All Staff Edition, Week 3, Term 3, 2025

Gospel Reflection: Matthew 6:25–34
“Do not worry about your life...”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a tender and timely reminder: “Do not worry about your life—what you are to eat, drink, or wear.” He invites us into a life of trust—one free from anxiety and rich in faith.

This passage is especially fitting for the Feast of St Mary of the Cross, MacKillop. Her life reflected the very essence of Jesus’ teaching. Despite the many challenges she faced—conflict with Church authorities, poverty, and uncertainty—Mary remained grounded in deep trust in God’s providence. Her famous words echo the Gospel beautifully:

“Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.” (1891)

Mary MacKillop was not only the first Australian saint; she was also a courageous woman who responded with hope and action to the needs of her time. Her vision for education, especially for children in rural and poor communities, helped shape the foundation of Catholic education in Australia. Her life was marked by resilience, discernment, and a quiet refusal to be distracted by ego or status.

In this Gospel, when Jesus says “do not worry,” the word can also be translated as “do not be distracted.” He warns against being consumed by the pursuit of wealth, status, or appearances—things that often draw us away from what truly matters.

In a world that prizes productivity, image, and material success, Jesus calls us to something deeper:

• To stay grounded
• To choose simplicity
• To live in a way that trusts in God’s love
• To seek first the kingdom of God

Let us follow the example of Mary MacKillop:
“Do what you can—and trust God with the rest.”

What distractions keep me from trusting God and being fully present to the needs of those around me?

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

Following a recruitment and discernment process, I am pleased to announce that Kimberley Logue has been appointed to the substantive position of Assistant Principal - Religious Education, Identity and Mission at St Francis Catholic College, Edmondson Park. Kimberley will commence at the beginning of Term 4, 2025. 

Kimberley brings a wealth of leadership experience to the role, including her current role as Religious Education Coordinator at St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park which she commenced in 2019. Prior to this, she worked at Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba, as Religious Education Coordinator (2014 - 2018), Acting Religious Education Coordinator (2013), as well as Assistant Religious Education Coordinator and Youth Ministry Coordinator (2011 - 2012). 

Kimberley’s qualifications include a Master of Theological Studies from the Australian Catholic University, a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education from the Australian Catholic University and a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney. Kimberley is an active member of the St Paul’s Parish in Camden.   

Please join me in congratulating Kimberley on her appointment to this position. 

Natasha O’Donoghue
Director – People and Culture

Primary

St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Camden
School Support Officer – Classroom (30 hours per fortnight)
Classroom Teacher (F.T.E. 0.5)

St John’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Dapto
School Support Officer – Administration/First Aid (52 hours per fortnight)

Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Parish Primary School, Rosemeadow
Indentured Casual Teacher (F.T.E. 0.6)

Secondary

Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan
Middle Leader (2pt) – Mathematics

St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
Religious Education Coordinator (Secondary)

John Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow
Science Teacher

Catholic Education Office

EAL/D Teacher – Holy Spirit College, Bellambi

CEDoW Step into Teaching Scholarship Program

“Teaching is a noble profession that shapes the character, calibre and future of an individual.”
— Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Applications are now open.

Schools are asked to share the following opportunities with students and include the information in parent/carer communications.

All Year 12 students are invited to apply for one of the following scholarships:

• Step into Teaching Scholarship Program

• Step into Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship Program

To learn more, students should speak with their TAPs Coordinator or visit the Catholic Education Office website here.

Applications close on Friday 19 September 2025 (Week 9). 

Brisk AI tool temporarily blocked across CEDoW

We understand that many staff are exploring Gen AI tools to enhance efficiency and to support their teaching practices, and we appreciate the dedication to finding innovative solutions. One solution being explored by teachers is BRISK Teaching.

It has come to our attention that the Brisk AI plugin has the capability to scrape, or automatically collect data from web pages you visit. This creates a risk that sensitive and confidential data could be inadvertently accessed, stored, or transmitted by the plugin to external servers overseas, outside of our system's secure environment.

This poses a serious breach of student privacy and our data security protocols. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all student data, and any tool that compromises this commitment cannot be used within our systems. 

In concert with CEnet, the ICLT team is conducting an investigation into the use of the BRISK plugin and completing a risk assessment as to whether it can be used safely within our network.

We have actioned an immediate block on the use of the Brisk AI until this in-depth investigation is completed.

We understand that this may be an inconvenience, and we sincerely apologise for any disruption this may cause; however, our priority is always the safety and privacy of our students' information.

If you have any questions, require assistance with uninstalling the plugin, or need clarification on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact help@dow.catholic.edu.au for support.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and for your continued commitment to maintaining a secure learning environment.

K-6 PDHPE Working Party Update

On 1 August 2025, members of the K-6 PDHPE working party met to continue their work in deepening their knowledge of the PDHPE (2024) syllabus and design units of work to support teachers in the implementation of the syllabus in 2026.

The day started with a presentation from Karan Taylor and Jean-Marie Morris, who shared valuable knowledge to support teachers in ensuring units of work continue to build all students' knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

Thank you to the working party for your time and commitment in creating these valuable resources for our teachers.

Expression of Interest: 2026 K–6 Creative Arts and HSIE Working Parties

The Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing (ILW) Learning K-12 team is seeking passionate and experienced leaders/teachers to contribute their knowledge and expertise toward supporting the implementation of the new NSW K-6 Creative Arts and HSIE syllabuses.

In 2026, dedicated working parties will be established for each learning area. These working parties will play a key role in developing curriculum support materials to assist all primary schools across the Wollongong Diocese in implementing the new NSW CHPS syllabuses.

Key details:

• Each working party will meet two to three times per term throughout 2026
• Release funding will be provided to enable participation during school hours
• An ongoing commitment is required for the full 2026 school year.

Participation in each working party provides the opportunity to:

• Engage in professional learning on the reformed K-6 CHPS syllabuses, including exploring interconnections between KLAs and applying the backward design model for planning and programming
• Collaboratively develop support materials to benefit leaders and teachers across our system of schools
• Work alongside knowledgeable others and build professional networks with colleagues from across the Diocese

If you are interested in joining this initiative, please register your interest by completing this form by 20 October 2025. Nominees must speak with their principal before registering their interest.

For more information, contact Trish Foster at fosterp02@dow.catholic.edu.au or Peta Idstein at wanstallp01@dow.catholic.edu.au. 

Sound Scouts – Hear for your future

Mild hearing loss can have a significant impact on learning.

A recent study published in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education highlights the often-overlooked issue of mild hearing loss in children. These subtle hearing losses are frequently not detected and don’t always show obvious behavioural or physical signs.

Importantly, the study found that even mild hearing loss can have significant impacts on language development, academic achievement, and social well-being. Children with mild hearing difficulties may hear well in quiet environments but struggle in classrooms filled with background noise.

For more information, contact Sandra Michielin, Wellbeing and Student Support (WSS) team at michielins01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Prime Minister's Spelling Bee 2025

The 2025 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee school round is underway, inviting young minds from across Australia to compete.

See the official flyer for the 2025 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee here.

Students can improve their spelling in a fun way—aiming for accuracy, beating the clock, and competing with peers nationwide. For teachers, it's a free resource that engages students and fosters a love of learning.

National champions will win a trip to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister, an iPad, and a $250 HarperCollins book pack. Their schools will each receive a $1000 voucher for books, technology, or other resources. Runners-up will receive a book pack and every participant will be awarded a certificate.

The Spelling Bee Resource Hub includes teaching resources, checklists, and practice tests to help students prepare.

When: Registration and the school round closes at 5 pm on Friday 22 August 2025.

Register: Free for all students in Years 3–8. Teachers can register eligible students at any time up to the final day.

To learn more and register, visit spelling-bee.com.au.

2025 Shakespeare Symposium

Campion College Australia’s Centre for the Study of Western Tradition (CSWT) invites you to the 2025 Shakespeare Symposium — a two-day conference on 5–6 September 2025 that brings together scholars from across Australia to explore the theme Shakespeare and Philosophy.

Whether you're new to Shakespeare or a long-time admirer, this symposium promises an engaging intellectual journey through his rich and layered works. Presenters will share original interpretations and lead discussions on the philosophical, historical, political and theological dimensions of Shakespeare’s writing.

Dates: 5–6 September 2025
Venue: Campion College, 8–14 Austin Woodbury Place, Toongabbie NSW 2146
Registration: Two-day ticket: $90 | One-day ticket: $55 | Student concessions available

To learn more or register, visit the 2025 Shakespeare Symposium event page.

Join Dr Karl – Curious Minds, Get Ready for National Science Week 

Curious minds, get ready! This National Science Week 2025, your students have the chance to explore the mysteries of the Universe with one of Australia’s most iconic science communicators, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

Join us for a live and interactive webinar as Dr Karl dives into this year’s theme: “Decoding the universe: Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.”

From quantum science to mathematics and the wonders of the cosmos, no question is too big or too small. Students will have the opportunity to ask their questions and engage directly with Dr Karl and the STEM and Science curriculum teams.

Date: Tuesday 12 August 2025 (Term 3 Week 4)
Time: 2:00 – 2:45 pm
Platform: Zoom Webinar
Cost: Free

How to get involved:

1. Register your class
2. Submit a question: Email: stem@det.nsw.edu.au, or ask live using the Q&A function during the event

This event is perfect for sparking curiosity and connecting classroom learning with real-world science.

Don’t miss this stellar opportunity — spaces are limited!

Arludo Science Challenges

From 9–17 August 2025, we’re launching nine brand new Arludo Science Challenges – one for every day of National Science Week!

Each day unlocks:

• An Arludo science game
• Two quick, interactive lessons
• A real digital experiment where students collect and analyse data

We’re also featuring videos and blogs from real Australian scientists to help students connect classroom science to real-world careers.
Perfect for years 3–6, these challenges are fun, free, and take less than 10 minutes a day. Stay tuned, we'll be releasing more details at the end of the week.

Stay curious, visit https://arludo.com/ for more information.

Tickets now available: Council of Catholic School Parents Conference 

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) Parents and Carers’ Conference, taking place on Saturday 25 October 2025.

This year marks 30 years of CCSP’s support and advocacy for families in Catholic education, and the 20th anniversary of its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee.

The conference theme is Supporting Families: Working Together in a Modern World.

For just $30 per person, attendees will hear from leading Australian experts on raising young people in today’s complex world.

Keynote speakers include:

• Dr Justin Coulson – one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. He is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9’s Parental Guidance, and the founder of happyfamilies.com.au.

• Michelle Mitchell – author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens.

• Daniel Principe – passionate youth advocate and educator. Through his work, Daniel encourages young people to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards bodies, relationships, and sex.

See the flyer here.

For more information, visit the CCSP conference website or contact Mark Rix at rixm02@dow.catholic.edu.au or 0461 544 105.

CEDoW Library – Resource of the Week

ACEN eBook 

This week’s Sora eBook edition is Wide Range Reads.

Use the link here to explore the eBook titles for primary, secondary, and staff through the Australian Catholic Education Network (ACEN). To sign in to Sora, select "ACEN" as your school.

ClickView Highlight

This week’s ClickView highlight is Reading and Read-aloud stories. You can view it here.

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

Repeated Updates

Expression of Interest: Development of K–10 English and Mathematics Assessment Support Materials

NESA invites K–10 English and Mathematics teachers to participate in a project developing assessment support materials aligned with the new syllabuses.

NESA is working with the University of Sydney’s Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment (CEMA) on this project. This is an accredited professional learning opportunity for teachers to develop deep knowledge and understanding of the new syllabuses and to contribute to the building of common assessment resources for schools and teachers.

As part of this project, NESA and CEMA will engage with participants through a variety of activities, beginning in Term 3 of 2025 and continuing through Term 2 of 2026. Activities will take place from Term 3 2025 to Term 2 2026, ranging from half a day to six days (commitment to the entire timeline is not required).

To register your interest, please complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form here by COB on Friday 8 August 2025. You will be notified of the outcome of your EOI and given more details about your participation by Wednesday 20 August 2025.

At a glance:

• Who: K–10 English and Mathematics teachers with an interest in assessment
• What: Collaborate with NESA and CEMA on the development of assessment support materials
• When: Different activities from Term 3 2025 to Term 2 2026, ranging from half a day to six days (commitment to entire timeline not necessary)

All teachers, including those from regional and remote schools, are encouraged to submit their EOI for the development of K–10 English and Mathematics assessment support materials project.

We are planning a blended delivery of the workshops to facilitate the involvement of regional/remote teachers online. Some teachers will also be involved in a couple of hours of more ad hoc collaboration with CEMA across Terms 4 and 1, which will also be done online. We look forward to providing more details once participants have been selected.

Thank you for your time and interest in this important work. If you have any questions about this project, contact Project Lead, Ellen O’Connor at: k-10assessmentproject@nesa.nsw.edu.au.

NESA: K–6 Sample Whole-School Plan

On 25 July 2025, NESA released K–6 sample whole school curriculum plans for Creative Arts, HSIE, PDHPE, and Science and Technology.

This release includes three key resources:

• Video explainer – provides an overview of the curriculum planning approach
• Sample whole school plan – illustrates how curriculum content can be mapped across terms and stages
• Sample multistage focus whole school plan – demonstrates how schools can align learning across stages

These resources are designed to support schools in planning for curriculum implementation and can be accessed here: Teaching resources | Syllabus support | NSW Curriculum | NSW Education Standards Authority.

Catholic Business Connections | September Luncheon 

Tuesday 23 September 2025 | 11:45am – 2:00pm | Rydges Campbelltown

Join us for a special CBC luncheon as we explore “The Power of Intergenerational Learning” with two inspiring speakers: Jane Hollier and David Gearin.

Jane and David bring extensive experience in Catholic education, community engagement, and social justice. United by a passion for connecting generations, they lead the award-winning Cross+Gen digital literacy initiative—an uplifting program that brings students and seniors together to foster mutual respect, shared wisdom, and meaningful connection.

Whether you're involved in parish life, education, or the business sector, this event will inspire you through the shared mission of CatholicCare and Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong—to be Bearers of Christ’s Love in every part of our community.

RSVP by Monday 15 September 2025. Book now.

Invitation: Men's Retreat

An opportunity for men to gather together to reflect on life and make sense through faith.

Location: A walking trail within the Diocese.

Date: Monday 17 November 2025 (Term 4, Week 6).

Faith Walks – see the flyer here.

Invitation: A Day of Quiet and Contemplation – Listening to Life

The Staff Spiritual Formation team is pleased to announce an upcoming personal formation opportunity available to all staff within our system. The day, titled “Listening to Life,” is a Day of Quiet and Contemplation designed to offer staff a chance to pause, refuel and replenish the Spirit.

This one-day retreat will take place on Wednesday 26 November 2025 (Week 7, Term 4) in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong. The program includes opportunities for reflection, prayer, conversation and silence, with a special emphasis on the practice of Christian Meditation.

All meals and facilitation for the day will be covered by the CEO, however, please note that release funding is not available. Due to the nature of this retreat, spaces are limited. Interested staff are encouraged to seek approval from their Principal, Assistant Director or Team Leader before registering on LMS. Registration closes on Friday 7 November 2025.

See the flyer here.

Who Am I? Scriptural Foundations for Our Search for Meaning and Purpose

Date: 19 September 2025
Venue: The Emmaus Centre, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown

Are you a Secondary RE teacher, Pastoral Care, or Wellbeing leader seeking to deepen your understanding of meaning and purpose within a scriptural framework?

This professional learning day, Who Am I? Scriptural Foundations for Our Search for Meaning and Purpose is designed specifically for you.

We'll explore how foundational scriptures can empower you to:

• Enrich your Religious Education curriculum: Discover new ways to connect biblical narratives with students' personal journeys of self-discovery.
  
  
• Enhance pastoral care and wellbeing initiatives: Equip yourself with scripturally-grounded insights to guide students through life's big questions.
  
  
• Foster a deeper sense of identity and belonging in your students: Learn how to help students explore their unique purpose through the lens of faith.

Join us for a day of insightful discussion, practical strategies, and renewed inspiration as we collectively explore the profound question, "Who am I?" and its scriptural answers.

Click here to register.

Expression of Interest: Reconnect SPOT

Improvement, Learning and Wellbeing (ILW) Learning K–12 is pleased to share details about an upcoming professional learning opportunity for Kindergarten teachers who completed the KinderSPOT training in 2023–2024 and are currently teaching Kindergarten.

Reconnect SPOT is a one-day, optional professional learning session designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of key executive functioning and self-regulation skills—such as working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. These foundational skills are critical for the early development of both cognitive and social capacities in young children, as supported by current research.

This session will be co-facilitated by an occupational therapist and a speech pathologist. Drawing on evidence-based research, they will support teachers to recognise common student behaviours that reflect executive functioning development within the Kindergarten classroom. Educators will also be provided with practical strategies and classroom-ready resources to support and enhance student growth in these essential areas.

If you are interested in attending, please first seek approval from your principal, then complete the Google Form below to register your expression of interest: Expression of Interest Form. Please submit your response by 8 August 2025. 

If there is sufficient interest, the course will proceed, and the ILW – Learning team will coordinate registrations for participants through LMS.

Date: Thursday 28 August 2025, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Venue: Emmaus Centre, Building B, Level 3, Hyde Parade, Campbelltown
Funding Code: F02

For further information, contact Joanne Treffone at treffonej01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

Blended Online Learning – Semester 2

How can Blended Online Learning be used as a response to NCCD Data?

If you are interested in a BESPOKE course in Term 3 or 4 (delivered on-site at a time that works for you), please email wssadmin@dow.catholic.edu.au. You may also like to consider partnering with neighbouring schools that have similar interests or needs.

All courses can be offered as BESPOKE courses with a minimum participant cohort of eight.

Upcoming courses in Term 3 – Flyer link here.

Enrolment in only one course at a time.
See flyer for registration links.

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