Preparation, Performance, and Purpose  

Today, I was privileged to be present at the dress rehearsal of our upper primary concert.  The excitement of the students who so readily remembered their lines and the gentle directives of teachers and SSOs made for what, to me, was a very good rehearsal.  For Year 5 and 6, these 58 minutes on stage are the preparation for the grand culmination of countless hours of practice, correction, and anticipation. Yet, as we anticipate the final applause, I  cannot help but wonder—how much unseen labour stitched together what will soon be fleeting moment? 

The preparation for the performance is a combination of small efforts and collective determination. While the show itself may last less than an hour, the journey to that point is long and layered. Each student, whether singing, dancing, acting, or working backstage, must learn lines, rehearse movements, memorise cues, and master the art of confidence in front of an audience. Teachers have moved from educators to directors, motivators, costume managers, and—sometimes—quiet encouragers in moments of nervousness. The staff have handled everything with precision, from managing microphones to ensuring costumes are crisp and ready. 

Such preparation is neither glamourous nor easy. It is found in the repetition of songs and lines,  and the patience required to perfect a group routine. There have been moments of frustration, laughter, minor mishaps, and breakthroughs. Every small effort—each rehearsal, reminder, and adjustment—are all threads that will have been woven into the final tapestry of performance. 

Why do we invest so deeply in preparation, knowing the spotlight will be brief?  You will agree that the process is about growth. For students, these hours of preparation are lessons in discipline, teamwork, resilience, and self-expression. For teachers and staff, they are exercises in leadership, adaptability, and nurturing potential. The performance becomes a symbol of shared labour and the joy of accomplishment. 

In life, there are no retakes or rewinds. How do you build the foundation for moments of achievement and significance? 

I’ve been blessed enough to spend time with the Upper Primary classes during their practice for their Upper Primary concert! And let me tell you that it’s going to be such an incredible experience. The amount of passion our students have on stage, it’s almost surprising that we’re not a performing arts specialised school.

PPN is one of those rare schools that kids can not only flourish but pursue almost any avenue they wish to adventure into. It’s awesome to be a part of all of their experiences, whether it’s academic, STEM, sports, performing arts, did I mention that our chess team came first out of the primary schools and second overall (including high school teams) this week?

God has really blessed this place.

PPN do many things well, but there’s one thing above all others that it is hands down the best at, and that’s being a God focused school. Seeing the teachers attitudes under light to extremely heavy workloads, it’s awesome to see Jesus love shine through them regardless of the challenges they’re facing.

In staff worship this term the chaplaincy team has been dissecting the book of Romans form the Bible. Romans is a letter was written by a man named Paul to the new Christian church in Rome. Paul’s been highlighting what makes Christianity so special. It’s a great question to ask because when we look at it, most religions all around the globe have the same goals and purposes. Be a good person, be kind to others, be diligent in your worship, all for the same goal, whether it’s called Paradise, Shamayim, Vaikuntha, Nirvana, enlightenment, Valhalla or Heaven.

We as religious people all have similar goals, so what makes Christianity different? What makes PPN different from any other religious school?

Paul identifies it perfectly in his letter to the Romans. The answer is grace. Christianity is the only religion where you cannot work your way to heaven. God loves you and by His grace, you are righteous only by faith, and not by doing the right thing. Salvation is a gift, not a reward. We serve a God that’s so loving, there is nothing we can do to make him love us more or love us less. So how is it that we get to heaven? It’s so simple, most people miss it. Our only prerequisite for salvation, is to believe. That’s the kind of love we extend to our students here at PPN. Sure, actions may have consequences, but It’s that same unbiased, unapologetic, unconditional acceptance that we strive emulate that makes PPN special.

Teaching Kids About Empathy and Kindness

Hello, Prescott Northern community

Last week, took part in R U OK? Day here at school.

During the week students were provided with opportunities to focus on their emotional wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around them. During Chapel I had the privilege sharing with the students about how to show Kindness and Empathy to everyone.

This initiative highlights the importance of connection and community in promoting good mental health. The simple act of asking “Are you OK?” and listening with empathy can change lives. Originally founded to support vulnerable individuals, R U OK? Day is a valuable opportunity for everyone to foster kindness and understanding.

In our busy lives between school, home and work it is easy for us to feel disconnected at times from people around us. One reason people feel disconnected is that they struggle to express their emotions. When feelings stay bottled up, they can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression.

Can I encourage you to promote the practice of sharing your feelings and treating others with kindness. This will help your family to develop coping strategies and will strengthen their support network.

Ideas to do at home with your family that promote selfcare and emotional resilience:

How do you know when someone is not coping

Understanding when someone is struggling is a key part of emotional intelligence. R U OK? Day is a perfect opportunity to teach kids how to recognize signs that someone may be feeling sad or disconnected – but you can also do it any day.

Ask your child to think about how they behave when they are experiencing difficult emotions. Explain that people may withdraw, seem distracted, or become easily upset when they don’t feel their best. Recognizing these signals helps children offer support when their friends or classmates need it.

Talk about feelings:

For kids to feel comfortable sharing their emotions, they need to feel safe. Practicing active listening is one of the best ways to create this environment.

Make time to talk and listen to each other without distractions, take interest in what others are saying and feeling by giving eye contact and nodding, even if you don’t agree with them.

Showing acts of Kindness and Empathy

Small acts of kindness can have a big impact. Even if someone isn’t ready to talk about their feelings, showing kindness and being empathic can help them feel supported.

Encourage your child to take small steps to help others. This might include inviting a classmate to join a game at school, sharing a snack, or starting a conversation with someone who seems lonely. Simple gestures like these can make a difference in someone’s day.

Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Being kind often requires courage and strength. We can show kindness by saying a kind word, a smile, opening a door, or helping carry a heavy load can all be acts of kindness. Sending an email thanking someone, telling someone how s/he is special to you, helping an elderly neighbour with yard work or food, sharing homemade food, refusing to gossip, and donating old clothing and things you don't need are all ideas about how to practice kindness.

Kindness includes being kind to yourself. Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you speak gently and kindly to yourself and take good care of yourself?

Written by Ali Friedrich (School Counsellor), Reference acticle by Tutor Doctor

Prescott College