The social media ban for under 16s is a hot topic at the moment, and it is good to see some meaningful discussion around the overuse of screens and social media. Last month, The Australian published an article on this topic, quoting Danielle Einstein who described the battle over screens as ‘the defining parenting challenge of our generation’. Einstein is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about this topic and sees the effects that overuse of screens and social media can have on children.

She advises against using screens as a way to calm a child down, saying, ‘it’s really important that younger children can calm themselves down without a screen.’ When they develop this skill ‘they’re actually more interested in the outside world. They’re more curious. They’re more likely to finish things that they start.’ For young (and not so young) adults, it can be easy to ‘fall into the cycle of looking to a screen to pick their mood back up’ which is ‘likely to only compound anxiety’. Einstein suggests that those who are overanxious would be better off using offline activities as a mood lifter, which would also give them a better chance at tackling difficult tasks.

Some recommendations from Einstein and Judith Locke (our presenter for this term’s KPF) to help in this area include:

·       No personal devices for young children

·       Having free screen times for everyone in the household, especially during dinner

·       Handing devices over an hour before bed time

Modelling good habits when it comes to screen use is also an important way to develop good screen discipline at home.

Our Year 12 girls are completing their Trial exams and will be heading into their final weeks of preparation for their HSC. Soon after the Trials, the Drama and Music girls will be doing their HSC practical exams, and the Visual Arts girls will be handing in their Body of Work. We pray for them especially during these weeks.

Welcome to Term 3! I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful and refreshing break. As we begin this new term, we look forward to continuing our shared journey of learning, growth and achievement. Term 2 concluded with a number of rich and rewarding experiences and I’m pleased to share just some of the highlights from our Secondary School community.

One of the most memorable events was our Maths Escape Room, which offered students a creative and intellectually engaging way to apply their mathematical thinking. Set in a museum-inspired storyline involving famous mathematicians, the activity challenged students to solve complex puzzles under time pressure. It was wonderful to see how motivated they were, many driven by the excitement of competition and the satisfaction of cracking each stage. Although some were hesitant at first, most quickly became fully immersed, describing the experience as “smart, difficult, and fun.” The historical twist added depth to the challenge, and the entire event cleverly balanced academic rigour with adventure. Feedback from students suggests it was not only enjoyable, but also a powerful learning experience.

We were also proud to see six of our senior students from Years 11 and 12 take part in the NSW Chemistry Titration Competition at Western Sydney University, where they demonstrated precision, analytical thinking, and strong practical skills. The experience allowed them to step beyond the classroom and into a real-world scientific environment, reinforcing their learning in an authentic and meaningful way.

In another excellent opportunity, 21 of our Year 9 and 10 students attended Physics Unboxed: Ignite at the University of Sydney. This interactive day included hands-on workshops and fascinating talks by physicists, including female leaders in the field. The event was both inspiring and educational, giving our students a glimpse into the many pathways physics can open for them in the future.

Our students also participated in the Metro Minds STEAM Challenge, a Sydney Metro competition that encourages innovation through design thinking. Five teams from Years 7 to 10 represented our school, tackling real-world urban challenges with creativity and collaboration. A special congratulations goes to our Year 7 team, Metro Electros, who received a Highly Commended award for their outstanding project. The team members are: Layla De La Paz, Eve Wilkinson, Claire Galan, Gia Song, Lucia Hanna, and Sophia Piscopo. They will be presented with certificates at the finals on 22nd August. We are incredibly proud of their achievement.

Looking ahead, I’m pleased to invite you to our Annual Science Fair, which will be held on Friday, 15th August, from 9:00- 11:00am in the school hall. Our Year 8 students will be showcasing their science projects, and families are warmly invited to attend. The Science Fair marks the conclusion of Science Week (Week 4), which this year is themed “Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language.” Throughout the week, students across Secondary will have the chance to participate in a variety of science activities and challenges that celebrate curiosity, discovery, and innovation. We look forward to seeing their enthusiasm on display and yes, there will be prizes!

