Over many years of working in education I have been very fortunate to experience some extraordinary events and hear some wonderful people. Last Monday was no exception when I was privileged to attend a small gathering of students and teachers at UWA to hear His Holiness The Dalai Lama deliver an address with great humour and wisdom; a rare combination in many of today's world leaders. I would like to share some of the messages relayed by His Holiness and reflect on the role of the programmes we offer at Scotch in helping us achieve some of his teachings.

His key message is the need to keep in mind the concept of oneness in our world. So many times we default to placing more importance on what we do and the positions we hold. We should understand that our shared humanness is the key to a functional globe. We are born and die the same. In essence all that most of humanity strives for is to live a happy and purposeful life. When we focus too much on position and official status we are promoting these as being more important than the value of the individual regardless of what they do or the position they hold. Affection and love are the key factors for survival.

Harrison Patten-Williams (Year 12, Cameron), Bailey Banfield (Year 12, Cameron), Coen Lewis (Year 12, Keys) and Yarlalu Thomas (Year 12, Stuart) attended the gathering with His Holiness The Dalai Lama at UWA.

Given the forum was for students from many schools, his message focused on telling them that the youth are our hope and that they hold the key to happiness or misery.

The students were challenged to consider how they could develop a better world that included less cheating, bullying and corruption. He was quick to point out that the answer did not lie in more technology; it could only be achieved through their brain and their hearts working in unity. When we focus on love and compassion between humans we will develop a stronger sense of tolerance and forgiveness in the world, something that is missing in so many places across the globe.

Three topics were addressed through questions from the audience. These included dealing with modern day stress as a student, the challenges facing Indigenous cultures and the increase in the radicalisation of youth.

In addressing stress the message is simple in his eyes. Leaving things to the last minute, a fault the Dalai Lama admitted to as a student, just increases the pressure one may experience as part of a busy school and personal life. Lack of sleep is also an issue. Finally, he encouraged the students to visualize the positive outcomes and success that may result from their study and hard work. Trying to visualise your future can make the journey more palatable. It is always important to set yourself goals in order to provide both challenge and direction.

His Holiness' passion for Indigenous cultures was clearly evident when our own student Yarlalu Thomas (Year 12, Stuart) asked a question that clearly resonated with both the Dalai Lama and the wider audience. In essence his message about how can we improve on our Indigenous issues lay in respecting all cultures and their unique origins. Preservation of all cultures is a right and critical to humankind. It is quite clear that all Indigenous cultures across the world face similar issues. In order to save cultures within a modern educational framework, isolation and separation is simply not an option. Health and education are seminal to addressing some of the key issues Indigenous communities are facing. A lack of either puts Indigenous culture and their people at risk. Indigenous people must have full confidence in their ability to achieve and grow. The brain and heart's capacity for emotions and education are all the same. Surface differences should and must not determine a person's future. We all have the capacity for positive as opposed to destructive emotions.

On the issue of radicalisation of youth he believed the root of the problem is an ever-increasing focus on material success. This focus leads to exploitation and corruption. People who only value this are easily manipulated to radicalism and encouraged to eradicate those who are seen as having what they should have. If we teach and promote moral principles purely based on religious difference then we may create sources of conflict. High levels of religious passion can lead to fundamentalism and an unhealthy culture based on focusing on differences rather than commonalities. Given over 1 billon of the world's population are non-believers; the development of moral constructs purely centered on religion will leave this group out. Secular morality is not the desired outcome.

A more encompassing strategy is to focus on teaching moral development that takes into account three common threads shared by all religions. Firstly we must practice the message of love and build mutual respect, not difference. Secondly, we should come from a shared philosophical stance of extending love and acceptance to our fellow humans. Thirdly, we should never underestimate the importance of using stories to impart cultural mores. We need to celebrate difference as opposed to using it as a wedge between other cultures and people.

Focusing on the role of education and schools he reminded us all that that we must base our moral teachings in schools through promoting whole heartedness, compassion, and a common experience based on commonsense. Teachers must demonstrate compassion and model action through service. In demonstrating care and uniqueness to their students their message will reach deeply into the students hearts and minds leaving an indelible impression.

Finally, we all are faced with making decisions based on thinking what is right as opposed to feeling what is right. We must always canvass multiple views when making any decision. An individual still holds the key to their own moral compass and every situation must be treated as unique requiring new thought and consideration. Too often poor decision-making is based on generalizing from one situation to another.

Unfortunately in a world where we face many challenges, it would appear that in many cases, fear and violence are given equal weighting to love and compassion.

As one would expect the message from his Holiness is simple yet profound. In a world where complexity and division are so prevalent, it was refreshing to hear a message of simplicity, hope, well-being and balance. In essence the path to inner peace cannot be found in the pursuit of materialism but through acting with compassion and love towards fellow human beings. The very act of assisting those less fortunate will bring us a feeling of satisfaction and happiness.

It is no coincidence that our College's core values focus on integrity, service and stewardship. Every word imparted by the Dalai Lama can be lived out through paying attention to what we already stand for at Scotch. Our focus on community and service, our International Baccalaureate curriculum and the learner profile and our membership of the Round Square group of schools will continue to ensure that our boys are exposed to an education that can never be fully measured by a simplistic and narrow University rank. As we embark on our next 5-year strategic plan we must endeavor to develop a value-add scale to measure the impact of our co-curricular, service and international focus.

Developing an accurate and reliable value add measure of non-academic activities is not going to be easy. However, as our School Captain, Oliver Heath responded when asked by Mr Andrews the Director of our Senior School production, if he knew just how difficult it would be playing the lead role in the recent College production of 'The Tempest': "If something is not difficult then it is not worth doing."

It is hard to believe that this is the last Thistle for the term. In closing I would like to congratulate all of the boys for their effort and commitment throughout the term. Likewise I thank all of our staff, both teaching and non-teaching for their commitment day in and day out. As we embark on another first in our Colleges' history, a three-week mid year break, I trust that you will find time to enjoy the company of your family and take the opportunity to relax and refresh in readiness for another busy term.

Have a great break.

Dr A J O'Connell

Headmaster

The Fathering Project

Justin Langer (AM) recently faced a big decision in his career. The Perth Scorchers' Coach and former Australian Test Opener revealed his recent career choice to a receptive audience at a fundraiser for The Fathering Project on 4 June.

The decision, Langer reflected, was between his head and his heart. Having received an offer from the English Cricket Board to be considered for the role of the Head Coach of the English Cricket Team, Langer needed to consider a move that would see him away from his family for up to eleven months of the year. His decision was to withdraw from the process, in large, due to the fact that he has four daughters and his commitment to them as a father was paramount.

The Fathering Project is a University of Western Australia based non-profit organisation established to simply help men become better dads. Established by Dr Bruce Robinson, the Fathering Project aims to support fathers and father figures with busy lives to make time to be present for their children.

