Pupil Free Day Wednesday September 7th

Year 6 Roughing It Sleepover

On Thursday night Sept 1st, the Year 6s were involved in a sleep over at school where they were able to experience a small example of how some people are living day to day. They had to create their own shelters out of scraps and random items, create a meal using steamed rice and a few simple ingredients, and organise entertainment that did not involve electronics.

It was a very entertaining evening of discomfort that has hopefully taught us all to appreciate what we do have and to understand how helping others in need can make a huge difference. 

We’d particularly like to thank Simon from Climbing Tree and Darren Wegener from FrontLine Constructions for their generous donations of fencing and building supplies that really made the night extra special. 

Year 6 Prescott College Visits

The Year 6s have finished their three cycles at Prescott College, completing sessions in Science, Industrial Arts, and Home Economics. It has been a great experience and the Year 6's have gained some extra confidence about their transition to high school. We'd like to thank Jane and the staff at Prescott College for making us feel so welcome, and especially for the free pizza lunch!

Spring Blooms Nature Play

Spring has sprung and the beautiful plants and flowers are blooming all around us. As we were walking along to staff worship this morning, I overheard a conversation with some colleagues about the buds that are rapidly growing on the trees in our breezeway and all the changes they have noticed on the plants in our school. The beginning of Spring is an exciting time of year. A sign of new growth, and a burst of beautiful smells and colours.

The students at Prescott Primary Northern this week, were given the chance to play with and see some of the beautiful flowers blooming around us. The florist shop, once again visited Prescott Primary Northern and gave the students to opportunity to communicate and collaborate with each other as they negotiated with the sales of the flowers, comparing their colours, shapes and sizes, and putting together a beautiful collection of flowers to share with their family, friends or teachers. Other students created a delightful concoction of petal soup as they mixed and sprinkled and poured to their hearts content.

This week, how will you and your family enjoy the beauty of spring, through a nature walk, or even a beautiful collection of flowers in your home for you and your family to enjoy? 

In Florida, there is a man with a very peculiar job. Every day when he gets dressed for work, he gets into his scuba diving gear. Yes, flippers, wet suit, oxygen tank – the lot. Now where does this scuba diver go? You would expect him to go into the nearby lakes and oceans. Or perhaps he’s a cave diver, carefully manoeuvring his way through underground chambers. But it might surprise you that he doesn’t go to any of these places. Where does he go then, you ask?      

Well, every morning, this fellow gets into his scuba diving gear and goes to… golf courses. Yes, you read that correctly. What does he possibly do at golf courses? Well, he dives into those golf course lakes to see what he could find at the bottom. And what does he find? Golf balls of course. Yes, literally millions of golf balls. But golf balls are not the only things this man finds at the bottom of those lakes. This man has also found a few unexpected items under those lakes including cars, a bowling ball, and would you believe a number of golf buggies - which I’m sure belonged to some unfortunate golfers!  

But all those things are extras to this man. The treasure that he is really after is the golf balls. You see, on an average working day, this man finds about 8000 missing balls. That’s right, 8000 old dirty golf balls are collected every single day. No doubt these balls have been hit into the lake by accident when players made bad hits. And those who made the hits would certainly have thought their balls were forever lost. But no, here comes along this man, who works to fetch all the golf balls out of the murky lakes. What does he do with them? This man pulls out all the golf balls he can find and cleans them up. When they’re looking nice and shiny again, he sells them… for about $1 each. Now you might think, ‘$1 each… that’s not very much!’. But just do some simple quick maths. 8000 golf balls a day sold for $1 each… well that’s $8000 dollars. Wow, now that is good money! But let’s think further, if that man works say 300 days in a year, how much would he get from these golf balls in a year? The maths tells me $2.4 million! Yes that’s right, this man has become a multimillionaire from his used golf ball enterprise.  

But you might ask who would buy these? Who could possibly be interested in old golf balls? Well, a number of places it turns out- golf courses, golf clubs, golf shops, driving ranges, putt-putt… you name it! Apparently, there is actually a very big market for second hand golf balls, and not just domestically in the US for him either in. No, demand is so high he now ships them of all over the world- even in Australia!

You know, this story reminds me of Jesus. The Bible reveals that Jesus is the great rescuer of humankind. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Just like those lost golf balls seemingly forgotten at the bottom of the lake, we too may feel lost, forgotten or drowning in our world. But then enters Jesus, the light and saviour of the world. He searches for us, even when we might feel like we are forever lost. He finds us and holds us close because we are a valuable treasure to him. Why are we worth so much to God? I love how the Bible puts it:

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. Isaiah 43:1

That is the very reason why our school exists - to reveal Jesus Christ, our creator and redeemer. I’m blessed to be part of this school. And I’m especially grateful to God that He has led you and your family to our school.

