Lion's Roar Newsletter
Term 4 | Week 4
2024
From the Principal
MRS NICOLA TAYLOR
PRINCIPAL
As we approach the midway point of this final term of the 2024 Academic year, another Year 12 have completed their Higher School Certificate, our second Year 9 group have embarked upon the ESJ, or Explore Serve Journey residential program and PreK are busy preparing for the annual Nativity Play!
The rhythm and routine of school gives students a sense of safety and anticipation and adults a sense of purpose and predictability, the sum total of both allowing incremental progress and growth which is beneficial for all...
... continue reading here
... G.K. Chesterton (1874–1936) was an English writer, philosopher, and Christian apologist known for his sense of humour and insightful comment on faith, culture and human nature. A prolific author, he wrote essays, novels, poetry, and the Father Brown detective series!.
Chesterton also wrote much about real education being a pursuit that transcends the acquisition of facts and skills; he saw it as a deeply formative process that shapes individuals' character and values. Chesterton emphasised that education should cultivate critical thinking, moral awareness, and a sense of wonder about the world, suggesting that its true purpose is to guide young minds toward wisdom, not just knowledge.
Although this reflection was penned close to 100 years ago, his perspective aligns closely with PLC Armidale’s approach to education where the development of core values, diverse learning experiences and academic endeavour are emphasised. At PLC Armidale, our approach to education seeks to balance intellectual growth with character formation, preparing students to serve and contribute meaningfully to community. Chesterton wrote of an education which does not simply prepare students for exams or careers but equips them to engage with life in a thoughtful, respectful, and purposeful manner.
I'm not sure if GK Chesterton's works were read back in the day by staff at PLC Armidale, but they resonate today as we seek to equip girls to lead lives of significance, well-rounded, accomplished individuals ready to explore, serve, and journey into a world as changed and changing as that of Chesterton's.
“Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not an education at all.” GK Chesterton
Congratulations
Throughout the year, we want to acknowledge and celebrate the various interests and accomplishments of PLC Armidale girls. We will be aware of the experiences girls undertake to represent the College. We may not know about experiences and achievements in areas of interest outside of school. Please let our Communications and Marketing Manager, Mrs Arundale know. Mrs Arundale greatly enjoys telling the story of the quality and achievements of our PLC Armidale girls.
Congratulations to ...
...everyone who was part of New England Sings
- the event's 20th anniversary.
Our college has many connections with this unique regional event, which brings all our schools together. It was a concept proposed and championed in 2004 by our former Director of Music, Stuart Pavel (who Emceed this year's event), and our current Director of Music, Mr Matthew Minter, has been involved since the beginning (the world premiere of his commissioned work 'Towards a Winter Sky' was performed) Our music teacher, Mrs Constance Dunham, conducted the Primary Choir (her husband Warwick composed one of the other world premieres on the day- 'This is Our Home), and our alumna, Leanne Roobol, conducted the Cantilena and New England Singers. And many of our girls performed - in solos, choirs and the orchestra - including our two Year 11 students, India Smith and Arlie Bragg, who were both soloists and our Year 4 student Evelyn Nizik, who was a soloist understudy.
...our Year 10 student Navita Maher
who worked for Lovatts Magazines in the mid year break and has now had three articles published including an opinion eice on why art = freedom in the current issue of Teen Breathe Magazine - Australia's #1 mindfulness magazine for tweens and teens.
You can read her report on her Lovatts Magazine experience in the Senior School section.
... our year 10 students Emily Adams (Distinction) and Binudi Vithana (High Distinction) and our Year 11 student Nevada Guiance (High Distinction in the Year 12 Quiz and a Pin of Excellence for a perfect score in the Year 11 Quiz)
who all entered the Royal Australian Chemical Institute's prestigious International Chemistry Quiz
... Nevada Guiance
who has also been advised she has been selected for an award in the 2024 STANSW Young Scientist Award for her project 'Determining the Quenching Mechanism of a Coumarin Fluorophore by Ascorbate: Experimental Confirmation of the Inner Filter Effects' which will be presented at a ceremony on Friday 22 November in the Great Hall, University of Technology Sydney - more in our next issue!
