Happy Pi Day! As a Mathematics teacher, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to acknowledge March 14th. In American style of writing, this date would be written as 3.14, which coincides with the first three significant figures of the pi constant, a concept that has been used by humans for at least four thousand years to calculate the area of a circle.

As you know, I spent a week and a half in Manila, Philippines attending an International Conference and Leadership Course which centred on the theme of Character Education. They were an inspiring few days, which left us all with plenty of food for thought. It was great to be able to work with like-minded people from different countries who try to implement the same ideals of promoting character education in their schools. As we realised throughout the course, this is no easy task, with no fixed solution, but one that makes all the difference in the development of our students. It is a task that doesn’t just fall on the school leaders, but is most effective when everyone gets on board: teachers, staff, parents and students.

Over the past few weeks, we have run small brainstorming sessions with the staff, the class parents and student leaders, asking them to consider what the characteristics of a Montgrove graduate are. We will be using the ideas from these sessions when putting together the Whole School Learning Framework that I spoke about at the Key Parent Function. Although not surprising, it has been very good to see how strongly the idea of service and virtue have come through in these sessions, which reflects the strong ethos that is being built in the school.

In the sport and extra-curricular area, the girls have had a good start to the year. At the Hills Zone Swimming Carnival, 8 girls progressed to the next level. Congratulations to the Secondary Swimming team who were awarded Best Performed School and to Gerielle Patalinghug (Yr 4) who was awarded the Junior Girl Age Champion. In the Rostrum Public Speaking Competition, Mikha Joseph (Yr 9) and Anastasia Vu Nguyen (Yr 8) both won their heats and will be competing in the Regional finals next term.

Lent has begun and it has been great to see so many of the Secondary girls going to Mass. The overflow into the hall reminds me every day of how we need to move the chapel to its new location. While we try to carry out our Lenten resolutions, it would be good to offer some of these daily sacrifices for the many intentions of our school community. In particular please continue to pray for Raphaella Roberts (baby sister of Anna (Yr 12) and Azaliah (Yr 2)) and Mr Elbayeh (father of Olivia (Yr 7)). Both families are very grateful for your prayers.

Congratulations to the following Montgrove families who have recently welcomed a new baby to their family:

© Ana & Brandon Iraheta on the birth of Lily Victoria, sister to Elena (KS)

© Jessica & Allan Le Grand on the birth of a baby boy, brother to Clare (5B) & Jude (1W)

© Rosemary Joseph & Abin Chacko on the birth of a baby girl, sister to Daniel Joseph (1G)

On Wednesday 26th February our Year 11 House Captains for 2025 were announced.  Congratulations to:

• Marion Lugod - Brindabella 
• Charlotte Aldous - Diamantina
• Adelaide Mackenzie - Menindee 
• Francesca Filamor - Tanami 

On Wednesday 26th February our 2025 Class Representatives were announced.  Congratulations to: 

Year 7 Blue

• Layla De La Paz
• Claire Galan

Year 7 Green

• Grace Aldous
• Olivia Elbayeh

Year 8 Blue

• Summer Amituani 
• Celine Roi

Year 8 Green 

• Jacinta Ellis
• Zara Farrugia

Year 9 Blue

• Annabella Morched
• Naomi Portugal

Year 9 Green

• Mikha Joseph
• Sanja Surkic

Year 10  

• Clare Ciappara
• Josephine Muema

At the Mass of Thanksgiving, in Melbourne, when he was on the point of moving from the Archdiocese of Melbourne, to become the Archbishop of Sydney, the then Archbishop George Pell declared: “There is a lesson here for all of us: to use whatever time we have, because we can never be sure how much time remains to us. ‘Carpe diem’! ‘Seize the day!’’ We must seize our opportunities for prayer and for action, rather than relying on good intentions, to be implemented tomorrow.”

In this Lenten season of the Jubilee Year of 2025, we “Pilgrims of Hope” can also read what St Josemaría wrote in “The Forge”: “You shouldn’t be so easy on yourself! Don’t wait until the New Year, to make your resolutions. Every day is a good day to make good decisions.” And Cardinal Pell would re-iterate that Latin maxim: “Carpe diem”! So, all this year and always, let’s seize the opportunity that comes our way, each day, to say “Please”, “Thank you”, “Sorry”, especially to God, in a smiling way.

