Despite what the media may report  a survey conducted earlier this year showed 

a staggering 96 per cent of girls’ schools across NSW experienced increased demand for places in 2023, with both parents and students acknowledging the value-add of an all-girls learning environment

The survey, conducted by the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia (AGSA) across the government, independent and Catholic sectors showing Independent girls' schools recorded a 3.3 per cent rise in student numbers in the last federal census.

Loren Bridge, AGSA Executive Officer summarised the findings as follows…

“When looking at the reasons parents would choose a girls’ school, AGSA found that confidence, independence, increased opportunities, sports participation, STEM, safety, and academic performance were cited by Australian parents as the leading benefits.”

The high demand for girls’ schools reflected data from Australasian and international research, and was “a clear indication that parents see the lift-up effect a girls’ school has on a girl’s confidence and self-belief. Research consistently finds that girls in girls’ schools outperform girls in co-ed schools on measures of social, emotional and academic wellbeing,” Bridge said. “The outcomes are also in stark contrast to detractors of girls’ education who suggest a waning interest in girls’ single-sex schooling. It’s simply not the case. Parents and girls understand the value and opportunities of an all-girls environment…"The lack of gender stereotyping in girls’ schools ensures that girls — at least while they are on campus— are able to explore their own identities without the social pressure of boys."

At PLC Armidale, each event, program, tour and publication provides an opportunity to explain and demonstrate these benefits. Each lesson, task, experience and day provides an opportunity for the girls to experience these benefits for themselves. 

One student new to our Senior School this year commented recently, "I can learn here because the teachers teach, the girls listen, and I have the same teacher for the same subject each day." 

The positive word-of-mouth recommendation about PLC Armidale remains our strongest reach to prospective students and their families. The last of our three Principal’s Tours for Term One has demonstrated the power of advocacy for an all-girls education and PLC Armidale from our community, with many of the new families taking part in the tour making mention of the current family who suggested they attend.

Last week I received an email from a member of the general public in Sydney, which was shared with the Senior School girls at Monday's assembly. I have the author’s permission to share the following excerpt. 

“I would like to offer some positive feedback re an experience I had tonight with some of your students visiting Sydney for a tennis tournament. I had the lovely experience of sharing a table at a local venue with this tennis squad, and I came away thinking “wow” someone needs to hear that in a time where we often criticise our younger ones for lacking manners, preoccupation with social media etc these young ladies were delightful to observe. Whilst I tried to busy myself with work emails etc I noticed that not one of these girls had their phones out. Rather they were recapping their activities of the day and planning on the following.

"What this team weren’t aware of is I have worked in mental health for over 40yrs and every day I talk with parents and teachers of very troubled young people. Some days this can be quite overwhelming as my team consider how did we get to this space??? Tomorrow I will be going to work and relaying this wonderful experience tonight. 

"I had comments from your girls thanking me for sharing my table and suggesting I have a good night. Now, these things might be small, but after an extremely stressful day in a demanding workplace where we are frequently abused by desperate parents and children, this experience restored my faith in our younger generation."

Small things do matter, our College values are not just words on a wall, but encouraged to be actions and interactions which characterise each PLC Armidale girl. 

Mrs Nicola Taylor

MR MITCHELL CLENDINNING

HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL

Camps

Thank you to the parents who have completed the permission form for the upcoming camps.   

Save the Date:  

Parent Teacher Conferences (Years 7 and 12) are scheduled for Tuesday 4th of April in Week 10 (4pm - 7pm) and will be held in the Senior School library. Bookings will open early next week with a link sent via an Edumate Broadcast. Year 12 students are encouraged to attend to be part of the conversation about their learning and are asked to be in school uniform.

For parents of boarding students that are unable to attend in person, a Zoom Parent-Teacher Conference event for boarders will be held early next term. Year 8-11 Parent Teacher Conferences will also be held early in Term 2.

Parents are also encouraged to contact the College at and point if they have concerns about their daughter’s academic progress. 

Highlights in the Senior School (Weeks 6 and 7)

• Tildesley Tennis

• Year 9 PDHPE Water Polo lessons

• Year 12 French Conversation classes

• International Women’s Day morning tea

• Armidale Highlands Science & Engineering Challenge

• Drama Club (Wednesday lunchtimes)

• Art in the Afternoon (Monday afternoons)

• Year 8 Illustrative Workshop at NERAM

• PLCA Representative Netball Trials

• School Socials

• Walcha Show

• Thailand Service Learning Information Evening

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Information Evening

• NAPLAN

• Elective Music - Musica Viva Performance

• Various Music Ensembles and Summer Sports

.....

Our Student Representative Council is continually changing as new members are elected each semester from each class. This is necessary, as a whole, for them to remain a strong voice for young people in schools. As society embraces new technologies, teachers embrace new teaching methods and students embrace new pathways and opportunities in their education, SRCs must also embrace new forward-thinking strategies. Dynamic SRCs represent the views of a cross-section of students from different year levels, cultures, backgrounds and talents. A broad spectrum of views and values held by the student body enhances representatives’ understanding of issues that are important to young people. 

SRCs can teach young people to be confident in public speaking, presenting and communicating with others, building on those skills learnt in the classroom. SRCs give students the skills to create and to implement, to lead and to follow, to learn from mistakes and to succeed.

Most importantly, they give students the opportunity to represent the views of their peers, and to succeed in making those views heard. 

Parent Teacher Interviews - Thank you for connecting with your daughter’s teacher. We, as much as you, value the opportunity to share academic and social progress and the opportunity to showcase the work the girls have done so far in 2023. A strategic focus for 2023 is, ‘Quality Feedback’. Parent Teacher Interviews provide this opportunity for parents and carers and your voice, perspective and insight can never be understated and is ever so appreciated. As always, I am available to meet with you at any time, this never has to be isolated to formal PT Interviews.