... our Class of '24 alumni Andrea Brown
who has been promoted to Sergeant in the Air Force Cadets and offered a position as the Camp Photographer at a summer camp in Arizona, USA in 2025.
... Josie Fawcett for recieving a Highly Commended Certificate in 2024 Heywire
a lived experience storytelling competition from the ABC, for stories from young people aged between 16-22 in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Our Signature Art Prize Gallery is still open
With Christmas coming, we have decided to extend our online exhibition gallery for another 10 days. Many works have now sold, but there are still some lovely (and collectable) ones available, so if you know someone with a bare wall that's crying out for an original work to adorn it, please share this link.https://store.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au/
All profit from sales goes to our Scholarship Foundation.
Student Leaders
Lunch Orders
The full week's menu can be seen on your My Student Account via CONNECT
The deadline each day for ordering a hot meal is 10:50 am, after that cut off, both salad bar and make-your-own-sandwich options are available until 1.15 pm.However, there will be no spare hot specials available.
Junior School families are asked to contact Mrs Creamer for assistance on the day.
Senior School students will need to use their Student ID card for an on-the-spot purchase and all salad bar or make-you- own-sandwich pre bookings need to be marked off on arrival to the Dining Hall.
You can book online via CONNECT by clicking the My Student Account tile.
Senior School News
Congratulations to
....our 2024 Year 12 cohort on the completion of their HSC examinations - Ad Astra ladies!!
... our 2025 Year 12 leadership team on successfully running their first Senior School Assembly
Year 9 Explore Serve Journey
Following a week learning skills in Sawtell, community service and a weekend hiking in Cathedral Rock our Year 9 girls are busy mountain biking and prepping their food for the next epic adventure.
The Dec/Jan issue of RMWilliams OUTBACKMagazine, has a two-page feature on our ESJ program.
Year 10 Market Day
Our Year 10 cohort recently held a market day during lunch to raise money for Allowah Children's Hospital. Allowah has been providing specialty care and support for kids with complex disabilities and medical needs for more than 70 years. They provide paediatric disability support services, hospital care, respite / short-term accommodation and allied health therapies.
Through the sale of handmade goods, baked goods and pre-loved clothes and books, our girls raised more than $600.
A work of heart
During the break I had the opportunity to do a week of work experience at Lovatts Publishing on the Central Coast. It was an absolutely amazing experience in which I learned so much from. The experience offered a glimpse into the multifaceted world of publishing and it was so inspiring to see how the industry works and further provide valuable insight for possible opportunities after schooling.
During my time there, I was able to write a web article for the Teen Breathe website on “6 tips to studying success”. Through this process I was able to see different techniques used to layout a web page, make the site more accessible and easier to find and editorial work. Later on I was also able to write up an article on my personal experiences in art, that will be later published in Teen Breathe magazines later this year. This was an absolutely incredible experience and my writing being published feels like something straight out of a dream.
Art and design was by far my favourite part of the experience. Playing with different styles and techniques to find both cover art and page designs that are both appealing and impactful to the audience. I played around with different techniques both physically and through the use of apps such as Photoshop and InDesign, learning what goes into choosing the covers (such as what is trending, upcoming events, etc).
I was also able to conduct an interview for a web article on a teen director going into the film industry, had the opportunity to reply to fan comments and emails, work in marketing, and do social media work. Learning how to create content and drive public engagement.
Overall, this experience was a whirlwind of learning opportunities. It helped me to develop a new, diverse set of skills and strengthened my love for writing and all that goes into it. The experience has taught me that effective publishing requires a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, strong communication and an eye for detail. I am beyond grateful for this amazing opportunity and hoping for more possible opportunities like this in the future and help to pave the way for a future in Journalism.
Navita Maher - Year 10
Far Out Science
Our Year 7 girls visited UNE for a day of hands-on experiment chellenge workshops where students get to see what happens in real university science laboratories with the scientists who are at the forefront of research and education.
