2025 Newsletter Term 2 Week 4
From the Principal
Dear Parents & Carers
Catholic Schools Week Homily from Monday's Liturgy
I wanted to share with you my Homily after the Gospel on Monday.
Our Catholic Schools Week theme this year is:
“Guided by Faith. Inspired by Hope. Committed to Learning.”
And that’s not just a motto for the week. It’s a way of life here at All Hallows.
We are guided by faith, trusting that God walks with us — in every classroom, every playground laugh, every story read aloud, every little hand held.
We are inspired by hope, believing that each child here is filled with promise — capable of greatness, kindness, and deep joy.
And we are committed to learning — not just facts and figures, but learning how to be more like Jesus: generous, patient, kind and brave.
Our school is built on three simple but powerful words: Know. Love. Serve.
We want every child to know that they are known and loved by God.
We want every child to love learning, love one another, and love themselves.
And we want every child to serve — to help others, to be kind, to use their gifts for good.
Here at All Hallows, we’re not just teaching minds. We’re forming young people who will grow into great adults. We’re building community. Already, even in just these early days of Term 2, our students are showing us how beautiful that can be — with every “good morning”, every question asked with curiosity, every little act of kindness on the playground.
To our parents: thank you. Thank you for entrusting us with the privilege of educating your children. You are not alone on this journey. We are walking beside you, united in purpose and grounded in the love of Christ.
To our beautiful students: you are a gift to this school. You are important. You belong here. And we can’t wait to watch you grow. May we all continue to walk together in faith, with hearts full of hope, and a deep commitment to learning — today and always.
We hope you have a great Catholic Schools Week and look forward to celebrating with you.
Catholic Schools Week
During this week the students, staff, parents, grandparents and the people of the Parish will show in lots of different ways that they are proud of our school. It is good to celebrate who we are and what we do. The theme of Catholic Schools Week this year is
We are so very lucky at our school to have so many people working together, Fr Owen, Fr Cong, our staff, our parents, grandparents and friends in order for the heart of our school, the students, to receive the best Catholic education that you can. I’m often asked why do you teach in a Catholic School or what makes a catholic school so great.
The answer is quite easy to explain:
- Everything we do is Christ-centred
- We provide a quality holistic based education that encourages students to live life to the full
- Catholic schools emphasise personal and social development to help students thrive in an ever-changing world.
- Our school environment is welcoming and inclusive
- The relationships and partnership with parents
Please enjoy the rest of Catholic Schools Week and I look forward to seeing many smiling faces at our various events throughout the week.
RE Matters
School Theme for 2025: All Hallows - People of Hope
"Never see a need without doing something about it".
This was St Mary of the Cross Mackillop's motto that she lived by. We give thanks to the Sisters of St Joseph as All Hallows celebrates a strong 142 year history of Catholic Education in Gulgong.
Mary Help of Christians - Patron Saint of Australia
May is the Month of Mary
Mary has a unique and privileged place in the Church because she responded yes to becoming the Mother of God, she is our first model of discipleship and our model of grace and trust in God. The Feast day of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated on 24th May each year. Catholics have always had strong devotion to Mary. It is recorded that when there were no priests in colonial Australia, Catholics prayed to Mary to nurture their faith. One of the first priests, Father John Therry, dedicated the Australian Church to Mary under the title “Help of Christians”. On the 24th May 1844, ‘Mary, Help of Christians’ became a special patron of our country under this title. Australia was the first nation to have ‘Mary, Help of Christian’s' as its patroness and to observe the feast on a national scale. We now have two Patron Saints of Australia as this honour is now shared with Australian born Mary Mackillop.
Catholic Schools Week 2025
This week our school community has been celebrating Catholic Schools Week.
The theme for this year’s celebrations is: Guided by Faith, Inspired by Hope, Committed to Learning.
Throughout the week students have had the opportunity to explore this theme by participating in a variety of activities with their friends, families and teachers. Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those who make All Hallows Catholic School the wonderful community that it is. Families are warmly invited to recognise and celebrate the Catholic faith in their own home.
This can be done in small ways, by asking your child about their participation in the Catholic Schools Week activities at school, praying before meals or before bed throughout the week or attending Mass on Sunday as a family. Our school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F, clergy, parishioners and support staff who work together to focus on giving students the best education possible, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. As an entire school community, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support of All Hallows Catholic School.
Please join us on Friday at 1.00pm for our lunch on the lawn.
Athletics Carnival
The school Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 30th May at Victoria Park.
Students from Yr 2 – Yr 6 will attend the carnival all day and participate in track and field events. K/1 children will come to the oval after recess and participate in ballgames, running and field events then head back to school after lunch.
