On June 22 2017, the Uniting Church in Australia celebrated a major milestone; its 40^th anniversary. Scotch College is one of the many schools and agencies comprising the Uniting Church. It was established when most congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, about two thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia and almost all the churches of the Congregational Union of Australia came together under what is known as the Basis of the Union.

In the modern educational landscape, it is very easy for a college such as Scotch to simply become a very successful secular college, hitting all the plausible educational and social benchmarks, while at the same time losing sight of its raison d'être. We must never forget that in 1896, Jane Alexander donated 500 pounds in support of establishing a Presbyterian school for boys, something that was seen to be lacking in WA. This very act set in place our Christian foundation and the start of our 120-year journey; a milestone we are celebrating in 2017.

The Uniting Church has a strong educational charter. While this is a non-binding document, it is one we visit from time to time to ensure we remain focused on our core work. Education is at the heart of the Church's self-understanding. The Church's mission is to learn and then to teach - and the Charter reflects the Church's historic and ongoing commitment to education in all areas of life. For the Uniting Church, this commitment is demonstrated in its support of its schools, colleges and supporting institutions; and its diverse educational programmes for people of all ages. The 2002 charter outlines eight key areas of focus: a theology of education, a commitment to life-long learning, recognition of our rights and responsibilities, access to quality and equitable education, valuing the diversity of educational expression, valuing teaching and research, the importance of families in education and the provision of pastoral care and chaplaincy.

At Scotch College, the latter two are at the core of who we are and why we exist. In a complex and challenging world, schools and families simply have to work in harmony and partnership if our boys are to succeed and become functioning citizens after graduation. At times this relationship can be challenging and in some cases disappointing, however in the majority of cases it is the life blood of who we are. Likewise, our pastoral programmes and systems are in place to ensure that each boy can journey through Scotch with dignity and safety. Again, there are times, where for complex reasons, relationships between boys break down and require thoughtful and rationale intervention. This is why we are here, to ensure that every boy is served and thrives through our Christian values and morals; while at the same time being given the life skills that teach resilience and promote balance; avoiding the development of learned helplessness or codependency.

As we commence the last week of Autumn Term, let us all be grateful for being able to live, work and interact in this great community. This term has offered so much to our boys, staff, parents and the wider Scotch community. As I look forward to Winter Term I do so knowing that it too will bring with it great experiences, challenges and excitement.

On Thursday midnight, thanks to the community, and in particular, the College Council, I commence a term of sabbatical with my soul partner Janny. The word sabbatical is defined as a period of leave granted to a leader for the purpose of renewal, study or travel. It is my intention to achieve all three. Such an opportunity is not taken for granted and I thank the community for the many messages of best wishes we have received in person; they mean a lot to both of us.

It would be mentally difficult to take such leave, if one was concerned about the stewardship of the College. In this regard, I have no concerns whatsoever. I would like to personally thank Mr Ledger for accepting my offer to oversee the Scotch community in my absence and I know that his depth of knowledge and profile in our community will ensure Winter Term is one of renewal and continued growth. Thanks also to Mrs Giglia who assumes leadership of the Middle School, thus freeing Mr Ledger to take the role of Acting Headmaster.

When we introduced the three-week midyear break, we did so with our senior boys in mind. Our Year 12s are well and truly entering the business end of their schooling journey. I encourage each and every one of them to use some of the three-week break to simply relax and renew; then hit the books again in the run towards the end of the academic year.

In closing, I would like to wish all boys and their families a safe, relaxing and enjoyable break. I look forward to returning in the Spring Term as a recharged and maybe even as a revamped version of the current Headmaster.

Dr A J O'Connell
Headmaster

Holidays: A sensible balance

With the three-week holiday very much on the minds of our students it is a great opportunity to send a message to them to ensure they find time to relax, switch off their minds and engage in some activities that will help them return recharged for the next term of academic life.

For our younger boys, it may be a great opportunity to enjoy time outside, read a book for their own enjoyment or work on developing a hobby that has gone unloved during the business of term. It may also be an opportunity to clean up their laptop and set up digital files and return organised and ready for a great finish to the year.

For our senior boys, I do encourage a significant break. It is important to take the time to consider the first part of this year and reflect on what went well and what could be improved upon return to school.

Over the holidays we are supporting our Year 12s to re-engage in their studies by offering sessions as detailed below.

The OSC are offering the opportunity to receive final exam help from some very successful Old Scotch Collegians during the third week of the July school holidays. These sessions will occur on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 of July.

Tutors include:

Mitchell Atkinson, Bailey Banfield, Joseph Steinberg, Rob Pluske, Drummond Orr, Fraser Cull, Connor Smith and Aidan Read

There will be specific advice on Mathematics, Science, Humanities and English, with separate sessions for WACE and IB graduates. Please ensure you indicate your preference when you register.

The feedback from these sessions is always very positive and it offers an opportunity for boys to have a structured study environment during the holidays.

To confirm your place please click here.