As a father of a two-year-old this resonated with me, additionally, as I have interactions with students from Year 1 to 12 often the conversations turn to influences from home. Whilst certainly not under valuing the mothers of Scotch College, I encourage the dads to take five minutes of their day to consider the information available on http://thefatheringproject.org/ if for no reason other than a pat on the back to say well done on the job you are doing as a dad.

Mr P Allen

Director of Teaching and Learning

Community Service

Year 10 Round Square Exchange Programme

Current Year 9 boys interested in applying for a Round Square short-term exchange in the 12 months from Spring Term 2015 to Winter Term 2016 are invited to collect an Exchange Application Form from the Student Services office. During the past 12 months Scotch boys have travelled to Denmark, India, Peru, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, USA and Canada. This is an exciting opportunity for boys to have a unique experience in a Round Square school in another part of the world. Boys travelling overseas typically go for five to six weeks and often in part over a holiday period, missing a minimal amount of Scotch tuition. Application Forms need to be completed and submitted by the end of this term. Please contact Bill Cordner for further information. wjcordner@scotch.wa.edu.au

Tanzania Expedition

Places for the 2016 Tanzania Expedition are now open. This will be the sixth combined Scotch / PLC expedition to Tanzania. The group going in 2016 will continue the work of assisting Matipwili village to build a Trade Training Centre. The group will also climb Mt Meru, undertake a safari to Ngorongoro Crater and take part in a conference with students from schools in Dar es Salaam. More information on the trip can be found here or contact Bill Cordner. wjcordner@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Cancelled: Human Rights Arts and Film Festival @ Scotch

Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival, planned for June 28 in the Dickinson Centre. With one week to go ticket sales were insufficient to justify further preparation for the event. The Melbourne Human Rights Arts and Film Festival directors have graciously agreed to continue working with Scotch to develop the concept for a future event. The individuals and agencies who were to come on the day have also indicated a willingness to be involved in a future event of this nature.

Mr W Cordner

Director of Community and Service

Student Wellbeing

Managing your Daredevil Teenager

Risk-taking behaviour is quite normal for teenagers. It is the way they learn about themselves. Boys don't want to be seen amongst their peers as being foolish. They tend to look at each other and do what the group does… and this may mean taking risks and pushing boundaries to prove that they are a worthy member of the group.

But there is a whole spectrum of risks… from learning new tricks on a skateboard to binge drinking to train surfing. What can you do as a parent?

Setting appropriate ground rules and keeping lines of communication open is a good start as a parent. It can also help to understand boy's brains:

• The part of the brain responsible for impulse control isn't fully mature until about the age of 25
• The amygdala (commonly known as the reptilian brain, responsible for fostering curiosity and entertaining aggression) is 16% bigger in boys than in girls

Adolescent boys, then, are particularly vulnerable to making 'poor choices'.

Andrew Fuller, author of 'Tricky Kids' writes that "once a tricky kid gets an adrenaline rush, trying to change his behaviour is a complete waste of time". Stress from family life, school or peers can increase another hormone, cortisol, so it is important for families to provide low levels of stimulation and develop routines to lessen the strain and make their children feel safe from violence, ridicule or humiliation.

Michael Grose from parentingideas provides tips for managing your daredevil teenager:

• Involve teenagers in repetitive movements like table tennis or swimming to naturally increase the levels of dopamine and serotonin
• To avoid heated arguments and theatrical displays of teenagers storming out of the room, give kids some space and talk to them when sitting down shoulder-to-shoulder in a car, rather than face-to-face to remove some of the pressure
• Redirect your teenager's built up desire for experimentation by involving them in adrenalin-charged sports like rock climbing, martial arts or mountain biking to release pent up energy
• Develop the art of forward planning - an important skill that daredevils and teenagers in general lack, by participating in games that require the formation of plans and strategies - like cards or board games
• Encouraging real life social situations and promoting them as being more valuable could help reduce the risks teenagers take through social media. For example, volunteering at community events, taking classes or enrolling in competitions where they can display their talent are all good alternatives to excessive social media usage.

Ms Shauna Lipscombe

Senior School Psychologist

India Tour Fundraising Movie Evening

The Scotch College and St Mary's India Tour Students invite the School Community to an India Tour Fundraising Movie Evening to see Mr Holmes on Friday, 24 July 2015 at Windsor Cinemas with all proceeds will go towards charities in India.

Tickets are $20.00 Students and $25.00 Adults

To purchase tickets please visit the Scotch College website and click on the 'Book a Scotch Event' icon

Shenton Road Closure

Western Power will be undertaking work in the area from Monday 29 June to late August 2015. The closure will enable Western Power to underground the existing overhead high voltage power lines currently located along Shenton Road. In addition, works associated with the realignment of Shenton Road will be undertaken to improve traffic flow in the local area. A map showing the road closure area and detour routes is provided.

Uniform Shop Opening Hours and Holiday Opening Times

The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday, 27 July (the day before Winter Term commences) from 9.00am - 12.00 noon and 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

From Tuesday 28 July normal term opening times will apply:

Music Department

Last week the Music Department celebrated two major performances with sell-out audiences in the Dickinson Centre. On Thursday evening the Junior and Middle Schools presented their Autumn Concert which involved a range of ensembles including a String Orchestra, Vocal Ensembles, Guitar Ensembles and the very first performance of the brand new Middle School Concert Band. The entertainment began with a performance by the Year 5 cohort presenting their IPSHA creation which had been performed at the Convention and Exhibition Centre the previous evening.

On Friday Night the Dickinson Centre was transformed into a darkened Jazz Club by the parents of FOSM (Friends of Scotch Music) to enable the presentation of the Annual Jazz Night with this year's theme "Soul Train". Three Big Bands performed; Stage Band, Big Band and the Jazz Ensemble, Scotch Vox, the Jazz Combo also enthused the crowd. The festive dance vibe continued with the Staff/Student/Guest Big Band playing out the night featuring William Goyder (Year 12, Ross) and Harry Adler (Year 12, Ferguson) on vocals.

My thanks to all involved in the preparation and presentation of these two big Music Department events with special thanks to the parents of FOSM who for many years have supported the work of the staff and boys in the Music Department.

Upcoming Events:

Thursday 25 June in the Dickinson Centre at 6.30pm. Stuart McCowan (Year 12, Ferguson) presents an hour of Jazz Piano Performance supported by the Scotch College Jazz Combo. Donations at the door to Beyond Blue. All Welcome.

Supporting the musical activities is Friends of Scotch Music (FOSM) a group of parents who enthusiastically support the work of boys and staff in the Music Department. FOSM meets once or twice each term with all meetings beginning at 7.00pm. Meetings go for approximately one hour, and are held in the Senior School Music Room with everyone welcome. Please consider becoming involved in the FOSM Parent Support group as an excellent way to support your son and the Music Programme at Scotch College.

