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50th Anniversary
Reflecting on Service
Water play
With Swimming Safe Week in full swing, we continued the theme of water play in our Nature Play Space with the addition of pipes and wooden boats to add to the space.
The children were quick to come and collect the new materials when the bell went, but to my surprise used them in several different ways. A little wooden canoe was seen as a container for ‘food,’ a boat, a sand scoop, and a plate. It was wonderful to see how creative the students were, and how each group of children were playing in their own imaginative way.
Nature play can be wonderful and versatile. What was originally planned as a water and pipe play session became something completely different - the students still used the materials provided, just in their own creative way.
How would your children use a little wooden container or a PVC pipe in your backyard this week?
Celebrating Milestones
Amidst the hustle and bustle of a new school year, and the busy-ness of life more generally, it's easy to forget the significance of celebrating milestones. Nelson Mandela once shared this piece of wisdom that resonates with me: "Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead."
Prescott Primary Northern certainly celebrated a milestone this past weekend. Our school turned 50 on the 3rd of February.
The planning for this event began back in June of last year. As we reflected back on the 50 years of this wonderful school and the impact this place has had on the lives of those who walked through these doors, we connected this to a ripple effect. Some may only attend Prescott Primary Northern for a short while, and some have been very involved for years, but each one of us can take what has mattered to us here, the values instilled in us, the sense of community and belonging, and drop this into our communities as we walk through life.
We will never know just how far this ripple effect may reach.
Our celebrations began with a special chapel for our staff and students, the highlight being an incredible 50th cake. These celebrations continued into the weekend with a special program at church on Saturday, where our community heard from past and present staff and students who reflected on their journey and memories at Prescott and the ripple effect their Prescott experience has had on their own lives and communities. We had guests travel from interstate to be a part of these celebrations, with some past staff from the 1970s joining us. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch together and a school tour to allow our guests to see the changes and growth in our school, from an original building and a potato field, to the wonderful campus we enjoy today.
If you would like to watch the special service, you may see it by clicking here or on the image below.
The festivities continued on Sunday, with many families braving the heat and coming to enjoy our Family Fun Day. It was great to see so many smiling faces enjoying the activities, animal farm, food trucks, music and so much more. We got to see work by PPN students from 1999 as we opened a time capsule, and also contributed to a time capsule that will stay sealed until 2049.
My highlight from the weekend was witnessing the joy when people were connecting and reconnecting with one another, and reflecting on their journeys at PPN. This weekend has certainly highlighted the importance of celebrating milestones. As Mandela shared the importance of this as we prepare to move forward, I would like to acknowledge all the past and present staff who imparted their passion, support and influence on this school, helping it to be the incredible place it is today. It is the people who have gone before us, their dedication, their vison and their resilience, that motivates us to look forward and dream about what the next 50 years may bring.
While milestones mark significant progress, they are but stepping stones in the greater journey of life. Each accomplishment signals a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to set goals and aspirations, tackle greater challenges, and strive for excellence.
As we embark on the school year ahead, it is my prayer that we acknowledge all the milestones this year - the great and small, the learning and the personal milestones, and that we foster a culture of appreciation and gratitude, for the people and the community around us who will journey with us throughout the school year.
Blessings,
Tamara
Week 2, wowee!
I can’t believe it’s Week 2. It feels like we’ve been back at school for a long time now, not because time drags on when you’re not having fun, but because of the sheer number of awesome activities the school has produced in the short amount of time we’ve been back!
Week 1 is always a blast, seeing the students after a massive break and getting to hear all their awesome stories and adventures while they were away. Over the past weekend, as I’m sure you’ve heard, PPN celebrated it’s 50th birthday! And we celebrated with a massive party that lasted the whole weekend.
On Saturday, as we came together for Sabbath at Para Vista Seventh-day Adventist Church across the car park, we heard heartwarming stories from past staff reminiscing about the wonderful times they had while working here at PPN. Past teachers, students and principals all got up the front of church and shared their unique perspective on how God has moved through this school over the decades, and has miraculously cared for the school and its journey.
