Prescott Primary Northern eNewsletter

Pupil Free Day

Year 5 Camp

In Week 3, our Year 5 classes headed off to Glenhaven Park for our 3-day, 2-night camp.

We had a wonderful time, even though the weather was challenging at times, and we were fortunate to be on the edge of the storm and it only stopped our activities for a short time.

The students participated in a variety of outdoor activities such as archery, initiatives (problem solving), low ropes, high ropes, the Tower Challenge, the Leap of Faith and the Giant Swing.

My favourite part of Year 5 Camp was the Games Night because we had fun, laughed and worked together and had hot drinks at the end of the night. - Syler

The Giant Swing was my favourite part of Glenhaven Park. It used a lot of teamwork and was really fun. I also liked the screaming contest on the Giant Swing. -Kayla

My favourite part was all of the activities because they were very challenging, and it was really fun to achieve them all. -Ekam.

I really loved the Giant Swing because it was a bit scary when you first pull the cord. Then you go really fast and then it doesn’t feel scary. - Liphelo

...the screaming competition and all the “I love you poles!” that you got to say. I actually got to see what it feels like to be strong, courageous and brave. - Isaac

The beautiful views from the Giant Swing – Prabhnoor

Everything was very exciting! - Gem

You got to have fun, even when it wasn’t your turn. - Jaskaran

We got to work in a team. -Rachel

Fun Run 2021

Outdoor Classroom Day 2021

Coconut Curiosity

Shrieks of excitement could be heard as students cruised into the nature play space to find whole coconuts. Their curious and inquisitive minds questioned: What is inside a coconut? How do I open the coconut? What does it feel like? What does it smell like?

Students tried many ways to open their coconuts. Some tried to open it with wooden knives with no success. Some students tried to bang them against wood. This did not work. Others tried to drop them on hard rocks. Slowly the cracks started to show. Cracks that revealed white coconut flesh and coconut water. Students with wide-eyed wonder opened the hard cases and shared, through play, what they found inside.

Some students shaved the coconut, some pounded it and others mixed it to make play cakes. This is a food and material that provides rich learning opportunities about fibers, force, leavers, shredding and desiccating. The coconuts inspired curiosity and the opportunity for discovery through play.

When I graduated high school, my dad and I went on a drive. We had no plans but to get as far as we could before he had to come back to work. We went to visit our friends in Sydney, the North Coast of NSW and ended up in Tweed Heads which is on the border of NSW and QLD. We were having a blast water skiing and spending time with friends, that we left a day and a half before my dad had to be back at work.

If everything was going to go OK, we would have made it back fine. Of course, when you are on a schedule, things sometimes tend to break or go against what you are expecting. This was the case for us! We had planned to leave and be back in plenty of time but on the way back, somewhere in NSW, something on the engine broke. There was a component of the fuel system that linked the accelerator with the fuel assembly. The little linkage completely broke so we had no way of making the car go and in the middle of nowhere, not much choice of repair.

When we rely on others' skills and strengths, we move forward and achieve goals far better than if we are all trying to do the same thing. We all have different skills and gifts and being able to rely and depend on others in times of need is vital to our wellbeing and success. I hope you can lean on others when you are in sticky situations and continue to go forward, achieving the goals you have for your families.

'Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken'.

Have a great rest of the week with your kids.

Jason Davis

We are living in an age of consumerism and materialism, where we are constantly sold the idea that more money and more stuff equals more happiness. But even though Australians are richer than ever before, research suggests that we are definitely not happier.

This leads me to believe that maybe more money and more stuff, does not always lead to more happiness. I believe that Blaise Pascal highlights our true need when he says that, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”

There is nothing wrong with having more money and more stuff, but these things will never be able to fill the emptiness in our hearts. No matter how much we accumulate we will always feel the need for more, because only God can truly satisfy this longing in our hearts.

This is the core message of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength,” (NLT).

No matter what your situation is currently, you can find peace, joy and happiness, right now, in Jesus.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

Last week, we talked about excellence/learn and this week we honoured several students from all the classes in our school for demonstrating this value.

Aadra, Siela, Ngong, Onyou, Savannah, Fateh, Sophia, Maahir, Parnav, Jaedon, Charlie, Yug, Mercy, Mehaan, Hajar, Shayla (absent), Max (absent) and Aanya (absent)

Ivainashe, Rian, Lavanya, Finley, Kausani, Theo, Dwij, Asha, Somya, Jad, Hamish, Anantpreet, Dillon, Jeslet, Jenish, Abulfadal, Yvette, Taneesha (absent), Zia (absent) and Milli (absent)

Staffing Changes at PPN

Jason Davis & Abby Davis

Mr Jason Davis and Mrs Abby Davis and their family will be relocating to NSW to begin new roles at one of our sister schools. We have been absolutely blessed by the Davis Family here at PPN - these will be big shoes to fill! Mr Davis - your leadership has been very much valued by the entire school community. Mrs Davis - we have valued your creativity and absolute love and care you shower upon students in your care. We wish Jason and Abby all the best for 2022 and beyond.

Shaina Walsh

Miss Shaina Walsh will be finishing up at Prescott at the end of this year to move back to NSW to be closer to family. We have been blessed by Miss Walsh and her amazing gifts here at PPN these past two years. We would like to wish her all the best as she continues her teaching career in NSW.

Rob Pillar

Mr Rob Pillar, one of our bus drivers, will be retiring at the end of the year. We have appreciated Rob's care for the students and families on his bus runs, and wish him all the best for his retirement.

Jess Cornish

Ms Jessica Cornish will also be finishing up her time at Prescott Primary Northern at the end of this year. We have valued Jess' friendly smile and helpfulness in her role in the Front Office and Student Services, and wish her all the best in 2022 and beyond.

Sport and the Military

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day.
This week is PE Week.
Why are these important?

The connection between military service and sport, for Australians, dates back over 100 years. Despite times of conflict and peacekeeping operations, military personnel have used sport and physical activity as a means of enjoyment, exercise, competition and rehabilitation.

For many, sport is a universal language and service personnel from different cultures and languages have been enabled to come together, despite linguistic and cultural boundaries, meaning that relationships have been established with their counterparts from other nations, as well as local civilians.

From the history of the marriage between sport and the military, many service men and women have provided stories that have recounted those moments as some the happiest of their service lives.

The apostle Paul often used military and sporting language when discussing scriptural values and principles. One famous quote is that of him summing up his life and he mentions the crown (given to the sporting hero) and the spiritual fight that he had endured in preaching Jesus to as many people as possible.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)

We will remember them.

Office Administration Trainee

Playdate with Prescott

Do you have friends or family with little ones that would love to come and visit our PPN Nature Play? We are inviting members of our community and local playgroups to come and experience our Nature Play Space on the 16th of November. If you know somebody that has a little one that would like to come, please share this invitation and encourage them to RSVP to this event! Limited spaces available!

Bus Requirements for 2022

If you are requiring the bus service for your child in 2022, please 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: $308 per child
Part-time bus fees per term: $208 per child (part-time is one way, either to school each day or from school each day)

Bus Service 2022

Do's & Dont's of Dropping Your Kids to School

Daily Health Check

SACSA Touch Football

Last Friday, a Year 5/6 Boys and Year 5/6 Girls team went to represent PPN at the SACSA Touch Football carnival. It was a hot day in the sun and we played against some very tough competition. Both teams represented PPN exceptionally well and continued to improve throughout the day. The girls finished the day in 6th place and the boys finished the day in 8th. Well done to both teams!