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Pupil Free Day
Investigation Nature Play
The nature play space is one of the student's favourite places to spend their play time. It is a wonderful environment for their creativity and imagination to flourish. This week the students have been developing their investigation skills, and using magnifying glasses to identify and observe little creatures, and explore the small details and micro habitats around them.
Kids are really insightful, aren’t they? They pick up so much about what is going on around them. I remember one Foundation child sharing with me after I knelt beside her to look at her learning. She looked at me and said, “You have lots of wrinkles, Mr Borresen!” I giggled and agreed.
I think we sometimes underestimate how much of what we talk about, watch and share as adults, is picked up on by our kids. The recent developments in Ukraine are a good example of where our children might hear or see something that can be very upsetting and unsettling for them, and challenging for us as adults to explain. I know there are some of our school family who have family connections in Ukraine and Russia, and my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Many of us have family and friends in New South Wales and Queensland who have been impacted by the recent flooding. The news and social media have put these calamities front and centre for us.
I recently read an article I thought you might find helpful as you guide and direct your children through questions and discussions around some of the difficult things that happen in our world. It is written by Justin Coulson, who also hosts Australia’s #1 podcast for parents: Dr Justin Coulson’s Happy Families. I hope you find some practical guidance in here.
“Almost exactly two years ago our world changed in incomprehensible ways. It was supposed to be a couple of weeks. A month at most. We just had to isolate at home. Flatten the curve. Protect the vulnerable.
It meant working from home unless we were essential workers. It also meant school was at home. But it was an adventure. A reset. A chance to change things up and focus on what matters most; to help make a difference for our communities.
But despite a few bright patches where it really was good and our hope was high, it was also often bad. Our two most populous states endured the world’s longest lockdowns. The borders stayed closed keeping loved ones separated.
It was a year of stuttering Zoom calls and classes, quarantine, mask mandates, vaccinations, protests, and for many parents and families, hellish challenges to balance all that family, work, and government restrictions required.
As 2022 commenced, QLD held students back from school for two extra weeks to encourage vaccinations. NSW and VIC required all students to be tested for COVID using at-home testing kits twice per week. It felt like COVID parenting was about to become more overwhelming than we could manage.
Now, barely into March, our lives are bombarded with stories – and for some, the reality – of flood waters inundating homes and lives being lost. And a conflict in Eastern Europe that many fear will become a war has begun.
It’s enough to leave parents reeling. Except that many parents are already stressed out, burned out, and tired out. Parents have done all they can to hold things together. The difficulty – the unfairness of it all – is that we must keep on keeping on. Our children are relying on us.
What our children need right now
Our children need the world to feel safe and secure. The more they feel this, the more they can explore life with confidence, look to the future with hope, and find a meaningful way forward. And whether we are feeling it or not, it’s up to us to provide them that safety and security. If not, the unpredictable nature of life can consume them with anxiety, fear, apprehension, and worry.
More information is not reassuring
Ever notice that getting more information does not reduce your worries and fears? Scrolling your news feeds doesn’t offer reassurance. It’s the same with your children. They don’t need lots of information. They need to feel safe. And what we do makes a difference.
Kids are anxious. Here are 5 ways to help
Tune out media
Social media algorithms are designed to push more and more of what we see in our direction. The more you and your children watch these events occur online, the more they’ll appear. Keep bad news away from your children – especially younger children – as much as possible.
Remember that emotions are contagious
If you are feeling emotional or overwhelmed, your child will sense it – and catch it. Taking a deep breath, and keeping level and stable will help you respond gently and patiently to your child.
If it’s mentionable, it’s manageable
Rather than asking your child “Are you ok?”, say what you see. “Gee, you look pretty worried about things. What’s on your mind?” Perhaps you could say, “I noticed you were pretty affected by that horrible news. It’s hard to hear isn’t it.”
Side by side conversations
Rather than sitting face-to-face, talk with your children about their questions and concerns while side-by-side. Perhaps it’s a car ride, beside their bed at night, or while you’re doing an activity together. Side-by-side conversations feel less threatening.
