Scots College – Learning. For Life.

Mr Graeme Yule

1. 1. How long have you been Headmaster at Scots College? And what does your new additional role as Principal of the Senior School involve?
   I have been Headmaster at Scots College since 2007. During this time I have had overall responsibility for all aspects of College operation from Years 1-13, and day-to-day responsibility for Years 9-13. Under the new structure, I will maintain responsibility to the Board for all aspects of College operation for Years 1-13, and look after the Senior School operation with my Deputy, Mr Matthew Bertram.
2. How long have you been a teacher? And what schools have you taught at previously?
   I commenced my teaching career at Palmerston North Boys’ High School in 1985 and have also taught at New Plymouth Boys’ High School where I was HOD Commerce and Boarding Manager, and then St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton, where I was Deputy Headmaster.
3. What do you enjoy most about teaching?
   I was first attracted to teaching given my passion for sport and wish to be involved in coaching. Teaching is special in that you have a rich and rewarding career helping young people to develop their potential in many areas. Most of my career has seen a heavy focus on pastoral care, as well as things academic. Schools like Scots give you the opportunity to get to know your students well and really make a difference.
4. Who was your most memorable teacher when you were at school? and why?
   I remember Russell Drew reading us poetry as we walked through the gardens at Waitaki Boys’ High School. He was a great teacher.
5. What are you most looking forward to as Principal of the Senior School?
   The ability under the new structure to focus on the individual needs of each student, appropriate to their developmental age and stage.
6. What three things do you think are really exciting about the newly formed Senior School?
   a) Having the time and ability to focus with each student, on their development as an ‘all-round man’, and providing the support structures for students to realize their potential in academic, sporting, cultural, service and leadership.
   b) The opportunities the new facilities and programs create for Scots students.
   c) The opportunity for students to undertake the IB Diploma program.
7. What three things do you think Senior School students need to focus on to do well in their final three years at school?
   a) Making the most of the opportunities presented to them.
   b) Gaining the best academic results they can, which in turn opens doors for their futures.
   c) Developing their personal potential as citizens and leaders.
8. As Headmaster and Principal, do you also teach classes?
   Yes. In the past I have taught Business Studies and more recently Leadership. It is great to get out of the office and into the classroom.
9. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you like to be?
   I was advised when I left school to study Law, but in all honesty I couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.
10. Do you have any children? What age are they?
    Yes, three girls of school age. They would kill me if I told you more, after all it is embarrassing as a teenager having a Headmaster for a Dad.
11. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
    I am a self-confessed sports nut. I love watching school sport in particular. I try to play some golf, exercise and enjoy time spent with family. When time allows, a good meal and bottle of wine is enjoyed.

The Head Boy of the College undertakes both roles. He is ultimately responsible as the face and representative of all College students, from Years 1-13.

You can eat your lunch in the Common rooms, or the College Quad which is at the centre of the classrooms. If you choose to buy your lunch, you can purchase it from the Tuck Shop or the pre-order from the Boarding House, where you will eat lunch with the other students in Chartres Hall.

Year 13 students only, are permitted to leave the College grounds at lunch time to visit the local Strathmore shops.

There are eight Houses across the Senior and Middle Schools – Aitken, Fergusson, Glasgow, Mawson, MacKenzie, Plimmer, Smith and Uttley.

In the Senior School every new boy will be assigned to a House, either according to family links if they have a brother or family member who has attended the school, or alternatively boys are evenly allocated by staff to the eight Houses. Students remain in the same House for their time at the College.

There are approximately 60-65 boys in each House from Years 7-13, so it’s a great way to meet other students and make new friends of different ages. Every year a Yr 13 student is encouraged by his House Dean to undertake a leadership role within his House. They have the responsibility for leading and representing their House and working with the Dean to help organize House events and activities.

All eight Houses compete in a whole variety of school activities throughout the year – sports, music, drama, haka, a tug-of-war competition and beyond. House points are tallied at the end of each term and the year-long competition is fierce!

