Isabell Petrinic | Sydney Catholic Schools

‘We need harmony in this world’: Luca Atzeri

Year 2 St Francis de Sales Catholic Primary School Woolooware student, Luca Atzeri, has been named the regional winner of this year’s Harmony Day Poster Competition.

“I came up with the idea of drawing a rocket blasting from out of space with all the flags of the world on it, so they could blast into space together with the rocket,” Luca said.

“My message was that we need harmony in the world.”

Luca’s heartwarming poster idea responds to the 2020 theme of the Harmony Day Poster Competition: Picture a World of Harmony.

He created the poster in class, during a World in Harmony themed art lesson in March.

“Harmony means everyone coming together and being nice to each other all the time,” says Luca Atzeri. Photo: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash.

It was submitted along with his classmates’ posters to the competition organisers Moving Forward Together, a social initiative promoting harmony in the community regardless of colour, origin or religion.

“Harmony means everyone coming together and being nice to each other all the time,” said Luca.

When asked what his classmates could do to be kind and inclusive at school, Luca suggested reaching out to each other during recess, playing and sitting with one another and listening to each other.

Principal Suzanne Clay acknowledged the efforts of Luca’s art teacher Kate Ng in giving the students the chance “to really explore the message behind what a world that lives in harmony looks like and how they would picture it.”

“I am often astonished at the amazing depth and complexity of the art produced by the …

Isabell PetrinicJune 22, 2020|

World Refugee Day: Giving voice to student stories

In honour of World Refugee Day (20 June), we are sharing the stories of courageous refugee students from war-torn Iraq who have been welcomed into the Sydney Catholic Schools family.

Karam Shashah was forced to flee his Iraqi-Kuridish town of Arbil in 2014 after the bloody Iraqi civil war engulfed his country.

“My village was attacked – in the same day me, my grandfather, uncle, my parents and sister went out of the village,” says 14-year-old Karam, a tinge of sadness visible in his countenance.

Karam’s family lived for five years in Lebanon before settling in Australia.

The 2020 Refugee Week theme is Celebrating the Year of Welcome: Online. Image: Wylly Suhendra on Unsplash.

Karam is currently in Year 9 at one of Sydney Catholic Schools’ (SCS) three Catholic Intensive English Centres, at Patrician Brothers’ College Fairfield.

Others are at Mary Mackillop Catholic College Wakeley and Holy Spirit Catholic College Lakemba.

“I miss my house, my friends, and my village,” Karam says sombrely. Smiling softly, he offers this observation: “Here (in Australia), life is good.”

Karam’s classmates have similar stories that leave you in awe of their resilience.

“I miss my house, my friends, and my village” – Karam Shashah

Despite having faced adversities they focus on their positive adjustments which include the ease with which they are picking up English.

“I learnt English from YouTube,” Year 10 student Noel Jamil said. “And zombie games,” he added, breaking into a grin.

Year 9 student Yohan Al-Lao said listening to music and watching movies has helped with his English. That, and playing video games. It …

Isabell PetrinicJune 19, 2020|

St Aloysius’ plan to clean our seas

Year 2 students at St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla have come up with a plastic-fantastic way to save our oceans.

Using Lego robotics, they have written code that allows their systems to move and sense objects around them.

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This follows a visit to their school last term by Plastic Free Cronulla who showed students how they can contribute to keeping our oceans plastic free.

Students have since been busy working collaboratively to design, build and refine digital systems that can catch plastic and remove it from our oceans.

St Aloysius Cronulla Year 2 students learning with LEGO.

Students are taught ways to improve the ocean’s health.

For more information about St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla or to request an enrolment form, call (02) 9523 2593 or visit stacronulla.catholic.edu.au.

Isabell PetrinicJune 15, 2020|

Life is ‘suite’ for De La Salle College student Sean

It has been a busy time for Year 12 Software Design and Development student Sean Mumby of De La Salle College Ashfield.

After eight months of hard work, Sean has developed a Chrome add-on called SuiteTab.

In Sean’s words, “It’s sweet because it’s a Suite.”

In the video below he explains how SuiteTab works.

What can SuiteTab do?

Targeted to busy people, SuiteTab is a productivity tool helping everyone stay on-task and organised.

Sean says the Chrome extension supports many features such as a to-do checklist, live countdowns, note pads, URL bookmarks, display settings including full screen, live weather and a highly configurable background.

