Links eNewsletter - Term 3 Week 3 Dear valued member of the PLC community, A Message From the Principal
Well at least “I had a dream” - as a young child on a small island with just four records (my very favourite being ABBA’s 'Ring Ring') and no television for the first five years of my life, I dreamt that one day my closest friends would be Frida and Agnetha and I would share the stage as I sang alongside Bjorn and Benny. While that dream was not one that was to ever come true, it certainly was a dream come true to see Mamma Mia! come to life on stage in the Hazel Day Drama Centre this week. I do hope that all members of the community who were able to attend, enjoyed it as much as I did. From the incredible energy of 'Waterloo' and 'Super Trouper' (my personal all-time favourite song) to the beat of 'Gimme Gimme Gimme' and the lyrics of 'Waterloo', ABBA’s music has made people dance and smile for decades. It had a heavy influence on the music we hear today and arguably gave birth to pop music as we know it. Personally, I cannot imagine my childhood without the music of ABBA. Hours and hours of singing and dancing, and loving life. Back to 'Ring Ring' I still remember the words to every song on that album – the chorus of 'People Need Hope' became a song that always filled me with great hope, that the world could be one in which people focussed on loving and helping one another.
'Nina, Pretty Ballerina' still brings a smile to me, the train whistle coming into the station at the beginning of the song and the memories of a young child dancing around the lounge room – we didn’t have entertainment systems in our bedrooms in those days. 'He Is Your Brother', 'Ring Ring', 'Me and Bobby' and 'Bobby’s Brother'….
The memories of these songs just make me smile. I think as we get older, many of our memories become linked to favourite songs and the music that came with them. I would like to thank all of our students and staff who were involved in the production of Mamma Mia!, I am sure I am not the only person who thoroughly enjoyed the show and the opportunity to sing along to songs we actually know the words to. Thank you for taking so many of us on a journey back in time, to remind us of the joy of childhood memories. Thank you for your hours of rehearsals, your weekends and late afternoons and evenings at School. I do hope that you felt the gratitude of the audience each evening, that you felt your efforts were appreciated. I hope that for each of our students in particular, this will become one of your own memories for life. I do hope that everyone on stage felt like Agnetha and Frida must have back in 1980 when they sang 'Souper Trouper'. I hope you felt the lights on you, that you felt like ‘number one’, you certainly were in the eyes of the audience.
Each night this week, you brought together people at each performance who had experienced good days and bad days, happy days and sad days. You brought us together to share a common experience – pure joy. I left the show having laughed and smiled, having sung (under my breath) and waiting for my chance to see the show again on Thursday night. As John Denver (another secret favourite of mine) once said, “Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we speak, what colour we are, the form of our politics or the expression of our love and our faith, music proves: We are the same.” We are the same. Thank you. Thank you so much to all involved and “Bravo” for an exceptional week of performances.
- Cate Begbie – Principal Treasure Indeed!The decision to establish a Presbyterian School for girls was made at a meeting held in the vestry of St Andrew’s Church in Perth, with the Minister, Rev G Nisbet Dods MA, as Chairman, on 19 August 1915. St Andrew’s Church and PLC are both now part of the Uniting Church in Australia. This year, as we celebrate our Founders’ Day, it is especially important for us to remember our founders and benefactors of this great all-girls’ educational institution, Presbyterian Ladies College. To them, we owe a great debt of gratitude. It is indeed appropriate we recall their inestimable contribution each year and in return, commit ourselves to mirror something of the same devotion and generosity that led those before us to endow the College in the first place. The past 106 years have witnessed dreams that became successes; dreams that made a positive difference in so many individual’s lives; as well as the positive difference in vital service to our community, region, nation, indeed the world, in varied fields of endeavour by PLC’s illustrious alumni. Times have changed from PLC’s fledgling beginnings, but the essential faith dimension of PLC’s life has never wavered. Those of faith, seeking to honour the gift of the founding pioneers, still endeavouring to place the radical love of Christ as being central in all that we undertake. In every way, we are now the beneficial owners of the gifts we have been given to equip future generations of young students, through this illustrious faith-based educational institution. As we honour PLC’s 106-year life and as we continue to build upon the firm foundation laid by our pioneers, undergirded by their faith in Jesus Christ, let us choose to seize this moment to empower and encourage all students in our care. The continuous challenge is for PLC to be a safe, caring, learning environment, characterised by positivity, inclusion, diversity and support for one another. With God’s help, may we also be enabled to share this radical, inclusive love of Christ as the essential component that enables each one of us to become an agent of change. We are all being called to serve current and future generations of young girls and women by endowing them with discerning minds and willing feet to climb higher, so that they, in turn, might reach their full potential in all aspects of living. So, let us resolve to act, for it begins with us and it begins now. Let it be so! - Rev Nalin Perera – Chaplain Inter-house Cross CountryWhat an amazing afternoon we had for our Years 1 to 6 