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The Roar - Issue 25 Term 3 2026

Contents

Head of College - Mr Richard Ford

This week Junior School celebrated Book Week, and it was inspiring to see students thoroughly involved in activities focused on nurturing a love of reading. While Book Week’s focus is largely on reading fiction for pleasure, equally important is the role that reading has in assisting students to become critical thinkers and contributors in their community.

Katherine Rundell, author of the Impossible Creatures series, touched on this in an article earlier this month when she wrote, “I talk a great deal about reading for pleasure … I think we also need to talk to young people about reading to outrun and outfight injustice. Reading to get faster, swifter and tougher; to develop powers of scrutiny and criticism and huge creative imagination.”

Thank you to Mrs Davis, Ms MacKay and all teachers for their part in the Book Week celebration this week and the continuation of these celebrations later this term at Senior School.

Last weekend, the soccer season for the College’s 1st XI finished with a nail-biter of a game against St Patrick’s College Strathfield. At half-time the score was nil-all. Early in the second half, the College’s team was able to secure a goal and keep the pressure on through to the end of the game. Congratulations to the 1st XI and Mr Bishop for winning their second consecutive Grand Final, and thank you to families for your support of the team throughout the season.

On Tuesday this week, Ms Sargeant revealed to students the Senior School Musical for 2027, Midnight: The Cinderella Musical. With plenty of opportunity for students of all ages and varying abilities to participate, get ready for the familiar story of Cinderella to be given a contemporary twist and combined with memorable songs, theatrical spectacle and comedy. Students, including Year 6 students, are encouraged to audition or express interest in one of the many roles that need to be filled both on and off the stage. With the hope of having roughly one hundred students involved, we are heading back to BMEC for one of the largest productions the College has ever staged.

For The Arts at the College, the last week and the coming week have been full of opportunity for students as staff have supported involvement in HICES Music Festival, the State Band Competition and the local Bathurst Eisteddfod. Meanwhile, the Junior School Art Show is up and looking incredible, and next Saturday night, our Pipes and Drums will stage the annual Ceilidh in the Aikman Hall. Thank you to all the Arts staff who are supporting student participation in these events, along with the support being provided by parents. Finally, if you have not come along to a Ceilidh in the past, I would encourage you to secure your ticket here. You will marvel at the talent of the students who play and appreciate more of the traditions within the Band that have developed over the last sixty-nine years.

Mr Richard Ford
Head of College

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Senior School

Bathurst Eisteddfod Choir Days

The Senior Choir represented the College in the Secondary Schools Choral Championship and Years 7–12 Vocal Ensemble sections. Usually led by the talented Mrs Bate, the choir was conducted on this occasion by Ms Sargeant and accompanied by Mrs Miller. The group presented Skyfall by Adele and Royals by Lorde, with the adjudicator praising their “beautiful focus with heartfelt presentation, vocal balance and epic diction”. Their performances of Zombie by The Cranberries and Seasons of Love from Rent were equally impressive, with their harmonies described as “slick”, with “excellent vocal tone colour and quality”, resulting in an “engaging, professional standard of performance”. The choir was awarded 1st place in both sections, receiving a perfect score of 100, and was crowned the 2026 Secondary Vocal Champions. This outstanding result is a wonderful recognition of the students’ musicality, preparation, commitment and the high standard of choral music-making at the College.

Congratulations to all of our students on their outstanding performances and achievements.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble Competes at NSW State Band Championships

Following an exceptionally busy week at the HICES Music Festival, our Symphonic Wind Ensemble travelled to Penrith on Sunday afternoon and evening to compete in the NSW State Band Championships. The ensemble competed in the B Grade Youth Concert Band section against seven ensembles from across Sydney, including highly accomplished auditioned groups.

