Food Drive for ADRA

Last Friday a literal pile of food headed out the front doors of PPN. The food was collected as part of our Pyjama Day, and will be used to Bless South Australian families doing it tough through the work of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia. In particular, the food will be distributed by the Para Vista Adventist Church’s own ADRA Food Pantry to support people in our local community.

A big thanks to all PPN families for your contributions and generosity, and to the people of Para Vista Adventist Church for reaching out in love to families in our community.

Book Week is Here!

There is still lots of fun to come! Tomorrow our students are encouraged to donate a new, or like-new book, or a gold coin during chapel that will be used by Backpacks for Kids SA to support children in foster care. And on Friday we will have our Book Week costume parade. We are looking forward to seeing all the amazing costumes!

Year 4s Snooze at the Zoo

In what is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, our Year 4 classes took turns sleeping at Adelaide Zoo last week. Not only did they get to sleep within earshot of the animals, they were taken on an exclusive night walk through the zoo and special ranger talks. The excursion, which formed part of their Science studies, was not only a great learning opportunity and a whole lot of fun, it was their first experience of school camps – helping to build their resilience and independence. They returned tired, but full of joy and already anticipating their Year 5 camp next year.

A big thanks to all our staff and volunteers who helped make the experience happen, and to our families who helped prepare the students for their first school camp!

Wonderful Wasps 

This is another example of how we can extend children's learning, taking it outside, using recycled materials to engage students in the wonderful characters and themes of books. What books have you read that you can make a nature craft with your family this week? 

It’s hard to miss – but in case you have, this week is Book Week. 

With the rise of digital everything, you may wonder why we would set aside an entire week to celebrate what some may consider an ‘old-school’ form of entertainment, communication and learning. Others on the other end of the spectrum may wonder why we celebrate something that our students are engaged with every day anyway. 

The reality is books have been, are and will continue to be life changing.  

Maybe you can think of a book that has changed the way you thought about life, your family or yourself? Maybe there’s a book character with whom you have empathised with more than an actual person, and whose character still sticks in your mind? Maybe there’s a book that has made you laugh or cry harder than anything else has?  

Whatever the reason, most of us will have a book that has changed us in a way no other medium could. In fact, the data is irrefutable. Books are important for all of us, but particularly our children. I’ve compiled a short list of reasons below: 

• Regular exposure to books improves children’s vocabulary, comprehension and overall language abilities. 
• Children who are read to at home tend to perform better in a wide range of academic areas.
• Books promote imagination and creativity in a way digital texts do not. 
• Regular reading helps children develop focus, patience and the ability to concentrate for longer periods of time.  
• Reading together provides quality time for families to connect, discuss ideas and enjoy each other’s company.  

Book Week is full of fun – special buddy class activities, lunch time events, an author visit, and, of course, the Book Week Parade. But it is much more than that – it’s a time to remember and embrace the life-changing power of books and build a love of reading that will continue to change our children’s lives as they grow. 

Of course, as a person and school of faith, we should also remember that amongst the wonderful picture books, novels, graphic novels, and non-fiction texts we have, there is one book that holds infinite more value and potential to change-lives - the Bible. There's a reason it is called 'The Book'. Reading the Bible has all the benefits of reading any other book – plus so much more. The Bible contains words not of human inspiration, but words inspired by God. Through them we learn about Him, His love for us, and His desire for us to experience life as He designed it to be.  

If you do not have a copy of the Bible for your family and would like one – or would like to know more about what you can read inside – please contact me. I would love to give you one to read with your family during Book Week, and beyond.  

Imagine yourself soaring through the pages of a magical adventure, your heart pounding with excitement as you follow the hero’s quest. Or, perhaps you’re lost in a world of imagination, exploring far-off lands and meeting exciting new characters. This is the power of reading.

Parenting with Influence, not Control 

One morning, a farmer was doing chores in front of his farmhouse when a large four-wheel drive pulled into his driveway. A man in a uniform climbed out, walked up to the farmer, and declared, “I’m here to inspect your farm for any illegally grown drugs.” 

The farmer responded, “Fine. But whatever you do, do not go into that paddock over there.” He pointed to a beautiful paddock behind the man. 

The officer, bristling with authority, replied, “Mate, I don’t think you understand. I’m here to inspect your farm and I have the authority of the state government – the premier – behind me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a badge. “Do you see this badge? It means I can go onto any land I want! Have I made myself clear?” 

The farmer apologised and resumed his chores. A short while later, the farmer heard a scream. He looked toward the paddock and saw the officer racing across it with a raging bull in hot pursuit. 

Seeing the imminent danger, the farmer stepped onto the fence surrounding the paddock and called out, “Your badge! Show him your badge!” 

The Badge of Authority 

As parents, we often find ourselves in the same predicament as the officer. We believe that our authority should compel our children to comply, but just like the bull, they are unimpressed by our badges. We say things like, “Because I’m the parent, that’s why,” and expect obedience. When our children resist, we escalate, relying on our power to enforce compliance. 

But this approach is flawed. H.L. Mencken said, “There’s always a well-known solution to every human problem – neat, plausible, and wrong.” This is especially true in parenting. Our simplistic strategies for “fixing” our children often create bigger challenges. Children need to know we have power, but that power should make them feel secure, not controlled. 

When our children don’t listen, we get mad. We yell, threaten, remove privileges, ground, and some parents even resort to physical punishment. But these actions ignore the reasons behind their behaviour and damage our relationship with them. They might comply in the short term, but they’re learning to fear us, not to understand right from wrong. 

Relying on our authority, our parenting “badge,” diminishes our real influence. Children might obey while we’re watching, but the moment we turn our backs, our authority evaporates. Instead, we need to focus on building relationships of trust. This slow, deliberate approach might seem less effective at first, but it yields long-term results. 

The Three Es of Effective Discipline 

If we really want to help our children, we do it best by working with them rather than doing things to them or simply issuing commands. To help, I’ve developed the 3 Es of Effective Discipline: Explore, Explain, and Empower. 

When we explore, we spend time together, connecting. When we understand where our child is struggling, we move to explain. 

When we explain, we keep it short and simple. Most of the time our children already know what is expected. So we restate, “You know, and I know, that hitting your siblings is not ok. We’re always working on managing our feelings and asking for help if we need it.” 

Then, assuming they feel understood and we know they get our expectations loud and clear, we empower. This does not mean we let them decide what should happen. It means we invite their ideas on how to move forward, and offer gentle collaboration and guidance to help them figure things out. It might mean they apologise to someone who’s been hurt, make restitution for something lost, broken, or stolen, or simply promise to do better next time. 

Power struggles are an inevitable part of parenting. Toddlers fight over bedtime, screen time, or what to wear. Teenagers push back against curfews and household rules. 

Parenting with influence, not control, requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to understand our children’s perspectives. By setting aside our badges of authority and embracing the Three Es of Effective Discipline, we can navigate the challenges of parenthood with grace and effectiveness, fostering a nurturing environment where our children can thrive. 

(Source: Dr Justin Coulson, happyfamilies.com.au)