Lighthouse News - September 2019

Dear Friend of PLC Lighthouse

A Message From Director of Wellbeing, Chonny James

One of the challenges in a busy school like PLC, is finding common times to bring the community together to regularly engage in discussions around the issues facing our young people.

Community Conversations

This year we have initiated our Community Conversations series.

Through Community Conversations, we aim to provide PLC families with a co-ordinated approach to meaningful, timely and informed dialogue as we bring in experts on the topics/issues that students will be exploring in the near future through their Health and Wellbeing curriculum.

We hope to build positive shared experiences between our staff, students and families to create more opportunities for on-going conversations.

Providing parents the chance to hear from guest speakers who have the expertise, evidence and experiences in topics relevant to our girls' wellbeing, increases the knowledge base, builds confidence and capacity to engage in productive two-way communication between parents and daughters.

Finding a good time to initiate difficult conversations can be a challenge for some parents. Knowing that the topic or issue is currently being discussed at school will hopefully provide a natural prompt to get a productive dialogue started.

You can find upcoming Community Conversations on the PLC website or PLC Lighthouse Facebook page.

The next Community Conversation is with Annabeth Bateman from Headspace on 11 September. Annabeth’s presentation will empower parents, carers and students to learn about mental health and the use of social media and devices. Annabeth will outline the research on these issues, as well as offering practical ways that young people and families can reflect on their own social media and device use. Click here for more information and to book.

- Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing

Technology and Mental Health

There are many advantages to how schools like PLC successfully integrate information and learning technologies across the curriculum. Our girls have access to the latest technology, and are able to use this to enhance and transform their learning.

We have the power to access unlimited information at our fingertips, but we need to be responsible with how we evaluate and use that information. We have the power to influence local and global perceptions of ourselves and others, but have an ethical responsibility to do this in a fair and respectful manner. We have the power to focus on our screens all hours of the day and night, but need to be responsible for our own health and wellbeing.

According to the 2019 Happiness Report, “the large amount of time adolescents spend interacting with electronic devices [in their leisure time] may have direct links to unhappiness and/or may have displaced time once spent on more beneficial activities, leading to declines in happiness.”

Reasons for this can be seen as three-fold: device use at night impacting on sleep, device use replacing face-to-face contact and physical activities, and the role of social media.

Read the full article

PLC Device-Free Nights Challenge

We will be encouraging girls from Years 1 to 12 to take part in our Device-Free Nights Challenge from 9 - 15 September (Senior School) and 16 - 22 September (Junior School).

Will You Take Up The Challenge?

Students will be challenged to switch off all personal devices by an allocated time each night and to leave them in a common area of the house overnight (out of bedrooms).

Every student will bring home a form for themselves and parents/guardians to sign every night that this is achieved.

Click here to download the form.

Your Participation Will Make a Real-World Impact

Our community sponsors for this event, Clear Orthodontic Studio and Two Hands Painting Service will be donating funds to Headspace based on the total device-free nights achieved across the School, meaning that the girls' participation in this challenge will result in a real-world impact; the more device-free nights, the more money donated to aid youth mental health initiatives.

The challenge is optional, but we would encourage students to try this for at least a few nights. Parents and teachers are also more than welcome to take on the challenge.

Devices Are Not All Bad

We want our students to be organised and to develop healthy study, sleep and personal habits. This can include periods of device-free time, but it can also mean using the same device to help them get organised and develop healthy habits.

Below are a list of apps and tools Head of Lighthouse Curriculum, Emily Lockhart recommends for students to develop good organisational skills and study habits.

Evernote

Students can use evernote to create 'to-do' lists, take notes and even make sketches! This app is not just for phones but can be used on a mac and ipad as well. Learn more or download the app here.

Remember The Milk

This app can be used by anyone who likes writing lists and needs reminders to get things done. The app gives you a “moo” to remind you of a task that is due. Students can practice writing down their tasks, chores, jobs and homework. Learn more or download the app here.

Flashcard Hero

Create decks of flashcards and use them to study anywhere you go. Students can drag and drop images onto the cards, import lists and set them to quiz mode to test themselves! Learn more or download the app here.

Hopefully this gives you some inspiration to use your devices for good.

