2025 Newsletter Term 4 Week 1

Letter from the Principal - Brad Toole

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Welcome back to the final term of the year. It is hard to believe that it is already half way through October and we are planning our Term 4 Calendar and looking ahead to 2026. 

Our planning processes for 2026 are starting to take place as we start to look at our calendar for next year. To help us prepare for our class allocations for 2026 we need to know what students will be attending All Hallows next year. We are still accepting enrolments for Kinder 2026 (As well as all other year groups). If you know anyone wanting to attend All Hallows please ask them to come and see the office for an enrolment pack. 

Our Term 4 calendar is looking rather busy. The term will fly by and we will be celebrating Christmas before we know it. I hope everyone has a great term, works hard and enjoys spending time with their friends. A paper copy of our calendar for the fridge went home last term. 

PUPIL FREE DAYS FOR TERM 4

Friday 7th November - Friday Term 4 Week 4

All Hallows Halloween 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 Primary classes to donate wrapped lollies for trick or treat stall
• Please let your class teacher or Brad know if you’re able to help out. 

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.

R.E. Matters.

The theme for 2025 is…

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

SAVE THE DATE - SCHOOL FEAST DAY

 Our school feast day - All Saints Day -on Friday 31^st October.

On this day Yr 6 will be having their ‘SAINTS CAFÉ’. This café is held to thank all those who volunteer in and around Gulgong. Please spread the word to anyone you know who is a volunteer in any capacity. Invitations will be sent out at the beginning of next term and we don’t want to miss anyone.

Let us Pray

God made us a family      
We need one another
We love one another
We forgive one another
We work together
We play together
We worship together
Together we use God’s word
Together we grow in Christ
Together we love all men
Together we serve our God
Together we are happier
Lord, help us to be cheerful and make others happy to meet us.
Help us to be so true to you that we area a strength to others.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord , Amen

October is the Month of the Rosary

The Rosary is a meditative prayer based on Scripture. When we pray the Rosary, we ask Mary to pray for us as we seek to grow closer to her son Jesus by contemplating His life, death, and Resurrection

SCHOOL MASSES / LITURGIES THIS TERM

Please join us for our special celebrations this term where our school community gathers to give thanks and pray. Liturgies are held at school and masses in our church- St John the Baptist. 

Keep a record of these dates. More details for each will be in future newsletters

Week 2: Thursday Class Mass - Kinder, Yr 4

Week 3: All Saints Day Mass (School Feast Day): Friday 31^st October – 9.15am

(School Feast Day is the Saturday -1^st November)

Week 4: Thursday Class Mass - Yr 2, Yr 5, Yr 1

Week 4: Staff Retreat: Friday 7^th November ( Pupil Free Day)

Week 5: Remembrance Day Liturgy: Tuesday 11^th November – 10.45am

Week 6: Thursday Class Mass- Yr 3 Yr 6

Week 8: Advent Liturgy: Monday 1st December

Week 10: End of Year School Mass: Monday 15^th December – 9.15am

SAINT DRESS-UP

This year to commemorate ALL SAINTS DAY and as a link to those our school is named after, each child is asked to come dressed as a chosen saint. Throughout the year classes have learnt about different saints which will help the children select a saint to represent on our feast day .Where possible children are encouraged to select an individual saint to create a larger school display of different saints.

We encourage the use of ‘props’ related to a particular saint. (St Peter –key, St Therese – flowers…)

The focus is on learning who these people were and what was so extraordinary about them that they were included in the ‘Communion of Saints’. Most outfits will be worn over uniforms for the morning, as classes will be heading out to their service activity after recess.

SPORT

GYMNASTICS

This week, as part of our PE program, we have Maddie from Central West Gymnastics here delivering skills sessions in Gymnastics. Each day all classes attend a skills lesson covering outcomes from the PE Syllabus.

The students have shown enthusiasm in learning these new skills and are having a lot of fun as they learn. Thankyou Maddie for delivering this program.

DIOCESAN SUMMER SPORTS TRIALS 

The Bathurst Diocesan Summer Sports Trials for 2026 will be held in Dubbo on Thursday 20^th November (Touch Footy, Softball and Cricket) and Friday 21^stNovember (Basketball and Tennis) and are open to students in Yr 4 and Yr 5. These trials are used to select members for the Bathurst Diocesan team to compete at the Polding selection Trials in 2026 for cricket, basketball, tennis, touch footy  and softball. Students from all schools in the Bathurst Diocese are invited to attend the trials. Students wishing to trial  MUST display a HIGH standard of ABILITY in these sports to warrant being sent to the trials. They should be involved in REGULAR COMPETITION and have a SOUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE RULES of the game. Any student wishing to attend the Summer Sports Trials will need to see Ms Statham this week to get a registration note.

Year 5/6 Sydney Excursion

What a wonderful time the Yr 5/6 students and teachers had in Sydney during the last week of Term 3. We were blessed with sunshine and lots of new experiences as our enthusiastic ‘tourists’ made their way around the city. Our senior students represented All Hallows and Sacred Heart with the utmost of pride and were a pleasure to spend the time with. It really didn’t matter who they met: tour guides at the Maritime Museum, Taronga Zoo, the Rocks, NSW Art Gallery, SCG or even Police horses at Circular Quay - these students were impressive. During each visit our group was complimented for their enthusiasm, knowledge, good manners and calm vibe – you really can’t imagine how proud we are of them. On Friday night we arrived home tired, happy and full of stories for our awaiting families. Many thanks to the parents for providing this opportunity for their children. We loved it!

Sydney 2025

Kindergarten 2026 and New Enrolments

We look forward to meeting with our new friends again tomorrow!

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 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)

Pink Up Gulgong - Pink Day

Holiday Works

Our school was very busy over the holiday period with lots of work completed. We had two new gardens completed. These works have improved our  school and we would like to thank Glencore for a very generous grant and our P&F for their generous donation.

Stage 2 Excursion

Year 3 and 4 have a very busy start to Term 4. Next Friday they are off to Wambangalang Environmental Education Centre. We hope that you all have a fantastic day!

Please check Compass App for all event permissions and notifications.

Sun Safety

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.

Student Wellbeing

Healthy Lunchboxes

A few friendly reminders:

• Every child needs a healthy lunchbox and some fruit for crunch n sip each day.
• Lunchboxes should not include lollies or drinks that are full of sugar.
• It is important that you pack enough food to get your child through the day. It is a long day for little kids. 
• Please try to provide food that will keep them nourished for longer. Carbs and protein are good for this.
• We are a nut aware school. We have children that are anaphylactic to nuts so please do not send foods that contain nuts.
• If any families are having any trouble please let me know and we can assist you.

7 Ways to Reduce the Fear of Failure

P&F Uniform Shop

Uniform Shop Opening Hours 

Our P&F uniform Shop is open on Tuesday mornings 8.30am - 9.15am. Should  you need  items outside this time please message through the P&F Facebook page and someone from the P&F will arrange a collection from the office for uniform items.

End Of Year Presentation

After careful consideration we have made the decision to hold this year's awards ceremony during the school day instead of during the evening. The reason we have made the decision is we want to give all students the opportunity to be at the awards ceremony. We have noticed a trend over recent years of less students attending the night time presentation evening. We  will evaluate after the Presentation afternoon this year. 

Our Awards Assembly will be held on Thursday 11th December at 1pm at Memorial Hall.

Merit Awards

No merits this week - they will be included in next weeks newsletter.

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