Please speak to Lisa Crofts lisa.crofts@scotch.wa.edu.au or (08) 9460 6647 for more information.

Have a fantastic holiday, be safe, relax and spend some time doing what you want to do!

Mr Peter Allen
Director of Teaching and Learning

Stained Glass Windows

I like stained glass windows. Each is a fusion of art and science and design and technology. Some are truly awesome. I am particularly fond of the stained glass in the foyer of Collegians' House: industrious kingfishers and busy wrens, frozen in glass and time.

What I most like about stained glass is the way that it can seem so plain and ordinary from the outside, but when you are inside and the light is shining through, it comes to life. Similarly, there are times when you walk past the outside and the light is shining from within the building, illuminating the glass.

I often think that our students are like stained glass. It is our job as a school and as families to allow each of our boys to shine and reveal the light that is within them. I believe that each one has their own character to show to the world, but it is sometimes difficult for them to do this. Sometimes, it is hard for us to see this light, because that particular person has not yet found the conditions that make it possible for them to light up. They may seem the same as others around them; they may even appear ordinary, but I am convinced that under the right circumstances, each one has something amazing to contribute to the world. It might not be what we want or expect, but each is capable of making the world a better place.

A perfect example of this was demonstrated during the School production of 'Dunsinane' in Week 8. By day, members of the cast and crew wore their school uniforms and went about their business, but at night during their performances, they became different people and revealed a side of themselves that was wonderful to see. To stand in the spotlight takes courage. To perform on a stage and to take on a different character is a great challenge.

In the past few weeks, our Years 8-10 students and the parents of Year 8 boys have been fortunate to listen to excellent presentations from Paul Litherland and Jordan Foster regarding responsible digital citizenship. One of the key points that both speakers made was that it is very difficult to keep control of the images we put onto social media, so we need to be sure about what we post. Posting images and comments that are respectful of ourselves and others - that shine a light on our true selves and values - is one of the great challenges of the digital age. In essence, the boys were encouraged to have the courage to be the guardians of their best future self as well as protecting other people.

Another key message was not to focus on past habits, but on future behaviour. We are all guilty of making mistakes. The test of our character often lies in what we do next time. In striving to become a better person, we allow the light of who we really are to shine.

Mr James Hindle
Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing

A new market place…

On Friday at Senior School assembly, the Headmaster, Dr O'Connell, spoke about the 40-year anniversary of the birth of the Uniting Church. Of course, it wasn't a true birth but more of an amalgamation between the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congressional denominations. So, a big happy celebration to the church and thank you for all you do in our community.

Dr O'Connell also briefly spoke about the changing nature of the church and schools in our community. While churches have always been, and will continue to be, central pillars of our communities, schools are now seen in this light too. An excellent example of this is the location of schools for weekend markets in our local area. The Subiaco and Mt Claremont Primary Schools and the South Fremantle High School markets are all permanent and well supported fixtures on the weekly calendar and in many ways, have taken on the place of the local church fete.

This year our local community is getting a new night market, in a similar vein to northern hemisphere Christmas markets. On six evenings in the lead up to Christmas, the Lake Claremont Golf Course will be hosting the markets and the call is now out for stall holders. Dates are 16, 23 and 30 November, and 7, 14 and 21 December. The organiser, Lorna Bunney, has said with regards to the types of stalls that are encouraged, "the more eclectic, the better", and that all ideas are welcome! So whether it be Christmas Sweaters or local honey, please consider a stall and contact Lorna via the contact details below:

Email gbunney@bigpond.net.au or phone 0411 895 101.

Tanzania 2018

The Tanzania Expedition 2018 will build on the previous six expeditions since 2004. Once again, the trip will be run with PLC and is open to boys who will be in Year 11 and 12 in 2018. The tour will focus on service to local communities, with some time for a wildlife safari and a hike up the majestic Mt Meru.

There will be an information evening on Monday 24 July at 7.30pm in the PLC Auditorium.

The main focus of service is Matipwili village. In 2016, the expedition continued to work on improving the facilities for teaching and learning for the village community. In 2018, as part of the team building for the trip, the group will work together to raise the funds needed to purchase the materials used in the service project. The group will spend five nights at 'Kisampa', a bush camp near Matipwili while working in the village.

To compliment the group's time at Matipwili, the touring group will go on a safari to the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, on the margins of the Sergengeti National Park. We will also visit a Maasai compound or 'boma' to see how these colourful traditional nomadic cattle herders live.

Scotch College and PLC have built a meaningful and lasting partnership with the people of Matipwili and we can't wait to further that in 2018!

If you would like to express an interest in joining the tour, please email david.kyle@scotch.wa.edu.au and join us on 24 July at 7.30pm in the PLC Auditorium for an information evening.

Mr David Kyle
Director of Community and Service

Staff Movements

Holiday Training for all students from Years 7 to 12

Winter Sports Fitness training will be conducted on the Memorial Oval Weeks 1, 2 and 3 during the July holidays on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8.30am - 9.45am. Boys from all sports are encouraged to attend in order to maintain and build on their fitness for both their chosen Winter Sport and the upcoming Athletics season that starts in week 4 of Winter Term.

