Every now and then you realise that a group of boys are about to achieve something special - and this was the case last Thursday when our Junior School swim team came from the clouds to win the JPSSA Inter‑School swimming trophy. As an annual onlooker, the event appeared to be progressing as expected, but one could sense that something special was already underway. The team spirit, the passion of our coaches, the staff and the support from our parent body, all added up to an exciting outcome. Well done to everyone, especially to the boys who no doubt have trained for many months to achieve their success. As the old saying goes "the harder you work the luckier you get". This is the first swimming trophy, at any level, which Scotch College has won for many years. The exciting part is that the result hopefully reflects the start of things to come via our Learn to Swim programmes under the direction of Deb Jones. Well done boys.

On numerous occasions throughout the year, I write and speak about what I believe is the 'Scotch difference', that is, our deliberate focus on the concept of community. On Thursday last week, one of our largest year camps took place at Rottnest. Our Year 9s, along with their Heads of Houses and support staff, converged on Rottnest for their annual House camp. As a college with an already dedicated Outdoor Education Programme, this event is not simply geared at more outdoor activity. It is focused on providing the boys a chance to more deeply engage with each other and staff at the House level. Why? Because in Senior School the House system is seminal to all that we do; the boys will be together in their House until they graduate in four years' time. We want our boys to understand that through knowing each other well, care and support should become integral core factors which are central to our wellbeing and pastoral strategies at Scotch College. The boys should see their House as a safe place through which they journey while in Senior School. It is the place where they will traverse their many rites of passage.

As many of you are aware, last weekend was the boarders' long weekend. Residential Life at Scotch College is something we are proud of, and, in the ever increasing complexity of rural living we pride ourselves as being a place where our boys can grow and flourish. The programme is a partnership between home and school. On Saturday, 14 of our Year 12 boarders walked into Albany to signify the completion of their years of walking the Bibbulmun Track. With this simple act of arriving at Albany they become what we call the 'End to Enders' and receive formal recognition of this achievement from the Bibbulmun Track administration. As an International Baccalaureate and Round Square school, such activities align intricately to our goals and aspirations for all boys. Completion of this activity is just one of the many opportunities for our boys to engage in while at Scotch College. Thank you to all of the staff who have walked the Bibbulmun Track with this group since the boys commenced in boarding.

In the last Thistle I wrote about our partnership with FORM. The official opening took place last week and if you have not yet read about this programme you can do so here as it is going to be a part of many initiatives over the coming two years.

Finally, on Tuesday night I will be attending an important Town of Claremont Council meeting which will review our submission for the new Teaching and Learning wing. This state of the art facility will be the new home for the disciplines of Mathematics and Business and will also include a new Year 12 common room and associated facilities.

As usual the last fortnight has delivered much to celebrate. Enjoy the next fortnight, which, believe it or not, will mark the end of Week 7 of this term.

Have a great fortnight.

Dr Alec O'Connell
Headmaster

Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment - what does it mean for my son?

The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) is a programme run by the School Curriculum Standards Authority (SCSA). Each year, in March and September students sit an online assessment in reading, writing and/or numeracy, if they have not yet qualified in that area through Year 9 NAPLAN. Once they have demonstrated the required level they do not need to sit that component again.

Students pre-qualify by reaching Band 8 in their Year 9 NAPLAN assessment in either reading, writing or numeracy. The boys who do not reach Band 8 in these areas will sit one, two or three assessments to meet the SCSA requirements for literacy and numeracy in WA.

The College is well equipped to support students to meet the OLNA standard

As the prequalification for OLNA is above the National and State average, more than 50% of students across WA sit the OLNA in Year 10. At Scotch College this has been between 10% and 16% of our students for numeracy, between 22% and 25% sit the reading test, and between 37% and 40% are required to sit the writing test. After the March round in Year 10 about 5.9% of Scotch College students still need to qualify in numeracy, 5.2% for reading and 6.2% for writing.

It is important for parents to be aware a vast majority of students satisfy the standard for these assessments by the end of Year 10. Students who are required to sit the assessments have support leading up to the tests to familiarise themselves with the format and online environment.

Additional opportunities are offered if necessary to our students to demonstrate they meet the standard. Students have two opportunities in Year 10, two opportunities in Year 11 and two opportunities in Year 12 to complete OLNA.

During Year 11 and 12 individual support programmes are in place to help students who are still working towards the standard. These programmes are coordinated by our excellent Academic Support staff.

FAQ about OLNA on the College's teaching and learning website can be found here.

