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Dear Friend of PLC Lighthouse
The PLC Lighthouse is a hive of activity on Fridays this term, with our incoming Years 11 and 12 girls recently commencing the inaugural Lighthouse Leavers Programme.
Lighthouse Leavers aims to create learning experiences for our senior students, via practical courses that inspire lifelong welling, complement academic pursuits and develop life skills, enabling our girls to thrive beyond PLC.
This term, students are undertaking courses such as Bronze Medallion, Job Ready, Meditation, Leadership and Beach Running. Planning is underway for future courses, including ‘Adulting’, Car Maintenance, Stress Management and University Campus Experiences.
The Lighthouse Leavers concept came about from an analysis of our 2018 Student Wellbeing Survey data. A common response from Years 10 – 12 students was that, as a School, we could do more to prepare our girls for life experiences beyond PLC.
Australian Positive Psychology author, Amba Brown, suggested in her article Supporting the Transition Into a Life After School that, ‘while students should be encouraged to look towards the future in an optimistic manner, preparing them for possible difficulties is also helpful for mentally preparing them to consider how they could best overcome these obstacles if or when they arise.’
The Self-Determination Theory underpins the framework of the Lighthouse Leavers Programme, which is designed to promote autonomy, competency and relatedness.
Thank you to the Lighthouse Curriculum team, led by Emily Lockhart, for bringing the Programme from concept to reality for our Years 11 and 12 students.
- Chonny James, Director of Wellbeing
The Educator's Innovative Schools 2019
It is with great pride that we announce PLC Perth has been named as one of The Educator's Innovative Schools 2019 for the PLC Lighthouse!
The award recognises the schools across Australia that are at the cutting edge of change and innovation, and are making the most profound and exciting impact in K-12 education.
We are delighted to be one of only five schools in WA to receive the award!
The PLC Lighthouse is integral to our School's universal approach to wellbeing, providing an anchor for the girls, staff and community to learn, experience and practise scientifically-based wellbeing.
The Lighthouse curriculum is built on the pillars of feeling good, functioning well and doing good for others. It encourages a multidisciplinary mind body approach to wellbeing incorporating the physical, psychological, social, expressive and spiritual needs to flourish.
Congratulations to our Director of Wellbeing, Ms James, Head of Lighthouse Curriculum, Ms Lockhart, and the amazing Lighthouse Team!
Lighthouse Essentials
An integral part of our Lighthouse Leavers Programme is a suite of courses grouped together under the category of 'Lighthouse Essentials'.
Students are required to select a minimum of 10 sessions of these courses throughout the year to ensure they participate in workshops specifically aimed to enhance their safety, health and wellbeing.
This term, Lighthouse Essentials courses included mindful meditation, sexual health, safe driving, protective behaviours and respectful relationships.
Lighthouse Essentials courses are interactive workshops that empower students to develop their skills in areas including decision-making, risk assessment, resiliency and assertiveness.
Additional courses will be introduced next year, on topics including managing anxiety, pregnancy and birth, stress management and social and emotional learning.
The Relationship Between Sleep & Exercise
Sleep… we know we need it, but a very small percentage of us actually get enough. Having a good sleep pattern is just as important as eating, drinking and breathing. Sleep is the foundation of good health and wellbeing, no matter your age, and the quality of your sleep directly affects your mental and physical health.
Sometimes you may think you’ve had enough sleep, but wake up feel tired and unrested. This can affect your work, school and social interactions, and can lead to difficulties with learning, focus and reaction times.
Exercise & Sleep
Did you know that the two are closely linked? When you exercise during the day, it helps your body to prepare for a deep sleep at nighttime, which is where muscle rejuvenation takes place. Exercising daily uses more of your energy which helps your body wind down in the evening, making you feel ready for a good night’s sleep.
A 2011 study examined the relationship between physical activity and sleep on 3,081 adults aged between 18-85 years of age. It found that 150 minutes of exercise per week resulted in a 65% improvement in sleep quality.
Today is World Kindness Day
'Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.' - Charles Glassman
At PLC, we often have the opportunity to discuss with each other the purpose of being kind, and mostly we actively engage with each other in a very respectful manner. Yet we also hear of times when girls and the wider community don’t feel appreciated, or feel they are being treated unkindly. Kindness isn’t a one size fits all, one-day-only offer, but a virtue to be practiced and requires consistent effort which isn’t always easy, especially if we ourselves feel we aren’t being treated fairly.
