During our start-of-the-year Staff Conference week, we had the opportunity to work with Social Scientist and Demographer Sophie Renton from the McCrindle Group. Sophie highlighted the crucial role school communities play in shaping the social fabric of society. According to the latest research by McCrindle, thriving school communities are characterised by high levels of engagement among teachers, students, and parents, which significantly enhances the educational experience.

Schools are not just places of learning; they are hubs of community interaction and support, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. McCrindle’s research highlights that nearly 88% of parents believe the school community positively impacts their child’s education. This sense of community is vital for providing students with role models and a supportive environment that encourages academic and personal growth. Schools that foster strong community ties are better equipped to handle the challenges of modern education, including social isolation and the need for emotional support.

Scotch Oakburn College demonstrates the importance of community engagement through its various events and initiatives. Recently, student-led House BBQs and Parent Information Nights have served as examples of how the school fosters a sense of belonging and involvement among families. These events provide opportunities for parents to connect with teachers and other parents, creating a supportive network that benefits students’ overall wellbeing.

Additionally, events like the Past Players Cricket Day and House Carnivals bring together current students, Collegians, and at times the broader community, reinforcing the school’s commitment to maintaining strong ties across generations. The relaunch of the Scotch Oakburn Golf Day further underscores the College’s dedication to community engagement, offering a platform for social interaction and ‘friend raising’.

These initiatives align with McCrindle’s findings that schools are essential in building community resilience and fostering social connections. Our time with McCrindle certainly highlighted the importance that Scotch Oakburn plays in actively connecting our community and the wider community. In a world where social bonds are increasingly fragmented, the role of school communities in fostering connection and support cannot be overstated.

Ross Patterson
Principal

This fortnight at Penquite has been a vibrant showcase of our students’ enthusiasm, talent, and dedication. The Penquite Inter-House Athletics Carnival was a resounding success, with students from all Houses participating with great spirit and energy (see images in ‘Sport’ below). Congratulations to Fox House for winning the carnival! The event was a perfect blend of competition and camaraderie, highlighting the strong House spirit that defines our community.

In other exciting news, the cast for our upcoming production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” has been announced. We are thrilled to have 71 students from Years 6-12 cast in this highly anticipated play, with many more set to take on backstage and technical production roles. This level of engagement is a testament to the incredible talent and passion of our students. Tickets are now on sales at Theatre North and are already selling fast so book tickets now.

Our Year 7 students return today from their camp at the Valley Campus, where they experienced the unique Valley Life program. The camp was an excellent opportunity for students to bond, develop new skills, and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the Valley Campus. Classroom routines are now well established, and students are settling into their learning environments with confidence and enthusiasm.

The Student Executive has been busy organising Clean Up Australia Day activities. Yesterday, students participated in a clean-up during Mentor time, and we encourage everyone to join the Community Clean Up Australia Day event on Sunday at the Scotch Oakburn Rowing Sheds on the Kanamaluka (Tamar) River between 11:00am – 2:00pm. This initiative is a wonderful example of our students’ commitment to environmental stewardship and community service.

We are also proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our rowers at the Tasmanian All Schools Championships at Lake Barrington last week (detailsin ‘Sport’ below). Their dedication and hard work have paid off, and they have represented our College with distinction. We wish our rowers every success through the final regattas of the season.

Overall, this fortnight has been a great snapshot of the holistic learning experience at our College. From sports and performing arts to education outdoors and community service, our students continue to excel and make us proud.

Ben Marsland
Deputy Principal – Penquite

Over the past two weeks, 100 students from Year 6 to Year 12 auditioned for this year’s College production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They showcased their talents, embodying the themes of friendship, loyalty, and destiny from J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world.

Our students demonstrated agility and courage, whether auditioning for iconic roles like Harry Potter and Hermione Granger or supporting characters. Their dedication and growth throughout this process have been remarkable. Congratulations to our cast members!

Tickets are now on sale at the Princess Theatre box office www.theatrenorth.com.au/soc-harry-potter-cursed-child. Don’t miss out on this magical performance in August!

Jack and Amy from our Student Executive provide an update on their community projects and invite our community to come along and support our Clean Up Australia project at the Scotch Oakburn Boatshed in Boland Street, Sunday 2 March.

Most parents would agree that if their child doesn’t see a point in doing something, they simply won’t do it. Given teens (in particular) can be very difficult to convince, cajole and persuade, motivating one can be near impossible.

Its important to note however that not feeling motivated hasn’t got much to do with motivation, its far more to do with the feelings of anxiety and worry. Motivation therefore has a lot to do with overcoming fears and fears as we know, loom larger if we avoid them.

Here is where parenting becomes difficult. No parent wants to see their child or teen upset at the thought of having to do something they really don’t want to do BUT if we let them avoid, their fears build up and confidence decreases. Many of us have had the experience of letting our child take a day off school due to wellbeing concerns (usually a big worry) only to find getting them there the next day even more challenging!

So how can we build on a child’s confidence and motivation?

Most people aren’t good at everything so working with your child’s strengths is a great starting point. Success and confidence in life is about doing more of what you are good at, what brings you joy and energy. When you focus on the things your child finds more enjoyable and easier they begin to find even the more difficult tasks tolerable.

