As this year draws to a close, I would like to thank everyone in the Scots community for their continued efforts and support this year.  There is no doubt that education has looked very different in 2020 and we have all remained agile and responsive to the many changing parameters and guidelines in an effort to provide the best education and to keep our communities safe. Whilst it is always difficult to communicate my gratitude adequately in a Newsletter, I wanted to express my sincere thanks to our school community.

Thank you to our students for their diligence, their unwavering efforts to turn up to class, either here, or on a screen at home. For smiling, even when they didn’t feel like it. For knowing that it is sometimes okay not to be okay. Thank you to the families who supported our students – it was a privilege to be a part of your home life during lockdown.

Thank you to our teachers for their gentle, inspiring and measured approach to teaching and guiding students through a year in which the teaching landscape has immutably changed. Teaching at school, designing an accessible curriculum for Scots@Home, mobilising educational forces, employing a varied digital landscape, managing a hybrid model of teaching during Border closures, looking after our students and each other, as well as being a constant presence and connection to our community of young people is hard to measure. Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to be the best.

I would like to express gratitude to all our support staff for always being there to assist, helping with IT issues, maintaining the grounds and buildings, staying in touch with families, producing amazing eLinks, live stream events and recorded performances to ensure that Scots continued to have as normal a year as possible. A special thanks to those staff who will be leaving us this year. We thank you for your dedication to Scots and helping to build us to this great level. We wish you every success and happiness as you move to new frontiers and challenges and hope that you will always carry a warm memory of Scots.

I also acknowledge the unprecedented efforts of the Executive and the School Board for driving and supporting the provision and delivery of an excellent education and understanding the needs of our families whose businesses suffered through the impacts of drought, bushfire and COVID-19. As Wilma Rudolph stated “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us.” We look forward to continuing to support you all in 2021 and beyond.

To the students who are departing: I wish you well. Your contribution during your time at Scots will always be remembered and we hope to welcome you back on campus at Alumni events and occasions; you are forever a part of the Scots family.

Merry Christmas to everyone and may 2021 be a year that celebrates our strength, our community and a new chapter for The Scots School Albury.

As a school of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA), Scots has received stories of faith that guide our school’s culture. These traditions add to the richness of life at Scots and ensure our students leave this place with an appreciation for values and rituals given to us by the church. Following Jesus’ example we strive to be inclusive and courageous, speak out against injustice, and show that God’s love is for all people. Together with other Uniting Church schools in the synod, we seek to build in our young people a commitment to diversity in unity and justice for all.

Uniting Church schools strive to abide by the following characteristics:

• Actively engaging with First Peoples
• Enabling faith development and individual well-being within the UCA heritage of worship, witness and service
• Celebrating the equality and value of all people
• Intentionally listening to all voices which then directs collaborative decision-making
• Rejoicing in the diversity of faiths, cultures and languages
• Entering into justice for all peoples and the environment
• Courageously elevating difficult subjects and evolving responses

These are not meant to be a prescriptive list of requirements, but a guide of what we share as UCA schools. In speaking with principals, chaplains and board chairs from other UCA schools in the Synod, they agreed that this list makes total sense in what they understand the ethos of the Uniting Church to be. They also agreed that this list is a practical help to broadcast to our community what it means when you are choosing to join a UCA school community.

Some of these characteristics are totally embedded in the Scots DNA already, and some are still on the way to being fully realised. But an almost-cliched phrase in the UCA lexicon, along with “diversity in unity” and “justice for all”, is “we are a pilgrim people”. We recognise that we have not and will never “arrive” at the perfect way of being the church on this earth, and therefore we can always do more to work towards truth, justice, and inclusion. The good news? We do not walk alone. Thanks be to God. 

End of Year Events

This week has seen the return of some special end of year events that the School has been delighted to offer as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease. On Wednesday, our Junior School students enjoyed our Disco in the Dance Studio, shaking off the cobwebs of a year in lockdown. This was followed by our wonderful Community Christmas Concert on the oval, a beautiful night for a picnic, socialising and a story to remind us all of the true meaning of Christmas. I was also fortunate to lead our Pre-School T-Shirt Parade, a long-standing tradition that was adjusted to suit a smaller audience, but lost nothing in cuteness factor and imagination. It has been wonderful to see our community come together after such a difficult year, and we look forward to sharing more video, memories and stories of amazing learning in the final week of school. 

