Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews • Monday 13 March
NAPLAN • Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March
Scots Dance Contest • Saturday 18 March
Opera in the Hangar, Pipe Band performance • Saturday 18 March
Harmony Day, wear a touch of orange • Tuesday 21 March
HSC Individual Performance Night • Tuesday 21 March @ 6pm, JET
Purple Day for Epilepsy, wear casual clothes with a touch of purple • Thursday 23 March
Pupil Free Day • Friday 24 March
Boarders Exeat Weekend • Friday 24 March to Sunday 26 March
HSC Monologue Evening • Wednesday 29 March @ 5.30pm JET
Year 4 Camp to Melbourne • Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 March
ANZAC Day Educational Assembly • Friday 31 March
Term 1 ends • Thursday 6 April
From Deputy Principal and Head of Junior School • Kelly McKay
I would like to begin by thanking all of our families who have attended the Student-Parent-Teacher Meetings in recent weeks. These are a wonderful opportunity for you to check in on your child’s progress and to continue to work closely with your child’s teacher.
On Tuesday next week, Vicki and I will be meeting with the Junior School Year Parents. Please ensure you reach out to your child’s class representative if you have items you would like raised at our afternoon tea.
We have been advised by AlburyCity Council and Albury Police that they will be monitoring our Kiss and Drop area in the coming weeks. I cannot stress enough that this is not an area in which you can park. If you do, our staff will ask you to move on. If police are present, you will be fined.
NAPLAN commences for our Year 3 and Year 5 students next week. I will place a reminder on the app but please ensure your child arrives with a fully-charged laptop and a charger (Year 5) and headphones (Years 3 and 5)
It is hard to believe that we have passed the halfway mark of this term. As you are no doubt aware, we have had gastroenteritis and Covid cases in the school. If your child is unwell please keep them at home. We are still required to maintain a Covid Register so if someone in your household tests positive to Covid, we ask that you inform Reception so that we can ensure we have accurate records.
From Head of Senior School • Janine Haymes
We know that building and maintaining connections are an important part of a young person's wellbeing. These connections are developed in many different ways.
Here in the Senior School it is a joy to see how connections are being made through certain co-curricular activities. The preparation for the production of the musical Shrek is heating up; staff and students are working together to put on a production which I am sure will be wonderful. Our sporting calendar continues to be busy; with basketball, netball, soccer and hockey all underway. Our swimmers went off to proudly represent the school at BISSA in Wagga and our mountain bike riders were flying through the hills of Thredbo as part of the National Mountain Bike Championships.
It was a pleasure to hear the Adelines connect through voice as part of the International Women’s Day Breakfast. Mr Paul Tasker shared with us the origins of this ensemble, a group of young women demanded a female equivalent of the Barbershop group and their legacy lives on and is now a story to encourage our young people to use their voices and speak up. At the event we had the pleasure of hearing from Scots alumna, Catherine Marriott, OAM. She entertained us with stories and lessons from her experiences. We also recognised a very special student in Pippa Milthorpe, who was named the IWD Champion for being an agent of change; the IWD Breakfast was a wonderful event and celebration of women.
The whole Senior School came together and connected through learning the basics of Epilepsy first aid, with our Year 12 Student, Madeleine Steer, sharing her story and giving our students information to raise awareness. This is in preparation for Purple Day which is coming on Thursday 23 March. Please see the information regarding this day on Scotty.
Amelie Pimlott, our Chapel Prefect, did a wonderful job at designing a service around International Women’s Day, where all staff and students were asked to reflect on their own experiences.
Next week, our Year 7 and 9s will be connecting with the whole of Australia through their participation in the NAPALAN assessments. We have worked with students to ensure that they know what to expect and that they realise that it is nothing to worry about. It is an opportunity for us to receive more data to help inform areas of need. Thank you to Mr Rob Cowan and Ms Amanda Ross for all the work they have done in this space.
I know that, as per usual for this time of the term, many of our students in Senior School are working hard on assessments, which can be stressful. It is timely to remind our young people that assessments are important, however we need to remember that health and wellbeing must come first. Assessments are a great tool to give information to all stakeholders about progress but they are also an opportunity to look at process and organisation. I encourage students and families to reach out to classroom teachers and Learning Mentors if they need extra support or advice.
