Lion's Roar Newsletter
Term 3 | Week 9 | 2023

From the Principal

MRS NICOLA TAYLOR

PRINCIPAL


This year marks my 23rd year as a ‘school mum’. Our eldest son commenced school in 2001, and our youngest son is completing Year 12 this year. 


During that time, I have attended and/or hosted many parent information sessions - each one adding another turn to the gigantic maze that makes up parenting advice. Anyone with two or more children may have found themselves wondering how, with the same parents, gene pool, environment and upbringing, their children could be so different. 


Added to that the rapid change brought about by technological advancement, poses an additional challenge to digital immigrants raising digital natives.


It was a privilege to host an evening with Dr Jenny Brown last week. 

Jenny is Director Emeritus and founder of the Family Systems Institute, Sydney.  Dr Brown has worked as a clinician and supervisor in the child and adolescent mental health sector,  serving as consultant/trainer for child mental health teams for decades. In addition, Jenny is a valued member of the PLC College Council, bringing wisdom and professional insight to the governance of both PLC Sydney and PLC Armidale. 


The session entitled “Adolescence, Independence on Steroids” opened with Jenny telling the tale of two families challenged by the behaviour of their tween to teen. “Parents know they play a part in their children's struggles; they don’t want more guilt but do want to play an essential role in a solution.” 

... continue reading here


Jenny was quick to reassure the audience that her intent and approach is not to add to the guilt most, if not all, parents face as they reflect on aspects of their parenting but to empower those listening to the agency of understanding how they relate to their child can be a powerful component of being the change they wish to see.


Dr Brown spoke of the rise of anxiety and mental health diagnosis in children and young people with increased levels of  school refusal post covid creating a daily battle in families. Jenny spoke of parents seeking external professional help to ‘fix’ the problem, compounded by an overwhelming level of therapies and approaches which make the child the problem, often leaving parents out of being a key factor in the solution. Jenny spoke with confidence sharing summaries of a research findings that whilst “the child’s symptoms may be  physiologically expressed and hugely challenging for a child to deal with; the parenting factors of over-accommodating, over-protecting or over-controlling are crucial to addressing to help children grow in resilience”. 


The agency and role of parents within the dynamic of family life appears to have diminished over time, perhaps more rapidly with societal focus on the individual and a diminishing on the community or ‘village’ helping to raise the child.  Jenny spoke with warmth, clarity and conviction of her current work with the Parent Hope Project seeking to provide assurance, resources and encouragement to parents “on a journey of self-discovery of what they can adjust in themselves and their reactions that can begin to turn around the trajectory of a child becoming overwhelmed by their big emotions, unable to build their coping capacity.” Such agency cancelling out the sense of guilt and helplessness which robs parents of the joy and blessing parenting and family life can bring. 


It was encouraging to have a number of visitors to the College join with us in person and via the livestream. One visitor who had attended our Community Forum last year, thanked us for initiating such a service indicating their intent to attend our 2024 Community Forum also.


The theme of Community is more than just a word at PLC Armidale, but rather an action or experience we seek to provide to the girls and broader families. Coming to the end of my interviews with our Year 12 Valedictorians, the sense of being known, noticed and belonging at PLC Armidale was expressed by nearly all girls, even if they hadn’t felt all of these things all of the time, over the years it had being their experience. Our size, our focus on the education of girls and our intentional commitment to each girl,  evident in the outcome of their educational experience at the College. We wish Year 12 well in this coming week of Valedictory Events.


It is the people that make the place. After 11 years of faithful service to PLC Armidale, especially as the warm, welcomer to the Junior School and glue that binds Junior School daily operations together Mrs Emma Young will be stepping down from her position at the end of 2023.


Parents, students and staff have much loved Emma for her positive 'can do' approach and determination to see PLC Armidale shine at every opportunity. Emma will be greatly missed, though she will remain connected as a PLC Armidale parent. We wish Emma all the best as she takes up work on the family farm.

Congratulations to ... 


Our IGSA Junior Hockey Team who won their grand-final game against Loreto Normanhurst in Sydney to become IGSA 2023 champions . This is a fantastic achievement in a competition between more than 32 independent girls' schools across NSW, with thousands of participants each term.

Our PLC Armidale Blue Primary Netball Team won their grand-final game against VIP Dragonflies to become the Armidale and District Netball Association (ADNA) 2023 division champions. Another fantastic achievement given the strong participation of schools across our region in the association's 40th anniversary year.

Charlotte Baker who was named as the 2023 ADNA Junior Umpire of the Year.

