Filter Content
1/2 Day for Parent Teacher Interviews
Safety Video
Year 3 Giant Rocking Horse Excursion
A horse is a horse of course of course!
As part of our Science Unit on Living, Non-Living and Once-Living, the Year 3’s visited the Giant Rocking Horse and Petting Zoo at Gumeracha. The students used their scientific knowledge to solve clues on a Scavenger Hunt, as they explored the toy factory and zoo. They also had a chance to pat and feed the animals, all while observing and recording their favourite animals’ characteristics. And of course, they all showed true courage and bravery, as they climbed the 18 metres to the top of the horse’s head! What a view!
Autumn Nature Play
As my children and I were collecting fallen leaves and acorns this week for our nature play activities, the joy they experienced collecting, rolling, throwing, and examining everything they collected was very special. As the Autumn theme continued in our nature play space, students were encouraged to use their creativity using the natural items to create crowns, people, and other creations.
It was wonderful to see their joy and see the variety in their creations as they connected and created with nature. How can you use natural items collected from your walks to create something special this week?
One of the big challenges Alison and I faced as parents, was what to do when our kids came home talking about either a television program, movie or current event that they had heard about from their friends, or when we saw something on TV, heard on the radio or raised in conversation, that was not necessarily something we would like to have happen at our house, or in our family.
I don’t recall us having a deep insightful parenting conversation, though I am guessing we chatted through how best to guide our family. The approach we settled on was to take the program or event and either describe or watch (if appropriate) the situation and see what we could all learn from it. I certainly didn’t understand the psychological and cognitive benefits of the process at the time, I just knew it was helpful for the kids to work through things in a supportive, semi-informed, positive environment, rather than having to sift through all sorts of uninformed gossip and inuendo.
I now understand that the process of sitting with a young person as they try to understand life and its events, and asking good questions, is a way of getting them to check in on the values they hold (or are developing) to see who they really are as a person or growing to be, and why they are that way.
I think it is very sad that in a world in which we have countries at war, one of the world’s largest cities being thrown back into a 5-day COVID prompted lockdown, families facing flooding only 3 weeks after the last flood, and multiple other humanitarian challenges, the story capturing many of the headlines is an actor slapping a comedian at the Academy Awards. However, that interaction is likely something that has, or will, come up in conversations at home. I read an article this morning that talks about how we can make the most of this story (and use the ideas for other stores/movies/situations) for good parenting. You may need to adjust some of the questions for younger children, or use a different situation, but I think you will find it interesting and helpful.
“This week, the biggest news event wasnʼt war in Ukraine, floods on Australiaʼs East Coast, or even COVID surges. Instead, it was a story of an angry celebrity (Will Smith) storming the Oscars stage and hitting the comedian (Chris Rock) who made an ordinary joke at the expense of the angry mad manʼs wife (Jada Pinkett Smith). And everybody is talking about it. Including our children.
How do we talk to our children about this incident?
What to talk about with your children
The Smith/Rock saga offers an amazing opportunity to have real conversations with your kids about big questions we all face. But I think we can go a little deeper. Rather than talking to your kids, nowʼs the time for some really fascinating and important questions.
One of the most powerful ways that we build resilience in our children is by helping them to discover their identity. And we do that by asking them questions. In the wake of this incident we could ask questions so our children can learn about the kinds of people they are.
We can ask them questions about violence, like:
“Why do you think Will Smith hit Chris Rock?”
“Should he have done that?”
“When is it ok to hit someone and when is it not ok?”
“Should anyone ever hit anyone?”
We can ask them questions about humour, like:
“Is it ok to tell jokes at someone elseʼs expense?”
“How should we respond when someone tells an unkind joke?”
“What kind of humour is really funny, and what kind of humour isnʼt?”
“Why do you think so many comedians make jokes at the expense of other people?”
We can even ask questions about honour, and feminism, like:
“Does a man have a responsibility to defend his wife or those close to him if someone offends them?”
“How might he defend them best? With fists? With words? Or in some other way?”
“What does this tell us about gender stereotypes? Women have to have beautiful hair? Men are strong and can hit people they disagree with or are offended by? Women are helpless?”
“Why is it more offensive to joke about a woman who has lost her hair than it is to joke about a man who has lost his hair and is bald?”
How counterfactuals can help
You may have heard of counterfactuals. A counterfactual is simply something that didnʼt happen, but could have. Itʼs kind of like saying, “if koalas had wings, they could fly.” And counterfactuals provide us with all the tools we need to have quality conversations about tricky topics with our children.
Some fascinating counterfactuals you can ask your children (that will help them disentangle their feelings about violence, race, gender, and more) are:
“What if a white man (like Seinfeld) told the joke and Will Smith (a black man) hit him?”
“What if Chris Rock (a black man) told the joke and a white man (Hugh Jackman) hit him?”
“What if Jada Pinkett Smith got ff her seat and hit Chris Rock? Is it ok for a woman to hit a man?”
