Term 2 - Week 9, 2023

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Next Monday at 2.30pm we will have our end of term assembly, where we celebrate awards and achievements throughout the term. As always, all are welcome. Term 3 assemblies will look a bit different. We will have three assemblies over the term and they will follow a different structure and be focused on celebrating achievements and sharing work completed in class. Award winners will be notified and the dates will be on the calendar and well advertised. Our existing Prayer Assemblies will change form and be at a different time (more on this next term). In addition there will be a casual parent meeting from 2-2.30pm on the day of the assembly to inform, plan and get feedback on whole school issues. It will be informal, unofficial and open to all. 

There are lots of events next week, so check the calendar and Compass alerts. 

Monday: End of term assembly at 2.30pm;

Tuesday: K/1 Teddy Bears' Picnic;

Wednesday: NAIDOC celebrations all day at Dorrigo High School with all plateau schools;

Thursday: Zone Athletics Carnival (for qualifying students only)

Friday: Last day of term, half yearly reports go out on Compass. 

Next week I will be away on leave. Thank you for the warm welcome to Mt St John’s this term; I have loved serving the school community and getting to know the plateau area. I hope you get some family time in the school holidays and I look forward to seeing everyone on the first day of school in Term 3 (Tuesday 18 July). 

Peter Watts,

Principal

Stage 3 Slam Poetry

The students in the Year 4/5/6 class have been creating their own 'slam poems', which they presented to the school today. Below are videos of Reid and Finlay presenting their slam poems - how great are they!?

Week 10 Canteen Special

Next Friday we will have a canteen special available for $6 (GF available)

RECESS - misc. baked goodies & fruit cordial

LUNCH - sausage sandwich & icy tube

Project Compassion

We are 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.

St Vincent de Paul are also looking for any 2nd-hand drink bottles such as kids' drink bottles (not plastic PET water bottles). 

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

Thank you!

Louise Sprowles - LOSEC

Mini Vinnies Jumper Drive

Our Mini Vinnies group is holding a Jumper Drive this Winter. Do you have any warm jumpers in good condition that you no longer need? Please bring them to school by Monday 26th June and we will pass them on to St Vincent de Paul.

Thank you for your support!

2023 Premier's Reading Challenge

The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is open to all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools. You must read a certain number of books to complete the Challenge. The Challenge closes for students on Friday August 18, 2023.

Congratulations to the following students, who have completed this year's Premier's Reading Challenge: Aurora W, Vasja F, Chayse B, Keira T, Eden G

Polding Trials - Girls Rugby 7s

See flyer below for information regarding Polding trials for Girls Rugby 7s. Those who nominate must be of representative standard. Please see Kim Brady if you are interested.

Term 2 School Fees

Term 2 school fees are now due, unless you are paying by regular direct debit amounts.
 
1 student - $290
2 students - $507.50
3 or more students - $652.50
 
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!

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Please visit the website below for information about the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD).

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 - 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 term time from 3-5pm at the Anglican Hall. Afternoon tea, games, fun worship and craft. All primary kids in Years 1-6 are welcome, as are newcomers. For more info, ring Gwenneth on 6657 2135.

COVID-safe practices will apply.

Art as Therapy Exhibition

Feeling a little “blue”? Art facilitates wellbeing and healing through expression. 

You are invited to participate in this exhibition to be held at the Dorrigo Rainforest Centre Exhibition Space, Dorrigo National Park, Dome Road, Dorrigo: 10 - 29 October 2023. 

“Art as Therapy” is part of the Dorrigo Neighbourhood Centre’s Blue Tree Project, which aims to turn Dorrigo blue, with bunting, lighting, yarn-wrapped objects, etc. for the month of October (https://www.bluetreeproject.com.au/), in order to help spark difficult conversations and encourage people to speak up when battling mental health concerns: “By spreading the paint and spreading the message that "it’s OK to not be OK", we can help break down the stigma that’s still largely attached to mental health”.

The exhibition is open to residents of the Dorrigo Plateau and includes all people affected by mental health – either personally or as a support worker.  There is no entry fee for this exhibition, with a limit of 2 artworks per artist.

If you are interested in participating, please reply to Chris Fahey (Cc’d), Curator, Rainforest Centre Exhibition Space: E: cfahey25@yahoo.com.au   M: 0439 482 662

Service NSW Returning to Dorrigo

Service NSW is returning to Dorrigo on Tuesday 4^th July 2023 in our Mobile Service Centre.

A friendly reminder that our 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 

Our 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. 

North Coast Health Connect

North Coast Health Connect is a free new service providing health support and advice from registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. If you are a resident or visitor to the North Coast, you can speak or live chat with a nurse. The nurse will ask some questions to understand what’s troubling you and then provide advice on what your next step should be.

This may include self-care advice to help you to manage your health (or that of a loved one) from home, or the nurse may recommend a GP appointment or a consultation with a pharmacist. The nurses are able to book an appointment for you directly with a local general practice or pharmacy or if appropriate, can transfer you to a 24/7 GP telehealth service. If the nurse believes you need to attend an emergency department or see a different health service, they will let you know.

Visit the link below for more info and save as a contact for when you need it by visiting https://qrco.de/bdkiJm or by scanning the QR code below.

School Holiday Activities @ Dorrigo Library

Games afternoon @Dorrigo Library

'Shark Cage' Womens Group

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.