Dates for your Diary
From the Principal • Mark Geraets
If you were one of hundreds from our School Community who enjoyed a fantastic day at the Scots Fair on Saturday, thank you for making the day such a special occasion.
The Fair finally cemented a return to all the things we love about being part of the Scots community - the chance to gather as a whole school to have some fun and catch up with friends.
No masks, no COVID-19 restrictions, no keeping year levels apart and no sadly saying “no” to parents who want to come onto the school grounds.
As a fundraising event, it was a huge success. We raised more than $20,000 for the Senior Study Centre.
As a community event, it was a huge success. We were joined by a large number from our broader Albury community.
And, as testament to our flourishing Parent-School partnership it was a huge success, with parents running more than 16 stalls and parent volunteers from all year levels assisting to plan and deliver the day.
It was truly a celebration of community and a chance to reflect on how lucky we are to live in a free and open society; where we can enjoy such days free from fear of invasion, displacement, hunger and war.
It’s not the first time I have been grateful for our place in the world, but the events in Ukraine that are unfolding on our televisions each night are timely reminders we should never take it for granted.
While it might seem like a world away, I know many of us are watching Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; watching normal people like you and I being bombed, displaced and running scared, and wondering what we can do.
One of the things we can do is talk openly with our children and each other about the happenings in Ukraine. The more we understand, the more we can make informed decisions about all sorts of things.
The more we understand, the more we can be grateful for the freedom our ANZACs fought for in the past. With ANZAC Day coming up, it’s worth remembering their sacrifice. It’s not just a day off to fritter away; it’s a national day of remembrance. It’s a chance to pay our respects to our forefathers and be thankful for their sacrifices.
For those families struggling to know what to say to their children about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the following websites may help.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround#more-stories-2
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-02/kids-ukraine-psychologist-how-to-talk/100865890
Office closure midday Friday
School will operate as usual on Friday, except our support staff will be on the half-day Gold Cup holiday so our reception areas will not be open. Unless it is for an emergency, please avoid contacting the school on Friday afternoon.
Thank you
We regularly award vouchers from supporting businesses to our students as part of our positive recognition program Caught Doing Good. We have been lucky to be supported in this endeavour by Monumental Ice-creams, Regent Cinemas and Harris Farm. Each fortnight, students are nominated by teachers and a student is selected and recognised for their outstanding effort to make Scots a great place to be. It can be for academics, citizenship, service, conduct, behaviour or being a wonderful ambassador for our school. The winner is announced at assembly and they receive a voucher from our generous donors.
Farewell
We are sorry to be farewelling Design and Technology teacher Shirley Slade, who is moving to Western Australia at the end of term to be closer to family.
Shirley hasn’t been with us a long time, but she’s made an impact at Scots and all of us will be sad to see her go.
Psychologist Molly Fitzpatrick will leave us at the end of term to spend more time with her young family. Molly has been with us for a short while and has been an integral part of our wellbeing team alongside nurse Elsa Kilgour, counselor Jessie O’Donnell, Chaplain Samm Menzies and our Section Leaders, Melanie Davies and Roger Barrows. We are fortunate to have Bernadette Hurley as a resident Psychologist placement with us until June.
Welcome
I am delighted to welcome new Design and Technology teacher Jim Papas, who will join us in Term 2. Jim is a specialist secondary teacher in Engineering, Technology and Applied Studies and STEM, with vast experience across Industrial Technology, Design and Technology, Materials, Metals, Timber, Design, Computing, Robotics, Engineering, and Mathematics. He also has vocational experience in Motorsports, Engineering, Pneumatics, Hydraulics and Composites.
New beginnings
I would like to congratulate several staff members who have recently welcomed a new baby into their life.
- Doug Agar welcomed a girl
- Amanda Pyle welcomed a girl
- Thomas Hartshorn welcomed a boy
- Leisha Zhou welcomed a boy
Congratulations to all.
