Year 7 Expo Night

Our Year 7 Students did a fantastic job last Thurday night presenting their Open Learning Projects to their families. From plastic containers and bottles parents assumed were rubbish, our Year 7's managed to create some pretty unique cities and present some entertaining ideas for the future! Well done, Year 7's!

Foundations Adventure to Morialta

Last Friday, the Foundation students went to Morialta Conservation Park in connection with safe play learning in Health.

Here are some student comments about the day:

My favourite thing at the park was the big swing, we were swinging so high! -  Japjot

I showed my climbing skills on the big rock! - Flynn

I went on the big slide with my friends! - Yana

On Friday I went to Morialta for an excursion and I really liked it and my favourite was going on the slide and I felt excited! -  Grace

Last Friday we went to Morialta. I played on the castle. I felt happy! -  Geeta

I liked the giant slide! - Luke

Interschool Chess Tournament

Last Friday, selected students from the chess team travelled to a different zone to play chess at Whitefriars Primary School. It was a tough and very close competition, with very experienced teams. The top two placing teams were made up entirely of Year 7’s! This was great practise for the team, who will be participating in the STATE finals next term.

I would like to congratulate all players on their excellent sportsmanship and team effort. Although we did not place, the players did Prescott proud. Tyson, the youngest player in the whole competition at Year 1, won 4 games! Monique had an excellent day, scoring the top position for girl players and Savannah had a special mention from one of the teachers as displaying the best sportsmanship behaviour throughout the day. She won a special award. Well done to all players for giving your best.

Mrs. Vice

SAPSASA Athletics State Championships

Four of our amazing athletes represented Adelaide North East District in the SAPSASA Athletics State Championships. We are so very proud of them for their amazing efforts and for their sportsmanship in cheering one another on in each event. Here are some thoughts from our athletes:

Monique: I competed in the 100m Sprints for the 13y/o girls. I came 11th overall and enjoyed cheering on our school team.

Jonah: I competed in the 11y/o boys High Jump and Shot Put. I jumped 125cm in the High Jump and achieved a personal best in Shot Put.

Ashton: I competed in the 10y/o boys Long Jump and 200m Sprints. I came 8th in the Long Jump and 6th in the Sprints. My highlight was cheering everyone on!

Seth: I competed in the 10y/o boys Long Jump and came 9th overall. I loved being able to compete with Ashton!

Foundation Swimming

Our Foundation classes are enjoying swimming this week at State Swim Clovercrest. Each afternoon we spend an hour learning to swim safely. We are having lots of fun learning to float, kick and even dive under the water to retrieve items off the bottom of the pool! 

Another term has flown past us again. Here we are in Week 10 of Term 3 in the blink of an eye, it seems. I would like to say how proud I am of our students. You may be thinking, “Yes Mark, that’s what principals are supposed to say about their students.” Let me assure you, I’m not saying it because I have to. I really am so proud of them!

Last Thursday evening, I witnessed our Year 7s presenting to families, friends and staff, their Future City Projects. I am really proud of the depth of understanding they showed in their work. I am proud of the displays they produced and the presentations they put on the screen. However, I was most proud when I saw students stand to present and then realise they were in front of a large audience, and that all they really wanted to do was leave, and yet they took a deep breath and pushed on.  That right there is absolute gold for me, in the lives of our students. Preparing for something, working through the difficulties, the personality differences, teamwork complications, and then at that crucial moment realising, “This is hard, but I will keep on going!” - Resilience in learning and resilience in life. The knowledge gathering is important, but the skills are what truly allows growth.

Tonight we have our Middle School Concert. Here is another time for our students to be challenged by the “out of the ordinary” once more. I know they will rise to the occasion. They have been practicing hard. Teachers, staff and families have been putting costumes and props together and Mr Harris, with help from Miss Calais, have been burning the midnight oil in preparation. Star Quest Middle School Concert will be one to remember.

Challenging our children academically is important, but so is providing opportunities for our children to be faced with the uncomfortable and find a way through, over, under or around the situation and emerge from it with the knowledge that they can do it. Like our Chess team, who went out to a tournament the other day in a competition they had never entered before, in a place they hadn’t seen and played players they had never played before. Mrs Vice said that she was so proud of the way they adjusted to things and did their very best and played in such a way that the other players could witness what a difference Jesus makes in our school and in their lives.

I would like to wish all our families a restful school holiday break and we pray God’s protection on you all if you are travelling. We look forward to a great Term 4 with all the celebrations that it brings.

