Dear Friend of PLC

A Message From The Principal

Virtual Assemblies 

The last few weeks, we have been holding virtual assemblies, which have been a great way to start reconnecting. Last week’s Senior School virtual assembly was particularly special because our Pipe Major Stephanie Hair and Pipe Sergeant Helen Lovegrove heralded the start of the event by piping Scotland the Brave. We are hopeful it won’t be too much longer before the entire Pipe Band can resume this special Senior School assembly tradition.

Phase 3  

The State Government has now advised that we have entered Phase 3 of the roadmap back to normal operations. For PLC this means:

• Parents, care-givers and visitors can come onto campus to attend pre-arranged meetings.
• We have re-introduced co-curricular sport and preparations for Term 3 IGSSA sport has commenced.
• The Inter-School Cross Country event will be held next Friday 19 June in a slightly different format. To comply with Government limits of 100 people at an event, each school will be participating at the carnival at staggered times. Unfortunately, no spectators will be allowed to attend.
• All music groups (PK-12) have resumed, except for rehearsals for Young Voices, Chorale and Senior Vocal Ensemble which begin rehearsing again as of next week. The directors of these three ensembles will communicate with families directly, if they haven’t done so already.
• All playgrounds have re-opened, which I know the girls in Junior School are very happy about.
• We are continuing with strict hygiene measures, including additional cleaning of surfaces throughout the school day.

There have been no reported cases of COVID-19 among PLC staff or students.

Virtual Junior School Winter Concert 

The Junior School is excited to bring the Winter Concert straight to your living room this year! This much-loved concert will be staged online through the PLC Facebook page, streaming from 7.00 pm on Friday 26 June. Click here to 'attend' the facebook event. 

The recordings of these groups will take place next week. We have some wonderful music to showcase with a couple of surprise guest artists! I hope many members of our community tune in.

PLC Foundation Student Hardship Appeal

Families should have received an email earlier this week promoting a fundraising initiative by the PLC Foundation. The pandemic has impacted everyone differently, however, there are some members of the PLC community who are now facing particularly difficult financial circumstances. These include families where one or both parents have lost their jobs, or have had to close their businesses. 

The Student Hardship Appeal aims to provide those families in need, time to get themselves ‘back on their feet’ and avoid having to withdraw their daughter from PLC and enrol them elsewhere. A rigourous and confidential application process is in place to ensure only families facing genuine hardship receive funds.

Already, our generous community has raised $235,393. This is an incredible effort and I extend my sincere thanks to all donors. We also have two very generous donors who have said that if we reach $250,000, they will double their donations! 

If you would like to contribute to this cause, please click here. 

- Cate Begbie, Principal 

A Message From Sports Captain, Millie

It has been a long wait, however, we are slowly returning to normal.

You Can't Stop Us

Recently, Nike put out a new video as a part of their “you can’t stop us” series. The ad showcased many iconic sporting moments and athletes from Tiger Woods to Serena Williams, who have all been underestimated and counted out, only to come back from what seemed impossible.

The main message of the ad is to tell people that there is always a way to make a comeback. It reminds us that “no matter how far down we may be, we are never too far down to come back.” 

The video inspires people all around the world to take action, even when they think they cannot. It shows people that these hard times will pass and that everyone is able to make a comeback.  

I think we can all take something from this message, and that is to BELIEVE. Believe that this will pass; believe that you can do it; believe that no matter how bad things may seem, they won’t stay that way, because you are never too far down to come back. 

Breaking Habits 

As things start to open up and there is a greater opportunity for everyone to play the sports they love again, it has become apparent that most of us have become pretty used to sitting around. It can be hard to break the habits we have built over the past few months, however, changing is the hardest part.  

I challenge you all to do one thing that pushes you to be better or scares you. Maybe that’s trying out for the IGSSA Cross Country team or coming down to basketball or soccer training. No matter what it is, if you believe you can do it then you’re half way there. 

Getting Involved in PLC Sport 

It was announced on Monday that IGSSA Cross Country is going ahead, so please sign up and give it a go! If there is ever a good time to try something new, it's now. Each Year group needs ten girls with Years 11 and 12 combining to form ten runners, so grab your friends, sign up, and come down to trial! 

I encourage you to get involved in at least one sport PLC has to offer this term. Get amongst it because having a run around and a laugh with your friends is a whole lot of fun if we all get involved. 

- Millie McCarthy, Sports Captain

Living and Loving

Happiness is when, what you think, what you say and what you do are in harmony.  
- Mahatma Ghandi

Perhaps never before has information been so readily at our disposal and has so many people invited us into their lives and homes through social media, and yet many people increasingly feel alone and disconnected.

It raises the question: Why? Could it be that humans have managed to obtain more knowledge but lost the essence of life in the process? Could it be that it is exhausting to read posts of how seemingly perfect other people’s lives are and to feel pressured into posting similar images and anecdotes from our own lives? Could it be that people long for something more, something authentic?

Most religions emphasise the importance of love in living authentically and 1 John 3:18 warns us: “Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action.  Then it will truly be love.” 

