Links eNewsletter - Term 3 Week 2 Dear valued member of the PLC community, A Message From the Deputy PrincipalThe 1996 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Wislawa Szymborska said, “Any knowledge that doesn't lead to new questions quickly dies out: it fails to maintain the temperature required for sustaining life.” Szymborska’s words, along with Albert Einstein’s advice about never to stop questioning, have resonated with me this week. On Monday evening, the Year 11 International Baccalaureate students, under the expert guidance of Mr Bilal Halim, presented their Theory of Knowledge Exhibition. They put forward their own responses to specific questions focused on the concept of knowledge with conviction and reason, showing a great deal of research and individual thought. As I came away from the evening, two of the focus questions stayed with me:
Pondering these questions, the IB students helped me to remember that our response to knowledge is heavily influenced by the manner in which it is communicated to us. We must interpret the information we receive, considering any potential bias (intentional or otherwise) in the way it is communicated. In doing so, we remain actively curious about the knowledge we acquire, rather than passively accepting of it. Knowledge is also received into cultures with a defined set of values and beliefs. Imparting knowledge that challenges the status quo or provokes thought about previously accepted beliefs or values can be confronting and can marginalise and polarise. Conveying new knowledge, therefore, requires courage and conviction and a willingness to stand apart from the crowd to ask difficult questions in the interest of bringing about progress and a deepened understanding. The IB students’ presentations demonstrated this curiosity and courage to challenge and certainly provoked new questions for me. Their maturity of thought and willingness to grapple with difficult concepts was inspiring and once again affirmed my optimism in the future. - Neil Walker - Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning Cross CountryWe are looking forward to the Years 1 – 6 Inter-house Cross Country Carnival tomorrow. A reminder we will be having lunch before we go and students are to be collected from Alderbury Reserve unless parents/guardians have informed the School that they are catching the bus back to School. The students will wear their house shirts and must remember their hats. The first race is due to begin at 1.15 pm, however, please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your child’s start time. It promises to be a wonderful carnival! SlipwayPlease remember the slipway is the most visible representation of how we work together as a community. Can I ask that we always move to the end before drop-offs, in particular, and we never park in the slipway. There is parking available if you want to walk into School. The end (eastern) car park is reserved for our youngest students and their families. Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Crazy Sock DayWith the Inter-house Cross Country Carnival being moved to Friday, we have moved Crazy Sock Day to Monday 9 August. Students can wear crazy socks and bring a donation for UnitingCare. ySafe PresentationThank you to the parents who were able to attend the ySafe presentation on Tuesday evening. It was wonderful, as parents, to receive some practical strategies we can employ at home. We have access to the ySafe hub that provides a range of resources for our community. The hub access can be found here. - Richard Wright – Head of Junior School Inter-house Cross Country Carnival (Years 1 to 6)
Mamma Mia!
Crazy Sock Day
PLC Parents Meeting
PALS Workshop – Anxiety and how to support your child
Chapel – Years 3 to 6
Junior School Assembly (Hosted by Year 5)
Founders' Day Service
Year 5 Parent Social Event
Mid-term Break
Stage One Leadership AnnouncementA reminder that we will be announcing our Stage One Student Leaders for 2022 at a special assembly at 3.00 pm on Friday 6 of August in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre. Parents and Guardians of Year 11 students have been sent information about the election process. The Class of 2022 is an impressive cohort and we know that they will make an impact in their final year as leaders of the School. Academic SupportWith many year groups involved in examinations this term, it is important to remember that there are lots of ways our students can access extra help with their academic studies. This includes accessing the services of our Homework Helpers in the Library and Innovation Centre (LIC). All students are welcome to attend the LIC after school and our wonderful ‘young’ old collegians will be available to assist them with their studies. The LIC is open from Monday to Thursday until 7.00 pm and on Friday until 3.45 pm. I hope our students take full advantage of this opportunity. NAIDOC WeekAs we celebrate NAIDOC Week, it has been fantastic to see our Senior School students come together and work on a mural that encapsulates the theme ‘Heal Country’. The large canvas has allowed many students to participate in copying traditional Indigenous art designs that represent the six Noongar seasons. Thank you to Miss Rokiyah Bin Swani (Indigenous Scholarship Programme Co-ordinator), our Gorna Liyarn students, and our Reconciliation Captains, Tianna and Katelyn for their leadership in this activity and for sharing Indigenous culture