Message From The Principal - 2nd June 2021 - Scotch College

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Message From The Principal - 2nd June 2021

2nd June 2021

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you might be expecting following today’s direction from the Victorian Government, I write bearing good news for Year 11 and Year 12 boys and news of prolonged lockdown for other boys and our community.

Further to my communication of 27th May, I inform that:

In the Junior School, until Friday 11th June (or otherwise directed) all learning will continue to be conducted in remote format. I remind, that, as noted in my letter of 27th May, Friday 4th June is no longer a Pupil Free Day and will be a day of continued remote learning.

In the Senior School, until Friday 11th June (or otherwise directed) boys in Years 11 and 12 will be on campus and teaching will be face to face in classrooms following the normal timetable. Boys in Years 7 to 10 will continue learning in remote format. I remind, that, as noted in my letter of 27th May, Friday 4th June remains a Pupil Free Day for Years 7 to 12; i.e., there will be no classes for Senior School boys, remote or face to face, on this day.

I would further note: 

  • In the remote environment, lessons for boys in Prep to Year 10 will follow the normal timetable and be delivered through either the Conference or Zoom facility within the School’s Learning Management System (Canvas).
  • The boarding houses will remain open for those boys currently in residence. Boarders in Years 11 and 12 are strongly encouraged to remain on the Hill or return to it if currently at home. Should such return prove impracticable, provision will be made for remote learning. Further relevant information will be communicated to boarding families.
  • Onsite operations will be restricted to those which are essential and the School campus will remain closed to all but essential School staff and those boys noted above.
  • Until Friday, 11th June (or otherwise directed), the School will remain open for daytime (8.30am – 5pm) supervision of boys in Prep to Year 10 whose families feel are made vulnerable as a consequence of these restrictions, and boys whose families are permitted such access by the state government’s guidelines for authorised workers. Such boys will study online under teacher supervision while observing those protocols that are currently in place, including social distancing, the wearing of masks at all times and hygiene routines. Notice of such need, should be provided, at the soonest opportunity, to your son’s Head of School (Ms Stalker - Middle School boys; Mr Rayner - Upper School boys). For such communication regarding Junior School boys, please e-mail the Junior School office.
  • Staff will be contactable via e-mail. 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). The School Psychologists will be accessible to all boys.
  • For those in remote learning, the rhythms, routines and expectations continue, including the need to make time for breaks and undertaking regular physical activity.
  • Resources for parents and boys, in particular for those involved in continued lockdown, are accessible through Scotch Streams (accessible through Canvas) and Keeping Scotch Connected (accessible through the homepage of the School’s website). 

Of immediate significance, I note that: 

  • There will be no sporting activities this Saturday, Sunday, or, indeed throughout this period of lockdown.
  • With the exception of the Winter Concert, scheduled for Friday, 11th June (on which a decision will be made closer to the time), all community events scheduled for next week are postponed until further notice.

And for boys in Years 11 and 12 that: 

  • For boys undertaking a Units 3/4 Study, the General Achievement Test (GAT) has been postponed from Wednesday 9th June to a date yet to be announced. Normal classes will be held for Year 12 boys on this day.
  • As a consequence of the postponement of the GAT, Year 11 Semester Examinations will commence on Wednesday 9th June and Tuesday, 8th June will be a normal teaching day. 

As I am sure is the case with all families, I very much hope this positive trend is continued and that we are all soon back engaging with each other in the classrooms and around the grounds of our school.

Thank you.

Tom Batty

Principal

 

Click here for previous letters from the Principal