HEADMASTER'S REFLECTIONS

Last week the Senior School chapel had as its theme "Lighting a Candle". While the lighting of a candle has many meanings, it led me to reflect on the role we play in the shared educational journey of our boys at Scotch.

As parents and teachers our role is to light a flame of inquiry in every boy, thus triggering a thirst for learning which is supported by a strong moral flame to guide them in their personal journey. The amazing part of this is that in the context of a students progress through school, we may never fully know when the flame was lit or how that flame manifested itself in an array of academic, pastoral, spiritual and social pursuits. As a college spanning Year 1 to Year 12 the flame can be lit anytime, anywhere or in any place across our three sub schools. This is just one of the many reasons why I am philosophically opposed to the notion of performance base pay in education. It could well be that we reward the end result where in fact the seed was planted well before. Meaningful teaching and learning is a journey where many flames are lit, some burn out while others are rekindled. The important fact is that we continue to light them.

Attending all three assemblies allows me to witness numerous incidents of brightly shining flames in the form of talented and committed students who are supported by our talented and committed teaching and non teaching staff. The diversity and passion resulting from lighting these flames never ceases to amaze me.

Dr A J O'Connell

Headmaster

A VIEW ON NATIONAL TESTING

Recently Mr Tyrrell, Ms Hu and I had the privilege of attending an inspirational seminar sponsored by Catholic Secondary Principals' Association of WA. The speaker was Dr Yong Zhao who currently serves as the Presidential Chair and Associate Dean for Global Education in the College of Education at the University of Oregon. A highly entertaining speaker, Dr Zhao challenges us to rethink our attitude to international tests such as PISA and TIMMS where Australia is struggling to compete with countries such as China. In his talk he points out that the Chinese are not proud of their achievement of number 1 in the world - that they are questioning their strategies and whether the style of learning that creates excellent test results in literacy and numeracy has a stifling effect on creativity. The confidence to be creative is suppressed when skills are over-taught. Dr Zhao urged us to ensure our students be given the freedom to be creative, to be globally competent, to develop their passions, to be alert to opportunity, to take risks, to seek uniqueness, to have empathy and to create and care about friends. He stressed the need to develop the entrepreneurial side of ourselves, rather than accept homogenisation.

Dr Zhao quoted from Albert Einstein: "Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid". At Scotch, we use testing methods to ensure we identify and meet boys' needs. By adopting the International Baccalaureate programmes, we encourage boys to find areas of learning that develop the attributes as described by Dr Zhao. Over the coming term, boys will be completing their PYP Exhibition, their MYP Personal Project and their DP Extended Essay. Each of these is a unique academic opportunity for a boy to be creative and develop his own unique talent. As the Year 10 boys decide on their Year 11/12 Course there is a great breadth of opportunity of subjects on offer; the subject choice is varied within the Diploma, within the WACE courses and within the Certificate and INSTEP courses. They can consider the benefits of continuing their second language learning, or the excitement of exploring a new area such as Economics, or the benefits of including an Arts area into their studies that will extend their repertoire of skills. They can also build a Service component into their programme so they can demonstrate a breadth of interest in future interviews. Whatever he chooses Dr Zhao would urge him to always be an inquirer, to take a risk and to be open-minded so that he can be truly creative in his thinking about his future.

Dr Zhao spoke at the US Summit for Innovative Education in February 2013. His talk can be viewed on You Tube for those who may be interested.

Jan Skidmore, Director of Teaching and Learning

YEAR 9 AND 10 EXAMINATIONS (MONDAY - THURSDAY)

All boys have received personalised examination timetables via their House Heads, however they can receive a replacement timetable from Mrs Murray in Student Services or Mrs Turner in Academic Services. Parents are reminded that boys need not attend school when they do not have an examination. Written permission is required, via the form already emailed home. If your son is going to be absent for any exams, please notify seniorschool@scotch.wa.edu.au as early as possible. Most examination sessions will begin with 20 minutes (or more) of quiet revision time and boys should come well prepared for this. They should also bring some reading material, should they complete their exam early.

Boys should note the following:

• They are to provide their own stationery and this should be brought in a clear plastic bag
• Water bottles are most welcome, but should be clear plastic
• The room for any exams not in the Dickinson Centre
• Calculators and protractors are required for Mathematics and Science exams
• All boys eligible for Special Examination Conditions will sit their exams in room M24

Mr B Watson, Curriculum Administrator

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

University of Western Australia

UWA is offering three free events during the July holidays:

• A Day in the Life of an Architect Student, Tuesday 16 July from 8.45am - 4.00pm for Year 11 and 12 students
• A Day in the Life of an Engineering Student, Wednesday 17 July from 8.45am - 4.00pm for Year 10, 11 and 12 students
• A Day in the Life of a Business Student, Friday 19 July from 8.45am - 4.00pm for Year 11 and 12 students

Application forms are available from Mr Frusher at Scotch. Places are limited with applications closing on Wednesday 3 July 2013.

University of Western Australia

Information evenings will be held on the following dates from 6-7pm. Venues will be notified at a later date.

Tuesday 16 July - Architecture

Wednesday 17 July - Engineering

Thursday 18 July Arts - Social Sciences

Friday 19 July - Business

Suitable for Year 10, 11 and 12 students.

For more information and to RSVP please contact Alison Chan alisoncahn@uwa.edu.au or 6488 1450

Notre Dame University Early Offer Program 2013

Notre Dame University acknowledges and rewards the achievements of outstanding students through the Early Offer program by simplifying their access to university.

Students who have a predicted ATAR of 90 or above are encouraged to apply for this early offer by contacting Mr Frusher at Scotch. If a student is successful and accepts their Early Offer, it would in no way prohibit them from applying and accepting an offer from another university.

Applications are now open and close on Friday, 2 August 2013.

