PLC is well recognised as one of Australia’s finest schools for girls. It is a vibrant and dynamic learning community, where both staff and students actively participate in their educational journey and embrace life itself. It is a nurturing setting where girls and young women are given every opportunity to grow and develop, to explore their interests, pursue their passions and develop their talents in a stimulating, safe and supportive environment. We are dedicated to ensuring that the girls at PLC, both present and future, receive ample opportunities and are encouraged and assisted in reaching their highest potential, both personally and academically, in all areas of pursuit. Our aim is to empower them to lead meaningful and gratifying lives as responsible global citizens. PLC stands as a school that embraces innovative educational concepts and methodologies specifically designed for girls.
There are many tenets that are foundational to a PLC education: the traditions laid down in PLC’s earliest days; a commitment and belief in the capacity and strength of women; the development of the whole person; the pursuit of personal and academic excellence; a belief that education transforms lives and brings with it a responsibility to use one’s education to make a difference; a commitment to equipping young women to be leaders in their world; an international outlook and the promotion of respect, encouragement, understanding, equity, justice and
compassion; a strong focus on looking beyond oneself and to the service of others in need; a clear Christian foundation promoting Christian values and faith, and encouraging a sense of responsibility for oneself, for one another and for the world.
As a Christian independent girls’ school, Presbyterian Ladies’ College aims to provide breadth, strength, balance and quality of education in both the national and international context for the purpose of encouraging leadership, service and life-long personal development and learning. Founded in 1875, PLC’s students consistently achieve the highest of academic standards within an encouraging Christian environment that welcomes girls and their families who represent a diverse range of cultural backgrounds and abilities.
The College adopts an internationally minded approach to studies by drawing on the diversity that exists within a community that includes over 40 different nationalities.
Starting in pre-school, students ultimately have access to either VCE or IB Diploma programs in their final two years. Since 2010, approximately two-thirds of all final year students have had ATAR scores greater than 90.00, data that positions PLC as one of Australia’s leading schools. Over 98% of all students who graduate in Year 12 from PLC will proceed to university, either immediately or after a year of deferral to explore other interests. The tertiary courses that our graduates
enrol in are many and extremely varied, a reflection of the thorough and outstanding careers counselling they have had during their final years at school. Most of our graduates will enrol in universities within Victoria, whilst some will study interstate and internationally. A significant proportion of PLC’s graduates will subsequently study a second degree or seek higher-level degrees in their area of training.
Extensive opportunities in language and cultural exchanges, music, drama, sport (over 30 are offered as interschool competition), outdoor education, leadership and service, contribute to a balanced education and give every girl the opportunity to explore and develop her own talents and interests. In a range of individual and team sports, as well as in academic and cultural competitions, PLC students consistently enjoy success at state and national levels.
Recent facility developments at PLC have included a new Learning Resource Centre (2012), a Year 7 Centre (2013), redeveloped science laboratories (2014), the Performing Arts Centre (2017), a new Year 11 Centre (2018) and Year 12 Centre (2019) and a significant refurbishment program for all classrooms and offices in the Senior School completed in 2020. In addition, the most significant project ever undertaken by the College, the new Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre, is due for completion in 2025.
PLC’s Christian ethos and education mission are the foundation of its culture. It informs the shared values which shape the common life of our community and the behaviour of those who belong to it.
At PLC, we work within a culture of truth seeking, character building, service to others and respect for all people as we strive to build a caring, learning community that encourages our students to embrace their futures with confidence and compassion.
Truth and Excellence
Wisdom, a love of learning and the pursuit of academic excellence are fostered by a commitment to discover truth and understanding in all areas of knowledge.
Character and integrity
Success in life is measured not just by what we achieve, but who we are as people. Strength of character and virtue are developed through perseverance, courage and self-discipline.
Service
Satisfaction in life comes where we live for the wellbeing and benefit of others. Those who rise to leadership are called to use their position in the service of others.
Care and Respect
Prosperity in community comes when we care for and respect one another and harness the different strengths, perspectives and ideas of individuals for the common good of the community.
It is with great pleasure that I present to you, on behalf of the College Council, our report on the affairs of Presbyterian Ladies’ College for the year 2022.
After two long years of interrupted face-to-face learning brought about by the pandemic, it has been of great relief that 2022 has been a year without any disruptions to on-site learning. Our students and staff have been able to engage in the all-important tasks of teaching and learning in a classroom setting where collaboration and discussion takes place most naturally. Many of the College’s much-loved events, such as the Gala Speech Night, concerts, musicals and sporting carnivals have also been reinstated in the College’s calendar, to the delight of our girls.
Our thanks go again to our Principal, Mrs Cheryl Penberthy, and her entire staff at the College. They have worked hard to ensure the smooth and effective running of the College and to consistently provide the highest quality education to our girls – to develop them as critical thinkers and servant-hearted leaders, and to nurture them in character and resilience. Our Christian values continue to be our reference point for such an endeavour so that our girls make a truly meaningful contribution to society as the women and leaders they become.
We also wish to thank those who retire from service on Council this year. They include Mr Wayne Rice, who served as my deputy chair, Mrs Priscilla Mellado, Mrs Elizabeth McGregor, Dr Tanya Josev and Dr Andrew McDonald. A special mention goes to Dr McDonald, who has served in distinguished fashion on the Council for 23 years, and for many of those years, was also President of the PLC Foundation. During this time, Dr McDonald has been a champion for the renewal of the College’s infrastructure and facilities, and the modern facilities which the College is able to boast today are a testament to his efforts.
Three key highlights mark the year. Firstly, after much due diligence and planning, the College Council has finally approved the development of the Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre. The new Centre will boast, amongst other facilities, an 8-lane, 50-metre swimming pool, with diving platforms, learn-to-swim facilities and a gymnasium comprising three full-sized basketball courts. This is an important project which aligns with the vision and mission of the College, seeking to provide a holistic education to all our students, developing fully both the mind and body. Construction commenced in December 2022, and we plan for the facility to be opened in 2025, in time for our 150th Year Anniversary celebrations.
The second highlight relates to the development of a new Strategic Plan. Stakeholder consultation began in late 2022, and the College is carefully collecting and considering the feedback which has been received to develop strategic goals to set the direction for our College over the next three to five years. It is important that as a College, we retain and safeguard all that is precious about our College, but that at the same time we strive to keep improving on the education we offer so as to maintain our pre-eminent position as one of Australia’s leading ladies’ colleges. Mrs Penberthy and her leadership team will progress this work early in 2023, and we plan to launch the next plan in Term 3 of 2023.
Thirdly, after three years of planning and development, PLC has launched its new range of uniform for our girls – the first such change in 25 years. To be transitioned over a period of two years, the new uniform will be transeasonal and fabrics and design have been updated to suit the needs of the 21st century.