Inter-house Cross Country Carnival. It was wonderful to see so many community members there to support the students on the day. The talented runners performed magnificently and congratulations to the Champions and Runners Up from each year group: Year 1 Champion: Lila I was most impressed by the way the students supported each other. Runners were cheered home and special cheers were given to those at the back of the field, who find this event difficult but represent their House and demonstrate great resilience. The smiles on those faces were heart-warming for all. Parents As Learners Series (PALS)Yesterday, we had our highest ever attendance at a PALS workshop. The topic was 'Anxiety and How to Support Your Child', presented by Vivienne Willan, our Junior School Psychologist. We all face anxiety at some time or another, and how we deal with this natural part of life is very important. Ms Willan spoke about when anxiety moves from a natural human response to being problematic. She also provided strategies and resources to use with our children. Ms Willan has agreed to share the PowerPoint presentation and it can be found here. Book DayBook Day in the Junior School is on Tuesday 24 August. Students are welcome to come to school dressed as their favourite character from a book. The theme this year is ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’. There will be a costume parade in the Junior School Swim & Recreation Centre commencing at 8.45 am. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. - Richard Wright – Head of Junior School Junior School Assembly (Hosted by Year 5)
Founders' Day Service
Year 5 Parent Social Event
Chapel Years 3 to 6
Mid-term Break
Book Day
Stage One Leaders AnnouncedHead Prefect: Edwina Last Friday, we had a special assembly to announce our Student Leaders for 2022. After an application and interview process, staff and students were able to vote for leaders for each position. It is my pleasure to announce that the following students were successful. On Monday the staff and students will be voting for the positions of House Captain. The Year 11 cohort is certainly a talented group with great leadership capabilities. These formal positions will offer students a chance to develop their leadership skills further, but students who are not successful will also have many opportunities to be a part of leadership initiatives. At PLC, we consider all Year 12 students to be leaders and at our Student Leader Induction Service next term, we will be inducting all members of the Class of 2022 as leaders and recognising them with a special Class of 2022 badge. Mamma Mia!It has been a big week for all our Senior School students who are part of the cast, crew, and musicians for the musical Mamma Mia! The talent of our students was on display as they delivered a polished production that would revival that of any professional company. The performances had the audience dancing and singing in their seats, with the opening night for both casts receiving a standing ovation. A big congratulations to all involved! The time and effort our Drama, Dance and Music staff have dedicated to the show has been greatly appreciated and the show wouldn’t have been able to occur without them. Best Day of the Year ReminderA reminder that Arts Day starts at 8.30 am in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre with the Staff Act, followed by the Year 12 Act and House Dance. If you have any further questions, please contact Arts Day Co-ordinator, Ms Kate Montague at kate.montague@plc.wa.edu.au - Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School Boarder of the Week:
Room of the Week:
What Happened This Week in the Boarding HouseSuperstars in the Boarding HouseOur attending boarders and staff were thrilled to support our resident superstars in the Mamma Mia! production this week. We had girls who were part of the chorus, dancers, support, and leading roles as well as the orchestra. Libby, Indah, Khansa, Imogen, Joyce, and Harriet were brilliant on their opening night, full of energy and enthusiasm as well as talent and finesse. Students, parents, and their boarding families were very proud. This weekend was jam-packed in the Boarding House, the Years 9 and 10 students went ice skating, the Year 7s had a spontaneous trip to Elizabeth Quay, all the girls had an opportunity to ride out the cold weather with two trips to the cinema and the Years 11 and 12s had a ball at the Boarders’ Dance on Saturday night with Scotch College. We are looking forward to another busy weekend with rollerskating for our Years 7 and 8 students, a movie and pyjama night with St Hilda’s for our Year 9s, a fitness session in the Lighthouse for all years, and the commencement of our Year 12 dinner leave activity, where the Boarding House provides transport for our Year 12s to go for dinner in Claremont on a Saturday night. With Father’s Day looming, our girls will also have the opportunity to go shopping in Karrinyup on Sunday with craft sessions to come in the following weeks. We look forward to sharing more photos of our fun-filled weekends with you next week. - Katherine Hazlewood – Deputy of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care CAS Sleepout for Uniting WASenior School students are invited to take part in a student-led IB Diploma CAS initiative to experience what it is like to sleep rough whilst raising funds for Uniting WA. The event will be overnight, starting at 7.00 pm on Friday 20 August, with students able to join Microsoft Teams and learn about homelessness via an informative video created by Uniting WA to raise awareness of homelessness. Parent permission form and further information is available here. Protective Behaviours Curriculum Information SessionsOur Health and Wellbeing team will be hosting two (2) repeat information sessions for Senior School parents and guardians. These sessions will aim to provide an overview of our Protective Behaviours curriculum and examples of what is delivered to students within their Health and Wellbeing lessons.
