Links eNewsletter - Term 1 Week 4
Dear valued member of the PLC community,
A Message From the Deputy Principal
Thinking Outside the Box
The greatest innovations in human history have come in times of upheaval and stress. In response to challenging situations, we can either give up or get creative and innovate to make things work. I believe PLC has wholeheartedly adopted this second approach in its handling of the COVID-19 situation in the last few weeks.
Swimming Carnival Innovation
Our first major innovation was the Senior School Swimming Carnival with its reworked system of year group scheduling, bus transport, supervision, and mask-wearing. The day itself was a great success but, to my mind, the other great success was the Friday before when the staff involved never even considered cancelling the event and instead collectively workshopped creative ideas to make the event happen. The same innovation will occur with the upcoming Junior School Swimming Carnival.
Outdoor Education Programme Transformation
Likewise, COVID-19 has impacted the Years 4 and 6 Outdoor Education Programmes which have been swiftly transformed to still deliver terrific OEP experiences and learning outcomes in an altered form. I have been truly inspired by the new programmes Mr Casey Ellery, Director of Outdoor Education, and his team have put together in such a short space of time.
Last week, the Year 6s enjoyed two fabulous days at Leighton Beach and the Swan River participating in surfboard games, art, kayaking, and team games. Next week, the Year 4s will be taking an exciting trip to Penguin Island followed by paddle-boarding and team building games on the river.
By experiencing the environment closer to home and intimately observing nature through art, students develop a deeper understanding of the ecosystems surrounding them.
Resilience
Taking risks and backing oneself in this manner are fundamental ways to build resilience. While a defeatist “it’s too hard; we can’t do it” will keep you sheltered but static, a “can do” in tackling change will grow you as a person and build your resilience.
- Chris Robinson – Deputy Principal
Swimming Carnival (Years 1-6)
We are looking forward to our Junior School Swimming Carnival for Years 1-6 on Tuesday 1 March at Claremont Pool. As indicated in the note that went home on Wednesday, to comply with the current COVID-19 guidelines, we will be holding two smaller carnivals, with year groups that are separate at school staying separate at the carnival. This will result in fewer events, however, the focus of the carnival is everyone having a swim and our swimming athletes having the chance to compete. It will be a different event but it promises to be a fun day. The programme of events is being developed to reflect this change and will be shared with parents as soon as it is ready.
The carnival will be Years 1, 5 and 6 from 8.30 am to 10.30 am (then return to school) and Years 2, 3, and 4 from 10.30 am to 12.00 pm. The Year 1s will return to school directly after their events and other groups will return to school after their part of the carnival.
Years 1, 5, and 6 are asked to be dropped at the Claremont Pool from 8.00 am. The first race starts at 8.30 am.
The Champion House and Champion Swimmers will be announced at our virtual assembly and in Links, however, we will also have a presentation at the End of Year Assembly, so their achievements can be acknowledged by the Junior School community.
Farewell Emily Smrcek
At the end of next week, Mrs Emily Smrcek will be leaving us at PLC. Mrs Smrcek has been a fantastic Health and Physical Education Teacher in the Junior School over a number of years and we thank her for her hard work in the Junior School Health and Physical Education and Sports programme. I am sure she will not miss the wintery Saturday mornings at Matthews Netball Centre, but we will miss her.
PLC Netball and Minkey
I have had a number of parents speak with me about winter netball and minkey (hockey). Parents will receive communications from the Director of Sport before Mid-Term Break. PLC has team places organised for the competition, we are in the process of populating those teams. With our new Junior School Physical Education and Sport Co-ordinator, Ms Tash Tench, commencing yesterday further information and correspondence will come from Ms Tench.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Our parent/teacher interviews will be held on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday 8 March. This year we will be holding these interviews via Microsoft Teams or over the phone. The information regarding bookings will be sent to parents and guardians early next week.
Free Dress Day
Our first Free Dress Day will be held on Thursday 3 March with a whole school theme of 'Under the Sea’. This could be anything from dressing up as a pirate, jellyfish, mermaid, shark, or simply wearing some blue.
We are now using the whole school trybooking method for paying for all the free dress days with one payment. The link to pay can be found here.
