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Doughnut Day
While the weather wasn’t kind to us last Friday (leading to the Lower Primary Sports Day being postponed), the bakery certainly was! Thanks to the Prescott Community team, our students and staff enjoyed house-colour themed doughnuts and raised more than $400 to continue to make our school great. Many classes also took the opportunity to eat and share some fun with their buddy classes.
Reconciliation Rocks
In follow up to Reconciliation Week, our Year 1 students applied what they’d learned about indigenous art and symbols to create their own ''reconciliation rocks'. Their pieces displayed amazing creativity and care, and we think they are worth showing off here in the newsletter and on display at home.
Gymnastics Program
Pinecone creatures
After a visit to the forest, my family and I collected some pinecones when walking through the trees. We loved looking at the different shapes, sizes and textures of the pinecones. That inspired the activity for our Nature Play Space this week. Using natural resources such as air-dry clay, gumnuts, leaves and other bits and pieces we have collected, the students at PPN transformed their pinecones into pinecone creatures. They moulded the air-dry clay into different shapes to represent different creatures such as birds, owls and other creations. The students loved coming up with their own unique creation, with no two creations the same.
Have you tried using air dry clay to make nature creatures with your family?
Nature Maths
It was our last Nature Maths session with the Year 1's this Tuesday. It has been fun going down to the Nature Play space where we can use our bodies, and natural items to learn new mathematical concepts. This week, we discussed different types of lines - horizontal, vertical, and parallel. We identified them in our playground, our Nature Play Space and used gathered sticks to make horizontal and vertical lines on a t shirt outline to create a pattern. Once we had finished, we then used our sticks to make a huge horizontal straight line across the Nature Play Space. It has been fun learning in Nature.
I am hesitant to say it, but we over are halfway through Term 2. I don’t know about you, but I am finding it hard to believe that we are already in the month of June and almost halfway through the year. This year seems to be going by at a fast pace.
Schools tend to be a busy place and recently we have had many special celebrations, such as National Simultaneous Story Time, The Biggest Morning Tea and Reconciliation Week. As I look ahead at the calendar, I see a bit of a break from the busyness and fewer “big events”, but I know that classrooms will still be buzzing with lessons, assignments and assessments as students demonstrate the culmination of a semester of learning. Our staff will be busy providing feedback, grading work and writing Semester One reports.
Recently I read a series of devotions based on the book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Cromer. He points out that hurry is incompatible with love, joy and peace. He writes
It is fairly obvious that peace is incompatible with hurry. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re running late to “catch a flight, or ten minutes late for an appointment, or overdue on an assignment, take an interior inventory and see if you feel the deep shalom of God in your soul. Do you sense a grounded preset sense of calm? Or something else?
His words ring true for me. The days when my to-do list is long and the demands of life are great, I need to be intentional and take time and do nothing and be with God.
We have a Pupil Free day on Friday and then Monday is a Public Holiday. I hope that over the next few days and over the long weekend, you can find some time to spend time with your family, friends, and other loved ones, and enjoy the change of routine. If your family are planning to get away for the long weekend and enjoy a change of scenery, I wish you safe travels. If not, perhaps plan to have no plans and enjoy the chance to rest.
Supporting Your Child's Personal Safety and Understanding of Consent: The Underpants Rule
As parents, ensuring our children understand personal safety and the importance of consent is paramount. One effective way to teach these concepts is through the "Underpants Rule." Here's how you can support your child's safety and understanding of consent, along with some valuable Australian resources.
What is the Underpants Rule?
The Underpants Rule is a simple guideline to help children understand which parts of their body are private. It teaches that the areas covered by their underwear are private and that no one should touch or ask to see these areas without permission. This rule empowers children to recognize inappropriate behaviour and seek help if needed.
How Parents Can Support Personal Safety and Understanding of Consent
Open Communication:
- Talk to your children about their bodies and boundaries in an age-appropriate manner.
- Encourage them to speak up if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or if they encounter inappropriate behavior.
Teach Body Autonomy:
- Emphasize that their body belongs to them and they have the right to say no to unwanted touch.
- Reinforce that they should never keep secrets about body safety, even if someone they know or trust asks them to.
Role-Playing Scenarios:
- Use role-playing to help children practice saying no and seeking help in various situations.
- Discuss different scenarios and appropriate responses to ensure they feel confident in protecting themselves.
By incorporating the Underpants Rule and these strategies into your parenting, you can help your children develop a strong understanding of personal safety and consent. These conversations and practices are crucial in protecting your child and empowering them to take charge of their own well-being.
Recommended and Quick Resources for Parents:
Body & Cyber Safety: How to Pre-arm and Protect Your Children
eSafeKids Book Reading: My Underpants Rule! - YouTube
eSafeKids Book Reading: Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent and Respect
Prescott College
My OSHC Pupil Free Day
My OSHC Holiday Program