Finally, the College is pleased to report that the finances of the College are sound. Enrolments are healthy and with borders opening, our boarding school occupancy
is also increasing, with healthy future prospects. We continue to maintain a careful focus on the stewardship of the College’s resources to ensure that the College remains viable and that continued investment in the capital and human resources of the College can be maintained into the future. This is particularly important in light of the significant investment which has been committed to the Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre.
The College Council looks forward to the College community’s support in the coming years to assist in delivering on these key objectives.
We are thankful that under God, PLC has continued to flourish and that the students that come to our College are able to receive the education they need to prepare them well for the future. We do not take for granted the abundant provision from
God, whether it be the quality and strength of our community, the strong leadership of the Principal and the staff, the strong Christian foundations of the College, or the wonderful students who choose to study with us. We look forward to another year in which He will continue to prosper and bless our College.
Rev Mark Chew Chair of Council
At the beginning of 2022, the whole PLC community was hopeful that the isolation, anxiety and severe difficulties of the previous years would not be repeated. How fortunate and relieved we were at the year’s end that after a very full and successful year, PLC was definitely back in action!
While some members of the PLC community unfortunately still suffered from the impact of COVID during 2022, daily life returned with enormous energy to its busy, reassuring daily routines and much-loved traditional celebrations such as House Concerts, student camps, year level parent gatherings, the Prayer Breakfast, Connect Night, Music Roundabout and the Year 12 Graduation Dinner, to name but a few.
How pleased we were in January to welcome back our first boarders from overseas, followed by others during the year, as they obtained flights and access after the years of COVID travel restrictions.
It was also heart-warming to see the talented PLC Pipes and Drums performing in the ANZAC Day march in Melbourne after a twoyear break. PLC was also able to host the Victorian Drums and Pipes championships which were in person for the first time in three years.
With time – and while adhering to any initial restrictions around COVID – parents and Old Collegians were able to return to the campus for concerts and special lunches. The government continued to supply the College with rapid antigen tests throughout much of the year, and positive cases of COVID had to be reported to the Department of Health until October 2022. We were grateful that masks were no longer required to be worn from late April. By September, isolation for those testing positive to COVID reduced from seven to five days.
Together, staff, parents and students worked very hard to rebuild our community across the entire College. The recordbreaking attendances at events during the year showed how much people wanted to connect with other members of our wonderful PLC family.
I sincerely thank all those volunteers on the various parent Committees and our staff for their huge contributions to the success of all our events this year. The Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations and the Hethersett Christmas luncheon in particular were huge successes. Our parent groups have been cohesive, harmonious and very positive.
We learnt many positive lessons during the COVID years, including the usefulness of Zoom in not only enabling learning from home, but in facilitating greater communication for parents and staff at parent interviews. Old Collegians who lived away from Melbourne or were previously unable to attend meetings were also now able to participate, and the hybrid attendance at meetings has continued for many groups. It was also marvellous for boarding parents to join in the Boarders’ Parents’ Association meetings online and this option has continued, alongside inperson attendance by others.
Even our special speaker for the Foundation Day Assembly in February, Old Collegian Professor Ruth Stewart, a former boarder from the Class of 1977, was able to address us from her home in outback Queensland where she continues to work as a doctor with remote communities. Ruth is a National Rural Health Commissioner and a passionate advocate of better and more equitable access to medical care in country areas.
I was very proud of the way the PLC Graduating Class of 2022 embraced their Year 12, with confidence and energy after the disruptions and uncertainty of the previous two years. Their leadership at both a personal and collective level was impressive as they reignited excitement in all our traditional, much-loved House events, raised funds for important social action projects such as for Neno Girls’ School, and participated in the truly
outstanding staging of Seussical or the massed choral singing at the very special Gala concert or in many other musical, theatrical and sports events.
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the Class of 2022 on the outstanding results that they achieved in both the VCE and IB. I would very much like to acknowledge and thank our dedicated and committed staff, parents and families who supported and encouraged the girls throughout their years at PLC. We are very much aware that it is a team effort, and all who have been involved in the development of these young women are to be congratulated.
Of the 173 students who completed VCE and IB:
13% achieved an ATAR of 99.5+ placing them in the top .5% of Australia
22% achieved an ATAR of 99+ placing them in the top 1% of Australia
30% % achieved an ATAR of 98+ placing them in the top 2% of Australia
7 girls achieved an ATAR of
99.95
46% achieved an ATAR of 95+ placing them in the top 5% of Australia
69% achieved an ATAR of 90+ placing them in the top 10% of Australia
94.15 the median ATAR was
89% achieved an ATAR of 80+ placing them in the top 20% of Australia
Our IB girls once again achieved excellent results, with 47% of our IB candidature obtaining an ATAR of 99 or above and 94% of IB students achieving an ATAR of 90 or above.
Almost every girl in Year 12 2022 received a tertiary offer in Victoria. Additionally, some girls were offered tertiary places interstate and overseas.
As you can see from the summary of PLC’s ATAR ranking in this report, the Class of 2022 have performed exceptionally well as a cohort and these results place PLC amongst the very top academic schools in Australia. However, as we warmly
congratulate the girls in the Class of 2022 on their fine academic achievements, it is important to highlight that academic success is only one measure of the quality and success of a student and a school. The characters and personal qualities of the graduating students are of much greater importance. Their capacity to thrive in the next stages of their life, in their studies and careers and personal lives, their resilience, emotional intelligence, their capacity to care for others and their desire to use their education to contribute to the lives of others and the betterment of society, are far more important indicators of the quality of the education we offer. Developing and nurturing young women
of character and substance with a Christian world view continues to be at the heart of our mission at PLC.
PLC is a very long-standing member of the IB community and we had the pleasure of hosting the 2021 Victorian and Tasmanian IB Awards Ceremony at Federation Square in February. The guest speaker, Nicole TJ from the Class of 2008, spoke of her journey since completing her IB studies, first as a classical pianist and co-founder of a chamber music ensemble alongside her career as a highly-regarded digital and innovations strategist.
We look forward to hearing of the journey of our IB and VCE students from 2022.
Both the Old Collegians’ Association and the Lampas Society continued to foster close links with past students and staff. I had the pleasure of speaking at the AGM luncheons of both groups and was able to outline the strategic vision of the College and how we are working very consistently, with a whole-school approach, to make our girls ready for the challenges and opportunities of life after school. While ATAR scores and formal qualifications are still very important, and we are so proud of the wonderful academic results and competition successes of our students, we as educators and parents, know this is not enough in the new global world of study and work.
We fostered and continually emphasised the mental and emotional wellbeing of all our staff and students, especially post COVID, through especially designed wellness and confidence-building programs across the whole College.
It is vital that students feel part of the bigger world picture where they are aware of international issues and can celebrate the wonderfully diverse cultural backgrounds of their families and friends. What a privilege it is for students and staff when our Indigenous students share the enormous richness and longevity of their precious and unique culture.
Through participation in our International Week and Harmony Day, with the theme in 2022 of ‘Come Together in Peace’, PLC girls were given a hopeful view of what contribution we can make as individuals or with others, in encouraging world peace and the prosperity of underprivileged citizens both here and abroad.
