From the Deputy Head
Educational Support
Ancient Times
Year 6 Health and Development
Junior Primary
Sport
JSPA
Forthcoming events

17 August 2001 No. 23

From Head of the Junior School

Books, Books, Books!

This week it seems as if we have been transformed into a huge Library, as we have journeyed through our first Literature Festival. A complete program was presented for the boys, with the Assembly Hall and Resource Centre being lavishly decorated around the various elements of the literature being studied. Authors Janet and Andrew McLean, Kevin Burgemeestre, Margaret Clark, Andy Griffiths and Brian Caswell all spent time with various year levels, whilst Drama, Art and other visitors and activities added to the special nature of the week.

Every boy in the Junior School 'authored' his own book and each has been displayed in the Hall for parents and friends to view during the week. I was delighted to see that so many families were able to avail themselves of the opportunity to view the wonderful displays, and I am confident that several 'homemade' books displayed are worthy of publishing in their own right!

I extend congratulations to Mr Sampson, Ms Hindson Miss Raymond and all the teachers for their enthusiasm during the week, as it is ultimately the boys that reap the benefits of being constantly immersed in good literature.

The Foundation Day Concert is rapidly approaching and I remind parents of boys in Years Four to Six that this has been deemed a compulsory activity this year. This concert is set to be one of the highlights of our special year of celebrations and never before have so many boys of the College come together, under the one roof, to provide an evening of what will surely be most stunning entertainment.

Boys in Years Four to Six will not require tickets as they will be seated separately from parents throughout the whole Concert and each boy will be involved right to the end. I have attached to this Newsletter a flyer from the Development Office outlining arrangements for those families who are still to purchase tickets. Get in fast as seats are selling quickly.

Literature has been our focus this week. In our Monday Assembly, I reminded the boys that so often we take the things we have around for granted, especially books. I shared a story about a young African man who walked 12,000 miles to the American Embassy to seek enrolment at an American University. During his two-year trek, he carried very few supplies, but always had a copy of the Bible and Pilgrim's Progress, which were his most valued possessions. The young man continually focussed on a verse from the book of Proverbs;

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will show you the right way." (Proverbs 3:5)

I encouraged the boys to be thankful for all that we receive from our families, our friends and our school, and not to take for granted the many luxuries that we are so fortunate to share.

I leave you with the following as my thought for the week….

There are many accomplishments that you will achieve,
but without believing in yourself, failure is sure to follow.

Guy B Mason

From the Deputy Head

Congratulations to all of our boys for their efforts this week and for the way they have participated in the wide variety of activities conducted as a part of the Literature Festival. As a judge of the book display, I had a very difficult task indeed in selecting prize winners for the various categories. In fact, all boys should feel very satisfied with their efforts. It was also pleasing to see so many parents share the experience with their boys and take a stroll through the hall to see the variety of work produced by all year levels. I must also commend the staff on the time and effort they went to in presenting the boy's work!

As Week Five concludes, we farewell our Fourth Year student teachers until Term Four and, as Week Six commences, we welcome our Second and Third Year students from Deakin University: Ms Lovell in Year 6D; Mr Lancaster in 4M; Ms Wroblewski in 6D; and Mr Lyall in 2H.

We also welcome Rebekah Harvey to Scotch College. Rebekah will be in Year 1R for the next two weeks in an exchange with Ms Raymond, who will be teaching at the Kings School in New Zealand. Rebekah will bring a great deal of experience and diversity to our school and I would like to invite the parents of Year 1R to meet Rebekah on Monday morning at 8:00am, when I will introduce you to her in the classroom. We, as a school community, look forward to the benefits that such an exchange will bring to our two schools.

To further enhance our international links, we also welcome Rebecca Phillips to Scotch College next week. Rebecca is a student teacher from the United States of America and she will spend the next 10 weeks at Scotch College in a variety of classrooms, including Art and Phys Ed. Indeed, we welcome all our guests and look forward to the valuable contribution that they will make to Scotch College and our boys.

