Welcome to the academic year 2020.  It has been a testing beginning to the year for our students on our rowing camp at Nelson. Please see my further comments below.

Last year saw a remarkable centenary celebration. This year we launch into our second century with significant investment in the College’s infrastructure, programs and people.  We are catching the upswing of positivity about Scotch and aim to be an even better organisation in the coming period. 

I trust therefore that your children (and you!) are refreshed and rested, and ready for a new academic year.  This very special place has high intentions for your children and high expectations of itself.  We remain utterly grateful for the support we have from you as parents in achieving the many wonderful things that you will see and hear about through social media and school communications in the coming months and years.

Much has taken place over the holidays.  The key matter to note is the disruption to our way of life due to building construction on the Torrens Park Campus in particular.  Please do be patient on this matter and raise any questions with the Head of Campus, Dale Bennett.

Dale has also been good enough to take on our co-ordinated response to the Bushfire Crisis which has affected Australia over the past few weeks and is still a threat for us today.  We aim to be supportive of our own community and communities beyond Scotch.  As an educational institution, we must equally help our students make sense of this phenomenon.  

The College itself is largely unaffected apart from some damage to our property on Kangaroo Island.    However, it is important for us to support those who were more seriously impacted. Our hearts go out to them.  

Please note the matters listed below and the events that will take place in this opening term of 2020.  Thank you once more for your support and we look forward to a wonderful 2020.

Dr John H Newton
Principal

Nelson Bus Accident Update

All students and staff have been out of hospital for some days now, but there is a small number undergoing medical checks and treatment. Injuries are not deemed to be critical, but we will provide appropriate support for these staff and students on a case by case basis.

Now we begin the important work of supporting the ongoing mental health needs of students, staff, ‘first responders’ and helpers. We have met with staff, parents and students directly involved to discuss the way forward. There is very much a desire to get back to normal business, but we remain very alert to the needs of individuals which may arise.

The Scotch community have been incredibly supportive through this process and we request that your support remains strong as we reintegrate students back into school life.

Coronavirus Update

We have been closely monitoring the situation regarding the spread of Novel coronavirus. To date, the advice given by SA Health and the SA Department for Education has not changed from yesterday’s communication from Jackie Newbegin, College Nurse. I remind you of the actions that we have taken as a College to minimise the potential for spread of infection.

We have requested that students are kept home if they have travelled to China over the break and are experiencing symptoms of the virus. Further, I wish to clarify that we also request students stay home if they have been in contact with someone who as travelled to China and is experiencing symptoms, even if they are asymptomatic themselves. In both of these circumstances, we require a medical clearance prior to the student returning to the College. 

We would ask that you notify the College if you have travelled to China over the summer break, to help inform management of any presentation of your child to the nurse over the coming 14 days. The ELC, Junior, Middle and Senior school offices can be points of notification.

We have commenced the assessment of boarders as they return to the Boarding House and have identified isolation and referral processes should they be required, as outlined in yesterday’s communication. We will also be reminding students about good general hygiene practices to prevent the transmission of illness as they return to school and ensuring hand sanitiser is available for staff and student use.

Some families who have travelled to China over the break have elected to keep their children home from school as a precautionary measure. This absence will be supported by the College but I do ask that you notify the relevant school office so the absence can be recorded.

The recommendations regarding how schools manage the potential threat of coronavirus are being reviewed continually, and I will continue to update the community should different steps need to be taken. The most recent advice for parents and schools from the Department of Education website, can be viewed here. 

Mobile Phone Usage on Torrens Park

I will write again to parents next week on a number of matters including our new mobile phone usage restrictions on Torrens Park. In summary, no Non-Mandated Personal Device (i.e. mobile phones and wearable technologies) usage will be permitted on the Torrens Park Campus (TPC) during lessons, recess, lunch, and Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) time.

We have informed students on this matter today at our first assembly of the year. My letter next week provides more details.

Welcome Back Morning Tea

There will be a Parents Welcome morning coffee hosted by the Parents and Friends on 30 January from 8.30am for both campuses. Torrens Park parents are invited to meet in the Webb Science Quad while Mitcham Campus parents are invited at 8.30am to meet on the Kallawar lawns.

Michael Carr-Greg Parent Seminar

We are pleased to welcome one of Australia's highest profile psychologists to Scotch for his seminar, The Five Greatest Challenges for Parents, on Thursday 13 February 2020.

His presentation covers what every parent needs to know about milennial parenting, covering alcohol, online safety, sleep and other key issues. Please note this is a PARENT ONLY seminar.

More details and booking information can be found online.

Torrens Park Campus House Welcome

Please join us to celebrate the beginning of the school year. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents and enjoy a short information session with your child’s Head of House and Mentor Team for 2020.

After your information sessions, there will be the opportunity to join with other parents in the Webb Science Centre precinct to enjoy music, mingle with friends and kick start the year.

Please RSVP your attendance online here.

East Lane (Middle School) Car Park Access

Over the break, one of our development projects has commenced, affecting the East Lane entrance to the Torrens Park Campus which will see upgrades to the entrance, walkway and car park (the entrance closest to the Middle School).

