Congratulations to Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan - named by Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester, as one of this year’s Anzac Day Schools’ Award recipients for their Year 10 History elective class’ research project commemorating the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

John Therry Catholic High School, Rosemeadow student Olivia Torres was recently announced as a winner in the OzKids 2018 Young Australian Art and Writers’ Awards competition, for a poem she composed on the theme of war. In November, Olivia and her parents were flown to Melbourne to attend an awards ceremony.

Students recently gathered at John Therry Catholic High School, Rosemeadow for the CEDoW Secondary Students Social Justice Day, that provided an opportunity - through the creative arts - for reflection and response to the 2018-2019 Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement. 

Congratulations to St Justin’s, Oran Park student, Holly Burfitt, who has beaten out hundreds of young wordsmiths across the country to claim junior runner up in the Australian Catholics’  2018 Young Journalist Award competition.

Holly wowed the judges with her 300-word piece on local hero, Wests Tigers Community Engagement Manager, Shaun Spence. It skilfully captured the essence of Shaun’s story as someone making a real difference to the people around him.

A new 2018 Advent Calendar app is featuring CEDoW students’ Christmas Story Art Competition artworks as part of its daily delivery of visual and written inspiration for the Christmas season.

The Advent Calendar is a joint project of Xt3 and Sydney Catholic Youth, and promises to help schools, classes and individual young Catholics spiritually prepare their hearts and minds for Christmas.

View the calendar online and download the app inside.

On Saturday 1 December, five Year 10 students from Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan will be launching a high-altitude balloon into near space in Binya, in NSW’s Riverina region. This comes after two years of planning and devoted work, with the students aiming to reach for the stars!

A hundredth anniversary is always a special occasion, no more so than when the Parish of St Patrick’s, Port Kembla celebrated their centennial. It was a milestone that coincided with the opening and official blessing of the new building facilities at St Patrick’s Parish Primary School, Port Kembla.

On Friday 23 November, the Diocesan Sports Council staged the 22nd Annual CDF Sports Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of students from primary and secondary schools across the Diocese.

Does music teach us good values? 'Social' media...is it? The changing face of Australia. 2018 – what would Jesus think?

These are some of the big issues tackled by Years 5 and 6 students this year for the annual CDF Diocesan Public Speaking competition.

Last week saw the culmination of school and regional rounds of the competition, where the top six students from Years 5 and 6 competed in the Diocesan grand final.

St John the Evangelist, Campbelltown student, Daniel Justin, has been recognised for his compassion, integrity and kindness with a national Fred Hollows Humanity Award.

Daniel was honoured at an award ceremony at NSW Parliament House in Sydney, after being nominated for his many good deeds in the school community and consistently treating others with kindness and respect.

After decades of conflict and internal struggles, the South-East Asian country of Myanmar is moving towards a new age of democracy. In a country where Christianity represents only 6% of the population, the Catholic Church has prioritised education as the key stepping stone to peace. As the nation moves into a more peaceful era, CEDoW has committed to raising awareness and providing financial support, to help heal and build a prosperous Myanmar.

As guests filed into the Grand Ballroom of the Novotel in Wollongong, the passion and dedication of the attendees was clearly evident - a group of the most outstanding and innovative staff working in the Diocese.

The winners of this year’s Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Recognition Awards were revealed at a formal dinner on Friday 16 November, acknowledging achievement and significant career milestones of dedicated individuals.

CEDoW has recently had the outstanding distinction of celebrating a 10-year milestone of the implementation of School-wide Positive Behaviours for Learning (SPB4L), in all twenty-nine Diocesan  primary schools.

Over 280 students from five of our Illawarra schools have competed against hundreds of other Catholic school students from across NSW and the ACT in the 35th annual NSW Catholic Primary Schools Basketball Challenge (CPSBC).

The tournament - this year hosted by St Christopher’s, Panania - is one of the largest sporting tournaments for primary school students in NSW. The strong presence of the Diocese of Wollongong could not be missed, with St Paul’s, Albion Park; Stella Maris, Shellharbour; Nazareth, Shellharbour City; Ss Peter and Paul, Kiama; and St Brigid’s, Gwynneville taking 40 teams between them to play at venues across Bankstown, Menai, Sutherland and Riverwood.

A graduating student from each of our eight Diocesan Catholic secondary schools has been recognised for exemplifying the best of Catholic education at last night’s Bishop’s Student Excellence Awards at the Campbelltown Catholic Club.

Diocese of Wollongong Vicar-General, Fr. Bernard Gordon, presented the awards to the Year 12 students at a special afternoon ceremony in front of proud family members, teachers, principals, and senior leadership from the Catholic Education Office.

