Scotch College

Junior School runs hot

Peer Support

Once again the Year 5 boys have been matched with the two Prep classes and one Year 1 class. During the first visit, the older boys read picture storybooks to their buddies and in the second visit all boys played with the variety of equipment in the Prep classrooms. At times it was hard to see if the Year 5s were having more enjoyment out of the play dough or their buddies! We look forward to a close working relationship with our buddies for the remainder of the year.

Old Boys help out with Junior School History

A part of the 150th Birthday celebrations for Year 5 have been a variety of guest speakers visiting the Junior School. Mr Brian Bayston recalled his times spent here and could quickly recall his school number in both the Junior and Senior Schools. The boys found his name on the Dux Honour roll (1942) in the Assembly Hall and it was good to be able to match a face to the name. He recalled his first day of school, all the teachers who had taught him and told us about an old cannon that used to be part of the play equipment in the schoolyard.

Mr Geoff Bowden also talked to the boys and told us what it was like to start in the boarding school when you are only nine years old. For one whole year Geoff only attended for six weeks due to catching a variety of illnesses that the children of today are immunized against. He also recalled many stories about what it was like at Scotch during WWII.

The boys asked many questions about the zigzag bomb shelters that were dug in the hill where The Shergold building now stands, about the coupon stamps, what the food was like and also what he could recall about the Principals.

Mr Dick Briggs also talked to the boys about the significance of the school shield, motto and history. In particular we focussed on the history of the Junior School Principals. This was then followed by a tour of the archives at 2 Morrison Street. That proved to be a very worthwhile tour.

Class of 2013

It is extremely pleasing to be able to report that the Class of 2013 has made a great start to the year 2001. On the last day of January, forty-eight very excited Prep boys became the newest members of the Scotch school community. Already they have settled into the routines and structures of a busy school life, stamping their growing independence and individuality on everything they do and impressing everyone with their energy and enthusiasm.

In addition to learning from the academic curriculum, the boys are having to meet new social and emotional challenges - something which is not easy when you are four or five years old and have limited life experiences. There is no doubt that under the expert and caring guidance and support of their Prep teachers, Mrs Dawe, Mrs Kimber, Mrs Richardson, and other Junior School teachers, the boys will continue to flourish in all aspects of their development and we look forward to watching them build upon a promising beginning, as they move up the School.

School leaders

Congratulations are extended to our school leaders of the Junior School for 2001. These boys received their badges at our final Assembly last year. We wish them every success in their important leadership roles.

School Captain: Christopher Hey, Vice Captains: William Kyrou, Andrew Rawlin, Timothy Udorovic.

Campbell Captain: Alastair Price, Vice Captains: Mark Gronow, Jimmy Jewitt. Healey Captain: Richard Wilkinson,

Vice Captains: Peter Earle, Ashley Lim. Waller Captain: Daniel Parisi, Vice Captains: Thomas Maddison, Andrew Yuen. Bradshaw Captain: Mark Rattray, Vice Captains: Alistair Meallin, James Worth.

Sport Captain: Andrew Earle, Music Captain: Thomas Gin.

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 that 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 that 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.

Susan Ferres,
Head of Art and Craft

Year Ones and early Australia

Year 1 has been talking about Australia and its beginnings, and we were grateful to have the assistance of Wayne Thorpe from the Watbalimba Arts troupe. He shared stories and songs with the boys who learnt a Koori-English song and dance.

The rhythm sticks, didjeridoo, wallaby skin and gum leaf were explored as musical instruments. All the boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience and added to their knowledge of the first Australians.

Our journey through the history of Australia continued with the coming of white men. Polly Woodside was the ideal location to discover about sailing ships and how early settlers fared on their journey to Australia.

The boys loved exploring the ship and with the help of expert guides clambered into bunks to listen to tales of storms and rancid food. Later they role-played a sailor's life in the Polly Woodside museum and took a trip in a Yarra River water taxi.

All the boys agreed; learning about Australia and its past is great fun.

Mrs Julia Nash and Miss Larissa Raymond