Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

🏃‍♂️🏔️ TRAILBLAZERS ON TOP! 🌟

Huge congratulations to St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood students Odin and Lulu, who claimed victory in the UTA11 event at the Ultra-Trail Australia By UTMB! 👏🏅

Competing against runners from across Australia and around the world, both students delivered outstanding performances on the challenging 11km course through the Blue Mountains.

Year 11 student Lulu crossed the finish line first in the women’s division with an impressive time of 1:15:27, while Year 10 student Odin took out the men’s division in a remarkable 58:10! ⏱️🔥

Adding to the celebrations, Year 11 student Alton secured second place in the UTA11, finishing just one minute behind Odin 👏

A special congratulations also to the many St Columba’s and St Canice's Primary Katoomba students, staff and parents who took part in the event, highlighting the strong trail running culture that continues to thrive in the Blue Mountains.

What an incredible achievement and a testament to their dedication, perseverance and love of running! 🌟

Read more about their success here 👉 https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2026/05/20/02/14/ultra-trail-australia?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

🌟 2026 NSW TRAINING AWARDS 🌟 - CSPD students and teachers achieved outstanding results at the Regional (Western Sydney & Blue Mountains) Final, with finalists recognised across multiple categories and TWO major award winners emerging from the night. 🏅🏆

👏 Congratulations to Georgia El-Khoury (Catherine McAuley Westmead) VET in Schools Student of the Year and Ava Schofield (Xavier College Llandilo) School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, along with all finalists and teachers recognised on the night.

From business and retail to hands-on industry training, these achievements highlight the strength of Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways across our schools.

📰READ the full story and view the photo gallery on our website 👉https://parra.catholic.edu.au/29-05-26-training-award-fb.
Catherine McAuley Westmead Xavier College Emmaus Catholic College Santa Sophia Catholic College CathWest Innovation College Marian Catholic College Kenthurst St John XXIII Catholic College

🧁☕ MORE THAN JUST A MORNING TEA 💛

There was plenty of baking, brewing and generosity on display as our school communities came together for Cancer Council Australia's Biggest Morning Tea 🌼✨

From homemade cakes and biscuits to community morning teas, our school communities dug deep to raise vital funds for people impacted by cancer. Every slice shared and every donation made helped support an important cause.

Some students even went the extra mile! At St Patrick's Marist College Dundas, Year 10 students John and Dean bravely took part in the World's Greatest Shave, shaving their heads in support of those affected by cancer 💇‍♂️👏

It’s inspiring to see our school communities come together in support of such an important cause, showing that even the smallest acts of generosity can make a meaningful difference 💛

📸 St Michael's Blacktown South, St Patrick's Marist College Dundas, Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek, Cerdon College Merrylands

💙BLUE PRIDE was on show at some of our schools today as students and staff added a pop of blue ahead of State of Origin Game 1 tonight! 💙

From hats and scarves to jerseys and ribbons, school communities got behind the NSW Blues (and a couple behind the Reds!) in style. Good luck tonight, Blues! 🏉
📷 St Michael's Blacktown South Gilroy Catholic College Chisholm Catholic Primary Our Lady of the Way School, Emu Plains

🖤💛❤️ NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 🖤💛❤️

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, a time to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to reflect on how we can all contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

The 2026 theme, All In, is a call for every Australian to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day 🤝

CSPD staff, students and families joined the Mount Druitt Reconciliation Walk and Gathering at Dawson Mall alongside local organisations and community leaders, coming together in a spirit of respect, learning and connection.

Across our schools, students and staff are already embracing the message of National Reconciliation Week. At St Canice's Primary Katoomba, a colourful Sea of Hands was created for National Sorry Day, with each hand representing a commitment to truth-telling, respect, understanding and connection 💙

Meanwhile, staff at St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood are proudly wearing "I'm In" badges and exploring reconciliation through a range of resources, including the CSPD Innovate RAP, First Nations stories, literature, music and educational displays that encourage learning and reflection 🌿✨

It’s inspiring to see our school communities taking meaningful steps towards reconciliation through action, understanding and a commitment to walking together.

To learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education in our schools visit our website 👉
https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/learning/specialised-learning/jarara?fbclid=IwY2xjawSCCHZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFXUEZwNUhkc0tob3hpTGZ4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHonelQhO2IhO4NxyPxd3kF0a8aAC-pHIoHvWoo2RE_69GdBlyDXfkABF0AkB_aem_LrePabizGgoVC9DwIIQLNg

Reconciliation Australia

🏃‍♂️🏅 DIOCESAN CROSS COUNTRY 🏅🏃‍♀️

Primary students from across the Diocese headed to Eastern Creek Raceway to compete in the Parramatta Diocesan Cross Country Carnival, taking on the challenging 2km and 3km courses against strong competition from across our school communities.

The cold weather and steady rain certainly tested everyone, but students showed incredible determination, resilience, sportsmanship and school spirit from start to finish! 👏

Congratulations to all students on their achievements and for representing their schools so proudly! 🌟

Don't miss out on this FREE PARENT EVENT!

📅 Tuesday 9 June
⏰ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open 6:30pm)
📍 Penola Catholic College, Penrith

Register here 👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaUKXqmdFy9DzlVncJH4I_A52Dnlz_3AQHOJOjoG9Sf3YRKA/viewform

How can you help your child learn at home without stress, conflict, or overwhelm?

Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session focused on simple, realistic ways families can support learning at home, from primary through to secondary school.

You’ll hear practical ideas around:

- study and homework routines
- helping children retain information
- reading and learning habits
- understanding some of the teaching approaches used in today’s CSPD classrooms

We’ll also briefly unpack the “why” behind some of the changes happening in schools and explain how parents and schools can work together to support student success.

Whether your child is in primary or secondary school, this session will provide practical takeaways you can start using at home straight away.


When Tuesday, 9 June
Time 7:00pm - 8:30pm (Doors open at 6:30pm)
Location Penola Catholic College, Penrith, 75 Mackellar St, Emu Plains
Refreshments Light refreshments will be provided.

REGISTER HERE ---> https://forms.gle/ZtcYkRErkVVAYnM79


This FREE event is open to all Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) parents and carers and is a chance to connect with other parents and learn more about the FPC.

🧠 THESE STUDENTS ARE MATHS MACHINES! 🔢🌟

Huge congratulations to the Year 6 team from St Bernadette's Primary, Castle Hill, who achieved an incredible 2nd place in Mathematics at the State Final of the Da Vinci Decathlon held at Knox Grammar 👏

Competing against 84 Year 6 teams and more than 1,200 students across Years 5 and 6, the team also placed 6th in Ideation - an outstanding achievement! ✨

The Da Vinci Decathlon is a prestigious academic competition challenging students across 10 disciplines including mathematics, engineering, science, code breaking, creative producers and more.

As Gifted Awareness Week comes to a close, it’s fantastic to see these talented students recognised for their critical thinking, creativity and teamwork! 🤩