See all the 2024 Swimming Carnival photos in our Parent Portal gallery HERE

2024 Student Leaders

 National Servicemen's Day

We were honoured to attend the Armidale & District National Servicemen's Association Sub-Branch Commemorative Service in Central Park in recognition of all National Servicemen on Sunday, 11 February.

The ceremony is held in Armidale every year on the Sunday closest to National Servicemen's Day (February 14). Members of our PLC Armidale leadership team laid a wreath (created by our ' 23 alumna Charlotte Clissold), and our Deputy Head Prefect Alannah Williams read the Ode of Remembrance. 

Our alumna Kathie Marquardt (herself an ex-service woman) was the guest speaker for the ceremony and she spoke of the important roles women play in the theatres of war, at home 'keeping the home fires burning' and by supporting all those in service and their communities.

You can read a transcript of her moving address in the Green Tartan section.

Junior School News

Mrs Michelle Kennedy

Pre-k Teacher

Happy Birthday wishes at assembly

You can find a gallery of our Junior School Ad Astra Award winners from the last fornight HERE on our Parent Portal

Bell Time Reminders

Before School

The morning bell rings at 8.40am and all children assemble in the courtyard before going to class.
Children should arrive after 8.30am. Children who arrive earlier will be supervised from 8.15am. Children in the Pre Kinder class must be “signed in” and “signed out” each day. The “sign in” book is held in the Pre-Kinder classroom where the teacher will welcome students from 8.30am. 

After School Care

Students are dismissed at 3.30pm and wait at the front of the school building on Crest Road to be collected. A teacher is on duty until 3.45pm. Any child not collected by 3.45pm is taken to “Homework Centre”, phone 0402 474 415. The Homework Centre is operating out of the Junior School Library Monday to Thursday. 

Dates for the Calendar

Easter 29 March to 1 April

Parent Teacher Interviews: 5.& 6 March

Years 3-6 Camp Lake Ainsworth: 8, 9 and 10 April

Last Day Term 1 - 11 April

Mrs Kate Clynch

Head of Senior School

Thank you to all our parents and carers that attended our Parent Information Sessions on February 14. 

We hope you found them valuable, and had a chance to connect with other parents and carers at this event as well. Please get in touch with Senior School Recption if you have any questions that need following up after these sessions.

With lots of exciting events happening both in school and in the community this term, I thought it was a good time to remind both parents and students about the process for applying for leave. You can find this in the Senior School Handbook on our intranet HERE

The section below is from our 2024 Senior School Handbook:

STUDENT ABSENCES

Under the NSW Education Act, school attendance is compulsory until the age of 17. As a school, we have a Duty of Care responsibility to see that students enrolled at the College are in a regular pattern of attendance unless there are special circumstances making this difficult. To streamline our process of notifying the College when a student is absent, parents are asked to bookmark and use the online form found on the Parent/Carer Intranet.

This online form is received by our Senior School Receptionist and the attendance records on Edumate are adjusted accordingly. Parents are asked to use these forms to ensure that notification of absence is actioned promptly.

Alternatively, an email to seniorschool@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au or telephone call advising of your daughter’s absence is sufficient. If advising by phone, please supply a note on your daughter’s return explaining the absence.

STUDENT APPOINTMENTS

If students need to attend an appointment during the day, please supply a note that your daughter should take to Senior School Reception before school. Upon leaving for the appointment, the student must go to Senior School Reception to sign out. Alternatively, parents can email Senior School Reception to advise of an absence, but since this needs to be forwarded to a class teacher, please ensure this happens one day prior to the leave. It is difficult to notify teachers when last-minute messages are received. Upon return from appointments, students must sign in at Reception, where they will receive a note to take back to the class teacher.

EXEMPTION FROM ATTENDANCE

If permission is being sought for a period of absence of from part of a day to 5 school days, approval must be sought from the Head of Senior School via the intranet

If permission is being sought for a period of absence longer than 5 school days approval must be sought from the Principal. A separate form can be downloaded from the intranet and sent to principal@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au for approval.

Please note extended holidays or weekends are generally not looked upon favourably.

If the leave is granted, parents will be provided with a Certificate of Exemption signed by the Principal.

