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CSPD Communications
communications@parra.catholic.edu.au
Ph: 02 9840 5600
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Jack De Groot
Chief Executive Officer
School principals and office staff as appropriate. We have experts in areas such as Wellbeing, Learning, Religious Education and Indigenous Education.
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Latest Catholic Education News See more
29 Aug 2026
From CSPD Facebook
📚 CRACKING THE READING CODE! 🔐 How do you teach a child to read? At CSPD, our primary schools are taking the guesswork out of early literacy with systematic, synthetic phonics (SSP). With all 58 CSPD primary schools now using an SSP approach, students are learning to decode words through explicit, evidence-informed teaching that builds strong foundations for reading and spelling. 🔤✨ From engaging classroom lessons to regular assessment and teacher coaching, discover how our schools are helping students become confident readers - and how it all forms part of CSPD’s broader Uplift approach to learning and teaching. 📖 Discover how our schools are cracking the reading code: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2026/08/28/01/08/our-schools-are-cracking-the-reading-code
28 Aug 2026
From CSPD Facebook
📚 ENDING BOOK WEEK ON A CREATIVE NOTE! ✨ What if your Book Week costume wasn’t a character, but a word? 🤔 St Joseph's Primary School Kingswood put a fresh spin on this year’s celebrations, challenging students to look beyond the pages and explore the meaning behind the words, characters and stories they love. 💭📖 Some students came dressed as their favourite characters, while others brought words to life through creative costumes that captured their meaning. 🎭✨ A clever way to celebrate Book Week while encouraging students to think deeply about language, build their vocabulary and discover new stories. 👉 Read more about how St Joseph’s put a creative twist on Book Week 2026: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2026/08/28/03/41/kids-get-creative-book-week-with-a-twist-as-local-school-encourages-students-to-think-deeper
28 Aug 2026
From CSPD Facebook
📚 BOOK WEEK PARADES ARE HERE! ✨ Our schools have been bursting with colour, creativity and plenty of bookish fun as students and teachers have stepped into the worlds of their favourite stories through Book Week parades and celebrations! 📖 🎭 We’ve loved seeing our school communities bring their favourite books and characters to life through imaginative costumes, creative celebrations and a shared love of reading. Here are just some of the Book Week highlights from our schools so far! Can you spot your favourite character? 👀✨📚 📸 St Patrick's Marist College Dundas, St John's Primary, Riverstone, St. Aidan's Primary School, Rooty Hill, St John Vianney's Primary Doonside, St Nicholas of Myra Primary Penrith, St Canice's Primary Katoomba, St Bernadette's Lalor Park, Holy Trinity Primary School Granville, Cerdon College Merrylands, St Michael's Blacktown South, St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens, St Joseph's Primary School Kingswood
28 Aug 2026
Kids get creative: Book Week with a twist as local school encourages students to think deeper
For schools across the nation, Book Week was celebrated through the theme of ‘Symphony of Stories’. For St Joseph’s Primary in Kingswood, they wanted to redefine Book Week and delve into the idea of bringing words to life.
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, it’s surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
26 Aug 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🎥✨ VET: LIFE CHANGING POSSIBILITIES! What can VET open the door to? These students have the answer! 🚪👏 As part of National Skills Week, students across CSPD took part in the ParraSkills Video Competition, showcasing how VET can build practical skills, inspire career goals and open up new pathways for the future. 🎬 With 21 creative entries from Santa Sophia Catholic College Gables, Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Park, CathWest Innovation College Mt Druitt, Nagle College, Blacktown South, St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood, St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes,Xavier College Llandilo, Maronite College of the Holy Family and Catherine McAuley Westmead, there were plenty of incredible ideas on show! 🏆 Congratulations to Santa Sophia Catholic College on taking out first place, with Maronite College of the Holy Family placing second and Catherine McAuley Westmead taking third. A huge congratulations to all the students who put their skills and creativity into action! 👏 🔗 Find out more about the winning entries here: https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2026/08/26/02/25/parra-skills-video-competition Skills NSW National Skills Week #NationalSkillsWeek #SkillsNSW
26 Aug 2026
ParraSkills Video Competition showcases ‘Life Changing’ VET
Students across Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) brought the 2026 National Skills Week theme, “Life Changing”, to life through the 2026 ParraSkills Video Competition, showcasing the skills, experiences and opportunities available through Vocational Education and Training (VET).
25 Aug 2026
From CSPD Facebook
📚 Want to help your child enjoy reading more? These six simple habits can help make reading something your child looks forward to - building confidence, sparking curiosity and developing a lifelong love of books along the way. (2 min read) 👉 https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2026/08/20/00/07/six-habits-that-help-children-develop-a-love-of-reading