This year marked an exciting new challenge for the ensemble, having progressed to B Grade after winning the C Grade section last year. The standard of performance was exceptionally high, providing our students with a valuable opportunity not only to perform at a state level, but also to hear outstanding performances from their peers. Experiencing this level of music-making firsthand provided an important opportunity for students to broaden their musical understanding, develop their performance expectations and reflect on their own growth as musicians.

The ensemble presented its repertoire with credibility, integrity and musical maturity, achieving an outstanding 4th place in the Sacred Item. This is a tremendous achievement given the circumstances and the exceptionally high standard of the competition.

The ensemble was directed by Ms Sargeant, with the invaluable support of Mrs Bennett, Mrs Miller and Ms Hollie, whose teaching, tutoring and guidance play an essential role in developing the students’ musical skills and confidence. The ensemble also included nine Year 12 students, whose sustained dedication to the ensemble program is highly valued by both staff and fellow students.

A particularly proud achievement was that Scots All Saints College was the only regional NSW school to attend and compete at this year’s State Band Championships. Our students represented the College with commitment, musicianship and pride, continuing to demonstrate the strength and ambition of our regional music program.

HICES Music Festival 2026

This year, Scots All Saints College was proudly represented by 33 students from Years 5–12, accompanied by Ms Sargeant, Mrs Bennett, Mr Odell and Mrs Phillips, at HICES Music Camp at Stanwell Tops.

Students in Years 5–8 participated in the Band, Vocal and Strings programs, while Years 9–12 students joined the Jazz Academy, directed by Ms Sargeant. Throughout the camp, students worked with experienced conductors, tutors and guest musicians, developing their skills, confidence and ensemble awareness while forming new friendships with students from other schools.

The College had the highest student representation of all schools attending, in all ensembles offered, reflecting the dedication and commitment of our students and families, as well as the high standard of music-making within the College.

A highlight was the Jazz Academy Concert at Darling Quarter on Wednesday with guest performers Monica Trapaga and Dr Rob McWilliams, followed by a spectacular final concert at Sydney Town Hall. Many of our students were selected to perform solo features, providing them with an exciting opportunity to showcase their individual musicianship and confidence on stage. The concert culminated in a mass choir, with all participating students coming together to create a truly memorable musical experience.

Our students represented the College magnificently, demonstrating enthusiasm, musical ability, professionalism and a willingness to collaborate. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and grateful to the parents whose support made this experience possible.

Ms Liz Sargeant
Head of The Arts

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Junior School

Book Week

Today we saw all of the students and staff come dressed as their favourite book characters. Book Week always provides us with the opportunity to celebrate quality children’s literature.

Bathurst Eisteddfod

Our choirs proudly represented the College at the Bathurst Eisteddfod this week, with students from Kindergarten through to Year 12 delivering a wonderful series of performances.

The Junior School began the week on Tuesday evening, competing in the Open Scene from a Musical section. Their performance of Seussical was polished, energetic and highly entertaining, earning 3rd place from seven competitors. This is a particularly significant achievement, as the students were competing against high school and adult performers. Their success is a wonderful reflection of the quality of our musical theatre program, which nurtures students from Kindergarten through to Year 12. The students have been working towards this performance throughout the year and were thrilled to finally take to the stage at BMEC.

Our Kindergarten and Year 1 Choirs, accompanied by Mrs Tamsitt and Mrs Miller, also gave engaging performances that were warmly received by both the audience and adjudicator. Kindergarten was awarded 2nd place, while Year 1 achieved 3rd place.

The Junior School Choir then competed in the Year 3–6 Choir section and the Primary School Choral Championship. Their performances of Cantata Canon in Latin and One Voice were highly praised for their lyrical phrasing, musicality and unified, refined sound. The choir was awarded 2nd place in the Year 3–6 Choir section and took out 1st place in the Primary School Choral Championship for the second year in a row.

Year 5 Camp Out

Tomorrow, Friday 28 August, our Year 5 students have the opportunity of camping out in tents near our new fire circle. I look forward to joining them in what will be a fun experience.