More information from the SCSA in relation to OLNA can be found here.

Practice assessments can be found here.

Username: 1171
Password: prac14

If you have any concerns regarding your son and OLNA, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Mr Peter Allen
Director of Teaching and Learning

Diving In

I spent last week at Rottnest on the Year 9 camp. It's hard not to worry when you are part of a staff that has responsibility for 190 students, on 190 bicycles. As part of the History tour, we took the boys snorkeling on a shipwrecked barge at Henrietta Rocks. I have spent a lot of time swimming in and around that wreck, checking that it is safe for the boys when they take their turn in the water. As they explore the reef and the old barge, I sit on that rusted hulk and keep a careful eye on them. I check the conditions; I watch them dive and come up for air. I do everything in my power to keep them safe without them knowing that I am. And yet, we can never remove all risk from what we do, and neither should we, particularly in the natural environment. We need to keep the sparks of wonder and curiosity alive in our young people, and we should strive to foster the spirit of adventure in them whenever we can.

Not all of the boys go snorkeling on the wreck; not all of them are ready for it just yet. But it is our role to nudge them from their comfort zone, little by little. Taking them outdoors, and into an environment with which they are not so familiar, provides an excellent opportunity for them to learn about themselves and about other people, and to appreciate and understand the world outside the classroom a little better. It is an invaluable way for our staff to get to know our students and forms the basis of key relationships for the next four years of their school lives.

As far as I am aware, we are the only school in the state that runs such a camp for their entire Year 9 cohort at the same time each year. We have done so at Rottnest since 1996 without a break. It is a remarkable feat and something of which we should be proud. The man who assumes responsibility for the organisation and running of this camp is Mr David Jones and I would like to acknowledge the debt of gratitude we owe him. I know he worries and does all he can to ensure that the camp is safe yet challenging and meaningful for our students. He gets wonderful assistance from our admin staff, as well as the teachers who attend, but the buck stops with him.

We can never reach new destinations unless we are willing to go beyond the places we have been before.

As I sit on the wreck, I see a look of uncertainty cross some of the boys' faces as they contemplate diving through a particular part of the boat. They watch as someone else does it; they duck down and have a look at it; and then they decide to try it themselves. They take a big breath and then there is a flurry of kicking and splashing and they are off. I hold my breath as well, and then my worries dissipate when I see them bob up on the other side. You can hear the elation in their voices when they surface and talk to each other. You can feel their sense of pride at having overcome a challenge, the sense of achievement at facing and besting a fear. And you can see the benefit as they smile and give the thumbs up and head off with their buddy to explore another part of this new world. You can almost see them growing before your eyes as the wonder grows within them.

We worry because we care, which is a good thing. Sometimes, we worry because we do not think we are up to the task. We worry about being under-prepared. We worry about our boys growing up too quickly; and we worry about them not growing up quickly enough. We worry because we know some of the challenges they will face, and we worry because we know that sometimes they will falter. But if we have done a good job, they will come through such times as better men. And by doing a good job, I mean showing them the difference between what they can control and what is beyond their control. If we can give them the confidence to control those things which are within their power to control, and the grace to accept those things which are not, we will have helped them to cope with much more than we might think.

Part of the role of parents and staff is to let our boys know that we care, but also to gradually allow them to take responsibility for their own lives. Homes and schools and camps are excellent places for the individual to gradually accumulate more responsibility for their own behaviour, performance and direction in life. This is where he begins to assume control and we begin to worry. But we don't prevent future worry by continuing to do things for him, or by shielding him from consequences.

Outside Collegians' House, there is a statue which was donated by the OSCs in 1997. It depicts a child climbing upon the shoulders of an adult as that adult appears to hold back the world, at least until the child is ready to launch himself into the world. This is what teachers and parents strive to do; it is a shared responsibility for our collective future. As I said to the boys during the History session at Rottnest, they have a responsibility to make the world a better place; to go out into it and build upon what we have left them, such as that is. We should remind them of this responsibility often, and we should make sure they know that we believe in their capacity to fulfill it.

Mr James Hindle
Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing

Keep Australia Beautiful

Last week the Year 9 students, while on their Rottnest Camp, cleaned up a number of beaches around the island. The boys did this with great enthusiasm and should be proud of their work.

The cleanups took on quite different characteristics depending on which beach the boys were cleaning. Those beaches on the south side of the island were characterised by fishing and boating equipment, most of which has been deposited by the prevailing south westerly wind. The northern side of the island, including Thompson Bay, featured a lot of cigarette butts, bottles, and other items probably consumed by people on the island.

