Junior School

Creative Ways to Keep Connected

It is clear that connections are vitally important as we continue to live in a world of uncertainty. Research shows that interacting with people significantly helps our wellbeing. We feel better and do better when we are part of a community.

Staff across the Junior School focused on creating opportunities for linking the PLC Junior School community as we once again entered prolonged periods of lockdown during Term 3.

Our annual Parent Literacy Course was held online this year. Over a five-week period Mrs Charmaine Kenner delivered sessions via Zoom with the more than 60 parents who had signed up to develop a greater understanding of how reading and writing is taught at PLC, particularly in the junior primary years. A number of families also engaged in a weekly program, Tuning in to Kids, coordinated by our school counsellor, Mrs Melissa Harvey. This evidence-based program focuses on the emotional connection between parents/carers and children and has proven success in improving parenting skills, parent-child relationships and children’s emotional competence and behaviour. The feedback provided after the program indicated many parents found the information that was addressed was most helpful during the extended periods of lockdown.

We also held Parent Connection Sessions this term to provide all parents in the Junior School a chance to meet with each other online. After hearing from Department Coordinators on the success of remote learning, as well as from our Head of Student Wellbeing, Mrs Prue Petsinis, on tips to cope with lockdown and suggested holiday ideas and activities, parents were able to chat in small groups in breakout rooms to connect with each other and share how they were addressing some of the challenges of the lockdown. It was wonderful to have so many parents join these sessions and engage with the school community, albeit remotely.

Mr Paul Smith, our Junior School ICT Coordinator, arranged workshops for staff, parents and students on cyber-safety during the term. This was a most timely theme, given the increase in screen time and online learning. Topics addressed included: social networking trends and safety, managing cyber bullying, help-seeking strategies and resources, parental controls and app privacy settings and establishing and maintaining a safe digital environment in the home.

Students also engaged in a variety of other online activities throughout the term to connect with each other and with their teachers. Specialist lessons went live this term, enabling specialist teachers to interact with the girls and to re-connect. In addition, Mrs Melissa Voce, our Deputy Head of Junior School, arranged a number of activities for students to develop their creative skills through a series of online incursions. African Drumming was most popular with the girls from Prep to Year 6! Our online French Day, organised by Madame Titley, was a great success and an enjoyable way of bringing the girls together. Congratulations to Pippa, our Junior School Captain, and members of the School Representative Council who launched their first podcast, providing opportunities for the students in the Junior School to stay connected with each other. Thanks to Mrs Suzanne Phillips and Ms Nerilee Parkin who supported the SRC girls to bring this creative idea to fruition.

Dr Michelle Cafini Head of Junior School

Wellbeing and Thinking: Take Time to Think

How often do we make hasty decisions based on rushed thinking? On reflection we often say to ourselves, ‘If only I had thought of that!’ How we use our thinking can have positive outcomes for our wellbeing.

Thinking is an active process; your mind processes information, making decisions with different parts of your brain all working at the same time. We try to understand social situations, food choices or when to go to bed with our thinking drawn from forces creating a ‘push and pull’ situation. Our decisions can follow our head or our heart (as explored in Ferocious Warmth by Tracey Ezard). When making a decision we can be objective (head) or compassionate (heart). We can be resultsdriven (head) or have emotional reasoning (heart). We can approach a friendship issue with reasoning (head) or with empathy (heart). Research suggests that if you have a positive outlook there are direct links to improving health outcomes.

The Years 3 and 4 girls reflected on how thinking related to wellbeing:

Thinking is when you think of ways to help people in hard situations or in school subjects like Maths or if you’re just playing. Thinking can also help you with your wellbeing and being a kinder person. You need to think before you say something. For example: Is it nice? Is it helpful? Will you regret it? Because words are something you can’t take back. It is also important to remember your actions as well because you can’t take them back either. Think carefully before you act.

Amara, Year 4

• Thinking helps you understand yourself better. • Thinking is time to…just as a computer would say ‘load’ – it’s not just computers that need to load, humans need to load as well sometimes. It’s just sorting through your thoughts and ideas. • Thinking is the passage to ideas. • Thinking is a pair of eyes inside your head processing what comes in.

Victoria and Emily L., Year 3

Ideas Being open to new ideas Be active physically and mentally Working together Encourage others Thinking positively.

Ava and Emily F., Year 3

We create an environment where students experience connectedness, a sense of belonging, engagement and positive, respectful relationships. Research shows a direct correlation between caring for a pet and positive thinking. In Junior School, we are visited by a therapy dog called Louie. Therapy dogs are trained to provide affection, comfort and support. They must enjoy human company and getting pats and cuddles – a lot! Louie has provided much-needed companionship as well as having a positive effect on the students’ ability to focus, directly improving their learning outcomes. Our students really look forward to the days Louie is at school. Wellbeing is central to learning and life for our students.

Mrs Prue Petsinis Head of Junior School Wellbeing

Lisa Napier

7 March 1971 – 26 July 2021

Lisa Napier, a much-loved and long-standing member of the Junior School Office team and a Senior School parent, passed away in July this year. She had fought her illness with courage, dignity and grace and worked tirelessly to prevent her ill-health impacting on the lives of her family, friends and work colleagues. Our prayers, love and thoughts go out to Lisa’s husband Mike, to her daughters Lily (2020) and Phoebe (Year 11), and to Lisa’s extended family and friends.

For so many members of our community, particularly the staff, students and parents in the Junior School, and Year 11 students and families, her death is a profound loss as Lisa had that rare ability to make everyone feel special and valued. She was everyone’s best friend.

Her husband, Mike, spoke of her ‘loving kindness, full of compassion and generosity, with a joyous playfulness that was underscored with a real sense of calm. She never judged or criticised.’ Those she knew were inspired by her unconditional love and extraordinary ability to really listen. She was a compassionate and caring member of her local neighbourhood. The support from the school community during her illness meant so much to her and was a reflection of the devotion and indefatigable energy Lisa had given to her work. As a close colleague said, ‘she wrapped everyone up in love.’

Our Principal Cheryl Penberthy, who was her close friend and colleague for ten years at PLC, commented,

Lisa called herself, “Detective Napier” as there was not much that happened in the school that she didn’t know about. Lisa knew when grandparents were unwell, if a girl was in the sick bay and any other reasons which might be causing her to be there and was aware of any other pressures outside of work that her colleagues might be facing. She had the most wonderful deep smooth voice and wide smile and she built relationships based on trust.

Lisa was very proud of Lily and Phoebe. She was devoted to their education at PLC and was so happy last year when Lily graduated and this year to see how well Phoebe was progressing in Year 11. She would have been so proud of Phoebe being elected Vice-Captain for 2022.

It was with heavy hearts that we, her PLC family, farewelled Lisa in a beautiful online memorial service where colleagues, parents and musicians expressed their love and respect for her through moving reflections, music, poetry and prayers. Lisa was an extraordinary woman, a real friend, the best mother and a wonderful life partner. We take consolation in the fact that she is resting now and is at peace. Her beautiful smile lives on in our hearts and cherished memories of her continue to enrich our lives. We are all so blessed and fortunate to have known her.