During Nude Food October and Enviroweek, two clever Year 6 students from St Columbkille’s, Corrimal won a national competition, earning a Nude Food Grant.

Saskia McIntyre and Emily Fenton recognised that there is too much packaging on food brought in from home by the students at their school and that by coming to school at least one day a week trash free with ‘nude food’, they could help beat plastic pollution and encourage their community to live more sustainably.

The opening meeting of the Director’s Student Advisory Council was held at Studio5 located within the Emmaus Catholic Education Centre in Macarthur. It was the first meeting of a newly formed council which aims to offer insight and guidance to CEDoW and School Leadership Teams.

St Joseph’s, Albion Park has used this year’s EnviroWeek to celebrate and further their fantastic efforts to build environmental awareness, action and a strong school spirit around caring for creation.

If the St George Illawarra Dragons are looking for a breeding ground of young talent, they need look no further than St Columbkille’s, Corrimal. The primary school has yet again nurtured their students’ NRL footy skills and teamwork to great success - this year coming away both the boys’ Rod Wishart Shield and girls’ Sam Bremner Shield.

A joint statement from CEDoW Director of Schools, Peter Turner, and the Executive of the Catholic Principals’ Association of the Diocese of Wollongong, in response to today's National Apology to the Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse.

How can we, as expert members of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, investigate Australia’s relationship with Asian nations so that we can inform people about our diversity and persuade them to become more globally connected through our World Expo display? That was the driving question posed to Year 6 students at Stella Maris, Shellharbour, as part of their Term 3 Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiative.

Bunsen burners, crazy chemical reactions, liquid nitrogen experiments and making slime… it’s all the best parts of science on offer for students in the St Joseph’s, Albion Park Science Club. A place where mistakes are all learning opportunities and all learning opportunities are fun, the fortnightly get-together is keeping students excited, engaged and educated about the wonderful world of science.

Read more about the St Joseph's Science Club and hear from students directly via video. 

mBots at the ready! School versus school, mate versus mate, it was game on for the regional rounds of CEDoW’s 2018 mBot Coding Competition. Students from Years 2 to 10 from across the Diocese have used the fun, competitive atmosphere as an opportunity to test out their coding abilities across a range of robotics challenges.

While many take for granted the Queen’s Birthday public holiday as a chance to enjoy a long weekend, a Kindergarten student from Ss Peter and Paul, Kiama certainly did not.

Young Harry McInnes was amazed that he received a whole day off from school on Monday 11 June and wanted to know more about this holiday.

Catholic primary and secondary schools across the Diocese of Wollongong have creatively and generously raised funds and donated goods to the Vinnies Winter Appeal over the past several months to help those in need in our region this winter.

Our school communities have dug deep to make a significant difference to local families struggling this winter and beyond. They’ve held collection drives, sleepouts, pyjama days, ‘winter woolies’ mufti days and walkathons to raise over $15,000 dollars for local Vinnies conferences and donate several thousand much-needed essentials, including blankets, warm clothes, toiletries, canned goods and other food items.

CEDoW Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education Professional Officer, Karan Taylor, is a remarkable Aboriginal Catholic woman. Starting as a parent sharing her Aboriginal cultural knowledge with her children’s classes to now leading a team of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education across the Diocese of Wollongong, Karan’s contribution to our Catholic education system and school communities has been immense. 

In light of this year’s NAIDOC theme, ‘Because of her, we can!’, and Karan recently receiving a prestigious NATSICC (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council) Service to Community Award, we spoke to Karan about her life and work in a four-part audio interview here…

In a formidable coming-together of a school community, Good Samaritan Fairy Meadow students from Kindergarten to Year 6, former students, parents, grandparents and teachers have worked together to put on a spectacular stage performance of ‘Kids in Camelot’.

As we come to the end of a busy, and for some schools, exceptionally challenging Term, I take this opportunity to thank each of you for your work, and to wish you a safe and enjoyable break.

This week has witnessed the graduation of our Year 12 students across the Diocese.

In early Term 3, over 1,000 Year 5 and 6 students started with a blank canvas for the Christmas Story Art Competition. Now, after weeks of reflection, planning and work with a range of art materials and techniques, 50 talented young artists have had their artworks selected and celebrated at CEDoW's 2018 Christmas Story Art Exhibition.

In a wonderful gesture of kindness, Year 4 student Beau Hart from Stella Maris, Shellharbour recently donated to the Vinnies Drought Appeal his valuable ice-cream container of savings for an upcoming holiday.

John Therry Rosemeadow student, Malek Malual, may be late bloomer in basketball circles but he has wasted little time making a big impression.

