Links eNewsletter - Term 4 Week 6 Dear valued member of the PLC community, A Message From the Deputy PrincipalOn Sunday evening, we will be holding the inaugural PLC Community Carols event. Led by our various vocal ensembles and the wonderful Music Department, all those present will have the opportunity to sing along to some well-known family favourites, as well as listening to some more polished performances from our students. There will even be a guest appearance from a staff choir as well. Please indulge me for a few minutes as I try to expound on the virtues of communal singing in an attempt to encourage you to join me on Sunday. As a singer, I am looking forward to the Community Carols immensely and will find myself reminiscing about over 30 years of carol services and concerts, most of which took place in cold winters in the North West of England. However busy the time of term and however careworn I may have felt on arrival, whether the freezing fog has been swirling around me or I have been perspiring merrily in the warmth of a venue without air-con in Perth, I have never left such an event without a huge smile on my face. It is commonly known that it increases dopamine levels but in actual fact, there are other scientifically-proven benefits of singing. In a study undertaken by the British Academy of Sound Therapy, Lyz Cooper explains that singing significantly improves the production of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), an antibody that helps us to fight sickness. As well as noting benefits to mental and spiritual health, Cooper also finds that “songs that enhance sustained breathing… tone the lungs and increase heart function by reducing stress and increasing oxygen flow to all parts of the body.” So, by joining me on Sunday, you can probably skip the gym! In The Neuroscience of Singing (2016), Cassandra Sheppard tells us that “when we sing, our neurotransmitters connect in new and different ways. [Singing] fires up the right temporal lobe of our brain, releasing endorphins that make us smarter, healthier, happier and more creative. When we sing with other people this effect is amplified.” She goes on to cite UK singer, singing teacher and choir leader Sophia Efthimiou. She tells us that by “controlling our breath and larynx to create and sustain certain pitches… each group member feels the musical vibrations moving through their body simultaneously [and] our heart beats become synchronised. We literally form one unified heartbeat.” Sheppard proposes that in this way, singing in a large group creates a deep connection in people. Just imagine - we could improve our collective wellbeing by releasing endorphins and develop the connection within our community just by singing together! It is surely a theory worth testing. If you are willing to take up my challenge, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday at 5.00 pm in the Quad. - Neil Walker – Deputy Principal (Teaching and Learning) Instrumental and Vocal Music Lessons 2022All instrumental and vocal music lessons will conclude on Friday 26 November. Congratulations to all students on their musical development and achievements throughout the year! Students who wish to continue with their instrumental or vocal tuition in 2022 do not need to re-enrol. Current enrolments will automatically roll over to next year. Parents are asked to notify the Music Department at music@plc.wa.edu.au by Friday 3 December if they do not wish to continue lessons in 2022 or need to change their current enrolment details. New music enrolment applications for 2022 are welcome by completing the below button by Friday 3 December. Orientation DayTomorrow’s Orientation Day marks the commencement of our end-of-year events. We look forward to welcoming our new students from Years 2 to 6 (2022). I know our current students will make the new students feel welcome. Significant School EventsNext week, we have two significant ‘signpost’ events. We have our Pre-Primary Nativity on Wednesday in the Chapel. I cannot wait for the joy that day will bring to our community. On Friday at 1.30 pm, we will have our Final Year 6 Assembly in the Junior School Swim and Recreation Centre. This promises to be a fun and fitting transition to the Senior School for our Year 6 students. The following Monday is our rescheduled Athletics Carnival. So many fantastic community events and we hope that you can join us! Preparing for Holiday WorksA number of our Junior School classrooms are being refurbished over the holiday break. In preparation for these enhancements to our learning environments, there will be some packing and furniture moving in the coming weeks, outside of class time. Please be assured that the normal, excellent teaching programme will continue unabated until Thursday 9 December. However, resources, furniture, and equipment not required for the final three weeks may be boxed and stored in preparation for our refurbishment. New Sporting and Play EquipmentOur girls have been enjoying using the new sports and play equipment purchased through the Term Fee Draw initiative. Every term, PLC families can go in the draw to win a term's fees reimbursed with the proceeds going towards things like this fun new play equipment. - Richard Wright – Head of Junior School Orientation Day for Years 1 to 6 Students in 2022
