As Term 2 draws to a close, with the memories of Mary Poppins the Musical still fresh in our minds and the impact of the musical as a school production captured so well in Beatrice Austen’s review in the New England Times www.netimes.com.au/category/news/events/localevents/review/, it’s worth pausing to reflect on why this story, and the woman behind it, is of relevance to a school like ours. Helen Lyndon Goff was born in Queensland as the 19th Century was drawing to a close. Her childhood years spent in Bowral then Ashfield were marked by struggle—the loss of her father, family upheaval, and the quiet complexity of growing up between worlds. Helen knew early the power of imagination to transform hardship. Moving to London, then reinventing herself as P.L. Travers, she became a writer, a traveller, a seeker. Travers once wrote, “You do not chop off a section of your imaginative substance and make a book with it. You make a book out of your whole self.” It is this wholeheartedness that shines through Mary Poppins.
Mary Poppins herself arrives not to offer escape, but to restore what truly matters: connection, character, and care. She helps the Banks family rediscover each other—not through grand gestures, but through attentiveness, accountability, and wonder. In this way, her story echoes our own values at PLC Armidale.
Ours is a place where girls are not simply educated, but formed—through challenge and encouragement, through community and character. The journey is not always smooth. Growth rarely is. But, like Jane and Michael, our girls are invited to become more fully themselves: courageous, compassionate, capable.
Mary Poppins reminds us that transformation begins in small moments. A hand held. A question asked. A standard upheld. These are the little things that grow into lives of purpose and integrity.In every classroom,the boarding house, sport fields and performance spaces, we see this unfolding. Girls finding their voices. Learning to lead. Asking better questions. Taking the next right step.
To all who have played a part this term—students, staff, families, and friends—thank you. Enjoy a well deserved rest, marvel at the beauty of a New England frosty morning and take time to connect with others over the break. Looking ahead, Semester Two provides further opportunity to plant and nurture the seeds which in time help each girl grow and flourish.
As Mary Poppins reminds us:
“Anything can happen if you let it.”
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.
who has been selected to be part of the inaugural Regional Youth Orchestra NSW (RYO NSW) international tour to Europe during the break, participating in the prestigious Summa Cum Laude Youth Orchestra Festival in Vienna, as well as performances in Salzburg, Linz, Wachau Valley, and Berlin. The orchestra is comprised of 55 young musicians aged 13-22 from various regional NSW conservatoriums, and students from the New England Conservatorium of Music (NECOM) make up nearly 20 per cent of the cohort.
Pictured above - Bridie performed with the orchestra in the Farewell Concert on Friday night at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
who raised more than $300 for the Armidale Women's Shelter with their Winter Woolies Fundraiser this week. See all the photos HERE
The 2025 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) has commenced! This year we encourage all PLC Armidale girls from Kindergarten to Year 10 to participate in the Challenge.
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.
The Challenge runs until Friday August 22 and any books read this year from January 1 can be included in your “books read” tally.
Students in Years 7-10 will be provided with a username and password for the PRC site to record the books they have read. They will be given information on how to choose books for the PRC in their English class and will need to read 20 books to meet the requirements of the challenge.
More information on the Challenge can be found at here: https://online.education.nsw.gov.au/prc/home.html
Mrs Fiona Wake
Head of Junior School
Our Years 3-6 girls took to the stage with their high-energy Mash Up performance for three performances.
We welcomed Year 5 and 6 girls to join our PLC Armidale Stage 3 students for our Mary Poppins Experience Day and Sleepover. These special moments are more than just a visit, they offer a window into the warmth, spirit and sisterhood that make up the culture of our school. The Magic of PLC Armidale was on full display, as our students share the everyday experiences that shape who we are.
Our Pre-K Girls came to school in their Warmest Winter Woolies for the last day of term 2, they dressed in bright and cozy oodies and accessorised with fluffy scarves and beanies.
It has been an exciting and action-packed winter sport season, and we’re only halfway through! Our teams have been braving chilly afternoon training sessions and even colder Saturday mornings with enthusiasm and determination.
A heartfelt thank you to all our incredible coaches who generously dedicate their time to coaching our teams. Your support in helping our students develop their skills, and your presence on the sidelines every Saturday morning, offering encouragement and guidance, is truly appreciated.
In Hockey, both our U8 and U12 teams have enjoyed building their skills while playing with their friends. The U8s have had a fantastic time learning to dribble, pass, and hit the ball with accuracy. A memorable highlight was playing against Harlies, a strong team, where our girls showcased solid defensive play. Another fond memory was when they secured their first win of the season.