All year levels have received information about the camp week coming up in Week 9; all of the Senior School will be out of classes and involved in experiential learning. Our Stage Coordinators have worked hard on developing programs that are robust, challenging and fun; the week will be a wonderful opportunity to build and consolidate connections.
From our Chaplain • Simon Goss
Jesus and the Law
Matthew 5:17–37
I have to preface this by reminding you that the Gospel writers wrote for their own local community, who assessed the needs of that community before deciding which parts of Jesus’ teachings might be relevant and pertinent to those needs. Matthew’s Gospel is distinctly Jewish, writing to a Jewish community with their own particular traditions. This community most likely attended the synagogues and temples and followed Jewish laws.
The Hebrew author Ben Sirra, also known as Ecclesiastes or Ecclesiasticus to some, wrote: “You can decide whether you will be loyal to God or not.” But what does loyalty mean? What are the rules and conditions?
A famous and recently deceased Australian Cardinal once said, in his usual blunt tone, “We don’t need cafeteria Christians.” Cafeteria Christians?
I was on the Year 9 camp last year, and apart from the amazing group they were (and still remain), breakfast was usually a cafeteria style meal, where I could choose eggs, bacon, toast, cereal, hash browns, mushrooms, baked beans and white bread. You’ll be pleased to know I didn’t eat the white bread. Wholemeal all the way.
What this Church leader has essentially stated is that, in terms of church laws or decrees, we need to accept all and sundry to be considered “good”, and that “good” is only expressed in terms of faith, doctrine, teachings and power/authority.
What are we loyal to, though? Author Christopher Gleeson writes that some things are true whether we think so or not; some things are good whether they suit our interests or not; some things are just, whether or not they run counter to what we immediately want. Some things are beautiful whether we happen to like them or not. Some things are sacred whether we are willing to recognise them or not.
In his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steve Covey explains principles. Principles don’t depend on the behaviour of others, the environment, or the current fad, for their validity. Principles don’t die. They aren’t here one day and gone the next. They can’t be destroyed by fire, earthquake or theft.
So what are our “true north” principles, compared to our “lighthouse values” that are immutable, unchangeable or constant for us?
Like another famous church leader has said, I prefer a church that is bruised and battered and dirty because it has been out on the street, not some shiny mega-church or basilica, or a church that has been clinging to its own security. I believe there are many hurting in our community because of a lack within that community of a shared and communal identity they can identify with, people who might support them, a community with common meaning and goals in life, a community of common friendship and faith.
Surely we can’t be ruled by a fear of being shut off, within structures which might give us a false sense of security, with rules which make us harsh judges, using habits which make us feel safe, while at the door, people are starving.
Jesus doesn’t tire from saying, “Give them something to eat.”
Change is slow and sometimes impossible in some churches, whose clergy choose authority over charity, who have forgotten the mother tongue of Christianity, which reminds us to serve others, to help the poor.
Jesus didn’t teach a religious doctrine for his followers to listen and obey. He was witnessing an event. His goal was not to perfect religion, but to deliver a revolutionary way to express truth, justice, and peace. He never really explained what the “reign of God was” and yet people worked out what he was talking about. It was this hope that sustained them.
Matthew’s reading is a challenge for us to reflect on what our own attitude to law is, and situations that can arise, and how some people become fixated on applying the letter of the law. Our application of law can also be influenced by those we are applying it to, and even toward those who formulated the law in the first place. If we don’t like politicians or judges who shape our laws, we can sometimes feel like discarding those laws, and even trying to behave in a way that we feel we are above it or that the law doesn’t apply.
So back to the Year 9 camp last year and using the cafeteria style of picking and choosing. Maybe, instead of the regimented following of rules and regulations, under fear of transgression, if, instead, we live every day in Christ’s very simple message of love, hope and acceptance.
