I hope you have all had a good start to Term 4. We welcome all the new students and their families and trust they have settled in well to Montgrove life. We also welcome back Mrs Galea and Mrs Laws who were on leave last term.

Our Class of 2023 is in the middle of the HSC. So far they have been positive about their exams, which is good to hear. I am sure all their hard work is paying off at this final stage. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they complete the last two weeks of their exams.

Congratulations to the Montgrove basketball teams who played in the grand finals at the end of last term. Montgrove continues to have a strong presence in the competition, with 7 teams competing in the grand finals and 3 teams winning their matches. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Annual Basketball presentation, but heard it was an enjoyable evening. Many thanks to Mrs Corine Morgan and the Montgrove coaches and managers for all the hard work they have put into the club this year.

Alexander Havard coming to Australia

Many of you may have heard of Alexander Havard, the founder of the Virtuous Leadership Institute. Havard is an international speaker and writer, whose books have been translated into many languages. On their webpage, the Virtuous Leadership Institute says that ‘The crisis of the modern world is a crisis of magnanimity, a crisis of greatness and dignity’. The Institute seeks ‘to ignite hearts for greatness and raise up a new generation of Virtuous Leaders empowered to transform Life – business, family and culture.’  Havard’s focus on virtue as a way to grow in leadership and lead a meaningful life is both refreshing and practical.

Alexander Havard will be coming to Australia early next year, and all parents are invited to hear him speak in person. Discounted tickets are on sale until 1 November and are available for all Pared parents and staff. Details can be accessed through this link.

Month of October

This month of October, which is dedicated to the rosary, is a great opportunity to pray with faith in the intercession of Our Lady. Throughout the month, the students have been praying decades of the rosary for all their special intentions. Last week we held a vigil of rosaries in response to the call to prayer by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, asking for peace in the Holy Land. The Pope has also called for a day of fasting and prayer on Friday 27 October for an end to the war. We will be holding eucharistic vigil on that day and parents are welcome to join for a holy hour of eucharistic adoration from 12.45pm to 1.45pm.

Congratulations to: 

• Mandy & Michael Sultana on the birth of Elliana Teresa, sister to Taleeya (7G) and Xavier (1B); 
• Mia & Disdado Jr Bolofer on the birth of a baby boy, brother to Dylan (KB) 

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

There are 2 classes left for Term 4 and the dates and topics are as follows:

• 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

As we move towards the end of yet another year, many of us may want to check up on a significant point of family life...

In his Angelus address given on October 5, 2014, Pope Francis encouraged every Catholic family to have a Bible in its home. He also said: "[The Bible] is not for putting on a shelf, but rather for having it at hand. It is for reading often, daily, individually, or in groups: husband and wife; parents and children; maybe at night, especially on Sundays. That way, the family can move forward with the light and power of the Word of God."

In The Forge, 754, St Josemaría backs up the Pope’s words:

"When you open the Holy Gospel, think that what is written there — the words and deeds of Christ — is something that you should not only know, but live. Everything, every point that is told there, has been gathered, detail by detail, for you to make it come alive in the individual circumstances of your life.

—God has called us Catholics to follow him closely. In that holy Writing, you will find the Life of Jesus, but you should also find your own life.

You too, like the Apostle, will learn to ask, full of love, ‘Lord, what would you have me do?…’ in your soul you will hear the conclusive answer, “

‘The Will of God!’

Take up the Gospel every day, then, and read it and live it as a definite rule. This is what the saints have done." 

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:

Jason Japon, husband to Melissa Japon (Teacher's Aide/Mentor) and father to Tamika (Class of 2023), Rihanna (10), Ellysia (8) & Mary-Jean (3); Nada Medved, grandmother to Natalia (8), Adriana (10) & Angelina (Class of 2023); Alice Cassar, grandmother to Evie (6G), Sofia (2G) & Giselle (1W) Paris; Igor Mileusnic, uncle to Olivia Giles (2B); Priscilla De Leon-Yabut, grandmother to Stephanie (12) and Samantha (11) Magat; 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:

Concetta Penna, mother-in-law to Annalisa Penna (Secondary Teacher) and grandmother to Chiara (11); William Carter, great uncle to Emily DiNatale (Secondary teacher), great great uncle to Isabella DiNatale (KS); Raul Nepamuceno, grandmother to Dei (10) & Francesca Malabanan, Wilma Wright, mother-in-law to Alyson Wright (KS Teacher) and grandmother to Emmaline Wright (Class of 2020); 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). 

On Wednesday 18 October, Kindergarten and Year 1 held a Teddy Bear's Picnic and Ice block fundraiser to raise money for new home readers.  A great time was had by all the students and their teddy bears. 