Notre Dame University

A Day in The Life of a University Student is an ideal opportunity to experience what it is really like at university. Talk to current students, take part in lectures, go on a campus tour and have lunch with academic staff. This experience is offered to Years 10, 11 & 12 students on Friday 19 July from 10am - 3pm at Notre Dame University in Fremantle. To book your place and for more information go to future@nd.edu.au.

Mr Frusher, Careers Adviser

WAAPA

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts will again be running week-long workshops during the July school holidays, along with the Music Theatre mid-year Workshop. These intensive 5 day programs offer an insight into the world of theatre and are run by WAAPA's full-time teaching staff; the same lecturers that stars such as Lucy Durack and Hugh Jackman studied under. Please see Miss Shaw at Scotch for application brochures. Places are limited so book early.

For more information and to download an application form, visit waapa.ecu.edu.au or contact the coordinator at explore.waapa@ecu.edu.au

REVISION COURSES

ATARextra July Revision Programme

ATARextra is again offering a range of WACE courses revision and study skills, exam technique and essay writing courses at Scotch College from Monday 15 July - Friday 19 July 2013. Enrolment forms can be collected from Scotch College reception, the Year 12 study area or Mr Frusher.

The April courses were well attended and the student evaluations can be viewed at www.atarextra.com.au. More information on the July courses will also be available on this website. ATARextra will also be offering examination preparation courses throughout next term from Week 6 to Week 10 from 5.15 to 6.45 at Scotch College. More details of that program will follow in the next newsletter.

TEE Consultant - WACE Revision Courses July 8-12

TEE Consultants are offering WACE revision courses at UWA from 8-12 July, 2013. While emphasis will be on course content, special attention will be given to examination technique, methods of eliminating careless errors and how work should be presented to gain maximum marks. Students attending the course will receive a workbook for each session.

For more information and application forms please see Mr Frusher at Scotch or contact TEE Consultants on 9387 2106.

Academic Task Force WACE Revision Courses 9-12 July

Study Skills and WACE Subject Revision Courses for Years 11 and 12

Small groups with highly qualified, experienced teachers maximise your performance; achieve success

Enrol with full payment before June 24 to receive our 10% "early bird" discount

For more information and/or to enrol contact Academic Task Force:

Ph: 9314 9500, email: learn@academictaskforce.com.au, visit: www.academictaskforce.com.au

Academic Associates - WACE Revision Courses

Academic Associates are offering revision courses in a variety of WACE courses at Corpus Christi College in the first week of the holidays (July 8 - 12) and UWA Campus in the second week of the holidays (July 15-19). Exam preparation will also be a key component of the courses.

For on-line bookings and further information go to www.academicassociates.com.au or phone 9293 7484.

Mr Frusher, Careers Adviser

CAREERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

Careers in the ADF

This session is a general session regarding careers in the ADF. It will cover all the careers, methods of entry and jobs in a broad sense, including General Entry roles such as trades and non technical positions including administration and support roles, Officer Entry roles such as General Service Officers, Pilots, Doctors and also Reserve (part time) roles. This session will also cover the recruitment process, lifestyle and provide the opportunity to ask questions.

ADFA Information Session

This session is about the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). ADFA is the Defence University located in Canberra where you can study a degree through the Defence and be paid for it. ADFA offers degrees in a wide range of disciplines, including Arts, Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Science and Technology. In your first year you will receive a salary package of $38,015 (excluding superannuation) which increases with each year of study. All of your Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) fees (previously known as HECS) will be covered. This information session will cover the recruitment process, lifestyle and provide the opportunity to ask questions. It will cover ADFA in greater depth.

Sessions are held at Level 7, 66 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

Reserve your seat by phoning 9488 7180 or emailing cptwa@dfr.com.au or find out more about Defence careers at www.defencejobs.gov.au

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Over the last two weeks, five teachers from the Middle School and Senior School attended a workshop in MYP Language B and eight attended a workshop in MYP Language A. These were shared workshops with colleagues from our sister school PLC run by Ms Margareth Harris who as the MYP Curriculum and Assessment manager is abreast of current and future developments in concept based learning.

Ms Celena Mecham and Ms Kirra Bush attended a film-making workshop at Swan Christian College, Mr David Coughlan began an online IB Diploma Music workshop, Ms Kathryn Salt attended a seminar about School Libraries and how they make a difference to the learning experience and Mr Scott Whiston attended a seminar on Teaching in the 21st Century Classroom.

Ms J Skidmore

Year 2 boys have been enjoying being involved in the iPad project during their unit of inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme 'How the world works' with the central idea being that 'force is applied to objects to enable movement and make deliberate changes'.

The boys utilise a variety of iPad resources to enhance their unit of inquiry in the classroom. In this unit, the boys used:

• Monster Physics
• Explain Everything

As part of their summative assessment, they were expected to create a machine that used forces to move or change an object. The boys designed the machine and demonstrated how it works on Monster Physics - iPad app. They then used the Explain Everything app to explain the forces at work on their machine.

These two apps are excellent for parents looking for good iPad apps to use at home. They encourage content creation and higher order thinking skills.

I look forward to sharing more iPad pilot projects in coming Thistles.

Amanda Ritchie

ILT Coach

Scotch Canteen

The Senior School canteen

The Senior School canteen is situated underneath the Music department adjacent to the swimming pool.

The canteen provides snacks at recess for all Senior School boys and lunches for Senior School Day boys. Click for a Senior School Menu.

The Junior and Middle School canteen

The Junior and Middle School canteen is situated in the Junior School Quadrangle. Boys order their lunches before school by writing their order on a paper bag (supplied by the canteen) and enclosing the money. Click for a Junior and Middle School Menu.

Scotch College uses the FlexiSchools system to provide a new cashless way to pay for school canteen services. This system allows parents or students in Year 1 to 7 to place Online Orders for Canteen purchases from home, work or school at any time via the internet, including an iPhone/iPad "app". Senior students (Year 8 - 12) can use their Student/ SmartRider Card to purchase items over the canteen counter.

