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School is Back!
It’s only Day 2, but we can already tell 2024 is going to be a great year. We’re so glad to have you as part of the PPN Family!
As students reconnected with their friends and teachers welcomed their new classes to their rooms we were reminded about what makes our school so great – the people and the way we love and learn together.
Our biggest welcome goes to our new students and their families, especially our newest Foundation students. We hope you’ve been enjoying getting to know your wonderful teachers and new friends, as you explore our nature play space, complete fun activities in the classroom and learn all about school life.
Watch the video below for a short insight into our first day back at PPN. And, if you haven’t already be sure to connect with PPN on Facebook and Instagram.
Water and Ice play
It’s a brand new year, and what a delightful morning we had out in the Nature Play Space this morning. It was nice to see some familiar faces and some new ones come down and join us in the sunshine.
We cooled down in the beautiful sunshine with ice themed water play this week. The students had to rescue some animals frozen in a big block of ice, and spent most of lunchtime trying to pry them out of the solid brick. There were some coloured blocks that turned into a colourful stew as it melted, and some natural treasures the students managed to discover through crushing and melting in the mud kitchen. The students had a wonderful time, with a few of them saying how much fun they had playing with ice on a beautiful summer’s day.
The boys were excited about the new canoe and two boats that joined our Nature Play Space this week. They were busy building rivers and damns and floating them along the river, and creatively using them in their play. Will you give ice play a try this summer?
Welcome to Prescott Primary Northern for 2024. Welcome back to our returning students and families, welcome back to our returning staff, and a huge big welcome to our new students and their families. For our new Foundation students it is a huge week in their lives and we want to welcome them to their Prescott Primary Northern home. An enormous welcome to our new staff as well. Some staff have transferred from interstate, some from overseas, and others have lived locally and become a part of our staff this year.
To all of you, I say welcome. Welcome to your Prescott Primary Northern home.
I use the word home intentionally. In my mind, home has an inherent sense of belonging. That is what I hope you find this year at Prescott Primary Northern. A place where you belong, where you feel and know that there is room for you.
This weekend we celebrate 50 years as a school. When you think about it, there have been thousands and thousands of children, families and staff who have spent time in our school. There are thousands of people who I hope have found a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves in this place, and I am so glad we get to celebrate that belonging this weekend. Please read this newsletter and you’ll find info on how to be a part things.
I think it is an honourable thing to have our school as a type of home for our community. It is in the foundations of a good home, whether that be a house, a place or some people, that provide the basis for the security and confidence we need to walk boldly into life. I recently read an saying attributed to the wise man Confucious and I think it can be applied to our school home as well as our family home.
“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”
I hope this year, our school home lives up to that.
Welcome to you all and have a great week with our kids.
Mark B
There are many dwelling places in my Father's house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. John 14: 2
Welcome back PPN Families, and a warm welcome to the families that are joining us for the first time.
Can you believe January is already over? Seems like yesterday that we had just welcomed in the new year. But friends, this new year feels different, it feels special in a way.
As you may know our school is turning 50 this year. That’s 50 years’ worth of reports, of math’s lessons and newsletters. We’ve come a long way in those 50 years, new classrooms, more students and more ways to show how God has worked through every single one of those years. Think of all the generations that have passed through these halls, how many lives have been impacted by this school, and how many now send their children to experience learning in a place so loved by its staff, community and especially loved by God.
In the Bible, 50 years marked a very special time for Gods people, it was The Year of Jubilee.
10 Set this year apart as holy, a time to proclaim freedom throughout the land for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you may return to the land that belonged to your ancestors and return to your own clan. 11 This fiftieth year will be a jubilee for you. During that year you must not plant your fields or store away any of the crops that grow on their own, and don’t gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. 12 It will be a jubilee year for you, and you must keep it holy. But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own. 13 In the Year of Jubilee each of you may return to the land that belonged to your ancestors.
