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Term Dates 2018
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The term dates for 2018 have now been finalised. In 2014 PLC made the decision to offer a three-week break in the middle of the year. The reasons for this decision were as follows:
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To spread the school year more evenly throughout the calendar year, particularly with a view to maximising the retention of learning from one school year to another;
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To provide Year 11 and 12 students with a longer break prior to the lead-up to Semester 2 examinations and final WACE/Diploma exams. They do not receive a break across the October holidays because of the placement of our examination schedule;
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To minimise the impact of winter colds and cases of flu resulting in student and staff absences around this time of the year.
This is common practice in other parts of the country and at the time it was anticipated many schools in WA would move to this model. Some schools have implemented this but many have stayed with the two-week break.
The decision to move to this model was with the promise that an additional week would be added to the school calendar at the end of the year, effectively meaning our Christmas holiday break would be shorter.
In 2018 all IGSSA schools, none of whom have the three-week break, are finishing during the week of December 7. Given our commitment to add a week on to the end of the year; PLC will finish next year on Thursday 13 December.
As frustrating as it is for families, all Independent schools set their own term dates. In 2018 we will be the only Independent school finishing this late in the year. I felt it was important to uphold the commitment to our community that we would add the additional week on to the end of the year as promised. I realise this will cause problems for some families wishing to depart for holidays a little earlier and hope you can understand the importance for me of holding firm on our commitment.
We will seek feedback from our community next year regarding the three-week break in order to decide if this still meets the objectives identified when originally introduced.
- Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal
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Meet the Teachers: Soni Bailey
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Year 8 Co-ordinator and English Teacher
Soni has been a Year Co-ordinator and English teacher for the last seven years and is in her sixteenth year working at PLC across both the Junior and Senior Schools.
A specialist in Gifted & Talented Education, Soni also has a Masters of Educational Management for which she wrote a thesis looking at the professional development provided to staff and the benefits of creating Professional Learning Communities. Soni’s experience enables her to bring a genuine and optimistic view of the world and an appreciation for dedication and grit to her roles at PLC.
What inspires you?
Creating a sense of community with the students and staff alike. There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child and I am inspired to contribute to the girls’ lives meaningfully and to see them flourish as individuals.
What is important to you as a teacher?
Relationships. The most successful people in life have all had significant people barracking for them. If a person feels connected and supported, then they will have the courage and intrinsic motivation to ‘have a go’ in the face of failure. I hope to offer positive and constructive support to my students, colleagues and family so that they feel they can pursue their dreams and aspirations.
What are you working on at the moment?
As part of the Pastoral Care team, I am contributing to building a Leadership programme for the Develop ME Hub. The aspect of the programme for the Year 8s is focused on developing the girls’ self-awareness and a sense of purpose by formally establishing personal goal setting and other activities that encourage the girls to interact constructively with each other and foster strong relationships.
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Old Collegians on the Farm2Fork entertainment menu
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Delicious produce is not the only WA-grown item on the menu for the upcoming PLC Farm2Fork on Sunday 23 July. Music lovers will also be in for a treat with local bands Golden Egg and Platform 2 (pictured) providing some delightful folk, pop and blues tunes.
In keeping with the PLC community theme, both Platform 2 and Golden Egg feature Old Collegians and former boarders. The soulful voices behind Golden Egg, are former PLC boarder Erin Pope (2011) and Mhairi Foulner (2011). You can listen to some of their music here.
Making up one-half of Platform 2 is former boarder Grace Newton-Wordsworth (2013) who performs alongside Aaron Birch. The duo was recently nominated for the ‘Outstanding Indigenous’ category at the 2017 Western Australian Music Awards for their song “Faultline”. Listen to some of their music at Triple J Unearthed.
Tickets are selling fast for this amazing community event, so show your support by grabbing yours today at trybooking.com/281830
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Invitation - Head of the River
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Our PLC Rowing girls have had a fantastic season so far. PLC has won the last four regattas, which has them sitting on top of the ladder with 1368 points.
