Term 2 - Week 9, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Last Friday we held our Parish Athletics Carnival with St Mary's Bellingen students. Thankfully the Dorrigo weather cooperated and it was fine and sunny although a little cool to start. I was impressed to see our students giving their best effort to the events on offer. It was especially pleasing to see many of our students running the 800m race.

The results from this carnival will be announced at Monday's assembly with regard to Parish Age Champions, School Age Champions and MSJ Zone Athletics team members. Students who are selected to compete at Clarence Zone will compete in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday 13th July, which is the first day back at school for Term 3. More information will come out about this next week to those students selected.

Yesterday's Movie Night & Parent Assembly gathering at the school were well attended. There is a QR code further down in this newsletter - scanning it will enable parents to complete a survey indicating what Parent Assembly events you would like to see offered at the school. Your replies will help us to plan a term 3 event.

Finally, Monday 12th July is a pupil-free Staff Development Day. Staff will be engaging with Professional Learning to progress our Clarity work with Lyn Sharratt. This work helps us to focus on what matters most with regard to each child's learning.

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal  

Athletics Carnival

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 36

Next

Big School Experience

During term 3, we will be welcoming our local pre-school children to join in experiencing 'big school'! We can't wait to show them around and welcome them into our school community.  These sessions are open to any child who will be starting Kindergarten in 2022.

Staff Development Day

We have a staff development day on the first day of Term 3, Monday 12th July. Staff will be focusing on learning about Clarity and School Improvement. The first day of Term 3 for students will be Tuesday 13th July. 

Parent Assembly, Movie & Pizza Night

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

I am sure that you all noticed last week it was very cold. Winter greeted us with force. This made us all think of the many people in our wider community who are sleeping rough at the moment. The statistics tell us that this number has greatly increased due to the housing shortage our area is facing along with many others at this time. We also know that the largest growing group in this demographic is women and children. In response to this, we are running our Winter Warmers and toiletry appeal. 

Please help us if you can. We need any toiletries; soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, moisturizer, deodorant, toothbrushes, scarves, beanies, blankets, jumpers, socks etc. Whatever you have to spare would make a real difference to someone in need.

Matthew 25:40-45

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Thank you for your generous support.

The Mini Vinnies Group

Can you help?

Labyrinth Progress

The second phase of our labyrinth construction is well on the way. Mrs Darby was finally able to secure some more mondo grass and this, along with the many plants she propagated, was enough for us to fill the inner spaces of the labyrinth path. Next week Steve will plant the agapanthus around the border and that will conclude our planting. Next term we will decorate two plinths; one at the entrance and one at the centre, where reflection verses will be placed. After this the labyrinth will be ready for use.

A big thank you goes to Jenni Francis and Steve who gave us their time to help with this part of the project. Thanks also to Tiernan who ably assisted.

Our labyrinth is well on the way to providing our school community with a special place of reflection and prayer and we can’t wait for its launch early next term.

Solids, Liquids and Gases

We learnt about solids, liquids and gases in Science. I put some bicarb into a balloon then twisted it. Then I put vinegar into a bottle and put the balloon on top. When it untwisted, the bicarb and vinegar made so much gas it filled the balloon. There was so much it popped the balloon. 

Evelyn, Year 5

Basketball NSW

During the school holidays, Basketball NSW is hosting a FREE 'Come & Try" day for Girls.

When: Monday 5 July 2021

Time: 9 am to 12 noon

Where: At Sportz Central Coffs Harbour

Cost:  FREE

New School Website!

We have launched our new school website complete with updated information, pictures, format, and some feature articles of our incredible students hard at work and play! Head over and have a look. You can find dates of upcoming events on the website and learn more about our teaching and learning, and family and school partnerships at Mt St John's. 

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

Mathematics 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 - Homework (see video below)

Stage 1 - Homework (see video below)

Stage 2 - Homework (see video below)

Stage 3 - Homework (see video below)

2021 Premier's Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools. You must read a certain number of books to complete the Challenge. The Challenge closes for students on Friday August 20, 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.

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. 

After School Lego at Dorrigo Library

School Holiday Activities at Bellingen Shire Libraries

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 now due, 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