No Images? Click here Dear Friend of PLC PLC’s ongoing commitment to the International BaccalaureatePLC has had a long-standing commitment to the International Baccalaureate (IB). This year, we have been delivering the Diploma Programme (DP) for eight years and our numbers are stronger than ever. The Year 11, 2018 cohort has doubled previous numbers into the programme and we continue to field strong interest for students locally and internationally who want to attend PLC because of the IB. Our connection with the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is equally as strong, having been delivered at PLC for 11 years. Part of the opportunities provided by our association with the IB is excellent staff development. This term Paul O’Brien and Jennifer Rickwood (from the Junior School) along with Kavita Mathai and Chris Scholten (from the Senior School), represented PLC at the Global IB Conference held in Singapore. I asked all four staff to reflect on some of their key learnings from this experience to share with you (below). Chris Scholten, In short, Horvath tells us that there is no such thing as universal “essay writing skills”. The implication is that each learning area has a significant responsibility for the education of literacy and numeracy in their own academic context, and that every discipline matters. Kavita Mathai,
Professor Rose Luckin’s research indicates:
Jennifer
Rickwood, Paul O’Brien, At PLC, we are proud to be an International Baccalaureate School and will continue to offer the PYP and DP into the future. Great results STEM from Excellence in EducationOur girls have really shown Perth they are the leaders in STEM excellence. PLC had an extremely successful outcome at the State da Vinci Decathlon competitions this year. Our Year 8 and 9 teams came first and our Year 7 and 10 teams second in their respective divisions. On Monday of this week our girls featured on Channel Nine whilst competing, and winning, the Synergy Schools Solar Car Challenge. A team of Year 10 girls participated in the Science and Engineering Challenge presented by the University of Newcastle in association with the Rotary Club of WA. PLC won the challenge which takes them through to the Nationals in Darwin. With the development of the PLC Lighthouse now complete, we look to Science and Innovation as the next frontier for PLC…watch this space! Holiday NewsBest wishes to the IGGSA Tennis, Hockey, Soccer and Basketball tours going to China, and the Netball tour travelling to Singapore. Annette Pearce will be in Singapore with the Netball girls and Kobie McGurk will be in China with the Hockey girls. The tour leaves in the early hours of Friday 13 April. PLC has five students going on the tour. The Tech Centre will be closed on April 26 until 1.30 pm as they will be offsite at Curtin University Innovation Centre for a Team work Professional Development lead by Vivien Whitehead. I will be on annual leave from Wednesday of the first week, returning Thursday of the second week. Anna Hu will be Acting Principal during my absence in the first week and Andrew Cousins in the second week. Staffing UpdateGrowing and developing staff is a core component of what makes an effective organisation. I take great pride in the opportunities on offer for PLC staff to assume leadership roles and to grow and develop as professionals. Through encouraging staff to step forward and take the challenge, we will inevitably see staff go on to live to their potential and do exciting and wonderful things beyond their time with us. It is with a mixed sense of sadness and excitement that I write to advise that Laura Allison has been offered and has accepted an incredibly exciting and challenging role with Catholic Education WA, leading and managing the Student Services Psychology Team for over 170 schools. This role is a fantastic opportunity for Laura to work at a system level to develop and implement strategies to improve mental health outcomes for students across the whole Catholic School system in Western Australia. We will have an opportunity to recognise Laura’s contribution to PLC and wish her well closer to her departure on Friday 15 June, but with the opening of the PLC Lighthouse just behind us, there is no doubt that Laura’s leadership as the Director of Wellbeing has had a significant and positive lasting impact on the whole PLC community. The School has appointed a recruiting firm to fill this very important role. Paul O'Brien has accepted the role of Head of Primary at the International School of Western Australia and thus tendered his resignation from PLC. While he will be very missed at PLC, we are excited on his behalf as he leaves to take up this exciting promotion. Paul had been a valued member of the Junior School staff and leadership team. Paul first came to PLC in 2002 and taught for two years in Year 7, before heading off overseas to London and