Scotch College

Big day arrives for preps

It is a long time to have to wait from your school interview in July/August and Orientation Day in November, until you finally get to start school at the end of the following January.

Once you have packed your bag, polished your shoes and tried on your new uniform for the hundredth time, there is not much else you can do.

Often the build up of anticipation can lead to disappointment and tears when the event actually occurs. But this is not the case with this year's Prep boys. Right from the start of day one, the boys were happy and confident in their new surroundings. The smiles on the faces of Angus, Apollo and William, pictured here teaching Mrs Robertson the finer points of sewing, show how delighted they are that school has finally started.

Mrs Kimber, Mrs Dawe and Mrs Richardson are very pleased to report that all Prep boys have settled quickly and are enjoying their life as Scotch boys. Although starving by 9.00am, the boys are working hard, making friends and coping with all the new challenges that the Prep year brings. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment of the boys to everything are a source of amazement to the staff, who are lucky enough to work with them at the start of their life at Scotch. We wish all our new boys the very best!

Soccer German Style in a Content - based unit

A couple of years ago the AISV (Association of Independent Schools of Victoria ) developed a course for Secondary and Primary LOTE teachers. It was led by two Monash University lecturers and was carried out over two years part time.

The course was specifically designed for teachers interested in developing their own bilingual/immersion programmes or for those wanting to introduce content - based units into their LOTE programmes.

The group of fifteen contained an interesting mixture of languages, including German, French, Japanese, Indonesian and Greek. I successfully completed the course last year and was able to 'arm' myself with all the information and skills needed to develop my own content - based units.

Grade 6 boys began learning about 'Bundesliga' soccer a few years ago and were able to follow the progress of their team throughout the season. Last year I decided it would be ideal to use the course to design a content - based unit to link in with the already established soccer unit.

During Term Four, 1999, Year 5 boys again followed their 'own' team using the internet, Kicker German soccer magazines, videos and books. Term One this year saw the same boys learning the skills and rules of the game, taught to them in German.

Each class was divided in half, one group doing skills outside, one researching team information in the resource centre. Heading, shooting, dribbling and game situations such as free kicks, throw ins etc. were all experienced by the boys and a 'round robin' type tournament took place at the end of Term One.

This has been a fun experience for our boys, deepening their knowledge of the game, broadening their vocabulary and hopefully increasing their enjoyment of the game.

Mr Ian Clarke

Painting in the Hot Weather

Painting is an ideal Art activity for the very hot days in February, at the beginning of Term 1. All Junior School boys have been actively involved in a painting programme.

Prep Boys have made a new colour - orange from red and yellow. They painted big Teddy Bears in the colour they had made. Year 1 boys have been painting the sea and the beach using the picture story book, Magic Beach by Alison Lester, as a starting point.

Year 3 boys have used lots of exciting colours and textures while painting cars, as part of their classroom topic of Transport.

Year 6 boys have been painting on small canvas boards, which were cut to 9 inches by 5 inches, to be the same size as the famous 9 x 5 Exhibition of the Heidelberg School in Melbourne in 1889. These artists painted on cigar box lids which were 9 x 5 inches. Our boys painted landscapes and seascapes using palette knives and brushes. We are planning to mount the paintings and display them in the Junior School foyer later in the term.

Ms Susan Ferres, Head of Art and Craft