No Images? Click here Dear Friend of PLC Last week, 146 wonderful Year 12 girls became the newest cohort of PLC Old Collegians after completing their examinations for WACE, the International Baccalaureate Diploma or vocational training. Having spoken to many of the girls during the exam period, I know they each put in an enormous effort to ensure they achieved their personal best in every subject. We have seen a large increase in the number of students undertaking the IB Diploma in recent years. This year, 37 girls studied IB in Years 11 and 12 and in 2019 we will see 52 study for the Diploma. It’s heartening to see so many girls and their families embracing the Diploma. PLC is proud to offer our students the diversity of study choices in their final years of schooling. As our community is aware, PLC regularly performs in the top 10 of the annual ATAR league tables. In fact, barring one year – when we were 12th – PLC has been in the top 10 of the ATAR league tables since they were first published. We are constantly reviewing our girls’ academic performance and our learning co-cordinators carry out modelling based on this to track the girls’ anticipated progress and achievements. One thing this modelling has uncovered is that once we have more than 20 students in Year 12 studying the Diploma, due to the results of these students NOT being included in the league table calculations, PLC would likely drop out of the top10. PLC believes providing girls with a choice of academic pathways is far more important than considerations given to placement on public league tables. We choose to offer the Diploma because PLC believes in personalising the educational journey for our girls, and this means providing choice of courses. If this means our ranking in the annual school league tables dips slightly, before being combined with our IB Diploma students’ results, we can be firm in the knowledge that we have held true to the PLC values of integrity, learning, community and effort. Our WACE students receive their results on Monday 17 December and the IB Diploma girls receive their results on Thursday 3 January. I congratulate all PLC girls on their contributions more broadly to the life of PLC, remembering the number will never define the gifts a student brings to our community. - Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal Saturday 24 NovemberRetirement Village Open Day, 11.00 am - 2.00 pm, 141 Claremont Crescent, Swanbourne. Tuesday 27 NovemberInaugural meeting of the newly-merged PLC parent group, 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm Tuesday 4 DecemberJunior School End of Year Assembly, 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm, SRC Thursday 6 DecemberLast day of Term 4 Thursday 6 DecemberSenior School Speech Night, 5.30 pm arrival time,
HBF stadium. Sunday 16 DecemberPeppermint Grove's Carols by Candlelight, 6.00 pm, Manners Hill Park
- Rev Gary Van Heerden PLC Term 4 Christmas AppealChristmas is a time that can be especially tough if you are experiencing financial hardship. Our Christmas Appeal supports local community members who are experiencing financial crisis, homelessness, domestic violence and mental health issues. Food donations for Senior School are collected through House Tutor Groups at Junior School reception and will close on Monday 26 November in readiness for delivery through UnitingCare West. Please click here for the list of donations for this appeal. Lunchtime Fundraising for Cancer CouncilDuring lunch on Wednesday 28 November, Home Tutor Group, 7 McNeil, will lead an initiative to develop teamwork and raise awareness for people living with Lymphoma. Funds raised through food sales will be donated to Cancer Council WA. Click here for further information. - Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing Feeling the Christmas SpiritCongratulations to our Pre-Primary children and teachers for the joyous ‘Aussie Christmas’ Nativity performance this week. This was such a special way for us to begin the Festive season. Thank you to our Kindergarten parents for organising a lovely morning tea for the Pre-Primary parents to enjoy afterwards. End of Year AssemblyEarlier this week, parents with children in Years 1 to 6 were sent an invitation, via email, to the Junior School End of Year Assembly. This special occasion is an opportunity for the entire Junior School community to come together and celebrate the year that was. Our theme this year is “Seasons”. The End of Year Assembly is an official school function and, as such, all students in Years 1 to 6 are expected to attend. If you know that your daughter will not be attending, please email your daughter's class teacher as soon as possible. Early Years students and their families are very welcome to attend the assembly, however it is not a requirement. The End of Year Assembly will be held on Tuesday 4 December, from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm, in the Swim and Recreation Centre. Tickets are not required this year. Last Day of