Newsletter, Term 4, Week 8, Friday 26 November 2021

See additional information on special events in this newsletter

Wednesday 1 December @ 1.15pm - Mini Relay for Life, Gillespie Oval.
Thursday 2 December @ 5.30pm - Grandparents Day in the Junior School
Thursday 2 December @ 7.00pm - Carols@Scots, Gillespie Oval
Friday 3 December @ 11.30am - Infants Swimming Carnival
Friday 3 December @ 6.00pm - Year 6 Graduation, Chapel Hall
Saturday 4 December @ 6.00pm - Year 12 Graduation, Group photo at 5.15pm, Albury Entertainment Centre
Tuesday 7 December @ 9.00am - Junior School Final Assembly, Live Streamed
Wednesday 8 December @ 9.00am - Senior School Final Assembly, Live Streamed
Wednesday 8 December @ 6.00pm - Speech Night, Chapel Hall & Live Streamed
Wednesday 8 December - End of Term
Please visit the School Calendar on a regular basis to check for updates and to keep abreast of all the wonderful happenings at school.

Who doesn’t love Christmas?

The Christmas festivities, presents, good food and wonderful family time, combined with a time to reflect on the religious significance of the Christian holiday, makes it one of the most enjoyable times of the year.

It is a time of anticipation and excitement - but it’s also when we are really tired. It is a time when patience or perception can be stretched and varied. Good humour can be in short supply and tempers are quickly frayed. And that’s why we need to show each other kindness and compassion over the next few weeks.

Instead of firing off that email with irritation, pause and consider what impact it might have on someone else’s day. Hold back the finger from the send button, prevent the word slipping from the lips, the pen scrawling and posting a message; take a moment (or even better a couple of hours or a day) to breathe, relax and decide if your ire is really warranted or you are just tired and frazzled.

Let’s face it, we have all endured a year like no other in history. So be kind to yourself and those around you.

Not only have we had to contend with escalating COVID-19 restrictions resulting in severe COVID fatigue, but the virus has infiltrated our community like never before and that has caused additional stress and anxiety. Many people are exhausted - especially those on the frontline of this pandemic.

So, let’s make the most of easing restrictions and rejuvenate ourselves with the sort of community celebrations we have been denied all year.

We look forward to welcoming all our grandparents to visit their special child in the Junior School on Thursday 2 December at 5.30pm. The students are eagerly preparing their classrooms and selecting their best work to show off to their family at one of our most popular Junior School community events of the year.

Then at 7pm the same evening, Carols @ Scots will delight young and old. We invite families to bring a picnic and chairs or a picnic rug to enjoy outdoor Carols on Gillespie Oval. Santa will visit and hand out candy canes, our students will regale you with a nativity play and all the family favourite Christmas Carols plus the much anticipated drawing of the car raffle. Please don’t forget to bring back your raffle tickets and there will be others available for purchase on the night. Then to close out the evening with a bang, there will be a fireworks display around 8.30pm.

Among other marquee events to close out the year are the Year 6 graduation on Friday, 3 December followed a day later by the Class of 2021 Graduation Dinner at the Albury Entertainment Centre. Our Junior School assembly is the following week, along with the Senior School Assembly and, to finalise a productive year in the classroom, our Speech Night will be held in Chapel Hall on Wednesday, 8 December from 6pm.

What a lot to look forward to!

Support for parents

As this COVID year draws to an end, you might find that some of our young adults also may be struggling. They may start to withdraw from you and it can be worrying and frustrating.

There is a useful website that can help parents understand and safely navigate the new normal of the teenager. You can visit the website for all sorts of information: www.reachout.com or go straight to this helpful article: When your teen withdraws from you

A retirement well earned

Jan Beasley started as a fresh-face Science Laboratory Technician at Scots in 1988 - back when TV soap Home and Away was launched, World Expo 88 opened in Brisbane, two officers of the Victoria Police were gunned down in the Walsh Street police shootings and a terrorist bomb brought down Pan-Am 747 in Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 aboard and 11 on ground.

It also was the year The Netherlands became the second country connected to the internet with Australia not receiving that honour until a year later, by which time Jan was well ensconced in the Science department.

But at the end of this year, Jan will call time on her 34-year career at Scots, taking decades of memories and firm friendships with her into the next stage of her life journey.

Her fondest memories from Scots will always be the staff and student connections.

“I’ve loved being part of a collegiate and friendly Science Department,” Jan said. “We were the envy of all the staff because we got on so well and worked together as a cohesive team.

And she loved seeing the light bulb moments when a student finally understood a concept.

