Dear Colleagues

Yes, R U OK? Day 2025 Thursday, September 11, 2025

We celebrated R U OK? Day, a national reminder to check in with those around us and ask a simple yet powerful question: “Are you OK?”

In the busyness of our work and lives, it’s easy to overlook how someone might be feeling. This day encourages us to pause, connect, and support each other — not just today, but every day.

Whether it’s a colleague, friend, or family member, reaching out can make a real difference.

You don’t need to be an expert — just a good listener. If you’re struggling, please know you’re not alone. Support is available, and we’re here for each other.

Let’s continue to build a culture of care, compassion, and connection.

Citruss

Four Year 11 students at St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton, have formed an all-girls band called Citruss, attracting attention across Newcastle. Supported by their teachers, the group is rapidly progressing from school rehearsals to public performances.

Their success demonstrates the vibrant opportunities available at the College and our commitment to nurturing students' passions.

Find out what the girls had to say about their story.’

Decorate Your Space

Thanks to our schools, which are elevating creativity through The Decorate Your Space competition. The entries are full of colour, imagination, and school spirit.

From the front gate to the classrooms and common areas, students have turned spaces into inspiring works of art – and we’re loving every entry in this very important initiative so far!

Annual School Visit 

Our Lady of Victories Primary School, Shortland

I sincerely thank David Treloar, along with his staff, for their dedication to our students and the Shortland school community.

Shortland emphasises their focus on consistent classroom practices, supported by a multi-faceted approach to assessment, intervention, and teaching. Their use of triangulated data to guide targeted support was a clear strength. In wellbeing, the school highlighted data-informed strategies to support students, including the development of a reward system and the explicit teaching of lessons aligned with the school’s Vision and Mission—an excellent example of a strong, values-based approach to PB4L. The school also showed a commitment to meaningful consultation with parents, ensuring a shared understanding and partnership in student wellbeing and learning.

With my best wishes

Jacqui

Stella Maris and Mission to Seafarers 

Mass – 5:30pm the last Thursday of the month 

Mass is celebrated on the last Thursday of every month in the Seafarers chapel at 5.30pm located at 96 Hannel Street Wickham. Mark Spencer recently commenced as the Catholic Chaplain at the centre and invites the community to visit and spend some time with any of the seafarers that may be relaxing or waiting for transport back to their ship. Best times to visit are 9:30am – 4:30pm during the week. The next Mass is Thursday 25^th September – all are welcome to join! 

Donations  

Every ship that comes into port and is visited by our team receives a care package. What we are low on right now is, Men’s Toiletries.  

From next month, the volunteers at the centre will begin packing the gift bags for seafarer Christmas hampers. See the flyer for items that can be donated for out seafarers. Every donation makes a difference, and your generosity is greatly appreciated.   

A Conversation with Chris Sidoti on Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel

7pm , Thursday 25 September, Diocesan Resource Centre

Presented by Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (ACCCR) and Garratt Publishing.

You are invited to join in community with members of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle to listen to Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti and Sr Susan Connelly rsj discuss the latest report from the International Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem and Israel. REGISTRATION (Essential): https://forms.office.com/r/nUp4CY7quj or call Mary on 0409033449

Australian Catholic Youth Festival - MELBOURNE 

29 November – 3 December 

This is the final week for young people 15- 25 years to join Bishop Michael for ACYF25 - a national gathering of Catholic youth. Do you have a grandchild that could join us? Get in contact with us now if you are needing further financial support. Registration closes September 19. The experience provides young people an opportunity to come together and connect whilst deepening their faith and relationship with Jesus. For more information and to register visit - Australian Catholic Youth Festival - Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle 

NATSICC Assembly – Rydges, POKOLBIN

29 September - 3 October

LAST CHANCE to secure your ticket! $425 for a 5-day Pass. Join over 250 delegates from across the Country in a week of interactive workshops and yarning circles, hear from inspirational speakers including Stan Grant, attend one of three local On Country immersion experiences to Baiame Caves, Nobbys Headland, or Murrook Cultural Centre. Be moved. Be Inspired. Be a Pilgrim of Hope!  Registrations close on Monday 22 September – Find all the information here: 2025 Assembly 

St Nicholas OOSH Spring Vacation Care programs are out now, offering a range of fun and engaging activities for children these school holidays! 

Families can view their local program here: https://stnicks.org.au/oosh/vacation-care/

Enrolled families can make a booking by navigating to the ‘Bookings’ tab in the Xplor Home app.

