Dear valued member of the PLC community,

A Message From the Principal

Welcome back to Term 1. It is wonderful to have our students and staff back on campus this week and to welcome new families to our school community. To all our new families, I do hope that your first week has been a positive one. I look forward to getting to know you and working with you during your child’s journey at PLC. 

On Tuesday, we welcomed a number of our 2021 school leavers back to school to acknowledge their academic achievements in Year 12. These were students who achieved in ATAR, IB Diploma and VET pathways. While we did acknowledge a number of students at this special assembly, we recognise the efforts of every student in the 2021 cohort as we are extremely proud of each and every student. The results reflected a number of outstanding personal achievements and improvements for many students. 

While speaking to the Senior School on Tuesday, I shared with them the thoughts of John Maxwell, a US motivational speaker and author. He tells us that most of us have uphill dreams but downhill habits...and that is, of course, because downhill is easy. But what might be downhill habits? Maxwell refers to complacency, inconsistency and excuses.

Downhill habits don’t involve a big-picture vision for the future, only instant gratification. Downhill habits require little effort. Sliding downhill takes no talent at all as gravity does most of the work for you. The truth is that everything worthwhile in life, everything we really want, everything we desire to achieve, our dreams – they all exist uphill. 

Whilst uphill, it does not mean that they are out of reach – not by a long shot, they are just uphill! 

On the weekend, we witnessed two amazing examples of people with ‘uphill dreams’ coming true in Ash Barty and Rafael Nadal. In the Australian Open Grand Final, Ash Barty was up one set but down five games to one, Rafael Nadal was down two sets to love. In both situations, I am sure, it would have been far easier to let gravity take its force – to just slide on down – but they both very clearly have uphill dreams that do not allow for any downhill thinking and they did the complete opposite. 

Both remained focussed, flatly refusing to give up or consider that the hill in front of them was too high to climb. Uphill is hard as it requires intentionality, determination, hard work and consistency. Gravity can help in going downhill, but there is no force that helps in going uphill.  

Uphill requires a person to keep an eye on the big picture and a readiness to put in the time. Although uphill is not always easy, the rewards are high and significant. 

As we start the new year, I encourage all of our students to approach the year with the intention of embracing the challenge of achieving ‘uphill dreams’. Things that can help in achieving ‘uphill dreams’ include:

• Visualise what you want to accomplish. That is the starting point.
• Start working today before you know precisely how to achieve your vision. 
• Take action even if you are uncertain that it is the right action. A mindset for action in itself is a step in the right direction. 
• Seek advice from teachers and friends about specific learning strategies and use them consistently.  
• Stay focussed and avoid distractions; and,  
• Celebrate your successes and your uphill climb. 

As we start a school year in which we anticipate disruption, I have no doubt that approaching the challenges ahead with elements of ‘uphill’ strategies will assist us all in facing these challenges and achieving success. 

I wish all families all the best for a successful year ahead. 

Please Stay Home if Unwell

As we start the school year and with cases of COVID-19 presenting in Perth schools, please be assured that we continue to monitor the situation and remain ready to respond to any directives or guidelines received. We will continue to communicate with families as the situation evolves and as information becomes available to us. 

In the interests of keeping our PLC community safe and minimising disruption to student learning over the year ahead, we kindly ask that if your daughter/child has any cold or flu-like symptoms that they please stay home and follow advice from their GP and WA Health Department. 

In any instance that a child does present as unwell at school, parents/guardians will be contacted to collect their children promptly from school.

- Cate Begbie – Principal 

Over the long break, I watched a lot of Ashes cricket. As we all know, from the very first ball of the First Test when Mitchel Starc dismissed England’s Rory Burns without score – if nothing else, the series would be somewhat interesting.

However, nobody could have predicted the twists and turns that emerged over the subsequent five tests, perhaps no more so than Scott Boland’s unbelievable bowling taking 6 wickets for 7 runs in the MCG Boxing Day Test, or Usman Khawaja’s twin centuries in the Fourth Test in Sydney.

What an inspiration they will be for young girls and boys who want to believe that regardless of their background, culture, colour, or religion, they can truly be part of our nation’s new world order. I find it both exciting and inspiring.