Beijing. He then returned to PLC in October 2008 to the Junior School, where he has held the roles of Team Leader – Years 5 - 6, and since 2013, PYP Coordinator/Differentiated Curriculum Leader for Years 3 – 6, a role he has fulfilled with passion and commitment. We are still working on the timing of Paul’s transition and further information regarding an opportunity to formally wish him farewell will be communicated shortly. I wish you all a restful school holiday break and hope you manage to find time to rest and enjoy the company of family and friends. - Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal Friday 18 MayAll parents would have received in their inbox last week an invitation to a PLC Night of Inspiration, to be held at Frasers on Friday 18 May. This is a new event to the PLC calendar. Community members would be aware that the Year 12 ball was this year held on campus in response to feedback from the Senior School students. However, a non-refundable booking fee had already been paid to Frasers to hold the event there. After discussions with parents, including a straw poll held at this year’s Welcome Sundowner, it was decided to host a parents’ event at the venue so the funds were not wasted. The night will be a celebration of PLC achievements and feature Old Collegians Rebecca Grace (1983), Kate Stannage (1983), Jane Humphrys (1992), Fiona Boyce (2004) and Grace Newton-Wordsworth (2013) with Dixie Marshall (1980) as Master of Ceremonies. Friday 13 AprilBoarders Market, 7.30 am - 11.30 am, outside the Heather Barr Memorial Chapel Friday 13 AprilLast day of Term 1 Friday 11 MayMother's Day Breakfast, 7.30 am - 8.30 am Friday 25 MayOCA Art Exhibition Opening Night Cocktail Party, 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm Friday 25 May to Sunday 27 MayPLC OCA Art Exhibition, A reminder that Artist registrations are open for the 2018 Exhibition. The closing date for registrations is 30 April so we encourage any artists who are PLC Old Collegians, parents, staff and their family members, to register to exhibit as soon as possible by going to plcoca.org.au Thursday 31 May Parents@PLC Annual Tennis Morning, save the date Friday 26 OctoberOpen Garden Day, save the date ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ (John 15:13) Having celebrated Easter, the story of Father Damien demonstrates something of what Easter is about. Born Joseph De Veuster in Belgium in 1840, he became a priest, joined a missionary religious institute and took on the name of Damien. In 1865 Father Damien was sent to Hawaii. Infectious diseases brought by foreign traders, sailors and immigrants decimated the Native Hawaiian population. Leprosy was particularly virulent and was thought to be highly contagious and incurable. Out of fear for the dreaded disease, a law was passed that forced all lepers to be moved to the island of Molokai. Seeing the need, Damien moved to the island of Molokai in May 1873 to minister to the 816 lepers living there. Father Damien was soon teaching, painting houses, organising farms, helping with the building of roads, hospitals and churches. He also dug graves, built coffins, ate food by hand with lepers, shared pipes with them. But few lepers attended church. One day while cooking, Father Damien spilt some boiling water on his hand and he felt no pain. He knew what that meant. The news spread very quickly. That Sunday morning the church was packed. For the first time, instead of speaking to the lepers, he was able to say, ‘we lepers’. Everything had changed – he really was one of them. Father Damien died in April 1889 after 16 years of living and working on Molokai. He was made a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church in October 2009 and is referred to as ‘the apostle to the lepers’. May the mystery of Easter remain with us, inspire us, change us, as we journey towards the holidays and beyond. - Rev Gary Van Heerden What a fabulous term we have just spent together! Sincere thanks to all parents and carers for your engagement in your children’s learning and your support of the PLC staff. It was fabulous to have so many of the Pre-Primary parents join us this morning for the Term 1 Learning Journey. Similarly, it has been appreciated that so many parents have participated in the other learning journeys and open classroom sessions. Thanks to those who helped out with our various carnivals and special events. In particular, thanks to the Parent Reps for working behind the scenes to provide opportunities for engagement for all of our community. Next term, we will be holding a cyber-safety session with speaker Jordan Foster on Tuesday 22 May from 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm in the Auditorium. This session provides information in relation to the key social media platforms that primary school aged children are using, and the risks parents need to be aware of associated