Term 3, Week 1 - 2025

Principal's Message

Hi everyone,

Welcome back to what is already shaping up to be a wonderful Term 3 at Mt St John’s!

It’s been a joy to see our students return with such energy and enthusiasm for learning. We’ve hit the ground running with some exciting highlights already.

Our NAIDOC on the Plateau celebration was a beautiful and meaningful event, bringing our school and wider community together to honour the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

It was also fantastic to see so many faces at our recent Parent Group Meeting. Your support, ideas, and involvement make such a difference to our school life, and we’re grateful for the time and care you bring to these conversations.

Finally, we’re excited to welcome some new arrivals — both students and staff — to our school community. It’s always lovely to see our family grow! Welcome to: Sebastian in Year 6 (Renata & Mark), Harlee in Year 3 and Dusty in Year 1 (Lesley & Josh). In fantastic news, Ms Eleanor Kerr is now employed as a teacher at Mt St John's. As she moves into her new role, we welcome Mrs Abby Young (Tues - Wed) and Ms Isabel Perry (Thurs - Fri) as Student Support Staff.

Here’s to a positive and productive term ahead!

Sunday’s Gospel – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

In this week’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a man who becomes very rich and stores up all his crops and goods in big barns. But Jesus reminds us that having lots of things doesn’t make us truly rich. What matters most is being close to God and showing love to others.

Jesus teaches us not to focus too much on things like money or possessions, but to treasure the things that really last—like kindness, faith, friendship, and helping those in need.

Let us pray:

Loving God,
Help us to remember what really matters.
Teach us not to be greedy or selfish,
but to share what we have with others.
May we always try to be rich in love,
kindness, and faith in You.
Amen.

As always, please email, call or pop in and see me if you have anything you would like to discuss.

Deb

School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP)

As part of our Annual School Improvement Plan (SAIP), we are collaboratively developing school values that include learning, faith, and wellbeing. After gathering input from parents, teachers, and students—and carefully aligning this feedback with the values of the Catholic Church and the charism of the Presentation Sisters—we have finalised our school values: Respect, Responsibility, Relationships, and Resilience. These values will guide our school culture and support the holistic development of our students. Over the next six months, we will continue working with all members of our community to unpack and embed these values into everyday school life.

Kindergarten 2026 Information Sessions

We are excited to announce two Parent Information Sessions for families interested in Kindergarten 2026. These sessions will be held on Monday, 4th August from 9:30–10:30 am and 5:30–6:30 pm, with babysitting provided at the evening session (please note that we are making two times available, but the content of both sessions will be the same).

Come along to learn more about what makes Mt St John’s the place to be—a welcoming community, dedicated staff, and a strong focus on faith and learning. We look forward to meeting you! 

Mini Mounties

We are excited to announce that we are now advertising and accepting enrolments for our Mini Mounties Transition Program, which begins on Wednesday, 13th August.

This program is designed to support children as they prepare for Kindergarten, offering a gentle and engaging introduction to school life. If you or someone you know has a child starting school in 2026, we encourage you to get in touch with the office for more information or to secure a place. Everyone is welcome - come and see what Mt St John's has to offer!

Parent Community Group Meeting

It was lovely to see so many people at our Parent Community Group Meeting this week. This is an important forum that not only gives families insight into what’s happening at Mt St John’s, but also offers a voice in shaping what’s to come.

At our most recent meeting, we explored our school values, Behaviour Expectations, and our shared vision for the future of Mt St John’s. We also introduced a range of new initiatives that reflect what matters most to our community.

In the coming weeks, you’ll start to hear more about some of these exciting projects — including the arrival of chickens, the planting of fruit trees and gardens aligned with our value of sustainability, and the launch of our Tinker Shed, where students will engage in hands-on learning that fosters creativity and builds STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills.

These meetings are also a valuable opportunity for me to hear feedback on how our school is going and to gather suggestions for ways we can continue to improve.

Our Parent Community Group has no official roles or positions — everyone is welcome. Whether you come to listen, share ideas, or simply connect with others, we’d love to see you there.

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, 20th October.

Farewell & Thank You, Ms Sue Wesche

This week, we farewell Ms Sue Wesche, who has retired after eight wonderful years at Mt St John’s. Sue’s last day was Thursday, 31st July, and while we are sad to see her go, we are incredibly grateful for the many contributions she has made to our school community.

Sue’s warmth, dedication, and incredible green thumb have left a lasting mark on both our gardens and our hearts. She has been a calm and caring presence, and her love for nature has helped nurture not just our grounds, but also our students.

We wish Sue all the very best as she takes some well-earned time off and hope to see her back in a casual role in the future. Thank you, Sue—you will be greatly missed!

NAIDOC Photos

Student Awards

Congratulations to this fortnight's Award winners!

Stage 3 Excursion Fundraisers

Thank you for supporting us in our Stage 3 excursion fundraisers! We have made almost $9000 so far, which is a really fantastic effort.

Cake Trolley Fundraiser

As another fundraiser for the Stage 3 Excursion to Canberra, we are holding a Cake Trolley fundraiser on Friday 8th August.

We will be calling for donations of home-made (no shop-bought items please) fancy cakes, slices or biscuits to be sent in to school next Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, and a team of workers will slice them up and arrange them on trays. The cake trays will be sold at local businesses for $15 (or $20 for a large tray) each. Gluten free trays will be available. We have some talented bakers in our school community, so please give this very popular fundraiser your support!

If your business would like to order a tray, please contact the school. 

Our Shining Light Award

This year, we introduced a new award: the MSJ Shining Light Award. Nano Nagle, the Lady of the Lantern and founder of the Presentation Sisters, inspires this award. We recognise students who actively live out the values we promote at Mount St John's: kindness, respect, courage, empathy, and excellence.

Congratulations to Piper Boutell. Piper is always happy, positive, and inclusive. With an open heart, she makes everyone feel welcome at Mt St John’s.

What's On in Term 3

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

2025 School Fees

Please be advised that the amount owing for the whole of 2025 will be now showing in your Compass account. Statements are issued at the end of each month which will include your BPAY details, and these will also provide you with your nominated payment plan. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

In 2025, annual school fees are as follows:
 
1 student - $1396 (includes $60 resource fee per student)

2 students - $2458 (includes $60 resource fee per student)

3 students - $3186 (includes $60 resource fee per student)

 Payment options are:  

1. BPay—Instructions on how to make a payment using BPay are on your most recent school fee statement. This is our preferred payment method.
2. 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. 
3. cash at school 
4. EFTPOS at school

Remember, if you feel you will be unable to finalise your school fees by the due 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. Alternatively, you can call the Office to discuss your individual circumstances with the Principal.

Financial Assistance
We recognise the financial pressures that families may face and strive to offer flexible payment options to accommodate different circumstances. For enquiries about fee assistance, please contact the Diocesan Fee Support Team at feeassist@lism.catholic.edu.au

School Bus Travel

Applications are now open for 2025 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel. 

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

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 – click on the link below to apply. 

Dorrigo Dramatic Club - Young Drama

The Dorrigo Dramatic Club is excited to be running a Young Drama program from Term 3, 2025. The weekly program will be offered to primary school aged children and will focus on developing skills for the stage through a variety of activities and games. Lodge your interest for the program using the link below, and we will be in touch in the coming weeks with further information and so you can confirm your child's involvement.

Young Drama will run on Monday afternoons after school. Families will need to be members of the Dorrigo Dramatic Club in order for their child to participate. To become a member, or renew membership, please email membershipddc@gmail.com 

FREE Bellinger Valley Flood Relief AFL Program

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.