Perth College follows with 1121 points, then MLC with 848, Penrhos on 765, St Hilda's have 651 points and John XXIII have 115.
PLC will be defending their title as Schoolgirl Head of the River Regatta Champion School, which we have won for the last five years, and our 1st VIII girls will be going for PLC's 3rd consecutive Head of the River win!
We would love to see everyone at Champion Lakes on Saturday 24 June to support our girls!
Date: Saturday 24 June
Time: 8.30 am - 12.00 pm (Senior races start 11.40 am approx)
Venue: Champion Lakes Regatta Cente
Dress: BLACKWATCH!
Download the IGSSA Regatta timetable and order of events
For the full history of all Rowing Trophies click here
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In His hands
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‘More than ever, I now find myself in the hands of God. This is what I have wanted all my life. And this is what I still want. But now there is a difference: the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to know and feel myself so totally in his hands, in the hands of this God who has taken hold of me,’ Father Pedro Arrupe.
Father Pedro Arrupe was a Spanish Jesuit priest, living and working in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Arrupe described that event as "a permanent experience outside of history, engraved on my memory." Father Arrupe used his medical skills to help those who were wounded or dying. The experience profoundly changed the way he related to God.
Very broadly, there are two ways of relating to God. The first presents God with demands. It tells God what it wants. It is often angry and disappointed. It lets God know that the weather isn’t good enough, the traffic is too heavy, the exam too difficult, our parents impossible and even our own efforts are often not up to scratch.
The second approach is to surrender; to accept God as a mystery. It is confused by God, in awe of God, never fully understanding. It acknowledges that we control very little; it learns to let go and to do without. This brings a certain peace and creativity, rather than resentment or envy.
We vacillate between them, but most of us at one time or another will reach a point, like Job in the Old Testament, where we are angry and feel unjustly dealt with. Job was indignant that he had suffered unfairly and he could not understand why God could have allowed it. But as he engages with God, he becomes aware that we cannot know God’s purpose. At that point, Job humbly places himself in the hands of God and receives strength to deal with this unknowing.
In our times of struggle may we, like Job, receive the strength we need to continue.
- Rev. Gary van Heerden, Chaplain
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Annual Giving
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Building an educational foundation for current and future generations of PLC girls enables them to contribute to their world with courage, leadership and a sense of community.
A donation to the PLC Scholarship Fund will enable the PLC Foundation to offer the gift of a life-changing opportunity - a PLC education to a student who otherwise would not be able to attend our School due to their family's financial circumstances.
A donation to the Building Fund will continue to provide exceptional and innovative learning spaces for PLC students; updating our lovely historical buildings and creating new state-of-the-art facilities.
Every donation is significant and gratefully received and donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
For information on how to donate and make a difference, please download the Annual Giving Donation Form or contact Suzanne on 9424 6534.
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Junior School
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This week we mark Refugee Week. We consider the plight of those around the world who are incarcerated due to conflict, famine or lack of security in their homeland.
We also celebrate the fine work of Amnesty International and other organisations that work for the wellbeing of people in such situations.
A recent publication by Amnesty International, Dreams of Freedom introduces readers to the wise words of freedom fighters such as Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Malala Yousafzai, among others, and includes this beautiful poem by award-winning Paraguayan poet, artist and teacher, Elsa Weizell.
Like an enormous wave
That lies down over my heart.
Like the stunning beauty of the wind over the pines.
Like an immense, vital heartbeat.
Like the moon and the river trapped by love.
Like all the dreams in the space of the eyes.
Like a fistful of infinite light.
That is the way I love freedom!
