National Boarding Week • Monday 12 May to Friday 16 May
Duke of Edinburgh hike • Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May
Junior School Walk Safely to School Day • Friday 16 May
Madagascar Jr • Thursday 22 & 23 May, 7pm, BOOK HERE
Girls Night In • Friday 23 May
Regional Visit, Griffith • Monday 26 May
The Big Freeze, MND • Thursday 5 June
Pupil Free Day • Friday 6 June
Boarders Exeat weekend • Friday 6 June to Monday 9 June, returning from 1pm
King's Birthday holiday • Monday 9 June
Arts Night • Thursday 12 June, 6pm, Cultural Centre
Year 11 Formal • Saturday 14 June, 6pm, Commercial Club
Regional Visit, Mansfield • 16 June
Principal • Mark Hemphill
Although this has been a very long term, it seems unfathomable that today we are breaking up for the Easter holidays. Term 1 has certainly been an action-packed term, with so much on offer for our students. As the term draws to a close, we have much to celebrate.
Junior School update
The building of the Junior School is powering ahead as we have been blessed with excellent building weather over the past two months. The old library building is now just a shell with all the interiors being dismantled and removed. The removal of the John Edwards Theatre steps and the Amphitheatre proved to be quite a challenge, as these structures were both solid concrete. This has been the noisiest part of the build and has now been completed.
There were 199 screw piles implanted in the new building site, ready for the concrete to be poured during the Easter break. Important services were also laid in the past two weeks, prior to the slab being poured. Once the slab has been poured, construction of the frame and roof will commence. In the meantime, Chris Todd, Caroline Pooley and I are very busy making final decisions on playground equipment, landscaping, AV requirements and furniture. We are definitely moving into the exciting phase of the build and the community will see the building start to evolve before their eyes. Although rain is desperately needed, the dry weather has ensured that we are currently ahead of schedule.
Mamma Mia!
The recent Senior School musical was an overwhelming success. We had around 1700 people through the doors to view the musical across four performances and they raved about the quality of the show. Congratulations to all the students involved, in particular our Year 10 students, for whom this was a compulsory event. We had 128 students involved in the musical which was an incredible effort. A special congratulations goes to Chris Torok and Stacey Hartwich, who was the Director of the musical. I had the pleasure of watching the musical multiple times and my pride in our students was immeasurable. I have watched countless school musicals in leading schools around the world and Mamma Mia! was the very best I have seen. I loved watching the energy, excitement and pure joy demonstrated by the students on stage and the reactions of the audience. I can’t wait for the announcement of our 2026 musical and seeing all our current Year 9 students get involved.
K-12 Cross Country
On Tuesday 1 April, we held our K-12 Cross Country carnival at the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre. We were blessed with beautiful weather, a great course and for entertainment, a mob of 40 kangaroos thought they would cross the race course multiple times. I was impressed by the participation of our students and the number of Senior School students who gave it their absolute best! I’ve never been in a school where so many students try so hard in Cross Country. A huge well done to our students for the effort, participation and positive attitude. Again, I was so proud of our wonderful students.
Camps
We are in the thick of camp season at the moment. Year 4 students and staff went to Billabong Ranch at Echuca last week and by all accounts, had a wonderful time. This week our senior school students have been away on Camp at the following locations: Year 7 Howman’s Gap Year 8 Kinglake Year 9 Yarrawonga Year 10 Anglesea Year 11 Melbourne Year 12 Harrietville
It is important to remind parents that all camps are compulsory school activities and all students should attend unless they are unwell. It is very frustrating to hear that some parents are choosing to allow their children not to attend and are organising alternative activities for their children and groups of their friends. This is unacceptable and parents should be supporting the school and telling their children that they must attend camp. Teenagers will always try to push the boundaries and it is your job as parents, to say no and hold these boundaries. I also heard that some parents expected supervision at school this week, for the children they were allowing not to attend camp. This is not possible as all senior staff, myself included, attended one of the six camps.