Glen Innes Show

Friday Paraders: Mila Vanzella & Elsie Wake both made it through to their age group paraders final. With large numbers in heats, these girls did exceptionally well.

Saturday Cattle Classes:  Lagoona Golden Boy 1st in his over 12 month Red Poll bull class; Lagoona Phoebe 1st & Reserve junior Red Poll female; Lagoona Pepper 2nd in class; Red Rush Oak bee owned and exhibited by Skyview Pastoral red polls - 1st & Junior Champion Red Poll Female; Red Rush Lady & Red Rush Lovely both placed 2nd in their respective classes.

Led steer classes: Double L Tucker 2nd in the purebred steer class; Double L Theodore 2nd in the Crossbred steer class.

Boarding Life

Sam and Amy Jacometti

Heads of Boarding

See more photos in our Boarding Life photo gallery HERE

Sport News

Mrs Lucy Donaldson

Head of Sport

Photos from the first week of sport

Coming up in Term 1:

PLC Representative team netball trials - Monday, 19 February (Senior School)

IPSHA Swimming Carnival, Sydney - Tuesday, 5 March (Junior School)

Tildesley Tennis, Sydney - Wednesday, 6 March - Friday 8 March

UNE Netball competition begins  - Saturday, 9 March

IGSA Swimming Carnival, Sydney - Friday, 22 March (Senior School)

Whole School Cross Country - Wednesday, 27 March

Health News

International Student News

As the 2024 school year commences, we are excited to welcome our current and new Pathways and International students to a new start!

Welcome back to Belle and Zoe in Year 12, as they continue on the second half of their HSC course; to Mary, Maggie, Kati and Jacky in Year 11 embarking on their HSC journey; to Evelyn in Year 10 starting the mainstream course after completing the Pathways program in 2023; and to Emma and Bella in the Pathways program working towards transitioning into mainstream courses in 2024.

Welcome to our new students to the Pathways program, Vicky, Scarlet, Winni, Emily, Cathay, Fiona, Tina, Stella, Jessie and Zoey. It has been great having a class size of students this term and exciting to see them being willing to engage in classroom and co-curricular activities.

The students enjoyed their time with the whole boarding house at the Boarders’ Coffs Harbour Weekend as well as the special dinner they had for the Chinese New Year there. It has not been easy for them to be far away from home during this important time of the year. We are especially proud of them for their resilience and ability to adapt to a new environment and routine.

We look forward to working with the students this year for their English acquisition, life skills and a new experience in Australia.

Term 1 Dates for you diary

A woman’s strength knows no bounds especially when she is serving her country.

This is an anonymous quote referring to women who enlist, train, and work within the Australian Defence Force, commonly known as the ADF.

Women have served in the ADF since 1899. The first military organisation for women in Australia was the NSW Army Nursing

Service Reserve, which saw nurses serving in the South African War. In 1903 the Australian Army Nursing Service was formed as part of the Australian Army Medical Corps. This was the only service available to women until World War 2.

In the 1940s, during the war, women served in the Australian Women’s Land Army which was formed to combat the rising labour shortages in the farming sector. The Women’s Australian National Service where women were deemed to be capable of performing duties and filling roles traditionally only available to men. The Australian Women’s Army Service which served to send only non-medical women overseas.

There was also the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service which was established out of the volunteer Red Cross and St John Ambulance.

Women were employed as drivers, canteen workers, cooks, typists, signallers and cipher clerks, veterinarians and anthropologists. They were trained on air raids and basic military drills, first aid, shooting, signalling and mechanics.

The 1950s saw the re-establishment of the Womens Royal Australian Navy Service, Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force and Womens Royal Australian Army Corps to allow women to contribute to the ADF.

The structure of the services changed in 1984 when all female personnel were completely absorbed into the mainstream forces. Men and women now share the same training establishments and are offered the same job opportunities.

In 2011 the gender restriction from ADF combat roles was removed and in 2014 the Special Air Forces Regiment opened up to women currently serving with the ADF.

To be a women in the services today means to have complete equal opportunity. Women are now judged on their knowledge, capability, aptitude and not on gender.

There are many notable women who have served in the ADF. LTCOL Vivian Bullwinkel an Australian Army Nurse who was the sole survivor of the Banka Island Massacre during WWII, in Indonesia.

