2024 Newsletter Term 4 Week 9

Letter from the Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Christmas Holidays are closing in and this will be our last newsletter of the year. My thanks to all the staff parents and students of All Hallows for your support throughout the year. 

To the amazing parents at All Hallows, thanks for your continued support of the school in 2024. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated P&F and parent community who have the best interest of the school at heart in all the decisions you make. The staff have always felt well supported and appreciated all year. 

Soon, we say farewell to our Year 6 students. You have all been amazing this year and role models for the other students in how to be resilient, patient and take the positive out of every situation. I’d like to thank the families that are departing All Hallows at the end of next week. To the Seis, Watt and Wisbey families we thank you for your contribution to All Hallows and allowing us the privilege of educating your children. We wish you and your family all the best in your future endeavours. 

Our students’ last day for 2024 is next Wednesday, 18th December. The 2025 school year will commence on Tuesday 4th February at 9.00am for Years 1-6. Kinder will resume on Thursday 6th February at 9.00am. Kinder will be completing Best Start Assessments on the first day back next year. 

Key dates for end of year celebrations are: 

- Friday 13th December - Year 6 Day out

- Monday 16th December - End of Year Mass and Year 6 Final Assembly

- Tuesday 17th December - Colour Run & Free BBQ

We now look forward to a restful holiday, a recharging of the batteries ready for all that 2024 has to offer. I wish everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas and a refreshing holiday. 

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 91.93%.  

Our attendance summary for Week 8 of Term 4 is below.  Let’s keep above 90% each week!! 

RE Matters

All Hallows Theme for 2024:  "Walking in the Light of Christ"

This term our focus is:

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

ADVENT:  We are now in the 2nd week of Advent

Advent Wreath Prayer Week 2 - Peace

                                                                    Heavenly Father, You are the God who gives peace.                                                                                     This second week of Advent, keep us in perfect peace as our mind is stayed on the truth of your powerful love.                                                                            Thank you for your mighty sovereign hand.                                                                                                                                   Help us to trust fully in you and rest in the peace that you offer.                                                                 In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen

Never forget the "Reason for the Season"

Three ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year.

Christmas is a magical time of year but beneath the shiny, flashing festivities, Christ quietly calls out to us - Will you respond? Christmas is not only a time to celebrate family, love and renewal - it is also a time to honour Christ's miraculous birth.  Remember Jesus' birth was a gift to all humanity, thus the reason we offer presents to each other during his birthday celebration.  How can you keep Christ in Christmas this year?  Consider the following suggestions and share them with your friends and family:

1.  Celebrate with Advent Prayers:  There are many reasons to pray each day but pull your family together and share a quick prayer each day as we get closer to Christmas.

2.  Attend Mass:  It's hard to find extra time while juggling work, kids, Christmas shopping, meetings and life in general butit's important to remember to attend Mass.  Too many make excurses to avoid Mass but Christmas, the season dedicated to Christ's birth, should be celebrated with Christmas Mass.

3.  Display a Nativity Scene:  You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for a 6 piece blow-up Nativity scene complete with lights and music to display on your lawn.  Simply walk into the nearest store and you are guaranteed to find a miniature Nativity, window decal, toy, display or other ornamentation.

A big 'Thank You" to everyone who has been involved in our Liturgies, Sacraments,School/Parish Masses, Feast Days, Altar Serving and service activities this year.  All aim to strengthen our faith and service and can only be achieved with the combined effort of our supportive community who definitely "Never see a need without doing something about it"

End of Year Mass and Year 6 Assembly

Year 6 End of Year Mass will be held on Monday 16th December at 10.00am.

All students will attend the Mass and all parents  in our community and particularly our Year 6 parents are invited to attend our celebration.

Following Mass we will have a morning tea and cuppa on the front playground.  Any students who did not receive their awards at Presentation Night will be presented with them at the conclusion of Mass.

Year 6 Final Assembly will be held at 2.30pm on the same afternoon in the school hall. 

Key 2025 Dates

Below are the key dates for the start of the 2025 year. 

Key dates for events that we have planned on the calendar for the start of next year. 

30th Jan: Uniform Shop Open 9-1

31st Jan: Staff Return & Uniform Shop Open 9-1 & 4-6

3rd Feb : Pupil Free Day - Staff Development Day & Uniform Shop Open 9-1

4th Feb: Years 1-6 Return and Kinder Best Start - Uniform Shop 8.00am - 9.15am

5th Feb: Kinder Best Start 

6th Feb: Kinder First Day 

14th Feb: Swimming Carnival 

20th Feb:  Beginning School Mass (time tbc)

Uniform 2025

All students are expected to return in full Summer Uniform on the first day back next year.

Please ensure that your child has the correct school shoes, correct coloured socks and all holiday haircuts have been taken care of.

