Dear Colleagues,

CELEBRATE: CHOIRS AT THE CIVIC

On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, and Wednesday, June 11, 2025, ASPIRE VoiceWorx joyfully presented Celebrate: Choirs at the Civic. Throughout these evenings, seventeen primary school choirs showcased their remarkable talents. For the very first time, a tremendous variety of ensembles took centre stage at the Civic Theatre, creating an uplifting atmosphere brimming with music. The repertoire was a lovely mix of traditional choral pieces and hymns, alongside popular hits from The Beatles, John Paul Young, Taylor Swift, and the Spice Girls. 

The event at the Civic Theatre wonderfully highlighted our students' talents, and offered a fantastic opportunity to share in the excitement of performance, to a live audience, under lights. 

With over 700 enthusiastic students participating in this year's showcase, it’s clear that Music and the Arts shine brightly within our school communities. 

I want to express my warm congratulations to all the students and staff who contributed their efforts and to the ASPIRE team who coordinated this event.

Concert 1 Performing Schools (performance held Tuesday 10th June) 

St Patrick’s Primary School CESSNOCK 

St Joseph’s Primary School, CHARLESTOWN 

Holy Cross Primary School, GLENDALE 

St Therese’s Primary School NEW LAMBTON 

St Paul’s Primary School RUTHERFORD 

St Catherine’s Catholic College SINGLETON 

St Patrick’s Primary School, WALLSEND 

VoiceWorx Lower Hunter 

Concert 2 Performing Schools (performance held Wednesday 11th June) 

St Joseph’s Primary School KILABEN BAY 

St James’ Primary School KOTARA SOUTH 

St Patrick’s Primary School LOCHINVAR 

St John the Baptist Primary School MAITLAND 

St Joseph’s Primary School MEREWETHER 

St Brigid’s Primary School RAYMOND TERRACE 

Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School TARRO 

St Mary’s Primary School, WARNERS BAY 

VoiceWorx Lakes 

A Journey Through Time: St Joseph’s Wingham Commemorates 90 Years of Faith and Learning

On Friday, 6 June, St Joseph’s Wingham celebrated 90 years of Catholic Education in Wingham with a nostalgic event. It was delightful to attend as the school buzzed with students dressed as 90-year-olds or in vintage attire, complete with wigs and walking sticks. Everyone enjoyed browsing through past photos, recognizing their younger selves as well as relatives and familiar faces. In the hall, school memorabilia were displayed, alongside old school items generously loaned by the Wingham Community Museum.

Check out more from the day here: A Journey Through Time: St Joseph’s Wingham Commemorates 90 Years of Faith and Learning | Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle

Messages of Hope for the Manning

The recent flooding event has had a profound impact on many of our Manning area school communities. Considering this, we invited our Catholic school community to provide a message of support and solidarity for our school communities that have been directly and significantly affected by these events.

Messages were collated into a HOPE word cloud and distributed to schools in the Manning area affected by the flooding event.

Some even sent video messages that can be viewed here - https://youtu.be/N29OPExi6ro

For more information, including the art submissions from students, visit https://www.mn.catholic.edu.au/news/messages-of-hope-for-the-manning/

Catherine McAuley students win National Artwork for 2025 NATSICC Assembly

Two talented Year 11 students from Catherine McAuley College, Medowie, have received national recognition after their collaborative artwork was selected as the official logo for the 2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) Assembly.

Chosen from a list of impressive entries submitted across the Diocese, the student-created artwork was described as a standout by the selection panel, selected for its powerful reflection of the Assembly’s theme and profound cultural and spiritual symbolism.

To read more about it, click here.

Annual School Visits – St John Vianney Primary School, Morisset

Nestled in the heart of Morisset, SJV serves as a place of faith, learning, and community, set amidst the picturesque surroundings of Lake Macquarie and the Watagan Mountains.

I sincerely thank Mark Konik and his staff for their commitment to our students and the Morisset school community. It was gratifying to witness the collaborative efforts of the newly formed leadership team, who are courageously and creatively reviewing current practices as part of their improvement journey, drawing on the school motto, Every Day Our Best. Our visit acknowledged their focus on enhancing community engagement and mutual efforts to strengthen parish ties, with Fr Darryl Mackie keenly engaged in school life.

Classroom visits revealed the integration of the LLC to develop the collective efficacy of staff in Literacy, including the skilling of Learning Support Assistants. The school has implemented a cycle of goal setting, reflection and review to drive Literacy growth. Support is being provided to staff to develop a comprehensive data tracking model and to sustain agreed practices in Spelling.

Congratulations to the dedicated and hardworking staff team, who are clearly invested in student wellbeing and learning. Your hard work, passion, and care shape not only the minds of our learners but also their character and future. Your tireless efforts to effectively meet the social/emotional needs of students and families, implementing PB4L structures, MJR and trauma informed practices, are valued, alongside initiatives to impact outcomes for your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

With my best wishes,

Jacqui