In inspiring and uplifting celebrations, over 1,500 students from Year 6 classrooms around the Diocese have gathered together as communities of faith with Bishop Brian Mascord to mark their final year of primary school.

The series of Year 6 Masses with the Bishop saw students, staff, clergy and guests from 30 school communities congregate in three regional clusters across the Diocese of Wollongong.

In a room full of optimism for the promise of the rich teaching careers lying ahead of them, 77 CEDoW staff have been officially acknowledged as Proficient Teachers by Director of Schools, Peter Turner, Catholic school principals and CEDoW leaders at the annual Accreditation Recognition Ceremony.

Through a wonderful series of events, St Paul’s, Moss Vale have recently celebrated their 70th anniversary and also, 130 years since the official blessing of St Paul's Parish Catholic Church. Students have prayed, painted, sung, danced and gone ‘back in time’ on a history walk – all marking this significant milestone in the life of their community.

There’s nothing like a shuffleboard table to bring some of Macarthur’s oldest and youngest folk together. Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan hosted Carrington Aged Care residents in an inaugural inter-generational shuffleboard competition on Tuesday.

Each Book Week, our Catholic schools come alive with costumes, characters, colour and creativity to celebrate Australian children’s literature. 

At Holy Family, Ingleburn, students and staff wholeheartedly embrace the occasion of Book Week. The school uses the week in August to bring books to life in a distinctly engaging and memorable way - threading their book parade into an exciting Book Week performance that gets the whole school community involved.

As the HSC approaches and Year 12 currently complete their trials, it is hoped that many of our CEDoW students have been able to sit their Studies of Religion (SOR) exams with an enhancement of knowledge, after attending enrichment days focused on a range of SOR syllabus topics - from bioethics to Aboriginal Spirituality, presented by experienced facilitators.

Each year across Australia, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together to celebrate Book Week. During this time, schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children collectively acknowledge Australian children's literature.

Book Week, a highlight on the school calendar, runs this year from Saturday 18 August to Friday 24 August, themed "find your treasure", to inspire the celebration of Australian children’s books and reading.

With only a cardboard tent held together with duct tape to call home for the night, Nicole Van Ingen, Principal of St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Milton, joined 30 CEOs from around the Illawarra to brave the cold and ‘sleep rough’ for a night in support of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

CEDoW has long been a supporter of the St Vincent de Paul Society and when the call went out inviting our school principals to be involved, Nicole did not hesitate to volunteer.

A final event to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan is fast approaching!

Principal, Matt McMahon is reaching out to all members of our CEDoW community to invite them to join in the festivities of their 'Return to Magdalene Day' this Saturday, 18th August.

For more details and to read Mr McMahon's message, read on.

Aligned with our Faith in Action guidelines, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is heavily promoting and encouraging individual and school community support to be provided to the St Vincent de Paul Society’s - NSW major drought appeal in a coordinated approach, providing transparency about how our funding is being spent. Further, we are staying in close contact with Vinnies to determine and monitor local need for assistance required by families in our area.

NAIDOC Week is an important time in our Catholic schools, where we celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Through liturgies, assemblies, presentations and learning activities, our schools have learned about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and acknowledged the significant history and presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the many regions of our Diocese.

Students at St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park have fundraised at their annual College Celebration Day a remarkable $8,000 for CatholicCare Wollongong, with the funds raised to be put towards the development of a program to support students and their parent/caregivers to navigate the challenges and harness the strengths of technology in their daily lives. 

It is intended that the program will be built on evidence-based research and be tested for efficacy. Once established, it is hoped that the program will make a positive impact on the well-being of students throughout the Diocese and be a legacy of the goodwill and generosity of the St Benedict's school community.

Like many young girls, 11 year old Jade loved her long hair. Last week, it went all the way down past her elbows! But the St Patrick’s, Port Kembla student has since cut all her long locks off for a very good cause - to donate it to other children who have lost their hair due to illness.  

Jade decided to get the big chop for charity and send her hair to Variety - the Children’s Charity’s ‘Hair with Heart’ program.

American mathematician, William Thurston, said: "The real satisfaction from mathematics is in learning from others and sharing with others". That’s what Year 7 and 8 students from Catholic secondary schools across the Diocese experienced at the recent Stage 4 Mathematics Enrichment Days.

Over 200 students from our systemic secondary schools attended the events - the first at the University of Wollongong (UOW) and the second at Western Sydney University (WSU).

Over 150 Year 6 students from Holy Family, Ingleburn; Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale; and St Francis, Edmondson Park have been the first in the Diocese to participate in the Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong team’s new ACTIVATE fire program.

