Sometimes the hardest part is simply getting started. The first step is simply to think about what interests you and then how you could develop one of those interests into a project.

Consider these elements:

• World issues/ problems that I am aware of - or that interest me
• Local community issues/ problems that I am aware of - or that interest me
• School or family situations that I am aware of - or that interest me
• Personal interests – what I enjoy doing
• Things you are passionate about – love or hate
• Other projects I have seen or heard about that interest me
• What I am good at
• What I am not good at
• Which of the global contexts do I most relate to? Why?
• Who might be able to help me during the Community Project process?
• Which type of service interests me most? Why?
• Which Global Context can I relate to? Why?

The Scotch College logo is the foundation of the School’s visual identity. It has been designed to encompass the many and varied facets of Scotch College and represents the School in all visual applications and in all media (e.g., printed publications, websites, advertisements). As the School’s most important visual identifier, the logo cannot be altered or adjusted. You are not permitted to attempt to redraw or rearrange it, or alter its colour in any way.

There exists minimum size and spacing requirements as well as logo placement, orientation and colour requirements, should you wish to use the School’s crest in any way in your Community Project. Electronic copies of the official logo are available upon request from the Marketing Department, 

Please note that if you wish to create a book or eBook it must conform to the following rules:

Non-Fiction

• a minimum of 40 pages
• be at least 50% text
• contain your own photos/illustrations/videos etc. (except for historical items)
• have a cover designed by yourself
• have a blurb
• be edited according to editor feedback (your editor must be identified in your journal and their feedback recorded)

Fiction Novel

• a minimum of 150 pages
• contain a complete story (not just Part 1)
• have a cover designed by yourself
• have a blurb
• be edited according to editor feedback (your editor must be identified in your journal and their feedback recorded)

Short Stories Collection

• a minimum of 10 stories at approximately 4 pages per story
• have a cover designed by yourself
• have a blurb
• be edited according to editor feedback (your editor must be identified in your journal and their feedback recorded)

Students at Scotch often consider fundraising for a worthy cause as part of their project. This is a caring and thoughtful approach to the project. For your Community Project, we strongly encourage you to consider an alternative project other than fundraising. Scotch already has fundraisers scheduled in for the year coming and they are consciously limited. If a whole lot of Year 8 Community Project students also tried to hold fundraising events, the community would likely feel ‘fundraiser fatigue’ where both participation and donation decreases.

After brainstorming other ways to serve your chosen area of need, if you still feel a fundraiser would be the best option, you must schedule a meeting to speak with your Community Project Teacher. If in special circumstances you are allowed to hold a fundraiser, there are a myriad of things which will need consideration below.

You will need to exercise some caution with how you tackle fundraising. Any event held on school grounds or using Scotch College facilities will need the express permission of the Head of Middle School, Mr Gill. You will need to apply in writing to the Head of Middle School should you wish to pursue this path with regards to your project.

To help with this process the Event Logistics form is available from your Community Project Coordinator. This must be submitted no later than the Tuesday of the final week of Summer Term for consideration by the Head of Middle School. You are not to proceed with any events or fundraising until you have confirmation that your proposal complies with the school’s operating procedures.

You may like to consider looking to the wider community – the local area in which you live, sporting clubs, church groups, associations to which you belong, to name but a few – to help you with your fundraising or event. As part of the International Baccalaureate’s philosophy, students are encouraged to be global citizens by considering the bigger picture and the impact their project has on the local and international environments. This includes looking to use resources which may be available to you outside of the Scotch community; after all, our students are aiming to be balanced risk-takers who strive to achieve their best by completing a project which may involve the wider community.

Boarding Students:

In addition to the permissions you need to seek above, Boarding Students must also have the permission of the Head of Middle School, Mr Gill, if looking to hold any on-campus fundraisers or events specifically for Boarding Students. This permission needs to be communicated to your Community Project Coordinator via email.

Social media platforms can be useful for ascertaining people's opinions, crowdfunding, or organising the collection of items. Students are advised to use social media platforms responsibly.

The following list provides examples of how social media can be used to benefit your Community Project:

• Facebook/Twitter - Seeking feedback to assist with decision making (ie. ask locals to identify an area of need in their local community, or contact an expert via Twitter)
• Pinterest/Instagram/Tumblr - ask for comments or suggestions
• Crowdfunding - research the most suitable platforms. Check the terms and conditions carefully to see what currency the donations are made in, if the platform will make payments to people/organisations in Australia, whether you need a parent to sign up on your behalf, etc.
• Change.org - Create a petition to gain public support
• YouTube/Vimeo - upload educational/instructional videos you have created to teach/inform a global audience

Should you wish to advertise an event that you are holding on the Scotch premises, we would advise that you resist the urge to advertise using social media such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Snapchat or any other such network. This form of advertising can all too easily get out of control and numbers can become unmanageable. Contacting local newspapers and/or local radio stations is a safer alternative.