For more information on how to develop your child’s confidence and motivation and other important topics concerning parents and impacting children please access Scotch Oakburn College’s subscription to School TV.

Confidence & Motivation | Scotch Oakburn College

Kylie Wolstencroft
Director Wellbeing – Penquite

We couldn’t have asked for a better day at our recent Community Golf Day! With 76 parents, Collegians, and community members coming together, it was more than just a game – it was about connecting, rekindling old friendships, and creating new ones.

From the beautiful weather to the great golf, there was no shortage of fun and countless laughs. Days like these remind us of the power of community and the joy of shared experiences.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made it unforgettable. We can’t wait to see you all again next year!

The TCE Agricultural Systems class have had a kickstart to the course, with a field trip to Tasmania’s North-West. Beginning with a stop at Tasmanian Berries at Exton, students had a tour of the new packing shed and chill room, research and development sheds and innovative blackberry sheds. This visit showcased important aspects of agribusiness and investment, as well as plant production systems. We also got to taste test some strawberry varieties (the verdict: all delicious).

At the Tasmania Institute of Agriculture (TIA)’s  Dairy Research Facility at Elliott, we were shown how technologies including real-time data collection, GPS fencing systems and robotic dairies can be used to improve efficiency and productivity. TIA’s research into feed additives and pasture fertiliser regimes provided valuable context for our ongoing learning into scientific thinking.

Our final stop was TIA’s Vegetable Research Facility at Forthside. Here, we were shown field trials of crops from hemp to peas and poppies to onions, all the while gaining further insights into how research can be used to solve agricultural problems.

A huge thanks must go to the staff from all three facilities for sharing their time and expertise with us.

Kate Gard
Teacher

Our Year 10 Enterprise elective class had the pleasure of hosting Madi Biggellaar, the driving force behind the Launceston Central initiative. Madi’s work in showcasing local businesses and fostering community connections through Launceston Central’s website is nothing short of remarkable. She also runs a fantastic side hustle, Launceston by Foot, offering engaging walking tours around our beautiful city.

During her class visit, Madi shared invaluable insights on the importance of persuasion and people skills in business. Our students were captivated and actively participated in brainstorming business ideas to create more meaningful community connections. Their goal? To build a stronger community among young people by reducing loneliness and creating more activities for them.

A huge thank you to Madi for her time and ideas! Our students left the session feeling motivated and ready to make a difference.

Joy Russell
Teacher

Penquite Inter-House Athletics

Thursday 20 February saw the 2025 Senior and Middle House Athletics Carnival held at the Northern Athletics Centre. In what was the largest number of entries we have had, the program was in full swing from 8:35 am to 3.25pm. There were many brilliant individual efforts on the day, however, the strong participation and effort from all Houses in the novelty events made for the closest Carnival in many years.

This year we had eight records broken in the program:

On the track:

U/21 200m Izzy Wing (Nance) 25.07, old record: 26.00 C Smith (Briggs 2008)
U/21 100m Izzy Wing (Nance) 12.44, old record: 13.00 C. Smith (Briggs 2008)
U/21 800m Sophie Marshall (Briggs) 2:16.14, old record: 2:19.10 J. Campbell-Smith (Briggs 1989)
U/21 400m Izy Wing (Nance) 1:00.57, old record: 1:01.00 B. King (Nance 1993)
U/17 4x100m Male Relay (Fox) 50.31, old record: 50.57 Dean (2018)

In the field:

U/21 Shot Put (3kg) Izzy Wing (Nance) 11.89, old record: 11.81 D. Wagner (Dean 2018)
U/21 Long Jump Izzy Wing (Nance) 5.89, old record: 5.06 J. Allen (Briggs 1985)
U/21 Triple Jump Izzy Wingy (Nance) 10.95, old record: 10.48 G. Carins (Briggs 1993)

A carnival of this size, with 700 students and over 300 events packed into 6.5 hours, does not happen without our staff and volunteers that assist on the day. I would like to thank our Grounds, HPE and Maintenance teams for setting up, our House Heads for organising their teams, Amanda Hardwicke for organising the transportation of many students, Michelle Stevenson, Andrew Nichols, Kendal Selby and Michelle Robins for the electronic programming and the hours that go into structuring the carnival, Paul McKendrick, Cale O’Keefe and Oliver Cook for coordinating the track and field, and Wim Vassen and Andy Prideaux for their work on the photo finish software at the track.

Lastly, all students are congratulated for their efforts. I hope everyone enjoyed the day and the challenge. It was a privilege to see your sportsmanship, courage, inclusivity, collaboration and compassion on display throughout the day.

Our Age Champions have been announced and a full list can be found on the athletics page of The Dash via this link.

Congratulations to Fox House for winning a very closely contested day.

Ali Foot
Head of Sport

Rowing

A very big congratulations to our College rowers. Our combined team finished first overall at the Tasmanian All Schools Championships over the weekend at Lake Barrington, with 10 Gold, 3 Silver and 9 Bronze. A fantastic team effort!