Thank you for your support and prayers for Jamie Dowsett and his family. Our hearts go out to Bianca and her boys during this very difficult time and we continue to pray, trusting in God and his caring Providence. We also continue to pray for the Santiago family and for those who have recently lost loved ones or have family members who are sick.

I was inspired by the words of Pope Francis, which he wrote for his Easter homily shortly before his death. Pope Francis’ ponitificate was marked by the themes of mercy and hope, and his homily for Easter Sunday reflected this. He reminded us that the “Jubilee invites us to renew the gift of hope within us, to surrender our sufferings and our concerns to hope, to share it with those whom we meet along our journey and to entrust to hope the future of our lives and the destiny of the human family.” The hope of Easter and the hope of the Jubilee help us to place our suffering in God’s hands, so that they may bear fruit in Christ, in our lives and in the lives of others.

Some good news that came at the beginning of the term was that Raphaella Roberts was able to go home after 9 weeks in hospital. The family is so grateful for everyone’s prayers.

The Mother’s Day Blessing and Morning Tea yesterday was a beautiful event and it was lovely to see so many of our mothers and grandmothers. Thank you to the Fr Anthony and the Formation Team, and also to the Year 6 girls who prepared a delicious morning tea. We thank all our mothers for their untiring work and unconditional love. Wishing you all a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Congratulations to the following students who have recently received Principal's Awards

• The Infants Orchy went to Naomi Noone for offering her own crayon to another student whose twistable crayon was broken.
• The Primary Monty went to Isabella Karatovic & Cecilia Aldous for taking it upon herself to tidy up the lost property tubs 

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:

JamieDowsett, father to Marcus (KG); Argyna Santiago (Class of 2025); Bruce Kilpatrick, father to Julie Blazevic (school secretary), grandfather to Lisa Djurdjevic (library assistant) & great grandfather to Thylane Djurdjevic (2B); Benjamin Santiago, father to Argyna (Class of 2025); Craig Walsh Jr, Uncle to Paula Catt (6B); Craig Walsh Snr Grandfather to Paula Catt (6B); Aiyana Cabanero (Yr10 2019) sister to Amara (10) 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. 

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. We kindly ask that you do not collect any students from the Year 2 to 6 classrooms.

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. 

Kindergarten to Year 6

• Students arriving after 8:50am need to have their name recorded at the office.
• An Engage Late Arrival note needs to be completed for students arriving after 9:00am. 

Year 7 to 12

• Students arriving after 8:30am need to have their name recorded at the office. 
• An Engage Late Arrival note needs to be completed for students arriving after 8:35am. 

Parents are reminded of their responsibility to ensure students are dressed in the correct school uniform each day, including sports days.  Montgrove has a summer and winter uniform which are worn during the different terms. 

In Term 2 and 3 students are to wear the Winter Uniform

Winter Uniform

Boys

• Long Sleeve shirt
• School Tie
• Shorts
• Knee-length socks
• Navy Pullover

 Girls - Kindergarten to Year 6 

• Long sleeved white shirt - peter pan collar
• Checked Winter tunic with bow tie
• Navy-blue tights 
• Navy Pullover
• Blazers (Years 2-6)
• Straw Hat (Years 2-6)

 Girls - Year 6 to Year 12

• Long sleeved white shirt - pointed collar
• Checked Winter skirt
• School Tie
• Navy-blue tights 
• Navy Pullover
• Blazer
• Straw Hat 

Sports Uniform

Kindergarten to Year 1

• Infants Sports Polo Shirt
• Track pants
• V-neck sloppy joe

Girls - Year 2 to Year 12

• House Polo Shirt
• Microfiber Navy Shorts
• Microfiber Navy Pants
• Microfiber Jacket

Following the success of the Term 2 Key Parent Function format last year, we will be continuing with Targeted Parenting Topics for our Term 2 Key Parent Function on Wednesday 21st May at 7pm. Please see the attached flyer with more details. 

Based on our parent surveys, we have identified key topics that parents would like to learn more about and discuss with other parents in their year group. To RSVP for a group of one of your children's year levels, please use this link: https://forms.gle/BeL3yzPdV234gkpf9

Thanks and see you at our Term 2 KPF!

Band Night 2025 is fast approaching, and our students are well into their preparations for the evening. Please save the date and we hope to see you there! More details to come.

Staedtler’s Secondary School Artists of the Year Competition is coming soon and open to Year 7 to 12 students. For more information, please visit this link.

The AISNSW are hosting an art competition open to students in K-12. Students are invited to create an artwork using the theme “Teachers: Empowering every student to shine”. Montgrove is eligible to enter 2 artworks from Primary (K-6) and High School (7-12. For a chance to enter your artwork, submit your entry by Week 8, Friday 20th June 2025 to Mrs Lianne Guevarra. Please visit this link for more information.

