As we come to the end of Term 2, our principal, Ross Patterson, reflects on just how much life, colour, and joy has filled our College over the past few weeks and throughout the term.

On the weekend of 13–14 June, members of the Scotch Oakburn College Board and College Executive Team gathered for a dedicated planning retreat. I remain deeply grateful to our Board members who, as committed volunteers, gave their time so generously to engage in thoughtful and future-focused dialogue about our College.

From the outset, there was a clear sense of purpose. The retreat offered an important opportunity to step back from the pace of daily school life and to reflect carefully on where we are, and where we need to go. Conversation was considered and wide-ranging, as we explored both the opportunities ahead and the headwinds, we must navigate in an increasingly complex educational and economic landscape. Pleasingly, it is important to note that throughout, there was a shared commitment to ensuring Scotch Oakburn continues to provide an outstanding and enduring educational experience for our students.

A particularly energising and significant focus of the weekend was the continued development of SOC2035, our bold 15-year strategic vision. When this vision was first established, the global context was markedly different. Since that time, we have collectively experienced a global pandemic, rapid advancements in technology including the rise of artificial intelligence, and ongoing economic pressures. What stood out in our discussions was the strength and clarity of the original vision, alongside a recognition that its expression must evolve to reflect today’s context while celebrating the considerable achievements already realised.

As the retreat concluded, there was a strong sense of alignment, momentum and shared purpose. Throughout Semester 2 we look forward to sharing further updates with our community as this important work continues to unfold.

Ross Patterson
Principal

This Term, a Humanities and Social Science/English unit has provided opportunities for  Year 6 students to be creative while developing and exploring reasons why people migrated to Australia.

The students have used historical inquiry skills to locate and research a migrant story.  They then created a suitcase of artifacts and primary documents and wrote a statement about the push/pull factors of migration and migrant contribution to Australia to help them gain an understanding of the impact migration had on Australia as a nation. Students then presented there suitcase story to the class.

Anne Jones and Harry Gregory 
Teachers 

During Term 2, Early Learning Shephard were invited to participate in a collaborative project with Year 8 Textiles students. With support from their Year 8 buddies, the Early Learning students sketched imaginative designs of their favourite monsters. The older students then interpreted these creations and brought them to life as soft toys.

As a part of the project, the Early Learning students visited the Penquite Campus to see the progress of their toys and learn more about the creative process behind their construction. The younger students also tried their hand at some sewing, creating a small heart‑shaped gift to give back to their Year 8 buddies. When the soft toys were finally completed, the Early Learning students were absolutely delighted.

This partnership offers a unique opportunity for students across year levels to work together, share ideas, and explore how designs can be transformed through different materials.

Andrea Shephard
Teacher

As one of Tasmania’s premier public speaking events, attracting talented students from across the state, we were very pleased to host Rostrum’s State Final on Saturday 20 June.

We were ably represented by three of our best orators: Max Wilson (Year 9), who finished Runner Up in the Junior Division, Peggy Handbury (Year 9) and Shiv Kataria (Year 10). Each speaker brought their own unique strengths and challenged audiences on a range of worldly issues.

Our warm congratulations to our representatives and also to Rostrum who continue to support youth and provide wonderful opportunities for our students to flourish in confidence.

Katie Lester
Person-in-Charge of Public Speaking

The Early Learning Erina team joined their children and families to share a very special Bush Learning at Dusk experience at Scotch Oakburn Park Wetlands. The evening provided the opportunity for our Kinder families to share in the joy of outdoor learning and see the Wetlands through the eyes of the children.

Our students were wonderful guides for their families as they shared the spaces they have been exploring as part of our Bush Learning program this Term. Families were encouraged to revisit their child’s investigations, listen to their wonderings and ask questions to find out more about the thinking that has shaped their learning.

Earlier that morning, the children had spent time with the College’s Head of Experiential Learning, Mark Hassell, learning about fire making and cooking damper on a stick. Building on this experience, toasting marshmallows around the warm fire was a highlight of our evening.

Bush Learning at Dusk was a celebration of curiosity, connection, and community. It offered a new perspective of a familiar space for the children as the darkness arrived and clearly highlighted the strong connections with each other, our families and the world around us that are such an important part of our Early Learning programs.

Andrea Shephard, Catriona Hurd and Amy McCausland
Early Learning Erina Team

The Elphin Student Representative Council (SRC) has been actively engaged in meaningful projects this Term, demonstrating a strong commitment to student voice, connection, and safety across the College.

