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| From the Principal's Desk |
As Term 1 draws to a close and Easter break is upon us, I reflect on the spirit of giving at this School. From fundraising and community service initiatives to compassion and comradeship displayed in and out of the classroom, students and staff have given of themselves in the service of others. As we head off on holidays, let us carry forth our service ethos in the true spirit of Easter.
Today, over 100 Old Collegians attended the annual Easter service at the School, followed by afternoon tea and presentations by two of our MYP students. These students discussed their Personal Projects, which involved fundraising for local and international charities. It is always lovely to rekindle old friendships and open our doors to former students who still hold a connection to the School.
I wish you all a happy and relaxing Easter break and look forward to you returning well-rested next term.
-Beth Blackwood, Principal
Congratulations
The Proms Concert at the Quarry on Sunday evening was a huge success. The standard of performance and variety from all ensembles was outstanding and a credit to the commitment, enthusiasm and hard work of students and Music staff.
Tabitha Malet (Year 7) won the inaugural The West Australian Spelling Bee competition. The prize is a family trip to Disneyland Hong Kong and a family tutoring package from Kinetic Education.
Alaina Phinney (Year 8) has raised over $380 for Cancer Council's Relay for Life, in which she will be participating this weekend. Her team, the American Women's Club, has raised over $13,000.
Talia Papantoniou (Year 4) competed in the State Swimming Championships last weekend and won gold for the Under-8 Girls 50m breaststroke and silver for the 100m breaststroke. Talia’s time in the 50m breaststroke now ranks her second in Australia. Recently Talia also set a state record in 200m breaststroke and she will represent Australia in three events in the Aussies versus Asia at the Indian Pacific competition.
Sarah Campion (Year 11) has been chosen as a member of the WA State Tennis Team for Pizzey Cup, to be held in Bendigo, Victoria from 30 April to 8 May.
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| Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 |
Middle & Senior School Library
The Library will be closed during the school holidays and will re-open on Monday 2 May. School Buses
Please note that no school buses will be running for the first two days of Term 2. Full service will resume on Thursday 5 May. Please make other transport arrangements on 3 and 4 May. Public buses will continue to run along Stirling Highway and surrounds.
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| Junior School |
 The end of term is a time for reflection on all that has occurred over the last 11 weeks. I am very appreciative of the welcome and support shown to me by members of the community during this time, particularly the students who have been an inspiration. The Junior School staff are committed to providing the best possible opportunities for all. The Students’ Work Samples collated over the term are intended to provide an opportunity for you to discuss with your child their learning.
I would encourage parents of students with laptop computers in Years 5 and 6 to spend some time discussing how they use the computers to enhance their learning. Gaining insight into how they navigate and use their applications, communication tools and search engines is useful. We are mindful that students use their computers appropriately over the holidays.
Personal Information
It has come to my attention that information regarding personal events, sales and activities has been distributed to students. Please understand that this is not appropriate. Any information you may wish to share in the school community is to be communicated to the Community Relations office.
Uniforms
As the weather becomes cooler please note that students from Years 3 to 6 are required to wear their blazer as the outer garment.
I wish you all a restful and happy Easter break.
-Heather Pope, Head of Junior School
Activity bulletin for Week 1 of Term 2 is available here.
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| Middle School |
Parent Teacher Student Interviews
This is an important reminder that Middle School parent-teacher-student interviews take place on the following dates next term:
Monday 2 May, 3.00-6.00pm
Wednesday 4 May, 4.00-7.00pm
Thursday 12 May, 4.00-7.00pm
Please be reminded that the Monday appointments are on the Staff Day and students are not at school. Your daughter does not need to wear uniform to the appointments on this day.
Parent-teacher-student interviews form part of our process in reporting to parents and as such, we feel it is important that you and your daughter take advantage of this opportunity, which is the only one of its kind for the year to meet with teachers to review your daughter’s progress.
