Term 1 - Week 9, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

I hope you have been staying safe as we have been impacted by the weather and road closures in and around Dorrigo. My thanks go to parents for keeping some students home on Monday and Tuesday as travel was not safe for many families. 

I acknowledge and thank Sue Darby and the staff who have kept the school open during this time. It has been a big ask for them as they have to cover all the duties while those who live off the mountain can’t make it back in to work. We are so lucky to have so many staff who live in Dorrigo this year and appreciate their willingness and support during this weather event.

Please note, both Aleasa Kermode and I are available for phone calls or zoom meetings to support the students during this time. Sue Darby will be in charge at school and is supported by Aleasa and me while we work remotely. 

We were planning to have our Cross Country Carnival next week. However, due to the wet grounds and unsafe trees we have decided to postpone this event until next term. The Cross Country Carnival will be on Thursday 22 April at 1:30pm. At this stage, it will be held at the Dorrigo Recreational Grounds. Parents and supporters are most welcome to attend. During the holidays, the children may like to train for this event. To be selected on the Mt St John’s Cross Country team to participate at the Zone Carnival in Grafton, you must be placed in the top 3 in your age group and you must be able to run 2000m or 3000m. Students turning 8 this year are eligible for Zone selection. The Clarence Zone Cross Country Carnival will be held in Grafton on Wednesday 28th April.

Finally, next Wednesday is the final day of Term 1 for students. We have a Staff Development Day booked for Thursday. School resumes for Term 2 on Tuesday 20th April. 

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal  

Stop Motion - Stage 3 Learning

The learning for Creative Arts in Stage 3 this term has been on storytelling through the use of stop-motion - particularly focussing on the thinking and discovery of techniques through active learning. The student reflections have been insightful:

"We learnt that you need to keep the camera in one place because if you don't your video looks messed up." Cash, Oli and Abbi

"When we first did our claymation movie we needed to go back and check and see if we did it correctly. We found that we need to take our pictures closer to our clay figures and consider the lighting." Harry C and Abbi

"What we stared with is much different from what we ended up with. In our first video, we used only 2 books [to sit the iPad on]. What we learnt was to take more than one photo of the scene - if there is only one then the movie goes too fast." Ava, Holly, Lily, Zoe 

"When I made my first claymation I was happy with it but the camera moved around a lot so I made another one. This one wasn't much better, it took 3 days to make and I realised the camera still moved and the lighting changed because it was earlier and later in the day.

I made another one, this one was amazing the camera was fine and it didn't move and the claymation took place on a red wall so the lighting didn't affect my movie, I liked my 3rd claymation but that one was done so I made the 4th one.

This one was realistic and funny the camera was nice and the graphics were good and when my figures moved they didn't slither, it was pixelated." Cash

All of the Stage 3 students have done a remarkable job learning by doing in this unit and I commend them for their creativity, persistence and teamwork. We will share more videos in next week's newsletter as well!

Aleasa Kermode

Assistant Principal

Lunch Special Next Wednesday

As the canteen won’t be open next week, we are having a lunch special of butter chicken with steamed rice OR fried rice as a fundraiser on Wednesday. Butter chicken / fried rice for lunch and a muffin and a fruit drink for recess will cost $8. If your child would like to order butter chicken or fried rice, muffin and drink, please return your order with the correct money enclosed by Tuesday 30th March.

• Butter Chicken OR Fried Rice (lunch) & muffin & fruit cordial (recess) - $8.00
• Muffin & fruit cordial only (recess) - $2.00
• Butter Chicken OR Fried Rice (lunch) - $6.00

Stage 3 Writing

The children in Year 5/6 have been creating narratives. They have been focusing on narrative structure, integrating descriptive language, similes and experimenting with using emotive language to engage the reader. The stimulus was from the book titled The Island by Armin Greder. The narrative below is by Holly Shaw in Year 6.

The man stood up; he wasn't like the people of the island. The people were horrified when they saw him. The man assumed it was just because he hadn't seen people in a while he was also severely sunburnt and had old healing wounds and scars. The island people looked at each other and talked in their language. It seemed as though they forgot what they were there for and forgot where they were.The people of the island continued talking but they now moved back two steps. The man feeling dehydrated and hot stumbled back now sitting again on the hot sand.

