At the Whole School Assembly yesterday we announced the Athletics Carnival winners. Congratulations to Tanami for (once again) winning the House Spirit trophy and Brindabella for winning the Points Trophy after a tremendous effort on both field and track events. The Athletics Carnival itself ran very smoothly and there was a lovely energetic vibe throughout the whole day. Thank you to Mrs Bolton and the Sports Department for a great day.

We also said farewell to Mrs Marina Haines, Founding Principal of Orchard Hills Preparatory School and Montgrove College. The students and teachers prepared a short speech and slide show with photos from the very beginnings of Orchard Hills Prep and Montgrove. They also prepared an album with photos and signatures of every student in the school. Mrs Haines told us some of her treasured memories with her characteristic humour and flare. At the end, the whole school stood up and sang Montgrove’s Farewell Song to our beloved Mrs Haines. We are so grateful for all she has done for the Pared schools in the West and wish her all the best for her retirement.

It was also St Josemaria day yesterday. The school was decorated with posters and a ‘50’ balloon, to commemorate the 50 years since St Josemaria was received into heaven. The fundraising team organised a successful sausage sizzle, with funds going towards the chapel. Thank you to all those involved. Thank you also to everyone who has been contributing to the chapel fund. There have been some generous donations and some wonderful fundraising initiatives that students and parents have organised this year.

With the slower pace of the holidays, I hope each of you will be able to spend some quality time as a family, enjoying the company of family and friends and appreciating the beautiful natural environment that we are blessed to have here in this country. Have a wonderful break and we will see you in Term 3.

Congratulations to

• Joan Mae & Christian Dulawan on the birth of Pia, sister to Maximilian (1G) & Thomas (KB)
• Melanie and Angelo Jr Armas on the birth of Aliana & Alvaro, sister and brother, to Aralina (4B) and Angelo (1S)

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Cecilia Obeid (5G), sister to Clare (4G) & Lucy (2G); Giorgio Murgolo, son to Michael Murgolo (Founding Class); Simon Elbayeh, father to Olivia (7G); 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:

VinceBellet, brother to Donna Murphy (English Teacher) Aden McFarlane, great grandfather to Charlotte McFarlane (4G); 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); 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. 

As we reach the end of Term 2, which is usually marked each year by the feast of Saint Josemaria, on June 26, I would like to quote from Blessed Alvaro, his successor: "The profound perception of the richness of the mystery of the Incarnate Word was the solid foundation of the Founder's spirituality. He understood that, with the Incarnation of the Word, all honest human realities were elevated to the supernatural order: working, studying, smiling, crying, getting tired, resting, cultivating friendship, etc. They had been, among many others, divine actions in the life of Jesus Christ; they could blend perfectly with the interior life and the apostolate: in a word, with the search for holiness” (A. DEL PORTILLO, Interview on the Founder of Opus Dei, conducted by Cesare Cavalleri, Rialp, Madrid 1993, p. 77).

As pilgrims of hope, during this Jubilee Year, may the above consideration provide yet another opportunity to re-focus and coalesce in our efforts, as we  journey  through this great Jubilee Year. This will no doubt open us to the many blessings that God has in store for us.

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 Friday 6 June, Year 5 braved the sudden cold snap and travelled to Bathurst as part of their History studies.  A great time was had by all, read on to see what they got up to:

Gold, gold, gold!

Smoke curled into the crisp morning air as we sat and watched the smouldering flames alight. Our damper carefully leaned into the hot, red coals and began to crisp. Our excursion to Bathurst wasn’t a normal one, we had travelled all the way back to the 1850s. 

We met our tour guide, Gary who came from the Sydney docks with his wife and eleven ‘darling’ children. He brought four vital things with him. Flour, salt, sugar and a ‘borrowed’ sail to use as a tent. He travelled all the way to Bathurst on foot with all he owned in a ‘borrowed’ wheelbarrow. It was a walk that took about two weeks and when he arrived at the Bathurst goldfields, he was welcomed by a horrible, hardly breathable stench of sweat and smoke.

We learned that miners were treated unjustly on the goldfields but they also treated other people unfairly too. I’m talking about the Chinese miners. Their pigtails were cut off and this meant they Chinese couldn’t return home because having no pigtail was a serious offense to the Emperor. The Chinese also believed that they needed the pigtail to be pulled up into heaven.

We saw the blacksmith at work and Cecilia and Bella helped him keep the fire going. It was amazing how he made the metal go red and then formed a tool in ten minutes! The metal cooling in the water made a strange hissing sound. 

Our damper was ready, cooked on an inferno of coals. We ate it hungrily.  We didn’t find any big nuggets of gold but the excursion to Bathurst was fun, informative and definitely worth the trip.

Gabby Centeno 5G

Bathurst

When some people hear the word ‘Bathurst’ they think, ‘Oh you mean the excursion we went on in Year 5!’ Well, that is true, but when I hear the word ‘Bathurst’ I think of much more than that! I think of friends, fun and most importantly, …Gary!

