Links eNewsletter - Term 2 Week 3 Dear valued member of the PLC community, A Message From the DeputyIn the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on resilience; the resilience society expects of us, and the way in which we should aim to build capacity for resilience in our young people. The Cambridge Dictionary defines resilience in the following two ways:
In the last two weeks, during their examination period, our Year 11 and 12 students have been required to be resilient, in the face of uncertainty bred by COVID-19, and the inconvenience of wearing masks as they sit their examinations. Our Year 3, 5, 7, and 9 students will sit NAPLAN tests in the coming weeks while Year 10 students prepare for examinations and Year 12 General students prepare for Externally Set Tasks. They will all face something that may be difficult, and some may feel stretched, but they are learning to take these events in their stride. As the examination and test results come in, students will have mixed emotions – they may experience success, happiness, concern, and confusion. At times, they may feel bent and bruised, but with the guidance and support of teachers, friends, and parents, they will not only “return to [their] usual shape” but will potentially grow and develop as they learn from their experiences. We need to help students keep these sorts of challenges in perspective; as a community, we have a role in developing their resilience. The Junior School 'Parents as Learners' session this week dealt with this topic, giving parents strategies to support resilience and we continue to look for more avenues to build this skill in all our students. Parents play such an important role in developing resilience in their daughters and in helping them to maintain a sense of perspective. This weekend we have the chance to recognise this as we celebrate the mothers and mother-figures in our lives. I hope you have the chance to mark the day in some way and thank them for the support they offer us in maintaining and building our resilience. - Neil Walker – Deputy Principal Farewell Annette PearceA number of parents will be aware that Annette Pearce (Head of Sport) was granted a leave of absence at the beginning of 2020 to take on the role of Head Coach of the Singapore National Netball Team. Annette has thoroughly embraced this opportunity and has advised me this week that she wishes to remain in Singapore and in this role for the near future. Unfortunately, this does mean that Annette has resigned from her position at PLC. I would like to personally thank Annette for the enormous contribution that she has made to our Sport programme, with particular thanks to her for her commitment to the role of Head of Rowing. Annette’s energy, enthusiasm and encouragement of young girls to stay involved in sporting pursuits made her a great asset to our team. While she will be missed at PLC, I have no doubt that Netball Singapore will be very pleased with her decision. As we commence a recruitment process to replace Annette, I would like to thank all of our PE staff for their hard work and for Anna Turnseck-James in particular for taking on the combined role of Head PE/Head of Sport in Annette’s absence. Thanks also to Dave Milne and Chonny James for picking up additional duties with the Rowing programme. With Annette’s decision not to return, we are also taking the opportunity to review our current structure in relation to Sport and PE and in addition to appointing a new Head of Sport, will be looking to recruit a Junior School PE teacher and Sport Co-ordinator to strengthen our Junior School programme. - Cate Begbie – Principal Bamboo Plant
Often the bamboo plant is used to illustrate patience. In the motivational story the plant doesn’t seem to grow much for the first four to five years and in the next year grows up to 1 m every 24 hours, until it reaches a height of 20-30 m. According to experts, this is a myth, but as with most myths some aspects are rooted in truth. Experts state that a sprout of the giant bamboo plant will reach its full height in two-three months and might grow up to 1 m per day. However, this is a sprout from an adult plant under ideal circumstances and not a seedling as in the mythical story. Being connected to the Divine enables people to grow to their potential. As we raise our children, it might serve us well to remember that the bamboo plant needs the correct conditions to flourish and for the sprouts to grow optimally. In the same way, our children need our support and example to excel. - Rev Manie Strydom - Chaplain Pick-up RemindersIt seems that the weather has begun to change, as we have had a couple of significant rain fronts pass through the School, always around pick-up time! As you can appreciate, we need to support each other as a community around these busy times, especially with the addition of rain. Can I please make a few simple requests to make our pick-up time even smoother? Firstly, if your child finishes school at 3.25 pm, please do not arrive before that time. The process is slowed considerably (especially for our Year 2 and 3 families) if cars are parked in the slipway long before your daughter may be released. The Year 5 and 6 students, in particular, are not ready for the slipway until 3.25 pm at the very earliest, and more often appear closer to 3.30 pm. Being five minutes later can make the pick-up experience much faster. Secondly, please display your laminated surname card on your vehicle’s sun visor for every slipway pick-up. Placing the card in a high location makes it easier to see and helps the slipway duty teacher identify the parent/carer’s vehicle and call the appropriate student, which in turn makes the whole process faster. If extended family or babysitters are picking up, please provide them with the card. If you need a replacement card, please contact Deb Barnaby at the Junior School Reception. Finally, stay patient. We often see some driving behaviour that puts our girls, staff, and other members of the community at risk. Please drive conservatively and slowly around any school. Staff are in the slipways until 3.45 pm. After this time, any remaining students are brought to the office to call parents/caregivers. If we all work together in our community, we can make pick-up time a smooth and efficient process. Telethon Kids Institute – Cyber Friendly Primary Schools Pilot ProgrammeIn Term 2, the Junior School will be participating in this pilot programme. For further details please click here. Parents and carers of students in Years 4 to 6 are invited to participate in the pilot programme, by completing two surveys. Each survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and the first survey is to be submitted by Monday 10 May. If you would like to participate, the first survey is available here. - Richard Wright – Head of Junior School Junior School Assembly
