Lion's Roar Newsletter
Term 1 | Issue 4  2025

From the Principal

MRS NICOLA TAYLOR

PRINCIPAL

Harmony Day  2025 – Everyone belongs, everyone grows.

On Friday, our Junior School girls wore orange ribbons in their hair rather than the usual bottle green ones - an initiative of the Junior School Student Representative Council (SRC) to acknowledge Harmony Day. 

At PLC Armidale, the 2025 theme, “Everyone Belongs – Everyone Grows,” is more than a hopeful phrase. It speaks to a central understanding that when girls and young women feel seen, heard, and accepted, they flourish. Growth is not something that happens in isolation. It happens in community. Growth and strengthening does not happen instantly or easily, it takes time, often through challenge – our girls describe that community as a sisterhood.

At PLC Armidale, sisterhood is not a slogan. It is a lived experience – felt in the welcome extended to new students on experience days, in the cheers from the sidelines at sporting events, in dorm and  conversations in the Boarding House, and in the shared laughter and sometimes tears that flow during ... 

... continue reading here


... activities like Guild Drama, Guild Gatherings, Mary Poppins rehearsals, IGSA sports trips, Eisteddfod season and Explore Serve Journey (ESJ). 

Programs such as Peer Support, SRC, and Guild Gatherings, along with lunchtime clubs and various ensembles, provide points of connection between younger girls and older ones around shared experiences. Older students give back generously, providing encouragement, care and guidance. Bridges of trust and connection are built across year groups, a reminder to each girl that she belongs – not only to a class but to a community - even if, at times, she may not feel that. These connections are a great preparation for life - after all, the school years are often the only time in life when one is grouped with people sharing a common birth year!

Yet, we know from research and real-life experience that peer relationships can sometimes be difficult to navigate. In a world saturated with subtle and not-so-subtle messages about how girls should look, act, or succeed, comparison can quietly take root. Research reminds us that friendships can carry both comfort and complexity for many adolescent girls. The middle adolescent years are a time when judgement and insecurity can become normalised among peers. 

More and more research is highlighting the damage to friendship and increased anxiety caused by social media – where filters distort reality and algorithms feed insecurity, making it hard to separate truth from performance. Good, decent and kind-hearted girls often make poor choices in words, images and actions when lulled into the false sense of privacy or anonymity that social media algorithms promulgate. A huge thank you to those ‘smart’ parents giving their daughters ‘dumb’ phones. To those who have parental controls installed on devices. To those who make parental access to devices and accounts a non-negotiable, especially if devices and services are registered in the parents' name. These simple actions can make a big difference to girls' well-being during formative years.

At PLC Armidale, we are not immune to such pressures. But what sets our community apart is a shared commitment to the core values of humility, integrity, respect, and self-discipline. Informed by Biblical principles, these are not abstract ideals – they should be part of the daily actions and interactions that shape how we speak to one another, how we support others through hard times, how we show up with honesty in our relationships, and how we choose to listen and understand before making judgement.

Harmony Day celebrates the diversity of culture and background, which is also very evident at PLC Armidale. Learning to live peaceably with others is a life skill. Building empathy, connection, and acceptance affirms that when girls support one another, everyone grows. The sisterhood is real, it is stronger than the pressures of comparison, stronger than the curated perfection of social media, and stronger than any one challenge. 

The journey across ages and stages at  PLC Armidale demonstrates that everyone belongs – everyone grows.


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. 

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

Congratulations to ...

all our Student Representative Council (SRC) and Boarder Representative Council (BRC) members who were badged at assembly this week. 

From Pre-K to Year 12 - girls from each year are voted by their peers to represent them at meetings, assisting in making decisions on how and what initiatives and services they will undertake each term. Our SRC is an all-girl, student-led body that promotes a positive school environment, represents student voices and facilitates student leadership and decision-making opportunities. 

2025 Student Representative Council-Senior School

2025 Student Representative Council -Junior School

2025 Student Representative Council - Boarding

.....Nevada Guiance in Year 12

 - who is one of only 8 students from across Australia to be in the running for the Grand Prize and recognition in the national ASTA iCubed Awards Ceremony, held on Tuesday, 25 March. See Senior School news for the full story.

... Rachel Mungall in Year 11

who competed in the Independent Girls School Association (IGSA) Dame Enid Lyons Oratory Competition 'Honouring Girls' Voices' via Zoom.

... Shiloni Katta in Year 5  and Nyka Naveen in Year 6 

who both received a number of awards in the Concerto Competition at the AUSTA Strings 2025- Festival held at NECOM recently.

... all our students who have been selected for the Hockey New England Representative Teams

 Ava Notley, Lily Donaldson (U16s Blues) and Evie Mathews, Evie Donaldson and Mary Notley (U16s Pink) - who will play in the State Championships in Illawarra in June.