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Simon Elbayeh, father to Olivia (7G); Regine Bernacer(11B) daughter to Anne Bernacer (Formation team); Raphaella Roberts, sibling to Anna (12) & Azaliah (2G) Roberts, cousin to Seraphia (9B), Miriam (7B), Jacinta (5B), Danielle (3B) and Joseph (1S) Karam; Joshua Gibbons (Yr5 Wollemi), brother to Catherine (8B) & Madeleine (7B) Gibbons; Easter Nasayao-Montenegro, aunt to Lael Nasayao (4B); Lucy Bates, sister to Sarah Tuballa (Librarian and Religion teacher), aunty to Charlotte (10B) & Felicity (4B) Tuballa; Walter Daniel Valenton, uncle to Elyssa (8G), Marcela (3B) and Daniela (3B) Valenton; Vengie Pangilinan (Former teacher); Helen Stanojevic (KG Teacher); & Emmanuel Hanna, brother to Cecilia (10B) & Lucia (7G) Hanna.

Please also remember those who have passed away:

Bruce Kilpatrick, father to Julie Blazevic (school secretary), grandfather to Lisa Blazevic (library assistant) & great grandfather to Thylane Djurdjevic (2B); Benjamin Santiago, father to Agryna (12); Craig Walsh Jr, Uncle to Paula Catt (6B); Craig Walsh Snr Grandfather to Paula Catt (6B); Aiyana Cabanero (Yr10 2019) sister to Amara (9) Cabanero.

If you would like to add any intentions to the Prayer Board, please send them to melanie.merriman@montgrove.nsw.edu.au. Please also let Melanie know when your intentions can be removed. 

Siblings of current students are given priority during the enrolment process.  If you would like to submit an application for your son/daughter in Kindergarten 2026 please register via this form and an application form will be emailed directly to you.  Students enrolling in Kindergarten must have turned 5 years by March 31 of the year that they are to start school.

Those who have already submitted Kindergarten 2026 applications previously, there is no action required from you at this stage. This is just a reminder email for any current families who intend to but have not yet applied.

Please note that the Enrolment Acceptance Fee is now $200 for all families and that current families applying for Kindergarten places for 2026 onwards will be subject to a school readiness assessment prior to their child's year of entry. 

If you have any questions please contact our Enrolments Team enrol@montgrove.nsw.edu.au or call (02) 4749 4714. We look forward to assisting you in your enrolment journey.

Kindergarten to Year 6

Start:            8:50am

Finish:           3:00pm

Kindergarten and Year 1 students may be picked up at 2:45pm from their classroom. Please note that this is only applicable for parents who ONLY have children in Kindergarten and Year 1.

Kindergarten to Year 6 students arriving after 8:50am will be required to sign in at the office.

Year 7 to Year 12

Start:            8:30am

Finish:           3:15pm

Year 7 to 12 students arriving after 8:30am will be required to sign in at the office.

• If you have children in both Kindergarten and/or Year 1 AND a primary student, please collect them after 3:00pm. 
• If you have children in both Primary and Secondary school please collect them between 3:15pm and 3.30pm. 

RSVP: https://forms.gle/EzjkxG8uB8ZqvFV19

SAVE THE DATE!

The 2025 School Photos will be held on Thursday 10th April 2025.     

On Photo day, please ensure that:

• Students wear full summer uniform with shoes polished
• Hair which is shoulder length or longer must be tied back
• Top knots and multiple braids are not acceptable
• Ribbons and hair accessories must be in school colours
• Any jewellery worn to school must be in line with school policy
• Girls are NOT permitted to wear makeup
• This applies to class photos as well as individual portraits

HOW TO ORDER PHOTO PACKAGES AND SIBLING PHOTOS

To reduce administration and potential security issues related to the return of cash and envelopes on photo day, orders for packages and sibling photographs will need to be placed securely online at www.advancedlife.com.au using our school’s unique 9 digit advanced order code. 

Step 1:  Go to www.advancedlife.com.au

Step 2:  Enter school code ZHR 8VP K65 in the “order and download box”.  This will take you to the school’s secure online ordering site. 

Step 3:  Click on “Order Photos” and complete your details.  During this process you can place orders for additional children and sibling photos.   

Step 4:  Pay for your photos using Visa, Mastercard, PayPal or Latitude Pay

PLEASE NOTE:

• Portrait and group package orders can be ordered online right up until photo day
• Sibling Photos must be pre-ordered online up to 24 hours before photo day.
  • Sibling photographs will only be taken if an order has been placed.
  • Only students enrolled at Montgrove can be included in the sibling photo.
• A Late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately.

We do have a small number of envelopes available at reception for those families who are unable to order online.  Should you wish to purchase using an envelope, these can be collected from the office no later than Monday 31st March 2025.