Contact Details

The Instrumental Programme is administered by the Senior School Music Department and all queries should be directed to the Music Administrator, Julia Robinson (9383 6841) music@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Alternately, please contact Mr David Coughlan, Head of Music, via email DGCoughlan@scotch.wa.edu.au or phone 9383 6842.

If you wish to become more involved in supporting the Music Department by receiving information about the work of FOSM, please contact FOSM@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Parenting Ideas

To further support the Scotch community, the College continues to subscribe to Parentingideas, a leading provider of parenting education resources to Australian schools. Scotch parents can access parenting advice on a wide range of topics and themes such as;

Life skills for children

Kids, school and learning

Social challenges and

Children and behaviour.

Follow the link to access the Parenting Ideas Magazine.

http://www.parentingideas.com.au/Parent_Magazine.html

Also have a look at the attached article - Do you compare and compete with other parents?

Ms Shauna Lipscombe

Senior School Psychologist

Head of Junior School

Success of Our Boys

The past two weeks have been a very busy and very successful fortnight for the Junior School. Our boys have entertained, learned and competed in a number of forums and all have done us proud.

Speakers Challenge

The Year 5 boys have written speeches on topics dear to their hearts. They have practiced their delivery and shared their speeches in their classes to their classmates. The final five from each class then went on to compete in the Inter-House Speaker's Challenge. This is the second year of our own speakers challenge competition. The quality of the boys' speeches and the confidence with which they delivered them was excellent. The boys from Years 1 to 4 were entertained and challenged with speeches that covered topics as:

All the boys did a fantastic job but only three could be selected to represent the College at the IPSHA Speakers challenge on Wednesday 1 July at Carmel School. Congratulations to Thomas Simich, our overall winner, Mitchel Hyde (2^nd) and Julius Kain (3^rd).

Inter-House Cross County Competition

On Friday, the Junior School held its Annual Inter-House Cross County Competition. The boys ran well to represent their Houses, earning points for the overall competition. Mr Whiston changed the course this year and presented a wonderful day for our boys. I was surprised at the quality of the running. Winning boys in Year 1 and 2 run sub five minute kilometers and our Year 5 champion ran two kilometers in 7 minutes 30 seconds. The boys in all years levels ran very fast times.

The challenge of the running was met head on by all the boys. Some ran for times, others ran to finish, but all were champions. I wish to congratulate all boys for the efforts and Mr Whiston for organising an excellent event for our school community

Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) Violin Exams

Two of our violin students, Nathan Liu (Year 3) and Emanuel Radici (Year 5) have recently completed their Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) violin exams with both receiving A grades with honours. These are outstanding achievements.

ICAS Writing

On Monday 15 June, a group of talented writers from Year 3 to 5 entered the ICAS writing competition. Independently, the boys wrote a book review about a well-loved book or an imaginary story, with the intent for it to be posted to their College's website to persuade fellow students to read it. Mrs Turkich prepared the boys for the challenge through special sessions to help them with their writing. Well done to the following boys who represented the School:

Maths Association of WA 'Have Sum Fun On-Line' Competition - Second Place

The Year 5 maths group entered in the Maths Association of WA 'Have Sum Fun On-Line' Competition. The boys had to complete 30 challenging problems in a set time. The team with the highest score in the fastest time won. Teams across the State and country took part. Of our three teams entered, the team of Hugh Fellows-Smith, Alex Russel-Weisz and Julius Kain came second overall. This is an excellent achievement. The maths boys from Year 3, 4 and 5 will compete in the second Maths Association of WA 'Have Sum Fun On-Line' Competition in the Winter Term.

Tim Winton Writing competition

Over 70 boys from the Junior School have being working on original pieces to enter into the Tim Winton writing competition. Their compositions were entered on 14 June. We will find out later in the year how our boys have done.

Year 5 IPSHA Performing Arts Festival

Our Year 5 boys have once again done us proud. Under the leadership of Miss Samson, the boys performed a beautiful dance routine entitled 'Illuminate'. Our boys closed the show and stole it as well. Their performance was opened by a bagpipe solo by Chris Watts, followed by an inspired and moving modern dance by the talented Year 5's.

Junior School/Middle School Mid-Year Concert

The boys from Year 5 and our other talented musicians and singers wowed parents and friends at the Mid-Year concert. The night showcased the talents of these fine young men. I had to keep reminding myself that some of the boys performing were only 8 years old. The quality of the performances was outstanding and the risk taking attitude and confidence and ability of the boys was on display for all to see. Well done to the team of talented music teachers who worked so very hard to teach and prepare the boys for this wonderful night.

2W Writing Talents

Our boys in Year 2W shared with me some poems they had written. To inspire them, Mrs Webster took them outside to look at the sights of our college. They recorded what they saw, trying to describe them as best they could. On returning to the classroom, they used this inspiration to write amazing poems about our school. The quality of the work across the class was outstanding. Reading their poems, the reader can easily picture in their mind what the boys had seem. Selecting four to share with our community was a challenge as all the poems were so beautifully written. Please enjoy these samples.

All of the boys mentioned here should be very proud of their efforts. They have been risk-takers and have also demonstrated their commitment to their learning and enthusiasm to have a go. All boys on our College have enjoyed some success recently, whether it has been for challenging themselves in the Inter-House Cross Country, entering a competition or trying hard in class. I am immensely proud of all of the boys and they should be proud of themselves.

Mr John Stewart

Head of Junior School

Important Dates to Remember

Primary Years Programme (PYP)

Looking at Central Ideas

Over the previous two Thistle articles I discussed the significance of transdisciplinary learning and the role of the Transdisciplinary Themes in ensuring a globally significant conceptualised program. We now pull down into the Units of Inquiry (UOI). These are 'transdisciplinary' (remember what that means?) units of work that run for from four to seven weeks. These units are driven by a generalisation know as a Central Idea. Below I have demonstrated an example of a Central Idea as well as some information about the formation of a Central Idea.

Central idea

Each of the units of inquiry has a central idea. The central idea should be written in one sentence that expresses concisely an enduring understanding. Each central idea will support students' understanding of the particular transdisciplinary theme it is connected to, and should challenge and extend students' prior knowledge. Central ideas should be globally significant and have relevance to students in all cultures and contexts, offering students the opportunity to explore commonalities of human experience as framed by the description of the transdisciplinary theme.

Central ideas do not have to be worded in a complex way, nor do they have to be written in language appropriate to the age of the students. Words that students may not have come across before, but are essential to the understanding of the central idea, should be included. This means that the central idea may need to be "unpacked" by the teachers or students and discussed in language that the students can understand. By the end of a unit of inquiry, it is reasonable to expect students to be articulate about the central idea and to explain their understanding in their own words.

