No Images? Click here Dear friend of PLC Enrolments continue to flood into the School, with an additional 24 students enrolling this term in preparation to start in 2018. Energy and excitement around the opening of the PLC Lighthouse is rapidly growing momentum. At every event that I have attended this term, including our School community tours, people are speaking with me about the PLC Lighthouse and the importance of wellbeing. On the other hand, when things are not going well, parents speak with me in my office about PLC not living up to its focus on wellbeing. The concept development behind the PLC Lighthouse focuses on preventative skills that build the strategies that our girls have to cope with difficulties throughout their lives; it will never create an experience where every child is happy, every minute of every day. Of course, academically, we know this to be unrealistic. Ask yourself; are you happy all of the time? Some would argue that perhaps if this was true for you, you may not know, as you wouldn’t have had the variety of emotional experiences to recognise this within yourself. As parents, we yearn for our children’s happiness. When they are sad, so too are we. For my own children, I’ve had to work very hard at remembering it’s okay for them to be sad from time to time, that this is natural, and does not mean they will be sad forever. Holding the space with our children when they are unhappy encourages them to seek our support when other difficult situations arise. Sometimes, trying to cajole our children into happiness sends the message that it’s never okay to be sad, or that it’s not okay to let us know they are sad. As well-intended as we are, when we become distressed as parents, this has the tendency to add to our children’s problems and pressures. Researcher, Michael Tunnercliffe (2000), developed the LATE model to assist us in conversations we have with our children when they are distressed. He recommended four simple steps:
Recently, I had the pleasure of co-presenting with a truly inspirational young man at a wellbeing seminar. His final quote of the night sums up what we are working towards achieving at the PLC Lighthouse: ‘You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf them’. - Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal I hope to see you tomorrow at the Principal's Thank You Sundowner. Date: Friday 10 November Please RSVP through trybooking.com/SJBN for catering purposes. Friday 10 NovemberPrincipal's Thank You Sundowner, 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm, PLC Quad. RSVP now Thursday 16 NovemberParents@PLC Meeting, 9.00 am - 10.30 am, Boarding House Sitting Room, all parents welcome. Saturday 25 NovemberParents@PLC "Jingle and Mingle" Christmas Party, 7.00 pm - 12.00 am, Claremont Football Club, tickets $70. Book now. Tuesday 28 NovemberSuzuki Christmas Concert, 5.30 pm - 8.00 pm, Heather Barr Memorial Chapel Tuesday 5 DecemberJunior School End of Year Assembly, 6.00 pm, Junior School Swim & Recreation Centre Thursday 7 DecemberTerm 4 finishes (Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12), 1.00 pm Senior School Speech Night, 5.45 pm - 9.00 pm, HBF Stadium. Year 12 students must be in the main foyer HBF Stadium at 5.00 pm sharp. ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.’ (Matthew 18:20) Last week, I walked part of the Cape to Cape trail with some Year 9 girls on their annual Outdoor Education Programme. Once again, the walk proved to be very challenging for a number of girls, but despite blisters and sore bodies, they dug deep and managed to get to the end. Five days together, without electronic devices, meandering along a pristine coastline, invariably makes one more reflective, more aware of each other, more able to engage. In the midst of constant banter, listening to and telling stories, laughing, shedding a tear and supporting those who are struggling, one develops a greater awareness and a deeper understanding of each other. The Matthew passage reminds us that when we connect in meaningful, respectful ways with those around us, something very special happens. We see each other in a new light and discover depths hitherto unknown. The privilege of having spent a week walking together makes me want to treasure every moment of life and to look for Christ’s image in the face of every person I meet. - Rev Gary van Heerden Thank you to the Language B team and students who led assembly last Friday. It is always wonderful to see evidence of such rich learning being displayed at our assemblies. We also had many students recognised for the awards they have received over the last month. Sadly, some of our students were left off the list due to an administrative error. We wish to congratulate and acknowledge the following students: Abbey Stonier Emma Osling Lulu Evans Music AchievementCongratulations also to Mira Yew (Year 3) and Maya Yew (Year 3) who graduated Suzuki Piano Level 1 and 2 at the Piano Graduation Concert at WAAPA recently. Alliance Française Awards Ceremony 2017A special congratulations to Year 5 students, Annabella Davies, Katherine Lovegrove and Anabella Fernandez Riveras, who came first, second and third respectively in the Year 5 category, with the poem they recited for us so beautifully at the Languages Assembly last Friday. These three girls, along with Ruby Bell (Year 4) and Sophya Thomas (Year 7), all received awards for their fantastic efforts at the Alliance Française awards ceremony last Friday. Bravo les filles! After School Pick-upFor those parents and carers who collect their children via the slipways each afternoon, you would be well aware that it is a very busy process which relies on the co-operation of everyone. We remind parents that the process happens more effectively if your name tag is on the dashboard and you remain in your vehicle. Supervising staff are then able to quickly move your child to the car and minimise delays for other parents. Parents are also reminded that supervision