Links - Term 2 Week 6 Dear Friend of PLC A Message From Deputy Principal, Chris RobinsonMr Guy VarndellThis week, we have the pleasure of featuring Mr Guy Varndell who took up the position of Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator this year. Although this has been a year like no other, the many challenges have also driven innovative approaches to extension learning at PLC that will transform both the activities we offer, as well as the means of delivery well into the future. Our Year 10 students had the opportunity to do their first round of Public Speaking using Teams and during the period of online learning, Year 11s and 12s successfully completed a full in-house round of Mock Trials. This experience will be invaluable as the competition resumes in an online capacity this week. PLC will also compete in our first Ethics Olympiad online against Mentone Grammar, in Victoria, later this month, in what promises to be the start of a fantastic new global network of schools. The Innovative Schools Scholar Programme (ISSP) at Curtin University has continued with our students accessing lectures and tutorials online, and enjoying great success. In summary, the adjustments have required some creative thinking but have resulted in far greater scope for us to make connections beyond Perth. As an institution with a genuine global focus, the benefits for students are significant and the next 12 months will see continued growth in our relationships with new partners. An online global community makes integrating extension activities easier logistically, and creates options for students with unique passions. - Chris Robinson, Deputy Principal World Environment Day TomorrowTomorrow is World Environment Day and the theme is, 'Time for Nature'! To celebrate PLC’s Senior Prefect focus on the environment this year, the Senior School Environmental Committee are gifting a package of everlasting seeds to all Senior School students and staff. Rhodanthe chlorocephala (Everlastings) are a native Australian daisy belonging to the family Asteraceae. They grow naturally in the south of Western Australia, extending into South Australia. Share Your Everlasting JourneyWe would love to see photos of you growing your everlasting seeds! Send a photo of you growing your seeds to the PLC Perth Facebook page, or email cande@plc.wa.edu.au. Sleep-out to Support Homelessness - IB CAS ProjectYear 11 IB student, Gaby Evans, is hosting a virtual sleep-out for Uniting WA (formerly UnitingCare West) on Friday 26 June, with all fundraising efforts going towards services that support vulnerable people in our community. To register your involvement, please return the permission slip to the Lighthouse reception or scan and email it to lighthouse@plc.wa.edu.au by 17 June 2020. Fundraising efforts are to be paid through Trybooking here. In the past week, I have enjoyed watching the challenging and engaging programme in action in all classes! Year 1 Virtual MuseumI was invited to the launch of the Year 1 Virtual Museum. The Museum was an impressive display of artefacts from families and the students' explanation of their significance. The students were then able to share their learning, and those of their peers, on their iPad. When speaking to the Year 1s, the depth and significance of what they had learned was clearly evident. Year 5 ProgrammingOn the same afternoon, I came across the Year 5s programming a wide variety of technology available to them, including: LittleBits, Make Block Neuron, Codey Rocky Robots, Lego WeDo 2.0 Robots, Micro:Bits and Brain Box Circuits. The level of collaboration, communication and problem-solving on display was impressive as students were trying to achieve their goals, whether launching rotors or chasing me with a robot! Parents Welcome Back on CampusNext week, as per the Government instructions, parents are welcome back on campus for drop-off and pick-up; another step toward normality for us all. Unfortunately, events such as assemblies are still not permitted. Additionally, we are waiting to see what restrictions are in place before finalising our plan for our three-way interviews at the end of the semester. - Richard Wright, Head of Junior School Best Dressed House Tutor GroupsWe have officially returned to winter uniform and it has been fantastic to see the girls in the Senior School wearing their uniform with pride. We have been rewarding the best dressed House Tutor Groups and I congratulate Year 7 McNeil, Year 7 Ferguson and Year 9 Ross for taking out the prizes for this week. Inter-House Sports CompetitionAs we begin to return to our new normal, I would encourage the girls to be involved in our Inter-House Sport competition. The girls are sent information each day outlining the activities on offer for that day and the next. Currently, each Year group is involved in a floorball competition. It has been great to see our girls staying active and getting involved. Students Making Staff SmileOur Student Council members continue to work hard on their initiatives. This week, staff were surprised when mysterious boxes of chocolates with thank-you notes appeared in offices around the school. The thoughtfulness of our students brought a smile to the face of our staff and is reflective of the thoughtfulness of the students at PLC. Welcoming More Students BackFinally, a welcome back to our students who have arrived back in Perth this week. It has been wonderful to have all our students back on campus now that our online learning has finished. - Rebecca Watts, Head of Senior School Looking for Backgammon BoardsYear 7 Ferguson House Tutor Group Co-ordinator, Mr Kerrigan is looking for eight backgammon boards to use with his House Tutor Group. If you have an old backgammon board that you can loan or donate, Mr Kerrigan would love to hear from you! From PLC Parents Chair, Michelle BarretResumption of PLC Parent Year Group EventsThe PLC Parent Executive recently met to discuss how our group moves forward in the coming weeks and months as a parent community. With the easing of restrictions we are looking forward to seeing our parent events start up again. Your Year group representatives will be in touch regarding up-coming Year group events, which will also be advertised in Links. PLC Parents Term 3 MeetingOur next PLC Parents meeting will be held on Tuesday 11 August in the Lighthouse Community Room at 8.45 am. Please contact the Chair, Michelle Barrett, with any agenda items. PLC Parents FundGiven the current climate of uncertainty regarding fundraising activities for 2020, the PLC Parents Executive have made the decision to postpone the deliberation of the PLC Parents Fund for 2020 (this was meant to take place in Term 2). We believe this will allow time for the community to assess appropriate needs once the full effect of COVID-19 has been established. This decision enables the committee to fund all existing commitments and to ensure that the PLC Parents Fund is in the best position to support projects or items as the need arises over the coming year. Term Fee Draw FundThe next round of the PLC Parent Term Fee Draw Fund is open. Applications are now being sought for funding of items or activities which focus on enhancing teaching and learning opportunities at PLC. Applications can be made for up to approximately $5,000. The next round of funding will be deliberated at the Term 3 meeting. Funding will be provided for two terms fee draws (2 x $5000, the funds raised from the Term 4, 2020 and Term 1, 2021 raffles). The most recent approvals have been for a new woodsaw for the Materials department and support for the Keys to Life driving awareness programme. Applications close at the end of the term. Please contact Melinda Hayes for any enquiries. PLC Open Garden DayWe are keen to see our PLC Community continue to strengthen during these times and with this in mind, our aim is for PLC Open Garden Day to still take place in 2020. There will be a number of alterations to the format to ensure that it adheres to any COVID-19 restrictions, but there are also some exciting opportunities. We are currently seeking expressions of interest from volunteers who would like to join the PLC Open Garden Day Committee. Please contact Kate McGee if you are interested in being involved. We are excited about the possibility of adding some virtual garden tours and events to the format and are seeking volunteers who may have skills in digital technologies, film making or editing. This new format provides some exciting opportunities to tour PLC gardens from further afield, including regional and international gardens. If you or someone you know has a garden which could be included, please contact Kate McGee. Given the change in circumstances for PLC Open Garden Day the OGD raffle for 2020 will be managed by PLC Parents as part of the OGD Committee. We are seeking a Raffle Co-ordinator who may be willing to assist with this role. All funds will be contributed to the PLC Parent Fund for 2021. Supporting each otherWe are thinking of all of our PLC families at this time and are keen to provide support where needed. Look out for those around you and offer support as required. Our PLC Parent Pastoral Care Co-ordinator, Jackie Lee, is also available at any time should any of our families need to reach out. We look forward to seeing many of our parents again soon. |