In June, students, staff and other special guests attended the official unveiling of the portrait Yvette Coppersmith, the 2018 Archibald Portrait winner, painted of me as the twelfth Principal of PLC. I sincerely thank the artist and the College for the honour of having my portrait join the impressive portraits of past Principals which grace the walls of Wyselaskie Hall.
One of the most exciting events at PLC during 2022 was the launch, at a wholeschool assembly, of our exciting new PLC Uniform Collection. This memorable event in our College history showcased a stylish, contemporary, transeasonal uniform which allows our girls to show greater individuality by choosing from a range of items.
We have commenced planning for the 150th Anniversary in 2025 when all girls will be wearing this impressive new uniform which honours past uniforms, with the much-loved school colours echoed in the bold new tartan.
We were very happy to finish the year by announcing one of the most ambitious building projects ever undertaken by PLC, the construction of a state-of-the art Sport,
Aquatic and Fitness Centre (SAFC), due to open in 2025. This exciting development, with works starting in 2023, will provide new opportunities for all our students.
We thank the School Council for their unwavering commitment, conscientious work and forward thinking in the provision of new facilities and the ongoing updating of existing buildings, such as the major refit of the Doris Daniel Theatre and Foyer and the Hilda McKay Hall and the refurbished staff rooms and student facilities in the Senior School.
Our beautiful garden campus is being constantly developed with a strong emphasis on using native plants and creating special places where students can relax together outdoors. The establishment of a picturesque native garden opposite the entrance to the Senior School provided a soft and inviting space for girls to sit together and enjoy nature.
Development of the PLC 2023-2027
Strategic Plan commenced in 2022 which saw Council members, College leaders, parents, staff, students and Old Collegians participate in a thorough consultation process. This plan will be launched in July 2023, with much of the work over the next three years building on the achievements already delivered through our Towards 2023 and Beyond strategic plan.
We thank everyone who has contributed to shaping this new plan thus far, and look forward to your ongoing support to ensure we achieve our goals and are successful in our efforts to form empowered women of character whose contributions change the world for the good.
I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the richness and depth of our wonderful College and its supportive community during 2022. We are indeed blessed to be part of this dynamic centre of education for young women.
Cheryl Penberthy PrincipalThe Year 12 results of our PLC graduates over the past three years demonstrated our continued focus on academic excellence as one of many enriching aspects of the PLC student experience. Our girls see their academic studies, which extend them personally and enable them to pursue their passions and interests, as the foundation for stimulating and diverse opportunities in their life beyond school.
A combined median ATAR above 94 for the past three years continues to identify PLC as a leader in the field in both the Victorian Certificate of Education and International Baccalaureate programs. Solid foundations built through their education at PLC ensure the girls are all well prepared to pursue either the VCE or IB pathway. They apply themselves and work in a diligent manner over several years to achieve these results. Their journey is strongly supported through expert teaching and wellbeing support, and
the love and care of families who prioritise the wellbeing of their daughters and the rich education PLC provides.
The Year 12 PLC students of 2022 made us all very proud as they exemplified the graduate outcomes of Scholar, Thinker, Citizen, Advocate and Leader and stepped out into 2023 as confident young women who are keen to use their knowledge and experiences to make a difference to the lives of others.
Note: Figures have been rounded.
100% of the Year 12 students in 2020 - 2022 completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. No students included VET qualifications as part of their certificate.
Christian Union (CU), under the leadership of Mrs Kate Stanton and led by student leaders Jemima Mellado and Molly May began to thrive again. Often the Christian Studies room was packed to capacity. Girls were very eager to come together and open the Bible, learn more about God and encourage one another in their faith.
Mrs Sharon Catchpoole continued to do a fantastic job in leading CE in the Junior School, assisted by Mrs Debbie Juchno at Year 6. Sharon did another wonderful job in taking more than 100 girls on the JOYCE camp.
Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 43 contains a great verse that reminds us that even in the desert, or a dry and painful experience that we may go through, God can do a new thing. In the verse God reminds us that He will make a way and that He is doing a ‘new thing’ –life-giving rivers in the desert.
Coming out of two terrible years, 2022 provided us with a way to reconnect with one another, something that was missing from our extended lockdowns. Though there had been much damage done, we now had the opportunity to rebuild and reconnect.
Our Connect Nights and Prayer Breakfast were well attended and had some encouraging speakers. In Term 1 we were fortunate to hear from Steve and Annie Lawrence on the topic of ‘Faith, Family and Footy’. Steve was a former AFL footballer and together with his wife Annie, encouraged us to consider how we can nurture faith in our families.
At our Prayer Breakfast we had Allison Troth come and share. Allison spoke in her capacity as a managing partner at Destiny Rescue, an organisation that helps free children caught up in the slave trade. In Term 3 we heard from Dr Graham Stanton, lecturer in Practical Theology at Ridley Melbourne and Director of the Ridley Centre for Children’s and Youth Ministry, also husband to Mrs Kate Stanton. Graham spoke on the topic, ‘Who Will Tell Your Children’s Grandchildren about Jesus?’. In Term 4 we also had our Christmas-themed Connect Night, a time of great fellowship.
School Chapels are an important part of our Christian foundation here at the school. After a period of holding Chapels via Zoom, we were once again able to hold in-person year level Chapels. It was great to be able to meet again and we were fortunate to be able to use the newly renovated DDT. Weekly Boarders’ Chapels continued on a Monday night with the book of Jonah being one of the books covered throughout the year. Chapels were led by Rev Nick Curtis, Mrs Winter-Barry and Mrs Kate Stanton.
Parent prayer groups were very well supported, led by Dr May Loh, Mrs Heather Newhook and Mr Ian Mann. Assistance was also provided by Ms Madelaine Nguyen, Dr Michael Theophilos and Mr Adrian Spencer. It is wonderful to have such a committed group of parents upholding the school in prayer. The parents’ prayer group also blessed the girls with hot cross buns at Easter and helped cook at significant BBQbased events.
Finally, we finished the year on a high, returning to a packed church for our PLC Carols Service at Scots’ Church. We were blessed by the beautiful music and the reading of the Christmas story through the Bible. We were reminded of God’s faithfulness in Jesus: Immanuel, God is with us. And if that wasn’t enough, after the service the boarders walked through the city to see the Myer Christmas windows, then sang Christmas carols both at the windows and at the Christmas tree in Fed Square.
No matter what you go through, know that God is not that far away. In Jesus, God is with us; may you know that biblical truth in all that you do.
Rev Nick Curtis Director of Christian MinistriesBehold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
2022 began with great excitement. Children returning for another year burst through the doors, keen to be back amongst their friends. New children embarking on their very first experience of the ELC quickly became involved in the many activities and soon developed enduring friendships and relationships with others in their group. It was wonderful to see the ELC classes back to full attendance following the last few years of limited access due to the pandemic.