Isla Brennan who received the 2023 ADNA Best and Fairest Primary Player Award

Our PLCA1 Open Netball Team who received the 2023 ADNA School Girls Team Award

Evie Donaldson (  L4 Div.2- silver medal, 6th on beam, highest score 9.05 on both vault & beam) who competed regionally in Women's Artistic Gymnastics and received qualifying scores to attend the State Championships in October

Anviti Sinha, Scarlett Loxley, Huna Moghaddar and Alannah Williams who have all been selected for the 2024 National Youth Science Forum. 

Caitlin Kable who recently won first prize for Years 7-12 machine-made article, Champion Junior Year 7-12 Needlework and Grand Champion Junior Exhibit Needlework at the Wee Waa Show with a dress created in our Year 10 Design and Technology class.

Charlotte Baker ADNA 2023 Junior Umpire of the Year


 Isla Brennan ADNA Primary 1      Best & Fairest 

ADNA 2023 School Girls Team Winners

PLC Armidale Representative Junior Hockey Team

PLC Armidale Blue Primary           Netball Team

Starry Night 2023

Starry Night was undeniably a spectacular evening - possibly our best yet - that showcased the remarkable talent and dedication of our students. It also highlighted the skill and commitment of our CAPA and peripatetic staff, who play an instrumental role in nurturing and guiding our girls.

A sincere thank you to all those who played a role in the planning and execution of Starry Night. Your hard work, dedication, and attention to detail were truly evident, and without your tireless efforts, this evening would not have been possible.

Thank you to those who attended the event and had the pleasure of witnessing our talented girls shine on stage. Your support and enthusiasm were felt throughout the night, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere that greatly enhanced the experience for our performers.

See all the photos on our Parent Portal HERE

Our 2023 Starry Night of Creative and Performing Arts was emceed by our Creative and Performing Arts Prefect Catie Alcorn and Laure Butterworth our Creative and Performing Arts Prefect for the Junior School for 2023, the Creative and Performing Arts Prefect for 2023.

One of the highlights on the PLC Armidale calendar, the 20-act event commenced in the Dorothy Knox Centre and continued in our Astra Arts Centre after intermission. 

PLC Orchestra

The PLC Jazz Band and PLC Senior Strings combine to make the PLC Orchestra, who performed a medley of three classic James Bond tunes- the James Bond Theme by Monty Norman, For Your Eyes Only by Bill Conti and Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney. 

Year 7 Concert Band

Every year, our Year Seven cohort begins the adventure of learning wind and brass instruments as part of the class program. Many girls go on to pursue playing their instrument for many years, joining the Jazz Band, AYO programs, enrolling in elective music classes, studying music in the HSC, competing in Eisteddfod solos, and completing AMEB exams. Nearly all of the girls in Jazz Band and the wind players in the orchestra started playing their instruments in the Year Seven Instrumental Program. We were treated to the 2023 cohort, performing Flight of Banshee, conducted by Paul Marshall, who is head of Winds at the New England Conservatorium of Music. 

Jenna Marquardt and the Senior String Ensemble

Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ is renowned for its exquisite melodies and iconic recurring theme. This fully immersive experience captured the essence of the enchanted swan through the Senior Strings, with Jenna playing the tragic human, Odette. Much of the choreography was the original choreography of Odette’s solo of the Dying Swan, danced beautifully to the iconic theme of Swan Lake. 

Senior String Ensemble Directed by Joanna Fairs-Wu

This Allegro is the fourth Movement of the Concerto  Opus 6  , No. 1 in G Major by the German Baroque composer Georg Frederick Handel.  This arrangement reduces the seve-part concerto grosso/ concertino texture to four tutti parts. It is written in a fugal contrapuntal style where each section is given important melodic material which is traded back and forth. 

Chiyo Brown will lead the ensemble in true chamber music style with Mrs Fairs -Wu supporting the viola section. 

HSC Dance - Burn from Hamilton

HSC Dance students completed their practical examinations and performed this work for their solo Core Performance Dance. For Starry Night is was performed as a group dance. Earlier in the year, this group performed in the New England Dance Eisteddfod, winning the section with their version of Centre Stage, followed by a close second with Burn from Hamilton. This was the final time the HSC Dance cohort of 2023 performed together.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Our final performance before a short intermission and moving into the Astra Arts Centre, was a sneak peak of one of the musical numbers in our 2023 school musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Closing the first Act, ‘It Must Be Believed To Be Seen’ featured most members of our 50-student-strong cast. India Smith and Teya Catterall play Willy Wonka, and Arlie Bragg plays Charlie Bucket. The audience was transported to the factory gates of Wonka’s Chocolate Factory with reporters and golden ticket winners. 