SchoolThe final day of the 2018 School year is fast approaching and we would like to remind parents and carers of the early finish on this day. To minimise traffic congestion at the Junior School slipway, pick-up times on the last day of school will be staggered as follows: Kindergarten: 12.30 pm - Jennifer Rickwood, Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning Places available - 2019 Arrowsmith Cognitive ProgrammeIn 2015, PLC implemented our pilot Arrowsmith Cognitive Programme in the Junior School. We currently have students from Years 2 to 7 participating in the programme in full-time or part-time capacity during their school day. The Arrowsmith Programme is based on neuroscience research which demonstrate that it is possible for students to address learning difficulties by strengthening their weak cognitive capacities and enabling them to become effective, confident and self-directed learners. A limited number of places have opened up in the programme for 2019. If you are interested in finding out more please visit the Arrowsmith Programme website and read the flyer. Contact the Junior School Learning and Enrichment Centre if you have any questions. JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSYear 6 Final Assembly Date: Friday 23 November Year 6 End of Year Celebration Date: Friday 23 November Suzuki Christmas Concert Date: Tuesday 27 November Junior School End of Year Assembly Date: Tuesday 4 December Last day of Term 4 – Thursday 6 December Please note the early finish times. Science WeekWhat a busy place it has been over the last week. Science Week has been astounding with so many enriching and stimulating activities. Some of these continue into next week with several of our Year 11 girls being fortunate enough to attend hands-on work experience sessions in astrophysics at Curtin University. Hopefully our focus on STEM will inspire some of our girls to steer in this direction in the future. End of TermSpeech Night offers a once-a-year opportunity to celebrate the wonderful achievements of the school as a whole and of individuals. It is an important and lovely occasion for the School community. As such, our expectation is for all girls to attend. I am certain that girls and parents alike will enjoy the evening. Our last day of term, Thursday 6 December, culminates in an assembly that is sure to entertain and delight everyone, followed by our Speech Night at HBF Stadium that night. Please allow plenty of time for parking as we start promptly at 6.00 pm. - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School Instrumental and Vocal Music Lessons 2019All instrumental and vocal music lessons will conclude on Friday 30 November. Congratulations to all students on their musical development and achievements throughout the year! Students who wish to continue with their instrumental or vocal tuition in 2019 do not need to re-enrol. Current enrolments will automatically roll over to next year. Parents are asked to notify the Music Department at music@plc.wa.edu.au by Friday 7 December if they do not wish to continue lessons in 2019 or need to change their current enrolment details. New enrolment applications for 2019 are welcome by completing a 2019 music enrolment form and sending it to the Music Department by Friday 7 December. 2019 BooklistsThe Year 7 to Year 10 Booklists for 2019 have been published. On home.plc.wa.edu.au there is a link for each of the booklists on the booklists tile. The booklist outlines the requirements for each subject and explains the process for purchasing the resources. This can be done entirely online and the materials will be delivered to your doorstep. Lists have now been published for all year levels. Student AchievementsSacha Winter (Year 12), has been awarded the 2018 Young Waste Achiever. In her role as Environmental Captain at PLC, Sacha has taken a lead in implementing a number of sustainable initiatives to reduce the amount of waste produced by the school. Working with the school catering provider, she helped the school move to more sustainable BioPak packaging and reusable cups for the school café. We are so proud of you, Sacha! Career NewsBoarding House NewsJumping for joy at Matilda Bay at the conclusion of the Year 7 Quay 2 Quay Read more in Boarding House News. SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSAdvent Service and Awards Assembly Date: Monday 3 December Christmas Assembly Date: Thursday 6 December Speech Night Date: Thursday 6 December New students 2019 – Uniform Fitting AppointmentsA reminder to all our new 2019 families that Uniform fitting appointment times are still available. NovemberMorning time slots: 9.00 am – 11.30 am on Monday 26 November through Friday 30 November. DecemberMorning time slots: 9.00am – 11.30am on Monday 3 December through Thursday 6 December (last day of term). JanuaryMorning time slots: 9.00am – 11.30am on Monday 21 January through Thursday 24 January. Please contact our Uniform Shop Manager Emma Young on emma.young@plc.wa.edu.au or 08 9460 6243 |