Dear Friend of PLC

And all of a sudden, here we are at the back end of Term 3 – the ‘meaty’ part of the School year! Term 3 is always busy in terms of co-curricular activities and every day it is wonderful to see our PLC girls embrace every performance, game or practice session with vigour and enthusiasm. Whether it’s waking up at the crack of dawn for athletics training in the cold dark mornings, practising and performing with the amazingly talented girls in Chicago the Musical, or giving their all in the myriad of musical performances occurring during the school day and at weekend festivals – our girls continue to inspire and achieve.

This part of the year is particularly ‘meaty’ as the end of the academic year draws near and final examinations loom large. For a lot of girls, there are times when the thought of what lies ahead, on top of your current commitments, can be a little overwhelming. As the Year 11’s approach Semester 2 exams and Year 12’s approach the mock and the final exams, pressure can be tremendous.

If I have any advice to offer at this busy time, it is to take everything day by day. Planning is important (fail to plan = plan to fail!) but it’s also important to break things down into manageable and achievable pieces. Focus on what you are doing right at this moment and do it to the best of your ability; not what you have on next week, or what you are doing in the holidays. In the busiest time of the year there is a tendency to get distracted and procrastinate, but focus and simplicity can bring results faster than you could have imagined. 

- Eliza Donaldson, Head Prefect 

Thursday 30 August 

PLC Old Collegians’ Association Bursaries open, more information here

Friday 31 August

 Fathers' Day Breakfast, book here

Saturday 1 September 

Senior School Spring Concert, 5.30 pm
Hazel Day Drama Centre 

Wednesday 12 September 

Parents@PLC Country Day Trip to New Norcia, click here to book

Friday 14 September

PLC Orientation Day for current Year 6 students and new Year 7 - 12 students entering PLC in 2019. 

 Friday 14 September - Monday 17 September 

Creative Arts and Technology Exhibition - Collective Ground, Senior School View Street  

Friday 26 October 

Open Garden Day, save the date
The Open Garden Day Committee would like to add one more home to the tour. If you would like to showcase your Peppermint Grove garden or outdoor entertainment space, please contact Kristi Cswaykus at 0438 612 866.

Friday 16 November

Principal’s Thank You Sundowner, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Enquiries: Kate.Montague@plc.wa.edu.au

Thinking about the lack of humility among leaders around the world and the endless quest of some to exercise power devoid of wisdom, Carla Grosch-Miller’s book called ‘Psalms Redux - poems and prayers’ gives me some encouragement. The Psalms are noted as much for their raw honesty as for their beauty and depth. Carla’s contemporary reworking of various Psalms throws a wonderfully fresh light upon them. This is part of her reinterpretation of Psalm 92:

 Even the simple hear and know the sound of Home. Only the arrogant, whose ears are filled with self- congratulation, miss the music and the meaning. They stumble and fall.

O God of Life, let these humble ears hear the song that hails the new creation. Let these searching eyes see the fulfilment of love in this place. Let these veined hands and this weary back know their strength and move with grace. Let these hopeful lips sing Your praise from the opening of the day until my last breath.

Recently as I read the moving obituaries for Aretha Franklin and Kofi Annan, I was reminded of the inspiration a single life can bring to the human family. In their own ways, they both allowed us to hear the ‘sound of Home’ – their lives have taken us to places in which we can reconnect and rediscover each other. Every day there are people who continue to lift us from the bland into that wider perception of humanity. That is why I keep hoping; why ultimately the continuing struggle for a more inclusive, accepting and humane world is so immensely important and worthwhile.

And Carla’s words also allow us to glimpse another truth expressed by her with such insight. It is about our gaze – our focus. With the surprising Spirit of God within us as we search for goodness, for deep integrity and for a heart that encompasses the stranger, we become aware of ‘the fulfilment of love in this place’. And such fulfilment is the very opposite of the emptiness which pervades so much of our public discourse today - the easy ill thought out criticisms of others and the desire to accept the lie that all that matters are these familiar companions – wealth and power. In the places which are sacred - either within us or in the outer world, we encounter the mystery both of freedom and of love. It is there we are at Home. It is there we know for certain that we belong to that wider frame of meaning which is God’s. 