Silver Strings 

Silver strings worked very hard in Term 3 on their ensemble playing and learned how to use the bow to play fancy fast notes in their piece, Stew Pot Hop. The audience enjoyed their piece as much as they enjoyed playing it. 

K-2 Choir 

The K-2 Choir performed two short pieces: Moon So Round and Yellow by Colin Brumby and O Lovely Mud by Michael Atherton which is an hilarious piece about farm animals jumping, rolling and paddling in the mud (and then needing to be washed by the farmer!). 

Bel Canto Voices 

From our youngest to our most experienced singers, Bel Canto Voices is an auditioned vocal ensemble for Years 7-12. They performed Salut Printemps by Debussy. This piece is a beautiful welcome to Spring with a lush piano accompaniment by Mr Warwick Dunham and stunning vocal harmonies. The piece also featured the dulcet tones of our soloists: Binudi Vithana, Lauren Williams and Khushi Aila. 

Junior String Ensemble 

The Junior Strings performed ‘The Awakening” by Brian Balmages. This work has a vibrant, optimistic feel. One of the stand-out features of this composition is found in the treatment of the lyric theme, which explodes into a triumphant ending, creating a sense of anticipation and drama. 

Year 3-6 Choir

The Year 3-6 Choir performed Winter Lullaby by Pinkzebra. This heartfelt piece is about holding those you cherish close and was dedicated to all the girls'  loved ones. 

Year 7 Drama - The Red Tree

In year 7 Drama, we carefully look at the social aspects of growing up, learning about relationships, language and how to understand empathy. The Red Tree by Shaun Tan is a visually stunning picture book that takes us on a journey of loneliness, hope and resilience. Our Year 7 drama class, explored this story creating frozen moments of poignant sections of the picture book where a little girl who struggles to see hope, finally sees that it was there all along - she just needed to look for it. In this piece by Lily, Poppy-Grace, Issy and Sybella the red hat was symbolic of hope.

Treble Makers 

Our Treble Makers Vocal Ensemble is an elective vocal ensemble for girls in Year 3-6. They performed Alone in the Universe from Seussical the Musical. This piece tells the story of Horton, who has been bullied and ostracised by his friends and community because he claims there is a world of tiny people living on a speck of dust atop a clover flower, and only he can hear them. Jojo is a little Who person living on that speck of dust who also has been called a liar by claiming there are bigger people than themselves living outside their planet (the speck of dust). This song is about sticking to your guns and doing what's right even though it may be hard and you might be alone in the universe. 

Senior Choir

Lacrimosa is Latin for “weeping and tearful”. The short movement forms part of the Requiem Mass in D minor by Mozart. Mozart was on his deathbed as he wrote this. The legend states that the first 8 bars of this movement are the very last notes he wrote in his life. He had a draft for the remainder of the movement, but Sussmayr completed the work. Mozart reflected deeply on death and the meaning of life. The Requiem Mass is one of Mozart’s most profound and deeply moving works. 

Catie Alcorn - HSC Drama Individual Performance

Catie chose performance for her Drama HSC Major work this year. ‘The Story of Hope' details the journey of the young character ‘Hope’ and her wish to make amends with her ex-partner after previously fleeing before answering an important question he asked. To her surprise, her ex no longer lives there, and rather, another young man is the new tenant. Her reaction provokes her to anxiously ramble, describing her current motivations to a complete stranger. Catie’s embodiment of this character is exemplary.

Cello Ensemble

The Webster scherzo is a well-known work for solo Cello. Made famous for young cellists in Suzuki book 3 for Cello- this arrangement is written by Rick Mooney for 4 Cellos.

Bridie O’Neill from Year 10 played the solo cello part this evening.

Acapella Ensemble

Acapella is a challenging form of music as each singer is required to hold their individual melody, blending with the voices around them, all of which is done without the aid of any accompanying instruments. The PLC Armidale vocal group is full of passionate and eager singers, and they performed an arrangement of Royals, by Lorde. 

Jazz Ensemble

The PLC Jazz Band is the natural continuation of the Year 7 Wind Program.  As the ability of our students develops, they are invited to join the jazz band, demonstrating what the pathway out of this class-based program and into ensemble membership and private lessons can look like. This group has so much swagger and plays contemporary tunes such as Isn’t She Lovely, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Billie Jean and they brought a classic - Feel It Still.