Sister Mary Eleanor McGlade, known as Ellie who in 1941 enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service. She also made her way to Banka Island and was one of the 21 nurses massacred there on 16 February, 1942. I mention Ellie today as she was born in Armidale in 1902 and attended St Ursula’s Convent. When she left the convent she donated the Crucifix for the chapel which I believe remains there to this day.

Mavis Smith a WWII veteran who joined the Royal Australian Air Force. She was involved in tracking enemy submarines travelling the east coast of Australia and taught young recruits morse code.

Wing Commander Linda Corbould, a retired pilot said “I had a dream of what I wanted to do and even though Government and defence wouldn’t let me do that originally, I never gave up”. She was the first woman promoted to command a squadron.

MAJGEN Susan Coyle AM appointed as Commander Forces Command.

LTGEN Natasha Fox AO is our first three star Deputy Chief of Army now Chief of Personnel.

Just a few of the many women who have contributed substantially to our nation’s defence.

There are other women who have and continue to serve their country. Women who have never worn a uniform nor fired a rifle, they don’t have rank and they have never undergone any military training. But from 1899 to the present day they have served.

They have served as the saying goes by “keeping the home fires burning”.

The impact of war and service on the home front has been and continues to be significant. It is also at home that ordinary people do extraordinary things. Throughout the wars, jobs traditionally done by men were left to women.

During war and peace, women free the men so they can join the services. Loneliness, heartache and loss, the waiting predominantly all done by women. Mothers, wives, partners, sisters, grandmothers, and friends who love and support those who are serving, training, involved in combat, and deployed.

Pregnancy, childbirth, the raising of families, supporting other family members, management of the day-to-day running of the household, following defence members as they are posted to different locations, willingness to change jobs, relocate and find new schools, new friends, a new support system – generally it is women who carry this load.

I have no doubt that if any member who is or has been involved in the military turns to their left or right, they will see a woman who supports them. If not there in person, she would be there in your heart.

Regardless of whether they wear a uniform, women have and continue to play an important and significant role in the Australian Defence Force.

From our first three-star Chief of Personnel, LTGEN Natasha Fox, to the women who make the world a better place, I acknowledge and thank them all for what they bring to the defence force, their communities, their families, and each other.

I celebrate, honour and thank you.

Join the class of '83 in Mudgee

The Class of 1983 will on its 41st reunion since leaving PLC Armidale. 

We are getting together on Saturday 9th March at the Oriental Hotel, 6 Lewis St, Mudgee from 6pm onwards. It would be lovely to see some familiar and some not so familiar faces. We hope to see you there. 

Contact Anne Hackworthy at a.hackworthy@mail.com if you can make it. 

Calling all '74, '84 '04 and '14 alumna - are you ready to celebrate your milestone reunion? 

Let us know if you would like to be part of our reunion weekend in October. Or if you would like us to help promote your reunion.

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

Want to get together with your class?

If you are interested in joining or organising a milestone reunion group during the Reunion Weekend in October 2024, please get in touch with us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

General News

New England Conservatorium of Music News

MINISINGERS is the perfect introduction to music, singing and performance for children in Years K – 2 and is ideal for young children wishing to learn an instrument in the future.  Singing in a fun and friendly environment with others helps every young person develop their confidence, self-esteem, communication and social skills.  There are lots of fun action songs and musical games which develop skills in pitch and rhythm, concentration, co-ordination and memory.

Rehearsals take place at the Armidale Teachers’ College each Wednesday of the school term from 4:00 – 4:45pm.  Fees per term are $62.00.

CANTILENA is for students in Years 3 – 6, performing more complex unison melodies, 2 and 3-part songs and providing additional performance opportunities as the choristers gain in confidence.  Cantilena rehearsals take place at the Armidale Teachers’ College each Wednesday of the school term, from 4:00pm – 5:00pm.  Fees per term are $83.00.

Choral program members join for a whole year of activity including 9 weekly rehearsals during school terms, are guided by specialist music educators, and present concerts throughout the year.  Active and Creative Kids vouchers are accepted.  

To enrol, New Student – New England Conservatorium of Music (necom.org.au)