Evie Donaldson, Lucie Stephen (U14s Blues) and Pippi and Mary Notley (U4s Pink) - who will play in the State Championships in Grafton in May. 

Armidale Autumn Festival 2025

The Armidale Autumn Festival is a showcase of the Armidale Community. Local organisations will showcase their talent via a street parade, including pipe bands, schools, highland dancers, community organisations and more. There will be food trucks to tempt the fussiest eaters, and entertainment throughout the afternoon. 

PLC Armidale will once again march in the street parade and we invite all our families to help us  celebrate the Armidale community spirit at the Armidale Autumn Festival on Saturday, 5 April.  Details regarding what to wear, where and when to meet will be sent home this week.

Uralla Shire Council Youth Week event

'Our Renewable Future' is a Q&A-style forum, modelled on the ABC’s Q&A program, featuring a panel of experts discussing the renewable energy transition and the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).

This event will give students the opportunity to hear from nationally recognised policy experts and scientists—including Alison Reeve (Grattan Institute), Dr. Andrew Feitz (Geoscience Australia), and Dr. Nelika Hughes (Climateworks Centre)—all of whom grew up in the New England region.

Student leaders from across the region will have the chance to ask key questions about the future of energy, careers in renewables, and how the REZ will impact the region. The panel will respond directly to questions from high school students, exploring what the REZ means for our region, future career opportunities, and the broader transition to renewable energy.

If you would like to put forward questions for the event, please give them to your SRC representative by Monday, 31 March, and they will pass them on to the PLC Armidale Student Leaders attending. 

Premiers Reading Challenge

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

Junior School News

Mrs Fiona Wake

Head of Junior School

Congratulations to ...

Isobella Hodgens                                                2025 Junior School Deputy Prefect

2025 Junior School SRC Members

... Year 3 on the completion of their very first NAPLAN test

Celebrating Our Junior School Achievements

Well Done to Our NAPLAN Students

A huge congratulations to all our Year 3 and Year 5 students who recently sat their NAPLAN assessments. They approached these tests with confidence, organisation, and resilience, demonstrating a positive attitude towards their learning. Well done to each student for their efforts and commitment!

Guild Gathering on Teamwork

Our leadership team recently facilitated a successful Guild Gathering focused on the theme of teamwork. The event was a fantastic opportunity for students to collaborate, share ideas, and understand the value of working together towards a common goal. Thank you to our leaders for guiding this meaningful session.

Congratulations to Our New Leaders

We are pleased to announce our newly appointed Deputy Head Prefect for the Junior School, Isobella Hodgens, along with the Semester One SRC representatives. 

Pre-Kindergarten:  Elliana Cameron and Tiffany Tierney

Kindergarten:     Thea Aiken and Bridie Stone                 

Stage 1:                   Maeve Tighe and Harper Stone

Stage 2:               Amélie Wysel and Margot Greatrex            

Year 5:                     Audrey Belford and April Ferguson

Even at such a young age, these students have embraced their leadership roles. Through their involvement, they are developing essential skills in leadership, teamwork, service, and collaboration. We commend them for their dedication and thank our SRC Facilitators Mrs Gerry Vanzella and Mrs Claire Robertson for providing them with this opportunity to grow. Next on their agenda is ‘Clean Up Australia’

Junior School Swim Squad

A round of applause for our Junior School Swim Squad, who continue to show dedication by attending training every Tuesday morning at 7:00 am. Their perseverance in the pool, completing laps and receiving expert instruction, is truly inspiring. Progress is evident through their hard work, discipline, and commitment—an important reminder that success is built on consistent effort and practice. Self-discipline is one of our College values, as having this is an essential ingredient for improvement.

Exciting Camp Experience Ahead

The much-anticipated Year 3-6 camp is fast approaching! Our students will be heading to the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre for their 2025 camping experience. School camps provide valuable opportunities for students to develop independence, resilience, and teamwork while embracing outdoor challenges, linking to many important learning outcomes within our NSW curriculum. Please ensure all necessary permission forms for both PLC Armidale and the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre have been completed. This ensures risks are mitigated, and supports are in place to accommodate each individual student.

Whole School Cross Country Event – Week 9

Mark your calendars! Our Cross Country event is scheduled for Week 9, on 27 March from 12:00 noon. Families are warmly invited to come along to support their daughters. See the Sports Section for more details.

Important Reminders

Morning Drop-Off: Supervision begins at 8:15 am. To assist our teachers in preparing for the day and engaging with parents as needed, we kindly ask that students are not dropped off before this time.

Pick-Up Location: Students should be collected from the front gate ONLY, where a teacher is on duty. The internal entrance of the Junior School is designated for early collections and morning drop-offs.

Parking Considerations: If you need to enter the Junior School, please use designated parking spaces to avoid congestion at the drop off and collection point to ensure safety for all.

