Dear Friend of PLC A little over ten years ago, Francis and Skeleton (Reassessing Gender and Achievement) wrote about gender differences in the selection of curriculum subjects, arguing that once subject choice was introduced during the final years of schooling, there is a tendency to perpetuate choices that are highly gendered. The research suggests that traditional subject selection patterns were particularly apparent when conversations were held with students about the subjects they disliked and, therefore, did not select. Fast forward
a decade and data from the OECD Education at a Glance 2017 indicates gender parity with respect to enrolment at tertiary level has almost been achieved in business administration and law, natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, and in health and welfare fields, three out of four entrant are women. But the challenge still remains in engineering, manufacturing and construction with women only accounting for one in four entrants. Selection Process So why is it that gender parity
is still elusive in these discipline areas? With increasing focus on innovation, the growing importance of developing transferable skills and expanding career opportunities in STEM-related fields it is something that requires answers. At PLC, we have a strong tradition of participation and performance in the Physical Sciences with approximately 50% of our girls in 2017 graduating having successfully studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics to pre-University Mathematics. These strong statistics do not, however, convert into post-schooling pathways, with only 4% of our 2017 cohort enrolling in the field of Engineering and Related Technologies. So how do we continue to challenge the remaining traditional stereotypes? Perhaps the educator John Dewey’s catch and hold philosophy is the key – where first the individual’s interest must be captured and then it must be maintained. Here lies a challenge for us as educators – fostering passion, providing choice and facilitating the pursuit of individual student interest. As we enter the Subject Selection Process for 2018, I encourage the girls in Year 10 to consider and reflect on their passions and interests.
As we enter the Subject Selection Process for 2018, I encourage the girls in Year 10 to consider and reflect on their passions and interests. Approach the selection with an open mind and focus on making choices that are well informed. It is normal to be unsure about what to select or where it might be heading. Over the coming weeks, there will be numerous opportunities to ask questions of your peers and teachers to help inform your decisions. I encourage you to seize the opportunity with the understanding that sometimes the answer will come from the conversations about the subjects that you may currently dislike.
Don’t forget to get your ticket to PLC’s Night of Inspiration on Friday 18 May at Fraser’s Restaurant. This will be a fabulous night where we can all come together to celebrate our PLC Community. Dixie Marshall with be our MC for the evening, with a couch interview with 5 fabulous PLC Old Collegians: Rebecca Grace (1983) – Natures Artist/Florist
Kate Stannage (1989) Doctor
Jane Humphrys (1992) Fire Fighter
Fiona Boyce (2004) Hockey Olympian
Grace Newton-Wordsworth (2013) Singer Our guests will share stories of their time at PLC and what they have accomplished since leaving PLC. The stories are both inspiring and courageous, and that is what makes our PLC Girls. Then we will have Sam Legge (1984) and The Lush Band, so do not forget to bring your dancing shoes! Friday 4 May Tartan Lawyers Legal Breakfast – An Industry in Transition, 7.15 am - 9.00 am
University Club, University of Western Australia
Book here Friday 11 MayMother's Day Breakfast, 7.30 am - 8.30 am
PLC Senior School Cafeteria
Book here Friday 25 May (Closing date)PLC Foundation Scholarship
One full academic scholarship each year to a student entering Year 7
Application form here. Friday 25 May PLC OCA Art Exhibition Opening Night Cocktail Party, 6.00 pm - 9.00 pm
PLC Senior School Foyer
Book here Friday 25 May - Sunday 27 MayPLC OCA Art Exhibition Thursday 31 May Parents@PLC Tennis Morning, 9.00 am - 12.30 pm
Cottesloe Tennis Club, 20 Napier Street, Cottesloe
Flyer here. Book here Friday 26 October Open Garden Day, save the date
Student Personal Growth and Development OpportunitiesYear 10 and Year 11 UnitingCare West Student Leadership ForumStudents can engage in a range of activities, including the ICEA YARN programme, that focuses on students building strong, positive and genuine experiences to foster greater cross-cultural understanding. Date: Thursday 31 May
Location: The Platform, 3/256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth
Permission form: Click here Years 9 – 12 World Vision Global Leaders Conference The immersive one-day experience is designed to inspire and empower current and emerging student leaders to become active global citizens and a voice for justice in the world. Key aims of the forum are to connect students to global issues, collaborate and develop student leadership and teamwork qualities. Date: Thursday 7
June
Location: Perth Conference and Exhibition Centre
Permission form: Click here Tanzania Tour We are very excited for the Year 11 and Year 12 PLC and Scotch College biennial Tanzania Tour, taking place in the July Holidays.
