No Images? Click here Dear Friend of PLC Last year, we had the privilege of listening to inaugural AFLW coach, Michelle Cowan. Michelle had many life lessons to impart with the girls, including the importance of not giving up and of striving and working for your goals. One of the questions she was asked was how she manages all her commitments, both personal and professional; Michelle’s response was one of the best I’ve heard. “If you want to be the best, you need to outsource the rest”. The concept of ‘buying time’ is not new; I’m not sure I would cope with my commitments without employing a cleaner who supports my capacity to give time to my work. Ashley Whillans, an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School in 2017 conducted a study with over 4,000 participants on “time famine”, with interesting findings. In general terms, Whillans study found buying time promotes happiness, yet many of us are unwilling to make this choice, regardless of income levels. While the study was conducted with adults, it is easy to see how the findings could be transferable to young people. Here at PLC, we ‘buy’ 10 minutes between every lesson which allows students to ask teachers questions after class, go to the bathroom without worrying about running late and collect books from lockers while having a conversation with friends along the way. It is often the simplest changes that can have the most profound impact. The concept of being busy is one I find frustrating. A meeting will often start with the statement “I know you are busy, so I don’t want to take up much of your time”. To me everyone is busy, just because we are doing different tasks doesn’t mean any of us are less busy, or busier for that matter. It is a privilege to spend time with people in our community and share in their stories, be they good or challenging. Being constantly busy can come at a cost, however, finding time in our schedules to move away from the “time famine" will allow us to role model to our children and our partners how buying time leads to better outcomes for everyone. So, what simple changes will you make that lead to improved happiness within yourself and for your family? Time is set; however, we all have some control over what we chose to do with our time. Junior School Leadership TeamIt is with pleasure I advise you that Richard Wright, currently Head of the LW Preparatory School at Christ Church Grammar School will take up the role as Head of PLC Junior School from next year. Richard has extensive experience as an educator and leader in primary education, including as Deputy Head of Junior School at PLC in 2005 and Head of the Junior School at John Wollaston Anglican Community School from 2006 - 2008, where he implemented the International Baccalaureate PYP programme. He is already well-known to many in our community with his sons having attended our Early Learning Centre and his daughter currently in Year 5 at PLC. Jenny Rickwood has been appointed Deputy Head of Junior School – Teaching and Learning. Jenny has been at PLC for 15 years and her professional growth and development during her time here, particularly as Pre-K – Year 2 PYP Co-ordinator, sees this as a well-earned promotion. Vernita Jaques has accepted the role as Deputy Head of Junior School – Pastoral Care and Operations. Vernita is currently Deputy Head of Primary and Head of Early Learning at St Stephen’s School in Duncraig. Vernita is a passionate educator who currently leads a team of 60 teachers and 20 education assistants. She has undertaken extensive work in developing effective pastoral care programmes, service learning initiatives and student leadership training. Vernita will start at PLC next term. The depth and breadth of experience and knowledge held by Richard, Jenny and Vernita presents an exciting new chapter for our Junior School and I’m confident you will join me in congratulating them and welcoming both Richard and Vernita to PLC. As the term draws to a close, we will inform you of opportunities to appropriately farewell and thank Louise Peyton for her outstanding contribution to the PLC Junior School and to wish her well as she relocates to Melbourne. Head of LanguagesI am very sad to inform you our Head of Languages, Cecilia Muller, has resigned to take on a new and exciting opportunity at UWA. Cecilia, who has been a much-loved staff member at PLC for more than 13 years, has requested a shortened notice period to enable her to start the new role at a critical time for UWA. I have agreed to this request and as such, Cecilia will finish at PLC on 24 August. Recruitment for this position will begin as soon as is practicable. - Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal Tuesday 14 AugustParents’ Committee Meeting, Agenda Term 3 2018 Thursday 16 AugustSenior School Arts Day, save the date Thursday 16 AugustYear 12 Mothers Sundowner, 6.30 