Term 2 and 3 Sport Preferences: A Google form has been sent to capture your daughter's winter sport preferences. Please submit and the following will be a sports contract emailed for you to complete. This contract will include important information around uniform, expectations and registrations. If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Junior School Sports Coordinator, Ms Emma Pracy. epracy@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

 Personal Development and Health (PDH ) with Mrs Kempton

Having our PDH sessions facilitated by our College Psychologist, PK, aims to support our students' social development in meaningful ways. Her expertise in guiding the girls to recognise acceptable and unacceptable conversation topics plays a key role in reducing gossip and fostering a culture of respect. As part of our social skills program, these sessions aim to help students build positive and supportive relationships, develop a deeper understanding of empathy, and strengthen their collaboration and cooperation skills. PK’s guidance ensures our students are equipped with the tools to navigate social interactions with confidence and kindness. This week, the girls engaged in the Clean and Dirty Laundry activity, sorting their "washing" into positive and negative scenarios to reinforce these important social lessons.

With Gratitude and Hope  …

As we journey together through each day, it’s important to remember that every small experience, whether joyful or challenging, plays a vital role in shaping who we are and who we will become. For our young girls, each moment at school is a building block that contributes to their growth, not only academically but as compassionate and understanding individuals.

In the classroom, on the playground, and in the corridors of our school, we see the power of kindness, empathy, and resilience unfold. The simple acts of support, recognition, and encouragement from teachers, friends, and family all play a crucial part in helping our little girls grow into confident, thoughtful, and empathetic women.

I would like to take a moment to note my deep appreciation for our dedicated staff and supportive parents. Your willingness to engage in the necessary, sometimes uncomfortable yet honest conversations ensures the success and support our girls need to thrive. It is through your unwavering commitment to one another, and to the growth of each child, that we create a community of care and trust.

The Junior School here at PLC Armidale is a special and unique little place to raise our girls in their foundational years where every experience, every challenge, and every triumph is shared with love and encouragement. Together, we create a space where our girls feel seen, heard, and valued — where both their strengths and their struggles are met with care and understanding. 

By nurturing these experiences, we are helping to cultivate women who will lead with kindness and compassion, deeply understanding the importance of lifting one another up. 

Let’s continue to support each other and our girls, as we celebrate every little step in their journey. Through our shared efforts, they will grow not only in knowledge but in heart, ready to make a difference in the world.

PLC Armidale Turtles

PLC Armidale JS Touch Football Team

Junior School Co-curricular Sport 

Term 1 has been an exciting and active time for our Junior School students, with girls enthusiastically engaging in a variety of sports. They have been developing their skills, strengthening teamwork, and, most importantly, having fun while building new friendships.

Our Athletics squad has been refining their skills on Monday afternoons under the guidance of Mrs Lancaster, while our dedicated Tuesday morning Swim Squad has been braving the early starts with Mrs Wake to improve their swimming technique. Tuesday afternoons have seen our Tennis team working hard at Burey’s Elite Tennis Academy, sharpening their skills and match play.

A special highlight this term has been the return of Touch Football to our Junior School. The team has had a fantastic start, training with Mrs Lancaster on Thursday afternoons before heading into their games with enthusiasm. We hope to see this team continue into Term 4.

Friday afternoons have been all about Hockey, with our PLC Turtles, Penguins, and Seals showing great commitment each week. A huge thank you to our Senior School coaches for their support, encouragement, and guidance from the sidelines, helping our girls develop their skills.

We look forward to the start of our Winter Sports program in Term 2 and another great season ahead!

Ms Emma Pracy

Stage One

Stage One

Stage One has had a wonderful start to 2025. 

Can you believe that we are already near the end of the term? 

Time flies so quickly when you are having fun. The excitement and love of learning in the Stage One classroom is on display every day, and the girls have especially loved getting to know their new class friends. 

In class, we have been discovering many concepts this term. To start the term, in Mathematics, the girls enjoyed exploring the concept of ten as a base, then moved to graphing data they collected and creating a range of growing, shrinking and repeating patterns. In English, we started the year by looking at how our context differs from that of others in Australia through the beautiful books, 'Our Island' by Alison Lester and the kids of Gununa, as well as ‘Under the Southern Cross’ by Frane Lessac. 

In Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM), our unit compares features of modern and prehistoric animals – dinosaurs and their relatives. The girls enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the UNE Museum of Natural History to hear a talk from a palaeontologist and explore fossils. The girls had the most amazing time exploring prehistoric animals and how fossils can give us clues about what they looked like. See all the photos HERE

Prudie Woods and Susanne Dowling

Ad Astra Awards

Each week in our Junior School Chapel Service we award our students for achievement in academic, leadership and service pursuits.

Congratulations girls!

See more photos HERE

Senior School News

Mrs Kate Clynch

Head of Senior School

Congratulations to ...