They also gained an understanding of chemistry in our everyday lives, connected neural pathways in neuroscience, learned about the science of food, tried to unravel forensics, built a rocket launcher, and discovered other amazing things in physics, sports science, botany, agriculture, maths and IT.
Year 7 Fun Fair Fundraiser
2024 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza Report
This year’s Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza included a team of 7 students, 2 Led heifers and 3 Led steers. A huge thankyou to the Woods family for their continued support and donation of a steer to the PLC Livestock team.
Our team also featured our own home-bred Simmental heifer Flick, with the rest of the cattle bred and supplied from Tim and Briony.
Day 1 of Scone Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza.
The girls participated in a fun, engaging interactive session with Australian Meat Processor Corporation on the technology and opportunities in the Red Meat Industry, activities included VR activities of meat cuts and a challenge of packing meat cuts. Steers and Heifers were weighed in and students attended educational sessions, the older girls participated in the ICMJ Meat judging competition at JBS Scone and the younger girls spent time washing and preparing the cattle ready for Steer/Heifer judging and Paraders.
Day 2 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza was Led Steer/Heifer classes, Paraders and Interactive Unled Judging at the Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre.
Unfortunately no ribbons with the Steers/Heifers but the girls shone and were competitive in huge age groups with a couple of hundred kids in each.
Paraders Competition:
12/13 years age group:
• Nylah Webb - 2nd (heat #1)
• Anna Blake - 4th (heat #6)
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14 years age group:
• Izzy Macrae - 4th (heat #1)
• Imogen Scanlon -2nd (heat #6)
• Darcie Finlayson - 4th (heat #7)
Day 3 Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza saw the Young Judges competitions today and pack up to head home.
The young judge’s competition involved the competitors judging 3 classes of cattle, a steer, heifer and bull class.
We had 2 PLC Armidale students get through to speak on the class of Angus bulls.
- Isobel Macrae placed 3rd overall in her 14 years age group.
- Lily McCosker won her 17/18 years age group and then brought home the title
of age group champion!
Huge congratulations to both girls and our whole team on a very successful weekend.
Briony Looker
STOP PRESS - Carcase Result Update!!
We’re so excited to announce that our own Homebred Simmental x Hereford heifer, Veronica has taken out Reserve Champion Prime Led Heifer
Our PLC Armidale Steer Hank V2 Bred and donated by The Woods Family also took out 5th place in Class 15.
Junior School News
Congratulations to ...
... Pre-K for their First Prize winning Dinosaur Garden entry
in the New England Garden Festival last weekend.
... our Year 3 student Phila Wang
who performed in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall recently as part of the Suzuki 46th Graduation. Phila graduated for Suzuki Cello Book 1& 2.
She attended with Raymond Wang who is Year 5 at TAS.
... all our Junior School Assembly Award recipients
You can find a gallery of our Term 3 Junior School Award winners HERE on our Parent Portal
Junior School Representative Council fundraisers
Icy Poles will be sold during lunchtime on Tuesdays and Thursdays for just $1 each this term.
It’s a great way for the students to cool off and enjoy a treat while raising money.
Our popular Pizza Friday fundraiser will also continue until further notice. Available pizza options include Ham and Cheese, Hawaiian, Meatlovers, and Vegetarian, with slices priced at $2.50 each. Please remember to send your child's money and order to their class teacher on Friday mornings.
We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing the students enjoy these fun activities!
Boarding Life
Sam and Amy Jacometti
HEADS OF BOARDING
Boarding House Buzz: Spring Edition
The boarding house has been alive with activity as we embrace the warmer weather and seasonal transition. Our Year 12s have completed their HSC examinations and are gradually moving out, leaving us with bittersweet emotions as we celebrate their achievements while looking forward to their bright futures ahead.
Community spirit has been flourishing, particularly during our recent Sunday afternoon BBQ. Boarders gathered around the firepit, sharing stories and laughter while mastering the art of marshmallow roasting – some more successfully than others! These informal gatherings have become cherished moments that strengthen our boarding house bonds.
It's been wonderful to see so many of our girls enthusiastically participating in co-curricular activities. Touch football has emerged as a particular favourite, with an impressive number of boarders heading down to represent the school in regular games. Their dedication and team spirit have been truly inspiring, arranging some training beforehand and supporting each other..