HOW TO BOOST YOUR SON'S MOTIVATION AT SCHOOL

How often have you heard the comment, 'He's really bright but I can't get him motivated'?

Scotch College is pleased to present an opportunity for parents to hear Dr Andrew Martin, renowned speaker and author. Dr Martin is a leading researcher into the motivation of children. He will discuss the latest research into academic resilience and the psychological factors which affect academic success at school and in later life.

This seminar will be held Monday 22 July, please see the attached flyer for details. Bookings are essential and can be made through "Book a Scotch Event" on the Scotch Website: http://www.scotch.wa.edu.au/ .

Mid-Year Cocktail Party

This event is held by the Parents' Association to provide the opportunity for all Scotch College parents to come together for a relaxed and casual evening to celebrate the halfway point of the year.

Venue: Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club - Peppermint Grove

Date: Thursday 4th July, 2013

Time: 6.30pm-9.00pm

Cost: $35 per person - Cocktail menu included - Cash Bar for drinks

RSVP: 28th June 2013

To book your tickets please go to the Scotch Website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and click on "Book a Scotch Event" icon.

Enquiries to Gary Pyne - parentsassoc@scotch.wa.edu.au

JULY/AUGUST TRANSPERTH DISRUPTIONS

We have been advised all train lines will be shutting down during parts of July and August (Friday 12 July - Wednesday 17 July and Wednesday 31 July - Sunday 4 August). Some of the dates fall in school holidays. There are bus replacements but you can refer to the link below to see how it will affect your travel journey to school.

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/ServiceUpdates/ServiceDisruptions/MajorTrainDisruptionJulyandAugust2013.aspx

SCHOOL CANTEEN

Please feel welcome to visit us at the Senior School and Junior/Middle School Canteens. The doors are open for breakfast, recess and lunch from 7.30am till 2pm. Fresh hot and chilled cuisine is hand prepared daily by our resident chefs.

Volunteer participation is encouraged and provides a valuable service to the school also giving parents an opportunity to meet others in an informal way. It's great to see your boys enjoying their lunch and have the opportunity to provide feedback to the canteen manager. You will experience a friendly team atmosphere and assist our talented chefs to create innovative cuisine with fresh produce. Furthermore, your contribution as volunteers allows us to minimise operating costs ensuring value in our products sold.

Junior School Parents will have the opportunity to visit their boys in the classroom for recess and/or lunch.

The volunteer hours are 9am till 1pm and you will enjoy a sit down morning tea with the group featuring a gourmet tea selection or barista coffee and a freshly baked muffin.

As a canteen volunteer you are invited each year to attend a thank you afternoon tea with a special performance by the Scotch College Pipe Band in appreciation of your efforts. Additionally you will be invited to participate in a feedback survey to provide ideas for improvement in the food and service to your boys.

If you would like to volunteer one or more days a term then please send an email to catering@scotch.wa.edu.au to secure your place, please include the following information your name, contact number, email, preferred number of days per term, preferred days of the week and preferred canteen

The canteen roster is then drawn up and forwarded to you before the start of school each term and you will have the opportunity to swap your day if necessary by contacting the canteen directly.

If you have any queries, please contact Blake Hammond, Catering Manager, Scotch College on 9383 6812 or catering@scotch.wa.edu.au

See photo

INDIA TOUR CHARITY JUMBLE SALE

The Scotch College and St Mary's India tour group will be holding a jumble sale, sausage sizzle and bake sale on the grounds of Scotch College between the hours of 9 - 11am on Sunday 30 June.

Weather permitting, the sale will take place on the corner of Shenton Road and Australiand Street in front of Collegians House. There is plenty of parking and all are welcome.

Come down and grab a bargain, all proceeds aid our charities in India.

PARENT - TEEN CONNECTION COURSE

The School Psychologist, Shauna Lipscombe, has arranged for a parenting course (3 sessions in total) to be held at Scotch College in The Residence, held on Tuesday evenings (13, 20 and 27 August).

This course is aimed at parents of teenagers and will provide practical skills and suggestions to deal with problems and situations such as moodiness, money, clothes, leaving home, sexuality, stealing, drinking and drugs. Parents of teenagers often question whether they have the necessary parenting skills to deal with the many issues and conflicts that arise during their child's teenage years. Parent-Teen Connection combines relevant information with opportunities for parents to discuss their difficulties and concerns with other parents.

Cost per person: $25.00 for 3 sessions

Please note that due to the popularity of this course, bookings are essential! Places are limited.

For further information or to reserve a place, please contact Cherie FitzGibbon at cafitzgibbon@scotch.wa.edu.au.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Since the last edition of The Thistle, boys have been working hard preparing for the Junior and Middle School Autumn Concert that was held in the Dickinson Centre on Friday 21 June. This was a fantastic event that showcased younger musical talent of the school. Further details and photos can be found by following the link at the bottom of this page to the online Virtual Music Department.

Another event that is to be held early next term is the magnificent Jazz Night "Sounds of the 70s" to be presented on Friday 2 August. This event is always a fun, relaxing, toe-tapping night of musical entertainment and I encourage everyone to gather a table of friends together and get tickets!

Upcoming events to note are:

Monday 29 July, FOSM Meeting, 7pm, Senior Music Classroom

Friday 2 August, Jazz Night, 7.30pm, Dickinson Centre

Thursday 8 August, Senior Recital and Upson Award Performances, 7pm, Dickinson Centre

Saturday and Sunday 10/11 August, WA Schools' Jazz and Orchestra Festival

Wednesday 21 August, Con Brio Strings Soiree, 7pm, Memorial Hall

Friday 6 September, Scotch College Senior Spring Concert, 7pm, Dickinson Centre

Saturday 7 September, PLC Senior Spring Concert, 5pm, Dickinson Centre

Thursday 12 September, Junior School Strings Soiree, MacKellar Hall

Monday 23 September, Senior School Music Department Dinner

The Music Department holds a variety of performances for the Scotch College community throughout the year plus events for Scotch College boys and the girls from PLC who participate in Combined Ensembles. A more detailed version of the Music Department's Newsletter can be found by following this link.

https://ishare.scotch.wa.edu.au/groups/thevmdthevirtualmusicdepartment/wiki/a583e/Music_Department_Newsletter.html (Please use your Scotch Parent login.)

