PRESCOTT COLLEGE SOUTHERN NEWSLETTER

With our Google Translation integration, you can access your newsletter in ANY language. Simply scroll to the bottom of the newsletter preview to give it a try.

As we grow up, we encounter many people who inspire us, encourage us, and motivate us to become better versions of ourselves. We refer to these people as role models; they are people who we look up to, admire, and aspire to be like.

Role models play a crucial role in shaping our personality and values. They influence our thoughts, behaviour, and attitude towards life. They teach us important life lessons and help us navigate difficult situations. When we have role models to guide us, we feel more confident, motivated, and empowered to pursue our goals.

Important qualities for role models are kindness, compassion, honesty, inspiration and resilience.  A role model can be someone who has achieved great success in their career, someone who has overcome significant challenges, or someone who has made a positive impact on society.  A role model can be someone close to us or someone admired from a distance.

Having a role model can be particularly important for young people. Children and teenagers are still developing their sense of self and are more susceptible to peer pressure and negative influences.  Role models provide a positive influence and can help young people develop a sense of identity, self-esteem, and confidence.  An important characteristic of a good role model is their ability to demonstrate resilience.  Life can be challenging and unpredictable, and we all face setbacks and failures at times.  A role model who has faced adversity and overcome it can be a powerful source of inspiration for our children.  They can teach important lessons about perseverance, determination, and grit. They can show us that with hard work and a tenacious spirit that we can work to get the best out of the toughest situations.

It's important to remember that all of us are role models.  The way we act in our daily lives when things are going smoothly as well as during the tough times is on display for others to see.  Young people pick up on our actions and reactions and internalise what they see and hear.  We may not realise it at the time, but the way we live our lives and the choices we make can be inspirational and influential to those around us. Unfortunately though if we are not careful they can also be the opposite.  By being a positive role model, we can make a positive difference in this world.

As a school we have just held our Weeks of Worship or WOW programs, as we like to call them.  Though these programs our students have been reminded of the role model that Jesus is.  Hebrews 13.8 says that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  He is a constant source of strength and inspiration that anyone can tap into.  When we allow his power to work within us amazing things are possible

Blessings to you all

For the complete picture of up-coming school events you can access the school calendar here.  Below is a small snapshot of major events in the next couple of weeks.

Week 7

13 March - Adelaide Cup Public Holiday

15 March - NAPLAN Begins

15-17 March - Year 4 Camp

Week 8

22-24 March - Year 8 Camp

Week 9

28-31 March - Year 5 Camp

28 March - Open Day

29-31 March - Year 7 Camp

29-31 March - Year 6 Camp

School yard supervision begins at 8.30am each morning. If you need an earlier drop off parents are welcome to enrol primary school children at OSHC and secondary school students can use the library from 8.00am. It is not safe to leave children at school prior to 8.30am without supervision.

At times students become unwell at school and require health care. Our team in student reception are skilled in providing first aid and assisting students when incidents arise, however, at times there are situations that require expert medical care by trained paramedics. Under these circumstances we must call an ambulance to meet our duty of care responsibilities. Parents and carers should note that changes to the schools student accident insurance mean that in most instances the cost of ambulance transport is not covered and the family is required to pay the bill, which will be many hundreds of dollars, if they don't have their own ambulance cover. Ambulance cover is included with many private health insurance policies, alternatively further information can be found at https://saambulance.sa.gov.au/membership/ambulance-cover/ 

If your child has a medical condition that requires medication to be administered at school either regularly or on occasions Prescott College Southern must hold an up-to-date Medical Management Plan signed and dated by a medical practitioner.  Parents and carers must also supply the up to date medication in the original packaging with the pharmacy label attached clearly showing the child’s name and the required dosage.

 For the health and safety of the student, government regulations prevent children who do not have an up to date medical plan and medication from attending excursions, camps and OSHC.

Parents/carers will be notified by the school when medication kept at school is nearing expiry so it can be replaced before it expires

Applications are now open for the Prescott Schools Scholarship and Bursary Funds. This initiative is administered by Seventh-day Adventist Schools (SA) LTD and is designed to assist eligible families in meeting the cost of school fees.

The academic scholarships are a way of recognising the contribution high achieving students make in our community. Parents who feel that their children meet this criteria are welcome to submit an application for an academic scholarship. Application forms are available here.

The Bursary Fund has been set up to help families who are suffering financial hardship. Any families who meet the eligibility criteria for this are welcome to submit an application. You can access an application form here.

It should be noted that families can submit applications for one of these initiatives only, for each child. Parents are encouraged to select the one that they feel best meets their circumstances.

Applications for these initiatives are due by Thursday 6 April and applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application by our Head Office once they have assessed the submissions. 

