Prescott Primary Northern eNewsletter

Students Shine at Sports Day

The weather may have been dull and grey (and occasionally wet) but our lower primary students shone bright during their sports day last Friday. It was great to see so many parents and families out in support, cheering from the sidelines – and we hope you enjoyed the free hot drinks too. A big thanks to Ms Pfeiffer and our Year 6 Sports Captains for putting on such a fun event!

Hands up for STEM

This semester, a number of future engineers and scientists from Year 6 have been experimenting with, designing and building various prosthetic hands. As part of the STEM Enrichment group, students have putting their scientific and engineering skills to the test by developing a range of paper hands and robotic hands, complete with working hydraulic systems.

They call it STEM, but it looks like fun!

Nature Play for Birds

This week in the nature play space it was all about birds. Birds are very present in our school environment, and some even make their homes in our school yard. While we do have the common residents, the magpie, rainbow lorikeet and noisy minors, there are many that come and visit our garden. During winter, it can be helpful to feed some wild birds, being mindful of what you are feeding them. We have had a go at doing this at PPN previous winters, but this time our ingredients were slightly different. We used a wild bird seed mix and used lard in one mixture and gelatine in the other as the binder in our mixture. We then laid out some baking paper, some cookie cutters and the students spooned in the mixtures, packing them in nicely to ensure they stick together well. Once they have dried, they can be placed in the nature play space in different locations to encourage the birds to come and have a yummy snack. Other students used our backyard bird posters and some binoculars to find the birds on the poster around our playground. They spotted a new holland honey eater and a Lorikeet. Will your family have a try at making a bird feeder in your home this week?

(Photo source: Getty Images/Fox Sorts)

I love this photo for a few reasons. I spent many years playing netball and loved being a part of a team. I never played any higher than a social level, but the feeling of being in a team and having people to interact with was an important part of my life. I met people who became friends and even though I don’t see them very often now, they are an important part of who I am.

But this photo appeals to me on a deeper level. It is a photo of the National Netball team – The Diamonds from August 2022- winning the gold medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games against Jamaica. This photo is the moment that the team won, but the 5 players in this photo were not on the court at the time of the final buzzer. While these players were not on the court at the winning moment and possibly were not on the court for much of the game, the excitement on their faces is real. They were on the bench, but they were still part of the winning team.

How important is it that we celebrate the success of others? Yes, cheering on others is a nice thing to do, but it is also beneficial to building healthy relationships and a healthy community. By cheering on others, we let people know that we are happy for their success, and this can inspire us to grow and improve as well.

Yesterday, I was invited to be a part of the official opening of a new Multi-Purpose Hall at Prescott College Southern, one of our Prescott schools in Morphett Vale. It was the culmination of many years of planning, building and constructing, and it was a privilege and a pleasure to see them celebrate the success of their hard work. Last Friday, many of our parents attended the Lower Primary Sports Day and cheered from the sidelines as our young students took to the field and participated in a variety of activities. We appreciate our community coming together to cheer on the success of our students. I know that it would have made a difference to each student.

It is my hope that you find ways to cheer on and encourage other people this week and that you are also encouraged by those that are in your life cheering for you.

Have a wonderful week.

Life isn't without it's unexpected turns and try as we may, we can't always plan for every single one of them.

A friend of mine commented on the resourcefulness of my purse the other day, saying that I had everything you could need apart from the kitchen sink.

Well, I thought, she wasn't wrong. I usually carry Band-Aids and Panadol in case of pain or injury. Bobby pins and hair ties for bad hair days, and a mixture of other things just in case.

Although, to have a handbag stocked with all the 'just in case' items you could think of really isn't very practical. It was bulky and heavy and at the end of the day my neck and shoulders would pay the price.

In Matthew 11:28-30, we find Jesus finishing a prayer of thanksgiving with an encouraging message, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus gives us the ultimate 'just in case' that we can take with us wherever we go. So just in case your sad, just in case the battle you are facing gets the best of you - ee can give it to Jesus. All our burdens, stresses and fears, He will take upon Himself. Even when we can't see the way ahead, we can trust that God's plan is unfolding perfectly. He works in mysterious ways, and what seems like a setback may be lead blessings.

By placing our faith in Him and surrendering our worries, we open ourselves to the rest He promises.

Many Blessings,

Pr Andy

The beauty of boundaries

Setting boundaries with your child is extremely important. Healthy boundaries teach children self-discipline, safety and coping skills. Boundaries also teach children rules about what is acceptable behaviour.

What’s acceptable?

Before you can teach your child about boundaries, you need to know what’s acceptable for you and your family. Every family has different values, so knowing what yours are will help you to set rules and limits that work within your family dynamic.

Why are boundaries important for children?

Children need to know what you expect. This helps them to know what is appropriate behaviour and helps to set a tone for a child’s emotional development. Other benefits of healthy boundaries include:

Helping the child feel safe and secure

Disrupting a child’s natural entitlement tendencies

Encourage the child to learn healthy limits

Supporting the child get ready for the real world

Helping the child to learn healthy socialising

How to establish healthy boundaries in children

We all accept the lifelong benefits offered by healthy boundaries, but the challenge is often in the how. Establishing healthy boundaries can, at times, be challenging, but there are some easy ways to start the process, including:

Setting rules, limits and routines:

These help children to know what you expect of them, especially when it comes to mealtimes, bedtime, homework etc. Routines are especially powerful in helping kids to feel secure.

Be clear:

Don’t use vague language. This creates confusion and makes it harder, especially for younger children to know what you expect of them.

Be consistent:

Doing one thing one day, and something else on another day, like letting them go to bed without brushing their teeth, when normally they have to brush their teeth leads to confusion. Mixed messages also send a message to your child that it’s ok to test your boundaries. Being consistent with consequences is especially important in helping children to know what to expect when rules and limits aren’t respected.

Be firm, but not cold:

A warm tone goes a long way. Yelling only triggers the fight or flight response, and should only be used in emergencies. Getting angry also models unhealthy behaviour for your child.

Acknowledge and praise their efforts:

When your children do the right thing, you should acknowledge it. This encourages and provides a further incentive to keep up the desirable behaviour. Source: growingearlyminds.org.au

Last Day Term 2

We hope you are all looking forward to the school holidays from July 1 to 21 (last day of Term 2 is June 28). While our students might not be at school, from July 1 – 5 our staff will be undertaking a range of professional development and planning activities to ensure the education and care they receive at PPN remains at the highest standard.

If you need to contact the school during the holidays (July 1 – 21), our office hours will be:

Mon – Tues: 8:30am – 3:30pm

Fri: 8:30am – 3:00pm

Koala Watch

We know the Drop & Go area is popular, but never did we imagine a koala to make use of it! This morning, a koala was spotted walking and climbing a tree out the front of the school. Please take extra care when using the Drop & Go area, along with our local roads. You might even like to see if you can spot it over the next couple of days.

Mud Day – Friday

This Friday, we are celebrating International Mud Day. Not only is our Playdate with Prescott mud-themed, but all PPN students are invited to join in the fun at recess and lunch.

If students would like to participate in the mud play, they should wear their sports uniform and bring gumboots on Friday.

This will help keep their uniforms, shoes and classrooms clean.