RSPCA Bake Sale, Year 9 Service Learning Project • Tuesday 6 June @ lunchtime
Stage 5 Music Recital Evening • Tuesday 6 June @ 7pm, Cultural Centre
Boarders Exeat Weekend • Friday 9 June-Monday 12 June
Pupil Free Day • Friday 9 June
King's Birthday Public Holiday • Monday 12 June
Music Festival • Friday 16 June @ 6.30pm
Whisky & Gin Ceilidh • Saturday 17 June @ 6pm (less than 10 tickets remain BOOK HERE)
Junior School Disco • Tuesday 20 June @ 5pm
Winter Solstice Pipe Band performance • QEII Square, Wednesday 21 June @ 5pm
Term 2 ends • Friday 23 June
Pipe Band Concert • Friday 14 July and Saturday 15 July BOOK HERE
Term 3 starts • Monday 17 July
From Deputy Principal and Head of Junior School • Kelly McKay
Thank you to all of the families who joined us last Friday for our Athletics Carnival. It was wonderful to see so many of you there and to see our students running, jumping and attempting all events. Students who have qualified for the next level will be notified next week. The House Cup was presented at the end of Chapel today. Congratulations to Wilson House.
A reminder that next Friday is a pupil-free day, while teaching staff embark upon half-yearly report writing. TheirCare is available, please book directly if your child will be attending at theircare.com.au
If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher, please contact Junior School Reception or email the teacher directly to ask for a scheduled time. Whilst we always welcome feedback and believe that teaching is a partnership, some classes have been delayed in their start because of parents wanting to speak immediately to their child’s teacher.
From Head of Senior School • Janine Haymes
As mentioned in the last newsletter, we are well and truly in the assessment stage of the term. Speaking to students in the playground, I am always interested to hear how our students are engaging with different tasks; the tasks they are loving and the aspects they are finding challenging. One element of these conversations that always impresses is the expression of wanting to do their best. That desire to demonstrate to their teacher, and themselves, how much they have learnt and what they can do.
This continued conversation of hopes and aspirations has been focalised in our Year 10 cohort where conversations around subject selections for Year 11 and 12 have started. On Wednesday night, students and families joined teachers to discuss the possibilities of Stage 6. It was wonderful to hear from the different students about their plans and hopes for the future. I look forward to continuing these discussions next week at the individual student interviews.
Thursday morning saw news cameras on campus to capture the wonderful initiative of the Push Up Challenge, this important challenge raises awareness of mental health. Our Year 12 ambassador, Sid John, organised the whole Senior School to come together during Learning Mentor time and ‘push up’. It was such a positive, fun atmosphere, with many different styles on display. Some of the teachers were also very impressive with their form (particularly on that cold concrete).
Another initiative from our amazing Year 12 prefect group, was the Girls Night In, organised by our Wellbeing Prefect, Lara Diffey. Forty-eight girls from Year 6 to Year 12 spent the night in Chapel Hall. There were games, laughing, dancing and singing. The students made the most of this opportunity to get to know one another and just have some fun together. Leaving school on Saturday morning at 9am, there were many happy, albeit exhausted, faces. Thank you, Lara, for all your work.
Last week, the Senior School participated in its annual athletics carnival. It started off a grey old day, but soon the sun was shining; it was perfect weather for our young people to challenge themselves and to cheer each other on. A big thank you to Tim Kennedy for all the organisation and to all the teachers for their support to make the day such a success.
Next week we have a four-day week for students, with Friday 9 June being a report writing day for staff and the exeat weekend for our boarders. I wish all of our families the best, for a safe and restorative King's Birthday Long Weekend.
From Head of Pedagogy • Megan Dickins
Why do personal attributes matter?
In recent times, there has been a great educational drive to not only assess the curriculum but also the personal attributes students have. It makes sense when we consider that as an adult when we apply for a job we list not only our academic qualifications but also our personal skills and qualities. The big question for schools is how do we need to adapt to better equip students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, given the rapid economic and societal changes taking place globally.
