ISSUE 10 SUMMER 2019 STUDENTS NOMINATED FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE HSC SHOWCASES AND EXHIBITIONS WINTER SCHOOL IS IN! JUNIOR SCHOOL ENGAGES WITH THE ART WORLD CONTENTS | ISSUE 10 SUMMER 2019 01 From the Principal 30 A year of SEED 02 Early entry relieves the pressure of exams 31 The doll in the Junior School library 03 Winter school is in! 32 PLC Sydney Preschools Open Day 06 Junior School engages with the art world 33 PLC Sydney and PLC Armidale combine to support drought relief 08 Students nominated for excellence in the HSC Showcases and Exhibitions 34 Muck Up Day: A great Australian tradition 10 Hats off to Cate! EX-STUDENTS’ NEWS 11 PLC Reads Australia 36 President's Report 2019 12 Striking a creative light in the Countess of Jersey Society 37 ESU announcements 14 An incredible scientific adventure 40 Save the date 16 A hands-on experience for Year 3 41 Alumni events 2019: Honouring an iconic PLC Sydney teacher: 17 Enriching science with our Miss Audrey Keown OAM Scientists-in-Residence 42 Celebrating PLC Sydney across 18 Performances showcase the best generations of drama and music 43 Getting to know the Ex-Students' Union 20 In profile: Zilin Zhang, Sherry Zou, President Marina Clark (Lvoff, 1978) Maggie O’Reilly and Imogen Stewart 44 Welcome to the ESU Class of 2019 Same latitude, different longitude, 23 Class of 2020: Common Room handover different schools 44 Once upon a time they were all girls in 24 Nine days in New York, two in LA and 45 Croydon… today women reunite for the lots to do! Croydon Circle We are only one being— 26 How can the “old girls” network we are a pipe band! 46 help today’s students? 27 Seniors buddy up with juniors 47 A morning of college history for reading 48 Where are they now? 28 60 seconds with… Mr John Trimble 29 60 seconds with… Ms Julie Shields FROM THE PRINCIPAL 1 Education is in a period of significant change. The draft curriculum review The big ‘mover and shaker’ is document written by Professor Macquarie University. They made Geoff Masters has been very well some significant offers to high level received by independent school courses to our students before the principals. HSC commenced. The new documents recognise We are ready for these changes. the following: The future will require ‘T’ graduates: students with great depth of 1. The need to build transferable understanding and breadth of skills into the curriculum connection. Our commitment 2. The inadequacy of the ATAR to academic rigour in NESA and system Cambridge courses is building ‘depth of understanding’. Our introduction 3. The importance of literacy and of courses with transferable skills numeracy for all (eg. The Enterprise, Global 4. Greater flexibility with university Perspectives, PaTh) and our entry requirements commitment to teaching students how to research is helping build We are excited about the future. Enjoy connectivity. To indicate the reading this magazine which includes We also have specialised staff helping highlights of the year. changes in university students achieve tertiary entry in the entry I note that about PLC Sydney Futures Centre. They are: 5% of our students Mrs Rowena Barnett – Assisting with local universities gained early entry in Mrs Sue Arnaudon 2017. This year 30% – Assisting with local universities achieved this. Mrs Deb Wheeler Dr Paul Burgis – Assisting with overseas universities Principal OUR MAGAZINE TEAM EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS Mrs Nicole Paull Dr Paul Burgis, Mrs Rowena Barnett, Ms Mel Shannon, Emma Hooton, Ms Eleonora Johnston, Emma Bosco, Chelsey Johnson, Cerqua, Miranda Raguz, Ms Renate Cross, COVER Mrs Alison Lloyd, Ms Jo Knight, Mrs Casey Katia Nastasi, Georgie Mortensen, Claudia Allen, Mrs Joanna Golotta-Maxwell, Ms Jo Mortensen, Mr Malcolm Heap, Mr John Performed by Elisheva Biernoff-Giles, Sophie Herrmann, Ms Carolyn Lain, Cate Weir, Trimble, Ms Julie Shields, Mrs Suellen White, Montague, Lucie Roberts and Alexandra Dr Suzana Sukovic, Ms Veronica Trainor, Mrs Renee Jones, Ms Debby Cramer. Raleigh, Maralinga has been selected to appear Sarah Pattinson, Angie Rofail, Emily Moloney, in the HSC showcase for Drama, OnSTAGE. Julia Cummins, Mrs Mary Mitchell, Ex-Students' News: Marina Clark, Philippa Mrs Annie Martin, Dr Maria Luisa Gutierrez, Zingales, Ann McDonald, Lesley Meldrum, Helen Humphries, Mia Joseph, Elizabeth Camphora incorporates the Dr Stephanus van Heerden, Mr Philip Harper, Maggie O’Reilly, Sherry Zou, Zilin Zhang, Gregory, Margot Kelly, Katherine Sherrie. Ex-Students’ News , the magazine of Imogen Stewart, Jasmine Higgs, Maia Thank you to all the ex-students and their PLC Sydney’s Ex-Students’ Union. families who contributed. PLC Sydney acknowledges the Wangal people, of the Dharug dialect, on whose land the College resides, and pays respect to Elders both past and present. ISSUE 10 / SUMMER 2019 2 EARLY ENTRY RELIEVES