The students played lots of games and ate morning tea with their teddy bears and some teddy's even got to do a sport lesson with Senora Instance!! 

The Pared Academy is pleased to invite you to 'Pay Cheque with a Purpose', a one-night event with renowned speaker Alexandre Havard! He spoke at the 2021 Term 2 KPF, and the feedback was so positive, we're bringing him back!

Click here to book your tickets now!

Alex wants to help you:

• Discover how to break free from the mindset that is dominated by the vision of unfulfilling work
• Learn how to attain a new vision of life and of self, and gain a better understanding of your unique talents
• Build stronger relationships, attain confidence to lead others, and find a greater focus on your purpose and mission

This event is open to the general public but as a member of the Pared community, you have exclusive access to a special pre-sale price until November 1, and seats are already going fast. Don't miss out!

To all our basketball families, thank you for the fantastic support you showed throughout the 2023 Winter Season and for accepting the challenges you endured with the different venues. And thank you to all the 16 teams that played an outstanding season across Divisions 1, 2 and 3.

It was amazing to see the improvement in all of the teams and growth within the club. 75% of the teams went into semi-finals with 7 teams qualifying for the grand-finals and 3 teams coming out as Premiers.

Congratulations to the following Premiers:

• U10 Nuggets Division 1
• U14 Mighty Stingrays Division 2
• U18 Falcons Division 2

Our Annual Presentation Night was celebrated with our wonderful basketball families and their loved ones. It was a big turnout and literally very loud (with no sound system) but a very enjoyable night with lots of food and drinks to celebrate all the hard work and commitment throughout the season. We saw mums and dads display their hidden basketball talents which was so entertaining to watch and the kids getting into the spirit by competing with one another in a friendly game. We definitely missed our main athlete, Miss Mejia, on the night.

Basketball at Montgrove is alive and well, and growing every season, with 139 current members. I look forward to Summer 2023-2024. Hint… hint ... another full size basketball court in the near future to accommodate our future members would be appreciated, Miss Mejia.

Welcome to our new committee member, Kathie Balmeo, Secretary/Registrar.

Warm Regards,

Corine Morgan - President

The Winter 2023 Season grand finals were held on 23 September 2023.  Montgrove Basketball had 3 teams competing in the finals this season! 

U10 Nuggets VS Nepean Unicorns

The Nuggets had a great start scoring their first basket within 60 secs. The second basket followed immediately with their tight defence. The Unicorns continued to fight hard managing to make 4 points whilst the Nuggets kept trapping and forcing turnover after turnover, scoring 13-4 in the first half.

It was pleasing to see them execute their strategy for inbounding throughout the first half and it continued to pay off in the second half with their tight and attacking defence. There were a few scrums in between with Gabby & Catherine ripping the ball and sliding a few times and another time creating a pile up making way for Sharina to fast track and make a basket. The Nuggets continued to keep the Unicorns at bay. The Unicorns finally made a break to make a couple of baskets taking the score to 21-8 with Elisa, Sharina and Clara making some great fast breaks to take the the pressure off the girls. Dana made some great rebounds while Tavleen made some clean shots to help the team to victory. The entire team executed their strategy very well throughout the game making their opponents work hard with much to desire which gave them that ultimate fabulous win.

Thank you to all the parents for your support and our passionate manager, Sandy and co-coach William for holding the fort throughout the entire season and for giving me the opportunity to coach the girls in the grand finals. Super proud of the entire team … little pros.

Nuggets win the championship back to back.  Final score 24-10. 

Corine Morgan - Coach

U14 Div2 Mighty Stingrays v Ravens RBC

It was a Grand Finals rematch from last season. In the first half, it was a neck and neck battle. The girls played hard and fast. End of the first half, the score was tied at 8-8.

In the second half, the girls started playing more together offensively and defensively. They have applied what they learned in training and worked together as a team. The score was tied most of the way. It was an exciting and a little nerve racking moment for friends, family and spectators who watched and supported the girls. Before the final horn, Montgrove supporters started filling the stands with their cheers, energy and support. In the last 30 seconds, the girls stepped it up and made two stops and two field goals. The game was over with the winning score of 29-25. 

Congratulations to U14 Div2 Montgrove’s Mighty Stingrays Champions!

Charles Rafanan - Coach

U18 Div2 Falcons

GO MIGHTY FALCONS!

I’ve been so proud of our Montgrove Falcons from the moment our team was formed. I am very impressed by how dedicated and motivated they are during training even when I’m not around. I believe these girls have truly developed a love for the game and that is what drives them. Each game they have played with great teamwork but even more so during the grand finals which made them champions.

Coy Tapang - Coach

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