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Principal recognised

Sydney Catholic Schools’ principal Damien Carlton has been honoured with an Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) NSW Leadership Award 2020.

ACEL NSW honours educational leaders who have made a significant contribution to education, educational leadership and the improvement of child or student learning outcomes, teacher professional practice and/or effectiveness.

The prestigious award is only given to a limited number of people and Mr Carlton was blessed to be among them after more than 40 years of educational work within Catholic schools.

The current principal of St John Bosco College Engadine said it was very humbling.

“It has come as a surprise as I was not aware that I was a nominee,” Mr Carlton said.

Mr Carlton’s teaching career began in 1980 at St John’s College Lakemba, now known as Holy Spirit College Lakemba. The then 20-year-old came to St John’s fresh from the Catholic Teachers’ College.

He began his first principalship in 2004 at the Christian Brothers’ College, Burwood.

“I spent six years there before the school transitioned into Sydney Catholic Vocational College, Burwood,” Mr Carlton said. “Since then, I have spent the last 11 years as principal of St John Bosco College, Engadine.”

Teaching came naturally for Mr Carlton and he fell in love with the profession.

“I love working with young people and making a difference in their lives,” Mr Carlton reflected.

“It has never been work for me – it’s a privilege to be trusted with the lives of the young and to be in a position to mould hearts and minds, and in doing so, creating good Christians and honest citizens of this country.

“The thing that I am most proudest of is that …

September 18, 2020|

COVID-19 can’t stop the music

COVID-19 hasn’t stopped the music at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Sutherland, but it has taken their rehearsals for the Wakakirri 2020 story-dance festival online.

Established in 1992, Wakakirri is Australia’s largest non-profit performing arts festival for schools. Students create and present original three- to seven-minute story-dances that explore themes important to their community.

A total of 96 students at St Patrick’s had been rehearsing for the festival, under teacher Jyoti Kendrigan, when the coronavirus pandemic locked down schools.

Far from put off, Ms Kendrigan encouraged students to keep working on their routines via Google Classroom.

The theme of their story-dance is identity and the piece centres on a girl who is finding her place in the world.

“(Students) were grateful for the content, as it gave them assurance that dance at our school will continue remotely” – dance coach and teacher, Jyoti Kendrigan

Students have been filming themselves performing warm-ups, stretches and choreography for the rest of their team to follow from home. Many are practicing at home with family or via virtual dance classes with friends.

Ms Kendrigan has been overwhelmed with the support and gratitude from students and parents.

“(Students) were grateful for the content, as it gave them assurance that dance at our school will continue remotely,” she said.

“I enjoyed having the dance routines to practise during isolation” – student Taryn Mott

“We also received parent emails, thanking the team for their quick response and hard work.”

Year 6 student Taryn Mott was thrilled to be able to continue with her dance practice.

“I enjoyed having the dance routines to practise during isolation because it gave me an opportunity to learn the routine,” Taryn said.

“It also was good for fitness and keeping me healthy and active.”

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School hope to perform their story-dance at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta this …

May 21, 2020|

Unbeweavably fulfilling work

Year 9 St Ursula’s College Kingsgrove student Isabella Muslado has completed her weaving project for Year 9 Textiles – and what an amazing job she has done!

The brief was to create a woven sample piece and Isabella chose to create a wall hanging.

“Having this creative outlet helped me to enjoy my remote learning!” Isabella said. “My teacher was very supportive and constantly checked up on us, which was very helpful in feeling connected.”

Weaving is regarded as one of the oldest surviving crafts in the world and can be traced back to Neolithic times, approximately 12,000 years ago.

Textile projects in school give students, like Isabella, the chance to be creative, independent learners and to explore functional and aesthetic aspects of textiles.

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!

May 19, 2020|

School is Sisters’ friend in deeds

Staff and students at All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock are getting crafty for a good cause.

Over the holiday break staff and students at the school made rosary beads to send to Papua New Guinea where the active and contemplative Sisters of Missionaries of Charity – Mother Teresa are doing invaluable work bringing faith and hope to their local community.

All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock students with rosary beads they have made. All Hallows Catholic Primary School Five Dock students with rosary beads they have made.

The Sisters are strongly devoted to Our Lady. During the months of May and October many people gather together in different houses on a daily basis to pray the rosary, reflect on the blessed Virgin Mary’s place in their lives and take part in processions with Her statue.

These donated rosary beads will be shared among the less fortunate in the Sisters’ community so they too can take part in prayer.

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!

May 18, 2020|

Finding meaning in Art

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.

Year 6 student Benedict Valdeabella from Our Lady of the Annunciation Pagewood has been busy creating this fantastic piece of artwork while learning from home.

Incorporating himself in the Year 6 sport shirt, the school motto ‘May Christ Reign’ and the number six to represent his class, he recorded a flipgrid presentation for his classmates and teachers.

“We will always be Year 6 2020, regardless if we are working from home or at school” – Benedict Valdeabella 

Teacher Angela Siemsen loved it so much she glued it to the front of her student’s textbooks.

“The word ‘believe’ is our class theme I introduced at the beginning of the year; that the children need to believe in themselves and believe in me and I will do the same,” Ms Siemsen said.

“This theme could not be more meaningful at this time.

“Benedict stated that we can all get through this together, that we will always be Year 6 2020, regardless if we are working from home or at school and that this would be a gift for me – to remember the Class of 2020.”

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!

May 12, 2020|

Holy Spirit Remote learning

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.

Year 6 student Marcus Papic of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Carnes Hill (pictured) admits remote learning can be challenging, but he’s found ways to make things easier, like calling friends up so they can work in a group, asking for revision work from teachers, and working in a quiet space.

“I can say that the whole experience of learning from home has given me a sense of achievement,” Marcus said. “The teachers at my school have put a lot of time and effort into making this sudden change to how we learn possible, and I think so far it has been beneficial … (including for) the development of my independence for learning and the development of the skills I require to be a good learner.”

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!

May 11, 2020|

School Holiday Lego Challenge

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.

How did you keep busy over the school holidays?

Sinead, a Year 6 student at St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla, completed a Holiday Lego Challenge which involved researching famous landmarks and buildings from around the world and recreating her favourite one using Lego.

Can you guess the well-known landmark?

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!

May 11, 2020|

Celebration of Holy Week in isolation

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.

St Therese Catholic Primary School Padstow ran a competition at the end of Term 1 asking families to create a scene from Holy Week. Using an array of different ideas the students certainly had some creative ideas!

Main image: Palm Sunday by Dad, Marcus and Dominique (Year 4 and Kindergarten)

The Last Supper made from Playdoh by St Therese Padstow students

The Last Supper by Aidan, Black and Lucas (Year 4, Year 2 and Kindergarten)

The crucifixion scene made from bread

The Crucifixion by Ryo (Year 2)

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!

May 11, 2020|
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