PLC Stage 5 Elective Music

Bohemian Rhapsody is possibly the most iconic work of Queen. This 1970’s progressive rock classic, written by Freddy Mercury, pushes the boundaries of rock music with multiple sections, including a ballade, an operatic section, and a hard rock section. The Stage 5 Elective Music class performed a vocal arrangement of this work in three-part harmony, accompanied by Stephanie Blake on the Piano. 

Grandparents' Day 2023

Family connections are vital in shaping a child's upbringing and creating cherished memories.

Grandparents hold a special place in our hearts, and we were thrilled to host our girl's grandparents and grandfriends to spend a delightful morning with us for a chapel service, a tour of the classrooms and morning tea.

See the entire photo gallery on our Parent Portal HERE

SCAM alert 

We have received notification from the Commonwealth Bank of a scam involving parents of schools banking with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and like financial institutions. 


PLC Armidale’s protocol for any discussion about fees and fee payment is as follows:


Term 3 Events 

You can view the school calendar via the PLC Armidale App or Parent Portal.

What's On this Term...

Senior School News

Mr Mitchell Clendinning

Head of Senior School 


Term 3 in the Senior School has been an extraordinary effort by students, staff and parents. 


There have been so many academic, sporting and creative arts achievements this term, culminating in Year 7-11 examinations and Year 12 celebratory activities as they conclude their classroom learning. The Colour Run, Valedictory Assembly, Luncheon, and Formal are special occasions in the life of students and the College. Our students have personified Grit and Grace indeed. We wish them all the best in their Higher School Certificate examinations and the years beyond the College on the hill. 


Looking forward to Term 4, it promises to be another exciting term in the College calendar: Year 12 will commence the HSC examinations, our Year 11 cohort will begin their HSC courses, and the Year 9 Explore Serve Journey program will commence.


There are also a series of events and co-curricular opportunities to look forward to, including: the 19 for 19 Challenge, Activities Week, Life Saving, Starry Night of Sport, the Year 10 Celebration Dinner, Speech Day and of course, Guild Drama. There also continues to be new students joining the Senior School. I trust you will experience and feel the community spirit that typifies PLC Armidale.


Please note that there is no Staff Day to begin Term 4 and that classes will commence on Monday, 9 October. 


I wish all students and their families a refreshing break.

Junior School News

Mrs Fiona Wake

Head of Junior School 


Grandparents Day is my favourite event of the year. 


Grandparents and Grandfriends bring with them love, kindness and a calm that is felt by all. The classrooms were buzzing on Friday with excitement and proud stories of success shared, by our girls, to their much loved companions. 


Wrapping up the term has seen the girls reflecting on their Term 3 units of study and their goals set for the term. Feedback to students through formative and summative assessment is essential in moving the girls along their learning journey. The busyness of Term 3 is coming to an end, which means a well-earned rest and recovery period is required to set the stage for our final 2023 term of learning. 


Term 4 is only 8 weeks long, culminating in 2 weeks of activities consisting of life-saving, service, Guild connection and celebration activities. It is time to think about PLC swimmers for Term 4, Guild shirts, Leadership speeches (incoming 2024 Year 6 students), Year 6 dinner outfits and touching base with your daughter's teacher regularly to check in on her progress and areas for improvement. 



A Farewell for our much appreciated and LOVED Mrs Emma Young!


After over 11 years of service to the PLC Junior School, Mrs Emma Young has made the decision to swap her work with our children to work with her sheep and cattle on the family property, alongside her husband John. This has been a tough decision for Emma and one she has been pondering for some time, her loyalty and love for the children making it difficult to decide when the time was right. That time is now.


Emma has loyally served our staff and the students in ways that the cleverest crafting of words could not possibly explain. Emma has created a positive culture in the Junior School, a home away from home for all within. She has loved each one of our students as if her own and given tirelessly. She has never wavered in her desire to give selflessly, heal with her warmth and encourage with her smile.


Emma has afforded me the great fortune of working alongside a trustworthy and dependable friend. These qualities have complemented our teamwork and made coming to work a joy! We laugh as we work, and we work hard to give the best we have to all. Emma will be greatly missed and I hope for her the happiness she has given to our community over this long period of time.



Classroom  Spotlight Pre-K

by Mrs Prudence Woods


Wow! What a kind, curious, courageous and confident class we have in Pre-K! During Term 3, the Pre-K class has been a hive of activity. The students have been thoroughly engaged throughout our investigation into sustainability, and it has been wonderful to witness learning becoming action, as our students have considered how they can recycle items at school and at home, as well as considering their use of plastic in their lunchbox! Pre-K examined the Junior School’s current composting program, and we are trialling some new methods, which we will share with our older peers.