Read more about the tour here. Lighthouse Courses and EventsThere are lots of new and exciting courses and events coming up in the PLC Lighthouse! Book below.
Lighthouse CaféThe new PLC Lighthouse Café is up and running every school day from 8.00 am - 4.00 pm. Operated by Swanbourne's Kirkwood Deli, the café offers parents, Old Collegians, visitors, staff and students a range of hot drinks, including tea and coffee, a selection of cakes, slices, smoothies, lunch options including bagels, salads and refreshments. The café' will also be offering family meals, such as lasagne, curries and macaroni & cheese to make life that little bit easier for our busy families.
Café patrons are very welcome to use the Lighthouse parking bays located at the rear of the new building, which can be accessed from the first driveway to the right as you enter McNeil Street from Stirling Highway.
- Laura Allison, Director of Wellbeing
Welcome Back!It has been lovely to welcome the students back to Junior School this week. I have enjoyed the many stories of travels near and far. A number of parents have queried the uniform arrangements for this term. Please be advised that students are able to wear their Summer uniform until mid-term break according to the weather, then Winter uniform after that. Thank You Paul O'BrienAs has been advised, Mr Paul O’Brien has tendered his resignation and will take up the
position of Head of Junior School at the International School of WA during this term. We congratulate Paul on this achievement and wish him well in his new role. We will have an opportunity to thank Paul for his contribution and bid him farewell before the end of Week 3. ANZAC Day AssemblyJunior School assembly this week will mark ANZAC Day and will be led by the Year 6 Peer Support Leaders. Students have been advised that they can wear a red ribbon to mark the day if they choose, and they have been invited to bring in medals or photos of family members which mark contribution to war efforts. Parents are most welcome to join us for assembly on Friday from 8.35 am. Junior School DiscoA reminder to parents (as the students do not need to be reminded!) that the Parents@PLC Junior School Discos are on this Friday evening in the Canteen in Senior School. I hope all our disco divas enjoy their night! Junior Big Day In STEM Day Next Wednesday, we have 200 Year 5 and Year 6 students joining us to participate in the Junior Big Day In STEM Day. We are looking forward to hosting this event of science, technology, engineering and maths activities and
exploration. We hope the students get a lot out of the day. Scribblers FestivalStudents in Years 3, 4 and 5 will participate in the Scribblers Festival next week at the Goods Shed in Claremont. Families are advised that there is a full programme on the weekend which might be of interest to our young writers and illustrators. Getting in touch with your
childrenParents are reminded that if you need to get a message through to your daughter during the school day, the best way to ensure this happens is by calling or emailing the Junior School Reception on 9424 6428 or juniorschool@plc.wa.edu.au - Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School
ScienceBites
A limited number of places are still available for ScienceBites this term for girls in Years 3 and 4. If your daughter is interested in Science and would like to participate in this co-curricular activity, which is held after school on a Monday, please contact Dr Tab via the details on Co-curricular calendar. Perplexing Puzzles Maths causes an amazing amount of anxiety for young and old - somewhat surprising when you consider that you cannot do anything without it! Our daily world is nothing but a
collection of patterns and structures; learning about it doesn’t just take place in the Maths classroom. Every day, we participate in many important mathematical experiences, although we don’t perhaps think of the maths involved. Commencing in Week 2, girls in the Junior School will be invited to take a risk and participate in ‘Perplexing Puzzles’ – weekly puzzles requiring the synthesis of maths skills in order to find a solution.
NAPLAN TestingThe Year 3 and Year 5 NAPLAN Testing will take place from Tuesday 15 May - Friday 18 May.