From Head of Senior School • Kelly McKay
It is hard to believe we are at the end of Week 8 already. The term has passed so quickly. It is a very busy time as students work towards final assessments. Learning Mentors are keeping a close eye on their charges and reminding them that if at any point they are struggling, to communicate with their teachers and LM.
Upon arrival at work on both Tuesday and Thursday I was welcomed by the sweet scent of coffee. Our hospitality students along with Mrs Nixon opened the student café two weeks ago and it has been a wonderful success. I can highly recommend the coffee that these accomplished baristas are selling! I would also like to thank them for their initiative in providing this service which really showcases their learning. This week I was also fortunate to be invited to a lunch which had been prepared by the Stage 5 Food elective. I ate with them on both Monday and Wednesday and both meals were delicious!
The final week of this term will see students from Years 8 to 12 away on their annual camp. Much effort has gone into the planning of these camps and we are continuing to refine and develop our approaches in this area. We will certainly appreciate feedback on your child’s experience when we return next term. Of course, some of our students have already been on a number of camps as part of their Duke of Edinburgh course and I am sure, like me, you are amazed at the breathtaking photos they take on these trips.
Our Year 9 students will remain in Albury as part of our new ‘Birrang Project’ Camp. Over the course of their four days they will be engaged in learning to follow a budget, cooking for themselves, building their own shelters, and a range of activities around Albury-Wodonga. While the focus is on their social and emotional development it is also about them having fun as a cohort and exploring their strengths and testing their limits. There will be a strong focus this year in Year 9 to have as much experiential learning as possible. While the first term some of our initiatives have been hampered by Covid, we are hoping to overcome this as the year progresses.
Last week at Assembly we had a number of our students talk about upcoming events in which they are involved in organising. Maddie Steer spoke to us all about National Epilepsy Day, which we are recognising today. Maddie and a team of volunteers have been busy planning the day. We invited all students to wear purple and make a gold coin donation, which will go towards further research and increasing the awareness of epilepsy in the community. On the Friday before camp week we will be fundraising for Autism Awareness and all students are encouraged to wear funky socks on this day.
This term we have introduced Merit Certificates for our Senior School. Teachers nominate students who have demonstrated positive learning attributes. They can fall into any of the following categories:
Independent Learner
Is self-directed with a proactive stance towards their learning and understands that learning is an integral part of life. They strive to proactively change outcomes for themselves and others.
Positive Learner
Demonstrates grit, tenacity, perseverance, and resilience in learning opportunities. They demonstrate positive and collaborative working relationships with their teachers and peers.
Organised Learner
Is punctual and plan their time around use of relevant resources such as teacher assistance, relevant equipment, texts and IT for class.
Respectful Learner
Demonstrates social, emotional and intercultural skills when working with others. They are respectful and able to learn from others and contribute to the learning of others.
Collaborative Learner
Works interdependently and within teams. They work in a way that leverages strengths in self and others and provides opportunities for growth through feedback.
Once a student has received three nominations they will be presented with a Merit Certificate at our assembly. For this week our student nominations are:
Arifa Rizvi - Independent Learner
Anastasia McFarlane - Independent Learner
I always feel I simply do not have enough room in this newsletter to showcase and congratulate the achievements of our amazing students. Some of them are highlighted in the links that follow.
Finally a huge thankyou to all of our families and students for their support of the Scots Country Fair. Such events really highlight what a wonderful community we have and we must embrace every chance we have to come together!
From the Junior School • Matthew Boundy
A Scots Fair of epic proportions! There is no doubt that the highlight of the last fortnight has been the Scots Fair! After months of planning and preparations, the scene was set for a wonderful day and with the help of some beautiful Autumn weather, it certainly did not disappoint. It was amazing to see so many members of our community support the event, from volunteering their time, energy and goods to participating in fun activities, it was truly one for the ages.