JULY HOLIDAY FITNESS TRAINING

So boys can maintain and build on their fitness for the remaining winter sports season and then Athletics, all students in the school from Years 5-12 are invited and encouraged to attend fitness training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning on the Memorial Oval, both weeks of the holidays from 9-10am. These training sessions are not compulsory, so there is no necessity for students/parents to reply to this notice advising of availability of attendance.

Training will not take place in all weather conditions. If it is very wet, cold and windy, strength training will be held in the changerooms. Please make the commitment and come to as many training sessions as possible.

Mr Doney

UNIFORM SHOP OPENING HOURS AND HOLIDAY OPENING TIMES

The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday, 22 July (the day before Winter Term commences) from 9.00am - 12.00 noon and 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

From Tuesday, 23 July normal term opening times will apply:

Tuesdays: 8.00am - 5.00pm

Thursdays: 7.30am - 11.30am

Fridays: 7.30am - 11.30am

INDIA TOUR COOKING CLASSES FUNDRAISER

In December 2013, a small group of students from Scotch College and St Mary's Anglican Girls' School will depart Australia to embark on a two-week pilgramage throughout India. During their time there, they will volunteer and donate resources to the places they visit which include an orphanage, a centre for people with disabilities, a school in the slums and an animal welfare charity.

As part of their efforts, a number of top chefs in Perth have put up their hands and donated their time to provide a series of cooking classes. To date, the community has enjoyed learning from Sophie Budd (Taste Budds Cooking Studio), Manuel Martinez (Paella and Tapas), Riki Kaspi (The Cooking Professor) and Iain Lawless (Lawless Cooking School). All money raised goes directly to our special projects in India.

The cooking classes wrap up with a series that delves into the cooking styles of India, and are run by St Mary's Old Girl, Faith Nichols (Comestibles). Attendees at the first two of four classes commented that it was superb and there are still places available at the two remaining classes.

Monday 8 July - Flavours of India with Faith Nichols - Agra

Spice up your life with the flavours of Agra! Our Indian Cooking series with Faith Nichols and Comestibles continues with this next class focussing on the flavours of Agra, home of the Taj Mahal! This class is certain to spark your interest and love for India! This class will offer rich and lavish Mughal influenced dishes, including some vegetarian ideas to expand your cooking repertoire.

Other details:

Date: Monday 8 July 2013

Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Location: Comestibles, 127 Kensington Street, East Perth

Cost: $60 per person

http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=51843

Monday 22 July - Flavours of India with Faith Nichols - Jaipur

Our series of Indian Cooking classes, like the St Mary's and Scotch College India Tour, is ending in Jaipur. Join Faith Nichols and Comestibles to discover the tastes of the "Pink City of India". This will be a vegetarian class showcasing a range of vegetarian dishes and also a focus on sweets and desserts.

Other details:

Date: Monday 22 July 2013

Time: 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Location: Comestibles, 127 Kensington Street, East Perth

Cost: $60 per person

http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=51848

During my first week in Junior School, I was fortunate to see the College Mission: to build boys of character, in action.

The great thing about sporting competition is the challenge it presents to the individual. It tests your endurance, your resolve to compete and to do better. In Week 5 we held our Inter-House Cross Country Carnival. Our event allowed the boys to demonstrate some wonderful attitudes. They cooperated with one another and competed with integrity. The enthusiasm of the boys was evident through the day as was their commitment to complete the run. For many it was a trial of endurance that they embraced. The Year 5 boys showed such kindness as they assisted the Year 1 boys, encouraging them to finish the one-kilometre course. What struck me most was their support of one another and their appreciation of the efforts of Mr Caniglia.

The mission to develop character is a long one. Many events and many people contribute to the finished person. This single event was one special opportunity for our boys to build upon their character and to show what fine young people they already are. Well done, to all who competed and thank you to the parents and extended family who supported them.

John Stewart

Head of Junior School

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Regional Office recently hosted a meeting for Heads of School and Coordinators of IB schools in Perth. The focus of the meeting was to share updates and to allow schools to meet face to face with IB personnel. One of the discussion points was the continuum: What are the commonalities you can identify between the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP)? The following are some of the key connections between the PYP, MYP and DP at Scotch College:

Philosophy/mission statement

• Leadership and structure
• Collaboration
• Curriculum/written (structural continuum subjects)
• Assessment - rigorous formative and summative assessments (exhibition, personal projects, Theory of Knowledge)
• Internationally minded (embodied in the IB learner profile)
• Action/Community and Service/Creativity, Action and Service (action is also asking questions)
• Academic honesty
• Structural continuum (transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, disciplines)
• Approaches to teaching (inquiry based, concept driven)
• Approaches to learning (transdisciplinary skills/approaches to learning; research skills, thinking skills, social skills, communication skills and self management skills)
• Individual needs
• Global contexts (transdisciplinary themes will be renamed global contexts in PYP to align with the terminology of the MYP and eventually DP)
• Additional language(s)

"At the centre of international education in the IB are the students with their own learning styles, strengths and limitations. Students of all ages come to school with combinations of unique and shared patterns of values, knowledge and experience of the world and their place in it.

Promoting open communication based on understanding and respect, the IB encourages students to become active, compassionate, lifelong learners. An IB education is holistic in nature - it is concerned with the whole person. Along with cognitive development, IB programmes address students' social, emotional and physical well-being. They value and offer opportunities for students to become active and caring members of local, national and global communities; they focus attention on the values and outcomes of internationally minded learning described in the IB learner profile."

