...  A member of staff and her family run the Smash Up Derby at both the Guyra and Armidale Show, another member of staff was the Glen Innes Show Girl, Georgina Haire (Class of 2014) was the 2021 Wee Waa Show Girl, whilst Jasmine Ramage (Class of 2015) was awarded the Rural Young Woman sash at the recent Guyra show.

The first RAS Show Girl competition held in 1962 was designed to connect regional communities and broaden the experience of young rural women, strengthening communication skills and boosting confidence in the hope entrants would return to their communities better equipped to take on leadership roles.  The format was simple and is essentially unchanged to this day. Judging criteria  evaluates  personality, confidence, ambition and goals, general knowledge, rural knowledge, presentation and speech. Contestants are also assessed on their potential to be an ambassador and advocate for their region. Winners of local shows (some 192 across NSW) then compete at a zone level with 7 zone representatives competing at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. 

Today’s state finalists, tend to be highly educated, highly ambitious women, active in and advocates for their local community. Mrs Anna Barwick shared some of her story of being the 2008 Peak Hill Show Girl competition at our 2021 Speech Day as guest speaker. Anna was the winner of the Central West Zone Show Girl competition going on to win the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show Girl competition also. Last year, Anna was named both the NSW Mining Council Regional Woman of the Year and the NSW Premier's Woman of the Year award. A conversation with Anna about this recognition for her significant contribution to rural medicine through her work as a pharmacist will quickly track back to her experience in the Show Girl program all those years ago.

It is good to be able to promote a range of experiences and opportunities for our students  available  to them because they are girls and young women living regionally.  My experience as judge highlighted also the grit and grace required to be recognised as a NSW AgShow Rural Young Woman award recipient. If you are supporting our local show society over the weekend, make sure you visit the PLC Armidale Cattle Team as well as look at the amazing Junior School contributions to the arts and crafts pavilion, especially the  Pre Kinder scarecrow competition entry. From little things, big things grow.  Being connected to community, encouraging active participation and being thankful for opportunities our girls have because they are girls attending an all-girls school is an important part of show season too. 

Mrs Nicola Taylor

MR MITCHELL CLENDINNING

HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Senior School

The range of experiences that our students have participated in this term demonstrates the range and depth of interests that we seek to encourage at PLC Armidale. Some highlights this terms have included the Year 7 Connect Camp, Whole School Swimming Carnival, the

Year 12 Drama & Dance excursion to Sydney, the National Servicemen’s Commemoration Service, Whole School Information Evening, Anna Barwick’s guest lessons for Stage 4 and 5 STEM classes, the Year 12 Leadership Barbecue, Cattle Shows and various sporting fixtures. Thank you to the staff and parents that provide these opportunities and assist in the organisation and running of events. 

Term 1 Camps

Google Permission forms will be distributed to parents early in Week 5. Please read the information carefully and do not hesitate if you have any questions. Staff and students are looking forward to a rich and exciting camp experience. 

Clean Up Australia Day

Senior School students are asked to bring in a gold coin donation this Monday (6th March) in support of the Junior School Student Representative Council’s initiative to beautify parts of the school as an act of service. 

School Socials (Thursday 9 March)

Our Year 9 students have been working hard with Ms Perez-Garcia and Mr Cotterell to organise an interactive and fun experience for those attending the Years 7-9 Social at PLC Armidale next week. Please review the information sent via Google Form. Students have also been reminded of the Dress Code in the Senior School Planners (page 15). Our Year 10-12 students will be attending a social organised by NEGS the same evening. 

Homework 

Homework in the Senior School is a practice that seeks to consolidate and build upon the learning that takes place in the classroom. Homework will normally be set each night. As guideline, your daughter should expect the following amount of homework:

Years 7 & 8  - 1 to 1.5 hours

Years 9 & 10 - 1.5 to 2 hours

Years 11 & 12 - 2.5 hours plus

If your daughter is struggling with completing homework, please be in contact with the school to see how we can assist or make adjustments.

Wellbeing Wednesdays are back!

Wellbeing Wednesday began in Week 4 this term with Year 12 students teaching/re-teaching the rest of the Senior School cohort the “We are Family” PLC Armidale Dance! We look forward to each year group leading the Senior School in activities to improve our wellbeing throughout the term. Thank you to Mr Jacometti for his organisation of Wellbeing Wednesdays in 2023.

