Last Friday our whole school community commemorated a very special day in the life of our service men and women. Congratulations to everyone who made this such a moving and fitting ceremony.

Remembrance Day 2018 marks the centenary of the armistice that ended The Great War in 1918. It was exactly 100 years ago in November, the 11^th month and at the 11^th hour on the 11^th day that World War I ended. Germany signed an armistice, an agreement that peace would prevail and that fighting would cease. This had been prepared by Britain and France.

At the time this was seen as the first step towards worldwide peace and the end to all world wars. It was a time of hope, a time of celebration but also a time to remember the sacrifices others have made to allow us to be in the position we are in today.

Acknowledging sacrifice is a concept that we can carry with us throughout all facets of life, whether that be through thanking your parents for getting up at 4.00am three times a week to take you to rowing training so that you can improve, or remembering all the hours your teachers put in to help you improve when you receive outstanding exam results. No matter who you are, your success and your happiness are usually never all of your own doing. Everyone gets help, everyone needs support and without others in our lives we would not achieve anywhere near our potential. We often get so caught up in our destination, that we actually forget how we got there, we forget everything that had to line up for us to be in our current position.

We often speak about how silence and contemplation are something we need to find more time for in our day to day lives. It is within silence that we can find true solitude and reflection. Many of our classes are now engaging in strategies to find time to reflect and be at peace through yoga and mindfulness. Our Director of Wellbeing, in conjunction with each of the sub schools, is continuing to work on strategies to help our boys focus on what really matters, their health and wellness.

At this time of reflecting on Remembrance Day, I recommend you pay a visit to our Scotch Heritage Centre and the respective displays in the renovated Memorial Hall which pays respect to past Scotch College students and staff who served both in the First and Second World Wars. It is a great addition to our College and demonstrates our acknowledgment of sacrifice from those who graced our very halls and fields at Scotch College.

Last Wednesday I had the honour of officially opening the PYP Exhibition. This night was the culmination of a term of concentration and focus by our Year 5 boys. These projects are still on display in the College Gallery so I urge you to call past and marvel at what these young boys have produced. The projects represent reflection, action and discernment. Well done to our Year 5 teachers and many others who acted as student mentors throughout the project.

As of last Friday, a majority of our Year 12s had completed their final exams. Some are still sitting papers so we wish them well as they near the end of their formal schooling. I caught up with a lot of the boys before and after their exams and the general feeling is one of satisfaction and a sense that the exams were relatively fair.

As part of our whole school surveys this year the OSC have been asked about their perceptions of the College and about being Old Scotch Collegians. We ask all OSC to look for the email communication and participate as fully as possible as the results will allow us to consider the responses as we review our strategic plans.

The new building project is making rapid progress. May I remind all parents that no one should be dropping their son off outside the old drop off zone near the Pipe Band room at the circle on Wright Avenue. This is simply too dangerous and unnecessary. Actually, in the pursuit of wellness you should try and increase your son's walk to class and see what benefit and enjoyment he could gain.

Entry to and from the building site by trucks is restricted and the site is closed to traffic movement between 8.00am and 9.00am. This allows the boys to arrive at school and get to their respective campus without the movement of heavy articulated trucks. Can I also ask that all parents reinforce that the underpass has been constructed for the safe movement of all students across Shenton Road. Students should walk up from Stirling Road, or down from Australind Street to access the underpass.

Thanks for your ongoing attention and support with our new pedestrian movement plans.

Have a great fortnight.

Dr Alec J O'Connell
Headmaster

Learning from Experience – Inspiring career choices

The inevitable question of, 'What are you going to do when you leave school?' starts in Year 10 for most students with a vast majority having little to no idea. The reality for this current generation is that they will have multiple careers over their lifetime.

The role the College can play is in introducing the boys to a range of industries to give them an insight into choices that, through their studies, may appeal to them in the future.

Last week a group of Year 12 students visited the DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine as guests of Sandfire Resources NL. The mine is located 900km North East of Perth in between Meekatharra and Newman.

After a very early morning flight the boys were inducted into safe work practices in a complex mining operation and able to see first-hand a range of career opportunities within the resources sector.

DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine is one of the Asia-Pacific region's premier, high-grade copper mines.

Sandfire Resources NL is a first mover in Australia for renewable energy use in an off-grid mining application. The boys were particularly interested in the solar farm as they observed the future of Australia's renewables sector.

The innovative $40M DeGrussa Solar Project was successfully commissioned at Sandfire's DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine in June 2016. It covers a total area of over 20 hectares and comprises of 34,080 solar PV panels with a single-axis tracking system mounted on 4,700 steel posts. This enables the panels to track the sun during the day, improving the plant's overall performance. More information on the Solar Instalment can be seen here:

Tim Day OSC '04 is a metallurgist on the mine and explained the science behind Copper extraction as well as the benefits of metallurgy as a career. The boys were thoroughly engaged and asked many astute questions. They left with a greater understanding of career opportunities within the resource sector and the complexity of FIFO.

The Sandfire Resources NL team were very generous and excellent with the boys. It was truly a rare experience for our students.

Mr Peter Allen
Director of Teaching and Learning

Resilience and Grit - Part II

Angela Duckworth, in her book, "Grit", defines this concept as passion plus perseverance in pursuit of a long-term goal. It is the thing which drives us to get up, day after day, in order to achieve something we have set our minds to which may be many years in the future. While resilience is the ability to cope with interruptions to our plans, learn from mistakes and to overcome challenges along the way (both those we anticipate and those which are unexpected), grit is the drive to carry on when it seems something is beyond us.

