Headmaster's Reflections

Dear Scotch Community,

Firstly, let me commence by expressing my gratitude to the students, staff and the many parent and family supporters who combined to make our Junior, Middle and Senior School swimming carnivals such an overwhelming success over the previous fortnight. I have been attending such carnivals since 1982 when I commenced teaching. While these events involve a lot of work for many people, they offer one of the many opportunities to bring students together to have fun and participate in healthy Inter-House rivalry. Well done and thanks to everyone.

Our Year 12s also experience one of the major rites of passage at Scotch College, their Ball. I would sincerely like to thank Tanya Hollingsworth, her committee and the volunteers for the time and dedication they put into ensuring our boys and their partners had a simply wonderful evening.

During the week, I circulated a global email about a new partnership the College is embarking on; a partnership geared at promoting the ever-important role creativity plays in the lives of our students, and more importantly, the role creativity plays in the work environment into which they will all enter. Please click here to read the full announcement.

It is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that you will hear me say that a boy's learning journey must involve a lot more than simply the transmission of content by an expert. Never before has so much content, on so many topics, been readily available through the communication tools to which our boys have open access.

The role of teachers is to not only present such content, but to do so creatively, bringing discernment, challenging existing assumptions and developing a passion for ongoing learning by our boys well beyond the Year 12 examinations. In our recent MMG Year 5, 8 and 12 exit surveys, parents said that we not only met, but exceed their expectations on quality teaching and academic outcomes. Both of these were identified by parents as the top reasons why they chose to send their son to Scotch College in the first place.

At the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, a panel of experts discussed the future of education.

"If we do not change the way we teach, 30 years from now, we're going to be in trouble. The knowledge-based approach of "200 years ago" would "fail our kids", who would never be able to compete with machines. Children should be taught skills like independent thinking, values and team-work," said Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba Group, China's e-commerce giant.

"Anything that is routine or repetitive will be automated," said Minouche Shafik, Director of the London School of Economics, in a session on Saving Economic Globalisation from Itself. She also spoke of the importance of creative skills. Research skills, the ability to find information, synthesise it, make something of it."

"Overhauling our education system will be essential to fixing the fractures in our societies and avoiding a tilt towards populism," she said.

"It's no accident that the people who voted for populist parties around the world are people with by-and-large low levels of education. It's not because they're stupid, it's because they're smart. They've figured out this system will not be in their favour."

If you've read about the rising importance of STEM skills - that's Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics - ad infinitum, here's a refreshing view from Fabiola Gianotti, a particle physicist and the Director General of CERN. She's the woman in charge of the Large Hadron Collider as well as other Big Science projects, but she says music is as important as maths.

"We need to break the cultural silos. Too often people put science and the humanities, or science and the arts, in different silos. They are the highest expression of the curiosity and creativity of humanity," she said in a session on education.

"For me, I was a very curious child, I wanted to answer the big questions of how the universe works. My humanities and my music studies have contributed to what I am today as a scientist as much as my physics studies."

This thinking is in line with the current view of STEM needing to evolve into STEAM where the "A" represents Arts.

I recently attended the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority awards night which recognises the state's brightest students based on our current system of education. I am proud to say that we had three Year 12 students recognised, Lewis Weeda, Timothy Walker and Joshua Pearson.

I have no doubt that many of these students will go on to achieving great things. I am also certain, that while their academic success as 17 and 18 year olds is very impressive, it will be a whole range of other reasons that drives their success in the future. One of those factors will be the ability to think creatively, find alternative solutions and implement such solutions within their chosen field of work.

Much has been written on the topic of creativity and the teaching of the associated skills. In an online article, Miriam Clifford refers to an organisation which one of our keynote presenters, Paul Collard, to which I refer in my global email, is currently working. Organisations such as CCE (Creativity, Culture, Education) suggest teachers incorporate opportunities for students to ask questions, while intentionally designing lessons that allow for wondering and exploration.

As a College that teaches the Western Australian and Australian Curriculums through using the inquiry strategies of the International Baccalaureate, this approach is not a new journey, in fact it is one of the key reasons that FORM were keen to partner with our College.

I look forward to our partnership being implemented in many ways across all sub-schools and invite you to stay informed, participate where possible and encourage your own son (s) creative journey.

Have a great fortnight

Dr A J O'Connell
Headmaster

Learning Abilities - A caring community

Often the Thistle presents an opportunity for a discussion about Teaching and Learning that focuses on the Academic Programmes, student successes or a new initiative we are implementing to improve the boy's education.

In contrast, the focus of this edition is on caring. As an International Baccalaureate School, the IB Learner Profile is a key document.

As a student it may not initially hold much relevance, as a staff member perhaps a quickly glossed over high level document, and as a parent it presents a collection of qualities that we hope our sons display in their day to day interactions.

Yet, read more carefully and it can be used in a variety of ways;

The expanded version of the Learner Profile defines caring in an individual as:

'We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.'

In this vein, across each sub-school the College has a dedicated team of individuals whose purpose it is to support students in our community who require academic support.

Within all sub-schools, the aim of academic support is to: 'facilitate the identification of needs, intervention and the accommodations to implement learning support in order for boys to access the curriculum.'

However, step inside one of our academic support classrooms and what we see first is not differentiation; it is a caring relationship. It is the smile of a staff member at the precise moment that a student understands, it is the breakthrough where a boy demonstrates something he previously could not do, it is the relaxed atmosphere in a room full of people who are looking to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

In our community all abilities are accepted, celebrated and supported. In our community we care deeply that all boys have a right to reach their potential. In our community the most able come in many forms.

Please find out more information on our academic support programmes by visiting this page.

Thank you for trusting us to educate your son.

Mr Peter Allen
Director of Teaching and Learning

Nothing to Excess

I have written about the importance of balance and perspective before, particularly in relation to finding the right balance for each individual, and keeping things like assessments and examinations in perspective. But balancing is about more than just juggling and prioritising the different demands upon our time.

Balance means not hiding.