Mr Warwick Norman

Junior School Dean of Teaching & Learning

Art News

After an absence during Week 6 & 7, I was very impressed with the effort made by all the boys in Art. I could tell that the boys had worked really well and put in lots of hard work, showing they are principled students. A special thank you also to all the parent helpers who came along and assisted Ms Flugge during the art classes. I always gain lots of inspiration when I am in new and different environments and I did have an opportunity to source amazing arts ideas.

There are many big arts projects coming together as we near the end of term.

Year 1 - Creating their own movable vehicles, ready for the big "race off."

Year 2 - Lucy Cousin's style collages are with the printers, being formatted ready to print into sets of glossy cards for purchase. They look amazing, very colourful and creative!

Year 3 - Just finishing exploring how products change, by using PVA glue in a dried form and working them into Georgia O'Keeffe inspired flower artworks. These will look very effective, mounted with a light mount and framed in your houses.

Year 4 - Designs for the Oz Board shorts are almost finalised and the individuals whose designs have been selected for the "Hero Design," will be notified soon. Very exciting for all the boys, who will be running around on the beach this summer wearing Year 4 Scotch College exclusive designed artwork.

Year 5 - Have their upcoming exhibition on June 30, showcasing their 4D Lighthouse Sculptures, that actually light up! There will be video footage of boys viewing "Sculptures by the Sea" Exhibition and working at the Clay House, and photographs of their lighthouses at different stages of production. Boys have written moody paragraphs imagining they are the keeper of their lighthouse. Here is an example of the writing below.

Modern but rusty, the eroding lighthouse stood tall. It creaked and squeaked. The dizzy old keeper (Jim) walked up the busted, ragged stairs with a destroyed handrail. As he walked up the stairs he tasted burning coal from the supply ship but the jaw dropping smell was worse, rotten fish in his tank below. As he reached the top, he lit the flame for the kerosene lamp but had to come back down again to clear out the dead fish in the old tank. When he got up the next morning he went fishing to restock his tank.

Matthew Coutts 5C

Ms Karen Sabitay

PYP Visual Arts

Performing Arts News

The boys in Year 1 have been enjoying a variety of dance activities and tasks in Performing Arts as they explore the elements of dance. They have remembered these elements by using the acronym 'Dance is BEST!' (B = Body, E = Energy, S = Space, T = Time). The boys have had fun creating their own movement sequences in pairs with a farm theme, and did an excellent job of creating each movement to fit into an 8 beat phrase. Once they got a firm handle on the 8 beat pattern, they were able to branch out to learn a dance called "The Banana Peel" as a whole class, and because of their excellent concentration and beat keeping skills, the boys performed the dance with great success!

Miss Phebe Samson

Performing Arts Teacher

Friendly Schools and Families

Understanding the school's responses to bullying

Bullying situations can be complicated and trying to identify exactly what is happening and why can take time. Punishment alone is unlikely to be effective and may be seen to be using 'bullying to stop bullying'.

As mentioned in the second newsletter article this year, bullying is when:

One or more of the following things happen AGAIN and AGAIN to someone who finds it hard to stop it from happening again.

It is also when a person or a group of people offline or online (mobile phone or Internet):

• Make fun of/tease someone in a mean and hurtful way.

• Tell lies or spread nasty rumours about someone to try to make others not like him/her.

• Leave someone out on purpose or not allow him/her to join in.


• Hit, kick or push someone around.

• Deliberately damage, destroy or steal someone's things.

• Threaten or make someone feel afraid of getting hurt.

It is NOT bullying when:

• Teasing is done in a friendly, playful way.

• Two people who are as strong as each other argue or fight.

The school priority is to stop the bullying and to try to reduce the chance of it happening again.

The key to stopping bullying is getting children to talk about what is happening and decide what to do to make the situation better for everyone. This approach is called the Method of Shared Concern and will be explained in the next edition of this newsletter.

Mr Warwick Norman

Friendly Schools and Families Coordinator

French News

Salut! The Year 1 students have been practicing their greeting skills in French. The learning outcome we are aiming to achieve is for the boys to interact with their peers to socialise and establish relationships using appropriate language in simple exchanges. The use of technology has been wonderful in helping the students showcase their acquired skills. They have used an App called Puppet Pals to record their voices and present their work. We then viewed the Puppet Pals and the boys were able to give feedback to others and reflect on their own work.

Madame Edwards

French Specialist

Physical Education News

The Junior School Cross Country took place on Friday 12 June on the Scotch College playing fields. Ben Olson piped the boys into their bays and the students supported their friends as the Year 1 boys set off at 10.00am for the first race. Cooper Royle won the Year 1 race (4min 33secs) over the 1km course and Jonathan Gattorna the Year 2 race (4.27) over the same distance. The Year 3 and 4 boys ran 1.5km and these races were won by Tom Chalmers (6.54) and Jack Cook respectively. James Spadanuda completed a great day with his victory in the Year 5 race over 2km (7.44). A great day was had by all as the expected poor weather stayed away. All the students who completed the course scored points for their houses. Bruce House was victorious in the Inter-House competition, followed by Andrew, Robert, David, Gordon and James.

Mr Scott Whiston

Head of Junior School Physical Education

Junior School Resource Centre

Why worry about reading comprehension?

Reading is more than saying the words or getting from the beginning of the book to the end. To be successful readers, children need to be able to comprehend and form opinions about what they are reading. Research has shown a number of strategies parents can share with children as they read that will help them gain understanding.

In this fortnights article I have included some of these, along with sample questions you could ask your son to liven up your reading discussions at home…

1. Making Connections

Readers constantly make connections as they read; connections to their own lives, another book, or world events. Discussing these connections can increase interaction and interest in a text as well as deepen comprehension.

• What does this book remind you of?
• Can you understand how the character was feeling? Why?
• Does this book remind you of another book?

2. Visualising

Readers create pictures in their minds as they read. If the book is too difficult they are unable to do this and comprehension is lost. Living in a world that gives them constant visual stimulus, visualisation is an increasingly important element to reading comprehension and a skill that boys find a challenge.

Questions from parents could include:

• What do you picture as you read this paragraph?

• When reading this story did you make pictures in your head?

• How did these pictures help you understand the story better?

3. Questioning

When readers question the text before, during, and after they read, they attend more closely to the text, clarify meaning, make predictions, and focus their attention on what's important.

Before Reading

What do you think will happen?

During Reading

What do you think?

What do you wonder?

How come…

What does this word mean? How can I figure out using clues from the text?

After Reading

What would have happened if…

I wonder why the author…

I wonder where we could look to find out more about…

4. Inferring

More than simple prediction, inferring happens when readers can take what they know and what is written in the book to read between the lines. The ability to infer helps the reader get to the why of the story and draw conclusions. You can help your son use inference by asking…

• Why did you think that would happen?