To stimulate thinking and ideas for educational improvement, AISNSW commissioned a report titled CEO Perspectives: The Future of Schooling in Australia. The project involved interviews with leaders about their priorities and ideas for change.
“Self-awareness of how individuals are playing their role in the team, empathy for others' point of view is really important. We look for adaptability in our teams and our staff.” Ken Boal Vice President Cisco Australia and New Zealand
“We're looking for people with really strong critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills. They need to be adaptable learners.” Dr Michelle Deaker Managing Partner OneVentures
“What's really important in schools is that you learn how to collaborate and how you problem-solve together and how you bring your voice forward and how you listen to others and how you think that through because no one person has the answer.” Kellie Parker Managing Director Planning, Integration and Assets Rio Tinto Iron Ore
At Scots, we are focussing on the learner profile of the IB in the Junior School and the 6C global competencies of Deep Learning. We are embedding these into our daily practice and highlighting the importance of these to our students. You will see in our upcoming reports, students personally reflecting on themselves as a learner. Please take the time to read these with your child.
From the Director of Preschool • Belinda Crothers
The Early Years Learning Framework encourages us to build children’s connections and contributions to the world in which they live. We support children’s agency in making a difference to the world in many ways, including civic participation.
According to the EYLF, building social sustainability “is about living peacefully, fairly and respectfully together in resilient local and global communities".
We have been able to look at how we can support local communities in our amazing donation of goods for the local Women’s Centre for Health and Wellbeing. Thank you to everyone who donated to this. Our global fundraiser for the Samunnat community in Nepal raised nearly $1000. It was an absolute privilege to hand over the donation to the local contacts and I was very proud to say it was from our Scots Preschool community. Thank you for making such a massive difference.
Even closer community connections are evident in the relationships we have with the Scots School. We have attended dress rehearsals for the recent Shrek performance and are often heading into the school grounds for specialist subjects, a play on the oval or tennis courts or simply a wander around the school. Some of our classes have visited the technology workshops, Junior School classrooms and other spaces such as the veggie gardens in the junior School. We are very lucky to have such a broad learning environment around us.
Scots Preschoolers are learning ways to be global citizens each day.
From Head of Sport • Tim Kennedy
Interhouse Athletics Report
It was great to see our talented athletes on display during the Junior and Senior School athletics carnivals in Week 5. Participation numbers were high and the talent and athleticism of our students made for a great spectacle for everyone in attendance. Thanks to all of the teachers and assistants for their efforts at track and field events all day. A special mention to Alley McKeon and Amanda Ross for the hours of work that they put into preparing for these events and for their data entry on the day! Here’s a snapshot of our award winners at each carnival:
Junior School Athletics Age Group Champions 8/9 Girls: Zoe Franco 8/9 Boys: Ardan Magaharan Under 10 Girls: Lucy Mathews and Eliza Hyde Under 10 Boys: Charlie Brown Under 11 Girls: Eden Hutchins Under 11 Boys: Darcy Baird 12/13 Girls: Millie Glover 12/13 Boys: Sam McDonald
Junior School Athletics Runner-Up Age Group Champions 8/9 Girls: Lilly Baird 8/9 Boys: George McDonald Under 10 Girls: Marlee Seymour Under 10 Boys: Oliver Jurevics Under 11 Girls: Lucy Kilgour Under 11 Boys: Tait Bartlett 12/13 Girls: Alexia Franco 12/13 Boys: Thomas Toepfer
Overall Results 1st Wilson House 4908 2nd Simpson House 4816 3rd Sellars House 4434 4th Robertson House 3133
Senior School Athletics Age Group Champions Under 13 Girls: Winnie Monaghan Under 13 Boys: Tom Mack Under 14 Girls: Lucy Bolton Under 14 Boys: Jack Plowman Under 15 Girls: Sara Butko Under 15 Boys: Ted Williams Under 16 Girls: Hayley Whitsed Under 16 Boys: Oliver Hutchins Under 17 Girls: Lucy Dowling Under 17 Boys: Will Maguire Under 18 Girls: Audrey Adams Under 18 Boys: Fraser Bennett
Senior School Athletics Runner-Up Age Group Champions Under 13 Girls: Jenna Dickins Under 13 Boys: Henry Miller Under 14 Girls: Grace Brown Under 14 Boys: Henry Tainton Under 15 Girls: Alex Gniel Under 15 Boys: Aiden Nicolson Under 16 Girls: Poppy Kettlewell Under 16 Boys: Fred Jackson Under 17 Girls: Emmy Williams Under 17 Boys: Oscar Clelland Under 18 Girls: Olivia Maguire Under 18 Boys: Kai Taylor
Overall Results 1st Robertson House 8723 2nd Simpson House 7809 3rd Sellars House 7284 4th Wilson House 7249
Well done to all of our fantastic athletes on their efforts during the carnivals and good luck to the RAS advancers who finished top 2 in their events or top 4 in the 100m. Senior RAS Athletics is coming up on the 21st June, whilst the Junior RAS carnival will take place on 1st August. Invitation letters will come out early next week.
