Dear valued member of the PLC community,

A Message From the Deputy Principal

It is important that students start the year with good habits in and out of school. Organisation is key and you can help your daughters with this by assisting them to set up their workspace at home.

If possible, students should routinely work in a space that they can leave set up ready for study. Before starting work, it would be beneficial for students to consider the following things:

• Space, light, and ventilation
  A work area needs to allow adequate space for school books and devices. A chair that enables good posture whilst studying also makes a huge difference.  Good light when reading is essential, and airflow assists concentration.
• Power source
  It is a good idea to have a workstation with a powerpoint to charge their school device in preparation for the next day.
• Stationery
  If students know they use particular stationery regularly, it is good to have this accessible. Whilst working, questions arising, or reminders can be written on Post-it notes and placed in a prominent position to enable follow-up. Palm cards can also assist students to summarise key learning points.
• Pin-up board
  Having a pin-up board can be helpful. It gives students a space for a calendar or list of key assessment dates and allows them to have a study plan visible to manage their time across their week.
• Water and food
  A water bottle in their space needs to be full before they start to work. This will help to avoid interruptions and the temptation to find a distraction. Having a snack on hand can be useful for the same reasons.

Taking the time to set up a space now can pay huge dividends in the long run and helps students to feel in control of their learning. I wish our students a successful, happy, and healthy year. 

- Neil Walker  – Deputy Principal - Teaching and Learning 

Thank You

Thank you to parents and guardians for the way you have been so supportive of us during this time when the rules and guidelines change so rapidly. We all felt for our younger students, some of whom felt some anxiety with the new drop-off guidelines but the friendly voices of our amazing educators performed the magic of getting the day underway successfully.

Our students have been amazing in responding to being directed to specific areas before school, at breaks and after school. We are asking them where their favourite areas are to play as we look to rotate them next week.

Swimming (Years 1 to 6)

Swimming lessons commence next week. The timetable will be on each class’s Seesaw, however, it is very straightforward. Year 1 is in Period 1, Year 2 in Period 2, and so on. The girls will need to bring or/and wear their swimming gear every day and can wear their sports uniform every day. Year 6 will be swimming each day, unless alternative Outdoor Education activities are taking place, and will be communicated to Year 6 parents directly.

Postponed Events

As the Principal has informed the community last night, we have had to postpone the Junior School photos and the Year 6 Outdoor Education Programme. The Outdoor Education team are presently devising an alternative programme that is compliant with the guidelines. The photos will be rescheduled for later in 2022.

A Final Note

I believe we can all agree, the focus on keeping children in class is a great one. I know our Remote Learning solutions are excellent and poised to roll out should the need arise, however, nothing can replace face-to-face learning and students working collaboratively.

- Richard Wright – Head of Junior School

Our students should be commended on the way they adapted to the new format for the carnival and the way that they cheered each other on. It was an action-packed day and a big thank you to our staff (particularly the PE Department) for making sure we had a smooth and successful carnival. I would also like to thank our Year 12 Leaders who helped out through the entirety of the carnival.

On Friday, we will be announcing our swimming results, including individual swimming champions and new record holders, before sharing this information with the PLC community and parents.

Parent Information Evenings

Due to current COVID-19 regulations, our Parent Information Evenings are no longer taking place in person and instead will be pre-recorded. Parents of Year 8 and Year 9 students will be advised via the PLC App when the recording of the evening is available for viewing.

Sun Smart

I am pleased to report that all the students in the Senior School have been embracing our Sun Smart policies. It has been wonderful to see all students seated in the shade at Recess and Lunchtime, or if in the sun, wearing their panama or PLC sports cap.

Lost Property

We have a growing pile of lost property that has been collected since the year began. If your daughter is missing an item, please encourage her to check lost property which is located outside the Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinators' office. We do have a lot of unnamed items, which is a good reminder to make sure that everything is named.

