Past News Items

Secondary Mathematics Workshop
August 29, 2008

Twenty secondary mathematics teachers from across the Diocese recently attended a one day workshop on the effective use of Sketchpad and Geogbra applications. The day was facilitated by Tobias Cooper from Presbyterian Ladies College Croydon. Participants were shown how this software related to syllabus content and were taken through a variety of relevant classroom activities. The day was such a success that a decision was made to shorten lunch and finish after 3pm (always a sign of an effective and engaging presentation). The day had been organised as a response to a request from Mathematics Coordinators at previous Network meetings.

WYD 08 School Service Recognised
August 29, 2008

Principals attending the recent Principals-Catholic Education Office Meeting for Term 3 on August 14 were congratulated for their contribution to World Youth Day by Director of Schools Peter Turner.

Principals of the eleven Macarthur Region schools who accommodated pilgrims during World Youth Day week were especially recognised with the presentation of a framed Certificate of Appreciation. Volunteer staff from Catholic Schools who gave of their time and effort to support World Youth Day will be thanked at a special Director’s Reception in Campbelltown on Monday September 15 and Wollongong on Thursday September 18. View the photo gallery of this event.

Literacy and Numeracy Highlighted
August 28, 2008

The vital importance of Literacy and Numeracy to Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong was recently highlighted at a Literacy and Numeracy Forum held on August 18 at the Campbelltown Catholic Club.

Following an introduction from Director of Schools, Peter Turner and a Keynote address from Rosalie Nott from the Catholic Education Commission, 80 staff participated in workshop activities.

With participants from Primary and Secondary schools and guests from the University of Wollongong and the Department of Education, discussions included the development of a common understanding and philosophical position on Literacy and Numeracy. A Reference group will further develop resources for schools.

A Plenary Panel Discussion saw questions on L&T put to Ann Baxter and Jan Turnbill from the University of Wollongong, together with Rosalie Nott and Peter Turner. View the photo gallery of this event.

New Classrooms Officially Opened
August 13, 2008

Students at St Francis of Assisi Primary School at Warrawong and St Columbkille’s Corrimal hosted special guests at the official opening and blessing of newly refurbished classrooms and offices at their schools on July 31 and August 1 respectively. Bishop Peter Ingham and Director of Schools, Peter Turner were present to speak to the students, their parents and special guests. View the photo gallery of this event.

Staff Professional Development Day
August 12, 2008

Suz Marden visited Stella Maris Primary School at Shellharbour to lead the opening prayer celebration for Staff Development Day on Tuesday July 22. As part of the prayer, staff members created five beautiful silk cloth paintings which will be carried by students in the opening procession of the school’s Jubilee Mass.

Magdalene 10 Years Young
August 1, 2008

The Magdalene Catholic High School at Narellan celebrated its tenth Feast Day on Friday July 25 with a special mass in the school grounds. Bishop Peter Ingham presided with speeches from Director of Schools Peter Turner, principal Alan McManus and local Federal MP, Pat Farmer. Students participated in the mass with brilliant music, song and liturgical dance. View the photo gallery of this event.

Diocese Hosts WYD Celebrations
July 31, 2008

The most ambitious event in the history of the Australian Catholic Church took place during July 2008 with World Youth Day (WYD) in Sydney. In the Diocese of Wollongong the Days in the Diocese activities, which included home stay hosting of 1500 international pilgrims across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands from 10-14 July, culminated with the Everything Aussie Festival at Lang Park and Vigil Mass at the WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday July 12.

WYD pilgrims came from over 20 countries including the USA, Italy, Germany, England, Scotland, France, Poland, Syria, Latvia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Columbia and Brazil.

High among the achievements of the Days in the Diocese was the hosting by Catholic Education of 45 pilgrims from the pacific island of Kiribati. These visitors enjoyed their stay at the Vincentian Centre at Gerroa while they attended activities including the Wildlife Park at Nowra and a Rugby League match at WIN Stadium. The pilgrims also participated in a Climate Change Social Justice Conference organised by the Catholic Education Office at the University of Wollongong on July 11.

With a focus on confirming the faith experience of young people, a range of actions at school and Diocesan level will be put in place after World Youth Day to further enhance the commitment of young people to the Church. One measure in this direction is the recent creation of the Wollongong Diocesan Youth Website at www.youth.dow.org.au. View the photo gallery of this event.

School Staff Rally to Accommodate WYD Pilgrims
July 31, 2008

Nearly 2000 national and international pilgrims to the World Youth Day week held in Sydney from July 14 -20 were accommodated in twelve schools in the Macarthur Region of the Diocese of Wollongong. With fewer than expected volunteers coming forward to act as site managers and helpers at these accommodation sites, school staff were asked to forgo their school vacation and did so with great generosity.

Schools earmarked to host and accommodate pilgrims were High Schools at St Patricks College, Campbelltown; Magdalene at Narellan, Mt Carmel at Varroville, John Therry at Rosemeadow and St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown. Primary School sites were at St John’s, Campbelltown, St Thomas More, Ruse; Mary Immaculate, Eaglevale; Holy Family, Ingleburn; St Clare’s Narellan Vale and Our Lady Help of Christians at Rosemeadow. St Gregory’s College at Campbelltown was also used as a Command Centre and day site for pilgrims unable to attend events in Sydney.

