Reflect. Recalibrate. Respond. 

I hope you were able to gain some useful advice as Dr Karen Bohlin shared her insights at the last Key Parent Function, applying her Practical Wisdom Framework to the challenges of parenting. I have found myself pausing to reflect and think again about what I really want to achieve before launching into a course of action that may not be the best. In our busy, accelerated world, the stress of getting things done can lead us to think that we don’t have time to reflect on what we are doing. But pausing briefly throughout the day can help us to not be less reactionary and more intentional with our decisions.

Congratulations to Maria Zamora (Yr 11) who will be receiving Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute School Science Award. This award is given to students who have shown commitment and excellence in a field of science. It recognises the achievements of high-achieving science students with the aim of encouraging young Australians to consider a future career in STEM.

We enjoyed hosting the students from Nagasaki Nishi High School. They were able to spend time in some of the Primary classrooms teaching our students origami and aspects of Japanese culture. They also spent time with our Year 10 girls and presented at the Secondary School Assembly. It is always a delight to have the girls visit our school and we hope to return the visit with a group of our own students next year.

Year 12 Trial Examinations finish today. The girls have been studying hard and we continue to accompany them with our prayers as they head into the final stage of their HSC year.

This term’s Parent Mentor Meetings will be starting tomorrow. If you have not already booked in with your mentor, please do so through the PTO app. An email was sent last Friday with a link and instructions on how to book a meeting with your mentor. 

We are very fortunate to have the Prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocariz, come to visit Montgrove on Tuesday 22 August. Although it is only a short visit, he will be able to walk through the grounds and see the school in action. I know Monsignor Ocariz really prays for our schools, and it is a real privilege to be able to have him with us in person.

Montgrove College will be holding Doctrinal Classes on the Sacraments in the Montgrove Cottage during Terms 3 and 4. They will go for 1 hour commencing at 9am and will be presented by Fr Anthony Khoudair (School Chaplain).

It will be a series of 5 classes and the dates and topics are as follows:

• Wednesday 23rd August - Sacraments, Nature & Necessity of Sacraments - Grace
• Wednesday 13th September - Baptism & Confirmation
• Wednesday 11th October - Holy Eucharist
• Wednesday 8th November - Penance & Anointing of the sick
• Wednesday 22nd November - Marriage & Holy Orders

For any enquires and to RSVP please contact Melissa Japon or Cat Abacum

RSVP: Friday 18th August with your name and contact number

Talking to teachers about teaching (which applies even more to parents), St Josemaría declared: "A word about the students to whom you are to give formation. You are God's instruments for a marvellous supernatural artwork. Do it conscientiously, with your eyes fixed on Christ, who is the model. Painters set themselves before their canvas every day, painting and repainting as needed... Examine every day what good qualities they have naturally, so as to increase them, and what defects also come to them from nature, so it’s to correct them." (St Josemaría Escrivá, Letters: Volume 2, Scepter London, 2022.)

As Ps 105 reminds us : "Joseph should teach... and Joseph should train". And so, including our prayers in our loving and professional approach, we can ask the great Saint to direct and bless our efforts.

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 

 Fr Felix Navarro is available for confessions on:

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

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Raphael Burfitt, brother to Cecilia (KG); Amelia Acasio, mother to Anne Bernacer (Teacher's Aide) and grandmother to Renae (11) and Regine (9G) Bernacer; Candido Valenton, grandfather to Elyssa (6G), Marcela (1W) & Daniela (KW) Valenton; Benjamin Santiago, father to Agryna (10B); Kathrin Triantoplous mother to Nektaria (12B) & Irene (9B); & Emmanuel Hanna, brother to Cecilia (8B) & Lucia (5B).

Please also remember those who have passed away:

Patricia Pacho, grandmother to Pio Platon (KG); Wilson Arce Filamor, father to Sonia Concepcion (Secondary Teacher), grandfather to Emilia Concepcion (12) and Francesca Filamor (9G); Michael Farah, grandfather to Maria (9G), Grace (7G), Rose (6B), Cecilia (3B) and Elijah Farah (1W);  Josip Blazevic, father-in-law to Julie Blazevic (School Secretary/PA), grandfather to Tatijana Blazevic (11) & Erika Trivarelli (9B) and great-grandfather to Thylane Djurdjevic (KS); Aiyana Cabanero (Yr10 2019), sister to Anthea (12) & Amara (8) 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. 