The Centre exists to support young children in an environment that offers the highest quality programs in a quest to maximise children’s potential in all areas of development. Experienced teachers and educators, together with the PLC community, have all been participators in these programs and have been actively involved in helping children learn how to learn. Throughout the year, children and teachers shared many special moments; some evolved spontaneously from a comment or individual interest, while other experiences were intentionally planned for as part of the extensive early childhood curriculum. Everyone had something to share and something to learn. Teachers and children researched and collaborated together and were always open to new ideas and thoughts.
From the very beginning of the year, family involvement was actively encouraged with many parents attending the Welcome Barbeque, Mother’s and Father’s Day Morning Teas, Easter Parades and Family Picnics.
During the year there have been many highlights and projects that have stimulated the children’s interest. This was particularly evident for our three Pre-Prep classes when they presented their annual concert, entitled The Secret Garden, for their families during the final week of Term 2. The children of Glengarry, Balgonie and Carnell had been investigating PLC’s
extensive outdoor environment, and this wonderful event, featuring all 89 PrePrep children, was a culmination of their discoveries and learning. The children’s interest was initially ignited when the Pre-Preps were introduced to the ELC’s vegetable gardens and began planting various vegetables and herbs. This led to numerous discussions about the many plants and creatures that inhabit our gardens and outdoor spaces. The excursion to the Royal Botanic Gardens further complemented and extended their understanding.
Many excursions and visiting performers provided possibilities for first-hand experiences and hands-on learning. The children’s understanding of the world widened to embrace various artistic performances and community roles. Visitors to the Centre included storytellers, puppeteers, musical troupes, magic acts and a Dog Safety presentation, which ensured that the children approached dogs in a responsible manner. The various incursions always delighted and enthralled the Kindergarten and Pre-Prep children.
Excursions to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edendale Community Environment Farm and Bundoora Park Farm were a valuable addition to the program and stimulated ongoing interest.
Another highlight was the Pre-Prep Sports Day held on the Junior School Oval in mid-November. Many parents attended this spectacular occasion and cheered as they watched the children participate in a number of special activities. Events included sprints, hurdle races, ball bouncing circuits and bean bag wheel and weaving relays.
This year we were very fortunate to be able to renovate the large play space to the rear of the ELC. Teachers and children were involved in many discussions throughout the past year about the new landscaping and areas for inclusion, and a great deal of thought, time and effort went into planning for challenging and stimulating experiences.
Our new playground is a wonderful addition to the ELC footprint and one that reflects
the importance of learning in and from nature. This new ‘outdoor classroom’ has quickly become a fabulous space to explore, investigate, and discover. It offers children an authentic, hands-on engagement with the outside world, one which invites them to challenge and extend their capabilities.
Staff believe in the possibilities of all children and ensure that their rights to the best education are recognised. At the PLC Early
Learning Centre the richness of different cultures and the value of each individual child’s contribution are celebrated.
We thank all ELC parents and other members of the broader PLC community for joining us on this special journey. Together we have worked to provide the best learning outcomes for each and every child.
Deborah Hendren Head of Early LearningThe Junior School staff consistently provided exceptional teaching, identifying and advancing the knowledge and skills of each student, as well as developing each girl’s character. Across all facets of life in the Junior School, Mrs Melissa Voce, staff and students have appreciated the wonderful support of the Principal, Mrs Cheryl Penberthy, who was always encouraging and supportive of all endeavours. Mrs Penberthy attended many events throughout the year and is a strong advocate of the Junior School. The staff also acknowledge the support and cooperation of parents throughout the year, which contributed to the students’ success.
New students were warmly welcomed at the beginning of 2022. They settled quickly into life in the Junior School, readily adapting to new routines and expectations. The Year 6 students took their responsibilities as leaders of the Junior School seriously and have been excellent role models for the rest of the Junior School girls. The involvement in, and commitment to, the life of Junior School by the 2022 Junior School Captain was greatly valued.
In addition to staff continuing to work collaboratively to review and update curriculum and assessment, this year saw continued emphasis on the Junior School’s Learning and Wellbeing Framework. The framework centres around developing exceptional learners in the Junior School who are strong communicators, effective collaborators, engaged citizens, skilful thinkers and character builders. These five competencies are acknowledged by many researchers in the educational field as essential for students to develop in order to thrive in their future workplaces, and for life in general in the 21st century. We believe that if these competencies become embedded in our students’ behaviour and way of thinking from early in their education, they will lead to our PLC graduates becoming capable scholars, thinkers, citizens, advocates and leaders with a global perspective.
In 2022, the primary focus has been on collaboration. Explicit collaborative experiences implemented this year have enabled students to respect the opinions of others, listen to include, negotiate and compromise, identify and work
with the strengths of others, cooperate, contribute ideas and share work equally. A scope and sequence for the teaching and development of collaboration has been developed, and resources created to ensure a common language is communicated across the Junior School.
Professional Learning
Professional reflection and growth and constant learning are some of the characteristics demonstrated by the Junior School staff. Professional Learning in the Junior School this year centred around elements of the Learning and Wellbeing Framework. Working in teams, staff worked on embedding the Framework into the curriculum documentation and worked on meaningfully creating collaborative experiences into teaching and learning programs. This involved engaging in pedagogical discussions, observing practice, implementing a variety of tools and strategies and then reflecting on how the implementation of different approaches to collaboration led to changes in pedagogical methodologies and deepened student learning.
As always, Music has played an integral role in the life of the Junior School. The Junior School Music program has continued to deliver rigour and stimulation for all students. The Prep-Year 2 Music curriculum, with its strong Kodaly focus, explored fundamental musical concepts such as pitch, rhythm and beat via the child’s ‘singing voice’. Year 3-6 students have maintained their multiple approach to learning via aural skill development, singing and playing, creating and composing, listening and appreciating, and Music Theory. The ever-popular recorder program has remained a fundamental component of the Year 3-6 Music program, having proven to be an effective means of reinforcing practical performance and musicianship skills. In conjunction with the classroom music program, the well-established Instrumental Music and Choral programs have also continued to flourish. In 2022, the Years 3-4 Choir had a membership of 135 girls and the Years 5-6 Choir was made up of 177 girls. Most assemblies and concerts were presented live this year but recordings were still made for parents to view at home.
The Drama and Dance program gave students the opportunity to express themselves creatively and imaginatively through exploration and performance in a safe and secure environment. Students experimented with language, body movements and expression while being open to new ideas when working on a group task. They continued to develop their confidence to perform rehearsed and impromptu pieces in front of their peers, teachers and to a formal audience. A highlight for 2022 was the Year 5 students’ Evening of Short Plays, which this year was presented in individual class groups. Each student had many lines to learn and performed on stage in a costume with several set changes and hand properties to suit the scenes.