Mr Anthony Doney
House Head

Uniform Shop Opening Hours and Holiday Opening Times

The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday, 24 July (the day before Winter Term commences) from 9.00am - 12.00 noon and 1.00pm - 4.00pm.

From Tuesday, 25 July, normal term opening times will apply

home.SCOTCH

Over the holidays home.SCOTCH will be upgraded with a new look and feel. This will mean that on 12 - 15 July home.SCOTCH access will be disrupted. This change will bring about a fundamental difference in the way this site operates as we have built the new site to allow for future expansion in links and other related resources.

Mr Brad Tyrrell
Dean of Information Learning Technology

Performing Arts

Performing Arts students have enjoyed a busy and successful month of performances, both here at the College and in the broader community.

Congratulations to all boys who performed in the Junior and Middle School Concert in Week 7. It is wonderful to see the progression of ensembles offered at Scotch College. Boys who begin their journey with the Junior Strings for example, are able to watch and listen to the Youth Chamber Ensemble to see where they should be striving to belong as they gain in experience. A special mention to Liam Newport (Year 10, Shearer) for his composition "Briser du Froid" which was performed by the Youth Chamber Ensemble. Liam composed this programmatic work for string orchestra as part of his IB Personal Project, which was an enormous task, but must have been extremely gratifying for him to hear upon its completion. What an amazing experience for a young musician to hear an orchestra perform your own work! Thank you to all staff who assisted on this evening as conductors, accompanists or mentors.

Scotch Vox members ventured to PLC to perform at an assembly as part of the Scotch/PLC Combined voices. This event capped a busy period for the ensemble after a string of recent performances.

Congratulations to Matthia Au (Year 11, Alexander) and Lachlan Hyndes (Year 9, Ross) who both completed their Suzuki Graduation recitals on cello. This concert was held on Sunday 11 June at Penrhos College.

The Senior Music Students' annual Quiz Night was held in MacKellar Hall on Friday 9 June. All students from Scotch and PLC had a fantastic time. The eventual winners were a group of Year 12 students who have gradually made their way up the leaders' board since they first attended in Year 9.

Ethan Lamb (Year 9, Ross) recently completed his 6^th Grade Drumming exam through AMEB Rockschool, scoring 80%.

Under the direction of Ms Phebe Samson, our Junior School boys performed at this year's Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Festival. Weeks of rehearsal culminated in two performances at the Perth Convention Centre on Tuesday 22 June.

Our senior Drama production of Dunsinane was a wonderful success. The cast and crew, led by Ms Sarah Combes performed to large and captivated audiences in four evening shows and one matinee in Week 8. Productions of this size require an enormous commitment from the students, staff and parents involved, so congratulations to all for a magnificent show.

The Combined Scotch/PLC Orchestra performed at the WA Schools' Orchestra Festival on Sunday 25 June. The orchestra have been working towards this event all term, and under the baton of Dr Alan Lourens, they delivered a very impressive performance. Results will be published in the next edition of the Thistle.

Thanks to all parents who continue to show their support of our Performing Arts programmes through their active involvement in our Friends' groups. If you would like to join either the Friends of Scotch Music (FOSM) or Pipe Band Parent Support Group, please let us know, or feel free to attend their next meeting.

Important dates for the Autumn Term calendar are:

Contact Details

The Instrumental Programme is administered by the Senior School Music Department and all queries should be directed to the Music Administrators, Julia Robinson (Monday to Wednesdays) and Donna Ranauro (Thursday and Fridays) via phone 9383 6841 or email music@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Alternately, please contact Mr Chris McMillan, Head of Performing Arts, via email Chris.McMillan@scotch.wa.edu.au or phone 9383 6842.

If you wish to become more involved in supporting the Music Department, please contact FOSM@scotch.wa.edu.au

Mr Chris McMillan
Head of Performing Arts

From the Head of Junior School

"Talent wins games, but teamwork win championships." Michael Jordan

What have you done as part of a team that is noteworthy? Have you sacrificed personally for the betterment of the group or to help in the accomplishment of a shared goal?

Teamwork is generally understood as the willingness of a group of people to work together to achieve a common aim. The most effective teamwork happens when individual contributors harmonise their efforts and work toward a common goal.

In a school setting, we have many teams that try to work towards common goals. Staff collaborate on year levels teams to enhance what they offer the boys. Leadership teams work together to lead the School in a common and consistent direction. The boys develop teams in the classroom, on the ovals and at break times to help them achieve academically, socially and in sports.

Earlier in the term, the Junior School boys competed against each other and against their personal goals in the Inter-House Cross Country. All boys ran wonderfully with very few walking. For some, the goal was to represent the School in the JPSSA Inter-School Cross Country event. Only the top ten boys in Year 4 and 5 got a place. One would think that being single mined about qualifying was reasonable as the opportunity to compete in JPSSA Cross Country comes only once a year. But that is not always the case. During the Year 4 race one of our boys was struggling. Two boys who were in contention for a place in the team stopped to help him, putting their place on the line. One was able to recover and be placed while the other was only able to make the reserve list. For both, it was a wonderful selfless act.