Our U12s team has made significant improvements since the 2024 season. The girls reflected on their play, identifying that last year, they struggled to score goals. This year, they’ve scored many and even won several games, including a standout victory against NEGS in their penultimate game of Term 2. Highlights for the team include learning to work together as a cohesive unit and ensuring everyone gets a turn in goal.
Our Netball season started slowly but has gained momentum as teams and divisions have been finalised. It has been wonderful to see so many girls show courage and determination as they try Netball for the first time. Despite having just enough players to form a team and several girls new to the sport, our Netball Go team has enjoyed their weekly games, demonstrating impressive teamwork, camaraderie, and noticeable improvements in team positioning and passing.
Their highlights include receiving support and encouragement from the coaches, improved teamwork across the season leading to better defence, passing, and goal shooting, and the opportunity to experience and play in each position. The girls all feel they’ve gained confidence in their abilities and are looking forward to further skill development.
Our PLC Red team has been focusing on refining their defence, passing, and shooting. Some of their highlights include playing against more skilled teams, which, while challenging, has helped them improve their abilities; developing stronger defensive strategies, resulting in increased intercepts and turnovers; learning to work together more effectively as a team; and winning their first two games of the season, which was a nice confidence boost.
In Junior School PE lessons, our Stage 1 and Stage 2 students have been fortunate to be coached by our senior school PASS class. They’ve loved seeing the ‘big girls’ every fortnight and have appreciated their fun, friendly, and encouraging approach. Stage 2 students have developed their discus skills and tackled the intimidating high jump bar, while also participating in Aboriginal Cultural Games. Meanwhile, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Stage 1 students have been working on their throwing, catching, bouncing, receiving, kicking, trapping, and dribbling skills, with a variety of games and explicit instruction to support their progress.
Overall, it’s been an exciting and rewarding Term 2 for our Junior School athletes. The growth in skill, teamwork, and confidence across all sports has been admirable. We look forward to the remainder of the season and are excited to see our students continue to shine both on and off the field. A big thank you again to all the coaches, parents, and supporters who make these experiences possible for our students. Here's to finishing the season strong!
Term 3 Commencement Tuesday, 22 July
Each week in our Junior School Chapel Service we award our students for achievement in academic, leadership and service pursuits.
Congratulations girls!
See photos HERE
K–2: Tartan kilt with bib, long white blouse, blazer, tie, long green socks or leggings, straw hat for formal occasions only.
Years 3–6: Tartan kilt (no bib), long white blouse, blazer, tie, long green socks or leggings.
All students: Black polished lace-up school shoes (preferred), green hair ribbon.
PLC Armidale track pants, sports shirt, blue polo. Shorts may be worn if preferred.
Please arrive via the Junior School Foyer after 8:15am when supervision begins.
Afternoon collection is from the gate only unless picking up early (sign-out via the Foyer).
Library bags are required for borrowing.
K–2 may borrow 2–3 books; Years 3–6 at teacher discretion.
Please refer to the Library Schedule to ensure books are returned on time.
Library Schedule: Tuesday - Pre K and Stage 2; Thursday - Stage 3; Friday - Stage 1 and Kindergarten
We continue to prioritise student wellbeing with Wellio, a digital platform offering tailored learning sequences in PDH. Led by Penny Kempton and Stage 3 teachers, the girls are engaging enthusiastically in their weekly sessions.
Topics for the term include: Controlling our Emotions; Mindfulness in Action; Combating Worry, Stress & Anxiety; From Strangers to Friends; Communication Styles; Asking for Help
These lessons support students in navigating their social world with confidence and clarity.
Mrs Kate Clynch
Head of Senior School
On Wednesday, June 25, many of our students from Years 7 to 12 headed off to Tamworth to enjoy a Hawaiian-themed social with peers from NEGS and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School. Pōmaikaʻi, girls, and we hope you had leʻaleʻa. See more photos HERE
Our Year 10 families gathered in person and via livestream in our Astra Arts Centre for our Stage 6 Information Night to learn more about our Year 11 and 12 program for 2026.
College Principal, Mrs Nicola Taylor, gave an overview which included strategies for an enjoyable and successful HSC journey before our Heads of Faculty outlined more than 40 subjects on offer as well as Distance Education opportunities, before specialist teachers presented on what to expect in their subjects areas, why you should consider them, and discussed how they equip your daughter for a life of significance.
Key Senior School Staff
Head of Senior School - Mrs Kate Clynch
Academic Leadership Team: Director of Studies - Mrs Julie Flanagan; Head of Humanities - Mr Mitchell Clendinning; Head of STEM - Mr Jonathon Shumack ; Head of Creative and Performing Arts - Mrs Joanne Wysel ; Director of Music - Mr Matthew Minter; Director of Sport - Mrs Lucy Donaldson.
