...  The Whole School Information Evening provided opportunity to build community as teachers and parents connected to learn more about the year ahead. The combined session provided a preview of the new College Website. Increasingly prospective families and students, especially in the Senior School do their own market research trawling through various school websites as they seek to answer “Which School for My Daughter?” Our current website is complicated, cluttered and convoluted making it difficult to keep information current and relevant. Our new website has been intentionally designed for this purpose to engage with a wider audience through design and experience.  The website intends to capture what our parents, staff and students described as “the PLC Armidale feel”.

Communication is key to community. Our parents want information that is easy to find and access, clear and concise. Parents don't want emails filled with PDF attachments or forms to download, print, fill out, scan, upload and email back. Parents want access to information on a mobile device, phone or tablet rather than a desktop machine only. Our IT Manager, Mr Chris Estriech outlined the work being done to respond to these needs through the PLC App and the newly launched parent portal accessed via the “Connect” tile on the App. Please contact helpdesk@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au if you require assistance connecting to the College IT platform.

Community is strengthened through commitment. Mr Trent Donaldson, Chair of the Foundation Committee spoke of the opportunity for parents and staff to commit to a simplified subscription style giving to the tax-deductible funds (Building and Scholarship) which provide for both current and future families . The secure giving portal may be accessed  DONATE ONLINE through this link.

Community is evident through connections. The annual Whole School Swimming Carnival held on Friday demonstrated the connection of girls across year groups, within schools and between the Junior and Senior School students. Almost perfect weather conditions set the scene for serious and enthusiastic swimmers to enjoy the pool. Guild War Cries allowed for friendly rivalry with Hamlin and Lovell taking the lead as joint winners. Thank you to all who participated, attended or assisted throughout the day. It truly was a community event!

Last weekend, a national  newspaper featured an article entitled 'Ministers toughen NAPLAN standards', explaining that stronger minimum standards for NAPLAN would be introduced this year by setting higher pass marks for the reading, writing and mathematics components.  The collective of Education Ministers from each state or territory had overturned ACARA's recommendation to set performance descriptors as 'developing / approaching proficient / proficient / highly proficient'. The Education Ministers deciding instead to adopt 'Needs Additional Support / Developing / Strong / Exceeding' scale, similar to the A-E  Common Grading Scale and Stage Six Course Performance Descriptors which have been in place in NSW assessment practice for many years.  These descriptors will replace the current 10 NAPLAN bands and national minimum standard.

Clear is kind. That was the objection of the Education Ministers about ACARA's proposal. It is unkind to say students failing to demonstrate minimum competency in reading, writing and arithmetic, are 'developing ' proficiency without evidence this is the case. 

For many years, NESA has required Principal's to certify that students in the ROSA (10- 12) years of schooling, have satisfactorily completed a course  "applying themselves with diligence and sustained effort" as one of three criteria (the other two the responsibility of the school or teacher). NESA then clarifies diligence and sustained effort as being evidenced by things such as  attendance, level of involvement in class, assignments and tasks completed,  level of achievement or grade.

 Our Senior School students are reminded each year that diligence and sustained effort is visible, achievable and a reasonable expectation of each learner. Our College value of self-discipline is evident and strengthened through diligence and sustained effort, as is grit. Resolve, determination, focus and resilience. Sustained and due diligence is supported by grace - the kindness, help, feedback provided by those around, peers, teachers, families. Community.

Mrs Joanne Wysel

Head of Creative and Performing Arts. 

Music ensembles are all underway and we have many students signing up to try new ensembles! If you have any questions about how these run or if you would like to try something new, please contact our Director of Music, Matthew Minter, or click on the Music tab in the Lion’s Roar contents page. 

Dance Ensembles for Junior School and Senior School began this week with a record number of students signing up to the co-curricular activity! Miss Aisha is excited to be choreographing a dance for you all: one for K-2 Dance ensemble and one for 3-6 Dance ensemble.  

Senior School Dance Ensemble will begin in week 3 on Tuesday lunchtimes and sign up for this ensemble will be in week 2 at Tuesday lunchtime.

The Armidale Dance Eisteddfod will be held this year from 31st May - 4th June. Please keep these dates in mind as all dance ensembles have been entered into the eisteddfod which is very exciting! 

Drama Club commences this week on a Wednesday lunchtime. If you haven’t signed up yet, please just come along and have some fun together on a Wednesday lunchtime! See you in the Drama room!

SCHOOL MUSICAL
If you came to the information evening and the swimming carnival  this week- you now know our choice of musical for this year is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory !!

More information will be coming in our next Lion’s Roar.......

Judi Sheedy
President PLC Armidale 

At this weeks P&F meeting, we decided to focus this years’ fundraising efforts on purchasing a modular stage for the school.  Currently PLCA needs to hire the stage for events such as Guild Drama, Presentation Day as well as for events such as the 135 year Celebration.  Each time we hire it is at an approximate cost of $10,000.  Whilst the investment of approx $25,000 for a modular stage is a large amount, it is clear that this investment will bring us returns within a few years.  In addition, the school and P&F would use the stage more often if we didn’t have the large expense each time.  The modular component of the stage will also allow for many more uses.  We are excited and motivated about this undertaking 🙂.

