It has been wonderful to see so many students return from the holiday break with a positive mindset and a genuine sense of excitement about the year ahead. The energy across our campuses has been uplifting, with students reconnecting with friends, peers and staff, and settling back into the rhythms of school life with enthusiasm.

Over the holiday period, I had the opportunity to read ‘Stolen Focus’ by Johan Hari, a thought‑provoking book that explores the factors contributing to a decline in our ability to concentrate. Hari highlights a range of influences, including air quality, diet, sleep, feelings of safety, reduced opportunities for exercise and play, and the growing impact of technology. While these challenges are not unique to schools, they do prompt important reflection on how we support young people to focus, engage and thrive.

At Scotch Oakburn, we continue to work intentionally to create learning environments that minimise unnecessary distractions and encourage students to be present, both in their learning and in their relationships with one another. Our updated mobile phone policies are designed to support this goal by reducing interruptions and helping students develop healthy habits around technology use.

In addition, our new social and emotional learning program, delivered by Mentors in partnership with the team at WELLIO, will play an important role in supporting student wellbeing. Together, these initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to nurturing focused, balanced and connected learners as we move into the year ahead.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our students on a strong start to the year and wish them all the best for an exciting 2026.

Ross Patterson
Principal