Family Technology Agreements
Earlier this term we recommended that families set up an agreement around the use of technology in their homes. Help is available at the Cyberfriendly website. This site also has a wealth of useful tips for parents to assist you in managing technology in the home. Below are a few that we strongly recommend:
- Laptops and mobile phones should be used in a public space in the home, not in bedrooms.
- Dock all technology at an agreed upon time.
- Set times for using technology in the home.
We also recommend the following with regard social networking for:
Year 7 - We do not recommend the use of Facebook and Youtube (age restrictions apply). Use of other social networking sites should be negotiated with parents but we recommend that they are not accessed during the school week.
Year 8 - If Facebook and other social networking sites are used at home, this should be restricted to weekends and times should be negotiated with parents.
Year 9 - During the School week, students should spend no more than two hours in total on social networking sites. Use of social networking sites on weekends should be negotiated with parents.
For all year groups, we strongly recommend that parents be Facebook ‘friends’ or negotiate to view your daughter’s Facebook page regularly and know passwords for safety reasons.
If you would like assistance, please contact One Degree or your daughter’s Year Co-ordinator.
NAPLAN
This is nearly upon us and this is a reminder again to keep 10, 11 and 12 May free to enable your daughter’s participation in these assessments. Your assistance in making medical or dental appointments for other times will be much appreciated. All girls must shift their music lessons to times other than those set aside for the NAPLAN tests. The timetable is attached to assist you in your organisation around this event.
-Sharon Anderson, Head of Middle School
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| Senior School |
Exams
Please be aware that examinations for Year 11 and 12 start on Friday 20 May and finish on Thursday 2 June. See timetable here.
Boarding families need to be careful when making arrangements on the final day as there are exams scheduled in the morning. Thursday 19 May will be a study day for all Year 11s and 12s.
School Balls
Can I remind parents again that girls are not permitted to leave school early and miss classes due to preparation for school balls.
-Neesha Flint, Head of Senior School
After-school Academic Classes for Year 11 & 12
External providers Academic Task Force will continue to provide optional courses for students in preparation for WACE examinations. These courses are held at Scotch College and students from PLC and Scotch are invited to take part. More details of these courses will be provided later but a general outline of what is on offer is as follows:
- Academic Task Force Master Classes – These classes in a select number of courses are designed for the highly academically-able student and are due to start from 9 May. These will be open to students from any school.
- Revision Courses – Designed to improve examination technique. A wide range of subject-specific courses will be offered in weekly 1.5 hours sessions from 5.30pm. The courses begin early in Term 3 and lead up to the second semester examinations. These will only be open to students from PLC and Scotch College.
- October Holiday Revision Courses – Designed to help maintain focus between the second semester examinations and the WACE examinations and will concentrate on examination strategies. These will only be open to students from PLC and Scotch College.
For more information contact Dr Pam Bagworth on 93174421 or learn@academictaskforce.com.au
Career Information
For holiday career activities at UWA see attached.
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| Academic and Co-Curricular |
SPORT
Inter-House Cross Country
A reminder to parents and students that the Inter-House Cross Country Carnival is on 6 May, the first Friday of Term 2. On this day, the Middle and Senior School students will have a modified Friday A timetable. Students will be departing PLC from 2.10pm by bus to Alderbury Reserve (Perry Lakes) and the Carnival will conclude with presentations at 4.15pm, before the final dismissal at 4.30pm. There will be buses returning to school at approximately 4.50pm, primarily for boarders.
Parents are welcome to come and support their daughter(s). For times of the races (competitive and fun run) and a copy of the modified Friday A (6 May) timetable, see the House Information Wiki.
COMMUNITY AND SERVICE LEARNING
MAD Week – Make A Difference
Term 1 finished with our MAD (Make A Difference) Week focussing on raising awareness and calling for action. Well done to our Service Team Captain that highlighted issues covering Overseas, Reconciliation, Social Justice and Environment.