Camp is a wonderful opportunity to be away from home and school, to undertake different challenges and to be with friends and peers. I am fully cognisant that camp is not every student's favourite activity, but teenagers need to learn that sometimes in life you need to do things that you may not like or choose and it is the job of parents to reinforce this message. This is common expectation of reputable independent schools, that if you choose to send your child to Scots, then you choose for them to go on camp.
I look forward to hearing from all the the Senior School groups on their return from camp and I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Year 7 at Howman’s Gap and Year 12 at Harrietville, as camps for me are a highlight of the year.
ANZAC Day
A long-standing tradition at Scots, is our school’s involvement in the annual Albury ANZAC Day March, on 25 April. I would like to encourage all students to participate in the ANZAC March in full Winter uniform including their blazer. It is important that all students make an effort to attend, so that Scots is well represented. Traditionally, Scots has a very large representation of our students marching, with our Year 9 students leading the March in recognition of our connection to the 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion which was raised at the old Albury Showgrounds - our current-day Scots Gillespe Oval. I look forward to seeing all students and their families at 8.30am on the Thick as Thieves corner on Dean Street, Friday 25 April.
For our Boarding students who are unable to attend the Albury March, I would like to encourage them to participate in their hometown ANZAC Day March, wearing full Scots Winter school uniform and their blazer.
Winter Uniform
Just a reminder that students return in Term 2 in full Winter uniform. Please use the holidays to check your child’s Winter uniform. School holiday trading hours for both the Uniform Shop and Clothing Pool are available on our website HERE.
Boys and girls also must tuck their shirts in while wearing Winter uniform and arrive and depart school wearing their blazer.
Parent Conduct
Unfortunately, I have been made aware of parents being rude, aggressive and abusive towards Noone Staff. Can I please remind all parents that The Scots School Albury is an abuse-free School where rudeness and aggression will not be tolerated under any circumstances. There is never any reason to be rude.
Happy Easter
I hope that you have a wonderful Easter with your families. I look forward to welcoming boarders back on Monday 28 April from 1pm and to seeing all students back for Term 2 on Tuesday 29 April.
Head of Senior School • Janine Haymes
One of the standout events this term was the Senior School production of the musical Mamma Mia! The performances were nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the immense talent and enthusiasm of our students. The vibrant energy, captivating performances and stunning set designs brought the story to life, leaving the audience thoroughly entertained.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this production. Firstly, a huge thank you to our dedicated staff members, particularly our Head of Performing Arts, Mr Chris Torok and our Director, Ms Stacey Hartwich, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your guidance, creativity and support were instrumental in making this production a reality. To our talented students; your hard work, commitment and passion were evident in every performance. You have made us all incredibly proud.
This term also featured our annual Cross Country event, which was a fantastic day of sun and fun. Adding an extra element of excitement to the event was the local kangaroo population adding some extra pace on the track! I would like to extend a special thank you to Head of Sport, Mr Tim Kennedy, for organising this wonderful event. His efforts in promoting physical activity and school spirit were greatly appreciated.
I also would like to take a moment to celebrate the importance of school camps in the growth and development of our young people. Camp Week is always a week to look forward to in Senior School. Our recent school camps have provided students with invaluable opportunities to build resilience, develop leadership skills and form lasting friendships. These experiences outside the classroom are crucial for personal growth, fostering independence and encouraging teamwork.
Thank you to our Stage Coordinators, Mr Matt Patching, Ms Jane Mackinlay and Ms Shonetell Toohey and our Career Advisor, Ms Sarah Rae, who organised and supervised these camps, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all participants. Their dedication to our students' wellbeing and development was greatly appreciated. To the students, your enthusiasm and willingness to embrace new challenges have been inspiring. And, to the parents, thank you for your support and trust in challenging your children to participate in these transformative experiences.
This term also saw our Year 12 students undertake their mid-course exam block. These exams were a vital opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and identify areas for further development. The feedback from these exams is crucial as it helps students focus their efforts in preparation for theTrial and HSC exams. I can’t wait to see what our Year 12s do with this feedback!