On Thursday 22 June, our JPSSA Cross Country team competed in the 2017 event. 30 boys from Year 4 to 6 ran the muddy but quick course. Only one boy was able to win his race but we, as a team, won the JPSSA Cross country title for the second straight year.

With only one winner, how did we do that? We achieved this wonderful result through team work. The boys ran their best, yes, but we won by a mere six points over Hale who looked to have many boys place higher than us. Only a team can win a championship and that his how we ran. They encouraged and supported one another. As the boys crossed the finish line, fatigued, they crossed in bunches each scoring vital points for the team. Only one boy falling behind would have cost us the championship but the team won it.

Well done to our boys, our team, for their commitment to the common goal, for their commitment to one another. They are champions.

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School

Physical Education News

In Physical Education, the students have been focusing on invasion games and skills involved in these games. Our younger boys in the ELC, Year 1 and 2 have been doing a mixture of rugby and soccer, whilst the older boys have been focusing on football and rugby. The Year 4 students have their rugby carnival at Hale School this Thursday and these gentlemen have been working hard at learning new skills and an unfamiliar game to many. Our Year 5 students continue to develop their skills and are able to display these at their JPSSA fixtures against the other Independent schools on Thursday afternoons. The Inter-School Cross Country took place up at Guildford Grammar School on Thursday 22 June with Scotch placing an incredible first place. A big congratulations to all the boys who made the team and trained so hard and diligently to perform for their school.

Mr Scott Whiston
Head of Junior School Physical Education

Year 3S News

What an amazing semester we have had in 3S. We have explored so many exciting topics and seen some fabulous things. Highlights include our excursion to Penguin Island during our first unit of inquiry. Here we explored animal communities before looking closely at the communities we ourselves are involved with. Another highlight was our visit from Sara Franklin who spoke to us about the plight in Ethiopia. It was so meaningful that we started a collection of clothes, toys and blankets to send over to the children who live there. In our current unit of inquiry, we have been researching the changes products go through before being distributed and consumed. We developed a good understanding of consumerism and found a new level of appreciation for the things around us. We learnt that every man-made item started out as something from our natural world. For example, did you know that glass is made by heating sand at a temperature of 1700 degrees? Or that plastic is made from oil? Or that rubber comes from the sap in rubber trees found in the Amazon Rainforest? And that is only the beginning of the many interesting facts we learnt. To conclude our unit, we will be taking part in the Teacher Chair Project whereby we must build a chair made entirely from cardboard and duct tape. However, this chair must be big enough and strong enough to hold our teacher's weight. We will also have to undertake research about how cardboard is made and consider different styles of chairs before we commence building. We look forward to presenting our learning, findings and chairs at our upcoming assembly.

Mrs Laree Springall

Year 3 Teacher

The Pursuit of Excellence

The pursuit of excellence can at times be mistaken for perfection or success and is characterised by winning or trophies or being the best. The pursuit of excellence is a mindset, it is an attitude; an attitude of setting a bench mark, a Personal Best, and then planning on how to improve upon it. Pursuit of excellence is about yourself and can be applied as a concept in all domains of life: in an academic sense, sporting or health sense, to relationships, how we communicate to how we become more artistic. For me the pursuit of excellence is an individual thing and is about sitting down and thinking: What is important to me now, and how do I get better at it?

We will be supporting your son in his pursuit of excellence at the beginning of next term as he sits down and determines what he views as being important, what is worth aiming for and writing some goals and action plans to achieve them. Vincent Lombardi is quoted as saying, "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

A reminder that this Wednesday Middle School will be having a Free Dress Day. The gold coin donation will go toward the UnitingCare West Winter Appeal. Donations of warm clothing, or blankets and sleeping bags can still be received up until this Friday. Thank you to all so far for your generosity.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School

ySafe Presentation with Jordan Foster

One of the key take away messages from Jordan Foster's ySafe Workshop to our Year 8 parents last week was to check the privacy settings on the applications you or your son are using. In some cases this means going beyond the first page of settings to confirm you have set all the options you need to. A very recent Snapchat addition called Snap Map illustrates the need to review privacy setting as default settings may not be what you desire. The Snap Map feature can pin point exactly to where you are when you are sending a message, right down to the building you are in and offers a map to the recipients in or of your conversations. This can be handy if you are trying to find a friend in a large shopping centre, but if you are not sure of who else is in your conversation, this is something to think about. Jordan Foster has an article on her Facebook page regarding this application and the control aspect she referred to as Ghost Mode within settings.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School

Where is Tjunjuntjara?