SuiteTab is for busy people. Generic photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

Included is a zoom feature for vision-impaired users and data back-up to transfer information across devices and Chrome accounts, Sean adds.

Unsurprisingly, Sean achieved outstanding marks for his in-class presentation on the tool and for the product itself.

Outside of the classroom the product is also receiving rave reviews from users and can be downloaded for free by visiting the Chrome Web Store.

For more information about De La Salle College Ashfield or to enrol your child, call (02) 9797 3200 or visit dlsashfield.catholic.edu.au.

Isabell PetrinicJune 10, 2020|

Queen honours Sydney Catholic Schools’ Brother Nicholas Harsas for his service

A beloved Sydney Catholic Schools’ principal and religious Brother has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Principal of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Carnes Hill, Brother Nicholas Patrick Harsas, has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to education and to the Catholic Church in Australia.

“I was very shocked and surprised,” Brother Nicholas said, adding that he hasn’t a clue who nominated him although “there are plenty of suspects.”

A Patrician Brother, he is the last remaining religious principal in Sydney Catholic Schools in the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

“I love bringing out the best in our students, so they can be their best” – Brother Nicholas

Like Bishop Daniel Delany – who in 1808 founded the Brothers of Saint Patrick, popularly known as the Patrician Brothers – Brother Nicholas believes his faith is inseparable from other aspects of his life.

“Part of our charism is the ‘Option for the poor’, which means giving the poor the best opportunities we can,” said Brother Nicholas.

For well over 25 years as a professed Patrician Brother he has done just that, working and ministering at Sydney Catholic primary schools in the poorer parts of Sydney’s southwest including as a religious education coordinator/teacher from 1994 to 1996.

He has been a principal at four southwest Catholic primary schools: Holy Spirit Carnes Hill (since 2019), Our Lady of the Rosary Fairfield (2008-2018), St Therese Sadleir-Miller (2004-2007), and now closed Patrician Brothers Fairfield (1997-2003).

In 2018 he was awarded the Dempsey Medal by the Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, for his years of devoted service to the Our Lady of the Rosary school community including the settlement and welcome of hundreds of refugees and migrants.

“I …

Isabell PetrinicJune 10, 2020|

For goodness bakes

Try saying this three times fast.

Super-healthy Pentecost party pandemic protein pancakes are among the latest stress recipes for baking.

You can find out how to make them in St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Meadowbank’s new Pentecost Party (Pandemic Edition) Cookbook 2020.

St Michael’s Meadowbank Pentecost Party Cookbook 2020.

“Our community would typically gather on Pentecost for a beautiful Mass and Eucharist, followed by a spirit-filled Pentecost party with international foods, singing, dancing and children’s games,” the schools’ Family Educator, Kirrily McDermott, said.

“But COVID-19 restrictions meant we were required to stay at home this year, so we had to get creative.

“The result was an e-cookbook collaboration between our school and the St Michael’s Church Meadowbank parish community, filled with the party recipes we would have been eating if coronavirus hadn’t arrived.”

It includes Father Emmanuel Seo’s Dalgona coffee recipe, Ms McDermott’s family recipe for pineapple pie, Year 1 student Noah’s Brazilian Beijinho (coconut truffles), Year 1 student Reece’s Semiya Payasam (Indian dessert), Year 5 student Alex’s Awesome Banana Cake – and much more.

“This cookbook, I believe, is truly an expression of the creative work of the Holy Spirit alive and animating our St Michael’s community” – Kirrily McDermott

School principal Brian Story loves to host BBQs, so he shared his tips for cooking the perfect steak.

The cookbook was launched after a Rosary Night held via Zoom to celebrate Pentecost and the end of the Month of Mary.

“This cookbook, I believe, is truly an expression of the creative work of the Holy Spirit alive and animating our St Michael’s community,” Ms McDermott said.

For more information visit St Michael’s Catholic Primary School …

Isabell PetrinicJune 9, 2020|

Thank you cards for local heroes

In the words of St Ambrose, “No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.”

Teachers at St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School Lidcombe has been busy doing exactly that!

The school ran a gratitude project in celebration of National Day of Thanks.

St Joachim’s teachers hand-delivering gratitude cards to an Auburn police officer.

The personal focus for the 2020 National Day of Thanks was to be grateful all year round and to give thanks through simple gestures to those who have made a difference in your community and life.

