2025 Newsletter Term 2 Week 9

Letter from the Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

We are very fortunate to have such a great community at All Hallows. Parents, families, and carers are a child's first and most important teachers. Parent engagement in education is about parents and carers, schools and communities working together to ensure that every parent can play a positive role in their child's learning, school community, sport, and social life. Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better. 

Family-school partnerships involve the ways families and schools work together to support children’s academic achievement. This includes:

- Connecting what children are learning at school with how they learn at home. 

- Parents support learning through everyday activities, and during the time their children aren’t at school. 

- Sending clear signals to students about the value of education 

- Building mutual commitment by families to take action in the home that supports learning at school 

Pupil Free Day

Our first day of Term 3 will be a Pupil Free Day. 

The first day for students in Term 3 will be Tuesday 22nd July.

R.E. Matters

The theme for 2025 is…

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

‘Young people are the promise of hope for many of us’
Pope Leo  XIV

FAREWELL FATHER OWEN

After 7 ½  years as our Parish Priest, School leader and friend we bid ‘Farewell’ to Father Owen as he ventures off to his new parish in Oberon. We have been blessed to have Father Owen with us and are very sad to see him go – (If it gets too cold – please just come back!).

Thankyou Fr Owen

All Hallows has been blessed to have had our ‘Lucky 7’ years with you.

We are grateful for your guidance, reverence and care. We will miss your energy, the encounter that leads with a smile, then a chat and ends with a joke and a ‘See you soon’. We hope your new school can make your cup of tea to your liking and understands the importance of the right slice to match.

Thankyou for your encouragement, support and appreciation of our All Hallows Catholic School. You always tapped into the heart of our school community, probably because you live a life of ‘Never seeing a need without doing something about it’ as you minister to those in your care.

We wish you all the best and look forward to meeting up with you.

Father Paul Devitt will be replacing Father Owen and he will be introduced to our school community in Term 3.

YEAR 6 RETREAT DAY

The Year 6 Retreat Day was held last Thursday.

This day of reflection allowed the students to take time out to think about what they have learn in the Confirmation unit.               

Throughout the day, the students discussed and thought about the importance of recognising the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives and how this will impact their future selves and the way they live. It was a day of sharing and connection for the group, where maturity and compassion shone through in our young leaders.

CONFIRMATION

On Sunday our Yr 6 students received the Sacrament of Confirmation – the final Sacrament of Initiation and as they were graced with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Michael spoke of the importance of using this sacrament to help live our best lives. He encouraged us all to be in union with Christ, not just a follower but to do God’s work by ‘ Never seeing a need without doing something about it’ - A sentiment we already embrace at All Hallows. We thank the Bishop for presiding.

These students chose names of saints who they admire for qualities such as kindness, reverence, joy, goodness and faith in God. We pray that they will always strive to know God as they have at this Confirmation time.

Congratulations Tayla McKeown ( St Therese of Lisieux), Dylan McKeown (St John), David Howden ( St Francis de Sales), Caitlin Britten ( St Brigid), Kota Watts (St Abigail) and Noah Thompson (St John Bosco).

Thank you, to the Parish of St John the Baptist for their support and prayers during the preparation for the sacrament and to the parents and families for their ongoing support and love. Special thanks, to Fr Owen, for his guidance and support of this class throughout his seven and a half years as our Parish Priest.

FEAST of St JOACHIM and ANNE - GRANDPARENTS LITURGY 

Joachim and Anne were Mary’s parents and the Grandparents of Jesus. Joachim and Anne were greatly honoured by God who gave them a daughter conceived without sin who was to become known as Mary, Mother of God! It would seem that they performed parenting responsibilities with great grace. 

Their feast day on the 26^th July is a day to honour them and all grandparents for their contribution to our lives.

Please join us at our Grandparents Liturgy led by Year 2 and Mrs Clift on Monday 28^th July, 2025 ( Term 3 – Week 2) as we celebrate all our Grandparents and those who fill this role in our lives.

SPORT

NORTHERN REGION ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

The Northern Region Athletics Carnival will be held in Dubbo on Wednesday 30th July 2025 (Term 3 – Week 2). An information note was sent out to those students going to this carnival and permission and payment will need to be completed in Compass. Mr Toole will be driving a minibus for those students not attending with parents and this too requires permission and payment to be made through Compass. 

We encourage our athletes to keep up the training over the holidays.

Second-hand Uniform

We would like to ask for any donations of second-hand uniforms both winter and summer. In particular we are after size 8, 10 and 12 but we would be grateful for all donations.

Red Hill Excursion Years 5 & 6

Tomorrow, Years 5 & 6 will head to Red Hill for a history excursion for the day. Mr Toole and Mr Rogers will accompany the students.

Canteen News

Emma is on Long Service Leave for the next two weeks. We would like to thank Bec Cross for volunteering her time to keep the canteen running. We really appreciate your time Bec!

Please note that the canteen will be closed on Tuesday 1st July. 