Growing up in newly independent Sri Lanka, it was hard overcoming entrenched colonial prejudice. Along with my contemporaries, we searched for role models who were just like us. We found one in the late American-Jamaican actor Sidney Poitier, who died on 6 January aged 94. In a time of entrenched racial prejudice, his epoch-making movies such as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?” gave my generation hope. The 1967 classic depicted interracial marriage in a positive light, when at the time of the film’s release it was illegal in 17 US states for such marriages to occur, something today we might almost incomprehensible, but it is how it was. It is why, at least for me, the achievements of Scott Boland and Usman Khawaja are all the more remarkable, for having been unseen or overlooked, they have now come into their own.

History has many cameos of unlikely people coming into their own. Mahatma Gandhi was an obscure Indian lawyer, despised, ridiculed as being of little consequence, yet he brought the British Empire to its knees and became the inspiration for civil rights and freedom across the entire world. Even Jesus was despised amongst his own, with many detractors asking “can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).

We all stand at the cusp of an exciting 2022. We do not yet know what the year will hold or where it will take us as a community, but what we do know is that we are all in it together. These are exciting times when prejudice, racism, and disrespecting others have no place in the world we seek to bring into being.

I have said many times before, each of us is here for a special purpose and my prayer is that we all continue to find God’s purpose in our lives. It is truly the best adventure any of us can undertake, regardless of where we have come from, or where life might take us in the days to come.

- Rev Nalin Perera – Chaplain 

Wonderful Start to the Year

Monday was one of my favourite days of the year. The pure joy I saw on the faces of the students as they arrived for the first day warmed my heart. I know some students felt some nerves on their first day, but these dissipated during the day. We had a Welcome Assembly and it was my opportunity to give some reminders to the students.

Uniform – Hats

The PLC uniform is such a beautiful opportunity for the students to show pride in their school. I know the students look amazing in the correct and full uniform. However, at recess and lunch, I have noticed a number of students from Years 3 to 6 wearing their panama hats instead of the sports hats. The concern I have with this is during play at break times, the panamas could be lost or damaged. The cost of the panama far exceeds the cost of the sports hats.

And remember, name everything, several times.

Parent Information Evening

This year, we will again be holding our Parent Information Evening via a video presentation. Therefore, you will be sent a link to watch the presentation about the life and expectations in the classroom for your daughter. If you have questions after the presentation, please contact your child’s teacher directly.

Slipway

At the start of every year and with so many new families in the school, it is an appropriate time to remind everyone of slipway etiquette.

• Never park in the slipway
• Do not get out of the car
• Try to ensure the children can exit on the left side of the car
• Move to the front of the slipway when you can
• Please display your family's name card. It is very difficult to see inside cars in the afternoon, so the card makes it easier for all; and
• Always watch out for children. Children can often be unpredictable when nervous around the busyness of an afternoon or morning in the slipway.

Photo Day

It is that most exciting day, next Thursday 10 February, when we are holding our photo day. As we are holding Swimming in blocks, before the carnival, we will not have a clash with swimming and photos in 2022. The schedule can be found by clicking the button below.

The uniform for the day is the formal summer uniform (no ties, blazers or panamas required) see the Junior School Handbook for details. 

Canteen Menu

The menu included in last week's Principal's News has since been updated. Please click the link below for the new Term 1 menu. 

- Richard Wright – Head of Junior School

Pre-K to Year 2 Parents' ILT Session

• Date: Wednesday 9 February
• Time: 8.45 am – 9.15 am
• Venue: Junior School Library
• RSVP: by Tuesday 8 February here 

Photo Day 

• Date: Thursday 10 February
• Time: From 8.00 am
• Venue: Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre

Junior School Assembly 

• Date: Friday 11 February
• Time: From 8.40 am
• Venue: Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre

Photo Catch Up Day 

• Date: Wednesday 16 February
• Time: From 7.30 am
• Venue: Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre

Junior School Assembly 

• Date: Friday 25 February
• Time: From 8.40 am
• Venue: Junior School Sport and Recreation Centre

Welcome Back!

It has been lovely to welcome our Senior School students back to PLC, along with many new students, including our Year 7 cohort. While not all students have been able to start their classes in person, we hope that their Remote Learning has been going well. If your daughter is having any difficulties with her Remote Learning, please encourage her to contact her Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator or to contact her teachers directly.

