Dear Friend of PLC

New Screen Time Research

Professor Stephen Houghton’s research on Children, Adolescents and Screen Use has just been released to Schools with interesting findings. His research followed several thousand students aged 10 - 18, for a three year period, from over 30 schools in WA. A useful booklet with findings can be downloaded below.

Points of Importance

"Significant increases in screen time use may indicate that a young person’s mental health is deteriorating".

• Interestingly, the study found no causal link between the two, meaning that screen time does not appear to have caused increased depressive symptoms.

"Overall screen time usage increases significantly with age".

• Year 5 students average 2 hours and 46 minutes per day.
• Year 7 girls average 4 hours and 26 minutes per day (1 hour and 16 minutes more than boys).
• Year 9 girls average 5 hours and 40 minutes (1 hour and 44 minutes more than boys).

"Quality rather than quantity of friendships is important".

• Increases in screen time was associated with subsequent decline in friendship quality.
• Social networking and gaming may help young people stay in touch. Spending time face-to-face with friends is equally, if not more, important.

Recommendations

• Break up prolonged periods of screen usage.
• Encourage children to interact face-to-face.
• Designate 'screen media free' times.
• Establish clear agreements for screen usage.
• Role model safe and responsible use of screen media.

Oarsome Rowing Results 

Congratulations to our rowing girls who represented PLC at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta. Thank you to our amazing Rowing Coach, David Milne, and Head of Sport/Rowing, Annette Pearce.

The Under 17 Coxed VIII had a hard row into the final, catching a crab in the heat and went on to deliver a stunning row finishing as Silver Medalists. The Senior rowers won a spot in the A Final and finished as the 8th top Coxed Quad in the country! 

The scullers also made the Finals, which was a great achievement at such a highly competitive event.

PLC and Scotch Combine Forces For World's Greatest Shave 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the World’s Greatest Shave event which raised a remarkable $105 137, an incredible outcome. Congratulations to our Head of Service and Partnerships, Linda Malone, for her work in making this such a success.

Watch the day's highlights in the video below. 

BOING, BOOM, BUST 

Last night I had the joy of watching BOING, BOOM, BUST, the Year 12 Drama and Theatre short plays. What a fabulous night of entertainment! The Year 12 girls and Scotch boys did an incredible job. Thanks and congratulations to our Deputy Director of Performing Arts - Dance/Drama, Bauke Snyman, for his leadership, support and guidance; it was a memorable night.

School Roadworks

Please note that the Shire of Peppermint Grove has advised the School that roadworks in the area may cause traffic disruptions next week. The Shire is repairing damaged kerbing and a speedhump on The Esplanade between Forrest and McNeil Streets. The work is scheduled to start Monday 8 April and should be completed within the week.

There will be ‘stop / go’ traffic management along The Esplanade.

Please allow extra time to and from PLC if you use this route.

Have a Restful Easter Break 

As we head into the last week of term, I notice the girls are getting tired. It has been a long and busy term. I hope everyone has the opportunity to have some much needed rest over the Easter Break and that Easter Bunny finds her way to your home.

- Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal

Protective Behaviours Programme

As part of the mandated Protective Behaviours Programme offered at PLC, we have adopted the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum as the programme that we follow from Pre-Kindy to Year 12. The curriculum consists of two central Themes and four Focus Areas: 

Theme 1: We all have the right to be safe
Theme 2: We can help ourselves to be safe by talking to people we trust

Focus Area 1: The right to be safe
Focus Area 2: Relationships
Focus Area 3: Recognising and reporting abuse
Focus Area 4: Protective strategies

The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum is mandated in all Departments for Education sites for children and young people from age 3 to Year 12.

It is taught as part of the integrated IB PYP studies by classroom teachers from Pre-Kindy to Year 4. The concepts and activities of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum are also integrated throughout the Early Years Learning Framework outcomes. Classroom teachers of Years 5 and 6 integrate the content into their classroom lessons, and through the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. Throughout the Senior School, the programme content is covered within the Health and Physical Education lessons.

