Dear Friend of PLC Lighthouse

Seek, Flourish, Bloom

Recently a friend of mine had a baby girl and my sister-in-law is currently pregnant and due to give birth in March. In times when new life is entering the world it makes me reflect on my own two sons.  It was a long time ago that I was pregnant or a new mother, however, the birth of a baby always makes me remember my sons’ births and the overwhelming love of a mother that I discovered when they were born.

We know this optimism is unrealistic but it’s human nature to try to protect them from harm for as long as possible. All parents want their child to flourish, but should we also embrace the challenges and struggles that our children face?

Flourishing can be defined as “the ability for a person to grow as a human being through good times and through life struggles” (Martin Seligman, 2012). People flourish because of their struggles, not without them. This is the purpose of the PLC Lighthouse, we don’t take away life’s challenges and struggles, instead we equip students with strategies to thrive and flourish in the face of the struggle.

Struggles can be different for every child, but the strategies we use to flourish are the same. People who flourish share common qualities such as the ability to: re-direct their attention toward meaningful ends, use time wisely, constantly practice for improvement, seek out feedback from trusted mentors and peers, and experience moments of delight, meaning, and rejuvenation (Jeffrey Davis, 2014). The PLC Lighthouse Curriculum has been designed to give students the opportunity to learn these strategies and personalise these qualities in themselves.

PLC students are encouraged to consider what is meaningful for them, how can they use their time wisely, what do they need to practice so they can improve, who do they trust, who can they ask for feedback and advice, what brings them delight and what helps them rejuvenate? This is done by practically trying different strategies and learning new skills.

The PLC Lighthouse Curriculum includes the School Curriculum and Standards Authority Personal, Social and Community Health Curriculum, the Keeping Safe Protective Behaviours Curriculum, PLC Wellbeing programmes, and Social and Emotional Learning.

Emily Lockhart
Head of Lighthouse Curriculum

This year in Lighthouse News, our 2020 Wellbeing Captain, Erin and Service Captain, Bella will be sharing their news and keeping us informed on what's happening in the Wellbeing and Service worlds at PLC. To kick things off, the girls have each shared some of their ambitions for the year ahead, as well as a few events to put in your diary. 

Introducing... Erin

If we can appreciate the beauties of life as part of our daily routine, I think it will have a really positive impact on the overall wellbeing of the School. 

I would also like to encourage the girls (and staff) to adopt some daily practices that can be continued well beyond school to promote lifelong wellbeing and lifelong learning. 

There are a number of things happening over the next few weeks, including Community Conversations, and International Day of Happiness activities, and I'd love you all to get involved.  

Erin Marstrand
Wellbeing Captain

Introducing... Bella

I also recently went on a family holiday to India and I was amazed to see that even people with almost nothing, on the other side of the world, knew what Australia was going through and asked us about the fires.

This showed me that the close community that exists within our School, state and country also extends to the global community.

Upcoming Service Events

MAD Week is coming up in Week 7 (9 - 13 March) and we will be showcasing some of the change-makers in our society, particularly those making positive environmental changes. To raise funds for Farmers Across Boarders - Hay from WA, we are holding a movie night on Wednesday 11 March. Come along and watch the gripping documentary, 2040! 

I invite you to join us at these events, to help us make a difference. Aside from this, I want to encourage you all to 'make a difference' to something or someone, be it big or small. This could be by using a KeepCup instead of a single use takeaway cup, or asking someone how their day was, or helping your sibling with their homework. Because, 'when we engage in acts of generosity, those experiences of positive emotion may be more enduring and outlast the specific episode in which we are engaged.' - New York Times

Bella Poll
Service Captain

Introducing PLC's Psychology Team

At PLC, we have a team of experienced psychologists who are here to support students, families and staff to help them get the best out of school life.

What Does a School Psychologist Do?

School psychologists have specific expertise in mental health, developmental psychology, learning and behaviour through their study of cognition, memory, learning, and the processes that determine how people think, feel, behave and react. School psychologists help students optimise their academic potential, support their psychological health and wellbeing, as well as their social and emotional wellbeing.

The PLC Psychology Team is fortunate to have close working relationships with the Pastoral Care Team, Lighthouse Flexi Learning, Lighthouse Leavers, Co-curricular activities and other initiatives across the school with a mental health component.

Learn more about how our Psychology Team operates within the School, as well as more detailed information on accessing our Junior and Senior School psychologist services, by clicking the button below.  

We look forward to providing the best possible services to the PLC School community throughout 2020.

Daleen Engelbrecht
Lead Psychologist

New Year's Revelation

I read an interesting article at the dawn of 2020 about New Year’s resolutions. Apparently, they don’t work for Meghan Markle. Looks like she’s doing OK... has as a pretty good life, starred in one of the most popular TV shows of the decade and has found her prince (albeit one who is no longer an HRH - but that’s a whole other story)!

Turn Off Your Emotional Television

On the same day, a friend sent me a piece by Paul Coelho. I had read it before and loved it, but reading it again at the start of a brand new year was just what I needed. Here a line that resonated particularly strongly...

‘Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.’

We need to resist the temptation to turn it back on sometimes, even briefly. While getting sucked into an old, tired plot line can sometimes feel familiar and comforting, it never does us any good.

Sue Tredget
French & Spanish Teacher, beyondblue Ambassador

Fitness Centre 

Students in Years 10 - 12 are able to use the Lighthouse Fitness Centre before and after school. 

Opening Hours

Monday - Thursday: 6.15 am - 6.30 pm
Friday: 6.15 am - 5.30 pm

Strength & Conditioning Coaching 

A Strength and Conditioning Coach is available at the following times to assist you with your fitness/exercise program:

Monday to Thursday: 6.15 am - 8.15 am, 3.30 pm - 6.30 pm
Friday: 6.15 am - 8.15 am, 3.30 pm - 5.30 pm

All students and staff using the Fitness Centre must sign in and out at the Lighthouse reception.