Excerpts from: 'What is an IB Education?' International Baccalaureate Publication 2012

Kathy Derrick

PYP Coordinator

Junior School Free Dress Day - Friday 28 June

On Friday 28 June the Junior School will host a Free Dress day, organised by Ronnie Fellows-Smith in 5W. Ronnie was encouraged by his brother's Year 3 inquiry, 'How effective usage of water supplies lead to the survival of organisms'. All the funds will go to the Friends of Lake Claremont who watch the water pollution and preserve Lake Claremont. To participle in the Free Dress day, simply wear free dress and bring along a gold coin donation.

5W have been busy over the past few weeks completing their latest unit of inquiry, 'Symbols can express meaning and unify communication globally'. The boys have been immersing themselves in symbols and have been researching interesting questions they have generated themselves. Examples include "How does the Nike symbol communicate with their buyers?" and "How does the Olympic flag communicate globally?" The boys have been using their research skills to good effect and are starting to become excited about the upcoming PYP exhibition in Winter Term. We already have a number of very interesting speakers arranged for this busy time. A particular highlight over the past week was the Inter-House Cross Country Carnival. All the boys participated in this event and also ran with their Year 1 buddies, showing them the way and keeping them motivated on their first trip around the Cross Country course.

Scott Whiston

Year 5 Teacher

Talking with your children if they are bullying others

Encouraging your children not to bully others

You can:

• Talk with your children about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not, online and offline eg "we should not send nasty messages to people to make them feel bad".
• Work together with your family to establish simple rules and expectations about how your family treats each other.
• Work with your family to establish clear guidelines about Internet use at home.
• Encourage and provide opportunities for your children to openly discuss bullying issues, including cyber-bullying with the family.
• Discuss friendship and help your children to make friends by encouraging them to play with other children at school, at home or in the neighbourhood.
• Discuss with your children how to be a friend online.
• Invite other children to your home for visits and teach your children how to make their guests feel welcome.
• Encourage your children to share and be aware of the feelings of others.

Warwick Norman

FS&F Coordinator

I can give you a glimpse, thanks to the independent work of students such as Macsen Friday (4L), through his initiative in producing a presentation based on the current class inquiry 'How we express ourselves.' This is an extension from the art provocation about the strange, mythical creatures called Alebrijes, invented by a South American man Pedro Linares in 1936.

"At the age of 30, Pedro had a dream while he was very sick and it was of a strange land with mixed up creatures like a donkey with wings or a rooster with an eagle's head. These creatures were calling to Pedro but another man came and told him it wasn't his time to be there and sent him to find an exit back into the living world."

The central idea being 'Myths and legends offer perspective into the beliefs and values of a culture.' In Art, we have adopted the line of inquiry 'The roles of myths and legends in different cultures, places and times.' We reflected on the changing role of the myth from 'a dream enabling Pedro to come back into the world of the living' to 'inspiring and encouraging creativity in artwork.'

Macsen, being a genuine inquirer, researched independently at home and compiled a presentation to share with the class, with each slide offering a burning question such as:

• Is the story of the Alebrijes a myth or a legend?
• How many types of Alebrijes are there?
• What religion do these creatures belong to and why?
• Do these creatures protect the living?
• What are these creatures' purpose and why are they so famous?

This now incidentally provides a wonderful base to engage the other boys in the class in developing their inquiry, as they collectively attempt to answer the burning questions. Nic Paganin (4L) researched more along the lines of Mexico City's population, national flora and fauna, to help us tap into the cultural perspective of the artform. Ben Ramsden (4L) completed some wonderful detailed sketches of different animals to build up a bank of ideas about form for their sculpture.

Karen Sabitay

PYP Visual Arts

Bonjour! Year 5 classes have begun recording the play Comment y aller? using the iMovie software on their laptops. This is a great opportunity for the boys to showcase their speaking and acting skills. They are encouraged to exhibit some of the PYP learner profiles and attitudes during their work. This task will develop the attributes of communicators and risk-takers as they are working in a second language environment. Working as a group requires great cooperation and tolerance skills in order for the project to come to fruition. The finished movies will be available on the Junior School Language B wiki in the near future.

Madame Edwards

French Specialist

The term is quickly drawing to a close and the boys have been working extremely hard to end the semester strongly.

The Year 5 boys have a final JPSSA fixture for the term, against Aquinas (away). Following this, the JPSSA Inter-School Cross Country Carnival will be held here at Scotch College on Thursday 4 July. Ten boys from Years 4, 5 and 6 will be selected to represent Scotch College at this event.

The Year 4 boys will be competing in a Hockey Carnival hosted by Hale School on Thursday 27 June. The boys are eagerly awaiting this event.

Congratulations to the following boys who were awarded their medals from the Junior School Inter House Cross Country Carnival at Assembly last Friday:

Year 1

1st place Wes Howell

2nd place Angus King

3rd place Will Howie

Year 2

1st place Jack Cook

2nd place Matthew Graham

3rd place Will Fairweather

Year 3

1st place James Spadanuda

2nd place Rory King

3rd place Sean Palmer

Year 4

1st place Ethan Frankle

2nd place Jack Kapinkoff

3rd place Edward Allan

Year 5

1st place Adam Barwood

2nd place Rory Bruce

3rd place Will Lewis

The results from the Inter-House Cross Country Carnival are below:

1st place James 423

2nd place David 414

3rd place Gordon 350

4th place Andrew 331

5th place Robert 319

6th place Bruce 318

Jason Caniglia

Head of Junior School Physical Education

Hello from the Library. This week I will share some strategies for parents to assist their children in their reading at home. Below I have listed three types of 'modelled reading' recommended for the younger years:

Paired Reading: You and your child read a text together. Your child takes over the reading alone in sections where they feel confident. They may devise a method of letting you when they want to read independently (eg gently tapping you on the arm). For more difficult text you may take turns in reading sentences, paragraphs, or even pages of text - establish the rule before commencing.

