A Message From the Deputy Principal

Dear valued member of the PLC community,

In the lead up to this week, 56 students have embraced the service opportunity to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation by cutting or shaving their hair and donating it to make wigs for blood cancer sufferers who have lost their hair through chemotherapy. Amongst the many service initiatives available, this is an especially personal and intimate undertaking in which students are literally giving something of themselves to provide comfort and confidence to young people battling the disease. It embodies the ethos of “doing” that is at the heart of Service Learning and what we aim for at PLC.

Yesterday, I saw this service leadership in action when I joined the Year 12 students gathering outside the Lighthouse to cut and shave their hair. This initiative was led by Service Captain, Indah Jenkins, and Service Co-ordinator Ms Linda Malone. The energy and high spirits of the group had a buzz that was reminiscent of more carefree times.

Since 2016, PLC, together with Scotch College, has been supporting the Leukaemia Foundation, finding inspiration from a past PLC student who battled cancer during Year 12. Over the last six years, our community has raised in excess of $236,000 and this year donations have already rocketed past the $30,000 target and currently sit at nearly $37,000. 

If any students took their own photos from yesterday's WGS event, can you please email them to kookaburra@plc.wa.edu.au to be included in this year's Kookaburra.

At PLC, Service Learning is fully integrated into the School; staff and students feel, live, and perform service every day. This term, the PLC students have also made 7,500 Outback Packs for Keep Australia Beautiful, participated in beach clean ups, made food for St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, and created felt hearts for a fundraiser, not to mention Make A Difference week and MAD TV.

- Chris Robinson – Deputy Principal

The Joy of Childhood

Childhood should be a joyous time and when I see children playing without a care in the world, it helps to remind me of what is important. Even in times when they may feel external pressures or changes, the way in which they approach these is truly remarkable. 

It is important for us, as parents, not to share our anxieties with our children and instead focus on what is great about the day, the week, or the world around us. Students who may be anxious coming to school, find their anxiety dissipates once they are welcomed by friends and teachers and the fun of the school day begins. 

Recognition Awards

Congratulations to all the Recognition Award recipients this week. Their acknowledgment can be found here. 

Remote Learning

If your daughter is required to learn remotely and is well enough to engage in her studies, she will have access to programmes, lessons, and resources via SEQTA. Additional information will be provided by teachers in SEQTA as to whether lessons will be live streamed through Microsoft Teams or whether a recording of the lesson will be uploaded for viewing in Teams. This will be determined by the learning needs of that lesson. If your daughter has any difficulties with her learning, please encourage her to contact her teacher(s) or her Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator.

Mobile Phone Use

During the school day, we would love to see the students interacting with each other, rather than using their mobile phones. Our policy states that for students in Years 7 to 10, mobile phones must only be used by students before or after school and that during the school day they are turned off and locked in the student’s locker.

Students in Years 11 and 12 may carry their mobile phones with them during the school day and are able to use their phones in class for educational purposes with the teacher's permission. Year 12 students may also use their mobile phones in the Common Room at all times.

If your daughter does need to use her mobile phone, she just needs to ask a staff member for permission or is welcome to ask to use the phones located at both the McNeil Street and View Street Receptions. A link to our policy can be found here.

Years 7–12 IGSSA Hockey and Netball Trials

Students in Years 7 to 12 received information this week, advising how to register for IGSSA Hockey and Netball trials. Trials dates have been revised and they will now commence this term for all year groups, with additional trials to be held in Term 2.   

Please check below for dates, times and venues. If you have any questions in relation to Sport at PLC, please email Mr Sam Maxwell, Head of Sport at sam.maxwell@plc.wa.edu.au.

- Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School

Boarder of the Week:

• Maggie (Year 7) - For being a role model to others in the way that she approaches boarding life. Her positivity, respectfulness, and resilience continues to impress us every day.

Room of the Week: 

• Greta (Year 12) - For her most consistently fabulous room. 

Thank You

We have been so grateful as a Boarding House community for the continued smiling faces and upbeat attitudes of the girls and staff. It reminds us how kindness and positivity make our community resilient and how lucky we are to live and work in such a supportive environment.

As usual, the girls enjoyed a thoroughly jam-packed weekend. On Friday night, the Year 12s led a fantastic Family Fun Night in the Boarding House, which included dancing, games, and chocolate.
 

To wrap up a busy weekend, the Year 12s also led some games with the younger years, there were our usual trips to the beach, nail art with Ms Edwards, shopping at Claremont for our Year 7s, and scenic drives along the coast for those who love a cruise with music. 

This week we will be announcing our year group leaders and look forward to sharing the outcome of this with you next week. This year, group leaders will change each semester so that many girls have an opportunity to demonstrate and practice their leadership skills alongside our Year 12 Prefects and Ms Susie Edwards.

- Katherine Hazlewood – Deputy of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care

Instrumental and Vocal Lessons – Term 2

Congratulations to all our music students for their hard work and dedication to their music lessons this term.

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 Friday 1 April, otherwise students will automatically be timetabled for Term 2 lessons and tuition fees applied.

If you missed out on music this term, we would love for you to join the PLC Music family in Term 2.

Please find the below enrolment link for instrumental and vocal options available:

- Chris Goff – Director of Music

Happiness 

As a parent, I often reflect on what it is I want for my child. When I ask parents about the hopes they have for their children, they often answer “I just want them to be happy”.

As parents, we wish we could shield our children from the heartache of life.

This surely resonates with many of us, however, it is important to remember that there is value in all our emotions. Emotions create meaning in our lives by teaching us about what is important to us. For example, when we feel sadness about a loss, it teaches us that something important to us has been taken away. Reading this article reminded me that rather than striving for happiness, we should strive for a rich and meaningful life that aligns with our values. This article articulates this beautifully.

- Chonny James – Director of Wellbeing

Bright Young Things - Change of Format

Due to COVID-19, the format of Bright Young Things has had to change from a live streamed performance to a pre-recorded one. Filming is currently underway and the video will be distributed in the coming days to the whole PLC community to enjoy. 

Thought-provoking and laugh-out-loud funny, Bright Young Things is centered around a group of young individuals struggling against the pressure to succeed and the manipulations of TV. Set in a television production studio, the performance will follow the young individuals as they compete to be crowned the cleverest child in the country. As they battle it out round after round, the pressure mounts, the spotlight gets harsher, and each is faced with questions they were never expecting. 

Athletics Stars Head to Nationals