In her book, "Getting Grit", Caroline Adams Miller explores the concept of Bad Grit (which repels other people). She talks about:

Stupid/Stubborn Grit: when you have an idea whose time has passed and a strategy to pursue a goal that is no longer applicable; it refers to people who are drunk on the goal and will not listen to good advice and who continue to pursue something to destructive ends (either for themselves or others). This involves a form of arrogance; these people are unable to disengage from a goal and re-engage in a different way
Faux/False Grit: people who fake their results to make it look like they have done something difficult when they haven't (e.g. Lance Armstrong; people who fake research to gain a PhD). This group of people take short-cuts
Selfie Grit: when humility has gone AWOL; people who have to tell you about their accomplishments all the time; people who do things to get a trophy or the acclaim of others

Of all the Character Strengths, the most important one that most successful people possess is curiosity. If you are curious, it's not all about you; it's about what you can learn from others and how you can challenge yourself. For me, curiosity equals intellectual humility, because it means that you are not afraid to ask questions; you are not afraid to say I don't know; you want to know what you don't know; and you are not afraid to find out. This is 'Good Grit'. People with 'Selfie Grit' are not curious about others; those with 'Stupid Grit' are not curious about considering other ways of getting things done. Seeking and taking advice from others is a critical element in humility, and it is central to grit.

Hearing life stories from gritty people can help us to build our own grit. The best stories involve "Ordinary Grit", which is shown by ordinary people who make you want to be a better human being because of the way they go about their lives (their example makes you ask yourself, "How can I be more like that person?"). They don't have to be famous or well-known; it is far more important that they are close to you (within your community).

To cultivate grit in young people, Miller reminds us of the following:

Setbacks, downfalls, negative events are the things that build grit and help us to find out who we are
We must allow children to fail, to feel what that is like
We need to experience between 3-7 significant setbacks to have a happy life; to know the difference between good and bad (if everything is pleasant all of the time, how do we know if we can handle things when they get hard?)
Don't swoop in and save them; let them get through difficult times and things by themselves, otherwise they never work out how to make anything happen on their own

Miller creates the word "sticktoitiveness" – perhaps it's simply a new way of saying "persistence" or "perseverance". Whatever we choose to call it, I think it is critical that we develop our students' capacity to endure hardship and make the most of life, and this is a process which takes a long time.

As the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus put it: "Good character is not formed in a week or month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character."

In the next and final Thistle for the year, I will link grit to having a 'growth mindset', as well as to the concept of 'learned industriousness'.

Mr James Hindle
Director of Student and Staff Wellbeing

There is more in you than you think

Kurt Hahn is a man who has a great educational legacy, particularly in citizenship and character education. Hahn's quote, 'there is more in you than you think', inspired his approach to the development of young people and led him to a career that included being the Headmaster of Gordonstoun in Scotland, establishing the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, Round Square, Outward Bound, and United World Colleges. His legacy is certainly reverberating at Scotch College!

Undoubtedly you have sent your son to Scotch to take as much from the diverse opportunities as possible and to get out of their comfort zone, to realise that there is more in them than they think! It When we engage our students as a part of the outdoor education or sporting programmes we expect they will be physically challenged and when we ask them to speak in front of large groups or to take part in house debating, we expect that they will need to overcome fear and anxiety and control their emotions. In both cases we hope that they are building their resilience and ability to adapt to uncertainty and unusual situations, ensuring they are prepared for the realities of life. When we ask them to collaborate or work in a team on their Community Project or in a musical performance, they are creating interpersonal skills and developing emotional intelligence and through our Service and Exchange programmes we aim to build empathy and a sense of purpose. Of course our academic programme develops rigour, tenacity, perseverance and conscientiousness while dealing with disappointment too. In all of these instances, simply going through the motions and sticking to what is safe is not what our College is about and we hope that by building experiences and opportunities that put our boys out of their comfort zone, they are realising there is a lot more in themselves than they may have realised.

Below are a few opportunities to get outside their comfort zone that your son may be interested in. Please contact me if you'd like more information or visit the website.

Year 8 (2019 Year 9s) - Woodleigh School invites schools in the Australasia and East Asia region to a Regional Conference for students in Year 9. The conference will take place from arrivals (in Melbourne) by 1.00pm on Sunday 7 April 2019 through to departures after 2.00pm on Thursday 11 April 2019.
Woodleigh's conference team is busy planning and organising a diverse set of activities around the theme of Gen Z: Mind Shifters. The conference will encourage students to realise that the personal choices they make in their lives has an impact on others and the environment. Delegates will explore self-awareness, empathy and compassion for others through a variety of conference activities and provide opportunities for students to act with direction and purpose to make a difference in the world.

Year 11 and 12 – Abrolhos Islands Adventurous Journey, 12-18 April, 2019. This tour has been designed to support the requirements of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and will focus mainly on the Skills and Adventurous Journey, whilst promoting the experiences below:

Maritime history and archaeology – the students will explore the 'Shipwreck Coast' and the maritime history of Western Australia and will have the unique opportunity to dive on the Batavia shipwreck.
Exploring the importance of plankton and coral communities in the marine environment – the students will be immersed in this coral atoll and learn about the characteristics of coral communities.
Management of marine resources – students will learn about the Western Australian rock lobster industry, regarded as one of the best managed fisheries in the world, and visit a pearl farm.
SCUBA diving - students will complete the theory and practical component of their PADI SCUBA, including preparation prior to the trip.

Year 10 and 11 – 2019 Round Square International Service Big Build Projects in Morocco and Borneo.

Participation in a Round Square International Service Projects is a great way for students to develop an understanding of the types of problems faced by communities around the world through a hands-on experience. RSIS project participants work in a truly international team, developing skills and attitudes for leadership, global citizenship and community engagement. Packed with challenging adventure and cultural awareness opportunities, the project programmes are designed to ensure that students have an exciting, experiential and holistic learning experience.