with each; guidelines around screen time reflected in the latest research, and strategies for minimising other cyber safety risks; and step-by-step instructions for how to setup a cyber-safe home. Registrations will open in Week 1 of Term 2 via Trybooking. We encourage all families to join us on that evening for this important information session. On Wednesday 9 May, students in Years 5 and 6 will be involved in the Junior Big Day In, a STEM festival being run at PLC. This is an opportunity for students to participate in hands-on activities including creating Solar Buddies (torches), test driving toy racing cars on a track to learn about friction and inertia, and plenty of coding and robotics. A number of our neighbouring schools have been invited, along with Scotch College. More details will be available to the students after the holidays. During Week 2 of Term 2, students from Years 3 - 5 will be involved in the Scribblers Festival to be held at the Goods Shed in Claremont. The cultural non-profit group, Form, and the Town of Claremont will be holding this literature and arts event and, along with school events during the day, family events are on offer during the week. Storytelling, illustration workshops, author presentations all with a focus on creativity will be on offer. More information available here. From Monday 16 April to Friday 27 April, Camp Australia will be hosting a holiday programme at PLC. With a mixture of unique and engaging activities, your child is sure to have a fun-filled holiday. - Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School PLC OCA Art Exhibition - Invitation to Junior SchoolWe are thrilled to announce that this years’ PLC OCA Art Exhibition, showcasing emerging and established artists will be held from Friday 25 May to Sunday 27 May. We would like to warmly invite all artists from the PLC Junior School Community to register to include their artwork in the 2018 exhibition. Artists receive 70 percent commission on sales. To register your interest to exhibit and/or to buy tickets to the opening night, please go to plcoca.org.au. Artists who register to exhibit are asked to also do a miniature work which will be for sale at the exhibition. We welcome anyone else who is feeling creative to participate in this much-loved part of the Exhibition. Miniature canvases can be collected from the Office of Community and Engagement Reception or the Junior School Reception and returned there once you have created your special artwork (before 4 May). JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSTerm 1 - Last DayDate: Friday 13 April (dismissal time as normal) Junior School Disco with Scotch CollegeDate: Friday 4 May Absentee notificationsAs of the beginning of Term 2, please note that we will be making some small changes to the notification process for absentees in the Senior School. New email addresses for absentees are below: If you prefer to call, please phone 94246400. Year 10 Parent-Teacher-Student EveningThe last of our Parent-Teacher-Student evenings will be held on the first Monday of next term, 30 April, commencing at 3.35 pm in the Beth Blackwood building. For instructions on how to make your appointments using the online booking system click here. As per previous communications, interviews will be seven minutes in length. If you have specific items you wish to discuss with teachers, please forward them to Jeremy Hetebry, your daughter’s Learning Co-ordinator. He will forward these to the relevant staff member so that they can prepare appropriately in readiness for the interviews. Interview room map here Uniform Requirements for Term 2Although the weather has been a little cooler this week, we suspect on past performance, that it will remain warm into Term 2. Therefore, the girls need to continue to wear summer uniform until the first mid-term break. The holidays will provide a chance to check wear and tear and to make sure all items are labeled. The Uniform Shop (now located in the Lighthouse) will be open at the following additional times at the start of Term 2: Friday 27 April from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm Email uniformshop@plc.wa.edu.au or call (08) 9460 6243 - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School Robotics and Coding Co-curricularMicro: Python - CodingLearn to code micro-components in python and design your own robot! Time: Term 2 - Wednesdays 3.35 pm - 4.35 pm Click here for more information Robotics ClubDevelop your coding skills with the LEGO EV3 robots - build your robot, then programme it to dance, follow lines and more! Time: Term 2 - Wednesdays 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Click here for more information The rest of the Senior School Co-curricular opportunities options can be downloaded below. Boarding House NewsAs always, there were lots of fun and games in the Boarding House last weekend. To see what