Welcome back to the Autumn Term.
Sadly, we commenced this term on a very sad note with the news of the tragic passing of Year 10 student, Jack Avenell. Mere words can never capture the impact this has on everyone. Please continue to keep the Avenell family, Aidee, Chad and Lily, and others who are very close to the family in your thoughts and prayers. May Jack rest in eternal peace.
Last Saturday we held what has now become a significant ANZAC Day service in our community. The combination of our Scottish heritage and our attention to reverence and detail, ensures that those in attendance will forever remember what they had witnessed. The sense of occasion with even more gravitas considering the role our OSCs played in the various military conflicts throughout history.
I would sincerely like to thank all the staff and students who were involved in the planning and delivery of the service. It was an incredible service and one of which I was extremely proud as Headmaster and one I now look forward to each year.
Autumn Term will deliver many academic challenges amongst others for all our boys. As we commence another term, it is important for our boys to settle back into their routines no matter whether they are in Pre-Kindy or Year 12. The same crucial elements apply for all our boys, these are; suitable rest, a proper diet and a balanced programme of physical activity.
We know that if you get these three things right it will enhance the boys’ wellbeing and performance at school, not to mention a decrease in home-based grumpiness.
From time to time, as parents, your sons may try and challenge the boundaries of independence. Remember that you are the parent and that you have every right to say no and question what your son is doing and set appropriate boundaries. The key is to keep engaged in conversations with your son whether over dinner, at sport or simply relaxing. Open communication and trust are essential. The partnership between the College and parents is crucial and between us we must try and deliver clear and consistent expectations for all boys.
Last week, the PSA Winter Sport season commenced. It is the time when I remind everyone of my expectations of the boys and their coaches as to how I want 91短视频 to approach all sport, that is, to train hard, compete to the best of one鈥檚 ability and to show sportsmanship of the highest order. Remember that we will be judged just as much by how we play as where we finish in terms of the respective score.
While this will be very busy, the reward for application and hard work will be our annual three-week break in July. When we first introduced this mid-year break, I made it very clear that it geared at giving boys and our staff a wellbeing break. Allowing our Year 12s to balance their heavy workload with a more significant break to recharge and prepare for the run home.
I wish the players and their coaches the best of luck for the Winter fixtures.
Have a great fortnight,
Dr Alec O鈥機onnell
Headmaster
