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Year 7's help our Lower Primary
Over the last few weeks, the Year 7's have been interacting with our lower students, reading books and making craft with them.
Year 3 Artists
Our Year 3 classes have been working on Batik Designs during art lessons. They had to create a design, trace the design with cold wax onto fabric, and then paint the design with sun-dye inks once the wax was set. The wax was melted off by the art teacher who got to do some extra ironing on the weekend!! We are all very proud of these Batik Designs created by our very clever Year 3s!
I have had several conversations with parents recently about online games and browsing habits of children. It’s always a tough one as a parent, isn’t it. You shield too much and naivety and ignorance can give way to unfettered over-indulgence or social isolation and you give too much freedom and parental responsibilities of guidance, care and protection are not taken seriously. The reality for most of us is that our children will go online at times when there isn’t responsible supervision around them and we need to make sure that protections are in place and education has occured to put them in a position to make sensible decisions.
Please don’t take from my remarks that I am promoting children gaming on line. What I am saying is that we have a responsibility to our children to keep them safe and supported in all arenas and provide them with tools for resilient living and good choice making in whatever situation they may be. I read an article last week from a person who specialises in educating students and families about appropriate online behaviours and I share that with you below. Should you want further food for thought, I include details for a free webinar run by a group called Parenting Ideas that you can have access to. I would normally not pass on advertising like this if I haven’t taken the webinar promoted as I cannot say whether it is good, bad or otherwise, but from the article you will read below, the presenter seems to be able to articulate well the challenges faced by families and schools. The webinar is on Thursday 13 September 2018 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM AEST, which is 8.00pm to 9.00pm SA time.
What I really appreciate about this article is the emphasis it places on having a relationship with our children. I have found it works a bit like this – Little interest – little relationship – less ability to parent/teach – more detached kids – harder to build resilience, responsibility and connectedness. Just my reflections . . .
Is your child’s brain ready for the online playgrounds?
Every week I spend time with teachers, students and parents helping them understand technology and the digital world, and present strategies to manage devices at home and at school. Ultimately, I want to ensure they are kept safe online and have the ability to thrive in this world, whilst reaping the many benefits the technology has to offer.
I am certainly not against technology, against social media or against video games. In fact, I see great benefits to incorporating them into our lives and the lives of our children. What I am against however, is the handing over of the devices with full access to the internet when there is little understanding of the potential harm and little to no safeguards.
We have all heard the stories, seen the headlines and clicked on the alarming clickbait. Stories of grooming where the young and vulnerable are lured away from their screens and in to the clutches of some paedophile. Yes those stories are out there, and while still a small minority of cases, the consequences are devastating. And aside from the grooming, there is the exposure to so much inappropriate, pornographic content that young people are being inadvertently sent via social networks and gaming platforms. Recent reports of a young girl finding herself in a sex chat room in the kids gaming platform Roblox is just one of mention.
What happens when kids find themselves in dangerous or perverted circumstances is usually the result of playing in playgrounds that they are just not cognitively and socially and emotionally developed enough to handle. When we place a child in an adult space, where adults are hanging out, (many of whom don’t have their best interests at heart), we are asking them to make decisions and judgements and think in the critical ways that they are simply not equipped for.
In my student sessions we discuss how easy it is to be someone else online and how we can better arm ourselves with the skills and thinking to make accurate judgements about someone’s identity. When I show them a picture of a made-up avatar with a picture of Justin Bieber and I ask them to tell me how they would know if he was the real deal, I get the same responses every time. Every single time from kids as young as 8 right through to those hitting their teens, I am met with suggestions such as “I would just ask him the name of his first song he wrote, not the one he released as not many people would know that”. Or “I would ask him the name of his first pet?” Or “I would ask him things that only really hard-core fans would know and ask him to tell me really quickly before he had time to google it”.
Every week when I do this exercise I am reminded that they are just not there yet. Their brain development is just not at a point where it can accurately make these decisions and come to the right conclusions. It isn’t because they are naïve, or stupid, it is simply because they haven’t been on this earth long enough, and their brain has not had the chance to grow and learn and think in ways that are beyond what we are expecting of them.