Wellbeing is really about seeking a balance between life's emotions - not just pleasure-seeking, but understanding that life and death, joy and pain, are indivisible. Happiness is not just having fun, it is a sense of satisfaction and contentment that comes from a life being lived well. It is the comfort found in so many places - the smiles of strangers, the arms of loved ones, the pillow we weep into whilst watching a soppy movie, the cuddle of a puppy or a child, the peace of a gentle sunset, the satisfaction at having done some good in the world. Learning to deal with those issues of raw human suffering, whether it is our own or the suffering of others, is an essential part of being well and being human. It is impossible to understand the 'human condition' without giving consideration to the events and emotions so many of us spend so much effort trying to avoid. It is the exploration of issues surrounding sadness and horror that is a crucial element in us expressing gratitude - appreciating the goodness in our lives and thanking those who make our lives better; and I think it is essential in providing purpose - hopefully driving us to make the world a better place, or at least to bring light to the lives of those around us.

Neither should we hide from our responsibilities. Hiding is something that is easy to do in a busy world and in an overloaded life. We have a responsibility to and for ourselves, but also towards others and to the world around us. When things go wrong, we have a responsibility to learn from that, and to apologise if necessary. In this sense, balance means being honest with ourselves and those around us.

Balance is about remembering. I often remind the boys that we are animals, a biological fact we tend to ignore. As animals, we need to spend time in the natural world, particularly outside in the sun. The natural rhythms of the world are a part of us - the seasons, the tides, sunrise and sunset. These remind us of life's ebb and flow - that there are busy times and quiet times, times for laughter and for sadness, times for planning, doing and reflection. When our lives are out of balance, we are well-served by switching off and returning to nature, even if it is for just a few minutes.

Balance is anchored by purpose. Without a purpose to which we can return, we tend to drift, seeking to fill that emptiness with one pleasurable experience after another. And whilst purpose will be a topic for further discussion, at its heart lies something beyond us, bigger than us. Having a purpose gives life greater meaning. And it is most often built around service to others. When we notice that our lives are out of balance, it can help to focus on others for a while, instead of ourselves. Seneca once said, "If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favourable." As long as we know where we want to go, we can keep moving. And whilst the port - our purpose - may change through life, it is still helpful to keep it in mind.

Mr James Hindle
Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing

Community and Service

Shout Out for the Food Rescue 'Soup Kitchen'

Our Tuesday afternoons soup kitchen is in desperate need of containers for the soup they are making. Below are some pictures of the types of containers being sought. Please ensure they are clean and dry before dropping them at Senior School Reception. Thank You!

Tanzania Fundraising Quiz Night

The Tanzania tour, in partnership with PLC, travels to Matipwili, a remote rural village north of Dar es Salaam to complete work aimed at improving educational opportunities. In 2018 we are aiming to provide funding which will build infrastructure to boost the internet service. This should allow us to keep in closer contact when back in Perth. In the past, students have laboured alongside local students and village tradesmen. Materials to assist in building and to buy equipment to boost the internet will be raised at the Quiz Night on 7 April.

Click here to book.

A global outlook

I mentioned at assembly that Scotch College is committed to international mindedness and a global outlook. Our membership of Round Square and the delivery of the International Baccalaureate are just two strategies by which we do this. On Friday morning, Reverend Lewis's spoke about the Confuscius parable differentiating between heaven and hell. In the week of Chinese New Year, it was apt that we heard such a story. This story had been proceeded by one of my favourite hymns, Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer, or in Welsh, Cwm Rhondda. This is often regarded as the unofficial Welsh anthem and sung with great gusto at Cardiff Arms Park. Perhaps this was a shout out to the Welsh in the middle of the Six Nations rugby tournament!

All abilities cricket at the Memorial Grounds

The spectacular light on Friday afternoon provided the perfect backdrop to Claremont-Nedlands Cricket Club's All Abilities cricket. The team came around to the Memorial Grounds to watch our First XI in action against Hale. Following the close of play, the team went through a training session with many of our senior cricketers and other boys joining in. Jack Mitchell (Year 11, Ferguson), Brandon Poole (Year 12, Keys), and Felix Jones (Year 12, Brisbane), led the charge and a big thanks to the boys who really threw themselves into helping out. I hope they got as much enjoyment as I know the team from CNCC did.

Rotary Youth Exchange

Want to have the 'best year of your life?' How about a year of study and living overseas? Rotary Youth Exchange is for 15-18 year old students and is a great way to experience living in other countries. You will be hosted by families overseas for 12 months, attend school and make life-long friends. Similarly, the students who come to WA on exchange, live with families here, who usually say it's been a wonderful experience having an overseas student as part of their family, which results in friendships which last a lifetime. Applications close 31 March, for a January 2019 departure.

Make sure you don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity. Check out the website www.youthexchange.asn.au.

Mr David Kyle
Director of Community Service

Residential Life

End to Enders

Our Year 12's final Bib Track walk will commence on Sunday 25th February 2018 and arrive in Albany on Saturday 3rd March 2018.

They will walk into the Southern Terminus at around 10.30am led by a Piper. If you happen to be in Albany for the Long Weekend then please come down and help us celebrate the boys becoming End to Enders!

Read all the latest news from Residential Life here.

Mr Marcus Wilkinson
Director of Residential Life

Some of our 2017 boys...

Performing Arts

Life in the Performing Arts at Scotch is never dull, boring or quiet. Most music lessons have recommenced for the year, music ensemble rehearsals are underway, drama students have already been on several excursions to Perth Festival shows, production rehearsals for the musical are ticking along at a pace of three per week and the pipes and drums continue to gather every morning before school for group rehearsals.

I am often asked by parents about practise. Practise in the performing arts is essential to any kind of growth. Practise must be regular and deliberate. Practise for any musician or dramatic artist should be measured not in terms of time, but in terms of progress toward an identified goal and the emotional energy expended in getting there. When practising, students (and parents) should not be clock watching, rather they should be working toward achieving that goal. For some, the set goal may be achieved in very short time, and that's fine. For some, the set goal may take much longer to achieve. Sometimes, physical and emotional exhaustion will be the determination for the close of a practise time.