Learning French through stories was an ongoing focus of 2022. Junior Primary students read popular stories together as a class including, Va-t’en Grand Monstre Vert (Go Away Big Green Monster) in Prep, Je veux pas aller à l’école (I don’t want to go to school) in Year 1 (of course the main message in the story is a positive one) and Où est le mouton vert? (Where is the Green Sheep?) in Year 2. Girls developed their vocabulary through repetition and picture and word associations, as well as the task of reading aloud. Year 10 and 11 French students, together with a past Year 12 student, also ran the French Reading Corner, Le Coin Lecture, for Prep-Year 2 girls on Friday lunchtimes in Term 2 in the Junior School Library. The girls loved this opportunity to spend time with each other and learn from the older girls through reading children’s books. Girls across the Junior School engaged in a number of exciting activities to advance their French conversational skills, as well as develop an appreciation of French culture. Year 3 students held a fashion parade, entirely in French. Complete with a red carpet, their performances and their encouragement of their peers as spectators, made it feel almost like the girls had travelled to Cannes. Year 6 students connected with students from Collège Sainte Ursule, Paris, through a pen pal project. The girls learnt how to write a detailed letter to describe themselves and were full of excitement when they received a colourful, handwritten letter in French in return, through which they were able to gather an insight into the lives and culture of their pen pal. French Day, held in Term 3, saw the girls dress up in traditional blue, white and red. The theme was Fairy Tales, Les Contes de Fées. The girls participated in cultural activities and were also introduced to French improvisation through a selection of creative games and language exercises created by the French drama company, The French Loop. Fostering a love of reading and books, as well as equipping the girls to gain knowledge of the world around them, are the foci of the Junior School Library.
Reading for pleasure has many benefits for children, including enhancing emotional intelligence, social interaction and sense of connectedness to the wider community. This year a new graphic novel section was unveiled in the Junior School library. This collection was intentionally curated to appeal to students of all interests but also EAL students who find that the format greatly assists their comprehension of English. To accommodate the new section, the library was physically reorganised to create visual appeal and flow. We were delighted to welcome Australian author, Louise Park, and author/illustrator, Serena Geddes, to PLC this year. These visits culminated in a visit to the LRC in the Senior School where students were able to view Serena’s rough drawings, story board and original artwork. Well known authors Jacqueline Harvey (author of the popular Alice-Miranda, Clementine Rose, and Kensy and Max series) and R. A. Spratt (author of the Nanny Piggins books) visited PLC during Book Week celebrations. It was a great opportunity to have authors of such high calibre visiting the school. The Year 6 early morning book club, Reading Rap, continued this year. This club offered girls the opportunity to read and discuss a variety of books with their friends. The sessions were run by the Junior School library staff, past Senior School library captains and Duke of Edinburgh candidates.
A wide range of activities and opportunities were provided for students to showcase their skills and outstanding sporting achievements across all areas of the PE Program. Prep to Year 2 delved into a variety of sport units exploring isolated skill development and minor games, doing so with great enthusiasm and enjoyment. Years 3 and 4 undertook more complex skills and
modified major sport units and Years 5 and 6 continued to focus on consolidating their match play and learning the importance of tactics and teamwork. Select students from Years 3 to 6 represented PLC in the School Sport Victoria (SSV) Swimming Competitions, with PLC progressing through the district, division and regional levels. This was a great reward for these students who worked extremely hard during training sessions. Years 5 and 6
students were also selected for the SSV Tennis, Soccer, Netball and Basketball teams where they trained each week and displayed excellent teamwork skills. Our Years 5 and 6 Soccer teams performed exceptionally with the Year 6 team finishing third in the district after playing some very exciting soccer matches throughout the competition. Exceptional runners trained hard and battled cold and wet conditions as they competed in SSV Cross Country Competitions held at Jells Park; this then led into the Athletics season where we had a team of over 50 students training hard in both track and field events in the lead-up to the competition. House competitions gave all girls from Years 3 to 6 the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports and compete for the House Sport Cup. The Years 4 to 6 students competed in the inaugural House Sport Day, where they all had the chance to play basketball, netball and soccer throughout the day. Years 5 and 6 students participated in the Inter-School Sport Competition, which allowed the girls to experience competitive match play and develop their skills in game situations. The Netball Club continued to have a high level of participation with over 100 girls forming 12 separate teams as well as another 50 students getting involved in the Junior Netters program for Years 1 and 2 students. The Prep to Year 2 Junior Joggers program gave all girls a chance to improve their cardiovascular fitness and provided a stepping-stone to the Years 3 to 6 Huff ’n’ Puff running program, which continued to be very popular again this year. Girls Sport Victoria (GSV) introduced their pilot program targeting Years 5 and 6 students and providing them with extra sporting opportunities to help provide a great pathway to Senior School sport. This successful program increased participation and provided an opportunity for students to be exposed to a variety of sports that they may wish to be take up in Senior School. Once again it was a great year in sport in the Junior School and we thank the entire PLC community for their participation and support. We look forward to what 2023 will bring in the world of sport.
With the last few years of honing our skills in the use of ICT, both staff and students approached this year with greater skills, and a new understanding of what can be achieved with technology. The return to face-to-face learning has enabled ICT sessions to explore concepts in a deeper way to achieve some outstanding results for our students. Throughout the school, students have had access to state-ofthe-art digital technology including iPads, MacBooks and iMac computers. Online resources were made available through Wyse and Google Classroom, enabling students to communicate and submit work in a streamlined and simple way. As always, cyber safety is an integral part of what we teach at PLC. This year we have benefited from being a part of the excellent ‘Inform and Empower’ sessions run by Martin McGauran, a cyber safety expert and guide to both parents and teachers. Years 3-6 students were engaged with live, online sessions tackling all the major cyber issues such as cyber bullying, inappropriate content, screen time balance and much more. It was wonderful to see parents attending the very informative session which was run by both Marty and psychologist, Carley McGauran. Parents who attended agreed it was essential information for raising children in our world today. Some of the highlights of the ICT program included students in Prep to Year 2 using their iPads to enhance digital learning in the classroom, and virtual excursions via video conference to take our Year 4 students to the Great Barrier Reef. Our Year 6 students explored video creation using green screen effects and the use of the online creative tool, Canva, to enhance their work. Year 3 students expanded their understanding of robotics by coding a robot to take a visitor on a tour of the school. Year 1 students created their own iMovie presentation that displayed their understandings of the ‘Olden Days’. It was great to see what excellent work our Prep students can do with their own digital book when using the ‘Book
Creator’ iPad application. They were able to insert images, add titles and record a narration. We look forward to building on our students’ already excellent skills. In ICT, we are always looking to the future and to develop skills in our students that ready them for what comes next in ICT. We can be proud of our students and teachers as they continue to adapt to new technologies and explore new ways of learning.
