A big thank you to all those who helped and supported the Christmas Twilight Markets. It was another great success and such a wonderful introduction to the Christmas season. There was a lovely variety of stalls and delicious food, and great entertainment in the background. Special thanks to Mrs Galea, Mrs Grobler and our amazing fundraising committee, who have worked hard behind the scenes to make sure all went smoothly. Thank you also to the High School students who organised the games and to the Year 9 girls who were responsible for the decorations. It was great to see the students pitching in with their creativity and sharing their musical and dance skills.

All went well at the Swimming Carnival last Thursday. Thankfully the storm held off and we were able to enjoy a full day of swimming. There was plenty of healthy competition and a number of school records were broken, some by a considerable margin. Thank you to Mrs Bolton, Mrs Grobler and to all our parent helpers who helped out on the day.

We will be saying farewell to Dr Blades at the end of this year. Dr Blades has been at Montgrove for the past 11 years, teaching Science and Maths, mentoring, and heading the Secondary School for the past 10 years. Prior to Montgrove she was at Tangara for many years as the Director of Student Welfare. Dr Blades is a remarkable person who, in her teaching career, has inspired many students, staff and families. She has dedicated a large part of her life to the Pared schools and we shall miss her cheerful presence at Montgrove. We thank her for all her hard work and professionalism, and most of all for the love that she has freely given to all at the school.

We are looking forward to the Primary Christmas Concert and Secondary Presentation Night. The Christmas Concert will be held tomorrow at 5.30pm. Tickets were sent home with the children this week. Please make sure that every person attending has a ticket. Please also be very mindful of parking correctly and not blocking other cars or driveways.

As well as Advent, we have started the Novena to the Immaculate Conception, in preparation for Our Lady’s Feastday on 8 December. It can be a good time to entrust her with our intentions for our families and for those we know who are sick or going through a difficult time. We can be sure she will be listening to our prayers. 

Here is a text from St Gregory of Nazianzus, to help us, as we “hurtle” towards yet another  Christmas: “The Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for the sheep, came in search of the stray sheep, to the mountains and hills on which it used to offer sacrifice. When he found [the stray sheep], he took it on the shoulders that bore the wood of the Cross, and led it back to the life of Heaven.” That same Shepherd, is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world”, as the Priest reminds us, during Mass. In both ways, as Shepherd and Lamb, he wants to be our Friend.

Many years ago, around 1984, before I was a priest, I had the good fortune of attending Mass in the packed Cathedral of Pamplona, Spain, for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. At one point, a lamb entered, carried in a basket, and was brought right through the congregation. It was the cutest little lamb you ever might see… Now, I think of some words of St Josemaría, from The Way, no. 94: “He has become so small — you see: a Child-so that you can approach him with confidence.”

After another great year, and as the long-awaited holidays approach, let’s go on bringing Christ, and keeping him, in Christmas.

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 (Librarian and 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.

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

The Montgrove College Fitting Range last trading day in December will be the Monday 9th December. 

Fitting Range will open during 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

Extended Holiday Fitting Appointment Hours

• Monday, 13th January 2025 - 9:00am to 3:00pm
• Monday, 20th January 2025 - 9.00am to 3:00pm

* Please note Terms 1 and 4 require full summer uniform

The fitting range will resume normal hours on Monday 3rd February 2025 from 8:30am – 12:30pm

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