Term 2 - Week 3, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Mothers' Day is this Sunday. We hope that your children spoil you and acknowledge you for the outstanding work you have done as mothers within our community. As such, we would like to celebrate Mothers' Day with you at school on Monday at 2pm. We are having a Mothers' Day Prayer Assembly followed by afternoon tea. All mums, nans, grandmas and mother figures are invited; hopefully you have been able to return the catering slip for the celebration. 

Watch the video below to view a reflection on Mothers' Day by Nichole Nordeman, called Slow Down.

NAPLAN is next week for students in Years 3 and 5. At Mt St John’s, all students will be completing the NAPLAN tests. These tests give us valuable information about the academic progress of students compared to other students in Australia. This year the tests are online, except for the Year 3 writing assessment. Year 3 students will still complete a handwritten writing assessment. Testing commences next Tuesday 11th May and runs for about 2 weeks until we have all students complete the tests. 

If you have children in Year 3 or 5, I encourage you to read the information sheet below.

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal  

NAPLAN Information

Proclaim Staff 2021

Wednesday, May 5th marked the fourth Proclaim Lismore Staff Day in the Proclaim cycle. Over a number of years, we have looked to build a stronger Catholic community and this year we are focusing on investigating the "signs of the times", as the Church puts it, and reviewing how we lead and work within Catholic Education. The Mt St John's team engaged in some inspiring thinking about what our future school goals could look like to most benefit our students, families, community, and staff. Our theme for the day was 'Faith in the Future' and we were able to recognise and celebrate 200 years in Australia for Catholic Education. I thank all of our staff for their generous and open contributions to the day and our families for facilitating this learning time for us. We left the day inspired and enthused for our school community's future.

Aleasa Kermode

Assistant Principal

Weekly Awards

This week's class awards went to:

Pele Coello - for always trying to do her best work.

Rory O'Leary - for participating with enthusiasm in reading groups.

Eden Gibson - for working by yourself in reading. You are on task and completing your work independently. Well done.

Hayley Munro - for always working well with others. You are a great team member. Keep it up.

Clay Burnes - for working hard during English and writing a wonderful story!

Ivy Mila - for your hard work during Writing and Maths! Keep it up!

Abbi Maples - for encouraging informative, mathematical conversations about finding the most efficient way to add money. 

Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER)

Students from our school will soon be undertaking an education tour of the national capital. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational programs with a focus on Australia’s history, culture, heritage and democracy.

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist families in meeting the cost of the excursion the Australian Government is contributing funding of $45 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards those costs. The rebate is paid directly to the school upon completion of the excursion.

Mothers' Day Liturgy & Afternoon Tea

When : Monday 10th May 2:00pm

Where: Mt St John’s Dorrigo

Why: To celebrate and show gratitude for all the things Mums do every day for us all and to welcome parents back to celebrate with us. Afternoon tea will be provided.

Mrs Darby has requested photos of mothers from our school community with their children. She would like to use them in an iMovie for Mother's day liturgy. If parents could email a photo to sue.darby@lism.catholic.edu.au that would be great. 

EMU Homework Video Tutorials

Kindergarten - EMU Warm-up (see video below)

Making numbers 1-30: You will need  Dice, number cards and counters. Roll the dice, take a handful of counters and count out that number that is on the dice. Find the number card and match it to the counters. To make teen numbers and numbers in the twenties you will need 2 dice. Discuss making the groups and counting altogether.

Ping Pong Counting: This can be done with 2 people and you count backwards and forwards ie: an adult or older sibling/family member says 1 child says 2 then continue to 30 and count backwards as well.

Stage 1 - EMU Warm-Up (see video below)

Two Below Bingo: Make a 3x3 bingo card with numerals from two-digit numbers in pairs. Students place a counter on a numeral on their card if the numeral is two below the number called. From time to time ask the students to justify how they know that their number was two below the one called. The first player to fill their card wins.