Shared Reading: You read to your child and discuss various text features such as illustrations, headings and interesting words. Your child reads along while appreciating the print and illustrations. Your child may connect to the visual or oral language, builds print awareness, and gradually gains in confidence.

Choral Reading: You and your child read aloud in unison. You model fluency and expression. Your child hears patterns of language and develops sight word vocabulary. Poems for two voices, songs and simple scripts could be used.

For the older years I recommend to parents, to read the books (or ebooks) your children are reading. This will enable meaningful discussions and common interest points. Feel free to borrow and read some of the books below before recommending to your boys:

Skellig by David Almond

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool by Odo Hirsch

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Blueback by Tim Winton

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickets

Scatterlings by Isobelle Carmody

Tomorrow When the War Began by John Marsden

Crow Country by Kate Constable

The Golden Door by Emily Rodda

Warwick Norman

Junior School Teacher Librarian

Year 1

Cameron Boyd

Sebastian Buchanan

George Di Prinzio

Frankie Foster

Austin Hollier

James Hollier

William Howie

Thor Leckie

Nathan Liu

Lewis Muller

Beau Povey

Isaac Smith

James Winch

Jack Wood

Year 2

Matthew Graham

Max Mackay-Coghill

Ross Whittome

Year 3

Henry Cooper

Finn Cummins

Lachlan Marley

Benjamin Melville

Riley Monaghan

Jordan Naidoo

Fletcher O'Connell

Sean Palmer

Andrew Stegena

Year 4

Will Hawkins

Patrick Johnston

Jacob Lewis

Milan Narula

Dylan Palmer

Declan Reilly

Sebastian Reynolds

What an exciting few weeks it has been in Performing Arts! Firstly I would like to congratulate all of the fantastic musicians, dancers and actors who delighted us with their talent in the Junior and Middle School Mid-Year Concert last Friday evening. The thrill of performing has not ended for our Year 5 boys who will be involved in the IPSHA Performing Arts Festival on Wednesday 26 June. After months of preparation, they will perform a Matinee for their peers in Years 3 and 4, along with several other schools, as well as an evening concert for friends and family. I wish our Year 5 boys all the best! Break a leg!

Phebe Samson

Performing Arts Teacher

*For selected students only

Student Led Work Share & Reporting Information

The final two weeks of Spring Term have arrived with Semester Reports very much the focus of our attention in Middle School. This is the last edition of The Thistle for Autumn term.

An important event for us in the final fortnight is the Student Led Work Share morning on Tuesday 2 July. The Work Share event is an opportunity for your son to showcase his work, his environment and his knowledge by leading you around his domain explaining how life and learning unfold in his classroom. Your son has also been preparing his Student Portfolio that he will present to you during the Work Share session. The Student Portfolio is not a display of his most outstanding work, but rather a sample of work that best describes the units of work, the understandings and the processes he has gone through in each subject area. Work Share runs from 8:10am to 9:10am. You are welcome to come for 10 minutes or stay for the hour as it is a valuable reflective opportunity for your son. We look forward to seeing you then.

Following the Work Share session Anna Eriksson and I will host an MYP Reporting Information Session. This session is for parents who are new to the MYP and would like the MYP Report explained prior to the reports being sent out on the last day of term. This session will run for approximately 40 minutes from 9:10am in the Dining Hall Annexe.

Richard Ledger

Head of Middle School

The inter-house cross country saw many boys give of their best. Congratulations to Andrew house for taking out top honours. Having run the timing chip system for the first time we were able to award the inaugural 2.5km course records to Luca Fry (10:04:15) in Year 6 and Cooper Lindsay (10:05:53) in Year 7.

Final house standings:
1st: Andrew
2nd: Robert
3rd: James
4th: Gordon
5th: Bruce
6th: David

As a result the following boys have been selected for the inter schools squads:

Year 6: Luca Fry, Jesse McDonald, Matthew Moore, Benji Steinberg, Jacob Jones, Benjamin Gale, Oscar Grant, Lucas Triglavcanin, Max Belcastro, Cormac Taylor and Oscar Harold

Year 7: Cooper Lindsay, Arthur Payne, Connor Enslin, Daniel Walker, Laine Mulvay and Matthew Murphy.

With three weeks left of the term, it is important for the boys to remember their continuation of their winter sport through until week 4 of winter term.

ATHLETICS FITNESS TRAINING
Athletics specific training is being conducted for any boy in Year 6 and Year 7 on Monday (3:30-4:10pm) and Thursday (7:10-8am) wishing to prepare themselves for the upcoming season. Boys must meet at the Gooch Pavillion.

Running club on Monday and Thursday mornings (7:30am) is an additional club for the boys.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations must go to Laine Mulvay who has been selected to represent WA at the National Gymnastic Championships in Sydney. We wish him well.

Lawrence Felgate
Head of Middle School Sport

Excellence Awards

Important Dates in Middle School Autumn Term

Friends of the Lake

For the many years Scotch College Middle School has been involved with the Friends of Lake Claremont (FOLC). FOLC is a community organisation established and run by local residents all of whom are volunteers. The organisation's mission is to assist in the conservation and enhancement of Lake Claremont, which is situated right in Scotch's backyard!

The organisation aims to plant 83,000 seedlings this year as part of its native plant re-vegetation program. Once again, we have decided that we have a responsibility to help in this ongoing project, so all classes and teachers in the Middle School will be pulling on their gumboots and gardening gloves and getting to work!

Last week boys from 7L took a walk around the lake to see some of the areas that boys planted in last year. It was evident that the hard work has started to pay off with many plants flourishing and the rehabilitation effort evident.

We are really looking forward to getting involved in 2 weeks' time. It is great to be able to put something back in to our local community so that people can continue to enjoy this beautiful area for a long time to come.

Ms Lana Schorer

Teacher 7L

Student Achievement

Congratulations go to Connor Patton 7W who, reciting 'Manco the Peruvian Chief,' won the Year 7 division of the Perth Speech and Drama Festival's Poetry section last week.

FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Each week at our Senior School assembly we learn of the outstanding achievements of so many of the boys. In the Summer Term alone, there were six boys selected to represent Australia and twenty boys selected to represent Western Australia in a diverse range of sports. The rate at which the boys are being selected for state and national representation has continued to be a feature at this term's assemblies.

With so many boys achieving at such extraordinary levels, we risk underestimating the scale of these achievements. A short announcement followed by brief applause at an assembly does little to help us understand the true nature of some of these achievements. In a new initiative from Mr Hindle, Head of Student Leadership, we recently enjoyed the first of a series of student interviews that will reveal the challenges and motivations that are behind some of the boy's success.

In the first of these interviews, Cody Witham, Year 12, Keys, who has just been selected in the Australian Wrestling High Performance Programme in the lead up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, spoke of his training schedule, his willingness to try a range of sports before discovering wrestling and the importance of finding your passion. Cody's humility and relaxed speaking manner were impressive and his advice to students was clear - Be prepared to try a range of different activities in the search for your passion and whatever it is that you choose to do, strive to do your best.

Too often people attribute success to ability and sometimes even luck but this is a limited and misleading view. As Cody revealed, effort and application are the keys. In a review of the qualities of highly successful people, Art Costa and Bena Kallick, in their book, Discovering and Exploring Habits of Mind (2000), identified traits such as persistence, attention to detail and flexibility, to name just three qualities, as common amongst those who are successful. Cody's example was a clear illustration of these qualities and left a strong impression on all of us.

Another recent example where effort and attention to detail were the primary attributes for success was the senior production, Billy Budd. This was an outstanding performance in every sense and a credit to the boys involved. From the student run sound, lighting and stage management to the convincing character performances on stage, Billy Budd was an outstanding success. The director of the production, Mr Andrews, is justifiably proud of the cast and crew. There is no doubt that the boys involved in Billy Budd will have fond memories of their involvement in this production for many years to come.

Dr Rob McEwan

2014 MEGACITY TOUR - USA

Expressions of interest for the 2014 Megacity Tour to the United States will be sought during Autumn Term. The tour will be travelling to San Francisco and New York and will run during Week 10 of Summer Term into the April school holidays. Students currently in Years 9, 10, and 11 are invited to attend. Whilst the tour is designed to complement the units of work studied in Years 10-12 Geography, students who do not study Geography are more than welcome to attend. Please contact Mr Hildebrandt for further information, mshildebrandt@scotch.wa.edu.au or 9383 6927. An information evening will be held later in the term.

SCOTCH COLLEGE TOURS 2014

BOYS' ACHIEVEMENTS

Thomas Gooch (Year 9, Keys) has been selected for the WA AFL 15's team to play in the National Schools Championships in Darwin, 9-18 August.

YEAR 11 CERTIFICATES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

YEAR 12 CERTIFICATES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

YEAR 12 ACADEMIC COLOURS

YEAR 11 - PC ANDERSON and WR DICKINSON SCHOLARSHIPS 2013

Students currently in Year 11 are invited to apply for the PC Anderson Scholarship or the WR Dickinson Scholarship. The PC Anderson Scholarship was established by the Old Scotch Collegians to commemorate the contribution made by PC Anderson as Headmaster. It is awarded to a boy who is a son or grandson of an OSC.

All other current Year 11 students may apply for the WR Dickinson Scholarship.

The Scholarships are available to boys in Year 11 for their final two years of school and the fees for the successful recipients are adjusted accordingly.

The criteria for both scholarships is based on:

• Academic ability and performance
• Leadership qualities and aspirations
• Interest and success in PSA sports and:
• Involvement and success in a broad range of co-curricular pursuits.

Students who are interested in applying for either of these Scholarships are requested to collect an information package from the Admissions Office located in Collegians House. The package will not be provided to parents, boys will need to collect the information from Admissions.

All applications should be submitted to the Admissions Office by Monday 12 August at 4.00pm, with interviews being conducted on either Tuesday 27 August or Wednesday 28 August. Please contact Ms Di Moran in Admissions 9383 6809 if you have any queries.

SENIOR SCHOOL STAFF MOVEMENTS

YEAR 9 PRODUCT DESIGN

Year 9 Product Design Musical Instrument Making course requires your old guitar strings. So if you have a guitar sitting around and have been waiting to buy some shiny new strings, please do so and hand in your old strings to Mr Stephen McLean. They will come in very handy.

As you are no doubt aware the Scotch College Pipe Band is recognised widely for its high standard of performance. It adds a unique aspect that touches every part of the school community and makes our ceremonies like regular Assemblies, Open Day, Athletics Day, Speech Nights and Year 12 March Out, second to none. What you may not be aware of is that the Pipe Band Parent Support Group provides all of the funds to maintain and replace instruments, provide the uniforms and ceremonial attire and support for performances both at Scotch and away. We therefore seek your support for the following important fundraisers.

On Saturday 10th August we are holding the Lone Piper Event at the Gooch Pavilion. As part of this event we are offering for sale cases of commemorative Lone Piper Shiraz which is a 2005 vintage from the Mt Barker region of WA (if orders exceed supply then this will be supplemented by a 2006 Lone Piper Cabernet Sauvignon from the same region). The wine commemorates 21 years of fabulous service by Pipe Band Master Mr Norm De Grussa who received a standing ovation from the Senior School during assembly when his service to the Pipe Band was acknowledged. Pre-orders for commemorative Lone Piper Shiraz are due by Wednesday 7th August. Download the form here.

Our second fundraiser is the annual Sheep Manure Drive; we will deliver to your door 75 litre bags of high grade, weed free sheep manure ready to treat your garden in time for Spring. Orders for the sheep manure need to be received by Tuesday 30th July and will be delivered on Saturday 10th August. Download the form here.
Your support of these fundraisers is really appreciated and order forms for both are attached.

