When I reflect on what has transpired each year I do so with a sense that it couldn't possibly mean another year has passed us by. Sitting down to write my final Thistle of 2014, (I can hear some sighs of reader relief!) confirms that yes another school year is now over.
When we commence each year we do so with both public and private aspirations for the year ahead. In essence we manifest these thoughts through the concept of "HOPE". It is a word we use to operationalise what we want to achieve; sometimes selfishly and sometimes altruistically.
On Friday 28 November we said our formal farewell to the Year 12 students at their Valedictory Chapel and Dinner. This evening is always so poignant and meaningful, especially for the boys and their immediate family. As Headmaster I love the evening because it is about the whole year group and not geared at individual prowess or success, but to the uniqueness of the cohort. It is a privilege and honour to listen to the boys and their parents speak about the journey they have had at Scotch and what it has meant to them. While I have no doubt the quality of teaching and learning is a strong sub text, the discussions usually centre around the formation of each boy and the shared emotional and personal experiences that helped shape and form them in preparation for leaving school and entering the next phase of their life.
The theme for the Valedictory was "HOPE". We chose this out of respect for the challenges faced by two of our families and the wider community with the tragedy of what is now simply referred to as MH17. Without a vision of hope, moving forward and understanding what took place on that fateful day would simply be just too hard. Martin Luther King said that we must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
The Christmas story is indeed one based on hope with the birth of Jesus. In an ever rapidly moving and complex world it is critical that we instill in our young boys and men that no matter how hard some days may seem the concept of Hope is a message worth sharing. Desmond Tutu refers to hope as being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. The reading used at Valedictory Chapel Romans 5:3-4 reinforces this:
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."
There has been so much to celebrate at Scotch this year. Each sub-school continues to provide the boys with wonderful opportunities to be challenged and grow. The commitment of the teaching and non-teaching staff ensures that our College is highly sought after because it continues to place the boy at the centre of how we plan and what we offer.
I have just received the MMG survey feedback and the most pleasing on balance response is the overall satisfaction level by parents and boys. What is very pleasing is that the group of parents who have experienced the most, that is our Year 12 parents, rated 12 of the 13 areas measured as very high with the other being high. Premised on the MMG benchmarking, schools of first choice, strong advocacy and loyalty, positive word of mouth and strong conversion of waiting lists result from schools achieving overall "very high" status. Having said this there are still plenty of areas where we can review and enhance what we do. I will spend the summer fully analysing the responses to ensure the process of continual improvement is embed in our 2015 plans. I would like to personally thank everyone who took the time to complete the surveys.
In closing I cannot thank the community enough for the level of passion and support towards our College. Sometimes when you are very close to a school or have limited comparative benchmark, it is easy for staff and parents to assume what happens at Scotch is just commonplace. This could not be further from the truth. The level of participation, support and passion is what makes this College and its wider community so very special.
I look forward to seeing many of you and closing out our year at the Junior School Presentation Afternoon and the Middle and Senior School Speech Nights.
Thank you once again to the boys, parents, staff, OSC and the wider community for supporting Scotch in 2014.
May the peace and joy of Christmas and the hope of an even better 2015 be with you and your families.
Regards and God Bless
Dr A J O'Connell
Headmaster