Could any current parents with a child turning 5 years before the 31st March 2025,  and who have not yet submitted the application form for Kindergarten in 2025, please register via this form to be emailed the link for the online Application Form.  Those born in January, February and March will be assessed to determine their school readiness. If you are unsure if you have already submitted an Application Form, please contact enrol@montgrove.nsw.edu.au 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If the Enrolment Form for a 2025 sibling has not been received by the end of November 2023, a place at Montgrove will not be guaranteed. 

On occasion, when your child arrives at school late or is picked up early due to an appointment or other reason, you will be required to fill in the 01 Absence, Late arrival or Early Departure form on Engage on the day of their early departure/late arrival.

If you need to pick up your child(ren) up for an appointment that can’t be arranged outside of school hours, we kindly request for you not come during recess (10:15-10:30 for Secondary & 10:55-11:25am for Primary) or lunch (12:45-1:30pm) as it is difficult to get messages to students on the playground. 

We also kindly ask that you arrive at school with enough time before you need to leave the school premises with your child, so that we can have time to call their classroom and arrange for them to come to the office. Students will only be called to come down to the office once a parent or guardian arrives. 

If your child is attending a morning appointment, you may receive an absence text message.  Please disregard this message as their presence at school will be amended once they arrive at school (and you have submitted the absence form). 

An invitation to Wollemi and Montgrove Dads.

Wollemi would like to extend an invitation to our Wollemi and Montgrove fathers to join us at a Dads’ Night on Friday 15 September at 6 pm here at Wollemi.

This night will be an opportunity for dads to come together and enjoy a meal, beer and one another's company.  

Montgrove would like to extend an invitation to our Montgrove and Wollemi mothers to join us for a Mums' Night as follows:

What: Spring Celebration!  

Where: Montgrove College Hall

When: Saturday 16th September 2023

Time: 8:00-10:00pm

Come dressed in your favourite spring outfit and come for a night of good food and good fun with great company! Karaoke, games and lucky door prizes to be won!

Please RSVP by Saturday 9th September via this form. 

Montgrove College warmly invites all Montgrove Grandparents to join us for Grandparents Day & Book Parade on Friday 25th August 2023. Please find below the program for the day.

We would like all students in Kindergarten to Year 2 to dress as their favourite book character.

We are really looking forward to you joining us on this day!

• 9:10am – 9:30am:- Kindy to Year 2 Book Parade in the front playground
• 9.30am – 10:00am:- School Choirs, Ukulele and Drama Performances in the front playground
• 10:00am – 10:20am:- Feel free to spend some time outdoors with your grandchild/ren. They can take you on a tour of the school, read a book with you or even show you some of their work
• 10:20am – 11:00am:- Enjoy morning tea outdoors with your grandchild/ren. Morning tea will be prepared by some of our Primary students and High School Food Technology students
• 11:00am - Students return to class for normal lessons

The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

2023 Challenge dates

Students can include any books read from the end of the 2022 challenge on their 2023 reading record. Key dates for the 2023 challenge are:

27 February 2023 - challenge opens for student entries

Friday 18 August 2023 - challenge closes for student entries

The PRC rules have been updated for the 2023 challenge. Students can now include up to 10 choice books on their reading records, and can count 5 books from an approved series as PRC books.

www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au

Any questions regarding the PRC should be directed to sarah.tuballa@montgrove.nsw.edu.au

On Thursday our Japanese Exchange students visited some primary classes and showed our students how to do some origami.  

Our Japanese Exchange students arrived on Tuesday afternoon.  They have been buddied up with our Year 10 girls.  On Wednesday morning they participated in a High School Science lesson.

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. 

Lovely 7 Blue working on clay pinch pots in Visual Arts this week. 

Montgrove College Trading Hours 2023

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.

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

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

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