There was plenty of lively discussion at the Key Parent Function last night. Thank you to all the staff and parents who presented and moderated the group discussions. The topics covered included parenting strategies for discipline, building trust with your daughters, fostering healthy friendships and developing intrinsic motivation. As the topics were tailored to the needs of the parents, I could see that everyone was eager to contribute to the conversation. The session that I attended centred around intrinsic motivation and I heard a common theme: that often we miss opportunities for building that internal confidence and motivation in our children because we are in rush, and don’t make the space to think more intentionally about what we say to our children. We need to slow down to appreciate what our children are improving in and learning. Otherwise it is too easy to make a quick comment that focuses on outcomes rather than the skills they have learnt or the virtues that they have put into practice.

Given the success of last year’s inaugural Band Night, Talitha Koum will be happening again this year on the evening of Saturday 13th June. The girls have expanded their repertoire this year and it promises to be a great night. A flyer with more details can be found later in this newsletter

School Photos will be happening next week on Thursday 30th May. Please read the notice in the newsletter about uniform expectations and instructions on how to order photo packages and sibling photos.

Thank you to everyone who has brough in flowers for Our Lady during this month of May. It has been a joy to see the children praying in front of the different pictures and statues of Our Lady around the school. As we know, God listens to the prayers of children and to those who know how to be like children before Him. To finish the month of May, we will be having our annual Eucharistic Procession on Friday 31st May. This year, Fr Inigo Martinez-Echevarria, the Vicar of Opus Dei in Australia and New Zealand, will be leading the procession. Parents are welcome to join us for the procession, which will start at 9.30am.

Congratulations to: 

• Michelle and Michael Punch on the arrival of Avila Bernadette, sister to Alena (3G) & Levi (1W)

Pope Francis has called for 2024 to be a Year of Prayer, in preparation for the Jubilee Year 2025, and so, I hope the following may be of some help.

In praying about Holy Mary as the “House of Gold”, I remembered “goldilocks”, of fairy tale fame. At the website “Investopedia”, reference is made to, and an explanation is given of, what is termed a “Goldilocks economy”. It alludes to the fairy tale, where the hungry Goldilocks, in the house of the so-far-absent three bears, comes across a first bowl of porridge, which turns out to be too hot, then a second, which is too cold, and finally the third, which is “just right”. Investopedia explains that a “Goldilocks economy” is not too hot and not too cold, but “just right”, in terms of full employment, economic stability and stable growth, which are conditions that are considered ideal for investing, because companies can then grow and generate positive earnings growth, and stocks usually perform well. Such a situation tends to be temporary, though, because of “boom (hot)and bust (cold)” cycles.

We can note here that the word “economy” is Greek in origin, and has to do with “the good running of a household”. Therefore, all the above seems applicable to the running of any household, or family, where discipline should be not too hard, and not too soft, but just right. In real life, too, there are cycles of too much rigour, or of too much softness! Still, it might serve as a good reminder of the need for moderation and what is called in morals “the golden mean” (not the same as “being mean”) between extremes. All families can see the need for such an ongoing approach and effort.

Christians, for their part, know that the key thing is to love God and others as God loves us, which is what Jesus commanded us to do at the Last Supper. Now we can’t really love God, or others for God, as God loves, unless he himself gives us the power to do so. Therefore, we need, humbly and prayerfully, to petition God for his unlimited gift of Love, as the family members keep seeking the “goldilocks” mean of discipline in the household.

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Ruben and Zenaida Oringo, grandparents to Aiesha (Secondary Teacher) & Kara (12) Oringo; Charles Rafanan, father to Jiannah-Marie (8B); Nikita De Souza, girlfriend of Michael Carrington (PARED Maintenance); Fr John Flader, Tangara Priest; Amelia Acasio, grandmother to Renae (12) & Regine (10G) Bernacer; Victor Sciberras, father to Raelene Pirotta (Registrar); Benjamin Santiago, father to Agryna (11); & Emmanuel Hanna, brother to Cecilia (9B) & Lucia (6G) Hanna.

