Tony Zappia visits PPN

It was great to catch up with Mr Tony Zappia, Federal Member for Makin, this morning, when he came out to visit the Leadership Team and School Captains today. He spent some time talking with the team, as well as touring our campus to see the changes and progress since his last visit. Thanks for taking the time to visit us, Mr Zappia!

National Simultaneous Storytime

Wednesday, the 19^th of May, was National Simultaneous Storytime and PPN, along with 125 000 other locations around Australia, joined Una, an adventurous 10 year who wants more space!

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 21^st year, NSS has established itself as being a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy

PPN definitely had fun with Una and her adventures through our Solar System. Class got to choose how they got to read the book. Your child may have been read to by their teacher or they could have gone on a literary adventure with Dr Shannon Walker, an American Astronaut on the International Space Station!

No matter how the book was enjoyed it is pretty cool to know that 1 million kids were reading the same book, together around all of Australia.

Great work, PPN! Keep reading and enjoying this space that God has given us.

Collaboration, Calculation and Creation

The click of the keys on the cash register makes an audible sound. There is the sound of the money draw opening as a child negotiates the change needed for the purchase of flowers from their florist shop. Helpful fellow student shoppers negotiate with one another as they share flowers and ribbons. They compare the colours, shapes and sizes of their flowers with their friends and classify each one. “May I buy the pink daisies?” requests one eager shopper. A calculation is carefully made. An exchange of goods and money from one student to the other is met with a look of pleased satisfaction. This satisfaction comes from their positive sense of self that is built during times of nature play. Students use reason and logic to problem solve and make decisions. They then use their imagination and innovation to creatively make a gift or a display that reflects their playful designs. With joy in their hearts, they carry their creative bouquets to a teacher or two to show that they care.

This week, the florist shop dramatic nature play gave students the opportunity to communicate and collaborate happily with their peers.

I vividly recall a particular class I was taking at Adelaide University many years ago as a part of my formal teacher training. The lady leading the class was an older lady, close to retirement, who had spent decades teaching in British and Australian schools. She said something that has stuck with me ever since. We were talking about best teaching practice, and in particular, using questions to help students learn. She said, “Your questions will generally get the answers they deserve.” In other words, poor questions elicit limited thought and therefore limited thinking and learning. Good questions promote deeper thought and understanding.

This principle also applies in our parenting and guiding of children. I was not a particularly compliant child, and I clearly remember being asked this question by many adults on many occasions, “What is wrong with you, boy?” A fair enough question given some of my behaviours, but remember the principle shared by my uni lecturer? “Your questions will generally get the answers they deserve.” My thoughts in response to the “What is wrong with you” question was to think about all of the things that may have been negative about me – literally, what was wrong with me. Whether we like it or not, our children take many of their cues about themselves from us. We need to consider carefully the questions we are asking of our children, particularly in times of stress and discipline. Rephrasing the question, or turning it into a positive description of a child’s enthusiasm and energy with a direction for giving the enthusiasm boundaries, is the answer. “Wow! You are so full of beans today! Let’s move over here and burn some of that energy off,” starts a very different thought pattern for a child. We mustn’t accept poor behaviour, but just as important is that we send cues to our children that they are valued and valuable.

Have a great week with your kids,

MB

A Servant’s Heart

The gospel of Luke brings a fresh perspective to one of my favourite Bible stories, ‘The Feeding of the 5000’.
Jesus had retreated to spend some well-deserved time alone to connect with His Father in Heaven, when the crowds track Him down. Jesus was tired, He was busy, He was spending time with His Father, however He was interrupted by 5000 men, let alone the women and children that accompanied them. But Jesus doesn’t send them away, He welcomes them with open arms.

It must have been a shock to the disciples, because they go into panic mode. “Send them home, we don’t have anything we can feed them with.” Even if they could find a shop nearby, it would take a year’s wages to buy enough food to feed all the people. The disciples had forgotten who they were with!

Jesus shows He has a heart of service. He welcomes all the people and encourages them to be seated. He asks the disciples to be willing to serve and Jesus takes care of the rest. Everyone is completely satisfied from the abundance of food Jesus provided.

Just as Jesus asked His disciples to serve, He also asks us to be willing to serve others around us. We may sometimes worry that we don’t have the skills, the resources or the time, but with open minds and willing hearts, He will support us and give us what we need. We just have to be willing and He will do the rest!

I encourage you to look out for people this week who you could serve in some small or large way.

Chaplain Phil

On Saturday night, we had 170 people join in the fun and laughter at out ‘Connect 4’ family games night and dinner.  Thank you to the volunteers that made the night possible and all the parents who braved the cold to participate in this awesome event.

Kids enjoyed playing musical chairs, corners, bobs & statues, party popper relays, raid the nest, and more! The veggie burgers were delicious, but the home-made chocolate brownie with choc-chip ice-cream for dessert, was the favourite. 

If you missed this opportunity to connect with other families and enjoy a meal together, don’t miss our next Connect 4 event on Saturday evening, 26^th June from 5.45pm until 7:30pm in the Para Vista Church Hall. Hope to see you there.

 

Chaplain Phil

 

Welcome to PPN, Mrs Alex Gosden

Prescott Primary Northern would like to officially welcome Mrs Alex Gosden to our team. Mrs Gosden is replacing Miss Fouche as the SSO in our Foundation B classroom. Mrs Gosden is no stranger to our school community, and we are very excited to have her working with our little ones in Foundation on a full-time basis. May God bless you in your ministry here at PPN, Alex!

Full Winter Uniform Required

Full winter uniform is now required.

The new Sport Uniform is compulsory for all students.  Also a reminder that blazers are compulsory for all Year 5 and 6 students.

Uniform Shop

If you still need fittings for winter uniform, please book your appointment through the Front Office as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can order uniforms at www.flexischools.com.au and the items will be delivered to your child's classroom within 2 school days.  

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