Junior School Assembly – ANZAC ServiceDate: Friday 4 May
Time: 8.35 am – 9.15 am
Venue: Swim and Recreation Centre (SRC) Junior School DiscoDate: Friday 4 May
Venue: Senior School Cafeteria
Bookings now closed. Chapel Years 2 to 6 – hosted by 5JDate: Monday 7 May
Time: 8.35 am – 9.00 am
Venue: Heather Barr Chapel Junior School Cyber Safety EveningDate: Tuesday 22 May
Time: 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm
Venue: Auditorium Junior School Winter ConcertDate: Wednesday 23 May
Time: 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Venue: SRC FUTURE TERM DATES
Exam AdviceI was impressed by the number of girls I saw at school across last week using the library facilities as a place to study. I am sure that all girls have been preparing in ways that suit them and while preparation is the name of the game, even with the best approach, there can be a level of anxiety. And this is not just for the girls! Parents can also experience a sense of anxiousness as your daughter's exams approach. You may be concerned about how well your daughter will do – and the knock-on effect on her final scores. You might be worried about your daughter’s level of revision or what might seem to you, a lack of! You may even feel a sense of being
powerless in not being able to shield your daughter from the ‘suffering’ that comes with exam time! For boarding parents, this may be exacerbated because of the tyranny of distance. If you can help your daughter achieve a balance between being too relaxed and being paralysed by anxiety, this can be a good starting point. Listening to her worries and containing any distress by affirming and reassuring her can help. Having your daughter understand that she is worth much more to you than her exam marks can also help her to put things into perspective. Although it might feel like it right now, her life doesn’t depend on success in these exams; help her to understand that it’s what she does afterwards that makes the difference. Finally, remembering that engaging in
challenging events such as exams can help young people to develop internal skills and coping mechanisms. While it might be tempting to take the ‘Henry Kissinger approach’ and keep things super peaceful and calm at home; or the ‘grader’ or ‘snow plough’ approach and clear any obstacles out of the way for your daughter, challenging experiences like exams are an important part of providing her with the confidence she will need in the future. I wish the girls well as they do their best in these exams. Collecting Daughters After School EventsIt is lovely to have parents follow their daughter’s sporting and cultural involvement out of school hours.
There are occasions also, when it works logistically for parents to collect their girls from a particular event off site. Please note, however, in the interests of your daughter’s safety, if you are not sighted by the staff member at the time of the group's departure back to school, your daughter will be required to return to school with the group for you to collect there. I realise this may seem an inconvenience at the time, but we do take our duty of care seriously and it is with this in mind, that I convey this information. Year 12 Parents - Important Date ChangesWhile we still have a way to go before the end of the year, there have been some changes made to important
dates for the end of the year. Please make a note of the following in your diaries:
October 16 – Year 12 final breakfast
October 17 – House lunches and Year 12 Final Assembly
October 19 – Valedictory Service and Dinner Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN
- Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School Boarding House NewsThe Boarders’ Market on the last day of first term was a great way to unite the school, boarding and local community. For more photos of this fabulous event and news from the Boarding House, click the button below.
Opportunity for Year 9 studentsThe Year 9 Define ME team are hoping to take a group of Year 9 students to the Y Lead Altitude Day this term. The event is open to any Year 9 student who wishes to develop her personal leadership skills.
This programme is capped at a maximum of 20 students from the cohort. Y Lead is a Queensland-based organisation which offers unique learning experiences that empower young people to be their best and make a positive difference. Their mission also says they hope “to support Australian schools in developing a generation of confident, motivated and skilled young leaders, through the creation and delivery of school leadership and positive education programmes and events”. Altitude Day is a one-day event that includes:
Three Inspiring Speakers
Leadership and Positive Education Tools
Peer Networking If your daughter would like to participate in the day, please complete the consent form and email it to liam.sullivan@plc.wa.edu.au or return it to the View Street Reception by Wednesday 9 May. Years 7 - 10 Art ClubThe Visual Arts Department is offering Art Club after-school co-curricular
classes in Term 2 to students in Years 7-10. In this class, students will have the opportunity to explore the mediums of drawing, painting and mixed media. Art Club will run every Tuesday, 3.30 pm - 5.00 pm. Download the Art Club Letter and Permission Form and return it to the Visual Arts Office or to Miss Katherine Young on Katherine.young@plc.wa.edu.au by Monday 7 May
Scholarships PLC Foundation Scholarship The PLC Foundation is committed to offering one full academic scholarship each year to a student entering Year 7 who would not otherwise be able to consider attending PLC, due to their family’s financial circumstances. The successful recipient will be selected based upon evidence of strong academic ability, a commitment to the community and participation in co-curricular activities.