Generously hosted by Holy Family, Ingleburn, in their new school hall, students from the three schools were all treated to a day-long immersive spiritual experience. A range of sessions were on offer throughout the morning and afternoon that included a mix of singing and prayer, discussion and reflection, games and workshops.

In a historic decision, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference endorsed the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) acknowledgment plaques for use in schools, parishes and organisations across Australia, making a strong statement of support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The breadth and depth of St John the Evangelist, Nowra’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) talent was on clear display at the recent Shoalhaven Excellence in Vocational Education and Training Awards, with many students receiving recognition for their efforts both in and out of school.

A special congratulations to the Excellence in Vocational Education and Training ‘Student of the Year’ award recipients from St John's: Lauren Field (Hospitality Student of the Year) and Jack Flamminio (Construction Student of the Year).

Toumanda Fohrman has faced struggles coming to terms with her cultural identity as she’s grown up. But support from her mother and her Aboriginal community have empowered her to find confidence and strength in her Aboriginality.

Today, the Year 12 student from St Joseph’s, Albion Park, has aspirations to pursue a career where she can give back to her Aboriginal community and help others like her find their own purpose and sense of belonging.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week and this year’s theme, ‘Because of her, we can!’, we spoke to Toumanda about her journey in a three-part audio interview here...

Six years ago, Kylie McElhone was juggling being a wife and mother of two teenagers, a full-time career woman and university student, all while searching for crucial answers to her family history and cultural identity. She might have had her doubts, but with a strength, determination and a passion for learning that has characterised much of her life, she made it through with flying colours. 

Today, her wealth of diverse professional and personal experience not only gives her an incredible life story, but powerful insight and empathy in her role within CEDoW’s Child Protection team.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week and this year’s theme, ‘Because of her, we can!’, we spoke to Kylie about her journey. Listen to our four-part audio interview with Kylie here...

With the HSC just over 3 months away, Year 12 students are being encouraged to use the upcoming holiday break to plan effectively for their exams.

The 2018 HSC Study Guide is designed to help students in that preparation, providing useful advice for students for this year's exams and 'surviving Year 12 and beyond'. 

Read on for more information and a link to the guide.

Year 9 students at St John the Evangelist, Nowra have been given a valuable opportunity to immerse themselves in all things STEM for a day, taking on challenges designed to develop a range of useful science, technology, engineering and mathematics thinking and skills for their future.

Organised by the school, the day engaged over 160 students in four different STEM activities - each testing the students and exposing them to different STEM competencies.

Over 70 students from Catholic secondary schools across the Diocese have gathered together to participate in CEDoW’s Secondary Students Social Justice Forum.

The Year 9 and 10 students, many in social justice leadership positions at their schools, travelled to the Xavier Centre in Wollongong to discuss ideas and explore the themes around Catholic Social Teaching in contemporary society.

It’s not every day you get the opportunity to meet a princess however former John Therry student, Tennille Vitagliano, did just that when she was awarded the prestigious Crown Princess Mary Scholarship from the University of Copenhagen for her research in the field of immunology.

You may have had an ultrasound or X-ray, an MRI or CAT scan...but do you know the science behind how this medical imaging equipment works? That’s what Year 12 Physics students from Corpus Christi, Oak Flats visited Wollongong Hospital to find out.

The group toured the hospital’s range of imaging facilities in order to further their understanding of how physics is used in medicine every day to detect abnormalities in the human body and save lives.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is proud to launch the Director’s Art Gallery 2018, showcasing a selection of exceptional artworks produced by secondary students from Years 8 to 12.

On Friday 22 June, the community of St Thomas More, Ruse gathered at their parish church for a Mass to honour the feast day of their patron saint and to celebrate the school’s significant 40th anniversary. A much anticipated event, shared with students, staff, families (past and present) and parishioners, giving thanks for the last 40 years.

If you want the most accurate, up-to-date research and information around alcohol and others drugs, Paul Dillon is your man. Holy Spirit College, Bellambi and St Joseph’s, Albion Park were fortunate to host the founder and director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) this week as he worked with local students, parents and staff on a wide range of alcohol and other drug issues among young people.

Chloe Brown, from St Joseph’s, Albion Park, is preparing to take a once in a lifetime pilgrimage as one of 20 Year 10 and 11 students from across NSW to win a Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship that will see her touring the battlefields of the Western Front in Europe. 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” - Matthew 18:20

Thousands of Year 12 students from fourteen of our systemic and congregational Catholic secondary schools across the Diocese have gathered together in this Year of Youth to share their thoughts and ideas, and get to know our newly-ordained Bishop Brian Mascord.

Today, 13 June 2018 is School Support Staff Day.

Along with our Bishop, I join with you in acknowledging the significant contributions of school support staff, each and every day across all our school communities.