From Head of Sport • Tim Kennedy
2023 Senior Swimming Carnival
We celebrated and recognised the outstanding achievements of our individual award winners and House champions from the Senior Swimming Carnival at assembly last week. Congratulations to the following students for their performance at this event:
Age Champions Under 12s: Maisey Player & Lily Brown and Mitch Biggs Under 13s: Winnie Monaghan and Thomas Mack Under 14s: Izzie Barber and Seamus Bready Under 15s: Grace Adams and Finn McDonnell Under 16s: Adelaide Hiscock and Billy Butko Under 17s: Maddie Hayes and Callum Cooper 18-20s: Zara Hiscock and Dan Hughes
Runner Up Age Champions Under 12s: Henry Zhao Under 13s: Camilla Crapp and Archie Ross Under 14s: Charlotte Packer and Hector James Under 15s: Phoebe Packer and Anthony Alessi Under 16s: Poppy Kettlewell and Finbar Bready Under 17s: Madeline Perkins and William Maguire 18-20s: Ali Jackson and Kai Taylor
Champion House Robertson 4292 Simpson 3809 Wilson 3789 Sellars 2981
Many of these students represented Scots at BISSA Swimming yesterday and their results will be included in the next newsletter.
2023 Junior Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to prizewinners of our Junior School Swimming awards.
8/9 Years Champion: Duke Maloney and Lilly Baird Runner-up: Ardan Magahoran and Abi Waller 10 Years Champion: Alby Clark and Gracie Ross Runner-up: Harvey McFarlane and Scarlet Skidmore 11 Years Champion: Sam Mack and Charlotte Hill Runner-up: Darcy Baird and Sofie Mensinga 12/13 Years Champion: Oscar Kennedy and Millie Glover Runner-up: Will Clancy and Iris Johanson
Champion House Wilson 1455 Simpson 1364 Sellars 1119 Robertson 1051
Butterfly Foundation - Body Confident Children and Teens Webinar
It can be hard for children and teens to be accepting of and confident in their bodies. It can also be hard for parents/carers to know what to say or how best to support them. Hear from the experts at Butterfly on how to help your child towards a positive body image.
The session is for parents/carers of primary and secondary age children and covers: body image influences, importance of positive body image, positive role modelling, reducing toxic body talk, responding to appearance bullying, what to do if concerned, resources and supports.
Date: Tuesday 21 March Time: 7pm-8.15pm Format: Live, via Zoom (time limited recording available) Cost: $15
To ensure the continued safety of our students and families, please take note of some important points:
There is strictly no parking in the ‘kiss and drop’ zone on Young Street. These zones operate under the same conditions as no parking zones, which means you may stop to drop off or pick up children for a maximum of 2 minutes. You're required to remain in, or within 3 metres of, your vehicle. We will have staff on duty in this area to supervise this process.
If you are unable to find a space in the kiss and drop zone then you will need to circle around the block and park on Young Street or in the Young Street Car Park. Please do not perform a U-turn across Young Street.
Please only turn left into and out of the Young Street Car Park.
If you park on the north-bound side of Young Street, for your safety please ensure you cross with your children at the traffic lights.
Please do not park in the Preschool carpark - this is for the use of our Preschool families, who have very young children.
Thank you for your consideration in keeping our community safe.
Stage 5 cabinet making • Brennan McCann
Our Year 9 and 10 Stage 5 Cabinet Making students recently completed a skill-building exercise to enhance their abilities before embarking on their primary project of creating a wall cabinet. The students enjoyed practising their prior knowledge and skills, including measuring, marking, sawing and utilising the disc sander, to produce an aesthetically-pleasing chopping board.
Along with this, they gained new expertise in the CAD software Fusion 360, which allowed them to design and produce the chopping board's template shape. Students also learned to laminate timber using PVA and sash clamps, cut the board's shape using the bandsaw, create decorative edges with the router and finish their project by applying a plant-based oil.
From the Library • Alley McKeon
This week in the library, Year 1 students read the book The Unwilling Twin, a book about the ups and downs of sibling love and relationships.
We also explored the theme of friend relationships and how, sometimes, a friend can be like a sibling or a twin in the way that we can like the same things or like doing the same things.
We coloured and named our pigs (the twin in the story is a pig named George) and the work was so beautiful, I sent it on to Ms McKay for her to see how wonderfully well everyone had been working.
Also, this week, Emily Borrell, our library prefect, and her team of news reporters completed and posted the second edition of the student newspaper.
This is a fun reflection of school life which can be accessed by all students on the Scotty library tile. While you’re there, check out all the things we have to offer in the library. We are continually updating this page, adding user friendly tiles and handy information for everyone to use.