(With thanks to Peter Millar)

The Performing Arts Department continues to be ably representing the PLC community with a variety of performances in different disciplines.

Concerts at One, St. George's Cathedral and Piano Recitals 

Chamber Music Concert

On Wednesday evening, we were delighted to present the second Chamber Music Concert for the year. The Percussion Ensemble performed well in opening the show. We were delighted by the string performances and, as usual, they set the bar very high. 

IGSSA Dance 2018

Congratulations to the Dance staff and students who performed in IGSSA Dance 2018 last Thursday at St Hilda’s. Both performances were well prepared and performed with excellence.

ABODA Jazz Festival

On Sunday August 26, the girls in Stage Band had the opportunity to perform in the Edith Spiegeltent at WAAPA as they represented us at the ABODA Jazz festival. Thank you for your dedication and commitment, girls. 

Events Coming Up

• Spring Concert
  Date: Saturday September 1
  Location: Hazel Day Drama Centre 
  Time: 5.30 pm 
   
• Year 12 ATAR Performances
  Date: Wednesday September 5
  Location: Hazel Day Drama Centre
  Time: 7.00 pm 
   
• ABODA Band Festival
  Date: Saturday September 8
  Time: 10.00 am - Wind Ensemble 
            11.45 am - Concert Band 
  Location: Churchlands Senior High School. 

Instrumental and Vocal Lessons - Term 4

Congratulations to all students for their hard work and dedication to their music study throughout Term 3.

Please note that any cancellations of instrumental or vocal lessons for Term 3 should be received by the Music Department via music@plc.wa.edu.au by Friday 14 September, otherwise students will automatically be timetabled for Term 4 and tuition fees applied.

Wear it Purple Day – Friday 31 August

Wear it Purple Day is an annual LGBTI+ awareness day specifically for young people, where supporters wear purple to celebrate diversity and show LGBTI+ young people that they have the right to be seen and heard in their world. Next Friday, Senior School students are invited to wear a purple ribbon in their hair to show acceptance and support for the diverse community that we have at PLC.

Environmental Fashion Swap 

Donating second hand clothes helps the planet and other people. Students in Years 7 to 12 are encouraged to bring in their pre-loved clothing to take part in the Environmental Fashion Swap, led by the Environmental Committee. Quality clothes can be exchanged for a token during recess on the Quad each Tuesday and Wednesday until 5 September. The fashion swap will take place at lunchtime on Thursday 6 September. Click here to view the poster.

- Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing

Junior School Arts Day

Junior School Arts Day was a celebration of music, dance, drama and an opportunity for our community to come together to explore and embrace creativity through art. The wonderful pieces of student art that adorned the walls and corridors of the Junior School were much enjoyed by our visitors. Students proudly showcased their musical, dance and drama talents to their guests during the short performance pieces, before heading in to their art activity rotations. 

Junior School Arts Week

Arts Week ended on a high note (and many laughs) with the Aladdin themed House Choir songs and staff pantomime. The students looked resplendent in their House colours, highlighted by props and subtle costumes. The staff entertained the children and guests with their hilarious over-acting and delivery of the witty dialogue - who knew that we had quite so many hams on the payroll?!  I don’t think that we will ever look at Mrs Barnaby quite the same again! 

Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved in making Junior School Arts Week 2018 such a success.

Junior School Appeal

We would like to invite the Junior School community to donate items for the UnitingCare West homeless helper starter pack. Please refer to items on this list and leave your donations  at Junior School Reception by Wednesday 19 September.

- Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School

JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTS

Chapel Years 2 to 6

Date: Monday 3 September (hosted by Year 3)     
Time: 8.35 am – 9.00 am 
Venue: Heather Barr Chapel

Year 5 Outdoor Ed Programme

Dates: 5 – 7 September

Junior School Assembly – Language B

Date: Friday 7 September     
Time: 8.35 am – 9.15 am 
Venue: Swim and Recreation Centre (SRC)

Exams Around the Corner 

When we are confronted with things that are ‘unpleasant’ or challenging, we all know that there can be one of three responses – often we get a Fright, then we either stay and Fight or take Flight! Year 10, 11 and 12 girls have exams just around the corner and I am certain that many of them are feeling one of these responses right now.