Now, as I said I am not against kids playing in some of these places but it must be done with absolute supervision while they are young. That means finding out about the platform they are wanting to hang out in. Finding out how you can make it as safe as you possibly can. Find out what settings to put in place and what 3rd party software you may need to look at to keep things under control and away from curious eyes.
If you are deciding to allow your child to have a device, search the internet, open a social media account or to play an online game, make sure that while you must certainly be teaching them the skills and thinking they will need, you cannot rely on that teaching alone. So, check age guidelines and if you think your child can manage and you are prepared to put in the time with them, then you must:
Play that game: have a go with at playing that game even if it is driving you crazy. You may just have some fun, enjoy some bonding and most importantly be able to have the most relevant conversations about any themes, content or possible dangers that may be found while playing.
Go to the settings: Always, always, check out what is available in the settings to make the experience as safe and user friendly as possible. This is where you can select who can contact your child, who can see their content, what content they can see, who can comment to them, what they can say, what words or phrases they can hear etc.
Google the potential risks: Understand some of the risks that have been associated with the game or app so you know you are doing all you can to avoid that risk.
Connect with your child: Talk to your child about what they like to do. We don’t always have to be lecturing about what not to do online, but we can certainly be speaking about the positive elements and how we can encourage them to find ways to enjoy the good.
Watch them in this playground: Just as you would when they first take off the training wheels, or first make it on to the skatepark, we watch to see how they are going. Check to see if they are learning from past mistakes, to see if they have a back-up plan, to warn if you need to and to help them get back up again should they fall.
We don’t send our kids to adult movies when they are young because they don’t have the cognitive development to process much of that content which may well be inappropriate. We don’t send them to the city alone full of strangers and expect them to navigate on their own and make decisions about unfamiliar people and surroundings. And so too, we must not hand over the digital world without both the teaching, guidance and connection, as well as the safety strategies, the boundaries and the research to know that they have the ability to remain safe and make the best decisions for themselves in the online world.
You can attend our upcoming webinar, Managing video games and the next digital craze, at no cost!
As your school is a Parenting Ideas Schools member, you can attend our upcoming webinar Managing video games and the next digital craze with Martine Oglethorpe at no cost! Use the voucher code below to register for the webinar valued at $37 per person.
About the webinar
When it comes to kids and video games there’s so much for parents to learn. Why are kids so fascinated? How to manage the next craze? How to assess a game’s suitability for your kids? And there are so many decisions you have to make as a parent when your kids become interested in the video game craze. Should you ban your child or young person? What’s the best approach to take? When should you worry? Join parenting and technology expert Martine Oglethorpe for a practical 60 minute webinar addressing the issues you need to know about.
When
Thursday 13 September 2018 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM AEST
Catch up available: If you can't make the scheduled webinar time, you don't have to miss out — simply register for it and a recording will be made available for you to catch up anytime. This recording will be available to everyone who registers, which also means those who attend can listen to it more than once.
How to use the voucher
1. Go to www.parentingideas.com.au/product/managing-video-games-and-the-next-digital-craze/
2. Click ‘Add to cart’ and proceed to the cart when you are ready.
3. Enter the coupon code Balance and click ‘Apply’. Your discount of $37 will be applied to the order.
Lost?
I have a question for you. Do you think God loves you right now, just the way you are? If I ask a group of Grade 1 students that question, you can hear the enthusiastic, “YES!”, even from outside the classroom, through the closed door. But somehow, along the way, it becomes easier to believe the lie that God doesn’t accept us where we are, or that He doesn’t love us. We may think it is because of something we have done, or not done, something we have said or not said, or even something we have thought.
In Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) Paul says “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That is a pretty powerful verse, and I want to encourage you to read that again in a moment, but this time, keep in mind who is saying it. Why does it matter? Well, let me tell you about this guy Paul, and I think you might understand.