One of the SRC’s current focuses has been gathering feedback from our youngest learners in Prep and Year 1. Recognising the important role that play has in building friendships and developing skills, SRC members have been collecting data on the types of balls students would most enjoy using in the playground. Our Year 1 and Year 2 class reps have surveyed Prep and Year 1 classes to ensure that the equipment available reflects student preferences and encourages inclusive, active play. This initiative highlights the importance of even our youngest students having a voice in decisions that impact their daily experiences.

SRC members have also recently met with College Services Manager, Mr Adrian Brock, to learn more about the processes involved in making changes to our Elphin Campus environment. A key focus of this discussion was the potential introduction of ‘walking zones’ in selected areas of the College to support student safety. The meeting provided valuable insight into the considerations, planning, and approvals required to implement such initiatives effectively. Students gained a deeper understanding of how ideas move from concept to action, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and communication.

Looking ahead, SRC students and Round Square Captains are excited about the progress made so far and are eager to see these initiatives come to life. The data collected and the knowledge gained this term will be handed over to a new cohort of Year 1 – 4 student representatives from the start of next Term. Together, they will take the next steps in turning ideas into action for the benefit of the entire College community.

We commend our inaugural SRC members for their enthusiasm, initiative, and thoughtful approach to leadership for this Semester. Their efforts are a wonderful example of student voice in action and a reminder that small ideas can lead to meaningful change.

Renee Hodgetts
Director of Wellbeing – Elphin

Twenty-one Junior School students proudly represented Scotch Oakburn at the Term 2 Interschool Chess Tournament, held at Riverside High School. The event brought together talented young players from across the region for a day of strategic thinking and friendly competition.

Our students demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, focus, and resilience throughout the tournament, placing third in the Primary Division. An outstanding result and a testament to the students’ preparation and teamwork.

Special congratulations go to Jason Wu (Year 5), Charles Clifton (Year 5), Alex Chong (Year 6), and Theo Gillespie (Year 4), who each earned medals for their strong performances.

This impressive team result also means that six Scotch Oakburn students have qualified for the State Finals, to be held in Term 4. This is a fantastic achievement and an exciting opportunity to compete at a higher level.

Well done to all participants for representing the school with pride. We look forward to cheering on our finalists later this year!

Riley Jones
Person-in-Charge Junior Chess

The spirit of service was on full display across the College as students and staff united behind the 2026 World’s Greatest Shave, a Round Square service project that raised an extraordinary $21,500 for the Leukaemia Foundation. More than double our original goal of $10,000.

Mr Stuart Walls, our Director of Round Square, notes that the project reflected one of Round Square’s core ISEALS. “The Service IDEAL is fundamental to everything about Round Square,” Mr Walls said. “The Round Square Committee set out to support both the College and wider Tasmanian communities through vital leukaemia research. Their leadership inspired participation across the Elphin and Penquite campuses and helped achieve a remarkable result.”

This year marked a milestone, with the Junior School participating for the first time, and the response from students and staff was overwhelming. A highlight of the day was seeing our College Captains, Calan and Bella, shave their heads in support of the Leukaemia Foundation, while Boarding Captain Allegra donated her hair to support people experiencing hair loss during treatment.

As they sat in the chair, students gathered to cheer them on, creating an atmosphere of strong community support. Their actions reflected the generosity and compassion valued at Scotch Oakburn.

The event also included a vibrant Wacky Hair Day, with creative styles across the Junior School. Students embracing creative hairstyles ranging from noodle-themed creations to balloon-decorated designs, with the campus filled with colour, laughter and school spirit, making the inaugural event both memorable and meaningful.

At the Penquite Campus, enthusiasm continued during our Round Square assembly, where 18 students and staff shaved, cut or coloured their hair to raise further funds and awareness.

The atmosphere in the HPEC was electric as students, staff and supporters came together. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the original fundraising goal was far surpassed. We would like to give a special recognition to Ms Helen Dosser, who honoured her promise to shave her head if $10,000 was reached.

Ms Dosser said “What I did not expect was how much the shave itself would change my understanding of the cause. Going without my hair has made me visible in a way I had not foreseen. It has made me obvious. At times, it has made me feel genuinely vulnerable. I have noticed the second glances, the moments of uncertainty in how people respond, and the quiet awareness of looking different from how I looked before. And in those moments, something shifted for me.

