This week in Year 4A we met with our class buddies in Year 1A. We got to spend some time reading together and enjoying the library. Now that we have met with our buddies we can now help the Year 1A's if we see them out in the playground. We look forward to the next time we get to meet up and hang out together.

I spoke with my dad, as usual, this week. He is in his 80s and lives in a retirement village in Queensland. We chatted about the usual family things, and as we were talking, he said to me. "We were able to have our first morning tea get together with a small group yesterday. It was great to sit down and chat with people." He, and millions of others, have been avoiding catching up in these times of social distancing, and it was interesting to hear how much he had missed it. I wrote a little in last week's remarks about being stronger together. This week, I wanted to share a little more of what I have learned recently about the importance of social connection. I have been reading some of the work of a former professor of Neuroscience at Chicago University, John Cacioppo. Cacioppo writes, ". . . social neuroscience has witnessed an incredible rise in the number of studies demonstrating the effects of perceived social isolation (e.g., loneliness, ostracism), and inversely, the beneficial effects of social bonding (e.g., love, desire, attachment) on social perception, cognition, and behavior and on mental and physical health." (2012) He explains this even further in another place when he says the effects of people not feeling socially connected has physical health implications similar to obesity, high blood pressure or smoking. Cacioppo's research has also found social connection to be important in the cognitive and behavioural development of human beings. As a parent and educator, this particularly captured my attention. Our children (and we adults as well) need social connectedness to be able to develop, grow and mature into mentally and behaviourally balanced adults. Cacioppo points out that not every person has the same needs as far as time spent connecting or number of social connections, but we all require social connectedness to a degree.

You feed them

Have you ever been hungry?
The Bible tells the story of a large group of people who journey to a remote location to hear Jesus teach. They sit and listen to Him all day. It becomes late in the day and no one has even stopped for any food. The disciples start complaining that everyone is hungry, suggesting that Jesus should stop talking so the people can go and buy some food.

Jesus turns to the disciples and says, “You feed them”.
The disciples miss the point, they start to calculate the cost in time and wages that it would take to get food for over 5000 people. Jesus asks them to see what food there is within the group of people. The disciples find 5 small loaves and 2 fish.
Jesus prays, breaks the bread and the fish and gives it to the disciples to hand out to everyone. The disciples start to pass out the food to everyone, and they don’t run out. When everyone was full, they collect up twelve baskets of leftovers. Interesting that there are twelve disciples, and each had a basket of leftovers.

Do we ever ask Jesus what he is doing about the hungry, the sick, the broken hearted who are in our communities? What are we doing? Jesus asks us to act while we wait for Him to come back.
What can you do for others today?

Have a good week, 

Chaplain Phil

Term 2 School Uniform 

This week is the last week of our extended 4 week changeover where students can wear either summer or winter uniform to school. From Monday, students will need to be wearing full winter uniform.  If you have not already sorted out winter uniform for your child please contact the Front Office to book an appointment for the Uniform Shop or order online through Flexischools.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop is open for appointments only due to the current restrictions. Please call the Front Office to make your appointment on 8396 2577. EFTPOS is available but secondhand items and labels are cash only.  

Uniforms can also be purchased through flexischools.com.au and will be delivered to your child's class within 2 school days.

PPN Pick-Up Zone

Some requests we have to help traffic flow is no right turn off Nelson Road into the Drive through Zone, no queuing across the entry to the back car park, come a little later (after 3.35pm Mon – Thurs) if you would like a quicker, smoother pickup experience.

Please ensure you have your child's name label is visible in your car when picking up your child. This makes it a lot quicker to have your child ready for pickup. If you require a name tag, please call the Front Office. 

No Right turn when exiting the drive through zone at the front of the school.

Pick up zone tips:

Daily Health Check

Buddy-Class Time

Each year, some of our older students are assigned a ‘buddy’ from a lower grade to help and encourage their reading development.  Last week was the first opportunity this year for buddy-class time.  The photos below are students from Miss Walsh’s Year 4A class helping students from Mrs Acuna-Castro’s Year 1A class.

Prescott College