Term 2 - Week 4, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

On Monday, we gathered with our mothers to celebrate Mothers’ Day. It was fantastic to see such a great turn-out. We have certainly missed seeing our parents in the school. It was our chance to say thank you for the tireless efforts our mums put into the families within our community. A gallery of photos from the afternoon is below.

I would like to commend our Year 3 and 5 students. I am very pleased to report that we had 100% participation in the NAPLAN tests this week. All students have completed all the tests. I have never had this happen in my time as a teacher, so it is a great achievement. We eagerly look forward to seeing the students' results and learning a little more about how their learning is progressing. See below for a photo of the Year 3 & 5 students celebrating the completion of NAPLAN.

Finally, our Stage 3 fundraising raffle will be drawn on Monday. Parents and friends are most welcome to come in to school and view this draw. The raffle will be drawn at 2:30pm as part of our assembly. We have some great prizes including a ping-pong table, bikes, scooters, donations from local businesses and sporting goods. All funds raised go towards assisting families with covering the cost of the Stage 3 Camp to Sydney and Canberra. I thank Mrs Beaumont for her organisation of this raffle. 

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal  

Celebrating the Completion of NAPLAN

Weekly Awards

This week's class awards went to:

Abby Menzies - for always applying herself to all areas of her work.

Keira Turner - for sounding out her words to include in her writing.

Ruby Menzies - for the huge effort you always put into guided reading. Well done.

Xavier Beckett - for always applying yourself to tasks. You work hard in all lessons and always try your best. Keep it up!

Willa Maples - for showing persistence with your Maths work on decimals. Well done for not giving up!

Mothers' Day Liturgy & Afternoon Tea

A Wonderful Liturgy and Afternoon Tea!

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EMU Homework Video Tutorials

Each week, students are encouraged to play some mathematics games at home to help support their learning at school. Our classroom teachers take students through the homework tasks and to assist families to play at home, we are including a video tutorial in the newsletter. 

Kindergarten - EMU Homework  (see video below)

How many altogether?

You will need dice, counters or if you have any farm animals toys you may like to use them. The scenario card is of a gated paddock which I have supplied for you. Roll a die. Put this many items on the scenario card. Repeat. Predict the number of items altogether. Check and prove. Create and tell a story about this farm scenario. It would be wonderful if you could explain your scenario to the class.

Stage 1 - EMU Homework (see video below)

Number Path Game  

The aim of this game is to be the person to complete the Number Path Template. Numbers on the template must be ordered from least to greatest (smallest to largest) numbers. Shuffle a set of 0-9 numeral cards 0r 1-9 playing cards and place them face down on the table. Players take turns to select two cards and form a two digit number with the cards. The number formed is written on the number path in a relevant position. If a player is unable to place their number, they miss a turn. Key questions: Why did you select that position to place your number? Why did you choose to use XY, instead of YX?

Possible extensions: Play the game with 3-digit numbers (using 3 cards) or 4-digit numbers.

Stage 2 - EMU Homework (see video below)

Doubles Challenge 

You will need: 

• Two dice

• Two players 

• A piece of paper to keep track of the points

Each player gets two dice. They each roll their dice until a double is thrown. The player who rolls the double calls “Double!” and then predicts the total. The opponent checks and proves the total. A correct prediction earns one point. The first player with 5 points wins.

Helpful Hint: If you want to challenge yourself, add more dice or use 10-sided dice.

Stage 3 - EMU Homework (see video below)

Money Handfuls

Since you have your money boxes out from last week's activity - this week we are doing money handfuls! Your child grabs a handful of money. Sort it any way they like and count to find their total. When your child has counted the money you can ask your child questions such as: How much money do I need to get to the next dollar? How much money do I need to get to a dollar and cent amount; e.g. $11:30? If I had a $10 or $20 dollar amount, how much would I get if I bought something equivalent to the child's amount of  money?

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 have been 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 this Monday 17th May. A book of tickets was sent home with each family - please return all tickets and money to school by Monday morning. 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. 

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 Amii Francis & Elaine Morssink, 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.

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

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 last week. 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