“I came to realise that leukaemia, and illnesses like it, are not only about a devastating diagnosis that must be met with medical care and research funding, important as those things are. They are also about the visible signs that a person carries with them, often without choice, and the way the world responds to those signs. The vulnerability I feel is temporary and entirely of my own making. For many people, it is neither. That realisation has stayed with me, and I hope it stays with our community too.”

The Round Square Committee thanks everyone who donated, volunteered and showed their support. Together, the community made a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by blood cancer while demonstrating the power of service, leadership and compassion.

Oscar Mann, Fergus Stewart and Lucy van der Aa
Round Square Chairs

My most memorable experience from my Round Square exchange here in Germany so far has been a canoe trip that we went on. One afternoon after school, all the international students came together for a fun canoeing trip along the river that runs through Roßleben. I shared a boat with my exchange partner and a friend from Switzerland, and together with the others we travelled along the river for around two hours. This experience was definitely a highlight for me as I just had a blast becoming friends with students from different countries and learning about their lives and cultures.

The most confronting experience for me by far has been the language barrier. It has taken some time to adjust to the language and being surrounded by conversations that I often cannot understand. However, I am so incredibly grateful to Imogen, my exchange partner, who has helped me adjust to this change, as well as everyone around me who makes the effort to speak to me in English, even when it’s not their first language. Their support has made settling in much easier and has helped me feel more comfortable in this new environment.

One thing I would like to bring back to Scotch Oakburn is the positive and welcoming attitude that I have gained from my experience here in Germany. Both the students and teachers have been very supportive and have made a real effort to include me despite the language barrier. I want to bring back that same sense of inclusion to Scotch Oakburn, so every student feels at home and can learn with others altogether.

A noticeable difference here compared to back home, is the location of the school itself. Here at Klosterschule Roßleben, they are located in a small town, where nature completely surrounds everything. They have access to large outdoor nature spaces, which stretch out into forest areas. They even have an outdoor “green” classroom, where classes have the opportunity to take their work outside and spend whole lessons in the nature, no matter the subject.

Isabelle Kriz
Year 10

This week 46 Year 10 students have been out in the “real world” of work, experiencing a wide variety of occupations in over 60 workplaces in and around Launceston and in other parts of the state.

Teaching, veterinary science, IT, trades, hospitality, business, agriculture, health professions, architecture, engineering … the huge variety of career options being investigated during our work experience week has given students the opportunity to “test drive” future career ideas, as well as providing opportunities for valuable learning about education and training pathways.

This experience inevitably results in students returning to school with a renewed appreciation of the value and relevance of their learning, in preparation for their TCE years and beyond.

The Futures Centre Team

The Year 10 Passion Project class recently welcomed back former student Nic Draper (’19), now serving as a First Constable in Prosecutions in Launceston.

Nic visited the class to share insights into his journey from school to policing, offering students a valuable real-world perspective on career pathways. He spoke openly about his experiences and enjoyed reconnecting with the College, saying he “loved coming back and sharing stories with the students.”

During his visit, Nic reviewed a student project by Mackenzie Morgan focused on becoming a police officer across different Australian states. He was impressed by the work, noting that it was current, clearly presented and showed strong understanding.

Students embraced the opportunity to ask questions about his career, gaining practical insights and inspiration as they continue exploring their own ideas through the Passion Project elective.

Joy Russell
Teacher

For the past couple of weeks, I have been lucky enough to attend Birklehof Internat Schule in the Black Forest region of Germany. It has been lovely to escape the icy Tasmanian winters to go #eurosummering with most days so far being 28 degrees or more.

Whilst here, I’ve had a number of adventures from big Alumni events to my first visit to the school club, though the most memorable was accidentally signing up for a 18km interschool race around a lake. The lake was probably the biggest lake in the world, or at least it definitely felt like that whilst running, especially in the 32 degree weather, but the swim afterwards made the run all worth it.

Birklehof operates very differently to Scotch Oakburn, having very different rules to us. With only 250 students from Year 5 to 12 (with 210 of those boarders) it is a very small community, with everyone knowing everyone. The school’s main gathering time is lunch, a formal provided meal everyday to both internal and external students. You don’t sit until a bell rings and you don’t leave until a bell rings.

