In this edition of our new video series 'In The Principal's Office', Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta Executive Director Greg Whitby interviews Principal Mark Compton from Bede Polding South Windsor.
Learn more about Bede Polding College Sth Windsor
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Greg Whitby is the executive director of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta. Follow him on Twitter @gregwhitbyLearn more about Greg |
Greg Whitby
Executive Director of Schools | Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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02 Mar 2026
Catholic School Open Days
We are enrolling now! Attend your local Catholic school's Open Day to find out more.
09 Jun 2026
Helping Your Child Learn at Home - Practical strategies every parent can use
How can you help your child learn at home without stress, conflict, or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session focused on simple, realistic ways families can support learning at home, from primary through to secondary school.
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22 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🌟 MEET KALAN 🌟 CathWest Innovation College student Kalan is already making his mark in the building industry as a NSW Training Awards finalist for School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year 🔧✨ Currently completing his apprenticeship, Kalan has spent the past two years developing his skills on site, learning directly from experienced tradespeople and building strong foundations for his future in the industry. Inspired by his grandfather, who was a carpenter, Kalan’s passion for building began early and continues to drive his goal of one day running his own construction business. From hands-on learning on site to classroom study that connects directly to industry, Kalan is a strong example of where VET pathways can lead 💪 Good luck to Kalan for the NSW Training Awards on 28 May! 👏 @cathwestinnovation @skillsnsw #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #nswtrainingawards
22 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🔥 GRAND FINAL READY, AKOL! ⚽ Big congratulations to Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek student Akol Akon, who is SET TO MAKE HISTORY this Saturday as Sydney FC takes on Auckland FC in the A-League Grand Final 💙👏 Celebrating his 17th birthday today (Happy Birthday! 🎉), Akol is on track to become the youngest player to feature in an A-League Grand Final since the competition began in 2005, all while balancing life as a Year 12 student! 🌟 The Sydney FC rising star has already made 14 appearances this season and continues to impress with his confidence and skill on the big stage. We’re incredibly proud to see Akol representing Western Sydney and chasing his dreams at the highest level. Let’s all get behind him! ⚽✨ 📺 Cheer Akol on this Saturday on Channel 10 from 6:10pm! 🔗 Head to the link in our bio to learn more about Akol’s Grand Final debut @emmauscspd @sydneyfootballclub #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #sydneyfc
21 May 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🔥 GRAND FINAL READY, AKOL! ⚽ Big congratulations to Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek student Akol Akon, who is SET TO MAKE HISTORY this Saturday as Sydney FC takes on Auckland FC in the A-League Grand Final 💙👏 Celebrating his 17th birthday today (Happy Birthday! 🎉), Akol is on track to become the youngest player to feature in an A-League Grand Final since the competition began in 2005, all while balancing life as a Year 12 student! 🌟 The Sydney FC rising star has already made 14 appearances this season and continues to impress with his confidence and skill on the big stage. We’re incredibly proud to see Akol representing Western Sydney and chasing his dreams at the highest level. Let’s all get behind him! ⚽✨ 📺 Cheer Akol on this Saturday on Channel 10 from 6:10pm, and head to our Instagram page to watch Akol speak with Channel 10 News! 👏 Read more about Akol’s Grand Final debut here 👉 https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/akol-akon-eyes-aleague-championship-as-perfect-17th-birthday-present/news-story/c8b2c1032ee149eef80a124cc05bc34
21 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
Is creativity just a "nice to have"? Think again. 🎨🎶 Music, art and movement build confidence, focus and wellbeing. (1 min read) 🔗 Read more at the link in our bio.
21 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
📚 FREE PARENT EVENT: Helping your Child Learn at Home 🏡 How can you support your child’s learning at home without stress or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session exploring simple, realistic ways families can support learning from primary through to secondary school. You’ll hear practical ideas around: • study and homework routines • helping children retain information • reading and learning habits • understanding some of the teaching approaches used in today’s CSPD classrooms Parents will also gain insight into the “why” behind changes happening in schools and how families and schools can work together to support student success 💭 📅 Tuesday 9 June ⏰ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open 6:30pm) 📍 Penola Catholic College, Penrith 🔗 Register now via the link in our bio!
20 May 2026
From CSPD Facebook
📚 FREE PARENT EVENT: Helping your Child Learn at Home 🏡 How can you support your child’s learning at home without stress or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session exploring simple, realistic ways families can support learning from primary through to secondary school. You’ll hear practical ideas around: • study and homework routines • helping children retain information • reading and learning habits • understanding some of the teaching approaches used in today’s CSPD classrooms Parents will also gain insight into the “why” behind changes happening in schools and how families and schools can work together to support student success 💭 📅 Tuesday 9 June ⏰ 7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open 6:30pm) 📍 Penola Catholic College, Penrith Register here 👉https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1sW18xOOsnokE5VJOnEmxGpLGlxigyyT5Xc_T06JnjGE/edit
20 May 2026
Blue Mountains teenagers dominate UTA11 races on day one
Blue Mountains teenagers Lulu Green and Odin Brennan claimed the first titles of the 2026 Ultra-Trail Australia last Thursday as they battled their way to victory in the UTAII (llkm).
