Year 6 STEM

The Year 6 STEM students, otherwise known as the OT SQUAD assembled in Term 1 to begin their study of the human brain and how it is the computer that directs not only themselves, but how they interact with others.

Understanding the purpose of the right and left brain, our 10 students got to task on developing circuits and conceptual ideas using Science, Maths, Engineering and Music. At this early stage of their program it was simply thoughts, conversations, a few written ideas and some model making. But it all came to life when we received the call from Highercombe Aged Care Residential.

With the same idea in mind, the OT Squad met the residents of Highercombe last week for their first of four visits. Armed with hand made engaging games like table air hockey, ping pong ski ball, playdough making, maze mania and an anti-gravity table, our students brought their OT ideas to life in a delightful afternoon of intergenerational activities.

The “fruits” that come from different generations spending time with each other were evident at this gathering. While our students were placed somewhat out of their comfort zone, the nerves disappeared quickly once the residents and students sat to give gifts and introduce themselves personally.

Over the coming weeks, we will be turning our resident’s life stories into digital books, performing musical items and battling out future games of billiards while serving afternoon tea on robotic carriages built by the Squad. I am very proud of their creativity and execution of ideas, not to mention their gentle, mature and respectful nature with their new friends.

Let me finish painting this picture with a short story shared by the Highercombe Coordinator, Beth…

Mel and June are two ladies who have remained in their rooms for the most part of the past month and were responding only to one-on-one visits from the residential staff. On hearing about our Prescott students visiting, they both left their rooms to join the activity room and had smiles and conversations for the first time in quite a while. They barely left the air hockey table and Mel felt like she was revisiting her earlier days as a childcare worker.

Stay tuned to hear more…

SACSA Athletics

Last Friday, 28 students represented our school at SACSA Athletics. We had an awesome day, with some of our students placing 1^st, 2^ndor 3^rdin their events, a 2^ndplace in the relays and even some records being broken.Congratulations to Phoebe for breaking her record for a second year in a row! Amazing job Prescott, you all should be proud of your athletic achievements!! Thank you to Mrs Isaac and Mr Blyde for helping us out on the day too.

Sculpture Chicks Nature Play

PPN welcomed a new bundle of fluffy baby chicks to the nature play space this week and to celebrate the event our lunchtime adventurers sculpted their own baby chicks. Using gumnuts, bark, leaves and wattle, our nature artists got to work on their air-dry clay to create their own “pet chicks”. The excitement of finding a gecko in the garden added to the hype of a very “alive” nature play space as the students cared for and guarded the trail for the gecko to find safety among the branches of a nearby tree.

Watching the curiosity on our student’s faces and answering some of the most genuinely inquisitive questions has been a real joy this week. We hope you enjoy the conversations that come home with your little people about our new garden pals. Stay tuned to see them grow and become recognisable in their unique breeds such as Light Sussex, Plymouth Rock and Brahmas!

It’s Week 2, Term 2 is a significant event at PPN. Every day this week our students gather together for a time of worship, reflection and growth under the theme, ‘Building on the Rock.’

I want to publicly thank our chaplaincy team for their prayerful effort in making this week special for our kids, and to our guest speak Pr Matthew Hunter for the time he is giving to our school.

It was recently reflected to me that one reason so many parents like you choose PPN is of events like this. To summarise one parent’s comments, ‘My kids can learn English at any school, but at PPN they learn values.’

What I hear in those words is an echo of our approach to education – preparing the mind for truth, the hands for service and the heart for heaven.

It is my prayer that each of us – student, parent or staff – can continue to grow in these ways.

From firm foundations to accurate measuring tools, there’s a lot of important aspects to building. Pr Matt has a background in Engineering and shared with our kids how important the structural integrity of a foundation for a building must be. So too must our foundation in God’s word. If we build our lives upon the teachings of Christ, we can stand against any weathering storm. Christ is also like our “Plumb line” a tool that builders use to measure the accuracy of vertical poles and beams. We can stand tall and straight if we use Christ as our “Plumb line” and not grow wonky or grow crooked in our ways. Remaining on the straight and narrow. God offer’s us His help in our every day lives to become the best versions of ourselves. The foundational teachings and tools of alignment found in the Bible are integral to our learning here at PPN. Christ is our Cornerstone. The first perfect brick that is laid, that all other bricks are measured against. All other bricks measured off of the cornerstone to help remain in perfect alignment. We are the bricks that build up God’s Church. And we’d be foolish to measure off anything other than the cornerstone.