- Vernita Jaques, Deputy Head of Junior School - Pastoral Care and Operations

Year 12 Play - BOING, BOOM, BUST

Date: Final show tonight! 
Time: 7.00 pm
Location: PLC Perth Hazel Day Drama Centre
Book Now 

Easter Service

Date: Friday 12 April 
Time: 9.30 am 
Location: Hugh Baird Sports Centre 

Boarders Market

Date: Friday 12 April 
Time: 7.30 am - 11.00 am
Venue: Outside Heather Barr Memorial Chapel
There will be cakes, produce stalls, bacon and egg burgers and hot drinks, as well as several raffles. Money raised will go towards the Boarding House.

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Date: Thursday 9 May 
Time: 7.30 am 
Location: PLC Cafeteria
Book Now

OCA Art Exhibition Opening Night Cocktail Party

Date: Friday 24 May
Time: 6.00 pm - 9.00 pm 
The evening includes champagne, Flametree wine, canapes, entertainment and a chance to preview, and be the first to buy, the works of more than 80 artists. Numbers are limited, so please book early. 
Book Now  

Please note that all parent events are listed in the Communications & Engagement section of Links. 

World’s Greatest Shave

Congratulations to everyone involved in the World’s Greatest Shave, held at PLC on Monday. Many Junior and Senior School students, staff and parents joined Team PLC and committed to braiding, cutting or shaving their hair to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Thank you for your support! 

HBF Run for a Reason - Running for Refugees

Join Team PLC and participate in the HBF Run for a Reason, taking place on Sunday 19 May, to support Refugees through Red Cross. The aim is to raise awareness and funds for refugees fleeing crisis and political strife. Further information on the crisis can be found here. You can sign up to run 4 km, 12 km, 21 km, or walk it with a friend, parent or family member. All proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Refugee branch, supporting refugees in the local community. This year, PLC’s team will be led by students in our Year 11 Diploma IB programme, as part of their Community and Service project.  

A link for fundraising and sign ups will be sent out soon. Please contact Linda Malone (Head of Service and Community Partnerships), Mathew Donaldson (IB Diploma CAS Co-ordinator), or CAS students Maddy Grist, Salma Grono, or Scarlet O’Grady, with any questions.

HBF Run for a Reason – Children’s Arthritis Research Institute (CARI)

CARI brings together health professionals, families and supporters for the journey to develop curative therapies for rheumatic diseases in children and adults. Join a number of PLC families for the HBF Run for a Reason on Sunday 19 May, and support this WA charity in finding a cure for this disease. Click here to join. 

Bindaring Red Cross Clothing Sale – Clothes & Accessories Needed

We are collecting good quality clean clothes, shoes, bags, scarves and jewellery for men, women and children for this year’s Bindaring Red Cross Clothing Sale, at Claremont Showground, on Saturday May 18.

• Junior School slipway collection - Thursday 2 May and Friday 3 May.
• Senior School View Street slipway collection - Tuesday April 30 until Friday May 3, with collection boxes also at View Street and McNeil Street receptions. 

Help is also needed sorting and selling clothing on the day. For further information and to register your interest, click here or email bindaringsale@redcross.org.au. All proceeds raised will help to fund vital Red Cross services. Students registered as volunteers supporting Bindaring can log active service hours in their Service books as they progress towards Service Leadership Awards. 

Free Dress Day – Senior School - Thursday 11 April

Senior School students can sign up and donate $10 through their Home Tutor Group teacher to “Dress as a Farmer” on Free Dress Day. Money raised will help to support two World Vision students and UnitingCare West projects. The $10 fee covers Free Dress Days across three terms.

Sign ups and money due by Wednesday 10 April.

If students do not wish to participate in free dress, they must wear the usual school uniform. 

- Linda Malone, Head of Service and Community Partnerships 

Learning Journeys 

It was been wonderful to see some of our youngest students share their Learning Journeys with parents and special friends over the past two weeks.

The relationship between home and school is critical for the development of children. We are a team who share the same goal; a happy and engaged child, working towards reaching their potential. 

