Dear valued member of the PLC community,

A Message From the Principal

As Dr Michael Carr-Gregg says, “The wellbeing of today’s youth has never been more challenging”. In a school setting, promoting positive wellbeing is key to academic learning and personal success. 

I was reading an article this week about the increased political awareness of young people, particularly given their exposure to social media and news streams. We cannot hide the news from them, in fact they are bombarded by it and engaging with information in a way that can be difficult to moderate. 

Research is showing that young people want to know what is happening; they feel that they will be deeply affected by government decisions and they are wanting to be consulted. They are demonstrating an increased level of care, but at the same time do not feel that their opinions are represented in mainstream media. 

With increased access to news and information, it is also of critical importance that we ensure our young people have the skills and attributes to think critically and analyse the information in front of them. Social media and news streams are frequently producing opinion-based information and, while this has a place, being able to discern what is factual, researched, and valid is extremely important. 

In a world flooded with reports of natural disasters, war, and pandemics, it is also important to maintain positive lines of communication to allow young people the opportunity to talk about their concerns and have those validated. When I talk to students, while they are incredibly positive, I also hear an increasing level of fear – a fear for their future and the future of our world as we know it. 

I am sure all families are having conversations about some of these topics and I have had a number of parents indicate to me that they are talking with their children about the conflict in the Ukraine, in particular, and the impact that the reports and images are having on young people. I do appreciate that what we are seeing is confronting as an adult, let alone a young person wondering how such conflict can occur in the modern world. For any families who may have questions or be seeking advice on supporting your child at a time when conflict is so visible, I wanted to share this recent report by Michael Carr-Gregg that you may find helpful. 

If you do have any specific concerns about your own child, please don’t hesitate to reach out to myself, your child’s Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator, our Acting Head of Junior School (Meredith Beer), or Head of Senior School (Rebecca Watts). 

While it is a challenging time, there is also great positivity in the world, particularly in our school. I would like to thank the Junior School families who have taken the time to come in and meet with me over the last week and a half. I have appreciated your thoughts, questions, and ideas and will be following up with a communication to all Junior School families to outline the main themes and to update on some of the things we have put in place and are planning in the coming months. It was wonderful to have our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten families in the Sensory Garden after school on Tuesday, which was an initiative that came from a parent suggestion. If any parents have feedback or suggestions and were not able to attend the meetings, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. 

I wish everyone all the best for a relaxing weekend. 

- Cate Begbie – Principal 

Forgiveness and New Beginnings

At some point in our lives, most of us have experienced an acute sense of betrayal by those we regarded as our closest friends and confidants. Social media has increasingly become the conduit through which very personal thoughts or feelings are suddenly in the full public view and out of our control.

The current Federal Election campaign has seen several candidates squirm in discomfort as old social media posts emerge from their distant past, expressing thoughts they may no longer hold, but which are used by others to humiliate, belittle, and even destroy. However, betrayal is not something new. It has been with us since the beginning of time.

Out of Easter, many stories emerge of betrayal and redemption. Perhaps the most significant was Peter’s betrayal of Jesus before the authorities. Peter denied knowing him three times, so in fear was he of the fate that might befall him.

With Jesus’ crucifixion, everybody thought that was the end of it. The disciples went back to their old way of life, mostly fishing. Yet in the midst of living with the consequences of their denial, mingled with the devastation of lost hope, Jesus inexplicably comes amongst his disciples once more.

The risen Jesus reaches out to Simon Peter, asking not once, not twice, but three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:15-19) - prompting Peter’s response “You know that I love you”.  Jesus then commands him “Come, follow me!” 

In our own reflections about our own betrayal, denial, weariness, and faith, just like Peter, we can see and hear Jesus also meeting us on the shore. We peer through the smoke of our own imaginings to the Lord who might just be present in our failures and dreams and responding with love and forgiveness - It will be alright.  

Being trusted again after failure and betrayal is an extraordinary gift of love. Do we dare to love and trust in return? Forgiveness and new beginnings become possible once more. Such a call might come when something devastating occurs in our life, or when a career ambition suddenly turns to dust. We imagine we will never recover, that life as we have known it will never be the same. Yet even in the midst of harrowing situations, God can work new beginnings, allowing us to begin to see beauty in all aspects of life that we may have never noticed before.

However, many find such a call difficult, if not impossible, being able to find the strength to start all over again is the story of Christ. It is not the perfection God wants, but a willing heart.

My prayer is that such new beginnings might also come into your life.

Rev Nalin Perera, Chaplain                                                 

Over the last 10 years, I have set personal goals to focus on striving to be more open-minded, particularly in being more appreciative of a wide range of points of view. There have been times when I have internally celebrated the fact that I had been more mindful and present when listening and reflecting on another person’s or group’s perspective/s, regularly saving me from making some poor decisions or inadvertently making a situation more complicated. I also believe my improved self-awareness has made me a calmer, more balanced person.