All students need to wear their school sports uniform and school hat and sunscreen.
We encourage the wearing of a t-shirt in HOUSE COLOURS:
MacKillop – maroon, CLARE – white, CARMEL - royal blue.
Our P&F will be hosting a BBQ that will be selling sausage sandwiches, hot dogs, bacon and egg rolls, water and poppers. ** We are hoping to have a coffee van onsite. This will be confirmed in next week's newsletter.
We are after helpers on the day both on the BBQ and for track and field events. If you are able to spare an hour or two can you please contact the school office or email Brad on b.toole2@bth.catholic.edu.au.
Thanks in advance for your support.
If you are able to help with field events, timekeeping and judging please be at the carnival by 9.30am. We will be very grateful for your help.
Teddy Bear's Picnic
Our annual Teddy Bear's Picnic will be held next Tuesday 27th May.
Gulgong Preschool and Happy Days will bring their students to the school at 10.00am to join with our Kinder students. Their staff will be accompanying the students like a normal excursion.
Mrs Menchin, Miss Irwin and Kinder will organise games, stories and activities for the students during their time at All Hallows.
Anyone with preschool aged children are also invited to attend. We ask that you sign in at the school office on arrival.
Kindergarten 2026
Enrolment applications for 2026 are now being taken. Enrolment packs are available from the school office, Gulgong Preschool and Happy Days. We would appreciate if applications could be submitted by the end of Term 2.
Koala Club and Transition for 2026
We have planned our ‘Koala Club’ transition dates and parent information sessions for people that have students that will be starting in Kinder in 2026.
Key Dates:
Tuesday 27th May:
- Teddy Bear’s Picnic 10.00 - 12.00
- School tours available for anyone interested.
Term 3:
- Koala Club 1 - 28th August 9.30am - 12.30pm
- Koala Club 2 - 11th September 9.30am - 12.30pm
- Koala Club 3 - 18th September 9.30am - 12.30pm
Term 4:
- Koala Club 4 - 16th October 9.30am - 2.30pm
- Koala Club 5 - 30th October 9.30am - 2.30pm
- Koala Club 6 - 13th November 9.30am - 2.30pm
- Koala Club 7 - 27th November 9.30am - 2.30pm
- Kinder Readiness / Information Meeting 27/11/26 2.30pm (School Hall)
Henry Lawson Festival
We are looking forward to participating in the upcoming Henry Lawson Festival. As a school we will be joining in the Parade at 12 noon on Saturday 7th June. We are asking all students and staff that are present in town to come and join us in the parade.
We will be dressing as people from the goldrush and marching as a school group. Students will need to wear jeans, check shirts and olden style hats/cowboy hats or colonial clothes and meet at 11.40am at the Bowling Club carpark. These details will be confirmed in the week prior to the long weekend.
P & F BBQ
On Saturday our P&F will be running a BBQ/Street stall outside IGA. This is the major fundraising event for the year. A note came home last week asking for help on the day. If you're free and can volunteer a few hours your help would be greatly appreciated. You just need to send your form back or let Carolyn or Bec know in the office.
If you are unable to help in person, we are also asking for cake or slice donations to sell at our stall with the raffle. Donations will be collected on Friday afternoon in the canteen. If any donations could be cut and organised into packages/plates to sell that would be fantastic please. Please also provide an ingredients list please. We appreciate your support!!!
Special thanks to Megan Lugg for coordinating the P&F BBQ and our P&F for all their hard fundraising work.
Poetry at Henry Lawson Festival
On Sunday 8th June, a Poets walk-up breakfast will be held at 9.30am followed by a day of poetry. Students are encouraged to participate by reciting a piece of poetry at this event.
Merit Awards - Week 3
Kinder Clay D, Ava C, Eevee R
Year 1 Winter K, Aalayah N, Willem C
Year 2 Hunter B, Harriet B, Cooper W, Bailey K, Bligh S
Year 3 Oliver W, Jacob H, Hunter L
Year 4 Madden R, Brycen B, Aiden F, Amelia S, Charlotte A
Year 5 Issy C, Adalynn H
Year 6 Pippa L, Braxton B
Halos: Alex D, Charlotte H, Evie C, Rosie B, Blair N, Wilder W, Iyla F, Issy C, Wayne G, Georgia T
Student Wellbeing
This week's tip is focussing on having a look at our happiness calendar. It gives students (and adults) ways that you can brighten someone else's day. It would be great if we could continue to see this happening around our school.
P & F Oz Label Fundraiser
Community Noticeboard