Teachers put their creative hats on and decided to make thank you cards for their parent community, to let them know the work they do to support students and keep them safe is always appreciated.

St Joachim’s 2020 Gratitude Project cards.

They also delivered thank you cards to local businesses, including Auburn Hospital and Auburn Police, to thank them for looking after them during the COVID-19 pandemic and to let them know they are greatly valued.

For more information about St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School Lidcombe or to enrol your child, call (02) 9646 1310 or visit the school website here.

Isabell PetrinicJune 5, 2020|

Patches of love for Vinnies

Students at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood are making a virtual blanket of love for the 2020 Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic St Vincent de Paul Society is encouraging cash donations this winter, instead of warm blankets and clothing.

The funds raised will go towards supporting families facing an uncertain future during the coronavirus.

“Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School community is always extremely generous” – Judith Kennedy

To do their part to help, our Lady of Lourdes’ families are purchasing paper quilt patches for $10 each to make up the pieces of a virtual blanket of love for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Each square contains the family name and an inspirational message, word or Bible quote.

“The Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School community is always extremely generous and has proven so again this year,” the school’s Family Educator, Judith Kennedy, said.

Our Lady of Lourdes students look for their Blanket of Love patch.

So far the school has raised just over $1400 – and there are still squares coming in from families to be added to the blanket.

“I feel very blessed in my role here at Earlwood,” Ms Kennedy said.

For more information about Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Earlwood or to enrol your child, call (02) 9559 2556 or visit ololearlwood.catholic.edu.au.

Isabell PetrinicJune 2, 2020|

‘The smiles were priceless’

Students returning back to school in Fairfield were greeted by Spiderman, the Queen, clowns, doctors, human crayons and many more surprise characters.

“The children were not the only ones who got a buzz out of the morning drop off,” John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Bonnyrigg Heights principal, Tony Lo Cascio, laughed.

The Queen (assistant principal Anne Blake) with the Queen’s Guard (principal Tony Lo Cascio).

More than 30 staff at John the Baptist donned different costumes every day to welcome the school grades back.

“Teachers and support staff brought energy, laughter and a positive spin to a complex and uncertain time,” said Mr Lo Cascio, who dressed up as the Queen’s Guard and Patch Adams, among other familiar faces, throughout the week.

Principal Tony Lo Cascio dressed up as a doctor to welcome students back to school.

Mr Lo Cascio said he wanted to welcome students back in a fun and lighthearted way that might also help ease any feelings of anxiety or fear they may be having about returning to the classroom.

“The smiles were priceless,” he said.

For more information about John the Baptist Catholic Primary School Bonnyrigg Heights or to enrol your child, call (02) 9823 5042 or visit jbbonnyrigg.catholic.edu.au/

Isabell PetrinicJune 1, 2020|

Seven things you didn’t know about Mary

1. Forget-me-nots are a symbol of the blue ‘Eyes of Mary’ (their other name).

– It’s believed when the child Jesus was sitting on Mary’s lap looking up into her eyes, He wished future generations could see Him and his mother together. He then touched the earth and Forget-me-not flowers sprang up in her memory.

Mary with the Christ Child. Photo: Grant Whitty/Unsplash

2. Irish rock band U2’s song Magnificent was inspired by Mary’s beautiful song of praise, commonly called the Magnificat, found in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 1:46-55).

3. The colour blue became associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary in the early 5th century, after she was declared “Queen of Heaven, Spiritual Mother and Intercessor” by the Church in 431.

The Blessed Virgin Mary. Photo: Mateus Campos Felipe/Unsplash

4. The Hail Mary prayer first appeared in print in 1495 in Girolamo Savonarola’s “Esposizione sopra l’Ave Maria.”

– “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” are the words of the angel Gabriel when he greets Mary at the Annunciation (Luke 1:28) and Mary’s cousin Elizabeth welcomes her with the words “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” during the Visitation (Luke 1:42).

Forget-me-nots and rosary beads. Photo: Anthony Levlev/Unsplash

5. Rosary is derived from ‘rosarium’, Latin for ‘crown of roses’.

– It is believed when you pray the rosary it is like you are taking a walk through Mary’s beautiful garden of roses.

6. The book Pope Francis and the Virgin Mary: A …

Isabell PetrinicMay 22, 2020|

Just one more page . . .

