Dear Parents

It is not often that I have three subjects that I wish to share with you but I do this week and wondered how I would approach it. Fortunately for you I thought that you could watch a movie and read a book to find out about the first two subjects and that would leave only one for me to write about.

The book I would encourage you to read is, Why Gender Matters by Dr Leonard Sax MD PhD. Dr Sax is an author, physician and psychologist who addressed a large audience in the Hazel Day Drama Centre on Monday evening. His work is fascinating as I am sure those of you who attended will agree. If you do not wish to read the book, possibly you might like to visit the website: www.whygendermatters.com

The film I would like you to watch is The Freedom Writers – their story their words which stars Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell. When you watch it, please remind yourself all the time that the story is true. The breakup of Erin’s marriage is included in the film for obvious reasons but it is her work with her students that is remarkable. I was spellbound listening to Erin telling her story at the conference I attended in Seattle in the USA whilst on long service leave. She is a young, passionate teacher who I admire greatly as she fought so relentlessly for the students in her care and for what she believed in. She stood on stage in front of a couple of thousand principals and, without a note, spoke to us for and hour and a half during which time I laughed a lot and shed quite a few tears too.

That leaves me to talk to you about something that struck me last Sunday evening as I watched the students’ performance of The Tempest in the Drama Centre. It was interesting to see some of the senior girls who we had known so well in the Junior School on stage displaying incredible talents in drama and dance. I would have expected that some of them would excel in such a manner but there were others whose development was both a surprise and a joy to see.

I thought that it was a remarkable production for a school but then I will admit to being biased! Shakespeare is not everyone’s favourite and though I am a fan, there are other Shakespearian plays that I prefer but the interpretation and use of language was excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was in the car on the way home that I thought particularly of the young Junior School girls who had participated in the production as dancers. I knew that it would have been an exciting experience for them all but more importantly it was an example of what can be achieved in a school such as ours where we have students from three years of age to eighteen. Each Junior School girl had a senior girl to look after her and, although the girls loved this, I wondered about the impact of being a part of The Tempest on our young students. Would this inspire them to want to be like their big buddies, to dance at a high level on the stage or to study drama? I remember my daughter, Lara, watching her ‘big’ cousin playing the violin and telling me that she was going to play the violin, something that she did from her first days at school until Year 12. How influential are the senior students and how important is it that we give young girls the opportunity to see what can be achieved and what they can do when they too are ‘big’ girls?

I believe that it is valuable to expose young girls (and boys) to what the older students are doing at PLC. We do this at times but as parents you also have the opportunity to inspire your girls and to show them role models in the PLC environment. An example of the staff doing this is when we take our students to Arts Day for Middle and Senior School that is scheduled on a different day to ours so that the Junior School children can see the amazing things that senior girls are doing and that they achieve. As parents I would encourage you to take your children to concerts and plays that the School puts on. Show them what lies ahead and what is possible and expose them to the wonder of music, dance and drama and sport at their School. Let them have heroines and let them dream of becoming that special person one day. You too will enjoy many of these occasions and will have to remind yourself of the age of the performers, such is the standard of much of what they do. You can always find out what is on via our Links and the Middle and Senior School Links which are all available on our website homepage.

There are a number of other benefits we enjoy being a Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 school but I will leave those for another time.

I hope that you have loads of fun this weekend. Take care.

With warm regards
Janet Wilmot
Head of Junior School

PYP News

As PYP Co-ordinator in the Junior School I have a number of  areas which can only be achieved with parental support and knowledge.

Translations
If you speak another language at home, or are able to translate some terms into your second language your help would be greatly appreciated. The IB Learner Profile terms are one list which PLC needs translated. It would also be helpful to have the word 'welcome' translated in a number of different languages, including Chinese and Japanese.

Books
If you have any books at home which are in a language other than  English the Junior School is keen to build up a collection.  This could include picture story books, novels or non-fiction books which you no longer use and would be willing to donate to the  Athena Centre so that all children at PLC have the opportunity to access them.

If you are able to assist with either of these areas please contact me through Katherine Coulter in the Junior School office or email me aviney@plc.wa.edu.au

Your assistance would be very much appreciated.

Parent Evening
On Tuesday 12 June 2007 the  Junior School Parents’ Committee will be hosting a PYP Evening. In order to assist me with the preparation of the evening would you please indicate which of the areas below you would be most interested in attending.

General PYP Introductory Evening
Inquiry – What is it? How does it work?

Alison Viney
PYP Co-ordinator

Junior School Heads' Association of Australia
Year 5 girls are to return their permission slips and ticket requirements for the JSHAA Performing Arts Production to the Junior School Reception by Wednesday 16 May 2007.

Junior School Music Camp
Please ensure you arrive at School by 7.40 am on Friday 18 May, to avoid delays in departure for camp. The day camp girls will be back at School at 5.30 pm.

Full camp parents are reminded of the performance on Sunday 20 May at 11.00 am. Parents who are not coming to the performance need to pick up their daughters by 12.00 noon.

Parent Name Badges
As you will be aware, all students and members of staff at PLC are required to wear name badges. The School Council has determined that to increase security for students and staff, all visitors to the School including parents are also required to wear a name badge.

