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PPN Artists
Our students have been very busy painting some beautiful designs along our North Wing temporary corridor. Come and have a look at the amazing designs that our classes have created.
New Student Chaplains at PPN
We are excited to introduce you to the 2019 PPN student chaplains. Mr L and Pr Roland will be coordinating the team and we are excited to see where God leads this year. Thanks to Mr L and Pr Roland for organising the team.
Foundation Excursion – Adelaide Festival Centre
In a dramatic move last Friday, more than 60 Foundation students, their teachers and some parents visited the Adelaide Festival Centre to complement their learning in Drama, as part of The Arts program.
Dream Big, which is a Children’s Festival held in Adelaide each year, hosts some incredible dramatic and visual displays to stimulate the aesthetic senses. One such display was Cubby Town, an interactive display of cubby houses wired up to play a range of sounds. Students had fun exploring various ways of making tunes, but sadly, ‘House on the hill’ was not on the playlist.
Another experience was the Riverbank Bridge walk – looking up and down the River Torrens, seeing the Adelaide Oval and an assortment of water birds, including some silent swooping swans.
The most memorable event, however, was seeing the children’s play, ‘Beep’ in an authentic theatre experience. A delightful display of drama, puppetry, and visual and sound effects, the story emphasised the importance of accepting others and celebrating their difference, no matter who they are or where they come from. What a fantastic way to end Reconciliation Week!
Some conversations overheard:
“I liked going on the excursion.”
“I liked the planets.” (part of the visual display in ‘Beep’)
“I liked Mort because he talks funny.”
“I liked Beep because she talks funny.”
“I like Beep. Beep flies.”
A big thank you to the parents who helped out on the day, as well as to the students, who represented Prescott Primary Northern commendably.
North Wing Update
At the Principal’s Conference I attended recently, the topic of anxious children came up. Many of our children struggle with anxiety and it is such a heartbreaking thing. It would seem there are an increasing number of kids who are experiencing anxiety and it is vital we help them if they are to experience life to the full. I found this article recently with practical tips for helping children with their anxiety.
If you’re the parent of an anxious child you’re most certainly not alone. The number of children experiencing an anxiety disorder is currently estimated at 117 million worldwide. Here in Australia, there’s an average of 2 anxious kids in every classroom; and they’re the ones with a diagnosis. Many more anxious kids are yet to have their anxiety identified and understood.
As much as we’d like to, we can’t rid our kids of their anxiety, but we can help them to manage it in ways that enable them to move it from centre stage and get on with living a vibrant, rich and meaningful life.
Here are 6 tips to support you to parent your anxious child:
- Explain anxiety
Anxious kids can struggle to explain how they feel and can worry that no-one will understand what they’re going through. That’s why explaining anxiety is an important step in supporting an anxious child. The knowledge that anxiety is well understood, that other kids experience it and that it’s manageable brings them immediate relief.
Teach your anxious child that the part of their brain that protects them from danger is always on high alert. Called the amygdala, it’s meant to protect them from genuine danger but for anxious kids, it can be almost constantly activated.
Explain that when they feel anxious, their amygdala sends signals to their body to fight or flee from the threat, whether it’s real or imagined.
Next, talk about the body changes such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing and an upset stomach that power them up to fight or flee. They might even feel dizzy, hot, sweaty and panicked. Anxiety effects thinking and behaviour too.
- Respond with empathy
In the midst of an anxious moment it’s natural to want to reassure anxious kids they’ve got nothing to worry about. Reassurance works in the short term but it soon wears off and they come back for more, which becomes an unhelpful pattern.
Instead, respond with empathy and validation. Use ahhh statements such as:
“Ahhh, I see you’re feeling really anxious right now, I know how hard this is for you”
“Ahhh, I know you’re feeling really worried right now, it’s not much fun feeling like that is it?”
Anxious kids need to know you understand what they’re going through.
- Show the amygdala they’re safe
Once the amygdala senses danger, the cascade of events that follow can’t be stopped. The body and brain will respond as if the danger is immediate. The best way to help an anxious child calm their anxious brain is to teach them to show their amygdala they’re safe. Deep and intentional breathing helps an anxious child to calm their amygdala and will begin to reduce their anxious symptoms. Practise intentional breathing regularly between anxious times before applying this technique in the midst of an anxious moment.
