotch and PLC senior students will travel to Tanzania in July this year to commence construction of the Centre. All are invited to the Launch.
Fundraising Games and Movie Night.
On 15 March, PLC will host a Games and Movie Night, in support of the Matipwili Project. All boys and girls from Year 7 and 8 will be invited to attend. A global email will be sent soon to parents of students in these year groups, with event details and 'TryBooking' payment advice.
Good Samaritan Bin
The Good Samaritan Industries Bin, creatively decorated with flower motives by our Year 2 students last year, is now available for clothing donations. The bin is located at the entrance to the Dining Hall car park. This bin is only available to the Scotch community and will be emptied regularly by GSI. Please assist the needy through the deposit of good second-hand clothing in this bin.
Round Square
Scotch College is now a Regional Member of Round Square - an international network of schools, all with strong academic programmes and focus on: Internationalism; Democracy; Environment; Action; Leadership and Service (the IDEALS). As we become more involved in the organization this year and beyond, there will be opportunities for boys in Middle and Senior Schools to attend Round Square student conferences and apply for short-term exchanges with students in other Round Square schools. For more information of Round Square visit: http://www.roundsquare.org
Year 10 Service Programme
Year 10 Service Programme will commence this week. Boys will be starting their Rotation 1 activities this Friday afternoon. It is important that boys read the Daily Notices and check their school emails for information on their activity. The activity groups will also be placed on the Community and Service notice board near the BRC.
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Sale
Once again Scotch boys will be assisting members of the Ross Memorial Church to cook pancakes for sale to the public in West Perth. Shrove Tuesday this year is on March 4 and pancakes will go on sale in the forecourt of the Ross Memorial Church at the corner of Hay and Colin Streets from 7.00am. Proceeds will go towards UnitingCare West support services.
Disabled Surfing Event
The next Disabled Surfing event will take place this Saturday morning, February 15 at Leighton Beach - Fremantle Surf Club - commencing at 9.00am. Scotch boys have assisted to run DSA events since 2007 and the support from boys, staff and parents over that time has been extraordinary. All boys (particularly in Years 10, 11 and 12) are invited to attend if not involved in PSA sport. Staff members and parents are most welcome to volunteer or just come along to see how it works. More information can found in the letter attached.
Friends of Lake Claremont Year in Review
2013 was a fantastic year for our local FOLC for a number of reasons, not least of which the number of seedlings planted and Mrs Heidi Hardisty receiving the Pride of Australia Award. These are significant milestones which reflect the many individual efforts underpinning the change that has been achieved around the Lake for everyone's enjoyment. The attached newsletter provides more info and photos. Members of the Scotch community are urged to join the Friends in their endeavours.
Mothers Auxillary helps
On that note, the attached letter demonstrates the appreciation for the Mothers Auxillary's efforts last November in the major fundraiser for FOLC. This is an example of how Scotch can be instrumental in lending assistance in this worthwhile initiative.
Waste Authority
Scotch was in the news once more in the attached Waste Authority newsletter (see article on page 6) which discusses the food packaging initiative.
