Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College Burraneer has found a perfect antidote to the self-focused influence of social media in a community service program that gives all its students the chance to step out of their comfort zone and become world changers. In February, the college introduced Mercy Service, which asks students in Years 7 to 10 complete at least 10 hours of community service or social justice work each year. The program complements the work of the College’s volunteer student-led Mercy Action Group (MAG). The group makes regular visits to Stella Maris Aged Care in Cronulla, supports community...

Olivia Callaghan is hoping to defend her title as one of the best in NSW when she attends the Mackillop state cricket trials in September. The multi-talented sportswoman and Year 6 student at St Michael’s Catholic Primary School Lane Cove would love to follow in Elise Perry’s footsteps and play for the Matildas and the Australian women’s cricket team, and is already on the way to achieving her goal. Last year she won a national championship as part of the NSW state cricket team, and hopes to progress to Mackillop and then state teams so she can do the...

A unique approach to STEM education has given students at St Aloysius Catholic Primary School Cronulla the skills and avenue to make a difference in their community. Students in Year 5 are working with desalination experts in a joint initiative with Sydney Water and Sutherland Shire Council to monitor the quality of water that keeps the local golf course and fields in the area green. The students have until November to devise an app that will alert the council when the salinity level of the irrigation water, collected in pipes at Gunnamatta Bay and affected by high tides, is too...