One of our Year 5 students recently wrote to me with a potential solution to the busyness of our slipways at dismissal. This is something you might address with your daughters. An excerpt from her letter follows:
The School Special buses come from 3.30 pm until 4.00 pm on View Street, and I think that if more Junior School girls caught the buses this might be a solution to the traffic jam problem. The Year 5 and 6 girls can walk the younger girls to the bus, like a walking bus. If there is an older girl or a girl with past experience getting off at the same stop, they can walk the girl close to where they are meeting their parents, and look after them on the bus journey.
I take the 711 bus which leaves from right outside the Boarding House at 3.35 pm. It only picks up other school students on the way to Claremont. It gets to Claremont at approximately 3.50 pm.
The 711 bus then becomes a 102 bus service after a short wait in Claremont, then it goes all the way along Stirling Hwy to Elizabeth Quay. Students who live in that part of Claremont, Nedlands or Crawley could use this service and meet their parents at a Stirling Highway bus stop.
Wouldn’t it be great if parents were encouraged to meet their girls at the Claremont stop instead of sitting in traffic around PLC? This will help the problem of school traffic jams, help the neighbours of PLC and help the girls to get to know other girls in the PLC Community.
Congratulations to all our students who have represented PLC at the many and varied events held over the past weeks. I had the pleasure of attending the Children Sing Festival at UWA and the IPSHA Music Festival at the Perth Convention Centre; all fine events in which our girls performed wonderfully. I also had the opportunity to watch some of our students during the JIGSSA Winter Games. It was wonderful to witness the excellent sportsmanship displayed by our students.
Three-way exchanges and parent-teacher interviews will be held at the Junior School next week. This is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the many successes your children have made throughout Semester 1 and to set goals for Semester 2.
- Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School
Junior School Pyjama Day
The Junior School staff and students are spending Friday 30 June in their jammies! The money raised will go towards raising awareness of mental health issues in young people, and valuable funds for Perth Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit.
The aim is to raise $1,200 which will enable the purchase of a dolphin sculpture to be decorated by students during Art classes. The dolphin will be one of a large pod of wildly colourful dolphin sculptures to swim into town as part of a mass public art exhibition called, “The Big Splash.”
The money raised from the sale of the dolphins will go towards raising awareness of mental health issues in young people and provide valuable funds for Perth Children’s Hospital, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit.
The Junior School would love to have your family's support for this worthy cause. Should you have any questions regarding Pyjama Day, please contact Ms Katy Howes, Katy.Howes@plc.wa.edu.au
Suzuki String Levels
Congratulations to the following girls who completed Suzuki String Level solos last weekend:
Violin
Aurelia Qaqish (Year 2) – Level IV
Eloïse McVicker (Year 5) – Level II
Anouk Flugge (Year 4) – Level I
Natalie Row (Year 4) – Level I
Poppy Maxted (Year 4) – level I
Cello
Isobel Marinko (Year 5) – Level I
Events to Note
Parent/Teacher/Student Three-Way Conferences and Parent/Teacher Meetings
Dates: Monday 26 – Wednesday 28 June
Venue: Junior School
Chapel Years 3 to 6
Date: Monday 26 June
Time: 8.35 am – 9.10 am
Venue: Heather Barr Memorial Chapel
Junior School Assembly Years 1 to 6 (hosted by Year 3)
Date: Friday 30 June
Time: 8.40 am – 9.15 am
Venue: SRC
End of Term 2 – Friday 30 June (normal dismissal times)
Please see the Parents' Bulletin for Week 10
Please refer to the Canteen Menu for Term 2
Download the Junior School Co-curricular Programme
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PLC Holiday Code Camp is on again!
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This winter, we are hosting a very special school holiday Code Camp where your child can build their very own iPhone or Android App!
Code Camp have already taught more than 18,000 students in Australia in Years 2-7, teaching them important skills such as computational thinking, logic, creativity, user experience, app development and game building in a fun and engaging way.
PLC will be hosting the Spark Programme for Years 2-6 once again due to the wonderful feedback received by students and parents after the April camp.