Have a great break with you kids,

Mark B

Getting Up Again

Exodus (specifically Chapters 19, 20 & 32), tells an interesting story. A story about a group of people who had followed God’s direction, God had led them out of Egypt, freed them from literal slavery, and a few months later, God speaks to Moses (the leader of this group of people) and tells him to tell the people that “if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall…”(Exodus 19:5) and God goes on to promise them a number of things.

Moses goes and tells the people this, and how do they respond? (Exodus 19:8) “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do”. Three days later, God speaks to them. He comes down onto a mountain, there was thunder, lightning, the mountain began smoking, there was the sound of a trumpet and God began speaking the 10 commandments to these people.

Understandably, this freaked them out, it would have been an incredible sight to see and hear, but incredibly loud, and very different to what they had ever seen before. As a result of this, they asked Moses to speak to God, as they were afraid.

Moses made his way up the mountain to speak to God, as there were quite a number of things that God wanted to say, Moses was up there for a while (it doesn’t say how long, the second time he went up he was there for 40 days, so you can imagine it would have been a while). By the time Moses came back down the mountain, the people who had heard God’s voice and had promised to follow God, had made a golden idol, were worshiping it, and saying it was the idol that brought them out of Egypt.

How forgetful can we be? Hearing about the Israelites (the group of people who Moses led), I always found it interesting the number of times God worked amazing miracles in their lives, the number of times He told them He would be with them, and the number of times He rescued them from different situations, and the way they continuously turned away from God.

I always wondered how they could possibly be so forgetful, and continuously turn away from God. But looking back on my own life, I can understand how they may have relied on money over God, how they could have forgotten the incredible things God had done for them.

Today, no matter what difficulties are happening in your life, I want to encourage you to reflect on the things God has done in your life. To look back at how much He has done for you, at how many times He has shown you that He loves you. To remember that He is always there for you, and is the best friend you could ever have!

- Hope Born, Chaplain

Combined Chapel Tomorrow

We will be combined for Chapel this week, as our visitors from Avondale perform The Promise for us.

Summer Camp

Last week, we talked about “Service (Community) and this week we honoured several students from all the classes in our school for demonstrating this value.

Our values program this year is focused on RESPECT, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, and EXCELLENCE shown through His children and people at Prescott Northern. “Up, Up and Away says it all because with God’s values… we will rise!!!

“Rise up and shine, for your light has come.

The shining greatness of the Lord has risen upon you."

Isaiah 60:1

Nikita, Xavian, Guransh, Paxton, Able, Blessing, Zeyu, Somya, Celine (absent), Noa, Sophie, Lucy, Zara, Dillon (absent), Prabhnoor and Jackson.

Sean, Sade, Seanna (absent), Aishwarya (absent), Tiana, Bryce, Cooper, Marilla, Zukiah, Nate (absent), Mia, Scout, Eva, Kevin, Cameron, Hirum, Aaditya, Abuk, Caeli, Annaliese (absent), Amber (absent), Henry, Olivia and Aidan.

Middle School Concert

Our Middle School students and staff have put in a lot of effort so please come along to support them all. 

Re-enrolment Forms

Re-enrolment forms are now overdue. Please return all forms signed and completed to secure your child's position for 2019. If your child is not returning in 2019, we still require the forms to be returned.

New Nature Play Area Coming Soon...

Outdoor Classroom Day

How to make reading as fun as watching TV

With TV on demand, social media and so many other distractions, who's got time to read a book these days? We ask an education expert how parents can make reading a fun past-time for children. We also discuss the role of teacher librarians and the school library in engaging students.

Margaret K. Merga is a senior lecturer in Education at Curtin University in Western Australia.

Holly Godfree is a teacher librarian at a public school in Canberra and also a member of the School Library Coalition

Follow the link and listen to this audio recording of the importance of maintaining a reading culture.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/how-to-make-reading-a-fun-activity/10204202

Mrs. Wegener

Teacher-Librarian

Plastic Bags

 Thank you for the bag donations we have received. Our school community must be very environmentally aware! We still need more bags for students who forget their library bags. We need to look after our precious library books. They are a treasure.

Book Swap Day - Term 4

In Week 5 of Term 4 we will be having our final Book Swap Day of the year. The day for book swap will be Thursday, 15^th of November. Have a look through your books during the coming school holidays!