Teaching empathy and humanity
Regardless of your views, or the views of your child, this incident also gives us the chance to teach empathy for both Smith and Rock.
For example, if you or your child think Smith did the wrong thing, ask, “Have your emotions ever gotten the better of you?” “Was he trying to ruin the night for everyone?” “Why did his brain flip its lid?”
Empathy is feeling someoneʼs emotion in your heart. This conversation allows us to have compassion for the perpetrator and the victim.
And Chris Rock was just doing what decades of comics have done before him – picked on rich, successful people in the room. In poor taste, but can we have a sense of the humanity of both people without excusing them?
When we ask these kinds of questions, with curiosity and openness, we do a few important things for our children:
1. We build trust into our relationships. Our children know we are interested in them, their views, and their values. They see that weʼre not trying to impose ideas. Weʼre real conversation partners. They belong with us, are safe sharing with us, and can learn with us.
2. We show them we believe in them. This fosters a sense of competence and capability. They learn to articulate their views, feelings, and reactions. Moreover, if we take our time and respond with gentle questioning, they learn that challenging topics can be broached respectfully, and ideas can be shared, even if the people in the conversation donʼt completely agree with one another.
3. We teach them, specifically, about who they are. This happens because as they share their ideas, theyʼre tapping into their values. Theyʼre shaping what they believe as they speak their words. It empowers them to continue talking and continue discovering values that build identity.
Importantly, asking these questions of our children – and hearing their responses – opens them up to hearing our reactions, our values, and the ideas that make us who we are.
And finally: Will Smith apologised. Eventually. Via his publicist. Talking with your children about what makes a good apology might make for a very useful family discussion.
This week as you talk with your children about the Smith/Rock saga, withhold judgment, invite ideas, and watch your child grow in character right before your eyes.” (Coulson, 2022)
Have a great week with your kids,
Mark B
The Need To Recharge!
Greetings Prescott Fam! It’s Mal here from the Chaplaincy Team. I hope you all had an amazing week as we get closer and closer to the end of this first term. Holidays are always a chance to recharge (Well, meant to) and get your mind ready for the next term. I’m sure our students need a break, and I DEFINITELY know that our staff members need a break from another hectic term. Maybe even our parents need a break too.
A common saying I’ve grown up with from Pastor Adrian Rogers says, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” It’s something that I’ve found so true as I’ve grown as an adult. Jobs and commitments tend to fill up our timetables, and we lose that chance to just calm down and recharge.
Jesus taught about finding time to recharge. In Mark 6:30-32, Jesus sends his twelve disciples out to do ministry, and when they returned he encourages them to separate from the people who were following them and to REST.
For some of you, you may be thinking, I just can’t find that time. Set aside some time, to recharge and be ready to tackle the challenges ahead of you.
Peace!
Mal Naseli
Coming in Term 2 – Class Act Schools
We all communicate – but how well do we do it?
Even the best communicators can find ways to improve.
When communication improves, the tone and culture of your family, workplace, or school improves too.
As part of the PPN community, you are invited to participate in the Class Acts School program – and we’d love to have you involved.
Class Act Schools invites every member of our school community – students, staff and parents – to participate in an interactive program that teaches positive communication behaviours and empowers each one of us to shape the school’s communication commitments.
As a PPN parent, you will have FREE ACCESS to a series of practical, self-service videos that step you through positive communication behaviours to improve your relationships at home, in the workplace, and with the school.
To register for access to the program in Term 2 simply click here to complete a short online form, or scan the QR Code above.
Or, if you’d prefer feel free to call the school office on (08) 8396 2577, or email info@ppn.sa.edu.au
The full program should take no more than 2-hours (but you can start and stop as often as you like over the term). Alternatively, a 25-minute version is available.
Thank you for your interest and involvement in your child's place of learning. We love having them here, and love having you involved.
Parent Teacher Interviews 2022
Parent Teacher Interviews are a wonderful opportunity for our teachers to connect with our families to discuss their child's learning journey so far and work together to establish goals for the remainder of the year. Parent Teacher Interviews will run on Tuesday afternoon, the 5th of April from 3:40pm onwards, and Wednesday half day, the 6th of April, from 1:20pm onwards. This will mean our students will have a half day on the 6th of April, finishing school at 12:45pm. Please plan for this accordingly. Parents will be able to book into these sessions from midday tomorrow (31st March) using PTO (Parent Teacher Online) following steps that will be emailed out tomorrow morning. Parents will have the option of booking in for an online interview or onsite interview.
Personal and Social Progress Reports - Term 1
Our Personal and Social Progress Reports will be available for families on SEQTA Engage by Monday, 4th of April. The focus of this report will be personal and social progress, rather than academic growth. Our staff will use these reports to communicate with parents how their child is settling into their new school year. You will receive a message from the school in Week 10 when these are available for you to view on SEQTA. Families that are new to our school this year would have received an email today about logging on to SEQTA Engage.
Bright Colours Day
Daily Health Check
Do's & Dont's of Dropping Your Kids to School
Sports Captains 2022
Prescott College