Creativity has been a key element of Term Three, and students are to be congratulated on their watercolour designs for Father’s Day. The girls adored hosting their grandparents on Grandparents’ Day, and it was wonderful to see creative ideas being shared across the generations.


Now that Spring is upon us, we are busily sowing our summer seeds for the Global Garden, whilst maintaining the last of the winter crops. The change in season has provided us with great discussion in the classroom, especially during our examination of the lifecycle of a plant. Pre-K is certainly demonstrating that from little things, big things grow!


Our Stage Two girls have been busy learning about biology this term.

They've had the most 'fun' learning about fungi! 

They nurtured their mycelium and have grown their first flush of beautiful mushrooms.

They also researched recipes to find the best one to use on Friday to cook their yummy mushrooms!

In addition to learning about the world of fungi and growing and harvesting mushrooms, on Friday, Stage Two students were tasked with creating some delicious mushroom recipes to use their fresh harvest. 

The two recipes they used the first flush of mushrooms in were Baked Stuffed Mushrooms and Creamy Mushroom Pasta. Students had to harvest our button, cup and portobello mushrooms before washing, drying and cutting them in preparation for cooking. 

They prepared all the ingredients for cooking and set a lovely table outdoors for us all to enjoy a feast together at the end of the day. Both dishes were a huge hit, with some students saying they were surprised that they enjoyed eating mushrooms. What a ‘fungi’ way to end the week!


CAPA News

Mrs Joanne Wysel

Head of Creative and Performing Arts. 


Senior School Drama Club

Owing to Charlie and HSC Drama rehearsals Senior School Drama Club is taking a break. 

Come along next term for some Theatresports fun!


Dance Ensembles 

Junior School Dance Ensemble - note the slight variation of time.

Monday, 4:00pm - 4:30pm - Pre-k - Year 2

Monday, 4:30pm - 5:15pm - Years 3 - 6


Senior School Dance Ensemble

Tuesday lunchtimes in the Dance Studio.


Senior School Art in the Afternoon

Due to the musical and HSC major works, Art in the Afternoon is taking a break for term 3.


Dance Ensembles

It is the last Week of Junior School Dance Ensembles this week - week 10.

Miss Aisha will return. A resounding thank you extends to Daisy Donaldson, Poppy-Grace Newton, and Andrea Brown for their invaluable dedication and expertise in leading the Junior School Dance Ensemble for the past few weeks while Miss AIsha has been away on her teaching practicum. Their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to nurturing the talents of these young girls have not gone unnoticed. With remarkable grace and proficiency, they have guided the girls through fun warm up games, creative choreography as well as instilling in them technical skills and the passion and confidence to shine on stage. It is through their diligent guidance that the Junior School girls have meticulously crafted a dance performance that is poised and ready to dazzle. Stay tuned for forthcoming details on this exciting showcase!


The Senior School Dance Ensemble will have a final dance party together on Tuesday. You may bring something to share with your ensemble members.

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory tickets are now on sale!

CATCF Rehearsals

A reminder that we will have a rehearsal on Sunday, 8th October at 1:00pm. 

This is the Sunday before we return to school on Monday, 9th October. This rehearsal is compulsory for all the cast, we are so close now, and it would be so wonderful to have a rehearsal with the whole cast there - it hasn’t happened yet!


Junior School Mashup 

A letter was sent out to parents/carers last week with some important information about the Junior School involvement in the up-and-coming school musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Here it is for your reference:


Dear Parents/Carers,


We hope this message finds you well. We are delighted to share some important information regarding our Junior School's participation in the Senior School musical production of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, which will be held at the Town Hall in week 3 next term. Our girls in Year 3-6 have been working hard with Mrs Wysel to create a very special mashup performance that will be the opening number of four out of the six shows of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This mashup is reminiscent of the "Wizard of Oz mashup" that the Junior School performed for our production of "Wicked” last year.


Event Details:


Venue: Town Hall


Performance Dates:

Wednesday, October 25th: Schools Matinee (Transportation provided via bus from PLC)

Thursday, October 26th: Opening Night - 6:15 pm drop-off at Town Hall for a 7:00 pm

performance

Saturday, October 28th: Matinee - 12:15 pm drop-off at Town Hall for a 1:00 pm

performance

Saturday, October 28th: Closing Night - 6:15 pm drop-off at Town Hall for a 7:00 pm

performance


Student Roles:

Year 3/4: Oompa Loompas

Year 5:    Charlies and Grandpa Joes

Year 6: Willy Wonka and Candy Shop kids


Attendance and Tickets:

These performances are compulsory, and we kindly request that all students attend all four performances. 


