From the Head of Senior School

The breadth of opportunity at Scotch College was on show for all to see at last week's assembly. After reflecting on the week just passed with the outstanding Year 11 Dance and the inaugural Agricultural Day we were entertained by a professional drum line, presented Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards to boys in Years 10 to 12 and recognised outstanding academic achievement in Year 10 with the presentation of Academic Excellence certificates to boys in Year 10. We were reminded of the College's successful defence of the State sailing title earlier this year when Colours and Honours for outstanding achievements in sailing were presented and the Pipe Band presented the trophies they had won at the Fremantle Highland Championships. The assembly finished with members of the cast of the Addams Family entertaining the Senior School as they promoted the upcoming musical production.

In the audience of the assembly were Old Scotch Collegians who had returned for their 30-year reunion. Their comments after the assembly included how impressed they were with the way the School had changed over the past three decades while at the same time preserving its traditions. The changes included the building of the Dickinson Centre and gym where they knew there to be a gentle sloping grass bank down to the side of the pool. Significantly, they also commented on how the boys appeared to have a much stronger presence at assemblies, speaking and presenting and how the diversity of boys' activities and talents are celebrated while at the same time the traditions that make Scotch special, for example the marching to assembly to the sound of the Pipes and Drums are preserved.

In short, boys at Scotch are offered opportunities that were not available when many of us were at school. All that is needed is for boys to try something new, take a risk and seize the opportunities that lie before them. The bands cannot play themselves, the musical production would not happen if boys were not prepared to step up on stage and sing, recite lines and dress in costume and rich international experiences would not be realised if boys choose not to participate in a Round Square exchange. Their time in the Senior School passes quickly; for our Year 12 boys there are only 15 weeks remaining and the boys in Years 9 to 11 will commence the new academic year in less than two terms. The quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin says it all, "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today". With this in mind, I urge all boys who enjoyed the Drum-line performance at last week's assembly to sign up in the Music Department and try something new.

Dr Rob McEwan

Head of Senior School