Step-Up to 2021

On Monday 7 December, we are introducing a new initiative to support our transition from year to year within the Junior School. Our ‘Step-Up’ session will give students the opportunity to meet their teacher for 2021, know who is in their class and which classrooms they will be sharing. As the School continues to grow, this is an important step in ensuring all students are prepared for the year ahead. We are also excited that new Staff member Miss Maddy MacLean will be joining her new class in person, while Mrs Jenni Zeilinski will be connecting in virtually. We look forward to welcoming them to the Junior School team in 2021.

AISNSW Survey - Perspectives: your school in focus

We thank those in our community who have already completed the recent Junior School ‘Perspectives’ survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and we encourage all families to take the time to contribute, helping us shape the future of our wonderful school. Our Year 5 and 6 students will also be completing the survey, providing much-needed student voice to the feedback process. Please check your emails for the specific link.

Best wishes for the festive season to all students, parents and staff who make up our fantastic boarding community. 2020 has definitely been one full of disruption, dislocation and challenge  so I am so glad that every one of our Boarders can now safely head home and share the holidays with their families. Have a safe and wonderful break. Elsa and I look forward to welcoming all returning boarders back in late January, 2021.

Farewells

Sadly we are saying goodbye to one our most popular MODs in Brigitte Bailey. Brigitte has worked in Boarding as an MOD and Prep supervisor for the past 3 years as she has completed her studies to become a teacher. She has now completed that degree and has landed her first full time teaching job at Port Vila International School in Vanuatu where our former DP Dave Armstrong is Principal. 

Brigitte has always been a shining light as an MOD bringing lots of energy and enthusiasm which the boarders have loved. Her special craft activities and day trips will be sadly missed. On behalf of the entire Boarding community I wish Brigitte well with her new adventure and thank her for her wonderful service to Scots.

End of Year Arrangements

The last day of school at Scots for 2020 is Wednesday 9 December which will also be the closing date of the two Boarding Houses. Both Houses will close at 6.00pm. Parents are required to notify Elsa or I as soon as possible, if your son/daughter is planning to depart from Boarding prior to December 9th. It is important to note that all belongings must be taken home, unless otherwise negotiated with us.

Start of 2021 Academic Year: Arrangements for Boarders

Please note the key dates for the return of Boarders for the 2021 school year. Further details will be emailed to all boarding families during the holidays.

Tuesday 26 January: (Note: This is the Australia Day Public Holiday)

• 1.00pm:  Lunch and introductory session for all new boarders and their parents at 1pm. Meet up at the boarding houses.
• 3.00pm: Boarding Houses open for returning Year 12 students. New students move into their rooms.
• 3.30pm - 4.30 pm: Boarder Parent Group meeting 

Wednesday 27 January: 

• 8.45am School resumes for Year 7 and Year 12. All new students will attend an orientation session for the morning. 
• 3.00pm: Boarding Houses open for returning Year 8 to 11 students. 

Thursday January 28th: 

• 8.45 am School resumes for Year 8 to 11. 

Friday 29 January - Sunday 31 January: 

• Boarder’s Closed weekend: all Boarders are expected to stay in residence to participate in a fun program designed to promote harmony and team-building.

Boarders in Leadership

The boarding community are proud to have the entire executive team of the 2021 Scots SRC made up of boarding students. Congratulations to Mitch Russell (President), Lana Martin (Vice-President), Thalia Cross (Secretary) and Will Devere (Treasurer). This team was elected by the entire student body and has big plans to make a difference in the school during their term in office.

Food in Boarding@Scots 

Boarding Captain Hayley Whitehill recently distributed a survey to the Boarders regarding all aspects of the food provided through the Dining Hall. They were given the opportunity to comment on what they enjoyed about the current menu and what suggestions they had for possible changes. The Boarders came back with some great feedback, most of which was very positive; however, there were some ideas for new inclusions which have now been passed on to Claire at the Dining Hall via a meeting with Hayley and Elsa. Claire and her team will now look at some modifications to the offerings for 2021. A big thank you to the Dining Hall staff who do a wonderful job looking after the needs of our students and staff in Boarding.

Week 9: Alternative Program

Thank you to our Scots community for spending such a delightful evening at school with us for our Christmas Carols evening. Following current COVID-19 health guidelines, we were fortunate to be able to have families, staff and students gather on the Oval to hear from our Junior and Senior School students as they narrated, acted and sang the Christmas message.

Whilst this year has certainly proved incredibly challenging for so many of our families, this evening was an opportunity for the School community to start to look towards Christmas and the New Year with hope. Santa's arrival in his new and improved 'sleigh' was ably helped by a multitude of elves to hand out Christmas cookies to everyone. We do not underestimate the impact 2020 has had on us all and thank you all for being part of such a memorable evening.