we got up to, download the Boarding House news below. Boarders' MarketThe Boarders' Market will be held tomorrow, Friday 13 April from 7.30 am to 11.30 am outside the Heather Barr Memorial Chapel on View Street. There will be cake and produce stalls, bacon and egg burgers and hot drinks. There will also be several raffles on the day. Money raised will go towards the Boarding House. The Boarders' Market is a popular event, open to the public, so tell your neighbours! Service and WellbeingBindaring Red Cross Clothing SaleClothing collection boxes will be available at the View street, Beth Blackwood and Junior School reception from Wednesday 2 May - Thursday 10 May until 8.30 am as part of our involvement in the Bindaring Clothing Sale for the Australian Red Cross. All second-hand and unused clothing, plus accessories, are greatly welcome and all members of the school community are encouraged to donate with an open heart. The Bindaring Clothing Sale gives a second life to clothes and accessories, preventing them from going to landfill as well as offering a cheap source of clothing. The Sale is the biggest single event fundraiser for Red Cross in Australia. Year 10, 11 and 12 students are invited to participate in an external service opportunity held on Saturday 19 May at Claremont Showgrounds. Please refer to the two attachments below for further information and contact kibblewhitefiona@bigpond.com to sign up. Parent Volunteers Required Parent volunteers are required on weekdays from Tuesday May 8 - Thursday May 17 to assist with sorting anytime between 8.15 am and 3.30 pm at Claremont Showgrounds. If you are interested to assist and support this community event, please sign up at bindaringclothingsale.com.au or email bindaringsale@redcross.org.au. If you have any further enquiries, please contact Head of Service Matt.Donaldson@plc.wa.edu.au ScholarshipsThe Cheam ScholarshipThe Cheam Scholarship is awarded to a current Year 12 PLC student (usually a Boarder) who is interested in taking a gap year in 2019. The successful applicant will help with sporting teams and assist in the Cheam Boarding House with tutoring and mentoring. The role involves long hours, but is highly rewarding helping children meet new levels of sporting and academic achievement. The successful candidate will receive return airfare to London and pocket money. Application forms and information are available at Senior School Reception (View Street). Applications close on Monday 30 April 2018. PLC Foundation ScholarshipThe PLC Foundation is committed to offering one full academic scholarship each year to a student entering Year 7 who would not otherwise be able to consider attending PLC, due to their family’s financial circumstances. The successful recipient will be selected based upon evidence of strong academic ability, a commitment to the community and participation in co-curricular activities. Evidence of the family’s financial situation will be requested. An application form and information are available here. Applications close on Friday 25 May 2018 If you have queries, please contact Suzanne Pelczar, Co-ordinator, PLC Foundation. SportYears 7 - 12 Inter-house Cross Country CarnivalThe 2018 Years 7 - 12 Inter-house Cross Country Carnival will be held on Friday 4 May, at City Beach Oval (Corner of West Coast Highway & Oceanic Drive). Students will receive further information regarding the Inter-House Cross Country carnival on their return to PLC in Term 2 (including a link to book transport back to PLC after the carnival if required). Students not participating or helping at the carnival are expected to attend and support their House. Timetable for the day: Race Schedule: Presentations commence at 3.20 pm, with students dismissed at 3.30 pm. Students who booked return transport to PLC will leave City Beach Oval at 3.45 pm, arriving back to PLC by 4.00 pm. Outdoor EducationThe Year 9 Define ME team are hoping to take a group of Year 9 students to the Y Lead Altitude Day next term. The event is open to any Year 9 student who wishes to develop her personal leadership. Y Lead is a Queensland-based organisation which offers unique learning experiences that empower young people to be their best and make a positive difference. Their mission also says they hope “to support Australian schools in developing a generation of confident, motivated and skilled young leaders, through the creation and delivery of school leadership and positive education programmes and events”. Altitude Day is a one-day event that includes:
