CO-CURRICULAR
MR ADAM SOMES DIRECTOR OF CO-CURRICULAR
RIGHT PAGE : AT FULL STRETCH DURING THE YEAR 9 RETREAT AT HEALESVILLE
‘ CO-CURRICULAR ’ – A NEW WAY OF DESCRIBING A ROBUST RANGE OF PROGRAMS
At the beginning of 2024 , I took on the newly-created whole school role of Director of Co-Curricular at Scotch College . I am delighted to write to you for the first time in this role and look forward to continuing to do so in the years ahead .
‘ Co-Curricular ’ is a new way of describing a range of programs offered at Scotch since its foundation over 170 years ago . Areas such as Cadets , Outdoor Education and Services and Activities all fall under the purview of the Co-Curricular Program .
I imagine Old Scotch Collegians often reflect not only on the academic achievements that shaped their time at Scotch , but also on the invaluable lessons learned beyond the classroom walls . Scotch has always stood as a beacon of boys ’ education , fostering the ideals of beauty , goodness and truth through its robust co-curricular programs . There is little doubt that Scotch has always understood the transformative power of these programs in advancing those timeless virtues .
One of the hallmarks of Scotch ’ s co-curricular offerings is its ongoing commitment to outdoor education . Beyond textbooks and classes , our students are encouraged to immerse themselves
in the natural world , fostering a deep appreciation of the beauty that surrounds us .
Through activities and programs undertaken at Cowes and Healesville , on Year Level camps and , in the future , at our new campus in Mallacoota , boys will continue to learn about resilience , teamwork and environmental guardianship . These experiences instil in them a sense of wonder and curiosity , igniting a lifelong passion for exploration and discovery .
Moreover , the outdoor education opportunities offered through our Co-Curricular Program cultivate empathy and compassion , as students learn to respect and coexist with nature . By understanding their place in the natural world that exists around them , they develop a heightened sense of responsibility towards the environment and its inhabitants .
Scotch ’ s outdoor education program therefore not only enriches the lives of students , but also empowers them to become advocates for sustainability and the environment .
In the pursuit of goodness , Scotch has long recognised the importance of service to others . Through our Year 11 Immersion
56 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024