- Chonny James – Director of Wellbeing Mamma Mia!
Founders' Day Service
Arts Day
Father’s Day Breakfast
Year 12 Father Daughter Dinner Dance
Mid-term Break
Year 11 Parent Coffee Catch Up
Year 11 Mother/Daughter Breakfast
PLC Open Garden Day - Christmas Cake Helpers WantedPlease help our amazing Christmas Cake Co-ordinators, Year 10 parent, Julia Brims, and Year 11 parent, Raylene Duddy. These cakes are a famous tradition at the Open Garden Day. The Co-ordinators require volunteers for the following tasks: Assemble Ingredient PacksWe need 10 volunteers to make up the ingredient packs for our famous PLC Christmas Cakes.
Cake BakersWe need 80 volunteers to bake the Christmas Cakes. Main ingredients, recipe, and cooking instructions will be included. The ingredient packs will make four (4) cakes. Pick Up Ingredient Packs
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Boarders will have their ingredients packs delivered to the boarding house prior to Friday 17 September. Bake Cakes Please bake cakes prior to the end of Term 3 school holidays. Return Cakes
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Boarding parents, please return your cakes to the Boarding House when your daughter returns for Term 4. Julia and Raylene will arrange the collection. Cake WrappersWe need 15 volunteers to wrap, label, and price the baked cakes.
Please complete the form by clicking the button below to indicate where you can assist. Your help is GREATLY appreciated. PLC Parents Term Fee Draw Winner AnnouncedCongratulations to Year 5 parents Simon and Fiona van den Berg who are the lucky winners of the Term 3 PLC Parents School Fees Draw. They will have $7,248 credited to their school fees account. Net proceeds will be used to establish and purchase resources for the Future Problem Solvers programme for the benefit of Junior School students. Thank you to all who participated. Hear from Isobel Marshall, who at just 18 years co-founded TABOO with school friend Eloise Hall, to help women around the world by breaking down stigma around menstruation and providing greater access to hygiene products. TABOO sells high-quality, ethically sourced, organic cotton pads and tampons to an Australian market, with 100% net profits going to One Girls - a charity providing education, programmes for girls and women in Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Music Bursary Applications Are Now Open!Music Instrumental/Vocal Bursaries are available to students in Years 7 – 12 in 2022. Music Bursaries are awarded based on musical excellence as well as the current needs within the PLC Music Department. Applications close on Thursday 26 August 2021. PLC Pipe Band 40th Anniversary History Book & ReunionCurrent PLC Pipe Band parents are warmly invited to attend the Pipe Band 40th Aniversary Celebration and Reunion on Sunday 29 August. RSVP for this event by clicking the button below. As part of this milestone anniversary, PLC is also publishing a limited edition commemorative history book of the PLC Pipe Band which will feature every member of the PLC Pipe Band throughout the years. Pre-order your book by clicking the button below. AFL All StarsCongratulations to Ayesha, Edith, Bec, and Ella who were selected in the AFL All Stars team and competed in the Inter-Association Tri Series on Friday against the Associated & Catholic Colleges, and the School Sport WA teams. The inaugural event was supported by the WAFC and the Fremantle Dockers, and with WAFC Talent Specialists and Trent Cooper watching matches, this was a tremendous opportunity for all players and was met with great excitement. Shooting for the StarsCongratulations to Jai’lysa and Mia who were announced in the U14 Aboriginal All Stars Squad for netball last week. The Aboriginal All Stars programme is designed to allow Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander girls the opportunity to be exposed to the netball pathway. The Aboriginal All Stars programme provides a safe environment for girls to understand the elite practices involved in progressing through the netball pathway. Final trials will be held in September and we wish both students all the very best. |