All Staff Edition, Week 10, Term 1, 2025

Resignation – Principal, St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Nowra

After considerable reflection and discernment, Christopher Paton has decided to retire from the position of Principal of St Michael’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Nowra. Chris will conclude in the position at the end of the 2025 school year.

Read the full announcement here.

Peter Hill
Director of Schools
Diocese of Wollongong

CRSSFIT

A Spiritual Boot Camp | LENT 2025

“Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.”
— Pope Francis, 2021

Outline

This week, we see Jesus deliberately enter a dangerous place. A woman caught in adultery is about to be stoned, Jesus doesn't just appear, he becomes involved, he gets in the middle, into the ‘thick of it’.

Not only does he use his hands to protect her, he uses his hands to reach out to the mob and remind them of their own sins. He not only empowers the woman through her repentance but helps the mob change their own behaviour through self awareness and a change of heart.

• Catholic Social Teaching Focus: Subsidiarity and Participation
• Body Part Awareness Exercise – HANDS

The instructions for this week’s session can be found in the booklet here. 

On behalf of the Director of Schools, I wish to announce the following:

Following a recruitment process, Jean-Marie Morris is the successful applicant for the substantive position of Education Officer – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education, situated in the Learning K-12 Team. Jean-Marie will commence in her new role once a successful recruitment process has been finalised for the Catholic Life, Education and Mission (CLEM) Team.

Jean-Marie has worked as an educator and Religious Education Coordinator in the diocese since 2000 and has served as Education Officer in Catholic Life, Education and Mission since 2020. Jean-Marie commenced her teaching, within our diocese, at St Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Narellan Vale before moving to St John the Evangelist Catholic Primary School, Campbelltown and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Ruse. 

Jean-Marie holds a Masters in Education from the Australian Catholic University and has extensive experience and expertise in instructional practice, particularly in Religious Education as well as leadership development across the K-12 continuum. 

I take this opportunity to congratulate Jean-Marie and wish her every success and fulfillment in this new appointment. 

Lorraine Biggar has resigned from the position of Finance Officer with Finance, Facilities and Planning. Her last day was 31 March 2025. 

I would like to thank Lorraine for her service to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Noosha Roberts has resigned from the position of Finance Officer with Finance, Facilities and Planning. Her last day will be 11 April 2025. 

I would like to thank Noosha for her service to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. 

Margaret Chittick, Team Leader – Child Safety & Professional Services, will be taking some periods of leave through the course of 2025. 

During this time, Beth Woodstone will be performing the role of Acting Team Leader – Child Safety & Professional Services. This arrangement is effective from 20 March 2025.

Natasha O'Donoghue
Assistant Director – People and Culture

All vacant positions can be viewed on Employee Self Service (ESS) each Wednesday morning prior to being uploaded to the public website, to give Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong staff first priority to view positions

This week you will find advertised positions for the following schools:

Primary

St Therese Catholic Parish Primary School, West Wollongong
Classroom Teacher – Year 5

Secondary

St John the Evangelist Catholic High School, Nowra
Mathematics Teacher

Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville
Religious Education Teacher

Photo taken at St Therese Catholic Parish Primary School, West Wollongong.

Our Catholic school communities are increasingly diverse, and for many, belonging—feeling connected, known, and valued—can be challenged by language, culture, or experience. As a Catholic system of schools, we are committed to ensuring every student, especially those who have experienced disadvantage or marginalisation, feels a sense of belonging.

Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity, promoting inclusiveness, respect, and belonging. The 2025 theme, "We All Have a Role to Play," highlights the collective effort in fostering welcoming school communities.

“In education, we often talk about knowing our students and making a difference in their lives,” said Megan Johansson, EAL/D specialist teacher at St Therese Catholic Parish Primary School, West Wollongong. “Harmony Week is a wonderful annual event that keeps growing bigger and better. We might all have different traditions and languages, but events like this teach students that we are united by love, respect, and the opportunity to learn from one another.”

With students hailing from over 20 different countries in their school, St Therese, West Wollongong, represents one of many schools within CEDoW that embody these values—fostering kindness, respect, and a true sense of belonging for all. Celebrating diversity and creating inclusive spaces makes every student feel valued, heard, and empowered.

Their Harmony Week celebration was a vibrant showcase of diversity, featuring dance, song, bilingual poetry recitals, and visual presentations. More than 150 students, staff, and guests came together in a powerful expression of connection and shared identity.

Across CEDoW, over 900 students access English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) System Support, supported by 15 specialist teachers and 18 school support officers. With 128 languages spoken across our K–12 communities, the number of students with a background in languages other than English has grown to 37.5% across the whole diocese. Macarthur is the region with the highest percentage of Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE) students, at 47.1%.

Photo taken at Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville.

Mount Carmel Catholic College, Varroville, celebrated Harmony Week with a lunchtime concert, where Indigenous musicians and dancers performed a Sweeping Ceremony and opened the concert with an Acknowledgement to Country.

There are currently 930 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in CEDoW schools, supported by 22 Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) from Kindergarten to Year 12, who play a crucial role in providing classroom support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and lead cultural initiatives for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Each school is also supported by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Contact who works with AEAs the community, parents, and the school leadership team to embed cultural initiatives within the school.

Crystal Ash, Professional Officer, EAL/D System Strategy, believes Harmony Week strengthens school connections through open dialogue, cultural understanding, and school-family partnerships.

“Rooted in Gospel values, Harmony Week reflects Jesus’ teaching that every person, regardless of race, is created in the image of God. Every child, teacher, and leader is a thread in our diverse community. Woven with respect and compassion, we create a school where everyone belongs.”

By embracing diversity and breaking down barriers, our schools continue to create spaces where every student feels seen, heard, and valued—where belonging is not just an idea but a lived experience.

Students Gather for Liturgical Ministries Training

Recently, Year 10 and 11 students from across our diocesan secondary schools gathered for a Liturgical Ministries Training Day. This training program, a collaboration between the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and the CLEM Team offered students an opportunity to learn more about what it means to gather as a Eucharistic community at Mass and to develop an understanding of some of the ministries of service that they can be engaged in.

The day included prayer, keynote presentations and workshops focussed on being a Reader of the Word, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Music Ministry. Presenters included Fr James Arblaster, Deacon Lawrie Burns, Angela Quinn and Beth Riolo, with Bishop Brian Mascord presiding at an “Instructional Mass” where the students were able to share their ministry of service.

After experiencing this day, Bishop Brian encouraged the students to become more involved in sharing their ministries both at their school liturgical celebrations and with their local parish communities.

Results of Education Mass Fundraiser

At the CEDoW Education Mass earlier this year, a generous $1050 was raised for the Catholic Mission Bethlehem University fundraiser—thanks to all who donated to this important cause.

Known as an “oasis of peace” in a land characterised by conflict, Bethlehem University was created following the 1964 visit of Pope Paul VI to the Holy Land. The University is a joint venture between the Holy See (Vatican) and the De La Salle Christian Brothers. It is the only Catholic/Christian university in the Holy Land. The mission of the University is to provide quality higher education to the local community.

Read more here about Catholic Mission’s fundraising initiative for Bethlehem University.

Election Statement 2025: Called to Bring Hope in the Year of Jubilee

Linked is a PDF of the Election Statement 2025: Called to Bring Hope in the Year of Jubilee, released by the Bishops Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement.

CSSA – Catholic Trial Examinations

The CSSA, a division of Catholic Schools NSW, creates premium CSSA Trial HSC Examinations developed by education experts. Our writers and assessors have expertise in the syllabus and extensive teaching experience to design these examinations. In 2025, the CSSA will offer three online Trial HSC Examinations.

Technological Assistance for Principals/Main CSSA Contacts:

If a principal / main CSSA contact requires technological assistance with signing into their registered school account on the CSSA website, please email service@csnsw.catholic.edu.au.

A CSNSW verification process is in place to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of each principal and their registered school account with the CSSA.

CSSA Website and Individual School Accounts:

School data in individual School Accounts with the CSSA must be kept up to date via the CSSA website under Account Settings.

Relevant personnel in CSSA-registered schools should ensure that school data and fields of information on the CSSA website are checked, updated, and completed as necessary. This will ensure that your school’s address, phone number, email address, and contact details are correct. Accurate information is critical for communication with schools and the secure delivery of CSSA Trial HSC Examinations. Finally, remember to click the “SAVE” button at the end of the process.

For your convenience, the link to the CSSA website is here.

2025 ACARA Key Curriculum Opt-In Online Assessments Available – Term 2

2025 ACARA Key Curriculum Opt-In Online Assessments Available: Monday 5 May – Friday 30 May 2025.

Australian schools can enrol Year 6 and Year 10 students to participate in NAP Opt-in assessments in key curriculum areas. Schools are not required to enrol full cohorts of Year 6 or Year 10 students.

These assessments are part of the National Assessment Program (NAP) NAP website and are entirely optional for schools. The assessments are being phased in over three years, starting with science literacy in 2024. Civics and citizenship will be added in 2025, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) literacy will be introduced in 2026.

In May 2024, the first optional assessment in Science Literacy was successfully completed. The feedback collected from participating schools was positive and informative, helping to improve the second rollout of the NAP Opt-in assessments in 2025.

In 2025, the two domains available for school participation are:

• Science literacy
• Civics and Citizenship

Registration Opens: 25 March 2025
Registration Closes: 29 April 2025
There is no fee for schools registering to participate in the assessments.

Key Dates:

• School Registration and Enrolment Window: Tuesday 25 March 2025 – Tuesday 29 April 2025
• Test Window: Monday 5 May – Friday 30 May 2025
• Results Window: July 2025 – August 2025

ACARA Will:

• Mark the assessments and analyse the assessment data for schools
• Provide principals with school-level reports accessible from the platform

Registration:

Principals can register their school here by clicking on the ‘NAP Opt-in’ tile on the home page. Each school should only register once via the principal (preferably using the same principal email address as used for NAPLAN 2025, if applicable).

CEDoW Library

ACEN eBook of the Week

This week’s Sora eBook theme is Celebrating Differences.  

See the link here to explore the eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). Click on each image or use the QR code to access further information. To sign in to Sora, select "ACEN" as your school.

ClickView Highlight

This week’s ClickView highlight is Parliament & Paddock to Plate. You can view it here.

If you have any questions, please contact Jim Gallagher, Library Services Manager at gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Free Counselling Session at CatholicCare Wollongong

CatholicCare's counselling service provides support to children, adults, couples and families who are experiencing: 

• Grief and loss 
• Family, relationship and marriage difficulties 
• Stress/anxiety/depression 
• Changes in personal or family situations 
• Pregnancy loss.

Our skilful and compassionate counsellors are qualified professionals experienced in couple, family and individual counselling. The first session is free and subsequent sessions are charged at a flexible, mutually agreed fee.  

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. Please see the link here for more information.

Have an Ethical Easter in 2025

“Every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral – and not simply an economic – act.” – Pope Francis

A significant portion of chocolate available in Australia is produced using cocoa beans harvested by child labourers, many of whom endure enslavement and exploitative working conditions.

Indulge responsibly, select ethically sourced chocolate, and support companies working towards eliminating slavery from their supply chain this Easter and beyond.

Click on the links for tips and further information.

Slavery Free Easter Chocolate - Catholic Earthcare

Indulge Responsibly Easter Poster

Also, consider not buying something that is overly packaged. Lots of Easter eggs come encased in several layers of foil, cardboard and plastic - each of which come with an environmental and often human cost of their own. Remember to recycle your foil…

“The knowledge about what we buy is the first act in not being complicit. Look at where those products come from.” – Pope Francis

Courage to Be Overnight Retreat

The Courage to Be Overnight Retreat is a spiritual formation opportunity for CEDoW staff. It seeks to provide an opportunity to slow down and explore some of the wisdom from our tradition which can support us in taking those next courageous steps in life.

It endeavours to create a space for participants to reflect on their lives and will include input, gentle discussion, personal reflection and Christian Meditation.

“The Courage to Be” is an overnight retreat and will be held in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May 2025 (Term 2 Week 5). Day One will be funded by the CEO (C15) and Day Two is to be funded by schools. Please register through LMS no later than Friday 9 May 2025. Approval by your principal | Assistant Director | Team Leader is required before registering on LMS. Please see the flyer here.

Due to the nature of this retreat numbers are limited so please register as soon as possible.

For those staff members who have already attended the Courage to Be, the Courage to Continue retreat will be offered in Term 3, 2025. Further information regarding The Courage to Continue will be forwarded at a later date.

Another Cup of Our Life

The Staff Spiritual Formation team would like to inform you of an upcoming personal formation opportunity which is being offered to School Support Officers and CEO Administration Staff.

The retreat is entitled “Another Cup of Our Life” and seeks to provide staff with an opportunity to slow down and reflect on different aspects of their lives. Please note that staff are not required to have attended the previous Cup of Our Life Retreat and that for those who have, it will be a unique experience from the last. 

We will explore some ways to ensure that our cups are replenished and how our loving God longs to walk with us in all that we face. The day will include personal reflection, interactive discussions and meditation. All staff attending the retreat are asked to bring a cup that holds significance for them as this symbol will be central to the day.

“Another Cup of Our Life” is a one day retreat and will be held in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong on Tuesday 24 or Wednesday 25 June 2025 (Term 3, Week 9). We are offering it twice to provide schools with the opportunity to send staff on different days if necessary. All meals, facilitation and venue expenses will be covered by the CEO. Schools are required to cover the cost for release. Registration is through LMS by Friday 6 June 2025.

Due to the nature of this retreat numbers are limited so we would encourage interested staff to register as soon as possible. All of the details regarding the retreat are on the flyer here.

Seesaw Series - Catholic Learning Online

Learn all about Seesaw Basics in this series presented by Catholic Learning Online. This series runs over two sessions and will explore how you can get the most out of Seesaw by creating lessons and learning experiences for your students.

03 April 2025: Fostering Joyful Learning (Seesaw basics and how to edit a lesson): Session 1.

10 April 2025: Fostering Joyful Learning (Seesaw basics and how to edit a lesson): Session 2.

The registration link is here. 

Tickets Now on Sale – CSNSW Behaviour Symposium – 22/23 May 2025

Tickets Now on Sale – CSNSW Behaviour Symposium – 22/23 May 2025

The Catholic Schools NSW (CSNSW) 2025 Behaviour Symposium will be held on Thursday 22 May and Friday 23 May 2025. The symposium will feature Tom Bennett OBE, a leading expert in behaviour management at both the classroom and whole-school levels. Additional speakers include Andrew Fuller, Dr Jacqueline Amos, representatives from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), and Alex Kohn.

Classroom and School Behaviour Management – 22 May:
Designed for Early Career Teachers and those looking to enhance their professional practice, this day focuses on practical classroom behaviour management strategies. There will also be a Masterclass on school behaviour management with Tom Bennett, tailored for Assistant Principals. A keynote and workshop stream on respectful relationships education will also be featured.

System Approaches for Behaviour Management – 23 May:
System, school, and wellbeing leaders will participate in discussions on policies and procedures to foster positive, safe, and respectful learning environments. This day includes breakout sessions on respectful relationships, school safety, and mental health.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Blended Online Learning for Semester 1, 2025

Please see the linked flyer for upcoming Blended Online Learning (BOL) courses.

LMS registrations will be available soon.

• Understanding Autism
• Understanding and Supporting Behaviour
• Dyslexia and Significant Difficulties in Reading
• Understanding Hearing Loss
• Supporting Student Wellbeing and Mental Health
• Attachment Trauma and Theory
• Speech, Language and Communication Needs

For any questions, please contact wssadmin@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Save the date: CSNSW Early Years Symposium - Thursday 4 September 2025

Get ready for an inspiring and impactful day at the CSNSW Early Years Symposium! We're excited to announce Ms Anne Hollands, National Children's Commissioner, as our keynote speaker, sharing her invaluable insights and expertise.

Who should attend? Early childhood teachers, educators, teachers and leaders.

Date: Thursday 4 September 2025

Time: 9 am  to 3:30 pm

Venue: The Peter Cosgrove Centre, Level 18, Tenison Woods House, North Sydney

This year's symposium will delve into the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 5. Join us as we explore how governments, families, and communities can empower children to exercise their rights effectively as they grow.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to be part of a transformative conversation about our children's future.

K-6 Curriculum Support

The K-6 Curriculum Support page contains:

• Important links to external and internal sites
• Professional learning
• Planning and programming support
• Assessment and reporting
• Professional reading

For enquiries please contact Learning K-12 Support at learningk-12support@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Term 2 Mathematics Units of Work Available

In an effort to support the core work of teachers, the CEDoW sample Mathematics units of work have been developed to align with the sample scope and sequences of learning developed by Dr Christine Mae, currently in use in a number of schools. It is a NESA requirement that the scope and sequence of learning aligns with the teaching and learning within a class program (e.g. units of work, student work samples). Alignment is demonstrated through outcomes, the sequence in which they are taught and duration of units. Schools may adjust their scope and sequence to suit their unique school contexts; however, any adjustments made must be reflected within the teaching and learning program.

The sample units of work serve as a scaffold to support teachers in programming clear sequences of learning aligned to the syllabus. Teachers are encouraged to use these sample units alongside the teaching advice and examples provided in the NSW K-10 Mathematics Syllabus to contextualise the learning for their students. Please note that these sample units of work have been designed to address outcomes, focus areas and content for students working at the relevant stage of learning. Teachers will need to differentiate the delivery of content in order to meet the diverse learning needs of their students.

Based on reflection and feedback from schools on the Term One units, there have been some slight adjustments to the Term Two sample units of work:

• The Big Idea or overarching learning intention of the unit has been highlighted in the unit description. This will enable teachers to gain deeper insight into the structure and sequence of learning intentions that build on student knowledge
• Add number sense/daily review/fluency has been added to each learning sequence to support the work happening within different school contexts
• A clear learning intention reflecting essential syllabus content has been identified within each sequence of learning
• The term Teaching and Learning Scaffold (to be contextualised to class needs) has replaced ‘activities’ to clearly indicate that these are suggested teaching and learning opportunities. All syllabus content is essential and needs to be covered in order for students to build on prior learning.
• How a teacher chooses to teach this content should be contextualised to support the needs of the students.
• Add resources has been highlighted at the bottom of each unit of learning as the resources used will be determined by the resources available at the school level to best support the learners.

NSW Department of Education Sample Unit Information 2025

The Department of Education has developed a range of curriculum support materials and sample units to assist schools in implementing the NSW K–10 English and Mathematics Syllabus.

If schools choose to refer to these as a resource, it is essential that leaders and teachers understand the context in which these resources were designed, as well as the curriculum design principles that have shaped them. Schools are encouraged to engage in a thoughtful discernment process to adapt these resources in ways that best meet the needs of their students and school context. To support schools, a presentation has been created to address frequently asked questions from classroom teachers. This presentation provides insights directly from a representative of the NSW Department of Education Curriculum Team.

We acknowledge the Leadership Team and staff at St Paul’s Camden for fostering professional networks with the NSW Department of Education’s Curriculum Team in 2024 and generously sharing their insights across the Diocese. We recognise also the work of the NSW Department of Education Curriculum Team in developing curriculum support materials. Teachers are reminded that such support materials are resources and that it is imperative that they refer to the NSW Curriculum throughout the process of planning and programming.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the K–12 Learning Team at Learning K-12 Support: learningk-12support@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Repeated: K-6 Curriculum Implementation Frequently Asked Questions

Primary educators are now deeply engaged in embedding the reformed English and Mathematics syllabuses. As K-6 teachers implement these syllabuses, questions naturally arise about the curriculum’s practical application. To support teachers and leaders, a Frequently Asked Questions guide has been developed to facilitate effective implementation.

Some questions that have been answered include:

• What is mandatory to teach in each KLA syllabus?
• What is essential content?
• NESA vs Department of Education. What is the difference?
• Are the units of work mandatory to teach?
• What are the CHPS?
• How is CEDoW supporting schools to prepare and engage with the new CHPS syllabuses?
• Can I start teaching the new K-6 PDHPE syllabus and/or K-6 Science and Technology syllabus?

The K-6 Curriculum Implementation Frequently Asked Questions guide can be found here.

If you have a question you'd like answered, please complete this Google Form.

For additional inquiries, teachers and leaders are encouraged to contact the K-12 Learning Team at Learning K-12 Support: learningk-12support@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

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