Term 1 - Week 2, 2024

Principal's Message

Hello, families and friends,

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2024! 

We have had a wonderful start to the year here at Mt St John’s. All the classes are very settled; the students are happy and enjoy spending time learning together. 

Welcome Kindy 2024

Our Mt St John's community has welcomed our new Kindy students with open arms; sharing the playground and helping our newest friends open lunch boxes, find things to play with, and work out what to do when the bell goes!

Student Leaders 2024

This morning, at our first assembly, we focused on Student Leadership. Year 6 identified what leadership role they would like and spoke very persuasively, ensuring they received the role they applied for.

I am thrilled to announce our Student Leaders for 2024 are:

Welcome Night and BBQ

Remember our Welcome Night and BBQ next Tuesday, February 13th, from 5:00 p.m. The flyer below has more details.

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know the children over the past week. Please feel free to call in and say hi if you are around. I look forward to meeting you all.

Deborah Bailey,

Principal

Thank You from Pete's Place

During the school holidays, we received this lovely email from Pete's Place....

Dear Mount St John’s Primary Dorrigo Mini Vinnies, 

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you. Firstly, for your ultimate thoughtfulness and secondly, for your extreme generosity.

Pete’s Place Homelessness Service Coffs Harbour, is a St Vincent de Paul run support service for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. This facility provides access to basic needs provisions such as; laundry and shower facilities, food, clothing, blankets and tents. In addition to these basic needs, Pete’s Place qualified staff provide assessment, support, casework and referrals to appropriate Government and NGO services; recognising that disadvantaged and vulnerable populations have fewer opportunities to participate equally in our community.

With homelessness in our region escalating since Pete’s Place opening in 2018, where we were seeing an average of 15 clients per day, the service has adapted to meet the identified increase in needs and has expanded to include an engagement hub.  Our service now sees up to 120 people daily, a reflection of the crisis being seen across the state.

Our engagement hub allows the provision of wrap-around support to increase the safety, health and wellbeing of those who utilise the facility.  But perhaps most importantly, providing a safe and inclusive environment for people to interact and gain a sense of community without judgement and prejudice.

Devoid of Government funding, Pete’s Place relies heavily on community support, with volunteers assisting with practical operations each day, and community members offering food, clothing and financial donations.

Such a wonderful contribution and support from people like you, through your donation generated from the proceeds raised from the “Made in Dorrigo” stall and for the collection of toiletries supplies.  This allows us to bring some joy and dignity to people who are rarely afforded this opportunity.  Allows us assist a struggling family - with a Christmas hamper, provide a family in trouble a night in crisis accommodation, access to qualified support for women leaving domestic violence, give a child a full tummy and a clean uniform before a day at school, and feed countless vulnerable men and women before they battle another night on our streets.

Your generous donation is greatly appreciated and will be put to terrific use in continuing our good works.

Thank you for your compassion, and for leading the way; exemplifying that our community is stronger when we work together.

Project Compassion

We are continuing to collect toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, brushes, combs, sanitary items, shampoo, deodorant, washing powder and warm items like socks and beanies, all of which will be donated to Pete's Place in Coffs Harbour to help homeless people in our local area.

St Vincent de Paul are also looking for any 2nd-hand drink bottles such as kids' drink bottles (not plastic PET water bottles). 

Please help if you can - there is a basket at the front office in which to place your donations.

Thank you!

Louise Sprowles - LOSEC

Road Safety

Road Safety is a Back to School Essential 

As children return to school, it is essential to keep safety in mind. Talk with your children about safely getting to and from school. 

• Keep children safe getting in and out of the car. Always use the door closest to the kerb.
• Keep children safe by walking distraction-free. Expect your child to take off their headphones while walking. 
• Keep children safe getting on and off the bus. Wait at the bus stop and stand at least one step back from the road's edge. Always meet your child at the bus stop. Never meet them on the opposite side of the road and call them across. Wait until the bus has gone before crossing the road. 
• Keep children safe while using wheeled transport. Children must wear a helmet when riding a bike in any public place – it is the law. Foot scooter, skateboard and rollerblade riders should wear helmets and protective equipment. 

Be a positive role model when you are a pedestrian, passenger and driver. Children learn from what they see, as well as what we say.

Never sacrifice safety for convenience.

Tips for Students Starting School

How to Cancel a Canteen Order

If you need to, you can cancel canteen orders before 9am on canteen day. If you know your child is going to be away you can go into Compass Canteen and select "cancel order".

The refunded money goes back into your Compass "wallet" so you can use it next time you order - when you get to the Confirm & pay screen, click on the down arrow and select Compass Credit. 

School Facebook Page

Check out our school Facebook page! It is wonderful to be able to share the good news of our school with our families and community. 

Scholastic Book Club

Issue 1 Book Club catalogues were sent home this week. Orders and money are due back by Monday 19th February. Click on the link below to view the catalogue.

Safety on Social Media Presentation

Attached is an invitation to a presentation at Dorrigo High School about "Safety on Social Media" presented by respected international media commentator Kirra Pendergast.

School Bus Travel

2024 school travel applications are now open                      

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, an expiry notification will be sent via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

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. 

Service NSW Mobile Service Centre

The Service NSW Mobile Service Centre is coming to Dorrigo and Bellingen in March:

They will be set up at 51 Hickory Street on Tuesday, 5 March 2024 from 10am - 3pm

They will be set up at Cnr Hyde & Ford Streets on Wednesday, 6 March 2024 from 9am - 3pm

 To compliment the Bus in Bellingen we are also hosting a Service Stalls Day - 9am-3pm approx.  – Flyer attached.

Healthy Lunchbox Website

Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box website is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about packing a healthy lunch box.  For recipes, information and health tips please visit the website below.