A New Playground is Coming

We have news to share – our Middle-Upper Playground is getting an upgrade!

As we continue to plan and implement improvements around the school we are excited to share that over the Christmas break a brand new playground will be installed in our Middle-Upper Primary play area.

Students have been involved in the planning and design of the equipment and are looking forward to seeing it come to life.

A big thanks goes to you for making this happen – your support of our CEC fundraising events have allowed us to fund this upgrade alongside a government grant. Thank you for helping to make our school a great place for our kids!

Book Fair Bargains       

The library is always full of happy kids browsing books, but today was different! They we’re borrowing – they were buying!

The Book Fair is always a highlight, with every class visiting the sale today. The Book Fair will also be open at lunch times, along with a special family event after school – see more information later in the newsletter.

Eggcellent News

Lately in the chicken coop, a number of year 6’s have been feeding the chickens and cleaning the coop. We went to go check up on our chicken coop, pat the chickens and said “GIVE US EGGS”. We then cleaned up the poop!!! It is as fun as it sounds. As we were cleaning up the poop, we found eggs! We were so excited and began jumping up and down. However, we also felt shocked because this was the first time the chickens have laid eggs. We found 4 eggs that day, but hopefully by the end of the week there’s 6.....7 eggs!! By Layla and Aanya 6A 

Creative Nature Lunchtime Challenge

Last term’s final week brought a lunchtime challenge of excitement and teamwork to the upper primary playground as students took part in a unique coconut ball runway challenge. Using bamboo tunnels, the team worked together to guide a coconut ball from the starting point to a basket at the end. As the distance grew longer, students had to think creatively, extending their human tunnel line to keep the ball rolling. Laughter and quick problem-solving filled the air as the group experimented with new strategies. The activity encouraged collaboration, communication, and perseverance—proving that learning can happen in the most playful and unexpected ways.

The Paradox of Beginnings and Endings 

A beautiful Spring day like today prompts reflection on the connection between seasonal change and school cycles which lends itself to exploring perspectives on renewal and endings. The days have grown a little longer and the flowers are in full blossom in Australia. While in the Northern Hemisphere, Spring is the start of a new year and fresh academic terms, in Australia, it is actually the lead-up to the end—a countdown to the close of the calendar year and, for students, the approach of the final term in the classes they have been in. 

We are starting the final stretch before Christmas and the long summer break.  It is not too early to start reflecting on the year gone by and anticipating what lies ahead. Before we know it, we will be celebrating endings and looking forward to the transition into the next year level.  

Thus, while in the natural world, our flower gardens are full of colour now, this season also signals the conclusion of academic journeys reminding us that every beginning is intimately linked with an ending.  I am reminded of the rich Biblical imagery about new beginnings and the importance of preparation for what is to come.  Passages like Isaiah 43:19 declare: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”  reflect the theme of renewal and God’s ongoing work in the world. 

For us in Australia, Spring is an impressive time—brimming with life yet edged with closure. It is a season that encourages reflection, growth, and readiness for both endings and beginnings. The school cycle and the colourful landscape, offer a powerful reminder: every new beginning carries within it the seeds of an ending, and every ending is the opportunity for a new start. As we journey through Spring and the final term, may we embrace renewal, prepare wisely, and find hope in the promise of all things made new. 

In this new term, students are reminded to finish well, to reflect and to ready themselves for new challenges and adventures in the coming year.  How are you embracing change and transformation?  How are you stepping into newness? 

On September 1st, four extraordinary women set out to attempt a fundraiser that has never been attempted in Australia before. These four brave women are raising money for mental health and travelling from school to school to teach about "Mental Fitness".

On September 23rd, this past Tuesday, Louise, Sonia, Anna, and Rach pulled into Prescott Primary Northern on their trip from Perth to Sydney on Australia's only quad tandem bike. Our entire school assembled on the basketball court to watch them ride in and talk to us about the Gotchya4Life foundation.

Founded by Gus Worland, Gotcha4Life's mission is to build mental fitness and create a world where no one worries alone. The Ride4Life girls' goal is to raise a whopping $500,000 for this fantastic charity, and they've committed to riding over 4,000 kilometres over 6 weeks. That's about 120km a day! The Girls shared with our students strategies and ways to fortify their minds against thoughts of sadness and loneliness. Encouraging new ways to lean on friends and discover safe people they can talk to when they're feeling down. A proactive approach can help prevent these feelings from growing into something more consuming and harder to control.

To support the Ride4Life gang, we sold delicious Zooper Doopers for $2 to all of our willing students. I'm proud to announce that the students of Prescott Primary Northern raised $564 in support of the Ride4Life team, which will go towards the Gotcha4Life foundation.

The Power of Perspective Taking in Parenting

A man spoke to a famous speaker after a conference about relationships. “I can’t understand my son. He won’t listen to me,” he said.

The speaker responded, “Let me say back to you what I just heard you tell me. You can’t understand your son because he won’t listen to you.”

“That’s right”, the man confirmed.

The speaker reiterated, “Let me say it again. You can’t understand your son because he won’t listen to you.” He paused as the man stared at him. Then he added, “I thought that to understand your son, you need to listen to him.”

I’ve heard many exasperated parents ask variations on the same question. “Why is my child like this? Why do they do that? Why can’t they just listen and understand?”

As adults, we have a lot more life experience than children. We’ve seen more, learned more, and faced more challenges. It’s easy to forget what it’s like to see the world through a child’s eyes. Yet when our children feel understood, truly listened to, life works better—for them and for us.

How to Better Understand Your Child’s Perspective

· Remember what it was like to be a child. Think back to your own childhood experiences. What were your fears and worries? What challenges did you face?

· Listen attentively to your child. Pay attention to what they say and how they say it. Try to understand their feelings and point of view.

· Ask questions to gain clarity. Don’t assume you know what they’re thinking or feeling. Ask open-ended questions to encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings.

· Be patient and understanding. Children are still learning and growing. They may not always have the words to express themselves clearly.

· Avoid dismissing their feelings. Even if their worries seem small to you, they are very real to your child.

Sharing Your Perspective in a Helpful Way

· Offer comfort and reassurance. Let your child know that you’re there for them.

· Share your own experiences (in an age-appropriate way). This can help them understand that challenges are a normal part of life and that they can overcome them.

· Help them develop coping strategies. Teach them healthy ways to deal with stress and difficult emotions, such as deep breathing, talking about their feelings, or engaging in physical activity.

By remembering to see the world through your child’s eyes, you can build a stronger connection with them and help them navigate life’s challenges with confidence.

Dr Justin Coulson (happyfamilies.com.au)

Prescott College

Para Vista Kids Club