Teachers are always available to help students with how they should structure a practise session. Over the coming weeks, I will run some workshops with boys who are interested in how a practise session should be structured.

Congratulations to 2017 graduate Ebun Daramola who was successful in his audition for the James Morrison Academy of Music and will take up a place in the Bachelor of Music course. Ebun will move to Mount Gambier (South Australia) to study at JMA - a partnership between James Morrison and the University of South Australia.

Mr Scott Loveday
Head of Performing Arts

Year 7 Scholarships

Applications are now open for Year 7 2019 Academic Scholarships for boys currently in Year 6 who are current students and prospective students to Scotch College. Scholarships are tenable until the end of Year 12, subject to satisfactory academic progress and commitment to the life of the School.

All applications, whether your son is a current student or a prospective student, are made online via the Scotch College website Scholarship link found on our Home page at www.scotch.wa.edu.au . Applications close Wednesday 14 March 2018. No late applications will be accepted after this date. The Scholarship examination will be held at the College on Saturday 24 March 2018. More information will be sent to you once and if you register your son.

Please contact Mrs Di Moran, Registrar, on 9383 6809 or dianne.moran@scotch.wa.edu.au should you have any questions.

Mrs Di Moran
Registrar

Mouthguard Information 2018

Another mouthguard season is fast approaching. Last year's change of format was a great success and we will be following the same routine for the 2018 mouthguard season.

We would also like to extend an invitation to all parents who have other children with mouthguard requirements to avail themselves of our service. Extra hard copies of our forms can be collected from the Health Centre or the attached PDF form can be printed.

Junior School

Everything will run as per usual in 2018. Galadent Forms and Payment Permission Slips will be distributed out the first week back from holidays. Parents will be required to complete all paperwork and return it to school by the date specified.

Middle and Senior School Boarders
Mouthguard impressions will be taken in the Health Centre on:

• Friday 16 February 2018 3.00pm - 6.00pm

Middle and Senior School (Non Boarders)
Mouthguard impressions will be taken in MacKellar Hall on the following dates:

• Saturday 17 February 2018 10.00am - 2.00pm
• Friday 23 February 2018 3.30pm - 7.00pm
• Saturday 24 February 2018 10.00am - 2.00pm

Rather than having everyone showing up at the same time, we will be requiring that all students wishing to get their impression done, have a Parent or Guardian contact us at Galadent on 9249 3867 to make an appointment time. We will do our very best to accommodate your appointment requests.

In 2018 all payments will need to be made directly to Galadent as they will not be deducted from your school account, as in previous years. On our Galadent Form you will see a provision for you to either complete your Credit Card details, attach a cheque made payable to Galadent Dental or alternatively pay in cash sealed in an envelope (marking your son's details on the front of the envelope). Mouthguard impressions cannot be taken unless this payment option has been fully completed. All students will be issued with an itemised Account/Receipt upon delivery of their mouthguard to enable you to claim rebates. Students will be notified of the collection dates and times as they are determined.

All students in Middle and Senior School (not Boarders), who wish to collect hard copies of the Galadent Form, please look out for a clearly labelled container outside the door of the Health Centre. Alternatively, you can download the PDF copy of our form to print off and complete. This form must be fully completed and signed to bring with you to your allocated appointment time.

Uniform Shop

Opening Hours

Tuesday	8.00am to 5.00pm
Thursday	7.30am to 11.30am
Friday	7.30am to 11.30am

No appointments required. The Uniform Shop will be closed on Friday 2 March.

123 Soleil teaching French (immersion) at Scotch in 2018

In 2018 Scotch College is very pleased to continue a joint partnership hosting 123 Soleil (The French School of Perth) here on campus. We are one of three sites where they are offering after school classes for Primary School age native speakers.

Students follow the French Primary curriculum, here on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Scotch College Middle School classrooms.

(Please note in the table below that CP1 is parallel to Year 1).

If you are interested please contact:

Isabelle Gault at the French school of Perth, 0438 651 567 - www.123soleil.com.au.

Classes offered in 2018 here at Scotch are:

Tuesday	Cours de francais	CP2	7 - 9 years old	4.00pm - 6.00pm
Tuesday	Cours de francais	CE1	9 - 10 years old	4.00pm - 6.00pm
Wednesday	Cours de francais	CP1	6 - 7 years old	4.00pm - 6.00pm

Classes offered at their other sites are as follows:

Saturday Como	Cours de francais Reading and Writing Singing	CP1 CM1 CE1-2 CP2 CE2 WACE French Background ATAR non-school candidate	6 - 7 years old 12 - 14 year old 8 - 10 years old 7 - 9 years old 10 - 12 years old + 15 years old Year 11 and 12	9.00am - 11.00am 9.00am - 11.00am 9.00am - 11.00am 11.30am - 1.30pm 11.30am - 1.30pm 10.30am - 12.30pm
Wednesday All Saints College, Bull Creek	Preparation to the French Background ATAR exam	WACE French Background ATAR School candidate	Year 10 accelerated Year 11	4.15pm - 6.15pm

From the Head of Junior School

A Swimming Success

On Wednesday the Junior School hosted the annual Inter-House Swimming Carnival at HBF Stadium. The teams entered the stadium proudly marching and singing behind their house banners. As they assembled on the seats you could feel the anticipation in the air for a day of great sporting competition.

The day began with our 50m races which featured some truly remarkable times. Xavier Smith set three new school records including eclipsing one record by 5.8 seconds, a record that has stood since 1996.

The midway point of the day showcased the house pride of our boys. Each group of House Captains led their house in the best and loudest rendition of their house songs. A fitting break in the action that added to the house spirit of the day.

Our 25m races brought some wonderful performances, both individual and teams. Of note was the performance of Nicholas Zhao. In previous years, Nicholas had struggled in the event, but this year, he swam in four events and represented his house very well in the relay.

For our Year 3 friends, 2018 marked their first foray into our swimming carnival. They took to it like ducks to water, competing with enthusiasm and giving their very best effort.