A particular highlight of the week was the Anderson House and St Andrews House students removing the remains of a fibreglass dinghy from the rocks in Strickland Bay. It was not an easy process and the boys displayed great determination and strength!

The week was a great reminder about the impact of human activity, even somewhere as pristine as Rottnest.

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. Book your tickets here.

World's Greatest Shave

Scotch is lined up for another big year raising funds for leukaemia research. Our event is on Monday 26 March following the Senior School Inter-house Cross Country. It will take place at the Gooch Pavilion and all are welcome. The fundraising page is available here.

We are told that a number of teachers have agreed to get a haircut, for a price..

Mr David Kyle
Director of Community Service

How can we help our children do well in school?

The latest education research suggests that a child's progress is improved when the core school curriculum is taught through enough engaging and entertaining activities.

Join us on Monday 19th March for a special evening of talks on creative education with Paul Collard and Paul Gorman. Register your attendance here: https://goo.gl/ErD6bD

About Paul

Paul Collard is Chief Executive at CCE taking overall responsibility for the organisation, its policy and long-term strategic direction. He travels extensively, developing and supporting educational programmes in many countries, advising governments, regional authorities and cities on their work with children and young people and is much in demand as a speaker at international events.

Read more about Paul here.

Year Group Contact Lists 2018

Due to the numerous updates received after the Contact Lists were released we will be re-issuing them very soon. Please ensure any alterations required are emailed to kim.quinlivan@scotch.wa.edu.au by Friday 9 March as this will be the last update this year.

Uniform Shop

Buying Uniforms Online

Uniforms can be purchased online at the Flexischools website. All orders processed online can be picked up from the Uniform Shop after 10.00 am on the following Tuesday, Thursday or Friday (depending on when the order is placed). Orders can also be posted to you. If you are already using Flexischools for canteen orders, you will notice that uniforms are also available for purchase. If you need details on setting up Flexischools access, please email the uniform shop for further information: uniform@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Uniform Shop - Opening Hours for Winter Uniform Changeover

No appointments are necessary. The Uniform Shop will be open extra hours over and above the normal opening times, as follows.

Summer Term Extra Opening Hours

Wednesday 4 April 7.30am to 9.00am

Wednesday 11 April 7.30am to 9.00am

Holiday Opening Days

Friday 27 April 9.00am to 4.00pm (lunch: noon - 1.00pm)

Monday 30 April 9.00am to 4.00pm (lunch: noon - 1.00pm)

Boys need to be in winter uniform on Tuesday 1 May (start of term).

Residential Life News

Academic Check Up

Available to regional students in Year 2 and above, our Academic Check Up programme offers boys the opportunity to be assessed annually on their progress in reading, writing and numeracy and provides support with recommended reading lists, websites and software. Register now for our first Academic Check Up on Saturday 24 March.

For all the latest Residential Life news, view the latest edition of our newsletter.

Mr Marcus Wilkinson
Director of Residential Life

From the Head of Junior School

On Reflection - we still have things to learn.

Teaching is a reflective practice. As teachers, we review what we do and what the children learn frequently over the course of the day, week and year. This happens in many ways in our day. Did I ensure all of the boys are here, was my lesson as well differentiated as it could have been, did I explain the learning intention for my lesson thoroughly enough? This reflection may occur on the spot, at morning tea or on recess duty. In the evenings, the review of day continues, marking takes place, data is analysed and amendments made to the lessons that will follow.

Our teachers are constantly talking about how to get better, researching what will help them help their students to learn and progress. Each one of them is a researcher.

This year, our team of researchers will form Preparation for Action Teams (PAT). Each PAT will choose an area to research that will improve the quality of the teaching and learning in their area. They will investigate best practice from around the country and the globe, trial these new approaches and reviewing their effectiveness. They will engage in professional reading and dialogue and clinically reflect on each aspect of the initiative they experimenting with. At the end of this year, they will present their findings to their colleagues, and as a staff, we will adopt the ones deemed the most effective method to improve our teaching and learning programme.

Our teachers are committed to achieving the very best outcomes for our students and this year of action will pave the way for further improvements to our already outstanding programme.

A Swimming Success - epilogue

Our recent Inter-House Swimming Carnival saw our boys shine in the water but we could not predict then the dizzying heights they would go on to achieve.