Gary was not just a tour guide, he was our friend. He showed us his perspective of the gold fields. He was fun and made Mrs Hoffmann laugh….a lot! He told us jokes and made us work hard, like the gold miners did. He pretended there was a ghost named Molly. (What a fibber!)

Let me tell you what activities we did.

• Gold panning
• Played children’s games from the gold rush times.
• We made damper and ate it.
• We made mud bricks.
• We looked at the history of the Chinese miners.
• We listened to a story and last but not least, went to McDonalds.

Bathurst was an opportunity to make friends and to share memories. We had so much fun!

Bathurst is not just a word but a memory that all of Year 5 will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Elizabeth Gil 5B

What an unforgettable day we had at our very first K–2 Mini Athletics Inspired Carnival! Our Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 students came together for a celebration of movement, fun, and community — and it was nothing short of magical.

With wide smiles and boundless energy, our students rotated through 10 exciting activity stations designed by our dedicated and creative teachers. From the moment the day began, the sounds of laughter, cheering, and playful chatter filled the air.

Each station brought something new and delightful — from The Great Bubble Chase (a huge hit!) to the energetic Animal Relay Race and the classic fun of the Sack Race. There was Parachuting, Tunnel Ball, Throwing and Catching, Over and Under Relays, Ball Catching Bonanza, Hurdle Races, and the ever-popular Rob the Nest. Every activity encouraged teamwork, joy, and a little friendly competition.

It was a beautiful reminder of what school life is all about — connection, confidence, and creating happy memories that stick. The children gave it their all, supporting one another, laughing deeply, and embracing the pure fun of being active together.

A huge thank you to our incredible teachers for their planning, effort, and enthusiasm. You made the day a true celebration of joy in motion!

We can’t wait to do it all again. Here's to many more days of sunshine, smiles, and special moments. 

Mrs. Gabin

On Thursday, 19th June, students in Years 3-12 gathered at Harold Corr Oval for the annual Montgrove Athletics Carnival. It was a fantastic day filled with enthusiasm, energy, and strong house spirit. Some students were even heard cheering from start to finish!

The competition was fierce across all events, with standout performances throughout the day. A highlight came during the final house relays, where the Junior Primary Diamantina team broke a long-standing record and the Senior Secondary Brindabella team broke their own record from 2024, an incredible achievement.

A big thank you to the student and parent helpers and all of the teachers on the day for making the carnival so enjoyable for everyone involved. Your support and enthusiasm helped create a memorable and successful event.

Congratulations to all students for their effort, participation, and school spirit. A special mention goes to the following students who also broke individual records on the day:

Well done, Montgrove!

C. Bolton

On Monday 10th June, Montgrove entered an Under 10s Futsal team into the Penrith Futsal School Championships at the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre.

The girls played with great spirit and teamwork throughout the day, progressing through four rounds to secure a place in the final. Facing a very strong opponent in the last match, the team gave it their all and proudly finished runners-up in their age division. Congratulations to the team on a fantastic achievement and for representing Montgrove with pride and enthusiasm!

On Monday 20th May, 52 Montgrove students braved a chilly start to compete in the annual Hillszone Cross Country Carnival. All students represented Montgrove with pride, demonstrating determination and sportsmanship across all age groups. There were many commendable performances, and we are proud to acknowledge those who achieved outstanding results.

Congratulations to the following Secondary students who progressed to the AICES Cross Country Championships, held on 29th May: Chloe L,  Summer A, Amelia B, Bernadette R (Year 8) Jemima G (Year 9) Amelia G (Year 11) and Magdalena L, Maria B, Maslak E (Year 12). These students competed with great spirit and determination, representing Montgrove well against tough competition.

We also acknowledge the Primary students who placed in the top 10 in their age group on the day advancing through to the CIS Cross Country Championships, which took place on 12th June: Sarah C, Jordaine F, Maria L, Elisa L and Anastasia R. They too performed exceptionally well amongst a very competitive field, showcasing grit and perseverance throughout the challenging course. 

A special congratulations goes to Sarah C (Year 4), who achieved an outstanding 2nd place in her age group at the Hills Zone Carnival, this is a remarkable result.

Well done to all students for their efforts, enthusiasm, and dedication. We are incredibly proud of your achievements and the way you represented our school.

• 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.  

Holiday Fitting Apppointment Hours  

• Monday 14th July: 11:00am-2:00pm 

Please note that students are required to wear Full Winter Uniform in Terms 2 & 3. 

Orders placed by Wednesday 16th July, will be ready for collection on Monday 21st July between 8:30am - 12:30pm. Any order placed after this date will be ready for collection on Monday 28th July between 8:30am-12:30pm.

The uniform shop will return to normal hours on Monday 21st July 2025.

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