2025 Newsletter Term 1 Week 4

Letter from the Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents,

At All Hallows we believe that we work in partnership with parents, to ensure a positive and productive learning journey for every student. One part of this community partnership is working together to create a positive school culture. In a positive school community, every student has a right to have their voice heard and needs met. 

All students need to feel that the school is a safe place where;

• They are engaged in lessons and enthusiastic about learning
• People care for them and prioritise their individual needs
• They are encouraged to think creatively, communicate and collaborate with their peers. 

Classrooms are really starting to develop an exciting buzz around the school. The teachers are building strong learning routines and developing behaviours that will carry them through the year. Our teachers, aides and most importantly the students should be commended on the way they have approached the start of the school year. I’d like to give a special mention to our new Kinders who have settled into life at All Hallows beautifully and have added a special spark to the playground. Thanks Mrs Menchin for the way you have beautifully cared for the Kinder students in the first month of their school journey.

Parent Teacher Meetings

I would like to extend my gratitude to all the parents and guardians who attended our parent information meetings last Monday afternoon. Your presence and active participation are invaluable to our school community. These meetings provide a vital platform for us to share important updates, discuss our educational priorities, and address any concerns or questions you may have. Your commitment to your child's education and your engagement in these meetings demonstrate your dedication to their success. We are truly fortunate to have such a supportive and involved parent community. Thank you for your continued partnership in nurturing the growth and development of our students.

Prayers Please

Please keep Donnie in Kindergarten in your prayers.  Donnie was involved in an accident last Friday afternoon and is in hospital in Newcastle recoving from surgery.

R.E. Matters

The theme for 2025 is…

All Hallows - People of Hope  
2025 is a Year of Jubilee!

Every 25 years the church holds a special celebration called a JUBILEE YEAR.  2025 is one of those years!

Since ancient times, God's followers would have a year that was especially dedicated to God.  It was a time of forgiveness and rest.  People would give back things that were taken from someone else, and farmers would leave their fields to rest and not plant anything.  This rest gave them time to focus on relationships with God and other people.

Why did they need a special year for this?  Well, sometimes we all need to 'reset' anyting that has gone off course. Like someone driving a car or steering a ship, sometimes we can drift away from where we're supposed to be going in life.  The Jubilee Year is a time to get back on track, all together, as one big Church family around the world.  

This Jubilee Year is a time for al lof us to rediscover our true identity as God's children and grow together in faith with our families.

The Jubilee reminds us to walk with Jesus every day.

SCHOOL MASS

Last week we celebrated our "Beginning of the School Year Mass".  As a school community we welcomed our new students and their families as well as inductingour All Hallows 2025 Leaders and SRC.

Our Kindergarten students were well looked after by their Year 6 buddies and their reverence and singing in the church is to be commended.  Thank you to the parents and grandparents who were able to join us at Mass.  Following Mass we enjoyed a Welcome Morning Tea on the playground.

Next Wednesday we begin the Liturgical Season of LENT

Lent is the period of six weeks leading up to Easter, the most important festival in the Christian calendar.  Lent begins next Wednesday (Ash Wednesday).

On Ash Wednesday we go to mass to receive 'ashes'.  This means that we are marked onthe forehead with a cross of ashes.  This is a sign of saying sorry to God for nay wrong doing (penitence).  The ashes come from burning the palm crosses from Palm Sunday of the previous year.

Lent is a time of preparation for EASTER, ending in Holy Week.  It is a wonderful season during our liturgical year to share the concepts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving withour children.  Consider as a family how you might help others in need by giving your time or resources during the six weeks before Easter.

Mass:  Please join us at our Ash Wednesday Mass next Wednesday 5th March at 9.15am 

Caritas Australia - Project Compassion

Lent is a special time of year.  It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  As individuals we can help others, but when we come together through Project Compassion, our good  becomes great.

Our combined kindness grows.  And when we unite with each other - and with people living in poverty - we can create BIG, lssting change.

Let's all Unite Against Poverty! There is no time like 2025.

Sport

Northern Region Swimming Carnival

Yesterday All Hallows school hosted the Northern Region Swimming Carnival.  Our swim team consisting of students from Yr 2 - 6 represented our school proudly, swimming in a variety of events throughout the day.  A group of Year 6 students also did a terrific job keeping the carnival going as they assisted the officials and provided ' cuppa and cake' to the helpers.

THANK YOU to the parents and grandparents who gave up their day to be timekeepers and judges - as you know we literally couldn't run the carnival without you.  Our staff were also on hand to officiate the day.  Thank you to the staff at Gulgong Pool for their effort for our carnival to run smoothly.

A HUGE thank you to Emma who, along with her team of 'chefs', fed the officials on th eday - very much appreciated by all and no doubt what kept us going.

Congratulations to Aliyah Kosij, Ruby Toole and Albert Toole who gained selection into the Northern Region Swimming Team to compete at the Diocesan Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 11th March 2025 in Dubbo.