While we acknowledge the winners on the day, it was by no means the focus. The effort, enjoyment and accomplishments of our boys is what it is all about. They did their best, supported and cheered on their class and house mates and seemed genuinely pleased for each other. Each and every one of our boys has made us very proud.

I want to thank the staff of the Junior School who worked to make the day run so very smoothly. They managed the boys in their houses, ensured they didn't miss their events, they started the races, MC'd the event using bad Valentine's Day jokes, oversaw the scoring and managed the start line. I also need to thank the boys from Year 8 and their teachers who provided wonderful assistance and managed the finish line for us. All of this was done with the brilliant organisation and leadership of Mr Whiston who once again provided our boys and families with a superb day of competition and fun.

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School

Physical Education News

The Scotch Junior School Inter-House Swimming Carnival for boys in Year 3, 4 and 5 took place at HBF Stadium on Wednesday 14 February. A beautiful Perth summers day provided perfect conditions for the students to compete in a fun and friendly environment for their school house. A great day was had by all the students as they competed for and against their friends at the College. There were some fantastic swims in all the year groups with the Year 3 boys sharing plenty of exciting races. In Year 4 Tom Ahern and Andrew Katsambanis had some titanic struggles across numerous races and in Year 5 Xavier Smith displayed amazing talent in winning all 4 Division 1 races in Year 5. There was some fantastic competition for the house shield with all the races contributing toward the final outcome. Andrew and Robert House swapped the lead numerous times throughout the day, but it was Robert House who managed to clinch the shield for the second year in a row.

View all the photos on the Scotch College Gallery.

Mr Scott Whiston
Head of Junior School Physical Education

Primary Years Programme (PYP) Learner Profile

How can I make a difference in the world? Action in the PYP.

The PYP emphasizes the development of five essential elements: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and action.

One of the focuses of a PYP is facilitating the development of a 'mindset' for students to feel empowered to take meaningful action as a result of their learning. This action may be an extension of students' learning (continuing the inquiry outside of school) or it may have a wider social impact that looks different within each age range.

In the Junior School we strive to provide the boys with the opportunity and the power to choose to act, to decide on their actions, and to reflect on these actions in order to make a difference in and to the world around them.

Action is often not witnessed by the teachers as it frequently happens beyond the classroom. If you have any examples of your son taking action as a direct result of his experiences/learning at school we would love to hear from you.

"Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire strength in others." - Plato

A suggested action I would encourage you to take in the near future would be to go on to the Teaching and Learning page on the Home.Scotch, access the PYP section and have a look through the information provided there.

Mr Warwick Norman
Junior School Dean of Teaching & Learning

Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten News

A lot of fresh new faces have been welcomed into the ELC with the first ever Pre-Kindergarten students joining the Scotch College community. The Kindergarten classroom has been abuzz with activity and excitement with all of the children settling in, exploring their new surrounds, getting to know one another and forming new friendships.

The children have been immersed in the Kindergarten program and discovering more about 'who we are'. Time has also been spent engaged in specialist programs such as Physical Education, French, Music, Library, STEM and Bush School.

There has been an abundance of laughter and only a few tears… mainly from the parents as the 2018 school year begins. The best is yet to come...

Mrs Medine Mazzuzchelli
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Teacher

From the Head of Middle School

Thank you for your time over the last fortnight as we delivered our three Parent Information Evenings and produced another great Inter-House Swimming Carnival. In what is becoming a well-rehearsed speech, we congratulated Gordon House on winning the Swimming Carnival, 4 straight years now. Thank you for joining us at both of these events.

It is a pared back Thistle article this week as I am conscious of the volume of information we have delivered in a written form since term commenced. I do, however, have three important messages below and seek your support.

Middle School Parent/Teacher Meetings Week 4
This week Middle School Homeroom Teachers have made available time slots for parents to meet with them. The focus of these short 10 minute meetings is pastoral care, 'knowing the boy'. Central to the meeting is the opportunity for you to speak to us about your son, for you to tell us how you feel he is going, how his transition has been, what are his motivations and aspirations, and/or where you feel attention could be directed. If you have had these conversations with us already, there is no obligation to do it all over again. If you have not yet made an online booking, these have closed, however you can still contact your son's Homeroom Teacher directly, via email, to make an alternate arrangement.

Middle School Student Pick Up and Drop Off
Traffic congestion around the College is an ongoing issue for Scotch families and local residents. To help minimise congestion and the frustration of being caught in slow moving lines of traffic can I ask families to consider the following please:

• 8:10am - 8:30am and 3.00pm - 3:30pm Shenton Road and Stirling Road are inundated. It is not quite downtown Jakarta, but finding an alternative to being on these two roads at this time would be helpful to everyone.
• We are really well served by train and bus services, including 4 special Scotch/PLC bus routes. Where possible this is a great travel option to school.
• Ride or walk to school, increasingly this is becoming a more popular option.
• Consider a drive and walk option: Being dropped off 400m - 500m from school and walking the rest, benefits all parties.
• Use the Kiss & Drop off Stirling Road for pick up and drop off, but please no waiting and creating a line-up of cars if your son is not there waiting for you.
• The Gooch. The best spot of all. Parking, shade, run the dog, chat to other parents, easy access and exit. This is the preferred pick and drop for Middle School boys, they have good legs, they can get up and back from the Middle School building comfortably now.
• The round-a-bout at MacKellar Hall is a Junior School pick and drop point only. We save this location for the little boys. Except - if your son is lugging a double bass, cello or whopping great cricket bag.

Middle School Student Dismissal after Sport
From time to time some sport fixtures finish before the end of the school day. This is often due to the visiting team needing to depart by a certain time or multiple fixtures needing to be scheduled successively on the one pitch or in the pool. In the event of a Home fixture finishing early, Middle School boys will remain with their coach until 3.00pm, when they will be dismissed. For fixtures that extend beyond the end of the day, once the fixture finishes or the team arrives back at school, boys are dismissed. There is no supervision of boys beyond our normal after school pick up duty. Details of fixtures, venues, transport timing including estimated arrival back at school times are always posted on the weekly fixtures schedule via the Sport icon found on home.scotch.wa.edu.au

Finishing off what will be a productive week is the Scotch Parents' Middle School Sundowner, at the Gooch Pavilion on Friday evening. It has always been a lovely evening and the weather once again looks great. I look forward to seeing you either at school or at the Sundowner this week.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School

Middle School Inter-House Swimming Carnival

The Middle School Inter-House Swimming Carnival was held on Tuesday 6 February at HBF Stadium. The event was officially opened by our MS Piper, Ben Walsh (8.5M) who did an outstanding performance leading the School in a march around the pool.