If you can, please take time to thank them personally for their commitment and dedication in making our diocesan Catholic schools great, for every student, so that they can learn, grow and achieve in a safe and supportive environment.

From Helensburgh to Moss Vale, Unanderra to Ingleburn, our CEDoW schools have celebrated World Environment Day, encouraging awareness and positive action to protect our environment. Students have embraced this year’s theme, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ in many effective and creative ways - a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time.

Bishop Brian Mascord, Director of Schools, Peter Turner, several senior CEO staff and other local dignitaries have joined the Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale school community for the official opening and blessing of their new learning space. Comprising six classrooms, a large general learning area, several small breakout rooms and an outdoor learning area and garden, this new facility caters for twenty-first century learning and teaching in a growing school. 

Congratulations to Holy Spirit College, Bellambi student, Mark Mancini, who has won an individual SILVER medal in Electrotechnology at the WorldSkills VETiS National Championships 2018 in Sydney over the weekend.

Each year National Reconciliation Week builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. It is a time for our CEDoW school communities to honour and learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can join the reconciliation journey.

One teaches one of the only Electrotechnology Certificate II Career Start courses available in our Diocese. The other is one of his students, excelling against those across Sydney to rise in the competition ranks. Now, both Marks from Holy Spirit College, Bellambi - Mr Hamlet and Mr Mancini - are off to the WorldSkills VETiS National Championships 2018 to battle it out with the best of the best in electrotechnology.

The school community of Holy Family, Ingleburn has gathered to celebrate the official opening of its new parish school hall. Joining them were many distinguished guests including Director of Schools, Peter Turner and Bishop Brian Mascord, who blessed the new facilities and unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion - the first under his leadership of the Diocese.

National Sorry Day falls this year on Saturday 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week, which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June. 

The Stella Maris, Shellharbour school community is celebrating their 60th Anniversary with week-long plans, including the involvement of past and present students, staff, parents, and invited special guests.

“Full STEAM Ahead”, the catchy theme of the 2018 Mathematical Association of NSW (MANSW) Wollongong Cluster Biannual Conference, was held on Saturday 19 May at the University of Wollongong with over 100 educators in attendance.

Students from Ss Peter and Paul Kiama have proven themselves worthy competitors in their first year at the Australian Aeronautical Velocity Challenge (AAVC) - a competition designed to encourage STEM skills across all year levels and education sectors, by building rockets, planes and drones to complete various challenges.

For Nicole Van Ingen and her family, homelessness has a face and it’s personal. That face is the birth mother of their adopted son David, who has had to call the streets home for much of the last 10 years.

National Families Week is held from 15-21 May 2018 (coinciding with the United Nations International Day of Families on 15 May).

Students from Stella Maris, Shellharbour and Corpus Christi, Oak Flats have played a key role in designing the new and improved playground area at Little Park in Shellharbour Village - officially opened by Shellharbour City Council last week. 

YMCA Youth Parliament is a unique program in which the best and brightest youth engage with national politics and present real bills to Parliament on issues that affect them. Youth Parliament is not just an exercise, since its beginning in 2002 over half a dozen pieces of YMCA NSW Youth Parliament youth legislation have been passed into NSW Law, including the recent Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.

Ciao dall’Italia! (Hello from Italy!) 

Students from Holy Spirit College, Bellambi and St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Albion Park have enjoyed a trip together to Italy - touring the country, learning in an Italian school and even living with local Italian families - in a unique learning opportunity offered by the two Catholic schools.

The week-long inter-diocesan STEM challenge - Project Stay Afloat 2018 - has seen 1,700 students from over 60 classes in 30 schools across the Dioceses of Wollongong and Lismore use their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills to create in-class solutions to a global problem: rising sea levels.

Which Diocese of Wollongong school won the challenge?

Are you a student in Years 8-11? Enjoy creative writing? Have a passion for social justice, human rights and eco-justice? We have the competition for you! The Edmund Rice Centre invites you to take part in their 2018 Justice Literary Writing Competition.

See here for competition details, prizes and how to enter.

For details and to purchase tickets, continue reading. 

National Families Week, held from 15 to 21 May, aims to celebrate the vital role that families play in Australian society. 

Anzac Day, 25 April, is one of Australia’s most important national occasions. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. 

A celebration and immersion of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture provided a memorable experience for over 60 staff from across the Diocese at a recent CEDoW conference.

Guided by the theme, Reconciliation: Everyone’s Business, the two-day event saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Teacher Contacts and Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) from our schools, and other Catholic Education personnel gather at The Hermitage in Mittagong.