In other ways, Birklehof is more relaxed than here, for example, having no uniform. Classes are a lot more relaxed and most teachers live on campus. The campus has many boarding houses which you can visit and you can come and go from the school as you please.

Something that I have really enjoyed in the European countries I’ve visited so far is the public transport. Most places are accessible by bus, train or tram and it is very easy to go between smaller towns and cities. It’s very cost effective, time saving, as well as environmentally friendly. Another thing I’ve loved is all the desserts like apple strudel and other very yummy dishes. In the coming weeks I am leaving for a two-week hike in Norway with some people in my class, which I am looking forward to. So far, I’ve really enjoyed my exchange, and it is flying by.

Olive Kwan
Year 10 Student

Our TCE Outdoor Leadership class headed to Freycinet recently for a three-day bushwalk around the peninsula.

The students completed all the planning for the trip, including logistics, budget, menus, risk management, and equipment. Once on the trip they took turns in leading different sections of the trip, doing all the navigation and ensuring they managed the group well.

Although there were a couple of light showers on the first day, fine weather prevailed for the rest of the hike. It was a fantastic trip in a beautiful part of the world, and all students thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Mark Hassell
Head of Experiential Learning

This August, travel to the underworld and back in a powerful, moving, and unforgettable production of Hadestown: Teen Edition, performed by our talented senior students.

With a stunning contemporary folk-inspired score and a timeless story of love, hope, and resilience, this Broadway sensation is brought to life by some of Scotch Oakburn’s brightest young performers.

Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 August
Horton Auditorium, Scotch Oakburn College
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/hadestownteen

Whether you’re a theatre lover, music enthusiast, or looking for a fantastic night out, this is a production you won’t want to miss.

August is not far away so don’t wait until the start of Term 3. Book now and support the next generation of performing artists!

As Term 2 and Semester 1 draws to a close, it is an opportunity to celebrate the many ways our students have lived out our College Values of Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Commitment and Courage.

Across both campuses, students from Early Learning to Year 12 have demonstrated these values through service, leadership and community involvement. Students have participated in National Reconciliation Week activities, served as leaders at the Elphin Inter-House Cross Country Carnival, supported younger students through Smith Family Buddy Reading, and volunteered in the community through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Our students have also made a meaningful contribution through Education Outdoors leadership programs, EY8 Community Service Projects, visits to Fred French Nursing Home, the Red Shield Appeal, and a range of fundraising initiatives.

In 2026, students have contributed more than $25,000 through activities including the MND Big Freeze, World’s Greatest Shave and other charitable causes, demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting others and making a positive difference in the community.

As we conclude the Semester, we thank our students, staff and families for helping create a community where values, belonging and community are more than words, they are demonstrated every day through service, leadership and care for others.

Together in Thanks

As Semester 1 comes to an end, we give thanks for the friendships, learning and opportunities we have shared.

We are grateful for the many ways our students have served others, shown kindness, and lived our Values in action.

We also give thanks for those who are finishing their time with us, wishing them all the very best as they begin a new chapter in their journey.

May the holiday break bring rest, joy and renewal for all members of our community, and may we return next Term refreshed, ready to learn, serve and grow together.

Jamie Breden
Head of Faith and Community

Equestrian

Scotch Oakburn riders were celebrated for their outstanding achievements at the Equestrian Tasmania Awards recently, highlighting both individual success and team selection for upcoming national competition.

Darcy Watkins (Year 3) was awarded Junior Showhorse Member of the Year, recognising her excellent dedication and success in the sport.

The Tasmanian team for the National Interschools Championships in September at Werribee was also acknowledged, with riders presented their team caps. Several Scotch Oakburn riders were named in the team, including Year 12 students Lucy Johnston (captain) and Meg Kilby  (vice captain), Zoe Nichols (Year 9), Aggie Lyne (Year 10) and Marnie Lyne (Year 7).

A highlight of the evening was a visit from Greg Miles OAM, legendary race caller of 36 Melbourne Cups, who attended with the Melbourne Cup trophy.

Congratulations to Darcy and all riders representing Tasmania at the upcoming championships.

Joy Russell
Person-in-Charge of Equestrian

Road Walking

Amber Barritt (Year 4) recently competed in the Tasmanian All Schools Road Walks Championships, placing second in her category.

We are pleased to provide a community news section in our news highlighting events in the wider Launceston community that may be of interest to families. Included this week:

Parent/Carer Workshops

• Just Swim School holiday program