Should you have any queries concerning school photographs or online ordering, please direct them via email to enquiries@advancedlife.com.au

Absence forms are done through the Engage Parent Portal. The Engage Parent Portal allows you to access your children's reports, complete absence forms and see your account details for both Wollemi & Montgrove. You would have already received your username and password earlier in the year.

Montgrove College is proud to support Penrith Community Kitchen. Penrith Community Kitchen is a wonderful local charity for those who are less fortunate than us and 2024 marked 30 years of them helping people in need.

Penrith Community Kitchen’s mission is to create a supportive service within our community, providing meals, resources, and compassion to those experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. We aim to foster a culture of generosity, where individuals come together to uplift and empower each other, building a more inclusive and caring society..

We help those people by donating non-perishable food.  Each classroom has a Penrith Kitchen box or tub inside for the students to put donations in.  Every so often Year 6 will come and collect your donations.  We encourage all classes to participate in this project throughout this whole year. We are one of the most regular and biggest school donators to their charity as you can see in the photos below. 

Below are some of the foods and supplies that the kitchen needs regularly.  For the safety of our students, we kindly ask that you don’t donate anything in a glass jar. 

• Pasta/rice/grains/sauces/ beans/soups/instant noodles
• Beetroot/corn/vegetables/spaghetti/tin tomato/ spices for cooking
• Tea/coffee/sugar/Long life milk
• Cordials/drinks/poppers/juices and water bottles that can be given and then refilled
• Cereals/porridge/pancake mix
• Cleaning products/washing up/scourers/paper towel, glad wrap/foil/glad lunch bags

We have been advised that they are currently in need of the following: 

• Tomato based pasta sauce
• Tin tomatoes
• Vegemite
• Passata
• Chicken Stock
• Beef Stock
• Cake mixes
• Paper towels
• 4 bean mix
• Tomato paste
• Minced garlic
• Mayonnaise
• Cheese spread

Penrith Community Kitchen is always looking for volunteers and other donations.  For more information on this wonderful community charity please visit www.penrithcommunitykitchen.com.au  

The NSW Premier's Reading Challenge is now open and Montgrove College is excited to be participating!

What is the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge?

The PRC is a statewide Challenge that encourages students to develop a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students and enables them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition, but a challenge to encourage each student to read, to read more, and to read more widely.

All students who complete the challenge and have their reading record validated by the school’s PRC coordinator will receive a certificate signed by the Premier of NSW.

How many books do students need to read?

Students in Kindergarten to Year 2 are challenged to read or experience 30 books. 20 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books. Books can be read with a parent, carer, teacher or another student. 

Students in Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 20 books independently. At least 10 of these books must be from the relevant Challenge booklists, and up to 10 books can be personal choice books.

If a book is from an approved PRC series, students can enter up to 5 books as Challenge books, and can read up to 10 other books from the same series as Personal Choice books. More information on the rules of the Challenge can be found on the PRC website.

Books must be added to a student’s online reading record by Friday 22 August 2025 in order for their reading record to be validated and receive a certificate.

How do students log their reading?

Students can access the PRC’s Student Experience site using their DoE username and password, or can log into the site via the Student Portal. A video guide explaining how to use the Student Experience site can be found here. All students have been given their login details. 

How can students find books on the NSW PRC challenge lists?

Montgrove College library has a wide variety of titles on the NSW PRC.  In addition to our selection, Penrith City Library also has an extensive selection of PRC titles.

Sarah Tuballa

PRC Coordinator at Montgrove College

On Wednesday 5th of March, Rihanna, Mikha and Anastasia, participated in the first heat of the Rostrum Voice of the Youth speaking competition against various other schools. Each student had to prepare their own unique speech on their chosen topic and present it in front of an audience and adjudicators.Both Mikha and Anastasia won their heat and will  proceed to the Regional Finals in May. 

Congratulations to our Primary and Secondary Representative Swimming teams for their outstanding efforts at the Hills Zone Swimming Carnival on Monday, March 3rd! With 27 students competing throughout the day, the level of competition was incredibly high, but our swimmers delivered some exceptional performances.

A special congratulations to the following students for their achievements:

Primary Carnival:

Gerielle P. (Year 4) placed 1^st in the 8-10yrs age group for 50m Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, 100m Freestyle and 2^nd in 50m Butterfly.

Gerielle was awarded Junior Girls Age Champion for the Carnival. She will now progress through to the CIS Carnival to represent HZSA for all of her events- an incredible accomplishment!