• Why did the author write the story in that way?

• Why do you think the character feels that way?

• Why did the character do that?

So whilst the competitive nature of boys means that they want to be reading at a higher level, parents and teachers need to encourage them to slow down and enjoy their reading journey and ensure they are comprehending what they are reading.

Enjoy your fortnight of reading.

Mrs Kathryn Salt

Junior School Teacher-Librarian

2F News

On Thursday 21 May the Year 2 boys met up with their Year 12 buddies for the Annual 2/12 Breakfast, in preparation for the 2015 time capsule ceremony later this year. When reminded they needed to arrive at 7.15am Blake said "I might be a bit grouchy Mrs Fowles!" The boys were greeted early the next morning by their Year 12 counterparts and excitedly ran around the Junior School grounds looking for 'Treasure Hunt' clues. Mr Hindle was delighted to be serenaded by all the boys (as per the last clue). The Year 2 boys were incredibly excited the next day and were still talking about their buddies! Our sincerest thanks to Mrs Webster, Mr Hindle and the parents who kindly gave up their time to help make the morning such a wonderful success.

On Friday 19 June, the Year 2F boys will present an assembly about our unit of inquiry - "How the World Works." We have been learning about the natural world and its laws. A highlight of our unit so far was our excursion to the "Discovery Gravity Centre" in Gin Gin. The most exciting thing was we got to test Galileo's theory. We dropped different sized water balloons from the top of the tower and we proved his theory that objects of different weights DO FALL at the same speed!

Mrs Tara Fowles

Year 2 Teacher

Excellence Awards

Congratulations to these boys for receiving an Excellence Award.

Head of Middle School

I shared a wonderful story at Assembly last Friday of three Middle School boys who had birthday parties recently. On their invitations they asked their guests to join them for an afternoon of celebration and they each requested that no gifts were to be given. Instead, if guests wished to, they could donate some money and the boys would then forward the funds on to a charity of their choice. This is what they did and between them added almost $1000.00 to our Nepal Earthquake Appeal. When we hear stories such as this it is a heartening feeling knowing there is another cohort, another generation, following in the footsteps of those who are listed on honour boards, plaques and memorabilia throughout the College recognising, selflessness, compassion and generosity.

In closing, thank you to our Music Staff who combined brilliantly last week with the Middle Years Guitar Ensemble, Middle School Orchestra, Middle School Concert Band, Middle School Chamber Ensemble and the Scotch Youth Voices to present another wonderful Junior/Middle School Autumn Concert.

Mr Richard Ledger

Head of Middle School

Important Dates in Autumn Term

World Scholar's Cup

On the weekend of June 6-7, the World Scholar's Cup descended on Perth for the second time. Founded in Korea in 2007, the World Scholar's Cup is an international enrichment tournament that motivates students to demonstrate their existing strengths and to discover new ones. It aims to celebrate a love of learning while fostering a global community of future scholars and leaders.

The World Scholar's Cup has been hosting Regional competitions all around the world since late 2014 and Week 7 of this term was Australia's turn to compete. Scotch College selected 30 boys from Years 7, 8 and 9 to compete in the Junior Division (11-14 years). The boys had been attending weekly study sessions since the beginning of term under the mentorship of James Naylor-Pratt (Year 11 Anderson House) and Drummond Orr (Year 11 Ferguson House), who attended the WSC Tournament of Champions at Yale University in 2014.

The 2015 theme was 'The World Unbound' and students were taking part in team challenges based on History, Science, Arts, Literature, Social Studies, Heroes and Superheroes. Each team consisted of three members who had to compete in four events as a group. The four events were Scholar's Debate, Scholar's Bowl, Collaborative Writing and Scholar's Challenge. The event ran for two full days and although it was a considerably long and challenging weekend, the boys' enthusiasm did not wane.

Amidst all of the essay writing, team debates, interactive quizzes and multiple choice tests there was still time for much laughter, enjoyment and new friendships to be made. The day concluded with a Debate Showcase, Talent Show and an Awards Presentation Ceremony. Two of our Scotch College students were selected to participate in the Debate Showcase based on their performances earlier in the day. The impromptu debate centered on the motion that 'Australians make the best superheroes', and it was a fantastic display of quick thinking, intelligent arguments and persuasive public speaking skills.

As the Presentation Ceremony drew to a close, Scotch College left the Regional Round with an abundance of medals and trophies for a number of individual and team achievements. Three of our teams placed in the top five teams in Junior Division, with one team being named the Overall Champion Junior Team.

Lewis Orr, Thomas Hodge, Jack Taylor (1^st Place Junior Team)

Cole Walker, Rafe Harrison-Murray, Tanay Narula (2^nd Place Junior Team)

Darius Opie, William Steinberg, Daniel Wiese (4^th Place Junior Team)

Darcy Frazer, Jordan Bowling, Riley Thomas

Prentice Shepherd, Harry Penrose, Oliver Broun

Gianni Kain, Tomaye Mojeutan, Will Reeves

Lachlan Norcott, Adam Darley, Nicholas Gower

Harry Pasich, Benjamin Marshall, Jack Adams

Lucas Triglavcanin, Blake Costello, Nathan Thomas

Shayan Saebi, Jed Hood, Sean Pentony

Middle School Achievements

Adam Darley - 3^rd place: The Arts

Will Reeves - 2^nd place: The Arts

Sean Pentony - 3^rd place: Literature

Blake Costello - 4^th place: Individual Debate, 7^th place: Overall Student

Benjamin Marshall - 3^rd place: History

Thomas Hodge - 1^st place: History, 1^st place: Special Area, 1^st place: Scholar's Challenge

Jack Taylor - 2^nd place: Social Studies, 3^rd place Science

William Steinberg - 3^rd place: Special Area, 5^th place: Overall Student

Lewis Orr - Overall Champion Student, 3^rd place: Writing, 2^nd place: Individual Debate, 1^st place: Scotch College student

Dr Rob McEwan, Mr Sam Sterrett and Ms Deborah Mullin

World Scholar's Cup

7T Guided Literacy

7T does Guided Literacy most mornings between 9.35am - 10.00am. The rationale was to increase the 7T boys' literacy levels in a fun and engaging way. Each week 7T has a particular stimulus. Some of the stimuli this year have been Nordic Gods, Indigenous Dream Time Stories, the Olympic Games, Layne Beachley and the Red Bull World Record Free Fall.

The 7T students are required to answer three questions linked to the week's stimulus. The three questions are a Literal, an Inferential, and an Evaluative. The Guided Literacy approach to answering questions follows the RAPS formula. RAPS is an acronym which stands for:

R - Restate the question

A - Answer the question

P - Prove your answer with evidence or a quote

S - Sum up your thoughts and conclude your response.

Also within the Guided Literacy programme is the Pastoral Care Programme. This is a series of lessons focused on the boys engaging with their emotions and learning how to manage them in a positive way.