- Practise paying attention to what’s happening now -the antidote to worrying
Anxiety is distress now about a possible future event, which is why worrying is common for anxious kids. When an anxious child’s mind fast-forwards to an upcoming event or expectation, their amygdala can respond as if the ‘threat’ to their safety is immediate. The antidote to worrying is paying attention to what’s happening in the present moment. It may take time to learn, but is a powerful anxiety management strategy once it’s mastered.
- Practice defusing sticky thoughts
Anxious thoughts can get stuck, refusing to budge no matter how much attention is payed to them. Defusion is a strategy that helps anxious kids look at their thoughts rather than from them.
Imagine your anxious child is worried about an upcoming test. They’re thinking “I’m going to fail the test”. The thought makes them feel awful. Defusion helps kids (all of us) to look at their thoughts by reminding them that the words in their heads are indeed just words, not reality.
Your anxious child can defuse his unhelpful thoughts by putting a statement in front of the thought such as: “I notice I’m having the thought that I’m going to fail the test.” Alternatively, he can say the thought in a character voice like Darth Vader or Peppa Pig, or sing it to the tune of happy birthday or a nursery rhyme. Defusion puts distance between anxious kids and their thoughts and is a wonderful skill to learn.
- Get the fundamentals right
Ample sleep, good nutrition and exercise are essential for anxious kids. Support your child to adhere to their optimal bedtime so they wake naturally around the time of their alarm, reduce their sugar intake to support their gut health and to exercise regularly for optimal mental health.
These are some of the many strategies that you can share with your child to support them to recognise and manage their anxiety so they can live life in full colour. (Richardson, 2019)
We of course also have the wonderful resource of the strength and security we find in God. Discussing the presence of a kind, loving, caring, protective and gracious God in our lives, and the peace and assurance that brings us, as well as giving examples from our own lives and our family life, can bring real life comfort to our children. I love the verse in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Have a great week with your kids,
Mark B
I am of Samoan heritage, and was born in New Zealand, which makes me a New Zealand Samoan. The 1st of June is the Samoan Independence day and on the weekend we celebrated 57 years of freedom from the New Zealand Government. Samoa actually became an independent nation on the 1st of January 1962, but we celebrate it on the 1st of June.
The reality is that no one enjoys being oppressed. I have never heard a wife say, “I really enjoy my marriage, my husband treats me like a prisoner, he locks me up in my room all week and he only lets me out for church, he makes all of my decisions for me, he spends all of our money and gives me nothing, and I absolutely love that feeling of being a slave.”
The sad thing today is that even though we live in a free country like Australia, so many people are suffering under the oppression of loneliness, depression, relational conflict, divorce, financial hardship, domestic violence, drug addiction, low self-esteem, unforgiveness, selfishness, pride, arrogance and the list goes on.
Jesus sums up our situation today when he says in John 8:34, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” We are living in an age where we are all addicted to ourselves, and it’s not making our families, communities and world a better place.
The good news is that Jesus goes on to say in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
No matter what we may be struggling with, and regardless of how oppressed we may feel by outward and inward forces, Jesus can give us the power to be set free. Call out to Jesus today, and he will help you to make this your Independence Day.
God bless,
Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai
Chaplain
Pupil Free Day
Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
Kokoda Trek for 10,000 Toes
Did you know that there is a Diabetes related amputation every 20 minutes across the South Pacific? 1 in 4 adults in the South Pacific has diabetes.
My sons and I are going on the Kokoda trek in July to Papua New Guinea with 10,000 Toes to raise money for Diabetes in the South Pacific through a 9-day hike on the Kokoda Track.
We are intimidated by the 96kms (as the crow flies) of steep, humid jungle trails and terrain to be covered in 8 days. The high possibility of constant rain, difficult to non-existent bathroom arrangements, purifying our own water and a pack to carry, not to mention mosquitos and many other challenges.
If you would like to support me in this campaign you can donate on my page. All money donated is tax deductable and goes to the 10,000 Toes Campaign.
Check it out: https://10000toestrek.gofundraise.com.au/page/JoyStackelroth
Thank you so much for your support.
Joy Stackelroth
Re-heating Lunches
Due to health and safety issues we are not able to re-heat childrens lunches here at the school.
Entertainment Books
Library Monitors
Black Belt in Taekwondo
Rudra has achieved a Black Belt in taekwondo. He had to go through two assessments. Each assessment was tough in its way.
Each assessment lasted around 2 hours, and consisted of the following:
100 Push ups
100 sit ups
100 squats
100 star jumps
45 mins of taekwondo skill demonstration
Perform Poomse ( a series of taekwondo steps done in a disciplined way with correct power, pose and timing), it requires dedicated ongoing practice to excel it.