Senior School Administration - Mrs Stephanie Fahy
Pastoral Care Staff
The purpose of the Pastoral Care model at PLC Armidale is to ensure that every girl is known and nurtured and that parents have a member of staff they can contact regarding any well-being issues that may arise. Wherever possible, our Year Patrons remain with students on their journey throughout Senior School. In addition, a Year Specialist has been allocated to assist students in each year group. Patrons and Specialists are also ably assisted by their PC team.
Year 7 - Patron: Sophie Westermarck; Specialist: Jennifer Leahy; Team: Aaron Creamer
Year 8 - Patron: Mitchell Clendinning; Specialist: Grace Welch; Team: Marilyn Faithfull
Year 9 - Patron: Emma Schaeffer; Specialist: Amanda Burney; Team: Roxanne Shumack
Year 10 - Patron: Jo Wysel; Specialist: Matthew Minter; Team: Josh Tuohy
Year 11 - Patron: Kate Fittler; Specialist: Jonathon Shumack; Team: Greg Cotterell, Margarita Perez
Year 12 - Patron: Yvette Ballard; Specialist: Julie Flanagan; Team: Ruth Patrick
Pathways - Angela Priebbenow
You can also find more information on the Parent/Carer Intranet via CONNECT HERE
The Senior School Handbook also contains details of requirements for stationery for students, as well as details for uniform, IT requirements and general information about life in the Senior School. You can find the Senior School Handbook on the Parent/Carer Intranet via CONNECT HERE
Sam and Amy Jacometti
Heads of Boarding
Mrs Joanne Wysel
Head of Creative and Performing Arts. (CAPA)
We love celebrating our students' achievements! Whether you are excelling in Drama, Dance, Music, or Visual Arts, we want to acknowledge your incredible efforts and share them with the wider school community. Please let us know about your successes so we can recognise them at assemblies and in our newsletters. 2025 is already shaping up to be an outstanding year in Creative and Performing Arts, and we can’t wait to see what our talented students achieve.
We love seeing students embrace their creativity, challenge themselves, and support each other.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s make this a year to remember!
Congratulations to the following girls who competed individually in the 2025 Armidale Eisteddfod. The acts of preparation and participation make you winners no matter the result.
Thank you, parents, for sending these results to us. We will have a final wrap-up of all the PLC Armidale Senior School's eisteddfod success in the first issue of Term 3 - if you would like us to include your daughter's individual entry success in this issue, please send the information and a photo to communications@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
FIRST Vocal Solos - Vocal Solo, Folk Song or Ballad 13 Years & Under
SECOND Vocal Solos - Vocal Solo, 13 Years & Under
THIRD Vocal Solos - Vocal Solo, Australian Composition 13 Years & Under
THIRD Vocal Solos - Vocal Solo, Sacred 13 Years & Under
THIRD Music & Vocal Championships - New England Vocal Age Championship 12 Years & Under
SECOND Music Solos - Piano Solo, Restricted AMEB Grades 3 & 4 Level
THIRD Music Duos/Trios - Piano Duet/Trio 13 Years & Under (with Hansali Dammalage)
SECOND Speech & Drama Solos - Prose Recital, Solo 11 Years
HIGHLY COMMENDED Speech & Drama Solos - Verse Speaking, Solo 11 Years & Over, Primary
FIRST Duet on contrasting instruments (Violin and Piano)
FIRST Vocal Solo Musical Theatre, Disney film, Television Open
Adjudicater Award Cello/Double Bass Years 7 – 12
Champion - Compostion
Champion Strings AMEB Grade 7&8
SECOND Speech and Drama Solo - Verse Speaking solo 16 to 23
SECOND Speech and Drama Solo - Impromptu Speech Years 10-12
SECOND Speech and Drama Solo - Impromptu Prose Reading Solo 16 to 23 Years
FIRST Speech and Drama Solos - Character Sketch, Solo 16-23 Years, Non Shakespeare
THIRD Speech and Drama Solos - Public Speaking, Prepared Speech 16 to 23 years
EQUAL SECOND in 15-23 years Speech and Drama Championship.
FIRST Piano Duet 9 yrs and under;
FIRST Piano Solo, Post 1950 AMEB Grades 2 & under;
THIRD Piano Duet 11 yrs and under;
THIRD Piano Solo AMEB Grades 3&4
HIGHLY COMMENDED Piano Solo AMEB Grades 1 & 2
SECOND Piano Solo Novice Yr K-4;
THIRD Piano Solo 7 yrs & under;
HIGHLY COMMENDED Piano Solo 8 yrs and under.