pm Friday 17 - Monday 20 AugustMid-term Break Saturday 25 AugustFarm2Fork, click here to book Thursday 30 AugustElizabeth Quay Regattas School Alumni Sundowner, 6.30 pm Friday 31 AugustFather’s Day Breakfast, click here to book Wednesday 12 SeptemberParents@PLC Country Day Trip, save the date Friday 14 September - Monday 17 SeptemberCreative Arts and Technology Exhibition - Collective Ground 'Creativity is why I get up in the morning', save the date Friday 26 October Open Garden Day, save the date Meet the Producers - Farm2ForkGet a sneak peak into the producers appearing at Farm2Fork on Saturday 25 August. Kym Carr: Dream Bird WinesPLC Old Collegian, Kym Carr (nee Eyres, 1995) will be joining Farm2Fork this year with her own wine label - Dream Bird Wines. A passion for science and art lead Kym into winemaking after she graduated from PLC. "I began a winemaking career after completing a Horticultural degree. I worked in viticulture for a few years and then worked in Beaujolais in France". Kym Carr Upon her return, Kym secured a job at Vasse Felix and continued her studies in winemaking. She went on to work as a winemaker at Deep Woods and Juniper Estate before taking a break to have children. In 2015, Kym established her own label 'Dream Bird' after reaching out to Naked Wines, a crowd-funded platform established to support emerging winemakers, and was quickly picked up as a featured winemaker. "Dream Bird is dedicated to my late sister, who passed away from breast cancer in 2011. Every wine shares a memory of my beloved sister and aims to pass on her love of life to everyone who drinks them". PLC Farm2Fork is on Saturday 25 August, commencing at 5.30 pm and includes a degustation of over 20 gourmet dishes showcasing WA produce. Themed Dress Day – Thursday 23 AugustThe Term 3 Free Dress Day will be held on Thursday 23 August with the theme “Strong Women in Literature”. The optional fundraiser supports our two World Vision sponsored children and the many projects organised by UnitingCare West to support those most vulnerable in our community. Students who opted in to participate, donated $10 in Term 1 for the privilege of wearing themed dress across three free-dress days this year. Coinciding with Book Week, students who opted in, may dress as their favourite strong female character. Click here to view the poster. 40 Hour Famine Backpack Challenge - Saturday 25 AugustWe encourage you to take the challenge and live out of a backpack for 40 hours. The purpose of the challenge is to empathise with the experiences of refugees. Click here for the information pack. An additional option to this activity is to sign up and fundraise to provide support for World Vision. - Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing Languages WeekCongratulations to our students for their enthusiastic participation in Languages Week this week. Many students took up the option of ordering delicious international food through the week and the feedback was very positive. On Wednesday, we had so many students participate in 'The International Voice' competition that some performances have had to be postponed until next Wednesday. The students are to be commended on their courage in getting up to sing in front of a large audience. Plenty of other fabulous activities have taken place in class and during breaks and we extend our thanks to the Language B team and Arts/Languages Student Leaders for facilitating these opportunities. A reminder that tomorrow is 'Living Flag Day' and students are encouraged to come to school dressed in the colours of a flag from their heritage. UR Strong Language of Friendship WorkshopsSincere thanks are extended to the families who joined the UR Strong Language of Friendship workshops earlier in the week. We had over 60 participants in the Early Years workshop and over 80 participants in the workshop held for older students and their parents and carers. The ideas and strategies addressed through the workshops will be reinforced during class in coming weeks. Assembly - Friday 10 AugustAt assembly on Friday of this week, the Year 6 Student Leaders will talk about some of the initiatives they have prepared for coming weeks. The Australian Primary Principals’ Association is encouraging all schools to raise awareness of the plight of many Australian farmers being affected by drought. The Environment Leaders will endeavour to address this matter by running a “Denim for Drought” day as a fundraiser; details to follow. Some of the other students will be selling hair scrunchies in House colours to raise money for this and other efforts. The House Leaders will be promoting the Chevron City to Surf which is coming up on Sunday 26 August. Participants can join Team PLC for this event by clicking here. Early in September, students in Years 4-6 will have the opportunity to participate in 'Walk for Water' with their