For other inquiries about the art competitions, please contact Mrs Lianne Guevarra, Head of CAPA (lianne.guevarra@montgrove.nsw.edu.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.

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

A group of knitting enthusiasts in Year 4 have started The Granny Nannies Knitting Club, open to teach students in their grade knitting skills.

On Wednesday 9th May I had the pleasure of attending the Interschool Chess Challenge with ten of our wonderful Montgrove students. 

• Dyuthi Rajagopalan 
• Alankrita Rajagopalan 
• Marvella Gunawan 
• Annabelle Gunawan 
• Aralina Armans 
• Maria Lepan 
• Miriam Dodd 
• Gabrielle Centeno 
• Samreen Gill 
• Michelle Yu 

Dyuthi was the second highest points scorer out of all of the Primary students! She received a medal for her achievement. 

The girls all demonstrated such great sportsmanship despite the losses they each experienced. They showed such resilience and positivity throughout the whole day. The support they showed one another was heart warming, which as truly reflective of the wonderful Montgrove spirit we all know well. 

Last Friday, Montgrove College hosted Penrith Christian School for an exciting round of debating. The topic up for discussion was "That school assemblies should be banned." Both our Affirmative and Negative teams did a fantastic job representing our school.

The Affirmative team argued confidently and clearly, presenting well-structured points supported by solid reasoning and examples. Their strong case convinced the adjudicator, securing them a well-deserved win.

Our Negative team also performed exceptionally well, especially when it came to rebuttals. Although they narrowly missed out on the win, their ability to challenge the opposing case and respond under pressure was highly impressive—particularly for a first debate of the season.

What stood out most was the preparation and teamwork shown by all the students. From drafting speeches to anticipating counterarguments, their commitment was evident. The Montgrove students also demonstrated warm hospitality, hosting Penrith Christian School with grace and excellent manners.

Well done to all involved—this was a promising start to the season, and we look forward to many more debates ahead!

Our next debate is on Friday 16th May and we are travelling to Amity College, Prestons.  

Year 4 went on an excursion to Parramatta Riverside to watch The Princess and the Pea (and the Brave Escapee) theatre production. They were immersed in a string quartet, taking them on an adventure of discovering the world and that one can be more than just a princess.

📝 Supporting Your Child During Exams: Tips for Parents

Years 7-10 will be sitting their Half-Yearly Exams in Week 6, and we know it can be a challenging time for students and families alike. Your support can make all the difference! Here are some simple, effective ways to help your child feel prepared, confident, and calm during this period:

📚 Create the Right Environment

• Set up a quiet, clutter-free and a distinct space for studying. Their bed
• Establish a consistent daily routine with time for study, rest, meals, and sleep.

🗓️ Support with Time Management

• Help your child make a revision timetable and stick to it. Block out times for non-negotiable events, e.g. there may be a family party/event one weekend and study times could be arranged around this.
• Specific revision goals rather than trying to study for an entire subject.
• Encourage them to prioritise their most challenging topics first, when they're most alert.

🥦 Encourage Healthy Habits

• Provide nutritious meals and snacks to fuel the brain.
• Prioritize 8–10 hours of sleep and regular physical activity.
• Avoid excessive screen time and late-night cramming.

💬 Be Emotionally Supportive

• Check in regularly—listen, reassure, and stay positive.
• Celebrate effort, not just results. Remind them that mistakes are part of learning.
• Look out for signs of stress and don’t hesitate to seek support if needed.

📣 Stay Positive & Involved

• Avoid adding pressure—stay encouraging and calm.
• Know the exam schedule and help your child stay organized.
• Keep in touch with teachers and mentors if you have concerns.

The exam schedule will be released shortly and together we can help students approach exams with resilience and confidence.

Other resources for your reference:

https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/prepare-for-exams/

https://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/study/studying-and-exams/top-10-exam-tips

https://www.raisingteenagers.com.au/high-school-exam-support-tips-for-parents/ 

https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/helping-kids-cope-exam-stress-0 

• 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

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

Montgrove College Uniform Fitting Range Service will be open in the school holidays for fitting appointments and try on Services only.  No Sales or Orders will be placed on site. All orders are to be placed online only.  

If you’ve placed your order by Wednesday 7th April, your order will be ready for collection on Monday 14th between 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.  (School Holiday schedule hours only)

Orders placed after the 8th of April will be ready for collection on Monday 19th of April between 10:00am - 11:30am when the school returns.

Extended Term 2 Trading Hours  

• Monday 14th April: 9:00am-12:00pm 
• Wednesday 23rd April: 9:00am-3:00pm

The uniform shop will return to normal hours on Monday 28th April.

Year 2 dads and their daughters are invited to get together for a fun afternoon of bowling and banter. Zone Bowling Penrith, 2:15pm, Sunday May 18. Please RSVP to your class parent by Friday May 2.

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