On Thursday 1 March at HBF Stadium, boys from Year 4 to 6 represented the College at the JPSSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival. This event has been dominated by Christ Church Grammar School for most of the decade and it would take a monumental team effort to unseat them. On this occasion our boys pulled together, battling in every race to earn valuable points for the team. We won many events along the way and saw essential second, third and fourth place finishes take place. Every point mattered and for the first time in many a year, Scotch College was crowned JPSSA Swimming Champions, edging out Christ Church for that honour.

Well done to our boys and to their coaches on this significant accomplishment.

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School

Year 5A News

What a tremendous start to the year. Our first Unit of Inquiry was, 'How we organise ourselves' and our central idea detailed; rules and regulations have an effect on citizens and governments. With this in mind, the 5A boys are becoming budding politicians. Watch this space, as a number of the boys have definitely caught the politics bug.

The year started off with an informative excursion to Parliament House. The boys participated in three activities and met with the local MP, Mr Sean L'Estrange, who gave some insight into political life. All boys participated in a role play in the Legislative Council and became aware of the different personalities we have in Western Australian Politics. They were walked through the process of voting and the three levels of governments in Australia; local, state and federal.

In the classroom, the boys met with the ex-premier of Western Australia, the Honorable Colin Barnett, who explained about how rules and regulations are passed in government. He also explained the process of passing a bill through parliament and what it means to the individual or parties who believe passionately in the bill. Thank you, Colin for Sunday and late-night shopping.

To top the Unit of Inquiry off, 5A presented an outstanding assembly. Their goal was to be able to teach the younger boys of the school all about Governments; what they are, why we have them, and how they are formed. Mrs Richie concluded that there was information presented during the assembly that she herself was unaware of. Tick, the boys completed their task with flying colours. Well done 5A.

Year 5 Teacher
Mrs Fiona Alexander

Junior School Resource Centre

The year has started at a fast pace in the Library. This year the Library goes to the Early Learning Centre once a week so that our littlest members of the Scotch community get to share stories and borrow books to take home to share with their families.

The Year 1 boys are enjoying coming to the library each fortnight to borrow a fiction and non-fiction book whist the Year 2 and 3 classes are immersed in inquiry and using books to answer the burning questions they pose in the classroom.

The Year 4 and 5 boys have just started a new take-home reading program that will commence this week. Their take-home reading book will now be a book they have selected from the Library based on the reading and comprehension level the STAR test quiz has allocated. Once a book has been read the students will complete a short comprehension quiz. More information to parents in these year levels will be sent out in the coming weeks.

Parents are welcome to visit and borrow from the Library at any time. If you ever have any questions about this service at Scotch please email me at library@scotch.wa.edu.au.

Mrs Kathryn Salt
Junior School Teacher-Librarian

From the Head of Middle School

Each year the College invites Year 5, Year 8 and Year 12 students departing from the three sub-schools to complete a satisfaction survey. One section of the survey asks students about what they valued the most from their time within each sub-school. At the top of the list for the departing Year 8 boys of what they valued the most was, perhaps not unsurprisingly, the PSA Sport Programme they had been involved in. 29% of the boys indicated this as one of their most valued aspects of Scotch life. A sense of team being one of the big elements behind their reasoning. Following close behind PSA Sport was the appreciation of the range of the co-curricular opportunities on offer during their time in Middle School. Within this, boys particularly referenced the Performing Arts; debating, drama, ensembles, bands and choir, once again the big reason was a sense of belonging, achievement, and being a part of a team.

One of the regularly occurring comments I hear from boys who have left the College and moved on to work, university or life in general is that they wished they has done more in the performing arts arena, particularly in Music or Drama. They wished they had persisted with it for a little longer and not given up because they could. For those of you who had the opportunity to go to a Fringe Festival event or the Festival of Perth over summer it was easy to see the degree of enjoyment and satisfaction performers have in being on stage and delivering their performance. The Performing Arts brings together a whole range of left and right brain usage, it fosters camaraderie and offers balance and a huge sense of enjoyment at the sheer fact of being able to participate and produce something special. I encourage you to continue to support your son in the Performing Arts, in terms of producing balanced young men, this is a very valuable path way to follow.

This Friday 9 March Scotch College opens its doors to prospective families, with an Open Day from 8:30-11.00am. Year 8 students are given the opportunity to lead guests on a tour of Middle School, answering questions and providing visitors with their experiences of Scotch to date. Some might see this as a leap of faith having students tell our story, but if you believe in developing Caring, Knowledgeable, Principled, Risk Taking, Open Minded Thinkers and Communicators, this is a great opportunity to showcase it.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School

Forming Friendships in 7.2H

The boys of 7.2H have come together this year with ease and with open minds to new friendships. Some friendships are a year old, and some are just beginning. 7.2H has a feeling of warmth and optimism about the fun to be had in Year 7 at Scotch College.

