Prescott Primary Northern eNewsletter

Pupil Free Day

Case Of Discovery

Last week, students from Year 4 - 6 enjoyed an incursion, here is what some of the Year 6 students had to say about it:

Last Wednesday, we joined in with the Science incursion 'Case Of Discovery'. It was a really fun and suspenseful experience that had us all hands on at trying to solve a mystery. We had to do forensic experiments such as find the dna, read the invisible ink and discover which poison was used. Everyone had a great time, especially those that solved the mystery!

Michelle, Laura, Tanveer and Gracie

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by advertising? I know I do. I have taken to driving to school without listening to anything but the mighty roar of the blue Laser in a bid to have some ad-free time. If I am feeling like it is a lot as an adult, imagine how kids go. In the 1970s, it is reported that a person saw between 500 and 1600 ads per day. Fast forward to 2007 and it was up to 5000 ads per day. In 2020? Between 6,000 and 10,000 ads every single day. (Carr, 2020) Advertising seems to be constantly trying to convince me that I need this thing or that thing. It tries to convince me that what I have isn’t enough and that I will somehow live a more fulfilled life if I get this or that and that I need more than I have now. I was reading this week about how we live in a deficit society, where we can’t ever think we have enough. One author put it this way, “For me, and for many of us, our first waking thought of the day is ‘I didnt get enough sleep.’ The next one is ‘I don't have enough time.’ Whether true or not, that thought of not enough occurs to us automatically before we even think to question or examine it. We spend most of the hours and the days of our lives hearing, explaining, complaining, or worrying about what we don't have enough of... Before we even sit up in bed, before our feet touch the floor, we're already inadequate, already behind, already losing, already lacking something. And by the time we go to bed at night, our minds are racing with a litany of what we didn't get, or didn't get done, that day. We go to sleep burdened by those thoughts and wake up to that reverie of lack. . .” (Twist, 2003)

As I have reflected on these thoughts this week, I have come to the conclusion that one of the best ways to help our children, (and ourselves) is to cultivate a sense of contentment and gratitude. Being grateful and content with the many blessings they (us) have, gives them (us) a lens to view the advertising barrage that tells them (us) they (we) are in deficit and in need of all sorts of things. Please don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we should encourage our children to just settle for the the status quo or mediocrity in their dreams and studies. What I am saying is that when they are truly grateful for the wonderful blessings they have, our children are far more able to make sense of the constant calls to need more if they are to be satisfied, and that what they have, somehow determines who they are.

Why not start a tea table tradition of each person in the family saying one thing they are grateful for today. It certainly changes one’s perspective from continually focusing on what we don’t have. I love the way Jesus put it in one of his greatest speeches, “The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.” Matthew 6: 21 The Message

Have a great week with you kids,

Mark B

My Name is Chris

There is an advertisement for an IT company on the radio - 107.9 Life, that caught my attention recently.

It’s starts with a workplace celebrating 25 years of service for Chris, but nobody seems to know who this guy Chris is. He is clearly an employee, but even though he has worked for the company for 25 years, no-one really knows who he is. They conclude by saying “he must work in IT”.

It got me thinking, is this sometimes how it is with God and us? Do we live our lives with God alongside us, but never get to know Him?

In John Chapter 7, there is a discussion that takes place between Jesus and His brothers. The statement is made “not even His brothers believed in Him.”

These were Jesus’ brothers. They had grown up with Him, lived with Him, but despite all the time observing His teachings and miracles, it was not enough to convince them. Something was still missing. How could they have spent all this time with Jesus but still not believe that He was anything more than their brother, let alone the Son of God?

This illustration demonstrates that we can be living alongside Jesus but still not understand who He really is. Have you grown up a Christian by name, but never moved into a deeper relationship with Him? Don’t be afraid to talk with Jesus and develop a stronger connection and understanding of Him. It will change your life.

Have a great week,

Chaplain Phil

Last week, we talked about generosity and this week we honoured several students from all the classes in our school for demonstrating this value.

