All Staff Edition, Week 4, Term 3, 2025
Looking to the Stars: The Assumption and Our Hope
As you look up at a clear night sky, what do those twinkling stars say to you? In many cultures, stories are told of our ancestors resting in the stars and looking down on us. These ancient tales echo a profound truth that resonates deeply within our Christian faith: life does not end when we die, and love goes on and on.
On 15 August 2025, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a special ancestor of our faith. Mary was chosen not only to be the mother of Jesus but also a mother for all of us. This feast reminds us of her unique destiny and her continued care for us. The Church teaches that when her earthly life was completed, she was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. This means that, unlike other human beings for whom the resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the world, Mary's body was glorified by a special privilege.
This truth, solemnly defined as a dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950, was not a new invention but a reaffirmation of a long-held belief within the Church. It was proclaimed after extensive consultation with bishops and the People of God, reflecting a truth almost universally accepted and professed by the Christian community. The belief in Mary's glorious raising, body and soul, spread rapidly from East to West, with liturgical feasts of the Dormition and Assumption of Mary being instituted. The Eastern rites beautifully refer to it as the "Dormition" or "Falling Asleep" of the Mother of God.
The definition of this dogma in 1950, following the immense human suffering of two world wars and the horrors of concentration camps, served as a powerful message. It was a response to reaffirm the dignity of the human body and to rekindle faith in the resurrection of the body. This feast affirms that our human bodies, and indeed the entire world and cosmos, are not mere shells but are created in God's image and likeness. The Church, in celebrating Mary's Assumption, wanted to speak not only about the body of Mary but about the dignity of every human being's bodily presence and history, and the ultimate glorification of all creation.
In our own time, as we witness the profound suffering in places like Gaza and Ukraine, where human bodies are broken and lives are shattered by conflict, and as we confront the groaning of creation under environmental strain, the Feast of the Assumption takes on renewed significance. Just as Pius XII's definition offered a beacon of hope amidst the devastation of his era, Mary's bodily assumption into heaven today reaffirms the sacred dignity of every human person, even those enduring unimaginable hardship. It reminds us that despite the violence and destruction, God's ultimate plan is for the glorification of humanity and the renewal of all creation. It is a powerful sign that love and life, in their fullness, will ultimately triumph over death and decay, calling us to be instruments of peace, justice, and care for our common home.
Mary's Assumption is a "sign of sure hope and consolation" for us. When we look up at the stars, let us see in them the sign of God’s future of hope, a promise of our own future resurrected life, and the ultimate destiny of all creation in God's glory.
Primary
St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Albion Park
Middle Leader (2pt)
Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish Primary School, Eagle Vale
Indentured Casual Teacher
Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Parish Primary School, Rosemeadow
Acting Middle Leader (2pt)
Secondary
Holy Spirit College, Bellambi
Transition and Pathways Specialist Teacher (TAPS) (F.T.E. 0.7)
Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan
English Teacher (Stages 4-6)
HSIE/English Teacher (Re-Advertised)
Magdalene Catholic College Wins Australian Space Design Competition
For students at Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan, the sky is (not!) the limit.
New Holy Spirit College Facilities Earn LDJ Group Top Building Award
The recent construction project at Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, has earned LDJ Group Builders the Master Builders Association (MBA) Southern Regions Excellence in Building Award.
The $12.5m project delivered six classrooms, a senior learning space, a resource centre, and staff facilities. The award was announced at the MBA Gala Awards Night on Saturday 26 July, at the University Hall in Wollongong.
The Southern Regions Excellence in Building Awards recognise craftsmanship and building excellence across the Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven, and Snowy Mountains regions. LDJ Group received the “Winner Public Buildings” award — the only non-residential project recognised, covering all public buildings, including government and council facilities, public works, and schools.
Chris Agnew, Principal of Holy Spirit College, praised the LDJ team’s professionalism and the quality of the finished facilities. “The LDJ team were extremely professional throughout the project, and the Holy Spirit College community are very pleased with the quality of the finished facilities and the improved learning and wellbeing outcomes for both students and staff.”
For the LDJ Group, the award is the result of significant teamwork and dedication from LDJ, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW), Holy Spirit College staff, and consultants.
“Working with CEDoW was amazing. Firstly, we were shown a huge amount of faith in being able to deliver such a project,” said Craig Parsons, LDJ Group Managing Director. “There was no ‘us and them.’
“We all worked together as a team to achieve this result, and even more beneficial was being able to work with staff at CEDoW who have a great knowledge of building. This enabled us to collaborate to ensure all aspects of the build were of the highest level.”
Franc Spinelli, CEDoW Manager, Infrastructure Program, said the construction and renovation at Holy Spirit College has been both a physical and spiritual journey. “The most recent project delivered new quality learning spaces, a high-tech and highly functional student library and resource centre, and staff facilities that support wellbeing and collaboration. This new environment enables the school community to continue to teach and learn with enthusiasm and hope for the future.”