There were many outstanding performances during the day both in and out of the pool.

In an amazing effort, in the very first heat of the day, Isaac Smith (6.4E) broke the 50m Butterfly record which was set in 2006. Isaac's record time of 37:22 did not last long, as he went on to break that record time again with a 37:18 in the Butterfly final. Another record from the day was a very outstanding swim by the four Bruce House swimmers, Oliver Warden (6.4E), Will Howie (6.1S), Matthew Philpott (6.3T) and Archie Gilchrist (6.2C), who broke the 4x50m Freestyle record by a comfortable 3.5 seconds, swimming 2:36:28.

The novelty races were a great feature of the day, with some tightly contested noodle races and biggest splash competitions.

The performances out of the pool were just as pleasing. The house spirit was on show throughout the day, most notably during the House finals and 4x50m relays. David House were crowned winners of the House Spirit Award for the day. It was great to see so many boys support not only their fellow house members, but all swimmers in the pool.

Final results from the day were:

1st - Gordon 2544
2nd - Robert 2300
3rd - David 2264
4th - Bruce 2262
5th - Andrew 2211
6th - James 2076

Congratulations to Gordon House, who have now gone back to back to back to back, winning four consecutive years in a row!

Photos from the day can be seen on the Scotch Gallery.

Mr Michael Brinsden
Middle School Sport

Important Dates in Middle School Summer Term

Tuesday 20 February	MS Ride2School Initiative
Friday 23 February	MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Middle School Scotch Parents' Sundowner 6.30pm, Gooch Pavilion
Tuesday 27 February	SEQTA Engage MS Parent Workshop 3.30pm - 4.30pm SEQTA Engage MS Parent Workshop 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Wednesday 28 February	SEQTA Engage MS Parent Workshop 9.00am - 10.00am
Thursday 1 March	JPSSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival 1.00pm HBF Stadium
Friday 2 March	Mid-Term Break (no classes)
Monday 5 March	Labour Day Public Holiday
Tuesday 6 March	Year 7.6G Moray Expedition Departs
Wednesday 7 March	Year 8 Vaccinations Round 1
Thursday 8 March	PSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival 5.15pm HBF Stadium
Friday 9 March	Open Day MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Year 7.6G Moray Expedition Returns 12.00pm Year 7 Parent Function (details tbc)
Monday 12 March	Year 7.1W & 7.2H Moray Expedition Departs
Thursday 15 March	Year 7.1W & 7.2H Moray Expedition Returns
Friday 16 March	Year 6 Parent Function (details tbc)
Monday 19 March	Year 7.3GT & 7.4A Moray Expedition Departs
Thursday 22 March	Year 7.3GT & 7.4A Moray Expedition Returns
Friday 23 March	MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Tanzania Fundraising Movie Night (details tba)
Saturday 25 March	Scholarship Testing
Monday 26 March	Year 7.5M/7.7T Moray Expedition Departs
Thursday 29 March	JPSSA Bring a Family Member Afternoon 1.15pm Year 7.5M/7.7T Moray Expedition Returns
Friday 30 March	Good Friday (no classes)
Monday 2 April	Easter Monday (no classes)
Tuesday 3 April	Year 6/7 Production All Day Dress Rehearsal
Thursday 5 April	Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach Opening Night 7.00pm Foundation Theatre
Friday 6 Apri	MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach 7.00pm Foundation Theatre
Saturday 7 April	Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach 2.00pm Matinee Foundation Theatre
Monday 9 April	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Residential Students only)
Thursday 12 April	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Returns
Friday 13 April	Summer Term concludes

From the Head of Senior School

Scotch College has a number of core values; integrity, service and stewardship. In addition, there are a number of important qualities which we, as a community, promote; one of which is respect.

People often respect others who are impressive for some reason. We might say they have 'earnt our respect' due to a quality that we admire or consider important. However, this says more about us and what we consider important. Showing respect is a slightly different concept. I would like to suggest that respect is shown by being polite, kind and accepting of others; treating others in the same way you might hope to be treated. This is not a new concept. There is a command based on the words of Jesus and taken from the Sermon on the Mount; a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus and found in the Gospel of Matthew. This command is, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Simply, treat people like you would like to be treated. I have also heard this saying extended to - treat others better than you would like to be treated; raising the expected standard of care and consideration for others.

Everything we do and say to others makes a statement about our regard for them. Demonstrating concern and support for individual difference sets the stage for communicating our respect for others. During our assemblies over the previous fortnight I have asked those assembled to take a moment to consider this and how we can 'do unto others', especially at busy and stressful times. Knowing we are in an environment where all are respected as individuals and respected for their contribution is something we should all desire and work towards. In this environment we all achieve more.

At Scotch College we promote making the most of opportunities, making a contribution and striving for personal excellence. It is wonderful to have an opportunity to acknowledge a breadth of personal achievements each week at assemblies. I spoke to the boys last week about respecting everyone's right to feel a sense of pride in these achievements and especially when representing the College.

During Summer Term we identify students who are representing the College in a First team or at the highest level of student competition through them wearing their winter uniform and blazer during marching each Friday. This is not just the case for sport; it is a distinction afforded students who are representing the College in a First team or at the highest level of student competition. At Scotch we understand the importance of balance and encourage boys to be well balanced young men. We do this by encouraging participation in sports through the PSA which is without a doubt a high level of competition. We also encourage participation in the numerous cultural co-curricular pursuits to which many boys commit their time, effort and considerable talents. Music, debating, mock trials and chess are just a few examples of such activities on offer at Scotch College. The level of skill and dedication required to compete and win competitions involving the very best students from schools across the state is equal in every regard to our commitment to the PSA sporting programme.

