The Thistle - An E-Newsletter of Scotch College, Perth, Western Australia

From the Head of Middle School

It's always great to welcome our boys back after the holidays and feel the energy and life they breathe back into our building.  That energy was on display throughout the last day of Winter Term as we celebrated our annual Middle School Highland Games.  The weather was thankfully not direct from the Highlands and the boys enjoyed a beautiful afternoon outdoors as they competed in their Houses in various events.  The Games opened with a rousing performance by the Middle School Pipe Band, featuring Mr Richard Ledger as a special guest performer.  We then moved into the main event which featured many crowd favourites such as the Kilty Dash and the fiercely competitive Tug-of-War. However, it was the Hay Bale Challenge that best showcased the impressive teamwork, engagement and sportsmanship of our boys. Mr Brinsden and Mr Mitchell outdid themselves with this year's event and our sincere thanks goes to them for the time and effort they put into this unique Middle School event.  It was an outstanding opportunity for us to come together and celebrate our community on the last day of the term.

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Last Friday presented another opportunity to celebrate our Scotch community, as all of our boys and teachers attended March Out.  This event marked the end of the Year 12s' time at the College and provided an opportunity for our Middle School teachers to recognise the Year 6 or 7 boys we started with, now leaving the College as men.  It also provides an opportunity for reflection for our boys; to recognise they will be in the Year 12s' place in a few short years' time and to reflect on the limited time left to make the most of all of the opportunities on offer at Scotch College.

This term will be a busy one for the Outdoor Education team in Middle School.  The Year 7 classes began their Sailing Programme on the Swan River this week, but they won't be alone in their open water experiences as the Year 6 boys are excitedly planning for their Surf Camp in Lancelin and the Year 8 boys are looking forward to developing their snorkelling skills off the beaches of Perth. Our Outdoor Education programmes are a core element of the Middle School experience and as well as developing an enjoyment and appreciation of the outdoors, our boys are learning activity specific skills and knowledge of open water safety.

Mrs Sophie Berry
Acting Head of Middle School