I would like to personally thank all our Junior School Year Parents for their support of this year’s fair, helping behind the scenes to coordinate, set up and run many of the Scots stalls. I would also like to thank all the Junior School staff for giving up their time in a very busy term to support the event too. Without all this support, the event would not have been possible.
Life @ Scots - International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) has been the backbone of learning and teaching programs in the Junior School for more than 5 years now. Chosen for its ability to extend and deepen the learning for students aged 3 to 12, the PYP provides the school with the latest research-based frameworks and teacher training to ensure a Scots student is not only taught what to learn, but how.
This year marks a particular milestone for the school, as we undertake our first IB Evaluation. Every IB school must undertake this rigorous assessment every five years to ensure the delivery of the programme is meeting their high international standards. Work has already begun by teachers in the last 12 months, led by our PYP Coordinator Miss Georgie Parker, completing an in-depth self-study to identify areas of the programme that require increased focus and form part of the schools development plan.
A simple overview of the PYP can be found HERE.
https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/digital-toolkit/brochures/parent-pack-faqs-about-the-pyp.pdf
Year 5 and 6 Camp - Billabong Ranch Echuca
On Monday 21 March, our Year 6 students boarded the bus for their first outdoor education experience in two years, attending Billabong Ranch in Echuca with their Year 5 peers. Students were very eager for this adventure, as for many new to the school, it would be their first camp experience. With activities ranging from ropes courses, horse riding, archery, bouldering and orienteering, there was sure to be something for everyone.
The school is currently reviewing our experiential learning opportunities after two years lost to Covid restrictions and many operators in the industry struggling to maintain staff and licencing. We look forward to engaging our community soon with regards to our plan to offer as many challenging and rewarding outdoor excursions as possible for our Junior School students.
Changes to school bus route numbers
The TCB Program is delivering state-of-the-art vehicle tracking and automatic passenger counting technology across contracted buses in rural and regional NSW. This technology once live (Live date: 29th March 2022) will provide customers with real time trip information, allowing them to download an app which will show the exact location of their bus when on service and be able to determine how far away it is. As a result the hope is that this program will have significant benefits for children, their parents and guardians as well as schools.
Under this initiative Transport for NSW is seeking to improve the consistency and accuracy of bus service information across New South Wales. As part of this state-wide program, bus route names and numbers are being amended so they can become part of a standardised system.
The changes are route name/number changes only. Physical routes (or paths) along which school buses operate will not be affected.
New route numbers and names can be viewed online HERE.
Winter Uniform
Winter uniforms are required from the start of Term 2. The winter uniform includes the blazer as a compulsory outer garment whenever students are in public. The jumper may only be worn in classrooms or underneath the blazer.
Now is a great time to see if your winter uniform fits and if anything is too small, it will be gratefully received in the clothing pool. And, while dropping off your items, say hello to our new Clothing Pool manager, Carol.
Both the Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool will open for extended trading hours during the school holidays so please see the next newsletter for the times.
Vex IQ Robotics National Finals
We had a team compete in the Vex IQ National Finals competition in Adelaide on 5 and 6 March. The team was called “The Reapers” and comprised Ammar Syed (Year 8) and Sam John (Year 9).
Because we started Vex IQ competition teams during the Covid pandemic they had never had a chance to compete or even practise against other schools in person, so this meant the National competition was the very first in-person tournament for them. The Reapers made the finals by completing Live Remote Tournaments using a video camera and computer pointed at the competition field.
In the National Finals they really held their own. The Reapers (Ammar and Sam) finished sixth out of 24 to gain a spot in the finals (top 10 teams got in) on the first day of competition. Their average score of 63.17 was almost double that of the lower ranked teams. This means in their category, Middle School Vex IQ robotics, they were sixth in Australia.
On the Second day, five finals were conducted by teaming up with another team, known as alliances. The Reapers came fourth with 62 points, very narrowly missing out on third place by two points.
