We have come to the end of the year and I am sure everyone is looking forward to the summer break.

We announced the winners of the Swimming Carnival at the Whole School Assembly. Well done to Diamantina House for the constant cheering and consistent support they gave to each other throughout the day, which earnt them the Spirit Trophy. And congratulations to Brindabella House for winning the most points and winning the Championship Trophy. At the Assembly we also announced a special award that was given to Anastasia Romanowska, who won the Londonderry Christmas Card Competition. This competition was open to all the Primary School students in the Londonderry electorate, and her design will be featuring on Christmas cards from Prue Car MP. Congratulations Anastasia!

Yesterday we had a special Assembly to farewell Dr Blades. The older Secondary students prepared some poems, skits, dances and videos that highlighted Dr Blades’ many talents and skills – and we all had a good laugh, along with a few tears as Dr Blades gave her final speech to the students. We are also saying farewell to Dr Muerza and Miss Gevero, who will be starting jobs at a new school next year. We thank Dr Muerza for the many years that she has worked at Montgrove as a teacher, a mentor and an energetic futsal coach. Thank you to Miss Gevero for the great work that she did with the girls in English and HSIE this year. In the Primary School, we thank Mrs Crestani for her work and care for the students in all of her classes and also Mrs Tamayo who did a great job with Spanish and ran a fantastic Spanish Day the other week.

As you are aware, Mrs Pangilinan has been away for much of the term due to illness and won’t be returning next year. We thank her for her many years at the school. Mrs Pangilinan put her heart and soul into her work with the girls, and who could ever forget the marvelous Harmony Day celebrations that she organised and have brought so much joy to us all. Miss Catherine Lynch also had to finish early this term and will be taking up further study next year. We wish both Mrs Pangilinan and Miss Lynch all the best for the future and continue to pray for their good health.

We send our best wishes to Mrs Bayliss and Mrs Issa who will be on maternity leave next year. We wish them all the best for their new additions to their families.

Some girls from the Class of 2025 have set off to to Cebu for Montgrove’s first Philippines Service Project. They all arrived safely, and from the photos I have seen they have gone straight into working and having a great time. I am sure it will be a very enriching experience for them.

Wishing every single person in our Montgrove community a very Happy and Blessed Christmas. This Christmas marks the beginning of a Jubliee year in the Catholic Church. It will be a special time of grace for all of us and a beautiful time for coming closer to Jesus, and through Him to all those we love.

Congratulations to Anthony & Elizabeth Day on the arrival of Sylvia, sister to Evelyn (KW)

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 commences, 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. 

Confessions

Fr Anthony Khoudair is available for confessions from 11:00am to 1:00pm on:

• Saturday 14th December 
• Saturday 21st December

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.

On Thursday, 21st of November we hosted our annual Parent Volunteer Afternoon Tea to thank all our very generous Montgrove  parents for all the time, effort and help they have offered to school this year. We missed all those who could not make it and we had a wonderful time catching up with those in attendance. We truly appreciate what you do and so many of the school activities wouldn’t have been as successful if not for your much needed helping hand!

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

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