Had to spar (fight) with seniors ( 5 rounds) and put up the best fight.
During all of the above, he only had one water break which was strictly limited to 10 seconds that included going out of the ring, drinking water and returning back to the ring.
He tore his ligaments during the sparring assessment, he was in pain and was left with a choice to either give up or continue, he dealt with it, continued to spar gave 100% and proved that he had what it takes to be a black belt ( you may have seen him in his moon boot at school). His coach loves him and quotes his example to other students for his consistency and dedication.
To be able to do this, Rudra has worked out at home every day for months to achieve the strength and stamina required to pass this assesment.
We very proud of his efforts and tenacity to acomplish his black belt.
Basketball Semester 2
Wildcats Enjoy Lemon Sorbet
Last week, Prescott’s 5th placed Wildcats played the 6th place SFX Bullets.
With Jonah on loan, Zukiah was recalled to play a critical leadership role, helping steer the Wildcats to a comfortable 12 point half time lead.
Kaitlyn dominated the rebounding stats, and top scored for the game (with 10 individual points), followed closely by Scout (making all 8 of his in the second half).
Simon and Tanner had to be reeled in, in fact all year 6’s adopted some peculiar defensive tactics, and Sade clung to the ball like nobody’s business, before it was discovered late in the game that not quite all Wildcat’s players had scored - triggering “Operation Lemon Sorbet”.
Without giving up the Gem-game, Wildcats, one-and-all, were covertly briefed and unified in the mission, and with minutes to go, Gem, our at-times feistiest Wildcat, managed a basket (to the delight of his ever present, die-hard fan base and chums).
Well done, team. Mission accomplished.
Signing out, Coach HATCHARD, until tomorrow, should you choose to accept your next mission…
Radioactive Cheeseballs get GF Dress Rehearsal in a Game of Stifling Stats
Hoping to extend their 5 game winning streak, and up against the undefeated, League Leading Bullets, Prescott’s Radioactive Cheeseballs (when they had all finally arrived), and assisted by Jonah, unpacked their gamiest and highest, most extreme, next-level bag-of-skill and competitiveness to take it right up to the Bullets.
After a (fortuitously delayed) slow start, the Cheeseballs found themselves 10 to nothing down early, before THE GAWAR TRAIN PULLED INTO STATION, scoring 8 of his game high 16, assisted by Peggy-Lee and Alex on the scoreboard for 10 unanswered Cheeseball points to tie things up, and forcing the rather rattled Bullets’ coach to call the first of his three time-outs for the game, resulting in the Cheeseballs going into the half time break trailing by ONE.
Indicative of the Cheeseball’s intensity, the game foul count (heavily against the Cheeseballs) was 14 to 3 by game’s end, and late in the second half, the Cheeseballs had accumulated above the allocated team penalty, sending every Cheeseball foul to the free-throw line for a Bullet scoring opportunity (bullets getting 7 trips to the charity-stripe for the game, compared to the Cheeseballs ZERO).
Seeming to earn closer scrutiny, 6 Cheeseball players were penalised with fouls (Akoul on 4), versus only 2 Bullets players.
Alanna received some special attention, regularly swamped by Bullets throughout.
The second half saw Nate recalibrating to find his range,with other scorers, Jonah, Akoul and, of course Gawar - reaching his scoring cap with less than a minute remaining AND BRINGING SCORES TO LEVEL.
Inside the final 30 seconds, with scores still tied, the Bullets (after yet another trip to the foul line) gave up the second for a rebound, dragged down by Gawar, who deftly ran the floor, with Alex and Jonah in support and some Bullets in hot pursuit, ran the length of the court only to have a momentary, glory chasing brain-fade to lay the ball in, WHICH WAS WAVED OFF - Gawar having only seconds earlier, SCORED OUT, and resulting in a scoreless Bullet’s baseline ball inside the final 10 seconds of the game.
With 7 seconds remaining and scores STILL TIED, another Cheeseball infraction on the inbound resulted in one final Bullet trip to the foul line for two bonus shots, AFTER THE FINAL BUZZER!
Clearly feeling the pressure, and infront of a stadium with hearts in their throats, the Bullet player sunk one, and sealed the Cheeseball’s fate - having lost on the back of some forbidding stats and a technicality.
A legendary and super competitive, down-to-the-wire effort by all players present, and top notch SKILZ by Gawar.
Coach HATCHARD