Ella McKinnon in Year 10 for her Armidale Show success 

Ella entered two artworks into the Armidale Show and came away with two firsts and a grand champion award.

In the Fine Arts - Drawing (Years 7-9) her graphite drawing of Billie Eilish won the category and in the Fine Arts - Painting (Years 7-9) her acrylic painting of a girl with flowers also came first. This painting was also awarded the Grand Champion in the Fine Arts - High School Classes.

... Emily Roarty ( Champion Cooking at Armidale Show) and all our girls who have contributed to local shows across the region in the last few weeks.

The Power of the Unexpected in Scientific Discovery

Nevada Guiance is one of only eight budding young scientists and top-tier science students from across Australia to be in the running for the Grand Prize and recognition in the national ASTA iCubed Awards Ceremony, held on Tuesday, 25 March.

The iCubed Awards program celebrates inquiry, innovation, and ingenuity of Australian school students of STEM, with Science Teachers Associations (STAs) in every state and territory nominating the highest standard science projects from each region for consideration in the national competition.  

Nevada has been working towards a surefire way to determine if food has spoiled. She was featured in both the Armidale Express and New England Times this week, explaining the basic premise of her project.

"Fluorescent sensing is a highly applicable and emerging field in chemistry that has countless applications," Nevada said.

"In my project, the application of my sensor is to food samples to test for spoilage and if samples have gone off."

Throughout history, some of the most significant scientific breakthroughs have come not from confirming expectations but from investigating the unexpected. In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from holiday to find that a mold had killed bacteria on a petri dish—leading to the discovery of penicillin. In the 1960s, scientists attempting to eliminate background noise in a radio signal stumbled upon cosmic microwave background radiation, providing crucial evidence for the Big Bang theory. These discoveries, among many others, show that science advances when we remain open to surprises and pursue anomalies with curiosity and rigour.

Nevada Guiance, has embodied this scientific spirit in her research project: Determining the Quenching Mechanism of a Coumarin Fluorophore by Ascorbate: Experimental Confirmation of the Inner Filter Effect. Initially, research aimed to explore fluorescent sensing methods, specifically using a fluorophore to detect target molecules. However, early experiments showed that the ascorbate ion unexpectedly interfered with the fluorescence measurements, masking the intended results. Rather than discarding the earlier studies as a failure, Nevada shifted her focus—could this interference be harnessed instead?

By investigating further, she determined that the ascorbate ion was quenching the fluorescence via the inner filter effect. This insight opened a new pathway: using fluorescence quenching as a means to track ascorbate concentrations. Given ascorbate’s critical role in metabolic reactions, antioxidant functions, and cellular health, this discovery has practical implications in biochemical analysis and medical diagnostics.

This project has now gained national recognition. Nevada has been placed among the top eight students in the country for the ASTA iCubed Science Awards for her work on ascorbate sensing. She will participate in the final judging rounds, where leading STEM professionals will evaluate the project. With a chance to win the grand prize for 2024/2025, this achievement highlights the importance of perseverance and innovation in scientific research.

This project serves as a reminder that scientific progress often comes from unexpected turns. The ability to adapt, question, and pursue anomalies is what leads to breakthroughs. As we continue to foster a culture of inquiry at our school, we celebrate students who, like the great scientists before them, are willing to follow the data wherever it leads.

PLC Armidale Head of STEM , Jonathon Shumack

Purple Pancakes

To celebrate International Womens Day,  our Year 12 girls coked purple pancakes for Senior School.

Inaugural Year 11 Explore Serve Journey

Year 11 gave a wonderful presentation on their epic inaugural Year 11 ESJ adventure, we have shared it below.

 "I flipped upside down, hit my head on the side of the rock , and everyone else just saw my feet in the air..."

Continue reading here ...

Travel Day - The Adventure Begins -Molly Chard 

- We met at the Armidale train station at 8 o'clock, to make the train at 8:40 and took games and activities to keep us occupied. 

- We travelled to Stratfield, changed trains at Olympic Park, then took a bus to Penrith then a train to Katoomba and walked to the Katoomba Christian Convention Centre. 

Day 1 Rock Climbing and Abseiling  - Elsie Wake

On our first full day in Katoomba, we were split up into two groups and spent the day rock climbing and abseiling. We started off the day learning how to put on our harnesses and how to abseil. We got to abseil down 3 - 4 cliffs, all of different heights, and it was great practice before our rock climbing, where we had to belay each other and got to climb a cliff in three different sections. By the end of the day we could abseil and belay on our own. It was really fun and a great start to our trip.