Have a wonderful week.  

Kaden

It's Mal here again. I hope you are all having an enjoyable week no matter what it may be filled with.  As you know, for the next week or so, many South Australian families will be going to the Royal Adelaide Show. We haven't had many chances to go to the Show for the past couple of years, but it is so good to see everyone excited to experience the spectacle that is The Show.

For the past couple weeks, I've had many students asking whether I was going to the Show or what was my favourite part of the Show. The buzz that this event has is a very interesting thing to think about. This event only comes once a year, but people get excited every year about the chance to go. I sometimes wonder about how we feel about the chance to connect with God daily. Whether we have that same buzz like a child at the Show or do we have the feeling of it being the same old thing every day.

God wants our relationship with him to buzz like the excitement of the Show. He wants us to be oozing with love and kindness. We can't get that excitement if we don't connect with him daily. Some may ask why we should get excited about talking to God if he's available every day. It's because God is our Creator. He is the Almighty King of All. He sent his one and only Son to save His people who didn't deserve it at all. God offers you this happiness and joy of life in abundance.

You have never seen Jesus, and you don't see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy you are to be saved. This is why you have faith.

I hope this serves as an encouragement for you all as we continue through this week. As always, the chaplains will be here if you ever need prayer, encouragement, or help.

Blessings,

Pr Mal

Are you ok, really?

On Thursday, Australia celebrates R U OK Day, a national day of action for mental health.

The day encourages us to check in on others by asking the simple question, ‘Are you ok?’

But let’s be honest, if a friend of yours or I were to stand in front of you today and ask, “Are you OK?” how would you respond? Could you, or would you, share how you really are?

Talking about our feelings isn't always easy - but it is always important. Here are some ways to help us all better identify and talk about the way we are really feeling (these are just as applicable for kids as they are adults, so feel free to talk about them at home):

Stop and get curious

Take the time to stop and check in with yourself, as often as once a day. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How am I feeling?
• What is the issue?
• What is coming up here?
• Did something happen to cause me to feel this way?
• How is my body feeling? Am I experiencing any tension, shaking or an increased heart rate? Am I finding it hard to concentrate?

Expand your vocabulary

If you’re finding it hard to describe what you’re feeling, look up a list of emotions online (an emotion wheel is a useful tool for children and adults alike). It can help to point you to the ones that resonate when you’re struggling to identify them on your own. Try to come up with three words that describe how you’re feeling and take a moment to expand on them. Labelling your emotions with words will increase your self-awareness and help you to communicate them more effectively to others.

Write it out

You don’t have to write pages of beautifully written prose and there’s many ways to go about it:

• Put a timer on for five minutes and write about the thoughts you’re having. For example, maybe you’re thinking, I can’t believe they said that! orWhat did I do to deserve this? or Nobody is doing anything! Write how this is causing you to behave. Are you isolating from people, getting aggressive, checking out by scrolling on your phone?
• Label your emotions on a scale from 1–10. How deeply are you feeling them?
• Expand on the words you chose from a list of feelings and how they relate to the internal and external things happening in your life.
• Write a description of the sensations you are feeling in your body and see if you can connect them to your emotions.
• If you have something you want to say to someone, write a letter without the intention of sending it.

Talk it out

Have you ever felt better after a conversation with a close friend about something you are struggling with? The circumstance itself hasn’t changed, your friend might have done nothing but listen, though it feels like a giant weight has been lifted?

Having regular meaningful conversations about our emotions with a good friend, family member or mentor is hugely beneficial.

In light of “R U OK Day”, I invite you to ask yourself first, with the same amount of curiosity and compassion you might ask someone you care about: How are you, really?

8 September is R U Ok Day – a national day of action for mental health. Visit ruok.org.au to learn more or join local R U OK Day events

Thanks to our fabulous CEC Team

PPN would like to thank Kate Truscott and our CEC Team for organising our Father’s Day Stall last week. Thank you for the planning, the purchasing of gifts, and operating the stall so our students could purchase gifts for their Dads and loved ones. We appreciate your time and support.

2022 PPN School Survey

Have you completed your 2022 PPN School Survey yet?

Your voice and opinions are important to us, so please don't miss your chance to share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions about how to make our school an even better place for your kids.

Please check your inbox and click the link to complete the survey. It is completely anonymous and will make a real difference to our plans for the future.  

Daily Health Check

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

Thankyou Book Week Team

Book Week Diorama Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Book Week Diorama Competition! There were almost 100 entries, which made it hard for our wonderful judges - Pr Roland, Miss Hann and Mr Pepper.

There were so many amazing dioramas, well done to everyone!