Don’t turn on the fire hose
When someone is thirsty, we don’t put their face in front of the fire hose. We give them a glass of water. It’s the same with our kids. Most of the time they don’t want to (or can’t) understand the magnitude of the bad news or even why it happened (if there’s a reason at all). When you answer their questions, keep it simple, invite more questions, and answer the best you can. Kindness and gentle reassurance that you “get it” is typically enough.
In closing
Most of the time the world is a fabulous, beautiful place, but scary things happen from time to time. When they do, remind your child that this is unusual which is why it’s in the news. As Rebecca Solnit eloquently described in her book, A Paradise Built in Hell, “Horrible in itself, disaster is sometimes a door back into paradise, the paradise at least in which we are who we hope to be, do the work we desire, and are each our sister’s and brother’s keeper.”
As this latest bad news strikes, let’s notice that there are usually more people moving towards the disaster areas to help than there are leaving it due to stress and duress. Let’s see the good, be part of it, and give our children hope for a better world.” (Coulson, 2022)
Remember our Pupil Free Day on Friday. Our staff are doing their First Aid Course on that day, to help us to continue to take care of our children. Please enjoy the long weekend and take some extra time to spend with family.
Have a great week with your kids,
Mark B
Hey Prescott Family!
I hope that you are all doing well during this time. I know that there is a lot going on now but it’s awesome to be writing to you all again. As I go through my devotions each week, and find verses that just stand out to me, I highlight them. I highlight them so that when I need help or just struggling to think, I always look back on the verses I highlighted.
So, this week, I re-found a verse that I highlighted a while ago which really has helped me through my struggles and thoughts throughout the weeks. It comes from 2 Corinthians 12:10. It says, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
The part that stands out to me is the last portion of the verse where it says, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” It doesn’t mean that by our own might that when we are weak, we become strong. It says that through Christ, when we are weak, God makes us strong.
I really resonated with this verse because there have been moments even in the last week where I have felt weak and tired, but through Him, I have made it through. I hope this serves as an encouragement for our Prescott family this week and the coming weeks.
Have an awesome day!
Free Webinar: Building Lasting Happiness in Children
When you ask parents what they want for their kids, by far the most common reply is “I just want them to be happy”.
And though this desire goes hand-in-hand with such things as good health, an education and a safe place to call home, happiness is a really difficult area for parents to navigate or seek assistance with.
Nobody denies the importance of happiness, but how many of us have ever been shown how to model and implement it?
As part of the Prescott Primary Northern community, you are invited to join Dr Jodi Petereson’s Building Lasting Happiness in Children webinar for FREE (normally $39).
You are encouraged to join in to learn how lifelong happiness stems from how we think and what we do, rather than from what we have.
See the PDF below for details on how to join for free:
No Right Turn off Nelson Road
In the interest of safety, and good manners, please do not turn right off Nelson Road to enter the Pick Up Line at the end of the day. Doing so can block traffic, and, by joining the pick-up line ahead of those who have waited along Nelson Road, is unfair to those who are doing the right thing. We appreciate your help in ensuring PPN is a good neighbour and that we continue to demonstrate patience to our children.
1/2 Day for Parent Teacher Interviews
Harmony Day
Uniform Shop
The Uniform Shop currently has a very large amount of stock in Second-hand clothing. There are also items from Prescott College available. For those interested, please make an appointment to peruse these items.
The Front Office is now taking appointments for Winter Fittings.
Extra days are available during the holidays:
April 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, followed by April 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th.
Please book early to secure your appointment.
When placing Second-hand items in for sale, please ensure that ALL items are washed and clean. BLAZERS MUST BE DRY CLEANED and BROUGHT IN IN THE CLEANERS BAG.
*Please Note*
The School Blazer is part of the Winter Uniform and is only to be worn in Winter, that is for Term 2 and Term 3 for Years 5 & 6. It is not a part of our Summer Uniform.
Entertainment Membership
From 1st of March until 21st of March “Everyone's a Winner” with a BONUS eGift Card with every purchase.
When you purchase a Single City Membership, you can choose between a BONUS $10 Macpac, BCF or Woolworths eGift Card. When you purchase a Multi City or a Multi City Plus Membership, you can choose between a BONUS $30 Macpac, BCF or Woolworths eGift Card.
Daily Health Check
Do's & Dont's of Dropping Your Kids to School