Families who are not yet enrolled can submit an enrolment request here: https://stnicks.org.au/oosh/vacation-care/enquire-now/

St Nicholas Early Education and St Nicholas OOSH are now accepting new enrolments for 2026.

St Nicholas Early Education provides high-quality early education for children aged eight weeks to 5 years, while St Nicholas OOSH offers engaging before school, after school, and vacation care programs for primary-aged children.

Families can learn more and submit an enrolment enquiry via:

• Early Education – stnicks.org.au/early-education
• OOSH – stnicks.org.au/oosh

Primary schools that operate a St Nicholas OOSH onsite now have access to a flyer they can use to support their orientation programs for new students and families.

Schools are encouraged to print and distribute the double-sided flyer as part of their orientation packs or displays.

The flyer is attached for your convenience.

Up to 10 scholarships are available for current Year 12 students in our Catholic schools who intend to commence undergraduate courses in teacher training in 2026.

Please see flyer for further details

Below are our upcoming events: 

ASPIRE Concert Band - Register your interest NOW for 2026

The Concert Band is a Diocesan ensemble for students in Years 5 – 12. Students must know how to read traditional music notation. The concert band will be playing a variety of repertoire and perform at a variety of events including Vivace, the diocesan instrumental showcase.

For more information, access this website - Aspire-Concert-Band-FLYER-2025.pdf    Register your interest HERE

2025 ASPIRE School Holiday Workshops

School Holiday Workshops for Dance, Drama, and Vocal students who are in Year 4 to Year 7.

Creative Choreography - Monday 29th September 2025 - Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm       
Location: The Place - Fredrick Street Charlestown  - Cost: $85
Hit the dance floor in this fun workshop that allows you to choreograph your own moves as well as developing your skills and technique. Working in a number of different styles over the course of the day, this workshop allows dancers to unleash their creativity.

Play In A Day - Tuesday 30th September 2025 - Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm       
Location: Catholic Schools (Toohey Room) - 841 Hunter St Newcastle West - Cost: $85
Have a day filled with drama of the best kind as you work together to create a short performance piece in just a few hours. Starting the day with a simple idea you will develop skills in working as a team as well as creating characters and scenes as you all contribute to a short piece that you’ll share at the end of the day.

Sensational Singing - Wednesday 1st October 2025 - Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm       
Location: Catholic Schools (Toohey Room) - 841 Hunter St Newcastle West -  Cost: $85
Join other budding young vocalists in this inclusive workshop that seeks to provide students with confidence in their vocal skills whilst developing their performance technique. Working in a variety of musical genres throughout the day, students will find new ways of conveying a song to an audience and be empowered to explore their voice to its fullest potential.

To register your interest, complete the following registration form HERE

2025 ASPIRE Musical Theatre Program

MUSICAL THEATRE PROGRAM - INFORMATION PACK
ABOUT THE PROGRAM- Students will work on their triple-threat skills will engaging in musical theatre-style performances, helping thme become well-rounded performers. Applications are now open for students in Years 5 to 8. 

DATES
MUSICAL THEATRE REHEARSALS  Catholic Schools Newcastle West - WEDNESDAY 15 OCTOBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 5 NOVEMBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2025, WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2025

BUMP IN, TECHNICAL, & DRESS REHEARSALS  Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle Monday 1 December and Tuesday 2 December 2025

EVENING PERFORMANCE - Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle Tuesday 2 December 2025

COSTS - $200. OTHER KEY INFORMATION- Please note places are limited and will be given on a first come first served basis. Scholarship places are available for students in genuine need of financial assistance. Please contact Anne Atkins for further information via  anne.atkins@mn.catholic.edu.au or 02 4979 1331.

To register your interest, complete the following registration form HERE

Aspire Junior Theatre Makers "When Ideas Come to Life" - Warners Bay Theatre - Thursday 18^th September 2025, 6pm

Join ASPIRE's Junior Theatre Makers groups as they share their original pieces of theatre with you in this fun filled, entertaining highly creative performance showcase. There are three different groups that will be performing (the four groups will perform for roughly 15 minutes each)

Tickets are available HERE - https://events.humanitix.com/junior-theatre-makers2025

"FIRST DRAFT" Presented by the 2025 ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters 

Welcome to First Draft, which features scripts from our Young Scriptwriters Participants for 2025. Tickets are on sale NOW!

This year, we invited diocesan schools to nominate students in stage 3 who they felt would benefit from the program, and the students have not disappointed.

Following the workshops conducted throughout the year, our scriptwriters were tasked with writing a 3-minute script that could be from any genre and around any theme.

