Scotch College

Being your best rather than the best

‘Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.’ Judy Garland

Photography: Jocelyn Pride

The constant theme of the Junior School is encouraging boys to be their best in all that they do. The focus on being your best, rather than being the best will continue to underpin the challenges that are presented to boys each day, and the above quote from Judy Garland has been adopted as our theme for the year.

At the start of another school year, we were delighted that the Acting Principal, Mr Ian Savage, was able to attend our first assembly and present badges of office to the 2008 school leaders. At this assembly, Mr Savage spoke to the leaders, outlining their responsibilities, but also reflected on the significance of those being led, and the important role they also have to play.

The following boys were presented with the challenge of leading the Junior School in 2008:

School Captain:	Howard Webb
School Vice Captain:	James Scott
Sports Captain:	Angus Wylie
Music Captain:	Chris Massarany
LOTE Captain:	Jason Chan
Bradshaw Captain:	Joshua Halsall
Vice Captains:	Luke Daggian
	Ben Douglas
Campbell Captain:	Joshua Stops
Vice Captains:	Hamish Molnar
	Seb Murphy
Healey Captain:	Matthew Marvin
Vice Captains:	Nicholas Waddell
	Andrew Theodosi
Waller Captain:	William Penhalluriack
Vice Captains:	James Clements
	Thomas Kletzmayr
Choir Leader:	Nicholas Thomson
String Orchestra Leader:	Jeremy Teh
Concert Band Leader:	Alex Goulsbra

As a part of our ongoing leadership development, all boys in Year 6 have undertaken the peer support training program, have been presented with their leadership badges and have commenced leading small groups of students in each cycle of the timetable.

Among the plethora of activities presented across each specialist area of the School, the presentation of the annual drama production came and went, with the hours of rehearsals and preparations now just a distant memory.

Sherlock Holmes was produced in the Geoffrey McComas Theatre to large audiences over two nights, and some 80 boys and staff worked together, doing their best to present what will be remembered as another huge hit.

Congratulations are extended to Mr Frank Donnoli and a very talented group of staff who worked tirelessly over many months during 2007 and 2008 to provide this wonderful opportunity for boys. The boys too are to be commended. Their efforts continue to impress, and the standard of performance seems to get better each year, which can only strengthen the future of drama at Scotch.

Easter worship services provided an inspirational conclusion to the term, and were the perfect opportunity to remind boys of the true meaning of Easter by reflecting on the death and resurrection of our Lord.

With three equally busy terms ahead and Mr Batty’s anticipated arrival in term three, the Junior School looks forward to another wonderful year, at the end of which, we hope, each boy will be able to say that he has been ‘a first rate version of himself’. GS

Author Wendy Orr at Scotch

Wendy visited us to launch the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge. She explained to boys about the challenges faced in transforming her book Nim’s Island into a feature film, starring Jodie Foster.

Tiddalik the Frog

Boys in Prep to Year 3 enjoyed a performance of this indigenous tale by the Longyard Sideshow Company.