and activities , music rehearsals , debating and drama rehearsals . These play an important role in each boy ’ s intellectual , emotional , social , moral , creative , and physical growth , and supplement what is being learned in the classroom .
Although teachers are involved in running these activities , which allows for interactions different to those forged in the class to occur , many Young Old Boys return to coach sport , assist our debaters , work with individuals or small groups of boys in the classroom , or tutor in the Centre for Learning or on ‘ the Hill ’. They often indicate their motivation for returning is to give something back to their School .
Young Old Boys have also been involved in producing podcasts which current students can access , detailing their experiences of , and journeys through , Scotch . These involvements allow the Young Old Boys to pass on their recent experiences and provide opportunity for boys to make connections with those who have recently undergone the journey that they will soon experience .
This reinforces to the boys that leaving Scotch does not necessarily mean that you leave the community , and that part of being a member of a community requires something to be given back at a later date . Year level reunions , the myriad of clubs and societies , and the Annual Dinner , all organised by the Old Scotch Collegians ’ Association , provide opportunity for Old Boys to reconnect , maintaining the thread that binds the Scotch community together .
Parents also play an important role in their sons ' education , for without their commitment and support , many of the School ’ s programs and activities could not occur . Through membership of the Junior School Parents ’ Association and Scotch Parents ’ Association and auxiliaries , assisting with stalls on Family Day , attending concerts , plays and other events involving boys , supporting building initiatives and special programs , parents are very much part of the fabric of Scotch .
Their involvement strengthens the sense of community that exists , and plays an important part in the development of their sons . Research indicates that students whose parents are involved in school perform better academically , feel a stronger bond with the School , feel valued and important as a consequence of their parents taking an interest in their lives , and have better social , physical and emotional wellbeing .
Central to all that occurs in each boy ’ s journey through the School are our magnificent teaching staff , for they not only deliver the curriculum , but also develop and foster the relationships between and among staff and boys to ensure the boy is known as a learner . Once this relationship is established , the student can be encouraged to find interests and passions that exist beyond the standard curriculum , and also to develop the skills , dispositions and knowledge needed to develop mastery .
The intimacy that comes with knowing each boy , his interests , his foibles and his life story strengthens his connection to the School community , and provides him with the safety net that allows him to challenge himself and try new things .
A teacher ’ s involvement in extracurricular activities provides opportunity for the boy and teacher to interact in a more relaxed , slightly less structured , shared experience . The teacher ’ s preparedness to commit to giving time to ensure these activities occur emphasises the importance of these activities in each boy ’ s educational journey , provides opportunity to model behaviours and develop the boy ’ s social skills , and reinforces a sense of belonging to a shared cause .
It has often been said that ‘ it takes a village to raise a child ’. It is most likely that each boy will face his own challenges , problems and difficulties at some stage of his journey through the School . It is the village – the staff , Old Boys and parents – which , in conjunction with the School ’ s values and traditions , has hopefully developed a sense of belonging in the student , to ensure he learns about himself , develops resilience , and grows as a person to such end that he can look at the world and make his own decisions . www . scotch . vic . edu . au Great Scot 5