This week my regular meeting with our Year 12 Student Council members felt different; there was tension in the air. A sense of anticipation, but not in a good way. After discussing school related matters, we moved on to what was for me the more pressing issue, the mood in the room. Exams are looming, the end of the year is nigh and all of a sudden the pressure is on. The girls expressed their sincere concern at the worry of not achieving what was expected of them, of letting down those they love and of not having the answers to the questions asked of them. It reminded me of Madonna King’s book, ‘Being 14’, which explored ‘expectation inflation,’
a term coined by social researchers to describe unintended expectations being placed on young people. King’s work, based on interviews of more than 200 girls, found expectations were slightly higher in students from the independent sector schools. We all want our children to do well. We are invested in the outcome, for all the right reasons. However, this still amounts to pressure. As our girls in Years 10, 11 and 12 head into exam blocks, our Year 12 Student Council members offer some words of advice for parents regarding supporting your children through an exam period, in particular Year 12 exams. - I put pressure on myself because I want to do you proud. My
biggest worry is that I won’t live up to your expectations of me. I want you to say it’s okay, that you’ll be proud of me no matter how well I do in my exams.
- Check in but don’t tell us what to do.
- (For the Year 12’s in particular) Don’t ask me what I want to do next year. If I have to answer that question one more time… (Note: if we publicly state our big aspirational goal and then we don’t get there, it will feel so much worse).
- We have been doing this for a while. We know what we are doing – there’s no need to ask: “Why aren’t you studying now?”
- Try saying: "Is there anything I can help you with? We can spend time working on it together if that helps.”
- Keep up family time. It’s really important. You can lose connection with your family when you are in your room studying all the time.
- Encourage us to come along to things like family outings, even if it means us taking a break from study. It’s important and we will work out how to fit it into our schedule.
- If I am home all day, it doesn’t mean I’m not doing anything, so don’t arrive home and ask: "Why didn’t you do the dishes?” Plus, expect me to study all day. (Okay, as a Mum this one sounded like a great excuse to me; while I’m guilty as charged, I accept this must be annoying).
- Limit the expectations on us. Some of us need to study when we get home and some of us want to spend time with the family. We are all different and we know what works for us.
The girls spoke about the importance of being reminded of the many different pathways there are to achieving a happy and successful life, post-school, including the multiple pathways into University. It’s worth stating the palpable fear in the room generated when the girls discussed the worry of disappointing their parents. This really concerned me. I wanted to leave you with this quote from my meeting. I hope that it sparks a conversation in your home regarding the qualities you most
value in your children. I bet there are many things on the list of greater importance than being the top of the class academically. “My biggest fear is not doing well for my parents; I’m worried I’m disappointing them and that I’ve wasted all the money they have spent on me. It’s especially bad when your siblings have done really well.”
- Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal
Wednesday 12 September Parents@PLC Country Day Trip to New Norcia, click here to book Friday 14 September - Monday 17 September Creative Arts and Technology Exhibition - Collective Ground, Senior School View Street
Friday 14 SeptemberPLC Orientation Day for current Year 6 students and new Year 7 - 12 students entering PLC in 2019. Friday 26 October Open Garden Day, click here to book
your tickets
- Volunteers needed to run Parcel Pick Up.
- Looking for donations of the following fruit: apples, watermelon, carrots, strawberries, celery and beetroot. Email Margot or Liz if you can help. Friday 16 NovemberPrincipal’s Thank You Sundowner, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Enquiries: Kate.Montague@plc.wa.edu.au Saturday 17 November Year 12 Parents End of Year Drinks Evening, save the date Thursday 6 December Senior School Speech Night, save the date
R U OK Day
Year 9 Peer Supporters have been in the PLC Lighthouse Workshop and Expressive Arts Rooms during lunchtimes to provide an opportunity to get to know different people and have conversations. Asking, “R U OK?” is no longer a question for a single day. Noticing someone isn’t quite themselves and asking, “Are you OK?” should happen every day of the year. Any day we notice or feel that something’s not quite right, we need to trust our gut instinct, ask R U OK? And start a conversation that could change a life. Four simple steps to help navigate this conversation: - Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage action
- Check in
Vietnam BBQ – Friday 7 SeptemberDuring lunch on Friday 7 September, Year 9 students travelling to Vietnam are holding a BBQ on the Quad to raise funds for Mu Village in Vietnam. Click here to view the poster. Year 8 Bake Sale - Monday 10 September At lunchtime on Monday 10 September, Year 8 students will lead an initiative to develop teamwork and raise awareness for people living without shelter in our community. Funds raised through food sales will be used to purchase starter pack items to fill 100 orange UnitingCare West bags that will be distributed to support transition of people who are homeless back into work and stability. Click here for further information. - Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing
Welcome Mr Charles Barblett, Pipes TutorThis week we welcomed Mr Charles Barblett to the team. Mr Barblett will take on the tutoring of all Pipes students while Ms Franetovich is on maternity leave.