Parent Teacher Interviews Continuted.. - 

Internal test data has been collected to provide a baseline measure to monitor growth in aspects of English and Mathematics. This same data determines how the classrooms will be differentiated to cater for the needs of each student. 

PAT Testing (Progressive Achievement Test) is now complete. This set of data provides the College with an indication of how each child is tracking, not only within her cohort, however her cohort Nationally. This type of testing is called Standardised testing, measuring student achievement against National norms. NAPLAN is also a standardised form of assessment. 

NAPLAN will be carried out online, as it did in 2022 and is scheduled for March 15,16,20 and 21. Having these tests scheduled much earlier in the academic year is helpful as it can assist in informing our practice according to need. 

NAPLAN Writing for Year 3 will remain a written assessment, the only test not done on a digital platform. 

CAMP CONVERSATION - Coffs Coast Adventure Centre

Pr CAMP Prep - 

• I will be speaking with the girls prior to leaving for camp 29-31st March regarding expected behaviour, kindness and consideration to our new students who may be attending a camp for the first time. This is the perfect opportunity for concerns to be raised by the students, who sometimes think they are alone in their thinking, however indeed not always. If your daughter is sharing a concern she has with you, please speak with her class teacher or myself so support can be provided.

• Could you please ensure your daughters details on Edumate are current as this is the information that will be provided to staff accompanying the girls. 

• Registration for camp link has been forwarded, this essential prior to the girls attending. 

CAMP ITINERARY (GUIDE, subject to change) - Emma Young has shared the activities that will be scheduled for the duration of the camp. This was included in the Google permission form. If a call needs to be made each evening to support your daughter, this should be arranged. Please speak with your daughter's teacher to have this routine put in place.

Wednesday 29 March 

• Depart PLC at 8:00am - travel to Coffs Harbour 

• Dolphin Marine Conservation Park Marine Ed-Venture

• Coffs Coast Adventure Centre - welcome and settle into dorms, dinner

• Minute to Win It evening activity

Thursday 30 March

• Full day of activities on site Z-Ball, Giant Swing, SkyWire and Camp Fire Night

Friday 31 March 

• Depart CCAC at 9:00am for National Marine Science Centre - enjoy morning tea and lunch 

• Return to PLC at approximately 4:00pm 

UNIFORM OPENING HOURS - Tuesday morning (8:30 - 11:30am) and Thursday afternoon (1:00 - 4:30pm)

National Australia Clean-Up day - Our JS SRC have proposed we support National Clean-Up Australia day by hosting a clean-up session within our College grounds. 

When:Monday March 6th, 10:30am - 11:00am

Why: National Clean-Up Australia Day

What: 

• Come prepared to pick up rubbish, sort and tidy up our PLC Armidale local environment

• Bring along a gold coin donation to raise funds for the purchase of recycling bins for the JS and SS playground

• Enter an artwork competition for 50c, THEME: ‘Clean & Green’

• Pack a plastic free lunchbox to play your part in contributing in positive ways to the protection of our environment.

Wear: Guild uniform with a green accessory

ARTWORK Competition: Students may enter, for 50c, an artwork competition, judged by our newly appointed 2023 Creative Arts Prefect, Jiya. 

Jiya has proposed a piece of artwork be created, and entered into a JS art competition - ‘Clean & Green’. All entries should be submitted to Mrs Young at JS Reception by March 10th in support of Clean Up Australia Day.

Jiya will create a display of works in the JS Foyer and highlight 1st, 2nd and 3rd place getters, each to receive a prize.

Kind Regards

Fiona Wake

MRS JOANNE WYSEL

HEAD OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

New England Dance Eisteddfod - Save the Date

This year the Dance Eisteddfod will be on between May 31 - June 4 at the Armidale Ex-Services Club. If your daughter is in the Dance Ensemble, please save the date.

There might also be an opportunity for students to be involved in the Inverell Eisteddfod which runs from May 21 to May 25. Please let Mrs Jo Wysel or Miss Aisha know if you would like to enter in the dance section of this eisteddfod. 