CIS Cross Country Advancers Congratulations and good luck to the following students who will represent Scots and the RAS at CIS Cross Country at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Thursday 8 May. We look forward to hearing about the experience when you get back!
Junior School Zoe Franco Ardan Magaharan Sammy Martin Eliza Hyde Sam Mack Eden Hutchins Alexia Franco
Senior School Henry Miller Tom Sheather Lucy Bolton Sommers Hogan Kaylee Rule Charlie Baxter Finbar Bready Hayley Whitsed
Albury Schools AFL Grand Final Our U/15 Girls have been training really hard in preparation for their grand final against Xavier next week. They play on Wednesday 7 May at 5:20pm at Lavington Sports Ground. We wish the girls the best of luck for their big game! If you’re free on Wednesday afternoon please get along to support the girls.
Rugby Gala Day
Well done to all the Senior School students who competed at the Rugby Gala Day in May. Both teams played so well with our boys team coming runners-up and our Year 9 & 10 girls team taking out the win.
The Junior School read The Speedy Sloth as part of the 2023 National Simultaneous Storytime last Wednesday.
Spike the Sloth is excited for the Great Race and this beautiful book celebrates participating in events, not just winning. This was particularly relevant considering our athletics carnival followed a couple of days later.
Reconciliation Week
Our Junior School classes enjoyed learning about reconciliation and its significant part of Australia’s history and future during Reconciliation Week from 26 May to 3 June.
Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful change, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more, effort.
Library Installations
Some exciting new spaces are popping up in the library. Come and have a look at the reorganising of shelving areas to make more reading spaces. The fireplace is back and there is also a new ‘creation’ happening in the entry foyer. See if you can come and guess what it is going to be.
Highland Fair • volunteer meeting Thursday 26 July @ 2.30pm
The Scots School Albury Highland Fair and Pipe Band competition has been moved to 14 September 2024 and we are searching for motivated and creative people to help us deliver the Best. Highland Fair. Ever!
A meeting of interested parent volunteers will be held on Thursday 26 July at 2.30pm in the Boardroom.
The Highland Fair was set to be in March this year, but as soon as the Pipe Band's tour to Scotland in July was confirmed, plans for a much bigger and more spectacular event were hatched. We needed a longer lead time to put all the plans into motion.
Help us create that plan and work towards delivering a fantastic Highland Fair experience.
Volunteers interesting in joining the organising committee should email marketing@scotsalbury.nsw.edu.au and come along to our first meeting.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Student Achievements
NSWPSSA football
Sam McDonald, our Junior School Captain, represented Combined Independent Schools (CIS) at the NSWPSSA Boys Australian Football Championship held in Batemans Bay recently.
From the hundreds of students from all over NSW who played at the carnival, Sam was one of just 23 chosen for the NSW State Team. Sam will now represent NSW at the National Football Championship (12 and under) which will be played at Lavington in August.
Congratulations Sam!
Under-18 Interleague football
Congratulations to Fraser Bennett and Charles Ledger, who played in the winning Under 18 O&M interleague team recently.