Parents are welcome to purchase tickets for any or all of the shows in which their daughters are performing. If your daughter is joining you for the production of “Charlie and Chocolate Factory: following the mashup, please ensure she has a purchased ticket as well. All students will have the opportunity to watch the School’s Matinee following their mashup performance on Wednesday 25th October.


If you are not staying for the production of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," you and your daughter are welcome to leave after the mashup performance, which lasts for 8 minutes.


Costumes:

Costumes for the performance are being organised by Mrs. Wake, Mrs Wysel and the Junior School teachers.


We believe that this is a fantastic opportunity for your daughters to be part of the Senior School Musical and showcase their talents. The hard work and dedication they've put into this mashup performance promise an unforgettable experience. 


If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are looking forward to a memorable and entertaining event at the Town Hall and appreciate your continued support.


Thank you for your attention, and we can't wait to see you at the performances!

Tickets are now on sale.

Don’t miss out - they will go like Wonka’s double fudgemallow delight chocolate bars! 

Step into a world of whimsy and wonder and embark on a mysterious cocktail adventure: the Willy Wonka way!  

Climb aboard the Wonka Wonderland Express, our exclusive mystery bus trip to the 2023 PLC Armidale Signature Event.

Join us for cocktails and canapes inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Get ready to sip, savour, and explore a realm of fantastical flavours that will tickle your taste buds and ignite your imagination.

Dress Code: Embrace the whimsy and don your most creative cocktail attire – whether you're channelling a candy inventor or a curious child exploring a world of wonder! The best-dressed guest will have their ticket price refunded.

The Wonka Wonderland Express will depart from Armidale Town Hall at 4.15pm and arrive back at 6.30pm on Saturday, October 28.

Secure your seat HERE

Our bus will arrive back in time for the Saturday night show if you are planning to attend what promises to be an incredible finale performance.

GET GOLDEN: We also have just 25 Golden Ticket Packages available, which include a seat on our mystery bus, cocktails and a VIP seat at the finale show.

Music News

Chiyo Brown

Chiyo Brown is known to most of us in the PLC Community through her cheerful leadership of assembly as our Head Prefect. However, many would also recognise her as an active musician both within the college and wider community. In 2022 Chiyo completed both her Music 2 and Extension subjects through the accelerating program, and was awarded with the extraordinary results of 98/100 for Music 2 and 50/50 in Music Extension. Her program was also nominated for inclusion in the HSC music showcase Encore. 


Chiyo has achieved an elite level of performance on two instruments, piano and violin. In 2021 Chiyo was awarded her Associate of Music Performance diploma (AMusA) on piano, and in June of this year was awarded with her Licentiate of Music Performance diploma (LMusA), also on piano. The LMusA diploma is a prestigious, nationally recognised qualification, and being awarded it is a remarkable accomplishment for a young person of 17 years of age. On the violin Chiyo has been selected twice to perform with the Australian Youth Orchestra at their annual National Music Camp. As the leading orchestra in Australia for emerging professional musicians, the majority of members in the Australian Youth Orchestra are tertiary music students. Chiyo was also selected to perform in the Australian Chamber Orchestra Academy, a program that allows elite young players to train alongside the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s industry leading professionals. 


Chiyo has led the PLC Senior Strings very capably over the last two years, including performing as the soloist for Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances at the Sydney Town Hall in May this year. In addition, Chiyo is extensively involved in Armidale community ensembles and orchestras, and leads the PLC Senior String Quartet. We are delighted that she and the string quartet will feature at our Valedictory Assembly this week. 


Chiyo’s musical accomplishments on the violin and piano are a credit to her two long-term teachers;  Julee Andrews, who has taught her piano since she was five years old, and Sofia Debus, from Heartstrings Academy, who has taught her violin since the age of seven.

Health News

Miss Amy Chiu

School Nurse

EDUMATE MEDICAL DETAILS


If your daughter has an updated treatment plan, new diagnosis or medical needs, it is important that parents update the Edumate Health Conditions of your daughter to ensure that the school is providing the best care.

Edumate Parent Portal can be access through the CONNECT page connect.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au 

If your daughter has regular medications to take during the excursion 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 hONE WEEK prior to the excursion to ensure that the information is prepared for the lead teacher of the excursion.


