Joshua Ledger
Captain of School At the beginning of the 2021 academic year, the Year 12 cohort designed a theme: Seize the Opportunity, Excel as One. With the vast number of events that occurred in this semester alone, it is safe to say the school has followed this effortlessly. The academic year began with another brilliant March Out. These celebrations epitomise what our community stands for. We see our leaving Year 12s march with their Houses for the last time and have the privilege of witnessing how much they care about their school as they reflect on their time at Scotch. We then celebrated the return of the old boys for Founders’ Day as they watched Assembly and took part in the Pipe Band once more. In Summer Term, we welcomed the new Year 9 students to the Senior School. The nervous but eager group of boys had an unusual introduction into Senior School life, with COVID-19 sending WA into lockdown and forcing schooling online. The way both boys and staff approached this obstacle should not go unmentioned. We were all required to respond to the change quickly, and the positive and motivated attitudes possessed by all enabled a very smooth transition from in-classroom to online education.
Fortunately, the Year 12 Ball went ahead in the third week of term. The Italian Summer theme blew everyone’s mind, and I think I speak for all when I say the night will be remembered. Again, thanks to all the parents and staff involved in organising the night. An event as large as our Ball takes countless hours of hard work; thank you for everything. The 2020/21 Summer Sport season was one that I am sure brought a big smile to the face of our Head of Sport, Mr Foster. Scotch had huge success across all Sports, winning the Darlot Cup in Cricket, the Challenge Cup in Rowing and the Corr Cup in Tennis, with the boys celebrating an undefeated season. The First Basketball and Water Polo teams had great seasons, placing second in the Inter-School competition. Congratulations must also go to those involved in Sailing, who placed second in the State Schools Team Racing Regatta. The Scotch Swimming team completed another very successful season, placing second at the Inter-School Swimming Carnival to continue their fantastic rise in
recent years. A huge congratulations to all the boys for their involvement in the Summer Sport season; the level of competition and sportsmanship was really pleasing. Towards the end of Summer Term, respect for women and the behaviours displayed around and about women were under focus. The website Teach Us Consent was created by Chanel Contos and invited teenagers and adults to submit testimonies of sexual assault online. Respect and consent were discussed at Assemblies, in Chapel and in House Assemblies throughout the remainder of the term, focusing on identifying the types of behaviour that exist and emphasising that they are not acceptable. We have planned discussions for Mentor Periods in Autumn Term around this behaviour and language, which will take place following the Semester 1 examinations. The first half of the year has been a memorable one, and I know that we are looking forward to Semester 2.
Jack Kampf, Pierce Davis, Cody Price, Curtis Sciano and Wesley Huang at the Year 12 Ball, photograph: Rift Photography
Senior students preparing for Marching during Scotch’s NAIDOC Week, photograph: Pixel Poetry
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Captain of School Joshua Ledger speaking at the Year 12 Ball, photograph: Rift Photography
