Did you know that a polar bear's fur is hollow? Or that camels do not store water in their humps but instead store fat? And maybe you never knew that an emperor penguin can hold their breath for 22 minutes underwater.

Last term, the Year 5s learnt all about some of the wonderful creations that God placed on this Earth. We looked at various animals and the special abilities or body compositions that God gave them in order to live in their specific enviroments. We learnt about blubber, venom, camouflage, murmuration, echolocation and nocturnality, just to name a few.

To finish off our unit, the Year 5’s had a chance to camouflage a butterfly somewhere in the classroom. See if you can find all our fluttery friends.

The PPN Choir was privileged to sing at a fundraiser concert for Jurany Millan (a lovely international student who is battling a severe cancer). At the concert, the students sung with so much love for this lady who we have been praying for. And after a wonderful performance, a number of students stayed behind to give her bouquets of flowers and wish her well on her journey home. Thanks to the support of everyone involved in the concert and everyone who donated, over $5000 was raised for Jurany, who is now home in Columbia receiving treatment.

I am incredibly grateful to the choir, their families and the staff who volunteered their time to help. Their act of service was a blessing to so many people.

God bless,

Caitlin

Welcome back to Term 3! We hope that you had a wonderful break with your family and enjoyed some special times together. There was such a buzz in the crisp, cool morning air on Monday morning as I welcomed students back to school while on Drop Off Duty. Winter has well and truly set in! As a Queenslander and a lover of the beach, I am not a big fan of Winter. Give me days of warmth and sunshine, and balmy summer evenings any day.

Does your family have a favourite season? One thing that fascinates me about seasons are the ways they transition and change. When the cold Winter slowly warms up to the warmth and new life of Spring, and when Spring warms up to welcome the longer days of Summer, it’s a reminder of the continuous cycle of renewal and change. The shift from season to season brings new opportunities, new activities, and new experiences for our students and their families.

Our school family is currently in a season of change in regards to our Leadership Team. Further details around this will be communicated by Prescott Schools SA. We, as adults and children, all embrace change in our own way, working through the emotions and growth that comes with a change of season. We may ponder, reflect and remember where we have come from, the season we have just had, or perhaps we are one to jump ahead, eyes forward and run into the new season awaiting us. Seasons of change can also be connected to our spiritual journey with God. God can use different seasons to grow us, shape us and prepare us for what is yet to come.

So whether you are hanging out for the sunshine and warmer days, like I am, or thoroughly enjoying rugging up in this cooler weather, no matter which season you prefer, each one offers its own unique joys and challenges. It's wonderful to see our students adapt and thrive through these changes, whether they are bundling up in winter layers or wearing hats and sunscreen.

As we embark on Term 3, let’s embrace the current season and look forward to the journey ahead. Encourage your children to appreciate the beauty and experiences each season brings. We are looking forward to another term filled with learning, growth, and fun activities, such as Book Week, and PE Week. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our Prescott family. Let’s make this term a memorable one!

Blessings,

Tamara

Deputy Principal

Hey PPN Family,

I hope you had some quality time with your families over the school holidays.  I was blessed to go back to Samoa with my wife for a week and it was great to catch up with our families over there.  The warm and sunny 28 degrees each day wasn’t bad either.

This trip reminded me again of the importance of having family, and mostly, the value of spending time to connect with family.  We are living in an age where we often get so busy that it can be difficult to connect in a deep and meaningful way with those whom we love.

The challenge with this is that we were all created for family.  In Genesis 1:27 we read that God created us in His image and God is a loving family of 3 coeternal beings, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  This means that we have been made to need and crave loving and authentic relationships in the family context.

God wants us to fulfill this yearning in our earthly families, but He especially wants us to satisfy this desire by being a part of His family.  When Jesus was commanding his disciples to go and reach the world for Him, He said in Matthew 28:19 (NLT), “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” 

My surname is Talamaivao-Amituanai because I was blessed to have two dads.  Talamaivao was my biological father, and Amituanai was my dad who raised me, so I carry both of their names to signify that I am their son, and that I am a part of both of their families. 

In the same way when Jesus gave the command to baptise us in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, He was making it clear that baptism was a symbol of us joining His perfect family and taking on His name.  And when we join God’s family, we get everything that comes with that, eternal life, a beautiful home in heaven and the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.

So, as we go about our jobs and duties this week may we do so with the joy that comes from knowing that we are a part of God’s loving family.  And if you haven’t joined yet, you can do so today by believing that God loved you so much that He gave His only Son Jesus to save you from sin and death (John 3:16).

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai 

The Art of Responding, Not Reacting

How often did your kids ‘push your buttons’ over the holidays?

Whether your answer was ‘never’ or ‘all the time’, or somewhere in between he following insights might be useful to.

But more than that, these tips on managing the way we respond to our triggers are useful for the children in our lives. Is this something you could talk about around the dinner table, in the car or on the couch this week?

  - - - 

Parenting is a journey filled with joys, challenges, and everything in between. One of the most difficult challenges to navigate is how to manage your own triggers during moments of high emotion and intense behaviour – particularly when it feels like your child knows exactly which buttons to press to make you lose your cool! 

Know Your Triggers

When your child’s meltdown hits, or they do whatever it is that makes you want to flip your lid, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and react without thinking.

Learning to recognise your triggers is a crucial step in managing your response. Pay attention to the physical and emotional signals your body sends when you’re getting upset. It might be a tightening in your chest, a clenching of your jaw, or a racing heart. Keeping note of what triggers you and the situations that provoke them can be helpful. 

When you know your triggers you can anticipate and plan for high-stress moments, which in turn will affect how you respond to your child’s behaviour. Because although you can’t control their emotions, you can control your response.

You Have The Power

Stephen Covey’s principle of the space between a stimulus (the trigger) and our reaction emphasises that we have the power to choose how we respond. In moments of stress, this idea can be incredibly empowering for parents. Use this space to pause, to take a deep breath. It’s your call what happens next. 

Ultimately, “being triggered” is on you as the adult in the relationship. YOU are in charge of YOUR buttons. Rather than reprimanding your button-pushing child, lean in, soften your stance, and attempt to understand and work with your child in these trying moments. 

Want to get furious? Choose to get curious. 

Slowing down your responses and reactions requires considerable effort in the early phases, but as time goes on, it is required less and less. Soon enough, not only does slow become fast, but the effort you put into understanding your triggers and managing your responses will pay off tenfold. 

Source: Justin Coulson, HappyFamilies.com.au

School Photos

Winter Uniform Reminder

As we begin a new term, and prepare for school photos, families are reminded to ensure their children attend school in full winter uniform. The details of this can be found below.

Please also ensure that your child’s hair and jewellery remains in accordance with the school’s uniform policy. You can view this, along with other school policies here: Policies | Prescott Northern

Pyjamas & Hot Chocolate Day

Book Week

Book Week Parade

Phoebe Sets New Record for SACSA Discus