WOW Sneak Peak

This week has certainly been something to WOW about! If our students haven’t already told you, it’s one of our favourite weeks here at PPN - Week of Worship (WOW). There’s still two days of exciting things to go, so here’s a small peak into what’s been happening during our daily WOW programs. Keep an eye out for a highlight video next week.

Little Giggles Storytime

On Monday this week our friends from Little Giggles Playgroup enjoyed Storytime in our library with Mrs Blyde. They read a story about a lazy little ladybird who learned a very important lesson!

After story time together, the playgroup children had fun exploring the library and reading more books with their parents and grandparents. Each child got to take some craft supplies back to playgroup to create their own ladybird headband. We love to see our broader school community enjoying the lovely facilities we have at PPN and look forward to another Storytime with our little friends again in Term 3.

Colours of Autumn Nature Play

Welcome to Week 2 of Term 2 at Prescott Primary Northern. It is a big week for us with Week of Worship (WOW) as well as our Mother’s Day Stall. I would like to invite all of you to attend the final WOW program on Friday evening and join other families for a soup and buns meal afterwards. Please see the message from the chaplains about booking in.

I have shared several times before how blessed I was to have the mother I did. She was an incredible lady who poured love, grace, justice and more love on me as I grew up. I would like to honour all those mothers and mother figures in the lives of our children who show that care and unconditional love. Sadly, not all children get to enjoy that. However, I think that should only increase our celebration of those that do. I came across this excellent article this week addressed to both mums and the rest of us as kids and partners. Please celebrate the mums in your life this weekend and praise God for the incredible gifts they are to us.

“Mother’s Day creates all sorts of feelings for every mum. For many mothers, it’s a day of delight and joy. For some, it is a day of high hopes that hubby (or partner) and the kids will come through with a special something (and no fighting!). In some cases, you get what you really wanted: a “World’s Best Mum” coffee cup from the school Mother’s Day stall, and everything is perfect.

And some people mourn Mother’s Day. It’s a day of difficulty. The pain of not having your own mum with you, the pain of having a mum who wasn’t safe, or even the pain of knowing you’re not doing great right now with your own kids (or don’t have any) can make the idea that we would celebrate seem insensitive.

Today, as we move toward Mother’s Day, our Insights article is about you… mum – and how you can get more out of Mother’s Day. The three ideas I share are designed for every mother, regardless of your approach to, and feelings about, Mother’s Day.

1. Get into ‘We’-Time vs ‘Me’-Time

Canadian researcher, Dr Elizabeth Dunn, has discovered that connection through time together (we-time) is associated with greater happiness than having time alone (me-time). The irony here is that on Mother’s Day (or other special occasions) there is often a pull towards that quiet bath, massage, or brunch without kids asking questions and getting in the way!

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with having some me-time. In fact, sometimes it’s the only thing that provides the sanity you’re seeking. If you need it, take it.

But… once you’ve had that respite, jump back into being mum with both feet!

Close to a century of the very best research tells us that “Happiness is love, full stop.” And we experience that love through high quality connection: feeling seen, heard, and valued. Relationships where we feel seen, heard, and valued, are life-giving relationships. They elevate us. They build us. They sustain us.

This Mother’s Day, enjoy your moments of peace and indulgence. You deserve them. But make time for relationships where you and those around you feel seen, heard, and valued. Maybe you can pause and really ‘be there’ for your kids? Or perhaps they can dive in and give you that foot rub or back massage – or get into doing the dishes and folding clothes?

2. Savour

Being a mum is hard at times. It’s a long game! But studies show that being able to pause and really take in what’s happening around us might be one of the most direct pathways to happiness.

Sometimes that little bit of heaven that happens when you see your child (or children) smiling as you receive your gift from them, or feel their body squeezing up against you as they give you that hug, or even as you watch them eating brekky with you (after they’ve made something scrumptious as a treat!) is all it takes for the world to feel right again.

I know it’s a word you hear thousands of times a day/week/month, but have you closed your eyes and savoured the fact that there is a kiddo (or a family of them) who make it possible for you to have the special privilege of being called “Mum”?