In conversation with Mike Hinchley last week, we came up with an analogy of the exams being like the Great Escape. My first thought was about the former fun park at Hillarys, with water slides, some of them dark tunnels that may have seemed scary at first, and during the ride, but ultimately at the end was the great splash of water, and open skies – freedom. An apt anaology with exams. However, Mike was actually talking about the scene from the move The Great Escape, where the British prisoners of war are faced with a fence between themselves and freedom. While our wires were clearly crossed, both have relevance to the exams. Faced with a challenge, there is no point just staring at it and hoping it will disappear. What is required is to tackle it, to cut down the fence between us and the end goal. We will be encouraging the girls to do that – confront that fence (exams) with determination and a strategy (study), and put the strategy into action.

Climb to the top of the ladder, take a deep breath and whizz to the end!

Everest Leadership

This week I had the immense privilege of convening the Prefects’ Retreat for our Year 12, 2019 leaders at Dwellingup. Despite, or perhaps partly because of the non-stop rain and a visit by a resident kangaroo who helped herself to our Weetbix for breakfast, we had an amazing time. I was left feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for the fact we have such able girls to lead us into the new year.

As all Year 12s will be the leaders in our school next year, we are planning an Everest Day for Term 4 for all girls. Together with our appointed leaders from all four stages, all girls will have the opportunity to engage in a round of leadership workshops. These will be held at school on Friday 2 November. More information will follow closer to the date.

- Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School 

Student Achievements 

Lucie O’Sullivan (Year 11) has been awarded a place in the 2018 Fogarty Futures Leadership Conference. Students from over 40 different schools across the state applied for these places and Lucie’s application stood out as ‘one of the best’

Zoe Jagger (Year 8) and Jemima Officer (Year 8) have been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2018 Diving Team. This team will compete at the School Sport Australia National Championships from 8 September to 14 September. 

Career News

For upcoming open days and information sessions, download Career News below.

SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTS  

Senior School Spring Concert 

Date: Saturday 1 September
Time: 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm 
Location: Hazel Day Drama Centre

Boarders Year 12 Farewell

Date: Sunday 2 September
Location: Boarding House 
Time: 5.30 pm - 8.30 pm   

Creative Arts and Technology Exhibition

Date: Friday 14 September to Monday 17 September
Location: Senior School View Street 

PLC Orientation Day
(current Year 6 and new Year 7 - 12 students entering PLC in 2019) 

Date: Friday 14 September 

PLC Old Collegians’ Association Bursaries
Applications Now Open 

Every year the PLC Old Collegians’ Association Inc. awards three bursaries.

• The Olive Cusack Bursary: This bursary recognises a boarding daughter or grand-daughter of an Old Collegian currently in Year 9 for Year 10. 
   
• The Dr Vera Summers Bursary: This bursary is awarded to a daughter or grand-daughter of an Old Collegian currently in Year 10 for Year 11. 
   
• The Heather Barr Memorial Bursary: This bursary is open to all current Year 11 students and recognises participation and contribution to PLC. 

Each award recipient will receive $5,000 towards tuition fees in 2019.

Applications close: Tuesday 16 October at 2.00 pm

Click here for more information.
 

Upcoming Parent Events 

Parents@PLC Country DayTrip to New Norcia 

Parents@PLC invites all PLC Parents!

Date: Wednesday 12 September
Time: Meet at 8.30 am for a PLC Bus departure at 9.00 am outside the Boarding House
RSVP: Thursday 6 September (Book early as seats are limited on the bus)
Booking: Click here 

PLC Pipe Band - Entertainment Fundraiser 

The PLC Pipe Band is selling the Entertainment Book as a fundraiser this year, and would appreciate your continued support.

2017 | 2018 Entertainment Memberships expired on Friday 1 June 2018 so you may need a new one! Purchase your 2018 | 2019 Entertainment Membership from the PLC Pipe Band today.