Community gathered on Sunday 15 April to pay their respects to the victims of the Appin Massacre at a memorial hosted by Winga Myamly Reconciliation Group, in remembrance of the massacre of Aboriginal people 202 years ago.

Grace Mulley, a Year 12 student at Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Oak Flats, has won the prestigious Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award for 2018.

The Australian Bishops have put a call out to young Catholics to engage with the Church, celebrate and be celebrated in a declared ‘Year of Youth’. From the launch in Sydney to within our Catholic secondary schools since, Diocese of Wollongong students have responded in great numbers and even greater enthusiasm.

Lent has had a special meaning for staff and students at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish Primary School, Rosemeadow this year, where the school community has focused its efforts on raising money for a non-profit school in Tanzania. Two of its teachers are travelling to the African nation in the upcoming school holidays to personally deliver the funds.

As a baby, Courtney Schonell chose to hold a hockey stick over a dummy. At age four, she picked up that stick to play. Six years later, she made her first national hockey team. Now, at 17 years old, Courtney has won the NSWCCC Vince Villa Award for most outstanding female athlete across all sports and is on track to represent Australia at the 2018 Youth Olympics.

From 12 to 31 March, hundreds of students from Magdalene Catholic High School, Narellan stepped up their cardio to take on the ‘Let’s Move for a Better World’ global campaign, donating their physical exercise for a good cause.

On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. For the St Mary Star of the Sea students and parishioners in Milton, their view of the Cross is complemented by rolling, green farmland surrounds, the sun shining down on a white church standing strong atop a hill. Behind it, a backdrop of beautiful southern NSW escarpment.

In this holy season of Easter, I convey my very best wishes to all involved in Catholic education right across our Diocese. I gratefully acknowledge the outstanding work you do in the service of our young people and our Catholic schools.

Over 80 students and staff involved in Youth Ministry at each of our diocese’s Catholic systemic secondary schools have gathered at Stanwell Tops to participate in the Youth Ministry Leaders Overnight Formation Retreat.

On Wednesday 21 March, Human Resource Services represented Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong at the University of Wollongong’s Education Careers Expo, where students and prospective employers came together to talk about potential career paths.

Bishop Emeritus Peter Ingham has delivered a humourous and heartfelt speech to over 500 guests from around the Diocese - including many from the Catholic Education community - gathered to celebrate and honour him at a Farewell Dinner at the Campbelltown Catholic Club.

Students at St Columbkille’s Primary and around the Diocese are standing up and saying “no way!” to bullying to mark today's National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

As an international hockey umpire, Kylie Seymour gets to be close to the action without being the centre of attention - and that’s the way she prefers it. But being awarded the 'Campbelltown Woman of the Year 2018' has put the St Francis Catholic College teacher firmly in the spotlight. 

Director of Schools, Peter Turner, has called on teachers and staff across the Diocese of Wollongong to “be not afraid” at the annual Diocesan Education Mass.

A beautiful painting celebrating the richness of Aboriginal storytelling, culture and connection across the Diocese of Wollongong has been gifted to newly ordained Bishop Brian Mascord from CEDoW staff.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day to challenge Australian women and men to consider the legacy that will be passed onto future generations of women.  

St Brigid's, Gwynneville and Catholic schools all across the Diocese of Wollongong have opened their doors to families, friends and community members for Catholic Schools Week 2018. 

More than 200 Year 6 students from schools St Paul’s Albion Park, Ss Peter and Paul Kiama, Stella Maris Shellharbour and Nazareth Shellharbour City came together on Friday 9 March for their annual Southern Illawarra Catholic Schools' (SICS) Leaders Day.

St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School is celebrating their first Catholic Schools Week with new principal, Mr Philip Barrington.

On 1 March, 188 staff from Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools and the Macarthur and Wollongong Head Offices gathered at Villa D’Oro for the organisation’s annual Welcome Dinner.

Catholic schools across the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands joined together to thank Bishop Peter for his great work and dedication to Catholic education in our Diocese.

The Queen’s Baton for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games skydived into Wollongong today, to the cheering welcome of more than 1,000 local school children gathered at Stuart Park.

On Monday 22 January, 6 newly appointed Principals were formally welcomed to the significant role of Principalship at a System Orientation Day, where they met with members of the organisation’s Leadership Team and Human Resource Services.

The official image for the Year of Youth was unveiled at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney on the 7th December 2017.

When you buy gifts and goodies this Christmas, will you be checking that they aren’t the product of modern slavery? 

Jordan Doris (Mt Carmel) and Luke Small (Magdalene) won gold in their respective 800m track events at Schools Nationals in December.

The reviewed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy was released 20 October 2017 at a gathering of educators, school leaders and Aboriginal Elders and community members. 