The 2022 Visual Arts program commenced with anticipation for the Junior School Gallery Walk. This year’s exhibition, entitled ‘Art Walk’, was presented and displayed over the three levels of Junior School. The corridors were transformed into the gallery space with artworks framed and exhibited highlighting the talents of our PLC Junior School artists. The opening night was a great success with a large number of students and their families enjoying the ambience as they participated in ‘Art Walk’. It also showcased the talents of the Acorns Clarinet Ensemble and the Year 6 Quartet, combining the abilities of the Music Department and the Art Department. Artworks displayed captured different topics and mediums explored during art lessons and accompanying descriptions gave viewers an overview of the thinking and skills involved in creating the pieces. Highlights included Alphabet Playgrounds drawings (Prep), Picasso pinch pots (Year 1), Super Hero Capes inspired by Indigenous artist Dennis Golding (Year 2 and Year 3), Indigenous-inspired Dilly Bags (Year 4), Mythical Clay Creatures inspired by Vipoo Srivilasa (Year 5) as well as Whales and Fish prints inspired by Pablo Salvaje.
The Personal and Social Development curriculum continued to evolve this year with the ever-changing dynamics of our society and its impact on the social and emotional needs of our students. In Junior School, we recognise that for our girls to flourish at school and in life, wellbeing is an
area that will continue to require particular focus. There is a strong body of research that links wellbeing and learning, and emphasises the importance of equipping students with tools and strategies to build resilience and promote positive mental health. It is clear that the overall wellbeing of our students directly impacts their academic achievement and their ability to thrive. This year, Mrs Leticia Newell, Deputy Head of Junior School (Curriculum and Wellbeing) and Mrs Melissa Harvey, Junior School Psychologist, along with our Department Coordinators and classroom teachers, have continued to closely monitor and support the wellbeing of each student after an extensive period of lockdowns due to the pandemic followed by the return to school. In response to the social and emotional issues that have been evident this year, the Junior School has provided students with various opportunities for personal growth, in addition to our Personal and Social Development (PSD) curriculum already established from Prep to Year 6. These included incursions from URSTRONG, Toolbox Education and Girls who Glow. These incursions focused on developing friendship strategies, emotional regulation, and health and wellbeing pillars. In addition to workshops for students, our Junior School staff have undertaken professional development opportunities to strengthen their understanding of how best to support students’ mental health and wellbeing. The Wellbeing Breakfast Bookclub provided a worthwhile experience for staff and allowed time for rich, robust professional discussion on how best to improve the wellbeing of our students, based on the book, Raising a Mentally Fit Generation by Kari Sutton. As Sutton states, ‘Mental fitness is a precursor to resilience, and the best ways to support our children and young people in developing positive mental health and wellbeing is to teach them the protective skills and tools they need to deal with challenges before they need them'.
Christian Education lessons continued to focus on various areas of the Bible and the qualities of God. The annual JOYCE camp was a wonderful opportunity for Years 5 and 6 girls to strengthen their connections with each other and further explore the Christian faith. Easter and Nativity services brought the community together to celebrate these important events in the Christian calendar.
PLC’s ‘Exploratorium’ represents a place where students collaborate and test new ideas, follow their curiosity, and get excited about solving problems across a range of scientific fields including biology, physics,
chemistry, and earth and space sciences. The Science curriculum is dynamic, and the Science team is continuously working towards delivering challenging and relevant content through hands-on activities and meaningful problem-based tasks that have relevance in the real world.
An increasingly meaningful approach to science was continued in 2022, helping students to not only develop science inquiry skills and a deep understanding of science content, but gain an understanding of how to apply their science, mathematics and technology skills and knowledge to the field of engineering. Science education at PLC extends beyond mastering content; the approach is geared towards actively merging students’ scientific knowledge with other fields to support them in
further developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ambitious in design, collaboration and communication skills are also being intentionally incorporated into the program to reflect the scientific and engineering communities of the real world.
Mrs Voce would like to sincerely thank the Junior School staff for their commitment to the College, and for the energy, intellect and enthusiasm that they bring to their role each and every day. They have provided many rich learning experiences to enable the students across the Junior School to flourish holistically.
Melissa Voce Head of Junior School
In conjunction with Independent Schools Victoria, a new, innovative social and emotional learning curriculum, Project Wayfinder (PW), was implemented in all Personal Development (PD) classes in Years 7-9. Through engaging and interactive lessons, the PW program promoted the 5 core competencies of selfawareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills and social awareness. The overarching PW theme of Belonging resonated with students and was most timely after two years of COVID interruptions to school and social interaction.
Senior School students attended sessions that explored respectful relationships and safe partying. Year 11 and Year 12 students participated in study skills, leadership development, and careers sessions as part of their Monday afternoon PD program, while PD classes for Year 10 students focused on effective preparation and emotion regulation for semester examinations.
In November, cyber safety expert Susan McLean presented ‘Let’s Get Real! What you really need to know about staying safe online’ to Year 7-11 students. The session addressed cyberbullying, sexting and digital reputation and was very well received by students.
The practice of gratitude, reflecting on three good things in life, was a regular part of PD classes at all year levels, and students in Year 7-9 made beautiful and thoughtful ‘thank you’ cards to members of staff at the end of Term 4.
2022 was largely a return to normal to the delivery of our programs onsite and the breadth and depth of opportunities for learning together was revitalised. Whilst some restrictions were still in place, and masks were a dominant feature in every classroom, we forged ahead to focus on collaboration in the classroom and a return to almost all the activities which were not possible under stricter COVID guidelines.
A focus on key learnings from the 2021 experience underpinned our way forward. We retained our approach to reporting using descriptors rather than grades in Years 7-9, as we recognised the flexibility possible in reporting to parents and students in this way. We continued to provide opportunities for student choice in exploring topics of interest at all levels. An example of this was the geography field trip completed at home in which the girls examined features of their local neighbourhood. Shortened assessments and examinations in Year 10 were also retained as we had evidence from the lockdown years that longer tasks were more stressful, but unnecessary to guide next steps for learning.
Professional Learning Communities amongst staff focused on improving outcomes for students. Launched in April 2023, the PLC High Impact Teaching Strategies were developed based on our unique context and supported by strong research. The Learning Environments group focused their research on the physical spaces and how we might set up classrooms more flexibly, based on research from the Early Learning Centre,
Junior School and other models. The Classroom Wellbeing team examined the significant relationship between being well and being an engaged learner, particularly in the post-COVID era. Learning Teams focused on Year 7 classes and shared approaches to developing individual student’s passions and interests whilst building their skills in cooperative Learning. Filming classes and reviewing these in small teacher groups gave a focus on aspects of classroom dynamics such as questioning and feedback as part of a staffwide focus on classroom observation as a tool for teacher self-reflection.
The Year 9 OutLook program was a strong focus in 2021. As part of the Future Fund Grant provided by the PLC School Council, we explored different ways to deliver and assess growth in the PLC competencies for learning. The competencies of being balanced, articulate, confident and adaptable are core to all students’ development and there are four other competencies which match each of the PLC Graduate Outcomes. Scholar – Curious, Knowledgeable, Ambitious and Tenacious; Thinker – Critical, Creative, Reflective and Bold; Citizen – Ethical, Socially Aware, Empathetic and Culturally Aware; Advocate – Optimistic, Open-Minded, Engaged and Relational; and Leader – Responsible, Resilient, Collaborative and Self-aware. The OutLook program explored how each of these competencies fit within the areas of OutLook Outdoors, OutLook Community, OutLook Learning and OutLook City and the students selected competencies and tracked their growth through each of these units of work. Student self-reflections were then included on their final semester report. The OutLook program also focused on greater student agency; students chose their
own learning groups and projects based on their passions and interests. The process of engaging with the competencies, student agency and self-reflection, gave the students an opportunity to develop an understanding of how they can take responsibility for their learning in the future.