WA Cancer Council
Best of luck to the 70 girls and parents assisting at Relay for Life this weekend at the WA Athletics Stadium. Please call in if you want to wish them well from Saturday 4.00pm onwards. Captains Elizabeth Alderson, Bella Blakiston, Morgan Wolpers, Elise Wilson and Rosie Bradley have led the girls as they raised over $5000.00 towards cancer support and research.
 Term 1 Appeal
Thank you to students, staff and friends of PLC who again responded to our appeal. The donation of books and games have now made their way to organisations and schools in desperate need of supporting young indigenous, refugee and migrant children.
Fundraising results
- HTG 8 Ferguson raised $404.80 from a cake stall for Mother Teresa Orphanage Cambodia.
- MAD Week – Reconciliation Team raised $281.55 for Kimberley Remote Communities through the sale of damper and kangaroo kebabs.
- Cambodia Tour Team raised $1225.00 in raffle sales for Cambodia Service Project.
Cambodia Donations
We are looking for expressions of interest from the PLC community for people to help cut and sew clothes for Cambodian orphans and to make donations of lightweight summer fabrics, elastics and cottons. See attached for more information.
Bindaring Clothing Sale - Donations
The Bindaring Unit of the Australian Red Cross is seeking donations of new and pre-loved clothing, shoes and accessories for its annual clothing sale and auction. Declutter your wardrobe and donate these pre-loved treasures to a great cause. Volunteers will be collecting donations from PLC on Thursday 5 May fro 7.30 am to 8.30 am outside the Chapel, Middle School slipway.
Last year your no-longer-required clothing helped raise over $110,000 for West Australians in need. So please clear out those wardrobes during the holidays. Get rid of that dress that really did look great in the shop, banish those jeans that no longer fit and ditch those killer heels that really do murder your feet!
For anyone unable to make that time, clothes may be left on the verandah at the end of the driveway at 119 Forrest Street on Friday 6 May only.
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| Community Relations |
Old Collegians’ Association Art Exhibition and Sale – 27 to 29 May
The Old Collegians' Association invites you to attend the opening of the OCA Art Exhibition and Sale on Friday 27 May from 6.00pm to 9.00 pm. The exhibition features a collection of works by 30 established and emerging artists, most of whom are also former PLC students. As well as watercolour, oil, acrylic and charcoal works, there will be glass, pottery, textiles, jewellery, cards and sculpture. The exhibition will be opened by former PLC student and well-known journalist Ara Jansen (1988). See flyer attached.
For further enquiries, please contact Colette James on 9424 6520 or alumni@plc.wa.edu.au
Archives
PLC Archives is trying to identify everyone in a 1975 photo commemorating the School's 60th anniversary and featuring second and third generation PLC students. The photo can be found here and names already identified are here. If you can fill in any of the blanks, please contact Archivist Shannon Lovelady at slovelady@plc.wa.edu.au or 9424 6476.
Holiday Sport Programmes
Department of Sport and Recreation holiday programmes for April-May 2011 are attached.
Holiday Science Programme
The Museums and Local History Service presents a school holiday programme, ‘Fun with Fotography’. Two sessions will run daily at 10.30am or 1.30pm on
Wednesday 27 April, Thursday 28 April, Monday 2 May to Wednesday 4 May. Sessions are appropriate for children aged 8 to 16 years old. A special High School students-only session is available on Tuesday 3 May at 1:30 pm.
Please book by phoning 9364 0158 or email mdc@melville.wa.gov.au
Mosman Park EcoFair
The inaugural Mosman Park EcoFair will be held on Saturday 7 May from 10.00am to 4.00pm at St Luke’s Anglican Church, 20 Monument St, Mosman Park. The fair will celebrate sustainable living with 40 stalls showcasing the very best in all things eco, as well as guest speakers and entertainment. Refer to the flyer for more information.
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| Dates for your Diary |
2 May Boarders Return
Friends of Boarding Meeting 7.30 pm
3 May Term 2 commences
ANZAC Service, Hugh Baird Sports Centre, 8.30 am
27 May Old Collegians’ Association Art Exhibition and Sale
Year 7 Bring a Plate Evening
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