Shakespeare Carnival

“You have a swimming carnival, you have an athletics carnival, why not have a Shakespeare Carnival?”

The Shakespeare Carnival is a chance for students to engage in a state-wide performance opportunity. The Shakespeare Carnival deepens class engagement and understanding, and builds excitement across the whole school as we host a School Carnival.  Select students then represent PLC Armidale at the Regional Shakespeare Carnival and finally compete at the Shakespeare Carnival Grand Final if selected. The regional Carnival will be held in either  week 3 or 4 of term 2, and the State Carnival will be held at the Seymour Centre in early June. Categories for 2023 are:

• Duologue​

• Ensemble Scene​

• Group Devised​

• Dance​

• Physical Theatre​

• Music Composition​

• Smart Phone Short Film

More information will be coming soon about how you can get involved. Watch out for an announcement at the assembly next week.

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod.

The Speech and Drama Eisteddfod is running again this year on Friday 26th - Saturday 27th May at the Old Teacher’s College (NECOM).. If you are interested in entering the eisteddfod please contact Mrs Wysel.

Drama Club 

Drama club has been going strong on Wednesday lunchtimes. All students from year 7 - year 12 are welcome to come and play some Theatre Sports games. This ensemble is free to attend. See you in the Drama room!

Art in the Afternoon with Mrs Schaeffer

Our fabulous new Visual Art teacher will be running Art in the Afternoon for Stage 4 students. If you are interested in doing some art marking, Art in the Afternoon starts next Monday from 3:45pm - 5:00pm in the VIsual Arts classroom. Any students in years 7 & 8 are welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Wysel or Mrs Schaeffer.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Information Evening.

We’re very excited to be producing Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  this year and there is already a buzz amongst the students about the show. There will be an Information Evening on Wednesday, March 15th from 5:30pm in the Astra Arts Centre for parents/carers and students. Please come along and find out more about the show and how to get involved in acting, music, dancing, props and set, costume and much more!

MISS AMY CHIU

PLC PATHWAYS ADMINISTRATOR

Welcome to Week 5.

The first four weeks have been very busy for the whole school. I managed to catch up with some of the Pathways girls recently. It’s great to see the students settling well in the classes and also to know where they are struggling to adjust to.

One thing that made my week last week was actually the time that I took three students to the bank to set up their bank accounts. Banking languages are hard and not usually used in daily lives. The students managed the conversation mostly by themselves with occasional needs of translation, this was something that I would not expect to see when they first came last year. Interestingly, they started to show some Australian accent when they spoke! 

The staff at Commonwealth Bank were so friendly and extremely patient with the students. It is all these little day-to-day experiences that gives the students a sense of belongings and engagement. This is one of the things that is hard to ‘market’ to international families but a very important characteristic that regional towns like Armidale can offer. When a new international student arrives with her parents, they always comment on the friendliness and kindness Armidale people have shown. They appreciate the environment and the safety, but it is the people that gave them the comfort and the certainty that their daughters will be fine studying in Armidale. Of course, of all people, the staff, students and parents at PLC Armidale have been so helpful and welcoming to the new families, not just the international students. 

Thank you to our wonderful PLC families for creating such a relaxed and inclusive community. Have a great second half of the term!

MISS TIFFANY CUNDY & MISS AMY CHIU

COLLEGE NURSES

NSW DENTAL & EYE CARE OPPORTUNITY

The Health Centre has been approached by NSW Dental & Eye Care with an offering of dental and eye check held on campus for the students.

What is the Cost?

Free for eligible students, Payment of benefits under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule is administered through the Department of Human Services. No cost to the school, and parents, and with no GAP.

How does it work?

NSW Dental Care provides dental/eye services within the school premises, ensuring the children's safety, comfort, and well-being.

Optometry provides FREE, BULK-BILLED services to all students & teachers on school premises. 

If you are interested in the program and for more information, please visit the EOI Google Form: https://forms.gle/92FoCw5ZTbNeUsqKA

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

1. Medicare details (please check if your current details have expired)

2. Medical details

3. Medication details

If your daughter has regular medications to take during the camp period, please provide the medication with instructions and clear labels with her name on the day of the excursion. Please also include this information in the permission form.