Every Friday you will wear No. 1’s - blazer, white shirt, long trousers, tie, socks and black school shoes, on other days you wear your No. 2 Uniform - blazer, grey shirt, long trousers, tie, socks and black school shoes.

When you have PE you change into your House t-shirt and shorts (Each House has its own colour).

Is there a uniform for special occasions?
On special occasions (such as an evening Chapel Services or end of year Prizegiving) you will be required to wear your No. 1 Uniform which includes a white shirt. Prefects will be issued with a kilt and sporran which must be worn when requested

Aitken House – Mr Adrian Slack
Fergusson House – Mr Geoff Charles
Glasgow House – Ms Philippa Lewis
Mawson House – Mr Phillip Smith
MacKenzie House – Mr Russell Holmes
Plimmer House – Mr Stuart Cook
Smith House – Mrs Rebecca Milne
Uttley House – Mrs Gillian MacDonald

The House Dean is your main point of contact if you or your parents have any queries or concerns or need further information about events and activities at the College. Basically, they’re your contact person and they are here to help. They want your time at school to be as successful, happy and productive as possible, and it’s their job to work with you and your family to help make it happen.

There are Common Rooms for Year 12 and Year 13, they are located in the Shelley building and open out to the central Quad in the middle of the College.

The overall House Competition is run in two parts – a Middle School House competition and a Senior House competition. While these are separate competitions, the points will be aggregated to obtain an overall House winner in the Caradus Shield.

While some competitions will be run separately, other events such as Cross Country may be run at the same time by both schools. Within each House competition there may be separate Year level sub-competitions.

Each day you need to be at school by 8.35am for Period 1 Class at 8.45am. There are six periods in each day and the Senior School runs on an alternating ‘A Week’ and ‘B Week’ scheduled timetable.

In Year 11-12 study periods must be spent at school and in Year 13 you have the option of studying off-site if you wish.

A House is a ‘vertical group’ of students from Years 7-13. Each House has a Middle section and a Senior section. All students from Year 11-13 will attend their respective weekly House meeting with their House Dean.

These meetings are to discuss upcoming sports and cultural events and activities, arrange social outings and service activities undertaken by the House. The House is also made up of smaller tutor groups.

It’s very important that if you are running late for a valid reason, that you and your Parent or Caregiver call the school and let us know in advance, otherwise you will be reported as absent and if we cannot locate you, we will report this to the police.

There is a special school absentee phone number that they need to call by 8.45am at the latest: 380 7588.

In Years 11-13 you will meet with your House Tutor Group, led by a teacher or ‘Tutor’ who is responsible for approximately 15 boys from a year level. The tutor groups are organised horizontally (ie Year 9, Year 10 etc). You will remain in the same tutor group and if possible with the same Tutor, until Year 13.

Tutor meetings are held weekly to make sure you’re up to speed with everything you need to know about your year group – events, activities, upcoming exams etc. Tutor groups provide both pastoral and academic support.

Each student in the Senior School chooses 6 subjects which they have once per day. Integrated into this are subjects such as Religious Education, Physical fitness and for IB students, TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and CAS (Creativity, Action and Service).

No, there is simply a Head of House who looks after Years 7-13, although there is a Junior Head of House, to help him with Middle School students.

School buses operate to and from Karori (via Kelburn) and the Railway Station (via Roseneath and Hataitai). Students pay for these services using a Snapper card. The school also runs a shuttle to and from Lower Hutt, and another one that connects with the East by West Ferry that operates between Days Bay and Seatoun.

Spaces on these shuttles are limited and if you are interested then you should contact the College Reception on 388 0850. View the Transport information at the College website.

All students travelling by public transport will be required to complete and sign a College code of conduct form.