House Representatives

Students in Years 8, 9, 10, and 11 are undertaking the process of electing their House Representatives for Semester 1 2022. The process involves students gaining an understanding of the roles, nominating for a position, presenting a speech, and then voting for their representatives. Our Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinators have explained the process to the relevant year groups and will be announcing the new leaders during House Tutor Group.

- Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School

Argyle Club General Meeting

• Date: Wednesday 16 February

• Time: 6.00 pm

• Venue: TBC 

Photo Catch-up Day 

• Date: Friday 18 February

• Time: Before school - exact time TBC

• Venue: Hugh Baird Sports Centre 

Boarder of the Week:

• Laura (Year 7) - For her positive and enthusiastic attitude and demonstrating community spirit.

Room of the Week: 

• Claire (Year 9) - For her beautiful room. 

Building a Community

Our theme for boarding in Term 1 is 'community' and our boarders this term will reflect on the importance of a sense of community. Students will focus on inclusivity and building connections between year groups, new and existing boarders, and even boarders and staff. 

For example, on the weekend, many of our Year 8s spent time with the Year 7s in Finlayson House, accompanied them to the beach and pool, and participated in many volleyball games in our Boarding House courtyard. As our beautiful Year 12s were off enjoying the Ball, our other leaders in Years 10 and 11 helped with many spontaneous activities in the Boarding House including pool sessions and running games in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre. 

Our staff have been immensely proud of the bravery displayed by our new girls as they embark on this exciting journey as PLC boarders. They have been expressing their gratitude with heartfelt messages via a variety of platforms – whether it be the convo whiteboard, in passing, or an email. You can definitely feel the love. 

- Katherine Hazlewood – Boarding House Deputy (Wellbeing and Pastoral Care)

Free Dress Day – Thursday 3 March

Collection of annual contributions for the privilege of wearing free dress over three terms this year is open again. Each $10 contribution will support two World Vision children, 12-year-old Josephine from Zambia and 11-year-old Margaret from Kenya, with any surplus going to other PLC supported charities.

Free Dress Days are non-compulsory with the first of three scheduled for Thursday 3 March. Students who wish to participate will need to make the $10 contribution by clicking the button below by Wednesday 2 March. Click here to see the poster with information on the theme for Term 1.

Student2Student Reading Programme for Year 7 - 11 Students

PLC has a strong tradition of doing good for others. The Smith Family Student2Student Reading Programme supports vulnerable West Australian children with their reading and comprehension by pairing a PLC student with a younger student in the community.

The 18-week reading programme will see students sharing the same book, reading over the internet or via telephone. The commitment is reading 2-3 times per week for approximately 20 minutes each session with a buddy and service hours can be recorded for the programme.

All students who have not participated in the programme before will be offered training. Support is offered throughout the programme for PLC students by the PLC Lighthouse Service-Learning team. 

• Click here for the Application Form. 
• Click here for the Buddy Facet Sheet. 
• Click here for the Parent Information Sheet.
• Click here for the Eligibility Questionaire. 
• Click here for the Privacy Policy 

All above forms must be returned to PLC Lighthouse no later than Friday 11 March 2022 with training provided later in the term.

SmartRider Cards for New Students

New students should have now received a SmartRider card. These are available at the Junior School Reception and the McNeil Street Reception.

To activate these cards, students will need to swipe their card onto a printer and log in. This attaches the card number to the student. If the students are unsure or want to check they have done it correctly, they can go to the Tech Centre (for Senior School students) or the Tech Centre desk (for Junior School students) for assistance. 

Calling All Artists

The PLC OCA Art Exhibition will be returning in 2022 and running from Friday 20 May to Sunday 22 May.

As always, we need our wonderful PLC community to get involved.  

If you are an artist and would like to register to be part of this year's Exhibition, please click the link below to register your interest. 

More information about the Exhibition and our Opening Night Cocktail Party will be communicated in the coming weeks.