We've introduced some elegant touches to enhance our daily dining experience. The addition of tablecloths and new table caddies – complete with water jugs, napkins, and salt and pepper grinders – has transformed our dining hall into an even more welcoming space for our shared meals.
Looking ahead to the festive season, we're delighted to announce our Annual Boarders Christmas Dinner, scheduled for December 5th. This cherished tradition brings our boarding community together for a special evening of celebration. Keep an eye out for formal invitations, which will be distributed shortly.
The joy of boarding life continues to shine through in every activity and shared moment. We're looking forward to celebrating the year's achievements and making more memories together at the Christmas dinner, where our boarding family will gather one last time before the holiday break.
It's these moments – from casual Sunday BBQs to formal dinners, from sporting achievements to daily meals – that make our boarding house a true home away from home.
The start of a new term always brings a sense of anticipation and promise. Our dorms are once again filled with laughter, chatter, and the unmistakable buzz of friendships being rekindled and forged anew. It's a joy to see suitcases being unpacked, rooms coming to life with personal touches, and the dining hall humming with animated conversations about holiday adventures.
We would like to formally welcome our new Boarding Prefect, Poppy McLaren to the role. Poppy has already shown that she’s highly motivated to bring new and creative ideas to our boarding community and we look forward to supporting her in these goals.
Whether you're working on a tough assignment, playing in a house match, or just hanging out with friends, there's always something happening in boarding.
Sam and Amy Jacometti
See all photos for the term in our
Creative and Performing Arts News
Mrs Jo Wysel
HEAD OF CAPA
Congratulations to….
... the cast of Mary Poppins
After a rigorous and fun-filled audition and callback process, we are delighted to share the cast list for the 2025 PLC production of Mary Poppins. We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented students at PLC Armidale, and there are so many wonderful roles for everyone.
Rehearsals will officially begin in Term 1 next year. However, we will have a gathering on Wednesday, 20 November, in the Astra Arts Centre, starting at 5:00 pm. This will include a full script read-through, followed by a pizza dinner ($5 will be charged to your account), and then a viewing of Mary Poppins the musical. Please register your daughter's attendance HERE
Performance dates for Mary Poppins in 2025
Tuesday, June 17 - Preview; Wednesday, June 18 -Schools Matinee; Thursday, June 19 -Opening Night; Friday, June 20- Evening Performance; Saturday, June 21 -Matinee Performance; Saturday, June 21 - Closing Night Performance.
Visual Arts HSC Marked This Week
This week, we had the HSC Itinerant Markers come to our school to assess the HSC Visual Arts Major Works. Well done to Mrs Schaeffer and the Year 12 artists who have worked so hard over the past year to complete their Major Works!
Sport News
Congratulations to ....
...our Year 9 student Trista Dorrian
who played in the Northern Foundation Champion of Champions in Inverell - an event that brings the top 16 junior tennis players in each age group from the Northwest and North Coast to compete against each other. Trista won all of her U16s games and has qualified for the NSW State Country Champions of Champions in Sydney at the end of November, as the Northern NSW top seed. This is a fantastic result after a year of hard work and commitment by Trista in a very tough age group.
Trista has also been accepted into the NIAS Future Stars Program following an interview with the NIAS CEO to discuss her past achievements and goals.
The program brings together all components of being an elite athlete including, fitness, nutrition, public speaking, sports psychology, injury prevention, and strength and conditioning. Ad Astra Trista!!
our Year 9 student Elise Tisserand
who competed at the Sydney Invitational Rythmic Gymnastics Competition recently in the Level 4 category - and achieved Gold on Ribbon and Silver on Hoop.
our Year 5 student Isabella Wyatt and our Year 9 student Lillian Meredith,
... who represented PLC Armidale well at the recent Inter-Schools Horse Extravaganza (ISHE).
