Note from the Editor

From the Editor

The strength and vitality of our school can be seen each day in the meaningful connections and warm friendships that are fostered during classes, co-curricular activities and events. Important connections are also made in the spaces of school life – in the hallways between classes, in the sunny grounds during recess or lunch, in the busy halls during a rehearsal setup or pack-up, backstage before a performance, on a bus full of excited students going to an excursion or sporting match or in the buzzing foyer as families stream out of a performance in the PAC. Finding even more effective ways to connect with our students has been at the forefront of our thinking during Lockdown 6, and we have successfully navigated new ways to achieve this important goal.

While our Year 12 girls loved receiving their surprise gift of cupcakes from the College, their shared Zoom experience to celebrate the cupcake delivery was in some ways even more enjoyable for them. We were thrilled The Tempest could be staged and filmed in the gaps between lockdowns, and the ‘meet up’ by the cast on Zoom to watch the final production was a joy for all involved. While we could not hold the usual opening of the popular Annual College Art Exhibition, our ELC children had the opportunity, and plenty of time, to explore the Junior and Senior School works, as they were the only students on campus. In turn, we were privileged to view their ELC virtual Art Exhibition.

Parents have also appreciated the opportunity to connect through online parent forums, and experienced what distance learning is like for students as they navigated random Zoom breakout rooms. Weekly Prayer Groups have continued to provide staff, students and boarders with much-needed opportunities to connect through reflection and prayer. Staff have also regularly met up by Zoom and supported each other with advice and good humour during this challenging time. Our final Year 12 Assembly had to be a Zoom event but it was, in fact, very meaningful as many parents could sit alongside their daughters and share in this special celebration at home.

This PLC in Print highlights the remarkable opportunities our girls have experienced in our second year of being impacted by COVID-19. We also pay tribute to the long-serving staff who have made invaluable contributions and forged strong connections to PLC during their years of service. The bonds created at school are clear when we read about the lives of Old Collegians who have maintained lifelong friendships and are now developing new and creative ways to maintain their links with one another and the wider Old Collegians’ community.

Our whole school community has worked tirelessly to maintain our special PLC culture in these difficult times. However, we continue to be encouraged by the words from Matthew 11:28: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’

As you turn the pages of this last edition of PLC in Print for 2021, may you also be encouraged by the resilience of our girls and the PLC community.

I wish you rest, peace and optimism for whatever 2022 may bring.

Video link

Early Learning Centre, Junior School & Senior School

Art Exhibitions

PLC was honoured to present the biennial PLC Art Exhibition in Wyselaskie Hall during Term 3 which incorporated numerous artworks from students from Prep to Year 12. The ELC Art Show was also curated and proudly shared with families online toward the end of August. Every ELC child created a number of pieces for this virtual exhibition and all contributed to some whole-class collaborative pieces. These events showcased the artwork from students across the whole school community, and demonstrated the talent and creativity of our students, and the importance of the visual arts in the school curriculum. Painting, drawing, photography, textiles, ceramics and digital design, were displayed together to create a colourful and exciting presentation of the students’ artistic expression.