We started the school year with a Welcome Back Assembly where Edwina (Head Prefect) and Sophya (Deputy Head Prefect) entertained us with their humour and insights into starting school and reminded us of the Year 12 motto for 2022 – I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22. I would like to make special mention of Kaitlyn (Chorale Captain) and Emily (Vocal Ensemble Captain) for their beautiful singing. With safety in mind, we are currently not engaging in singing at our assembly and the girls showed great bravery and talent in singing on their own.

Academic Recognition Assembly 

Inter-house Swimming Carnival 

Next week’s Inter-house Swimming Carnival is set to be a fantastic day of House spirit and participation. I encourage all girls to have a go, get into the pool and cheer on their peers.

A reminder to parents that if you are collecting your daughter from HBF Stadium, we ask that you pick her up by 3.30 pm. For the safety of the girls, we will be transporting any students who have not been picked up by this time to the Boarding House via a PLC bus for collection.

Your daughter has also been reminded to ensure she brings her lunch with her (she will not be able to access the cafeteria and vending machines) and that she will need parent permission in writing if she is required to leave the carnival early (please email me at rebecca.watts@plc.wa.edu.au). To help keep your daughter safe, we ask that you collect her from inside HBF Stadium where staff will be waiting. Thank you for your support with this and I look forward to meeting those of you who are able to attend on the day.

As part of our COVID-19 regulations, we also ask that you provide your daughter with a zip lock bag with her name written on it. This will be used to store her mask while she is swimming. Boarders will be assisted to make sure that they are ready for the carnival and will have access to zip lock bags.

Year 7s' First Week 

I hope our Year 7s have enjoyed their first week in the Senior School. Jane Brandenburg (Year 7 Pastoral and Academic Co-ordinator) has organised a wonderful programme for the week to help the girls settle into the routine or Senior School and to assist them with getting to know each other.

- Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School

Year 7 Parent Information Evening

• Date: Thursday 3 February (tonight)

• Time: 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm 

• Venue: Hazel Day Drama Centre

Year 12 Ball 

• Date: Friday 4 February 

• Time: 6.30 pm 

• Venue: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Inter-house Swimming Carnival 

• Date: Monday 7 February 

• Time: 7.45 am - 3.30 pm 

• Venue: HBF Stadium

Year 8 Parent Information Evening

• Date: Wednesday 9 February 

• Time: 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm 

• Venue: Hazel Day Drama Centre

Photo Catch-up Day 

• Date: Friday 11 February

• Time: 7.30 am - 11.00 am

• Venue: Hugh Baird Sports Centre 

Handing over the Oar

• Date: Saturday 12 February

• Time: 8.45 am 

• Venue: PLC Boatshed

Year 9 Parent Information Evening

• Date: Tuesday 15 February 

• Time: 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm 

• Venue: Hazel Day Drama Centre

Argyle Club General Meeting

• Date: Wednesday 16 February

• Time: 6.00 pm

• Venue: PLC Boatshed

Welcome to the PLC Boarding Community

Last Saturday, we welcomed our new boarders to the PLC community with the most jam-packed, energy-fueled, and exciting orientation programme, led by our Year 12 prefects. On top of all the get-to-know-you games and tours, our girls got to go SUPing, walked into Cottesloe, enjoyed ice cream, and their first sleepover with all their new friends. We are immensely proud of the way our prefects conducted the weekend and the courage, enthusiasm, and willingness to give things a go displayed by our new boarders. We also thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our new boarding families and wish them a smooth and positive journey as we help to transition their girls into boarding life. 

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

PLC Parents Welcome Sundowner

All PLC parents are invited and encouraged to attend what is always a wonderful start to the school year.

• Date: Friday 11 February
• Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Venue: PLC Senior School Quad
• Tickets: $35
• RSVP: By Friday 4 February (tomorrow)

Calling All Artists

We are thrilled to announce that 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.  

Acceptable Use Policy 

With so many new students commencing at PLC, now is a great time to remind our PLC families and students of the Acceptable Use Policy for our Information Learning Technology. 

Please click here to access the policy. 

PLC Parents Committee Meeting 

• Date: Tuesday 15 February 
• Time: 6.00 pm - 7.00 pm 
• Venue: Scorgie House Boardroom