This term our Community Service Club has sought and been receiving donated football boots. The large yellow bin near Reception is now overflowing with more than 60 pairs of good quality boots so it is now time to send them on. Tjuntjuntjara is a Remote Aboriginal Community about 660km north east of Kalgoorlie and this is where the donated footy boots are going. Each year three small desert community schools come together for a week of sport, art and cultural activity where the Desert Dust Up Footy Carnival is one of the highlights.

Not surprisingly footy boots and socks are hard to come by out in the desert but our donation, along with 60 pairs of socks we have negotiated a great deal on, will kit out every player on each team. Thank you for sending in the boots, I have no doubt there are plenty of goals still left in each pair.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School

An Awesome Autumn Term in 6.1S

Autumn Term has been an exciting mix of new experiences for the boys of 6.1S. Week 2 was a highlight as we were the first group to test our skills in the surf at Leighton Beach. The class were quick to embrace the experience and with the assistance of the Outdoor Education staff the boys enjoyed pushing their comfort zones. A supportive and caring approach was demonstrated by all and this was a highlight of a great activity.

These skills transferred into the classroom when exploring electrical energy and sustainable energy sources. Through building circuits as a group and researching methods of electricity generation boys built a new vocabulary and had a go at presenting their work to the class as a peer learning opportunity. The depth of understanding and interest in this topic was outstanding to see.

The class are looking forward to a visit from the Electoral Education Centre before bringing the whole term together by running a campaign for class president based on a sustainable energy policy. We all look forward to the entertaining presentations to come!

Mr Justin Shaw
6.1S Homeroom Teacher

Medieval Times in 8.3O

Currently in Individuals and Societies, the 8.3O Homeroom has been learning about many different aspects of life in medieval Europe. Students have explored topics such as the feudal system, the role of knights, the impact of religion, the Crusades and the Black Death, to name a few. The unit's culminating task required groups to select one aspect of medieval life that interested them and design a project to answer an overarching research question. This style of project-based learning created opportunities for groups of students to investigate meaningful questions together, gather information and think critically. Research on this approach suggests that project-based learning helps prepare students for the problem-solving and collaboration skills required in the real world.

As a celebration of the unit, student work will be on display at the Year 8 Medieval Festival, early in Winter Term. Work will include presentations on medieval heraldry, 3D models of authentic architecture, weaponry, battle tactics, medieval medicine, and much, much more. We look forward to seeing parents, staff and students at the event to celebrate this rich learning experience for our Year 8 boys.

Miss Lisa O'Toole
8.3O Homeroom Teacher

Free Dress Day - Winter Term

On Wednesday 28 June, the Middle School will have a Free Dress Day to raise money for our chosen charity this term, the UnitingCare West Winter Appeal. Boys are asked to wear comfortable, casual clothing and bring in a gold coin donation.

If your son is involved in the Year 8 Family Members' Morning Tea that morning, he will be required to come to school in school uniform, and bring his casual clothes with him to change into at recess.

Headmaster's Commendations

Congratulations to the following Middle School boys who received a Headmaster's Commendation last week:

Student Achievements

Congratulations to James Harper (7.4A), Mitchell Hyde (7.5G), Xavier Graham (7.5G) and Fletcher O'Connell (7.5G) who have all been selected to represent Western Australia in the 12s Hockey Team and will compete at the School Sport National Championships in Adelaide later this year.

Important Dates in Middle School Autumn Term

Effective Study Environment

In my last Thistle article I discussed the difference between homework and study as well as the myth of multitasking. I wrote that there are several other factors which lead to producing the most conducive location to complete study, which is not laying on one's bed. I thought it would be worth sharing some considerations for an effective study environment.

This issues that need to be checked are:

• Appropriate furniture and lighting. It helps enormously to have a desk devoted to study, rather than have to clear up all your books from a table used for another purpose. It is important too that the chair be comfortable (but not so comfortable as to lead to slumber) and the work area well-lit. Poor lighting causes eye strain and gives you an excellent excuse to stop working. Trying to study in bean bags, or on your bed is not a good idea.
• As mentioned previously, identifying and minimising distractions. There are some distractions that are easy to identify and remove - such as trying to study with a mobile phone nearby, or being logged on to social media or even music going full tilt. Others may be hard to remove, such as the presence of small children or noises coming from somewhere else. The main issue here is to identify what factors prevent you from starting or continuing work, and to make some effort to reduce them.
• People vary in what they find distracting. There are times when quiet background music can block out other household noises. But don't kid yourself that heavy metal music with the volume on 11 through headphones is doing your study any favours.
• The radio is generally not very helpful. Radio presenters and advertisers are paid vast amounts of money because they have the ability to attract your attention. It's a mistake to think you can focus on study when skilled attention seekers are demanding your brain.
• Make sure that you have all the things you need to do homework (pens, rulers, books and so on) in the one place. This means time spent procrastinating whilst finding what you need will be reduced.
• Finally, get some fuel. Have a snack before you start and drink water while studying. Aim to drink 10 glasses of water each day. A well-watered brain is a smarter brain.

By studying in the most conducive environment, you may even be able to reduce the time it takes you to complete what you need to. Now that must be an attractive proposition.