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Diocesan Winter Sports Trials

The Diocese of Bathurst will be conducting winter sport selection trials in Bathurst on Friday 28th March 2025. Students from Year 5 and 6 are eligible to trial.  The exception is students in Year 4 who are U/11 and wish to trial in Rugby League.

Students interested in trialling MUST display a HIGH standard of ability in these sports to warrant being sent to the trials.  They should be involved in regular competition in that sport and have a sound knowledge of the rules of the game.

The sports are:  Boys:  Soccer, Rugby Leage U/11, Rugby League Open, Hockey

                                 Girls:  Soccer, Netball, Hockey

If students wish to attend the trial, parents are asked to send in a note to Ms Statham by Friday 7th March 2025.

All Hallows Cross Country

This week the students begin training for the School Cross Country and are looking forward to the event.  Our School Cross Country will be held on Friday 21st march 2025 at Red Hill.  The groups will run in the following order:

Year 5 & 6 - 3km

Infants - 1km

Year 3 & 4 - 2km

Swimming for Sport

Next week (week 5) will be our last week of swimming for sport this semester.  Thank you for helping your child be prepared for swimming each week.  We will return to swimming for sport on a Wednesday in Term 4.

Rugby League

The Yeo Rugby League competition will be held in Dunedoo this year on Wednesday 26th March. Notes will come home next week and training will commence in Week 5. This is always a great day. There will be a 21 seater bus available and  Mr Rogers and Mr Toole will accompany the students to Dunedoo for the day.

School Fees

2025 Fee Invoice and Statement will be emailed to families this week and will also be available in the Compass Parent Portal.

The first instalment will be due 14th March unless you are on a payment plan and paying by direct debit.  Direct debit forms are available at the school office and many of our families find this an easy 'set and forget' way of ensuring your fees are covered by making small weekly or fortnightly instalments.

If you have a current Pension or Health Care Card or are experiencing financial difficulty with payment, please contact the school to discuss available discounts and options.

Volunteer Declaration Forms

This week we will send home some Volunteer Declaration Forms. We are asking all parents  to fill these out in case there are any events you volunteer to help out throughout 2025. Even if you have a WWCC we are asking you to complete the form and send it back as soon as possible. Thanks for your assistance with this task. 

All Hands On Ukes - School Performance Tours

This Friday at 2pm there will be a School Performance Tour at school in our hall. The performance is called ‘All Hands on Ukes’ and is a hands on performance. Cost of the show is being covered by the school.

Moorambilla Visit

Next Monday 3rd March we will be joined by the people from Moorambilla Choir. They will be at school from 2.00pm - 3.00pm listening to our students sing. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn from some very talented people.

NAPLAN

NAPLAN will be completed from 12th March to 19th March for Years Three and Five this year.

P&F Meeting and Updates

Our P&F AGM Meeting was held on Monday 24th of February in the school hall at 3.30pm. We have a great committee that is very dedicated and I would love to thank the people that have put their hand up for executive positions. 

Congratulations to:

President - Teagan Large

Secretary - Megan Lugg

Treasurer - Bec Hallam

I would like to thank our outgoing committee member Dave O'Rourke for his leadership as President and Treasurer over the last four years.

The next P & F Meeting will be held Monday 17th March at 3.30pm in the school hall.  We will be discussing fundraising targets for the year and key events. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come along.

Loreto Normanhurst Visit

Next week during Week 5 we will be joined here at All Hallows by nine Year 10 students and two teachers from Loreto Normanhurst from Monday to Thursday. 

As a boarding school with many students from rural communities in NSW, Loreto Normanhurst is committed to fostering a sense of community between rural and metro communities. The primary aim is to do this through developing the understanding of students from all schools involved in the partnership through an exposure to differing lifestyles. Loreto Normanhurst is a Catholic school and has looked to partner with other Catholic primary schools in rural NSW as the shared faith provides a common connection between our communities. Loreto has been in partnership with Dunedoo and Coolah stretching back eleven years and we are excited to be invited into the partnership again this year for our fourth year. The Year 10 students will be helping with classes and around the schools, as well as teaching lessons in the afternoon. After school we will be providing them with some opportunities to explore rural life. We look forward to welcoming the Loreto staff and students to our community in Week 5. 

Student Wellbeing

It is important that we give our kids the tools to have good mental health, be happy and ready to learn. Ultimately it is just as important to look after our minds as it is our body. 

Merit Awards - Week 3 Term 1

Kinder:    Beau, Ava

Year 1:      James, Sophie

Year 2:    Maisy, Cooper 

Year 3:     Alexis, Zaydan

Year 4:   Amelia, Aubrey

Year 5:    Hartley, Anna

Year 6:    David, Lexi, Ethan

Halos:     Winnie B, Maisy, Maggie, Amelia, Hattie, Oscar, Alexis, Brycen, Lennon, Willem 

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