COVID-19 won’t stop these little bookworms!

The kindergarten kids at St Gertrude’s Catholic Primary School Smithfield have been knee-deep in reading while in iso thanks in big part to two teachers at the school.

Kindy teachers Anique Giusti and Tania Caruana have curated a short instructional video for parents, to help parents to support their child’s reading development while cooped up at home.

The video includes a guided reading scenario and a number of strategies to help students decode texts and improve their reading comprehension – and, perhaps most importantly, make reading fun.

“The video has really helped us to know how to read with my daughter” – kindy parent, Dayana Kanoon

A St Gertrude’s kindy student identifies parts of the text.

The St Gertrude’s video has been a huge hit with grateful parents who say it’s been useful to have this learning-to-read tool to keep children reading, thinking – and growing.

“The video has really helped us to know how to read with my daughter,” kindy student Ariella Kanoon’s mother, Dayana Kanoon, said. “I have also shared it with my sister.”

School principal, Linda O’Regan, said the video project is just one fine example of the great things our teachers are doing to support families during the coronavirus.

“I’m really proud of the way our staff have worked collaboratively over this period, to adapt their talents and skills to support our community – a multicultural community, comprising students with diverse needs,” Mrs O’Regan said.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Director of Education and Research, Dr Kate O’Brien. Photo: Kitty Beale …

Isabell PetrinicMay 11, 2020|

A School Ahead of the Curve

Why students at this school are already remote learning pros

While learning during COVID-19 has undeniably affected the education sector, it’s been especially challenging for students undertaking practical work in Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects.

But for Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College Burwood (the College) the leap from on-site to remote learning has been smoother than for most, as the College was already at the forefront of online learning long before the coronavirus arrived.

The College – which is especially for senior students seeking vocational education and training pathways – already had an online one-stop-shop, where course content, work and assessments are housed. Plus, a majority of its VET offerings operated in the digital realm (a Virtual Learning Platform).

“The Virtual Learning Platform allows for real-time interaction between students and learning facilitators,” College principal, Tony Patton, said.

“Each Learning Guide contains Learning Checkpoints, which are designed to measure the students’ progress. They also include interactive quizzes and assignments, used to monitor the level of student mastery. Learning Guides allow for continuous progress as students work at their own pace with the support of our staff.”

COVID-19 has prompted the College to add even more online tools to its toolkit, to monitor student progress, engagement and wellbeing.

Students studying together at southern Cross Catholic Vocational college Burwood before COVID-19. Photo: Kitty Beale

“This is about more than just online learning during a pandemic. Southern Cross has long been creating innovative systems based on well-researched, best practice for a range of learning and teaching methods” – Southern Cross Catholic Vocational College principal, Tony Patton

The College has introduced Zoom cloud meetings and built an interactive community environment, where teachers are referred to as Learning …

Isabell PetrinicMay 9, 2020|

Live Online: A Mother’s Day Prayer Reflection

Mums: They sprout love like flowers, bringing people together like gardens. Even in the time of coronavirus, when we are apart but always connected by our heart strings.

But for those who, sadly, cannot come together for in-person hugs and kisses on Mums’ special day, why not come together virtually with St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School Randwick North.

The school is celebrating all our incredible mothers – including the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the ‘Flower of Flowers’ and the ‘Mystical Rose’ – via an online Mother’s Day Prayer Reflection on Thursday 7 May, 8.30am-9am at www.sacredheart.org.au.

Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions on opening churches the school’s parish priest, Fr Peter Hearn, is broadcasting the Mother’s Day Prayer Reflection from the shrine of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish Randwick, with which the school is closely affiliated.

Everyone is encouraged to attend from the comfort of their own home as Fr Peter honours Mary – who freely allowed her only Son to be sacrificed – and all our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, mums-to-be, aunties, guardians, carers and nurturers.
He also remembers our mums who have joined Mary with all the angels in Heaven.

“If there’s something good that comes out of COVID-19 it’s that it’s asked us all to stop, slow down and remember what’s important, and there’s nothing more important than family and community and connecting with one another” – St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School Randwick North assistant principal, Danielle Frost

“It is the one day a year that we recognise them, but we feel they should be recognised every day,” St Margaret Mary’s assistant principal, Danielle Frost, said with reference to all school ‘mothers’, past and present, including …

Isabell PetrinicMay 6, 2020|

Numeracy in Action

Sydney Catholic Schools is always proud of the great work being done by its staff and students, but never more so than at this unsettling time.