From 2007, Educational Institutions are required to comply with the Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act (2004) (WWC). As parents volunteering at the School do not require a WWC check unless attending overnight camps, the introduction of badges will have the added benefit of identifying parents from other volunteers.

These badges are now ready for collection by parents from Middle and Senior School Student and Community Services and Junior School Reception. It is a requirement to wear this badge at all times when you are visiting the School including social and sporting events.

PLC Sunsmart School
PLC is now a Sunsmart School! We will adopt their slogan no hat, play in the shade rule.

Walking School Bus
Friday 18 May 2007
As many of the girls will be on music camp on this date, there will be no Walking School Bus on this day only.

What happens if it is raining on a bus day?
We walk in drizzle but not a downpour, road weather alert or if flooding is likely.  We decide whether to walk around 1.00 pm every Tuesday or Friday and inform Katherine at Junior School Reception who informs the children.  On these occasions students are to be collected from School as normal.  If you are not sure, phone Katherine on 9424 6428.

What if you want to walk with the children?
Parents are welcome to join us.  We are always on the lookout for new parents who are able to walk with us on a regular basis. It only takes a short (1.5 hour) training course at school generally on a Friday to obtain the necessary insurance cover.  Call Libby Eustance on 9385 0869 if you are interested.

Lost
Rhiannon Ottway (Year 5S) has misplaced her named blazer. It was last seen in the Junior School Hall. If found please return to Mr Sullivan's class.

Netball
This Saturday is the first match for all Netta players at Matthew's Netball Centre, Selby Street, Wembley.

Students need to wear their PLC skirt, white sports shirt and PLC tracksuit. Please ensure your daughter's fingernails are very short.

Following is information for Saturday 12 May matches.

All players need to meet their coach / team manager at the designated court 15 minutes prior to the start of their game. Please note most coaches umpire or coach more than one team so may not be at the court 15 minutes before the game. Team managers please warm up the players.

Minkey
Minkey games start this weekend at College Park, Claremont. The Year 4 and Year 1 teams are playing at 9.00 am and the Year 2 and 3 students are playing at 10.15 am. Players are required to wear their PLC PE uniform with PLC hockey socks. Please meet the team coach 15 minutes prior to the start of the match on the nominated field. The field schedule is located on the Pavilion windows.

Try a Sport Day
On Wednesday 16 May all Year 6 students will be participating in a Try A Sport Day held at McGillivray Oval, Mt Claremont. The students must be dressed in white sports shirt, PLC shorts, PLC tracksuit, white hat and sneakers. Please ensure your daughter also has a raincoat, towel, sunscreen, spare change of clothes and a packed lunch. All students will need a minimum of two litres of water.

School Sport WA National Cross Country Championships
Trials for the National Cross Country Championships for 10, 11 and 12 year old students will take place at Perry Lakes on May 25. The Championships will be in Perth from 31 August to 3 September. For further details contact 9264 4879 or refer to School Sport WA website www.schoolsportwa.com.au (sports>interstate>cross country)

Internet Safety - Parent Awareness
NetAlert is Australia’s Internet safety advisory body and was established by the Australian Government in 1999 to provide independent advice / education on Internet safety and managing access to online content. NetAlert is currently traveling throughout Australia, providing presentations on Internet safety as part of its national Expo. For further information download a flyer here.

PLC Auxiliary
The next meeting of the PLC Auxiliary will be held on Monday 14 May 2007 at 9.00 am in the Boarders’ Sitting Room. All welcome

St John Ambulance Family Resuscitation Awareness Course
There are a few places available for the CPR Course that the PLC Auxiliary is running again in 2007:  this may be the most vital thing you do this year.
Dates are:
Tuesday 29 May 9.00 am - 11.00 am
Thursday 31 May 1.00 pm - 3.00 pm
Morning and afternoon tea follows
For more information and a booking form, please download the flyer: CPR Course 2007

Entertainment Book 2007/2008
The 2007/2008 Entertainment Books are now being released. The cost is the same as previous years $60 and is a great way for the PLC Auxiliary to fundraise for the School. When they are available, a sample book can be viewed at Junior School Reception. For more information please download a flyer: Entertainment Book 2007/2008

Argyle Club Cocktail Party
The Argyle Club is one of the parent support groups at PLC that work to fundraise and hold social events during the Rowing season. Parents of current PLC Rowing students are automatically deemed to be members of the Argyle Club and it provides an opportunity for past Rowers and their parents to become financial members of the Club so they can continue the strong links with Rowing and the School.

The PLC Argyle Club invite all parents and friends of the School to their Cocktail Party:
Friday 18 May 6.30 pm - 9.00 pm
The Gallery (lower level of the new Science Arts and Technology Building)
$20 per person
For more information please download the flyer: Argyle Club Cocktail Party

Year 6 Parents' Evening
Please RSVP to the Year 6 Parent Evening on Friday 25 May 2007 to Gerry McElinney on 0400 116 656 or Debbie Stuart on 0407 878 958. Gerry requires numbers for hiring of glasses.