School is back for 2022! While the start to the year yesterday looked a bit different to previous years, there was still lots of excitement, first day nerves and anticipation of what the year ahead has in store. Our PPN students in Years 2 - 6 started the year either at home or at school in dedicated year-level learning areas.  No matter their location, they've been having a great time connecting with their classmates online using Microsoft Teams and getting stuck into their learning activities.  

Our new Foundation students began their learning journey on campus where they are getting to know their wonderful teachers and new friends. They have been busy doing fun activities, exploring the nature play space and learning all about school life. 

Welcome back to school for 2022, Prescott Primary Northern family! I hope and pray you have had a safe and relaxing break. I know for some of our families it has not been that way as they have battled family losses, travel stress and isolation stints. Please know you have been in my thoughts and prayers. We still have a number of students and families who are away and yet to return, and others who are, even now as I write this, in isolation. I would like to say thank you to you all for ensuring you follow, and continue to follow the instructions from SA Health as we do our best to protect ourselves and others at this time.

I would like to welcome our new Foundations students who are starting school for the very first time. What a year to start! We are working hard to make your introduction to school one of the best experiences of your life so far. I would also like to welcome students and families who are new to Prescott Primary Northern. We are really looking forward to having you as part of our school family. We have some new staff members as well and I would like to say how glad we are that God has brought you to us.

Once again, we have something different coming our way as we step into the 2022 school year. We haven’t ever started school this way, and there are new challenges popping up by the day, but I know our staff and students will take it in their strides. As I have been thinking about our start to the year, it reminded me of some of the times I have travelled some great tracks in outback Australia.

As you start out on a track you haven’t been on before, there is this mix of excitement as well as nervousness. You're leaving the familiar and secure, and heading into something unknown. There are many things that can help in these situations.

One is being prepared and having the resources. Our staff have been working very hard over the last few weeks to get things ready to go, not just for the first couple of weeks of learning, but for the whole year. Another thing that I have found really helps when beginning a journey into the unfamiliar, is sharing the trip with other people and tackling the joys and challenges together. Having people around to help, support, guide and encourage, not only brings a sense of security, it also provides us with opportunities for shared joy, and the sense of togetherness and solidarity that comes we tackle hard stuff together. I sense those things - security, shared joy and solidarity - here at Prescott Primary Northern as we begin our steps into the 2022 school year. Thank you for helping to make it that way.

I honestly do not know what the next few months will throw at us schoolwise, but I do know I am so grateful to be starting into that unknown with our Prescott Primary Northern staff, students, and families. So whether you have a little one starting school for the first time, have students in Year 1 at school, have kids learning from home, or being supervised at school, I thank you for joining us on the journey this year.

Have a great week with your kids.

Mark B

Welcome to 2022. Two things that I know to be true for all of us this year is that we are all hoping that this will be our best year ever, and we will all experience storms in our lives.

The whole reason why we make New Year’s resolutions is because we want this to be our best year weight wise, health wise, spiritually, financially, relationally, mentally etc. Although research shows that 80% of people have usually abandoned their New Year’s resolutions by February, I’m hoping that we will all be a part of the 20% of people whose goals actually become a part of their lifestyle.

In regards to dealing with the storms of life that will hit us this year, Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-25:

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

According to Jesus, the key to thriving through the storms of life, is to make His teachings and His promises in the Bible the foundation of our lives. Jesus tells us that God loves us, and that He will always be with us. May these truths empower you to have your best year ever in 2022, regardless of the storms you may face along the way.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

Canteen

Classes and Teachers

2022 School Fees

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Your School Fee Statement will be emailed soon.  We would like to point out the School Fee Policy for your information.

Firstly, all fees need to be paid in the term in which they are issued, unless you have a payment plan organised with the School.

Secondly, all enrolments are planned that your child will complete their Primary School years at Prescott Primary Northern.  However, if for some reason you need to withdraw your child’s enrolment the School requires one term’s notice, otherwise, you will be charged the term fee.

ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

Families who have requested an Annual Account need to settle their School Fees by the 17^th February 2022, to receive the 5% Prompt Payment Discount.  If the Account is not paid by the discount due date, the full amount needs to be paid by the 3rd March 2022.

TERM ACCOUNTS

Term Accounts attract a 3% Prompt Payment Discount.  Most families are issued with a Term Account which means they receive four Statements in the year, and four discount dates as follows:

Term 1 – 17^th February 2022       
Term 2 – 12^th May 2022
Term 3 – 4^th August 2022          
Term 4 – 27^th October 2022

It is important to remember the discount dates, if the School Fees are not settled by these dates they must be paid in full by the following dates:

Term 1 – 3rd March 2022             
Term 2 – 26^th May 2022
Term 3 – 18^th August 2022       
Term 4 – 10^th November 2022

Fees can be paid in various ways:  

• BPay information is on each statement. If you have internet banking you can organise this method.
• Credit Card over the phone or in-person at the Front Office.
• Cash payments at the Front Office.
• Direct Debit arrangements via credit card or directly from your bank account. These forms are available from the Front Office.       