PRESSURE OF EXAMS Many students go into the HSC examinations with the weighty belief that entry into a university or college course could depend on how they perform over the next few weeks. However 30% of PLC Sydney Year and it is reassuring for students to know 12 students went into their exams that they have offers in place based on having already taken their first more that just a ranking score. definite steps into the next stage of of Management in Sydney, Bond Several of our students have already their life-journeys—before even lifting University, Whitehouse Institute of been offered places at: a pen in their final examinations. Design and Queens University in • Australian Catholic University under Charlotte, USA. Prior to the commencement of HSC their CAP (Community Achiever exams, almost one third of our students Many universities will offer students a Program) which recognises had received offers into the university leg up into courses in which they have a student’s participation in her courses of their choice. This provides achieved good marks in Year 12: Sydney community. tremendous reassurance as they round University and UNSW offer adjustment the final corner of their HSC race. • Macquarie University under their factors to students who do well in Leaders and Achievers Program English and Mathematics or in courses There has been much discussion in the which recognises a student’s that relate to their chosen pathway media recently about the value of the leadership and co-curricular (although there are exclusions). ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission participation as well as Year 11 Rank). It is a rank, not a mark, which academic results. has been used by tertiary institutions Many students receive to select students into courses. It is • Australian National University. offers from universities calculated based on students’ HSC results and can exert pressure on • The University of Notre Dame under before the HSC results students to reach a particular selection similar schemes based on Year 11 are released in number to get them into a particular results and co-curriculars. university course. However, tertiary Others have been offered places at December. institutions are now choosing to look Sydney University’s Conservatorium wider when selecting students for places of Music, the International College Even after the results come out, students can change their preferences for courses and adjust their thinking and decision making. There is plenty of time for students to consider their direction and what the next step will be. In this rapidly changing scenario, our students are well prepared. PLC Sydney offers students a breadth of experience as well as a depth of achievement. We also offer our students opportunities to explore their range of future options through our Futures Centre. We start non-pressurised future conversations with students early. It is very rewarding to see our students taking the first steps beyond school and to know that they are moving forward with purpose. Mrs Rowena Barnett Director of PLC Sydney Futures Centre PLC SYDNEY / CAMPHORA WINTER SCHOOL IS IN! 3 We all know that feeling, the holidays are coming to an end, we start shopping for stationery and getting our school bags ready for the start of another school term. Ten weeks of sitting in the classroom academic standards. They follow in the listening to the teachers go on and on footsteps of previous PLC Sydney elite and on. Imagine instead, packing snowsports athletes, Lucy Glanville your suitcases, filling them with 2014 Sochi Winter Olympian (Biathlon) all the winter clothing you can find and Sabrina Howell 2015 Junior World and heading to the Australian Alps Championships, who were both where you will spend most of Term 3 members of the PLC Sydney Winter skiing, snowboarding and completing School. Other students have gone on your schoolwork in a beautiful high to pursue careers in snowsports as country setting. snowboard Instructors (Lilli Glenn 2017) or elite judges in the extreme sport of PLC Sydney is the mogul skiing (Genevieve Martin 2013). only girls’ school in A typical day at Winter School might involve rising at 5.30 am, packing lunch Australia to offer such and a bag for the day, catching the ski a program. tube to Perisher and Blue Cow Resort where you will meet your coach for the The Winter School allows students in day. Returning to the house at 4.00 pm, snowsports races. Any student who is Years 7 to 10 the opportunity to take it’s straight into school work for the next competent on green and blue runs are part in their chosen sport, train on a full several hours. All members of the house welcome to take part in the events. time basis and complete their studies take it in turns to cook and prepare without the 10-hour return drive every dinner for their teammates. Cleaning Events are age-based and students weekend.