Term 4 - Week 5, 2021

Acting Principal's Message

What an absolute delight it has been to have the 2022 Kinder students visit our school as part of the 'Mini Mounties' transition program. What has stood out is how wonderful our current MSJ students have been with the new children. You may have driven past our school noticeboard and observed the quote from Corinthians; 'Let all that you do be done in love'. It has been wonderful to see the students of MSJ bringing the Scripture to life through their words and actions with each other and the 2022 Kindergarten students. 
Unfortunately, it looks as if Level 3 restrictions for schools will remain in place for the remainder of the school year. This means that the only adults allowed on site must be double vaccinated and engaged in work with the school. As the year draws to a close, we will keep all parents informed of the end of year activities. We understand that this is very disappointing news and we are all very much looking forward to welcoming all of our parents back into the school in 2022. Let us all pray that the COVID situation continues to improve.

Warm regards,
Craig Warnes

Acting Principal

Weekly Awards

Hunter G - for noticing patterns in addition and subtraction problems

Ryan B - for working hard to match letters and sounds in word work.

Darcy R - for the amazing work you have been doing lately in Maths - great counting and thinking!

Piper B - for the huge improvement in your handwriting - keep it up!

Zoe R - for wonderful work in Maths and showing great learning.

Ivy M - for a great effort in class towards all your learning. Keep it up!

Tiernan O - for your willingness to help with organising Breakfast Club. Thank you.

Lily S - for using the Displacement method to prove that 1cm cubed equals 1mL.

Stage 3 Assembly - Monday 8 November

This Monday the Stage 3 class is leading our school assembly. We will be streaming the assembly and sharing the link through Facebook with our school community.

Mini Mounties 'Big School' Experience

We are VERY excited to be able to hold our Kindergarten Orientation sessions in the coming weeks. These will be held from 9:30am to 11am on Wednesday 20th October, 27th October, 3rd November, 10th November and 17th November.

All children who will be starting Kindergarten in 2022 are welcome to attend. Please call the school on 6657 2552 to confirm your child's attendance.

School Photos POSTPONED

Due to the Level 3 restrictions, which state that external providers not directly related to educational outcomes and support are not permitted on school grounds, our school photos have been POSTPONED to Week 8 – Friday 26^th November 2021.

The order forms which have already been returned will be kept safely at school until this date. A reminder that all order forms MUST be returned before photo day. If you would like a sibling order form, please let us know at school and one will be sent home.

Clarence Zone Sports Nominations - Tennis & Basketball

Clarence Zone is taking nominations for the 2021 Zone Summer Sports in Basketball and Tennis involving students from Year 4 and Year 5. Nominations for Cricket, Softball and Touch Football will be called for in Term 1, 2022.

Please note that due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no physical competition at Zone level. Nominations will be assessed on representative history and involvement in regular, strong competition. 

Students who are successful in gaining selection for the Diocesan trial will receive information about the Diocesan trials from their school sports coordinator.

At this stage Diocesan trials will be held in Lismore on; 

-Wednesday 1 December (Tennis) 

-Thursday 2 December (Basketball)

*Please be aware that these trial dates are dependent on Covid restrictions easing and as such may need to be altered or changed at short notice.

If your child would like to nominate, please see Kim for a note.

2022 Enrolments Now Open

We are taking enrolments for all classes in 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.

Term 4 School Fees

Term 4 school fees are payable by Friday 12th November, unless you are paying regular direct deposit payments. 
If you feel you will be unable to finalise your 2021 school fees by this 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.

Several payment methods are available; 

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

1 student - Term 4 - $276.00

       $46.16 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $23.08 per week (x 50 weeks)

2 students - Term 4 - $483.00

       $81.28 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $40.64 per week (x 50 weeks)

3 or more students  - Term 4 – $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

Mathematics Games 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 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Headache

This is a three person game but can be modified for two. The game is designed to build addition skills. You will need a pack of cards or a collection of handwritten numbers. You place the cards in the centre. One person is responsible for finding the total of the two numbers and the other two people take one card from the pile and (without looking at the card) hold it up to their head. Both players with cards can look at each other and the third person says the total. Players can lay their cards face down on the table if they need their fingers for help. If you get it correct you score a point.  Each player then swaps jobs. If there are only two players you can just lay the second card face up on the table and then one person takes a card and the second person says the total. To make the game easier you can take the higher numbers out of the pack before you start. I hope you have fun!

Stage 1 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Number Target Mat - 100

Make a target number mat (hundreds, tens and ones). Give each player a pebble and throw onto target. Work out the total score for each player and record. Repeat several times and determine the person with the greatest score.

Stage 2 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Number Target

For this activity you will need:

• A piece of paper or whiteboard

• A marker or pencil

• Number cards

Select a number card from the 0-100 pack (if playing along at home, you can just pick the number yourself). Using the number on the card selected, see how many different combinations you can come up with that equal the number on your card. E.g. if your card says 23 you might write that 20+3 =23 and 17 + 6 =23 etc.

If you’d like to make this a challenge you can try to come up with 3 or more numbers that add together to make the number on your card, e.g. 20+1+2= 23 or add another card to the mix so you have a 3 or 4 digit number.

Stage 3 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Multiplication Square

Children draw a 2 x 2 grid. Put random numbers in each square. Multiply the two numbers horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Children then add up the answers. They may need the area method to help them calculate the answer to 2 digit x 2 digit multiplication.

School Facebook Page

Check out our school Facebook page! It is wonderful to be able to share the good news of our school with our families and community. 

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. 

Canteen

We are able to re-open the canteen for the next few weeks! There will be a slightly limited menu as we need to use up the stock which was ordered prior to the COVID lockdowns. If you are available to help out in the canteen one or more Fridays, please call Alicia on 0488 280683. Thank you to today's volunteers, Alicia Miller & Amii Francis.

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.

Changes to times for Bellingen Drive Thru Testing Clinic

As of Monday 25^th October 2021, the operation of the Bellingen ‘Drive Thru’ COVID testing clinic will be changing. The service will no longer be GP run, but instead will be operated by Sullivan Nicolaides pathology. They will provide COVID testing from 12:30-1:30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). No booking is required – just turn up with medicare card or photo equivalent.

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 a 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. 

GLUE

GLUE: "God Loves Us Eternally" (formerly GFS) is held 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.

Lego Legends back for Term 4 at Dorrigo Library

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

Pink Fundraiser

Oh what a week it's been. I tell you all this running inside or like a drowned rat has me going a little bit crazy! So crazy that for the last weekend of October I'm opening up my PINK Hampers for Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st. 
Get in QUICK as limited orders! Please place your order by Monday 25th October by phone on 0413 459 489 or email aventseasy@gmail.com.
Dont forget to please cheer me on as I finish my 5kms a day. Can you believe I have reached 105kms already... no wonder I'm tired!
https://fundraise.mcgrathfoundation.com.au/fundraisers/corfecrew/fighting-for-mum---
Thank you to everyone who has already supported me and helped raise awareness throughout October - Ashlee Turner.