At the same time, our Year 12 students are currently undertaking their trial HSC examinations. This is a critical period of preparation, and we acknowledge the hard work, discipline, and resilience they are demonstrating. On Monday morning, prior to their first exam, the Year 12 girls shared breakfast with their teachers—a thoughtful and supportive way to ensure they felt calm and relaxed before their first exam. We then came together in prayer, asking for focus, peace, and strength as they headed into the exam room. They remain in our thoughts and prayers during this important time. We look forward to celebrating their journey and contributions at the Year 12 Farewell Assembly in Week 10—a meaningful school tradition and a moment of pride for our whole community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting the learning and wellbeing of our students. We look forward to all that Term 3 will bring, and I’m confident it will be another term filled with growth, discovery, and shared success.

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

• The Infants Orchy went to Eva Gaid (1G) for taking time out of her playtime to help a student who was upset
• The Primary Monty went to Lilly-Rose Thompson (4B) and Elena Denny (4B) for cleaning off writing that had been rubbed into the doors

Having just come down from the World Youth Jubilee event in Rome, where Pope Leo, among other things, congratulated the young people for all the friendships they would undoubtedly have made, I would like to quote from “The Friendship Book”, by Francis Gay, where he wrote the following: “If you or I were suddenly asked ‘What is friendship?’, I wonder what our answer would be. Charles Lamb, the famous essayist and poet, who was born over 200 years ago, made many friends in the course of his busy life, and this is what he had to say about friendship: “There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship will speak freely and act so, too; and take nothing ill, where no ill is meant; it will readily forgive and forget. A true friend advises justly, assists readily, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably”.

May you and I be such a friend, and be blessed with many ourselves.

The Term 3 Whole School Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blesed Virgin Mary will be held as follows: 

Date: Friday 15th August 2025

Time: 12:00pm 

Venue: Montgrove College COLA

Parents are most welcome to join us.

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Zoey de Villiers (KW); Irene Nimenzo, grandmother to Anastasia (5G) and Jacinta (KB) Campbell; Cecilia Obeid (5G), sister to Clare (4G) & Lucy (2G); Giorgio Murgolo, son to Michael Murgolo (Founding Class); Simon Elbayeh, father to Olivia (7G); Joshua Gibbons (Yr5 Wollemi), brother to Catherine (8B) & Madeleine (7B) Gibbons; Helen Stanojevic (Teacher); & Emmanuel Hanna, brother to Cecilia (10B) & Lucia (7G) Hanna.

Please also remember those who have passed away:

Nicholas Mentis, grandfather to Mariah (10) Seecy; Lucrecia Concepcion, great-grandmother to Lael Nasayao (4B); Stephen Leitch, uncle to Marcus Dowsett (KG); 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) & 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. 

The Term 3 Key Parent Function for Kindergaten to Year 6 parents will be held as follows: 

Date: Wednesday 27th August 2025

Time: 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start

Place: Montgrove College COLA

RSVP:  https://forms.gle/csvtj4P33o56FVNm6

The Term 3 Key Parent Function for Year 7 to Year 12 parents will be held as follows: 

Date: Thursday 28th August 2025

Time: 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start

Place: Montgrove College COLA

RSVP: https://forms.gle/wP152u7R1jnGbjRP6

RSVP link: https://forms.gle/P71mMUMU4sAhPRcf7

Only 6 weeks to go for the 2025 Premier's Reading Challenge!!

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 19 September 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

3 Blue was thrilled to win the Best Class Award for Term 2! As part of this special honour, the students had the privilege of planting the very first plant in our brand-new Montgrove garden. The girls were excited to roll up their sleeves and put their gardening skills into action, creating a lasting contribution to our school grounds. It was a wonderful experience that combined teamwork and responsibility. May the garden be a reminder of God’s eternal love and bring joy for the Jubilee Year of Hope and for all the years to come. A big thank you to the Gardening Club, who will continue to maintain and nurture this beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.

Save The Date

On Tuesday 28th October we will be celebrating Grandparents Day.  Please mark the date in your diaries. 

More information to follow.

Mark your calendars for an extraordinary showcase of creativity and scientific inquiry! Our Year 8 Science Fair is happening on this term. 

Date: Friday 15th August 
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Location: Montgrove Hall

We warmly invite parents, grandparents, and the entire school community to come and explore the innovative projects and experiments our talented Year 8 students have been working on. It's a fantastic opportunity to see science in action and support our budding young scientists!

We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the wonders of science together! Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

To reserve your seat please follow this link: https://events.humanitix.com/reclaiming-childhood-from-screens/tickets 

• 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 2025

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