Please also remember those who have passed away:

Melanie Khoury, grandmother to Catherine (2B) & Alyssa (KB) Mattar and Adelaide-Rose (3G)& Catilin (KG) Mowad; Dorothy James, grandmother to Eliza (12) and Lucy (7) James; Antonio Singson, grandfather to Marina Fahkry (KS); Jeannette Azzi, grandmother to Maria (7) and Jane (4) Azzi; ReginaldSantos, uncle to Santiago Santos (1G); Peter Ruhl, grandfather to Mary (10), Clare (8) & Lucia (7) Ruhl; Antoine Scoulou, grandfather to Mona-Maria Scoulou (3B); Victor Asdiollo Tuballa, father-in-law to Sarah Tuballa (Religion teacher), grandfather to Charlotte (9B) & Felicity (3G) Tuballa; Priscilla De Leon Yabut, grandmother to Samantha Magat (12); Aurea Ingco, great grandmother to Mila Kottatis (2G); 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. 

Mass

Mass is held Monday to Friday at 12:15pm.  Parents are welcome to attend Mass in the Chapel.

Chapel Visits

Parents are welcome to visit the Chapel from 2:30pm for prayer. 

Confessions

Fr Anthony Khoudair is available for confessions on:

• Tuesdays from 2:45pm to 3:30pm
• Wednesdays from 2:45pm to 3:30pm 

*** On Wednesday 10th April, the afternoon confessions with Fr Anthony will be slightly shortened to 3:00pm - 3:30pm ***

 Fr Felix Navarro is available for confessions on:

• Thursdays from 3:00pm to 3:30pm
• Fridays from 3:00pm to 3:30pm 

As you are aware a new pedestrian crossing was installed on Bringelly Road over the holidays and as a result, a change was made to the exiting traffic from Montgrove: Between the hours of 8:15 and 9:15am and 2:45-3:45 pm all traffic turns left when exiting Montgrove. 

We would like to thank everyone for their assistance in adjusting to the new traffic conditions. The traffic in our carline and along Bringelly Road seems to be flowing more steadily as a result. The feedback has been very positive. 

We would like to take this opportunity to remind parents to please not park your car in the Medical Centre carpark next door or use this area as a pick up or drop off point.  If the Montgrove car park is full please use Oag Crescent and the surrounding streets to park your car. You are able to use the pedestrian crossing on Bringelly Road to safely pick up your children.   

SAVE THE DATE!

The 2024 School Photos will be held on Thursday 30th May 2024.     

On Photo day, please ensure that:

• Students wear full Winter 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 27th May 2024.

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

Thankyou to all the mum's who came to our Mother's Blessing and Morning Tea.  The sun shone brightly for us on this special occasion. 

We thank you again for all that you do and wish you all a Happy Mother's Day

Montgrove College will be hosting Japanese students from 30th July – 3rd August 2024.

Share your lifestyle & home whilst experiencing another culture.

• Students attend school on weekdays and enjoy family life with you on the weekend
• Japanese language is not necessary.
• Students just fit in with your family routines – eat your food, they need their own bed but can share a room.
• Families are paid $50 per night per student 

If you can assist in hosting a student or would like more information, please contact……..

VS Oceania Pty Ltd

Ph: 02 9889 4366  

Email : admin@vsoceania.com

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 https://healthylunchbox.com.au’ 

Changes to Healthy Lunch Box website

The Healthy Lunch Box website is changing to become the Healthy Made Tasty website!  All the Healthy Lunch Box resources, including the Interactive Lunch Box Builder will be been maintained in one section of the new website and all current Healthy Lunch Box URLs will be redirected to the new site.

Healthy Made Tasty will include updated recipes that will have nutrition, budget and reduce waste tips and have an additional section on how you can reduce your risk of cancer through healthy eating.  It will also have a resources section for printable and shareable resources.  The new website will be a fantastic tool for anyone interested in recipes, nutrition and cancer prevention and our resources and healthy tips will be able to be filtered for parents and schools.

Cancer Council Nutrition Snippets 

This will be the last school term that the Cancer Council will provide Nutrition Snippets.

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

As announced at the end of Term 3, our school has partnered with Edstart to facilitate the payment of your school fees. 

The deadline for setting up an Edstart Plus account has already passed. If you have not already set up your account, please do so as soon as possible by visiting edstart.com.au/pared – it only takes a few minutes to create your account. The friendly Edstart customer success team will be able to assist you should you have any questions, you can contact them at 1300 139 445 or contact@edstart.com.au.

From 2023, 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