Congratulations to ...

Senior School Staff Favourite Reads and Biggest Adventures - can you guess who they belong to?

Junior School students also had the opportunity to compete in a similar competition, matching Junior School staff to their favourite childhood reads.

In the Junior School there were activities run in the library each day, and Thursday was the Book Week dress up parade. There were princesses, dragons, Where’s Wallys, owls, piglets, Charlotte (from Charlotte’s web), Leeli (from the Wingfeather Saga) and many, many more amazing costumes. Thank you to all parents and guardians for helping your daughters look amazing in their costumes for the Book Week parade.

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2025 K-10

Congratulations to Emilyne Creamer in Year 9 who has completed the 2025 Premier’s Reading Challenge in the last two weeks.

Please make sure that you hand your PRC reading log form to Miss Muggeridge (JS students only) or complete your online reading log by Friday 19 September 2025 (Term 3 Week 9). If you miss this deadline, you may not receive your PRC certificate.

To add to your PRC reading log, access the PRC Student Experience Portal here.

IF (also a great poem by Rudyard Kipling):

You’ve forgotten your username and password, please email me (Miss Muggeridge, fmuggeridge@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au) to ask for them to be re-sent.

You need help finding your next read for the Challenge, try one of these lists for books you can borrow from the PLC libraries:

Books for students in K-2

Books for students in years 3-4

Books for students in years 5-6

Books for students in years 7-9

Books for students in year 9+

Your online PRC record doesn’t show all your previously completed Challenges please email me (Miss Muggeridge, fmuggeridge@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au) as soon as possible with details of the schools at which you completed each year’s challenge and I will contact the PRC team to have your PRC accounts merged.

Essential information to make the most of your library

Library Catalogue, Oliver

The library catalogue, Oliver, is available to view from Connect, or click here to view it now. 

Login with your PLC username and password at the top, right of the screen to renew, reserve or review.

Junior Library days:

• Pre-K: Thursdays

• Kinder: Thursdays

• Stage 1: Fridays

• Stage 2: Tuesdays

• Stage 3 Fridays

Please help your daughter make sure she has her library bag at school with her on the correct day, so she can borrow from the library during library class time. If she does not currently have a library bag, you can purchase one from the PLCA Uniform Shop.

Senior Library opening hours (Term Time only):

Monday-Thursday 8.30am-4.30pm

Friday 8.30am-4pm

If you woulld like to share a review of a book with the rest of our readers - please send it to fmuggeridge@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Junior School News

Mrs Fiona Wake

Head of Junior School

Winter Uniform:

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.

Winter Sports Uniform:

PLC Armidale track pants, sports shirt, blue polo. Shorts may be worn if preferred.

Pick Up and Drop Off:

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 Reminders:

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.

Reading is a cornerstone of learning, and we encourage a love of books through access, choice, and regular reading time.

Library Schedule: Tuesday - Pre K and Stage 2; Thursday - Stage 3; Friday - Stage 1 and Kindergarten

Student Wellbeing – Wellio Program:

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

2025 NSW Merino Wether Challenge 

Briony Looker and Tim Light collaborated with our girls to prepare four merino wethers over the last six months. 

Recently, our team of girls and wethers attended the 2025 NSW Merino Wether Challenge and participated in educational activities and events at the Dubbo Showground throughout the week, as well as site and industry visits to Roseville Park Merino Stud, Fletchers International, GeneStock genetics Laboratory, and Dubbo Saleyards. 

Working alongside a wool harvesting team to see and feel the fleeces during weighing gave them a hands-on activity whilst examining the fleece test results. Micron, fleece weight, length and soundness combine to determine the value of each fleece, contributing to the overall value calculated for each animal.  Our PLC Armidale team achieved the highest wool value score in Zone 1 !

Stage 6 Hospitality Practical Assessment

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

Boarding News

Sam and Amy Jacometti

Heads of Boarding

See photos in the Boarding Life photo gallery HERE

SPORT News

Mrs Lucy Donaldson

Head of Sport

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

Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) News

Mrs Jo Wysel

Head of Creative and Performing Arts

Starry Night of Creative and Performing Arts is coming up! 

Starry Day for Junior School - Friday 5th September as part of Grandparent’s Day. Look out for a note coming soon about your daughter’s involvement in the Starry Day Concert for Junior School.

