Congratulations to our HSC students who have now successfully completed all their exams last Friday. We had a wonderful celebration on Wednesday evening at the Year 12 Formal. The girls looked happy and relaxed in their beautiful formal dresses, and it was great to see everyone, parents and students alike, enjoying a good catch up and plenty of dancing. The girls worked hard, studying for their exams to the very end, and they should be proud of all their efforts. We received the happy news that two of students were nominated for Art Express and OnStage. These events showcase the creative works of HSC students for Visual Arts and Drama respectively. Congratulations to Kara Oringo, whose multimedia Body of Work was nominated for Art Express, and Sophia O’Neill whose costume designs were nominated for OnStage. This is an excellent achievement for both girls and a credit to their teachers.

At the Whole School Assembly we announced and badged our School Captain and School Vice Captain for 2025. Congratulations to Maya Hoffmann (Captain) and Clarissa Lapid (Vice Captain). They are both fine students who are passionate about leadership and fostering school spirit among all the students. I am confident that they will work well together as a team and collaborate with the Student Representatives and the rest of Year 12 to lead the student body in a positive direction over the coming year. 

Years 7-10 are in the middle of their Yearly exams this week. As it is a short term, the exams have come up quickly, but the girls seem to have risen to the task and are studying hard. We wish them well for the rest of their exams.

We are looking forward to the Twilight Markets which will be held on Friday 29th November. There is a wonderful team of mothers, teachers and students chipping in to make it a successful afternoon. There will be a lovely variety of products, food and games available for the enjoyment of all. Further details can be found in the Newsletter. I hope many of you will be able to join in the fun.

The Orchy went to Lorenzo Beza (1S) for raising money for homeless people because he noticed there were a lot of them. He ran a bake sale and donated all his profits.

On Thursday 14th November 2024, we held a Whole School Assembly to announce our School Captains for 2025. 

Congratulations to:

• School Captain: Maya Hoffmann
• Vice Captain: Clarissa Lapid

Looking to the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope [and in view of his recent encyclical Letter on the Sacred Heart of Jesus], the Holy Father said it is necessary for teachers to sow hope in the world by paying “special attention to children, adolescents, [and] young people.”

“We must look at them with trust, with empathy, I would like to say with the gaze and heart of Jesus. They are the present and the future of the world and of the Church,” he shared.

“Ours is the task — entirely educational — to accompany them, support them, encourage them and, with testimony, to show them the good path that leads to being ‘fratelli tutti’ [all brothers].”"

St Josemaria treats us to a vision of when he writes in "The Forge", 85: "You must instill in all souls the heroism of doing the little things of each day perfectly, as if the salvation of the world depended on each one of those actions."

A tall task indeed, but feasible, when, thanks to hope, we can ask for, and pray for, the necessary help to carry it out

Please pray for our sick and injured family and friends:

Joshua Gibbons (4GWollemi), brother to Catherine (7B), Madeleine (6B) & Lucas (1W) Gibbons; Easter Nasayao-Montenegro, aunt to Lael Nasayao (3B); Amelia Acasio, grandmother to Renae (12) & Regine (10G) Bernacer; Lucy Bates, sister to Sarah Tuballa (Religion teacher), aunty to Charlotte (9B) & Felicity (3G) Tuballa; Walter Daniel Valenton, uncle to Elyssa (7G), Marcela (2B) and Daniela (1S) Valenton; Gregory Haines, husband to Marina Haines (Mentor); Vengie Pangilinan (Mentor & Diverse Learning teacher); Helen Stanojevic (KG Teacher); Carolina Quianzon Alvarez, grandmother to Maria Zamora (12);  Paul Ruhl, uncle to Mary (10G), Clare (8B) and Lucia (7B) Ruhl; Zenaida Oringo, grandmother to Aiesha (Secondary Teacher) & Kara (12) Oringo; Charles Rafanan, father to Jiannah-Marie (8B); Tom Gelevski (PARED Maintenance); Nikita De Souza, girlfriend of Michael Carrington (PARED Maintenance); Fr John Flader, Tangara Priest; ; Benjamin Santiago, father to Agryna (11); & Emmanuel Hanna, brother to Cecilia (9B) & Lucia (6G) Hanna.