Recognising students for their strengths and commitment to the College within these opportunities is important and it goes without saying that it should be and is well respected. We will continue to appreciate these boys for their commitment and contribution to the College and their own example of personal excellence.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School

Important Dates in Senior School Summer Term

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 4B
Wednesday 21 February	Parent Support Breakfast	Dining Room Annexe	7.30am - 9.00am
	Year 11 Biology Excursion	AQWA	8.35am - 3.25pm
	OzCLO Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad training session	UWA	12noon - 3.00pm
	Year 11 Parent Teacher Student Interviews	Dickinson Centre	4.00pm - 8.00pm
Thursday 22 February	Year 12 Psychology Excursion	Notre Dame	8.30am - 3.15pm
	PSA Swimming Quads	HBF Stadium	6.00pm - 9.30pm
	Year 11 and 12 Drama Excursion - Far Side of the Moon (PIAF)	Heath Ledger Theatre	7.30pm - 9.30pm
Friday 23 February	Ross House Parent Get Together	Residence Lawn	7.45am - 8.30am
	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.35am - 9.35am
	PSA Sport - Aquinas College v Scotch College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Away	2.00pm - various
	Galadent Mouthguard Fittings	MacKellar Hall	3.30pm - 7.00pm
Saturday 24 February	PSA Sport - Aquinas College v Scotch College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Away	8.30am - various
	PSA Rowing - Trinity College Regatta	Champion Lakes	8.30am - noon
	PSA Inter-School Swimming Training	HBF Stadium Outdoor Pool	3.30pm - 5.00pm
Week 5A
Sunday 25 February	Year 12 Bibbulmun Track Expedition departs
Monday 26 February	Year 10 Personal Project meetings all week	Various	All week
	Year 9 Rottnest Camp departs	B Shed, Fremantle	9.15am for a 10.00am departure
Thursday 1 March	Year 11 Drama Day	Scotch College	8.35am - 3.25pm
	Year 12 Exploring Engineering Day	UWA	8.30am - 3.30pm
	Year 9 Pipe Band Parents' Welcome Afternoon Tea	Dining Room Annexe	1.30pm - 3.30pm
	Year 9 Rottnest Camp returns	Rous Head, Fremantle	2.45pm
Friday 2 March	Mid-Term Break (no classes)
Saturday 3 March	Year 12 Bibbulmun Track Expedition (End to end completion)	Albany	10.00am
Monday 5 March	Mid-Term Break (no classes)
	Boarders to have signed back into their Boarding House		3.00pm - 5.30pm
Tuesday 6 March	Year 2 and 12 Breakfast and Activity	Dining Room Verandah	7.15am - 8.30am

House Leadership Positions

	Captain	Vice Captain (Operations)	Vice Captain (Service)	Student Council Representative
Alexander	Alexander Omari	Zachary Cheir	James Barr	Matthia Au
Anderson	Ryan Marley	Lewis Martin	Auxence Gide	Riley Thomas
Brisbane	Joshua Spadanuda	James Carrigg	Joshua Hook	James Oakey
Cameron	Peter Stulpner	Levi Duyckers	Nicholas Price	Liam Corrigan
Ferguson	William Riekie	Connor O'Sullivan	Max Locke	Oliver Purton
Keys	Rohan Dick	Roshan Gilbert	Stewart Wallace	Brandon Poole
Ross	Daniel Walker	Christopher Ramsden	Cooper Lindsay	Conor Patton
St Andrews	Harry Foley	Hugh Edwards	Lawrence Jackson	Bailey Flecker
Shearer	Daniel Paganin	Joshua Bird	George Mitchell	Nicholas Crump
Stuart	Adam Brenz-Verca	Connor Enslin	Rafe Harrison-Murray	Jonathon Prior

Residential Life Captain	Sam Rogers
Residential Life Vice-Captains	Brandon Poole, Jack Ellis
SCINS Student Council Representative	Scott Smith

Boys' Achievements

Oliver Broun (Year 12, Alexander) recently achieved a Certificate in Jazz Improvisation (through WAAPA Jazz Summer School).

Jamayden Chong (Year 9, Alexander) has been selected as part of the 2018 Perth Allstars Under 15 Baseball Team and will travel to Manila in March to compete against teams from Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta and Dubai.

Callum Griffiths (Year 11, Shearer) achieved a National Open Water age qualifying time for 5km swim (1 hr 4 min 26) on Sunday. This has qualified him for the National Open Water Championships next year.

Lachlan Hyndes (Year 10, Ross) recently achieved a Certificate in Jazz Improvisation (through WAAPA Jazz Summer School) and been accepted into WAYO - Philharmonic Orchestra (cello).

Justin Kalugin (Year 12, St Andrews) competed in the Australian Open Water Championships 26-28 January at Brighton Beach, Adelaide. Justin placed 10^th for his age group in the 7.5km swim and 4^th for his age group in the 5km swim.

Ethan Lamb (Year 10, Ross) recently achieved a Certificate in Jazz Improvisation (through WAAPA Jazz Summer School).

Connor O'Sullivan (Year 12, Ferguson) was selected to compete in the Open Mens Division of the State Touch Rugby Championship, an event held in Rockingham last week.

Charlie Radici (Year 10, Cameron) has been accepted into WAYO - Collegium Orchestra (cello).

2018 Scotch College Inter-House Swimming

Official Results

POSITION	HOUSE	POINTS
1st	Ross	693
2nd	St Andrews	648
3rd	Alexander	621

2018 New Swimming Records

U/15 50m Backstroke

Previous Record: 32.41 sec Set in 2013

New Record: 31.31 sec

Set by Nicolas Le Page (Year 9, Anderson)

U/15 50m Freestyle

Previous Record: 27.14 sec Set in 2013

New Record: 27.05 sec

Set by Nicolas Le Page (Year 9, Anderson)

Year 9, 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay

Previous Record 1.59.60 sec Set in 1997

New Record: 157.70 sec

Ross House Relay Team (Ruan van der Riet, William Marshall, Matthew Howie, Simon Arnott)

Inter-School Swimming

The Swimming "Quads" will be held on Thursday 22 February, commencing at 6.00pm in the indoor pool at HBF Stadium. This competition is between Scotch College, Trinity College, Christ Church Grammar School and Wesley College. There will be an entry charge for parents who wish to watch the competition. The team will be advised of transport arrangements nearer the time.