CEDoW will continue to lead an innovative approach to learning delivery by providing contemporary and inspiring facilities, ensuring sustainable funding sources grounded in our Catholic identity, to ensure our Catholic schools continue to thrive.
LDJ Group will enter the Holy Spirit College project in the 2026 MBA Excellence in State Awards, and if successful, in the National Awards. We wish them all the best with their application.
Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize
You can now submit an expression of interest form if you know of an HSC student who is achieving academic excellence despite hardship. The new nomination process means you can start the nomination before the end of the year and complete it in the new year, with the extended deadline of 28 February 2026 allowing schools more time to finalise nominations following HSC results. The Brother John Taylor Memorial Prize recognises an HSC student or students who have overcome significant hardship to achieve academic excellence, and you can find out more about the Prize, guidelines, past recipients and donors, and nominate a student here.
Courage to Continue Overnight Retreat
The Courage to Continue Retreat is a spiritual formation opportunity for staff who have previously completed the Courage to Be Retreat. Held in the beautiful grounds of The Hermitage in Mittagong, this overnight retreat will take place on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 September 2025 (Term 3, Week 9).
This retreat invites participants to revisit and deepen their understanding of what it means to live courageously. Together, we will explore themes such as the courage to connect, to feel wholeheartedly, to listen to the stirrings of the Spirit, and to find and use our voice. These reflections aim to support and inspire us in turning up to life with renewed hope and courage.
Throughout our time together, we will draw on a variety of processes including input, gentle discussion, personal reflection, prayer and Christian Meditation. There will also be time to reconnect with others who began this journey with you and to feel God’s loving presence and support.
You are warmly invited to take part in this meaningful experience. Day One will be funded by the CEO (C15), and Day Two is to be funded by schools. Please register through LMS by Friday 29 August 2025. Prior approval from your principal, assistant director or team leader is required before registering. Due to the nature of this retreat numbers are limited so please register as soon as possible.
View 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 Religious Education teacher, or a 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 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 explore together the profound question, "Who am I?" and its scriptural answers.
Click here to register.
Blended Online Learning – Semester 2
Audience: All staff
How can Blended Online Learning be used as a response to PB4L data?
If you are interested in a bespoke course, delivered on-site at a time that suits you, please email wssadmin@dow.catholic.edu.au. You might also 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.
- Supporting Student Wellbeing and Mental Health [F2F]
Parent courses
Parent courses are also available and can be offered to all staff and families seeking information or support around understanding ADHD and Autism via the OLT website.
Short courses are self-paced (approximately 2 hours) and include:
- The Needs of Students with EAL/D
- Culturally Inclusive Teaching and Learning
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- Learning Theory
- Working in Partnership with Parents
Enrolment in only one course at a time.
See the flyer above for registration links.
Explore Generative AI
Join the Catholic Learning Online team to explore Generative AI. With the rapid development of AI, you may be feeling overwhelmed. These two sessions aim to develop your understanding of AI and its impact in the classroom.
Generative AI Basics
28 August 2025 | 3:30 pm
Get up to speed on the Generative AI explosion. Discover what AI is, how it has developed, its implications, and explore positive integration into teaching and learning. By the end of this session, you'll be able to define Generative AI, identify key historical developments, and articulate its potential positive applications in education.
Advancing your AI Success
4 September 2025 | 3:30 pm
Take your understanding beyond the basics. This session delves into effective prompt creation, Agent/Gem creation, and shares current tools for classroom use. You'll learn to create effective AI prompts, understand Agent/Gem concepts, and identify practical Generative AI tools and their applications in the classroom.
Click here to register.
Connect and Collaborate: Primary Programming Workshops for Teachers
Are you a primary teacher looking for an excellent opportunity to network and collaborate with colleagues from other CEDoW schools?
The CEDoW Learning K–12 team is excited to offer a series of voluntary programming workshops designed specifically for you! Imagine working alongside fellow educators to plan and refine your English and Mathematics units, sharing your best ideas, practices, pedagogy, and quality resources from across the Diocese.
Workshop Options
We've designed flexible scheduling to suit your availability, with workshops held across various dates and venues during the second half of Term 3 and throughout the September pupil vacation period.
You can choose from:
- Afternoon Workshops: Four 1.5-hour, one-off sessions available in:
- Macarthur
- Southern Highlands
- Wollongong
- Far South Coast
- Full-Day Workshop Session: Two sessions, delivered over two separate weeks (one day per week) during the September pupil vacation period.
Don't miss this chance to connect, create, and experience the power of shared expertise!
Complete the Google Form here to register your interest.
We’d love your feedback on Gateway News.
If you have suggestions or thoughts to share, let us know.
This newsletter (including any attachments) is for the intended recipient's use only. It contains information that may be confidential and/or protected by copyright. Any personal information in this newsletter must be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If you have received this newsletter by mistake, please notify us as soon as possible and permanently delete the newsletter. Any confidentiality is not waived or lost because this newsletter has been sent to you by mistake.