As part of White Ribbon Day, Senior School students greeted everyone at the gates on Wednesday to raise awareness and advocate for the elimination of violence against women. This is the world's largest movement engaging males to end men's violence against females, promote gender equality and create opportunities to discuss positive, respectful relationships.  It was wonderful to see our students keen to adopt and wear the white ribbon in solidarity on this important issue in our society. Thank you to everyone for supporting this campaign, both at school and in the wider community. 

 White Ribbon Australia’s vision is: A nation where every woman is free from all forms of men's violence and abuse.

Japanese Language students were treated to a traditional Japanese Tea ceremony by Kana Sensei this week. Known as as sadō/chadō (茶道,  "The Way of Tea"), this is a cultural activity that involves the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha (抹茶), powdered green tea. 

Kana Sensei wore a traditional yukata (summer kimono), indigo and white in colour to perform the ceremony and students were able to drink the tea after bowing, then placing the tea on their left palm and turning it twice. Thank you so much to Kana Sensei for sharing so much of Japan's cultural history and traditions with us this year. We wish her well as she returns to Japan.

Tag Rugby

Congratulations to the following girls who were selected to represent Scots at this week's Tag Rugby Competition hosted by the NRL.

Particular mentions for Zara Hiscock who was awarded the Best and Fairest on the day, and Mim Dunstan who was our leading try scorer.

SQUAD: Adelaide Hiscock, Lily Lamond, Zara Hiscock, Milly Hearn, Chloe Watson, Phoebe Packer, Lara Diffey, Alice McIntosh, Mia Sheather, Liv King, Zoe Smith, Eliza McIntosh and Mim Dunstan.

NSW All School Athletics Champion

Congratulations to Year 9 student, Xy Beale, who competed in the NSW All School Athletics Championships this week. Xy has won the Hammer event with a throw of 45.96 metres to become the NSW State Champion. This is a tremendous achievement and has required significant dedication and training. Xy is also competing in the Discus and Shot Put events today and we look forward to welcoming her back on campus next week.

Twilight Hockey

The final Twilight Hockey game for the season will take place this coming Tuesday at 7:30pm. We will also need to umpire the 6:30 match. A Google Doc is being circulated to express your interest for next season. As it stands, we are intending to enter teams in the U14 and U16 Girls’ competitions, but this will depend on student numbers. Please talk to Mr Agar, Ella Therkildsen, or Erin O’Brien if you need further details.

Albury Wodonga Cricket Academy

The Albury Wodonga Cricket Academy provides local young cricketers with the opportunity to develop their skills in order to
become the best player they can be to fulfil their aspirations and to enjoy a lifetime of enjoyment and friendships from the game. These School Holidays, they are running 3 day clinics for students designed to instruct players on correct technique and developing skills through repetitive drills and practice procedures in preparation for the coming season. For more information, please click here.

Basketball

Thank you to all the students who have participated in the 2020 Basketball Season. We have been fortunate to have been able to keep playing each week and grateful to all our coaches, managers, staff and families for their commitment and without whom we would not be able to run such a successful program. 

The Year 9 Creativity Project 2020

It is no surprise that 2020 has thrown so many challenges at everyone this year, including almost hijacking the Year 9 Production! Fortunately, with massive help from staff and student leaders behind the scenes, we were able to bring it back to life. On Monday and Tuesday of Week 8, the Year 9’s rallied together to learn dances, pick costumes and set the scene for our variety style show. A special thank you to Mr Wise, Ms Gratton, Ms Sharp and Ms Holland for all their hard work and support - we loved creating a Gratitude Wall to share our gratitude as a cohort. Now in the comfort of your own home, we invite you to enjoy and sing along with all your favourite Year 9 students. Stay tuned and watch it once, watch it twice, watch it millions of times! The link will be coming soon. By Xy, Starcia and Caroline from Year 9

Scots Dance 2021

We are excited to welcome Meegan Strauss and Taylor Faulkner from MT Creative Dance Studio to our Scots Dance program. Meegan and Taylor are two young dancers who come to us with a wealth of experience, passion and knowledge. Meegan and Taylor have started their own studio (MT Creative) in Wodonga and we are delighted they can find the time to join us at Scots for our afternoon Dance Program. Taylor is extremely versatile, having trained and performed in ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap and musical theatre. During this time, she studied the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and completed her ballet exams from Grade 1 through to Grade 7. Taylor was immersed in dance culture throughout her school years, performing in Disneyland in 2009 and being a part of the Riverina Dance Ensemble performing at State Dance Festival and The School Spectacular for many years. She has completed 3 years of full time dance training and received an Internship to Unitec BA Screen Arts in Auckland, New Zealand where she was able to experience an incredible mix of Contemporary dance styles.