Spring ConcertSaturday evening saw the annual Spring Concert, held in the Hazel Day Drama Centre. The performances were both entertaining and polished. I would like to thank the PLC Music staff for their tireless work with their ensembles in preparing them for such a concert. Suzuki Graduation ConcertCongratulations to the girls who graduated on Sunday at the Suzuki Graduation Concert. It is a great testament to the work done by the Suzuki String teachers at PLC,
under the guidance of Anne Coughlan, that we are so well represented at these ceremonies. Year 12 ATAR Music RecitalWell done to Renya, Emma, Georgina, Georgia and Enya for their fantastic performances last night. Your hard work and determination has certainly paid off.
Events Coming Up
- ABODA Band Festival
Date: Saturday September 8
Time: 10.00 am - Wind Ensemble
11.45 am - Concert Band
Location: Churchlands Senior High School
- IGSSA Athletics Carnival - Pipes and Drums Performing
Date: Tuesday September 11
Location: WA Athletics Stadium
- Year 12 ATAR Original Solo Composition (Dance) and Year 12 ATAR Original Solo Performance (Drama)
Date: Thursday September 13
Time: 7.00 pm
Location: Hazel Day Drama Centre
JIGSSA Cross Country CompetitionWell done to all the Year 3 - 6 students who represented PLC at the JIGSSA Cross Country Competition on Tuesday. Junior School AppealWe would like to invite the Junior School community to donate items for the UnitingCare West homeless helper starter pack. Please refer to items on this list and leave your donations at Junior School Reception by Wednesday 19 September. Parking - Friday 7 September Tomorrow, we will be preparing for the mobilisation of a crane so that we can crane in the temporary Music Village onto the Junior School courts. Due to this work, the Open-Air Junior School Car Park will not be available. If you are attending the Languages Assembly tomorrow, please use the Lighthouse carpark. Enter via McNeil Street and park under the
building. Please do not park in the Junior School slip ways at any time. We appreciate this is an inconvenience and, as a gesture of thanks, we will have coffee vouchers available at reception. - Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School
Junior School Assembly – Language BDate: Friday 7 September
Time: 8.35 am – 9.15 am
Venue: Swim and Recreation Centre (SRC) Chapel Years 2 - 6Date: Monday 10 September (hosted by Year 3)
Time: 8.35 am – 9.00 am
Venue: Heather Barr Chapel Early Years Sports Carnival (Pre-Kindergarten - Pre- Primary)Date: Monday 10 September
Time: 9.00 am – 10.00 am
Venue: Senior School Oval
2019 Student Officials Congratulations to our Student Officials who were announced at the Principal’s Assembly last week! Click here to see the list of Student Officials for 2019. Our Student Leadership process is almost at an end. Stage 4 leaders (House Co-ordinators) will be elected by their Houses in the near future. Term 4 Support Your Daughter EveningsAs our Year 10 and 11 girls commence their Year 11 and 12 courses of study very soon, we have taken the decision to host our Support Your Daughter Evenings for these two year groups next term. For our Year 10s, this will dovetail with their transition programme, a new initiative to provide a smooth passage into their final two years at school. Invitations will be sent very soon but, for now, please note the following dates for your dairies: Year 10 2018 (Year 11 2019) Support Your Daughter Evening:
Wednesday 10 October, 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm, Hazel Day Drama Centre Year 11 2018 (Year 12 2019) Support Your Daughter Evening:
Tuesday 23 October, 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm, Hazel Day Drama Centre. - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School
2019 BooklistsThe 2019 Year 11 WACE, Year 12 WACE, and Diploma Programme Booklists have been published and can be viewed on home.PLC. Term 4 Summer UniformA reminder that the Summer uniform will need to be worn at the commencement of Term 4.