is until 3.45 pm. After that time, students will be taken to Camp Australia after school care in Summers House, and can be collected from there. Should your child be at a co-curricular programme, thus have a later collection time, supervision is provided until 10 minutes after the designated finish time. After this time, students will be taken to after school care. We thank you in anticipation of your support and co-operation. I look forward to catching up with many parents and carers at the Protective Behaviours parent evening on Wednesday 15 November (RSVP here), and the Parents@PLC Jingle and Mingle on Saturday 25 November (book tickets here). - Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSTerm 4 Week 6 Parent BulletinDownload the Latest Parent Bulletin Principal's Thank You SundownerDate: Friday 10 November Chapel (Years 3 - 6) - final for 2017Date: Monday 13 November Junior School Protective Behaviours Parent WorkshopDate: Wednesday 15 November Junior School Assembly (Years 1 - 6) hosted by Year 1Date: Friday 17 November Pre-Primary Nativity PerformanceDate: Wednesday 22 November Year 6 Final AssemblyDate: Friday 24 November Year 6 Farewell PicnicDate: Friday 24 November (after the Year 6 Final Assembly) Parents@PLC Jingle & MingleDate: Saturday 25 November Junior School End of Year AssemblyDate: Tuesday 5 December Congratulations to Director of Theatre Arts, Bauke SnymanPLC Director of Theatre Arts, Mr Bauke Snyman was recently recognised at the 2017 Teksmark playwrights initiative in South Africa. Teksmark (Text Market) is a theatre festival that invites playwrights to submit their original scripts. The top 15 scripts are then chosen, with extracts from the winners being performed at the festival, which is attended by many directors and theatre companies. Two of Mr Snyman's plays were selected as part of the top 15 and they were performed by some of the top actors in South Africa. Congratulations on an amazing achievement! IGSSA Sport2018 IGSSA Sport TrialsTrials will be held this month for students who will be in Years 7 - 12 in 2018 for IGSSA volleyball and tennis teams. Students in Years 6 - 11 received an email this week, providing information on how to register for the trials. Further trials will also be held in Term 1 2018, to include new students to PLC. New students are not required to attend Term 4 trials and are welcome to email sports@plc.wa.edu.au to register for Term 1 2018 trials. 2018 IGSSA RowingStudents in Years 8 - 11 received an email inviting registrations for the 2018 Years 9 - 12 IGSSA Rowing season. Parents requiring further information regarding IGSSA Rowing, are welcome to contact Ms Annette Pearce, Head of Rowing/Head of Sport via email, Annette.pearce@plc.wa.edu.au. Cultural DeCoding ProgrammeThe University of Notre Dame Australia is once again offering their Cultural deCoding programme in 2018. Cultural deCoding is designed to enliven and stimulate the minds of gifted and talented students at the beginning of Year 11 and 12. The 2018 programme will be held from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 January and through a mixture of art, archaeology, history, philosophy and theology, the experience will intellectually challenge and enrich your mind. View the brochure and application form, or contact Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator, Ms Erica Walker for more information. Community & Service LearningParent Invitation to Service Learning Strategic Planning MorningOn Wednesday 15 November PLC staff, students, parents and community members will participate in collaborative activities to further evolve service learning at PLC. The aim is to discover and create opportunities to advance service learning initiatives within the curricular and co-curricular programmes. It is with great pleasure that we invite up to six parents to be a part of this process. If you have experience or an interest in being involved in community projects and would like to join us, please contact Matt Donaldson for further information. When: Wednesday 15 November If you are unable to attend in person but wish to contribute, please email your thoughts and ideas to Matt.Donaldson@plc.wa.edu.au. Join Team PLC for JDRF One WalkThe Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is a charity that helps Australians in the fight with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. PLC currently has two students who suffer from Type 1 Diabetes and we would are showing them our support by creating a Team PLC for the JDRF One Walk. On Sunday 19 November, JDRF are hosting a 5km walk starting from Burswood Park. Throughout the day the following activities will be run:
Children under the age of 16 years who would like to join the team will need permission from parents. Parents are also invited to join. For further information about this event or to register to join Team PLC go to: http://walk.jdrf.org.au/wa/perth/ Career NewsThis week's Career News has lots of information for Year 12 students regarding how to beat exam stress and their university preferences. Boarding House NewsThe Year 10 cohort completed their leg of Quay2Quay on Sunday. For more photos and details of their epic walk please download Boarding House News below. SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSPrincipal's AssemblyDate: Friday 10 November Principal's Thank You SundownerDate: Friday 10 November Year 8 PLC/Scotch GamesDate: Friday 17 November 2018 Year 9 Vietnam Service Tour Launch (Current Year 8s)Date: Monday 20 November 2018 Year 10 DefineME Quest Launch (Current Year 9s)Date: Monday 20 November Senior School Speech NightDate: Thursday 7 December Parents@PLC Jingle & MingleAll PLC parents, including new parents joining us next year, are invited to the inaugural Jingle and Mingle Christmas Party! Date: Saturday 25 November Parents Sundowner 2018 - save the dateThe PLC Parents’ Committee invites you to save the date for the Annual Parent Sundowner. Date: Friday 9 February 2018 |