NAPLAN – Writing (Years 3 and 5)
NAPLAN – Reading (Years 3 and 5)
Chapel Years 3 to 6 (6P hosting)
Parents as Learners Session – Navigating the changes that occur in a pre-teen brain (Years 4–6)
Mask ReminderOur Senior School students have adapted well to wearing their masks at school and beyond. To help keep everyone in our community safe, please ensure that your daughter has a face mask on when she arrives at school and that she is wearing her mask correctly. If she requires a disposable mask for the day, please ask her to speak to our reception staff who will be able to provide her with one. As previously, parents and guardians who are visiting the campus need to sign in using the SafeWA App and are welcome to utilise the hand sanitiser located at each reception area. A particular well done to our Year 11 and Year 12 students who have been wearing their masks during examinations as well as while they are on work experience. IGSSA Rowing RegattaThis weekend our Rowing Team will be participating in their first regatta for the season – in fact, the first IGSSA regatta to be held in a long time! I have been impressed with how hard the girls have been training and know that they will make the school proud. All members of the PLC community are invited to come down and support our rowers this Saturday at Champion Lakes. The first event for the day begins at 8.30 am. IGSSA Rowing Regatta
OCA Art Exhibition
Boarders of the Week:
Room of the Week:
What Happened This Week in the Boarding HouseThis term our focus is to engage the passions, talents, and hobbies of both our staff and students when developing our unique weekly recreational calendar. We have found that this approach generates a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the girls and actively strengthens the sense of community in the Boarding House. Last weekend, for example, was jam-packed with in-house staff and student-led activities. We had a make your own pizza night, an essential spaghetti bolognaise cooking lesson with the Year 12s, and a very professional Year 7 day spa for all things facials and beauty. We also had Tianna in Year 12 run an amazing damper and indigenous art workshop, enjoyed by both students and staff. With multiple Mothers' Day DIY craft sessions, we hope that all our mothers enjoy their homemade gifts. It is heartwarming to see just how much our girls not only look up to their mothers but their grandmothers too, with many cards dedicated to ‘Nan.’ This week in the Boarding House has been all about homework and study. The Year 11 and 12s have found a fine balance between staying focused on their exam revision as well as knowing when to stop, have a break and re-set. The staff and tutors have been working very hard to keep them on track and motivated, just as the exhaustion is setting in. The Year 8s have now joined our Year 9 and 10s in the View Street Building for their prep. With all year groups having a dedicated study space, we are hoping to create a positive and quiet study zone with a strong staff presence. This weekend will be very busy with hockey and netball fixtures and the 1st Rowing Regatta. We also have a trip to the cinema and Garden City booked in. The Year 7s can look forward to laser tag with Aquinas College and the 9s are excited to do mini-golf with Wesley College. I will also be running a fitness session in the Lighthouse for all boarders. A happy Mothers' Day to all. - Katherine Hazlewood – Boarding House Deputy (Wellbeing and Pastoral Care) PLC Parents School Fee Draw WinnersCongratulations to Timothy and Jodie Few, parents of Sarah (Year 11), who are the lucky winners of the Term 2 PLC Parents School Fees Draw. They will have $7, 248 credited to their school fees account. Net proceeds will be used to purchase uniforms and equipment for the Aussie Rules Football programme for the benefit of the Senior School Students. Thank you to all who participated. OCA Art Exhibition 2021 - Friday 21 May to Sunday 23 MayOne of the most exciting events on the PLC OCA calendar is approaching. Well-known artists including Archibald Packing Room Prize winner Tessa MacKay, Leon Pericles, Louise Farnay, Alice Ford, Jacinda Bayne, Genevieve Montgomery, Aurelie Yeo will join 75 established and emerging artists from the PLC community at this year’s OCA Art Exhibition! Opening Night Cocktail Party
Please join us at the Opening Night Cocktail Party for a fantastic evening of Flametree wines, beer, canapes, entertainment, and a chance to preview and purchase the artworks. Tickets for Opening Night are available for $45, or at the door on the night for $50. Weekend Exhibition
The Exhibition continues throughout the weekend with entry by raffle ticket purchase or gold coin donation. There will be the OCA Café on site all weekend so bring yourself, family, and friends along for a delicious morning tea or afternoon tea and admire the beautiful artworks. Foundation Scholarship Now OpenDue to the generous support of the PLC community, the PLC Foundation is delighted to announce that the 2022 PLC Foundation Scholarship applications are now open. Each year, the PLC Foundation offers a scholarship to a student who would otherwise be unable to attend PLC due to their family’s financial circumstances. This scholarship is offered to students commencing in Year 7 and provides 100% tuition fees from Year 7 to Year 12. Applicants must provide a sound academic record, a commitment to community service, and participation in Co-curricular activities. If you know of a worthy candidate, application details and forms are available here. For further information on this scholarship or the Foundation, please contact Suzanne Pelczar at foundation@plc.wa.edu.au or on (08) 9460 6534. Term 2 PLC Parents Meeting
OCA Art Exhibition
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