Book Swap for Book Week

It is another busy week at Prescott Primary Northern this week. A special STEM excursion is heading off today to Hamilton Space School for a Mars Mission & Bottle Rocketry investigation. We are trying to do all we can to help our students experience some of what they have missed out on earlier in the year because of COVID restrictions. Our Year 5s are going out on a camp tomorrow and we wish them well. Tomorrow is World Outdoor Classroom Day and we have a special outdoor Chapel and some class activities planned for tomorrow so we would like for children to wear Sports Uniform for the day.

One of the things I love the most about Prescott Primary Northern is the way children learn about values and how they are so strongly encouraged to not only learn them, but live them.  I have written before about the “residuals” of education – the things that are left when young people finish their schooling. One of the greatest gifts we can give them as a “residual” are the values and principles they hold and use in their lives. What I really like about our values program is that it is woven into the fabric of our school life and that we find little ways of rewarding children who show those values. It might be a photo in the newsletter or a badge to wear, or a certificate acknowledging them and how they have lived out the value. These warm recognitions and acknowledgements came to mind when I read the article below about parenting and raising our children – rewarding children for doing the right things, rather than just responding negatively when they do something wrong. The power of positive affirmation should never be underestimated and is a great way to start in creating the family culture most conducive to growth and respect for each other. I hope you enjoy the article.

“Children of all ages enjoy parental recognition. They like when their parents make a fuss over their behaviour or highlight something they’ve done well.

Sometimes parents will reward their children’s behaviour with a treat, money or a gift. This is okay in small doses, but parental recognition alone is a high enough driver of children’s behaviour most of the time.

First borns, in particular, love approval. Youngest children just love that you have noticed them! Second borns can sometimes do things in spite of their parents, but deep down they love the recognition too, even if they don’t let on that they do.

The behaviour you focus on expands

If you want your kids to be neater then focus on their neat behaviours. “You’ve tidied your toys up before dinner. Top job!” You don’t have to throw a party, just let them know that you noticed and you approve of their tidiness. You may also let them know how it affects you. “You’ve tidied your toys up before dinner. It makes my job easier.” The behaviours that you notice and comment on will expand.

Noticing kids’ tidiness once won’t suddenly turn messy kids into exceptionally neat ones, but do it often enough and you’ll start to get some turn around.

You can give kids a thumbs up for all sorts of behaviours. Here’s some examples.

Being co-operative

Stubborn kids need a pat on the head when they respond on your terms not theirs.

Being brave

Nervous and anxious kids need to have their bravery pointed out to them. It’s reassuring and empowering.

Being helpful

Want helpful kids? Then you need to notice helpful behaviours.

Being tolerant

Sometimes older siblings need to be very tolerant of younger siblings. Tolerance is a very giving behaviour and should be promoted.

Being patient

Something to encourage in boys, in particular. It’s often not their strong point.

Being persistent

Let kids know when ‘hanging in there’ pays off. The link between persistence and success is massive but persistence needs to be promoted. It’s also the one factor of temperament that can be affected by parenting.

Being friendly

If your child struggles in social situations then recognise pro-social behaviours such as sharing, initiating contact with another child or taking an interest in another person.

Don’t wait until you get perfect behaviour to give recognition, particularly for very young children. Kids have L-plates when it comes to behaving (co-operatively, bravely, patiently) so their attempts and close approximations need to be verified by the significant adults in their lives – their parents.

Recognising kids’ positive behaviours is easy to do, but it’s also easy not to do. We often get tied up with other things and forget to show appreciation and nurture the behaviours our kids need to develop. It’s important to be aware of this. It’s the little things such as giving positive recognition that have the biggest impact on kids’ development.” (Grose, 2020)

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B

Planning For Eternity

I love to venture on holidays with no plans.  Just hop in the car and go where the wind blows. I like not having to worry about booking accommodation or being locked into a schedule or a particular destination.

My wife is more realistic about planning our holidays.  She likes to know the destination, look for accommodation deals in advance, consider all the options and book to ensure we have a great room for when we arrive.

One weekend I spontaneously decided to take my family for a long weekend at the Gold Coast. As we commenced the 5-hour drive, my wife asked if we should book some accommodation online. I told her not to worry because we could just rock up and find something nice when we got there. I was dreaming of something with a great view overlooking the ocean with a large comfortable bed and a separate room for the kids!

Something like this…

 

When we arrived at the Gold Coast, everything we drove past had a ‘No Vacancy’ sign. With three boys tired from the long drive and fighting in the back of the car, my wife urgently looked online for available places, in an attempt to find something suitable. Places were either full or ridiculously expensive!

We did find accommodation in the end, but it looked more like this…

I still enjoy being spontaneous, however, I am more than happy for my wife to go ahead and make the holiday plans!

There is a trip I am planning for. A trip to Heaven to be with Jesus when He returns to take us home. Each day I plan by spending time talking to Him and reading the Bible. The great thing about this trip is, I don’t have to work out all the destination and accommodation details for when we arrive! He has planned out everything for us.  In John 14:3 Jesus says, “I will go and prepare a place for you”. All we have to do is plan to be there and He will work out all the details! He just asks that we follow Him.

 

Chaplain Phil

ICAS and AMC results

Thank you students and parents for your patience as we have been waiting for all the ICAS and AMC certificates to be delivered to the school.
I am now only waiting for the AMC certificates, so we are hoping to give these out to your children next week in the Thursday Chapel program (Year 3-6). The plastic sleeves containing the certificates, also include the results page for each subject and how they competed compared to other children that sat the competitions. We have performed very well as a whole school, more about that in a later newsletter.
Those students that receive a Distinction or a High Distinction, will receive photocopies of their certificates next week and their proper certificate will be given out later in the year. Parents, please look out for these certificates next Thursday, the 12th of November.
Congratulations to all participants on your efforts in these exams.

Mrs. Vice

PE Week 2020

Next week, PPN will be celebrating ‘PE Week’. It’s a great opportunity to promote the importance of physical activity and the benefits it provides to our overall health and wellbeing. Please send some healthy fruit or vegetables for students to eat as ‘Brain Food’ or their recess snack. PE uniform will only need to be worn on your child’s normal PE day. Some of the planned activities include:
F-2: Multisport program with a focus on Tee ball (run by Kelly Sports) and lunchtime activities coordinated by our upper primary students.
Year 3-4: Cricket program (run by Kelly Sports) and lunchtime activities coordinated by PPN staff.
Year 5-6: Table tennis program (run by Table Tennis Australia) and lunchtime activities coordinated by PPN staff.
There will also be a few challenges for our PPN staff to stay active as well. ‘PE Week’ is also a great opportunity to encourage your children to be active at home.

Uniform Shop

Bus Requirements for 2021

If you are requiring the bus service for your child in 2021, please click the link below and complete the online form below to register your interest. Demand is very high for our bus service and many of the routes have been full this year so it is very important that you register your interest as soon as possible to secure a spot on our buses. Full-time bus fees per term: $296 per child. Part-time bus fees per term: $199 per child (part-time is one way, either to school each day or from school each day)

Bus Service 2021