Volunteer teachers became Site Managers with responsibility for managing the school sites overnight and for the logistics of organising breakfast distribution to their pilgrims. Site Managers were on official shift duty from 7.00pm to 9.00am and undertook fire warden training before taking up their posts. Director of Schools Peter Turner praised the generosity of staff from schools and the Catholic Education Office. “I am deeply grateful for the professional and generous service of staff who volunteered their time and energy to make the WYD pilgrim accommodation such a success,” he said. View the photo gallery of this event.

Climate Change Conference
July 30, 2008

Approximately 1000 WYD pilgrims gathered at Wollongong University on Friday July11 for the ‘Living Justly’ Conference, part of the Days in the Diocese activities.

The theme of Who is my Neighbour? Catholic Social Teaching on Ecology and Climate Change was an energetic and interactive event interweaving music, drama, speakers, DVD footage, storytelling, prayer and an open forum around ecological and indigenous justice issues.

Among the special guests at the Conference were visiting pilgrims from Kiribati who told their story, danced and sang for the WYD pilgrims.

View the photo gallery of this event.

Excellence in Schooling Awards 2008
July 16, 2008

Staff are reminded that the Diocese of Wollongong’s CDF sponsored Excellence in Schooling Awards are again seeking nominations. The application form and criteria can be downloaded here. Nominations are called for the categories of Excellence in Leadership, Excellence in Teaching (Primary, Secondary and Early Career), Excellence in School Support, Pastoral Care and Social Justice Advocacy.

The Awards are open to staff from both Systemic and Congregational Schools. Sponsored by the Catholic Development Fund the key awards include the prize of a $1,000 account with the CDF. Presentations will be made on Thursday September 11.

Applications close July 25.

National Apology Resources for Schools
July 16, 2008

Bishop Peter Ingham and the Diocesan Director of Schools, Peter Turner have added their comments on a DVD and Resource Kit developed by the Catholic Education Office on the National Apology to the Stolen Generations. The Kit, which includes resources and links to curriculum materials for teachers and students, was released to schools in the last week of Term 2 so that it might be used as an aid to NAIDOC Week, celebrated from July 6-13. Featured on the DVD are two representatives who attended the National Apology Day in Canberra on February 13, 2008: Indigenous School Support Officers Christine Finney, St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra and Marian Crossley from St Michael’s Parish Primary School, Nowra. Director of Schools, Peter Turner said "I strongly recommend these to you and I urge our schools to see them as a valuable learning and teaching tool in raising awareness about the history of the first Australians and the generations of Aboriginal people torn from their families. It is a resource that should be integrated into all Key Learning Areas in the curriculum". Our Diocesan Indigenous Education Policy invites us to "provide all students with an understanding of and respect for Indigenous Australians, their history, culture, identity and spiritual connectedness to land". This DVD and Resource Kit will assist teachers and students to achieve that aim.

Leadership Team Visits Milton
July 1, 2008

The Leadership Team of the Catholic Education Office recently held their regular Leadership Team Meeting at St Mary’s Primary School at Milton. The team were guests at the school where they met with principal Tony Kent and parish priest Fr Francis Tran.

The visitors joined Year 6 Confirmation candidates at a preparation mass on Friday June 20 and visited staff and classes. Milton is the southernmost school in the Wollongong Diocese.

View the photo gallery of this event.

Refurbishments Bring Smiles
June 30, 2008

Students at four schools in the Illawarra are enjoying recent additions and refurbishments at their schools. Students at St Joseph’s Primary School at Bulli are enjoying the addition of a shade structure officially opened on Friday May 2. Students at St Columbkille’s Parish Primary School at Corrimal are benefiting from the refurbishment of their classrooms which have been opened up and modernised while students at St Francis of Assisi Parish Primary School at Warrawong are also enjoying their recent classroom modernisation. Students at Holy Cross Helensburgh are also grateful for their school’s improvements which were officially opened in November 2007.

Meanwhile Stage Three of the building program at Corpus Christi Catholic High School at Oak Flats is nearly completed with Year 9 having moved into their new Learning Spaces in May and the Learning Resource Centre is near completion. More...

Priests and Principals Gather
June 30, 2008

The first of two biannual meetings of Priests and Principals took place on Wednesday June 11 in Wollongong. The theme of the meeting was “You Will Be My Witnesses” which is the title of a forthcoming Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Australia and deals with how the Church needs to reconnect with people who have lost contact with the Church. The theme of the Journey of the Cross and Icon was explored with reflections on the success of the WYD Cross in the Diocese celebrated by Bishop Peter Ingham, Jane Littrich from the WYD Office and Pat O’Gorman representing schools. WYD Executive Officer, Daniel Hopper also foreshadowed the WYD Week spectacular events planned for Sydney.

View the photo gallery of this event.

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