As ANZAC Day approaches, I would like to remind families of the importance of this significant day of commemoration. ANZAC Day is a time for us to honour and remember the sacrifices made by members of the Australian Defence Forces. It is a day to reflect on the bravery and dedication of those who served and to acknowledge the freedoms we enjoy today because of their sacrifices. We expect all students to participate in the ANZAC Day march in full winter uniform, including blazers. This is a solemn occasion and wearing the full uniform is a mark of respect for those we are commemorating. Our Year 9 students will have the honour of marching under the banner of the 2/23rd Battalion, a unit with which our school has a deep historical connection. The 2/23rd Battalion, also known as "Albury's Own," was raised in Albury and has a proud legacy of service during World War II. Our students' participation in the march under this banner is a tribute to the enduring bond between our school and the battalion. Year 9 are to gather at the front of the Regent Cinema at 8.30am. The rest of the school are to meet at the corner of Dean and Macaulay Street at 8.30am.
In closing, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. It is through our collective efforts that we are able to provide such enriching experiences for our students.
I would like to wish all our families and staff a safe and happy Easter break. May this time be filled with joy, relaxation, and quality time with loved ones. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for the new term.
Head of Junior School • Chris Todd
What a first term we have had in Junior School. This week we had our final assembly of the term and reflected on all the growth and achievements our students have experienced this term.
Our Kinder students, who have started to read and write using the initial sounds in their scope and sequence, are doing some great learning as they have settled into Junior School life.
Our Year 1 and 2 students have developed and produced great writing.
Our Year 3 Novel studies have produced excellent reflections and interpretations based on their focus texts.
Year 4 students have been diving into their inquiry unit, with some of their best work taking place in the kitchen garden, where they’ve explored sustainability and developed ways to maintain and expand this program.
Our Year 5 and 6 students have shown excellent progress in mathematics and also are deep into their production practice.
On top of all this, we’ve also recognised and celebrated several external achievements made by our students; from making state teams in their chosen sports, to competing at state level in swimming to name a few.
This has been a true testament to the effort and passion our students bring both in and out of school. The theme of growth and achievement is one that will continue throughout the year but if Term 1 is anything to go by, the next three terms are going to produce some great teaching and learning.
We finished the term by adding a splash of creativity and fun with our Madagascar Day. The theme of the day was to launch the countdown to the show. There was much joy as students participated in our morning dance, lunch-time games, Find-the-Penguins-in-the-Junior-School and our Year 5 and 6 students had their first run through of the production as part of their rehearsals that afternoon.
Our final day festivities included Easter craft activities, which we showed off in a parade in the afternoon, and our end-of-term surprises. The final week has been a great way to celebrate a term of hard work and shared accomplishments.
Thank you for your continued support throughout the term. We wish all our families a safe, restful holiday and look forward to welcoming you back in Term 2.
Head of Performing Arts Co-curricular • Chris Torok
It has been such a successful Term 1 for our busy students and staff in Performing Arts. Music ensembles, dance classes and debating teams are all rehearsing and preparing for their upcoming performances and competitions in the coming months. And of course, we had the hugely successful production of Mamma Mia! Congratulations to everyone involved for their amazing efforts!
Looking ahead to Term 2, preparation for the Junior School production of Madagascar Jr. is well underway. All students in Year 5 and 6 have a specific role to play; whether it be on stage, backstage or marketing the event. Later in the term, we will celebrate the achievements of all the co-curricular music ensembles and farewell our Year 12s at the annual Music Festival. Be sure to mark these events in your calendar.
A reminder for all of our music, dance, debating and production rehearsals: the success of these groups is reliant on participation by all members to all rehearsals. If you cannot attend a rehearsal, please email your supervisor/ensemble director, this is also a requirement for our child safety and supervision policy.
Thanks to everyone for their continued support, we hope you enjoy a well-deserved holiday break!
Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge
Year 10 students took part in an exciting Science and Engineering Challenge and Discovery Day hosted by the University of Newcastle in partnership with Rotary last week.
This highly engaging event gave students the opportunity to step into the role of engineers and scientists, using their critical thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills to tackle a series of real-world challenges.