Taking the time over the upcoming break to set up the environment described would help to ensure a great start to Winter Term.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School

Year 11 Scholarships

Current Year 11 students are invited to apply for the PC Anderson Scholarship or WR Dickinson Scholarship.

To be eligible to apply for the PC Anderson Scholarship you must be the son, grandson, great grandson etc of an Old Scotch Collegian. Boys who have no old boy connection are eligible to apply for the WR Dickinson Scholarship.

Please see Ms Quinlivan in Admissions, located in Campbell House (the house situated on the opposite corner to the main Administration building).

Applications must be collected by the boy and close 4.00pm Friday 28 July.

Boys' Achievements

Campbell McAullay (Year 9, Shearer) has been selected for the Australian Junior National Water Polo Team (2002 Born), the team will be competing at two tournaments in Europe during August this year.

Bailey Flecker (Year 11, St Andrews) and James Thorpe (Year 10, Stuart) represented Scotch (and WA Rowing Club) in the School Boys Open Double Scull and came in 2^nd place.

Laine Mulvay (Year 11, St Andrews) has achieved a 4^th for Floor and 5^th for Pommel at the State Gymnastics Championships.

Connor O'Sullivan (Year 11, Ferguson) has been selected in the State Schoolboys Rugby Union Team to play in the national competition in Sydney during the July holidays.

Sean Szalek (Year 11, Ross) has been selected to represent Australia for High Jump at the Commonwealth Youth Games being held in the Bahamas in July.

Kartik Khanna (Year 12, Shearer) and Timothy Oe (Year 12, Ross) are State Finalists for the UN Youth Evatt competition (model UN Diplomacy), and will compete in the State Final in Parliament House later this year.

Alistair Murray (Year 12, Brisbane) is one of six WA junior male hockey players recognised by Hockey Australia as 'Future Athletes' after the U18 Australian Championships in Hobart

Matthia Au (Year 11, Alexander) and Lachlan Hyndes (Year 9, Ross) both performed cello solos at the recent Suzuki Graduation Recitals held at Penrhos College. Matthia has completed Level 11 and Lachlan Level 5.

Ethan Lamb (Year 9, Ross) received a Merit with a mark of 80% in 6^th Grade contemporary Drumming examination through AMEB Rockschool.

Australian Science Innovations (Big Science Competition 2017)

On May 17, twelve Scotch Year 9 boys elected to participate in the on-line competition. This required them to each complete 30 questions under test conditions.

The following boys obtained higher award certificates:

High Distinction:

Emmanuel Nason (Anderson)

Arun Tibballs (Shearer)

Daniel Wiese (Keys)

Distinction:

Charles Maxwell (Alexander)

Charlie Radici (Cameron)

Sam Wake (Brisbane)

Mr Robert Dall'Oste

2IC Science

Year 11 Certificates of Academic Excellence

Year 12 Certificates of Academic Excellence

Academic Colours Year 12

These students listed below have previously been awarded Academic Colours.

New Academic Colours Year 12

Academic Honours Year 12

Scotch Sailors make Nationals

During the coming holidays, 14 Scotch College sailors are representing the College in the National Schools Teams Racing Competition. The competition will be at Nedlands Yacht Club from July 6-8.

Scotch College entered two teams in the State competition and the boys came second and third behind Shenton College. Both teams will now compete in the Nationals being held in Perth.

The Nationals are jointly hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and Nedlands Yacht Club and over twenty teams from around Australia will be vying for the National title. Scotch College won the Nationals in 2012 and placed second in 2010 and 2013. The boys have been training all term to regain the trophy.

The following boys are representing the College: Adam Brenz-Verca (Captain) (Year 11, Stuart), Thomas Hodge (Vice Captain) (Year 10, St Andrews), Rory Blackley (Year 11, Ferguson), Daniel Bower (Year 8, James), Grayson Downes (Year 9, Brisbane), Lachlan Norcott (Year 9, Anderson), Joshua O'Dea (Year 10, Brisbane), Thomas Ostergaard (Year 7, Andrew), Marcello Torre (Year 10, Cameron), Raffael Torre (Year 8, Bruce), Henry Townes (Year 8, Robert), Hamish Watson (Year 10, Ross), Harry Williams (Year 8, David) and Rhys Williams (Year 9, Anderson).

Go Scotch!

Mr Brad Watson
Teacher in Charge of Sailing

Autumn Edition of The Raven

The Autumn Term edition of The Raven is out, full of creative and persuasive writing and visual art entries.

