Term 2 - Week 6, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

I have been travelling with our Stage 3 students this week in Sydney and Canberra. I am pleased to report that our students are healthy and happy to be coming home, although they are a little tired. My thanks go to Mrs Beaumont and Mr Lee for travelling and supporting the children to have such a positive experience.

I have been especially pleased with the reports we have received from our venues regarding our student behaviour. We have received many positive comments from venues we have stayed in and places we have visited. The students have been respectful, engaged and have learnt a lot about how our democracy works in Australia. I commend them all on their behaviour; they have been exceptional and I am very proud of their effort this week.   

We were fortunate to have viewed a debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. It was truly inspiring to hear passionate Members of Parliament debating present issues in Australia and holding the current government to account. We were also fortunate to meet with our local member Pat Conaghan and hear about his journey into politics.

I’m looking forward to being back at school next week, seeing the other students and sharing our story from camp with the rest of the school. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about our journey this week through our daily newsletters. My thanks go to Ms Kermode for organising this daily.  As we're on the bus today, there won't be a special Camp edition, but there are some more photos below.

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal  

Electoral Education Centre from late yesterday when we we learnt how to vote. Everyone boarding the bus, ready to come home! Plus a quick stop at Lake George

Community Givebacks - Rebel

Community Givebacks through Rebel Sport is a program designed to allow sports clubs and schools to earn in-store credits at Rebel to purchase essential sporting equipment and team wear. Registered sports clubs and schools are rewarded with 5% back on sales linked to a member or student who is a Rebel active member. We were able to purchase some more equipment this week thanks to the Giveback credits we had in-store. Our students have had a wonderful time playing with our new gear!

Aleasa Kermode

Assistant Principal  

Community Givebacks from Rebel Sport

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200 Years of Catholic Education

On Monday 24th May, Ivy and Mia travelled with Mrs Darby to St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore to join with students and teachers from all over our diocese to celebrate a National Mass for the Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia.  

This celebration marked the bicentenary of the first ‘official’ Catholic school opened in Parramatta in October 1820.  Mass was celebrated simultaneously across Australia and fell on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians. 

The scale of Catholic education in Australia is unique in the world, serving over 777,000 students and employing over 100,000 staff. We are blessed to have the support of governments and our families that ensures we can make a Catholic education accessible to families in every major town and city, and in many regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.

The children had the opportunity to experience the grandeur of the cathedral and to hear the amazing voices of our youth choir as they were united in faith as a Diocesan family.

We were privileged to be participants in a smoking ceremony and water blessing as we were welcomed to country as we entered the Cathedral. Mia and Ivy represented us reverently and respectfully as they proceeded in with our Proclaim banner alongside students from every primary and high school in our Diocese. 

As part of his homily Rev Paul Gooley, VG, said that the gift of faith comes directly from God and that no one has the right to deny this gift to our children.  He said that it is the responsibility of all of us to foster this faith. “No one has the right to deny this faith; not parents, not priests, not Bishops, not teachers, not peers.... as it is our faith that brings hope, peace and joy to all who receive it.”

To summarise our mission as Catholic schools, I share the refrain of our thanksgiving hymn ‘Faith in the Future’ by Father Rob Galea:

We will live, love, reach out to the world.

Bring joy, hope and peace in God’s name.

As your people, we have faith, faith in the future.

It is this that Catholic Education is all about. Spreading God’s love to all as we celebrate each person and the gifts they bring as they fulfil God’s mission of love.

Sue Darby

Kindergarten Excursion

On Wednesday, May the 26th, Kindergarten went on their very first excursion to the Dorrigo Museum. This is part of our Human Society and its Environment unit, History - Personal and Family Histories. The excursion provided students with the opportunity to learn about their own history and that of their family. Opportunities were provided to build on their knowledge and understanding of how the past is different from the present.

We were very excited about finding out lots of information about the town of Dorrigo and the interesting items from the past. We saw an old typewriter, calculator, record player and many other interesting items.

Our first Excursion!

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Weekly Awards

This week's class awards went to:

Hunter Gibson - for using scientific language when writing about the Science experiment - mini volcanoes.

Aurora Williams - for explaining how to create the Science experiment - mini volcanoes.