Enjoy settling into the routine of a new school year!

Ms Amy Chiu

PLC PATHWAYS ADMINISTRATOR

WELCOME TO TERM 3!

It is encouraging to see the Pathways and International students settling into the new school year smoothly so far.

Elaine and Rosie continue on their final journey in Year 12. Elaine joined the Pathways program in 2019 and Rosie came in 2020 to start their lives in Australia. They are now finishing the first stage of their schooling years and are planning for their upcoming tertiary education years.

Belle and Zoe started the HSC Preliminary year this year and have been learning a new routine. It is important for senior students to plan their study periods and use the time wisely. We trust that Belle and Zoe will engage in their study responsibly and we look forward to seeing them grow.

With excitement, Mary has started Year 10. Mary came to the Pathways program in 2021 when she was the youngest student in the class. For years, Mary has always been the ‘younger sister’ for the girls. This year, Mary steps into Year 10, which is an important year for students from Asia because it is the first year of senior high school in China.

We also look forward to seeing the Pathways students build on their English proficiency as well as their confidence being a student in the Australian Education system. 

SUMMER SPORTS HAVE BEGUN... 

for the year and it is great to see the excitement and high level of participation from our students. Please make sure that you have the PLCA App downloaded onto your phone, as this is where you can view the weekly sports draws. All girls should now be aware of what teams they are in and be attending all games, unless prior notification has been given. 

SPORTING NEWS:

GOOD LUCK TO……

Mia Montgomery who is heading to Dubbo next week to compete in the Junior State Touch Football Competition. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO

the following girls who have been selected in the respective Armidale District Netball Association (ADNA) representative teams:

12 Years - Isla Brennan, Laura Butterworht, Sharni Webb, Nylah Webb, Sophia Marchant

14 Years - Charlotte Thomas

17 Years - Charlotte Baker, Holly Sheedy, Lilly Higgins, Bridie O’Neil

COMING UP THIS TERM:

IPSHA Swimming Carnival, Sydney  - 1 March - Junior School

Tildesley Tennis Tournament, Sydney - 8-10 March 

IGSA Swimming Carnival, Sydney - 17 March - Senior School

Whole School Cross Country - 5 April

Mrs Lucy Donaldson

Head of Sport

PREPARE FOR WEEK NINE CAMP 

In preparation for the upcoming camps later this term, it is important that your daughter’s Edumate information is up to date, as the teachers accompanying your daughter to the camps will receive the information exported from Edumate.

This includes
Medicare details (please check if your current details have expired)
Medical details
Medication details

SCHOOL-BASED VACCINATION PROGRAM

Year 7 and 10 families, please complete the NSW School Vaccination consent form https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
to ensure thatYour daughter is eligible to receive the vaccination on Week 5 Thursday 2nd of March, 2023.
Keeping your child up to date with routine vaccinations helps to protect them from serious preventable diseases such as meningococcal, whooping cough, tetanus, and cancers that are caused by HPV (human papillomavirus).
As part of the NSW School vaccination program, students in Year 7 are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV). In Year 10, students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. 
Parental consent is required for your child to receive routine vaccinations at school. If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10 this year, you can now provide this consent online. You will receive an email from us with details on this year’s school vaccination clinic and information on how to provide consent for your child’s vaccinations. 

From February 2023, children in year 7 will now only need one dose of HPV vaccination. This change has been endorsed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) based on evidence showing that one dose provides the same level of protection against HPV as two doses.
If you have already consented to your child receiving two doses of HPV vaccine, they will only receive one dose.
If your child previously missed their second dose of HPV vaccine, they are now considered fully vaccinated and do not require a second dose.
A small number of students who are immunocompromised are still recommended to receive a three-dose course of HPV vaccine. If your child is immunocompromised, it is important to discuss their immunisation needs with their GP.
If your child misses a school vaccination clinic, you can speak to a GP or pharmacist about catching up on vaccination.
For more information on school vaccination visit: health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination or If you have any questions, please contact your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.
How to provide consent:
1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
2. Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
a) Enter your child’s personal details
b) Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
c) Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
d) Provide consent

The Health Centre is contactable via 

Email: health@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 02 6770 1741

Mobile: 0448 277 166

The club meets Wednesday nights from 5:45pm-7pm at the TAS and Monkton pools during school terms.  Club nights are primarily about having

fun with a bit of friendly competition thrown in.

Kids of any age (K-Yr 12) can practice their race skills in a fun, safe and family friendly environment.  If you haven’t been to a club night before, come along and try

a couple of sessions out.  It’s a great opportunity for kids to get ready for school carnival season next year.

If you want to find out more details, send an email to armidalealligators@gmail.com or

call Bec on 0407 437 884 or Ebony on 0447 772 981.