During our discussions with parents over the past weeks, several suggestions and thoughts were shared. Some ideas were general in nature, others more specific to certain year groups, while others were specific and targeted areas of improvement. In the coming weeks, the Junior School Leadership Team will work with Principal, Cate Begbie, to further explore many of the suggested initiatives. Some solutions will be simple and quick fixes, but others will require considered planning and thought. We will certainly approach our tasks with an open mind, but equally importantly, with an open heart, for we want to provide our students with a holistic education where the needs of every child are at the forefront of our decisions and actions.

I hope that our community will support us by also adopting an open-minded approach as we work towards finding solutions and ways forward that result in positive outcomes for all. 

- Meredith Beer – Acting Head of Junior School

Year 6 Winter Games - Session 1

• Date: Friday 20 May
• Time: 12.00 pm - 3.30 pm 
• Venues: Basketball Centre – 201 Underwood Avenue, Floreat (Basketball)
  Alderbury Reserve – Oceanic Drive, Floreat (Hockey and Soccer)
  Mathews Netball Centre – 200 Selby Street, Jolimont (Netball)

Junior School Assembly 

• Date: Friday 20 May
• Time: 8.40 am  
• Venue: Junior School Sport & Recreation Centre

Year 6 Winter Games - Session 2

• Date: Friday 27 May
• Time: 12.00 pm - 3.30 pm 
• Venues: Basketball Centre – 201 Underwood Avenue, Floreat (Basketball)
  Alderbury Reserve – Oceanic Drive, Floreat (Hockey and Soccer)
  Mathews Netball Centre – 200 Selby Street, Jolimont (Netball)

• Ecological Literacy: green time, understanding of place, nature appreciation; and
• Exploration: time spent in space, reflection, enjoyment, learning moments

I was lucky enough to spend a day on the programme with one group who were abseiling and rock climbing. Their support of each other and sense of accomplishment after challenging themselves to face their fears created a fantastic learning moment for them all.

Examinations, Assessments, and NAPLAN

The Senior School has been very busy at the moment with our ATAR and IB students in Years 11 and 12 sitting their Semester 1 examinations, along with students in Years 7 and 9 completing NAPLAN. While it is normal to experience some form of ‘exam jitters’ before sitting an assessment, it is important that we all help our students develop healthy habits and attitudes towards this. PLC School TV has some wonderful resources for parents looking to have conversations with their daughters about their study habits, about NAPLAN specifically, and even how to discuss results which might be lower than anticipated. I encourage you to have a look at these resources and have those conversations with your daughter to help her gain a healthy perspective on what she can and can’t control.

Regatta

While the Rowing Regatta wasn’t able to go ahead due to the air pollution, the PLC rowers, staff, and community did us all proud. It was great to see the team in such high spirits despite the disappointment of not being able to row. We wish you all the best at this weekend’s regatta. A big thank you to the Argyle Club, the volunteers, and staff who were at the event and supporting our girls.

Looking After Our Students’ Health

While we have been encouraging students to rest if they are COVID-19 positive, it is also important to remember that it may take some time for an individual to return completely to full health upon their return to school. If you think your daughter might need further support, for example, she may not quite be ready to begin vigorous exercise just yet, please let her Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator know or even better ask your daughter to speak to them herself. We want to make sure that all students who need to have the chance to rest, recover, and then return to their normal activities.

- Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School

Rowing Regatta 2

• Date: Saturday 14 May
• Time: 8.30 am (first race starts) to 12.00 midday 
• Venue: Champion Lakes Regatta Centre

Year 11 Dinner Dance

• Date: Friday 20 May 
• Time: 7.00 pm
• Venue: Coast Port Beach

Year 12 PJ Party 

• Date: Friday 27 May 
• Time: 5.00 pm
• Venue: PLC Lighthouse 

Year 10 Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

• Date: Wednesday 1 June
• Time: 3.45 pm to 7.00 pm
  Further information, including how to book, will be sent out later in the term.

Boarder of the Week:

• Emily Bumbak (Year 12) - For being such a polite and friendly member of the boarding community and for the care and dedication she constantly gives to others.

​Room of the Week: 

• Angela Lyall (Year 12) - For her consistently fabulous room.  

On Saturday, all girls got a chance to do some biscuit decorating for a sweet Mother’s Day gift, while the Years 9 and 10 students had their turn ice skating. On Sunday, the Years 7, 8 and 9 went shopping in the city. In addition to this, the weekend was jam-packed with hockey and netball fixtures. We have 41 girls playing netball and 26 girls playing hockey which means nearly half the Boarding House is engaged in weekend sport. This, coupled with our brilliant recreational programme, means there is a constant buzz in the Boarding House on the weekends and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

As the winter weather approaches, I will be launching into more fitness sessions in the Lighthouse commencing in Week 5, so we can continue to provide opportunities for our girls to get out and get active.

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

PLC Parents School Fees Draw

Congratulations to Clinton Kessey who is the lucky winner of the Term 2 School Fee Draw. He will have $7,395 credited to the school fees account for Isabella (Year 12) and Genevieve (Year 10).

Thank you to all who supported this initiative. The proceeds will be used to enable Science students to participate in the Australian Barcode for Life project.