RSIS Big Build Morocco takes place from 6 - 19 July 2019
RSIS Big Build Borneo takes place from 7 - 20 December 2019

Remembrance Day thanks…

A big thanks to Stuart House and Brisbane House for selling poppies in aid of Remembrance Day. The poppies raise funds for the Cambridge Rotary Club and are donated to services to recently returned servicemen and women. The boys also went above and beyond and sold poppies in Claremont Quarter after hearing that the Claremont branch of the RSL was unable to. Well done and a big thanks to the boys in Brisbane and Stuart.

A few other reminders below. Please visit the website for more information.

All Abilities Cricket started on Friday 26 October. It runs every week from 5.00pm at Creswell Oval (Claremont Nedlands Cricket Club). All welcome.

Boardies Day is on Tuesday 4 December. All Scotch College students (ELC through Year 12 plus staff) are encouraged to wear boardshorts with their uniform or work clothes. This will raise funds and awareness for water safety as we enter the summer months.

Disabled Surfing Australia is putting their first event on for the summer at Leighton Beach on Saturday 1 December 2018. There is no PSA sport that day so we encourage everyone in the Scotch community to get down to Leighton and learn what it is all about. The community atmosphere is electric and the joy for all involved is contagious!

Volunteers required from 6.30am until 2.00pm at Leighton Beach Fremantle

Registration at 9.00am with a 10.30am cut off followed by a pre-event safety briefing at 9.30am. Barbeque and presentations at 1.00pm with the event wrapping up at approximately 2.00pm.

More details at the website.

Christmas Appeal - Uniting Care West

All boys are encouraged to support the Appeal. There is a Christmas tree in the DC where donations can be left or alternatively with House Heads and Homeroom teachers. See poster below for what to donate.

Finally, a huge congratulations to Matthew Simich (Shearer House, OSC 2017) who was awarded his Duke of Edinburgh's International Gold Award a couple of weeks ago. Matthew received his award from our new Governor, The Honourable Kim Beazley AC and can be extremely proud of his efforts in achieving such a prestigious award, started by Kurt Hahn over 60 years ago!

ICEA Classic - The ICEA Classic will run on 24 November at Cove, Cottesloe. The Classic has become entrenched in the local surfing scene and is a great example of the reconciliation taking place amongst the younger generations. ICEA is headed up by OSC Tom Joyner and this year's event promises to be as big as ever.

See the website for more details.

Mr David Kyle
Director of Service and Citizenship

Uniform Shop

Opening Times

Tuesdays:	8.00am - 5.00pm
Thursdays:	7.30am -11.30am
Fridays:	7.30am -11.30am

Year 12 Blazers

Year 12 blazers are available for sale. Because of the unknown nature of the overall size of Year 12 boys and to avoid disappointment, it is recommended that you come in for sizing as soon as possible.

Secondhand Exchange

The Uniform Shop accepts all current items of uniform for resale. All items should be clean. Blazers must be dry cleaned and in good condition. The old-style blazer will be donated to charity. A frayed cuff, worn elbows, very old crests, rips and tears on blazers make them unacceptable for resale. Items will be purchased from you outright as long as they are in good condition and the shop is not overstocked. Bathers, hats, socks and restricted sportswear are not accepted for resale, but will be donated to charity if handed in.

Online Uniform Shop

Uniforms can also be purchased in the online Uniform Shop. Payment is by credit card or PAYPAL. Please go to Flexischools.com.au and click on Register, then follow the instructions in the email that you'll receive. Once you have registered at Flexischools, you will need to add your son ("Add a student") as a student at Scotch College ("Scotch College WA"). Enter him as a student in the year group he will be going into in 2018 (any class is fine). If you need help with this process, please contact the uniform shop.

Summer Holiday Opening Times

The Uniform Shop opening hours for the general school community during the holidays are as follows:

Summer Holiday Opening Hours (9.00am - 12.00pm and 1.00pm - 4.00pm)

Monday 21 January, 2019
Tuesday 22 January, 2019
Wednesday 23 January, 2019
Thursday 24 January, 2019
Friday 25 January, 2019
Saturday 26 January, 2019 (9.00am - 12.00pm)
Tuesday 29 January, 2019 (8.00am - 5.00pm)
Wednesday 30 January, 2019 (7.30am - 9.30am)

Normal trading hours resume on Thursday, 31 January 2019:

Tuesdays:	8.00am - 5.00pm
Thursdays:	7.30am -11.30am
Fridays:	7.30am -11.30am

From the Head of Junior School

True Colours Come Shining Through

On Wednesday 7 November, the Year 5 students presented their PYP Exhibition. Working from the transdisciplinary theme 'Who we are', the boys examined a range of topics and passionately delivered their research and their learning to the Scotch community. On Monday and Tuesday of last week, the boys presented to our own students from the Junior and Middle Schools, students from the International School of Western Australia, Presbyterian Ladies' College as well as their parents and relatives.

The exhibition is a culminating experience of the Primary Years Programme and gives the boys the opportunity to showcase their skills as an inquirer. The feature item of each boy's exhibition was their statement piece. The one piece that they would use to focus their audience around their main points of discussion for their inquiry. The creativity the boys demonstrated was outstanding, ranging from models demonstrating the workings of a volcano or the inner workings of a virus, candy representations of DNA molecules, incredible artworks of musical instruments or interactive displays involving hydroponics, sensory playground areas and other creative ways of sharing their passion in their lives.

Each boy worked from a burning question, the key thing they wanted to learn or discover and demonstrated their research skills by producing outstanding written reports and orally sharing with their assembled audience the wonderful things they have learned and discovered. The key feature of the exhibition was the action each boy took. They were able to speak clearly about how it has changed what they believed or how it will impact on what they will do going forward.