If your daughter would like to participate in the day, please complete the consent form and email it to liam.sullivan@plc.wa.edu.au or return it to the View Street Reception by Wednesday 9 May. Student AchievmentsAustralian Computational and Linguistics OlympiadThe Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad team of Carina Aakermann (Year 12), Olivia Dry (Year 12), Natalie Everett (Year 12) and Ping Yap (Year 12) recently competed in the National championships after coming first in the State competition. While not scoring a place in the National competition the girls did very well in finishing in the top 10. Well done girls. State da Vinci DecathlonPLC had an extremely successful outcome at the State da Vinci Decathlon competitions this year. Our Year 8 and 9 teams came first and our Year 7 and 10 teams second in their respective divisions. The winning teams have qualified to compete at Knox Grammar School in Sydney at the end of June. Congratulations to all the girls involved. Year 8 Team (First Place) Isobel Wake Year 9 Team (First Place) Megan Steinberg National Diving ChampionshipsZoe Jagger (Year 8) recently qualified for the Age National Diving Championships, to be held in Melbourne from April 23 to April 30. Zoe will be representing WA. Congratulations, Zoe! Career NewsRead about the latest university information sessions and other resources, workshops and guides in this week's Career News. SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSPrincipal's AssemblyDate: Friday 13 April Year 10 Parent EveningDate: Friday 13 April Year 11/12 exams commence commenceDate: Monday 7 May Year 10 exams commenceDate: Wednesday 9 May NAPLAN commencesDate: Tuesday 15 May Tartan Lawyers Legal Breakfast – An Industry in TransitionThe Old Scotch Collegians’ and PLC Old Collegians’ Associations will jointly host the annual Tartan Lawyers Breakfast on Friday 4 May. We welcome OCA members and other members of the PLC community who are aspiring, current or retired members of the legal profession to join us for an insightful discussion. We will look at disruption facing the legal industry from technology, competitive innovation and the economic downturn and discuss what this means for firms in Western Australia. Hear Courtney Lauren, Senior Manager – Business Banking at Macquarie Bank present their 2017-2018 industry benchmarking report, followed by a panel discussion. Panel: Saul Davies, Partner, Taylor Smart, Clare Pope, Partner, PwC Queries: Sascha Hill, Alumni and Parent Group Co-ordinator, sasha.hill@plc.wa.edu.au Old Collegians Art ExhibitionOne of the most exciting events on the PLC OCA calendar is approaching. Well-known artist Corinne Barton, will join over 80 established and emerging artists from the PLC community at this year’s Art Exhibition, which runs from Friday 25 May to Sunday 27 May. The exhibition launches with the Opening Night Cocktail Party from 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm on Friday 25 May. The evening includes champagne, wine and beer, canapes, entertainment and a chance to preview and purchase the art works. Tickets for the Opening Night Cocktail Party are available online here for $40, or at the door on the night for $45. It is a wonderful night to gather with friends and enjoy the art. The Exhibition continues throughout the weekend from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May with entry by gold coin donation. There will be a pop up gourmet café on site all weekend so bring yourself, family and friends along for a delicious morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea and admire the beautiful artworks. Special thanks to our Major Sponsors. Parent Committee School Fee DrawA chance to win while supporting your children. Pay your Term 2 Invoice in full and the optional Parents’ Committee amount of $25 per child by 4.00 pm Monday 30 April 2018 and you could have $6,735 credited to your account! LogoRequest for Knit and Crochet VolunteerAs part of our Develop Me Day on Monday May 7, we continue to encourage our students to participate in an opportunity for service learning at PLC. This year, we are hoping to knit and crochet blankets for the elderly in our communities. If you are available and willing to teach the basics of either skill with a small group of Year 7 and Year 8 students between 11.30 pm and 1.30 pm, please contact victoria.kelleher@plc.wa.edu.au The PLC Arygle ClubLogo Design Contest. PLC is hosting the 2018 Head of the River and needs and original and innovative logo. Submit your design by Friday 20 April at 5.00 pm. Open Garden DayPeppermint Grove's most beautiful event will be back on Friday 26 October! If you live in Peppermint Grove and would like to have your beautiful garden featured at the 2018 Open Garden Day, Donna Jackson (OGD Co-ordinator), would love to hear from you. The Committee is also looking for a special house with an outdoor kitchen to do a cooking demonstration on the day. You can contact Donna Jackson on 0419 911 576 or email dmbjackson@bigpond.com Open Garden Day VolunteersThank you for all the volunteers to date. We are now looking for one more to join the committee: Any questions regarding this role, please contact Donna Jackson on 0419 911 576 or email dmbjackson@bigpond.com |