Principal's Wrap of Term 3
Farewell Year 12
Our Year 12 students had their last formal day of school this week, concluding on Wednesday with Final Chapel and Final Assembly. Now they have a two week holiday break followed by a week of Swotvac and then HSC exams start on Wednesday 12 October.
I know many parents will be wondering where the time has gone between dropping their young five or six-year-old off for their first day of school to this momentous moment in their lives.
Where has it gone indeed? It reminds me of the soundtrack of that iconic movie, To Sir With Love, starring Sidney Poitier, where the students transform into fine young adults with assistance from the school (and in the movie, through the leadership of one teacher).
Those schoolgirl days
Of telling tales and biting nails are gone
But in my mind
I know they will still live on and on
But how do you thank someone
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy, but I'll try…
Like the lyrics from the song, these students have gone from children to young adults in what seems like the blink of an eye. Fortunately, our students weren’t the rebels portrayed in the movie, but I’d like to think that Scots has played an important role in their transformation into fine young adults who are ready to go out in the world and make their mark.
We wish them every success for their upcoming exams.
Henty Field Days
Thanks to everyone who visited us at the Henty Field Days. It was my first time at the event and I was amazed at just how big the site was. It was great to meet the numerous alumni who dropped into the Scots marquee to say hello as well as a number of current students and parents.
Pipe Band trip
The Pipe Band is currently in Kuala Lumpur competing at the KL Highland Games. The Pipe Band has had some significant successes recently: Damon Wright won the 2022 Australian Young Drummer of the Year in Sydney and Josh Niuila was runner up. A small group from the Pipe Band competed successfully at the Combined Scottish Society Memorial Solo Competition at Arthur Phillip High School in Parramatta, Piper Liam Nicolson excelled on the world stage in Scotland, competing at nine Highland gatherings and came away with a swag of great results including finishing fourth in the MacGregor Memorial Piobaireachd (for pipers 22 years old and younger) which is equivalent to a world junior championship. They also wowed audiences at the Henty Field Days and are such a credit to the School.
Farewell and Welcome
We wish Jane Holland all the best as she takes a year's leave to tend to her family's bee business and look forward to her return late next year. Taking Jane's classes in Term 4 will be Mary Tonar, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to her.
We also welcome to the business team our new Finance Manager, Dale Johnstone. Dale brings a wealth of experience, is a CPA and is joining us from Hume Bank, from 17 October.
Leaving us after 10 years of loyal service is Jane Cavagna. Jane attended Scots as a student and her children are still here, so we know we will continue to see her around the school grounds. We wish her well in her new role.
Also departing is Lana Walsh, who has been working part-time in the business office and is moving into a new role with her former employer. All the best to Lana, too.
Wrap up of the Term
We all know that schools are busy places, but I was reflecting on all that our students have accomplished or opportunities they’ve had this term and I am reminded how lucky we are to have such dedicated teachers to make these things happen.
Students from Year 3 right through to Year 10 were involved in Snowsports days at Falls Creek and our snowsports students had success in biathlon and at the Regional, State and National Interschools competitions.
Our Senior School students performed The Drowsy Chaperone to rapturous audiences in July, and we had good receptions for our HSC music recital and our entrants in the Albury-Wodonga dance Eisteddfod.
Students had success in interschool competition in debating and Tournament of Minds, and the Japanese Speech contest. Our Year 6s showed off their efforts in the Year 6 Exhibition which ran in the library, the Junior School and many from the Senior School entered into the spirit of Book Week, so many accolades on the Sports fields and Performing Arts Stage and everyone enjoyed an end of term wrap up with our traditional Footy Colours and HotBake Pie Day.
What a term it has been!
I wish you all a relaxing break over the next two weeks and look forward to welcoming students back at school on Tuesday 11 October. And a reminder that Monday 10 October is a day for Senior School parent/teacher/student interviews. It is a student-free day in Junior and Senior Schools.
From our Chaplain
Grief is one of those complicated things we often try to avoid discussing openly. But grief (that sense of loss) happens regularly. Death, divorce, separation, serious family illness, moving locations, going into boarding, all have a sense of massive change of routine and upheaval.