To start the evening, the boys sang the song 'True Colours'. The exhibition truly was an opportunity for them to show their colours and the pride in their learning. Exhibitions of this standard are rare for children of this age. We had to remind ourselves as we walked through the presentation that the boys talking to us were ten and eleven years old. They truly presented as beyond their years.

Something like this exhibition does not simply happen. The incredible amount of work that takes place behind the scenes to bring this to the fore is remarkable. Not only did the boys benefit from the mentoring of the Junior School teaching staff through their nine-week journey, they were supported every step of the way by their outstanding classroom teachers and Mr Warwick Norman, Dean of Teaching and Learning. I want to thank Mrs Alexander, Ms Louden and Mr Wells for their expertise, their passion and their commitment to these boys that helped them get to this point in their learning. I want to also congratulate the boys for their efforts. The way they went about presenting and sharing their learning with the community this week makes me so very proud of them. Each of them did show their true colours this week. They showed their passion for learning, passion for communicating and the strength of their character to each person who attended the exhibition.

The feedback from staff and parents who joined us, was how they were taken aback at the ability of these boys and the standard of presentation and learning they demonstrated. I want to say well done to everyone involved in this wonderful journey.

Mr John Stewart
Head of Junior School

From the Deputy Head of Junior School

Year 5 and Year 12 Leadership School Lunch Programme

A strong partnership has been established between Scotch College and Maddington Primary School owing to the School Lunch Programme. Each fortnight, Scotch College Senior School Houses send approximately 50 lunches to the primary school, to support students who often arrive without provisions for the day. This relationship was established as part of the school lunch programme which was initiated over the last few years and because of the immediate success of the first donation and lunch making session, it was decided by the Senior School Leadership Groups to make this an ongoing exercise.

The Junior School is fortunate to be included in one sandwich making session in Semester 1 and another in Semester 2. As such on Monday 5 November, the new Year 12 Leadership Team met with the Year 5 Specialist and House Captains and made sandwiches together.

Aside from the 50 lunches being made, there was such a healthy 'buzz' between the older and younger boys. Conversations were flowing as boys from the Junior School and Senior School shared their leadership responsibilities, standing side by side as they worked to create. These conversations only stopped as the groups started to chant and coax each other on, in the true spirit that thrives here at the College.

After the activities drew to a close and the last sandwich was placed into the box ready for delivery, it was obvious what else had been gained in addition to the packed lunches. New found friends, a lovely connection from Junior School to Senior School, and the obvious care that the senior boys showed were a powerful reward from such a simple task as making up a lunch bag full of goodies.

To Harry Gilchrist and the Year 12 leadership group, we cannot thank you enough for allowing the Junior School to join in with this ongoing endeavour. We appreciate the time and organization that this project takes and are very grateful for the connection and link to the Senior School we gain as a healthy byproduct of this wonderful programme.

Miss Penny Hooper
Deputy Head of Junior School
Administration and Pastoral Care

Year 5L News

On Wednesday 7 November, the Year 5 students celebrated their learning through inquiry towards their Primary Years Program Exhibition. The theme for Exhibition was, 'Who We Are' with a focus on beliefs, values, culture, health and the environment. Each of the boys selected an area of curiosity and developed a burning question to lead their investigation. The boys showed independence, commitment and persistence in following their inquiry through from the research phase, to the report writing phase and finally, to the creation of a statement piece which portrayed their message. The boys focused on self-management skills, self-discipline and creativity.

The boys had many visitors throughout the Exhibition week and welcomed students from both Perth Ladies College as well as the International School of Western Australia. The students were also visited by students from Kindergarten all the way through to the Year 8. All students and their teachers were very complimentary about the boys' process journals, reports and their final exhibits. The Exhibition evening was a great success with each of the boys confident in their speaking skills and elated with their individual success.

Each of the boys has connected in some way to who they are and to who we are collectively. Their action will now put into practice what they have learned and hopefully share the message of 'global-mindedness'.

You can catch up with all the PYP Exhibition happenings via the Y5PYP Blog page: http://scotchcollegepypexhibition.weebly.com/news

Ms Irene Louden
Year 5 Teacher

Art News

During Visual Art, the boys completed a self-portrait in a photographic style using charcoal and chalk. In contrast, they created their backgrounds to our self-portrait in full colour. Each of the Learner Profile attributes was carefully matched to a suitable artist and the boys identified which attribute best described who they are.

The theme for the Year 5 PYP 2018 exhibition is 'Who we are'. The Central Idea was beliefs, values, culture, health and the environment can have an impact on who we are as individuals.

Knowledgeable – Leonardo Da Vinci
Caring – Vincent Van Gogh
Principled – Claude Monet
Open-minded – Sonia Delaunay
Risk-Taker – Jackson Pollock
Balanced – Mc Escher
Thinker – Henri Rousseau
Inquirer – Andy Warhol
Reflective – Frida Kahlo
Communicator – Edvard Munch

The final artwork emphasizes the importance of both individuality and connection to artists and one another. The boys have really enjoyed having the choice of material whilst creating their artist's backgrounds. There was a wide range of student responses from paint, oil pastel, crayon, watercolour pencil and chalk pastels. I look forward to sharing with you the many talents of Year 5 2018 PYP Exhibition and the opportunity for you to get to know the boy.

Mrs Jane Roche
Junior Art Specialist

Extension and Enrichment News

The Junior School has been celebrating many achievements, with students participating in a wide variety of competitions, Year 5 boys completing their PYP Exhibition with aplomb and distinction, and the co-curricular clubs catering for diverse needs, abilities and talents.