Paul’s name was previously Saul, yes, the same Saul who was there when Stephen the apostle was stoned to death, and the same Saul who it talks about in Acts 8:3 (NIV), where it says, “But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and woman and put them in prison.”
Christians were afraid of him too. After he decided to follow God (which is when he changed his name to Paul) God told a man to go to Paul, this follower of God responded with “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” (Acts 9:13-14, NIV)
Paul was literally going around and getting permission to drag people out of their homes and put them in prison, simply because they loved God and told other people about it.
If anyone was going to be separated from God’s love, it would have to be this guy, right?
Read it one more time, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)
I am glad to say, that not even Paul could be separated from God’s incredible love! So I want to ask you again, do you think God loves you? Yes! Of course He does! And nothing can stop Him from loving you, nothing can stop Him from wanting to spend time with you. Nothing you have done can stop God’s love, and nothing else in the world can either.
Have an amazing day, knowing that the God of the universe loves you more than you know.
Last week, we talked about “Service (Community)" and this week we honoured several students from all the classes in our school for demonstrating this value.
Our values program this year is focused on RESPECT, INTEGRITY, SERVICE, and EXCELLENCE shown through His children and people at Prescott Northern. “Up, Up and Away says it all because with God’s values… we will rise!!!
“Rise up and shine, for your light has come.
The shining greatness of the Lord has risen upon you."
Isaiah 60:1
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Vir, Chloe, Amanda, Charlie, Alanna, Andrea, Ayden, Seth (absent), Sienna, Noel, Ellie, Soraya, Haili (absent) and Jacob.
School Fees Now Overdue
Please note that Term 3 School Fees are now overdue. Any outstanding payments must be paid immediately.
School Summer Uniforms
If your child/ren are in need of Summer Uniform items, please go to the uniform shop as soon as possible.
The uniform shop is open from 3:30pm to 4:00pm every Tuesday and Thursday.
Alternatively, items can be purchased online through Flexischools and items will be delivered to your child's classroom within 3 working days.
Please note that the uniform shop will NOT be open during these school holidays.
Re-Enrolment Forms
Please remember to bring your re-enrolment forms to the front office before the end of next week to secure your child's placement for 2019.
Foundation Swimming Program
Term 3 Week 10, 2018
Clovercrest Swimming Centre
We have Swim Safe lessons for 1 week each year. Our Foundation children will participate in our Swim Safe Week in Week 10, Term 3. Parents are welcome to observe and help with changing their children. The swimming centre has been hired out for our Foundation classes, and will be unavailable for public use, including younger siblings, to swim during this time.
Dates: 24th – 27th September (Monday – Thursday Week 10)
Times: Two groups – 12:15 – 1:15pm and 1:15 – 2:15pm (details for the two groups TBC)
All children must have:-
- Plastic bags to keep clothes together in plastic bag
- Swimmers
- Goggles
- Towel
- A T-Shirt or rashy must be worn whilst swimming all week
- All clothes clearly named
Non-swimmers: If your child cannot participate in swimming we will need a note. All non-swimmers will have to travel to the pool and do class work while swimming is in progress.
Photography and recording are not permitted at the swimming centre. Swimming staff will reinforce this no-photo policy. PPN Staff have specific permission to photograph our students for school purposes only.
Please Note: No food may be purchased for any children at the swimming pool
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me on tamarabernoth@ppn.sa.edu.au
Nature Playground
Year 7 Expo Night
Year 5 Fundraiser
Asian Aid
On the last day of each term, students may come to school in casual clothes for a gold coin donation. The money raised is allocated to either a sister school project or to the sponsorship of a student through Asian Aid. This term’s funds will be set aside for Asian Aid.
Let me introduce you to our 2 sponsor children:
Sonia Githavala Peyala, whom we have supported since she started school and is now 14 and Joshuwa Satheeshkumar, a 7 year old Grade 2 student.
We have included Sonia’s report card in today’s newsletter for your perusal and will include Joshuwa’s in next week’s newsletter for you.
We appreciate your continuing support of these precious students.
If your family might like to sponsor your own child why not check out the Asian Aid website.
We also have a sponsorship container in the office, so if you have that extra change in your pocket, why not consider dropping it into that container.
Premier’s Reading Challenge
All reading challenges are currently being entered on to the Premier’s Reading Challenge website. Awards will arrive at our school for presentation in November.
If anyone has a question about a past award or the Reading Challenge, please email Mrs. Wegener at melwegener@ppn.sa.edu.au
Thank you
Plastic Bags
Mrs. Wegener needs more plastic bags for the spare bag bin. Our bin is empty! Please make sure your student comes to school with a library bag to protect our books. Thank you.
Library bags are available to purchase from the uniform office or you can order one via the flexi school website.
Scholastic - Special Sale
FILL A BOX FOR $40!
A large selection of children’s books will be 50% off RRP* including, picture and chapter books, novels and activity items, nonfiction books and popular authors. PLUS, fill a box for $40 from a selected range of books (see below for more information). Stock will be replenished every day!
*Some exclusions apply.
Open to public: (note new days and times)
Thursday 13 September: 7am–5pm
Friday 14 September: 7am–5pm
Scholastic Warehouse
39–41 King Street
Norwood 5067
It’s easy to buy! You can pay by:
EFTPOS | CREDIT CARD (MASTERCARD & VISA) | CASH | SCHOOL ACCOUNT*
*To pay on school account you will need your customer number and Letter of Authority on school letterhead and/or purchase order.
Spread the word
Share our sale flyer with your Community. Click here to download the flyer advertisement.
Are you subscribed to our Facebook events? You can share our events with others—all are welcome! Find us at facebook.com/ScholasticAustralia
We look forward to seeing you at our warehouse—don’t miss out on bagging a bargain!
NO TRADE RESELLERS.
A Pandas Game to Forget
Last week more than half of Prescott’s Red Pandas ran, jumped, threw and cheered their hearts out BEFORE our basketball game had even started…
Boasting some superb athletes, the Red Pandas Team were strongly represented at the regional SAPSASA Athletics day, and might I add, won or placed and will now represent our District at the State event next week!
Needless to say, some Red Pandas, too exhausted to play, pulled out last minute for our game against the Artdornish All-stars, or couldn’t make it for other reasons…I still think enlarged pupils and blurry vision from an optometrist appointment may have actually helped Tanner with his shooting…
Recalling Seth from his scheduled player bye, Alanna, Seth and Jonah, while still star athletes, shone a little less bright on the basketball court after their big day of sports, and after scoring the first basket for the game, the Red Pandas held the lead for only the briefest of moments, before the All-stars steamrolled the Red Pandas, inflicting our biggest loss of the season.
Some highlights were seeing Scout defended with vigour, and Farid stepping up his game. Some much needed help came from Jola, who at half time switched games and teams and rebounded like a champ (graciously skipping out on her Titan team-mates on Court-1 to help the hapless Pandas).
We have the 3:45 game this week, so pack your sneakers with your lunch-box and don’t dilly-dally after school!
Coach HATCHARD
School Community - 2 Minute - Survey
The Church in the carpark would like to offer some assistance to the Prescott Primary Northern School Community, beyond providing a venue for Values, Chapels, and sport and cultural events in the Hall. That said, instead of offering services that may not be wanted we would like to ask you to tell us what you might find helpful. If you click the link below, you can complete a 2 minute questionnaire that will give us some direction. Thanks for your help. Pr Stephen
Entertainment Book
Prescott Primary Northern is raising funds. Here's how you can help...
Looking for fun family friendly activities these school holidays? By purchasing an Entertainment Membership not only will you be supporting us with the future development of the nature playground, however, you will also save big on amazing attractions, activities and holiday (not to mention shopping and dining!) You'll receive hundreds of valuable offers to keep the kids 'entertained' and help our fundraising at the same time.
PLUS, order now and receive FREE delivery to any address in Australia!
Using just a few of these offers will cover the cost of your Membership!
School Holiday Junior Squash
Salisbury Plays - Free Community Event
Growing for Gold