World's Greatest Shave

Arsyavira Zahra (Pre-Primary), Saskia Lehmann (Year 4) and Ivy Downes (Year 5) all had significant amounts of their hair cut off on Monday, at the PLC World's Greatest Shave event. Very brave girls!

Many students in the Junior School contributed by having their hair braided. PLC and Scotch have raised over have combined to raise over $105 137 for the Leukaemia Foundation. Well done to all involved.

Year 7 Getting to Know You Evening

Year 6 families are warmly invited to join us for a fun evening to mix and mingle with the current cohort, and welcome some of the new families who will be joining us next year.  

Date: Friday 10 May  
Time: 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Venue: PLC Cafeteria
Dress: Casual | Comfortable Clothes
RSVP: Friday 26 April

Click here to RSVP. 

- Mr Richard Wright, Head of Junior School

JUNIOR SCHOOL EVENTS

Junior School Assembly Years 1 to 6 (hosted by Year 6)

Date: Friday 5 April      
Time: 8.40 am – 9.15 am  
Venue: Swim and Recreation Centre (SRC)

Parents as Learners Series (Year 4 parents) 

Date: Tuesday 9 April      
Time: 8.45 am   
Venue: Junior School Library

Pre-Kindergarten Learning Journey 

Date: Wednesday 10 April      
Time: 8.30 am – 9.30 am  
Venue: Pre-Kindy Classroom

Chapel Years 2 to 6 

Date: Wednesday 10 April      
Time: 8.35 am – 9.10 am  
Venue: Heather Barr Chapel

Piano Recitals 

Date: Wednesday 10 April      
Time: 3.45 pm – 6.00 pm  
Venue: Heather Barr Chapel

WINGS Showing 

Date: Thursday 11 April      
Time: 5.00 pm – 5.30 pm  
Venue: Hazel Day Drama Centre

End of Term 1

Friday 12 April (normal dismissal times)

Y Lead Altitude Day 

The Year 9 Define ME team are hoping to take a group of Year 9 students to the Y Lead Altitude Day on June 7. The event is open to any Year 9 students who wish to develop their personal leadership skills.

Y Lead are a Queensland-based organisation that offer unique learning experiences that empower young people to be their best and make a positive difference. Altitude Day is a one-day event that includes inspiring guest speakers, the opportunity to receive leadership, and positive education tools and peer networking. If your daughter would like to attend, please email Lynne Jones to register your interest.

da Vinci Decathlon  

PLC students from Years 7 - 11 competed in the da Vinci Decathlon, an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. 

Students from schools across WA competed in teams of eight, covering ten disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and general knowledge.

Our girls did extremely well. Click below to view the results.

- Jennifer Crisp, Head of Senior School 

Subject Selection for Year 10 Students 

We are heading toward subject selection season and Ms Rebecca Garbenis (Head of IB Diploma) and Simone Fleay (Head of Careers and Pathways) look forward to working with Year 10 parents and students throughout this time. 

Click here to view the selection process.   

The first information session for students will be held on Tuesday 9 April, Period 3 (11.05 am) in the Auditorium. 

This first session aims to introduce the students to the three pathways available at PLC (IB Diploma, WACE ATAR and WACE General). There will be lots of information shared and the chance to ask questions. 

A further two sessions will follow during Term 2, along with two information evenings for parents and students.

In the meantime, you may like to take a look at blogs.plc.wa.edu.au/courses/ for course information. 

Please note, there are new Maths courses for the IB Diploma in 2020, so the existing ones will not be up to date.

Student Achievements 

Tatum Ryan (Year 7) attended the WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp last weekend, involving 100 youth from the ages of 8 - 18, for an intense, three-day education of the beef and dairy industry. Tatum was awarded the highest achieving beef participant over all age groups and will represent WA at the South Australian Junior Heifer Expo in July.

Sophia Papandroulakis (Year 8) has been selected for the WA U15 Hockey team to compete at the Hockey Australia National Tournament in NSW next week. 