In the classrooms, teachers continue to differentiate lessons and cater for all abilities through their planning and collaboration with the Academic Support and Enrichment teams. It is exciting to work alongside colleagues in providing rich learning experiences and to provide our students with appropriate stimulation and levels of challenge.

Winter Term saw a selection of Year 5 boys team up with Middle School students to compete in Tournament of Minds and the DaVinci Decathlon. Both Inter-School competitions require creative thinking, collaboration and the ability to apply skills and knowledge, in order to create something original and thought-provoking. We enjoyed success in TOMs, with one team being awarded Honours for their STEM long-term and spontaneous challenges. Congratulations to Heath Arbuckle, Alexander Fine and Nicholas Zhao for their contributions to this winning team. Our other Junior School participants were Oliver Cooper, Xavier Vanden Driesen, Lachlan Cairns and William Arundel. They are to be commended for all of their hard work and significant input.

The DaVinci event was hosted by PLC, where 22 teams gathered and battled, under great time pressure, in what proved to be an extremely difficult set of challenges. Given the incredibly short preparation time this year, the boys performed very well. Congratulations to Billy Chambers, Jason Rietveld, Tommy Clements and Jarrod Hutchison for their flexibility and commitment.

In 2019 the organisers will be hosting an event purely for the Year 5 cohort and we are already looking forward to participating in this exciting initiative.

The Newspaper Club is looking forward to the launch of our first edition of the Scotch Skedaddle, a labour of love that has been months in the making. The boys are hard at work, composing articles for edition 2, so we are very excited to see our first digital version go live in the very near future.

I look forward to working with the students throughout the remainder of Spring Term and thank them for their enthusiasm and passion for learning. It is exciting to be involved with such self-motivated and curious learners who are continually striving for excellence.

Mrs Alison Webster
Enrichment Co-ordinator

From the Head of Middle School

Interdisciplinary Learning in Action

Last week as I walked along the Middle School hallways, I could not help but notice some particularly energised Year 7 classrooms. The doors between the classrooms were open and our teachers were working together to support groups of boys who were busily engaged in their work. Further investigation revealed those boys are currently working on an Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) of work. Traditionally in schools, knowledge is compartmentalised into single subject areas, but IDUs allow our boys to use their critical thinking skills and integrate their knowledge from two or more subject areas, in order to develop a deeper understanding of concepts from both. Our boys all complete at least one IDU for each year they are in Middle School.

Earlier in the year, our Year 6 boys integrated their Mathematics learning about data with their Science learning about designing and conducting scientific experiments. The outcome of the unit supported the boys' Science Fair displays and they were better able to process and evaluate the data from their experiments.

In Winter Term, our Year 8 boys synthesised their knowledge from the Civics and Citizenship curriculum with persuasive text types from the English curriculum to research a law that has increased order or freedom and then designed a campaign to influence Parliament or the public on the issue. The campaigns came in many forms from Twitter messages, posters, petitions and television advertisements.

This term in Year 7, our boys are integrating their English studies of myths with the History content of ancient civilisations, to produce a text and a product that informs others about the life of a specific Ancient Greek person and their impact on our modern-day society. The boys' work will be shared with parents and friends at the Year 7 Ancient Greece Showcase in Week 9.

These are rich teaching and learning experiences for our boys as they develop their critical thinking and research skills and explore creativity in the curriculum.

Mrs Sophie Berry
Acting Head of Middle School

7.5M Exploring Ancient Greece

This term the Year 7 cohort has been delving into the life stories of Ancient Greeks who have impacted the way we live our lives today. The 7.5M Homeroom has teamed up with their buddy classes, 7.6G and 7.7T, to undertake this project, which will take up to eight weeks to complete. It is designed to be a labour of love as the boys have been grouped together based on their passion for a particular final product.

Boys were given the freedom to come up with just about any form of text for their final presentation on the research and knowledge they had gained about their chosen Ancient Greek. Students selected a wide range of ideas from board games to documentaries to mini-models to podcasts, and they are working hard as they head towards the presentation afternoon in Week 9A. Each group has mapped out their timeline of events, designated tasks to each group member and will continually reflect on the strength and weaknesses of their group throughout the inquiry.

It is sure to be an informative and exciting afternoon on Monday 3 December as the boys of 7.5M (and the rest of the cohort) proudly show off their portfolios and final presentations.

Ms Deborah Mullin
Year 7.5M Homeroom Teacher

Taking on the Triathlon

This season I had the pleasure of coaching the Triathlon team for Spring Term. Lawrence Felgate and Karen Woods left me a wonderful, motivated team who wanted to train - and train we did!

Our Tuesday morning sessions with Coach Jamie Baldwin took the boys through grueling bike sessions that made the group work physically and mentally. Each Thursday afternoon session the group were put through their paces with a split session including bike to run transitions, maximal 800-meter run efforts and even a hail storm to test their spirit. None of these challenges could stop this group of boys from supporting and encouraging each other and competing sessions to their highest potential.

The group competed in several events being challenged by the Motorplex Duathlon, School Sports WA Championships and the Left Bank Sprint with some superb individual efforts. Rohan Baldwin (8.5M) has had an outstanding start to this season with several podium finishes already. Jackson Conti (7.2H) has been a great addition to the team competing in his first events and improving each time.

Many thanks go to Jamie Baldwin for the Tuesday morning grinds and our Senior School leaders: Benji Steinberg, Owen Edgar, Jamie Coulson and Jock Sutherland. It has been a great group to be involved with and I look forward to seeing their progress in the future.

