No Images? Click here Year 7 Outdoor Education Programme (OEP)What a fantastic week I had with the Year 7s on their Outdoor Education Programme (OEP) last week. This experience was shared earlier in the year with our Year 6 girls heading to Busselton, followed by a week-long programme for our Year 7 girls running over two consecutive weeks. It isn’t easy for the OEP team to be away from their families for three weeks in conjunction with maintaining the stamina to run the programmes as enthusiastically as they do. Benefits of the OEPOne of many benefits from the OEP is its ability to create a mini holiday from the use of technology and the ever-present pressure of social media. Enjoying time outdoors also tends to stimulate creativity and allow for conversations to happen that would not occur during the course of a normal school week. On Friday morning before boarding the bus to come home, the girls were asked to construct a representation of a time they enjoyed on the OEP, using only the natural resources around them. I’m sure you will agree the creativity demonstrated is fantastic. Thank you to our teaching staff and OEP staff for organising and sharing these experiences with our girls. In addition to utilising nature, we had a lesson on making ‘Gods Eyes’ and ‘Dream Catchers’ from our OEP, leader Mr Bondini, with impressive results! We already know from mounting research that art helps reduce stress and encourages self-expression through painting, drawing and 3D artwork. According to Hass-Cohen (2008), “current neuroscience research is suggesting various art therapy techniques may prove beneficial in activating various areas of the brain”. Such benefits include, "reducing the stress response, regulating disturbing emotions, increasing a sense of mastery and control and expanding relation interconnectedness” (Hass-Cohen, 2008, cited in Husky 2009). Colour My WorldWhile the OEP is a great place to let the creative juices flow, back on campus some equally inspiring opportunities are being provided for our girls to experience these benefits all year round. In the PLC Lighthouse we run two creative art groups, one for students in Years 4 - 6 on Monday afternoons and one for Senior School students on Thursday afternoons. Below are some photos of what the girls have been busy making. Diaries Teddy Bears Crafting for a CauseIn addition to creative arts groups we are also getting creative with the Year 8 girls Service Learning project starting this term. Crafting for a Cause is an opportunity for Year 8 students, together with their parents, to be involved in a family service project as part of PLC’s commitment to community and service. Bags Partnering with UnitingCare West, girls and their parent/guardian spend time together to design and decorate a calico bag, which will then be filled at a later date with personal items for women who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Should you have old clothing that could be cut up or rags, please drop them off at any of the School reception offices where they will be gladly received. Incredible Staff at PLCWe have incredible, passionate staff at PLC, and showcasing the work they do with our girls is such a pleasure. As we head towards the final weeks of Term 1, I acknowledge all of the staff, teaching and non-teaching, for their contribution to the richness that is a PLC education. Winter UniformStudents are required to transition to winter uniform next term. There will be a two week grace period to accommodate warmer Perth weather. The week starting Monday 13 May, all students must be in full Winter uniform:
- Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal NAPLANFrom Tuesday 14 May to Wednesday 22 May, our Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students will sit NAPLAN Online. More information and a schedule can be found by clicking the button below. Year 12 Play - BOING, BOOM, BUSTDate: Wednesday 3 April and Thursday 4 April 2019 Easter ServiceDate: Friday 12 April Boarders MarketDate: Friday 12 April OCA Art Exhibition Opening Night Cocktail PartyDate: Friday 24 May Please note that all parent events are listed in the Communications & Engagement section of Links. World’s Greatest ShaveStudents in Years 7 - 12 are invited to participate and support the Leukemia Foundation and the important blood cancer research work they do for families affected. Join your friends from PLC and Scotch to cut or shave your hair, or support those who do! PLC has 38 registrations so far. Let's get that number up! Date: Monday 1 April Free-Dress DayStudents are invited to take part in the first of three free dress days on Thursday 11 April, in support of our two World Vision sponsored children; Elsa from Mozambique and Lucy from Kenya, and ongoing UnitingCare West projects. To participate in all three free-dress days, students are required to provide a once-off payment of $10 to their House Tutor Teacher by Wednesday 10 April. For further information on the Term 1 Free Dress theme, click here. - Linda Malone, Head of Service and Community Partnerships Gifts and TalentsLast week, we celebrated Gifted and Talented Awareness Week, with the theme of belonging. Our Head Prefects spoke beautifully at Assembly. A significant point they made was, to get the best of your talents, you needed to work at them; practice, training and effort. A wonderful message to all the students. My message was simple, we all have gifts and talents. You may find these at any time of your life. Some people find them when they are in Junior School, however, most of us will find our gifts and talents later in life. The range of experiences at our school provides our daughters with a wide variety of opportunities to discover their gifts and talents, whether they be academic, in the arts (Music, Drama, Dance, Visual Arts) or sport. ICAS CompetitionsThis year, the girls in the Junior School have the opportunity to enter all of the available ICAS Competitions. These range from Year 2 (ICAS limit number of assessments for this age group), to Year 6. The competitions are aimed at high academic achievers and there is a cost involved. There is also a suite of standardised assessments to track all students progress. We will be sitting the Science, Mathematics, Digital Technologies, Writing, English and Spelling. Michelle Clayton will be sending a letter home with the Years 2 - 6 girls very soon. The PlaygroundOur playground will be back in action early next week. We have fortified parts of the playground and increased the