Term 4 - Week 6, 2022

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

On Monday we held our first Writing Fair. It was a celebration of learning and it was great to share this moment with the children’s parents and grandparents. We were able to showcase how student writing develops from Kindergarten up to Year 6. Our ‘Caption This’ competition is still running as students ran out of time to write some funny remarks about the photos that were on display. This competition will close on Monday with winners announced at our assembly.

On Tuesday we held another Kindergarten Orientation session. It was also a chance for Mrs Darby and me to meet the parents of our 2023 Kindergarten students. We talked about what to expect when the children begin school next year. There was also a discussion about class groups for 2023; as soon as our staffing is finalised I will inform our community of our class structures for next year. Keep in mind that we are looking at a number of different options so that we can best support the students in each class. 

Lastly, a reminder that tomorrow is a pupil free day as staff prepare to unpack the new K - 2 curriculum which we implement next year. 

Regards,

Nathan Trezise,

Principal

Writing Fair

Get Moving Raffle

Mt St John’s School is starting to raise funds to enable us to install a basketball court at our school. As part of the fundraising activities we have a “Get Moving” Raffle. A raffle ticket booklet was sent home yesterday for each family to sell if you are able to. If you need more ticket booklets, please contact the school on ph 6657 2552 or pop in to school to pick one up.

Please return all tickets and money by Friday 9^th December to Mt St John’s School front office.

The raffle will be drawn on Monday 12^th December at the Awards Ceremony.

Weekly Awards

Congratulations to the following students, who received learning awards this week:

Chayse B - For wonderful work and counting in Maths. Keep it up!

Charlotte B - For amazing writing about Wombat Stew. I love the work you do when you are on a roll!

Rory O - For your hard work and effort when rearranging jumbled sentences.

Rory O (again!!) - For your amazing work in Maths. Fantastic number recognition, incredible adding. Keep it up.

Lakota M-T - For your great persistence in Maths. You were able to make an amount in different ways.

Eden G - For an excellent result in co-writing a story about poddy calves.

Mia G - For her willingness to take on challenges in Mathematics.

Clay B - For responsible and independent learning in Science and Technology by following Google Classroom activities to create circuits and switches.

Abbi M - For being able to convert improper fractions to proper fractions with different denominators.

Today We Noticed.... RESPECT

This week we've been focusing on the school expectation of being respectful, and we've been on the look-out for students showing respect so we can recognise and highlight their positive contributions to our classrooms and yard. Each of these students has their affirmation written on a slip of paper to bring home - ask them about it!

Congratulations to the following students: Harry W, Ryan, Willa, Hayley, Harry C, Malachi, Charlotte, Rokko & Ruby M

Term 4 Swimming Lessons

Our Term 4 swimming program continues for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Swimming is a compulsory part of the PDHPE curriculum. 

Students will need to bring swimmers, a towel, goggles, caps (the school can provide swimming caps for those students who don't own one), and sun shirts to school each Thursday for their lesson. There is no extra cost for swimming lessons, as the school covers the pool entry fees and payments to the swim teachers. 

Swimming lessons will take place each Thursday in Term 4 (weather permitting) at the following times:

Stage 3 at 1pm

Stage 2 at 1.40pm

K - 2 at 2.20pm

Students will walk to and from the pool. Please note, K - 2 students are to be collected from the pool at the end of the day each Thursday as their lesson will finish at 3:05pm. K - 2 students catching buses will do so from Dorrigo Public School, supervised by our staff. 

Kindergarten Orientation

We are continuing our Kindergarten orientation sessions to support the students to transition to school. Our final session will be held on Tuesday 29th November (includes parent morning tea).

Students should bring a hat to wear in the playground, a snack for recess and a bottle of water.

Enrolments Open for 2023

Enrolments are open for Kindergarten and all other grades for 2023. Please phone the school on 6657 2552 to request an enrolment pack. When you have returned your completed application form to the school, you and your child will be invited to attend an enrolment interview. 

Uniform Items

We have received stock in more sizes of school shirts and jackets. Uniform prices are as follows:

School hats - $15

Shirts - $25

Skorts - $20

Shorts - $20

Rain jackets - $50

Term 4 School Fees

Term 4 school fees have been billed to each family. These fees are payable by Friday 25th November, unless you are paying by regular direct debit amounts. 
 
