Term 1 - Week 6, 2024
Principal's Message
Welcome to our third newsletter for Term 1 2024.
It has been a busy fortnight with some Stage 2 and 3 students attending the Dylan Edwards Bellingen Valley Legend Gala Day and all Stage 3 attending camp at Coff Coast Adventure Centre. Our lunchtime clubs have also been a roaring success, with the children enjoying art, gardening and puzzles.
It is great to see our students enjoying the diverse opportunities we are providing at Mt St John's.
John 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
In Fr Paul's sermon today, he reflected on the true meaning of this very well-known Scripture and Jesus's message to us:
He spoke about 'agape' love, which is a decision to go out of one's way to help one's neighbours and create a caring community, focusing on the similarities between people rather than their differences to find common ground, treating others with kindness, even when they are strangers.
This is what we stand for here at Mt St John's. This is what makes us different and sets us apart. This is our mission as we follow in Jesus' footsteps.
Introducing our new Family Connect Worker, Ashleigh Howe
We are very excited to welcome Ashleigh to our Mt St John's team. Ashleigh can support families in a variety ways. If you would like to connect with Ashleigh, please give me a call or email for a referral.
St Patrick's Day
Next Friday, 15th March, Mt St John's will turn GREEN! For a gold coin donation, students can wear green to raise money for Caritas. We will also have a special sweet treat available from the Canteen - more details to come!
Library CLOSED
Unfortunately, our library roof has sprung a leak! We are currently working with builders to get this fixed, and we will keep you updated.
Have a lovely weekend,
Deborah Bailey
Principal
The Resilience Project
Gratitude
Working on gratitude helps us be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives rather than focusing on what we don’t have or want. When we practise being grateful, we scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy and helps us feel happier, more focused, determined, and optimistic. It even helps us have better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression, and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!
Whole Family Activity:
Gratitude Scavenger Hunt
- As a family, create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for, you can make your own list or use the examples below:
- Something that makes you happy
- Something you love to smell
- Something you enjoy looking at
- Something that is your favourite colour
- Something you like in nature
- Something useful for you
- Each family member uses the list and has to find as many things as possible.
- You can hunt for things inside, outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also use magazines or pictures from the internet.
- After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.
Family Habit Builder:
Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day.
GEM Awards
Congratulations to our GEM Award winners for Week 6.
| Week 6 | |
| Kindy | Jack |
| Stage 1 | Larney |
| Stage 2 | Tyson |
Term 1 School Fees
Term 1 school fees have been billed to each family. These fees are payable by Friday 15th March, unless you are paying by regular direct debit amounts. Please note that Term 1 fees include a $55 resource fee per student.
1 student - $373
2 students - $666.50
Payment options are:
- using the Compass app - You can check your school fee balance and pay fees through the Compass app. Select more - school fees - next - and enter your credit card details. You have the option to pay in full or pay a portion of your fees.
- cash or cheque at school
- direct deposit to the school's bank account (see instructions below)
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
Remember, if you feel you will be unable to finalise your Term 1 school fees by this date, some financial assistance may be available from St Vincent de Paul - to make an appointment with them, call 0472 718862. You will need to take your school fee statement with you to your appointment.
Thank you!
Community News
ANZAC Day March
The ANZAC Day Dawn Service will commence at 5.30am at the Dorrigo Monument and breakfast will be served in the Dorrigo Memorial RSL Club after the Service.
Our school will be marching as a school group in the Dorrigo ANZAC Day March and Wreath-Laying Service on Thursday 25th April. Students are to wear full school uniform, including school hat, and assemble at 10:40am at the Dorrigo Memorial RSL Club. The March & Wreath-Laying Service will commence at 11.00am.
As with last year, the Order of March will have the Dorrigo School contingents near the head of the march, and the Schools will end up in Cudgery Street behind the Veterans Group near the bus shelter.
For further information contact Phillip Corlis on 0408 033141 or email phillipcorlis@bigpond.com
Sport
Swimming
Our Term 1 swimming program continues for all Kindergarten to Year 6 students. Swimming is a compulsory part of the PDHPE curriculum.
Students will need to bring swimmers, a towel, goggles, caps (the school can provide swimming caps for those students who don't own one, but if you do own one, you are encouraged to bring it), and sun shirts to school each Thursday for their lesson. There is no extra cost for swimming lessons, as the school covers the pool entry fees and payments to the swim teachers.
Students will walk to and from the pool. Please note that K—1 students are to be collected from the pool at the end of the day each Thursday as their lesson will finish at 3:05 p.m. Kinder and Year 1 students catching buses will do so from Dorrigo Public School, supervised by our staff.
Swimming lessons will take place each Thursday in Term 4 (weather permitting) at the following times:
Years 4/5/6 at 1:00 pm
Years 2/3 at 1.40 pm
K/1 at 2.20 pm
N.B. Some property has been lost from the pool. Some students have lost their goggles, so can people please check that they haven't been taken home by mistake? Please label all clothes, gear, etc. Thanks!
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.
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.
Community Notices
GLUE & Messy Church
GLUE God Loves Us Eternally KidsClub is held each Wednesday during school term time from 3-5pm at the Anglican Church Hall. Afternoon tea, games, fun worship and craft. All primary kids in Years 1-6 are welcome, as are newcomers. For more info, ring Gwenneth on 6657 2135.
The first Messy Church for 2024 is titled 'Jesus Growing Up' and will be held on Sunday 10th March, 4-6pm.
Messy church is a free community event for families and children on a Christian theme with free dinner provided.
Bellingen Bulldogs AFL
Bellingen Bulldog's Junior AFL offers programs for boys and girls aged from 5 years old to 17 years of age, starting with an Auskick program for younger children and competitive teams for boys and girls starting from under 10's up to under 17's.
Information on how to register for the club along with contact information for parents is below.
Dorrigo Rangers Sign On
School Bus Travel
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).
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.