Olivia, Suryansh, Japleen, Leonardo, Ewa, Max, Jacob, Ximena, Gursehaj, Eknoor, Mahalia, Mehaan, Krish, Jaiveersingh, Amolakbir, Freeman, Joseph and Amariah (absent)

Lucy, Hunter, Kathryn, Vansh, Chaela, Jastaj, Gem, Kayla, Jap, Jia, Felicia, Miranda, Robert, Sarina, Jossy, Bryce, David and Arek (absent)

Teacher Aide Appreciation Week

August 31st – September 4th, 2020

SSOs (School Services Officers or Teachers Aides) play a crucial role in the day to day functioning of every class and, under teacher-direction, support access, participation and achievement of our students at Prescott Primary Northern.
We are blessed to have such a team of talented and dedicated SSOs on staff who work incredibly hard in the support of our students and teachers. Our SSOs perform a broad range of duties and have diverse responsibilities. They are talented, flexible, and work tirelessly in many roles including student support, choir and drama support, first aid, administration and the list goes on.

We take this moment to acknowledge and to thank:
• Mrs Cheryl Allen, Mrs Abby Davis, Mrs Samantha Hann, Mrs Debra Heidik, Mrs Sarina Howard, Mrs Neetu Singla and Mrs Carol Westbury who work predominantly in Year One through to Year Six.
• Ms Roxy Fouche, Mrs Evonne McCann, Ms Neisha Perkins, Mrs Emily Ksiazkiewicz, and Mrs Hillrose Smith, our Foundation SSOs.
• Mrs Victoria Cowley and Mrs Karen Blyde who work wonders in our Discovery Centre.

We celebrate these amazing people this week and know that we are very blessed to have each one these ladies working here at Prescott Primary Northern. We appreciate the warmth, care and support they bring to their work with teachers and students alike.

Thank you SSOs & Discovery Centre ladies, it is a pleasure to work with each of you here, at Prescott Primary Northern

Fun Run

Father's Day Stall

Parking Around The School

1. Parking out the front of the school-
We are noticing a lot of parents parking in the front area of the school, walking to the single gate and dropping off, only to return to the car minutes later and reversing out into traffic. We understand the convenience but parking here and reversing out is stopping the flow of traffic from the drive through zone. We are asking that if you are walking your child onto our school grounds or collecting them in the afternoons, please use the back car park.

2. Keeping the car park entrance clear
As mentioned in a hand out, it is very important that you please do not park in the entrance to the back car park. If the drive through line is full, please wait with your left indicator flashing while on Nelson Road. When the line starts to move, then feel free to move into the drive through zone but please don't block the car park entrance.

3. Turning left only out of car parks and drive through
In peak times, when families wait and try to turn right onto Wright Road from the drive through, it again, slows the whole drive through down - often to a complete stop. We are asking kindly that you turn left only out the drive through onto Wright Road.

4. Side gate reopened!
We have cleared the temporary storage near the Front Office and are happy to open this walkway again to allow an alternative entrance, rather than going through the Front Office.

Please remember the current restrictions still in place (No adults entering classrooms unless you sign on in the Front Office).

We hope to continue to develop the parking around the school so it runs as smoothly as possible.

Daily Health Check

Premier’s Reading Challenge Update

Time is running out to hand in your completed Premier’s Reading Challenge form! All forms need to be handed into the Library by the end of next week – Thursday September 10.

We have always had a really great number of students complete the challenge each year. We would love to continue this and have as many of our super reading students receive a certificate or medal later in the year.

Time Saving Tip!! Did you know that Mrs Cowley and Mrs Blyde are able to print out a list of all the books that you have borrowed this year? All you would need to do is copy the book titles onto your form and make sure an adult signs it. How great is that! No-one has an excuse now!

Prescott College

If you would like to hold a stall at this year's fete, please email your details to jimbrogno@prescottcollege.sa.edu.au to receive a registration form.