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Philippines Service Mission Trip 2023
During the school holidays, 16 of us here at PPN went on a mission trip to the Philippines to help and serve the teachers and the students in Estrella Del Norte Seventh-day Adventist School. With your help and donations, we were able to provide the school with teacher resources like books and school supplies. We were able to bring computers, headphones, mice and styluses for the students and the teachers. We were also able to give monetary donation towards the repair of the classrooms and the teacher dormitory, and the hiring of an additional teacher. All of these will surely have a positive impact on the lives of the students and the teachers in Taytay.
It’s safe to say that we all fell in love not only with Philippine food, but more importantly, we fell in love with the Filipino people. Their hospitality and being able to give so much from the little they have were both beautiful to experience. Everyone has, in a way, taught us to be grateful, resilient and humble. We certainly felt that God was working with us, for us and on us during the trip. We have carried with us so many lifelong lessons and so many beautiful memories. We are all looking forward to see what the school will be like in the future and to further foster the relationship that we have with them. Thank you once more for being a part of this mission.
Upper Sports Day Highlights
Lower Playground Opening
As if returning to school for Term 2 wasn’t exciting enough, our students have been looking forward to the opening of our new lower playground – and this week, it happened!
The new equipment offers a safe and challenging play environment for our younger students to enjoy. As you can see, it was a popular space on the first morning!
Year 4 Botanic Gardens Excursion
In recent weeks, our Year 4 students have been exploring Aboriginal culture in HASS. To extend their knowledge and help build their appreciation towards Aboriginal history, the Year 4 cohort went on an exciting journey to the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Gardens at the end of last term. Each class met with Indigenous storyteller, educator and guide Trent Hill and joined him on a tour as he discussed Aboriginal Plant Use trails, Artefacts lessons and Dreamtime stories.
Chess Tournament Term 1 2023
A special mention to the top 12 students from the Prescott Primary Northern Chess Club who participated in the Chess Tournament. The event took place at Tyndale Christian School in Salisbury East. The team demonstrated a various set of skills as they competed against other schools in the state. Throughout the day our students performed with passion and excitement. The students we had representing our school this term were Anthony and Jaedon from Year 3, Neil from Year 4, Japjeet and Jordan from Year 5 as well as Jad, Isabella, Cruz, Aryan, Param, Tyson and Savya from Year 6. Well done team, you represented our school well.
Nature Play Autumn Colours
The most beautiful part of Autumn is watching the trees turn into radiant colours of red orange and yellow. My children call it God’s paintings! In our school yard, some of the trees are starting to turn those vibrant colours, and the children got to use the colourful leaves to make a nature head piece. There was also some playdough in Autumn colours where the children could explore the textures of the playdough and the vibrant colours of the leaves. It is so rewarding to watch the children absolutely love the opportunity to explore the sensory activities outside. Several children came and told me just how much they enjoyed playing today, and their faces filled with joy, demonstrated just how much children are wired to play. Have gone for a nature walk and seen the beautiful Autumn leaves in your neighbourhood? This week, why don’t you rug up and enjoy a beautiful walk around your community to see how the leaves are changing!
Welcome back to Term 2 of 2023, PPN family. I hope you were able to enjoy some extra family time over the school holiday break. We are looking forward to a busy term here at Prescott Primary Northern and it has started already with playground work and some garden work by our music room now in place. We still have some more playground area to come in the next few weeks to open things up more for our students.
We also have our very special Week of Worship (WOW) happening next week which is always a real highlight for our school. I know our chaplains have been working hard to prepare for a week of praise, worship and fun for our students.
During the School holiday break, 16 brave staff members made their way over to the Philippines to help support the staff and students of a small Adventist school called Estrella Del Norte Adventist Elementary School, in the town of TayTay.
With the support of our Prescott Primary Northern family, we were able to share teaching resources, sporting equipment, some laptops and teaching support. We were overwhelmed by many things in our time there like the serious heat and humidity, the ingenuity of the staff and students in their learning, the lack of resources for teachers and students, and the dedication of the teaching staff to their children.
However, there was one thing that I was particularly overwhelmed by and that was the gratefulness of the teachers, the students and their families for our efforts for them. There weren’t just words of gratitude, there were tears of gratitude. I found it very humbling and moving. I want to thank each member of our school family for contributing to what we were able to share. I would also like to pass the gratitude of the Estrella Del Norte Adventist Elementary School family on to you and I hope you can feel their thankfulness also.
I was also challenged by the gratitude of this school family. I thought I was a reasonably grateful person, but I have a lot to learn about being truly grateful. I also have a lot to learn about appreciating all the blessings I have. There are all sorts of spin-off benefits when we truly recognise, acknowledge and express gratitude for even the simplest blessings we have. I have included a link to a TedEd talk you might like to watch with your children this week and then sit and talk about how grateful we can be. Reflecting and being grateful certainly reframed my perspective over the last couple of weeks.
Click here to watch the TedEd talk now.
Have a great week with our kids,
Mark B
Hey Family,
I read a book entitled “The Power to Change” last month and one of the key thoughts from author Craig Groeschel is that, “You do what you do because of what you think of you.” The main idea is that a lot of what we do, flows directly out of what we think of ourselves.
When it comes to changing our behaviour, we often focus on what we do, but Groeschel goes on to share that, “To change what you do, you need to first change what you think of you.” In other words, changing our behaviour begins with changing our identity – the way that we see ourselves.
This thought is echoed in Romans 12:2 (NLT) where Paul writes, “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
So, what do you think about yourself? Who are you?
In Galatians 3:26 (NLT) we read, “For you are all childrenof God through faith in Christ Jesus,” and in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), we discover that “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
These two Bible verses remind us that we are God’s children, who have been created anew because all of our sins and mistakes have been washed away. This is who we are in Jesus. May your true identity empower you to be the person that you have always wanted to be.
God bless,
Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai
eSafety resources for your family
The great power of the digital world has been splashed across the news in recent months with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Some say AI is the best thing since sliced bread, others suggest it has the potential to be THE existential crisis for humanity.
The reality is that, like any tool, it really comes down to how it is used.
It can be difficult to keep up with the ever-increasing number of online platforms our children are exposed to. Understanding how to use them, let alone the implications they have, is a never-ending battle.
A number of years ago, the Australian Government established the eSafety Commissioner to help educate and support society (particularly kids) in positive use of technology.
This week, I’d like to point you towards a number of FREE webinars that may be applicable and useful to you and your family. These include:
Getting started with social media
This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in primary and secondary school. It includes practical tech tips, conversation starters and digital parenting advice.
It will cover:
· creating a positive digital identity
· privacy and sharing online
· managing what you see online
· good practices in group chats
· help-seeking.
Term 2 dates
3 May: 7:00 pm to 7:30 pmSetting your child up for success online
This 30-minute webinar is designed for parents and carers of young people in primary school.
It will cover:
· age-appropriate expectations and boundaries
· online risks and strategies to keep your children safe
· where to find support for you and your child when things go wrong.
Term 2 dates
31 May 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm
For more information or to register visit https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Mother’s Day Stall Fundraiser
The stall will be open next Thursday (Week 2) and Friday for any students who were absent on Thursday.
Welcome Sonja Liemar
Winter Uniform Change Over
Do's & Don't of Dropping Your Kids to School
Daily Health Check