Day 2 Canyoning  - Mylee Yu

On the second day, we woke up early at 7:30, and we were getting ready to go canyoning. We had a quick breakfast before packing our snacks and lunch that the teachers provided for us. The bus arrived at 8:30 to drive us to the Blue Mountains Adventure Office to get our wetsuits, harnesses, helmets and dry bags fitted. After we got our wetsuits and gear, we went to the Grand Canyon parking lot making sure we had everything we needed in our canyon bags and headed off on a little hike down to where we did our first abseiling.

There was about a 10 metre drop and a 7 metre overhang which you couldn’t see from above the hole. I was the second to go and I didn’t know what to expect since you couldn't see the ground. You had to jump off the rock and basically freefall but with a rope attached to you. But after the drop you were just hanging in the cave with water down below and you could see the waterfall. That was the only abseiling we had to do for the day, and the whole actual canyoning only took us 3 hours to complete. There were some sections of the canyon where you had to swim because you couldn't touch the bottom but someone told us the water was only going to be knee deep. There were crawfish in the river and we found claystone that we used to smudge all over our faces. Overall I think it was a great experience although the hike back up was not fun.

Study Day - Molly Chard 

Our rest day was a day where we got to have a sleep-in (8:00am) but we also learned some very valuable lessons about study skills and how to take those into consideration when preparing for assessments and exams. Mrs Fittler taught us about the importance of spaced study and not to leave everything until the last minute (crammed study), and then Ms Burney taught us how to study maths well and in the correct way in order to get the best mark possible for ourselves. 

Options Day  - Maggie Wicksteed

On this day, we had three options. A bush walk, canyoning or rock Climbing. For the rock climbers, we had a quick drive to the start of our track then a two minute walk to our first abseil with the best view in Katoomba, or so we were told, we didn’t get to see with the thick fog around us.

For our first abseil, you couldn’t see how far you had to go until you’d walked down a few meters and cleared the edge, which made it a bit more interesting.  Then we walked to our first traverse line - which is just a rope clipped into the boulder in case we fall- where we went around the edge of the cliff then through a crack in the boulders. At this point you had a foot on either side with only a long drop under you. Which sounds kinda scary when I put it like that, but it was honestly probably the safest I felt all day. Not to put you off.

Once we were through, we were lowered down on a rope that was a bit of a tight fit, and then we landed on yet another ledge. From here, we abseiled down to our fourth and final abseil. This last abseil was a bit longer, a 40 meter drop, which we then rock climbed up. I’d definitely have to say this was my favourite part. The climb was pretty quick, but even with the mist making the rocks more slippery and covering the view, it was fun climbing up and looking down to see the 40-metre cliff you’d just scaled. 

We had lunch sitting on the edge of the cliff—nothing was dropped, though a bag came pretty close to taking a one-way trip down the mountain. Then we traversed around the cliff edge and up to where we unclipped and finished.

We learned tons and some of us even overcame our fears. Overall it was a great day and something I know most of us wouldn’t have done otherwise, but I can’t wait to do again. 

Options Day - Canyoning - Mylee Yu

On the 4th day of ESJ, we had an early wake up at 6:15 to head off on our canyoning adventure. That day, we got to go canyoning in the Serendipity Canyon. The day before we went there, we were told that the water would be a lot warmer. It was, in fact, not warmer but colder. 

When we got there, we were split into two groups. In the canyon, we had to do four abseils to get right down to the bottom of the canyon; the second group got to do two extra abseils, in the beginning, to make sure there was a time in between the groups for one of the extra abseils I was the first one to go down so when I told to step down onto the side of the rocks I did. Still, there was an over that I was not prepared for, so I flipped upside down, hit my head on the side of the rock ,and everyone else just saw my feet in the air. 

After we continued through the canyon, it took us about 4 hours to do the full canyon, which included an hour-and-a-half-long walk out and was very steep in some places before we started our climb out, we jumped off a rock. But overall, I think everyone had great fun, even though sometimes we were a bit worried about Mr. Taylor, especially when Mr Taylor was doing an abseil into a hole, stopped halfway down and started taking off his safety ropes even though we were all at the bottom screaming at him to put them back on.

Travel Day - Home -Molly Chard 

On our final day we woke up at 5:15 to get bus company to take us to the train station, then took a train to Stratfield changed trains and finally got off at 5:30pm in Armidale

See the all the Year 11 ESJ presentation photos HERE

Year 9 Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) 

Students are studying nutrition and the benefits of protein shakes for athlete. 

What Matters? Writing Competition

Inspired by Gough Whitlam's commitment to involving young people in shaping Australia's future, the What Matters? writing competition is currently open to school students in Years 5 to 12 from Australia. Responding to the simple question 'what matters?', entrants are free to express their views on any matter they care about.

Part writing exercise, part civics and citizenship activity, What Matters? is the perfect opportunity to empower students to raise their voices on issues that are important to them and know that their perspectives are valuable, no matter their age, background or viewpoint.  Entries can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry or prose of up to 600 words, and submitted online. at https://www.whitlam.org/what-matters

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

As Term 1 heads toward its conclusion, our boarding community continues to thrive with memorable events and important milestones.

