Scotch College

Now is the winter of our content

Ken Wheat

Now is the winter of our content

On our return from the Term 1 vacation and Easter holidays, the cooler weather made the change to winter uniform seem all the more reasonable. The forces of nature were definitely synchronised with Scotch's delineation of the summer and winter uniforms and sports seasons.

While the glow of the Head of the River victory continued to warm our hearts, as did the House Choral victory by Littlejohn, we were quickly thinking of the transition to cooler activities such as Australian football, soccer and rugby. inter tennis, cross country and hockey also withstood brisk autumn and winter Saturday mornings outdoors, while basketball, debating and gymnastics enjoyed the warmth of indoor contests.

Without much ado, all of the Year 12's and most of the Year 11's were back into VCE School Assessed Coursework production and anticipation of the midyear VCE examinations and the General Achievement Test in June. The Senior Play, The Crucible, n conjunction with Ruyton, was yet another high quality School production, demonstrating the enormous talents of the senior boys and their thespian teachers. Year 11 and Year 10 parent/teacher interviews ensured that parents learned just what had been taught, how the boys had progressed, and what needed to be done to prepare for School examinations, also held in June.

The two extravaganza events of Term 2 are the May Concert and the Cordner-Eggleston Cup. Both events were huge successes! The May Concert, the last ever to be held at the Robert Blackwood Centre at Monash University, showcased an expression of musical talent at the same extremely high level to which Scotch College has become accustomed.

In mid-may, the travelling troubadours from Texas A&M University visited Scotch, and added to the musical theme by entertaining the assembled multitudes with inspired singing, the like of which is seldom heard in the Memorial Hall.

The other big event, the football match between Scotch and traditional foe MGS, as always drew a substantial crowd of students, past students, parents and friends, n a brilliantly sunny Friday afternoon. In spite of a narrow loss to the hosts, the 2004 Cordner-Eggleston Cup must be regarded as a classic battle between teams whose pride is justified by the quality of their performances - no matter the victor.

The Year 10's are out actively seeking jobs - work experience, that is. Each Year 10 has sought and found a placement with an employer, large or small, aiming to gain experience as well as an understanding and appreciation of the workplace. They will take up their placements in the first week of Term 3.

Year 11's continue to be peer leaders, assisting the Year 7s in their adjustments to Senior School life, and now they are also co-ordinating games for Year 7 and 8 boys at lunchtimes, vital in winter's adverse weather. Some are even acting as ambassadors, guiding prospective students' parents around the grounds when they visit the school, thus personifying the transition from enrolment to senior student.

Ken Wheat
Head of Upper School