2024 Newsletter Term 2 Week 5

From the Principal - Reconciliation Week

This week is Reconciliation Week, and it is a time for us to come together as a Catholic school to reflect, learn, and actively promote healing and unity among all Australians.

Reconciliation Week, observed annually from May 27th to June 3rd, holds immense importance for us as a nation as we strive to build respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This week provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It prompts us to reflect on our shared history and work towards a more harmonious and just society.

The theme for Reconciliation Week 2024 is "Now More Than Ever." This theme serves as a powerful reminder that reconciliation is not merely a concept or a sentiment but a call to action. As a Catholic school community, it is incumbent upon us to embrace this theme and recognize that reconciliation requires active participation, understanding, and genuine effort.

As a school community, we are committed to fostering a spirit of inclusivity, respect, and understanding. Reconciliation Week provides an ideal platform for us to deepen our understanding of the rich Indigenous cultures that form an integral part of our national identity. 

Together, let us recognize the past, acknowledge the present, and work hand in hand to build a future where reconciliation is a lived reality for all Australians.

On Friday our Year 6 leaders and Indigenous students will be attending a Reconciliation Week Diocesan Mass at St Mary’s Church in Mudgee. Students will travel by bus leaving at 10.15am and returning during our lunch time. 

Brad Toole,
Principal

National Sorry Day

Sunday was National Sorry Day. National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. It is important for us to remember our history which will allow us to move forward in reconciliation with one another.

R.E. MATTERS - Walking In The Light

Catholic Schools Week

What a wonderful week we experienced as a school community as we celebrated Catholic Schools Week last week. Our students certainly brought to life our AHS theme of ‘Walking in the Light of Christ in their words and actions throughout the week.

The celebration of Catholic Schools Week has been a great opportunity to acknowledge the role our school has in challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, lifegiving members of society. The activities of the week allowed our All Hallows community to come together in this common goal. Time was also taken to ensure all members of the school community recognised the great things our school does every day. We appreciate all the staff did to enable the events of the week to go so well.

Thank you to all who were able to join us for our Liturgy, CSW Morning Tea, Open Classroom, STEM session, Disco, Parent Assembly and ‘Lunch on the Lawn’ during Catholic Schools Week. 

We are very proud of the way our students represented us with pride over the week and look forward to our next one in 2025.

‘May the God who dances in creation, who embraces us with human love, who shakes our lives like thunder, bless us and drive us out with power to fill the world with justice and with peace;  

May we hear the message you teach of a world in which the wrongs of the past are recognised – a world of reconciled people who walk and talk together, sharing stories; 

We ask this in Jesus’ name.   Amen’

First Reconciliation

Please keep our First Reconciliation children- Audrey, Iyla, Charlotte, Hamish, Zion, Wayne, Amalea, Ruby, Michaela and Lincoln in your prayers as they make their First Reconciliation next Thursday 6^th June, 2020. 

Mrs Kelly will bring the children receiving the Sacrament to the church and meet the families at 12.00pm. Each family has their pew reserved at the front of the church. 

The candidates may come to school dressed in neat clothes rather than their uniform, specially for their special day.  There will be a celebration light lunch in the school hall with the families and Yr 3 friends after the Liturgy.

Thankyou to Mrs Kelly, for preparing the children for this Sacrament throughout the year.

Athletics Carnival

On Tuesday 4th June, our Athletics Carnival will be held at Victoria Park Gulgong. 

Students from Yr 2 – Yr 6 will attend the carnival all day and participate in track and field events. Kinder and Year 1 children will come to the oval after recess and participate in ballgames, running and field events.

Students will be transported via Ogdens Coaches to and from the oval. At the end of the day, parents are able to sign their child out at the recording table.  Please see Mrs Buckle who will be co-ordinating this.

If you are able to help with timekeeping and judging please be at the carnival by 9.30am. We will be very grateful for your help. If you’re able to help please email Carolyn or Bec in the office by Friday. 

All students need to wear their school sports uniform and school hat. We encourage the wearing of a t-shirt in HOUSE COLOURS:

 MacKillop – maroon, CLARE – white,  CARMEL  - royal blue

Our P&F will be running a BBQ at the carnival. 

We will need volunteers to help cook the BBQ and serve in the canteen. If you’re able to help, can you please email or call the school office. 

We are looking forward to a great event!