Leadership Induction

In a significant moment for student leadership, we proudly witnessed the formal induction of our Boarders Representative Council members during assembly. The presentation of badges marked their official commitment to representing their peers and enhancing boarding life.

Dinner Dress Up

We had our Term 1 themed dinner  'Red Carpet Ready', transforming the dining hall into a glamorous affair, with students donning their finest attire while enjoying a delicious dinner of ribs. The accompanying fashion show showcased both style and confidence as boarders strutted down our makeshift runway.

International Flavours

For our international students who remained on campus during the recent boarders weekend, a special Hot Pot dinner provided both delicious food and community. This shared cultural experience created warm connections while our local boarders travelled home for the weekend.

Assessment Support

With assessment season intensifying, we remind all our boarders to utilize the academic support available. Dedicated staff members are present during prep time specifically to assist with challenging assignments. Please encourage your daughters to reach out when they encounter difficulties with their tasks.

Food Feedback

We are also seeking additional feedback from boarders and their families around the food offerings in the dining hall. Please keep your eye out for an email that will allow you to rank up coming meals for Term 2 so we can please as many appetites and palates as possible. 

As always, we do encourage our boarding community to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns. 

See more Red Carpet pics in the Boarding Life photo gallery HERE

Creative and Performing Arts      (CAPA) News

Mrs Joanne Wysel

Head of Creative and Performing Arts. (CAPA)

The past few weeks have been filled with energy and creativity in the Creative and Performing Arts, with even more exciting opportunities ahead. It’s inspiring to see students push their creative boundaries, collaborate with enthusiasm, and bring their artistic visions to life.

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, we’d love to hear from you!

Music performances at our assembly

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve been treated to outstanding performances from our talented musicians, including our exceptional cellists Bridie and Arlie, as well as vocalist Teya. Their performances were a testament to the strength of our music program at PLC Armidale, where students continue to excel through their passion for performance.

It was wonderful to see our girls as such a supportive audience, appreciating and encouraging their peers. Music brings our school community together, and we hope to continue showcasing performances at each assembly.

If you would like to share your musical talents in an upcoming assembly, we would love to hear from you—get in touch!

InHouse Concert - Wednesday, 26 March

We will hold the first In House Concert for the year this Wednesday, 26 March. There will be two concerts, one at 5:30pm and the second at 6:45pm.

With more than 47 students giving 53 performances ranging from complete beginner to LMusA level over two programs, an ensemble, and two teachers performing, it is looking like another stellar showcase of PLC Armidale's commitment to music.

All welcome - and all performers and their families are urged to stay for the duration of their program to support their peers and enjoy the talent of our PLC Armidale CAPA community.

A reminder from Mr Matthew Minter, PLC Armidale Director of Music

There are In House Concerts once every term. These are a fantastic opportunity for students to perform for supportive audiences and provide a goal and a milestone for often a first performance before the Eisteddfod and the AMEB exams. The Term 1 2025 In House Concert will be on Wednesday March 26. There are some guidelines and expectations around In House Concerts that we would like to remind our students. 

Shakespeare Carnival –  Thursday, 27 March

This Thursday, we will hold our School’s Shakespeare Carnival. Students will present performances across various categories, including Duologue, Ensemble Scene, Smart Film, Group Devised, Music, and Dance. They have been working hard to craft their pieces, reimagining and challenging Shakespeare’s timeless stories.

After the judges deliberate, one item from each category will be selected to advance to the Regional Carnival, which will take place on Thursday, 15 May, hosted at PLC Armidale for the second year in a row.

We look forward to celebrating the creativity and talent of our students in this exciting event!

Mary Poppins Intensive & Key Dates

A Google form has been sent out about the upcoming Intensives. You can find it here: Mary Poppins Intensive 3. Please make sure this is filled out by Monday, 7 April.

These intensives are for ‘team building’ as well as rehearsal! The purpose of the intensive is to allow for a concentrated period of rehearsal and to build a sense of team in our cast of Mary Poppins to prepare for our production in June.

Make sure you check the schedule and lock in key rehearsal dates—it’s full steam ahead!

Below is an overview of the rehearsal process until the Mary Poppins Camp on the June Long Weekend.  Regular Wednesday afternoon rehearsals for all cast will continue, as well as Thursday afternoons for principals (as scheduled).

Once again, thank you all for your support of our production of Mary Poppins - it is going to be an amazing show, and we can't wait to share it with you all in June at the Armidale Town Hall.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the College via seniorschool@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au or phone 02 6770 1700.