The purpose of World Kindness Day according the kindness movement, is to look beyond ourselves, beyond the boundaries of our country, beyond our culture, our race, our religion; and realise we are citizens of the world. As world citizens we have a commonality and must realise that if progress is to be made in human relations and endeavours, if we are to achieve the goal of peaceful coexistence, we must focus on what we have in common.
Today, and everyday, we encourage you to spread kindness with those around you.
Foundation Breathe
Earlier this week, Old Collegian, Sasha Bosich, hosted the Foundation Breathe Event at the PLC Lighthouse, to raise funds for the Heart & Lung Transplant Foundation.
Some of our wonderful Year 10 students collected Service hours by waitressing at the event, Ruby (Year 11) entertained guests with beautiful music on the harp, and students from the Class of 2017 also assisted.
It was a fabulous evening with the PLC community coming together for an amazing cause.
Getting to Know... Isabelle
This month, we sat down with Year 11 Boarder, Isabelle, to find out a little bit about where she calls home, what she loves most about boarding, who inspires her, and what she's enjoying about her new role as a Lighthouse Administration Assistant.
Tell us about your family and where you’re from.
I come from Merredin, which is a three-hour drive east of Perth and about half-way to Kalgoorlie. My family have been farming canola, barley, wheat and lupin in Merredin for about 100 years and my great-grandparents, grandparents and my parents all still live there. I’ve got two younger brothers – one is in Year 9 at Scotch and the youngest is in Year 6 in Merredin.
Do you like to help out on the farm when you go home?
Sometimes. Because I can drive, I do a lot of shifting around – moving Dad from A to B. If harvest hasn’t finished when I go home after Term 4, I’ll drive the chaser.
...what’s the chaser?
The chaser bin – it follows the header and collects the grain!
What’s the best thing about boarding at PLC?
I think it’s the opportunities you get and the friendships you make – they can literally change your life. The support network we have as boarders - with the housies and all of the staff and the opportunities we get - it’s incredible. We’re just like one really big family, it’s so lovely. I’m really lucky.
Why did you apply for the role as Lighthouse Assistant?
I really wanted this opportunity because I thought it would be a good chance to broaden my life experience.
This job has already given me so much back. I applied for the role not thinking that I was going to get it – I just thought it would be good to put together a resume and go through the interview process – even just that was so beneficial, and then when I actually got the job it was a really nice surprise and I’ve loved it so far.
O2 Active Strength & Conditioning
Studies have shown that keeping students of all ages fit and healthy can have a long term impact on their physical health, mental health and educational outcomes.
At the PLC Lighthouse, we encourage school sport, our co-curricular fitness and dance activities, or going out for a walk or ride with your friends as great ways to get your daily dose of exercise! Our in-house strength and conditioning coaches are a great option for girls in Years 11 and 12 who are looking to update their fitness routine or try something new.
We’ll happily come up with a personalised programme or just have a friendly chat on how we can help you reach your goals.
PLC Lighthouse Physiotherapy
Cottesloe Sports Physiotherapy is providing a unique service for PLC students, staff and parents, with a fully equipped Physiotherapy room now operating out of the PLC Lighthouse.
Appointments are available before and after school, as well as during the day. The service is staffed by two experienced Sports Physiotherapists who both have extensive experience and have travelled with Australian sporting teams.
Jo Norcott
Jo has worked extensively with adolescent girls whilst providing Physiotherapy to WAIS Gymnasts, Divers and Synchronised Swimmers and has travelled overseas with Australian Gymnastics Teams. Jo is also a past student of PLC and represented Australia at the World Gymnastics Championships in Moscow whilst completing Year 12.
Brett Slocombe
Brett Slocombe is the director of Cottesloe Sports Physiotherapy and is well known in the Physiotherapy community for his work with Australian Olympic teams. Brett has been one of the Australian Olympic Team Physiotherapists since Beijing, 2008. He is the current WAIS Physiotherapist for Swimming, Canoe/Kayak and Sailing.
14 McNeil Street, Peppermint Grove, WA 6011
+61 9424 6444