- Richard Wright – Head of Junior School
Inter-House Swimming Carnival
- Date: Tuesday 1 March
- Time: 8.00 am for 8.30 am start to 10.30 am – Years 1, 5 and 6
10.30 am to 12.00 pm – Years 2, 3, and 4 - Venue: Claremont Swimming Pool
Free Dress Day (Under the Sea theme)
- Date: Thursday 3 March
- More Info: See the article under Wellbeing and Service
Mid-Term Break
- Date: Friday 4 March – Monday 7 March inclusive
Parent/Teacher Interviews
- Date: Tuesday 8 March
Parents and Guardians on Campus
A reminder that currently under the COVID-19 regulations we are not able to have parents or guardians attend meetings in person on campus. Instead, meetings are able to be conducted via Teams or phone. Parents are still able to access the View and McNeil Street Reception areas to quickly drop off any forgotten lunches or other items that you might need to get to your daughter.
Spare Masks
I have been very impressed with how well our Senior School students have been wearing their masks this week. It is an important measure to help keep our community safe. While we do have a limited supply of masks available at each reception area, I do ask that your daughter brings with her a spare mask in case she needs it.
Assessments
We are approaching a busy assessment period for many of our students. If your daughter is absent from an assessment, she is required to bring in a medical certificate to cover her absence or can speak with her Pastoral and Academic Care Co-ordinator for non-medical reasons. In this case, students in Years 11 and Year 12 are required to complete a Missed Assessment Form. All students have been spoken to about this process. A link to the Missed Assessment Form can be found on SEQTA.
- Rebecca Watts – Head of Senior School
Free Dress Day (Under the Sea theme)
- Date: Thursday 3 March
- More Info: See the article under Wellbeing and Service
IGSSA Swimming Carnival
- Date: Thursday 3 March
- Time: 9.20 am Years 10-12; 12.50 pm Years 7 – 9
- Venue: HBF Stadium
Mid-Term Break
- Date: Friday 4 March – Monday 7 March inclusive
Boarder of the Week:
- Georgina (Year 7) - For contributing positively to the Boarding House community by being such an enthusiastic and helpful participant in the boarders' Closed Weekend and for helping to keep Finlayson so neat and tidy.
Room of the Week:
- Emily (Year 9) - For her beautiful room.
A Weekend of Togetherness
Last weekend in the Boarding House, the energy was exhilarating. Our Year 12 Prefects, in conjunction with our talented Ms Nugent and Ms Edwards, pulled off one of our best Closed Weekends yet.
Our girls have unanimously said it was both amazing and memorable. Highlights included a colour run, outdoor cinema, writing a letter to their future selves, slip n’ slide water fun, decorating cookies with their buddies, and a glitter/sparkle disco. Watching the boarders celebrating their community was incredibly heartwarming. Girls helped each other get dressed in their sparkly best, including costumes and glitter makeup, and when decorating cookies with their buddies, there was lots of chat about Boarding House life and connections being made.
The most notable shift in our community since the Closed Weekend is the observable confidence that has developed in the younger years to participate and engage in Boarding House recreational activities like those on the Closed Weekend and the more informal ones like volleyball in the courtyard.
May the positive vibes continue into this weekend and bonds continue to develop.
- 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 Years 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 Parent Information Sheet.
- Click here for the Eligibility Questionaire.
All above forms must be returned to the PLC Lighthouse no later than Friday 11 March with training provided later in the term.
HorizonsWest Bus Services
We apologise to any families who have been experiencing difficulties with their daughter's SmartRider card and loading credit for HorizonsWest Bus Services. We have been working with both HorizonsWest and Swype (the tap-on provider HorizonsWest use) and believe the issues should now be resolved.
For those families still yet to load credit onto the card, please now try again.
Click the infographic for an overview explaining a little bit more about the SmartRider card.
If you are having any issues, please email cande@plc.wa.edu.au.
Track and Field Medallists
Last weekend, Year 12 students Sienna Hanikeri, Annie Pfeiffer and Year 9 student Hannah Reynolds competed in the WA State Track and Field Championships and had some amazing results.
Annie walked away with three gold medals in the following events:
- Gold - U20 Women's 100m
- Gold - U20 Women's 400m
- Gold - U20 Women's Long Jump
Sienna had an equally impressive day on the track taking away two gold medals:
- Gold - U18 Women's 1500m
- Gold - U18 Women's 800m
Hannah won Silver in the U15 Women's 400m.
All three girls have been selected for the WA State Team to compete in Sydney at the Australian Track and Field National Championships later this year.
If there are any other students who were missed out in this article, please email cande@plc.wa.edu.au.
