Message From The Principal - 16th August 2021 - Scotch College

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Message From The Principal - 16th August 2021

16th August, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

With more disappointment than surprise, this afternoon’s announcement by the Victorian Government means that until, and including, Thursday, 2nd September, (or until otherwise directed), all teaching and learning will continue in remote format.

The School’s operations, restrictions and advice remain as detailed in my most recent communication of 11th August.

The Boarding Houses remain open and will do so over what was to be a boarding exeat this weekend. Boarding parents should contact the Dean of Boarding regarding any queries they might have.

The School is sensitive to the challenges the remote world places on learning and social engagement, knowing, that, whilst cause is common, manifestations can be particular. To better inform of individual experience, the School will, as last year, be asking boys, parents and guardians, and staff to complete surveys. Boys will receive surveys at the end of this week and the information gleaned will help inform surveys to parents and guardians, and members of staff at the end of the following week.

We certainly learnt last year the importance of keeping our community connected and informed of all the resources available. To such end, I again draw your attention to all material created by, and for, the boys on their own site Scotch Streams and the resources accessible to you via the website in Keeping Scotch Connected and the Directory of Resources for Remote Learning.

As last year, our School Psychologists will be running webinars for parents and guardians themed Wellbeing during Remote Learning. Parents and guardians will receive further details in the coming days and the presentations will also be uploaded to Keeping Scotch Connected.

Most importantly, I again encourage contact with those most directly responsible for your son’s care and learning. All staff are contactable via e-mail and routine academic matters should be raised with your son’s teachers, whilst more sensitive pastoral or academic care issues should be addressed with his Form Teacher (Middle School boys), Head of House (Upper School boys), or Deputy Head of Junior School (Junior School boys). As always, the School Psychologists are accessible to all boys and should be contacted should you have any concerns.

On Friday, I spoke to all Scotch staff reminding of the need for focus on quality over quantity and assessment. I reminded that matters take longer in the remote environment and that, as a rule of thumb, outside VCE study, content should be reduced by 25% and, whenever possible, homework should not involve further screen time. Maintaining challenge and rigour remains.

It is a particularly disruptive time for our VCE students as they prepare for SACs and the GAT. Supported by teachers and Director of Research Teaching and Learning, Dr Coutis, the VCE team of Heads of House, Mr Rayner, Mr Evans and Dr Smith is across the changing requirements and dates and will keep boys and families informed of alterations and need for action.

A number of boys and staff expressed how much they appreciated the provision of time last Friday afternoon and for the coming two Fridays, 20th and 27th August, there will be no classes after lunch in the Junior and Senior Schools other than those involving a Unit 3/4 study.

I remind that Monday, 23rd August, is a designated student free day in both Junior and Senior Schools. All Scotch staff will be involved in a long planned professional development activity.

As a consequence of ongoing restrictions a number of events sadly need to be postponed, modified or cancelled.

  • The Scotch Choral Concert scheduled for Tuesday, 24th August, is cancelled.
  • The Music Camp scheduled to depart Sunday, 29th August, is postponed until Friday, 1st October.
  • Years 9, 10 and 11 Activity and Immersion Camps scheduled for the final week of Term 3 are cancelled.
  • We are still planning to hold Family Day on Saturday, 11th September. If it proves possible to proceed, it will be in reduced format that hopefully still involves Parent Association groups.
  • The Foundation Day Concert will not take place on the advertised date of Wednesday, 8th September. We now intend to hit the stage of Hamer Hall on the evening of Tuesday, 12th October.

The sincerity with which I thank you for your good grace and patience is not diminished by the frequency with which I so do.

Yours sincerely,

I Tom Batty

Principal

 

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