The activities included:
Bridge Building – constructing a strong and stable bridge to survive the pressure of a weighted train
Communication via Code – decoding and transmitting messages using logic and coding
Eco-Habitech – designing houses that can survive extreme weather events such as flooding, rain and wind
City Power Grid – distributing electricity across a simulated city
Taking Flight – building and testing gliders
Wind Turbines – engineering wind-powered devices
Fishing Traps – Controlling the flow of river systems to catch different-sized fish.
We’re incredibly proud to announce that one of our two teams tallied the most points for the day and was crowned the Champion School! Their collaborative spirit, strategic thinking and creative engineering impressed everyone on the day.
Congratulations to all students who took part — you represented our school with enthusiasm, innovation and excellence in STEM!
Three Visual Arts students from the Class of 2024 have been featured in RAW25, an annual showcase of the best original artworks produced by young people of the Murray region, which is on at MAMA until 25 May.
Former students Claudia Alessi, Alexandra McNamara and Indita Yaxley are among nine artists featured in RAW25. The exhibition highlights the unique perspectives and experiences of our local young people. This year's exhibition presents themes centred on the experience of being a young person – exploring self-identity, mental health, community, environment and belonging – through a range of mediums including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, textiles and digital media.
As part of the RAW program, participating artists are involved in a series of workshops with MAMA curatorial staff covering aspects of concept development, artwork preparation and exhibition installation as well as feedback for future projects and development of public programs.
The nine featured artists are Alexa Taylor, Alexandra McNamara, Amy Bishop, Brianna Walker, Chiana Broydell, Claudia Alessi, Indita Yaxley, Martin Fraser and Stella Thurkettle.
Our Division 2 teams have begun the season well. We are two games in and the team is finding its groove under Coach Leigh. We will be playing the first and last week of the school holidays so please update your attendance.
Juniors will begin the first week back after the school holidays. Please stay tuned to Scotty for updates. Please remember to register to play and have your shin and mouthguards purchased. We thank everyone for their attendance at training so far and their commitment to our club.
Individual Successes
Congratulations to Percy Ross for making the CIS Primary School Team to compete in Newcastle later in the year.
Congratulations to Jenna Dickins for being selected for the Albury Wodonga Spitfires women's team playing alongside Alumni Abi Wilkinson (Class of 2022).
A big well done to Grace Brown (Year 10, pictured) who has recently finished representing ACT at the Under 16 National Championships in Adelaide. The team finished sixth overall and Grace played an integral role in its success. Grace is to be commended for her ongoing commitment to playing at the highest level she can. Congratulations Grace!
In addition, 14 Scots Hockey players have been selected to play in the upcoming representative season for Hockey Albury Wodonga. A big accomplishment for a little club! Well done to all! - Meg Dickins
Colourful Socks for World Down Syndrome Day
Junior School students used patterns and colours to create their favourite sock design and decorate a paper sock as part of their celebration of World Down Syndrome Day and to celebrate our very own Evie Martin.
It was great to raise awareness and celebrate the important person Evie is in our community.
Geography students investigate sustainability in viticulture
On our Year 12 Geography excursion, we visited Buller Wines and Lake Moodemere Estate to explore sustainability in viticulture. We were fascinated by sustainable practices such as reducing waste and using resources sustainably; regenerative agriculture in action, with biostimulants and sheep-replacing synthetic fertilizers and power-efficient technology and machines.
This experience helped us discover how sustainability ensures both environmental conservation and long-term economic success in the changing industry.
We appreciated the insights shared by the great people in the Winemaking regions of Rutherglen and encourage others to visit, gaining a deeper understanding of the hard work and innovation behind sustainable viticulture in the global economy. - Jericho Ellao, Year 12.
Sport • Tim Kennedy
Cross Country
Simpson was the winning House in the Senior School cross country, while Robertson House claimed the Junior School Championship on a day when students not horses were in the spotlight at the Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre on Tuesday 1 April.