with the Senior School. Year 10 River CruiseLast Friday night, our Year 10 students set sail for their river cruise with Scotch College on the Swan River. It was fabulous to see so many of our students have a fantastic time and dancing on the dance floor! The photos from the photo booth will become available as soon as possible, but there are a few photos from the night on the Gallery. Download the IGGSA AppFor PLC families wanting to know all the fixtures and results for this term's soccer and basketball, download the IGSSA WA App! Click here to download the IGSSA WA App for iPhone and click here for Andriod. Assessment SchedulesPlease find below the Term 3 Assessment Schedules for your convenience. Arts Day InformationPlease click the button below for all the information on the Senior School Arts Day and if you have any further questions, please direct them to Ms Kate Montague – Arts Day Co-ordinator 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 HouseFriendship - The Year 8 FocusAs the Year 8s move into the main Boarding House with the other year groups, friendships change. The Year 8 Co-ordinator, Justine Keys and Assistant, Ellie Hundley focus on teaching the girls how to navigate old and new friendships as well as how to be a good friend. There is also a need to support the girls as they adjust to a longer prep time and Ms Keys utilises a number of resources that are designed to help teach the girls how to study. Ms Keys also focuses on how to safely navigate social media leading them to wonderful online resources based on inspiring women and building teen self-esteem. As Ms Keys and Ms Hundley are encouraging the girls to become settled at bedtime, there is also a focus on getting into the habit of reading before bed and they provide the girls with some great suggestions. Like other year groups, Ms Keys also has a rewards system for the girls based on their ability to meet the Year 8 routine as well as nominating a weekly Year 8 boarder of the week, announced at their weekly meeting. The weekly meeting is also a time when Ms Keys will pick a friendship-building activity for the girls to participate in. More recently, the girls go on small group outings with girls they don’t normally socialise with, in an effort to get to know each other better. We hope that by the end of their time as a Year 8 boarder, they fully appreciate the importance of being inclusive and consistently respectful of one another. - Katherine Hazlewood – Deputy of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Containers for ChangePLC’s Containers for Change programme is officially up and running! PLC has partnered with Good Sammy’s to set up a collection point at the School, with a total of 12 bins around the campus. Initially organised by Lily Macliver (Year 12) for her CAS IB project and supported by the Environmental Committee, the project will be ongoing, with the money collected going towards PLC’s environmental service budget to help support other initiatives around the School. Most aluminium, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard drink containers between 150ml and 3L are eligible, and 10c will be received for each container collected. Please wash all containers and remove lids before putting them into the bins. All members of the PLC community are welcome to put eligible containers in our bright yellow bins, as an easy, accessible way to get involved in WA’s Containers for Change initiative and to support the local community. 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 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. Father's Day BreakfastAll PLC fathers, or other significant males and their daughters, are invited to attend a special Father's Day Breakfast. The breakfast will be a celebration of the wonderful father figures we have at PLC and of all they do for their children.
PLC Perth Inspiring Old Collegian AwardsNominate An Outstanding PLC Old Collegian for 2021The PLC Perth Inspiring Old Collegian Awards celebrate the diverse and outstanding achievements of our alumni and provide the opportunity to inspire others through their recognition. The PLC Perth Inspiring Old Collegian Awards are named in recognition of two outstanding Old Collegians and Western Australians who devoted their lives to improving the lives of others and giving back to the community. The Dr June Jones Award and the Dr Patricia Kailis Award are both presented at Speech Night and have different award criteria. To find out more and to nominate, click the button below. Mamma Mia!Tickets for the Semester 2 Senior School production of Mamma Mia! are on sale now. Shows run every night at 7.00 pm from Monday 9 August until Saturday 14 August. 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. Senior School Assembly
Mamma Mia!
PLC Parents Meeting
Founders' Day Service
Arts Day
Father’s Day Breakfast
Year 12 Father Daughter Dinner Dance
Mid-term Break
Good luck, Jessica! Fame Lab Finals for JessicaLast month, the Year 9 cohort competed at the Fame Lab competition and Jessica (Year 9) was selected as a finalist! The Year 9 cohort were tasked with communicating a science idea of their choice for three minutes. Later this month, Jessica will participate in the Fame Lab Finals where she will compete against other schools and be paired with a scientist with a background in the most relevant field of Jessica's chosen topic. Her topic is "The psychological reasons behind our inaction of climate change." |