SECOND in the Vocal Solo
FIRST in the Vocal duet with sister Grace
FIRST for orginal composition K-6
FIRST 11 years and under any instrument (except piano or organ)
FIRST 13 years and under playing an Australian composer any instrument (except voice)
FIRST in the Vocal duet with sister Maddison
FIRST - Verse Speaking 11 Years & over
FIRST in Sacred Vocal Solo
SECOND in Vocal Solo, and Highly Commended in Musical Theatre
SECOND Vocal Age Championship.
HIGHLY COMMENDED -Vocal Solo Musical Theatre, Disney film, Television under 10
FIRST Vocal Solo Musical Theatre, Disney film, Television under 10
FIRST Vocal duet with April Ferguson - Year 5
THIRD Vocal Solo Musical Theatre, Disney film, Television under 10
FIRST Music Solos - Woodwind Solo, Novice Years 3-6,
SECOND - in a Chinese national competition, and will compete in the finals held in Japan in July.
In Week 2 of Term 3, we will hold the second In House Concert for the year on Wednesday 30 July. There will be two concerts, one at 5:00pm and the second at 6:15pm (Please note time changes back to our normal concert times).
To register your daughter please complete this Googel Form by Friday, 4 July.
Please contact Mrs Constance Dunham cdunham@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au or Mr Matthew Minter mminter@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au should you require additional information.
To sign up for this concert, please click here: https://forms.gle/bqXXVVh1HPCnxDLT9
Mrs Lucy Donaldson
Head of Sport
The following students played for the Hockey New England Representative Teams in the U16 Girls State Championships in Illawarra last week. Well done to Ava Notley and Lily Donaldson (U16s Blues) whose team came 5th overall in Division 1, and Evie Mathews, Amelia Webb, Bec McMahon, Pippi and Mary Notley (U16s Pink) - whose Division 3 team played a massive 7 games during the weekend.
who was also selected to play in the U16s NSW squad.
who is competed as part of the CIS 16s Rugby 7s team at the NSWSRU All Schools Rugby 7s Championships in Sydney last week.
who had a fantastic run at the 2025 CIS Cross Country Championships finishing 20th in a field of 62 runners with a time of 13.47.5
IGSA Hockey & Netball Trip 1:
1-2 August
IGSA Athletics Carnival:
21-22 August
IGSA Hockey & Netball Trip 2:
29-30 August
IGSA Hockey & Netball Finals:
19-20 September
Please note that our team accommodation for the first IGSA hockey and netball trip (and possibly the other trips) will be at the Mercure Hotel, Parramatta
As always, if at any stage you are unsure of anything or need clarification, send me an email at 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 will be able to assist as well. Email seniorschool@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
To help protect everyone at our school, we kindly remind all staff and students to wash their hands frequently. Keeping our hands clean is a simple yet powerful step to reduce the spread of illnesses.
Please ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, please use hand sanitiser.
Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all at our school.
Just a friendly reminder to all parents: if you haven’t already, please remember to send through your child’s most recent immunisation statement as soon as possible. This is important for ensuring their school records are up to date. Thank you for your cooperation.
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.
The Parent Portal can be access through the CONNECT page at connect.plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
Sarah Yassine
P&F President
The date for the Whole School Signature Fete has been confirmed for Friday, 29 November.
We've already had a fantastic response, but we’d love to hear from even more of you! If you’re not quite sure how you can get involved, feel free to email us at pandf@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au.
to discuss all things Fete. Come along for a drink and a chat—everyone’s welcome, and we’d love your enthusiasm and ideas!
Lastly, please mark your calendars for
which will be held in Term 3, Week 2 (Tuesday 29th of July at 5:30 PM) in the Boardroom or via Zoom. As always, everyone is welcome.
Passcode: 919789
If you have any questions, please get in touch at pandf@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
Opening hours
Tuesday 8:30am to 11:30am
Thursday 1:00pm to 4:30pm
Phone: 02 6770 1703
You do not need to make an appointment but it might be helpful.
Appointments can be booked on the website https://www.noone.com.au/school/plc-armidale/stores or scan the QR code.
Online Shopping via https://www.noone.com.au/school/plc-armidale/
Or just drop in....
You can find the Autumn edition of the Green Tartan HERE
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
If you are interested in joining or organising a milestone reunion group during the Reunion Weekend on 22/23 August 2025, please get in touch with us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au
Donations will provide scholarships for the 2027 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.