2024 Newsletter Term 4 Week 3

Letter from the Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Last Friday was World Teachers’ Day, it is time to thank all the teachers at All Hallows! 

As it was a Pupil Free Day last Friday we celebrated on Monday with a morning tea. In celebrating World Teachers’ Day we have the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful work of all teachers in our school. At All Hallows we are really fortunate to have a hard working team that will do anything to support the students in our school. They continually go above and beyond to provide the best opportunities for your children. 

Weekly Attendance Summary

Attendance is vitally important for success for our students in achieving their learning benchmarks.

Our goal is 90% attendance. In 2024 our attendance is currently sitting at 90.70%.  

Our attendance summary for Week 10 of Term 3 is below.  Let’s keep above 90% each week!! 

R.E. Matters - Walking in the light of Christ

This Term our focus is:

Let Your Light Shine - Never see a need without doing something about it.

The month of October is dedicated to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary.

October is the Month of the Rosary. Classes began this term learning about the Rosary. “The history of the Rosary mostly consists of legend and tradition. There is evidence that beads were used to count Our Fathers and Hail Marys in the Middle Ages. Fittingly, bead is derived from the Old English word for prayer. Each class has been focusing on learning about The Rosary. Kindergarten have made their own rosary beads as they begin to learn this devotion to Our Lady.

Staff Retreat

Last Friday the staff held their Retreat Day at Ganguddy -Dunns Swamp. With the theme ‘Let your Light Shine’, it was a day of learning, reflecting and sharing our vocation in Catholic Education.

ALL SAINTS FEAST DAY - Friday 1st November

On Friday we will gather in our beautiful church to celebrate our school feast - All Saints Day. Our parish school, “All Hallows” is named after these saints and this day is one of celebration for our school.

This year it is 141 years since the Sister’s of St Joseph first came here and started the first Catholic school in Gulgong. This year students created a portrait of a favourite saint. These will be displayed around the school.

Next Monday, 4^th November, each class will be participating in a ‘Service Activity’ in the Gulgong community. The tradition to use our school feast day as a day of SERVICE came from our effort to be a school community that wants to live our Motto  ’‘Know –Love Serve” 

All Souls' Day - 2nd November

All Souls’ Day commemorates the faithful departed. Observing Christians typically remember deceased relatives on the day. During November we are asked to especially pray for these people and care for those who are grieving their loss. Once again, this year, a Parish Mass will be held at the Gulgong Cemetery on Monday 4th November at 6pm. Please bring a rug / chair to sit on.

Jump Rope For Heart

  Thank you to ALL the students who got involved with Jump Rope for Heart!

A huge thank you for the effort skipping and fundraising for the Jump Rope for Heart program this term. Together we raised an incredible $5136 (at last count) and this money will all go towards vital heart research and education programs.

We’ve loved seeing so many smiling faces skipping on the playground and in sports lessons. Our Jump Off Day was a huge success, you can see a few action photos from the day below.

Keep up the skipping and thanks again for the hard work! 

Swimming for Sport

Swimming for Sport will be starting NEXT week (Wednesday 6th November) in preparation for our Intensive Swimming program later in the term.

A reminder that all students must wear appropriate swimwear at school swimming events. Girls should be in one piece costumes or two piece tankini style – no bikinis due to lack of sun protection. Boys need to wear ‘speedo’ type swimwear and may also wear boardshorts. Rashvests are advised for school sport sessions but not for Intensive Swimming lessons. All students are reminded to pack the following on Wednesdays for the rest of the term.

5 for Swimming

1. Swimmers
2. towel
3. sunscreen
4. hat
5. bag to carry swim gear in

Swimsafe Intensive Swimming Program

Our Swimsafe – Intensive Swimming Program will be held in Week 8 and Week 9 this term (2^nd December – 12^th December).

The All Hallows Swimsafe program aims to improve the standard of swimming in all students Kinder to Year 6. Groups are graded in ability with instruction given to a small group at each level. The students will have a swimming lesson each day for two weeks and this has proven to improve swimming skills, confidence and water safety. Information notes are being sent home with the newsletter today.