Starry Night in the Senior School will commence at 5:30pm on Friday, 5 September. Look out for a note for your or your daughter’s involvement in our fabulous show.

Some dates for your diaries:

Grandparents Day and Creative and Performing Arts celebrations - Friday, 5  September

• Starry Day - 11am - 12.30pm 

• Starry Night - 5.30pm - 7.30pm 

HSC Music Showcase - 9 September

Oeuvre - a showcase of all HSC Major Work - Friday, 12 September

String Soiree: Term 4 - TBC

Pathways News

Mrs Kirsten Hey

Director

Our Pathways international students have been busy writing as an exercise to help improve their wonderful English skills - along with an excursion to experience our local winer night markets and the delight of a Dagwood Dog!

Winter Night Markets

Last Friday, I went to the Armidale Winter Night Market with my friends after school.

We walked together and laughed a lot. There were many stalls, and I could smell yummy food in the air. I was very happy to be with my friends there.

The best part was the food. We shared hot dumplings that were juicy and yummy. We also bought egg waffles and a soufflé that was tasty. After that, we had pizza, fried rice, and drank a tin of cold Coke. Everything was so yummy that we felt happy.

The Winter Night Market was amazing. Going there with my friends made it more special. I really hope we can go again!

Sophia

We went to the Armidale Winter night market last Friday. It made me really excited because this was my first time going out to play with my friends from PLCA. Mrs Hey drove us to the showground and there was a lot of delicious food. We had a very nice time there, we tried a lot of different foods and I now have made some good memories.

Jessica

Last Friday, all the Pathways girls went to Night Markets. We took many photos there and we bought many delicious foods and some small things in Winter Night Markets, for example egg waffles, dumplings and two pairs of earrings. The egg waffles had many flavours, but we all chose the Oreo flavour The soft egg waffles were filled with ice cream and Oreo crumbs, and topped with chocolate bars. It was so delicious.��

The dumplings were pork and chives, these are my favourite. They have the taste of my hometown. The dumplings with vinegar were also so so so delicious! ! !��

Iris

My First Day at School

Last Monday, my first day in PLCA. I saw Mrs Hey was squatting on the way I came to Pathways. While I moved closer I noticed there was a little bunny, which was brown and looked just like a stone in the landscape. Mrs Hey was just taking photos using her phone. Mrs Hey wanted me to have a group photo with the bunny, so I approached it slowly and carefully. But when there was just a metre between us, the bunny ran away. The bunny was more alert than a monument, so we went back to the classroom. After a few minutes, Miss

Priebbenow came and found out what had just happened. She went outside, and came back with that bunny in her hand. She handed it to me so that I could take a photo with it.

In the next four days, we continued searching for the bunny and tried to learn more about it. Surprisingly, Mrs Hey found three bunnies together on Thursday. So we predicted that there was a mommy rabbit with at least three baby bunnies lived in the bushes. But unfortunately, we didn’t see any bunnies this week. I thought they might realise that someone acted near their house, so they left here.

Thomas

Starting school in August

The first day in school I felt both excited and sad because my parents did not come to Australia with me, so I had to live alone at school from that time. But at the same time, I was able to come to a new school and meet new classmates and roommates. When I first arrived at school, I always missed home. My parents and my sister missed me, too. But as time went by, I gradually adapted to the school environment and integrated well into the school. I made some Chinese friends as well as Australian friends. On the weekends, I always go to town and buy something useful or some food. Last month, I celebrated my classmate’s birthday.

Everyone was very happy.

Jena

I really expected to start school in Australia when I studied in China. Before I left my school, I thought maybe I can make some Japanese friends or Australian friends. I imagined that my English will improve quickly.

But when I came here, I knew my imaginings were wrong. All of my classmates were Chinese. And most of them knew each other before. It was too hard to get along with them.

On the one hand, all the people chatted and played with who they knew more. On another hand, I was afraid to chat with the Australian students. I could start a topic with my poor English, but I couldn’t understand what they said. We couldn’t have a good conversation.

Now I try my best to understand because I know I must improve my English. If I give up, I will go back to China. That’s not the life I like, I know my life will get better and better!

Finnley

Macbeth

This term, our Pathways English class started learning Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.

Through this play, we have learned about ambition, power, guilt, and fate. At the end of this term, we are going to perform this play but using a simplified script. Before we decide which character we are going to act, we had an audition. Everyone had to choose at least 3 characters they wanted to act, and then perform the audition clip while reciting the lines.