Premiers' Reading Challenge

Data entries have been finalised for the Premier’s Reading Challenge in 2018! Awards and medals will be received in November and be presented to our students at school. Parents will be advised of the presentation ceremony once the awards have arrived.

New Books Arriving Next Term

The Importance of Reading to Your Children

The following articles include some great hints for building up your child’s love of reading and literacy skills.

Australian-literacy advocate Love2Read recommends reading to children for 10 minutes every day.

“I’m the daughter of a time-and-motion expert who would never admit ‘there is no time’,” says author Jackie French. “There are a million ways to share a story with your child once you tell yourself this is something you must do.”

Read:

•           While you cuddle them to sleep.
•          When they need comforting.
•          While you’re having a coffee break.
•          On Skype from your hotel room on your next business trip.
•          Over the phone from your office.
•          The cereal box in the supermarket queue and entertain the shoppers.

“When you are really bushed, put your feet up, shut your eyes and let your child read you a story,” says Jackie. “It doesn’t matter if they can’t really read the words; if you have read to them often enough, they will make up a story just for you as they turn the pages.” - Anna Gibson

How to read to children

·         Take books everywhere and make the most of every minute – in cafes, on public transport, in the car, your office and on visits to the doctor or dentist.

·         Read everyday items aloud: labels, cereal boxes, road signs, maps, catalogues, brochures, and so forth.

·         Visit the library and ask the librarian to help you find appropriate books for your kids. Show kids how to find books on the topics that interest them.

·         Build a home library: charity shops, flea markets and garage sales are all great sources of low-cost books.

·         Give books or book vouchers as gifts.

Reading to Young Children

·         Set aside the same time every day to help establish a routine (bedtime, bath time, after school, on the potty or in the sandbox).

·         Choose hard-wearing books and let kids touch, chew and play.

·         Some kids don’t like to sit still: try letting them draw or play quietly beside you while you read, or get them to help you hold the book and turn the pages.

·         Read slowly with lots of expression. Put on silly voices: the more fun your child has, the more they will learn to love books and reading.

·         Point to pictures and words and tell them what they are. Follow the text with your finger as you read, discuss the story and ask what comes next (listen to their response): this helps build comprehension skills. Reading To Emergent Readers

·         Take turns reading paragraphs or even whole pages.

·         Help your child with words they are having trouble with: read it for them so they can keep going or ask them what word would make sense, depending on your child’s level.

·         Be encouraging.

·         Talk about the book as you read it – ask questions that allow your child to express opinions and listen attentively to their answers.

Reading to older readers

·         Read short sections of books or articles aloud to catch your child’s attention – encourage them to read the rest on their own.

·         Call their attention to the cover of a book or magazine – ask what they think it’s about it, encourage them to read it and then discuss it with them (read it yourself, too).

·         Put a funny article in their lunchbox.

·         Encourage your child to read to younger siblings, cousins or family friends.

·         Try not to judge: let your child’s interests guide their choice of books. If your child likes poo jokes, put a joke book in the bathroom. If they like electronics and car engines, give them a how-things-work book for their birthday.

Asian Aid

This Friday, students may come to school in casual clothes for a gold coin donation.  The money raised this term will support our two sponsor children. 

Over the last two weeks, we included Sonia and Joshuwa's report cards for your to read.  We trust you enjoy these little snippets of the lives of 2 children your donation makes a huge difference too. 

Today we wanted to include more information on what Asian Aid is all about. 

A SNAPSHOT OF OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

We believe sponsorship that empowers children with skills, resources and knowledge to understand their rights and value, and that enables their communities to better provide for their children is a powerful way to break the cycle of poverty now and for the future. Coming from a tradition of direct child sponsorship where sponsor support ensured a deserving child could receive an education, our sponsorship model now sees the child as part of a bigger community of family, school and other networks.

We know that children thrive when their communities are empowered to support them. Child focused development sponsorship benefits both the child and their community.

For more information or if your family might like to sponsor your own child why not check out the Asian Aid website. 

Thank you again for your generosity!

OSHC Vacation Care

ADRA Appeal Donation Boxes

Entertainment Book

This week is your last chance to get your books from the school as the remaining books will be returned during the holidays.  Click here to order your book.

Be quick; offer is only valid while stocks last.

Your BONUS $10 Priceline Pharmacy eGift Card will be emailed to the email address you have provided. Please allow 7-10 business days to process. Click here for full eGift Card Terms and Conditions.