“I love my job and the work I do.” Jan said. “I love the continual learning and sharing my knowledge with science staff providing additional options for them to consider for practical activities. I will miss the very special thank yous from the students as they leave us and the very many greetings from students throughout the day. In short, I will miss the students.”

Jan contributed widely to decisions about design and fixtures in the new Science building and worked hard to get everything set up in the building so it looked amazing for its grand opening in February 2004.

She was Chair of the WH&S committee at Scots for 11 years and developed policies and protocols to keep our community safe, including online accident/incident and near miss forms to ensure appropriate reporting occurred.

Jan was one of many staff who experienced Scots from two perspectives, as a staff member and as a parent. Her daughter graduated in 1996.

But, as Jan leaves us after 34 years, she is excited for what the future holds.

Jan and her husband, Rob, have recently moved into a new home; she’s already busy planning lots of improvements and will enjoy spending more time doing activities together. Because if COVID has taught her one thing, it's the importance of connection with family and friends and she’s determined to make up for all those times in the past two years that she has been unable to see her children, grandchildren and distant friends or participate in their lives.

There definitely will be some travel involved, here and overseas, and you can bet she will be keeping a close eye on how things are going at Scots.

Jan, we will miss you!

Came for nine months, stayed for 30 years!

Rowena Turner came to Scots in March 1992 to “fill in” for nine months. After nearly 30 years, two fantastic children, a year teaching in Canada and a wonderful lifestyle in this part of the world, Rowena described herself as “pretty lucky” to have been part of the Scots fabric for so long.

“Hard to say why I’ve remained so long in a profession that originally I thought would be temporary, except to say it’s what happens in the classroom – the dynamics, the creativity, the opportunity to learn, be amazed, be challenged and be inspired,” Rowena enthused. “And, of course, what happens on camps and co-curricular! I’ll never forget my first camp – senior girls bushwalking camp up in the back of Mt Hotham, thinking if this is what Scots is about, I’m staying!”

When Rowena joined the School, she had taught in both the state and independent system for 10 years. It included teaching foundation in two schools, which she said were incredible, challenging but wonderful teaching experiences.

Now, as she leaves Scots at the end of the year, she is planning to walk a quite different path in her “life after Scots”.

“I’m redirecting; looking for some new ways I can not only spend some more time on doing things for myself, but the wider community. I plan to better set up my workshop and focus on my creative pursuits. The first six months of next year I’m doing an extensive weaving course to build on my skills in this area. Then I hope to do a Masters in Fine Arts which is something I’ve always wanted to pursue.”

She hopes to spend more time pursuing her love of bush walking, cross-country skiing and mountain biking and is particularly looking forward to being able to go places mid-week and outside of school holidays!

“I’m really interested in looking at some other areas which might be paid or voluntary, doing something completely different in our community; whether it is in terms of the environment or arts, and I have a few ideas in this direction which I plan to follow up. I’m just really looking forward to new possibilities!”

We wish Rowena well on her exciting new journey.

Senior School students have completed the majority of their assessments for this term and many are busy reviewing examination papers to develop goals for improvement in 2022. Students are to be commended on the approach they have taken in this final term and the commitment they have shown to their studies.

Below is some information about end of year events, many of which have been redesigned to remain in line with current COVID-19 restrictions.

Temperature Checks
We are continuing to have all senior students enter via Reception and have their temperature taken at the beginning of each day. Many thanks for your support with this and in ensuring that your child has arrived each day with a mask. We still have Rapid Antigen Tests that have not been collected by some families. These can be obtained from Senior School Reception.

Movember
Our Scots Movember Team is busy growing their Mo or making a move by running or walking 60km in the month of November in an effort to support Men’s Health. The Scots Team is raising funds and awareness this Movember for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in their lives. Please donate to support men's health. With your help, the Movember Team can contribute to the overall goal: to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2030.

Mini Relay for Life
Over the past decade, Scots has participated in the Border Relay for Life, contributing over $100,000 to the local community’s fundraising efforts for the Cancer Council. This year our year 10s are hosting a Scots Mini-Relay, for 1 hour rather than 24. We are encouraging all Scots students to run some laps and raise money for this important cause.

Wednesday 1 December @ 1.15pm on the Gillespie Oval
Bring sports uniform and a funny hat. Ask family and friends to sponsor you using the sponsorship form that has been emailed to all families. Bring $5 for a sausage and drink.

Speech Night • Wednesday 8 December 6.00pm @ Chapel Hall
We are very excited that we can again host our Speech Night in Chapel Hall. This event is compulsory for all Senior School students. Each award winner will be given the opportunity to invite up to two guests. Speech Night also will be livestreamed via this link: Speech Night 2021

Movies- a special treat for our students on the last day of school
We are taking our students to the movies on the last day of school as a fun way to finish the term. We are still in the process of finalising the film options but will communicate this to students as soon as we know. Details for this excursion will be on Parent Lounge next week for you to approve for your child. The cinema has advised us all attendees aged 16 and over must provide proof of double vaccination or a valid medical contraindication certificate to attend.

