Term 1, Week 2, 2021

Principal's Message

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the new school year. Last week we welcomed our new Kindergarten students. They have made an impressive start as they learn to navigate primary school. There has been lots of play, talk and learning already.

Last week, we also welcomed some new teachers at our school. Please introduce yourself when you get the chance. We have Zoe Griffiths in Stage 2, Nancye Spiteri in Stage 1 and Michelle McIntosh in Kindergarten. We are excited to be working with these new teachers and are certainly glad they have moved to Dorrigo to be with us. It is hoped in the coming weeks we can organise parent-teacher catch-ups to enable you to meet the new staff and also to assist us in setting up the children for success for the year. More information will come once we know more.

Last Wednesday was the first day back for our staff. We were fortunate to work with Professor Robyn Ewing AM from The University of Sydney. She led our staff development day on using drama rich teaching and literature in our classrooms. The day was a chance for us to explore quality texts and how we can deepen student experience with these stories. 

The Arts (including literature) are an underused component in primary curricula despite unequivocal evidence that student involvement in quality arts-rich experiences enhances both affective and academic outcomes.

We learnt about the 4 C’s that every child should possess for the 21st century:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Creativity

It was an inspiring day, which highlighted the benefits of using quality texts and how we can use drama to engage students with these. 

Regards,

Nathan Trezise

Principal

Bishop Gregory Homeming

We were fortunate enough to have a visit from Bishop Gregory on Wednesday, February 3rd. Bishop Gregory viewed the school grounds and spoke with all students and staff during his visit. With our Kindergarten students, Bishop Gregory shared his views on how important breakfast is each day to help grow "big and strong". 

In Stage 1, Bishop Gregory emphasised the importance of caring for people and practising kindness every day. He called the Stage 1 students to action asking them to be kind and inclusive of one another and always let other children play when they want to.

After a discussion about how students at Mt St John's enjoy school, Bishop Gregory told the Stage 2 students a very important message - "Be the type of friend you want to have". He went on to explain how we can't force people to be friends with us because if we do, the moment they don't have to be friends they will stop. Instead, be the type of person you want to have as a friend - caring, kind, loving, funny, courageous. Bishop Gregory shared a story from when he was in primary school explaining how one student used to pick on him a lot. When he told his mother she replied, "he is probably unhappy and lonely" and suggested inviting this student over for a play. Bishop Gregory invited the child over and they became the best of friends after that. 

Stage 3 students were given the opportunity to ask Bishop Gregory some questions and discovered his favourite colour, as he said, "has to be brown"! If Bishop Gregory could choose a pet he would choose a dog. After growing up in Shepparton, Victoria, Bishop Gregory studied in economics and law at Sydney University then went on to practice as a lawyer for 5 years. When asked about being a Bishop, he explained that despite not choosing to be a Bishop, he accepted the role to honour a promise he made long ago to do whatever he could to help other people. Bishop Gregory asked the year 5 students to learn from the leadership of our year 6 students, to be open to guidance from the year 6 students. When addressing the year 6 students he asked them to care for all students at MSJ and reflect on their journey into year 6 - how they have grown into the strong people they are today and to take that with them as they move into secondary school. 

Bishop Gregory reminded us of the importance of kindness in our day-to-day lives. To stage 3 he said, "when you are faced with a decision, find our what the good and right thing to do is and ALWAYS choose that."

Aleasa Kermode

Assistant Principal

Bishop Gregory Visit

School Uniform Items Available

We have a stock of school uniform items available for purchase from the front office. We accept cash, cheque or bank transfer. Uniform prices are as follows:

School hats - $15

School shirts - $25

Skorts - $20

Shorts - $20

Rain jackets - $50

We also have some items available to buy from our 2nd-hand uniform pool.

School Bus Travel

Applications for student travel can now apply online. A new

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. https://apps.transport.nsw.gov.au/ssts/#/schoolDriveSubsidy

The Rules of Summer

Did you know?

You are not allowed to change a lightbulb in QLD unless you are a licenced electrician!

In Arizona, it is against the law to have a sleeping donkey in the bathtub after 7 pm. 

Stage 3 students have been exploring these and many more interesting rules and laws as a part of their work with the book "The Rules of Summer" by Shaun Tan. Year 5 and 6 went on to write their own creative story based on one or more of these rules. Enjoy reading some short stories from Ava and Cash!

Soccer Registrations Open

The Dorrigo Highlanders Football Club is now taking registrations for Miniroos, Juniors, Intermediate and Senior players in the 2021 North Coast Football season.  Player registrations are also needed to fill a Mixed 14s team.  Register online at www.playfootball.com.au with your Active Kids Voucher.  The NCF season for community club football begins Saturday 13 March.

Canteen

Thank you to this week’s canteen volunteer, who is Alicia Miller, and our muffin-baker Cathy Marsden. If anyone is available to volunteer in our canteen one or more Fridays per term, please contact our canteen co-ordinator Alicia on 0488 280683. If we have no volunteers available we will have to cancel canteen for that 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.

Updated Bell Times

This year we have modified our bell times.  The current times are as follows:

8:55 am - 11:00 am English Block

11:00 am - 11:15 am Lunch (children sit and eat)

11:15 am - 11:35 am Lunch Play

11:35 am - 12:55 pm Mathematics Block

12:55 pm - 1:05 pm Recess (children sit and eat)

1:05 pm - 1:20 pm Recess Play

1:20 pm - 3:05 pm Other Key Learning Areas (Science, Arts, History etc)

Weekly Awards

This week's class awards went to:

Aurora Williams - for staying on task when sitting at her desk and doing a great job.

Rory O'Leary - for staying on task when sitting at his desk and doing a great job.

Amelia Braaksma - for a great start to your first week in Year 1. Keep up the great work.

Chloe Thomas - for an amazing attitude and a fantastic start to the year. Keep it up.

Zoe Robinson - For being engaged in class and helpful.

Ruby Francis - for giving every task a go and always putting effort into your work.

Holly Shaw - for creating an engaging title for your narrative.

Cash Gibson - for excellent application and enthusiasm in all activities.

Zoe Beckett - for exploring Patterns and Algebra at home to better understand the concept.

Ryleigh Miller - for encouraging her peers to work effectively with her in Mathematics.

Term 1 School Fees

SCHOOL FEES: Term 1 school fee accounts are being sent home next week. Term 1 fees are payable by Friday 19th March, unless you are paying by regular direct deposit amounts.

Several payment methods are available; 

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

If you are planning to set up regular direct deposit school fee payments for the 2020 school year, following are instructions on how to do this: 

Suggested direct deposit amounts (from beginning of February 2020)

1 student - Term 1 - $326.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

      Terms 2, 3 & 4 - $276.00

       $46.16 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $23.08 per week (x 50 weeks)

2 students – Term 1 - $583.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

        Terms 2, 3 & 4 - $483.00 per term

       $81.28 per fortnight (x 25 fortnights)

       $40.64 per week (x 50 weeks)

3 or more students – Term 1 - $771.00 (includes $50 resource fee per student)

       Terms 2, 3 & 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.

Banancoast Community Credit Union   BSB no. 533-000

Account no. 3282 0430                 Name: Mt St John’s Primary School

GLUE

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

Family Fun Day at Dorrigo Golf Club