Links eNewsletter - Term 3 Week 5 Dear valued member of the PLC community, A Message From the PrincipalYoung People and VapingIt is no secret that risk-taking is a typical part of childhood and adolescents, a very typical part of growing up. As adults supporting children and young people through these years, our role is to try and channel the need for thrill-seeking and risk-taking into safe activities. It is also to try and educate young people with information that helps them to make positive choices and to avoid those risks that be potentially harmful to their mental or physical health. Many parents and family members would be aware of the increasing media and societal concern around young people and vaping. Australian surveys show that vaping by young people has significantly increased in recent years. Parents and families can also access a special report on vaping on PLC SchoolTV. What are e-cigarettes? E-cigarettes are devices that deliver an aerosol by heating a solution that users breathe in. The aerosol is commonly referred to as ‘vapour’. Using an e-cigarette is commonly known as ‘vaping’. E-cigarettes are battery‑operated and may look like cigarettes, cigars, pipes, pens or memory sticks. The liquids used in e-cigarettes:
Are e-cigarettes safe? No. Even though scientists are still learning about e-cigarettes, they do not consider them safe. Hazardous substances have been found in e-cigarette liquids and in the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, including these known cancer-causing agents:
Some chemicals in e-cigarette aerosols can also cause DNA damage. E-cigarettes do not produce the tar produced by conventional cigarettes which is the main cause of lung cancer. However, many scientists are concerned that using e-cigarettes could increase the risk of lung disease, heart disease and cancer. Research also shows:
It can be hard to assess the safety of e-cigarettes and liquids because:
What is the School doing to support and educate students about vaping and the use of e-cigarettes? As a school, vaping is discussed in Health lessons and students are provided with factual information about the potential health risks associated with engaging in it. In the Senior School, a number of year groups are discussing the issue at year group meetings. We are currently exploring the potential installation of vaping detectors in our student bathrooms. The research would suggest that, in a school, this is the most likely place students would choose to vape. In saying that, I would just like to confirm that we have not had any instances to date where students have been caught vaping on our school grounds. We are aware though of potential issues and this is one preventative measure that will ensure the safety of all students using the bathroom areas. What is PLC’s position on vaping and the use of e-cigarettes? Vaping is a risk-taking behaviour that is not acceptable and is prohibited at PLC. Any student who is caught vaping on school grounds will be required to meet with myself and the Head of Senior School. At a minimum, vaping on school grounds will result in a school suspension. With regards to risk-taking behaviours, our approach will always be to be proactive, to seek to understand and to avoid punitive measures. Vaping is a serious issue though and one that, as a community, we need to work together to support young people to better understand the implications and consequences (to their health in particular) of engaging in such behaviour. Student health and safety is paramount and we will endeavour to ensure our programmes provide the information needed to make informed decisions. If any family members are seeking additional information, you may find the following links of interest. Additionally, if you have any concerns about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly, our Head of Senior School, Rebecca Watts or our Lead Psychologist, Daleen Engelbrecht. We are all here to support in any way we can. PLC Welcomes New CFOI am very pleased to advise that PLC Perth has appointed Ms Tennille Hammond to the role of Chief Financial Officer. She will commence the position at the start of Term 4. Ms Hammond is a senior finance executive with more than 20 years of financial, commercial, and broad business management experience. She holds a Commerce degree, a graduate Diploma in Education, postgraduate CPA qualifications, and a Certificate in Governance Practice and Administration from Chartered Secretaries Australia. Ms Hammond has recently returned to Perth with her family after two years in London where she was Head of Finance for Spook, a luxury catering and event management business. Her global experience spans a wide range of industries including private schools, property and infrastructure. She previously worked at St Andrew’s School in Adelaide as Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Business Manager. PLC Perth is in a strong financial position, and I am confident under Ms Hammond’s stewardship it will continue in a positive direction. - Cate Begbie – Principal PLC Pipe Band Celebrates 40 Years This SundayThis Sunday 29 August, the whole PLC community will rejoice in the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of the PLC Perth Pipe Band. For Scots and non-Scots alike, there is always a stirring of inner passion when the pipes come to life with the anthem: “O Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again?” The words speak of the loss of nation, the loss of culture, the loss of identity, and generational subjection to an oppressive foe. Yet later words speak of reconciliation: “Those days are past now and in the past, they must remain - but we can still rise now and be the nation again…” With PLC’s rich Scottish heritage, we know that the pipes have summoned clans and regiments to war; sounded the lament in defeat; comforted in loss; rejoiced in victory; farewelled the departed; greeted the dawn of a new age; heralded times of great celebration; the lone piper sounding the end of the day. The pipes have also brought great pride; stirred great emotion; aroused deep affection for the Celtic spirit that is at the core of this school’s life; undergirding the foundational dreams of our Scottish forebears. It is a proud and most worthy tradition. So, it is appropriate as we celebrate four wonderful decades of the life of the Pipe Band, we give thanks for those whose founding vision brought the PLC Pipe Band into existence, with its haunting pipes stirring emotions of every worthy kind.