Congratulations to the following boys who have had their creative or persuasive writing or visual art work published in this edition of The Raven. These boys are: Matthew Simich (Year 12, Shearer), Alexander Van Wyk (Year 9, Anderson), Angus Hume (Year 9, Stuart), Benjamin Clarke (Year 9, Shearer), Benjamin Sharrin (Year 9, Keys), Cooper van Rooyen (Year 9, Ross), Jett Stevenson (Year 11, St Andrews), Lachlan Stephenson (Year 9, Alexander), Cunyan (Roger) Wang (Year 10, Ferguson), Sebastian Hasluck (Year 11, St Andrews), Toby Dew (Year 9, St Andrews), Arun Tibballs (Year 9, Shearer), Adam Brenz-Verca (Year 11, Stuart), Jack Logan (Year 12, Alexander), Lewis Orr (Year 10, Ferguson), Nicholas Price (Year 11, Cameron), Thomas Krantz (Year 12, Ferguson), Finn Joyner (Year 12, Anderson), Alistair Murray (Year 12, Brisbane), Callum Purvis (Year 12, Shearer), Sidharth Bhargavan (Year 12, Shearer), Christopher McKay (Year 12, Ross), Ethan Cassidy (Year 12, Alexander), Harry O'Donnell (Year 12, Anderson) and James Hills (Year 12, Keys).

Please enjoy reading or viewing work by visiting the electronic version of The Raven via home.scotch. Any boy who has creative writing that he would like to submit to The Raven can send a copy to jeannette.weeda@scotch.wa.edu.au.

All entries are considered for the Reporter Speech Night prizes and other writing competitions.

Dr Jeannette Weeda
2IC English

Career Information

University Information

Year 12 Parents and Students

The applications for further study at either TAFE or University have NOT been requested by the respective tertiary institutions at this stage. In August students will be given the 2018 TISC Guide that will outline all the procedures and dates that are relevant to the university application process and beyond. Mr Frusher will also be talking to the students as a group and explaining the TISC Guide, together with the application process. In August/September, Mr Frusher will be conducting one-on-one interviews with all Year 12 students to check each application and to offer advice prior to applications being sent on-line.

At this stage of the year all Year 12 students should have received a Prospectus from each of the WA Universities via the Careers expo or Mr Frusher and a Year 12 WACE Information Handbook 2017 (on-line at Schools Curriculum & Standards Authority - www.scsa.wa.edu.au). Following on from the Scotch Careers Expo, students are encouraged to attend university and TAFE Open Days throughout July/August.

For information on interstate and overseas universities check the relevant websites or contact Mr Frusher who will be able to assist.

As a parent, what can your son and you do together?

• Discuss various courses in the prospectuses that may be of interest to your son
• Gather more information by visiting university websites, or requesting further information from universities
• Attend university Open Days that are advertised in each prospectus and in this newsletter
• Be positive; don't panic (yet) and communicate with as many people as possible

A Day in the Life of a Uni Student

All Year 10-12 High School students are invited to join us to experience a day in the life of a Notre Dame University student on Friday 14 July. For more information on the FREE event and to register, contact 9433 0530 or visit www.notredame.edu.au.

Year 11 ATAR Express Workshops - University of Notre Dame, Fremantle

Monday 3 July - Friday 14 July 2017

Fremantle Campus 9433 0950

Year 11 ATAR courses for Human Biology, Maths Methods, English and Chemistry. There will also be Study Skills Year 11 and Year 12 combined courses which will be presented by university academics.

Murdoch University ATAR Prep Week

Monday 3 - Friday 7 July

Register for more information about this week of preparation for ATAR

U niversity Open Days

Edith Cowan University (Joondalup campus) Sunday 23 July, 10.00am -3.00pm

Murdoch University Sunday 30 July, 9.00am - 3.00pm

Curtin University Sunday 6 August 10.00am - 4.00pm

Edith Cowan University (Mount Lawley campus including WAAPA) Sunday 13 August

Notre Dame University Sunday 20 August 10.00am - 4.00pm

University of Western Australia Sunday 13 August

UWA Year 12 Individual Advisory Sessions

Discover the answers to your questions about study, including course options, admission requirements, important dates, and what it's like to study at UWA.

Parents/Guardians are welcome to attend, and bookings are essential

Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 July 2017, 10.00am to 7.30pm

UWA TISC Information Evening for Year 12 students

We'll look at what 'TISC' is and how it works, so you can make the most of your ATAR score and get into our chosen UWA course.

UWA Alexander Lecture Theatre

Tuesday 12 September 2017, 6.00pm to 7.30pm

Scholarships

Scholarships applications to most universities are now open and students need to start preparing their applications as soon as possible. Scholarships information can be accessed on individual university websites and also by contacting Mr Frusher at Scotch. There are many different scholarships available with different criteria attached to each. Applications for scholarships are made direct to the university concerned but some are made via a nomination by Scotch and students will be notified of these in the near future.

Melbourne University

Year 10 or 11 students who can picture themselves at the University of Melbourne but are unsure of which degree is right for them are invited to attend A Day at Melbourne and find out for themselves! Students will be able to find out more about the Melbourne Curriculum, scholarships, study abroad, Access Melbourne, clubs and societies, accommodation options and much more.