The P.S.A. Inter-School Swimming Carnival is on Thursday 8 March at HBF Stadium, with the first race to commence at 5.15pm (last race around 8.45 pm).

Tickets for the P.S.A. Inter-School Swimming Carnival

Scotch College has limited seating for adult and family spectators. Tickets are $15 each (to be charged to your school account) and are to be collected and signed for at Reception (tickets will not be posted). Parents who wish to attend can register their names with Reception at the school on 9383 6800. Tickets will be available on a first come first serve basis. We would therefore urge parents to make contact with the school as soon as possible. We look forward to seeing parents and family there to support the team.

Scotch College SCUBA Club

Next dive is on Sunday 18 March. See here for more details.

Careers Information

University Information

UWA Information Session

UWA are offering a free information session to give students a head-start on making their Year 10 or 11 experience a positive one... even if they're not sure if university is the right pathway for them future goals. Find out more about:

• UWA's courses and entry requirements
• Maximising your ATAR
• How to keep your options open when selecting your upper-school subjects
• On-campus activities and events we offer for Year 10 and 11 students.

They can also talk directly to Faculty-specialists about their specific interest areas.

Alexander Lecture Theatre Monday 19 March 2018

Expo available from 6.00pm, presentation 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Register now

Murdoch University

Science Careers Information Evening

Wednesday 14 March 2018 (7.30pm - 9.00pm)

Courses you'll learn about:

• Animal Health
• Animal Science
• Biological Sciences
• Biomedical Science
• Chemistry
• Crop & Pasture Science
• Conservation & Wildlife Biology
• Environmental Management & Sustainability
• Environmental Science
• Forensic Biology & Toxicology
• Laboratory Medicine
• Marine Science
• Mathematics & Statistics
• Molecular Biology
• Physics & Nanotechnology
• Veterinary Science

Year 10 - 12 students and parents

Book Now Via Eventbrite

University of Notre Dame - Indigenous Students Info Session

Tuesday 13 March, 5.30pm

We invite current Year 11 and 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their parents/guardians to join us for Notre Dame's 'Have a Yarn' event. There will be an opportunity to chat about Notre Dame courses, alternative entry, hear from current students and enjoy a barbeque dinner.

For further information please email at future@nd.edu.au or call (08) 9433 0533.

Find out more - http://www.nd.edu.au/events/2018/have-a-yarn

University of Melbourne Aspiring Scholars Programme

This programme is open to Year 12 students from non-Victorian schools with a history of engagement and enrolments with the University.

The programme is largely an online community made up of 150 Aspiring Scholars from across Australia which is led by a small group of current University of Melbourne students who themselves have come from interstate and are now studying across the full range of Melbourne Model degrees. By joining the programme, students will be able to ask any questions they have about the University and studying at Melbourne and they will be answered from a current student point of view. There will be a set time each week when they will be able to ask me about more administrative and admissions related questions. At key times throughout the year webinars will run to address issues that are topical at the time such as "how to apply" and "accommodation options".

In addition to the online community the Aspiring Scholars will have the opportunity to win a flight to attend our Open Day on Sunday 19 August this year. The programme is ideal for students who are keen to come to the University of Melbourne to study and have already expressed an interest in doing so.

Applications are open to students currently in Year 12, with a view to commencing tertiary study at the University of Melbourne in 2019. Interested students are able to submit their own applications.

Below is a link to a flyer about the programme. https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/data/assets/pdf_file/0009/2665899/UoM-Aspiring-Scholars-2018-Flyer.pdf

Based on answers to the questions in the application form, a maximum of three students from each school will be selected.

The deadline for applications is Friday 23 February.

Scholarships

UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarships

The UWA Fogarty Program is one of Australia's premier scholarship programs, recognising 10 young people who demonstrate a wide range of positive attributes.

Through provision of holistic support and an award of $10,000 per year, the UWA Fogarty Scholarship will assist in tuition, accommodation and general living expenses while students complete their UWA undergraduate degree. Applications close 30 April 2018.

ANU Tuckwell Scholarship

This scholarship provides significant financial support for students planning to study at ANU in the future. It is awarded based on a number of criteria, including high academic performance. You can attend a webinar to understand more about the scholarship before applying.

Webinar dates:

Wednesday 21 February, 4.00pm AEDT and Tuesday 6 March, 7.00pm AEDT

More details - https://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/applying/attend-webinar

UMAT Registrations are now open

The Undergraduate Medicine & Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) is a test developed and used specifically to assist with the selection of students into medicine and health science degree programmes at undergraduate level at specific universities in Australia and New Zealand. It is an aptitude test designed to assess general attributes and abilities in relation to critical thinking and problem solving, understanding people and abstract non-verbal reasoning. Registrations close 1 June, and the testing date is Wednesday 25 July 2018.

Find out more - https://umat.acer.edu.au/

Mr Frusher will has met with interested Year 12 students and distributed relevant information to them. If parents or students have any further queries please contact Mr Frusher at Scotch College.

FREE UMAT Preparation Course

iCanMed Perth UMAT Workshop: How to Score Above 90^th Percentile and Predictions for 2018

In 2017, iCanMed was able to help students succeed in ways never thought possible. In less than three weeks of preparation, students were able to learn and master the techniques behind solving UMAT questions and achieve in the 90^th percentiles. This was counter-intuitive as UMAT preparation has always been associated with tediously answering thousands of questions over years of study. This is no longer what students need to do! As a result, iCanMed students received 143 offers from medical schools across Australia.