The Guided Literacy programme has been a wonderful initiative in the Scotch College Middle School that is filled with great questions and answers from the inquiring minds in 7T.

Mr Peter Tresise

7T Teacher

8F Expedition to Moray

The team of 8F and 8K took off on a expedition to Moray this term. Many of the boys knew of what Moray would entail and there was much to learn about their individual characteristics whilst being away from their creature comforts. Pleasingly the boys worked cooperatively and the new boys in 8F had this to say of their experience:

"The Moray rope climbing was a good experience that involved more teamwork than I had first thought. When we arrived at the course I was quite nervous but as soon as we got underway it was great. Both climbing the ropes and the rock wall were hard but worth it when you got to the top. To top it off we got to abseil down the tower, which was my favourite part". Aidan Veitch

"On our second day of Moray after our hike we embarked on a canoeing journey down the Murray River. To start with we did some basic skills, then we played some games. We played a seesaw game where each partner stands on the very end of the canoe and 'seesaws to try and tip the other one off. Then we were off on our journey, we went over 3 rapids. And the scenery and tranquility was amazing." Liam McCreery

"On the trek many pranks where pulled, rocks were put in packs and packs were tied together. At first we did not realise but not only did we have to watch our backs from the other students, we learnt that Mr Felgate was all but too happy to play practical jokes. After what seemed like days we finally finished our trek. Everyone was exhausted and couldn't wait to go to sleep." Luke Smith

"Camp outs were very cold. I was freezing. This was all to the fact that I had a 7 degrees sleeping bag and not a 0 degree bag. I would highly recommend using the correct bag as it gets very cold down there. The food was good if you cooked it correctly, but you really need an extra mat because the ground is hard." Nathan Cuthbertson

"The food at Moray was a very good indicator at how the whole camp was run; well- organised, exceptional and required a bit of effort. We had a diet of burritos, wood fired pizza and steaks and a wood fired barbeque. Every student assisted and cooked his own portion or provided a communal effort to everyone else's. Every student felt productive and part of the team. Every meal was tasty and I'm sure everyone agrees." Sam Woodward

Moray provides a great environment for teachers and boys alike to learn about each other whilst learning important life skills.

Mr Lawrence Felgate

8F Teacher

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Samuel Tulk (6.1GB) who has been selected to represent Western Australia in the SSWA Swimming & Diving team. Samuel will compete at the National Championships in Adelaide later this year.

Welcome to the New Junior Middle Library

The new Junior Middle Library (JML) contains more than just books. Besides browsing and reading our expanding collection of new books, boys can also come in to play board games or experiment with our latest technology gadgets. At the start of the term we introduced a 3D printer into the space and the waiting list to print a 3D object filled up for the entire term in only a few short days. It has been fascinating to see what objects our boys choose to print! We have recently added a number of other exciting kits such as Little Bits, Makey Makeys and arduinos, plus we have more equipment to come! Boys are using these kits to create simple and complex circuits and inventions outside of class time. We have discovered that our boys are amazing inventors and problem solvers. It shows that the JML is a place of learning, where boys are not only able to consume knowledge but are able to create it as well.

Mrs Jennifer Lightfoot

Middle School Teacher Librarian

6GB Electricity - An Illuminating Unit!

The boys in 6GB has been staying current and discovering watts watt about all things electrical this term. They have been ex-static to learn about series and parallel circuits, voltage, conductors, and sustainable energy. There was little resistance from the students who have de-lighted in the hands on activities. Wire they doing it? Well, the boys can now conductor series conversation about the dangers of electricity and how to safeguard their homes against any shocking accidents. As usual the students were up and atom. They were hanging on to every word about electromagnets and created their own using a battery and wires. It has been an en-lightening experience, with amp-le learning opportunities. 6GB apologises for the bad chemistry jokes, but all the good ones argon.

Mrs Andrea Goodison & Mrs Robyn Bose

6GB Teachers

Inter-House Cross Country

Thank you for joining us on the oval last Friday for our Cross Country event. Once again a fantastic setting and great weather was complemented with gutsy endeavours by the boys and a loud cheering positive atmosphere generated by all of those on the sidelines. Congratulations to our three new record holders Max Mumme Year 6, Will Gordon Year 7 and Oscar Harold Year 8 on their terrific wins, and my admiration to those boys who find running difficult but stuck it out to finish and contribute to their House. We saw great displays of both ability and character during the Cross Country races. Congratulations to James House on winning the aggregate points trophy on the day.

Mr Richard Ledger

Head of Middle School

Friends of Lake Claremont

Last week it is very noticeable the regrowth around the edges that Middle School has been involved in replanting. FOLC, Friends of Lake Claremont has invited Middle School boys to participate in replanting events for the past five years and the results in regrowth and rehabilitation are impressive. During Week 9 and 10, Year 6 and 7 classes will once again join in the annual replanting programme and hopefully reflect with some pride the return of a wetland that was once a municipal rubbish tip.

Excellence Awards

Leading by Example

"If it's not hard, it's not worth doing"

These were the words spoken by Oliver Heath, School Captain, when discussing the lead role in the recent production of The Tempest. If the last two weeks are anything to go by, it seems this sentiment is shared by many of the boys in the Senior School.

Over the past two weeks we have observed numerous examples of boys willingly accepting challenges, striving to do the best they can, working collaboratively and taking risks. There is no better example than the outstanding production of The Tempest from boys in Year 11 and 12. To see so many or our senior boys performing with such energy, conviction and character left me full of admiration, not only of their performance on stage and back stage, but equally their dedication, tireless efforts and attention to detail leading up to the performance. Mr Andrews, together with student director Luke Harris (Year 12, Alexander), are congratulated on directing, inspiring and encouraging the Senior boys in what was an outstanding production.

In the week that followed The Tempest, all boys in the Senior School sang as part of their House Choir. The Inter-House singing competition is now in its third year and this year the standard has reached a new level. All Houses sang with full voice, choreographed entertaining routines and appeared to enjoy their time on stage. I am sure for some boys singing on stage in front of the Senior School brings with it feelings of apprehension, nervousness and self-consciousness and yet they did it!

A major influence in our ability to accept challenges are the examples that surround us on a daily basis. In the Senior School, these examples are very often the actions of our senior boys. When we see Oliver Heath, School Captain, Mac Hanlin, School Vice-Captain, William Goyder, Head of Student Council all performing major roles on stage and Bailey Banfield, School Vice-Captain working at the front of house in The Tempest, the example is clear. Similarly, as I watched all members of the cast and crew it was no coincidence that amongst these boys were school debaters, musicians, sportsmen and members of environmental and community service programmes.