A focus for 7.2H is to develop a caring classroom with students who show empathy, compassion and respect. Alongside the 5 Essential Agreements guiding behaviour throughout Middle School - Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening, Personal Best, Right to Participate and No Put Downs - we have been promoting connections between students. Matching interests, working in different groups, trying new games, discussing opinions and teaching one another ways in which students have started to build bonds between one another. During these activities, the boys have demonstrated their open-mindedness and their caring natures.

Year 7 is an important transition year and alongside growing academically, in 7.2H we also aim to be a good friend. With opportunities for students to learn more about each other's unique combination of strengths, values and experiences, I think we are off to a great start.

Ms Gabriel Hodgson
7.2H Homeroom Teacher

8.2R Following their Hearts

This term 8.2R have been busy studying cells, tissues, organs and systems in the Biological Sciences unit with the boys being exposed to a wide variety of learning experiences. We have viewed animal tissue through the microscopes, gained a hands-on approach to making a cell through creativity, investigated the link between exercise and heart rate through inquiry, used the small white boards for reviewing previous learning and expressing ideas in collaborative groups, just to name a few.

Most recently, the boys started the circulatory system and with St Valentine's Day just past, it was fitting that the boys of 8.2R carried out a heart dissection in class. Most pleasingly was that all the boys demonstrated a genuine interest in this work and nobody completed the practical in vain!

The boys have been enthusiastic in this unit thus far which is super to see. As teachers, we emphasise the importance of balance for organisms to function at a cellular to system level. It is most pleasing to view the IB Learner Profile Attributes and be able to link each of the ten to aspects of learning in Science so far. Most importantly, it is hoped that boys continue to create, question and search in this fascinating branch of Science.

Mr Toby Robinson
8.2R Homeroom Teacher

Student Achievements

Congratulations to Xavier Houston (8.6F) who has been selected to represent Western Australia as part of the DBWA State Junior U18 Dragon Boat Team to compete at the AusDBF Australian Dragon Boat Championships on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland in March.

Congratulations to Rohan Baldwin (8.5M) who has been selected to represent Western Australia in the State Triathlon Team and will compete at the National Championships in Penrith, New South Wales in April.

Important Dates in Middle School Summer Term

Wed 7 Mar	Year 8 Vaccinations Round 1
Thu 8 Mar	PSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival 5.15pm HBF Stadium
Fri 9 Mar	Open Day MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Year 7.6G Moray Expedition Returns 12.00pm Year 7 Parent Function 7.00pm Boulevard Hotel Floreat
Mon 12 Mar	Year 7.1W & 7.2H Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 15 Mar	Year 7.1W & 7.2H Moray Expedition Returns
Fri 16 Mar	Year 6 Parent Function (details tbc)
Mon 19 Mar	Year 7.3GT & 7.4A Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 22 Mar	Year 7.3GT & 7.4A Moray Expedition Returns
Fri 23 Mar	MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Tanzania Fundraising Movie Night Year 5 & 6: 4.00pm - 6.30pm PLC Hazel Day Drama Centre Year 7 & 8 6.00pm - 9.00pm PLC Hugh Baird Sports Centre
Sat 24 Mar	Scholarship Testing
Mon 26 Mar	Year 7.5M/7.7T Moray Expedition Departs
Thu 29 Mar	JPSSA Bring a Family Member Afternoon 1.15pm Year 7.5M/7.7T Moray Expedition Returns
Fri 30 Mar	Good Friday (no classes)
Mon 2 Apr	Easter Monday (no classes)
Tue 3 Apr	Year 6/7 Production All Day Dress Rehearsal
Thu 5 Apr	Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach Opening Night 7.00pm Foundation Theatre
Fri 6 Apr	MS Assembly 11.30am DC Parents Welcome Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach 7.00pm Foundation Theatre
Sat 7 Apr	Year 6/7 Production James and the Giant Peach 2.00pm Matinee Foundation Theatre
Mon 9 Apr	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Departs (Residential Students only)
Thu 12 Apr	Year 9 Bibbulmun Track Returns
Fri 13 Apr	Summer Term concludes

From the Head of Senior School

Year 9 Rottnest Camp

I was fortunate enough to spend some time at the Year 9 Rottnest camp last week. What a wonderful experience! Observing 200 boys living and working together over the week and experiencing the wonders that Rottnest Island has to offer was a great pleasure. So why do we do it? What are the benefits?

