Celebrating NAPLAN

There were a number of stressed students, parents, and staff this week thanks to NAPLAN testing. But much of the worry was unwarranted - all the students and systems have done really well - and we think that's worth celebrating. 

Our Year 3 and Year 5 classes have done a great job at encouraging each other. Pictured below is an example of how our Year 5 classes have been finding the joy during NAPLAN. We love the positive attitudes our students are developing towards things they may not necessarily choose to do! Thank you for helping them grow in this way too. 

I loved walking around the Mother’s Day stall last Thursday watching the students carefully choose what gift they would like to give their mum. Some kids just saw something and knew it was the right thing. Others would pick some thing up and look at it, put it down and move to something else, doing this from table to table.

It reminded me how different we all are, and how we approach things differently and use different ways of making choices. It also showed me that no matter how different we are, to love and be loved, to belong to something or some people, to be able to share moments with those who are important to us, is vital for all of us, regardless of our ways of thinking or doing.

I am hoping there were lots of special moments in your family on the weekend, and that your children were right at the centre of them.

This week we have our NAPLAN program for our Year 3s and 5s. I would like to emphasise again that we do not teach to NAPLAN at Prescott Primary Northern. We teach the Australian Curriculum and that forms the basis of the assessments of NAPLAN.

We just ask our children to do their very best, and ask parents to remember that this is a snapshot of the children’s understanding on a given day, on a given topic. Rather than over emphasise NAPLAN and its results, I found an article that gives us some evidence-based approaches we can use to help our children achieve their best at school. I hope you enjoy it and draw on the wisdom contained.

“Helping Children Thrive at School

The following factors generally matter most when it comes to your child doing well at school:

1. Reading. If there is only one thing that you do with your children for their education, read to them. This should start as young as possible and continue through toddler years, preschool years, and into big school. Read to them – and have them read to you – as they go through their early primary years. And keep books around right through high school. Reading is one of the best predictors of children’s academic success, and it is associated with increased resilience, particularly for kids from challenged or traumatic backgrounds.
2. Be involved. Research shows that parents who ask about school, check in on what students are learning, talk with the school teacher from time to time, and continue to monitor and stay up to date on what is happening at school have children who do better academically when compared with students whose parents are uninvolved. Getting involved shows you care.
3. Relationships with peers. Children who enjoy a sense of school belonging, according to Dr Kelly Allen at Monash University, do better at school. They also have higher levels of life satisfaction.
4. A sense of progress and purpose. These are two separate things, but I’m including them together because they often follow one another. When our children make progress, they feel competent and capable. This increases their motivation, and makes school feel purposeful. If parents can work to help children see the progress they’re making, it will boost desire for more progress, and the work becomes easier and more enjoyable.
5. People who love them. There is no way of getting around this fact: kids do well for those they love. When a student loves his science teacher, science becomes the best subject ever and he tries hard as a result. The same goes with PE, English, or any other subject. Helping children feel like they are known, numbered, and missed combined with teachers who are enthusiastic about their topics, helps kids do better at school.

Often people will say, “But what about my child?” So many parents are dealing with ADHD, autism, ODD, sensory issues, depression, or other additional health or developmental needs. My response is always the same: those points above become even more vital. Read, be involved, help them make friends, challenge them to progress and find purpose, and make sure someone loves them.” (Coulson, 2022)

Have a great week with your kids,

Mark B

Hey PPN Family,

In his book People Fuel, Dr John Townsend highlights that just as our body needs physical nutrients from the food that we eat in order to be healthy and strong, in the same way we need to receive relational nutrients from other people in order for us to thrive emotionally and mentally.

Dr Townsend goes on to explain how the people in our lives can be divided into two groups, “Gain,” or “Drain.” Gain people are the people who bring us life and energy, giving us the relational nutrients that we need. Drain people are the ones who suck the life and energy out of us, depleting our relational nutrients.

The truth is that we all have some “Gain,” and some “Drain” in us, but the key point is that we need to surround ourselves with gain people who fill us with love, joy, and peace. This is not sitting around a table in a café with a group of people who are all on their phones, but having a warm community of people where you experience real connection, as you talk, listen, laugh, and cry together.

Paul gives us great insights into how we can be gain people for one another in Ephesians 4:31-32 when he writes, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

I hope that you have a loving community of gain people providing you with the relational nutrients that you need. If not, try visiting your local church, or joining a hobby club. Your best life could be only a few great friends away.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

With shorter, colder, and wetter days well and truly here the world can sometimes take on a gloomy mood.

In fact, an increase in sadness and depressive behaviours are regularly reported by both adults and children during the winter months.

With the weather making outdoor play more difficult, and shorter days meaning less sunlight both adults and children can often struggle through the winter months.

In its most serious form, some individuals suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The typical symptoms involve a change in mood, negative thinking, low energy, changes in sleep, and a lack of enjoyment in activities they typically enjoy. Challenges, in this case, which are not consistent year-round but brought on by the change of season.

Have you seen or experienced this in your own family?

If you or your child experience winters like this, it is recommended that you contact your GP for further discussion.

However, the are a number of simple things we can do to help everyone in our households find the joy under the grey skies:

- Make an effort to get outside. This may mean changing your home routines to move outdoor activities earlier in the afternoon, with ‘inside tasks’ shifted to times when it will be dark outside anyway.

- Find time to laugh. Laughter has the power to lift our mood, build stronger relationships and motivate us towards action. Make a point of sharing a joke or creating moments of laughter within your home. (Click here to watch a great TED Talk on The Power of Laughter)

- Create a special winter tradition. Instead of dreading the coming of winter, help your kids look forward to the cooler months by setting up a special winter tradition. It could be an end-of-week activity, a new family meal, or a new board game to play.

The ‘winter blues’ are real. It’s something to keep an eye out for, but also something we can actively help our children and loved ones navigate. 

From Monday, Week 3 parents will again be able to come on campus to drop-off or pick-up their children. Like so many of you, we are looking forward to having our parents back again!

Please note, that in following up-to-date guidelines and to keep everybody safe:

• face masks must be worn
• parents will not be able to enter classrooms or other indoor areas.

Thank you for your continued support.

2022 School Improvement Survey

All school families received an invitation to participate in Adventist Schools Australia’s Parent Survey in Week 1. Every parent was given a printed letter with a unique access code so that opinions will be 100% anonymous. Parents' views help provide a more accurate, reliable, and equitable picture than is obtained using only staff and student measures.

We would like to encourage you to participate in this survey, as the more data gathered, the more this will assist us in providing the best possible educational experiences for our students.We have extended the time that this survey will be available to complete.

Don't miss out! The survey will be ‘live’ through to the close of business on Friday 20th of May. Thank you for your participation- it is greatly appreciated.

National Simultaneous Storytime

Scholastic Book Orders

Winter Uniform Change Over

For the first two weeks of Term 2, either full summer or full winter uniform is acceptable.  From Week 3 onwards, full winter uniform is required.  

Uniform Shop

If you still need fittings for winter uniform, please note that as limited appointments are available, bookings need to be made through the Front Office on 8396 2577 as soon as possible.  Alternatively, you can order through Flexischools.  If you order the wrong size, please return the item to the Front Office in the original packaging. 

Daily Health Check

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

Prescott College