Community and Service
A Disabled Surfing Event
Last Saturday three Scotch boys turned up at Leighton Beach to experience Disabled Surfing, for the first time, while the first time is always a little daunting the boys handled themselves extremely well.
The Disabled Surfers Association (DSA) increasingly relies on these young volunteers to run the event. It is not easy to manage over 80 disabled participants. The volunteers are organized in teams, each with one large, 'malibu' surfboard and a Team Leader. The disabled participants are ensconced one by one with a team who work with carers to provide the best experience that individual. The youthful teams provide the exuberance to make it all work.
Seeing the thrill and excitement on the faces of participants makes all stress of the effort to get there melt away and be replaced by an intense satisfaction of knowing that you have been part of something BIG. It is a big event with big outcomes but most of all it is a big step towards understanding disability and dismantling the barriers we all tend to construct between difference and us.
The Rocky Bay Connection
Scotch College has been assisting Rocky Bay for some decades now. Over the years, boys have gone across to the Mosman Park site to help out, usually in the Recreation Centre. Many boys have been involved in fundraising, most recently through the 'Walk With Me' event. Always, Scotch boys are received with enthusiasm and are cared for exceptionally well by Rocky Bay staff while interacting with residents.
This year is no different, boys have been assisting with setting up for the Rocky Bay Ball at Burswood and conducting a letter drop to promote a fundraising event. All the while, they are learning a little about the need for an organization like Rocky Bay in our community. This is powerful learning. Our boys who work there are all ambassadors for Rocky Bay. This year we hope to make the appointment of Rocky Bay Ambassadors official and have our organisations work even more closely.
North Balga Primary School
Last week Scotch boys were given an award in recognition of their contribution to the Early Childhood Learning Programme at North Balga Primary School. As the primary school with the most diverse student background in the state, North Balga has considerable challenges. However, there is an enthusiasm for challenge on the part of the staff and our boys are learning to be a part of the learning experience for some of the most vulnerable and needy students in our community.
Round Square
The annual Heads and Reps meeting of the Asia Pacific region of Round Square took place in Singapore during the long weekend. Scotch was represented as Regional Member. The meeting reinforced the links between member schools across our part of the globe and affirmed the importance of the IDEALS (Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service) within our schools.
The networking opportunities have created links for students exchanges and it is hoped to promote the process of applying for exchange to current Year 9 and Year 7 parents next term. 2015 should see our first students in both Middle and Senior Schools attend Round Square conferences.
Year 10 Exchanges
Expressions of interest are requested from Year 10 boys interested in going on exchange to either New Zealand or Austria during the second half of the year. The exchange period would be 5 weeks and involve hosting a boy for the reciprocal visit. For more information and to register interest please contact Mr Cordner wjcordner@scotch.wa.edu.au.
Serventy Memorial Lecture
The Naturalists' Club of WA is hosting the annual Serventy Memorial Lecture at UWA on March 26. The guest speaker is Kevin Coate OAM, who will speak on the flora and fauna of the Kimberley Coast. Proceeds of the lecture will go towards funding scholarships in four Western Australian Universities. For more information see the flyer attached.