Mr Kane Mitchell
Middle School Teacher

Important Dates in Middle School Spring Term

Tuesday 13 November	Year 7 French Excursion Maritime Museum Fremantle
Thursday 15 November	Year 8 Bibbulmun Track Returns
Friday 16 November	MS Assembly (internal) 12.00pm MacKellar Hall
Monday 19 November	Ride2School Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Departs Year 8.1T Snorkeling Programme
Tuesday 20 November	Ride2School Year 8.2R Snorkeling Programme
Wednesday 21 November	Year 8.3O Snorkeling Programme Year 6 French Excursion Maritime Museum Fremantle Year 7 Bibbulmun Track Returns JS/MS Music Soiree, 5.30pm Memorial Hall
Thursday 22 November	Year 8.4F Snorkeling Programme Year 8 2019 Community Project Launch for current Year 7 Parents, 6.30pm Memorial Hall
Monday 26 November	Orientation Day for Year 6 & 7 2019 students (current Year 5s, 6s and new boys) Year 7 Excursion to Adventure World Year 9 2019 Transition Day in Senior School (current Year 8s)
Tuesday 27 November	Year 8.5M Snorkeling Programme
Wednesday 28 November	Year 8.6S Snorkeling Programme
Thursday 29 November	Year 8.7B Snorkeling Programme
Friday 30 November	IB Learner Profile Awards Assembly, 11.30am DC Year 6 Parent Function, 7.00pm Gray/Reddrop Residence
Monday 3 December	Year 7 Ancient Greece Showcase, 4.00pm MS Classrooms
Tuesday 4 December	Boardies Day Fundraiser
Thursday 6 December	Year 8 Breakfast, 7.30am MS Quad Middle School Speech Night, 6.30pm DC MS Spring Term Concludes

What does it mean to act with Honour?

I recently read an article on Honour and thought excerpts were worthy of sharing with you.

Traditional honour consists of having a reputation judged worthy of respect and admiration by a group of equal peers who share the same code of standards. In primitive times, these standards were based on strength and courage. In the medieval period, outward integrity and chivalry were added to these primal qualities. In the 19^th century, the stoic-Christian honour code drew from the philosophy of ancient Greece and the faith which gave the code its name, by seeking to form a new kind of honour; one that combined ancient bravery with character traits like industry, sincerity, chastity, self-sufficiency, self-control, orderliness, and dependability. In the 20^th century, traditional honour unravelled as urbanisation and anonymity dissolved the intimate, face-to-face relationships that honour requires. Some argue individual feelings and desires have been elevated above the common good of society at the same time a shared idea of what constituted that common good was lost. This completed honour's transformation from wholly public and external to completely private and internal. In this example, honour became a concept almost entirely synonymous with personal integrity.

Honour is the moral imperative of men and women; obedience is the moral imperative of children.

Honour based on respect is a superior moral imperative to obedience based on rules and laws. When you are a child, you do the right thing out of obedience to authority, possibly out of the fear of punishment. As one matures, you begin to see that the world does not revolve around you, that you belong to groups larger than yourself, and with this discovery comes a new awareness of the needs of that group and how your behaviour affects others. This change in perspective should shift your motivation in doing the right thing from obedience to authority, fear of punishment, to respect for other people.

For example, as a boy I did chores because I had to, and I didn't want to get in trouble with my folks. As I grew into a young man and still today, I did them, because I respected my parents. I came to understand that I was part of a family and had a duty to keep the household running and pull my own weight. Today, I still help out due to the love and respect I have for my parents.

The latter point is the key to the superiority of honour as a moral imperative. Operating out of honour rather than obedience means realising that you have a role to play in helping a group survive and thrive. That your actions directly correlate to the group's strength or weakness. When people function out of rules and laws, they do the bare minimum they can without being punished. When they function out of honour, they seek to contribute and add further to the strength of the group to the best of their abilities.

Part of the reason that honour is a virtue rather than merely a state of affairs is because showing concern for the respect of your peers is a show of loyalty and indication of belonging. Only two years ago, School Captain, Denver Quantrill (OSC 2016), spoke at Assembly about being a "Man of Honour". I know this because, in many different interviews I have been involved in since, the boys referenced Denver's speech and spoke about what it meant to them. The notion of Honour is not lost on us in today's society nor here at Scotch College.

Acting with honour, contributing to society, to one's School and acting with respect for all is a strong part of the College's message. I encourage us of all to acknowledge these virtues in our boys.

Mr Dean Shadgett
Head of Senior School

Performing Arts

Established in 1988, the Act – Belong – Commit Youth on Health Arts Festival has grown into one of Australia's largest celebrations of youth creativity and is a leading forum for health promotion. Each year young people across Western Australia and the Northern Territory share their stories on the issues most relevant to them through drama, dance or visual art. In the Drama category, participants have the chance to get on stage and show off their talents, and educate themselves, audience members and the wider community about the challenges faced by young people in today's world. This year's theme is "Pushed to the Limit".

Year 10 (now Year 11) Drama students Charles Maxwell (Year 11, Alexander), Flynn Le Cornu (Year 11, Anderson), Joshua Keatch (Year 11, Keys) and Patrick Eastough (Year 11, Ferguson) have taken advantage of this unique opportunity to develop their acting skills, gain more experience performing in the public arena and undergo the creative process of developing an original work which resulted in the play "The Masks of Masculinity".

These young men were initially inspired by the "Man Up Campaign," exploring men's mental health and issues around the construction of masculinity in contemporary society. "The Masks of Masculinity" examines the different roles society tells men to play, to be strong and toughen up while hiding their true feelings behind a mask, and how these expectations often push men to their mental and physical limits, as they tend to avoid seeking help.

After successfully competing in the Perth Heat at the Subiaco Arts Centre, they went on to win the Drama Category of the State Final Competition at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. Congratulations!