"I was impressed with the game my son made after only three days at the April camp," said Kylie Yacopetti, PLC Communications and Engagement. "What is really impressive though, is that he's continued to learn all term via the email lessons he receives on a regular basis."
PLC girls are invited to attend this three-day camp and to bring along their friends. The camp isn't just for PLC students, anyone in Years 2-6 can join in!
Dates: Tuesday 11 - Thursday 13 July
Times: 8.30 am - 4.00 pm
Cost: $350
Venue: PLC Junior School, McNeil Street Peppermint Grove
Bookings: codecamp.com.au/plcperth
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Senior School
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The ninth Closing the Gap government report for 2017 indicates that while there have been a number of gains over time, the rate of change for Indigenous people is inadequate and needs to be accelerated to meet targets the government has set. Specifically, the aim of halving the gap in the reading and numeracy for Indigenous students by 2018 is not on track, but pleasingly, halving the gap in Year 12 attainment by 2020 is on track.
Recently I’ve had the privilege of travelling through the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of WA to interview applicants for our Gorna Liyarn scholarship programme. With a huge number of applicants of a high calibre, it is not going to be easy making our recommendations for next year! It is a task I will undertake with enormous awareness of the gravity of the decisions that we make as, ‘to be or not be’ at PLC will undoubtedly impact on each of the applicants. We want our girls to engage in learning opportunities and to develop the confidence to make a difference to their own lives and, perhaps, ultimately the lives of others.
Sahara Clark (Year 9), one of our Gorna Liyarn girls and talented athlete, has been doing just that. Sahara is the youngest ever ambassador for Athletics WA. As part of a group of athletes scouting for young talent, she spent last week promoting athletics to remote communities in the Western Desert area of the state. Sahara is a wonderful example of the calibre of our Gorna Liyarn girls and of using her talents to positively impact others.
What impacts me after each year of academic testing and interviews for our scholarships, is the importance of our programme. Knowing that there is enormous interest from families across the state and as a school, we are making a small, but significant contribution to closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous educational outcomes, is very humbling.
In the interests of road safety, please note that girls are not to cross View Street at any other place than the designated crossing adjacent to Scorgie House. There have been several close calls as girls attempt to cross to parents parked on the Boarding House side of the street. This has also been noticed on McNeil Street.
I respectfully request that parents refrain from parking opposite the School buildings and, instead, use the relevant slipways to collect your daughters. The last thing we want is a nasty accident.
- Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School
Parents' Committee Scholarships Now Open
Parents’ Committee Scholarships are now open to current PLC Year 8 and Year 10 students. Each year the Parents’ Committee recognises two girls, one each from Year 8 and Year 10, who have shown outstanding participation and endeavour and epitomise our School motto, ‘Labore et Honore’.
This is a scholarship with a difference. It is not an academic or sporting award, but a recognition of a girl’s character and approach to school life, acknowledging not just what they achieve but the effort that is put into achieving it.
Two scholarships are available for PLC girls entering Year 9 and Year 11 in 2018. The scholarships cover tuition fees at PLC for one term in 2018. The scholarships are open to any current PLC girl in Years 8 or 10 who is not currently holding a PLC Scholarship or Bursary.
Download the application form. Applications close 4.00 pm on Monday 7 August.
Outdoor Education Co-curricular
SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles
We are now taking nominations from surfers who would like to represent the School in the SunSmart WA School Surfing Titles. The girls' metro heats and finals are to be held at Trigg Beach on Friday 18 August, with the state finals also at Trigg Beach the following week. Please download the information letter for more details.
Outdoor Education Co-curricular Options for Term 3
Please download the Outdoor Education Co-curricular letter that contains all of the Outdoor Education Co-curricular options for Term 3. Forms are due back Monday 26 June.
ICAS Maths Assessment 2017
ICAS is an independent, skills-based assessment programme administered through the University of New South Wales. PLC selects participants from the Year 7 to 10 cohort for this competition each year.
