UPPER SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LINKS FIRMLY RE-ESTABLISHED
MR TIM RAYNER HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
SCOTCH BOYS TRAVELLED TO
INDONESIA UNDER THE SCHOOL ' S
RE-ESTABLISHED LANGUAGES EXCHANGES
PROGRAM
Judging by the recent chaos at airports and the subsequent raising of air fares , it is apparent that a great many Victorians want to travel once again . Thankfully , we are beginning to see some order return and overseas travel is no longer as daunting as it was . For Scotch , the news of open skies , with fewer restrictions , has been heaven sent . The last few years saw an abrupt end to many programs which had grown and developed over many years and , as a consequence of COVID , our students missed .
Over the summer holidays , our Languages Department arranged exchanges across several countries . Six of our students travelled to Indonesia ; nine students travelled to Germany , staying in Bogen and Bremen ; and two boys travelled to Italy . There are also exchanges planned this year for our students who study Chinese , and those who study French . Such experiences immerse young people in another culture , improve language skills , and just as importantly , enable our students to make lifelong friends . From these trips , already , we have boys wanting to take language electives when they are at university with a view to going on exchange again .
Language exchanges not only bring individual benefits , but also strengthen our nation as a whole by creating international ties , tolerance , and understanding of others ’ cultures . We look forward to welcoming into our school those overseas students who have participated in the exchanges .
This year we are also re-establishing our school exchange program . Shortly , we will be receiving boys from the Crescent School in Toronto , Canada , for the first time . Later in the year we will be exchanging students with Michaelhouse School in South Africa , Dulwich College in London , and George Watson ’ s College in Edinburgh . The latter , an exchange which also includes Presbyterian Ladies ’ College , Melbourne , who send a student , was generously supported by the Don Mercer Scholarship .
School trips are now , thankfully , firmly reestablished . Our music school ran a very successful tour of Europe and England for the orchestra . This entailed a considerable logistical challenge , as the instruments and gear for a whole orchestra had to
escort the musicians and then be loaded and unloaded for each performance .
Meanwhile , plans are in place in 2023 for a ski trip to Canada , a Pipes and Drums Band competition in New Zealand , a cricket tour of England , a space camp in the USA , and a theatre and drama trip to New York . The busy place that Scotch has always been is beginning to re-emerge .
It is also pleasing that we can welcome two gap assistants from the UK , this year : Arthur Butt who has just graduated from Eton College , and James Pagan , who has just graduated from Warwick Boys ’ School . Some of their duties include coaching and umpiring sport , boarding house activities , and assisting with camps and excursions . It ’ s a great opportunity for our students to meet and get to know these young men , who set a great example and have a zest for travel . This initiative also inspires some of our own students to consider taking a year out as a ‘ gappy ’ before the commencement of university . In previous years we have had Old Boys work in schools , such as Dulwich College in London .
It is worth noting the immense work that is required to re-establish and organise such programs . Working across borders is never easy , what with differing legislation , time differences and the fact many contacts were lost in the COVID years . On top of this , our own child safety practices require a diligent and thorough approach . I thank our Languages Department teachers , led by Dr Reifarth ; Dr Luk , who is Teacher-in-Charge of School Exchanges ; and Mr Brown , Dean of Students , who oversees gap students , for their work and efforts . I also thank those teachers who have spent endless hours working on the preparation of trips , so our community can share the benefits .
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