“Pathways on the Journey” is a diverse collection of expressions from students who participated in the “Pathways on the Journey” SPLICED creative thinking and enrichment project.

7 year old Matthew, a Year 2 student at St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary School in Campbelltown, has taken out FIRST PRIZE in the ICAS English Competition.  

Hundreds gathered in Campbelltown last night for CEDoW's inaugural Lighting the Way Faith & Learning Awards - a fantastic evening of celebration, affirmation and acknowledgement of the significant contributions of our staff in schools and across Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wollongong. 

A special part of the 2017 Lighting the Way Faith & Learning Awards Evening was the conferral of the Professional Practice Awards. These awards acknowledged the outstanding achievement and efforts of five individual staff members who, in the course of their work and study, have been exemplary in a particular area of educational endeavour.

It is evident that Colleen Easton is a woman of deep faith. In a career spanning over forty years in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Wollongong, Colleen has consistently displayed a deep commitment, loyalty and devotion to honouring her call as a spiritual, faith and educational leader. So it was only fitting that the St Paul's Albion Park Principal receive the most prestigious award of CEDoW's Lighting the Way Faith & Learning Awards Evening - the Lighting the Way Award.

Congratulations to Stella Maris, Shellharbour's Siobhan Rooney and St Joseph's, Albion Park's Zachary Ellul for winning CEDoW's inaugural Outstanding Early Career Teacher Awards at the 2017 Lighting the Way Faith and Learning Awards Evening.

The best and brightest of our Diocese's Catholic students have today been awarded the Bishop of Wollongong's Student Excellence Awards. Students and their families, principals and other CEDoW staff gathered together with Bishop Peter Ingham and Director of Schools, Peter Turner, to celebrate the outstanding achievements of these young men and women. 

Photos of all award recipients can be found here in categories

CEDoW VET students have successfully participated in the WorldSkills Australia Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Regional Competitions across several skills categories during October and November.

St Pius X Unanderra have been working on the installation of a mural, composed of plastic bags woven into a pre-existing chain link fence.  This creative re-use of plastic bags, speaks directly to Pope Francis’ call to alter the contemporary ‘throwaway culture’ (Laudato Si, 22). 

Sister Mary mightn’t be famous, or a person you're hanging for an autograph from, but she might just be one of the most amazing people you will ever meet.

The Environment Club at St Joseph’s Albion Park, now called the War on Waste (WOW) Club has been working hard this year to reduce the amount of waste the school is sending to landfill by introducing recycling to the school.

St Joseph's Albion Park are Winners of the 'Schools' Participation Prize' for the Illawarra Green Flicks Film Competition!

The Southern Illawarra Catholic Schools (SICS) Science Enrichment Day was held at Corpus Christi Catholic High School on Friday, involving 26 students from

The second annual 'Deadly Encouragement Awards' were held on October 19 at Waniora Public School, recognising Indigenous students in the Northern Illawarra region, who consistently apply effort in all areas of their schooling.

Students from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, joined 800 other choristers from 23 schools, and an 80-piece symphony orchestra, in CELEBRATION SING OUT! at the Sydney Town Hall on Sunday. 

Corpus Christi Catholic High School performed their first school musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Roo Theatre in August. The production featured 40 students from years 7 to 10.

Over 350 excited Year 5 students were hosted by St Joseph's Catholic High School last month, for a day of fun and challenging STEM activities.

Our schools have taken up the challenges and considerations from Laudato Si’ and responded in a myriad of ways.

Ss. Peter and Paul, Kiama had an action packed day full of various activities to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

Have you seen our new vegetable gardens at St Paul's Albion Park?

The Mini Vinnies busy bees of St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, at Narellan Vale, are uniting to benefit the community and environment.

The Stage 3 Christmas Story Art competition and exhibition provides an opportunity for our Diocese of Wollongong students to reflect upon their understanding and interpretation of the Scripture of Advent and Christmas. 

Last Thursday, more than 50 young artists gathered together with family, teachers and other Catholic Education staff, to celebrate the opening of this special event at the Wollongong City Art Gallery.  

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong and the St Vincent De Paul Society have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, working collaboratively to support the marginalised and socially disadvantaged within our community.

During Term 3, St Pius X Unanderra have been fortunate to have Dragons U20 NYC players from the 'Dragons Community' program, come out to their school to to work with them on building the vital skill of resilience.

On Wednesday 9 August, Human Resource Services hosted the inaugural Teacher Accreditation Recognition Awards at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, a new initiative under the Diocese’s Rewards and Recognition Program, acknowledging the achievement of our teachers who have gained significant milestones in their teaching careers - Proficient and Lead Teacher Accreditation.

