Term 1 - Week 7, 2023

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

I congratulate our Year 3 and 5 students on their attitude towards NAPLAN this week. We have had 100% of student attendance on testing days. The students did their very best, and we look forward to sharing their results with you in the near future. I’m told the Conventions of Language test was the most difficult assessment and the Numeracy test was by far most students' favourite test. Well done Years 3 and 5!

Next Friday is our first ever Colour Explosion Fun Run. This is a fundraising event to raise money to build a Basketball Court and to help all Stage 3 students attend the Canberra Excursion this year. To date, we have raised over $3600, which is exceptional. I know a handful of students will get to slime me next week (I look forward to that); maybe I will have to re-acquaint myself with shampoo. Please come and join us for what promises to be a fun afternoon.

Colour Explosion Fun Run: Friday 24th March @ 1:30pm

I also encourage you to attend our First 50 Days of Learning Celebration the following week. It is a chance for us to showcase our learning this term to parents and friends. Dinner is provided after we gather and there will be some fun family games to participate in.

First 50 Days of Learning: Thursday 30th March @ 5:00pm

Finally, I hope you can join us on the last day of term for our Dance Fever Showcase. This term all students have been learning Dance as part of Creative Arts. There will be a special performance for our parents to showcase our learning in Dance this term.

Dance Fever Showcase: Wednesday 5th April @ 2:30pm

Please note that Thursday 6th April is our Staff Spirituality Day. This is a pupil free day. 

Monday 24th April will be our Term 2 Staff Development Day; this is also a pupil free day. School will resume for Term 2 on Wednesday 26th April after the ANZAC Day public holiday.

Regards,

Nathan Trezise,

Principal

Mt St John’s School Colour Explosion

ONLY 1 WEEK TO GO!!!

The wait is almost over! Get ready to run, play and get colorful at the Colour Explosion School Run 4 Fun on Friday 24^th March from 1:30pm. We have a special announcement for you! All students who raise $500 or more will get to participate in sliming Mr Trezise. Who is up for the challenge?

All children MUST wear a WHITE shirt along with any colourful fancy dress. Students will be provided with sunglasses and a rainbow headband.

If you haven’t already visit www.australianfundraising.com.au to get started and create your fundraising page and feel uplifted by the difference you can make in our school!

Project Compassion/St Patrick's Day

We had a great fun celebrating St Patrick's Day today by dressing in green/Irish mufti today and sharing delicious green cupcakes at recess. We made $93, which will go to St Vincent de Paul.

We are also continuing to collect toiletries such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, brushes, combs, sanitary items, shampoo, deodorant, washing powder and warm items like socks and beanies, all of which will be donated to Pete's Place in Coffs Harbour to help homeless people in our local area.

Please help if you can - there is a basket at the front office in which to place your donations.

Thank you!

Louise Sprowles - LOSEC

St Patrick's Day 2023

2023 Cross Country Carnival

Our students will be participating in our annual Cross Country Carnival on Monday 27th March. This event will be held at the Dorrigo Rec Grounds. The start time will be 1:30pm and the event should be finished by around 3pm. Students will walk down to the Rec from MSJ after lunch and then will be catching buses from the Public School. If you normally pick your child up, this will be from the Rec grounds.

Students will need to bring a water bottle and ensure they wear running shoes on the day.

The program of events is as follows:
2km qualifying event - 8,9,10 yrs
K-2 race - 5, 6 & 7 yrs
3km qualifying event - 11, 12 & 13 yrs
Fun Run - open to all students

Please head to the Compass parent portal to give permission for your child/ren to attend this event. We will welcome parent helpers on the day - there is an area to indicate your availablility to assist in the permission form.

Canteen date changes coming up

Canteen will be on THURSDAY again next week, so please make sure you get your orders in by Wednesday morning. (Originally there was to be no canteen, but this has now changed)

50 Days of Learning Celebration

Our 50 Days of Learning Celebration is coming up on Thursday 30th March - see flyer below. All family members are welcome - parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles etc.

Dinner is provided - families MUST RSVP using one of the methods below for catering purposes.

Dion Drummond Indigenous Performance

Our school has been invited to attend an Indigenous performance by Dion Drummond on 30th March at St Mary's in Bellingen (see flyer below). We have booked a bus to attend this excursion - please head to the Compass parent portal to give permission for your child/ren to attend this event. There is no cost for this event.

Important Dates

Please note these upcoming dates for community gatherings: 

• Friday 24th March - Mt St John’s Colour Run 1:30 - 3:00pm

• Monday 27th March - Cross Country Carnival 1:30pm - 3:00pm  

• Thursday 30th March - First 50 Days Celebration of Learning 5:00 - 7:00pm 

• Wednesday 5th April - Dance Fever Showcase Assembly 2:30pm 

• Thursday 11th May - The Resilience Project Parent Information Session 5:00 - 7:00pm  

Pupil free days for 2023: 

• Thursday 6th April - Staff Spirituality Day 

• Monday 24th April - Term 2 Staff Development Day 

• Thursday 1st June - Staff Proclaim 

• Monday 17th July - Term 3 Staff Development Day 

Term 4 - Staff Development Day (to be confirmed - we may align this day to the Dorrigo Show). 

These dates have been added to the calendar and should be visible in Compass and on the school website.

Weekly Awards

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

Sophie C - For having a great learning attitude in class and creating pictures with lots of details.  Keep it up! 

Billie T - For being a kind classmate and sharing your wonderful stories with the class.

Aurora W - For being grateful and kind to her classmates.

Patrick M - For being a loyal friend.

Hayley M - For demonstrating independent learning behaviours by being able to complete Google classroom activities responsibly.

Cooper H - For creating an engaging but challenging maths game to demonstrate your understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages.

Term 1 School Fees

Term 1 school fees have been billed to each family. These fees are due today, unless you are paying by regular direct debit amounts. Please note that Term 1 fees include a $50 resource fee per student.
 
1 student - $340
2 students - $607.50
3 or more students - $802.50
 
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 1 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.

Thank you!

Term 1 Swimming Lessons each Thursday

Our Term 1 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. 

Students will walk to and from the pool. Please note, K - 1 students are to be collected from the pool at the end of the day each Thursday as their lesson will finish at 3:05pm. Kinder & Year 1 students catching buses will do so from Dorrigo Public School, supervised by our staff. 

How to Cancel a Canteen Order

If you need to, you can cancel canteen orders before 9am on Friday mornings. If you know your child is going to be away you can go into Compass Canteen and select "cancel order".

The refunded 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. 

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 - Tuesday

Library day for all students is Tuesday - 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 term time 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 first Messy Church is Messy Lent, which will be held this Sunday 19th March from 4-6pm in the Anglican Hall including dinner. Please look out for posters around town nearer the time and postcards that you can take with all our dates for 2023.

Orienteering in Dorrigo

Bellingen / Dorrigo Magpies Junior Rugby League

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.