Father’s Day Breakfast for Prep and Kindergarten

Next Thursday 3 September, all of our Prep and Kindergarten students will have their dads in for breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day. This year we will host the breakfast at the Innovation Centre.

Mr Chris Jackman
Head of Junior School

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Sports

Sports Draw

Primary CIS Athletics Qualifiers

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the Primary CIS Athletics Carnival, representing the HICES team: Isabella Carter, Charlie Fisk, Isla Fisk, Peggy Hunter, Brody Klower, Leanna Klower, Patrick Lenehan, Emilia Middleton, Aaliyah Minhajuddin, Samuel Reeks, Cooper Sutton, Olivia White and Archie Willis.

This is a fantastic achievement, and we wish you all the very best as you represent HICES at the CIS Athletics Carnival next Friday 4 September.

Senior Schools Netball Cup

Congratulations to all of our teams who competed in the Senior Schools Netball Cup.

Our 7/8 Girls team performed exceptionally well, finishing 3rd, while our 7/8 Boys, 9/10 Boys and 9/10 Girls teams all finished in the top two, qualifying for the next phase of the tournament.

Congratulations to all players and coaches on a fantastic effort. We wish our qualifying teams the very best as they progress through to the next stage of the competition.

Football Finals

Congratulations to our Under 12s and Under 13s Football teams, who have both qualified for the finals.

Reaching the finals is a fantastic achievement, and we wish both teams the very best as they look to finish their seasons strongly. Good luck to all players and coaches!

First XI Football Grand Final Win

Congratulations to the College First XI Football team who won their second consecutive Grand Final for this division in the ISA Football Competition on the weekend. Captained by Stone Ricketts (Year 12), the boys fought a close game against St Patrick’s College Strathfield with a scoreless first half and both teams trading field position. Our First XI boys came out from halftime with energy and momentum, leading to a valuable goal from Bryce Host (Year 12). They were able to keep the pressure on the opposition for the rest of the game, keeping the ball out of our half and winning the game 1-0. Thank you to Mr Andrew Bishop for coaching the First XI team to this success.

We had a wonderful turnout of supporters for the game! Thanks to all family, students and friends who made the journey to Sydney to cheer on the team.

Mr Dylan Slade
Sports Coordinator

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Book Buzz

Happy Book Week! We hope you enjoyed our Book Fair and Book Parade as we celebrated a ‘Symphony of Stories’ together this afternoon on the Junior campus. Keep an eye out for photos of all the great costumes worn by our staff and students.

This week in our 3-6 lessons, we continued our exploration of the CBCA shortlisted books while putting together our wish lists for the book fair. We were excited to learn that one of our favourite reads from the shortlist, Zeno Sworder’s ‘Once I Was a Giant’, won the 2026 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award, and we are keen to check out more of the winning books in the weeks to come.

Book Week will be celebrated on the Senior campus in Week 9 after our Year 12 Trials have been completed; watch this space for more information.

The Roar Recommends

Junior Campus

Younger Readers

Older Readers

Senior Campus

Junior Readers

Senior Readers

Happy Reading!

Mrs Angela Davis
Head of Library Services

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Careers

WHITE CARD – NSW Construction

Wednesday 9 September, 8:45-3:00 pm

Onsite: Scots All Saints College

Cost: $130

We will be offering this course again and now call for expressions of interest.

This useful qualification is nationally recognised and opens up great opportunities for casual labouring jobs over the summer. It is required in Year 11 and 12 if you choose VET subjects that require work placement.

The White Card gives you access to a wide range of job opportunities. Many think that this is needed only if you are working in construction, but it is needed for anyone who needs to access a work site with multiple trades. For example: surveyors, architects, landscapers, florists, fencers, archaeologists and even owner-builders!

If your son or daughter wishes to gain this qualification, please register their name with Ms Jones. The cost is $130 and will be billed to your account. It will be held at school in the library. Max 20 students.

