One of the things that excites me most is nature play crafts that tick all the boxes. This week, our nature play craft did exactly that. It was simple and effective, it was sustainable, it involved fine motor skills, and was enjoyable. The students were invited to do a nature weave, using cardboard, rubber bands or string, leaves and other items from nature.

"A joy that’s shared is a joy made double". Celebrations at PPN recently have certainly highlighted this thought. Celebrating one another is an essential aspect of fostering strong relationships and building a supportive community. It's about acknowledging the value, achievements, and qualities of those around us and taking the time to express our appreciation and admiration. Celebrating one another brings a sense of shared joy.

Today our school community has been able to join in celebrating one of our much-loved staff members, Mrs Charity as she celebrates a milestone birthday! The ripple effect of contagious joy amongst the staff as we came together this morning with one purpose - to celebrate Mrs Charity and shower her with love and appreciation, has flowed onto to our students, with many of them wanting to share their love and appreciation of Mrs Charity too.

By sharing in these moments of happiness, we deepen our connections and create lasting memories of support, togetherness and camaraderie.

 

Celebrating one another involves actively participating in each other's joys and successes. Our SACSA Soccer Teams have been off-campus yesterday and today, competing against other schools, and representing our school well. If you get a chance this week, take a moment to acknowledge our students who participated in this soccer carnival. We are so proud of each of you.

Another way we celebrate one another is through recognition. Whether it's a simple "thank you" for a small favour or a grand ceremony honouring significant accomplishments, recognising the contributions of others validates their efforts and reinforces a sense of belonging and significance. This acknowledgment can take many forms, such as awards, praise, or heartfelt gestures.

Our wonderful teachers are working very hard at the moment to write school reports for your child to provide an insight into their learning journey, growth and successes so far this year. When the reports are sent home, take a moment of reflection with your child to celebrate their growth and achievements this semester. Share the joy and collaborate on some goals for the remainder of the school year. Let's truly embody the spirit of celebration and student learning at Prescott Primary Northern, ensuring that every student in our community feels valued and appreciated.

Blessings,

Tamara

Hey PPN Family,

It is normal today to think of churches as buildings where people go to worship, but 2000 years ago during the time of Jesus, the word “church” did not refer to a building, but to a people. The first time that Jesus used the word “church” in the New Testament was in Matthew 16:18 when He said (NLT), “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

The word translated “church” in this verse is the Greek word “ecclesia” which means a group of people who have been called out for a special purpose.

So, picture this, Jesus takes his disciples to Caesarea Philippi which was a centre of pagan worship and one of the most wicked and idolatrous cities at the time, and He declares that He was building a movement of people who would destroy Satan’s kingdom and his power. And God is still doing this today. His mission for His church, or His people, has not changed.

In a world where we see many examples of “hell” manifesting itself wherever we look, Jesus calls His people to destroy this by literally bringing “heaven to earth.” Where there is hate, God calls us to bring love; where there is sickness, God calls us to bring healing; where there is war, God calls us to bring peace; where there is hunger, God calls us to bring food; and where there is loneliness, God calls us to bring friendship. God is in the business of making the world a better place and He is doing this by bringing heaven to earth through His people.

So let us make the most of every opportunity that we have to join God in overcoming evil with good, and love, and grace, and forgiveness, and mercy, because as the saying goes, “We don’t go to church, we are the church.”

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai

How to have a family meeting

Most parents strive for a strong, connected family. One where their kids feel heard and appreciated, and their parental values are deeply instilled.

While this goal is important, it can also be a challenging one. Despite good intentions, it’s the daily routines and inevitable detours to our routine that can undermine our best efforts. Attention is devoted to “putting out fires” rather than bonding and deepening the connections we desire most.

But what if there was a way to address both everyday problems and our greater goals for our families? To employ a simple strategy to create a bonded, resilient family unit?

Enter the family meeting. Key to building a connected, positive family culture, family meetings can address everything from celebrating accomplishments and distributing chores to facing stressful or serious issues.

Benefits of family meetings include better communication, improved problem-solving skills, and the opportunity to be proactive and mindful about challenges (rather than reactive) for everyone involved. Kids’ sense of independence grows when they make decisions that impact the family.

For more information, ideas and guidance about your own family meetings head to How to Have a Family Meeting | Big Life Journal

Last Day Term 2

Lowers Sports Day