2025 Newsletter Term 1 Week 9

Letter From The Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents,

We are closing in on the end of a very busy term. Next week we will be busy preparing for Holy Week activities in the lead up to Easter. We are still busy working hard and will continue to do so for the remainder of the term. 

I am often asked, how can I help my child to be successful at school? The following list gives some tips to help your child succeed at school. 

• Read books everyday! You can read to your child or have your child read to you. This fosters a love of reading for your kids. 
• Create a positive and consistent after school routine. 
• Encouragement! Give your child the opportunity to excel in all areas of their school life. 
• Be positive about all aspects of the school. Even if you don’t always agree with certain decisions the school makes. It is important to speak positively about school, learning, and your child’s work. Parents and teachers must present a united front to the kids at all times. 
• Enforce healthy habits, You can’t perform well when you don’t feel good. Appropriate bedtime, plenty of sleep, healthy breakfast, healthy lunchbox, encourage exercise and limit screen time. 
• Teach your child to be responsible for their actions and take pride in all they do. 
• Be involved.  Ask your child about their day. 
• Communication with the school and class teachers is paramount to improving the learning outcomes of the students at All Hallows.
  

Parent Teacher Meetings

Thanks to everyone who was able to come to Parent/Teacher Meetings this week. They are a great opportunity to meet and discuss your child's progress.

Annual Improvement Survey

I would like to inform you that our school will be asking all parents, students and staff to complete the Annual School Improvement Survey. The Surveys will be distributed to all staff, parents and Yr 5-12 students on Thursday 8th May (Wk 2, Term2).

These surveys enable all members of the school community to have a voice. We do take note of all comments written as they are valuable insights from key stakeholders of the school. The comments and data provides information about how well the school is operating, highlighting areas of strengths and those that may need revision. Overall, the data collected from the surveys provide highly valuable information that directs the school's future planning for continual improvement. 

NB: This is an initial 'heads up' message and will be followed by reminders as we near the Survey date.

Regards,

Brad Toole

Catholic Education Benefits All Australians

Catholic schools are Australia’s largest non-government education provider, delivering choice, affordability, and value for all.

With the election coming up, parents might be interested in finding out more information by going to https://ncec.catholic.edu.au/2025-federal-election/. There is a great short video explaining how school funding works.

R.E Matters

The theme for 2025 is…

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

Holy Week is a sacred time of the year for it is now that we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus' life.  Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday (13th April) and includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  These are the days leading to the great Easter Feast.  The Lenten season of sacrifice and self denial is about to come to an end and we focus on the Passion (suffering) of Jesus and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Holy Week Liturgy

As the season of Lent draws to a close, we will enter Holy Week.  This year Holy Week falls in the first week of the school holidays and therefore our traditional holy Thursday Liturgy will take on a different format this year.  The school community will still gather to "Walk with Jesus" as we follow him from his "Last Supper" to his dying on the Cross.  

Our Liturgy will be held on Monday 7th April beginning at 10.00am in the school hall.  As each scene is performed, the school community will follow in silence as a sign of reverence.  At the conclusion of the Litugy, classes will be involved in a reflective, creative activity.  Parents are welcome to join us for this important reflective time.  Classes will visit the Stations of the Cross in the Church this week in preparation for Holy Week.

We encourage our families to attend the Holy Week liturgies in the parish as we celebrate Easter with our families on Easter Sunday 20th April 2025.

Sunday 6th April - Anointing Mass @ 10.30am

Sunday 13th April- Palm Sunday Mass @ 10.30am

Easter Mass times will be included in next week's newsletter.

Project Compassion

Thank you on behalf of Caritas Australia for the money raised this Lent through Project Compassion boxes at school and at home.  Caritas Australia's annual Lenten fundraising appeal brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. 

Could you please return your family's Project Compassion box to the school office by Tuesday next week to allow us to send the money off to Caritas before the end of term.

An important part of the All Hallows Mission Statement says that All Hallows is a ' A Catholic school community that demonstrates outreach and participates in activities".  Each year we participate in the Project Compassion program with money raised going to Caritas Australia for their work in bringing hope to those in need.  During the next two weeks there will be extra opportunities to help Project Compassion.  Students have come up wth ideas to raise money for Caritas and we are excited to work together onthese ideas.  Today, "Cakes for Caritas" was held.  There is also a Guessing Competition being held at recess each day until the Easter Hat Parade and for a gold coin donation, students are able to wear mufti on the last day of school for this term.  All funds raised from these willgo to help those families Caritas Australia helps each year.  Thank you for your generosity.

In the fourth week of Lent, the Project Compassion story features Irene from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Irene is a 25-year-old single mother of two boys living in DRC. Despite experiencing extreme poverty, she has become a skilled seamstress and can now support her children’s education with her income.

“With the earnings from this job, I can not only buy my own clothes but also for my family members… Regarding the children I send to school, there are my orphaned nephews from my late brother. I make sure to provide for all their needs," Irene said.

▶️ Watch Irene’s story here: https://vimeo.com/1051013799

🙌 Support Project Compassion today: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion 

2025 Sacramental Program

These are the important dates for our Sacramental Program this year.  If you know of any family whose children are Catholic and attend another school who would be interested in having their children receive the Sacraments, please do not hesitate to pass this information on.  We are happy to assist any child wishing to make their Sacraments.  Please contact your child's teacher or Ms Statham (REC) if you have any questions or want to know more about Catholic Sacraments.

A meeting for parents/guardians of children making their Confirmation will be held on Wednesday 14th May 2025 at 3.30pm in the school library.

Students in Year 6 who will be making their Confirmation this year must have a parent attend this meeting please.

Confirmation will be held on Sunday 22nd June 2025.