The first person you should ask for help is your House Dean, followed by your House Tutor, and they will be able to help or direct you to the best support options. The most important thing is to tell someone as soon as possible, so that a plan can be put in place to help.

Scots is all about building the all-round man. Our students are heavily involved in a wide range of sporting, cultural, service and leadership activities.

There is a huge range of teams, groups and clubs that you can be part of at Scots. Here’s a list of some of the activities you might want to have a go at:

Athletics Badminton Basketball Cricket Cross Country Cycling / Mountain Biking Dragon Boating Football

Golf Handball Hockey Lifesaving Multi sport Rugby Shooting

Skiing & Snowboarding Table Tennis Tennis Underwater Hockey Volleyball Waterpolo Yachting

Chess Debating Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award

Drama Italian Club

Music Pipe Band

What sort of things will I need to see them about?

Mr Christian Zachariassen is in charge of Pastoral Care in the Senior School. He works with the Deans to ensure you are happy, productive and achieving at school, and if there is a problem, to help fix it. In turn the Deans work with your teachers, Tutor, sports coaches and other staff to make sure you’ve set some challenging goals for the year, and that you’re on track to achieve those goals.

If you need extra help in a subject, your Dean will meet with you and your parents to work out the best way to help you ensure you are making the most of all the opportunities at Scots. If you are late, misbehave or disregard the school rules Mr Zachariassen is also in charge of discipline, so be warned!

All year 13 students will have a Peer Support role.

Your Dean will allocate you a Year 9 student from your House, and you will be responsible for helping that student settle into school. These relationships are on-going and are an important part of your role as a Senior Leader in the College.

You may also be required to support students at other year levels – especially if they arrive new to the school during the year.

What sort of things will I need to see them about?

Mr Matthew Bertram (photo at left) is the Deputy Principal Curriculum for the College, and Mr Mathew White (photo below left) is in charge the IB Diplomma Programme in the Senior School. It is their job to help you select the best subjects for your interests and goals, and will work out your timetable so you can pursue as many of your chosen subjects as possible. If a specialist subject is not currently taught at the College, then they can help arrange for you to study by correspondence.

If you are having trouble doing your homework, not feeling challenged enough, or alternatively struggling to keep up in class, you can see Mr White and he’ll put in place some support for you.

 

The Senior School has its own weekly Assembly and a Chapel Service. In addition each House (Yr 7-13) has an annual House Chapel Service.

There are also special College wide services for Easter, Christmas and Founders.

Why does Scots College offer both NCEA and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma?

In the Senior School you will study NCEA to Level 1 in Year 11, and then in Yr12 you can choose whether you would like to continue on and complete the NCEA L2 & L3 qualifications, or alternatively, to do the 2 year IB Diploma. The main difference between New Zealand’s NCEA and the IB Diploma is the style of learning. The IB Diploma is part of the International Baccalaureate World School Curriculum (of which Scots College is a member), which means the qualification you receive is identical to that of school students internationally who achieve the IB Diploma each year. It also means your school qualifications are easily recognised by universities all over the world, so it can help streamline the process of applying to study overseas.

The IB Diploma is all about self-directed study, developing an independent learning style, a broad all-round education and the ability to tailor your subjects and projects to align with your personal interests. The IB programme will provide you with valuable learning skills that will enable you to transition confidently to tertiary level study. It is essentially a bridge for Senior students between school and university.

The Senior School Reception is based at the main College Reception in the Aitken building.

Yes! In response to popular demand, in 2012 we will introduce IB Film and IB Classics to our list of subject options.

All students in the Senior School are able to bring a mobile phone and a laptop or similar device to the College if they wish. There are also many desktops, tablets and laptops available for students to use while at the College.

Will I need to have one in the classroom?

No, they are not compulsory. There is also a sophisticated intranet “Scot-e” that students can use to manage their work.

The average class size in the senior school will be approximately 15. In most case IB and NCEA classes are separate, but in a few cases the NCEA and IB subject class will be combined.