Welcome back for Term 3, PPN family.

The two weeks break from school routine was something I found refreshing, and I hope you did as well.

I recently travelled to Brisbane for a family get together and the flying part turned into crazy jumble. My first flight was cancelled the afternoon before I was to fly, and I was redirected on a later flight via Melbourne rather than direct to Brisbane. All sorts of alternative pick-up plans had to be made, and different family members had to change plans to make sure we could catch up.

Then as I was driving into the airport to come home, my return flight was cancelled and moved to the next day. I had to find accommodation for the night in Brisbane, transport to the airport the next morning, and something to eat as well.

As I reflect on that weekend, the word that jumps to mind is 'rollercoaster'. The anticipation of spending time with my sisters and their families was great, but that became frustration as time was cut short. The sweet memories of a good time together were soured with the frustration of not being able to make it home that last afternoon to be ready for the responsibilities of the following day. As an adult, I was drawing on my past experience, patience, and emotional resilience to remain relatively calm and functional throughout the highs and lows.

You will likely have experienced something similar at some stage, either in your personal, family, social, or work life. It is good to reflect on how we were able to regulate and cope with those situations and learn from them. I think they also give us a little insight, and hopefully empathy, into the challenges our children face as they learn to make their way in life. As adults, we hopefully have the benefit of experience, developed self-control, and anticipation that our children are still learning and developing, and it is still difficult.

As we step into a new term that is likely to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride for us all, I thought I would share a poster I read during the break from the makers of Big Life Journal – an excellent resource we use with our upper grades here at school. It is really practical and insightful, and I think you’ll find it helpful for the children, and a great discussion starter as parents.

Welcome back to Term 3! Over the holidays I was able to spend time with family and recharge my mental, physical and spiritual battery ready for what Term 3 has in store. 

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

I wanted to bring to your attention some programs that our Chaplaincy team is excited about this term.

• We will be having our first Connect4 program on Saturday August 6, we would love for you and your families to come along for dinner and a night of games. 
• We are also excited for the NED program to join us next Thursday morning during Chapel. The NED program is an interactive, educational journey filled with storytelling, illusions, yo-yo tricks, and humour. After Chapel on Thursday 4th August we will have yoyos available for purchase during lunchtime. 

Blessings, 

PPN Chaplaincy team

Why won’t they do what they are told?

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a child who doesn’t listen, right?

While our role as parents isn’t to create mindless robots that simply, and only, do what they are told, we do need our children to follow our instructions - otherwise life can become incredibly impractical, unsafe, and uncivil.

Along with the basic ideas about repetition, volume (or lack of it) and finding ways to say ‘yes’, the brilliant article at Happy Families ‘What to do when kids won’t listen’ shares 5 ‘advanced answers’ that are worth considering. They are summarised below:

1. Work on it together

Being told to go and carry out a task alone can feel both isolating and punishing. From cleaning the room to washing the dishes (or the car!) our children’s willingness to get stuff done increases enormously when we collaborate with them.

2. Ask and wait

After you’ve asked your child to do something and they don’t do it, how long do you usually wait before you ask again? Ten seconds? One minute? My suggestion. Wait longer. Give it about five minutes.

3. Stop praising your kids

The more that our children come to rely on our external judgments about their behaviour, the less we will find them helpful (unless they’re receiving more and more praise). If your children help, don’t give them the verbal equivalent of a doggy biscuit. To acknowledge them, say thanks. And let it be.

4. Consider your ratio of correction/direction vs connection

Spend time building relationships together, doing things together, and working out solutions together. Connection creates a desire for compliance far more than correction and direction.

5. Remember your children are illogical and irrational

Just accept it. The reason that your child ignores you, screams at you, refuses to help, and behaves like a child is because… he or she is a child! When our expectations for our children’s behaviour are congruent with our child’s actual developmental reality, their tantrums and refusals make sense.

6. Stop making life all about your kids

When we make life all about our children they feel a level of expectation and entitlement. If we can teach them that life is better when they help others, think of others, engage with others, and live for others, we’ll find they are more likely to help out willingly - and enjoy the opportunity.

Read the full article here - https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/articles/what-to-do-when-kids-wont-listen

Coming in Term 3 – Class Act Schools

We all communicate – but how well do we do it?

Even the best communicators can find ways to improve.

And 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 Schools 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 3 simply click here to complete a short online form, or scan the QR Code below.

Or, if you’d prefer feel free to call the school office in (08) 8396 2577, or email info@ppn.sa.edu.au

In total this 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.

All Year 5 and Year 6 students will be participating in a specially designed program in Term 3 that will give them communication skills to help them Thrive Together. Watch this space for more information.

School Photos

Uniform Shop

All colours of library bags are available again.  Orders can be made via Flexischools.

Daily Health Check

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

Prescott College