Term 4 Co-Curricular SportStudents in Years 7 - 12 have received information on how to register for Term 4 Co-Curricular sporting opportunities. Sports for Term 4 include: - Pre-season IGSSA Rowing Training
This training is for rowers who participated in the 2018 Year 9 -
12 IGSSA rowing. Pre-season training is not compulsory and a fee of $200 is applicable. A fee of $100 is applicable. Trials commence this term. Sessions will include preparation for the 2019 Inter-House and IGSSA Swim Carnivals. Draft sport schedules can be obtained from the Sports Senior
School page. If you have any questions, please email Annette Pearce.
Student Achievements SunSmart School Girls' Surfing TitlesYear 12 students, Annabelle Muir and Sophie Patrick finished third place in the State for the Senior Girls Body Boarding. Have Sum Fun Online Maths CompetitionsPLC had teams in Years 7 - 10 compete in the Have Sum Fun Online Maths Competitions run by the Mathematical Association of WA. - Year 9 team of Jasmine, Cassidy, Gaby and Scarlett finished in first place.
- Year 8 team of Neave, Sienna, Lauren and Isobel finished in second place.
Alliance Française ExamsA number of our Year 11 and 12 students have made it to the State finals of the Alliance Française exams! These students will now take part in a French oral interview on September 15 to determine the final places. Year 11, Lucy Jarrett and Lucie O'Sullivan
Year 12, Tish Martin and Ping Yap North of Perth Eistedfodd Music Competition Olivia Muir (Year 8) has placed first in the Under 16s Contemporary Section. Pierre de Coubertin AwardEmma Wilson (Year 12) and Isadora Rakich (Year 12) were nominated to attend the Pierre de Coubertin Awards. Emma and Isadora have demonstrated values which are consistent with the Olympic Movement through participation
in sporting activities. The girls met with Olympians and participated in a workshop where they discussed Olympic issues. A huge congratulations to all of these students.
Career NewsFor upcoming open days and information sessions, download Career News below.
Boarding House NewsYear 12 Boarders enjoyed their sleep-over retreat, hosted by the Waters family, just out of Calingiri. Read more in Boarding House News.
Year 10 Exams CommenceDate: Monday 10 September Years 7 - 12 IGSSA Athletics CarnivalDate: Tuesday 11 September
Location: WA Athletics Stadium Year 11 WACE Exams CommenceDate: Wednesday 12 September PLC Orientation Day
(Current Year 6 and new Year 7 - 12 students entering PLC in 2019) Date: Friday 14 September Creative Arts and Technology ExhibitionDate: Friday 14 September (opening night) to Monday 17 September
Location: Senior School View Street
PLC Old Collegians’ Association Bursaries
Applications Now Open Every year the PLC Old Collegians’ Association Inc. awards three bursaries. - The Olive Cusack Bursary: This bursary recognises a boarding daughter or grand-daughter of an Old Collegian currently in Year 9 for Year 10.
- The Dr Vera Summers Bursary: This bursary is awarded to a daughter or grand-daughter of an Old Collegian currently in Year 10 for Year 11.
- The Heather Barr Memorial Bursary: This bursary is open to all current Year 11 students and recognises participation and contribution to PLC.
Each award recipient will receive $5,000 towards tuition fees in 2019. Applications close: Tuesday 16 October at 2.00 pm. Click here for more information.
PLC Pipe Band - Entertainment Fundraiser The PLC Pipe Band is selling the Entertainment Book as a fundraiser this year, and would appreciate your continued support. 2017 | 2018 Entertainment Memberships expired on Friday 1 June 2018 so you may need a new one! Purchase your 2018 | 2019 Entertainment Membership from the PLC Pipe Band today.
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