Individual results - Junior Age 8-9 Girls: Harriet Staughton 1st, Amelia Chinguwa 2nd, Maddi Kerr 3rd. Boys: Percy Ross 1st, Sterling Coffey 2nd, Henry Butko 3rd. 10yo Girls: Amelie Skidmore 1st, Sophia Lewin 2nd, Maddie Hyde 3rd. Boys: Hunter Newbold 1st, Oscar Crapp 2nd, Moss Jones 3rd. 11yo Girls: Maya Woonton 1, Annabelle Staughton 2, Ethel James 3. Boys: Ardan Magaharan 1, Sammy Martin 2, Duke Maloney 3. 12/13yo Girls: Eliza Hyde 1, Gracie Ross 2, Flo Harrison 3. Boys: James Grylewicz 1, Oliver Jurevics 2, Jenson Harbottle 3.
House results
Robertson 559 Simpson 492 Wilson 399 Sellars 397
Individual results - Senior School 12yo: Girls: Chloe Nguyen 1, Sethuli Attanayake 2. Boys: Zack Ker 1, Jack Jones 2, Charlie Brown 3. 13yo Girls: Phoebe Bolton 1, Harriet Bolton 2, Isolde James 3. Boys: Sam Mack 1, Hayden Ellis 2, Daniel Burn 3. 14yo Girls: Chloe Lewin 1, Elisabeth Klingner 2, Ruby Cardwell 3. Boys: Ollie Cardile 1, Thomas Toepfer 2, Oscar Kennedy 3. 15yo Girls: Lydia Clancy 1, Hollie Armytage 2, Jenna Dickins 3. Boys: Henry Miller 1, Thomas Mack 2, James Thornton 3. 16yo Girls: Lucy Bolton 1, Lily Malone 2, Kirsten Mclennan 3. Boys: Darcy Fallon 1, Tom Sheather 2, Billy Whitfield 3. 17yo Girls: Kaylee Rule 1, Sommers Hogan 2, Maddie Clancy 3. Boys: Nathan Alexander 1, Ted Williams 2, Jackson Day 3. 18yo Hayley Whitsed 1, Georgina Sockett 2, Beccy Plowman 3. Boys: Patrick Maloney 1, Charlie Baxter 2, Oliver Hutchins 3.
Year 6 made some beautiful Storm Boy pelicans for the library in their art classes. They have made a colourful display on the back wall which has created some interesting discussions for all about favourite feather colours and beak shapes. A big thank you to Miss Stephenson (and Year 6) for producing this wonderful work.
The Unwilling Twin
Year 1 read the Unwilling Twin, a fabulous book about sibling love. They also produced a cute display of the pig “George” from this story. I love the different colours the students chose to use and their attention to detail – George has a birthmark and many of our pigs ended up with various shaped marks on them.
Chess
The Senior School Chess team played the first round of the NSW JCL against Xavier this week. It was a changing of the guard with Year 12 OG members Oliver Baitch and Ty Salter “retiring” from the team. New members from Year 8, Smyan Hegde and Tom Cavagna, who have been practicing and playing well, earned their places in the team alongside Aston Lau, Billy Stewart and Ammar Syed.
Congratulations to the entire team, which won this round 4-0. Tom, our reserve, even won his scratch match.
Congratulations to Percy Ross (Year 4) who has been selected to play in the 2025 NSW Combined Independent Schools Primary Boys Hockey Team.
Percy's achievement is impressive considering he trialled against mostly Year 5 and Year 6 boys and is one of the youngest to be selected in the team's history.
The boys will play in the NSW PSSA Hockey championships in Newcastle in May.
Geography
A 9000-word assignment on the plight of Albury’s grey-headed flying foxes penned by Jericho Ellao has earned the Scots Year 12 student a state-wide Young Geographer Award - and $500 spending money!
The award, the NSW Education Standards Association Senior Geographical Investigation Award 2024, recognised Jericho’s thorough research, excellent presentation and methodology.
He looked at the importance of clean water sources for flying fox camps and how water pollution around Albury had impacted their survival rates. Jericho plans to save the money to help fund a gap year in 2026!