We’ve put together a collection that showcases the creativity and resilience of our teaching and learning communities.

Getting busy with words and numbers

Year 4 students at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Carnes Hill have been busy learning about literacy and numeracy.

Projects have included creating their very own shop front (pictured) and managing the daily running of it, including advertising and daily budgets.

Keep on coming back

We’re adding new things to our Showcase section of this site all the time, so be sure to check back in!

Isabell PetrinicMay 6, 2020|

A Special Message in Unsettling Times

Where do we find God in COVID-19?

Priests are not immune to the fears and anxieties many are feeling right now.

“At first I said I was ‘frightened’, but then I changed the word to ‘overwhelmed’. I was ‘overwhelmed’ that something like this could happen,” Sydney Catholic Schools’ chaplain Father Gary Perritt (pictured) said in reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think all of us are overwhelmed,” he observed.

“It (COVID-19) has slowed us down and got us to think about ‘What are the essential things?’ and ‘Who are the essential people?’

“There’s a lot of silence at the moment. Maybe this silence is a new habit that could teach us to listen more to one another” – Father Gary Perritt

“I know for me, I’ve called people I haven’t spoken to for ages to ask ‘Are you okay?’ It’s prompted me to realise how important people are in my life. People I normally see regularly, I miss them. I video-conference, but it’s not the same.”

Asked, where does he find God in all of this? Fr Gary answered simply: “We can find God in one another and in helping one another.”

“Look at Him in our doctors, who fall tired and exhausted … police (who) patrol deserted streets, and they are not with their families because they are taking care of ours,” he said, citing the Archbishop of Lima, Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio.

“The coronavirus has helped churchgoers, school teachers and students realise that churches are not being closed. Buildings are being closed. You are the church!” – Father Gary Perritt

“There’s a lot of silence at the moment. Maybe this silence is a new habit that could teach us to listen more to one another,” reflected Fr Gary.

“The way we are treating one another brings out the quiet heroes, heroes we sometimes hadn’t noticed before,” Fr …

Isabell PetrinicMay 1, 2020|

Create the Perfect Home Study Schedule

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Remote Learning

Working to an hourly clock may seem like the ‘right’ thing to do, but this approach is putting unnecessary pressure on many at-home parents of primary schoolers.

That is because hourly time frames are more suited to a classroom, according to Dr Kate O’Brien, the Director of Education and Research at Sydney Catholic Schools.

“In primary school, much of the learning is around collaboration and working with others, so there’s a lot of development of oral language skills, social skills and organisational processes,” Dr O’Brien explained.

At home, families are doing a range of things at the same time as learning is happening, so there isn’t that same intense focus on language and social aspects, like in school, she said.

“A school may have a literacy session for an hour a day that explores the skills of the English curriculum,” Dr O’Brien said. In the home, “without the discussion in classroom learning”, a child could do the same in about 20 minutes, she said.

“This is a unique time and an opportunity to build character and the dispositions of learning, such as problem solving, persistence, speaking with accuracy and precision” – Dr Kate O’Brien

Dr O’Brien believes a holistic approach to learning is better suited to primary school students.

She said student activities should include building relationships in the home, communication tasks, and exploring the world around them.

“Cooking a cake, by going through what you need to measure to cook that cake,” suggests Dr O’Brien.

“Write down a procedure for the process or make a video of how to bake, then write about the experience.

“Go for a walk and explore the local environment. Talk along the way, share stories of your childhood and create memories for the future.

“Use the time to create positive memories for the future and …

Isabell PetrinicApril 30, 2020|

About Isabell Petrinic

‘We need harmony in this world’: Luca Atzeri

World Refugee Day: Giving voice to student stories

St Aloysius’ plan to clean our seas

Life is ‘suite’ for De La Salle College student Sean

Queen honours Sydney Catholic Schools’ Brother Nicholas Harsas for his service

For goodness bakes

Thank you cards for local heroes

Patches of love for Vinnies

‘The smiles were priceless’

Seven things you didn’t know about Mary

Just one more page . . .

A School Ahead of the Curve

Live Online: A Mother’s Day Prayer Reflection

Numeracy in Action

A Special Message in Unsettling Times

Create the Perfect Home Study Schedule

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our schools and offices now stand. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

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