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From the Principal

MRS NICOLA TAYLOR
PRINCIPAL

One of the highlights of the past fortnight has been the time spent with our Class of 2019. Our Year 12 students are in their final weeks of attendance at PLC Armidale and the interviews I have been conducting with them highlight what a diverse and highly talented cohort they are. 

We were delighted to host Oeuvre earlier this week which was an opportunity to showcase the major independent student projects undertaken as part of an HSC pattern of study. Dance, Drama, Design & Technology, English Extension 2, History Extension, Hospitality, Music 1, Music 2, Music Extension and Visual Arts were the subjects on display throughout the evening. 

For some of our performing arts students, notably in Music and Dance, their major project work was the culmination of commitment, training and a passion for performance honed by disciplined practice over many years. Across a range of subjects, the depth of expression and insight displayed in works produced and those performed made an impression on those in attendance. 

As the week drew to an end we were encouraged to receive the 2019 NAPLAN results which for PLC Armidale were anomalous to those outlined in the media last week. Across each domain assessed (Grammar & Punctuation, Reading, Spelling, Writing and Numeracy) we were consistently above both state average as well as the average for Statistically Similar Schools’ Groups (SSSG). The only variance was our Grade Five and Grade Nine Spelling results which were slightly below that of the SSSG.

As a school, our focus is on teaching and learning which almost sounds like a statement of the obvious. More often good things such as sport, co-curricular and events take the lion’s share of promotion in schools so it is easy to overlook this key raison d’etre. This week has seen a clear demonstration of both as we commemorate success in speech and drama, creative and performing arts, debating and sport, along with the attainment in literacy and numeracy which serve as the core academic pillars learning sits upon.

That being said, a special congratulations is in order to the following…

• Our debating teams who won four of the six debates in the tri-schools debate
• The many speech and drama students awarded outstanding examination results 
• Sophie Bailey (Yr 5) who placed third in the CIS Athletics 1500m 11years event
• The U15 Thunder hockey team who has made it through to the grand final
• Our netball teams who will make up five of the eight teams playing in the finals 
• Our PLC 1 Netball team who play in the IGSSA finals next weekend
• The Year 11 girls recently elected as our incoming Student Leadership team 

A special thank you to Year 11 who commemorated ‘RUOK’ day by distributing 400 home made and beautifully wrapped choc chip biscuits throughout the College on Thursday. Asking this important question was significant for many at the end of a week where the ongoing drought accompanied by the devastation of local bushfires was certainly taking its toll.

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Dates for the Diary

Senior School News

MRS ANNA CALDWELL
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

To lead is to Serve

Leadership takes on many forms and it is important that we recognise the potential leader in everyone. We are not born leaders, leadership develops over time and through many different experiences. At PLC leadership opportunities abound, from Pre kindergarten all the way through to Year 12. 

Developing leadership skills is an important element of our holistic approach to the education of all our students. Leadership skills are learnt through the Pastoral Care Program Syllabus, specific training days, workshops and school camps and are put into practice through a wide range of opportunities that include the SRC, Peer Support, class monitors, team captains in sport, debating and music, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and our Year 12 leadership team. Leadership is also learnt through observation and role modelling. 

Everyone has a leadership style; some are confident and lead from the front whilst others are quieter and lead from behind the scenes. It is important that we recognise the strengths of every individual and assist them in developing resilience, confidence, initiative, self-discipline, good communication skills, responsibility and strong moral values and integrity. 

“Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others”. John Maxwell. 

Service learning is a vital element of leadership development. Our global service opportunities to Thailand and Fiji, community service through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and the Social Service week at the end of each year, provide many opportunities to reach out to others. 

At the start of every year, each pastoral care class adopts a social service project that they work on as a team throughout the year to serve not only those in need in our local community but also serve those overseas. When it comes to leading through service, our girls shine. They are compassionate, they cherish positive relationships and appreciate the value of giving over receiving. 

Over the next few weeks, we will be farewelling our current Year 12’s, the leaders of 2019 and we will be welcoming in our new leaders for 2020. These girls have been engaged in the process during which they have demonstrated their leadership and personal growth over many years. Through their experiences at PLC they have gained a genuine self-belief and a commitment to contribute positively to society. 

Although it is always sad to say farewell to those who are leaving, we know that they are ready to take on the world. It is also an exciting time to see the new Year 12’s step up and take over the reigns. 2020 promises to be another fabulous year! 