Here are just a few thoughts:

1. It builds community

Camps such as this are all about community. From the House groups traveling together on the ferry, to the groups sharing accommodation, to the activities they rotate through, students live and work in teams that they would not necessarily form on their own. Watching them enjoy unstructured play in-between the planned activities reinforces the important skill of socialisation. We consistently hear from kids about making new friends at camps and in other such situations, many of whom they've seen at school for years without knowing personally. Camps also allows our staff and House Heads to see the boys in a different light. What we learn about your boys out of the classroom is just as, if not more, important as what we learn about them in the classroom.

2. It increases connection

Watching a group of Year 9 boys set-up up the Dining Hall and clean-up afterwards is an interesting experience. They get into the details about everything - silverware setting, enough plates, napkins. Working in teams, the boys develop a greater connection to their House and the College. Working as Scotch College boys to complete community service activities on Rottnest Island gives them a connection; knowing previous year groups have done this as a part of their Rottnest experience. Completing a service aspect on camp reinforces what is discussed at Assembly and in class and is at the core of the College's values.

3. It builds culture

Cultures share a common language, set of values, purpose and a connection to place as a fundamental expression of who they are. All of these things develop for a group of students in just four short days. The night-time activities require the students to create, share, play, reflect and communicate, all of which takes place without technology and aims to help them learn more about themselves and each other. The camp establishes expectations and standards as all boys share in the same experience. The standards expected as they move around the island, interact with the public and work together in the different activities gives them an understanding of what is expected of a Scotch boy.

4. It develops positive feelings and memories around school and the outdoors

The enjoyment of the Year 9 Rottnest camp and the memories developed stay with the boys for years to come. It bonds the boys as a year group and within their House groups. It also develops strong bonds with their House Head and the other staff who are involved in the activities over the four days. Just as staff have the opportunity to see the boys in a different light, the boys see the staff in a different environment, strengthening the bonds between them. Of course, the camp itself allows some boys the opportunity to experience an environment they may not usually get to see. For many it is the beginning of these experiences, the first time they have dived on a wreck, learned about the history of the island and maybe stepped out of their comfort zone.

There is so much to appreciate about the Year 9 Rottnest camp experience. I would like to thank the staff who attended and gave so much of themselves over the four days. Their commitment was simply outstanding. I would like to thank and acknowledge the boys for the way they conducted themselves and for the enthusiasm they showed towards the programmes and the opportunities offered.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School

Open Day

Open Day will take place on Friday 9 March.

Senior School Marching will take place at 8.35am as usual but there will be no Senior School Assembly.

Parking will be limited. Parents are reminded to consider neighbours when dropping boys at school.

Senior School boys are asked to wear their ties for Open Day.

SCUBA Club

The SCUBA Club will run on Sunday 25 March, instead of Sunday 18 March. Please see here for more details.

Boys Achievements

Toby Dew (Year 10, St Andrews) competed in the National Mountain Bike Championships in Armidale NSW (21-23 February).

Inter-School Swimming

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.

Careers Information

University Information

Notre Dame University Fremantle

Parent Information Evening

Wednesday 7 March 2018

6.00pm presentation, refreshments served from 5.45pm

Drill Hall (ND25), The University of Notre Dame Australia, corner of Mouat Street & Croke Street, Fremantle

Presenters and a panel of current students will discuss and answer questions about Notre Dame's unique admissions process, the programs on offer, recommended subjects, alternative pathways, and how your son can best prepare for the transition from High School to University.

Guest speaker, Notre Dame's Careers Officer, will also share some tips about how to engage in meaningful conversations around careers with your son and how a Notre Dame degree will prepare your son for the future of work.

Discover why this national university in Fremantle's West End is one of the highest rated universities in Australia by students and employers alike.

To RSVP for this event, please go to http://www.nd.edu.au/events/2018/parent-info-evening. For further information please email future@nd.edu.au or call (08) 9433 0533.

Medicine Information Session - Sunday 25 March 2018, 10.45am

Prospective students and their families to attend Notre Dame's Medicine Information Session. Information about the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Pre-Medicine Certificate (PMC) will be discussed including the application and selection process, course structure, and important dates and deadlines.

For registration to any of these events, please visit http://www.nd.edu.au/events/fremantle.