Please remember the following library after-school information:
Junior School Homework Club (5 and 6 only): Monday–Thursday 3.30pm–4.30pm Senior School Homework Club: Monday–Thursday 3.30pm-5.30pm Library closed Friday after school.
Homework Club - students MUST have homework to complete and once they have signed in, they will not be allowed to leave and come back.
Parents are not permitted to enter the library to pick up students. The phone number is 6022 0025 which can be called for students to be sent out. Please also call if you want any information relating to after school hours in the library.
International Women's Day
What a celebration of women we had this week at our International Women's Day breakfast!
Alumna from the Class of 1998, Catherine Marriott, OAM, wooed our audience with tales of her extraordinary life at our International Women’s Day Breakfast in Chapel Hall this morning. She implored our students to be “be authentically you” as she regaled us with her extensive life experience and her work at the forefront of opportunities for women.
We applauded our International Women’s Day Champion – year 12 student Pippa Milthorpe, for being an agent of change and a strong, positive role model for women and girls. Pippa stepped far outside her comfort zone to advocate for change in the way the criminal justice system manages victim-survivors in sexual assault matters and was rewarded for her efforts this year when NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced that the State Government would be investing $64.3 million into an expansion of the Child Sexual Offence Evidence Program (CSOEP).
We heard our vocal quartet, the Adelines, perform Ordinary Miracle. Freya Gniel, Amelie Pimlott, Tegan Forge and Ali Jackson were accompanied by Paul Tasker on piano. And it was a wonderful chance for parents, students and teachers alike to catch up and enjoy a nice coffee and a satisfying breakfast in a friendly environment.
Sommers, Year 10, won gold in the double scull event by six seconds at the Rowing Victoria Junior School Girls State Championships in Geelong recently. The duo came home with gold even with a last-minute teammate swap due to illness: an extra-oar-dinary effort!
Next weekend, Sommers is competing in the Head of the School Girls on the Barwon River in Geelong where she’ll be representing Scots.
Our Director of Boarding John Hill is preparing to shave his beard on 17 March in an effort to raise money to fight blood cancer.
None of us at Scots have ever seen Mr Hill without his beard so we got to wondering what he might look like. And we had a bit of fun superimposing other teacher's chins on to our photo of Mr Hill.
Can you pick each of the teachers, and more importantly, which one do you think will look most like Mr Hill when the facial hair is gone?
Many people will know someone who has faced a Leukemia diagnosis or supported a friend or family member through this challenging time. If you would like to sponsor Mr Hill, you will be helping families facing blood cancer receive the emotional and practical support they need. You’ll also fund vital research to help more people survive blood cancer, while improving their quality of life.
It’s easier to take than to give. It’s nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime. Joan Marques
Dance competition
Year 8 student Addiejean will fly the Scots colours at the Time to Shine dance contest in Chapel Hall on 18 March. Addiejean has been working with a private coach for the past year or so, but had the foundation laid for classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and lyrical dance through the Scots Dance program from Year 4. Time to Shine is joining forces with Scots to promote dance in our school community and raise funds for the Senior Study Centre. Come down and watch Addijean and some of the region’s best dancers vie for accolades at this quintessential cultural experience.
It is free entry for the public with competition running from 9am until about 7.30pm More than 150 entrants will compete across the day.
Thank you to the 80 families who have responded to our Scots Uniform & Uniform Shop (Pickles) Survey.
If you haven’t yet responded, we would be grateful if you could spare no more than 10 minutes to let us know about your experience. It's short and all it takes are just a few clicks.
Thanks for helping us better understand what’s working well and where we can improve.
With winter approaching, the Clothing Pool would like to bolster its stock of pre-loved winter uniforms. If you have any good quality, clean and undamaged uniform items you would like to donate to the clothing pool, please leave them at reception or deliver to the clothing pool.
If you are looking for uniform items for your growing child, why not see what the Clothing Pool has in stock when you donate your outgrown pieces.
The Clothing Pool is open at the following times:
Mondays - 8.15am–9.45am
Wednesdays - 8.15am–9.45am
Fridays - by appointment | concierge@scotsalbury.nsw.edu.au