If your child is going to be absent you can SMS the details to 0409 667 977.  We'd love it if you can also advise the office regarding up-coming absences when you let the teacher know.

With there being a lot of new uniforms being worn we ask that you ensure your child has their name clearly labelled on all items to help us reunite lost items with their owner. Lost property is located in our Student Reception area. Students should ask here if they are missing something.

Our Uniform Shop hours in 2023 are:

Tuesday 3.15 - 4.00pm

Wednesday 8.30-9.30am and 3.15 - 4.00pm

Thursday 8.30 - 9.30am

There is now a uniform shop email address. Sending a message to uniformshop@prescottsouthern.sa.edu.au will help you get answers to your queries from the experts as quickly as possible.

We currently have stock of a number of secondhand uniform items which may suit your needs. Additionally, if you have any you wish to sell, these can be left at the Uniform Shop. Freshly washed uniform items in excellent condition, of the same style and brand currently stocked in the shop can be put up for resale. Please ensure you attach your name when dropping items off. Alternatively parents and carers are welcome to sell the items themselves through an online platform. 

Schools have uniform requirements for a number of reasons including helping students get ready for life after school. During the Christmas break the school reviewed the current uniform policy to ensure that it is still meeting our needs. The changes to the policy are minimal and we hope that as a result of the update our expectations are easy to understand. You can access the uniform policy here.

The April Vacation Care Program is in the school attachments of this newsletter.  Please ensure you make your bookings ASAP as we book out fast, especially excurson days.

Please note that permanent Term Time OSHC bookings DO NOT roll into Vacation Care but they do roll into each new term, changed made when advised by parents/carers.

Please ensure you complete and return the April 2023 Bookings form to OSHC or to the front office.

Over the past two weeks, Mr McFly (Technology Curriculum Coordinator) has visited the Year 9 and 12 Food Technology, classes. It was wonderful to see each year level thoroughly engaged in creating their meals and willing to discuss their learning with their teachers (Tracey Hughes/Monique Walsh) and myself.   At the time Year 9 were making Apple Strudel and Year12 Coconut Dal.

Monique Walsh and Tracey Hughes: Food Technology 

Ryan McFly: Technology Curriculum Coordinator

Resilience is an important focus in education as teachers and parents strive to equip the next generation for the challenges they face. Building resilience is like the safety net allowing us to bounce forward from the ups and downs. As an educator and counsellor, I have observed a universal trend in declining self-regulation skills in students.  The ability to self-regulate one’s emotions and behaviours is critical to transitioning towards independent learning, life skills and self-management.  Additionally, this includes managing emotions, the ability to calm oneself, and managing impulses, focus, and concentration.  Let’s face it, even adults at times struggle with these skills.  If a child can concentrate then they are ready to learn but this requires self-control.

 As parents, be careful of falling into the trap of rescuing your children, also known as credit card parenting as you will pay for it later- with interest! Every day is an opportunity to find ways to allow your child to be more independent.  Expect them to pack and carry their own bag. Let them do their homework with greater independence.  Encourage them to contribute to chores around the house.  Make them earn their pocket money so they learn the value of hard work.  Reinforce expectations of sharing and being responsible.  Good habits develop early and a child who has self-discipline shows respect for others and themselves.  Regulating emotions enables them to build empathy and friendships.  Believe in your ability to parent and your child’s ability to self-regulate.  A family works best when you learn to work as a team. 

May God guide you as you seek to parent the next generation to cope in a world of constant change.  Just remember that the school is a partner in this process, so let’s support each other so that all children can realise their potential.

Kathryn Drillis

Student Counsellor

Please let teachers know through your child's communication book or via email if you need to pick them up early from school.

Notification the evening before or first thing that morning would be appreciated so that teachers can be prepared for your child to leave class at the right time.   Please also notify the front office so we can make sure your child is in the office in time for collection. 

We are getting towards the tail end of what has been an exciting fortnight here at Prescott College Southern with our annual week of worship program.  Last week we had Pr Tim Ah Sam sharing the primary kids, and this week we have Pr Matt Hunter sharing with the senior students.  The theme of the week of worship this year has been ‘The Big Idea’ and the speakers have been sharing with the students about the centrality of the Person of Jesus Christ, and His saving work on behalf of each of us in rescuing us from the evil of sin.  I’m reminded of the power of the following verse that goes right along with what the speakers have been sharing: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).  There is nothing that we can do to add to or subtract from the marvellous gift of God’s grace to each of us.  Jesus saving work for each of us is complete, and all that we can do is accept it as a gift, because that’s exactly what it is. It has been our hope and goal that this is what the students are taking away from the messages that have been shared with them during this fortnight.