Scotch College

On behalf of our boys – thank you!

WORDS: Mrs ASTRIDA COOPER • ACTING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The Annual Giving program has far more significance than simply being the funds which are donated to the School each year by the wider Scotch family, including Old Scotch Collegians, the OSCA Council, current and past parents, grandparents, Foundation members, staff, members of the School Council and the Foundation Board.

Every Scotch student has reason to be grateful for the example and commitment to philanthropy shown by these individuals and groups.

American philanthropist John D Rockefeller said: ‘Give till it feels good, not until it hurts’. We would like everyone in the School community, and their children, to experience the pleasure which is derived from contributing to a good cause.

In part, the various projects being undertaken on the School campus during the Christmas holiday break are a result of the support shown to the School through the Annual Giving program this year. For example, the Junior School community has rallied to raise funds for the construction of shade sails outside the Year 1 and 2 classrooms.

The Junior School staff room was the venue for a thank you and information evening for current Junior School parents hosted by the Principal, Head of Junior School and the Foundation in November. Current parent and Foundation Board member Andrew Sutherland (’84) introduced the Principal, who thanked Junior School families and the Junior School Parents’ Association for assisting with the fundraising effort for the shade sails project outside the Year 1 and 2 classrooms.

School Council member Michael Sim (’78) then made a short presentation about works in and around the Junior School over the coming months – these improvements will be seen when the boys return to School in 2009. A similar project outside the Year 3 classrooms will be launched in the new year.

The 2008 Annual Giving program has raised more than $240,000, which will greatly assist the School in delivering the facilities required to support its educational program. It should be remembered that School fees paid by current parents fund the School’s recurrent budget only – they do not fund any new facility developments.

We would like everyone to make a donation to Annual Giving in 2009.The commitment to building a better future counts more than the size of any gift. GS