The only requirement was that it be G-rated, and no more than 6 characters could be used. It’s exciting to be able to present their work as a staged reading event today with the assistance of some local actors from our secondary schools.

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening MANNING - Performance Arts Culture Cessnock - Thursday 16th October 2026 - 6pm

https://manning.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/154428

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening NORTHS - Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle - Tuesday 21st October 2026 - 6pm

TBA

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening CENTRAL - Playhouse, Civic Theatre Newcastle - Wednesday 22nd October 2026 - 6pm

TBA

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening LOWER HUNTER - Performance Arts Culture Cessnock - Thursday 23rd October 2026 - 6pm

https://www.mypacc.com.au/Whats-on/25-First-Draft-Lower-Hunter-Writers 

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening UPPER HUNTER REGION - Denman Memorial Hall - Thursday 6^th November 2026 - 6pm

https://events.humanitix.com/first-draft-aspire-young-scriptwriters-performance-evening-upper-hunter

"First Draft" - ASPIRE Young Scriptwriters - Performance Evening LAKES REGION - Warners Bay Theatre - Thursday 27^th November 2026 - 6pm

https://events.humanitix.com/first-draft-aspire-young-scriptwriters-performance-evening-lakes

World Scholar’s Cup -Global Round

We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Phoenix Denny from St Joseph’s Merewether, who recently competed at the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Bangkok. Phoenix’s journey was so remarkable that it was featured in the Newcastle Herald, highlighting not only his individual brilliance but also the strength of our diocesan programs in preparing students to excel on the world stage. Phoenix has now qualified for the Tournament of Champions at Yale in November – an extraordinary accomplishment!

Additionally, we are pleased to announce that Xavier Crosby from St Francis Xavier and Eddie Dowdell from Holy Family Merewether will be representing our Diocese at the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round in Christchurch, scheduled from 20–23 September. We wish them every success as they embark on this exciting journey.

HPGE Holiday Workshop: IQnition = E³: Extend, Enrich, Excel

We are thrilled to launch a HPGE Holiday Workshop: IQnition = E³: Extend, Enrich, Excel. This will take place on Thursday, 18 December at St Bede’s, Chisholm, in partnership with an external provider from Sydney who specialises in workshops tailored to high potential and gifted learners. This initiative has been made possible through the ICAS Grant we received, and we are delighted to provide this new opportunity for our students. 

Virtual Academy Nominations for 2026 Now Open

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the Virtual Academy 2026. This innovative online program is designed to extend High Potential and Gifted (HPG) students in Years 5–8, challenging them with conceptual, inquiry-based learning and opportunities to develop real-world problem-solving skills.

While many students are identified and nominated in Year 5 to participate for four years, the program also welcomes nominations for students new to our schools or those who have demonstrated emerging high potential. School leaders and teachers are encouraged to consider both current and future enrolments and reflect on data, performance, and observations to identify students who would thrive in this program.

The nomination process also supports equity and diversity, ensuring that students from underrepresented groups - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, EAL/D students, rural and remote learners, and twice/thrice-exceptional students - are given fair access to this opportunity.

Important details:

 *   Nominations are not required for students currently enrolled, as their placement will automatically roll over to 2026.

*   Year 6 students moving on to Catholic secondary schools should still be nominated by their current school to ensure continuity of learning.

*   School GEMs are asked to complete all nominations by Friday, 31 October 2025 (Term 4, Week 3).

*   At this stage, schools are asked not to inform students or families of nominations until formal offers are made to avoid disappointment should placements not proceed.

Following the review process, selected students will receive a formal letter of offer, along with further information about the Virtual Academy and guidance on selecting their unit and virtual conference times.

The Diocese thanks all school leaders and staff for their diligence and collaborative approach in supporting High Potential and Gifted students through this process.

For further details about the Virtual Academy nomination process for 2026, please contact your GEM or contact Maree Karaka (Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education).

Last week, representatives from Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle attended the Early Years Symposium in Sydney. Marita Winters, Deputy CEO Catholic Schools NSW, set the tone of the symposium with her welcome address, stating, ‘to believe in the power of the early learner is to believe in the power of every human being’.

Keynote speaker Anne Hollands, National Children’s Commissioner, spoke on how quality early years education and early intervention are critical to positive outcomes for children and young people. Commissioner Hollands' work involves advocating for the rights and well-being of children and young people in legislation and policy, ensuring they are informed by evidence and the lived experiences of children. It is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the statement that children have the right to have a say in matters that relate to them. This is a great reminder of the importance of consideration of child-voice in our early-years classrooms!

