Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is proud to launch the Director’s Art Gallery 2018, showcasing a selection of exceptional artworks produced by secondary students from Years 8 to 12.

On Friday 22 June, the community of St Thomas More, Ruse gathered at their parish church for a Mass to honour the feast day of their patron saint and to celebrate the school’s significant 40th anniversary. A much anticipated event, shared with students, staff, families (past and present) and parishioners, giving thanks for the last 40 years.

If you want the most accurate, up-to-date research and information around alcohol and others drugs, Paul Dillon is your man. Holy Spirit College, Bellambi and St Joseph’s, Albion Park were fortunate to host the founder and director of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA) this week as he worked with local students, parents and staff on a wide range of alcohol and other drug issues among young people.

Chloe Brown, from St Joseph’s, Albion Park, is preparing to take a once in a lifetime pilgrimage as one of 20 Year 10 and 11 students from across NSW to win a Premier's Anzac Memorial Scholarship that will see her touring the battlefields of the Western Front in Europe. 

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” - Matthew 18:20

Thousands of Year 12 students from fourteen of our systemic and congregational Catholic secondary schools across the Diocese have gathered together in this Year of Youth to share their thoughts and ideas, and get to know our newly-ordained Bishop Brian Mascord.

Today, 13 June 2018 is School Support Staff Day.

Along with our Bishop, I join with you in acknowledging the significant contributions of school support staff, each and every day across all our school communities.

If you can, please take time to thank them personally for their commitment and dedication in making our diocesan Catholic schools great, for every student, so that they can learn, grow and achieve in a safe and supportive environment.

From Helensburgh to Moss Vale, Unanderra to Ingleburn, our CEDoW schools have celebrated World Environment Day, encouraging awareness and positive action to protect our environment. Students have embraced this year’s theme, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ in many effective and creative ways - a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time.

Bishop Brian Mascord, Director of Schools, Peter Turner, several senior CEO staff and other local dignitaries have joined the Mary Immaculate, Eagle Vale school community for the official opening and blessing of their new learning space. Comprising six classrooms, a large general learning area, several small breakout rooms and an outdoor learning area and garden, this new facility caters for twenty-first century learning and teaching in a growing school. 

Congratulations to Holy Spirit College, Bellambi student, Mark Mancini, who has won an individual SILVER medal in Electrotechnology at the WorldSkills VETiS National Championships 2018 in Sydney over the weekend.

Each year National Reconciliation Week builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. It is a time for our CEDoW school communities to honour and learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can join the reconciliation journey.

One teaches one of the only Electrotechnology Certificate II Career Start courses available in our Diocese. The other is one of his students, excelling against those across Sydney to rise in the competition ranks. Now, both Marks from Holy Spirit College, Bellambi - Mr Hamlet and Mr Mancini - are off to the WorldSkills VETiS National Championships 2018 to battle it out with the best of the best in electrotechnology.

The school community of Holy Family, Ingleburn has gathered to celebrate the official opening of its new parish school hall. Joining them were many distinguished guests including Director of Schools, Peter Turner and Bishop Brian Mascord, who blessed the new facilities and unveiled a plaque commemorating the occasion - the first under his leadership of the Diocese.

National Sorry Day falls this year on Saturday 26 May and is a day when we pause to remember the Stolen Generations of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  It leads us into the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and National Reconciliation Week, which is held each year between 27 May and 3 June. 

The Stella Maris, Shellharbour school community is celebrating their 60th Anniversary with week-long plans, including the involvement of past and present students, staff, parents, and invited special guests.

“Full STEAM Ahead”, the catchy theme of the 2018 Mathematical Association of NSW (MANSW) Wollongong Cluster Biannual Conference, was held on Saturday 19 May at the University of Wollongong with over 100 educators in attendance.

Students from Ss Peter and Paul Kiama have proven themselves worthy competitors in their first year at the Australian Aeronautical Velocity Challenge (AAVC) - a competition designed to encourage STEM skills across all year levels and education sectors, by building rockets, planes and drones to complete various challenges.

For Nicole Van Ingen and her family, homelessness has a face and it’s personal. That face is the birth mother of their adopted son David, who has had to call the streets home for much of the last 10 years.

National Families Week is held from 15-21 May 2018 (coinciding with the United Nations International Day of Families on 15 May).