The Health Centre is contactable via 

Email: health@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 02 6770 1741


Sports News

Lucy Donaldson

Head of Sport

Congratulations to

PLC1 and PLC Primary Blue netball teams  who  competed in their grand final matches this weekend in the local ADNA competition. 

PLC Senior and Junior Representative Hockey Teams  

Both teams competed in the semi-finals and a grand final this weekend in Sydney. It is an amazing achievement to have both of our representative hockey teams progress this far.

Izzy Macrae and Evie Matthews

(Year 7) who played for their hometown team, the Western Plains Rams (U13s) rugby union at the NSW Country Championships in Yamba this weekend.

Stephanie Blake and Mary Ugwumba

who will be competing in the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Athletics Championships on Tuesday 19 September. Steph will be competing in the Junior 400m and 14 years Long Jump and Mary will be competing in the 14 years discus.

We wish these two girls all the very best.

Sophie Bailey and Trista Dorrian

who were invited to play in the North West Tennis Champion of Champion tournament in Narrabri last weekend. Only the top 8 players in the region for each age group are asked to play. Trista was awarded the Perpetual Trophy for Champion Girl 14 years and under, while Sophie was awarded the Perpetual Trophy for Champion Girl 16 years and under. Both now progress to the NSW Champion of Champion event in November. This is a tremendous achievement, given the North West region has the most players in NSW. Congratulations girls! 

Charlotte Thomas

(Year 8) who competed at the NIAS UAA Indigenous Identification Day in Moree for Netball on Wednesday 23 August. 

Thank You!

Thank you to all of our students, coaches, parents, extended family and friends for the continued support and wonderful Winter Season of sport  at PLCA. Our girls have done exceptionally well and should be proud of their successes and true sportsmanship which has been noted and commented on by many members of the community. 


Summer Sport Choices: A  google form has been sent out to all students to select their Term 4 summer sport choices. Please make sure that your daughter is aware of the commitments to particular sports before they sign up. 


If you have any questions relating to sport, please dont hesitate to contact me by email ldonaldson@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

IGSA Drinks & Nibbles

On Friday, 1 September the PLCA Drinks and Nibbles event was held at the Eva Redfern Lounge, Sydney Olympic Park. 

Parents, carers and Old Girls attended, along with Principal, Nicola Taylor. Everyone who attended enjoyed the evening, with this being a great opportunity to reconnect, while also being able to watch our IGSA Hockey Team play.
Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our hockey team!

Find out more about Anya's Wish HERE


19 for 19 Challenge

We are delighted to again support Anya’s Wish Foundation in the third 19 for 19 Challenge on Sunday, 15 October.

This is a walk that raises money for the foundation in honour of Anya Zuber, who was a student of PLC Armidale from 2006 to 2019 and sadly passed away in 2020 after six years of fighting metastatic osteosarcoma.

This year's 19 for 19 Challenge is on Sunday, 15 October 2023 (the end of Week 1, Term 4).

Please join the PLC Armidale team to raise funds and show our support for this worthy cause.

We would like as many as possible to join us on either a 7km or 19km walk, with proceeds going directly towards Anya’s Wish and the running of the event.

Anyone involved in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory can complete the 7km course to return with plenty of time before the 12pm rehearsal.  Registrations close on Friday, 13 October 2023; full details and the registration form can be found HERE

You can also create your fundraising page and join as a member of the PLC Armidale team by clicking below and using the password ‘Anya2023’. 

Our PLC Armidale Team has a collective fundraising goal of $3,000, and it would be special to see PLC Armidale students take the lead and work towards their individual fundraising goals as part of this effort.  Join the PLC Armidale Team HERE

If you are unable to join the PLC Armidale Team you can donate directly to the Children’s Cancer Institute through the PLC Armidale team page by clicking below. Donate through our PLC Armidale Team HERE


P&F News

Judi Sheedy 

P&F President

P&F will be running the catering for the Charlie & the Chocolate Factory musical at Armidale Town Hall.  This will occur on Thursday, Friday, Saturday matinee and night.  We will need volunteers to help staff it, both with RSA and those without.  

A big thank you to Sam Notley and Ben Carruthers for volunteering to organise this wonderful friendship raising event again.  Communication will be forthcoming asking for volunteers.  Tickets for the event will become available shortly.