This is an important process for all those who nominated as it gives them a set of life skills and experiences for future endeavours. Not everyone will be elected into a position and for those girls, they will have to deal with their disappointment, find their inner strength to move on and support those who are elected. They must also understand that they do not need to have a title or a badge to be a leader. They all need to work together as one united team. 

The girls who have been elected will take on a role of leadership in the form of service to the school and our wider community. These positions are not just a badge of honour, they come with responsibility and require a lot of effort and hard work. To lead is to work as a team. Good leaders don’t just give orders, they get involved and do the hard work too. 

This is an exciting time of year, a time of change and fresh new ideas. It is also a time to appreciate the hard work and commitment of all our Year 12’s as they prepare to hand over the baton at the end of the term. 

We are all leaders in our own ways and it is important to remember to be true to ourselves, our values and our beliefs. We need to have the courage to stand up and make a difference and to improve the lives of all those around us. We need to have humility, integrity respect and self-discipline. 

Respect and PLC Pride 

Each student is a representative of the College and as such is expected to wear full uniform, as specified in the Uniform List and in the Student Handbook, when moving to and from the College, during the day at the College and at any time during the day when she has been permitted to leave the grounds. Standards laid down in the Uniform List and the Student Handbook must be maintained. 

PLC Armidale Uniform Policy

Full summer uniform is to be worn in Term 1 and 4, and full school winter uniform is to be worn in Term 2 and 3.

Blazers
Blazers must be worn when students are travelling to and from school, or when wearing the uniform in town. During Terms 1 and 4, Blazers are optional in warm weather. A jumper cannot be worn without a Blazer outside of the school grounds. The uniform should be in good repair. Trailing hems need to be stitched up, and missing buttons on shirts, dresses or Blazers replaced.

Winter Uniform 
The winter skirt should be mid-calf length. 

The top button on the winter shirt needs to be buttoned up at all times and the tie done up correctly. The winter white shirt must also be tucked in to the skirt at all times.Students should not wear black or coloured underwear under their white winter shirts.

When the weather is really cold, students are allowed to wear their sports track jackets over the top of their jumper and blazer as an outer layer for extra warmth. They are not allowed to be worn if students do not have their jumpers and blazers on. 

Summer Uniform 
We have three more weeks left of wearing the winter uniform. If you have not done so already, now is the time to try on the Summer Dress. Please ensure that it fits properly and is the correct length. 

Summer Dresses must reach the bottom of the knee when standing. 

Summer hats must be worn when the students are travelling to and from school and when wearing the uniform in town in Term 4 and Term 1. Hats are also to be worn during recess and lunch when sitting outside. 

Shoes must be regularly polished and maintained in a good state of repair. 

Jewellery for all students is limited to one pair of inconspicuous plain silver, gold or pearl studs as earrings and a wrist watch. Earring studs are not allowed to be larger than 6mm in diameter. Such earrings are to form a matching set with only one to be worn in the lower lobe of each ear. If students wear any other items of jewellery to school they will be asked to remove it, will be reminded of the College rules and will be given a demerit. Repeat offenders will have the item confiscated and a demerit will be issued for non compliance of the College rules. Upper ear or facial piercings, tattoos and other visible permanent skin adornments are not permitted.

Makeup and nail polish are never to be worn to school. Students will be issued with a demerit and will be asked to remove any makeup and / or nail polish. 

Hair must be maintained in a healthy manner that is well-kept, neat and tidy and appropriate to the wearing of school uniform. Students must have natural looking hair in style and colour and have it either short, plaited or if it is long enough to touch the collar, it must be tied up with a regulation ribbon or scrunchie. Shaved or highly asymmetrical hairstyles are not permitted. Inappropriately dyed or streaked hair is not permissible. 

A Bottle Green ribbon is to be worn by students in Years 7 - 10 and a Red ribbon is to be worn by Years 11 and 12 only. 

Bags
only regulation logo printed school bags and sports bags that are purchased through the Uniform Shop are to be brought to the College. 

Sport Uniform
Full College Sports Uniform is to be worn to every PE lesson, sport training session and game. Plain black leggings and long sleeved black tops are permitted under the winter sport uniform for PE lessons and some sports when the weather is very cold.

Girls may purchase dark green towelling sport headbands on the understanding that they are to be worn for sport only and are not to be worn as part of the school uniform.

White sports socks are to be worn for all PE lessons, and the specific regulation PLC socks for each sport are to be worn to every training session and game. 

All students are to wear appropriate, supportive sports shoes for all sport. No casual or fashion shoes are allowed to be worn. 

The full sports uniform must be worn when in town after weekend or after school sport. No uniform is to be worn mixed with other clothing items.