It was surprising and yet not surprising at the same time, to hear them talk of a culture that I had fallen in love with. Not surprising because I am here living it right now, and surprising because I never thought about how engrained in the history of this place its culture sat. God has been leading this place from the get-go, from 50 years ago. And the seeds that God planted in this place back then, are now beautiful fruit that we as a community get to enjoy every day we come to work, every day we step into the class to learn, every day we step onto the playground to supervise, every day we step into the church to worship, our community sits at a feast of opportunity prepared for them well before they knew about the banquet.
The following day on Sunday, a massive fun-filled day full of activities took place. Themes from each decade were expressed through a multitude of games. The treasures of a time capsule dating back to 1999 were on display and the entertaining letters form student’s past were hung on our hallways for all to enjoy. It was a truly special event. We re-sealed the time capsule with artworks and stories from all our current students, addressed to the future. We did so, praying that God blesses PPN over the next 25 years just as much as He’s blessed our last 25.
And just when we thought the fun was all over, the next day on Monday marked the beginning of our swimming week. Watching the students swim and listen to their instructors intently is always warming to watch. We live in a country surrounded by beautiful beaches and no ones a stranger to riverbanks and pools during the summer holidays. Seeing the students learn valuable life-saving skills disguised as fun and laughter with friends sparked the thought, “This is what real education looks like” in my mind.
I praise God that He’s returned our little ones back to us safely, and I’m thrilled He’s prepared our staff to hit the ground running this term. Let’s continue to pray for energy and patience for all our staff as a community. As they passionately pour into our kids during one of the busiest moments in our school calendar. I’m convinced that if I were in any other workplace, I’d be surrounded by zombies counting down the days till our next break.
But when I look around, I see smiles rushing at every opportunity to prepare and educate our kids in new and exciting ways. Praise God.
Toby Ackland
Learning well starts with being well.
The concept of wellbeing is not new, but the impact and importance of our wellbeing is continuing to be revealed and understood. Our experience of wellbeing day to day, and in the longer-term, can affect our relationships, ability to learn, physical health, confidence and our emotional state.
At PPN, we believe that the wellbeing of our students, staff and families is not only a vital part of our learning journeys, but a foundation of becoming the people God designed us to be.
To support the wellbeing of our community we have the following opportunities and services available:
- Ongoing care from classroom teachers and all staff members
- Specific wellbeing and social/emotional growth lessons in each year level
- A professional counsellor on campus two-days a week
- Small group programs to support specific social and emotional needs
- Support through our Inclusive Education team to ensure all students have the opportunity to find success
- A chaplaincy team committed to serving our students, families and community
- Weekly wellbeing tips for families in the school newsletter
- Breakfast Club which provides a free breakfast to students who may have gone without (Tuesdays and Fridays)
Please keep an eye out for further information about our wellbeing program in 2024.
If you have concerns about the wellbeing of your child please discuss this with their classroom teacher. If additional support is required, we will work together as a team and discuss the situation with you to ensure you and your child are supported in the best way possible.
Dedication Service
Reverse Day
Work Outside Front Office
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
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.
Bin Collection Day for Neighbours
Scholastic Book Club is back!
At PPN we run 4 issues of Scholastic Book Club each year, once each term. Book Club is an opportunity for you to purchase books for your family and support our school library at the same time. Every purchase you make earns our school 15% of your order value in Scholastic Rewards which is used to purchase resources for our library.
It is easy to order. The Book Club LOOP platform for parents allows you to pay by credit card. Your child’s order is submitted directly to school and the books will be delivered to your child’s classroom. You can place your child’s order at scholastic.com.au/LOOP or using the LOOP app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
Look out for Issue 1 in your child’s school bag this week! Issue 1 orders close on February 16th. Please note we do not accept cash orders – please order online.
