Yes, curriculum-based learning and the achievement of high academic scores are extremely important aspects of being a successful school. But also important are clear expectations in relation to daily routines and behaviour management, and success in a range of interschool events and competitive activities. In his book ‘The Formative Five: Fostering Grit, Empathy and Other Success Skills’, Thomas Hoerr cites widespread writings demonstrating that, while the aforementioned are essential ingredients of a successful school, they are only the foundation.

So much more is needed to reach for a higher success ceiling. Writings cited […]

The College Community Service program seeks to promote and provide opportunities for our students to engage in two of the six Round Square IDEALS – Leadership and Service. The Round Square Spirit of Leadership recognises that successful leaders are driven by a desire to be of service to others and to nurture, guide, develop and help them to improve and succeed.
Spirit of Service celebrates personal development through practical experience that brings sustainable support and benefit to others.

Throughout 2022, more than 40 students in Years 6-12 were encouraged and supported as they volunteered […]

Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2022, who have completed an outstanding year in all facets of the life of Scotch Oakburn College.

The determination of the Year Level and enthusiasm to be involved in the broader life of the College has been an inspiration to the younger students and something for them to strive to emulate. The cohort’s sense of compassion, respect and responsibility for and to their peers, and their pride when representing the College have been their trademarks throughout their time at Scotch Oakburn. In doing so, they have led […]

Recovery efforts continue with the flood event in Scotch Oakburn Park with respect to necessary cleaning and restoration.  Grounds and Work teams, and external contractors continue to monitor the situation and provide necessary support in assisting with restoration processes.  An update on the process follows:

• Since the extraction of the water, the College quickly engaged external contractors to screed tonnes of silt and mud from the playing fields to reduce the impact on subsoils.  Whilst, screeding did assist with removing debris, silt and mud, unfortunately, the length of time water was present on the fields affected […]
  

In July 2022, The Educator invited schools across Australia to participate in the publication’s 5-Star Innovative School Awards. Now in its eighth year, this report recognises the schools at the forefront of change and innovation.

Entries were open to all educational professionals who believe their school is pioneering a new direction in education. From teaching approaches to learning spaces and curriculum design, the report looks at schools reshaping the future of education.

The College Submission: 

Enterprise Workshop partnership with the University of Tasmania: held in July 2022.

The […]

As many of you would be aware, the major flooding of the North Esk River on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 October led to a breach of the levy bank at Scotch Oakburn Park (SOP) in the early hours of Friday 14 October. The College has progressed a crisis management response to the flooding event, with the recovery process ongoing. 

I note the following high-level comments in relation to the event and the recovery process, noting the early stage of the process and lack of clarity at this point regarding the playing […]

An article from the Examiner Newspaper, Launceston, 7 August 2022
Author: Caitlin Jarvis

A Northern Tasmanian school is leading the charge to revolutionise education in the state by ditching the ATAR as the sole measure of academic success.

Scotch Oakburn College is the only Tasmanian school involved in a national pilot research program undertaken by Melbourne University that is examining the role of the ATAR as an indicator of academic prowess.

The program, which has been underway since the beginning of the pandemic, has allowed Scotch Oakburn to develop a set of 10 “Learner Attributes” that […]

Scotch Oakburn College is a wonderfully diverse community made up of families from over 50 cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In the true spirit of the Uniting Church, we have representation of all the major religions of the world as well as community members who do not identify with any religion. Our College is stronger for this diversity, and importantly, as we learn and grow together we realise that there is far more that unites us than divides. Central to our sense of community are our Values. Values are non-negotiable and regardless of who we are, they frame how we behave, […]

SOC2035 – 18 Months into an aspirational 15-year Strategic Vision

In January 2021, after community consultation, research and ‘outside the square’ thinking, Scotch Oakburn College launched SOC2035, the College’s ambitious 15-year Strategic Vision. Throughout the 18-month creation process of SOC2035, the College Executive and Board of Directors were determined that this vision for the College’s future would provide ongoing direction for the allocation of resources and never sit idle on a shelf, gathering dust. To ensure that occurs, the Board of Directors receives quarterly updates on the progress of the current projects, each aligned to one or more of the four […]

SOC2035, our Strategic Vision states that education must do more than simply prepare young people for the world of work; we need to equip students with the skills and attributes they require to become active, responsible and engaged citizens.

GOAL:
Implement a framework that positively impacts students’ and staff wellbeing.

2021 allowed the College to reflect and refine its Wellbeing Framework to better meet the needs of our evolving community.

Supporting the wellbeing of young people is not a revolutionary idea in schools. For a long time, we have understood and prioritised the wellbeing of our learners. […]