17 October 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

October is traditionally known as the Month of the Holy Rosary, a beautiful form of prayer within the Catholic Church. The Rosary is a powerful, yet simple, meditation. It involves reciting specific prayers, an Our Father on the larger beads and a Hail Mary on the smaller ones, while reflecting on key moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary.

For many, including myself, the rhythm of the prayer acts like a spiritual mantra, helping to quiet the mind and create a space for a deeper connection with God. It’s an ancient practice, popular in the Church since the fifteenth century.

I warmly invite you to join some of our staff, Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Murphy and myself on Friday 31st October following the school Assembly to share in this special intention. We will simply "say a decade" together. No experience is necessary. We will guide you through the prayers. Rosary beads will be available for everyone to use, or you are welcome to "Bring Your Own Beads" (BYOB)!

It's been wonderful to welcome all our students back after the holidays! The sounds of giggles and happy catch-up conversations around the school have made for a lovely return. It's a joy to see (and hear) the children so lively and happy.

Our Garden Club has been hugely popular this week! The students have wasted no time getting back to work. And speaking of happy returns, our beloved school rabbits (Margaret and Amber) are certainly loving all the extra attention and cuddles they've been getting from their dedicated caretakers this week!

Nickolaus Mangan was presented with this week’s Walk Worthy of God Good Sport award. His teachers spoke of a young man who is respectful, fair and well-mannered. Congratulations, Nick!

We look forward to meeting our newest families next Monday at the 2026 Kindergarten Information Evening.

Warm Regards,

Amber

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 4

• Monday 20th October - Kindergarten Parent Information Night, 6pm
• Monday 20th October - Chess Competition 
• Thursday 23rd October & Thursday 13th November - Kindergarten Orientation Group 1
• Tuesday 28th October 6.30pm- Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Information Night
• Thursday 30th October & Thursday 20th November - Kindergarten Orientation Group 2
• Friday 31st October - All Saints Day Celebrations - Years 3 & 4
• Monday 3rd November - 5th November - Year 6 Camp
• Thursday 6th November & Thursday 27th November - Kindergarten Orientation Group 3
• Friday 14th November Year 5 Leadership Retreat
• Tuesday 18th November - SJPC Year 7 Transition Day
• Monday 24th November - Carol Light Carol-singing Competition 10am
• Thursday 27th November - SJPC Year 7 Orientation Day
• Friday 5th December - Big Banana Waterslide Night, 6pm
• Monday 8th December - Friday 12th December - K-2 Water Safety Program
• Wednesday 10th December - Year 6 Graduation Mass and Dinner
• Monday 15th December  - 2026 Awards Ceremony, 8.50am
• Wednesday 17th December - MHOC Christmas Concert, 12pm
• Wednesday 17th December - Last day of Term 4 for students
  

WHAT'S THE BUZZ?

A new way of preparing teachers comes to our schools

From 2026, our Catholic Schools in Tweed Heads, Pottsville and Coffs Harbour will be part of an exciting new program with Southern Cross University that reimagines how teachers are trained.

The Reimagining Teacher Education (RiTE) initiative will see Master of Teaching students learning in classrooms from the very first week of their studies. Instead of waiting until the end of their degree to gain experience, these Associate Teachers will spend two days a week in schools throughout their training.

What this means for our Catholic schools

• Extra support in classrooms for teachers and students.
• Fresh energy and ideas from aspiring teachers.
• Strong mentoring links between experienced staff and the next generation of educators.

Adam Spencer, Director of Catholic Schools, says our schools are looking forward to welcoming these student teachers. “Our students and staff will benefit from the added support and new perspectives, while these future teachers gain valuable experience in a real school community.”

Thinking of becoming a teacher?

If you’ve ever thought about teaching, this could be the time. Enrolments in the Southern Cross University Master of Teaching opens on 11 November 2025 with classes commencing early March 2026. With the RiTE program, you’ll not only study but also gain practical experience in our Catholic Schools from the start.

Find out more at: SCU Master of Teaching

Mrs Ryan's Farewell

Please see following flyer regarding Mrs Ryan's Farewell next Friday.  To RSVP, please click here.

LOVING LEARNING

MHOC Chess

Our Chess Team is making school history as they head to Illuka next Monday for the next round of the competition.

This is a wonderful achievement for our students, marking the furthest we have ever progressed in this competition! Their dedication and strategic thinking have certainly paid off. 

We send our best wishes to the team and look forward to hearing about their results when they return. Let's wish them good luck as they make their next brilliant move!

Staff Development Day

On Monday, our staff participated in a productive Staff Development Day, with the morning session focusing on Focused Classrooms—training teachers on strategies like maximising instructional time and promoting student independence to ensure impactful learning. 

The afternoon session then shifted to strengthening our Anti-Bullying process, covering consistent identification, effective intervention and proactive education to uphold our commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive and respectful environment for every student.

We are proud of our staff's commitment to continuous improvement and look forward to the positive impact of this training on our school community.

Loving Learning in Year 6

This week, Year 6 has been learning about fractions. We have learnt about fractions of quantities and how percentages, decimals and fractions are related. We have also been learning about how we can represent fractions in different ways. One task we completed this week was partitioning 2D shapes into fractions. 

Grade Term Overviews

Keep an eye on your inbox or more specifically, your Compass portal!

Term overviews will be sent today. We encourage all families to take the time to read this document. It contains important information that will help you plan and support your child's learning and participation throughout the term.