As a result, access will be affected for those visiting the Scotch Shop during the holidays, and for drop-off/pickup during Term 1. Please use the entrances on either Carruth Rd or Blythewood Rd for drop off and pick up.

There will be very limited, staff supervised pedestrian access at this entrance intended for students travelling to and from the Mitcham Campus. At drop off and pick up times, students should enter via the Blythewood Rd or Carruth Rd entrances to Torrens Park Campus. It's a few extra steps to be sure, but the improvements will be well worth it!

Cashless Canteen

In Term 1 2020, the Scotch College Canteen is transitioning to cashless payments for all canteen purchases. During Term 1, cashless payments will be available and preferred, and from the beginning of Term 2 2020, the Canteen will no longer accept cash payments. Families may choose to use Munch Monitor (compulsory for Mitcham Campus lunch orders) or use EFT and contactless (e.g. saving/credit cards or Apple Pay) facilities for purchases.

Mitcham Campus (Prep – Year 6)

Lunch orders are available for Mitcham Campus students only. Parents on the Mitcham Campus (Prep – Year 6) may order lunches for their children quickly and easily via Munch Monitor. Munch Monitor is a simple, easy to use service that allows you to order your child's lunch well in advance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while also helping to eliminate lost or forgotten lunch money. Please note: Orders need to be received by 7am each morning. If you miss the daily 7am deadline, simply call the Scotch College Canteen (8274 4284) by 9am to place an order, being sure to supply your child's name, teacher's name and the year of their class.

Torrens Park Campus (Year 7 – 12)

Students on the Torrens Park Campus may purchase items from the canteen using Munch Monitor’s prepaid card system or EFT (e.g. saving/credit cards) and contactless (e.g. Apple Pay) facilities. When using Munch Monitor, parents can top up the student balance online and opt to allow the student to have access to “snack money” with optional daily or weekly spending limits and/or restricted food item categories. Please note: To begin using cashless payments and Munch Monitor, students will need to link their student card to their family account by visiting the canteen – this cannot be done automatically.

More details and Munch Monitor setup guides: Canteen

Scotch OCFC Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

The Scotch community is invited to join the Scotch Old Collegians Football Club by running to support and raise funds for those who have been affected by the recent Bushfires that have ravaged our beautiful countryside (via the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund).

Beginning at the Scotch pavilion, there will be 6km and 12km courses beginning from 10:30am. A BBQ in the pavilion will be supplied to all runners upon their return. Spectator and supporters will be able to buy their BBQ lunch, with all proceeds to be donated to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. The Bar will be open from 12pm.

For more details and to get involved, visit the Scotch OCFC event on Facebook.

Cricket Quad Tour Success

From 13 -17 January, Scotch hosted the Trans Tasman Quadrangular Cricket Tournament.

The three touring schools that we competed against over the week were Scots College from Wellington New Zealand, St Andrews College from Christchurch New Zealand and The Geelong College from Geelong Victoria.   The schools competed for the Oughton / Phillips Shield.

The Scotch team played some magnificent and inspired cricket during the week and managed to win the Shield for the first time in ten years against some quality opposition from the three travelling schools.

Congratulations to Cormack O’Reilly who won the Player of the Tournament Award with 199 runs and 9 wickets.  Other solid performers for the week with the bat were Captain Ned Walter with 180 runs and opening batsmen Hamish Lord with 112 runs.

With the ball, it was a very even contribution from all of the bowlers with Campbell Thompson (13 wickets), Will Jackson and Harry Chaplin leading the way. 

Congratulations to all the players and our Head of Cricket and First XI coach Madu and coach J C. Special thanks to Madu and Parent Support Group for all the hard work in making the week such a successful one for all of the teams and the travelling parents from the other schools. Special thanks also to the Scotch ground staff for presenting the Schools facilities so fantastically.

Muditha Maduwantha (Madu)

Head of Cricket

ICT Responsible User Agreement

At the beginning of each year, students on the Torrens Park Campus will be guided through a series of activities that reinforce the responsibilities that we all have for making smart choices when using technology. New students are given a detailed outline during their ICT orientation on laptop rollout day at the beginning of the term. Mentors, teachers, Heads of House, and visiting experts, support an ongoing commitment to these smart choices with regular conversations, training sessions and reminders about expectations.

Many of the resources that support this programme are available from the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner. There are some very useful tips for parents here as well.

The Responsible User Agreement that all students (in partnership with their parents) sign at the beginning of the term, clearly summarises expectations around security, privacy, harassment, copyright, plagiarism, data backup and safety. Your support in guiding smart technology choices is much appreciated and vital.

Mike Roberts
Digital Technologies Leader

New Staff

A number of new staff will be joining us for 2020 or commenced late in 2019 - please welcome them!

2020 Immunisation Schedule (Middle School)

Year 8: HPV Dose 1 & Boostrix - Tues 18 Feb
Year 8: HPV Dose 2 - Tues 18 August

Year 10: Meningococcal B & ACWY - Tues 7 April
Year 10: Meningococcal B - Wed 10 June

Important Dates for Term 1