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Lilah and Will who placed 20th and 30th respectfully in the NSW PSSA Athletics Carnival in Sydney last week.

We are very proud of both of you.

Year 5 English

In English this Term, Year 5 has been exploring imagery,symbol and connotation. Students have been writing and analysing figurative language in poetry.

Year 5 co constructed a Shakespearean sonnet in small groups. Shakespearean sonnets are composed of 14 lines, and most are divided into three quatrains (4 line stanza) and a final, concluding couplet (two line stanza), rhyming abab cdcd efef gg.

Each group was given an element of school to write about. The 1st stanza was about students, the 2nd about teachers, 3rd about the physical aspect of school and the final was about what school gives us. I was super pleased with how they worked together and explored rhyming and descriptive language.

School

Shakespearean Sonnet- Year 5

In bustling halls where laughter soars

With backpacks heavily filled with dreams

Young minds awaken seeking more

They chase the sun where knowledge gleams 

Teachers are built like strange creatures

Teaching endless boring knowledge

Making children always weepers

Trying to make us go to college

Our playground is a great place to play

The classrooms are a hive to learn and grow

We sit in the very green grass and lay

Our school learns all term, you know

School gives us a life long education

But not all kids are striving for that desperation.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Tinus, Ellie and Lukas Hendriksz on the safe arrival of Penelope Gwen Hendriksz.

Your All Hallows family wish you much happiness.

P&F Update - Bazaar

Bazaar - 

• Please return your helpers sheets. We need lots of help to be able to run stalls at the Bazaar. 
• We are asking infants to donate cakes/ slices for the cake stall. 
• We are asking Year 3/4 classes to donate lollies and biscuits for the decorating stall. 
• We are asking Year 5/6 classes to donate salad items for the barbecue on the night. 
• Please let your class teacher or Brad know if you’re able to help out. 
• More detailed lists will be sent home following the meeting tomorrow. 

Here are a few ways you can contribute to the success of our Bazaar:

Volunteer: We need volunteers to help with various aspects of the event, such as planning, setting up, running stalls, and cleaning up afterward. Your time and effort are invaluable.

Donate: Whether it's items for stalls, baked goods for the bake sale, or your time to provide a service your contributions are greatly appreciated.

Spread the Word: Encourage friends and family to attend the Bazaar. The more people we can involve, the more successful the event will be.

Attend: Come to the Bazaar with your family and enjoy the afternoon with us. Your presence not only supports our cause but also fosters a sense of community within our school.

We understand that everyone's circumstances are different, and any contribution, big or small, is valued and appreciated. Your support is what makes All Hallows Catholic School such a special place for our children to learn and grow.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude in advance to all the parents who will step forward to support our Bazaar Fundraiser. Together, we can ensure that our school continues to thrive and provide the best possible education for our students.

Stage 1 Excursion

Stage 1 will be attending an excursion to Wellington Caves next Thursday 7th November.

Please give permission via compass for the excursion.

Sun Safe - No Hat, Shade Play

A reminder to all parents to ensure that their child has packed their hat in their bag every day. The ‘No Hat, Shade Play’ rule is enforced and children will not be allowed to play outside if they don’t have a hat on. Please help us to ensure that sun safety procedures are being followed at our school.

Principals Meeting

I will be away at the end of this week attending the final Principals Meeting for the year. 

Sarah Buckle and Kylie Statham will be in charge of the school in my absence should you need anything while I’m away.

Kinder 2025 and New Enrolments

We are now taking enrolments for our 2025 Kinder class. We also have some limited availability in some of the other classes. If you know anyone that is interested in enrolling their child for next year please share this information with them and ask them to email b.toole2@bth.catholic.edu.au or call into the office to collect an enrolment pack.

Merits - Week 2 Term 4

Kinder:     Maggie, John

Year 1:     Claire, Connor  

Year 2:      Roley, Indie

Year 3:     Audrey, Willow, Michaela

Year 4:     Elsie, Maddie, Charlotte

Year 5:     Aliyah, Ethan

Year 6:     Arabella, Sophia B

Halos:      Elise, Marley, Zachary, Rosie, Hilary, Adeline, Emma, Zayden, Maddie, Ruby P-H