Green thumbs from all over Australia came together to help celebrate Planet Ark’s 22nd National Tree Day 2017, resulting in up to one million natives being planted over 3000 sites.

Congratulations to JORDAN DORIS of Year 12 at Mount Carmel Catholic College, for his exceptional performance in representing his country at the ​recent ​Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas. 

Congratulations to Year 12 students from St John's Nowra, who took out the 'Student of the Year' award in three categories, as well as Shoalhaven VET Student of the Year, at the annual Shoalhaven Schools Excellence in VET Awards recently.

STEM is a cross-disciplinary approach to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STEM learning engages students in authentic, real-world learning experiences where they develop the skills to work collaboratively and independently to solve problems.

Last week at the Marian Centre Wollongong, we had the pleasure of hosting fourteen talented artists from four primary schools around the Diocese.

Tomorrow, the 14^th June 2017 is World School Support Staff Day. Along with our Bishop, I join with you in celebrating the significant contributions of school support staff, each and every day in our school communities.

We are pleased to present a fresh and meaningful approach to the way the outstanding achievements and career milestones of our committed and dedicated staff, in schools and in the Catholic Education Office, are celebrated.

On World Environment Day, we invite you to perhaps re-think the way you indulge in your daily coffee ritual and choose a more environmentally friendly option to having your caffeine fix.

Four newly appointed principals in 2017, were warmly welcomed by staff, students and families within their school communities, and by fellow staff across the Diocese at the Education Mass in Catholic Schools Week.

Each year the St Vincent de Paul Society holds a national event, Vinnies CEO Sleepout, to raise awareness of the growing issue of homelessness.  

Students represented their schools and families at ANZAC ceremonies all over the diocese on Tuesday.  It is wonderful to see so many students with a deep respect and understanding of the importance of respect and acknowledgement for the servicemen and women of our country, and sacrifices of past, present and those yet to come.

Mr Chris Whicker, Administration Coordinator at Magdalene Catholic High School, was recently presented with the Duke of Edinburgh Medal of Recognition for his Long Service to the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival organisers today announced preparations are well underway for the event that will draw 15,000 young people to Sydney from 7-9 December this year.

The festival will be held in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct and culminate with a closing mass at the Domain.

Students were asked a series of questions based around this year's theme of "Everyone Belongs"

World Earth Hour Day is coming up on Saturday the 25th of March at 8.30pm.  In 2017, schools and the Catholic Education Office are invited to celebrate Earth Hour on Earth Hour Schools Day, Friday 24th March.

Schools from the Diocese of Wollongong joined with Catholic schools across NSW and ACT to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, from 6-12 March 2017.

The 20th Annual Blues evening involves the presentation of awards and recognition of the top students in all sports from NSW Catholic Secondary Schools and Colleges.

Staff and students of Mary Immaculate Primary School in Eagle Vale, have entered their beloved Principal Don Spencer into the DON Smallgoods Dons of Australia competition! 

With the new school year now underway, I write to wish each of you the very best for a rewarding 2017.

We are immensely proud of all our students and there are many success stories that we can celebrate. Some of these were achieved in the face of significant adversity. 

As we bring the 2016 year to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for the myriad of outstanding things that have happened in our schools throughout the year.

On Friday 18 November the Diocesan Sports Council staged the 20th Annual CDF Sports Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of students from primary and secondary schools across the Diocese.

In2Uni is an outreach initiative by the University of Wollongong (UOW), which aims to build in students, aspirations and awareness toward higher education, while fostering a culture of lifelong learning and engagement with education. Learning Labs, a school holiday workshop program for gifted and talented students in Years 1-10, targets students performing in the top 10-15% in their area of interest.

Catholic primary school students from across the Diocese have again produced stunning works of art for the annual Christmas Story Art Competition and Exhibition.  

Like many Australians, until seven years ago I had never heard of Kiribati, let alone understood the various climate change issues impacting the country.

Some wonderful results from CEDOW students at the recent NSWCCC Championships at Homebush.  Congratulations to all students who represented Mackillop, to all place getters and to the following students for their outstanding performances. 

2016 has been a huge year for the community of St Pius X, taking an active role in caring for our common home. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si inspired the students and staff to do more to our already beautiful school environment to ensure that all the wonders of creation are around for future generations. We felt improvements were needed, not only to the appearance of some areas of our school grounds, but in the way we educate others, so they too are empowered with the knowledge that they can make a difference! 

In the busyness of daily life, it is easy to overlook the good things that happen, small though they may seem....  

St Columbkille's School Production of Olivia! this term, was a delightfully inspiring example of how valuable Arts Education is for our young students.