Year 8 students, Jessica Fry, Rilyn Hawkins, Annabelle Lewkowski and Madeleine Robins represented PLC at the regional Synergy Solar Car Challenge and placed second, qualifying for the State Finals! This will be held at Optus Stadium on Tuesday 9 April.

Annie Pfeiffer (Year 9) was awarded 3rd place in Long Jump at the National Championships.

Isabella MacGregor (Year 10) was awarded a silver medal in the recent State Athletics Championships in the 1500 m event and will travel to Kuala Lumpur in July to compete as part of the State Athletics Team. 

Congratulations to the rowers who recently competed at the Sydney International Rowing Regatta. 
Senior Rowers: Rebecca Gunzberg (Rowing Captain), Sammie Deykin, Jacqui Swick, Jess Vinnicombe, Alice Warner. 
Under 17 Rowers: Lucinda Cox, Elizabeth Dyke, Charlotte Ferguson, Grace Fisher, Pippa Ford, Pippa Hann, Pippa Joyce, Sarah Lye, Madison Marley, Eloise Middlemas, George Roberts, Tara Rogers, April Webster.

A big congratulations to all these students for their varied and wonderful achievements!

IGSSA China & Singapore Tour Team Trials  

IGSSA WA are calling for player nominations to trial for a position in a combined representative team to travel to China (Huai’an & Beijing) in April 2020 for Basketball, Hockey & Soccer.

Trials will also take place for a combined representative IGSSA WA Netball tour to Singapore in April 2020.

Nominations are open to current Year 9 and 10 students, and will close on 24 May. Please click here for further details on eligibility and nomination.

Boarders Market - Friday 12 April

The annual Boarders Market will be held on Friday 12 April, 7.30 am - 11.00 am. Some of our boarding parents will be selling cakes, hot drinks, produce and their famous bacon and egg burgers! 
Money raised will go towards the Boarding House.

Career News

Find out about upcoming University information sessions, intern opportunities and much more.

SENIOR SCHOOL EVENTS 

Year 11 Dance

Date: Friday 5 April 
Time: 7.00 pm
Location: Claremont Yacht Club 
Bookings now closed

Rowers Breakfast - all rowers

Date: Saturday 6 April 
Time: 9.00 am (after training)
Location: PLC Boatshed 

 Year 10 Small Business Market Day

Date: Tuesday 9 April 
Time: Lunch
Location: Quad

Free Dress Day

Date: Thursday 11 April
$10 donation required. More information in 'Service' section of Links.

School Holidays 

Date: 13 - 28 April

PLC Parents Meetings

PLC Parents Meetings are held in The Lighthouse Community Room every term. The next meeting is on Friday 17 May, 8.30 am for an 8.45 am start.

The Fathering Project 

The Fathering Project is a University of Western Australia-based not-for-profit charity led by a team of professionals that aims to help fathers realise how important they are in a child’s life and to give them advice on how to encourage their children. Join a group or find out more here. 

Parent Events Coming Up

PLC Parents' Tennis Morning

Date: Tuesday 9 April
Time: 9:00 am
Venue: Cottesloe Tennis Club
RSVP here
A fun morning to meet and socialise with parents from all Year groups. The morning concludes with a delicious lunch. Numbers are limited to 40 due to court availability.

Year 10 Drinks and Nibbles Parents' Event

Date: Thursday 11 April
Address: Private residence (details when you RSVP)
Time: 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
RSVP: jacqdunn@hotmail.com by Monday 8 April

Surname beginning A-P: please bring a Savoury plate to share
Surname beginning Q-Z: please bring a Sweet plate to share
BYO drinks.

Year 12 Parents' Event

Date: Thursday 11 April
Time: 6.00 pm
Venue: Ocean Beach Hotel Cottesloe 
Cost: $25 per person
RSVP: racrob@racrob.com.au by Thursday 4 April

Friends of the Argyle Club Cocktail Party

Date: Saturday 18 May
Time: 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Location: The Deykin Residence
Book here by 12 May

Year 12 Father/Daughter Dinner Dance

Date: Thursday 22 August
Have a guess on what the theme could be! Click here.