Ms Sarah Combes
Head of Drama

Important Dates in Senior School Spring Term

Spring Term 2018


Date	Event	Location	Time
Week 6B
Monday 12 November	WACE and IB Diploma Examinations continue
	Year 10 Bibbulmun Track Expedition away this week
	Year 12 Marine and Maritime (General) RST Excursion	Boat Shed	8.00am - 4.00pm
Tuesday 13 November	Year 11 IB Diploma CAS Day	Northbridge	9.15am - 3.25pm
	Year 11 PE Studies Surfing Programme	Trigg Beach	12.05pm - 12.55pm
	Scotch Parents AGM	Dining Room Annexe	7.00pm - 8.30pm
Wednesday 14 November	Year 11 Biology (ATAR and IB Diploma) Whale Watching Excursion		8.15am - 1.00pm
Friday 16 November	Final day of WACE and IB Diploma examinations
	Senior Marching (No Assembly)	Dickinson Centre	8.30am - 8.55am
	PSA Sport – Hale School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Away	2.00pm onwards
Saturday 17 November	PSA Sport – Hale School v Scotch College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	home	8.30am onwards
	Year 10 Bibbulmun Track expedition final day
Week 7A
Monday 19 November	Year 11 PE Studies Surfing Programme	Trigg Beach	12.05pm - 12.55pm
	French Language Tour Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.00pm - 7.00pm
Tuesday 20 November	Year 1 and (New) Year 12 Breakfast and Activity	Dining Room Verandah	7.15am - 8.30am
	Year 12 Geography (ATAR) Excursion	ALCOA	8.30am - 3.30pm
	Volleyball Tour Parent Information Evening	Memorial Hall	6.00pm - 7.00pm
Wednesday 21 November	Salvation Army Soup Kitchen	Northbridge	6.15am - 9.30am
	Parent Support Groups' Breakfast	Dining Room Annexe	7.30am - 9.00am
	Valedictory Dinner Workshop	Gooch Pavilion	9.00am - 11.00am
	Year 11 and 12 Drama Theatre Sports Workshop	Foundation Theatre	3.30pm - 5.00pm
	Student Council Free Dress Day	Senior School
Friday 23 November	Senior School Marching and Assembly	Dickinson Centre	8.30am - 9.45am
	PSA Sport - Scotch College v Trinity College (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	2.00pm - various
	Valedictory Chapel and Dinner	Top oval and Dickinson Centre	Please be seated for Chapel by 5.50pm
	Year 11 and 12 Production Auditions	Foundation Theatre	3.30pm - 5.30pm
Saturday 24 November	PSA Sport - Scotch College v Trinity College – Firsts fixtures only (please visit sport.scotch.wa.edu.au)	Home	8.30am - various
Monday 26 November	Year 9, 2019 Transition Day	Senior School	8.30am - 3.15pm

Learners Permits and Driver Licences – Proof of Address Documentation

This documentation is available upon request from the Headmaster's office. Please send emails through to the Headmaster's Secretary Leanne.McCoy@scotch.wa.edu.au. Please allow at least two working days for the document to be prepared.

Careers Information

University Information

UWA Christmas/New Year Opening Hours

Year 12 Leavers are advised that UWA Opening Hours during the Christmas /New Year period will be:

17-21 December 8.30am - 8.30pm

24 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

27-28 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

31 December 9.00am - 4.00pm

2-4 January 9.00am - 4.00pm

Students are welcome to meet with student advisers at any of these times to discuss courses and alternative options following the release of ATAR results on Monday 17 December and first round offers on 21 December.

Notre Dame 1-on-1 Advice Sessions

26 Nov 2018 - 06 Dec 2018, 9.00am - 6.30pm

Considering your university options but unsure of the right degree for you? Our advisors can introduce you to a range of programs that align with your strengths and interests to help you find the right degree for you.

Book a 1-on-1 Course Advice session at:https://www.notredame.edu.au/events-items/1-on-1-advice-sessions-fremantle.

Can't make it? Contact us on 08 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au to arrange an alternative time.

Notre Dame ATAR Advice Day

Tuesday 18 December, 9.00am – 4.00pm

Need some help now you've got your ATAR? Come and meet with our friendly Prospective Students Advisors, who can talk you through Notre Dame's programs, admission pathways and the application process.

No RSVP necessary.

For further information please contact us on 08 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.

WACE Results

Year 12 students will be able to access their results online at https://www.wace.wa.edu.au on Monday, 17 December 2018.

To log on, students will need their student number and other personal identification information. It is advisable that students provide an alternate email address via the student portal. This is to avoid issues where school email accounts close prior to the release of results.

TAFE Applications are open!

Applications are open for Semester 1, 2019 so here is some useful information to help in guiding your students on where to go and what to do, to get enrolled for next year.

How to apply

For full-time study, students need to visit TAFE Admissions and complete an online application. Students will then be required to send in their relevant documentation. They will then receive a Letter of Offer which will invite them to come on campus and enrol (in January 2019).

Defence Force Australia – Army Reserve Information Session

12 November, Perth

27 November, Perth

Enjoy unique rewards and earn tax-free pay with part-time work in the Army Reserve.

Find out more - https://www.facebook.com/pg/DefenceJobsAustralia/events/

Defence Force Australia – Defence Careers Info Session

13 November, Perth

Thinking of a career in the Australian Defence Force but not sure if you're best suited to Navy, Army or Air Force?

Find out more - https://www.facebook.com/pg/DefenceJobsAustralia/events/

Medview – Uncovering the UCAT

Medical and Dental School Admissions across Australia and New Zealand are now based on the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT). The UCAT is a new test based on the British UKCAT. The transition from the UMAT to the UCAT is more than just a name change. It's a different test with different challenges. It's a test which prioritise different skills and demands a markedly different approach from prospective students.

Unsure about changes in medical school admissions testing? Decipher the shift from UMAT to UCAT for Australian med school admissions.

