Head of Middle School

MacKellar Hall was turned into a recording studio last week when Junkadelic returned for another brilliant hands on massed percussion session and followed this with a jazz work shop. Eighty boys from Year 7 and 8 using a range of hand-made recycled instruments produced and recorded an original funky jazz number. This will be up on the Scotch Facebook page soon.

This month we wrap up our charity fund raising for the year and present a cheque to PMH Foundation as a result of a range of group and individual efforts such as Max Avon-Smith's Dodgeball competition run at school last term to raise awareness and funds for PMH. This coming Wednesday 16 November is FREE DRESS Day for Year 6 - 12 students.

Next week we will also be installing our Christmas tree in the Middle School foyer and under it we hope to gather donations of food and gifts for the UnitingCare West Christmas Appeal. Donations of dry non-perishable goods can be delivered into each classroom which are then collated into hampers by our Community Service Club and Reverend Wright.

Our two major events in the next three weeks are our Book Awards Assembly on Friday, December 2 and Speech Night on Thursday, December 8. The Book Awards Assembly is when we recognise students for their endeavours in each subject area over the course of the year. The awards are not a Dux, or the highest result achieved by a student but more so students whose approach to the subject reflects the International Baccalaureate's Learner Profile and Learner Attitude. All boys in every class have an equal opportunity of being recognised with these awards. Typically a citation for these awards will read: for his enthusiastic approach to learning, thoughtful and reflective contribution, attention to detail and willingness to collaborate in … We will contact families of recipients in the week prior to the Awards Assembly.

Last week the Residential students in Year 8 completed another 100km section of the Bibulmun Track down to Dwellingup. Our Year 7 boys head out next week on their first leg of their 1003 km journey that will see them finishing in Albany in five years' time as Year 12s. I had the opportunity of joining a group of Year 10 boys for a section of the track two weeks ago and was reminded just how magnificent our bush is with the huge Karri trees and beautiful rapids of the Blackwood River as standouts. The beauty of the bush complemented by the absence of a phone or computer to distract me was revitalising.

Mr Richard Ledger
Head of Middle School