Evidence of the family’s financial situation will be requested. An application form and information are available here. Applications close on Friday 25 May 2018 If you have queries, please contact Suzanne Pelczar, Co-ordinator, PLC Foundation.
Email foundation@plc.wa.edu.au or call 9424 6534.
SportYears 7 - 12 Inter-house Cross Country CarnivalThe 2018 Years 7 - 12 Inter-house Cross Country Carnival will be held on Friday 4 May, at City Beach Oval (Corner of West Coast Highway and Oceanic Drive). Please note that you can wear your House Sports shirt and PE shorts to school for the day on Friday, rather than wearing formal school uniform and having to get changed. That way you will have time to
eat your lunch and get the buses without the added pressure of getting changed. Of course, if it is cold, wear your PE track pants and PE jacket over the top. Students not participating or helping at the carnival are expected to attend and support their House. Timetable for the day:
Period 1 – Period 4 is a normal Friday timetable. At recess, students change into their House sport uniform. Lunch is scheduled for 1.15 pm – 1.30 pm and students will commence being transported to City Beach Oval at 1.30 pm. Race Schedule:
2.15 pm - Year 9
2.20 pm - Year 8
2.25 pm - Year 7
2.30 pm - Year 10
2.35 pm - Year 11
2.40 pm - Year 12 Presentations commence at 3.20 pm, with students dismissed at 3.30 pm. Students who booked return transport to PLC will leave City Beach Oval at 3.45 pm, arriving back to PLC by 4.00 pm. IGSSA Rowing RegattaGood luck to the 'oarsome' Rowing girls who will have their first Rowing Regatta this Saturday 5 May!
Student AchievmentsCongratulations to Bella Van Ingen-Kal (Year 7) who has been selected for the State Karate team, representing Western Australia at the National Championships in Brisbane in August. At the recent 2018 National United Nations Voice Public Speaking Competition, Tahlia Hanikeri (Year 10) made it to the Grand Final which was held last week at the Banco Court, Supreme Court of Queensland. Tahlia placed third in the Year 10/11 Senior Division . The PLC Equestrian Team competed successfully at the State
Interschool Equestrian Championships on the school holidays.
Congratulations to Ella Wilson (Year 12) and Worthy, who competed in the Dressage and Ella Fogarty (Year 11) and Karma Park Jag who competed in the show jumping. Ella and Jag came 7th out of 43 riders in the 80cm class. Congratulations, girls!!
Career NewsRead about the latest university information sessions and other resources, workshops and guides in this week's Career News.
We have an incredibly busy term ahead. Please note the following dates: Year 7 and 8 Develop ME Day
Date: Monday 7 May Year 11 and 12 exams commence
Date: Monday 7 May Year 10 exams commence
Date: Wednesday 9 May Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN
Date: Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 May
Parents@PLC Tennis MorningAll PLC Junior and Senior School Parents (of all levels) are welcome to join in this fun, social way to have a hit of tennis and meet parents from all Year groups of the school community. The morning concludes with a delicious lunch. Date: Thursday 31 May - Please note that the date for this event is the day before the mid-term break to accommodate boarding parents who would like to join in.
Time: 9.00 am - 12.30 pm
Venue: Cottesloe Tennis Club, 20 Napier Street, Cottesloe
Cost: $38.00 pp (includes lunch)
Flyer here
Numbers are limited to 40. Book here
(Bookings close Monday 28 May or when maximum numbers are reached) Safe Haven AppAt the request of Scotch College student George Evans, parents, students and staff are advised about a relatively new personal security app called Safe Haven. The app, available on iOS and Android devices, turns phones into a 24/7 security device for an annual fee. The app provides a panic button which alerts a monitored control centre and can pinpoint the user’s location if they are in danger or fear for their safety. Depending on the situation, the control
centre can call the user or their emergency contacts. Alternatively, a security guard may be dispatched. There is also a panic button direct to 000. More information can be found at the Safe Haven website.
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