In this event, iCanMed's co-founder, Michael Tsai, will be taking you through the most efficient and effective strategies to score above 90^th percentile in the UMAT. Michael will be going through:

• What UMAT is and what it assesses in students
• Trends in the 2017 exam and predictions for the 2018 exam
• Why UMAT preparation is different to preparing for subjects at school
• The ways 95% or more students are preparing and the serious flaws in these preparation approaches
• How UMAT questions are designed and made to be challenging - insight from an assessment writer
• The basic components of section 1, 2 and 3 questions - the differences and similarities
• The secret 5 step approach to deciphering each and every UMAT question - with applications to section 1, 2 and 3 question examples
• Recommended timeline for UMAT preparation, medical school application writing, interview preparation and studying for your ATAR

iCanMed has helped over 500 students gain entrance into medical and dental schools across New Zealand and Australia and is looking forward to sharing the most useful strategies in this workshop. If you are serious about getting into your dream course, this workshop is one thing you cannot miss.

Here is the link to the event: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/icanmed-perth-umat-workshop-how-to-score-above-90th-percentile-that-no-one-else-is-doing-tickets-42774159663

NIE UMAT Preparation Course

Students in Year 12 interested in medicine, dentistry, or optometry will need to sit the compulsory UMAT when applying for one of these career choices. On Saturday 24 February 2018, NIE will be conducting a full day UMAT preparation workshop at the Canning Vale College. Places are strictly limited. All details are available via www.nie.edu.au

2019 Gap Year/Exchange Programmes

ADF Gap Year Applications Open

A Gap Year in the Australian Defence Force is more than just a great way to try out a career in the Navy, Army or Air Force. It's a fulfilling year of adventure, experiences, mateship, learning, leadership and travel.

Find out more - https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/students-and-education/gap-year/?faqCategory=1454724d-6b5c-4a69-b6fd-7ce4341b9fa4&faqTag=recruitment-process

Free Live Online Information Session

Students can find out more about our exchange programmes to over 25 countries, listen to former exchange students share their experience and learn about our scholarships and discounts on offer in 2018. Please note that the deadline for Scholarship and Early Bird Discount applications is 31 March for programmes departing between October 2018 - March 2019.

Thursday 22 February at 7.00pm

Register now

Visit www.studentexchange.org.nz or call 0800 440 079 for more information

Letz Live & Tutors Worldwide

This organisation provides opportunities for school leavers to experience a Gap Year in the UK (12 months) or Thailand (6-12 months in British International Schools) in schools with residential facilities. Many Scotch College students have taken up this opportunity in the past and the experience is highly rewarding.

For further information and on-line application visit www.letzlive.org or www.tutorsworldwide.org . Applications are now open and will close Monday 9 April 2018.

Endorsed Programmes

An endorsed programme is a significant learning program that has been developed for senior secondary students. The programme may have been developed by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, or it may have been developed by a private provider or a school and subsequently endorsed by the Authority. Each endorsed programme consists of a series of lessons, classes and/or activities designed to lead to the achievement of a common goal or set of learning outcomes. Endorsed programmes can be delivered as part of the school curriculum or as extra-curricular activities.

All endorsed programmes successfully completed and reported to the Authority by the school

• are listed on the student's Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement
• may contribute towards the breadth-and-depth requirement of the WACE
• may contribute towards the C grade requirement of the WACE.

Each endorsed programme is allocated one, two, three or four unit equivalents.

Students are asked to contact Mr Frusher if they have any endorsed programmes that they would like to have recorded on their WASSA as outlined above. If programmes have been completed through Scotch College (eg. Duke of Edinburgh, Recreational Skipper's Ticket, Scuba Dive Certificate, etc.) these will automatically be recorded.

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Scotch Parents

The Shanghai Nights themed Year 12 Ball was held in the Dickinson Centre on Saturday, 10 February. The Dickinson Centre looked spectacular and Scotch Parents would like to thank Tania Hollingsworth for volunteering to be the ball coordinator and all the parent volunteers who helped out with decorations, food, drinks, photography and security to name a few areas. Without these parent volunteers, the ball would not have been the wonderful event that it was for our boys and their guests.

Request for Volunteers - Class and Year Representatives
We are currently asking parents who would like to volunteer for Class or Year Rep positions to please put their names forward. To all our new and returning families we would love you to get involved. You can do as little or as much as you would like too. You will meet new people in your son's year as well as parents from other years. The more you become involved the more you realise that Scotch College really is a special place.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Scotch Parents please email ScotchParents@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Welcome BBQ - Lost property
Two caps were left behind after the Welcome BBQ. Please contact luciabarrett@hotmail.com if you think one may be yours.

Save the Date - Upcoming Events:

• Year 7 Parent Evening - Friday, 9 March
• Year 6 Parent Evening - Friday, 16 March
• Year 9 Parent and House Head Dinner, Tuesday, 27 March
• Scotch Parents Meeting - Tuesday, 20 March at 9.00am
• Year 11 Parents - Thursday 22 March

Full details of these events will be available shortly.

Ms Stephanie Debnam
President
Scotch Parents

Pipe Band Parent Support Group

A reminder that the Year 9 Welcome Afternoon Tea takes place on Thursday, 1 March at 1:30pm in the Dining Room Annexe. We hope to see as many Year 9 Pipe Band Parents there as possible. Craig Bailey as well as a number of current committee members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

The next PBPSG Meeting will take place on Thursday, 15 March in the Pipe Band Room. Please join us for the meeting and wine and cheese from 7.30pm.

Save the Date - Scottish Banquet
The 2018 Scottish Banquet, will be held on Saturday, 19 May in the Dickinson Centre. More information regarding the event will be available in the coming weeks, so please save the date. It promises to be a fabulous night of Scottish fun and festivities.

Thanks to Claire Howie and Sue Moffatt for agreeing to coordinate this event. We are currently seeking Silent Auction donations from Pipe Band parents as well as the wider Scotch College community. If you have anything that you would like to donate to our 2018 Scottish Banquet Silent Auction please email PBPSG@scotch.wa.edu.au. Thanking you in advance.

Mrs Natasha Taylor
President
Pipe Band Parent Support Group