Links - Term 2, Week 3 2020 Dear Friend of PLC A Message From Arts Captain, Emma‘If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain’ - Dolly PartonSuch a strange and somewhat tricky time we have all been through together. It is so important for us to create magic for ourselves and others each day, and focus on the beauty waiting for us on the other side. Something I have learnt from my little cousins over quarantine is the importance of finding the 'rainbow moment' in each day - something or someone that made us happy, or something we said or did to make someone smile. Through song, dance, story telling and colours, we can make our world more beautiful. Why don’t we create our own Rainbow Collection - draw one on your driveway in chalk or paint one on paper, bake a rainbow, sing a rainbow song or take a photo of one - let the colours inspire us all to be better, brighter, kinder to each other. Our rainbows can uplift, reassure, inspire, give us strength and remind us that there will be brighter days to come, and that we are all right where we are meant to be in this moment. Perfectly placed. I encourage you to find your 'rainbow moment’ in each day and more importantly, to share your bright colours and ideas with the people around you. We are richly connected by stories, they assist us in our creative growth. - Emma van Schouwen, Arts Captain Obstacle or Opportunity"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity" - J. Sidlow Baxter We are living in challenging times and every one of us have felt the effect of COVID-19 in some way. It might have impacted our business, family, health, stress levels, job security and wedding plans – in fact, most of our carefully laid plans for 2020. We will remember 2020 and share our stories with the next generations about working from home, online learning and social distancing. I find Sidlow Baxter’s perspective helpful, as it amplifies how our perspective will impact our reality. Perhaps we are learning to appreciate things we take for granted: playing board games, eating family dinners, hugging family and friends...so, let’s make a conscious choice to focus on the positive, the opportunities and live life to the full. - Manie Strydom, Chaplain Skills translating from Online Learning back to classIt has been wonderful to see the students employing their recently acquired skills, back in class. The development of technology skills is an obvious benefit of online learning; however, resilience and independence have also grown. Staff have reported to me that students are more willing to take risks and problem solve, rather than have the problem solved for them as the first response. Access to Online LearningAs we return to a ‘normal’ academic structure, I would remind the community that online learning is presently for those required to self-isolate. Children who are ill, and therefore at home, should be solely recovering from their illnesses. Their academic programme will recommence when they are well enough to return to school. Outcome of amazing community supportAgain, I would want to thank all parents and care givers for their support of the community by ensuring ill children do not come to school. I believe due to this, together with the new hygiene and awareness of social distancing, we have a much lower number of absentees (for this time of year) and therefore students maximising their class time! 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 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. Further information is available here or on the PLC App. The closing date for registrations is Thursday 28 May. e-Safety WebinarYears 3 - 6 PLC parents and students are encouraged to join a 30-minute webinar ran by the e-Safety Commissioner on Monday 18 May at 7.00 pm. Please register here. This presentation is free of cost and provides advice about online safety topics, including: - Richard Wright, Head of Junior School Wearing Uniform With PrideAs life begins to return to 'normal' in the Senior School, the girls have been given a reminder about wearing the uniform with pride. I am pleased to see that the girls have very much risen to this challenge, with the majority of students arriving to school wearing perfect uniform (whether that be school or sports uniform). It does look like some students have had a bit of a growth spurt over the holidays, with skirts looking shorter than usual. If you could please have a look at your daughter’s skirt and assist her with letting the hem down to make sure that she is looking her best. TrafficUnderstandably, there has been an increase of traffic around the School as more parents opt to drive their daughters to school. To help with easing traffic congestion and to keep our community safe, please utilise the slipways located at McNeil Street and View Street. Thank you for your help with this. Year 10 Information and Subject SelectionYear 10 parents will be receiving information very soon regarding our Parent Teacher Student Interviews, as well as further information regarding subject selections. Our Parent Teacher Student Interviews will be run through the platform WebEx. This will allow us to have parents meet with teachers in a way that meets our social distancing requirements. Please find a revised timeline for Year 10 Subject Selection here and the Year 10 Subject Selection Booklet (also sent earlier this year) here. Term 2 Assessment Schedules - Years 7 to 10Below, you will find the Term 2 Assessment Schedules for Years 7 to 10. These schedules are a great way for the girls to remain on track with their studies and I would encourage them all to copy their assessments into their diary. - Rebecca Watts, Head of Senior School Student AchievementsEarlier this month, Eliza Wood (Year 7) was awarded the Nipper Club Achiever Award for the North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club! This is a prestigious state-based award that recognises the outstanding contributions in the areas of education and sport. Enviro News: Environmental Committee NewsletterEnvironmental Captain, Claudia, has started a great newsletter about all things environmentally friendly. In this week's edition, you'll find out how to breed meal worms and even how to upcycle your old denim jeans into a patched duffle bag! Click the button below to read it. PLC Parents School Fee DrawCongratulations to Michael and Tracy Enslin, parents of Nicole (Year 11) and Alexandra (Year 8), who are the lucky winners of the Term 2 PLC Parents School Fees Draw. They will have $7,049 credited to their school fees account! Net proceeds will be used to purchase a new Table Saw for the Woodwork Room. Thank you to all who participated. |