Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne
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- For other schools of the same name, see Presbyterian Ladies' College.
| Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Melbourne | |
| Lex Dei Vitae Lampas
"The law of God is the lamp of life" |
|
| Established | 1875 |
| School type | Independent, Presbyterian, Day and Boarding |
| Known As | P.L.C |
| Principal/Headmaster | Elaine Collin |
| Chairman | |
| Location | Burwood, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Campus | Urban Parkland |
| Enrollment | 1400 |
| School colours | Blue, Black and Gold |
| School Hymn | |
| Area | 16 Hectares |
| Homepage | www.plc.vic.edu.au |
Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, is an Independent girls' school in Burwood, Victoria, Australia. PLC is Victoria's and one of Australia's, oldest girls schools. Founded in 1875, PLC is associated with the Presbyterian Church of Australia. The current Principal is Mrs Elaine Collin.
Contents |
[edit] History
The Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria set up an Education Committee in 1869 to look into establishing a Ladies' College. At this time the Church owned two acres in Albert Street, East Melbourne, opposite the current Fitzroy Gardens, and not far from the original site of Scotch College. A school building and a teacher's home were already built on the site and were rented to a teacher as a primary school. The committee resolved to build the college and provide advice and support, but the college would be self supporting.
Joseph Reed drew plans for a building that would house 30 boarders and 150 day students at an estimated cost of 12,000 pounds. The Assembly could only provide 5,000 pounds, so they decided to draw a line down the middle of the plans and build one section only.
The building was completed in time for the school year of 1875. The first Principal was Charles Henry Pearson who served until 1879.
By 1938 the East Melbourne buildings were at maximum capacity, and the College Council began a search for a new site for the school. In 1939 they bought a property in Burwood Melbourne called "Hethersett".
The Junior School was moved in 1939, but the complete move was delayed by the outbreak of the Second World War. On the 29th of September, 1956, Lady Brooks, the wife of General Sir Dallas Brooks the Governor of Victoria, laid the foundation stone for the new school buildings at Burwood, and the Senior School moved in 1958.
[edit] School departments
PLC is divided into four school departments. The Early Learning Centre educates girls and boys from 6 months to 5 years using the Reggio Emilio philosophy. A new Junior School was completed in 2005. The Senior School incorporates Years 7-12 in one ‘whole-school’ program designed to minimise transitional gaps.
[edit] Academic curriculum
In Year 7, students are allowed to pick two languages to learn, and participate in a curriculum of English, Geography, History, General Science, Art and Physical Education. By Year 9, Art is no longer a mandatory subject, and students may drop one language (although it is compulsory to take at least one language until Year 11). Therefore, students in Year 9 and 10 may pick elective subjects to include computer-based classes, and theatre, or may choose to continue their art and language subjects. In Years 11 and 12, students choose from either the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or International Baccalaureate (IB). Some form of Religious Education is mandatory at all levels.
PLC teaches the following languages:
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Latin
- English (as a first and second language)
Science and Mathematic subjects include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematical Methods
- General Mathematics
- Further Mathematics
- Specialist Mathematics
Humanities include:
- Accounting
- Classical Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- Health and Human Development
- History
- Legal Studies
- Literature
- Information Technology
- Information Processing and Management
- Information Systems
- Physical Education
- Texts and Traditions
Art and Music subjects include:
- Visual Art
- Music Performance Group
- Solo and Music Styles
- Studio Arts
- Theatre Studies
[edit] Extracurricular activities
[edit] Sports and outdoor education
PLC’s sporting program includes specialist sports such as fencing, triathlon, rowing, taekwondo, surf-lifesaving, cheer leading and equestrian. PLC also participates in the full range of sports on offer by Girls' Sport Victoria: athletics, basketball, badminton, cricket, cross-country, diving, golf, hockey, netball, soccer, softball, swimming, indoor cricket, tennis, volleyball and water polo.
The sequential Outdoor Education program begins with a Year 3 ‘teddy bears’ sleep-over and carries through to the Year 11 Leadership Camp. From Years 4-12 there is a wide range of outdoor, adventure, curriculum and special interest camps including art, biology, Christian Convention, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, IB, geography, music, physics, leadership, astronomy, skiing, rowing, surfing and more.
[edit] Performing arts
In 2005, girls participated in productions including the College’s own staging of The Getting of Wisdom – The Musical as well as Oliver! and Les Miserables, both produced in conjunction with boys from Scotch College. In 2006, senior students took part in Scotch College's A Midsummer Nights Dream, and the College also staged Seussical. In 2007, PLC will stage Hamlet, also in conjunction with Scotch college. Interestingly, all male roles in the play will be played by females in this production, and vice-versa.
The College also encourages girls to explore their love of music, whether it is singing in choirs, playing in their own rock band or jazz group, composing music, performing in orchestras or simply perfecting their skills on one of many musical instruments of their choice. Students perform in major concerts and recitals are held throughout the year for to the school and to the wider community. In 2005, 60 musicians from PLC orchestras, choirs and PLC’s Pipes and Drums, took part in Asia Music Tour. In 2007, PLC will be going to Europe Music Tour.
[edit] House system
The Junior school and Senior school have two separate House systems, with different colours representing each House.
The Junior school has four houses, named after the various buildings in the school which are in turn named after the founders of PLC.
- Hethersett - Blue
- Koorinya - Silver
- Woolahra - Yellow
- Wyslaskie - Pink
The Senior school has six houses named after Scottish castles.
- Atholl - Blue
- Balmoral - White
- Glamis - Green
- Leven - Purple
- Rosslyn - Red
- Stirling - Orange
In the Senior schools, the Houses compete in all areas to gain points in order to win the House Cup at the end of the year. Notable "big" House events include House Concerts, House Athletics and House Swimming. However, small-scale activities range from House Maths, to House Debating, to House Chess. If a student makes a valuable contribution to their House, the House Captains (chosen from Year 12) may choose to award House Colours to that student.
[edit] Scholarships
PLC offers scholarships for girls entering at Years 4 and 5 in Junior School and at Years 7 to 11 in Senior School. Scholarships on offer include Academic and Music with some specifically reserved for daughters of Old Collegians. The College also offers Boarding Bursaries from time to time.
[edit] Boarding
The PLC Boarding House provides accommodation for 106 girls. Boarders have access to the College’s recreational and sporting facilities as well as computers for study needs.
PLC will open a major new extension to the Boarding House in 2007. The extension will add 60 individual bedrooms for senior girls, new bathrooms, recreational facilities and more space for quiet study.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Jeanette Buckham - Educator, Principal of Presbyterian Ladies' College, Goulburn, and Pymble Ladies' College
- Catherin Deakin - Sister of Alfred Deakin
- Enid Derham - Poet
- Constance Ellis - First Victorian woman to become a Doctor of Medicine
- Ethel Godfrey - Victoria's first female dentist
- Vida Goldstein - suffragette and first woman to stand for election to the Federal Parliament of Australia
- Flos Greig - First woman admitted to the Victorian Bar
- Ellen Mitchell who would be known as Dame Nellie Melba
- Ida Rentoul Outhwaite - Artist
- Ethel Florence Lindesay Richardson - Author, published as Henry Handel Richardson
[edit] External links
[edit] Associated schools
| Presbyterian Church of Australia Schools |
|
Belgrave Heights Christian School | Covenant College, Canberra | Fairholme College | King's College, Warrnambool | Presbyterian Ladies' College, Sydney | Presbyterian Ladies' College, Armidale | Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne | St. Andrew's Christian College | Scotch College, Melbourne | The Scots College | The Scots School, Bathurst |