If your daughter has not been selected and you would like her to participate there are a few spare places available. Please advise Ms Shelley Stewart by email shelley.stewart@plc.wa.edu.au no later than Friday 23 June if you would like your daughter to fill one of these places.
Sitting Date: Tuesday 15 August
Sitting Time: During your daughter’s Maths lesson on or closest to this date
Closing Date to Apply: Friday 23 June
Cost: $9
Further information may be found at https://www.eaa.unsw.edu.au/icas/about
AMC Maths Competition 2017
This competition is designed to test mathematical thinking rather than focus on calculations themselves, as such questions are designed so that they can be answered just as quickly without a calculator as with one.
The problems get more difficult throughout the competition so that at the end they are challenging to the most gifted students.
This competition is being offered at PLC for girls in Years 7 to 12.
Sitting Date: Thursday 27 July
Sitting Time: After school 3.45 pm – 5.00 pm
Closing Date to apply: Friday 23 June
Cost: $8.50 (includes online training)
Further information may be found at
http://www.amt.edu.au/mathematics/amc/
If you would like your daughter to participate, please advise Ms Shelley Stewart by email shelley.stewart@plc.wa.edu.au no later than Friday 23 June. Costs will be added to the school fees. Late entries cannot be accepted.
Congratulations
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Angel Chen (Year 11) has had her artwork 'Nature/Machine' selected for the Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists exhibition.
The piece was one of the top ten artworks in the
Upper Secondary category. Angel's art will be on display as part of the exhibition from Monday 10 July until Sunday 6 August at the Subiaco Library.
Visitors to the exhibition will be asked to vote for their favourite piece of art for the People's Choice Award, announced on Thursday 27 July.
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Lauren Ryding (Year 7) will be attending the National Calisthenics competition in Sydney during the school holidays. Lauren will be hoping to follow up last year's win with her team. This is her fifth year representing Western Australia for Calisthenics.
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During the Mid-Term break, 11 PLC teams competed in the World Scholar's Cup and once again, PLC was very successful with all teams qualifying for the Global Round which is next level of competition.
The team of Olivia Dry (Year 11), Eva Marsh (Year 11) and Caoilin Marstrand (Year 11) were third overall in the Senior Division and first in the Scholar’s Bowl.
Nina Mannolini (Year 7) scored the highest mark in the Junior Division for Writing and Tahlia Hankeri (Year 9) was selected for the Debating Showcase.
Good luck to Isabelle Hamer (Year 9) and Bella Stevens (Year 9) for the Global Round in Hanoi, Vietnam.
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Olivia Triglavcanin (Year 12) completed Suzuki String Level X solos last weekend along with Lucie O’Sullivan (Year 10) who completed the Level VI solo.
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Senior School Arts Day Friday 30 June
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The Senior School is abuzz with preparation for “The Best Day of the Year” - Arts Day!
The day will start with the fabulous PLC Staff Act at 8.30 am in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre, followed by the Year 12 act and House dance.
The girls will then begin their individual and group activities from 9.30 am – 1.00 pm. The day will conclude with House Choir from 1.30 pm – 3.15 pm in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre.
A full programme of events will be available on the day at the Hugh Baird Sports Centre, and all receptions and cafés on the day.
Refreshments can be purchased from the School Cafeteria, Bev’s Café and at the Café in the lower level of the View Street Senior School. There will also be a Sausage Sizzle on the Quad.
We warmly welcome all parents and family members to attend Arts Day, as we all come together to celebrate the Arts!
If you have any queries, please contact Kate Montague on 9424 6411 or email kate.montague@plc.wa.edu.au
Creative Arts due dates download
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Career News
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UNSW Robertson Scholars Leadership Programme – Study in the US
The Robertson Scholars Programme is not just a scholarship; nor is it just a leadership development programme. The Robertson Scholars Programme is a comprehensive, long-term investment in our Scholars' futures.