Leviticus 25:10-13 NLT
This was a time of rest, not just for the people but for the land. They weren’t to grow anything or harvest and store any of it away, they had to let the ground replenish itself. Without all the pruning the vines would grow the way they wanted, and the wildflowers would have a chance to cover the fields. What a beautiful sight that could have been. Also, everyone was to return to their place of ancestry and if they owned land that belonged to another family they were to sell it back to them at a fair price. Imagine all those families reuniting with each other, a generation meeting a new one.
As we reflect on the past 50 years, let us also see 2024, this 50th year, as a year of Jubilee. Though we can’t exactly take a whole year off, as much as we would like to, we can be creative about how we choose to rest. It could be picking up that devotional we bought a while ago or having weekend family picnics enjoying time in nature. Let us also make this year a time we spend more with family, going to visit the grandparents you don’t see as often or that cousin that lives somewhere you can’t quite pronounce. I myself will be going back to my mum’s home island of Sabu, Indonesia to visit family I haven’t seen in over 10 years. I even have a nephew and niece that I’ve never met. I know how healing and emotional that time will be, and I can hardly wait, trust me the countdown has already begun.
God wanted this time of jubilee to be a time of reconnection, to forgive one another and allow God to work so that we don’t take it all upon ourselves. We don’t know for sure what 2024 holds, but what we do know it that God will be with us - just as he has been here at Prescott Primary Northern for the past 50 years and for the next.
Many blessings,
Pr Andy
Safer Internet Day 2024
Did you know, almost 50% of all children report being treated hurtful or nasty way online?
Safer Internet Day (February 6) focusses on empowering kids to make safer choices when online. That’s why PPN is taking part.
As parent’s helping our children navigate the online world is an important and often daunting task. Please click here for more information and resources to help your kids.
PPN Celebrates 50 Years This Weekend!
Fifty years ago PPN opened its doors for the first time. This weekend we are celebrating God’s blessings and leading, and reconnecting with our PPN family from through the decades.
A big thanks to all those who have registered to attend. If you missed out and would still like to attend please register by this Thursday (tomorrow) via this link https://pnorthern.click/50thform
Parent Information Evening
This coming Tuesday evening (6 February) we are holding a Parent Information Evening for all PPN families.
The evening an opportunity for parents and carers to meet their child/ren’s teachers and receive important information about the year ahead. It’s also a great time to meet other parents and families.
Three sessions will be held to ensure all parents can attend. Even if you have children in more than one class you can make it to both Year Levels.
The sessions will run from:
6:00 – 6:30pm
6:30 – 7:00pm
7:00 – 7:30pm
For more information, please contact the front office or speak with your classroom teacher.
Classes and Teachers
Below is a list of the classroom teachers present in each grade across our school.
School Fees 2024
Canteen News
Happy New Year and welcome back. We hope you are all feeling refreshed after a wonderful break. The Canteen team are ready to serve and nourish the PPN community again throughout 2024!
Flexischools is our preferred ordering system. We encourage parents to use this service to help create a safer, more efficient school ordering and payment experience. If you have any questions or need assistance in downloading the app we are happy to help. You can find us in the canteen from 8:30am to 2pm Monday to Friday.
Have a fantastic start to the school year!
Karen and the canteen team
Reverse Day
Uniform Shop
Welcome to a new year. The Uniform Shop is open:
Monday to Thursday 2:30pm to 4pm.
The Uniform Shop is located at 1 Heather Drive. The street directly behind the school.
Healthy Food Policy
As an Adventist school, we value our health message and seek to nurture healthy food choices for our students, staff, and our families.
Please make note of the following:
• No peanuts or products containing nuts are to be bought onto the campus as we have anaphylactic students who may have a reaction if exposed to this.
• Prescott Primary Northern has a “Fruit and Veg Only” Rule for Brainfood time (around 10 am every day).
• All food provided by Prescott Primary Northern will be wholly vegetarian (i.e. containing no meat products)
• Drink bottles should only contain water
Lunch Deliveries
In order to maintain a healthy and positive learning environment, we are unable to deliver commercial/fast food type lunches (e.g. Hungry Jacks, MacDonalds, Subway etc.) to classrooms.