Last Friday night, a large number of boys involved in the music programme performed in the Scotch College Jazz Night. This was an outstanding night of high quality, entertaining music. The standard being set by boys in the big bands, jazz ensembles and vocal ensembles is remarkable and is the product of years of music practice, expert musical direction and a commitment to performing at one's best.

What makes the efforts and achievements of our senior boys particularly admirable is their willingness to do what many won't; to accept challenge; take a risk and have a go. When the Year 12 boys lead by example, they show all boys what is possible and make it easy for others to follow. To see just a sample of this leadership in action, parents are invited to this week's Senior School assembly when Keys, Ferguson and Alexander sing in the final of the Inter-House singing competition.

Dr Rob McEwan

Head of Senior School

Boys' Achievements

Nicholas Crump (Year 9, Shearer) has been selected in the State AFL 15s Team to represent WA in the National Schools Championships in Geelong 17 - 26 July 2015.

Lachlan Mackenzie (Year 11, Anderson),Mitchell Atkinson (Year 11, Alexander) and Hamish Anderson (Year 11, Stuart) - Bronze medalists at the Australian School Boys Water Polo Championships in Sydney. Lachlan Mackenzie was selected in the Australian School Boys Team.

Year 11 Certificates of Academic Excellence

Year 12 Certificates of Academic Excellence

Academic Colours Year 12

The following boys have received Academic Colours previously.

New Academic Colours Year 12

Academic Honours Year 12

Year 11 - PC Anderson and WR Dickinson Scholarships 2015

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.
• Senior School Leadership experiences and aspirations.
• Interest and success in P.S.A. sports.
• 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 Campbell House on Thursday 25 June 2015. 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 Friday 14 August at 4.00pm, with interviews being conducted during Week 6 of Winter Term. Please contact Ms Di Moran in Admissions 9383 6809 if you have any queries.

Important School Dates - Autumn Term Week 10

Scotch Tour Applications 2016

Please see updated tours and dates for 2016.

Holiday Fitness Training

To maintain your fitness over the extended three week holiday period during July, fitness training will be conducted on all weeks for all students from Year 6 to Year 12, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 8.30am - 9.30am, on the Memorial Oval. The training will be beneficial to all students wishing to maintain and build on their fitness for winter sport, plus provide an excellent preparation base for students aiming to improve their fitness for the coming Athletics season which starts in Week 5 of Winter Term. There are four to five weeks between your last PSA winter game fixture at the end of Autumn Term to your first fixture at the beginning of Winter Term. If you are doing little or no training during this time your fitness will drop considerably. While these training are not compulsory, you are encouraged to make every attempt to attend these training sessions. Individual and team success in sport does not occur without commitment, discipline and hard work.

Messers R Foster, M Gale and A Doney

Surfing

We are very pleased that in the year that Scotch adopted Surfing as a full PSA sport option, we were able to win against other PSA sides if only by just one point.

Congratulations to the team and coaches from Surfing WA.

Also congratulations to St Andrews, overall winners of the Inter-House surfing last Friday. The winning surfers for each division as follows:

Mr Jonathan Rugg

Career Information

Year 11 Subject Selection for students commencing Year 12 in October, 2015

Subject selections are now due in on-line and a printed copy to be given to Mr Frusher. If you have any concerns about the process, please contact Mr Peter Frusher: pfrusher@scotch.wa.edu.au or 93836830.

University Information

Notre Dame University Early Offer Programme 2015

Notre Dame University acknowledges and rewards the achievements of outstanding students through the Early Offer programme 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, 31 July, 2015.

Notre Dame University is offering the following study skills course during the July holidays. Separate courses are available for Year 11 and Year 12 students.

Do you want to STUDY LESS and ACHIEVE MORE?

University of Western Australia

UWA 'Engineering Information Evenings' will provide high school students with course and prerequisite advice, information on career paths and guidance on the different areas of engineering they can specialise in. There will also be friendly students on-hand to answer any questions about university life or being a member of one of the faculties exciting student clubs.

Attendees will be given a folder of course information and a special gift from the Faculty.

Engineering Information Evenings will run on the following dates in 2015:

• Monday, 27 July, 6:30pm - 7:30pm, Weatherburn Lecture Theatre, Room G40, Mathematics Building
• Sunday 9 August - as part of UWA Open Day
• Thursday, 3 September, 6:30pm -7:30pm, Weatherburn Lecture Theatre, Room G40, Mathematics Building

To book into a session go to: http://www.ecm.uwa.edu.au/community/engineering-info-evenings.

UWA offers scholarships in a range of disciplines as part of its commitment to attracting high-achieving students while maintaining equity and access.

Eligibility varies, depending on the scholarship being sought. However, the range of scholarships means that all students have the opportunity to apply.

Applicants

• New students: UWA offers a range of scholarships and awards to high school leavers and other commencing students in partnership with the Fogarty Foundation, which supports excellence and encourages individuals to realise their potential.
• Indigenous students: Several scholarships are available to Indigenous Australians starting an undergraduate degree or the Aboriginal Orientation Course.
• Rural and regional students: To be eligible for scholarships based on rural or regional status, you must prove that you lived in a rural or remote area.
• Current recipients: Information on Centrelink, ongoing eligibility, and payment of your scholarship is provided.

Apply for scholarships online using Pandora.

UWA's 'A Day in the Life of...' events are held in the July school holiday period.

Applications now open!

• A Day in the Life of an Architecture Student Thursday, 9 July
• A Day in the Life of a Psychology Student Friday, 10 July
• A Day in the Life of an Engineering Student Monday, 13 July
• A Day in the Life of a Physics Student Tuesday, 14 July
• A Day in the Life of a Business Student Wednesday, 15 July
• A Day in the Life of a Botany Student Thursday, 16 July
• A Day in the Life of a Law Student Friday, 17 July

How to apply

All events require an online registration, which includes a supplementary Emergency Contact and Parental Consent Form.

Registrations are now open for the July events. Select your chosen activity from the above list to apply online now! Due to limited places being available, applicants will be advised of their success or otherwise the week prior to the respective event.

Murdoch University

Parent Information and Pizza Evenings are a free and fun opportunity to meet the Murdoch University Future Student Team to find out everything you need to know about Murdoch and what students can expect as they transition from high school to university.

Join the Murdoch team for some delicious pizza as they demystify university preferences and the TISC process, as well as course information, how to apply, alternative pathways, fees, scholarships and support services.

South Street Campus on 24 June, 6.00pm - 7:30pm.