Inside the Term Overview, you will find:

• Key Dates: Important calendar dates, including excursions, school events, and upcoming assemblies.
• Term Learning Focus: A snapshot of the main topics and concepts your child will be exploring in each subject area.
• Other Important Information: Details on school routines, special program notes and staff contact information.

FROM THE MISSION DESK

Feast Day St Teresa of Avila

On Wednesday, we celebrated the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church and founder of the Discalced Carmelite Order, whose life reminds us that “prayer means being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him who loves us”. Her example of humble service and deep love for the Church inspires us to grow in prayer, humility and love for one another.

Here is a beautiful prayer attributed to St Teresa of Avila:

Christ has no body now, but yours. 

No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. 

Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. 

Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. 

Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.

What’s been happening in Religious Education in Kindergarten?

This week in Religious Education, Kindergarten has begun exploring the wonder and beauty of God’s creation. We have observed creation through wonder walks, stimulus clips and by exploring the story of Genesis. Students have expressed their appreciation for God’s creation through storytelling, artwork and Prayers of Thanks. We are eager to act as stewards of the natural world, caring for plants, observing wildlife and reflecting on ways they can protect God’s creation in their daily lives.

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MHOC Sacramental Program

We are excited to announce that registration is now open for students to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation! This is a foundational step in your child's faith journey, usually followed by Confirmation (Year 3) and First Holy Communion (Year 4).

Who Can Register?

• Children in Year 2 (who will prepare during class time).
• Baptised students in Years 3-6 who have not yet received Reconciliation (who will have intensive preparation sessions at school).
• Children in Year 2 and above from other schools in our Parish (who will be supported by a Parish Companion).
  

Eligibility

To participate, your child must be:

• Baptised in the Catholic Church.
• In Year 2 or above.

Key Dates and Actions

• Register Now: Please complete the MHOC Parish Sacramental Journey - Enrolment Form before 8 am Monday, 20th October.
• Certificates: Submit a copy (scan/photo) of your child's Birth Certificate and Baptismal Certificate to pastoral@mhocsawtell.org.au or drop them off at the Parish Office. (Baptismal certificates are not required if baptised at MHOC Sawtell).

We look forward to partnering with you on your child's spiritual development!

If you have any questions, please contact Toni Fletcher, Acting Assistant Principal Mission, at toni.fletcher@lism.catholic.edu.au or call the school office.

Term 3 Class Mass Roster

All parents and carers are warmly invited to join us for our weekly class Masses at Sawtell Catholic Church at 9:30am. We’d love for you to stay afterwards for a cuppa and some morning tea. It's a great chance to catch up and connect with others in our school community.

Tuesday 21st October - Year 5

Tuesday 28th October - Year 6

Tuesday 4th November - Year 1

Tuesday 11th November - Year 4

Tuesday 18th November - Year 2 and Sacrament of Reconciliation students

Tuesday 25th November - Kinder & Year 6

Tuesday 2nd December - Year 3

Tuesday 9th December - Year 5

Wednesday 10th December - Year 6

All Saints Day Celebrations - Save the Date

Mark your calendars! On Friday, 31 October, Years 3 and 4 will come together to celebrate the special Feast of All Saints Day. It will be a day of prayer and joyful activities as we honour the saints who inspire us to live holy lives. Students will be invited to dress up as their favourite Saint. More information to come!

SPORT NEWS

Elective Sport

The chatter is alive and there’s excitement brimming for the start of the Elective Sport program on Thursday. Please ensure bags are packed with any equipment required for your child’s sport.

If you haven’t yet paid, please do so today so that your child can attend his/her selected sport.

MHOC SCHOOL COMMUNITY FORUM

MHOC Art Fundraiser

If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for family and friends this year, we encourage you to place an order while raising money for the school. Your child’s wonderful artwork has been transformed into a variety of beautiful keepsakes, including calendars, cards, diaries, mouse mats and sketch pads. This is a fantastic opportunity to buy unique, personalised gifts! Please check your child’s bag for the order form and ensure all orders are submitted by Monday, 3rd November. Thank you for supporting MHOC!

LIBRARY WHISPERS

It’s been great seeing all the children in the library again. I really love that so many of them are reading so much in their spare time. I’ve already had lots of suggestions from students for new books that they’ve discovered and loved.  One student told me about a book she’d read and her description was that it was a calm book, nothing much happened in it and the kids just played in their treehouse a lot, but she loved it - sounds idyllic to me! 

I’ve also noticed that a lot of the students are trying different genres and really branching out. One of our Year 4 students has been reading the fantasy series “Wings of Fire” and similar books for months but said she wanted to try something totally different, something with emotion. We ended up finding one which she whizzed through, then she came back for more!

HABITS OF MIND AWARDS

Term 4 Week 1

CANTEEN NEWS

What's Cooking?

Volunteers

We are looking for more volunteers on Thursdays.  If you are able to help, please contact the school office.

NEWS FROM OUR PARISH

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism is available to those requesting it. Please ring Jennifer at the Parish Office (66583544) or talk to Amber Biddle or Toni Fletcher at school if you have any questions.  Alternatively, if you wish to register for Baptism, there is now the option of an  online request form .

Parish Website , E-bulletin & Facebook Page

For all the latest news from our parish, check out the Parish website or subscribe to our  new e-bulletin which can be sent directly to your inbox each week. Why not sign up today by entering your details in the sign up box on the Homepage or Contact page of the website!

And don’t forget to check out our FaceBook page

COMMUNITY NEWS