There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there are risks involved in food being served later than it should be, and the school is not able to pass that food on. The foods in question can be particularly susceptible to these risks. Secondly, the arrival of some of the commercial foods into a classroom can be very unsettling for the class. Finally, it can create a feeling of lack for some children in the class whose family cannot, or choose not to provide these popular meals for their child.
If required, we will attempt to call a child's parent/guardian to seek permission to send the child to the canteen to organise some food. The cost of this will then be charged to the family.
Our school canteen provides a range of healthy and tasty lunch and snack options. Items from their menu can be ordered well ahead of time, which may help some families with busy morning schedules.
Birthday Treats
Birthdays are an exciting time for children and our teachers celebrate each child on their birthday.
Please DO NOT send in anything for your child’s birthday. If anything is brought to school, we will unfortunately have to send it back home with your child.
Your child’s classroom teacher will ensure each child is recognised and celebrated on their birthday.
Parking and Safety Around The School
In the interest of safety and efficiency around the school during the busy drop-off and pick-up periods we ask that all families take note of the following:
1. Parking out the front of the school
Parking in the front carpark (in front of the school office) can be convenient, but parking and walking your child to the gate and then reversing out into traffic during drop-off and pick-up times it significantly impacts the flow of traffic and presents a dangerous risk to you and your child. If you are walking your child to school or collecting them in the afternoon, please use the back car park or respectfully use nearby on-street parking.
2. Keeping the car park entrance clear
In the afternoons, it is very important that you do not park in the entrance to the back carpark. If the drive through line is full, please wait with your left indicator flashing while on Nelson Road. When the line starts to move, please move into the drive through zone without blocking the carpark entrance.
3. Turning left only out of car parks and drive through
In peak times, when families wait and try to turn right onto Wright Road from the drive through, it again, slows the whole drive through down - often to a complete stop. It is also a sign-posted 'No Right Turn' intersection, meaning that turning right is a offence that may result in a fine. We are asking kindly that you turn left only out the drive through onto Wright Road. Similarly, when exiting the back car park please only turn left onto Nelson Road.
4. Side gate entrance
We have opened the side gate walkway again to allow an alternative entrance, rather than going through the Front Office. If you are walking your child to school, you are encouraged to use this entrance.
Using the School Car Park
Please keep the following information in mind when using our school car parks:
· Maximum speed limit—10kph
· Use the marked car park areas—you must be parked prior to your children exiting your car—do not stop in the middle of the car park and let your children out while your car is still running.
· Look out for little people
· Please keep to designated walkways
· Only cross the carpark at the crossing provided
· The car park closest to the double yellow gates in the church carpark is only for those who have a Disabled Parking Permit. Please do not park there unless you have the permit. There are also 3 Disabled Carparks over by the main church entrance for those with the appropriate permits.
· No right turn is permitted out of the Car Park on Nelson Road. Please turn left and go round the roundabout.
Children need to be accompanied by an adult at all times in our car park.
If you arrive 10 minutes after the afternoon bell the car parks are usually less congested.
Asthma/Medical Records
Each year the school needs to update student asthma records. If your child is currently listed as asthmatic, please ensure you have supplied a current action plan to the school.
If your child has recently been diagnosed with asthma, please update and upload the plan in Consent2Go. If you are unable to do this, please call for information and help.
Medication
If your child requires regular medication to be administered during school hours, please send it to Student Services. Please note that staff may only give medication, prescribed by a doctor, in an original, labelled (with your child’s name) pharmacy container. Any other medication that your child requires must be in the original packaging, labelled with their name and clear instructions on how and when it may be administered.
Contact Details
If you move or have new mobile or home telephone numbers, please let the Front Office know. Children can get distressed if we are unable to contact parents because we do not have their current details. Please keep emergency contact details (eg grandma, aunty) up to date as well.
Student Absences
Please inform the school if your child is away or will be late to class either by:
· SMS on 0429 557 989
· email: reception@ppn.sa.edu.au
· Or phone on 8396 2577
For extended periods of absence please fill in the official Exemption Form.
Uniform Policy 2024
Below is a copy of the 2024 PPN Uniform Policy. We ask that you familiarise yourself with the details. In particular, please draw your attention to:- School Bags - Prescott Primary Northern school bags are compulsory for all students. These are available for purchase from the Uniform Shop (and via Flexischools) if you have not done so already.