Award-winning educator and Dean of ACU’s La Salle Academy, Professor Br David Hall, gave theological reflections on Catholic education and the importance of nourishing not just the head, heart and hands but the soul of the children and young people in our care. He drew on the poem by ‘On Children’, by Kahil Gibran (1883-1931) to convey his message that as educators, we must not seek to shape them in our own image, or the image of the ‘model student’, but guide them to find their own purpose:

‘You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth’.

Mary Taiwo, NSW AEDC State Coordinator from the NSW Department of Education, presented the results and trends of the 2024 data collection.  With 1 in 2 children ‘not on track’ across domains, there is a lot of work to do to improve outcomes for children entering formal schooling. More children are developmentally vulnerable in language and cognitive skills, reinforcing the importance of including activities in our programs that promote oral language development.

Amie Fabry, Director of Early Childhood and Professional Learning at The Learning Future, discussed leadership in the Early Years space and advocated for play in schools up to age 8. This was particularly affirming for our Diocese, with our recent professional learning in play pedagogy for Stage 1, support for curriculum reform in HSIE and PDHPE and system priority to embed play pedagogy K-2. Amie spoke of the impact of technology on family interactions and, consequently, oral language development. Researchers found that for every minute of screen time, children engaged in fewer back-and-forth conversations with their parents. This reciprocal communication (serve and return) is crucial for oral language development. Teachers may find the abc news story or this article on this study useful when engaging in conversations with parents around screen time.

It was great to see colleagues from St Patrick’s, Lochinvar, and St Nicholas Early Education at the Early Years Symposium this year. Attending the Early Years Symposium was a deeply enriching and affirming experience that we would recommend for any educator or leader in the Early Years to consider for 2026!

If you have any questions, please email our Education Officers – Early Learning

Bridie Stanger on bridie.stanger@mn.catholic.edu.au

Rachelle Mitchell on rachelle.mitchell@mn.catholic.edu.au

HSC Dance – Callback Nominations

Each year, the HSC Dance Callback showcase shines a spotlight on the most exceptional young dancers across New South Wales, celebrating their artistry, technical skill, and creative vision. In 2025, nominations for Callback were announced in September, marking a moment of pride and recognition for students whose practical works—Core Performance, Core Composition, and Major Study—stood out among thousands submitted across the state. Callback is not just a performance event; it’s a curated showcase of the top practical works from the HSC Dance examinations.

Students are nominated based on their HSC practical examination results. These nominations are a testament to their outstanding execution and interpretation of dance as an art form.

This year, students from Catholic Schools Maitland- Newcastle have received an amazing 13 nominations for Callback. Along with the students nominated, Isabella and Makayla from St Francis Xavier’s College, Hamilton, Cleo, Lainie and Jamie from St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul and Marissa from All Saints College, Maitland, we also recognise two HSC Dance teachers, Kate Ralph and Millie Hartcher.

Final selections for the Callback performance are made in November, with the showcase scheduled for February 13–14, 2026 at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. Wishing students all the best in this process.

Year 11 Examinations

As Year 11 students approach the final stretch of their academic year, many of our schools are embarking on Year 11 examination period. We also recognise the staff and students at Trinity Catholic College, Adamstown, who have embarked on their first Year 11 examinations and are preparing to begin the HSC in Term 4. These exams are not just a measure of knowledge—they're a stepping stone toward the HSC and beyond.

Why Year 11 Exams Matter

While Year 11 results may not directly contribute to the ATAR, they play a crucial role in:

• Building foundational knowledge for Year 12 subjects.
• Developing exam techniques and time management skills.
• Identifying strengths and areas for growth before the HSC year begins.
• Boosting confidence and academic resilience.

Good luck to our staff and students for Year 11 Examinations.

University Early Offers

As secondary educators, we play a pivotal role in helping students navigate the transition from school to post-school pathways. One increasingly popular option is the university early offer—a process that allows students to receive conditional or unconditional offers before their final HSC exams.

Early offers are admissions made by universities based on criteria other than (or in addition to) ATAR results. These may include:

• Year 11 or mid-Year 12 academic performance
• School recommendation or principal’s report
• Personal statements or portfolios
• Co-curricular involvement or leadership
• Completion of university preparation programs

Programs like the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) through UAC, and direct early entry schemes offered by universities such as the University of Newcastle, ACU, UNE, and Charles Sturt, are common pathways.