The P&F AGM will be held in Term 4 Week 5, at which time all positions will become vacant.  I will not be standing for re-election as President.  I have had the privilege of working in this role for three years, during which time I have not only been part of a strengthening group who has executed many successful events including the 135 year ball, I have grown and developed personally - so thank you all for the opportunity.  I will still be available as a resource or mentor in the Past President role for 2024. In 2025, when my daughters undertake their HSC I will be able to contribute to the general P&F committee, as I help support them through this year.  In making this decision, I hope that it will provide support for a smooth transition within the P&F.  I encourage parents to consider contributing to the school in this positive way.

Term 4 P&F AGM  & General Meeting

We invite everyone to join us for a P&F AGM & General Meeting.  The date for the Term 4 meeting has been pushed back to allow for the musical.  

Date: Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Time: 5:30 - 7:00pm

Venue: PLC Boardroom or 

Zoom: For those unable to join in person, please join us via zoom 

https://plcarmidale.zoom.us/s/89159031702

Passcode:  919789

GREEN TARTAN 

ALUMNAE NEWS

Old Girls AGM 2023.


On 30 September 2023 all committee positions for the PLC Armidale Old Girls Union will become vacant. 


Nominations are now open for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Please see attached the nomination form.


The Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, 29 October 2023, at PLC Armidale Board Room at 11.30am followed by a light brunch.


Kind regards,


Chelsea Jeffery

Honorary Secretary

PLC Armidale and Hilton Old Girls’ Union

We hope to see you soon...

PLC Armidale is delighted to be hosting another OGU Reunion Weekend on October 27/28 to coincide with the College's biennial musical production, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

A program for the weekend will be emailed to you this week - watch your inbox! 

Want to get together with your class?

If you are interested in joining a milestone reunion group during the Reunion Weekend in October, please get in touch with us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

A program for the weekend will be emailed to you this week - watch your inbox! 

Send us your news!  

We love to hear about what our alumnae have been doing - so please let us know what has been happening in your life. 

Births, deaths, marriages, milestone celebrations - whatever you feel like sharing with the other Old Girls, please tell us so we can include it in this section of the  Lion's Roar each fortnight.

Our PLC Armidale alumnae are a stellar group of women who excel in a diverse range of areas, leading lives of significance.

Success looks different for everyone, and we like to celebrate it all - not just that which is in the public eye.

Email your news to: communications@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

PLC Armidale Foundation


Can you make a regular financial contribution to the PLC Armidale Scholarship Fund?

In 2022, the College made a considered decision to restructure fees for students in Kindergarten to Stage 4 to expand accessibility to a PLC Armidale education.

The provision of scholarships on merit will extend the opportunity for even more young women of character and purpose to receive an outstanding education at PLC Armidale, the region’s pre-eminent school for young women.

The PLCA Foundation Committee is focusing its efforts on raising funds for scholarships, with the intent of raising $130,000 for the school to allocate immediately in the next round of scholarship assessment.

As many families within our community have directly benefited from the recent fee restructure, we ask that you consider making a contribution to support the PLC Armidale Scholarship Fund. 

Your gift will help the PLC Foundation Committee to offer these scholarships. We require significant and ongoing funding to ensure there is a continual capital base to support the program.

Donations will provide scholarships from as early as the 2024 school year. In addition, gifts over $2 are tax deductible. You can also subscribe to make a small regular automatic donation which will quickly add up over the years.

The generosity of the PLC Armidale community has enabled us to maintain and provide an excellent learning environment for generations of young women.

Giving makes a real difference to every student who attends PLC Armidale now and into the future. We thank you for your continued support as we foster and build a community that stands together. 

If you would like further information about the PLC Armidale Scholarship Fund or know of a young girl who you believe would benefit from this opportunity, don't hesitate to call us on (02) 6770 1700 or email us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

A gift to the PLC Armidale Scholarship Fund will open the door for many more exceptional young women to attend PLC Armidale and be equipped to lead a life of significance. 

You can make a difference by donating today.

Donations can be made by clicking here.

General News

For Sale

Tables, chairs , coat cupboards, bed bases and drawer units are surplus to Boarding House requirements. 

Need to be sold.

Contact enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au if interested.

PLCA Uniform Price List 

Having conducted their yearly assessment of CPI and external factors our school uniform partners Alinta have announced a price increase ( see new price list below).


The PLC Armidale Uniform Shop opening hours

Tuesday 8:30am to 11:30am

Thursday 1:00pm to 4:30pm 

Phone: 02 6770 1703


September/October School Holiday appointments are now available 

Tuesday, 3 October 9:00am - 1:00pm

Thursday, 5 October 11:00am - 3:00pm

Half-hour appointments are available to book online via the Alinta website.

https://www.alintaapparel.com.au


Or order via email

PLCA@alinta.com.au