May we remember that love is more than a topic to ponder and discuss – it is an action! May those around us be drawn closer as they feel our love every day.

- Rev Manie Strydom, Chaplain 

Senior School Free Dress Days

Support Trillion Trees & World Vision Child Sponsorship by participating in our upcoming Free Dress Days for $10! 

Your contribution will support a local charity, Trillion Trees, whose mission is to bring people together to plant and grow trees and to achieve healthy, productive, sustainable landscapes. Donations also sponsor our two World Vision children, 10-year-old Josephine from Zambia and 13-year-old Lucy from Kenya.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are collecting the $10 contributions online.

Free Dress Days are non-compulsory, with the next day scheduled for Friday 3 July. Students who wish to participate will need to make the $10 contribution. Click here to see the poster with more information.

Sleep-out to Support Homelessness - IB CAS Project 

Year 11 IB student, Gaby Evans, is hosting a virtual sleep-out for Uniting WA (formerly UnitingCare West) on Friday 26 June, with all fundraising efforts going towards services that support vulnerable people in our community.

To register your involvement, please return the permission slip to the Lighthouse reception or scan and email it to lighthouse@plc.wa.edu.au by 17 June 2020. Fundraising efforts are to be paid through Trybooking here. 

Enviro News: Environmental Committee Newsletter

Environmental Captain, Claudia, has started a great newsletter about all things environmentally friendly.

In this week's edition, you'll find out how to make pickles from leftover vegetables, how to collect and use rain water, and even how to make edible spoons! 

Click the button below to read it.  

Playground Joy 

It has been a joy hearing the students play on the Junior School playgrounds this week. The importance of play spaces in the lives and development of our children cannot be understated. Physical strength and balance, communication and risk-taking are just some of the reasons why play is so important for our children. 

Independence and Responsibility  

I would like to remind parents that you are welcome to come on to campus for drop-off and pick-up, as well as pre-arranged meetings. Please encourage your daughter to carry her own belongings and get organised by herself. Responsibility and independence is extremely important for children's development. 

Reminder to Stay Home If Unwell 

With the continued easing of restrictions, a reminder to please keep ill children at home. 

PLC App 

Communications posted on the PLC App continue to increase.  Please check the App regularly, and if you are yet to download it, we urge you to do so as soon as possible. Important information pertaining to your daughter's class, sport and co-curricular events are posted on the App. 

- Richard Wright, Head of Junior School 

Student Voice 

The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework emphasises the importance of student voice and authentic student participation as being a considerable element in creating a strong foundation to help students reach their aspirations in learning and in life. Many of our Senior School girls have expressed an interest in the current Black Lives Matter movement, as well as a desire to have their voices heard in a safe way. As a School, we firmly believe in reconciliation, and with these factors in mind, our Reconciliation Captains and Gorna Liyarn students are arranging activities for Friday lunchtime to help highlight the issues facing Indigenous people within Australia. We look forward to hearing the experiences and thoughts of our students, as well as watching our Gorna Liyarn students perform. 

Year 12s Helping Year 7s

This week has also seen our Year 12 students connect further with our Year 7 students. With the start of the year being disrupted by online learning, our Year 7 students are still forming their friendships within the Year group. To help facilitate this further, the Year 12s are offering lunchtime activities to help the girls engage with each other and have some fun. Our Year 12 students are also preparing to launch ‘Team PLC’, where they are running a series of activities for both the Junior and Senior School, focussed on the theme that we are all one ‘team’ and a close-knit community. To start these activities, the Year 12 group have come together to paint a beautiful mural on the school grounds. Each Year 12 student will have the opportunity to add their own personal touch to the mural and it has been fantastic to see it come to life this week. A big thank you to our Arts Captain, Emma for her organisation of this.

Pockets 

Currently, we are still not able to have whole school assemblies, however, I am mindful that we have some talented students who are waiting to receive their pockets and have their blazers embroided. To help allow the embroidery to occur in a timely manner, these students will be presented with their pocket letters in advance and will be asked to submit their blazers at the end of this term for embroidery. They will then have these achievements officially announced at an assembly, once restrictions have eased.

- Rebecca Watts, Head of Senior School

Boarding House News

Fun at Hillary's Boat Harbour! 

From The Music Department 

Instrumental and Vocal Lessons - Term 3

Congratulations to all students for their hard work and dedication to their music study throughout Term 2.

Please note that any cancellations of instrumental or vocal lessons for Term 3 should be received by the Music Department via music@plc.wa.edu.au by Friday 19 June, otherwise students will automatically be timetabled for Term 3 and tuition fees applied.

Student Achievements 

Congratulations to Eliza Murray (Year 12) for coming Runner Up in the Golden Pen Poetry Competition for her poem “Harvest”! 

This is a state-wide competition that enables students to showcase their creativity and writing skills.

Parent Events Coming Up  

Year 10 Parents Morning Tea

Date: Friday 26 June
Time: 9.00 am 
Venue: 98 Heytesbury Road, Subiaco (private home)

No need to RSVP.