3. Do Something For You

Ok, so I pushed the ‘we-time’ pretty hard. But this is your special day. Can you find an hour where you get to set the agenda? Maybe you take a walk, a bath, or some time to lie down and immerse yourself in a novel. Perhaps you can do some art or craft?

And yet, there’s the thing where “it’s Mother’s Day” and it’s nice to spend the time doing what you want, but with those humans who make you a mum. It could be that you take the family on a ride, a rainforest walk, or a sunset stroll.

Bonus idea: Make Mother’s Day Meaningful for Your Mum

The average woman in Australia lives to the age of 83. At the risk of saying something scary, the number of times you’ll say “Happy Mother’s Day” to your own mum is vanishingly small, and reducing each year.

Take this opportunity to say what needs to be said. Express love. Write a letter of gratitude and read it to her. Tell your mum why she’s your rock. Go one step further and tell her how she inspires you as a mum yourself. (And if things are strained, consider whether repairs can be made in meaningful ways. Small steps can make big differences). It’s possible that it might be the best Mother’s Day ever – because it’s (weirdly) not about you – but all about you!

An important note for husbands, partners, co-parents and kids

Hubby, partner, co-parent… this week it’s time to step up. Make an effort. Find a way to express the magic that you have in your life – and the unspeakable support you receive – as a result of this great woman in your life. Involve the kids. Support them in their efforts to honour their mum. Make it count. Create space for your kids’ mum to spend quality time with her children. Do the household chores she’d normally do so she can have that space to do what she wants most – be a present, available, connected mum to her children.” (Coulson, 2023)

Happy Mother’s Day and have a great week with our kids,

Mark B

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – Proverbs 31:25-28

You’re invited to the PPN Parents Wellbeing Group

Are you a Foundation, Year 1 or Year 2 parent or care giver? Or, do you have an older child who you need some additional support with?

If so, next week’s PPN Parents Wellbeing Group meeting is for you.

This will be the first in our regular catch-ups to help equip PPN families with additional insights, skills and tools they can use to support the wellbeing of their children (and themselves).

If you would like to learn more about how to support your child’s emotional development or build your child’s social skills and learning capacity then these relaxed sessions are for you.

Drop in for a hot drink, meet other parents and carers, and learn from our PPN Wellbeing team.

These sessions will be held once a month at 9am. If you are interested but unable to attend, please indicate your interest in the registration form linked below so we can find an alternate time.

To help with our planning, if you would like to attend please complete this very short form. REGISTER HERE.

Mother’s Day Stall Tomorrow

Mother’s Day is this weekend, and our students will have the opportunity to purchase small gifts at our annual Mother’s Day Stall fundraiser.

The stall will be open tomorrow, Thursday (Week 2). Students will be able to purchase one (1) gift in their allocated class time, and return at lunchtime to buy a second gift if they choose. Any students who are absent on Thursday will be able to purchase a gift on Friday morning.

All gifts are $5 or less, so families are encouraged to send only coins or small notes.

Premiers Reading Challenge

Students who complete the Premiers Reading Challenge (PRC) will receive their award at the end of the year plus a bonus certificate for completing the 20 Book Challenge. Many of our students are already filling out the forms with the extra eight books.

Did You Know some Notable Dates!

• 140 Years Ago – Adventures of Pinocchio (published in February 1883)
This classic children’s novel by Carlo Collodi has captured imaginations around the world. Best known for the 1940 Disney film, it has most recently been adapted by Guillermo del Toro.

• 80 Years Ago – The Little Prince (published in April 1943)
Now available in 260 languages, Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s most famous work was first published in English and French. Following a prince as he visits planets in space, it is one of the bestselling books in History.

Commemorative Days for this month

• Mother’s Day - 14 May
• National Simultaneous Storytime - 24 May

Book of the Week

Naturopolis
Author: Deborah Frenkel
Illustrator: Ingrid Bartkowiak

Look closer, look with care and you find a forest…Naturopolis is a wonderful acknowledgement of the unseen, and the world that awaits the viewer. Eager to connect with nature, you do not have to go far to find what is waiting for us beneath our feet. A title that will be popular with families, primary classrooms and anyone who loves to celebrate the myriad of life on our planet.

Prescott College