Meegan has studied Jazz, Hip-hop, contemporary and completed her Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams from Grade 2 through to Intermediate. Meegan studied full time and has completed Certificate 2, 3 and 4 in Elite Performance while being acknowledged in many forums such as the Red-Carpet Youth Awards and receiving numerous scholarships. In 2015, she toured in New Zealand with Projection Dance Company in the award-winning production ‘Of Mice and Men’ and received an internship at Auckland Unitec in New Zealand. In 2016, Meegan was invited to audition for the world-renowned Netherlands Dance Theatre in the Hague during which time she spent two months travelling Europe experiencing an eclectic mix of dance styles.

We also look forward to welcoming Rebecca Koessler to the dance/production team. Rebecca has recently moved to Albury and is a trained Drama teacher specialising in movement and voice with a passion for musical theatre. She has worked at Ravenswood School for Girls and Scots College in Sydney on various performance projects. Rebecca will be joining the team for ‘Matilda’ and assisting with Junior and Senior School musical rehearsals.

Scots Dance Christmas Flashmob

This week, all of our dancers performed a fantastic, uplifting medley of Christmas dance sequences to an appreciative crowd, on the grassy stage of Gillespie Oval. It was a delightful way to finish the year. We will greatly miss Michelle but we know she will keep in touch with our students of the Scots Dance program and she is planning a front row seat for ‘Matilda’! The link for the flashmob can be found here.

NSW Police Graduation

Congratulations to the Scots Albury pipers that made the trip to Sydney this week to perform with the NSW Police Pipe Band at their Police Academy Graduation Ceremony, in front of Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, amongst others. Piping Major, Dylan Forge, Pipe Sergeant Liam Nicolson and Pipe Band Coordinator Scott Nicolson bolstered the ranks of the NSW Police band to help make the graduation ceremony of our future law enforcement officers a very special occasion.

2020 Global Young Piper of the Year
The Scots School Albury Pipe Band had two of its piping stars record solo performances for the inaugural Shepherd Challenge for Young Global Piper of the Year. Congratulations to Liam Nicolson and Jonathan Coe who completed their recordings recently and both put forward very solid performances. Results will be posted as soon as they are released.

Young Drummer of the Year
Congratulations to the four Scots Albury drummers that recently recorded solo performances to be entered into the 2020 Australian Young Drummer of the Year Competition. The competition will feature some of the most exciting young snare and tenor drumming talent from across the country and is an unmissable opportunity for our senior drummers to put their skills to the test against some very tough competition. Congratulations to snare drummers, Lachlan Coe and Damon Wright, and tenor drummers, Lily Turner and Indyana Bridgman, for putting forward some very polished performances. Results will be posted as soon as they are released in the coming weeks.
 
Scots Online Solo Piping and Drumming Competition.
The final recordings have been completed and submitted for adjudication in The Scots School Albury's very own Online Solo Piping and Drumming Competition. Congratulations to our pair of Year 4 snare drummers, Ewan Douglas and Eddie Butko, who were among the final performances to be recorded this week. This is the solo drumming debut for both Ewan and Eddie and both boys put forward performances that they should be very proud of. Well done!

Final Day of Term 4

Next Wednesday 9 December is the final day of school and Senior School students will be visiting the Albury Cinema to watch "War with Grandpa" (PG).  If you have not already, please head to Parent Lounge to accept this excursion - there is no cost.

Speech Night will also be held on Wednesday at 7.00pm. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on the number of people who can attend, we are hosting Speech Night at the Albury Performing Arts Centre; invitations will be emailed out to Award Recipients this afternoon and we ask that parents who wish to attend, respond over the weekend so we can confirm numbers.

Term Dates 2021

We look forward to welcoming students back for Term 1 on the dates as outlined below. The full 2021 Term Dates can be found here. 

Term 1 2021 (10 weeks)

Wednesday 27 January to Thursday 1 April

Tuesday 26 January • Boarders return from 3.00pm

Wednesday 27 January • Years 7 & 12 commence

Wednesday 27 January • New Students Years K-6 & 8-11 orientation 9.00am – 11.00am

Thursday 28 January • All classes K-12 commence

Thursday 1 April • Last day of Term 1. Boarding House Closes @ 5.00pm