Please also remember those who have passed away:

Cecilio Acasio, grandfather to Renae (Class of 2024) & Regine (10G) Bernacer; Lynette Churchyard, grandmother to Eliza (12) and Lucy (7) James; Ludenlia Gavera Flordeliza, Great-great Aunt to Maria Bonus (5G); Ruben Oringo, grandfather to Aiesha (Secondary Teacher) & Kara (12) Oringo; Fortunato Meduri, great-grandfather to Alessandra Agius (KW); Melanie Khoury, great-grandmother to Catherine (2B) & Alyssa (KB) Mattar and Adelaide-Rose (3G) & Catilin (KG) Mowad; Dorothy James, grandmother to Eliza (12) and Lucy (7) James; Antonio Singson, grandfather to Marina Fahkry (KS); Jeannette Azzi, grandmother to Maria (7) and Jane (4) Azzi; Aiyana Cabanero (Yr10 2019) sister to Amara (9) 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. 

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 

Confessions for Families

• Every Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm (including school holidays)

Many medications are now available in a form which minimises or eliminates the need to provide students with medication during the school day. 

If this is not possible, medication can be administered during the recess or lunch breaks.  It should be brought to the office in its original packaging which displays the prescription instructions together with a signed note providing permission for office staff to administer the medication.  

Medication MUST be dropped off and collected by a parent. 

Absence forms are done through the Engage Parent Portal and must be completed with 7 days of the last day of the absence. If your child is going to be late please complete the absence form indicating that they will be late and the approximate time of arrival.  Students will be marked present once they arrive at school.  If an absence form is not received you will receive a text message advising that your child is absent and a form has not yet been completed. 

Siblings of current students are given priority during the enrolment process.  If you would like to submit an application for your son/daughter in Kindergarten 2026 please register via this form and an application form will be emailed directly to you.  Students enrolling in Kindergarten must have turned 5 years by March 31 of the year that they are to start school.

Those who have already submitted Kindergarten 2026 applications previously, there is no action required from you at this stage. This is just a reminder email for any current families who intend to but have not yet applied.

If you have any questions please contact our Enrolments Team enrol@montgrove.nsw.edu.au or call (02) 4749 4714. We look forward to assisting you in your enrolment journey.

The Montgrove Swimming Carnival for Year 2 to 12 will be held as follows.  

Please note that the Swimming Carnival is a compulsory school day, therefore all students are required to attend.  There will be no bus transport to Ripples from Montgrove.

All students in Year 2 to 12 are required to participate in a minimum of 2 events.  For primary students who are not capable of swimming 50m they are encouraged to participate in the 25m race (senior girls will assist in the water) and land-based novelty events. 

Parents are invited to attend the carnival to support your daughter/s. For safety and organisational reasons, pleasedo not sit along the side or wander on the pool deck at any time. An allocated seating area under the shade cloths will be made available for parents. All students are to remain in their schoolhouse area unless marshalling or racing.

All students in Years 2 to 12 are required to participate in a minimum of 2 events. For primary students who are not capable of swimming 50m, they are encouraged to participate in the 25m freestyle race (senior girls will assist students as they swim) and land-based novelty activities, additional water activities will be included if time permits.

Parent helpers needed: If you are able to help at the carnival, please complete the parent help slip attached to the permission slip that was sent home.

This term Yr 6 have been learning about the unit Respect Life. They participated in the All Life is Precious Incursion, where we had a panel of guest speakers. We had Teresa speak about the joy of caring for a child with special needs. Grace spoke about the joy of working with refugees through Reledev, having been a refugee herself who fled Syria with her family.  Finally with Eva who spoke about the joy of accompanying the elderly whilst working in a nursing home. Through their stories they shared the importance of the dignity of each person as we are made in the image of God. 

In the month of November we pray for all our family and friends who are waiting to be with Jesus in Heaven. The students in Primary all thought of their loved ones that they would like to pray for. 

Do you live in Glenwood, Baulkham Hills, Bella Vista, Quakers Hill and surrounding areas or on route to Montgrove and Wollemi Colleges. We are also able to do transfers between Montgrove and Wollemi.

Our driver has his RMS Driver Authority and completed his Working with Children checks.

Reliable Service at competitive prices.  There are currently spots available so call now and register your children.

Shokr Yassa 0411 575 782

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

As announced at the end of Term 3, our school has partnered with Edstart to facilitate the payment of your school fees. 

The deadline for setting up an Edstart Plus account has already passed. If you have not already set up your account, please do so as soon as possible by visiting edstart.com.au/pared – it only takes a few minutes to create your account. The friendly Edstart customer success team will be able to assist you should you have any questions, you can contact them at 1300 139 445 or contact@edstart.com.au.

From 2023, 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