NAIDOC Week

The NAIDOC Week 2025 theme is "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy". This theme celebrates the achievements of the past while looking towards the future, focusing on the strength of young leaders, the vision of communities, and the legacy of ancestors. NAIDOC Week 2025 will be celebrated from July 6th to 13th. 

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. During week 10 All Hallows will be joining with the other Gulgong schools to celebrate the culture of our First Nations people. 

Tuesday 1st July: 

• We will all go to the High School with the other schools. 
• All our students will create artwork to decorate the High School Gym.

• Join in the community celebrations at Gulgong High School. 

Wednesday 2nd July: 

All Hallows NAIDOC Day

• Mufti Day wearing something Red, Black or Yellow 
• Activities throughout the day in mixed groups. 
• BBQ Lunch (Sausage Sizzle) 
• NAIDOC Liturgy at 2.15pm
• Return to classes after lunch for the afternoon. 

Parents are all invited to attend the liturgy, activities and barbecue and join with us throughout the day. 

Road Safety

Afternoon pickup is a very busy time on the intersection of Bayly and Medley Streets. It is important that we are following safe procedures to keep all students and parents safe. Morning drop off is much more staggered which allows the majority of parents to park and drop off from the same side of the street as the school.

 A reminder that we must use the following procedures to keep all students and parents safe around our school:

• Children should be encouraged to be alert and aware of their surroundings by practising the road safety procedure- Stop, Look, Listen and Think. 
• Stop one step back from the footpath or shoulder of the road.
• Look in each direction for approaching traffic.
• Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic.
• Think about whether it is safe to cross the road.
• Make sure to always park in designated parking zones around schools to avoid dangerous situations. 
• Park your car on the same side of the road as the school if possible so your child doesn’t have to cross the road. 
• Be on the alert for children moving in and out from behind cars while pulling in and out of parking spots. 
• The safe door for children to get out of the car is the one facing away from the road. Children should wait in the car until an adult can open the door for them. Before getting out of the car, both adults and children should check that the coast is clear to leave the vehicle.
• There is a 40km/h speed limit when driving near school buses that are picking up or dropping off school children.
• Set the example by following all road rules
• Discuss your actions and decisions around the road with your child
• Hold hands near roads
• Please do not have conversations on the road or whilst walking on the road. If talking to someone in the car can you please stand on the footpath. 
• If you need to cross the road you must use the crossing. I know that it adds an extra 60 metres to your trip to the car. This extra distance each day is definitely worth the safety of everyone in our school community.

REPORTS

Our teachers are busy preparing our Semester 1 Reports. Our students have been busy working hard for two terms and should be proud of their efforts this semester.  Reports will be made available on Compass in the final week of this term. 

As we approach the end of Term 2, our teaching staff are in the final stages of preparing your child’s academic reports. These reports are an important way of sharing your child’s progress, achievements and areas for growth across all key learning areas.

In line with NSW Department of Education guidelines, students in Years 1 to 6 receive achievement grades using a five-point scale: A, B, C, D, and E. This grading scale is consistent across all schools and is used to indicate how well a student has achieved in relation to the expected outcomes for their year level.

What do the grades mean?

• A – Outstanding achievement
• B – High achievement
• C – Sound achievement
• D – Basic achievement
• E – Limited achievement

It’s important to note that these grades do not reflect effort or behaviour, but instead show how well your child has met the curriculum expectations for their stage of learning.

What does a “C” mean?

A “C” grade indicates that your child is achieving exactly where they are expected to be at this point in the year. It means your child is working at grade level and has demonstrated a solid understanding of the concepts and skills taught in Semester 1.

While parents often see “C” as average or concerning, in the context of school reports, it actually represents sound and satisfactory achievement. Many students will receive a “C” in a subject area — this is both common and expected. Nesa defines a ‘C grade’ as ‘the student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills’. 

The link to the education standards is below if you wish to read further. 

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/awarding-grades/common-grade-scale

Growth, Effort and Next Steps

At All Hallows, we value the individual learning journey of every student. Alongside the A–E grade, teachers include comments about effort, engagement, and the progress made in specific areas. These insights, together with classroom observations and assessments, help to paint a more complete picture of your child’s development.

Please take time to read your child’s report and celebrate their successes. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s learning in more detail, we warmly invite you to book a parent–teacher interview in early Term 3.

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s learning.

School Beanies

The school is now selling beanies for $18. They are available from the Uniform Shop and the School Office. They can  be worn on cool days. I would advise students to have their hats in their bags so they can change later in the day if it warms up.

KOALA Club - Kindergarten 2026 Transition

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: 

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 27/11/25 2.30pm (School Hall)

Kindergarten 2026 and New Enrolments

Merit Awards - Week 8 Term 2

Kinder     

Year 1       John, Hilary

Year 2     Winifred, Bella

Year 3      Cooper, Lennon

Year 4      Hunter, Brycen

Year 5      

Year 6      

Halos:     

Student Wellbeing

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