Curriculum unit planners were finalised in Managebac software as a central repository for use in 2023 to examine assessment techniques, curriculum content choices, connections between disciplines, and competency development. The IB evaluation process commenced with self-study surveys and focus groups being conducted in preparation for submission in August 2023.
Use of our Learning Management System has become central to the classroom due to Distance Learning. In 2022, we defined what best practice use looks like for courses, units and class pages and have implemented this model for all new staff and staff developing new materials. Training for all staff is central to the consistent use of the platform to aid the student learning experience.
We finished the year with an End of Year program for Years 7 and 8 like no other. We sought student input and wanted it to be fun, engaging and to highlight student agency. Amongst other activities, the girls took on the role of teachers and provided a rich offering of learning opportunities for their peers which was a marvellous success. This program really was a celebration of moving on and students being empowered to lead learning as only a PLC girl can do.
Lisa Saffin Deputy PrincipalAnnual testing at Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 assesses student levels of achievement in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Numeracy
and Grammar and Punctuation, with school results being benchmarked on a National scale. The tables below summarise this
data for the three years, 2020, 2021 and 2020 There was no National testing conducted in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Individual students funded under Commonwealth or State Government disability grant schemes
Students with a language background other than English
After a couple of years of pandemic-induced challenges, 2022 was a far more normal year for our students, staff and community. The new normal continued to embrace many digital tools that helped us through digital learning. Wyse, our learning management system (LMS) and intranet portal continued to be strongly used, while not used as much as during distance learning, Zoom has become a valuable tool to be used from time to time to facilitate meetings that would be difficult to achieve in person.
The College launched a mandatory one-to-one laptop program in Year 9 at the start of 2022. The College provided all Year 9 students with a new MacBook Air Laptop, protective sleeve, software and AppleCare+ accidental damage cover. Students in Years 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 were again given the opportunity to borrow an older Macintosh laptop from the College to support their learning, and hundreds availed themselves of this offer.
During 2022 the threat of cybercrime continued to increase, with several significant companies suffering attacks and privacy breaches. Locally, several independent schools were also significant victims of cybercrime leading to privacy breaches. PLC has continued to review its technology and practices and has identified a number of projects to further enhance our security. All PLC staff and students from Year 9 onwards were enrolled in an automated simulated phishing scam system that attempts to provide them with the skills required to protect themselves and PLC. PLC staff also participated in an annual privacy training program.
The ICT Team delivered a new ICT Strategic Plan which contained a road map of ICT projects and a pipeline for the next five years. The road map of ICT projects seeks to modernise, integrate, automate and improve ICT services for students, staff and our community.
The Doris Daniel Theatre (DDT) received a significant Audio Visual (AV) upgrade which allowed for a variety of performances to be easily presented, recorded and streamed for audiences within the theatre and beyond.
The College’s Internet connection was upgraded from a single 1 GB connection to twin 10 GB fibre connections. The twin connections are supplied to the College via a diversified path to improve reliability, while the speed upgrade has improved performance. These improvements are seen to be important now that so many of the College’s teaching and learning resources are located within the Internet cloud.
The move to digital processes continued, with all aspects of the admissions process now online and the Junior School introducing a very successful online cashless lunch ordering system.
Brenton Harty Director of ICT and Privacy Officer
We began 2022 with the hope that we might avoid the disruptions of the previous two years and conduct College and staffroom life in a relatively normal manner. This was possible to some extent with a return to limited staffroom use. Briefings and meetings happened in a hybrid fashion with some staff present in person and some connecting via Zoom. We were able to recapture some of the collegial interactions that we had missed so much over the previous couple of years, but with some protocols still in place to protect student and staff wellbeing.
The Pandemic Team which met regularly through the previous two years did not need to continue in its previous form, but senior staff always had an eye on the wellbeing of staff and the impact on them of the now modified protocols. Much had been learned from the previous two years and staff had responded with extraordinary flexibility and professionalism. The demands of this period have been extreme
and so a concerted effort to ensure that staff welfare was considered in decision making remained very important.
In 2022, classroom practice and staff and student interactions returned to more normal routines, uninterrupted by any lockdowns but with protocols still in place. PLC’s staffroom culture of collegiality, celebration and social interaction was still severely hampered, but able to return in a limited way. Staff briefings were limited to twice per week and only half the staff were present in the staff room on any given day at morning tea.
Staff still found ways to celebrate, collaborate and socialise within the parameters of the COVID protocols that were in place, and staff wellbeing has certainly benefited as a result.
The Senior School Staff Association introduced some Friday activities several times a term and end-of-term get-togethers
were conducted in a manner that was responsive to the circumstances at the particular time. Friday morning tea in the Senior School Staffroom has become something of an institution and the provision of barista coffee once a week was appreciated by staff.
As the year progressed protocols eased somewhat and staff very much enjoyed the wellbeing activities on the last school day that allowed them to unwind and interact informally.
Staff are very much looking forward to a 2023 that provides for safe and even more unhindered opportunities for teaching and learning, interactions with colleagues and wellbeing opportunities.
Anne-Marie Williams Deputy Principal
The 2022 year began with the hope that COVID-19 disruptions would be left behind, and staff and students could resume face to face teaching. However, similar to 2021, it was evident that navigating the COVID-19 pandemic was like running a marathon and trying to keep appropriate pace, which is a significant challenge when the finish line continued to move.
Staff rose to the challenge and conducted themselves with resilience, creativity, compassion and professionalism - with students the central focus of thinking and practice. Staff truly ‘leaned-in’ to the challenges and, with the support of the PLC community, together we chose to thrive.
As the year progressed, COVID-19 requirements shifted and staff were grateful to be back face-to-face and enjoying each other’s company. Although
being back on campus presented its own challenges, processes were implemented to accommodate COVID-19 requirements, including the continuation of online Zoom meetings, prioritising the supply of fresh air, restricting social spaces and meeting outside when possible. Something to celebrate is that we made it through the whole school year entirely with face-to-face learning!
Similar to communities outside of PLC, the last couple of ‘marathon’ years has had a toll on staff wellbeing. In response to staff being back on campus, it was a crucial opportunity to create time and space to consult on what wellbeing looks like for PLC staff, and how wellbeing practices can be integrated into our daily lives. ‘Wellbeing Champions’ were reconvened which includes teachers, support and administration staff across the Early Learning Centre, the Junior School and Senior School. Working with the People and Culture team and the wider staff community, the wellbeing survey results
were discussed and associated wellbeing initiatives determined and implemented.
