Dear Colleagues,

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday.

Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” The Gospel describes the reason for our joy: God's great love for us has been revealed in Jesus. Through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection, Christ has reconciled us with God and one another.

Curriculum Reform Day

On Wednesday, 26th March, a group of Classroom Teachers, PMs, APs, and Principals gathered at the VPS for the 1st Curriculum Reform Day of the year, focusing on Phase 1 of the PDHPE K-6 Syllabus. It was a highly collaborative day with attendees familiarising themselves with the new syllabus and beginning the critical collaborative work of developing a resource bank of programming resources aligned with scope and sequence and exemplar units - a resource bank we hope to have available for all schools by the end of Term 2. It was wonderful to be part of this collaborative and productive work, leveraging the expertise within our schools, so that together we can build curriculum reform support for every school.  

HSC Data Analysis Sessions

Our secondary schools have engaged in collaborative inquiry this term to review and analyse 2024 HSC data, and this week have begun the process of discussing their insights with CS Leadership and Education Officers. These discussions are growth-focused and aim to celebrate the collective efforts that lead to success in the HSC, identify areas for improvement, and unpack the targeted strategies that promote learning gains for all students. Putting faces to the data shows us that we have a lot to celebrate across the diocese. The work done by school executive teams, Leaders of Learning, teaching staff, and those supporting them from the Catholic Schools office is to be commended. I sincerely thank the Leadership Teams at St Clare’s High School, St Bede’s Catholic College, St Francis Xavier’s College, St Joseph’s College Lochinvar, and All Saints’ College, who have led these discussions and have engaged so thoughtfully in the process.

St John Vianney Morisset

The Comms team recently visited St John Vianney, Morisset, where new Principal Mark Konik discussed the school’s core values and what sets it apart, emphasising its strong sense of community, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth.

‘When you join St John Vianney, you don’t just become a part of a school, you become a part of a community’.

See the video here

Sports

Recently, the highly anticipated Open Boys and Girls Diocesan Football Gala Days were held at Speers Point. The competition was excellent, with schools competing fiercely for the opportunity to advance to the next stage of the 2025 NSWCCC Football Knockout Championship.

It was a great day with the Trinity Catholic College, Adamstown Open Girls team and All Saints College, Maitland, as they now progress to the next round, where they will face some of the best school teams from across the state.

Congratulations to all teams who competed, showcasing outstanding sportsmanship and talent.

All Saints Boys - Winners

Gateshead Boys – Runners Up

Trinity Girls – Winners

St. Bede’s Girls – Runners Up

Corpus Christi Primary School Waratah – School Visit

I sincerely thank Katie Kingsford, Michael Deed, and their staff for their commitment to our students and the Waratah school community. Your hard work, passion, and care shape not only the minds of our learners but also their character and future. Our visit highlighted your commitment to enliven the Dominican charism and work in partnership with your parents and recognised a shared vision and collaborative approach to achievement and ongoing improvement.

Thank you for the vital role you play in creating a nurturing and inspiring learning environment. As we continue this journey together, I encourage you to take pride in the impact you make every day.

With my best wishes,

Jacqui