Over the weekend, I organised and ran a bridal shower for one of my closest friends. A group of her nearest and dearest travelled to the Blue Mountains to spend the weekend together celebrating her as a person and her upcoming marriage. While on a hike together, our conversations varied with light-hearted chatter and deep thoughts. One topic that came up while we were exploring was traditions, both traditional traditions and creating new traditions, and the value we place on certain things that become traditions. This led me to think about legacies. How would you define a legacy? Do you ever think about what kind of legacy you will leave behind or be remembered for?

When we ponder on the concept of leaving a legacy, we often just think of monetary legacies. It is important to think of monetary legacies, particularly as parents want to provide for their children, but we can also leave a legacy of character, values and faith. We can be an example to those around us by the way we live our lives. If we want to leave a legacy of love, then we lavishly pour love on those in our lives. If we want to leave a legacy of faith, then we demonstrate and share our relationship with God with others. If we want to leave a legacy of service, then act upon this by serving others in whatever capacity you can.

Humans have a desire to be remembered…to leave a legacy. I believe that not only should we care about leaving a legacy, but we should care about living a legacy. I walk through our corridors at school, walk into classrooms, spend time with students, with teachers, and I am surrounded by examples of others living a legacy. Teachers helping and supporting our students in their learning, students persisting with concepts that may be difficult, staff gently caring for those unwell or upset, students displaying respect and love for one another, staff showing grace and prompting students in making better choices; these are all examples of people living a legacy. The way we choose to live our lives will leave a legacy. I think of staff who have moved on to other schools to teach and the legacy they left behind at PPN by the type of person and teacher they are. I treasure the conversations I have with past students as they share their memories of their time here at Prescott. Some memories include experiences they may have had, but most include the positive differences that teachers have had on their lives, the legacies that these teachers instilled in the lives of their students. What traditions have we created here in our school community because of the example of others?

We currently have a tangible way for our families to leave a legacy here at Prescott Primary Northern. We are fundraising and creating personalised pavers to line our kitchen garden that will developed in our Nature Play. Names, drawings, years and designs will be on display and remembered for many years to come.

Our children, our students, are our legacy. What kind of people do we want to encourage them to grow up to be? You are writing your legacy every day. You are living your legacy. Your legacy starts now.

Blessings,

Tamara

A Safe Refuge

In 1692 Marie (Madeline De Vercheres) was only 14 when her commitment, bravery and strength become legendary.

Marie was born in Ft. Vercheres, a small settlement located in modern-day Quebec. As a child, her home was attacked repeatedly by the Iroquois Indian tribe, who were upset by a French alliance with the Algonquians that obliterated their fur trade profits.

A fort was built on the property to protect the workers and give them a safe place to hide when they were attacked. One day when Marie’s parents were away, she was working outside the fort when her community was suddenly attacked by a band of Indians.

Most of the men were caught off guard and killed out in the fields along with the soldiers who were there to protect them.  Marie ran to the safety of the fort under a barrage of gun fire. When she entered the fort, she found holes in the defensive walls and no soldiers present.  As the oldest member present of the Verchères family, Marie assumed command.  She proceeded to fix the holes and search for ammunition. As she searched the fort, she found two soldiers inside. One was cowering in the corner and the second was holding a lit fuse.  “What are you doing?” she demanded. He replied, “I am going to fire the powder and blow us all up”. Marie cried, “You miserable cowards, begone, I command you!” She spoke so firmly that both soldiers obeyed at once.

Marie then set about pointing all the muskets and cannons they had out the windows and instructed her younger brothers to fire them randomly.  She also made her brothers, and all the women and children hiding inside, to stomp and make lots of noise and start cooking fires in all the fire places. This would give the impression that the settlement was well-guarded.

For eight days and nights, 14-year-old Marie provided encouragement and safe refuge for everyone inside the fort. She was able to carry through with little to no sleep or food during this ordeal and her heroic actions saved the lives of many.

In times of trouble, God is our refuge and strength; we only need to run to His out stretched hands to experience the peace that it brings. 

2019 School Improvement Survey for Parents

Later this week you will receive an invitation to participate in Adventist Schools Australia’s Parent Survey.  We use the results from the School Improvement Survey to ensure that we provide, for our students, the best possible education experience.  We need your help with this survey.