O&M beat Goulburn Valley League 89-30 at the Albury Sportsground.
Leadership Camp
Year 10 students Aaron Jones, Ebony Deverell, Annabel Sirr, Tilly Tainton, Phoebe Packer and Bailey Coulston attended the annual RYPEN camp, hosted by North Albury Rotary club at Valley homestead in Ovens.
The camp was attended by Year 10 students from across the North East and was aimed at building skills in leadership.
Snowsports
Cocktail Party
Parents held the inaugural Scots Autumn Cocktail Party on 6 May as a winter warmer. Emcee for the evening was alumni and Winter Olympian Britt Cox, who held a "fireside chat" with fellow Olympians, Jono Brauer, Jane Butko and Greta Small as well as snow industry icon, Peter Zirknitzer. The night finished with an entertaining auction of Winter Goods and Services kindly donated by Scots Parents. The Autumn Cocktail Party looks set to be an annual fixture on the Scots social calendar.
Dry-land training
Winter is in the air; leaves are falling, the fog has arrived and Scots Snowsports dry-land training is underway. No doubt the best form of Snowsport training is on snow but when you don’t have snow, dry land training is a great alternative. Our dry land training is centred on agility, power and endurance using plyometrics (jump/spring training). Activities cater for students who are involved in alpine, snowboard and/or cross-country. It’s self-paced and open to all students in Years 6-12. Priority is given to students who plan to compete in the Snow Australia Interschools or the Australian Secondary Schools Snowsports Team Championships, and then to students who wish to crosstrain for other sports. Please contact Head of Sport, Mr Kennedy or Snowsports Coordinator, Mr Tainton if you wish to get involved.
Competition
Our first competition is the Snow Australia Regional Interschools from 19-21 July at Falls Creek. Snow Australia Interschools is open to all students K-12 at an intermediate level and above. Entries for the Regional competition are open. See Scotty for details. Students may also choose to participate in the Schools Nordic Day on 17 July at Perisher. An information pact is available which outlines the requirements to participate in Snow Australia Interschool events.
Britt Cox with Greta Small, Peter Zirknitzer, Jane Butko and Jono Brauer at the Cocktail Party.
60 Year Reunion • Class of 1963
Nearly 40 guests celebrated the 60 year reunion for the Albury Grammar School Class of 1963 in Griffith last weekend.
Lou Woolner and his school mate Rob Kerr were in charge of organising the get together and couldn't have been happier with the turnout. Lou, who is now 75 years old, lives in Griffith and most of his cohort are not too far away. Alongside his mate Rob, Lou had worked up an exhausting schedule for the reunion.
The group started with a welcome and dinner at the Exies Bagtown Motel and Function Centre in Griffith. A commemorative cake was cut by returned Vietnam Vets, Peter Simpson and Greg Whitla, and a minute's silence was acknowledged for Hayden Brewer, who passed away soon after the group's 59th reunion last year. Everyone was pleased to welcome back Hayden's wife Liz, who made the trip in memory of her husband.
Most of the group kicked off Sunday's proceedings with breakfast at the Whitton Malt House which was followed by a tour of Voyager Craft Malt, a custom-designed state of the art on-farm malt processing facility, part-owned by Lou's son Brad.
The alumni group had lunch at the Whitton Malt House restaurant, which pays homage to the magnificent produce of the region, before touring the Southern Cotton Gin, which is located next door to the malt house.
After a busy and exhausting weekend, many stayed overnight before heading home. The group is already planning its 2024 reunion to coincide with the Highland Fair in September.
In this Parent and Carer edition of Project+, the importance of practising gratitude is discussed and some fun ways to do this as a family have been provided.
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.
Updated traffic flow for Young Street Carpark
In the interest of safety for students and families, we have updated the traffic flow of the Young Street Carpark.
Please review the changes carefully, including the one-way flow of traffic and the specified Staff Parking areas, and follow the signs.
Community
A free workshop for parents and supervising drivers which will help them support learner drivers.
