Scotch College

The importance of family

‘I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.’

The above quote comes from one of my favourite television shows, M*A*S*H, and so clearly highlights the importance of family, not money, in being a major determining factor in what it truly means to be wealthy.

I do not think anyone would disagree with the important role of families and even more so, the critical role that mothers play in ensuring that the family unit remains strong under all sorts of external pressures – let alone the impact on families imposed by the current state of the world economy.

The Scotch Family brings to bear one of the great strengths of Scotch, and none more so than the Junior School Parents’ Association (JSPA), which is an active member of the Scotch Family Association. The JSPA provides so much for the parents and boys of our great Junior School.

The JSPA has enjoyed another wonderful year, providing activities for parents through both ‘friend raising’ and fund raising capacities. In nearly every case, it is the support of our mothers that ensures the ultimate success of the JSPA.

Led so capably in 2008 by Mrs Pam Kelton-Rook, her enthusiastic executive team and large band of year level representatives, the JSPA has presented a wide range of activities. Parents have been brought together under the social umbrella, while directly benefiting boys: any residual funds raised are donated back into the School, enabling unbudgeted, small projects to come to fruition.

During 2008, boys have benefited from funds of nearly $30,000, which have been used to: resurface the balcony area of the Year 1 and 2 classrooms with external carpet and a series of benches; provide additional reading materials; assist towards providing the ‘Spellodrome’ program; sponsor Family Science Nights; and present personal record folders to new boys starting throughout the year. These are only a few of the benefits boys have received from the generosity of the JSPA.

This support is sincerely appreciated, and is only possible through mothers giving of their time and effort to benefit others; not just their own families, but the Scotch Family – a great strength in our great School. GS