School Leadership Team 2025

School Captains:  Caitlin Britten & Noah Warren

Liturgy Captain: Dakota Watts 

House Captains: (To be voted on early in Term 1)

Staffing 2025

I am pleased to announce that our class teachers for next year will be: 

• Kinder: Alicia Menchin (Lucinda Stokes every 2nd Friday)
• Year 1: Danielle Marsh
• Year 2: Laura Clift 
• Year 3: Meg Kelly 
• Year 4: Sarah Buckle (Mon - Wed & Friday) & Lucinda Stokes (Thurs)
• Year 5: Beau Rogers
• Year 6: Kylie Statham & Brad Toole (Thurs) 
• RFF Teachers: Sarah Buckley (Primary Wed) & Amanda MacLean (Infants Wed) 
• Library Teacher: Sarah Buckley (Friday) 
• Support Teacher: Rebecca Stubbs
• Little Blessings:  Alex Toole

Admin Staff 

• Carolyn Holland (Mon, Wed & Thurs) 
• Bec O’Connell (Mon,Tues,Thurs & Fri) 
• Emma Adams (Canteen) 
• Mark Holland (Thurs & Fri) 
• Harry Singh (Cleaner)

Support Staff 

• Emily Tomlinson (5 Days) 
• Glynis Hensley (5 Days)
• More staff TBC

Intensive Swimming

As we are nearly to the end of our Intensive Swimming weeks, we wish to say a BIG ‘Thankyou’ to all the parents and grandparents for helping their children be organised and enthusiastic for their swimming lessons this year. It has been very wonderful that the children are enjoying their trip to the pool each day and the improvement in their swimming and water safety skills has been obvious this week. We hope they can continue to visit the pool and further develop their swimming throughout summer. 

A very big THANKS goes to Mrs Kelly, Mrs Clift, Mr Rogers and Ms Statham for being our swimming teachers this year and for all the All Hallows Staff who provided the activities, supervision and support necessary at school to ensure the program works. 

Colour Run

On Tuesday 17th December our SRC are organising a colour run on the back oval. It will be a great fun celebration to finish the year. All students need to wear old clothes and covered shoes (white t-shirts are most effective). Please bring a change of clothes for after the colour run.

The run will start at 12noon and be followed by a free bbq for parents and students to celebrate the end of another school year.

Parents, grandparents, siblings are all welcome to get involved on the day.

We will be providing some groovy little sunglasses this year to protect the kids eyes. 

Last Day of the Year Mufti Day

On Wednesday 18th December (last day of the year) we will be having a free mufti day. Students are able to wear their favourite Xmas clothes. Students need a hat, covered shoulders and covered in shoes. 

Semester Two Reports

Semester 2 Reports will be available on Compass from Monday 18th December. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s learning.

Gulgong Christmas Event Choir

We have been invited and accepted an invitation to sing two songs at the Gulgong Christmas Celebrations at ANZAC Park on Saturday 14th December. Mrs MacLean will be coordinating the choir and it is open to all students who would like to participate.

Wear a Christmas T-shirt or Christmas coloured t-shirt and meet Mrs MacLean on the night to sing Silent Night and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. It will be a great night with lots of fun activities planned. A compass permission will come home so we can confirm who will be attending. 

Merits - Week 8 Term 4

Kinder:    Blair, Hilary

Year 1:      Albert, Oscar, Harriet

Year 2:     Harper, Hunter, Kurt

Year 3:     Zion, Brycen, Michaela

Year 4:    Maddie, Ivy, Eloise

Year 5:     Aliyah, Dylan, Ethan

Year 6:    

Halos:     Mackenzie, Jane, Lennon, Adalynn, Rory, Charlotte A, Tom, Georgia, Cooper, Reid, Alexis, Braxton

Noticeboard

Bishop's Christmas Appeal

Message from Bishop Michael McKenna - Helping our Neighbours in Santo, Vanuatu

Dear Parents & Staff

As we approach the season of Advent and prepare to celebrate the joy of Christmas, we are reminded of the call to extend our love and generosity to those in need.  This year, the Bishop's Christmas Appeal will support a very special cause: the rebuilding of a school in Santo, Vanuatu, which as been significantly impacted by hurricanes and an influx of families seeking refuge from a nearby volcanic eruption.

The school in Santo plays a vital role in the local community, providing education and stability to children whose families have been displaced.  However, recently natural disasters have left the school severely damaged, making it a challenge to provide the necessary facilities for learning and growth.

Your support for this appeal can make a meaningful difference, helping to build classrooms, provide essential resources, and restore hope for a brighter future for these children and their families.

Every contribution, no matter how small, is a step towards bringing joy and opportunity to those who need it most this Christmas.  Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible and can be made through the Diocesan website https://bathurst.catholic.org/help-build-a-future-support-the-bishops-christmas-appeal/

Thank you for considering this opportunity to share the spirit of Christmas by supporting our neighbours in Vanuatu.  Together we can make a lasting impact on the lives of many.