Anything Can Happen If You Let It! (Mary Poppins)

Charcoal Drawing 

Our Year 9 Visual Arts class let loose with the versatile medium charcoal recently, focusing on expressive strokes and applications. The girls created a wide range of marks and tones, from delicate lines to deep, velvety blacks....mostly on paper! 

Art in the Afternoon – Starting Next Term

Art in the Afternoon will be starting next term during lunchtimes with Mrs Schaeffer and our Visual Arts Captains, Daisy Donaldson and Sophie Hardin. Keep an eye out for more details, and come along to get creative!

Celebrating Our Student Successes

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. I

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! 

Armidale Eisteddfod 2025

Our many CAPA ensembles along with Armidale Community are preparing for the next Eisteddfod which starts on Wednesday, 14 May and ends with a Gala Concert on Sunday 15 June  We are proud that our College has always strongly supported this event and we encourage families to watch the many amazing performances throughout the Eisteddfod.

Our PLC Armidale Bel Canto Choir will be performing in this production which promises to be an extraordinary event to commemorate the significance of Easter- click below to book.....

PLC Armidale Creative and Performing Arts Polo Shirt 

These are available for purchase from Mrs Fahy at Senior School reception at a cost of $35 each, which will be charged to your account. These shirts should be worn when you are representing PLC Armidale in non-costumed Speech and Drama events.

SPORT News

Mrs Lucy Donaldson

Head of Sport

Congratulations to .........

.... all our girls selected in our PLC Armidale Representative Netball and Hockey Trials

Following very competitive netball and hockey trials, I would like to congratulate our Opens Netball and Hockey Representative teams:

Opens Netball: Bridie O’Neil(C), Tilly George (VC), India Smith, Holly Sheedy, Daisy Sheedy, Zoe Webb, Sophie Young, Mary Ugwumba, Trista Dorrian, Izzy Macrae and Hollie Higgins.

Opens Hockey: Elsie Wake (C), Anna Grills (VC), Macey Wake, Ella Jenkins, Maggie Wicksteed, Mylee Yu, Sophie Bailey, Venus Poon, Izzy Carlon, Tash North, Ava Notley, Mem Lay, Annie Wake and Alana Marshall.

Well done girls!  The Junior Representative Teams will be announced this week. 

The Opens Netball team began their season with the UNE Netball Competition beginning last Saturday. The PLC girls came out firing and are looking strong to begin their season. They won their first game against Albies A Reserve team 16-13.

The PLC Opens Hockey team began their season playing Guyra at 1:30 pm on yesterday.

... our Central North Junior Rugby Union Representative Team members

Well done to the following girls who have gained selection into the CNJRU Representative Teams for 2025

U12s - Isabelle Scanlon; U16s - Izzy Macrae, Evie Matthews and Georgia Scanlon

... our Tildesley Tennis Representative Team

The Tildesley Tennis Tournament was first held in 1918 and is the longest-running all-girls sporting competition in Australian history. This week, our team of 6 players headed to Sydney to compete. We had some fabulous results with both of our singles players, Sophie B and Trista D making it through to Round 5. A first for PLC Armidale to have both singles players make Round 5.  Our doubles pairs Sophie Y and Imogen were unfortunately defeated in Round 1 by a very handy and experienced Frenshaem duo, and Daisy and Holly S had a convincing win in round 1 v Santa Sabina and were unlucky to lose their Round 3 match v Pymble. 

It was an absolute pleasure to accompany these girls to the Tildesley Tournament. With many staff and officials commenting on what lovely girls the PLC A girls are and how gracious they are on court.

Well done team PLCA - Daisy S (C), Holly S, Sophie Y, Sophie B, Trista D and Imogen S.

See all the photos from the trip HERE

... our IGSA Swimming Team

Well done to our representative swimming team who competed at the IGSA Swimming Championships in Sydney.

Of all the races swum by our girls, 84 per cent were PB’s - what an impressive statistic!

A special congratulations to Poppy McLaren, 2025 Swimming Captain on a wonderful last year of swimming - Poppy won her 18 Years backstroke heat, placed third in her 18 Years butterfly heat and made the B Final for her 18 Years 50m freestyle.

A big thank you to Mr Stuniucha for his hard work training the girls and supporting them on the day.

See all the photos from the trip HERE

2025 IGSA Swimming Carnival Report

Evie Donaldson, Veja-lee Petuha, Lola Ferguson, Rosie Woods, Lily Donaldson, Olive McFarlane, Evie Matthews, Georgia Scanlon, Charli Milton and myself represented PLC Armidale at the IGSA swimming competition in Sydney. Mrs Donaldson and Mr Staniucha took us and were both great supporters of all the girls.

We left PLC on Thursday morning and drove to Sydney. It was a good trip, where everyone had their snacks from home and excited energy. We stopped a few times on the trip, but we made it to Sydney in good time. For dinner, we went to the Macquarie shopping centre, where there were what seemed like endless food options. After everyone had had a fair portion of Yo-chi, we went back to the hotel and got some needed rest, ready for the big day.

