Scotch College

A global eye to the future

Scotch prepares for a new era where it seems the world is a much smaller space.

When writing this column on a previous occasion I drew attention to our determination to increase the international outlook of the School. As a leading school in Australia we have to ensure that our students have a view of the interconnected world that is their future. There is no doubt that such a development has taken place.

At the start of first term we heard from those who had been involved in the basketball tour to the USA and from our debaters following their debates against a number of schools in England. These included a debate against Eton College where they were hosted by our new Principal, Mr Tom Batty.

Recently, we have had an update of the Kapumfi project by visitors from Zambia who read letters from the headmaster and students of the school that has been rebuilt as a result of the generosity of the Scotch community. Under the leadership of Mr Mark Williams and the auspices of the Global Village arm of Habitat for Humanity, a number of students are now preparing for their involvement in a community project in Cambodia. We have also been visited by representatives from the Bavarian Youth Exchange group who have been helping to arrange exchanges of our language students over a number of years.

Our music school hosted a very talented group of students from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. To see these students interact with their host families following the concert on their last night in Melbourne gave ample evidence of the value of such opportunities. There is another tour planned to Nepal, and our soccer team recently enjoyed a tour of New Zealand.

Although it is taking place within Australia, our own indigenous program under the leadership of Dr Robert Smith could also be placed in the ‘interconnected world’ category, taking account of the cultural divide involved in the program. Three indigenous students have now completed their VCE at Scotch, which is a remarkable achievement for the young people and the teachers involved.

In addition, the shorter-term placement of students from the Tiwi Islands continues to receive great support from the Tiwi community for the benefits it brings to those who are seen as future community leaders. On the recent football tour to Darwin and the Tiwi Islands there was a presentation of some equipment for the new Tiwi College, as well as the usual football match and associated activities. All of these various opportunities are only possible with the support of our parents and staff.

The School Council, in recognition that our staff are our most important resource, have supported the establishment of a new position in the Senior School. Rev. Grant Watson has been appointed as Chief of Staff, and a focus of his work in term one was the induction and support of new teachers to the School. We continue to be fortunate in attracting outstanding teachers to the School who are willing to be committed to our comprehensive program.

The School Council also supports an extensive professional development program, which seeks to ensure that the School stays abreast of best practice and world developments in education. Mr Gary Peckham from our mathematics department has recently returned from four weeks’ teaching at the Raffles Institute, Singapore. Mr Robert McLaren, Head of Middle School, recently attended the ASCD Conference in New Orleans. This is the largest educational conference of its kind (curriculum development) held anywhere in the world.

Our association with the International Boys’ Schools Coalition continues, with Nick Konstantatos, a teacher of English, joining an international research team. Under the auspices of the IBSC, Robert Cavalin organised a local conference at Scotch at the end of last year which involved the entire teaching staffs of Scotch and Melbourne High School, as well as representatives from other boys’ schools in Melbourne.

Of all global issues, that of sustainability has emerged as most crucial to our students’ futures. Projects in the Junior and Senior School are bringing various strands of this issue to our students’ attention. As covered in more detail in the Environs newsletter, the work of our grounds and maintenance staff under the leadership of Michael Smith and Greg McMahon has served to sharpen our focus on the issue of water management.

We are indebted to the work of our grounds and maintenance staff who are responsible for the fine presentation of the School, its grounds and its facilities. Over the summer vacation a very significant works program was achieved under the guidance of Property Manager, Bill Sciarretta. Included in this work was the attention given to our physical environment, to assist with the return of Matt Pierri to school after his terrible accident of last year.

Academic outcomes will always be of central importance to the School, and the students, families and the teachers of the Class of ’07 deserve our congratulations for their excellent VCE results. That our students achieve the outcomes necessary to give them the choices they wish for their ‘next step’ is our goal. Details of the VCE results appear elsewhere in this publication.

Any reflection on 2007 will be deeply affected by the death of Nathan Francis while participating in the annual cadet bivouac. A year on from their tragic loss, our thoughts and prayers remain with the Francis family. This term the Nathan Francis Memorial Scholarship, established by the School Council to perpetuate the memory of Nathan and his love for his family and School, was awarded for the first time. In reflecting the wishes of Nathan’s parents, Brian and Jessica Francis, the scholarship is presented to a student who otherwise would not be able to attend the School.

As we look forward to welcoming our new Principal, Tom Batty, and his wife Lee at the beginning of term three, we might reflect that from world outlooks to our immediate Scotch community, in this period of change, continuity is provided by the values and principles that lay the foundation of a Scotch education. GS