Week Five also commences with our Book Parade on Monday morning, followed by the Year Six Family Planning session on Tuesday evening. Campbell House will conduct our second Chapel Service for the term on Thursday and Year Six will further develop their understanding of our parliamentary system with a visit to the Electoral Commission on Thursday morning. Year Five will spend Friday on an excursion to the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Please have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Rodney McKinlay

From The Eduational Support Services

Mathematics Competitions:

Our Year Four and Year Six boys showed that they could achieve on the national academic playing-fields when they competed recently in the NSW Primary Schools Mathematics Competition.

Credits were awarded to:

2001 Maths Challenge for Young Australian Primary Division

Year Five and Year Six Accelerated Mathematics Group participated in this extremely challenging problem solving competition where they worked on the problems over a three week period.

As a judge at the MTQ, I was aware that many of our other entries were in the 'to be considered for awards' section - obviously they just missed out. It was a great effort by all the boys whose entries were submitted to the State finals.

I remind you that there will be a display of all winning entries at the University of Melbourne from 26th to 30th August, in the Conference Plaza Centre. I would strongly encourage you and your families to visit this most exciting and stimulating display of mathematical investigations. For more information regarding the MTQ, refer to http://www.mav.vic.edu.au.

The Day of Excellence - Ancient Times

The Day of Excellence was again a great success. At the end of this exciting day, the students who attended different activities were able to tell about their workshop during the closure 'sharing' session. We saw a display of Roman weapons and Pharaoh's masks and jewels, heard explanations of code breaking strategies and enjoyed watching the students dance with Orpheus in the Underworld. The parents thoroughly enjoyed the lively presentations which showed how much fun and learning had taken place.

Marcia Bacon -Director of Educational Support Services

Year Six Health and Human Development

A reminder to Year Six Parents about the Sexuality Education Information Night on Tuesday, 21 August at 7.30 pm in the Junior School Assembly Hall. The boys will be involved in a series of lessons based on Sexuality Education, commencing 3 September.

The evening, for Year Six parents only, will be an overview of the curriculum and the approach to its implementation.

Brian Sampson-Director of Studies

Junior Primary News

Congratulations to all Junior Primary boys on the quality of the books which they published for the Literature Week celebrations. Particular mention should be made of the inclusion by some boys of blurbs and dedications in their texts. A few boys went to the extent of copyrighting their material - so would be plagarists beware! I am looking forward to next Monday (20 August) when all boys will come to school dressed as their favourite book character. Boys can come to school in costume, but will need to change into their school uniform after the parade - don't forget to bring it, boys!

Just a reminder that school will finish at lunchtime on Friday, 31 August. As boys in Years Four to Six will be heavily involved in concert rehearsals on that morning, the Junior Primary staff have decided to hold a Prep to Three Soccer Day, similar in format to our annual and very successful Footy Day. More details of the morning will be available next week. However, in the meantime, any parents who may be interested in assisting us on the day (acting as referees, lines people, etc), can contact me via the Junior School Office during next week.

Chris Robertson - Director of Junior Primary

Sport

Congratulations to Henry Dick, Year 4M, who last weekend represented Victoria in the Australian Primary Schools Cross Country Championships in Adelaide.

Henry came 12^th in the 10 year age group and his team won a silver medal in the relay event. This is an outstanding achievement. Well done, Henry.

Peter Hawkins - Head of Junior School Sport.

JSPA

The JSPA Year Six Father and Son Bowling Night is happening on the 9 September. A flyer with more details will follow next week.

The annual JSPA Fathers' Day Breakfast is fast approaching. A flyer has gone home in your son's bag today. The breakfasts will be held Wednesday 29, Thursday 30 and Friday 31 August. Don't forget to put these dates in your diary.

To our Year Five Parents: don't forget the Morning Tea on Tuesday, 21 August from 8.30 am onwards. It is being held at the Bacio Dolce Cafˇ in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn (near the railway bridge!).

Forthcoming Events