Scotch College Pipe Band

Sheep Manure Fundraiser

SATURDAY 10^TH AUGUST 2013

Support the Scotch College Pipe Band by purchasing high grade; weed free, 75 litre bags of sheep manure, delivered free to your door for just $15 a bag!

Delivered just in time for Spring, don't miss your opportunity to treat your garden to a high quality, slow release manure and at only $15 a bag.

Order now and your fertilizer will be delivered to your door on Saturday the 10^th of August.

To download an order form click here.

The Mothers' Auxiliary Guidelines for 2013 is available for all reps and MA members. Please pick up your copy from reception in the Senior School.

We are looking for Year 8 parents to help Sarah Birch as a rep. If you are able to please contact either Sarah at birch.s.m@bigpond.com or Clair Stanley at clairstanley@iinet.net.au

Year 12 Father/Son Breakfast which is in the calender for July 4th has been suspended until a later date due to clashes with other events. Please check the newsletter for amended date details in the not too distant future. Any year 12 parents wishing to volunteer to form a sub-committee to organise this event please contact the Year 12 reps or Clair Stanley.

City/Country Lunch for 2013 has been scheduled for Aug 7th. It will be held on the grounds of Shane and Helen Martins' (son Sam, Year 10) property in Bindoon. Please save the date as more details for booking will be announced very soon. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help organise the lunch please email Clair Stanley at clairstanley@iinet.net.au

Year 10 Mother's Sleepover at Moray is on Saturday August 10th. Save the date as booking details will be announced soon. We are seeking some year 10 mothers to help organise the event. Please email Danielle Newman at moose115@bigpond.com

Our next meeting will be August 12th at 9am in the Gooch Pavilion. ALL WELCOME.

Clair Stanley
President, Scotch Mothers' Auxiliary

FOPAS (Friends of Performing Arts at Scotch)

Congratulations to all involved in the recent outstanding production of Billy Budd.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to all the families and friends who assisted in numerous ways, from sewing, poster distribution, set construction, to backstage and Front of House over 5 performances in the Dickinson Centre. This was a magnificent effort by all. We will hold a coffee morning early next term to say thank you, and bid a fond farewell to our year 12 parent supporters who have assisted so generously.

In the meantime….. not long to our Middle Years production, so if you would like to be involved, please email us on FOPAS@Scotch.edu.au
Janet Kirkby

FOPAS

In a series of articles from time-to-time I'd like to feature some of our notable alumni and like me I'm sure you're continually amazed and inspired by the notable achievements be they large or small, academic or with a commercial or community focus as to what some of our Old Scotch Collegians have achieved at a relatively early age or after a lifetime of experience.

Today, I'd like to tell you about Patrick Hollingworth OSC (1994), who early on his life decided "that a life half-lived is a life wasted". It was this fundamental mantra that drove Patrick to undertake a climbing apprenticeship in the Himalayas and to become an accomplished and seasoned mountaineer. His decade of hard work and perseverance paid off when he finally realised his dream of summiting Mt Everest on May the 17^th of 2010.

Standing on the summit of Mt Everest confirmed his suspicion that it is only when we move outside our comfort zones that we truly stretch ourselves and find out who we really are. Patrick has built upon his own experiences and now leads expeditions of other climbers to reach their mountaineering goals.

Based upon his own lessons in leadership, Patrick now runs a leadership consultancy and delivers presentations, workshops and outdoor team-building leadership programs in Australia and around the world.

Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science with honours and in addition to his mountaineering career worked as a consultant to the oil and gas and land development sectors for more than a decade. He has been awarded Professional Membership of the Speakers Association of Australia and is member of the Australian Institute of Management.

Patrick's achievement illustrates what drive, determination and persistence can achieve and we're honoured to have him as part of the OSC Community.

Michael Silbert ('79)

President OSC

ONE YEAR TO GO UNTIL THE 2014 GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Enjoy an evening of Scottish heritage while mingling with Western Australia's Commonwealth Games athletes, Olympians and aspiring elite athletes. See attached flyer for more details.

ANGLICARE WA

Supporting Children After Separation - Holiday Workshops

Anglicare offers four different psycho-educational workshops designed for children and young people whom have experienced family separation. These workshops run during the school holidays and are two hours in length. The workshops are grouped into age groups with one being 8-11 and the other is 12-15.

Separation Info Kids Style:

• Provide an opportunity for children to learn about separation and provide them a general understanding of the legal side to separation.
• Aims to introduce children to different services, normalise feelings around separation, promote healthy expression of feelings, encourage support networks, provide information on why parents separate, explain some terminology used in the court setting and provide children an opportunity to meet other children in similar circumstances.

Being in a Step Family:

• Assists children with the changes that occur from becoming a step family such as gaining skills to have respectful relationships with step parents/siblings.
• Aims to normalise feelings, reduce feelings of isolation, provide support and explore issues that are relevant to step-families and the new roles in the family it entails.

Living under Fire:

• Provides children with the skills to better manage conflict experienced either by them-selves or others.
• Aims to provide children an understanding of conflict, thoughts and feelings triggered by conflict, reactions to conflict, staying safe, being assertive and children's rights.

It's not my fault

• Educates children about healthy relationships and provide an understanding of why some relationships break down.
• Aims to deepen children's understanding of types of relationships, boundaries and why relationships break down and develops children's skills to communicate effectively such as problem solving and listening skills.

To register please call 9263 2104.

Web: www.anglicarewa.org.au

HOLY ROSARY PARISH

The sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred by Bishop Donald Sproxton on the weekend 14/15 September, exact date and time yet to be decided. Children at Catholic Schools are prepared as part of the religious education programme (please complete the registration form on the parish website). Children at non-Catholic Schools attend the catechetical programme in the Parish Centre, commencing Wednesday 26 June, 4-5pm (please complete the enrolment form on the parish website) www.holyrosarynedlands.org.au. All parents attend the adult faith-education evening in the parish centre on Wednesday 7 August, 7.30-8.30pm.