Early offers are both beneficial and challenging in an HSC environment. Students can often receive an offer for a less desired course, hoping that the ATAR will deliver their more preferred pathway, or not receive an early offer as expected.  Some students will be striving for scholarships and other methods of supporting their university opportunities, and some will see their early offer as relief, and their focus will shift away from the HSC Examinations.  Our secondary schools continue to assist students with navigating post-school pathways, celebrating and supporting students in a variety of ways, especially over the coming weeks.

Sincerely

Liz Stokes

A variety of resources have been compiled to assist staff in navigating the use of AI in the workplace. Please see the information below and see our generative AI page on Connect@MN for details. Generative AI at the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle 

What is Generative AI? 

Generative AI refers to artificial intelligence that can create new or rework existing content, such as text, images, audio, or video, based on input data. 

Benefits of Generative AI 

• Time-saving: Automates tasks like drafting emails, reports, lesson plans, and proofreading. 

• Content creation: Helps brainstorm and generate creative content (text, music, images, etc.). 

• Information gathering: Quickly finds and looks at information from different places. It can help you summarise meeting notes or draft lesson plans, enabling you to capture key points and effectively communicate with school communities efficiently. 

• Trend identification: Spots patterns and guesses what might happen next. 

Pitfalls and Risks 

• Accuracy issues: May make up facts or sources. 

• Bias & ethics: Outputs may reflect biased training data. 

• Security & privacy: Avoid entering sensitive information such as personal identification numbers, financial data, health records, or confidential work-related information into AI tools to prevent accidental exposure. 

• Misuse potential: Can be weaponised (e.g., deepfakes, phishing). 

Responsible & Ethical Use 

The Diocese promotes responsible use of Generative AI by following principles such as: 

• Privacy & security: Protect sensitive data, especially student/staff info. 

• Accuracy: Fact-check and ensure reliability. 

• Transparency: Be open about AI use and its limitations. 

• Anti-bias: Actively reduce bias and promote fairness. 

• Prompt sensitivity: Understand how changes to prompts affect outputs. 

Approved Tools 

• Microsoft Copilot Chat, Canva, and Adobe Firefly are the approved Generative AI tools for staff. It can be used effectively for tasks such as summarising lengthy documents, assisting with scheduling by generating event briefs, and drafting communications like emails or newsletters while ensuring adherence to policy guidelines. Other tools, such as ChatGPT, are not approved or endorsed. 

This important update regarding student BYOD devices should be included in your next school newsletter.

Please note that there is a separate body of work underway to ensure any staff and shared devices are upgraded to Windows 11.

Student BYOD Devices important message: Windows 10 is reaching end of life

Action is required for students with BYOD Windows 10 devices as Windows 10 will soon no longer be supported by Microsoft.

To ensure your student device security you should upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible.

Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end on 14 October 2025, meaning it will no longer receive critical security updates.

To stay protected and ensure optimal performance, it is strongly recommended that all students with BYOD Windows 10 devices follow Microsoft’s instructions and upgrade to Windows 11 as soon as possible. There is no charge for this upgrade.

Why this matters:

• Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 from 15 October 2025.
• Upgrading to Windows 11 helps reduce security risks.
• Student Work Protection: Staying current helps safeguard assignments, projects, and personal data.

Ways to install Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

Upgrade to Windows 11: FAQ - Microsoft Support

Read our FAQs for more support:

How do I check what version of Windows am I running?

Select Start > Settings > System, then select About. You then see Edition, Version, and OS Build information.

We encourage all families with Student Windows 10 computers to begin the upgrade process now to avoid last-minute disruptions. If you need assistance or have questions about upgrading, please reach out to the IT support team in our school.

What if my device can’t upgrade?

If a Student’s BYOD laptop is running Windows 10 and can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 (usually due to older hardware), Microsoft is offering a free security update program to help keep the device safe for one more year.

The Windows 10 Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is designed to keep your current Windows 10 PC protected after support ends, helping you stay secure during the transition.

How to Join Microsoft’s ESU Program

Microsoft has made it easy to enrol directly from the laptop:

• On eligible computers, a setup wizard will appear in Settings > Windows Update.
• There are three ways to enrol:

1. Free – Sync your settings to the cloud using Windows Backup. You must be logged in as administrator and with a Microsoft account.
2. Free – Use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
3. Paid – Buy a one-year license for $30 USD (families cover this cost).

Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 | Microsoft Learn

The Communications and Marketing Team have provided a range of regional focused resources designed to support schools in building community engagement for prospecting families. Each region now has a printable brochure that can be shared with prospecting families and in key community spaces within your LGA. These can be found here.

Please reach out to the Communications and Marketing Team for bespoke support with printing.