Jules Francis - for always sharing and looking out for your classmates. What amazing leadership skills you are showing. Keep it up!

Jinky Ware - for your research on layers of a rainforest. You did a great job recording the information you found. Well done.

Cormac O'Leary - for being a wonderful and fair player when playing games!

NAIDOC 2021 Colouring In Competition

Hayley and Salena have designed a great picture for you to colour in.

There are some really cool prizes from the NAIDOC merchandise catalogue, like beanies and balls and watches.

Can you please return your completed colouring-ins to Cathy in the office by Friday of Week 7. That is Friday the 4th of June. 

Please remember to put your name and age on the back!

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)

Teddies at 3 Tables

Give students 12 small plastic teddies and a mat with 3 ‘tables’.

Present the problem: 12 teddies all sat down in a restaurant with 3 tables. How might they be sitting?

Discuss the different possibilities. Identify solutions with the same number of teddies at each table? How many possibilities are there? What if there were more teddies or more tables?

Stage 1 - EMU Homework (see video below)

Dice Multiplication

Players roll two dice (e.g. one red and one white). The red dice indicates the numbers of groups to make and the white dice indicates the number in each group. Use counters to make a model of the situation. Each player predicts then proves the total number in their collection. The other players agree or challenge the solution. The player with the least items wins the round and earns a point. The first player to score five points is the winner. Imagine one more group. What would be your new total? Imagine one less group. What would be your new total?

Stage 2 - EMU Homework (see video below)

Round and Round the Garden!

For this task you will need:

• Numeral cards (0 to 9) or dice if you don't have the cards.

• Two Players

• Counters as a token

• The template

• Dice 

How to play: Each player selects four numeral cards (o to 9 cards) and makes a four-digit number from the cards selected. After you make your number, you may choose to also make it using paddle-pop sticks or MAB blocks. The players will then take turns rolling the die and making their way around the garden in a clockwise motion. As each player moves, they will change their starting number by adding or subtracting the number stated on their new place on the board. Once you land on a new place you must add or subtract and then say your new number out loud. After three rounds the player with the smallest number wins!

Challenge: If you’d like to challenge yourself, add an extra card to make a five-digit number.

Stage 3 - EMU Homework (see video below)

The aim is to develop multiplication strategies. Use 6-sided dice and select any 2-digit number. Roll the six-sided dice and multiply your 2-digit number. Make sure you partition the 2-digit number. For example - 5 x 36. I would break down the 36 into 30 and  6.

Then I would go:

5 x 30 = 150

5 x 6 = 30   

130 + 30 = 180.

You can get your child to practise multiplying a 1-digit by a 3-digit number. Ensuring you partition the 3-digit number into hundreds, tens and ones.

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

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.

Looking After Your Dog and Your Cat

Soon there are going to be free talks on looking after your dog or your cat.  They will be after school on Friday afternoon at Hickory House.

You need to know how to feed you dog or your cat properly so that they don’t get sick, or perhaps should be taken to a vet who is a doctor for animals.  You also need to know how to tell that they are sick. After all, they can’t say “Mum, I don’t feel well.”

Also what to do if your pet is injured, perhaps hit by a car.  Dogs might bite you if you try to help them, other times they will love you even more.

U3A which stands for University of the Third Age has been organising talks on keeping animals healthy.  We have talked about cattle and horses and now it is the turn of dogs and cats.

The talks are free, at 4.00pm on Friday 28th May and 4^th June and will be given by local vet, Monica Darke.

 Friday 4.00pm to 5.00pm at Hickory House, admission free.

For more information, call Nick Wright on 0427 578015.

Dorrigo Rotary BBQ Breakfast

Dorrigo Rotary Club is holding a BBQ breakfast on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at the recently reopened Coronation Park, Corner of Hickory and Vine Streets, commencing at 8.30 a.m. and finishing at 11.00 a.m. The breakfast is to mark the completion of the park upgrade, with its new play equipment, and to provide an opportunity to bring local families together to view the new facilities. Rotary will be offering a sausage in a roll, bacon and egg wraps and Popper drinks.  The event is not a fundraiser, but rather a community service, so prices will be affordable.

Messy Church

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 fees are payable by today, 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.

Comunity Directory Resource

Nutrition Snippet