Find out more - https://www.eventbrite.com/o/medview-11179498502

29 November, Perth

Gap Year Opportunities

CCUSA Job Fairs

Perth: Sat, 1 December 12:30pm-3:30pm, Notre Dame University

Up to 25 US & 1 Canadian camp hiring in ALL activity areas at camps in the USA & Canada. Over 400 jobs available. CCUSA Camp Job Fair offers the Most Camps giving you access to the Most Jobs!

CLICK HERE to download your Camp Job Fair quick Reference Guide

Find out more - https://www.ccusa.com.au/MORE-INFORMATION/Camp-Job-Fairs

WA Police Force Aboriginal Cadet Program

Applications Now Open!

As a cadet, you will develop fantastic workplace skills, under the guidance of experienced Police Officers. You will gain exposure to a range of unique policing activities and get a true taste of what it means to be part of the WA Police Force family.

Find out more - https://www.stepforward.wa.gov.au/join-wa-police/aboriginal-cadet/

Apprenticeship Opportunities

XLT – Apprentice & Trainee Training

With campuses in QLD and WA, XLT are the best, most advanced, welding, engineering and Technology Training Institution in the world.

Find out more - http://www.xlt.com.au/Courses/Apprentice-Trainee-training

Monadelphous WA

Monadelphous will provide structured on and off the job training while you complete your apprenticeship. You will be supported on site by experienced trades people, strong construction and project management teams and a dedicated Apprentice and Trainee Coordinator. Find out more - https://www.monadelphous.com.au/careers/apprentice/

Rio Tinto Apprenticeships

Click on the following link to see more information on Apprenticeships with Rio Tinto

Subject Revision and Preparation Courses 2019

Master Mind January 2019 Jump-Start Programs

OLNA – NAPLAN - Study Skills – Essay Writing – Subject Revision & Preparation

For all students entering Year 7 - 12 in 2019

The January Preparation Program aims to prepare students for Term 1 (2019) before the academic year begins. The classes will revise those important components from the 2018 syllabus that are vital for success in the new-year. The program will also preview what students can expect in their courses in 2019.

Courses will be conducted at:

Christ Church Grammar School and Hale School

Sunday 20 to Friday 25 January 2019

Dr Robert Hallam at Master Mind Australia on 9486 1377

www.mastermindaustralia.com.au

Academic Task Force

January ATAR Head Start Program with Academic Task Force– Increase your confidence and start your Year 11 and 12 studies with a boost with our Head Start Courses. We offer six hour subject courses in Year 11 and 12 ATAR subjects, Essay Writing and Study Skill during the Summer Holidays from Thursday 17 January - Wednesday 30 January 2019 at Rossmoyne SHS and Churchlands SHS. Enrol online today at www.academicgroup.com.au or call 9314 9500 or email learn@academicgroup.com.au

January Year 7-10 Head Start Program with Academic Task Force. Programmes available in Naplan Preparation, GATE and Scholarship Preparation, Intermediate English, Advanced Maths, Foundation Maths and English, Learning Skills and Essay Writing. Our 2019 January Head Start programme will run from Thursday 17 January –Wednesday 30 January 2019. Each subject is six hours, over two days. Enrol now online at www.academicgroup.com.au or call 9314 9500 or email learn@academicgroup.com.au.

Unlock Your Greatest Potential – Preparing for Year 11 and Beyond

When: Wednesday 21 November 6.00pm – 7.30pm

Where: St Catherine's College - 2 Park Rd, Crawley

Free event

Free parking is available. There will be light catering after the presentation and Crimson staff will be on-hand to discuss your goals.

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unlock-your-greatest-potential-preparing-for-year-11-and-beyond-perth-tickets-51836215516

Student topics include:

Study skills to manage the workload from top ATAR scorers
Effective note taking and memorisation
How to build a profile for school leadership roles
Time management - procrastination and effective downtime
Communicating effectively with your teachers and parents
Researching courses, universities and career pathways

And for parents:

Supporting your child's final years of high school
The best and worst questions to ask your child
Helping your child to manage their schedule
Offering career guidance in a tech-driven future

Mr Peter Frusher
Careers Adviser

Headmaster's Sundowner

To thank you for your valued contribution to the College, all Scotch College volunteers and their partners are invited to the 2018 Headmaster's Sundowner.

Date: Thursday 29 November
Venue: The Residence Lawn
Time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm

For catering purposes please RSVP to Mel Colling in the Marketing Office on 9383 6926 or mel.colling@scotch.wa.edu.au

Scotch Parents

Scotch Parents will hold their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 13 November 2018 at 7.00pm in the Dining Room Annexe. Wine and cheese will be enjoyed afterwards, so please come along.

At the AGM we will be calling for nominations for all of the committee positions, as is normal process. The positions available to nominate for are:

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Grant's Committee President

All parents from Junior School, Middle School and Senior School are welcome to attend. Getting involved in Scotch Parents is a wonderful way to meet parents and find out more about the college. If you have any queries please email scotchparents@scotch.wa.edu.au .

Ms Stephanie Debnam
President
Scotch Parents

Upcoming Events

Scotch Parents AGM - Tuesday 13 November at 7.00pm
Valedictory Dinner - Friday 23 November
Year 8 Breakfast – Thursday 6 December

Scotch College recently sent out a survey to the alumni community to find out their views and perceptions about the College and about being a Scotch College Old Boy. The College values the views of its alumni deeply, and the Old Scotch Collegians organisation would greatly appreciate your participation in this year's survey. The information gathered will be used to assist in refining and developing OSC and College strategies to ensure such services meet the needs of Old Boys.

A reminder to participate was sent out earlier today. Should you not wish to participate in this review or have any questions in relation to this please contact the OSC office.

Mr Michael Silbert
President - OSC