The people stopped talking again after hearing the commotion and examined him once more but they came closer this time. They began talking he heard one thing in their language “monster”. Shock ran through him. “What do you mean?” protested the man looking himself up and down. The people looked puzzled. 

He now understood what they meant. He hadn't noticed before because he was dazed and confused. The man had gills on his neck, webbed hand, and scaly arms. The rest of him was slightly human like. “What happened to me?” he screamed “help me!” the man cried, no matter how much he yelled for help the people of that island just didn't understand. “Why has this happened?” he sobbed. There was no reply, just shocked expressions from the people. “Help” he ordered once more. 

He now just gave up, crouched himself into a ball and cried in anger and confusion. One of the people stepped forward and said in a low voice “I am sorry but there is no way to fix you, you have been cursed, cursed by the sea.

Pupil-Free Staff Development Days

Please note the following dates as they will be Pupil Free Days. These days are essential so that we can come together as a staff to undertake professional learning. 

Thursday 1st April (Term 1 Pupil Free Day)

Monday 19th April (Term 2 Pupil Free Day)

Wednesday 5th May (Proclaim Lismore Staff Day)

Please note, the last day of Term 1 is Wednesday 31st March. School resumes for Term 2 on Tuesday 20th April.

School Cross Country

The Cross Country Carnival has been postponed until Thursday 22 April at 1:30pm. At this stage, it will be held at the Dorrigo Recreational Grounds. Parents and supporters are most welcome to attend. Students participate in this to gain selection to our Zone Cross Country Team. There will be a fun run for K - 2, 2000m and 3000m events. Students turning 8 this year are eligible for Zone selection.

Easter Raffle

We are holding an Easter Raffle again this year to raise money for the Stage 3 excursion to Canberra. Thank you to the many people who have donated raffle prizes - we have about 30 prizes. We will draw the prizes on the last day of school, so Wednesday will be the last opportunity to buy tickets. Tickets are 20c each.

Parent Assembly Recruitment

Request for Art & Craft

Mrs Darby is asking for donations of small boxes for Stage 1 Art & Craft - tissue boxes, tea boxes, medicine boxes etc. They can be left at the front office.

Library Day - Wednesday

Library day for all students is Wednesday - please make sure your child brings in his or her cloth library bag on this day. Each student may borrow four books per week. 

School Uniform Items Available

We have a stock of school uniform items available for purchase from the front office. We accept cash, cheque or bank transfer. Uniform prices are as follows:

School hats - $15

School shirts - $25

Skorts - $20

Shorts - $20

Rain jackets - $50

We also have some items available to buy from our 2nd-hand uniform pool.

Canteen

Thank you to Amii Francis anf Kelsey Meehan, who were our canteen volunteers today. If anyone is available to volunteer in our canteen one or more Fridays per term, please contact our canteen co-ordinator Alicia on 0488 280683. If we have no volunteers available we will have to cancel canteen for that week.

Please note - if you top up your canteen account via bank transfer, the funds will take a week to clear so you will not be able to order canteen immediately. 

Please send your lunch wallets into school and we will keep them here.

School Bus Travel

Applications for student travel can now apply online. A new

Celebrate Dorrigo Plateau

Come along this Sunday 28th March 2021 to the Dorrigo Showground, with your picnic, from 11am - 3pm to be entertained by a plethora of local talent.

We are celebrating the strength, resilience and community of all living on the Dorrigo Plateau.

This is our chance to say 'Thankyou" to all the services and individuals who gave their time, energy, meals and donations selflessly during the Bushfires, Drought, Covid and floods.

Please wear your Community group attire – all of them,  (e.g. Rotary, Lions, Landcare, Local Land Council, RFS, SES, RSL, CWA, Dorrigo Emergency Response Committee, United Hospital Auxiliary, Dorrigo Hospital, NPWS, Dorrigo Fire and Rescue, Dorrigo Chamber of Commerce, Dorrigo Show Society, Vinnies, Salvation Army, LifeSprings, Museum, Youth Hub, Ambulance service, Police Service, all the Dorrigo schools and Kindergartens, Ebor, Hernani and Dundurrabin PS, Dorrigo Visitor Information Centre,  Elders, Dorrigo1, Ray White, U3A, Hickory House, Neighbourhood Care Network etc), to show just how fortunate we are to have such a caring community. We also acknowledge and thank all of our local produce stores and shops.