Junior School Public Speaking Competition

Over the last few weeks, students from Years 3 to 6 have been busy writing, editing and rehearsing their speeches for the much-loved Public Speaking Competition. A challenge from which most adults would run miles, this competition allows students to test their nerves in front of their peers and parents through humourous or persuasive monologues. The competition came to a head on Monday night, as our finalists gave it one last shot to convince our judges, Mrs Erin Baxter and Ms Kelly Mckay, that they should be crowned 2021 Junior School Champions.

All finalists should be very proud of their speeches. They included:

Year 3: Jasmine Fowler, Vinul Herath, Sam Mack, Lola Miller, Beatrice Staughton, Nina Steele.
Year 4: Millie Glover, Iris Johanson, Annabel Moar, Harriet Nickols, Arabella Smit, Thomas Toepfer.
Year 5: Lachlan Baitch, Shanaaya Chowdhry, Jenna Dickins, Will Gibson, Tom Jurevics, Tarun Steele.
Year 6: Alexander Fraser, Amy Hayes, Hector James, Patience Joss, Billy Paffen, Millie Wilkerson

We are pleased to announce and congratulate the winners:

Year 3 - Sam Mack
Year 4 - Annabel Moar
Year 5 - Tarun Steele
Year 6 - Amy Hayes

Junior School Student Leadership

We are very excited to have begun the process for selecting our Junior School Student Leaders for 2022. Student leadership and agency is an integral part of a Scots education and is well supported through our PYP philosophy, ensuring that all students feel valued and part of our learning community. Formal leadership roles offer an opportunity for students to influence and inspire others, show initiative, offer support and model appropriate learning behaviour. The learner profile attributes also provide the ideal vehicle to develop and extend student leadership and offer opportunities for all students to develop the skill sets related to effective leadership.

Recently, our Year 5 students gave their leadership speeches, via a live video feed, to the rest of the Junior School and responded to questions from a selection panel as part of the application process. In this first stage, they are applying for Tier 1 positions:

Tier 1 – Traditional Leadership Roles
School Captains (one boy and one girl)
Prefects (one boy and one girl)
House Captains for each House
Chapel Captains

These roles are offered to our Year 5 students as they transition to Year 6 and follow a rigorous selection process.

Our Tier 2 leadership roles offer opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and experience in particular areas of expertise or passion. These are offered at the beginning of the school year (2022) to support the breadth of co-curricular programs and activities across the school.

Tier 2 – Skill-based Leadership Roles

Dance Captain
Chess Captain
Sport Ambassadors etc.

We look forward to announcing the results of our selection process to the school community at our Junior School Final Assembly on Tuesday 7 December at 9.00am

Scots and the Murray Bushrangers were in the Border Mail today and will be on Prime7 News and WIN News tonight to announce their new partnership, which will support the Murray Bushrangers AFL Talent Pathway programs for season 2022.

Scots students, Charles Ledger (left) and Ali Jackson, who also are in the Murray Bushrangers squad, performed well in front of the cameras in their first taste of media attention over the partnership.

Scots is the new Albury/Wodonga Satellite Pre-Season training base for the Bushrangers' pre-season program.

Both Girls and Boys Pre-Season squads have began their 2022 campaign with more than 100 talented young footballers from the local region in Murray Bushrangers squads.

Murray Bushrangers Lead Coach Mark Brown is delighted to have access to a premier sports facility that Scots offers.

“The generous support from Scots will assist many facets of our program including reducing the travel load on regional and remote players from the surrounding Albury Wodonga region. Their facilities compliment the learning and development necessary to best prepare players to play at the highest level. Murray Bushrangers High Performance staff identified the need to access a quality strength and conditioning facility and, with Scots’s gym adjacent to the football oval, it’s the perfect fit,” Brown said.

Scots Principal Mark Geraets said he was delighted to welcome the Murray Bushrangers to Scots’ central Albury campus.
“We are excited to share our fantastic facilities with the Murray Bushrangers – a squad that clearly aligns with our own values of always striving for excellence,” Geraets said. “This relationship reinforces the importance that Scots places on sport in our School life and will provide our students with insight into how an elite sporting program is run.
“I expect there will be plenty of our students watching the training sessions with interest and a growing Bushrangers fan base from within our school community. We look forward to working with the Bushrangers to create further opportunities for our students to become involved in the program through a range of initiatives.”