Overdue School Fees, if left unattended without a payment plan, will be pursued through our Debt Collection Agency.

SCHOOL CARD

School Card Application Forms are available at the Front Office, if you need a copy please come and collect it at your earliest convenience.

If at any time you are having financial difficulty, please contact the Front Office and make an appointment with the Principal.

Wishing you a Happy School Year at Prescott Primary Northern.

BUS FEES

Bus Fees are not being raised until after the 14th of February, so they will not appear on your first fee statement.  Bus fees will be issued on a separate invoice.

BPay Biller Code Change

Prescott Primary Northern now has a new BPAY facility. This means there is a different Biller Code on the fee statement.  If you currently pay by scheduled payments, then you will need to edit your payment to reflect this new Biller Code number.  

NEW BILLER CODE FOR PRESCOTT PRIMARY NORTHERN BPAY: 

• Biller Code: 376798

Your Biller Reference Number will remain the same. The fee statements will be emailed to you soon and will reflect the new BPAY details. Thank you for taking care of this important matter regarding your BPAY payment.

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 8396 2577 or email accounts@ppn.sa.edu.au

Bus Driver Position

Afterschool Chess & Basketball Postponed

Due to current SA Health advice and restrictions, we have postponed afterschool activities such as Chess and Basketball until later in the term, once these restrictions have eased.

Lunch Deliveries

We would like you to know that taking commercial/fast food type lunches (e.g. Hungry Jacks, MacDonalds, Subway etc.) to classrooms for students is something we will no longer do. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there are risks involved in food being served later than it should be, and the school is not able to pass that food on. The foods in question can be particularly susceptible to these risks. Secondly, the arrival of some of the commercial foods into a classroom can be very unsettling for the class. Finally, it can create a feeling of lack for some children in the class whose family cannot, or choose not to provide these popular meals for their child.

We can provide an emergency sandwhich if required.

Please do not be offended if we say we are not able to deliver these lunches to your child’s classroom.

Many thanks,

Mark Borresen
Principal – Prescott Primary Northern

Birthday Treats

Birthdays are an exciting time for children and our teachers celebrate each child on their birthday.

Please DO NOT send in anything for your child’s birthday. If anything is brought to school, we will unfortunately have to send it back home with your child.

Parking Around The School

1. Parking out the front of the school- 
We are noticing a lot of parents parking in the front area of the school, walking to the single gate and dropping off, only to return to the car minutes later and reversing out into traffic. We understand the convenience but parking here and reversing out is stopping the flow of traffic from the drive through zone. We are asking that if you are walking your child onto our school grounds or collecting them in the afternoons, please use the back car park.

2. Keeping the car park entrance clear
It is very important that you do not park in the entrance to the back car park. If the drive through line is full, please wait with your left indicator flashing while on Nelson Road. When the line starts to move, then feel free to move into the drive through zone - but please don't block the car park entrance.

3. Turning left only out of car parks and drive through
In peak times, when families wait and try to turn right onto Wright Road from the drive through, it again, slows the whole drive through down - often to a complete stop. We are asking kindly that you turn left only out the drive through onto Wright Road. 

4. Side gate entrance 
We have opened the side gate walkway again to allow an alternative entrance, rather than going through the Front Office.

We hope to continue to develop the parking around the school so it runs as smoothly as possible. 

Afternoon Pick up

Afternoon Pick up 1.24 MB

School Car Park

Please keep the following information in mind when using our school car parks:

• Maximum speed limit—10kph
• Use the marked car park areas—you must be parked prior to your children exiting your car—do not stop in the middle of the car park and let your children out while your car is still running
• Look out for little people
• Please keep to designated walkways
• Only cross the carpark at the crossing provided
• The car park closest to the double yellow gates in the church carpark is only for those who have a Disabled Parking Permit. Please do not park there unless you have the permit. There are also 3 Disabled Carparks over by the main church entrance for those with the appropriate permits.
• No right turn is permitted out of the Car Park on Nelson Road. Please turn left and go round the roundabout.

Children need to be accompanied by an adult at all times in our car park.

If you arrive 10 minutes after the afternoon bell the car parks are usually less congested.

Please make sure you cross at the correct spots in the Car Park! Ensure you walk behind the bollards and cross at the crossing.

Thank you in advance!

Safe School Procedures

School gates will be closed between 9:15am and 3:00pm for the safety of our students. If you are coming to the school between these times, come through the Office and ensure that you sign our visitors register on our iPad and take a visitor’s identification tag. If you are  helping out anywhere in the school between these times, you should also sign our visitors’ register on our iPad and wear a visitor’s identification tag. By signing-in you are letting the office staff know where you are, so that you can be accounted for in an emergency situation. Parents who help regularly with reading, crafts, excursions etc, will be asked to complete a Volunteer Pack which will include a copy of their Police Report and our Prescott Schools Code of Conduct.

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