Those individuals who came forward are far too numerous to name – but none the less thanked and appreciated.

The show will go on - we have all earned it and deserve it.

See you all on Sunday - our beautiful weather will hold, this event will not be cancelled.

School Drive Subsidy

The School Drive Subsidy is available for eligible school students where there is no public transport available for all or part of the journey. If you have to drive your child more than 1.6km to a school bus stop, you may be eligible for this subsidy – go to the link below to apply. 

Head Lice

If you notice head lice on your child, please treat his or her hair ASAP and notify the school that you did this. Remember – long hair must be tied back at school.

Soccer Registrations Open

The Dorrigo Highlanders Football Club is now taking registrations for Miniroos, Juniors, Intermediate and Senior players in the 2021 North Coast Football season.  Player registrations are also needed to fill a Mixed 14s team.  Register online at www.playfootball.com.au with your Active Kids Voucher.  The NCF season for community club football begins Saturday 13 March.

Working With Children Check

For those parents who are volunteers at school, such as canteen helpers, we need to ensure that you have a current Working with Children (Volunteers) Check. To apply for this check, go to 

COVID Student Attendance

Staff and students exhibiting even mild COVID-19 symptoms should be sent home and are required to produce proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to school. 

As per these guidelines, a screenshot of the text message, confirming a Negative result, is all that will be required to return to school. 

Instrumental Music With Hazel

We have music tutor available to teach instrumental music through private tuition. Hazel Buchanan is interested in working with our students. Hazel can teach:

- flute

- clarinet

- saxophone

- oboe

- bassoon

- trumpet

- trombone

- percussion

- bass guitar

The school owns a flute and a clarinet, which are available for families to borrow long-term at no cost. The payments for lessons are billed each term and paid directly to Hazel. An Essential Element Band Book will be supplied by the school too.

Students wishing to learn these instruments can do so in individual lessons or in small groups depending on the instrument chosen. It is hoped that one day, we can start a small ensemble or band for instrumental students to play together. 

If you are interested in taking up this opportunity, please contact Hazel directly on 0458 572 525.

Lessons will take place on Fridays. 

Updated Bell Times

This year we have modified our bell times.  The current times are as follows:

8:55 am - 11:00 am English Block

11:00 am - 11:15 am Lunch (children sit and eat)

11:15 am - 11:35 am Lunch Play

11:35 am - 12:55 pm Mathematics Block

12:55 pm - 1:05 pm Recess (children sit and eat)

1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Recess Play

1:20 pm - 3:05 pm Other Key Learning Areas (Science, Arts, History etc)

Term 1 School Fees

SCHOOL FEES: Term 1 school fees are now due, unless you are paying by regular direct deposit amounts. Reminder statements are being sent home today.

Several payment methods are available; 

• Regular direct deposit payments (see suggested amounts below).
• Lump sum direct deposit
• Cash
• Cheque

If you are planning to set up regular direct deposit school fee payments for the 2021 school year, following are instructions on how to do this: 

Suggested direct deposit amounts (from beginning of February 2021)

1 student - Term 1 - $326.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

      Terms 2, 3 & 4 - $276.00

       $46.16 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $23.08 per week (x 50 weeks)

2 students – Term 1 - $583.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

        Terms 2, 3 & 4 - $483.00 per term

       $81.28 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $40.64 per week (x 50 weeks)

3 or more students – Term 1 - $771.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

       Terms 2, 3 & 4 – $621.00

       $105.36 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $52.68 per week (x 50 weeks)

If you would like to arrange a regular direct debit payment from your Bananacoast Credit Union account into the school’s account, the BCU Credit Union in Dorrigo will organize this for you.

When using Internet banking, please use your child’s surname as a reference.

Banancoast Community Credit Union   BSB no. 533-000

Account no. 3282 0430                 Name: Mt St John’s Primary School

GLUE

GLUE: "God Loves Us Eternally" (formerly GFS) is on each Wednesday from 3-5pm at the Anglican Hall. Afternoon tea, games, fun worship and craft. All primary kids welcome, as are newcomers. For more info, ring Gwenneth on 6657 2135. COVID-safe practices will apply.

Dorrigo Rangers Rugby

Easter Holiday Activities at Dorrigo Library

Nutrition Snippet