University of Sydney Open Day 2026

Organisation: University of Sydney

Location: University of Sydney, Camperdown Campus

Date: 29 August 2026

Join us at the University of Sydney Open Day. Experience our vibrant student life on campus, hear from academics and current students and discover what makes us different.

Find out more

UTS Open Day 2026

Organisation: University of Technology Sydney

Location: University of Technology Sydney, City Campus

Date: 29 August 2026

Discover UTS. What you can expect at Open Day:

  • Ask questions about admissions, pathways and study options
  • Attend course information sessions
  • Speak with academics and current students
  • Explore labs and learning spaces
  • Learn about scholarships, accommodation and support services
  • Join guided campus and facility tours
  • Discover clubs, societies and student communities

Find out more

Notre Dame Open Day 2026, Sydney

Organisation: University of Notre Dame Australia

Location: University of Notre Dame, Sydney Campus

Date: 29 August 2026

Notre Dame’s Open Day is your chance to explore what university life is all about! You’ll discover study options, career pathways and our student support services. Plus, you’ll experience an exciting program filled with activities for future students.

Whether you’re in Year 10, 11 or 12, or a graduate thinking about postgrad study, our Open Day is open to everyone – including pathways and international students, who can chat with our dedicated team. Learn about scholarships and financial assistance to make your journey affordable.

Find out more

University of Newcastle Open Day 2026, Central Coast

Organisation: University of Newcastle

Location: University of Newcastle, Ourimbah & Gosford Campuses

Date: 29 August 2026

Open Day is packed with everything you need to know about going to the University of Newcastle. Participate in degree presentations, info sessions and tours of the campus.

Enjoy a hands-on experience with our program activations, and ask our student ambassadors questions about uni life.

Find out more

CSU Open Day 2026, Orange

Organisation: Charles Sturt University

Location: Charles Sturt University, Orange Campus

Date: 30 August 2026

Discover what uni life is like! Whether you’re in high school, looking to upskill, want to change careers, or are a parent, teacher or carer – there’s something for everyone.

  • Jump on a campus tour – explore our facilities and accommodation.
  • Get detailed info about courses.
  • Chat to current students about Charles Sturt life.
  • Be inspired by our expert teaching staff.
  • Discover the social side of life at Charles Sturt.
  • Enjoy live entertainment, giveaways, competitions and free food!

Plus, you can explore our expo, info, and career and skills hubs. Chat to our friendly teams about our support services, early offer programs and how to boost your hiring potential.

Find out more

Monash Information Evening – Webinar

Organisation: Monash University

Location: Online

Date: 1 September 2026

Choosing a university is a big decision.

Join our Monash webinar to have your questions answered and get the key details you need to plan your next step.

You’ll discover what it’s like to study at Monash, and hear about our courses, accommodation, scholarships, support services and campus life. You’ll also gain insights about moving to Monash and settling in.

This session is ideal if you’re:

  • Considering moving from interstate, or
  • From regional or rural Victoria, or
  • Live in Melbourne and are keen to know more about Monash.

Register now to secure your place.

Find out more

ACU Open Day 2026, North Sydney

Organisation: Australian Catholic University

Location: Australian Catholic University, North Sydney Campus

Date: 5 September 2026

Open Day gives you the opportunity to ask our teaching staff any questions you might have about your dream course, the application process, pathway options, entry schemes and more.

Chat to current students and discover the facilities your new campus has to offer. And sit in on information sessions from each of the faculties to find out more about the courses you’re interested in.

Find out more

UNSW Open Day 2026

Organisation: University of New South Wales

Location: University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus

Date: 5 September 2026

Open Day is an opportunity for future students, family, alumni and community members to explore everything a university has to offer, so they can make an informed decision about their future.

Whether you’re starting uni soon, considering postgraduate studies or just curious, UNSW Open Day is a chance to discover UNSW and find out everything the University has to offer. At UNSW Open Day, we’ll help you find your unique path to uni, and you’ll discover the progress you could make as one of Australia’s most employable graduates.