- Emily Lockhart, Head of Lighthouse Curriculum

RU OK? Day - Thursday 12 September

This is an important day dedicated to encouraging and empowering people, old and young, to reach out to each other and start a conversation with others who may be dealing with a difficult time.

RU OK? Day Ambassador, Ash Nelson

Our Junior School will be hosting retired Hockyroo, Ash Nelson on Monday 9 September. Ash will share her journey with the Years 5 - 6 students and parents. If you are a Years 5 or 6 parent, you are welcome to join us from 2.00 pm until 3.00 pm in the Sport and Recreation Centre on Monday 9 September.

Radio PLC on RU OK? Day

On Thursday 12 September, Our 2019 Wellbeing Captain, Arabella Smeulders will be live on Radio PLC from 8.00 am promoting RUOK? Day. Radio PLC will also tailor the music during the day to reflect the RUOK? Day Theme.

Please participate and get talking!

Daleen Engelbrecht, Lead Psychologist

Meet the Lighthouse Team - Kiara Wright

Tell us a little bit about your family and where you come from?

I live on a farm in a small country town called Kojonup, which is about 300 km south-east of Perth. On the farm we have sheep, cattle and crops. I grew up on the farm with my dad, mum and two older sisters.

I then came to PLC and began boarding as a Year 8 student in 2016. I love going home to the farm whenever I get the chance as I get to spend time with my family and friends, and help out around the farm where needed.

What are the best three things about boarding at PLC?

There are always many different and exciting activities that are offered to us.
You always get to be around your friends.
You develop and gain more independence from a younger age.

If you could invite three people to dinner, who would they be and why?

Rodger Federer - I enjoy playing tennis and I think he is an interesting person.
A Great Grandparent - I would love to hear about the history of my family and other stories I haven't heard before. Some of my Great Grandparents also went to war, so I would find it very interesting hearing about that.
Jessica Long – I would like to hear her story as she is a Paralympic swimmer who had to have both her legs amputated when she was younger. She still won lots of medals and held many records, which I find so inspiring.

What’s your favourite way to relax and unwind?

I like to spend time outside and go for a walk or play sport with my friends.

02 Active Class of the Month: Fitness Training

Strong Bodies, Bones and Minds for Life

Our Lighthouse Fitness classes are held Monday and Wednesday at 7.00 am and provide a great opportunity for Years 7 - 12 students to build strong bones, bodies and minds for life.

At the Lighthouse we believe fitness is for EVERY body. No matter what shape your body is or what your current fitness level is, our classes provide an opportunity to gain fitness as well as increasing determination and drive.

Our Lighthouse coaches have all experienced first-hand the positive impact of movement and fitness and are passionate about sharing this experience with the girls.

Join the buzz, enjoy the tunes, build new friendships and get those positive endorphins pumping through the body with our Lighthouse coaches. Click here to book.

- Caitlin Hunt, O2 Active Founder

Reflections With Sue Tredget

The Power of Creativity

PLC has been buzzing with creativity over the past month. As a relative newcomer to the School, I was impressed by the depth of artistic talent being nurtured here amongst the peppermint trees, as showcased in Footloose and on display throughout Arts Day.

What struck me most about this festival of fun, was the level of participation and enthusiasm - everyone was involved, and it was wonderful to witness. We won’t all go on to be the next Liane Moriarty, Jessica Mauboy or ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ winner, but we can all enjoy and benefit from expressing ourselves through The Arts.

Creative Healing

A 2017 UK report found that participating in the Arts can promote wellness, aid recovery from illness and prolong life. One of the case studies, a project called Strokestra that was done in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, found that 86% of stroke patients experienced relief from their symptoms following music-making sessions.

There’s also evidence that people with musical training have better brain connectivity and that older people who participate in theatre can improve their psychological wellbeing and cognitive functioning, in particular, problem-solving skills. Listening to, or playing, music has also been found to boost the immune system, regulate mood and moderate stress responses.

‘Create’ Your Best Self

Unleashing our imagination and expressing ourselves through the Arts, is a fundamental human drive. Over thirty thousand years ago, our ancestors left their mark on the walls of caves; the need to create is in our DNA. So, it comes as no surprise that there is now increasing evidence of the power of creativity to transform lives, improve mental health and enhance wellbeing.

Read the full article