1 student - $281.50 
2 students - $492.62
3 or more students - $633.37
 
Payment options are:  

1. using the Compass app - You can check your school fee balance and pay fees through the Compass app. Select more - school fees - next - and enter your credit card details. You have the option to pay in full or pay a portion of your fees. 
2. cash or cheque at school 
3. direct deposit to the school's bank account (see instructions below)

When using Internet banking, please use your child’s surname as a reference.
Banancoast Community Credit Union   
BSB no. 533-000
Account no. 3282 0430                 
Name: Mt St John’s Primary School
 
Remember, if you feel you will be unable to finalise your Term 4 school fees by this date, some financial assistance may be available from St Vincent de Paul - to make an appointment with them, call          0472 718 862. You will need to take your school fee statement with you to your appointment.

How to Cancel a Canteen Order

If you need to, you can cancel canteen orders before 8:30am on Friday mornings. If you know your child is going to be away you can go into Compass Canteen and select "cancel order". The money goes back into your Compass "wallet" so you can use it next time you order - when you get to the Confirm & pay screen, click on the down arrow and select Compass Credit. 

Leaving Students Access to Compass Portal

Parents of students who are leaving school at the end of year, and not continuing their education within the Diocese of Lismore, will lose access to their Compass portal on the 31st December 2022. Therefore parents should download their child’s reports in Compass prior to the 31st December.

Parents of students who are continuing their education within the Diocese of Lismore will still be
able to access their child’s reports through their Compass portal.

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. 

Dorrigo Show Timetable

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 Bus Travel

Applications for student travel can 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. 

GLUE

GLUE "God Loves Us Eternally" KidsClub is held each Wednesday during school terms 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.

The last Messy Church  of the year "Messy Kings" will be held on Sunday 27th November 2022 4-6pm.

Service NSW Mobile Centre

Service NSW is returning to Dorrigo on Wednesday, 30^th of November 2022 in the Mobile Service Centre.  

A friendly reminder that the dedicated Service NSW team on board can provide support across a broad range of services: 

• Roads & Maritime Services (including licence and registration renewals and applications). 
• Processing of NSW Fitness to Drive Medical Assessments and Mobility Parking Applications. 
• Processing of RSA and RCG cards. 
• Undertaking Driver Knowledge Tests.  
• Births, Deaths and Marriages (including birth, marriage, death and change of name certificates).  
• Application and Renewal of Working with Children Checks on behalf of Office of Children’s Guardian

 The Mobile Service Centre is a cashless facility and will accept payment by credit/debit cards or cheques.   

If you require any further information on our service locations or opening hours, visit service.nsw.gov.au/msc or contact us on 13 77 88.  

Instrumental Music With Hazel

Hazel Buchanan is offering individual music lessons on Friday afternoons at school again this year, and currently has a couple of spaces. Hazel teaches woodwind, brass and piano. For more details, please call Hazel on 0458 572525.

Coffs Jetty Rock Fishing Safety Event

10 FREE community rock fishing safety days are being held along the NSW coast at identified high risk areas. These days involve a number of organisations coming together to support education and awareness development of rock fishing and coastal safety. During these events each participant receives lifejacket education and a free fitted lifejacket. This event is being run thanks to Federal Government funding through the Recreational Fisheries Trust.

You can read more about these events here:

Gone Fishing Sessions - Beach Safety Hub

The next event is being held in Coffs Harbour on the 3^rd of December and will be a vital event to bring attention to drowning prevention as the summer begins.

This event is being promoted to communities in Coffs Harbour as well as the surrounding LGA’s. This will be the only event run in this area. 

This day is a family day and outside of the rock fishing safety sessions, there will be fun activities run for children and families along with beach safety sessions with lifesavers and a free lunch for all attendees.

Art Miinggiya 'Art in Your Heart' Exhibition

Entries are now open for the Art Miinggiya Art in Your Heart exhibition celebrating Bellingen Shire’s diversity and creativity. 

• Prize pool of $2500
• All ages and abilities welcome – primary and secondary aged entries encouraged
• Painting, photography, drawing and digital works accepted
• Entry form attached - Hardcopy entry forms are available at the Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire and Libraries in Bellingen, Dorrigo and Urunga.

 This is an inclusive, all abilities art exhibition open to anyone within Bellingen Shire. Entries close 30 November. 

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.