Changes to End of Day Pickup Procedures

As a result of some safety concerns, we are making some changes to our End of Day Pick Up Routine which will come into effect next Monday 3rd June.

Parents / Carers who are collecting students each day will need to come into the school grounds to collect their students.  Staff will open the gate at approximately 3.15pm to allow access to the school grounds.

Infants classes will be on the verandah outside their classroom waiting for collection.

Primary students will be sitting on the basketball court in their class groups.

This is to ensure children leave the school appropriately and make it to their cars safely on a very busy intersection and corner.

Should anyone not be able to leave their cars due to sleeping babies or disability, please call the school office to arrange for someone to escort your child to your car after everyone else has left.

Teddy Bears Picnic

‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ was held yesterday. It was a great day being joined by our friends from Gulgong Preschool and Happy Days. There were so many smiling and happy faces. Thanks to Mrs Menchin for coordinating the day and to Mrs Marsh, Mrs Toole, Mrs Devitt, Mrs Young, Mrs Leotta and Miss Norris for supporting the day.

St Laurence's, Dubbo Soccer Gala Day

This week a note about the St Laurence’s, Dubbo Soccer Gala Day will be sent home via Compass. The carnival involves our students in Years 2 – 6.  We ask that consent and payment be provided as soon as possible to help with the organisation of teams.

All classes will be practicing soccer during Wednesday Sport time to prepare for the carnival.

Henry Lawson Festival

As a school 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 8th 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. 

On Saturday our P&F will be running a BBQ/Street stall outside IGA. This is the major fundraising event for the year. Attached to this note is the updated helpers sheet. If you're free and can volunteer a few hours your help would be greatly appreciated. You just need to send your form back with your preferred time slot and job or let Carolyn or Bec know in the office.

All Hallows Wellbeing Program Breakfast Club

We have started a breakfast club at school this week. It is being organised by Mrs Menchin as part of our Wellbeing Program at All Hallows. It is open to all students and breakfast is available from 8.20am - 8.50am. 

The cost is being funded initially through our Wellbeing grant money but we will be looking for sponsors to keep it going long term. If you know any local business organisations that may be interested in donating products or financially supporting our breakfast club please let Brad or Alicia know and we can approach them. 

This is a great initiative for the students at our school and I’d like to thank our staff for volunteering their time to operate the breakfast club.

No Milkshakes this Thursday

Canteen Volunteers Needed

We are desperate for more canteen helpers at the moment. Helpers are required to be in the canteen from 10.30 - 1.30pm. If you’re able to help, can you please email the school office or speak to Brad. If we are unable to get some more helpers we may need to look at cutting back the menu

P&F Pie Drive

Thanks to everyone who placed an order for our Pie Drive. We really appreciate your support. Pies will be delivered next Wednesday 5th of June. We will confirm delivery time at a closer date once it has been confirmed. Thanks to Alex for coordinating the drive.

Little Blessing Playgroup

This Thursday from 9.30am -11.30am we will be holding ‘Little Blessings Playgroup’. We had a great time at our first playgroup last week. We are encouraging anyone with small children to come along and join in the fun. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Garden Club News

In honour of Catholic Schools Week - we thought we’d introduce our Saints who have helped us name our garden beds.Our Garden Bed Saints are;Saint Patrick, Saint Dorothy, Saint Kateri, Saint Isodore, Saint Fiacre, Saint Therese, Saint Francis, Saint Rose, Saint Bernadette and Saint Anthony.  We will learn more about these saints throughout the year or come and join us for garden club and check them out yourself!

This week we planted more cabbages, broccoli, peas, snapdragons and carrots!

Happy gardening, Miss Norris and Mrs Watts

Merit Awards & Halos - Week 4

Kinder    James M, Aviana M, Tom L, Jack B, John V, Wyatt M

Year 1      Albert T, Oscar N, Cooper W, Claire F, 

Year 2     Rosie B, Kurt H, Roley A, Indie J, Jack H

Year 3     Kaitlyn H, Ruby T, Hamish B, Madden R, Ned L, Miller P, EmmaW

Year 4     Rory K, Maddie P-H, Issy C, Jett R, Adalynn H, Eloise B

Year 5     Braxton B, Noah T, Logan T, Tia T, Dakota W, David H

Year 6     Sophia B, Sophia W, Tommy W, Will B

Halos:  Hope S, Wyatt M, Aiden F, Mackenzie R, Reid C, Iyla F, Ned L, Michaels W, Elise T, Miller P