These initiatives included the expansion of the employee assistance program, delivery of online and face-to-face wellbeing workshops and creating time for staff to share a vibrant and collegial staffroom culture to further reinforce the strong sense of community amongst staff. These initiatives will form the basis of the 2023 Wellbeing Strategy.
In 2022, staff have responded to these challenges with flexibility and integrity and have demonstrated the staff Values and Behaviours of Truth & Excellence, Character & Integrity, Service & Leadership and Care & Respect. Thank you to all staff for the collective effort in embracing and living these values, as they build a caring community that nurtures our students.
Lisa Connell Acting OH&S ManagerProfessional growth, career development and continual learning are hallmarks of all staff at PLC. This year, the College wished to recognise the different development needs of Teaching and General Staff and adopted a more collaborative approach to the design and curation of a learning
• Continuing the facilitation of ‘living the values’ sessions across numerous departments, so they could develop their own commitments which are connected to the wider PLC values and behaviours. These sessions will continue into 2023.
• Results from the Wellbeing survey and ideas from Wellbeing Champions were connected to the Martin Selegman ‘PERMA-V’ framework for wellbeing, which was used to facilitate consultation sessions with staff.
• The consultation sessions resulted in numerous wellbeing initiatives, including forming a partnership with PLC’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, Converge, to deliver face-to-face and online workshops. Staff nominated their interest in the workshop topics via a new ‘Wellbeing at PLC’ dashboard which provides access to wellbeing podcasts, wellbeing magazines and links to EAP services. Other wellbeing initiatives included the development of policies to support staff wellbeing, including flexibility and workload.
The PERMA-V framework, alongside with the international standard for managing psychosocial health, have been used to prepare a mental health strategy, which will be a focus for 2023.
series. Via the submission of personalised Professional Development Goals, the College offered bespoke opportunities to these two groups with a focus on industry learning, best practice theory and professional skills.
• 94% of staff across Senior School, Junior School and ELC completed individual staff development plans.
• College-wide Staff Development and Performance framework and professional development programs were implemented for teaching staff, general staff and leaders. These are referred to as Performance and Career Enhancement Plans.
• College-wide Workforce Planning processes and procedures continued to be successfully driven by the People and Culture team.
• A Learning Needs Analysis was conducted for General Staff and tailored professional, IT and leadership development solutions were developed and offered to general staff, aspiring managers and leaders.
A summary of the programs on offer and professional learning undertaken in 2022 is shown below.
Beale Director of People & Culture.
Lunch and Learn Series
Building professional skills and relationship management were the focus of this series.
• How to have difficult conversations (SBI Model)
• How to coach and mentor others (GROW Model)
Modular Programs for Leaders and Aspiring Managers
The series provided training using a holistic view of leadership, with focus on personal effectiveness, team development and IT skills.
• Creating and sustaining high performing teams
• Leading through emotional intelligence
• Building personal and self-leadership skills in the workplace
How to build resilience and maintain motivation
After years impacted by the COVID pandemic, the Development Office focussed once again on reconnecting the wider College community with the life and activities of the school.
A key area in 2022, was supporting the work and the mission of the Old Collegians’ Association and the ranges of events, activities, Class Reunions and general communication needs of the group. We thank the President of the OCA, Mrs Ailsa Wilson, for the outstanding commitment she brings to the role on behalf of Old Collegians everywhere.
The Development Office also successfully launched two major College projects that were the culmination of years of planning and development. The first was the new School Uniform Collection, which was officially launched on Tuesday 29 November. The response to the launch achieved record positive engagement by our community. It also achieved industry-setting record sales that represented approximately 60% of the community purchasing items from the new collection in advance of 2023.
The second project that was launched one week later, was the official sod-turning and community announcement of the new Sports, Aquatic and Fitness Centre. Once again, this was a highly anticipated and well-received communications piece and reflected the careful and detailed communications and engagement strategy that was developed for both projects.
In 2022, membership of the PLC Foundation once again grew as that organisation reengaged with its members and fundraising after a pause during COVID. New and returning Foundation events allowed members the opportunity to once again reconnect with the College and with the mission of the group in supporting the development of new buildings at PLC.
Antony Hankin Director of DevelopmentThe Foundation continued in its mission to support the College's major building projects and the educational opportunities for the girls of PLC.
The key focus for the group in 2022, was to consolidate operations following years that were adversely affected by the COVID pandemic. This saw the group undertake a range of events and activities including the annual NGV Winter Masterpiece lecture and tour, as well as the Hamer Hall Gala Concert gathering for members.
The group also presented its first annual award to Year 12 students at the VCE Art Show in recognition of their outstanding achievements in art and design and looks forward to continuing this new tradition. Membership of the group continued to grow in 2022 and the Foundation Board wishes to extend its sincerest appreciation to those members of our community, who through their generosity, are helping provide outstanding new building facilities for future generations at PLC.
Looking to the future, the group will be extending and enhancing the PLC community's awareness of its mission with a stronger presence at school events to ensure a better understanding of the importance of the Foundation's work and the life-changing impact that their support can help achieve for the girls.
The group also wishes to formally farewell Dr Andrew McDonald, who retired as President of the Foundation after 15 years in the role, as well as welcoming Diana Bevington as the new President of the group.
Julie Schroeder Community RelationsHethersett is the longest established parent support body at PLC, founded in the 1950s and named in honour of the original property on the campus grounds. The group aims to provide a platform for Senior School parents to meet and connect, to support school events and to raise funds that augment the school’s initiatives. In 2022, after two years of interruptions, the group finally had the opportunity to host its full suite of events and it seemed like Team Hethersett was out in full force!
No effort was spared to do things differently for the girls’ events. At the Athletics Carnival,
we added bubble tea to our longstanding food and drinks stalls – we confirmed firsthand that the craze was still very current! Another highlight was focusing our food service at Harmony Day on topical issues; Ukrainian and Afghan fare were on offer, the preparation of which certainly emphasised the concept of unity in diversity.
Parents’ celebration events were successful in their own right, with the Christmas Luncheon proving to be the finale in every possible way! A fully themed event for the first time, it was la dolce vita for our guests who enjoyed Italian influences all around – food, décor, entertainment, and even the extensive prizes won by the lucky ones. Our guest speaker, Pia Gava, MasterChef Contestant 2017, entertained
us by talking about food, family and festivities in her Italian upbringing. Having a record number of attendees at the event, representing a wide cross-section of the College community, was the cherry on our Christmas pudding!
Our volunteers have proven that together we can do so much – I am most grateful to each and every one of them. I am also grateful to the College leaders and staff who have supported and appreciated the group’s efforts.
The Hethersett Group looks forward to building upon this year in 2023.
Dhakshi Ravishankar Presidentacross the State. PLC results for overall satisfaction, and across every domain of learning, resources, wellbeing, leadership,
and engagement indicated PLC students, staff and parents feel our College is of the highest quality.
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