20 May 2026
Powerful safety message as part of annual initiative
On Friday last week students and teachers at Holy Family East Granville prepared for National Walk Safely to School Day. The special day promotes healthy, safe habits, and reduces vehicle dependency.
20 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🌟 MEET ANDRE 🌟 Santa Sophia Catholic College student Andre has been recognised as a NSW Training Awards finalist for VET in Schools Student of the Year! 💼✨ Through his Business Services VET course, Andre has developed valuable workplace and communication skills, applying his learning in real-world environments during work placement experiences in the real estate industry 🏠 Driven by a strong desire to continually challenge himself, Andre says VET has helped him grow in confidence while preparing him for the realities of the workplace and future career opportunities. From working with clients to building practical business skills, Andre is a fantastic example of how VET pathways help students turn learning into real-world experience 👏 Best of luck to Andre for the NSW Training Awards on 28 May! 🌟 @santasophiacc @skillsnsw #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #nswtrainingawards
20 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
👏 We’re excited to see NINE of our primary schools recognised by The Sydney Morning Herald among the top NSW schools achieving the biggest gains in maths and literacy growth! These outstanding results reflect significant growth across the five NAPLAN domains of reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy ✨ Congratulations to: St John’s Primary Riverstone, St Anthony’s Primary Girraween, Our Lady of the Nativity Lawson, Bethany Catholic Primary Glenmore Park, Holy Spirit Primary St Clair, St Patrick’s Primary Blacktown, Good Shepherd Primary Plumpton, Trinity Primary Kemps Creek and Holy Family Primary East Granville. 👉 Read the full story, featuring beautiful photos from Holy Family Granville at the link in our bio. @sydneymorningherald @olnlawson @holyspiritprimaryschoolstclair @stpatsblacktown @trinitykempscreek @holyfamilyprimarygranville #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #naplan
19 May 2026
From CSPD Facebook
👏 We're excited to see NINE of our primary schools recognised by The Sydney Morning Herald among the top NSW schools achieving the biggest gains in maths and literacy growth! These outstanding results reflect significant growth across the five NAPLAN domains of reading, writing, spelling, grammar and numeracy ✨ Congratulations to: St John's Primary, Riverstone, St Anthony's Primary, Girraween, Our Lady of the Nativity, Lawson NSW, Bethany Catholic Primary School, Glenmore Park, Holy Spirit St Clair, St Patrick's Primary School Blacktown, Good Shepherd Plumpton, Trinity Primary School Kemps Creek and Holy Family Primary School, East Granville. Read the full story, featuring beautiful photos from Holy Family Granville 👉 https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/revealed-top-160-nsw-primary-schools-for-maths-and-literacy-growth-20260513-p5zwjx.html
19 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
⭐ We’re excited to acknowledge Gifted Awareness Week (18-24 May 2026), an annual initiative of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT), aimed at raising awareness of the identification, support, learning and wellbeing needs of gifted children. As part of our focus on excellence in learning outcomes for all students, CSPD is working on a whole-system approach for High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) that supports our students to grow their gifts and talents. We look forward to sharing more about HPGE in the Diocese of Parramatta as our work in this space progresses. 👉 Find out more about Gifted Awareness Week at the link in our bio #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #giftedawarenessweek
18 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🌟 MEET AVA 🌟 Xavier College student Ava has been named a NSW Training Awards finalist for School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year 🛍️✨ Through her Certificate III in Retail, Ava has built strong customer service, communication and leadership skills, stepping into a crew coach role where she supports and mentors new team members on the floor. Her traineeship has strengthened her confidence working with customers and in fast-paced team environments, while balancing study and school. With aspirations in emergency medicine, Ava is a strong example of how VET builds transferable skills for a wide range of future pathways 🤩 Best of luck to Ava for the NSW Training Awards on 28 May! 🌟 @xavierllandilo @skillsnsw #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #nswtrainingawards
16 May 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🍃 COMMUNITY PRAYER WORKSHOP 🙏🏻 St Matthew's Catholic Primary, Windsor came together for a special Community Prayer Workshop, with families creating Rosary decades that will be used throughout their school community prayer gatherings during the month of May. The workshop provided a meaningful opportunity for creativity, reflection and connection, with students and families working side by side to contribute to a shared tradition within the school community. It's lovely to see the care and collaboration that went into each creation, highlighting the strong sense of community at St Matthew’s! 💙 Learn more about how St Matthew's connects faith, learning and life here 👉 https://www.stmatthewswindsor.catholic.edu.au/school-life/our-faith-journey
17 May 2026
From CSPD Instagram
💛 LEARNING ROOTED IN CULTURE 🌱 Students at Holy Spirit Primary St Clair and St Joseph’s Primary Schofields enjoyed meaningful learning experiences with Jarara, exploring storytelling, creativity and cultural connection through hands-on activities 🎨✨ At St Joseph’s, Uncle Ted shared stories about culture, Country, identity and the significance of totems, sparking thoughtful conversations and inspiring students to bring their learning to life through sketching and painting. Meanwhile at Holy Spirit St Clair, Kindergarten students engaged in creative learning experiences that embedded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through storytelling, traditional art and collaborative activities connected to the Early Stage 1 syllabus. It’s wonderful to see students engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through meaningful cultural learning experiences 💛 @holyspiritprimaryschoolstclair #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #jarara