Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education. This year, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong joins with dioceses and Catholic education systems and schools across the country to celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. CSW 2021 will be held throughout the Wollongong diocese from 1-7 March, with all 38 systemic Catholic schools celebrating the diversity and uniqueness of Catholic education. 

Last night Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) celebrated their annual Welcome Dinner for new staff, across two inspiring simultaneous COVID safe events, located in Wollongong and Campbelltown. Over 185 guests were in attendance as new staff were warmly welcomed into our remarkable system of schools.

A love of teaching—along with the offer of financial and academic support and a guaranteed role at a Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) school—were the inspiration for recent CEDoW Catholic school graduates Morgan White, Monique Fenech, Sarah Schembri, Samuel Franklin and Bowe-Armanii Smith, who officially accepted positions in CEDoW’s new Step Into Teaching Scholarship Program last week.

Today, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) joins with nations around the world to celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, acknowledging the past and present contribution of women working to close the gender gap in the field of science. edu

This week, indigenous and non-indigenous students joined with teachers, Aboriginal Education Assistants and Catholic Education Office staff at St Joseph's Catholic High School, Albion Park, to officially open a new indigenous garden installation.

Across the Diocese of Wollongong, the class of 2020 woke early today. With anticipation, they logged on to receive their HSC results. For 13 years, they have laughed, learned, and overcome many challenges—this year, their hard work, resilience and dedication have paid off.

More than a thousand students from our eight systemic Catholic secondary schools completed the HSC this year. More than a third of those students have been acknowledged as Distinguished Achievers, with a further six All-round Achievers, seven Top Achievers and one First in Course.

A big congratulations to CEDoW Aboriginal Education Assistant and talented Aboriginal artist, Uncle Kevin Butler, who has won the prestigious Mil-Pra AECG Exhibition Mayor's Choice Award for his artwork, 'Do trees feel pain when they burn?'.

Eight outstanding Year 12 student leaders from systemic secondary schools across the Diocese of Wollongong have been awarded the prestigious Bishop’s Student Excellence Awards, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to their Catholic faith, their academic, sporting, creative, and vocational achievements, and their community-based accomplishments during the 2020 school year. 

St Patricks Primary School’s Living Classroom is a beacon of sustainability in the Catholic schools of New South Wales. This verdant cornucopia is a thriving food garden and inspiring learning oasis.

St Brigid’s Catholic Parish Primary School in Gwynneville held two drives during Term Three where more than 5,700 recyclable drink containers were collected and deposited to the Vinnies Return and Earn depot in Unanderra.

If you’re lucky enough to visit the Wollongong Art Gallery over the next month, what a beautiful sight you will see. In a year marred by disappointments and challenges brought on by COVID-19, the 52 inspiring student artworks selected for the 2020 CEDOW Christmas Story Art Exhibition and competition, provide creative and artistic examples of hope and joy, as illustrated through the message of the Christmas story and the birth of Jesus. 

In a year marred by disruptions to student learning and cancellations of school events, the outgoing Year 12 students of John Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow recently had the opportunity to celebrate a significant event in their school’s history – a blessing ceremony to officiate the change of school name.

Since its introduction in 2016, more than 3000 Catholic primary and secondary students have celebrated, explored, and engaged in their faith through a growing number of worship, and spiritual encounters provided by the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW), in collaboration with Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong (CYMW). A Review of the CEDoW Youth Ministry strategies and initiatives is currently being undertaken to ensure that the vibrant and creative methods of communication—developed to evangelise and engage a growing number of young adults and children with their faith in CEDoW schools—continues.