When we sit down and reflect on the term that has been, there have been lots of instances where significant change has taken place. Some students have moved schools, or decided to leave the school environment. Some have had serious illness and spent time away from school. In my training as a grief educator, I've learned that our feelings are all valid, but how we act through those feelings are what matters. Finding time to disconnect and refresh, reading a book, going for a walk, spending time with friends, rigorous exercise (something I should be doing more of) can all help process these feelings associated with change.
Having a supportive community of people helps. Parents who can help guide, friends who can offer an understanding ear, teachers who can set up networks within the school to ensure students can work through their grief and make sound decisions.
And where is God in all this? “Do not be afraid - I am with you! I am your God - let nothing frighten you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.” (Isaiah 41)
Mary, at the foot of the cross, bears the grief of motherhood, whose faith in God was unwavering. Having a faith in which God is truly present, can bring about a sense of peace, especially in times where life doesn’t make sense, where the soul is in turmoil, that amidst the madness and tragedy, we might find a small sanctuary of quiet and calm.
O Lord, we call upon You in times of sorrow, that You give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens, until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. Be mindful of us and have mercy on us while we struggle to comprehend life's hardships.
Simon Goss
School Chaplain/Lead Service Learning
Student achievements
Congratulations Riley McGillivray
Riley is currently a two-time Australian Champion in the Australian Off Road Championship series. This year has been a 12-round series, with events as far as Mackay in Qld, Kingston SA, with the final two rounds in Tasmania in two weeks' time. Riley is leading the championship in his class - Expert Under 18 (EJ) - and he is hoping for another Australian Championship win, if all goes to plan.
Riley also is competing in the Victorian State Off Road Championships, a 15-round series, and is riding in the highest class in the state: Pro class. He is the youngest in this class and is running third. Earlier in the year, he competed in the Australian four-day Enduro and was on the winning Victorian Junior Team.
Congratulations CIS athletes
Xy Beale won two golds, registered two meet records and a personal best in shot put with 14.95m at the CIS competition in Sydney recently. She also recorded a 43.91m in discus.
Taylor Brown picked up a bronze medal in the 15 years discus and Audrey Adams took out bronze in the triple jump.
Congratulations to all the athletes who competed in Sydney this week.
Congratulations hockey players
The Scot’s U12 Hockey team were crowned Grand Final Champions. They scored a fantastic 3-0 victory over Magpies last weekend. Congratulations to all the players.
Japanese Speech Competition
Scots hosted the 18th Annual North-East Japanese Language Teacher’s Association Speech Competition in Chapel Hall on 8 September. It is a very special event enabling students to showcase their language skills. There were nine schools involved this year, with 110 students from across Kindergarten to Year 10, writing, memorising and presenting speeches in Japanese. This opportunity provided 30 students from our Junior School and 10 from our Senior School with a chance to hone their language skills and show the local community what they could achieve.
The prize winners from Scots were:
Prep/Kinder Individual: 1st Amber Platts, 2nd Henry Heinecke.
Grade 1 Individual: 2nd Amelie Skidmore, 3rd Eliane Boniface.
Grade 2 Individual: 1st Anna Henry, 3rd Caitlin Murphy.
Grade 2 Pair: 2nd Thomas Everitt / Angus Robinson.
Grade 3 Individual: 1st Scarlett Skidmore, 3rd Audrey Fraser.
Grade 3 Pair: 2nd Adelaide Phillips / Natalya Lam.
Grade 4 Individual: 2nd Lola Miller.
Grade 4 Pair: 2nd Vinul Herath / Tilly Planting.
Grade 5 Pair: 1st Amelie Skipwith / Harriet Nickols, 3rd Pippa Boundy / Alexia Franco.
Grade 6 Individual: 3rd Benjamin Xiberras.
Grade 6 Pair: 2nd Henry Zhao / Don Cuming.
Year 7 Individual: 1st Kirsten McLennan, 2nd Johal Thomas, 3rd Ella Maquire.
Year 8 Pair: 1st Lilly Baranyay / Lacey Smith, 2nd William Stewart / Sohan Nair.
Year 9 Individual: 1st Ram Kugathasan.
Year 10 Pair: 2nd Maddie Hayes / Claudia Alessi.
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