Also on this coming Sunday, as we bless and formally dedicate the bagpipes and all the instruments of the PLC Pipe Band to God, praying that God may continue to bless this most important part of life and tradition of our School! Rev Nalin Perera – Chaplain Book Day ParadeTuesday morning was one of those great childhood memory-making mornings, as we held our Book Day Parade. The costumes were incredible, with some wonderful thought and effort invested. The parade was run by our Head Prefects, Gisele and Poppy, and all our leaders helped the classes from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 1 parade. It was a wonderful community morning. Having Moray FunThis week, our Year 5s are enjoying their Outdoor Education Programme (OEP) at Moray near Dwellingup. Next week, the Year 3s will commence their eight-year OEP journey with their first programme. Our OEP adds so much to school life, and the student’s experience. It is a wonderful time where they can learn more about their world, themselves, and each other. Languages Week Next WeekNext week is our Languages Week! Students will have the opportunity to participate in a lot of fun cultural activities to celebrate the learning of languages! Please see below for the international lunch menu and activities. - Richard Wright – Head of Junior School Junior School Assembly
Chapel Years 3 to 6
Grandparents & Special Friends Day
Junior School Arts Day
Arts DayThis year's Arts Day was outstanding. The level of talent across all of the artistic disciplines – from Dance to Performing Arts, cake decorating, singing, and musical instruments, to name a few – was incredible. Every student gave it their all and we are so incredibly proud of each and every one of them. While it was disappointing the staff didn't come away with any accolades, we congratulate Baird House who was this year's winning House! Here is a highlight video of the highly anticipated House Dance component of Arts Day. Click the video below to watch. 2022 Student LeadersOn Arts Day, we announced the Student Council for 2022. Congratulations to all the girls who were elected to these formal leadership positions. Our applications for Stage 3 and Stage 4 nominations are now in and we look forward to announcing these positions in the future. Head Prefect: Edwina Baird House Captain: Chloe Mamma Mia!Over 2,000 stunning photos of this year's sell-out Senior School production of Mamma Mia! are now available for viewing and download on the Gallery. - Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School Boarder of the Week:
Room of the Week:
What Happened This Week in the Boarding HouseBoarders Coming TogetherWhat a fantastic effort from our boarders who participated in Arts Day this year as an enthusiastic, original, and beautiful choir. It is wonderful to see our girls representing the Boarding House as a whole group. This week, our Year 11s have been preparing for their speeches as they nominate themselves to be considered for either Deputy Senior Boarder or a Boarding House Prefect. The student leadership team in the Boarding House is pivotal in creating and maintaining the community spirit amongst our girls and contributing to our overarching wellbeing and pastoral care programmes. We believe there are many worthy leaders amongst the year group and no matter the outcome, all our future Year 12s will ultimately play an integral part as a leader and a role model in the Boarding House. This weekend, we look forward to a hairstyling workshop led by our talented Tianna (Year 12) on Friday night. The Year 9s who have excelled in their year group rewards system will be taken out to Get Chunky for a delicious treat with Alice. The Year 11s will be enjoying a bonfire at Scotch College on Saturday night and the Years 7 and 8 students will be going to an all-schools ice-skating event. The Years 9 and 10 students will have their adventure on Sunday, to an all-school roller-skating social and to close the weekend and provide the girls with a relaxing Sunday afternoon activity, we will be putting on an air-dry clay workshop. - Katherine Hazlewood – Deputy of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Free Dress Day – This Friday- Chonny James – Director of Wellbeing Father’s Day Breakfast
Senior School Pocket/Lifers Assembly
Music Showcase Concert
Theatre Arts Showcase
Lost NecklaceA call out to our community on behalf of one of our Old Collegians whose treasured string of pearls was lost on Founders Day, Tuesday 17 August. They appear to have been lost during the Founders Day Luncheon in the Boarding House or somewhere on the walk back to the Star of the Sea Car Park. They are described as one strand of medium-sized ivory pearls with a push-in clip and a second security clip on the top. If anyone has found or seen the pearls, we would be very pleased to hear from you so we can pass them back to their owner. Please contact PLC Alumni Co-ordinator, Sascha Hill at sascha.hill@plc.wa.edu.au Scotch's Annual Manure DriveGet your garden ready for spring and support the Scotch College Pipe Band by purchasing high-grade; weed-free, 70L bags of sheep manure for just $18 a bag! Our Superb SurfersCongratulations to the following Senior School students who represented PLC at the Sunsmart WA School Surf Metro Titles held at Trigg Beach last Friday 20 August:
|