Academics & Accolades

Year 9s Win National Book Writing Competition

Do you think you could write a book in just ONE day? Year 9 students Isla Mannolini, Rosie Greenaway, Kiara Stofberg, Emma Ryan, Livya Siford, Kaitlyn Sin, and Edith Hellings were announced as national winners of The Kids’ Cancer Project’s Write a Book in a Day competition after doing just this. The group commenced writing at 8.00 am and completed an entire book titled ‘Thief in the Themepark’ with illustrations before the 9.00 pm deadline. They were then announced as the winners of the WA Best Middle School Book before then also taking out the Middle School National Winner for Best Book on Wednesday 9 November via a Youtube announcement. Kaitlyn Sin said she loved the experience and enjoyed being an author, illustrator, and publisher for a day. “I’m so happy to know that the book we made will help spread joy to children around Australia. It was so much fun,” Kaitlyn said. Teams of up to 10 compete from across Australia to write and illustrate a book in under 12 hours that will be uploaded to an online library for children in hospitals around Australia. This year marked the 20th year of the competition and has raised over $792,423 for kids’ cancer research to find kinder, better treatments. To read Isla, Rosie, Kiara, Emma, Livya, Kaitlyn, and Edith’s book, ‘Thief in the Themepark’, scan below.

PLC Partners with Another University in Exciting New Programme

PLC will be a partner school with the University of Western Australia as of February 2023 in an exciting new programme coined the UWA Starter Pilot. Designed for senior secondary students, the programme provides them the opportunity to participate in a new and innovative micro-credential programme. Participating students may also stack microcredentials and gain credit for one or more units when commencing an undergraduate degree at UWA. In addition, the Curtin University Rising Scholars Programme (RSP) will be launched in 2023 to replace the existing Innovative Schools Scholars’ Programme (ISSP). The programme offers highachieving students first-hand experience of learning at Curtin University while still in school, allowing students to earn University credits. Students engage with staff and students on campus, in blended learning, or online units.

PLC students in Years 10 to 12 who have demonstrated high academic ability are eligible for the Curtin University Rising Scholars Programme (RSP) and UWA Starter Programme.

Bathed in Sound

Sound bath therapy is an ancient practice originating in Tibetan and Himalayan cultures, most notably with Himalayan bowls and gongs used by Buddhist monks. Indigenous Australians have also conducted sound therapy for thousands of years using didgeridoos. In recent years, it has become popular in the West as a complementary tool for managing health and wellbeing. Head of Science, Ms Lesley Kaye, has an interest in practices that promote wellbeing and recently completed a Masters Degree researching “How Adolescents Respond to Meditation”. She was the recipient of the UWA Francis George Bradshaw Prize in Education which is awarded to the best student completing their Master of Education. She has been facilitating sound meditations for a number of years at the College and in the local community and wanted to gain a formal qualification as a sound therapist to gain a greater understanding of the neuroscience and therapeutic benefits of sound. This motivated her to study a Professional Diploma in Group Sound Therapy at the British Academy of Sound Therapy (BAST); she will finish this qualification at the end of the year. As part of this professional diploma, Ms Kaye conducted four sound bath mediation sessions for PLC staff throughout October and November.

Ms Kaye facilitated the sound bath by playing gongs, crystal bowls, and other resonant tools, allowing fellow staff to slip into deep relaxation. Following the 45-minute session, Ms Kaye brough the group out of the experience and game some after care instructions as they filled out a brief survey to assist with her studies.

One PLC staff member commented, “I felt very relaxed with any tension no longer present in my body; in fact I had to re-focus in order to drive home safely! It is clear to me there is a very real and palpable benefit to this therapy and I would highly recommend it those who are curious about reducing tension and stress.”

Year 9 Student Among Top Mathematicians in WA

The annual Western Australian Junior Mathematics Olympiad (WAJO) took place in October at the University of Western Australia. Over 400 students from 24 schools in Years 7 to 9 participated in the competition, solving mathematical problems individually and in teams. Year 9 student, Yuki Li, received outstanding results from the Olympiad after participating in the 100-minute exam.

With an exceptional score, Yuki not only took out equal 7th place but was awarded a Merit Award for her strong individual performance. This is a very prestigious award in an extremely competitive competition. Previously, PLC Years 11 and 12 students, Yvonne Cui and Linda Zou have also received excellent marks in various Australian Mathematics Olympiads. Having been invited to nationally recognised academic excellence programmes, thanks to their results, they have been pivotal role models and inspiring figures for Yuki. Linda and Yvonne have been mentoring Yuki as well as other young Maths whizzes at PLC before school through problem-solving sessions. They have both been working in the UWA groups over the past couple of years and are hoping to encourage other young, talented students to follow in their footsteps.