Community Carols
Pre-Primary Nativity
Year 6 Final Assembly
Inter-house Athletics Carnival – Years 1 to 6
Suzuki Strings Christmas Concert
End of Year Assembly – Years 1 to 6
Term 4 Concludes
A Magical PerformanceOver four magical performances, our Years 7 to 10 students brought to life Roald Dahl's beloved childhood story, Matilda Jr in a sensational stage adaptation of the much-loved novel. Congratulations to everyone involved in this rambunctious, fun, and witty masterpiece. Vaping UpdateLast term, Ms Begbie wrote in Links about the growing prevalence of vaping by young people and how the school was responding to this widespread social issue. At the time, Ms Begbie said the school was exploring the potential of installing vaping detectors in student bathrooms as a preventative measure and to ensure the safety of all students using the bathroom areas. I can confirm detectors have now been installed in a number of student bathrooms throughout the school. Vaping is a risk-taking behaviour that is not acceptable and is prohibited at PLC. Any student who is caught vaping on school grounds will be required to meet with myself and the Principal. At a minimum, vaping on school grounds will result in a school suspension. With regards to risk-taking behaviours, our approach will always be to be proactive, to seek to understand and to avoid punitive measures. Vaping is a serious issue though and one that, as a community, we need to work together to support young people to better understand the implications and consequences (to their health in particular) of engaging in such behaviour. Student health and safety is paramount and we will endeavour to ensure our programmes provide the information needed to make informed decisions. If any family members are seeking additional information, you may find the below links of interest. Additionally, if you have any concerns about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact myself, Ms Begbie our Lead Psychologist (Daleen Engelbrecht). We are all here to support in any way we can. 2022 IGSSA Co-curricular Team Sport TrialsIGSSA Co-curricular Team Sports being held in Term 1 2022 include Volleyball, AFL and Years 11 to 12 Badminton (note IGSSA Tennis and Cricket moved to Term 4). 2022 Year 11 and 12 Students (Current Years 10 and 11 students)Students received an email on Monday 15 November with information on how to register for IGSSA Sports Trials. Trials will be held during Lighthouse Leavers (LHL) Period 1 on Friday 19 November and Friday 3 December. Years 11 and 12 students not wishing to trial for an IGSSA Sport are required to participate in a PE social sport. Trials will be held at PLC. 2022 Year 9 and 10 Students (Current Years 8 and 9 students)Students received an email on Monday 15 November with information on how to register for IGSSA Sports Trials commencing this term. Trial dates: Tuesday 30 November and Wednesday 1 December 6.45 am - 8.00 am. Volleyball will be held in the Hugh Baird Sports Centre and the venue for AFL will be confirmed shortly. 2022 Year 7 and 8 Students (Current Years 6 and 7 students)Students will receive information regarding trials and how to register at the commencement of the 2022 school year. If you have any questions in relation to 2022 Co-curricular Sport, please contact Ms Nat Medhurst, Head of Sport at nat.medhurst@plc.wa.edu.au. Speech Night InformationDateThursday 9 December 2021 VenueHBF Stadium, 100 Stephenson Ave, Mount Claremont Timing4.45 pm - Senior Pipe Band students to arrive. We strongly recommend leaving plenty of time to make it to HBF Stadium. Year 12 Student SeatingThe most convenient entrance for Year 12 girls is the main doors at the Stephenson Avenue end of the building where the fountains are. Deborah McPhee and I will be waiting to greet the Year 12s who will gather in the Lecture Theatre at the bottom of the stairs near this entrance. At the commencement of the evening, students will process into the stadium in their House led by Monet Edwards and Dimity Andrews. There is no need to book a ticket for students as Year 12s' seating is allocated as a group on the northern side of the arena. Seating Years 7 – 11
Parking - Access from McGillivray RoadThis year, to ease traffic congestion on Stephenson Ave, the back entrance to HBF Stadium (off Brockway Road) will be open. We strongly recommend leaving plenty of time to make it to HBF Stadium to allow for traffic delays. UniformFormal summer uniform must be worn by all students. This includes tie, blazer and hair ribbons. Please note that girls are not required to wear their panama. - Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School Community Carols
