Term 4 - Week 8, 2021

Acting Principal's Message

Despite the forecast, the children were fortunate to be outside for most recess and lunchtimes to play in our beautiful grounds this week. In my time here at MSJ, one of the real joys that I have experienced is being on the field with the children and watching how they interact with each other across ages and stages. It is something that is very unique and special to a small school such as MSJ.

I have also had the privilege this week to go into Stage 2 and participate in morning prayer. Starting a day with prayer is an incredibly grounding way for the students to be in the best position possible to engage with their learning. This week, the focus was on Wonder and Awe, a tricky concept to explain but fundamental to foster in this generation of children. By appreciating the beauty and majesty of our world, we learn to understand our role as stewards within it.

Warm regards,

Craig Warnes, Acting Principal

Weekly Awards

Keira T - for using a variety of strategies to solve problem words in reading.

Aurora W - for making good connections in spelling to see patterns in words that were known, and using them to spell new words.

Xavier B - for your great attitude towards all your work. You are a great role model to all.

Jinky W - for your amazing reading and discussions about reading this week. Great comprehension!

Jordan D - for fantastic work in reading groups, developing your reading.

Kyrin M - for fantastic work in reading groups and giving things a go. Keep it up!

Freya W - for a well-constructed 'slam' poem and being confident to present it to the class.

Ryleigh M - for showing excellent leadership skills by being an enthusiastic participant in all oral and written activities.

End of Year Fun Day

We have booked the Dorrigo Pool for an end-of-year fun day on Tuesday 14^th December. The senior students will walk down to the pool in the morning to enjoy some activities in the water, then they’ll walk back to school to have a sausage sizzle lunch with the rest of the students. In the afternoon, the junior students will walk down to have their turn at the pool. We have planned some VERY fun and exciting activities to be set up in the school playground for the alternate sessions at school. We can’t spoil the surprise by telling you what these will be, but don’t miss this day!

Stage 3 Assembly - Monday 27 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.

Awards Presentation Assembly

Our end-of-year awards presentation assembly and liturgy will be held on Monday 13^th December. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to invite parents and community members to this event, but we will be streaming it and sharing the link through Facebook.

Seasonal Activities for Families

With Summer and the Advent season fast approaching, Parent Assembly is offering free kits to assist families to get into the seasonal spirit - see flyer below. Families can register for all or one of the kits and they will be posted out.

Road Safety in the Christmas Holidays

2022 Enrolments

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 now due, 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)

Bead Kebab Bump

You need your bead kebab from your EMU pack to play this game, and a dice. To play you place the beads in the centre of the stick, then you roll and take that number from the centre and say... I have… there are… left then your partner rolls. They take that number and say I have… you have… and there are... left in the centre. Continue to play until one player has all the beads or you have had enough.

Stage 1 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

 Array Challenge

Make a set of photos of arrays involving 6-36 items. Each player turns over a photo and screens all but one row and column of the array and passes the screened photo to their partner, Next each player imagines the entire array, works out the total number of items and proves the total to their partner’s satisfaction (and removes the screen if necessary). If correct, each player earns a point. A bonus point is awarded for any arrays representing a square number. Play multiple rounds. The first player to 5 points wins the game.

Stage 2 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Number Busting with Multiplication

Using a 6 sided die, make a two digit number. Once you have the number, set a time for 4 minutes and then write all the multiplication sums that make this number. After the 4 minutes, circle your favourite sum and explain why to a partner. 

Stage 3 - Mathematics Games (see video below)

Dividing by nine

Create a 3 digit number using a pack of cards. Estimate firstly how many groups of nine would make that number. In order to estimate, think about how many groups of 10 would make that number. Then after you have predicted, you can use a short division to find your answer. You can check your answer by using multiplication. By multiplying your estimate by nine, using a short multiplication algorithm.

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

This Wednesday was the last day of borrowing for the school year. This will give students time to finish and return their library books before the Christmas holidays. Please return all books before the end of the year. Please check under beds, in bookcases and in the car for any library or school books you may have. Remember – the Dorrigo local library will be open during the holidays, so avail yourselves of their great selection of books!

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.

Bellingen Drive Thru Testing Clinic

The Bellingen ‘Drive Thru’ COVID testing clinic is now 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.

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