Date: Friday 7 July

Time: 9.00am - 3.30pm

Location: The University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus

Contact: rodneyn@unimelb.edu.au

Uni Experience at Muresk Institute

Curious About University Life? Why not take part in the 'UNI EXPERIENCE' at Muresk Institute for Year 11 and 12 students? Experience life as a Uni student, explore career opportunities and pathways to get you there, talk to recent graduates, meet current university students and enjoy an experience you will never forget.

Duration: Two day overnight stay 13 - 14 July 2017 starts 10.00am Day 1 and concludes after lunch Day 2

Cost: $40 toward catering and accommodation

Contact: Daisy Franz, 08 9622 6789 or agribusiness@crtafe.wa.edu.au

Gap Medics

International Medical Work Experience for School and Undergraduate Students. Students wanting to enter the healthcare field should consider Gap Medics. They offer one to eight weeks' work experience programmes in hospitals in destinations such as Tanzania, Thailand, Poland and Croatia.

For more information please visit: https://www.gapmedics.com/aus/

General Career Information

Police Recruit Information Sessions

You'll learn about what it's like to be a police officer and how the recruitment process works.

Thursday 27 July 2017, 4.15pm to 6.30pm - bookings open Monday 19 June 2017

Thursday 24 August 2017, 4.15pm to 6.30pm - bookings open Monday 17 July 2017

Apprenticeships for 2018

Many large organisations are recruiting now for apprenticeships starting in 2018.

Check out the Job Search sites (http://www.mhscareers.com/job-search.html) or Google 2018 apprenticeships.

Sound & Audio Engineering - SAE

If you're interested in animation, audio, graphic design, film or gaming then you need to see what life is like at SAE in Perth.

Study for a Day - Saturday 1 July 2017

Open Day - Saturday 5 August 2017 10.00am to 2.00pm

Linfox Cadet Programme

The Linfox Cadet Programme offers young people the opportunity to gain training and development in a warehouse or transport environment over a two-year period. Many Linfox Cadets have successfully grown their careers and moved into frontline management positions. The programme is aimed at young people who don't have tertiary qualifications and are keen to build a career in warehousing and logistics.

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Holiday Library Open Times

The library will be closed for the first two weeks of the holidays. If you require any help please email library@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Mr Brad Tyrrell
Dean of Information Learning Technology

Senior School Important Dates

Scotch Parents

Scotch Parents would like to thank all the parents who volunteered to bring in snacks for the World Scholars Cup. They were greatly appreciated. Once again the event showed what a great Scotch Spirit we have.

Please Save the Date

• Year 12 Mothers Moray Sleepover - Saturday 29 July
• Year 11 Parent Evening - Friday 11 August
• City Country Lunch - Wednesday 9 August - Location to be advised shortly

Ms Steph Debnam and Mr Ian Knobel
Co Presidents
Scotch Parents

Concussion Study in Children and Adolescents at the University of Western Australia

Much of the recent attention on concussion has been focused on the diagnosis and management in college athletes and adults, particularly in the US. In comparison, very little consideration has been given to concussion in children and adolescents, and there is a lack of understanding about the assessment, prognosis, and treatment of concussion in this cohort.

In adults, most cases of concussion are seen to resolve in 7-10 days, however it has been suggested that children who suffer a concussion have poorer outcomes, and a prolonged recovery. Most children recover completely within three months, but there is a significant minority of about 10-30%, depending on the study, that show a delayed recovery and ongoing deficits.

My project is focussing on the impact of concussion in school aged children between the ages of 6-16. We are aiming to develop a comprehensive picture of the impact of concussion in this age group and shed more light on what kinds of symptoms are most common in children, and how it impacts their thinking skills such as their memory, learning, attention, and processing speed. We will also be exploring how concussion differs in males and females, and in younger children compared to adolescents. Lastly, the study also aims to further our understanding about what factors have an influence on recovery.

To assist with our understanding of the impact of concussion in this age group, the children who have had a concussion will be compared to a group of children who have never had a concussion. During the July school holidays we are inviting children between the ages of 6-16 who have never had a concussion to participate in the study. To be eligible to participate, children must not have any learning difficulties at school, or any diagnoses of disorders such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism.

Participants will be required to attend two assessments, three months apart, which take place at the School of Psychology at the University of Western Australia. After the three month assessment parents will receive a summary report detailing their child's strengths and weaknesses in terms of their thinking skills, and if there are any areas of difficulty, strategies and recommendations will be provided to help assist.

If you are interested in finding out more about the study, or you wish to see if your child is eligible to participate, please contact:

Mr Alex Springall
Provisional Psychologist | MPsych/PhD Candidate (Clinical Neuropsychology)
School of Psychology
Tel: 0422 052 117
Email: alex.springall@research.uwa.edu.au

Bright Blue Police Commissioners Fund for Sick Kids Disco

When: Friday 30th June
Where: Community Centre in Wembley, 40 Alexander Road Wembley

Monies raised goes towards Childhood Cancer, helping to find a Cure for Childhood Cancer.

Tickets are now available online for the Friday 30th June disco! Book online: http://www.trybooking.com/QFOM