No Images? Click here Dear Friend of PLC As the term draws to a close, there are two exciting updates to share with you today. This year, I have been the Chair of the Independent Girls’ Schools Sports Association (IGSSA). As you will be aware, I passionately believe in the benefits of all young people participating in sport. The system we have in Perth for girls is far from perfect and I have worked hard to promote changes to the model during my tenure. The IGSSA group undertook an extensive review in 2018 and I’m delighted to announce the following changes to IGSSA sport will be implemented in 2019:
These changes represent significant improvements to the current system. Below are the IGSSA sport offerings in 2019. Term 1
Term 2
Term 3
Term 4
Welcome Rev. StrydomFollowing an extensive recruitment process, Reverend Marnie Strydom has been appointed as PLC’s next Chaplain. I wanted to share with you part of Marnie’s personal statement which encapsulates in part the values and attributes the panel, including students, saw in him.
Marnie has extensive experience as a school chaplain and in youth ministry, including experience in holistic pastoral care and providing support to youth in need. He is an ordained minister and currently leads a congregation of over 600 members along with working in local schools. Marnie joined the recruitment process after being encouraged by Rev. Gary to apply. We are excited about Rev. Marnie and his family joining our community and look forward to welcoming them more formally at the start of 2019. Merry ChristmasAs we head into this festive season it is important to remember those for whom Christmas is not a time of joy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in March, 2018 there were 116,427 homeless people in our country, many of them children. As you go about celebrating with your friends and family please consider supporting a cause that assists those less fortunate in Australia so they too can share in a little of the festive spirit along with you. I wish you a safe and joyful holiday and look forward to welcoming you back to PLC in 2019. - Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal Sunday 16 DecemberPeppermint Grove's Carols by Candlelight, 6.00 pm, Manners Hill Park Start of Term 1Date: Wednesday 30 January Year 12 BallDate: Saturday 9 February Welcome SundownerDate: Friday 15 February 2019 This last Sunday marked the beginning of the Advent season (the four Sundays leading to Christmas). One of the central Advent themes is that of liberation. In Luke’s gospel we read: ‘Stand upright and hold your heads high because your liberation is near.’ (Luke 21:28.) ‘Liberation’ is a theme in many of the world’s great religions - liberation in body, mind and spirit. In some expressions of contemporary Christianity, this liberation is sometimes interpreted as the freeing of the soul, as a move away from this sinful world. The Scottish theologian, Peter Millar, argues that rather than being escapist, this liberation is about ‘finding a place of inner hope and healing within the contradictions and questions of daily living’. Even if my own faith is often stumbling and unsure, the context of this liberation is always in the hurly burly of everyday living. This liberation propels us to work for solidarity with all our neighbours; we can never turn a blind eye to anyone’s suffering. The pain of others is also to some degree our pain. May each one of us experience God’s liberation during this Advent season. - Rev Gary Van Heerden The Junior School hosted their End of Year Final Assembly on Tuesday night. The evening was centred around the theme of Seasons and a celebration of the hard work, enthusiasm and growth in our students. As Community is one of our PLC Pillars, this evening was a fine example of a time of celebration with all members of our Junior School family. This special event provided opportunity to focus on the wonder of learning and how each individual has been nurtured throughout the year. Every student participated throughout the evening and it was evident that they have received the necessary care, support and challenge to be able to grow holistically within a happy and safe environment. Staff RecognitionI would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jia Liao on being awarded the Exemplary Chinese Language Teacher Award for Primary from the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Western Australia. This prestigious award acknowledges, honours and celebrates exceptional Chinese language teachers and recognises the hard work and dedication of Jia as an outstanding teacher. In addition, I would like to share that two of our teachers, Colleen Garland and Helen Tuitin, have been awarded their Level 2 professional teaching status in recognition of their outstanding work in our Junior School. We are so proud to have these teachers as part of our staff and to see their expertise and passion be transferred into growing our students. Thank You and Happy HolidaysWe thank all members of our PLC community for their care and support through this year. A school is merely a building without the people that are within it and for this we are so appreciative of our students, staff, parents and the broader community. We wish you all a safe and happy festive season, making time to create moments and memories that will be everlasting. With heartfelt thanks. -
Jennifer Rickwood, Deputy Head of Junior School - Teaching and Learning JUNIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSJunior School Kapture Photo DayDate: Thursday 7 February Junior School AssemblyDate: Friday 8 February In considering what I might write about in the last Links for this year, I thought about an article I read about smart phones and the mental health of children as young as 2 years of age; I thought about a video I watched recently that espoused the fact that ‘everything we teach should be different from machines’; I thought about a series I saw on ABC about Challis Primary School here in Perth, that is living proof of the benefits that music has on child and brain development. I thought about those things for…about 30 seconds and then I decided to just wish everyone a lovely Christmas and holiday season! After a very full year of school work, tests, exams, tours, Outdoor Education Programmes, socials, school balls… too much to list, it is time to put down the tools and rejuvenate. It is my hope also, that the girls can rejoice in the notion that it’s not what’s under the Christmas tree – it’s who is around it that matters. - Sharon Anderson, Head of Senior School The Years 7 - 12 January Holiday Swim programme has been revised and an updated schedule, showing changes to both the venue and time can be downloaded here. Trainings have now been combined with Scotch College students and will be held in the Scotch College pool (76 Shenton Road, Swanbourne). The start time has also changed to commence 8.15 am and finish time will be 9.30 am. The start date is Monday 7 January 2019. If you have questions regarding the January Holiday Swim programme, or any other co-curricular sport at PLC, you are welcome to contact Annette Pearce, Head of Sport/Head of Rowing - Annette.pearce@plc.wa.edu.au. Student AchievementsCongratulations to Carina Collins (Year 8) who competed in the National Championships for Ice Skating in Sydney last week. Carina and her team were named National Champions for the second year running and have also been named in the National Squad. Boarding House NewsThe Year 10s out and about on their Quay 2 Quay walk. Read more in Boarding House News. SENIOR SCHOOL KEY EVENTSYear 12 RetreatDate: Tuesday 29 January and Wednesday 30 January Years 7 - 12 Swim and Dive CarnivalDate: Monday 4 February Year 10 Support Your Daughter EveningDate: Tuesday 5 February Senior School Kapture Photo DayDate: Wednesday 6 February Year 12 BallDate: Saturday 9 February PLC Parents' MeetingDate: Tuesday 19 February 2019 Friday 22 February 2019Year 11 Parent Function PLC Parents' MeetingDate: Tuesday 5 March 2019 Boarding Parents’ DinnerDate: Friday 22 March 2019 |