Secondary Carnival:

Zoe W (Year 7) placed 3^rd in the 12 years 100m Freestyle

Amelia B (Year 8) placed 3^rd in the 14 years 50m Backstroke, Butterfly and 200m IM

Lauren L (Year 9) placed 3^rd in the 15 years 50m Freestyle

Chloe L, Lucy C, Summer A and Amelia B placed 1^st in the 12-14 yrs Freestyle relay

Amelia B, Maria C, Lucy C and Chloe L placed 1^st in the 12-14 yrs Medley relay

Zoe, Amelia, Lauren, Chloe, Lucy, Summer and Maria have now qualified to progress through to compete at the AICES Swimming carnival.

Overall, all our students performed exceptionally well, and Montgrove was proudly awarded Best Performed School at the Secondary Carnival. A huge well done to all the girls who participated. It is fantastic to see our Montgrove swimmers representing our school with such dedication and excellence. Best of luck to our students competing at the CIS and AICES Carnivals later this month.

C. Bolton

PDHPE/Sports Coordinator

• Lessons during class time for infants and primary students.  Before school lessons for secondary (or after school at a nearby private studio)
• Beginner to advanced levels taught
• Two optional student recitals held each year at the Joan Sutherland Centre
• AMEB piano and music theory examinations offered
• Teacher is accredited and a full member of the NSW Music Teacher’s Association

Every dad wants to be there for his family, but it’s not always clear how to do it best. Take a day to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Fatherhood isn’t about being perfect—
it’s about being present.

For more information: Growing Hearts for Fathers

BOOK NOW TO ATTEND

Montgrove College Trading Hours 2024

Mondays: 8:30am to 12:30pm

Ordering online couldn’t be simpler.

 Go to www.midford.com.au

1. Select Montgrove College from the online School Shops tab.
2. New users to click the ‘Register New Account’ button.
3. Start the registration process by selecting Montgrove College from the drop-down menu and add Montgrove unique school pass phrase: Montgrove2007
4. Add your personal information, create a username and password.
5. Order the items you need, select pick up from the uniform shop on Monday's or option of home delivery.

NOTE: Choosing home delivery is the fastest way of receiving your orders and home delivery is free for all orders over $50.

Please book appointments through our online appointment system by using the below link.  https://Midford.as.me/MontgroveCollege

For enquiries please email: montgrove@midford.com.au

Date: Sunday 30th March

Time: 2:00-4:00pm 

Place: O'Brien Residence (see WhatsApp for Address)

Contact: Lucy O'Brien (0412 747 262)

All school fees must be paid via your Edstart account where you can opt for weekly, monthly, fortnightly, termly, or annual instalments. Pared will no longer accept direct payments.

As part of our commitment to parents, Montgrove will absorb the administrative fees for your Edstart Plus service, so that this service is free for families to use.

Edstart is a leading provider of payment and technology services for the education sector and currently works with thousands of parents at over 600 schools around Australia, with a key focus on providing personalised service for each family.

What are the benefits of partnering with Edstart?

1. Flexibility:

Edstart provides families with more options and greater flexibility when it comes to paying school fees, at no additional cost. For example, with an Edstart Plus account:

• Choose your preferred day for when payments are made

• Spread your payments over your preferred time frame during the school year

• Option to pay via direct debit, debit/credit card or BPay

• During difficult times, families can be offered flexible payment schedules

• Adjust your payments at any time

2. Paperless & secure:

●      Payment Information will be submitted and stored through Edstart’s secure online platform, so families can be assured of data security.

●      Direct debit forms no longer need to be printed. 

3. Customer Service:

●      Edstart provides Pared parents with a dedicated customer service team who can promptly respond to queries and questions over the phone, email or through their website’s live chat function.

If you haven't already, please set up your Edstart account online at edstart.com.au/pared.

1. PARED will issue the Invoice / Fee Account Statement once by week 2 of every Term 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2. This Invoice includes: Tuition Fees, Curriculum and Technology Levy (CTL) and Building Levy only.
3. The Pared Schools have partnered with Edstart to provide more flexibility and choice with your school fee payments. All school fees must be paid via your Edstart account where you can opt for weekly, monthly, fortnightly, termly, or annual instalments.
4. As it occurs, PARED will issue separate invoices for activities other than those in Item 2 above.  This will include major camps, major excursions, certain elective co-curricular expenses, band program, elective music software,  loss of or damage to laptop, PDHPE workbook, school diary, etc. 
5. These should also be paid via your Edstart account