Year 6 CHRISTIAN LIVING CAMP

The Year 6 students will take part in a Christian Living Camp during Week 2 of next term - 7th - 9th May.  Through this camp the children will be given experienceand opportunities to:

• Help develop sound christian attitudes and values
• Mix and share with others of the same age group
• Grow in their own self-awareness and sensitivity to others.

We attend the camp with students from St Michaels Dunedoo, Sacred Heart Coolah, St Johns Baradine and the Assumption School Bathurst.  Notes have been sent home to Year 6 families.

If you have not completed the on-line registration through NSW Sport & Rec (link was emailed on Monday), we ask that you do this as soon as possible.  The link will close on 16th April.

If you have not completed and returned the Medical & Consent form, we ask that you complete this by the end of this week please.  This camp is a highlight for our Year 6 students each year and they are very excited that it is nearly here.

Sport

Rugby Union Gala Day Mudgee

Next Tuesday Mr Toole, Mr Rogers and 16 Year 5  & 6  students will head to Mudgee for a Rugby Gala Day. It will be a fun day!! Compass permission due by Friday.

School Cross Country

On Monday we hedl our school Cross Country at Billy Dunn oval.  After all the training and preparation,  the students were full of running as they ackled their 1 lap, 2 lap or 3 lap course with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship.  We are very proud of all those who participated.

Thank you to the many supporters who came to watch us run.

Congratulations to MACKILLOP House who won the overall points score and to CLARE House who won the points for the Hensley Shield (Sportsmanship).

Here are the results from each race:

From this Carnival, students will go on to represent All Hallows at the Diocesan Cross Country in Coolah on Tuesday 6th May.  All runners in this team are encouraged to train over the holidays.

Netball Gala Day

The St Matthews Netball Gala Day will be held at the Mudgee netball courts this Friday 4^th April.

All the primary girls participate in this day each year, combining with our friends from Sacred Heart, Coolah and St Michael’s, Dunedoo.

Students will wear their sports uniform, joggers and school hat. Please ensure your child is wearing sunscreen in the morning and has sunscreen to reapply throughout the day. The school will also pack sunscreen. Students will need to pack recess / lunch for the day. Smaller snacks sized foods are preferred as there is not always a lot of time between games. Please pack two (2) bottles of water

All students will travel by bus together. Parents are encouraged to come along and support the teams. The bus will leave All Hallows at 8.15am and return by 3.00pm - in time for afternoon school buses.

If there are any netball umpires who would like to help our teams out by umpiring on the day please let Ms Statham know as soon as possible. Thankyou

ANZAC Day March

ANZAC Day will be on the last Friday of the holidays. We will be marching as a school community with other members of the Gulgong  community and the Gulgong RSL sub-branch. 

We will need to meet together at 10.15am near the town library. Students must be in Full Winter Uniform including tie. 

**Please note our first day at school in Term 2 will be Monday 28th April.

Term 2 - Winter Uniforms

In Term 2 we transition to our Winter Uniforms. All students have a two week transition period into Winter Uniform and must be in complete Winter Uniform including tie by Monday of Week 3 next term.

P&F Updates

The P&F met last week and the following events will occur in 2025:

• Tea Towel Fundraiser Early Term 2 
• Labels Fundraiser Term 2 
• Henry Lawson BBQ - Saturday June 7th
• ‘A Night at the Races’ - Gulgong RSL Sat 20th September
• All Hallows P&F Bazaar - Friday 31st October 
• Various raffles Mother’s Day and Father’s Day 

*The uniform is now fully stocked for Winter uniforms and you have until June to claim your active kids vouchers. 

The Uniform Shop will be open at the following times: 

Tuesdays 8.30am to 9.15am 

Next meeting will be held next Wednesday 9th April at 3.30pm.

Canteen Helpers Required

Please email the school office if you’re able to help in the canteen on a Tuesday or Thursday between 10 - 2.00pm. We will be putting a roster of volunteers together to help Emma in Term 2. 

Emma will also be away on Thursday the 4th of April. If there are any volunteers to run the canteen that day please let me know.

Easter Hat Parade

We will be having an Easter Hat Parade next Friday, the last day of Term 1- 11th April.

We will be holding the hat parade at 9.15am as soon as the bell rings so families are able to watch. Children will make their own hats at home and bring them in on the day to wear.

CCSP 30th Anniversary Celebration - Dr. Justin Coulson evening @ SJC

The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW/ACT (CCSP) is excited to celebrate its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of support for Catholic school communities in NSW and ACT.

As part of this milestone, CCSP is taking renowned presenter Dr. Justin Coulson on a tour to visit rural and remote locations to engage with parents and carers. St Johns College is proud to be one of the hosting schools for this special event, which will be held on Tuesday, 6th May 2025.

We would like to extend this invitation to the Catholic schools and families within our Diocese and region. Attached, you will find a flyer with further details about the event. We kindly request that you share this information with your school community through your school newsletters and Compass.

To register for the event, guests must use the registration link provided in the flyer via 123tix. Please note that the event is not listed as a public event on 123tix, so this link is essential for registration.

Merit Awards - Week 8 Term 1

Kinder:  Finnley, Malia

Year 1:    Aalayah, Willem  

Year 2:     Zachary, Hunter

Year 3:     Kurt, Rosie

Year 4:     Zion, Ruby, Amelia, Elise

Year 5:    Elsie, Charlotte

Year 6:    Pippa, Logan J

Halos:     Beau, Jane, Jack H, Tom, Ruby PH, Iyla, Reid, Charlie W, Charlie A, Zaya

Wellbeing

This week's tip is focussing on keeping your own mental health as a top priority. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. 

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