There will be more than 200 sessions available to help you explore your study options, tour our buzzing campuses, enjoy the free food – you’ll get expert advice and have fun while you’re at it.

Find out more

Study Law at Sydney – Webinar for Future Students

Organisation: University of Sydney

Location: Online

Date: 27 August 2026

Join us ahead of Open Day to explore what it’s like to study law at the University of Sydney.

Our law degrees equip you for a rewarding and intellectually challenging career in legal practice, combined with expertise in an additional discipline of your choice.

In this webinar, we’ll take you through the student experience and outline the pathways to studying law at Sydney, including our undergraduate combined law degrees, transfer options, and the Juris Doctor.

You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A with our specialist team, helping you make the most of Open Day.

Find out more

ADF Trade Careers Virtual Information Session

Organisation: Australian Defence Force

Location: Online

Date: 27 August 2026

Apply your existing trade skills or receive world-class training in order to work with formidable military assets and enjoy the many benefits of a career in the Australian Defence Force.

To find out more about available trade roles, come along to an info session and speak with current serving personnel.

It is highly recommended you book as soon as possible to avoid missing out, as places are strictly limited!

Find out more

Sydney West Careers & Employment Expo 2026

Organisation: Kym Jones Exhibitions

Location: Sydney Showground

Date: 28 to 29 August 2026

The Sydney West Careers and Employment Expo will be at the Sydney Showground – Hall 4. The Expo will showcase over 80 organisations and employers with career opportunities for all ages. Entry is free.

The event is for school students, parents, teachers, graduates, job seekers, people looking for courses, and workers seeking new opportunities.

The Expo is packed with free advice, where you can:

  • Talk with over 80 training organisations and employers
  • Gain free career advice
  • Discover jobs of the future
  • Talk with leading organisations about training and apprenticeships
  • Experience the free career seminars
  • Learn how to write a winning resume

If you’re looking for a job, career change, or course, or you’re a school student looking for a career path, you can’t afford to miss the Expo.

Find out more

Study biomedical engineering at Sydney – Webinar for Future Students

Organisation: University of Sydney

Location: Online

Date: 2 September 2026

Discover how biomedical engineers improve lives by designing technologies and explore how to make a real-world difference.

Find out more

ACU Year 12 HSC Revision Webinars

Organisation: Australian Catholic University

Location: Online

Date: 7 to 10 September 2026

Worried about your Year 12 exams? You’re not alone.

Join our free online webinars from 7 – 10 September 2026. They are live, expert-led sessions designed to help you walk into your exams feeling prepared.

Can’t attend live? Register anyway – recordings are available to registered attendees for one week after each webinar.

Find out more

Exploring oral health at Sydney – Webinar for Future Students

Organisation: University of Sydney

Location: Online

Date: 9 September 2026

Discover the University of Sydney’s Bachelor of Oral Health and the rewarding careers it leads to. Learn about course structure, entry pathways, and professional outcomes. Explore a first-in-Australia initiative supporting Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students to pursue careers in oral health.

Find out more

Mrs Helen Jones
Career Development Officer

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Events & Announcements

To donate to the Mural Project, click HERE

This is a FREE event. Tickets are essential. Click HERE to book your tickets.

To be your ticket click HERE

For more information click HERE

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From The Archives

John Garretty

John Garretty’s family have advised that he sadly died recently, and has given permission for us to post a tribute to him on this page.

John joined The Scots School in 1981 as a specialist Geography teacher. At the time, he was a resident of Oberon, and until he moved to Kelso, he commuted to Bathurst each day, while Mrs Garretty commuted back to Oberon, where she taught at Oberon High School. As was the case at the time, he coached the obligatory Cricket and Rugby teams. For many years he made a specialty of coaching the 12 Years Rugby side.