On Friday we woke up early and got ready and headed down to breakfast. While everyone was nervous, the butterflies didn't stop the girls from going all out on the chocolate-filled croissants and muffins. After breakfast, we packed up our belongings and hopped on the bus to drive to the pool.

At the pool, we hoped straight in for our warm-up, led by Mr Staniucha. our warm-up lane was in the diving pool, meaning it was a long way bottom when swimming. Once everyone had done the set warm-up and a few dives, we headed back up to our seats and waited for the events to start.

Once the events started, it was very busy, with the races being called quickly. Whenever we walked out to the pool in our heat, each of us had a little cheer squad off to the left of the blocks made up of Mrs Donaldson and the girls who weren't called for marshalling. Before our races, Mr Staniucha would give us things to work on, and after we would get advice for next time and our time measured against our past PBs.

Overall, the day was a success! (Even if one girl lost her PLC cap, which then sat at the bottom of lane 4 for the rest of the day, for all of us to be reminded of the funny moment halfway through our race.) Everyone swam in at least 2 races, making the trip a worthwhile experience for everyone.

I would like to say a massive thank you to Mrs Donaldson for organising the trip so well and making it so much fun for all the girls. And to Mr Staniucha for his support and enthusiasm towards all the girls swimming. Thank you to all the girls who made the trip so enjoyable.

Rugby Wallabies and Wallaroos Visit

On Wednesday, 19 March, The Rugby Gold Blooded Tour headed to Armidale. At short notice, some of our girls were able to attend this wonderful initiative and meet some special visitors from the Wallabies and Wallaroos. Thanks for visiting Armidale!

An initiative from our 2025 Sports Prefect, Bridie O’Neil

Boarders vs. Day Girls Touch Match

Get ready for an exciting afternoon of friendly competition as the Boarders take on the Day Girls in a Touch Football Match on Friday, 28 March, at the PLC Armidale Oval! The event will be split into two 40-minute games:

- 4:00 PM – Junior match (Years 7–9)

- 5:00 PM – Senior match (Years 10–12) 

Between games, there will be a short break for the senior players to warm up before they hit the field. And after all the action, join us for a relaxed community BBQ—a perfect way to unwind and celebrate the spirit of PLC.

All girls are welcome! No matter your skill level, come along, get involved, or cheer from the sidelines. It’s all about having fun and enjoying the camaraderie of our school community. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Cross Country is close, and it’s time to start preparing! 

On the day, wear appropriate running shoes (joggers) to avoid injuries and wear your guild shirts, PE shorts, and white socks. Stay hydrated before, during, and after you run, and eat a balanced meal to keep your energy up. Training consistently is key. Try training on different terrains to build endurance and strength. Don’t forget to warm up and cool down to prevent muscle strain. Most importantly, pace yourself and listen to your body. Whether you’re aiming to win or just finish strong, preparation and a positive mindset will make all the difference.

Upcoming Events:

(Week 9)

Whole School Cross Country Carnival - Thursday, 27 March 

Boarders V Day Girls Touch Game - Friday, 28 March 4pm onwards

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. To assist with knowing what’s on when, here is a snapshot of the Junior and Senior School sports for Term 1, 2024.

Health News

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

P&F News

Sarah Yassine

P&F President

The 2025 Signature Event is proposed to be a whole school Fete /Market Day to be held on campus in Term 4

A steering committee has been formed to be part of the planning and preparation in the lead-up to the event, and a Google Form will be circulated next week to gauge interest and collate ideas from our PLC Armidale Community. A decision on the viability of the event based on PLC Armidale family support will be made early in Term 2.

If you have any question please get in touch at pandf@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our P&F. 

You can find these and more on our  Parent Portal HERE

PLCA Uniform Shop

Opening hours

Tuesday 8:30am to 11:30am

Thursday 1:00pm to 4:30pm 

Phone: 02 6770 1703


Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Hours

Appointments have opened up both for the end of this term and for Monday and Tuesday (28/29 of April) when school resumes and boarders return. 

You do not need to make an appointment but for new families (especially the boarders) it might be helpful.

These appoinents can be booked on the website  https://www.noone.com.au/school/plc-armidale/stores  or scan the QR code.

The Uniform Shop is closed during the school holidays  from 11 to 27 April.

It will re-open at 11am on Monday the 28 April and stay open as long as needed that day. It will also be open early (8am instead of 8:30) on Tuesday 29 April before school starts.

GREEN TARTAN 

ALUMNAE NEWS

You can find the Spring/Summer edition of the Green Tartan HERE

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 August 2025, please get in touch with us at enquiries@plcarmidale.nsw.edu.au

PLC Armidale Foundation


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

Donations will provide scholarships for the 2026 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

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