Congratulations to these two boys on not only making it to the national finals and being competitive, but that The Reapers qualified for the world finals on a wildcard entry. They did this by having one of the highest scores in one of their skills elements. Well done to The Reapers, Ammar Syed and Sam John.
Here is a video clip of Prime 7 News interviewing the boys about their efforts.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HKkiuJ1_xd2Esf5Dl6GTr_AV24MaoqRG/view?usp=sharing
- Bradley Murphy
Head of Technology & Innovation
Equestrian achievement
Harry and Zara Hiscock are making their presence felt on the campdrafting scene after a couple of years without competition.
Harry, riding his horse Heidi, recently finished fourth in the Junior draft at the Tumbarumba Annual Campdraft and then travelled to Mansfield last weekend where the pair came second. Harry also took third place in the Junior Draft on his other horse, Hoppo.
Zara followed her brother's success with a third place in the Juvenile Draft at Mansfield.
HSC technology excursion
Snowy Hydro Scheme excursion
The HSC Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Physics classes explored and learnt about the engineering, design and technological wonder that is the Snowy Hydro Scheme as well as the progress of design and construction of the Snowy 2.0 project.
All aspects of the T3 power station and T2 underground power stations were explored and explained on 9 and 10 March. This included their place in the national energy grid and the role of Snowy Hydro in the move to renewables. Site inductions and PPE were learned about and adhered to.
Throughout the past decade, the entire business has transitioned from analogue, manned monitoring of stations to cloud-based technology. This meant the design of business-wide communication systems, integrating digital sensors and designing algorithms to communicate with new digital interfaces. The entire system can now be monitored and controlled from anywhere.
Cutting edge design and manufacturing processes were engaged with during the Snowy 2.0 tunnel segment factory visit. Process design, quality control procedures, robotics, automation, and product tracking systems demonstrated and explained.
Students had many opportunities to engage with engineers, technicians, and managers at all stages. This also gave the students the opportunity to ask questions igniting a curiosity for STEM and open their eyes to the endless possibilities and careers pathways available. Girls are particularly encouraged to help move the country forward from an equity perspective. The students learnt about Snowy’s commitment to provide these opportunities to young people and girls through their programs such as the vacation employment, cadetships, apprenticeships, traineeships and graduate programs.
Global design practices were demonstrated by senior design engineers with the Snowy 2.0 project design being presented live in full 3D, combining drone footage, geotechnical data, lidar and the full project CAD design all being updated in real time as hundreds of designers and engineers around the world add their project components and actively problem solve as systems and components are added.
The excursion brought to life the study of Design and Technology throughout the Senior School as every aspect of project and product design, research, exploration, production and ongoing evaluation is embedded in each industry example visited.
A huge thank you to Snowy Hydro and our dedicated teachers in making this experience a reality.
From the Library
This week has been another busy one in the library.
The focus was getting ready for our massive book stall at the Country Fair. We had a great day, selling lots of used books and DVDs. Thank you to all of our helpers: Samm Menzies, Sarah Bowman, Jade Workman, Jenni Zielinski, Annabelle Blunden, Janelle Mellick, Kate Macneil, Emma Carter, Matt Boundy, Rebecca Harrison and Jessie O’Donnell. A special thank you to Mark Sutcliffe and his team for their work before and after the Fair as well.
The bulk of the unsold books and DVDs were packed up and sent on to the Lismore Library, which was devastated by the recent floods. Thank you to our wonderful Year 11 students who sorted, boxed, taped and labelled and also to Geoff Luff at Border Express for kindly freighting the books to Lismore for us.
In other news, Lana Martin was inducted as Library Prefect last week and it has been great to have her enthusiasm in this space. Lana and I have been talking about ways to improve the usage of the library for senior school students so look out for some great events in the coming weeks.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once said, “Excellence at chess is one mark of a scheming mind”. Chess Club also hit it straps last Friday with eight players duking it out. Don’t forget to come along next Friday with your lunch if you want to develop your scheming mind!
- Alley McGhee