John had many duties at Scots over the years. He took over selection of the Saturday night film for the boarders from Ian Pike. He had quite a sound knowledge of 16mm film projectors and how they worked. He was also a specialist in outdoor activities and was involved at various levels in the School’s outdoor education program. This included organising camps for various groups, and planning courses for orienteering and rogaining. His interest in outdoor activities often meant that his students were taken out of the classroom on excursions that included Year 10 visiting Canberra, Year 11’s Fluvial excursion, and many more for other years.

Having grown up around the Blayney-Carcoar area, John’s knowledge of local geographical and historical sites was extraordinary. Mr Maher cannot drive past the cutting on the Great Western Highway without thinking of the boulder that sits in it that John Garretty says was left there by a glacier many millions of years ago. He also knew of the site of the old butter factory on the Highway between Blayney and Cowra.

Past student Matthew Irvine commented on Facebook:

I remember him enthusiastically explaining how water falling on one side of the Rydal-Hampton Road ran into the Sydney catchment and into the ocean via the Hawkesbury, whilst raindrops falling on the other side of the road flowed into the Macquarie catchment and eventually made the ocean in South Australia via the Murray.

Similarly, he could explain why Bathurst flooded simply by showing pictures of the river channel at Dunkeld, where the Macquarie is forced into a pass barely 50 metres wide, after having crossed expansive flood plains several kilometres across.

And let’s not forget – he could fill a chalkboard with notes faster than we could run to the dining hall line when ‘Seconds’ was called…

Another of John’s former students has commented on his “massive intellect”. John was a superb critical thinker. He could turn a phrase, and briefed his students on the buzzwords doing the rounds of academic circles such as “heuristic” and “hermeneutics”.

Former Headmaster Dr Andrew Thornley said of John, “He was a very capable, conscientious and caring teacher.” It was appropriate that John should have been appointed as Director of Student Welfare, a task that he discharged with strictness but compassion. There were touches of Garretty humour. With Scots going co-educational at the same time as John took on the welfare role, there were inevitably a few instances where signs of affection went a bit too far. John recorded one instance where a boy and a girl had been “inspecting each other’s faces”.

There were big changes in education and schools in the early 2000s, and John was responsible for navigating Scots through many of these. As Head of HSIE, he saw enrolments in his beloved HSC Geography fall off, but there was development of new subjects such as Studies of Religion and Legal Studies that John quickly embraced and promoted. His interest in legal issues coincided with the legal profession taking a great interest in schools and their accountability. He told one story of attending a conference for school administrators where one of the speakers, from a large law firm, forgetting who her audience was, proclaimed that litigation in schools was a potential growth area for the legal profession. What he learned at events like this proved very valuable when it became a requirement for schools to have written policies on a range of issues. He was described by one Deputy Head as “a policy wonk”, and his writings helped the school pass inspections in 2006 and 2011.

Our best wishes go out at this sad time to Mrs Leigh Garretty, and to Michael and Laura, who are both former students of The Scots School.

Mr Andrew Maher
Archives

Photo 1: Geographers are in academic heaven with a sol profile, and this one was on site in 1985 when the site for the Design and Technology Block was undertaken

Photo 2: John Garretty was on the HSIE staff at The Scots School for 31 years, 1981-2012.

Photo 3: Ian Doney and John Garretty in 2012.

Photo 4: John always enjoyed a good spelling mistake! In 1993 he found a fairly obvious one at Boronore Caves.

Photo 5: John Garretty on an outdoor education camp at Yetholme in 2007.

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Calendar

Friday 28 August
JS Art Show & IPSHA
Year 10 PASS Excursion

Monday 31 August
P&F Meeting Senior School 7:00pm

Tuesday 1 September
Year 10 PASS Excursion

Thursday 3 September
Prep & Kindy Father’s Day Breakfast

Friday 4 September
SS Father’s Day Breakfast

Saturday 5 September
Pipes & Drums Ceilidh 6:00-9:00 pm

The latest Term Dates can be found on our website HERE

SS: Senior School JS: Junior School

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