The Programme, valued at up to $50,000 per annum, provides full tuition, room and board. Robertson Scholars at UNC will receive an
additional living stipend (to cover travel, books, etc). In addition, support is provided for three summers of service, research and travel.
The Scholarship is available for students of most courses of study including pre-medicine and pre-law. Study in medicine and law past undergraduate level is excluded.
Applications are handled by UNSW and close 1 December 2017
Download the PLC Career News to see if there is an Open Day, Course Information Session or Gap Year seminar that interests you.
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Boarding House News
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The Inter-House Athletics Carnival on Tuesday was an incredibly fun and exciting day. Pictured are the Year 12 boarders as they cheer on their fellow boarders at the Carnival.
To catch up with our Boarding news this week please download our latest Boarding House News.
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Service Learning
Moana Movie Screening - Supporting Tabitha Foundation
Our house building partnership with Tabitha Foundation continues this year as we aim to build ten houses for needy families in Cambodia.
In October this year, 15 of our Year 10 families will journey to Cambodia to provide service to those most in need.
A screening of the movie Moana will be held in the Hazel Day Drama Centre on Friday 23 June to help raise money for this worthy cause. All proceeds will go to the house building efforts in Cambodia.
Food and drinks are available at the event from 5.30 pm. The movie begins at 6.00 pm.
Date: Friday 23 June
Time: 5.30 pm - 8.00 pm
Venue: Hazel Day Drama Centre
Tickets: $15 available from trybooking.com/QLBJ
Download the poster
Online tax deductible donations for PLC Perth House build can be made directly to Tabitha Foundation at http://www.tabithaaustralia.org.au/
PLC Winter Warmer Service Appeal – Closing Monday
Final call for donations. A priority list of items for UnitingCare West is linked here.
Arts Day Sausage Sizzle Supporting Tabitha Foundation
On Arts Day, the families attending the 2017 Cambodia Tour will be holding a fundraising sausage sizzle. Please come along and grab a sausage in a bun! Your contribution will be helping the PLC Cambodia Service Immersion Tour finance house building for Cambodians in need.
For more information on the Tabitha Australia programme or to make a donation please go to http://tabithaaustralia.org.au/programmes/house_building
Live Below the Line 2017
Live Below the Line is a challenge. It’s a simple way to build empathy with the 1.3 billion people who live in extreme poverty globally. By eating on $2 a day for five days, thousands of Australians raise funds and awareness to make a real impact. Live Below the Line is an initiative of Oaktree, Australia’s largest youth-run organisation with more than 150,000 volunteer supporters.
A group of our Senior School students have registered for this project to operate over three days, beginning Tuesday 1 August until Thursday 3 August.
Students who would like to raise money and take on the challenge will need to plan and organise menus/shopping prior to the event to cover their meals for the three days – each day a bowl of rice will be provided for them at lunch. The challenge is an opportunity for people to gain real perspective on hardship and what it would be like to live on $2 a day.
Click here to register with the PLC Team and join the challenge, helping to raise money for those living in poverty. If you are not up for the challenge but would like to donate, please use the link above.
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Community Relations
Year 11 Parents Event
All Year 11 parents are invited for a drink and catch-up at the Alikhan home.
Date: Thursday 29 June
Time: 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm
Venue: 7 Brown Street, Claremont
RSVP: via trybooking.com/QJSL
Year 8 Parents Event
All Year 8 parents are invited to a “Platter and Chatter” at the Nash home.
Date: Saturday 29 July
Time: 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Venue: 3 McAllister Rise, Mosman Park
RSVP: via trybooking.com/QKGU
Support PLC Pipe Band - Entertainment Books
Help us raise funds by buying an Entertainment Membership from Presbyterian Ladies' College Pipe Band. You'll receive hundreds of valuable offers for everything you love to do, and help our fundraising at the same time!
The books are now available to collect from us! For those of you who have pre-ordered a digital membership, they should now be ready for you to start using straight away.
Click here to buy your book!
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