Luckily, I got the main character, Macbeth.

Every week we have a few classes to learn about the plot, and lines to better know our characters’ personalities. Although Shakespeare’s language can be difficult, the simplified version helped us enjoy the play more easily. This project not only improved our Englishskills but also made us more confident in speaking and performing.

Everest

Earth and Space Science

In the Pathway class, I am learning about Earth and Space Science. It is about different planets in the solar system. The solar system has the Sun and eight planets. The planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet is different. For example, Mercury is the smallest and closest to the Sun. Jupiter is the biggest planet, and Saturn has rings.

I like learning about the planets because it makes me feel surprised when I find out about them. Space is so big, and I want to know more about it.

Sophia

Camp

I have been in the Pathways for almost two years. Pathways has its own camp that lasts for about five to seven days, similar to the one in the mainstream. Last year, we went to Canberra and learned many things about Australian history and culture. We visited the

National Museum of History, the National Gallery, the Science Museum, and several other places of significance. Our main focus was on World War II, through which I came to understand the nature of the war and how cruel it was. It also provided different ways of learning and experiencing English.

Fiona

Boarding

Living in a boarding house in a foreign country was both difficult and special. At first, I felt everything was strange. The language was hard to understand, the food tasted different, and the daily life was not like home. I often felt homesick, I missed my family, my own home, and the things I was used to do.

After some time, I started to get used to boarding life. I learned how to share space with others, respect different cultures, and take care of myself. I also made friends from different countries. I feel more comfortable than when I first came here.

The experience has taught me to be strong. When I felt lonely, I told myself that living here was helping me grow.

Danika

Want to know what we do in the boarding house? Then come and take a look with me!!!

Life in the boarding house is never boring. In the evenings, we have evening study time, where we all quietly work on our homework and improve ourselves. Then it's free time ! We can chat with friends, play games, read, and watch movies!

Sometimes, during dinner, we have our 'Beyond Borders'  performance, where two students from all over the world share their hometowns and hidden secrets! And of course, Boarders' Weekend is coming up this week, and our Pathways students will be making delicious dumplings together for Boarders' Weekend! Let's look forward to it together.

Betty

In our boarding house in Australia, the back common room has become an incredible place where we have so much fun. We all gather together and enjoy ourselves.

Sometimes, we move the beds into the room, pile up thick blankets, and lay out a bunch to watch movies together. We sit in a circle, and the screen plays all sorts of interesting movies, with laughter and cheers filling the room. And we burst into laughter at the funny side characters.

Of course, dancing and singing are also essential. As soon as the music starts, everyone begins to dance along to the rhythm. Some people perform trendy dances with cool moves, while others sing along.

The piano has also become a fun toy for us. Even though not everyone knows how to play. One time,Thara played a song that she made by herself, and we all sang along.

The sound echoed through the room, and it felt truly wonderful.

Playing sports is another popular activity. We often play netball and soccer in an open area near the boarding house. We divide into teams and compete against each other.

Even though the field is simple, we have a great time, and every goal is met with cheers.

During a soccer game, a friend scored with a beautiful curved shot, and everyone cheered as if we had won the World Cup.

These activities not only bring us a lot of fun but also strengthen our friendships. After playing, we often sit together and share our stories and funny video ideas, with laughter never stopping.

Mia

Science and Space in Pathways

Health News

Excursions

If your daughter has an upcoming excursion and requires any specific medication or has particular medical needs, please ensure you have completed and submitted the Medication Authorisation Form as soon as possible. This is essential to ensure her safety and well-being during the trip.

The importance of Hand Washing

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.

Immunisation Statements

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.

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.

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

The Health Centre is contactable via 

Email: health@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

Phone: 02 6770 1741

You can find the Autumn edition of the Green Tartan HERE

General News

Ad Astra Yearbook Update

We sincerely apologise for the delay in the production of our 2022 and 2023 Ad Astra yearbooks. We’re pleased to let you know that these editions will be sent home with students in Week 10, with one copy provided per family. Additional copies will be available for purchase at $35 each.

Looking ahead, the 2024 Ad Astra will be distributed in Week 4 of Term 4, with extra copies also available for $35.

Thank you for your patience and ongoing support.