The University of Western Australia

Year 10 - 11 Course Information Evening

Monday 19 March

Alexander Lecture Theatre

Making high school less stressful for everyone

Free information sessions to give you a head-start on making your Year 10 or 11 experience a positive one... even if you are not sure if university's the right pathway for your 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; and

• On-campus activities and events we offer for Year 10 and 11 students.

You can also talk directly to Faculty-specialists about your specific interest areas.

Register now

Year 12 Course Information Evening

Monday 19 March Alexander Lecture Theatre

Make the most of your WACE results and reach your goals

For many Year 12 students and their parents, applying for university can be a daunting process.

A free information session will provide advice on UWA courses, admission requirements and flag key dates for 2018. Our Future Students team will be available to answer your questions after the presentation.

The Faculty Expo is an excellent opportunity to talk directly to Faculty-specialists about your specific interest areas.

Register now

University of Melbourne will be conducting an Information Day for interstate students and their families at our Parkville campus on Monday 16 April from 8:30am.

Rather than focusing on course information readily available on our website, this event looks specifically at the Melbourne experience for interstate students.

The programme includes information about the application process, scholarship opportunities, student services, accommodation options and financial assistance. They will also have the chance to ask current interstate students about their experiences and hear how they managed the transition to Melbourne and experience what it's like to live in one of our Residential Colleges with lunch in a college dining hall as well as a college tour.

When the main programme finishes at 3.30pm participants can also opt to stay on for extra tours of our Residential Colleges or the Victorian College of the Arts at the beautiful Southbank Campus.

Date: Monday 16 April 2018

Location: University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010

REGISTER NOW

https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/explore/events/victoria_and_interstate/victoria/interstate_student_and_family_information_day

Scholarships

UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarships

The UWA Fogarty Programme 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.

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

Attend a webinar to learn more about the Tuckwell Scholarship Programme at ANU. You will get to hear from a current Scholar about their experience of applying, as well as their perspectives on life and study at ANU in Canberra. The next webinar is on Tuesday, 6 March.

Register to attend

UK Universities and Colleges

UCAS is the organisation that processes all full-time applications to UK universities and colleges. It is there to support you - as well as your son or daughter - through every step of the application process. UCAS sends all applicants a monthly newsletter, full of useful information, reminders, advice and competitions. But did you know you can access information from UCAS too?

You can sign up to monthly parent newsletters quickly and simply online. They're completely FREE and contain timely information and advice about your son or daughter's journey to higher education and what you can do to support them.

For further information about the UCAS process, take a look at the advice for parents on www.ucas.com.

US Colleges & Universities

Wesley College will be hosting an information evening, on Monday 19 March 2018, for students who want to learn more about how to apply to US Colleges, and specifically NCAA applications. This is a free event and all are welcome to attend. Please pass this booking link www.trybooking.com/355009 on to your colleagues, interested students and their parents, to secure a seat.

The venue is the Goatcher Auditorium, Wesley College, Angelo Street, South Perth. The programme is below.

6.00pm	Welcome and Introductions: Mary Henry, Director of Community Relations, Wesley College and Rachel Cooke, US Consul General
6.10pm	Study in the USA An introduction presented by Sarah O'Reilly EducationUSA Coordinator, US Consulate General, Sydney
6.20pm	How to play College Sports in the USA. Student athlete requirements and essential subject selections presented by Ashley Thornburg, Associate Director, NCAA Eligibility Centre
7.00pm	Q&A with Sarah, Ashley and Lee from EducationUSA Perth

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Important Dates - Summer Term

Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 6B
Tuesday 6 March	Year 2 and 12 Breakfast and Activity	Dining Room Verandah	7.15am - 8.30am
	Year 12 PLC Parent Teacher Student Interviews for cross campus students	PLC	4.00pm - 7.00pm
	WADL Debating Round 1 Week 1	Shenton College	6.30pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday 7 March	Year 10 OLNA Testing (Writing)	Dickinson Centre and classrooms	10.25am - 11.25am
	OzCLO Australian Computational and Linguistics Competition	Scotch College	10.30am - 1.30pm
	Year 12 Parent Teacher Student Interviews	Dickinson Centre	4.00pm - 8.00pm
	WADL Debating Round 1 Week 1	Hale School	7.20pm - 8.30pm
Thursday 8 March	PSA Inter-School Swimming Carnival	HBF Stadium, Mt Claremont	5.15pm - 8.45pm
Friday 9 March	Open Day		8.00am - 12noon
	Wagin Woolorama	Wagin
	Senior School Marching (no assembly)	Dickinson Centre	8.35am - 8.55am
	PSA Sport - Scotch College v Wesley College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Home	2.00pm - various
	'Have Sum Fun' Mathematics Competition (Years 11 and 12)	Hale School	7.00pm - 10.00pm
Saturday 10 March	Wagin Woolorama	Wagin
	PSA Sport - Scotch College v Wesley College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Home	8.30pm - various
	PSA Rowing - Scotch College Regatta	Champion Lakes	8.30am - noon
Sunday 11 March	Ross House Swimathon	Scotch College Pool	1.00pm - 4.00pm
Week 7A
Tuesday 13 March	Year 10 OLNA Testing (Numeracy)	Dickinson Centre and classrooms	10.25am - 11.25am
	WADL Debating Round 1 Week 2	Shenton College	7.20pm - 9.30pm
Wednesday 14 March	Year 10 WACE Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.30pm - 7.30pm
Thursday 15 March	Year 10 OLNA Testing (Reading)	Dickinson Centre and classrooms	10.25am - 11.25am
	Goland Club Dinner	Dining Room	6.30pm - 9.30pm
Friday 16 March	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.35am - 9.35am
	PSA Sport - Christ Church Grammar School v Scotch College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Away	2.00pm - various
	'Have Sum Fun' Mathematics Competition (Years 9 and 10)	All Saints College	7.00pm - 10.00pm
Saturday 17 March	PSA Sport - Christ Church Grammar School v Scotch College (Please check fixtures on home.scotch)	Away	8.30am - various
	PSA Rowing - Head of the River	Champion Lakes	8.30am - 12noon
Monday 19 March	Year 11 Grip Student Leadership Conference	Perth Convention Centre	8.00am - 2.30pm
	Year 11 Marine and Maritime (General) Excursion	Mettam's Pool and AQWA	8.30am - 1.15pm

Scotch Parents

Our next Scotch Parents Meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 March at 9am in the Gooch Pavilion. We welcome all parents to come along.

Upcoming Events:

Year 7 Parents Evening - "Drinks at The Boulevard"

Date: Friday 9 March
Venue: The Boulevard Hotel
cnr The Boulevard and Howtree Place, Floreat
Time: 7.00pm onwards
Cost: Drinks & Nibbles to be purchased individually from the bar
RSVP: Please RSVP by Monday 5th

Year 6 Parent Evening

Date: Friday 16 March
Venue: The Resident (upstairs)
156 Hampden Road, Nedlands
Time: 7.30pm

Year 9 Parent and House Head Dinner

This evening is so parents can meet their son's Head of House and other parents in their son's house.

Date: Tuesday 27 March
Venue: Scotch Dining Room
Time: 6.30pm

Tickets for this event will be available shortly by visiting the Scotch College website www.scotch.wa.edu.au and clicking on the "Book a Scotch Event" icon.

Year 11 Parents Function

Date: Thursday 22 March 2018
Time: 6.00pm-9.00pm
Venue: Ari and Peter Harold's Home

Ariane Harold, Jo Gale and Karen Azzopardi
Year 11 Representatives

Ms Stephanie Debnam
President
Scotch Parents

End of Season Sporting Dinners - Save the Date

• Cricket Dinner - Monday 9 April
• Water Polo Dinner - Tuesday 10 April
• Basketball Dinner - Wednesday 11 April

Full details for these events will be available shortly. Please be aware that for catering purposes the rsvp dates for these events are fixed and we will be unable to accept late bookings.

Cricket Support Group

With only two home games left for the season it would be great to get as many supporters as possible head down to the Gooch Pavilion to show their support for the boys. The remaining home games for season are

• Friday 9 and Saturday 10 March
• Friday 23 and Saturday 24 March

Save the Date - End of Season Dinner

The Cricket End of Season Dinner will be held on Monday 9 April in the Dining Room. Full details and tickets will be available shortly.

Mrs Mandy Martin
Cricket Support Group

Old Scotch Collegians

Old Scotch Collegians welcomes all past students to attend the Annual General Meeting being held on Tuesday 13 March at 6.00pm in the archives of Memorial Hall. A short order of business will be followed by refreshments. Past rowers are also invited to attend the Boat Club Dinner on Thursday 15 March, particularly those who also celebrate a cohort reunion this year.

Other upcoming events include the annual Beverley Dinner and the Class of 1988 Thirty Year Reunion. Details on how to register, as well as a full list of 2018 events, can be found via the Scotch College website, or contact the OSC Office (cass.macgowan@scotch.wa.edu.au) for more information.

Cassandra Magowan
Alumni Officer