Hello from your School Counsellor (Ali Friedrich)

Welcome back everyone to Term 2 and I hope you and your family have enjoyed your holiday break and built some great memories. Today I would like to take the opportunity to share some information about upcoming parenting groups in Term 3 and 4 called “Circle of Security Parenting Program”.

This parenting program explores the attachment relationships with our children and supports the building of secure attachment relationships.

Attachment Relationships

What does an Attachment relationship look like and how does it apply to how we form relationships with our children?

Our attachment experiences with our primary caregivers (Parent, Grandparent or Foster Carer) during our early years shows us how to connect to them. We gain an understanding on how close or far (emotionally or physically) we can get to our attachment figures (primary caregivers) at any given time.

When we become parents and are forming attachment relationships with our children, we are often responding from our childhood experiences of attachment and can be triggered by our current life stressors (interactions with people at work or home, or financial challenges).

We do not have control over what kind of childhood experiences we had or what kind of Attachment style we now are parenting with. We can take time to learn more about our parenting responses and consider what kind of Attachment Style (secure or insecure) we want to implement into our children’s future.

Making time to learn more about Attachment relationships and parenting will impact on how your child understands relationships with family, friends, teachers and in the future their employers and life partners. Supporting your child by providing them with a secure Attachment experience will assist them to feel valued, worthy and confident in knowing that you understand their emotional and social needs now and into the future.

When children feel safe within a secure attachment relationship, they are more confident to explore their world (learn better, try new things, adapt to change). When children enter their teenage years, they will be more likely to seek your support during difficult times.

Circle of Security Parenting Program

Below is an image of the Circle of Security (a concept developed by Circle of Security International) which shows us how our children have needs both on the top of the circle and the bottom of the circle.

The Picture of the Hands represents the primary caregiver (you) as the child’s Secure Base and is present both for the Top and Bottom of the Circle.

The Top of the circle shows how the Child Explores (Learns about their world) and while exploring they need the parent to support them by watching over them, Delighting in them, Helping when needed and Enjoying the experiences with them.

The Bottom of the Circle shows how when your child is ready to come back to their secure base (you), what they need is for you to protect them, comfort them, delight in them and help organise their feelings.

In Term 3 (5th August-10am-12) and Term 4 (28th October -6.30pm-8.30pm). Both Circle of Security Parenting programs will be held at the Enfield Baptist Church and a free Creche is available. There is no cost to attending the program, but you will need to book your place as soon as possible. If you need creche for your child, you must book your child into creche also.

I recommend this 7-week parenting program for anyone who has children in primary school. Please contact the organisers by phoning: 82611844 or emailing: casey@enfieldbaptist.com.au

Can I encourage you to consider attending the Circle of Security Parenting program. Investing your time to learn how building a secure relationship with your child will promote a positive attachment experience for your family.

Written by Ali Friedrich on 4/5/25 and below image by Circle of Security International

STEM Squad Challenge 2!!

The second STEM Squad challenge for 2025 will be launched in Week 3 of Term 2 and concluded in Week 5 (see the poster for specific details). Remember, participation is voluntary, but will give students excellent experience with many STEM skills, including researching, designing, testing, improving and evaluating. Mrs Nairn is looking forward to seeing your child there!

Mothers Day Stall

Position Vacant - Bus Driver

Guitar Lessons

Autumn Playdate

Winter Uniform Changeover

Team Colours Day

Seesaw is coming to PPN

PPN is committed to open communication between school and home. As part of this we will soon be rolling out Seesaw as a communication tool across the school.

We will be providing further information about the tool, and its use at school. Parents are encouraged to download the App on their mobile device, and find more about the app by clicking here (Download the Seesaw app – Seesaw Help Center).

We will begin communicating via Seesaw in the coming weeks.