Scotch College

Positive pathways to the future

There is a wealth of opportunities for Junior School boys to build a bright, positive future.

For the boys of the Junior School, the future is a very bright place to be heading to. An environment exists to help each boy on what we hope will be his own positive pathway, taking him towards a future in which he can be his best.

On Friday 9 May, all boys in years 5 and 6 joined with approximately 30,000 children from all around Australia, in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people skipping continuously for three minutes.

’The future lies before you, like paths of pure white snow. Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show.’ (author unknown)

At the time of writing the final results have still not been confirmed, but unofficially it would seem the standing record of some seven and a half thousand has easily been broken. We were delighted that the Mayor of Boroondara, Councillor Coral Ross, and the Scotch Chaplain, Rev. Graham Bradbeer, could be present at the ‘skip off’, acting as independent witnesses to our involvement.

The boys thoroughly enjoyed this activity, and it has been exciting to see skipping as a popular choice of activity in the playground; and that sponsorship of the Heart Foundation also formed a part of this process, with boys raising funds for the ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ program.

In thinking about the future, the Junior School has been exceptionally active in pursuing sustainability issues, and has undertaken its own four-year plan, working towards becoming a five-star sustainable Junior School. Boys, staff and parents have formed a sustainability committee under the leadership of Ms Jenni Allen, and the following are our recent achievements in this important area:

1. Joined the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), a partnership of the Australian government, states and territories that supports schools in working towards a sustainable future. Under AuSSI, which is administered in Victoria by the Department of Education and Training and the CERES Community Environment Park, we are working towards increasing biodiversity in the local area and reducing water use, greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste.
2. Completed a four-year plan to become a five-star sustainable school, and a potential school policy document.
3. Regular reports and tips in the Junior School newsletter, Primary Matters and other publications, plus major displays in the central courtyard.
4. The sustainability committee of staff and parents meets bimonthly, reporting to the Junior School Executive. The Junior School is also represented on the Senior School Greening Scotch committee.
5. Sustainability in the curriculum was reviewed at the end of 2007 and specific units have been developed in most year levels, including working with Senior School boys and various class excursions to CERES.
6. We are currently working on the waste component of the four-year plan, including:

• ‘Nude Food Thursdays’, where boys are encouraged to bring their lunch in reusable containers. Classes count their litter items as part of a weekly competition, and a number of classes regularly achieve a ‘zero’ count
• All classes and staff participate in composting food scraps, with the help of garden staff
• Year 1 has a worm farm in operation
• All classes and staff have access to paper recycling
• All classes and staff have access to glass/plastics/aluminium/steel recycling
• Primary Matters is provided online
• There are regular electronic, educational updates to classes and staff about waste
• There is regular feedback on waste initiatives from the Student Representative Council
• We meet with catering suppliers to encourage more sustainable practices.

Other non-waste achievements include joining the City of Boroondara’s ‘Walking School Bus’ program which is being trialled this term; participation in Earth Hour in conjunction with the Senior School; and the establishment of new gardens (including a vegetable garden) which students will maintain.

We hope that through activities such as these, each step that each boy takes will provide a positive pathway leading into the future. GS