Scholarship Day - Year 6 will welcome visitors into our classroom on Friday afternoon. This will be an opportunity for the girls to meet possible 2024 Year 7 friends and enjoy an afternoon tea with the community at 3:30pm.

CAMP is FAST approaching …

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

Healthy Lunchbox Reminder - At PLC we encourage healthy lunchboxes at PLC, this a part of our units of work in PDHPE. We have noticed lollies and a large quantity of unhealthy snacks making their way to school. It would be appreciated if you could support us in our messaging.

Kind Regards

Fiona Wake

New England Dance Eisteddfod - 31st May - 4th June

Rehearsals are under way for the New England Dance Eisteddfod coming up next term. The girls will be performing in both the Jazz section and the Contemporary Section.

Shakespeare Carnival

If you are interested in being a part of the Carnival and were not able to make the sign-up last week, please contact Mrs Wysel. This is a Senior School student initiative and allows creativity in a range of categories with some very exciting performance opportunities in the New England area and possibly in Sydney for those who are selected for State.

• Duologue​

• Ensemble Scene​

• Group Devised​

• Dance​

• Physical Theatre​

• Music Composition​

• Smart Phone Short Film

Speech and Drama Eisteddfod

The closing date for entering the Speech and Drama Eisteddfod is March 17th - so please let Mrs Wysel know before Friday if you are interested in getting something prepared for the eisteddfod. 

Drama Club 

Next Wednesday, the Senior School Drama club will be looking at  Audition Techniques for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Come along for some tips and tricks on how to WOW the audition panel.

Mrs Joanne Wysel

Head of Creative and Performing Arts. 

MISS AMY CHIU

PLC PATHWAYS ADMINISTRATOR

As the year progresses, we are getting closer to the time when Pathways students are looking at what they want to do, where they want to go next and how to achieve their goals.

One key element Pathways offers to overseas students is that the program aims to help and support them to reach their dreams. 

Often when an international student wants to apply for an Australian school, their English proficiency isn’t strong enough. PLC Pathways provides the opportunity for students to enter the country, with a placement at PLC Armidale, to learn and prepare the students throughout the term, the semester or the year. When the students are ready, they are supported by their family, agents and the Pathways staff, to apply to their desired schools either in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere else in the country.

With this concept, it might seem that the Pathways program’s student transferring rate is high, but it is actually proof of the success of the program. For students who were not accepted by other schools first, quite often only based on their English level, it is certainly a big accomplishment when they obtain an offer letter from the school after their time in the Pathways program.

Some students were once keen to move to schools in big cities but eventually realised the strong support PLC Armidale can offer and decided to stay. Helen Zhou (2020 Graduate), Sophie Luo (2022 graduate) and our current International students Rosie, Elaine (Year 12), Belle, Zoe (Year 11) and Mary (Year 10) are great ambassadors of the Pathways program who chose to stay and complete their high school years at PLC Armidale.

Thank you to all the teachers and especially the boarding staff, who, despite knowing that the students might not be staying for long, still spend the time and put full efforts into supporting and teaching them tirelessly. We look forward to working with the current Pathways students in pursuing their dream.

MISS TIFFANY CUNDY & MISS AMY CHIU

COLLEGE NURSES

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 complete the Authorisation Form https://forms.gle/6uoXXsQKE4sKgFa17 ONE WEEK prior to the excursion to ensure that the information is prepared for the lead teacher of the camp.

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

The Health Centre is contactable via 

Email: health@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 02 6770 1741

Mobile: 0448 277 166

The Rotary Youth Exchange Program Committee is seeking potential outbound exchange students for the 2024 scholastic year. 

Due to new regulations from the NSW Department of Education, outbound student applicants must be in Years 9, 10 or 11 in the year they make an application to be eligible for the program. All outbound students will be required to return to secondary education in Australia to complete at least one year of schooling. The preferred age of applicants is between 15 to 17 years. 

Applications close on 21 April, 2023. If further information is required go to the Rotary Youth Exchange website. An Expression of Interest can be logged at the following website 

www.ryea.org.au,  and contact will be made with the student upon receipt of this Expression of Interest. The student will receive the actual YEP Application Form at this time. 

Any interested students who have completed their EOI (as described above) will be invited to Rotary District 9660 Youth Exchange Information opportunity via Zoom to be held one evening during the week starting 13 March. This will be important so all students have the correct YEP information and can ask questions of the presenters. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? 

The benefits of the exchange are many and varied. Students gain considerable self-confidence, tolerance and self-reliance through having to accept greater responsibility for themselves and their actions. 

Students have to adapt to unfamiliar and different surroundings and ways of life which are different from that of Australia. For some, it will be the first extended period of separation from their own family. The experience provides the opportunity to develop many useful social 'survival skills'. 

The exchange provides a unique opportunity for young Australians to experience at first hand the many cultural aspects of a different country, a new way of life, and in many instances, another language. The friendship students make will be life long and important in achieving the aims of the exchange - the building of goodwill and understanding between countries. 

WHAT TO DO NOW? 

Provide your Expression of Interest on the Rotary Youth Exchange Australia website (www.ryea.org.au ). The Initial application form will be then sent to you and you will be invited to the District 9660 YEP Information evening via Zoom. The form is also available from the Chair of the District Youth Exchange Program Committee. 

The Youth Exchange Chair must receive your completed application form, a copy of your latest school report and a recent ID colour photograph (5cms square). The YEP Treasurer will invoice you for the application fee upon the Chair's receipt of your Initial Application. 

The application form should reach The Chairman by 21 April, 2023.