Term 3 - Week 7, 2021

Acting Principal's Message

Sometimes, with our 24-hour news cycle, we can find ourselves having access to too much information, and not much of this has been very positive of late! This can really affect our sense of hope and our overall wellbeing.

One thing I find very helpful is to take a moment at the end of each day to reflect on all the little things that brought me a moment of joy during the day. It might be as simple as a moment sitting in the sunshine, sharing a laugh with a friend over the phone. This practice actually provides you with the perfect way to pray with your children each night before bed; each of you thanking God for the good moments in your day.

I will continue to keep you updated regarding the state government's plans for children to return to the school grounds.  I'm looking forward to that time very much; and I will wager you are too!

Warm regards,

Liz Watts
Acting Principal

Mount Saint Johns Dorrigo

Anxiety in your Child - A Seminar with Dr Justin Coulson

An 'Anxiety in your Child' webinar by Dr Justin Coulson is available to all Mt St John's parents and staff at no cost.  If people register they will be sent the recording that will be able to be viewed for 1 week following the webinar. https://happyfamiliesfamilyeducation.ac-page.com/mt-st-johns-primary-school-dorrigo-anxiety-in-your-child

Wednesday 8 September 2021 | 7.30pm AEST

Anxiety has become one of the leading causes of ill-health in our children. And it’s also affecting more parents than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated what was already an accelerating problem.

Can we stop anxiety? Where is it coming from? Are our kids bubble-wrapped snowflakes that just need to “toughen up” and get over it? Or is there an approach to our children’s anxiety that can build them, encourage them, and give them hope?

This webinar will provide the answers every parent needs to help their children – and even to help themselves.

Over the course of a 90 minutes, Dr Justin Coulson will help you to:

• Recognise anxiety in your child and know how best to respond when anxiety flares up
• Become a supportive hope-giver to your child to empower him/her to be courageous in the face of anxious thoughts
• Uncover the research-based #1 strength your child can develop to combat anxiety and develop remarkable resilience
• Identify how your own anxieties could be affecting your child, and know how to manage them
• Learn proven strategies to help both you and your child navigate and manage anxiety when things get stressful

Once you’ve participated in this webinar, you’ll have strategies that you can put into practice on the spot to help curb anxiety, build confidence, and restore resilience in your child. And if you struggle with anxiety yourself, you’ll be changed.

Note – this is a live webinar, but a link will be available for 7 days after the event.

2021 Book Week & Book Fair POSTPONED

We have made the decision to move Book Week (including the Book Fair and book character dress-up day) to Week 10, ensuring the best possible chance for us to be together to celebrate the wonderful world of books. 

Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Wellbeing

2022 Enrolments Now Open

We are taking enrolments for Kindergarten for 2022. Children are eligible for Kindergarten if they turn 5 by July 31 of that year. All children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday. To enrol at Mt St John’s, follow these three steps:

1. Collect an enrolment form from the school office.
2. Return the completed enrolment form to school office.
3. Attend an enrolment interview with your child.

In Term 4, students who are enrolled for 2022 can attend our formal Kindergarten transition sessions. We look forward to meeting our new Kindergarten students soon!

Big School Experience session cancelled

During term 3, we were hoping to welcome our local pre-school children to join in experiencing 'big school'! We have had one session, but unfortunately due to COVID restrictions, other sessions have been cancelled. Hopefully we can hold the session booked for later in the term on 14th September. Children will need to bring a hat and a water bottle. Call the school on 6657 2552 for more information.

Parenting Webinars

Below are two flyers for our school community.

1. A collection of helpful parenting webinars on a range of topics with links for more information and registration.

2. A webinar funded by Parent Assembly for all Catholic school parents in the diocese of Lismore, presented by psychologist Andrew Fuller.

Learn to Swim Term 4

YMCA Dorrigo will open on 18^th September 2021 and Dorrigo YMCA Learn to Swim program for term 4 will begin Wednesday 6^th October (subject to government restrictions). For those wanting to enrol children or those wishing to find out more information please email:  admin.dorrigo@ymcansw.org.au

Please leave your best contact details and the day/s and times you would prefer. We’re not on site at the moment but alternatively you can phone the pool and leave a message and we’ll get back to you.

Stay safe, hoping to see you all soon.

Mini Vinnies Winter Appeal

We are gathering donations again this year for our Winter Appeal. Please help us if you can. We need 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.

Thank you for your  support,

The Mini Vinnies Group

School Facebook Page

We have launched our new school Facebook page! It has been wonderful to be able to share the good news of our school with our families and community. 

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. 

Term 3 School Fees

Term 3 school fees are now due, unless you are paying by regular direct debit.

Several payment methods are available; 

• Regular direct deposit payments (see suggested amounts below).
• Lump sum direct deposit
• Cash
• Cheque

1 student - Term 3 - $276.00

       $46.16 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $23.08 per week (x 50 weeks)

2 students - Term 3 - $483.00

       $81.28 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $40.64 per week (x 50 weeks)

3 or more students  - Term 3 – $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

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.

Position Vacant at Dorrigo MPS

Dorrigo Show 2021

Below are some exciting competitions that the Show Society will be holding this year. The Show organisers are encouraging students to participate and make a wonderful display. Please note that this year's Show will be held on Friday 26 November and Saturday 27 November. Check out the Dorrigo Show website for more information. 

Vision Screening Clinics

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. 

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 and 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. 

Healthy Lunchbox Website

Cancer Council’s Healthy Lunch Box website is your one-stop shop for everything you need to know about packing a healthy lunch box.  For recipes, information and health tips please visit the website below.

Nutrition Snippet