Year 11 (in 2022) Parent Coffee Afternoon Tea
Speech Night
Boarder of the Week:
Room of the Week:
Boarders Rock!Last weekend, Ms Edwards and I, along with many other boarders and boarding families, thoroughly enjoyed Saturday night’s final performance of Matilda Jr. Kalani, Imogen, Claire, Amber, Eadie, Kate, Bella, and Tatum were all superstars. They brought great energy to the stage and we had many laughs! It was amazing to see the entire stage come alive in one of the final songs ‘Revolting’. All the girls in that production are so deserving of the praise they received and should be proud of their efforts in keeping up with the demands of school and other co-curricular activities whilst also giving it their all to the production. Simultaneously, our Gorna Liyarn girls, Jelaynah, Mietta, Cynarah and Stevee (Year 7), Mia and Gizzelle (Year 8), Monique, Bella, Latifah, Lehyia and Jai’lysa (Year 9), Amelie and Lomasey (Year 10), and Meeza and Montanna (Year 12) performed incredibly at the Wardarnji Festival at Fremantle Arts Centre. This festival brings people together to celebrate Australian Indigenous culture, the beauty of old songs, dances and language. Many of our boarders were also lucky to attend and support our girls. This weekend, we will be getting ready for Christmas by putting up the Christmas tree a little earlier so that the boarders can enjoy it for longer. We also have a DIY body scrub workshop for all years, which will make a great Christmas gift. We will take the Years 8 and 9 girls shopping on Sunday so they can do some Christmas shopping and the Year 10s can enjoy having their school friends over for Invite a Day Girl. The Year 9s will enjoy Quay2Quay and Year 7s have their end-of-year celebration at Adventure World. - Katherine Hazlewood – Deputy of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Request to Help Migrant and Refugee Families this Holiday Season – Years 7 to 10 FamiliesPLC Senior School students in Years 7-10 are being asked to donate and support 15 migrant and refugee families to celebrate this holiday season, through the St Vincent de Paul Society. St Vincent de Paul Society has a long history of helping migrants and refugees, and this year like most charities, they have been inundated with requests to support those in need. Through each House, students will be provided a member of one of the 15 families and asked to buy a gift to be donated to the family box. Some gift ideas include hand or body lotion, shampoos, aftershave, bag, candle, purse, sports equipment, stationery, games, arts and craft kit, skincare, perfume, jewellery, sunglasses, or makeup. Non-perishable foods are also welcomed – tinned biscuits, rice, beans, etc. The gifts should be delivered to the individual family box which will be in the View Street Senior School Reception for the next two weeks. Please can we ensure that all gifts are delivered by Thursday 2 December to ensure timely delivery to the families. Thank you to AK (Year 11 IB student) for her leadership of this service initiative. Share the Dignity 'It’s in the Bag' – Years 11 to 12 FamiliesYears 11 and 12 families are being invited to support women and girls in need for Christmas through Share the Dignity. #Itsinthebag is Share the Dignity’s annual event that asks for new or good quality handbags to be donated along with essential items for women and girls experiencing period poverty. Essentials for Bags
Donations can be made at McNeil Street Reception of the Lighthouse in the pink Share the Dignity boxes until Thursday 2 December. We hope to see everyone in our generous PLC community getting involved with these initiatives. - Chonny James – Director of Wellbeing PLC Community CarolsWe look forward to seeing you at the PLC Community Carols event this Sunday 21 November. A reminder for those who have pre-purchased wine or picnic hampers, they will be available from Bev's Cafe from 4.30 pm onwards. We have created a beautiful programme for the evening which can be downloaded via the PLC website here. This programme is available through a PDF copy or an interactive E-Pub version. The PLC Community Carols event commences at 5.00 pm in the Senior School Quad and concludes at 6.30 pm. We ask those that are bringing high back chairs to please sit towards the back of the Quad or use the balcony seating. Low back chairs and blankets are able to be positioned at the front of the Quad. Please utilise the Junior School, Senior School, and Lighthouse car parks and be respectful of our neighbours by not parking in the streets. History Prize WinnerOn the weekend, Poppy (Year 11) was awarded the Young Historian Gold Level Prize, as she came first place in the WA State History Awards for the National History Challenge for Years 11 and 12. She wrote on the topic “Modern American accountability in the Middle East”. Congratulations Poppy! If you are aware of any student achievements, please email the information to links@plc.wa.edu.au |