- Jewellery - The following may be worn at school:
- 3-4mm plain gold or silver stud in the lower ear-lobe (one stud per ear, females only)
- Medical bracelets
- Approved religious jewellery
- Watches - Functional, non-decorative watches with an inconspicuous band are allowed. Smart Watches must be on 'Flight Mode' for the entire time a student is at school.
- Hair - All hair should be a natural colour, clean cut and kept off the face. Hair must not be shaved shorter than a number two, or have lines cut either as a highlight or between the short and long parts of the hair.
- Girls - Long hair must be tied back at all times; simple hair-clips, ties, scrunchies or ribbons in blue, black, maroon, red and white can be used.
- Boys - Long hair mus be tied back at all time with a simple hair tie matching hair colour; buns are not permitted.
- Nails - Clear nail polish on natural nails only.
Uniform Passes
There are times throughout the year when students do not wear a part of the uniform due to something unforeseen happening. When this occurs, the parent/carer is to write a note, send an email to info@ppn.sa.edu.au or an SMS to 0429 557 989 explaining the situation and the student will be issued with a uniform pass for the day.
Students will not be issued with a pass without first presenting a note from home.
A uniform notification will be issued to children without a uniform pass, and parents will be asked to address this promptly.
Safe School Procedures
School gates will be closed between 9:15am and 3:00pm for the safety of our students. If you are coming to the school between these times, come through the Office and ensure that you sign our visitors register on our iPad and take a visitor’s identification tag. If you are helping out anywhere in the school between these times, you should also sign our visitors’ register on our iPad and wear a visitor’s identification tag. By signing-in you are letting the office staff know where you are, so that you can be accounted for in an emergency situation.
Parents who help regularly with reading, crafts, excursions etc, will be asked to present their Working With Children's Check (WWCC) and RHAN Certificate. Please see the front office for more details.
PE Classes & Uniform
This year, our students will be participating in a specialised PE lesson each with Miss Pfiefer. Students will wear their sports uniform on the day they have these lessons. All other fitness lessons and activities will be led by the classroom teacher.
Please take note of the days each class will need to wear their sports uniforms for 2024:
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 3A | 3C | 4B | 4C | 6A |
| 3B | 2A | 5C | 4A | 6B |
| FB | 2B | 2C | 5B | 6C |
| FC | FA | 1C | 5A | |
| 1B | 1A |
Basketball in 2024 - STARTS NEXT WEEK!
Training and games begin next week in Week 2!
Year 2/3 training on the basketball court straight after school on Tuesday 6th until 4:30pm - tops and contracts will be given at this training. Questions can be asked in person to Miss Pfeiffer and Mrs Isaac at training. Parents please arrive by 4:15pm to have an information session before training ends.
First Year 2/3 game is Wednesday 7th
Prescott Bulls verse Prescott Dragons at 3:50pm, Court 1 at Golden Grove Rec Centre (1 Tenison Place, Golden Grove)
Prescott Falcons verse Pedare Stars at 5:10pm, Court 1 at Golden Grove Rec Centre (1 Tenison Place, Golden Grove)
Prescott Lightning verse Pedare Slammers at 5:10pm, Court 3 at Golden Grove Rec Centre (1 Tenison Place, Golden Grove)
Prescott Storm verse Prescott Thunder at 5:50pm, Court 1 at Golden Grove Rec Centre (1 Tenison Place, Golden Grove)
Swimming Week
Next week (week 2) is Swimming Week! From Monday the 5th of February to Friday the 9th of February all students in Year 1 to Year 6 will head to the Waterworld Swimming Centre for a 45-minute swimming lesson every day. You are welcome to observe the lessons but may need to pay for entry to the pool.
Coming home with your child this week is a swimming note outlining the timetable for the week and what your child needs to bring. Please be aware students will be getting changed back at school, so will need to bring 2 towels, one for themselves and one to put on the bus seat after they finish swimming.
Please also ensure you complete the Consent2Go form emailed home to families this week. Without this being completed your child will be unable to attend.
