As we have settled into the new academic year and into new routines, there is a unique energy that fills the college. It is a blend of excitement and a sense of renewal and we are all given an opportunity to recalibrate our goals. The start of the year is about more than just organising lockers and colour-coding timetables but preparing for the learning challenges and personal growth that lie ahead. Focussing on building the foundation of discipline can help support our students throughout the entire year.

Setting the Foundation: Essential Study Habits

Success in the classroom is rarely the result of "cramming" at the eleventh hour. Instead, it is built through consistent, sustainable habits. For the start of the year, we encourage students to focus on the following:

Our Homework Policy: Quality over Quantity

Homework works as a bridge between the classroom and independent mastery. Our policy is guided by the belief that home learning should be purposeful, relevant, and manageable.

The Unrivalled Benefits of Reading

If there is one habit that correlates most strongly with academic success across all subjects—including Mathematics and Science—it is regular reading for pleasure.

Beyond the obvious improvements in vocabulary and comprehension, reading fosters:

Reading for a few minutes each night may be a great way to participate in the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

NAPLAN

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is an annual assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and students will soon be participating in the national assessment. It is to help track student progress in literacy and numeracy and provides valuable information for families and schools about how students are developing foundational skills.

In 2026, NAPLAN will take place between Wednesday 11th March and 20th March. A schedule will follow shortly.

Our teachers will continue to support students through practice, familiarisation activities and regular classroom learning. There is no need for additional preparation at home – encouragement, rest and a calm routine can best support the students.

We look forward to a year of growth, curiosity, and shared achievement.

On Thursday 26th February 2026, our Year 11 House Leaders were announced at a Secondary Assembly.   Congratulations to:

On Thursday 27th February our 2026 Secondary Class Representatives were announced at the Secondary Assembly.

Congratulations to the following students who have been elected by their classmates to respresent their class on the Secondary Student Council.

Year 7 Blue

Year 7 Green

Year 8 Blue

Year 8 Green

Year 9 Blue

Year 9 Green

Year 10 Blue

Year 10 Green

In an EWTN article, dated October 17, 2025, we read of a letter a grieving father, Francesco, wrote to Pope Leo, about his son, Domenico Maria, who had died from a sudden illness, at the age of 12, some years before. He also mentioned his son’s love of soccer and the friends he had made through playing it.

Pope Leo commented: “authentic prayer, like authentic sport, practiced together, creates bonds and unites forever, as it united Domenico Maria with all those on his ‘team’ of true friendship, with bonds that go far beyond death.”

As we start the season of Lent, and the Winter Olympics has come to a close, we can read what St Josemaría wrote in The Way, 822: ‘You tell me: “when the chance comes to do something big, then!”… Then? Are you seriously trying to convince me — and to convince yourself — that you will be able to win in the supernatural Olympics without daily preparation, without training?’

This Lent, as we prepare for Easter, we can apply this logic to our discipline, mindful of the fact that we are all in this together.

To register please click on the TryBooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DJRAS

Morning and Afternoon Parking Safety Procedures

Afternoon Car Line

No Stopping Zone Near the Bins

General Carpark Guidelines

School student travel information for parents and students

School travel passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply for a new card or update their existing card as soon as possible. Students who receive a notification that their School Opal card is expiring need to re-submit their details.

If a student has lost their School Opal card, they will need to apply for a replacement card. Note: a new card will not be issued if an existing School Opal card is updated online – you must submit a replacement application if a School Opal card is lost.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card.

Terms of use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use. This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

We have been provided with a School Zone Safety Tip flyer and a School Zone Offences flyer.  We hope this information is helpful to you.

Please note that the Montgrove school zone starts between the medical centre driveway and the exit driveway of Montgrove on Bringelly Road and ends past Kingswood High at the corner of Walsh Dr.  It also extends partly into Oag Cresent and just past the pedestrian crossing on Caddens Road.

We kindly ask that you please ensure that you are not stopping or parking in front of driveways, particulary in Oag Cresent, where some of the driveways are right next to each other.

School Times

For families who ONLY have children in Kindergarten and Year 1, to help ease traffic congestion in the afternoon, children in Kindergarten and Year 1 may be picked up at 2:45pm from their classrooms. Please enter and exit via the gate near Kindy Blue which will be opened by a staff member at 2:45pm and closed at 3:00pm.

Late Arrivals & Absences

If your child is absent from school please complete an Engage absence form as soon as possible in the morning.  Instructions on how to complete an absence form can be found further down in the newsletter.

If your child is absent or arrives late to school and no form is received you will receive a text message asking you to explain the absence or late arrival.  If your child is attending a morning appointment and you have already completed a late arrival form, you may still 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).

Early Pickup for Appointments

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 that you do 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.

An Engage Early Departure form must be completed beforehand. The parent or guardian is to come to the office and the student's teacher will be called and asked to come to the office. Due to limited space we can not have students sitting in the office waiting to be collected.

Last Friday, Year 5 students enjoyed an exciting planetarium incursion where they experienced the wonders of the night sky and outer space. Students learned about stars, planets, and how people have used the stars to navigate throughout history. The immersive experience truly felt like a journey to the stars and back, sparking curiosity and wonder about our universe. It was a fantastic learning opportunity that brought space science to life for all students.

You don't really realise how interesting space is until you look deeper into it. Aveline I 5G

I learned about how the moon orbits around the Earth and how we can see the moon's different appearances in the night sky. Anne Marie D 5G

I liked seeing the inside of Neptune and how the ice formed around the core. Lillian N 5B

It was really interesting to learn about the sun and how it acts like a magnet. Candice C 5B

On the 24th and 26th of February, the Year 8 classes dissected a heart and a kidney. The idea was to investigate and label the parts of a mammalian heart and a kidney in relation to our topic of body systems. The dissection required a lot of precision and focus from both the classes, and we are happy to say the dissection overall went quite well, thanks to the active participation of the classes and the hard work of our teachers.

During the practical we identified how blood was transported around the body and the heart, the 4 chambers in the heart and the blood vessels in the kidney. To cut the heart and the kidney, we had to use a scalpel and the scissors. Cutting it was very difficult, thanks to the sudden appearance of random hard things inside the heart. But overall, the experience was very bloody and stinky but we all had a good time.

By Zoe, Grace, Paige and Layla.

RYDA is hosting a FREE online event on "Teaching your teenager to drive" on Thursday 19th February, from 7:00pm to 8.00pm (AEDT).

To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/teaching-your-teenager-to-drive-parent-evening-aust-free-tickets-1981070716843?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn how to:

The Montgrove College Uniform Shop will close for the school holidays on Monday 30th March at 12:00pm and resume normal trading hours for Term 2 on Monday 20th April 2026.

However, to assist parents it will be open for 2 special trading days during the school holidays as follows:

Term 2 Holiday Trading Hours

Additionally, the uniform shop will be CLOSED on Monday 27th April 2026, due to the ANZAC Day public holiday

2. Paperless & secure:

3. Customer Service: