Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta students had the opportunity to shine when the Captivate performing and creative arts program recently hosted its 10th Anniversary Showcase at Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park
The show combined a spectacular musical ensemble of 165 students, backed up by the 1000-student primary choir and 190-student secondary choir singing songs such as One Dream, Come Back to the Sea, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning and River Run Free.
This was complemented by a dance ensemble of 382 dancers who kept audiences enraptured. There was also a secondary drama ensemble of 90 students and a student ‘spoken word choir’ comprising 80 students from four primary schools.One of the highlights of the performance was the use of puppetry and props to reflect the showcase’s storyline. The impact of the puppets was dramatic, guiding the audience through show’s theme of ‘creativity’: from the igniting of the creative spark, through to creative play, creative block, creative flow, and finally creative genius. The show’s finale was a stunning performance of Rihanna’s Diamonds in the Sky.
Captivate director Mark Hopkins said that for many students involved, it was their first major public performance.
“Others were consolidating many years of practice, rehearsal and performing, honing their skills for HSC practical examinations in the coming weeks or auditions for specialist post school arts study pathways in the coming months.
“Captivate is the program by which all students, regardless of prior experience or the location of their school, can access specialist learning in the arts.
“With a constant stream of research documenting evidence of the cognitive and social benefits of arts participation and learning, it is vital that such learning is part of each child’s education.”
St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong acting Principal Kim McDonald described the show as a rewarding experience for all those involved.
“Students have been rehearsing since February, both during recess and lunch breaks and also at formal off-site rehearsals with other students in the Diocese as well as during the school holidays,’’ Mrs McDonald said.
“This level of collaboration and creativity has provided opportunities for students to express themselves in a unique way. We are so proud of the students and thank them for their commitment, enthusiasm and persistence over such a long period of time.”
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π STUDENT SUCCESS! π We would like to congratulate Malakai on his fantastic performance at the 2026 MacKillop Athletics Carnival! π Malakai competed in the Shot Put, finishing 6th with an outstanding new Personal Best of 10.12m! πͺ We are so proud of the effort, determination and sportsmanship you showed, Malakai. What a fantastic achievement! π Great work, Malakai! We are so proud of you!25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Thank you for a wonderful Term 3 at St Nicholas of Myra! Working together as a school community helps our students grow in faith, learning and understanding, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support throughout the term. A very special thank you for your generous support of our 2026 Learn a thon. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our school community, and the students thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic day of learning, creativity and fun. You are warmly invited to join us on Tuesday 13th October at 9:00am for our Learn a thon Prize Raffle and the announcement of the winning stage. We look forward to celebrating the incredible efforts of our students and families. To celebrate the end of another busy and memorable term, please enjoy this short poem highlighting some of the wonderful events, activities and achievements that have taken place across Term 3. We wish all our students and families a safe, happy and restful holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term!
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25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π STUDENT SUCCESS! π We would like to congratulate Malakai on his fantastic performance at the 2026 MacKillop Athletics Carnival! π Malakai competed in the Shot Put, finishing 6th with an outstanding new Personal Best of 10.12m! πͺ We are so proud of the effort, determination and sportsmanship you showed, Malakai. What a fantastic achievement! π Great work, Malakai! We are so proud of you!
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Thank you for a wonderful Term 3 at St Nicholas of Myra! Working together as a school community helps our students grow in faith, learning and understanding, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support throughout the term. A very special thank you for your generous support of our 2026 Learn a thon. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our school community, and the students thoroughly enjoyed a fantastic day of learning, creativity and fun. You are warmly invited to join us on Tuesday 13th October at 9:00am for our Learn a thon Prize Raffle and the announcement of the winning stage. We look forward to celebrating the incredible efforts of our students and families. To celebrate the end of another busy and memorable term, please enjoy this short poem highlighting some of the wonderful events, activities and achievements that have taken place across Term 3. We wish all our students and families a safe, happy and restful holiday break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another exciting term!
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π STUDENT SUCCESS! π We would like to congratulate Liam on his outstanding performance at the 2026 MacKillop Athletics Carnival! π Liam produced an incredible set of results: π₯ 1st β Shot Put π₯ 1st β Discus π 4th β 100m π 4th β 200m These outstanding performances earned Liam the title of 2026 MacKillop Senior Boys Champion! ππ What an amazing achievement, Liam! Your hard work, dedication and determination have truly paid off. Next up is the PSSA Athletics Championships, where Liam will compete against some of the best young athletes from across New South Wales. πββοΈπͺ We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you all the very best as you take on the next challenge! Go Liam! The St Nicholas community is behind you!
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
ππβ½ JERSEY DAY AT ST NICHOLAS! πππ Panthers, Eels, Tigers, Sharks and Bears, Swans, Roosters, Giants, Souths and Dolphins, jerseys everywhere! Blues, All Blacks, QLD and Australia too, Lakers, Raptors, Warriors, what a crew! Real Madrid, Chiefs, Crusaders and Knights, Redbacks, Swifts and Gorillas in sight! From Penrith RSL to Glenmore Park, St Nicholas is shining, what a mark! So many teams, one school today Weβre proud to celebrate Jersey Day! π What a great way to end Term 3 ! Best of luck to all our teams competing in the finals this weekend! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π¨ JUST AN HOUR TO GO! π¨ The countdown is ON! β° If you haven't donated yet, there is still time to support our school community and help make the 2026 St Nicholas of Myra Learn a thon an even bigger success! π π STAGE 1 ARE CURRENTLY IN FRONT! π But with just over an hour to go, anything can happen! π Who will take out the Learn-a-thon Stage Challenge and win their Term 4 Pizza Party or Movie Afternoon? ππ¬ π Donations close at 12:00pm TODAY β Friday 25th September. π Ask your family. Ask your friends. Support St Nicholas! Thank you for helping us make learning an experience our students will remember! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
2027 CSPD Primary Sport TEAM Registration Form (Expression of Interest) - Sport Trials (Basketball, Cricket & Tennis) - Session 1 (November 2026) AFL (Boys & Girls -trials in early 2027) Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominations are now open for students wishing to trial for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Primary Sport Teams. Parents and guardians are invited to complete this Expression of Interest (EOI) form for their child to be considered for selection trials. Please note: Submitting an EOI does not guarantee attendance at a trial. All nominations are subject to school approval. 1. Sports Currently Open for Nominations The following sports are accepting nominations for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Teams. Cricket β Boys & Girls (closing date 26 October 2026) Basketball β Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) Tennis β Boys & Girls (closing date 5 November 2026) AFL β Boys & Girls (closing date 28th January 2027) Cricket, Basketball and Tennis trials will be held in November 2026. AFL trials will take place in early February 2027. 2. Upcoming Nominations β Term 1 and Term 2 Trials Nominations for the following sports will open on 23 November 2026 and close on Friday, 5 February 2027. Trials will be held during Term 1 and Term 2 of 2027. Hockey Football Netball Rugby League Rugby Union Softball Touch Football 3. Student Eligibility and Selection Criteria Students nominated for diocesan trials must demonstrate an above-average to high level of skill in their chosen sport. Students should have experience playing in regular competitions outside of school. For some sports, representative playing experience may also be required. Year Level Eligibility Students must generally be in Year 5 or Year 6 in 2027 to be eligible for nomination. Students entering Year 4 in 2027 who demonstrate exceptional skill and ability may also be nominated. This is open age and will compete against Year 5 & 6 students for the following sports: Hockey Softball Tennis Touch Football All nominations must meet the eligibility and selection criteria for the relevant sport. 4. School Approval and Trial Selection All Expressions of Interest are subject to approval by the student's school principal and sports coordinator. Each sport has specific eligibility and selection criteria that schools must follow when considering nominations. Submitting an EOI does not automatically qualify a student to attend a diocesan trial. Schools have final discretion over which students are approved to attend. Students selected by their school will receive the relevant Parramatta Diocesan Team trial information directly from their school. 5. How to Submit an Expression of Interest Parents and guardians may complete this form on behalf of their child. A separate EOI form must be submitted for each child and each sport. Once all required information has been completed, click SUBMIT to register your child's Expression of Interest. https://forms.gle/22MBb12d7cZgeTzo8 6. Additional Team Sports (MacKillop level only) β CSNSW Sport Portal Nominations for the following sports will open in early 2027 and must be completed through the CSNSW Sport Portal: Diving Golf Netball β Boys Rugby 7s β Girls These sports are not included in this EOI form. 7. Further Information For further information about eligibility, nomination requirements or selection trials, please contact your school's sports coordinator. Important reminder: This registration is an Expression of Interest only. Participation in Parramatta Diocesan Team trials is subject to school approval.
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π§ββοΈπΏ LEARN A THON | MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION πΏπ§ββοΈ Sometimes, learning means slowing down, taking a breath and giving our minds a little rest! πβ¨ As part of our Learn a thon, St Nicholas of Myra students have been exploring mindfulness and meditation, learning simple breathing, relaxation and focus strategies to help them feel calm, confident and ready to learn. πΏπ From taking slow, mindful breaths to practising ways to focus our attention, our students are discovering that even a small mindful moment can make a big difference! π«Ά π§ Calm our minds π¨ Breathe and relax π― Improve our focus πͺ Build resilience β€οΈ Support positive wellbeing These are skills our students can use at school, at home and wherever life takes them! Weβre slowing down, breathing deeply and growing stronger together, all while having fun and supporting our school through the 2026 Learn a thon! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
ππ LEARN A THON | SCIENCE: BALLOON ROCKETS! ππ Things were zooming around St Nickβs today! π¨π Our budding scientists investigated Newtonβs Third Law of Motion by designing, building and testing their very own balloon rockets! ππ The challenge? Make it fly! π Students worked together to test their ideas, make changes, solve problems and see what happened when they released their balloons. Along the way, they were practising some very important skills: π¬ Investigating π€ Teamwork π§ Problem-solving π§ͺ Testing and experimenting π‘ Drawing conclusions There were plenty of βWOW!β moments, unexpected launches and lots of learning along the way! ππ€£ Who knew a little bit of air could create so much excitement? ππ¨ Our St Nicholas of Myra scientists are learning that in science, sometimes you have to test, try, change and try again! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
βΎβοΈ LEARN A THON | PHYSICAL EDUCATION! βοΈβΎ Kicking, running, teamwork and plenty of fun in the sun! ππββοΈπββοΈ Our St Nicholas of Myra students have been rounding the bases and showing off their teamwork in an exciting game of kicking and fielding! βΎπ₯ With one team kicking and the other fielding, students worked together to kick the ball, race around the four bases and score as many runs as possible! πββοΈπ¨ Meanwhile, our fielding teams had to communicate, move quickly and work together to get the ball back to home before the runner made it around the diamond. πβΎ π― Kick it! π Run it! π€ Team up! π Have fun! There were plenty of big kicks, fast feet, close races and huge smiles as our students made the most of a beautiful day outdoors! βοΈπ Fun in the sun + teamwork + learning = another fantastic Learn a thon experience! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π€π» LEARN A THON | CODING & ROBOTS! π»π€ Things got ROBOTICALLY AWESOME at St Nicholas of Myra! ππ€ Our students put their coding skills to the test with Bee-Bots and Spheros, taking on challenges that required plenty of thinking, teamwork and problem-solving! π§ β‘ π Bee-Bot Challenge: Students programmed their Bee-Bots to navigate their way through a map, carefully planning each command: β¬οΈ Forward β¬ οΈ Turn Left β‘οΈ Turn Right π Keep Going! β½π€ Sphero Challenge: Students became robotic maze masters, coding their Spheros through a tricky maze without hitting the walls! There was plenty of βWaitβ¦ why did the robot go THAT way?β π followed by lots of debugging, adjusting and trying again! Our young coders discovered that being a great programmer means planning your commands, testing your code, finding mistakes and having another go! π‘π» Code it. Test it. Debug it. Try again. π€π What a fantastic way to learn through coding, creativity and a whole lot of robot fun! π
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π©βπ³π¨βπ³π LEARN A THON | FOOD TECHNOLOGY! ππ¨βπ³π©βπ³ Calling all junior chefs! π©βπ³β¨ Our St Nicholas of Myra students have been busy in the kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into fun, creative and delicious edible creations! π΄π With their chef hats on and imaginations switched on, our students have been: π§Ό Practising good food hygiene π Following instructions and recipes βοΈ Measuring ingredients π¨ Getting creative with decorating π€ Working together like a team π And, of courseβ¦ enjoying the delicious results! From mixing and measuring to decorating and devouring, our junior chefs have been learning that food technology is about much more than just making something yummy! π§ππ₯ There were plenty of smiles, creativity and happy taste-testers along the way! ππ Create it. Decorate it. Taste it! π©βπ³π Another delicious Learn a thon experience at St Nicholas of Myra! β€οΈ
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π¨π LEARN A THON | CREATIVE ARTS! πβοΈ Today our St Nickβs artists have been busy cutting, sticking, designing and creating! π¨β¨ Using bright and colourful paper shapes, our students designed their very own one-of-a-kind collage house. π‘π Some were colourful, some were quirky, some were creative and every single one was special! But thereβs a bigger pictureβ¦ ππ¨ Each house has become part of a whole school collaborative artwork called βOur Home at St Nickβsβ! π β€οΈ Just like our school community, every house is different, but when we put them all together, they create something amazing! π₯° Big imaginations + creative hands + teamwork + lots of fun = ART MAGIC! β¨π¨
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π¨ LEARN A THON DONATIONS β LAST CHANCE! π¨ A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to the 2026 St Nicholas of Myra Learn a- hon! β€οΈπ Our students are having the BEST DAY EVER! π They have been busy travelling around the school, taking on challenges and discovering new ways to learn. So far, students have enjoyed: π¨ Creative Arts β½ Sport π©βπ³ Food Technology π» Coding π¬ Science Experiments π§ Guided Meditation & Wellbeing There has been so much learning, creativity, teamwork, curiosity and fun happening across our school today! πβ¨ β° JUST 24 HOURS TO GO! If you haven't donated yet, there is still time to support our school community and help make our 2026 Learn a thon a huge success! π Donations close at 12:00pm on Friday 25 September.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
π The Learn a thon is underway π The St Nicholas of Myra Learn a thon is underway! Students came as all sorts of wonderful learners with many Scientists π§βπ¬, Doctors π₯Ό, Teachers π©βπ«, Sports Stars π€© and many, many more! First rotations are underway. We look forward to welcoming parents at 2:30pm. Letβs get learning πππ¨π