We will be sending home to you, an invitation to participate in this on-line survey.  Every parent will be given a unique access code so that your opinions will be 100% anonymous. Parents' views assist us to provide a more accurate, reliable, and equitable picture than is obtained using only staff and student measures. We would like to encourage you to participate in this survey, as the more data gathered, the more this will assist us in providing the best possible educational experiences for our students.

The survey will be ‘live’ through to close of business on Friday May 17^th.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.

ICAS Competitions for Years 3-7

This year, ICAS has changed how they are doing these competitions. They will now be held in Week 7, 8 and 9 of Term 3 and students will participate in a digital format.

While we have in the past, encouraged anyone to participate in these competitions, reviewing the school's results over the past few years, we want parents to know these competitions are quite challenging and stressful for students that are not performing in a high academic band. As students will also miss 6 mornings of school (if they enrol in all the competitions) over the course of three weeks, we will now be inviting students to participate, instead of encouraging any students to enrol.

If your child does not receive an invitation in the next few weeks and you feel they will benefit from participating in these competitions, you can come and see me to for an enrolment form. If you need more information, or your child would like a past practice paper, please come and see me in the SWAN room.

Mrs. Vice

Preservice Teachers from Tabor

Prescott Primary Northern would like to welcome Miss Sarah Adams and Miss Chelsea Penna to our Prescott Community. These ladies will be completing their prac at our school during Term 2 and 3. They will be exploring all aspects of our school, but will spend the majority of their experience in Year 2C with Mrs Pridmore and FA with Mr Matt. We wish you all the best in this experience.

Uniform Shop

Bread Tags for Wheelchairs

Entertainment Books

Basketball

Wildcats - V - TITANS

Prescott’s Wildcats came up against fellow Prescottians the TITANS in the opening round of Term-2.

With the TITANS’ Ethan absent, Tanner, donning the Blue and White, was traded for a day to help balance numbers.

As expected, the game started very evenly matched, before Zukiah, for the Wildcats, coming off the bench (once his Grandma had arrived with his sneakers), made his mark with 4 quick baskets, helping the Wildcats to an 8 point half-time lead. Ayden, Maddie and Mia first-half scorers for the TITANS, with Scout and Simon supporting Zukiah.

In the second half Kaitlyn, as well as dominating the lanes, ventured further out on defence, creating opportunities for the TITANS’ talls, Jola, Mia and Maddie to get some put-back baskets.

There was plenty of excitement for spectators, as both teams ramped up the intensity; the TITANS’ Micah made a great steal but failed to convert, Mia and Ayden lifted their defensive intensity, while Jola and Maddie scored 6 second-half points apiece and Nicholas added a goal, all helping to level the scores.

Jonah, threw a number of long passes, unleashing a barrage of Wildcat offensive waves, with Scout gunning ahead of the ball, and Simon or Zukiah usually involved in the transition. Gem and Sade were well in the mix, pressuring the TITANS, and both managing to fire off the odd shot.

Despite the TITANS outscoring the Wildcats in the second half 16:10, the Wildcats managed to sneak home with a 2-point win.

RADIOACTIVE CHEESEBALLS Reel it in

Against a considerably different line-up to last year’s SFX Premiership team, and despite missing Nate (still abroad on a family holiday) Prescott’s Radioactive
Cheeseballs enjoyed a comfortable game, dominating the SFX Bulls in every regard, and had to eventually be reeled in by some unconventional coaching restrictions.

Pacey twins, Alanna and Seth cut down SFX all over the court, and Farid, before retiring early, gave good support.

Gawar was able to stroll in for some easy lay-ups, and our other Cheeseball brother-sister combination, Akoul and Alex, found the game a walk in the park.

Before half-time, with a commanding Cheeseball lead, a number of coaching restrictions were added to help level the playing field, and in the end, the Cheeseballs coasted in for an easy win.

A special mention and thanks to TITANS’ Mum, Mrs Robinson, for staying on and scoring, and Isaac (assisted by Mrs Robson) for managing Cheeseball subs.

Coach Hatchard

If you are intending to enrol your child for either Year 7 or Year 8 next year, you must submit an enrolment form to the College as soon as possible. You will not be automatically transferred. Please note that there are very limited spaces available for Year 8. Enrolment will be complete once your child has had an interview with the Principal, Peter Charleson, and you have paid an enrolment deposit.

 

OHSC - Pupil Free Day