Academic Group Revision Courses

Experience the benefits of our July School Holiday Programmes:

Year 11 and 12 WACE and ATAR Revision Programme

Year 7 - 10 Skills Development Programme

6 - 10 July and 13 - 17 July

Various subjects - Various Times - Study Skills - Essay Writing

To see our programmes and to enrol go to:

www.academictaskforce.com.au for Churchlands, Perth Modern School and Rossmoyne

www.academicassociates.com.au for UWA and Notre Dame

Phone: 9314 9500

Email: learn@academictaskforce.com.au

PSAT/NMSSQT

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test measures the critical reading, writing and maths skills students need to succeed in college and beyond and seen as an essential preparation tool for students who are considering future study in the USA. Scotch College is now a registered test centre and will be offering students the opportunity to sit this test on Wednesday 14 October 2015. The cost is $30 per student which includes preparation material, personalised feedback on test results and a suggested custom SAT study plan. If students and/or parents are interested in finding out more about this test please contact Mr Frusher at Scotch College.

To register go to website, book a Scotch event - Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test.

Mr Peter Frusher

Careers Adviser

Parents' Association

The Senior School boys will be pleased to hear five new water coolers will soon be installed thanks to the efforts of two Year 12 boarders. Ben Piercey and Poom Areecharoenlert, represented the Student Council and delivered a most persuasive PowerPoint presentation to the Parents' Association meeting on June 10 about the need to replace outdated and faulty water fountains. The Parent Committee listened and responded with unanimous approval and it was a pleasure to hear the boys present their case in such a professional manner.

The PA encourages students, teachers and parents to contact the PA with requests for funding for projects at Scotch, which could benefit and enhance academic life for our boys. This funding is made available through the parent levies of $25/term. Funding Request forms are available by contacting Kate Quinn, Director of Marketing and Business Development, on KQUINN@Scotch.wa.edu.au. All applications for funds, both large and small, are assessed by the PA Committee at our monthly meetings.

The recent projects approved by the PA include:

• The purchase of three Pacer Sailing Boats for Scotch Sailing
• Robotics Pilot Program for Junior School
• Training equipment for Scotch Football
• Visiting Speaker Programme

For a full list of projects that have been approved by the PA in 2014 and 2015, please visit www.scotch.wa.edu.au, About Scotch/Support Groups/log in to Parent Support Group site and click on the Parent Support Group wiki and blogs and click on Parents' Association, Funding Projects.

One of the main aims of the PA is to promote and support the activities of the School, which contribute to our son's overall education and enjoyment of their lives at Scotch.

The PA also aims to encourage and facilitate good relations between the parents of boys at Scotch and to develop close liaison between parents and School staff.

Mid-Year Cocktail Party - Thursday 2 July 2015

The PA is delighted to invite all Scotch parents to the 4^th annual Mid-Year Cocktail Party. This will be held at the Blue Duck in Cottesloe on Thursday evening, 2 July from 6.30pm to 9pm. We hope boarding parents especially may be able to attend, as the function will coincide with collection of their son/s for the School holidays. This year there will be a special performance by Emma Pettemerides, a soprano with the WA Opera, and Kathryn Shinnick, violinist with the Perth Symphony Orchestra. To purchase your tickets, please visit the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and click on the Book a Scotch Event icon.

Save the Date

The PA and the Scotch Auxiliary are combining forces to host the following parent social functions in the coming months.

• Year 11 parents - cocktail function at Boulevard Hotel on Friday, 7 August
• Year 10 parents - Shun Feng Restaurant, Perth, Friday, 18 September
• Year 9 parents - cocktail function - Tuesday, 22 September
• Year 8 parents - cocktail function - Wednesday, 23 September

Mr Gary Pyne

President

Parents' Association

Scotch Auxiliary

Thank you to all the parents who attended our meeting this morning and to Revd Chas Lewis who kindly spoke to us; Chas reflected on his 27 years at the College.

Congratulations to the Junior School for their successful Parent Quiz Night. By all accounts it was a fabulous fun night with funds going to support Redkite and the development of the new Junior School playground.

Scotch Auxiliary Movie Morning

Please join us for the opening day of 'Far from the Madding Crowd', based on Thomas Hardy's classic love story, on Thursday 25 June, Windsor Cinemas, Nedlands.

Morning Tea will be served from 10am with the movie commencing at 11am. Family and friends are most welcome. This is our only whole School community event and fundraiser for the year, tickets cost $30. We appreciate your support.

*Please note the movie morning is in lieu of the Fashion Parade.

Upcoming events

All parents:

Scotch Auxiliary Movie Morning - Thursday 25 June

Senior School:

Year 12 Father/Son Breakfast - Thursday 2 July

Please book your tickets as bookings will be closing soon

For more details on these events and to purchase tickets please visit the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and click on the "Book a Scotch Event" icon.

Save the Date

Please pop the following dates in your diaries:

Coffee Morning:

Year 10 - Friday 26 June, from 9.30am, venue to be advised via email.

Save the Date:

Year 10 Mothers Sleepover at Moray - Saturday 1 August

City Country Lunch, Northam - Wednesday 5 August

Year 11 Parent Evening - Friday 7 August *Scotch Auxiliary combined function with Parents' Association

Year 12 Mothers Sleepover at Moray - Saturday 15 August

Next Meeting

All parents are welcome.

9AM MONDAY 10 AUGUST, GOOCH PAVILION

We look forward to seeing you.

Wishing everyone happy and safe holiday.

Mrs Carissa Paganin

President

Scotch Auxiliary

Pipe Band Parents Support Group

Please join us at the annual Pipe Band Parents Cocktail Party at 6.30pm on Saturday 27 June.

All parents of pipers and drummers from Middle School and Senior School are invited.

For details and to RSVP go to 'Book a Scotch Event' on the Scotch website.

PBPSG Committee

PBPSG@scotch.wa.edu.au

Soccer Support Group

The Scotch College Soccer Support Group is holding a FIFA 15 Tournament as a fundraiser this year.

• Friday 26 June 2015
• 6pm - 9pm
• MacKellar Hall
• Years 7 - 12
• $20 includes hamburger and soft drink

For more information please contact Megan Jefferies

Soccer@scotch.wa.edu.au

Behaviour Tonics

Bookings are being taken for courses in June and July for the following:

1-2-3 Magic and Emotion Coaching Parent Course

To help manage difficult behaviour in children 2 to 12 years.

All 7.00pm to 9.30pm.

Beaconsfield $140pp OR $220 per couple

Tue 23, Thurs 25 and Tue 30 June

Wembley $180pp or $340 per couple

Mon 6, Thurs 9, Thurs 16 July (school holidays)

The following are available as 'In House' courses

Parenting Information Session (Including 10 take home tips)

This two hour seminar is designed to improve your knowledge and confidence as a parent.

Bullying - Don't Just Stand There

Protective Behaviours

Engaging Adolescents (11 to 16yo)

Private Consultations Available

To enquire/register call 9382 1182 or go to www.behaviourtonics.com.au.

The Square at Claremont Quarter

TPG Town Planning, Urban Design and Heritage are working with Claremont Quarter to help them re-vision the Square along St Quentin's Avenue in Claremont. For those who would like to contribute ideas and be involved see details here.