Lilly took two horses Riverglen Dreams - Reserve Champion Open Hack,1st open Hack 15.2 to 16hh, 1st pairs, 1st team of 4, 2nd team mug, 3rd in camp draft ( out of 78 riders), 4th in the working challenge (out of 89 riders), 1st pole bend, 2nd flag, 4th barrel and 5th stock rider; 🏇🏻🐴and Meridians Gunman - 3rd combine training, 8th jumping 60cm, 5th working challenge (out of 89 riders) and 3rd barrel.
Isabella was 1st in the 10-year Flag Race and Western Pole Bend, 2nd in Barrels, 3rd in Stock Rider and 5th in Bending
Book Now
Our 2024 Senior School Celebration of Sport will be on Friday, November 29, and our guest speaker will be Australian High Jumping champion Nicola Lauren Olyslagers.
Nicola won the silver medal in the high jump at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics and the bronze medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Olyslagers is the current high jump Oceanian record holder and the world champion at the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Sporting Commitments Reminder
A friendly reminder about the importance of honoring the commitments your daughters have made to their chosen sports activities. With such a busy term, it's crucial to prioritise these initial commitments. If an unavoidable conflict arises, please ensure they email the coordinating teacher and inform their coach. Thank you for supporting your daughters in this matter.
Please, at any stage if you are unsure of anything or need clarification, send me an email ldonaldson@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au and I will endeavor to get back to you as soon as possible.
Alternatively, Mrs Stephanie Fahy at the Senior School Reception senior_school_administration@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au will be able to assist as well.
Health News
Healthy Eating and Nutrition
There are several resources that are available to learn more about Healthy Eating. Parents are encouraged to look into this where applicable.
Alternatively, purchasing lunches from the Dining Hall is also a convenient option.
Medicare details and medications in Edumate
It would be much appreciated if all parents/carers can check your daughters' Edumate details, especially for any medical updates, current medications and their medicare details. Please update the Edumate data to notify the school for any changes, or simply email us with any updates.
Health Centre opening hours
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30am to 3:30pm - Emily
Tuesday and Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm - Amy
Contact number: 02 6770 1741. Email: health@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
P&F News
Sarah Yassine
P&F President
Your liaison parent will advise how you can be involved this term, especially with Guild Drama! Also, if you are curious about the role of liaison parent for 2025, please get in touch for more information!
Thanks for your support in 2024.
We value your ideas and contributions - if you would like to raise anything please get in touch at
GREEN TARTAN
ALUMNAE NEWS
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 for 2025, please get in touch with us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
Congratulations to our Class of 2017 alumna and Head Prefect, Dr Ragavi Jeyakumar, who has been announced as the NSW RHODES SCHOLAR for 2025.
After achieving a 99.75 ATAR, coming in the 100th percentile for the Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test, Dr Jeyakumar completed her Bachelor of Medical Studies, Bachelor of Medical Science (Hons) Class I and Doctor of Medicine studies at UNSW in 2023 and is currently working as a junior doctor at Liverpool Hospital. 🥰
A former Rhodes Scholar, Professor Merlin Crossley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Quality at UNSW said: “The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and one of the most prestigious international scholarship programs, enabling young people to study at Oxford University.
"Ragavi is a brilliant student. I look forward to seeing her continue to excel academically and apply what she has learned to advance health care in rural communities.”
Only 100 Rhodes Scholarships are given out world-wide each year, and of these, nine distinguished Australians are selected to pursue graduate study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Ad Astra Ragavi!
General News
PLC Armidale Uniform Shop - Summer Holiday Opening Times
Last Week of Summer Holidays
Thursday, January 23 by appointment and Friday, January 24 Open 9am to 12 pm
Boarders return, and PLC Armidale 2025 Welcome Barbecue
Tuesday, January 28: open 2pm -4pm
Students First Day Back for 2025
Wednesday, January 29 open 8am-11am
Keep your children safe online
We have signed up with the team at Safe on Social to give our parents a 20 percent discount on the new eReady Kids program.
Simply use the code plcarmidale24
Which will reduce the cost of the program to only $38 per year. The school will also get $5 for every family who signs up.
For more information about the program and to purchase, please visit: https://www.safeonsocial.com/ereadykids