Variation : Numbers 0-4 or 5-9

Stage 2 - EMU Warm-Up (see video below)

Race to 20!: For this activity, you will need a number line to 20, a six-sided die and two players. Each player starts on 0. Taking turns, roll a six-sided die and move up the number line.

The person who reaches 20 first gets a point and the first person with 5 points wins!

Stage 3 - EMU Warm-Up (see video below)

We have been playing the game Coin Line Challenge. This game develops and improves efficiency in being able to count money starting from different monetary values. Line up a set of coins (6 or more), roll the dice and take that number of coins. Partner rolls the dice and takes that number of coins. If there are no coins left from the original coin line, you begin to take some of your partner's. At all times continue conversations after each turn about how much money I have now? How much money do you have left? The winner is the person to have won all the coins from the coin line. 

ES1 &S1 Science

Students discovered what happens when we mix water and oil. Then we added dye and …

Stage 3 Excursion to Canberra Raffle

To raise money for the Stage 3 excursion to Canberra, which will be held on 24th - 28th May, the Stage 3 students are holding a giant raffle. There are some fantastic prizes, such as a load of split firewood, mini portable BBQ, push bikes, scooters, table tennis table, donations from local businesses and more! Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. The raffle will be drawn on 17th May. A book of tickets was sent home with each family last week - if you don't feel you will be able to sell the tickets please return them to school and we will pass them on to another family. 

Tickets are also available around town at Beaumont’s Produce and Dorrigo Cellars. We appreciate your support!

Parish Sacrament of Confirmation Program 2021

This year, the Confirmation preparation program will be parish-based and run over ten weeks  (excluding school holidays) in the parish centre meeting room in Bellingen. 

A child is eligible for the sacrament of Confirmation if they are baptised Catholic, between the  ages of 8 and 15 years, and should be attending Sunday (or Saturday night) Mass every week. Enrolment and Parental Authority forms are available from the parish office and must be  collected before the day of the Parent Meeting. To obtain the forms you will need to bring with you your child’s baptism certificate (no photocopies) plus proof of ID (e.g. photo driver’s license) for all legal  guardians of your child. 

The completed enrolment form (and Parental Authority form) is to be brought to the Parent  Meeting at the Parish Centre Meeting Room on Wednesday 26th May at 7pm. Your child’s enrolment will take place at that meeting. Enrolment forms will not be available at the Parent Meeting. For more information, please contact the Parish Office on 6655 1448. 

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Gregory on 9th August 2021. 

Issue 3 Book Club

Issue 3 Book Club orders and money are now due back at school.

Child Protection

At Mt St John’s, we follow the Lismore CSO Child Protection Policy. This policy informs our practice with regard to keeping our students safe. Our Child Protection Policy ensures that staff are adequately trained annually with an online assessment. We also have face to face child protection training every 3 years. All staff at Mt St John’s have obligations as mandatory reporters. As Mandatory Reporters, staff are required to report if they have any concern regarding the safety, welfare or well-being of a child.  

A copy of our Child Protection Policy is attached. It can be found on our school website also, the link is below:

Parent Assembly Recruitment

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 Kelsey Meehan, who was our canteen volunteer 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.

A reminder to place your canteen order before Thursday night each 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.

Parent Assembly Family Retreat

School Bus Travel

Applications for student travel can now be made online. Apply here 

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.

After School Lego at Dorrigo Library

Flu Clinic - Dorrigo Pharmacy

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. 

School 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 2 School Fees

SCHOOL FEES: Term 2 school fee statements were sent home yesterday. Term 2 fees are payable by Friday 28th May, unless you are paying by regular direct deposit amounts. 

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 2 - $276.00

       $46.16 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $23.08 per week (x 50 weeks)

2 students - Term 2 - $483.00

       $81.28 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $40.64 per week (x 50 weeks)

3 or more students  - Term 2 – $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.

Bananacoast 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.

Nutrition Snippet