CCTV surveillance of the space. I know the students will be counting down the hours until it reopens! Out of Hours Care – Open Week and Vacation ProgrammeA reminder that our new out of hours provider, Extend, is available after school every school day until 6.00 pm. If you are curious about the new programme, you are able to look at the service any day after school. Next week, Extend are also having an open week. During the week, you and your child can come to the Extend programme and enjoy the activities. An adult must accompany students having the Open Week experience. If you would like your child to use the Out of Hours Care or Vacation Programme you must first enrol them with Extend. You can do that here. For School Holiday Programme details please click here. - Richard Wright, Head of Junior School JUNIOR SCHOOL EVENTSYear 1 Learning Journey Date: Friday 29 March Kindergarten Learning Journey Date: Monday 1 April Pre-Primary Learning Journey Date: Tuesday 2 April Chapel Years 2 to 6 (hosted by class 6C) Date: Wednesday 3 April Parents as Learners Series (Year 4 parents) Date: Tuesday 9 April Junior School Assembly Years 1 to 6 (hosted by Year 6) Date: Friday 5 April Pre-Kindergarten Learning Journey Date: Wednesday 10 April WINGS Showing Date: Thursday 11 April End of Term 1 Friday 12 April (normal dismissal times) Final WeeksWith two weeks left, our parents may find the girls tiring a little and finding it a little harder to leap out of bed with enthusiasm for the school day ahead. As we move closer to the end of the term, it is really important for your daughters to take care of the basics, so that they can keep functioning at one hundred percent. They need to ensure that they are getting enough sleep (that the devices in their world are not taking too much of their time), that they are eating healthily, which means finding a balance in their diets and that they are finding time to spend away from school work. As they approach their homework and study, it is important that they work to a schedule and take regular breaks. The girls have done so well, and it is only a short time until they can enjoy a well-earned break. I encourage all of the girls to look after themselves so that they can gain the maximum benefit from the last few weeks of term. Parent, Teacher and Student interviewsAll parents of students in Years 7 - 10 will receive an email in the last week of term, that will provide the contact information necessary to access the booking site and schedule the interviews that you would like to have with your daughter’s teachers. Please look out for this email. Interview bookings will be offered over two days:
Year 10 Small Market Business DayThe Semester 1 Year 10 Small Business Market Day is coming soon! The quad will be turned into a marketplace full of delicious food and innovative products ready for you to buy during lunchtime on Tuesday 9 April. The Year 10s have been working hard on developing their products, which include stuffed cookies, cinnamon buns, scrunchies, cookie dough slices, mini donuts, rocky road, iced tea, lemonade and much, much more. Your support is greatly appreciated and all proceeds go to Beyond Blue. Pre-orders are available and encouraged! All forms (located at Senior School reception) with payment should be handed in to McNeil street reception by Wednesday 3 April with the name of the business, your name and year level on the envelope. - Jennifer Crisp, Head of Senior School Instrumental and Vocal Lessons - Term 2Congratulations to all students for their hard work and dedication to their music study throughout Term 1. Please note that any cancellations of instrumental or vocal lessons for Term 2 should be received by the Music Department via music@plc.wa.edu.au by Monday 1 April, otherwise students will automatically be timetabled for Term 2 and tuition fees applied. Mathematics Enrichment Classes - Curtin UniversityCurtin University's Mathematics and Statistics School has, for the past 21 years, successfully run Mathematics Enrichment programme for Years 5 - 11 students. The main aim is to develop a sound mathematical understanding and to engage students in challenges that enhance a range of mathematical problem-solving skills. These skills are essential in preparing our students for the challenges they face in the modern technology focussed economy. Students will be issued a certificate upon completion of the course. Student AchievementsYear 9 students, Sienna Hanikeri, Annie Pfeiffer, Hana Yussoff and Year 10 student, Ashley Spencer have been selected for the State Athletics Team. Jade Rousseau (Year 7) represented PLC at the School Sport WA Diving Championships last week, taking home a silver medal and placing PLC in second place. Well done, girls. Boarding House NewsThe Year 9 Boarders enjoyed a fabulous River Cruise on Friday night! Find out more in Boarding House News.
SENIOR SCHOOL EVENTSWorld's Greatest Shave Date: Monday 1 April Year 12 Play - BOING, BOOM, BUST Date: Wednesday 3 April and Thursday 4 April 2019 Year 11 Dance Friday 5 April Year 10 Small Business Market Day Date: Tuesday 9 April School Holidays Date: 13 - 28 April PLC Parents FundThe Parents@PLC Wish List has been renamed the PLC Parents Fund.Each year, as a result of various fundraising activities undertaken by PLC Parents (including Open Garden Day), funds are made available to be distributed within the School. PLC Parents is very proud to support the school community by means of this Fund. Parents Fund applications may be submitted by students, parents and staff and are reviewed by Dr Kate Hadwen. Approved applications are presented and funding is allocated at the next PLC Parents Meeting on Friday 17 May 2019. Examples of previous funded items include:
Applications open Thursday 28 March and close on Wednesday 24 April. Please submit your completed application form to Kate Montague Kate.Montague@plc.wa.edu.au. Unfortunately, late applications cannot be accepted. PLC Parents MeetingsPLC Parents Meetings are held in The Lighthouse Community Room every term. Next meeting is on Friday 17 May, 8.30 am for an 8.45 am start. Parent Events Coming UpYear 9 Parents' FunctionDate: Thursday 4 April 2019 Year 7 Parents' Pizza NightDate: Friday 5 April PLC Parents' Tennis MorningDate: Tuesday 9 April 2019 Year 10 Drinks and Nibbles Parents' EventDate: Thursday 11 April Surname beginning A-P: please bring a Savoury plate to share Year 12 Parents' eventDate: Thursday 11 April Year 12 Father/Daughter Dinner Dance Date: Thursday 22 August |