Great Scot May 2020 Great Scot 159_MAY 2020_ONLINE_V3 | Page 14

MIDDLE SCHOOL
PURSUING THE INTERESTS
OF YOUNG MINDS
A year of great opportunities unfolds for our Year 7 boys
MS KATRINA STALKER
HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
BOYS ENJOYING A
BEACH GAME DURING
A TRANSITION CAMP
AT COWES
14
Great Scot
The academic year started with a ‘welcome’ service
in Memorial Hall, introducing our Year 7 boys and
other new boys and their parents to our School. Year 7
boys Sam Steele and Tom Groom spoke of what they
hoped to achieve throughout Year 7, setting the scene
for a year in which boys are encouraged to give new
opportunities a go.
The annual Scotch Parents’ Association Year 7
family barbecue was held in beautiful weather, and
provided a great opportunity for parents and boys to
mingle with and get to know other families.
The Year 7 Transition Camps at Cowes, recognised
as a significant signpost in the lives of Scotch boys, were
once again highly successful in settling the boys into
their form groups and helping cement new friendships,
as boys participated in a range of activities designed
to promote camaraderie, teamwork and a spirit of
adventure. Boys could get to know their teachers outside
a classroom environment, and teachers could recognise
boys’ individual interests and unique personalities.
During the camps, although the weather was not
as hot this year as in the past, boogie boarding and
sailing were just as enjoyable, as were snorkelling and
mini-golf. Among the busy program of activities at
camp there was opportunity for conversations between
the boys, enabling them to discover those who shared
similar interests and passions. All transition activities
into the Senior School are specifically designed to help
boys meet other like-minded individuals and forge
strong and enduring relationships.
This year, a further initiative in assisting boys to
develop friendships and participate in activities in
which they have a shared interest is the establishment
of a number of clubs which operate during lunchtimes.
Robotics, coding and chess are just some of the clubs
which are currently thriving at Scotch.
As the Year 7s continued to find their feet the
Year 8s were well settled, and many of them were
contributing to the success of the new clubs. Two Year
8 boys – Joshua Symons and William Chen – have
taken the initiative to introduce a new club. They are
teaching other boys the ins and outs of how to solve
the Rubik’s cube at speed. These speed cubes are now
all the go, and advice on effective techniques is being
enthusiastically shared among the boys. It’s a pleasure
to witness boys solving the cube in under 30 seconds.
However, the most significant aspect of the revival of
the Rubik’s cube is the passion the boys have shown in
sharing their knowledge with each other.
The introduction of a number of peer-led clubs, run
by the Year 11 Peer Leaders with the Year 7 cohort,
promises to be as successful as the Rubik’s cube and
chess clubs in inspiring the younger boys to pursue and
share their interests. Some of the other clubs currently
on offer include appreciation of music, movies, sport,
maths and investment. The emphasis is on peer-led
activities, with teachers taking a supporting role.
The last week of Term 1 became our first week
of teaching the boys online, using our Learning
Management System, Canvas. It was a challenging
week but we have received very positive reports from
boys, teachers and parents about the lessons delivered.
In this time of remote learning it is important for
the boys to remain connected to their school. Form
teachers have also reached out to the boys during this
time, with boys responding positively. Through a
new section on the School website, ‘Keeping Scotch
Connected’, the School Captain, Chaplain and
Principal have all been in contact with the boys to help
keep them connected and active. It is reassuring to
realise we have a strongly supportive Scotch community
to stand with us during these challenging times.