Dear Parents,

Welcome to the start of the academic year and the very first Junior School Links for 2007. As this issue contains a great deal of information regarding events, activities and school programmes we are sending it home as a hard copy.

However, the regular Junior School Links is normally available to download from the PLC website weekly (and usually on a Friday). Copies will be electronic from the next edition (9 February) onwards. There are minimal numbers available as hard copies from Junior School reception for parents who do not have internet access.

The process to download Junior School Links from the website is as follows:

Junior School Links is an important means of communication with parents so please do tag the PLC website to access our news, achievements and events.

I share with you again the poem The Question is... Why? Shortly after the end of the 2006 academic year, we received notification of our authorisation as an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), Primary Years Programme (PYP), School. The whole premise of the PYP is Inquiry. In more traditional situations, teachers are the dominant controllers of the questions but that does not fit with the idea of the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile and developing internationally minded students.  

The Question Is…
The question is
How come the teacher asks all the questions when I am the one who needs to know things?
The question is
Why am I supposed to have the answers to all my parents’ questions when they can’t answer mine?
The question is
Why do scientists ask ten questions for every answer that they get but I have to answer seven out of ten questions to pass?
The question is
Why do politicians learn not to answer questions while I must learn how to answer them?
The question is
Why questions have to be answered fast in school when philosophers take years to answer them?
The question is
Why are there so many little questions in school when Marie Curie spent her whole life on just one big question?
The question is
Why must I find answers to already asked questions when I have questions that have not been answered?
The question is
Why can’t I be in charge of the questions?

So, to Alison Viney (PYP Coordinator) and the staff and student of PLC Junior School, congratulations on your authorisation as an International Baccalaureate, Primary Years Programme School. To the entire Junior School community, best wishes for a happy, challenging and successful academic year and remember to be in charge of your questions.

Kindest regards
Denise Mason
Acting Head of Junior School

Junior School Photo Day
Class photographs for 2007 will be taken on Tuesday 6 February. This will necessitate changes in the uniform that some children usually wear on Day 4.

Please could you assist us by making sure that the children all have clean, neat uniforms and clean shoes. Long hair should be tied back and the girls should have white ribbons or scrunchies in their hair. Ties must be worn to School. Girls may take them off once the photos have been taken.

Your help with this is appreciated. Photo Day is quite busy and the day runs smoother for the children if they are well prepared. If your child has a music lesson on this day, please advise the teacher so that your child is not missing during the class photo.

PYP in the Junior School
In December PLC received official notification of the Junior School as an Authorised International Baccalaureate school. This was very exciting as the efforts of staff and children were rewarded with the achievement of this outcome.

What does this mean for PLC?

Swimming Training
Please do not drive behind the Boarding House in the morning as the boarders are still sleeping. Please use either the Tennis Courts or the West Slipway.

Sporting Timetable
Please click here for Term 1 Junior School Sports Training Timetable.

Playsafe Mouthguards
Mouthguard Selection Guide and Order Forms are available from the Junior School Reception.

PLC Auxiliary
PLC Class Representatives
Mothers who have volunteered to be their Class Representative, or would like to volunteer please contact Lisa Painter, lisaep@bigpond.net.au Please give your name, your daughters/sons class, email and telephone numbers.

First Meeting
The first meeting for the Auxiliary will be on Monday 12 February at 9.00 am in the Boarders’ Sitting Room. All parents are welcome and Deputy Principal, Keith Anderson, has been invited to speak to the Auxiliary.

City Country Luncheon
The PLC Auxiliary invites all country and city parents to lunch at Meads Mosman Bay on Thursday 1 March 2007. Enjoy a relaxing lunch by the river with other parents before Mid-Term break. The cost is $35 per person. A flyer for this event can be downloaded here: City Country Luncheon, from the PLC website or you can pick up a hard copy from Middle School or Senior School Student and Community Services.

PLC Parents’ Committee
The first meeting for the year is Tuesday 6 February at 7.30 pm in Scorgie House. Please put a note in your diary for the Annual General Meeting which will be held on Tuesday 6 March at 6.45 pm in the Cafeteria. Please note that the AGM will be before the Year 9 Support Your Daughter Evening.

Don’t forget the Parents’ Committee Sundowner on Friday 16 February at 6.30 pm in the PLC Cafeteria. More information can be downloaded here: PC Sundowner, from the PLC website or you can pick up a hard copy from Middle School or Senior School Student and Community Services or Junior School Reception.

Ballet Classes
Ballet classes are available in the Junior School commencing Monday 5 February 2007 at 3.30 pm. Classes are taken by Katherine Coulter (Junior School Reception), a qualified and registered teacher of the Cecchetti Society. The Cecchetti Principles of grace, balance and line form the basis of the training syllabus and teach co-ordination, poise, confidence, rhythmical sense and musicality while ensuring that the process is still fun.

Students are prepared for exams in the first semester and a concert in the second semester. Exams and concerts are not compulsory but do give a sense of commitment and achievement.

For further information and booking please contact Katherine Coulter.

Marshall's Tennis Academy
Tennis Coaching will commence during the second week of Term. They are held at PLC on Monday mornings from 7.45 am to 8.20 am starting Monday 5 February. Students from Years 3 to 6 are invited to attend. Please pick up a flyer from Junior School Reception.

Canoeing
WA Slalom Canoeing is running a talent identification programme for girls and boys aged 10 to 12 at Swan Canoe Club, Mosman Park on Saturday 10 February. Students need to be competent swimmers and paddling experience is not required. WA Slalom Canoeing is running the programme with the aim of developing a squad to compete in the 2008 National Championships. Please contact Tiki Ewing on 9384 1692 if you are interested.