counterparts at Scotch College. This is an awareness-raising effort connected to the recent PLC/Scotch trip to Tanzania. Details to follow on this activity, also. Mid-term BreakThe PLC mid-term break will be at the end of Week 5. There will be no school on Friday 17 August and Monday 20 August. Families interested in accessing Camp Australia on those days are invited to email juniorschool@plc.wa.edu.au by COB Monday 13 August. Camp Australia requires a minimum of 18 students to operate a programme. Junior School Arts WeekA reminder to parents that our Junior School Arts Week commences on Tuesday 21 August. Please click here for our Junior School Art’s Week schedule. - Louise Peyton, Head of Junior School JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSJunior School AssemblyDate: Friday 10 August Chapel - Years 2 to 6Date: Monday 13 August Mid-Term BreakDate: 17 – 20 August Junior School Arts WeekBook Day Celebrations: Tuesday 21 August Science and InnovationWith Science and innovation a hot topic at present, I was interested to explore young people’s motivation for engaging in this area. A recent study conducted by the Teachers’ College, Colombia University and the University of Washington found that reading about the lives and struggles of scientists can motivate young people to engage in science. Their hypothesis is that because science can sometimes be a challenge, by reading about the struggles that scientists have experienced, learners are able to connect more readily. Being aware that many scientists have experienced setbacks can help young people to see their own struggles as an opportunity for growth. Click here for a list of books that examine the lives of renowned scientists. Water bottlesGlandular fever seems to strike at this time of the year and with Year 12s about to hurtle towards their final exams, it is something we want to avoid! We strongly advise against girls sharing water bottles. We do encourage them to maintain hydration though, so if you can make sure your daughter has her own water bottle, that will assist in helping avoid illness. Mid-term BreakDon’t forget that we have a break for mid-term next Friday 17 August and Monday 20 August! I hope everyone has a restful time. ImmunisationsYear 8 immunisations are scheduled for Wednesday 22 August. It might be helpful to arrange any other appointments for the afternoon on this day. - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School Service and Cultural ToursOver the July holiday break, a number of Year 11 and Year 12 students undertook Service and Cultural tours to Tanzania and the Kimberley. The Service Learning tours focus on building ongoing, sustainable relationships that work with and alongside the communities to build and support their personalised needs. After the completion of the projects and adding to the resources of the communities, it is often our PLC students who gain most from the experience. Students return having grown as people and with a newly profound appreciation for their educational and future life opportunities. They gain a strong sense of self-esteem, confidence, and a positive outlook towards life, having challenged themselves and participated in something meaningful beyond the bubble of their daily lives. Integral to this new perspective is also an awareness of the responsibility that comes with privilege, and the students display a new drive and sense of empowerment to change the world. KimberleyThe Kimberley Tour is a journey of discovery that opens the students’ eyes to an Australia within Australia. It is a life-changing experience in which the girls encounter the deep spirituality, beauty and complexity of Aboriginal culture and are confronted by a history that is little known but is the undeniable heritage of our land. This year, the girls learned about traditional healing, bush medicine, and painting in Udialla Springs, and assisted with the Mowanjum Festival. By providing practical help to the community at such a busy time, the girls were able to experience one of the most unique, traditional festivals in the world. The service element of the tour is a reciprocal experience, with an emphasis on the girls learning from the elders about life experiences completely removed from their own, and opening up a non-judgmental dialogue in which no question is too risky to broach. TanzaniaStudents returned from the Tanzania tour with a new appreciation for their educational and future life opportunities. "At PLC, we are lucky enough to have a service programme that offers us so any opportunities to make a difference in a variety of local, national and international areas. Education is what creates choices. Giving children the power to elevate both themselves and their families from the poverty cycle". Senior School Arts Day 'The Best Day of the Year'
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