The cover artwork for this year’s ARTICULATE (Parramatta Diocese’s HSC Visual Arts Showcase) catalogue was created by Yashica Patel, a former St Luke’s Catholic College Marsden Park student.
Her featured digital series, titled “Lost in Revelry", beautifully captures the essence of becoming fully absorbed in the creative process. Yashica shared that the title reflects her deep love for artmaking, especially those moments when you find yourself completely immersed and lose track of everything else.
When beginning her HSC Body of Work, Yashica was initially inspired by the paintings she had seen at ARTEXPRESS and planned to create a series of oil paintings. However, she ultimately chose to follow her passion for animation, producing a collection aligned more closely with her interests and creative voice.
She credits the success of her work to regularly seeking feedback from teachers and friends, setting high personal standards and embracing experimentation throughout her process.
Yashica commenced a Commerce degree at UNSW this year, but remains committed to her artistic journey. She plans to continue developing her animation skills and hopes to one day pursue animation formally.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
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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.
17 Jun 2026
Try a Career Day @ CathWest Loyola Campus
Year 10, are you curious about trying a career...? Register for CathWest's 'Try a Career Day' at the CathWest Loyola Campus!
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07 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🏃♂️🏔️ BLUE MOUNTAINS TRAIL CHAMPIONS! 🌟 What an incredible result for St Columba's Catholic College Springwood students Odin and Lulu, who both took out their divisions in the UTA11 event at the Ultra-Trail Australia! 👏🏅 Taking on the challenging 11km course alongside runners from across Australia and around the world, the pair delivered standout performances through the iconic Blue Mountains trails. Year 11 student Lulu claimed first place in the women’s division with an impressive time of 1:15:27, while Year 10 student Odin crossed the line first in the men’s division in a remarkable 58:10 ⏱️🔥 The celebrations didn't stop there, with Year 11 student Alton securing second place overall in the UTA11, finishing just one minute behind Odin 👏 A huge congratulations also to the many St Columba’s and St Canice's Primary Katoomba students, staff and parents who took part in the event, showcasing the strong trail running spirit that thrives throughout the Blue Mountains community 🏃♀️⛰️ An outstanding achievement and a wonderful reflection of the dedication and passion these students bring to their sport 🌟 📖 Read more via the link in our bio. @ultratrailaustralia @columbasdoves @stcaniceskatoomba #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #ultratrail
05 Jun 2026
From CSPD Facebook
👔 STRENGTHENING TIES! 🤝✨ Wellbeing Wednesday at Parramatta Marist High School saw Year 7 students take part in a hands-on session learning how to tie a tie 👏 Year 12 student leaders joined Year 7 Prefect Jake, visiting homerooms to demonstrate and guide students through the process. What started with a few creative knots quickly turned into success, with more than half the year group mastering the skill by the end of the session 🙌 Jake described the experience as “an engaging opportunity to connect with our buddies, fostering a strong sense of family spirit” 💙 What a wonderful initiative from these senior students, leading with care and encouragement while helping to build connection and community across year groups 🤝✨
06 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🙌 LIFTED: RISE & UNLEASHED ✨ Year 7 & 8 students took part in LIFTED Rise, while Year 9 & 10 students attended LIFTED Unleashed, facilitated by Catholic Youth Parramatta (CYP) in partnership with the CSPD Mission Team 🙏 These powerful experiences invited students to encounter Jesus through music, testimony, prayer and reflection, while exploring their personal gifts and call to mission and service 💭💙 Alongside peers from across the Diocese, students engaged in meaningful conversations, deepened their faith and reflected on how they can live out their beliefs in everyday life 🌟 A vibrant celebration of faith, connection and community across our schools ✨ 📸 Bede Polding College South Windsor, St Andrews College Marayong, Marian Catholic College Kenthurst, Catherine McAuley Westmead, Cerdon College Merrylands, CathWest Innovation College Mt Druitt, Nagle College Blacktown @catholicyouthparra @bedepoldingsouthwindsor @sacmarayong @mariancatholiccollege @catherinemcauleywestmead @cerdon.college @cathwestinnovation @nagleblacktown #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #lifted
04 Jun 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🔧🏗️ BUILDING FUTURES IN ACTION! 👷♂️✨ Congratulations to the Year 9 and 10 students from Gilroy Catholic College Castle Hill who took part in the Site Skills: Foundations of Construction Taster Day, hosted by The Management Edge in partnership with the NSW State Government (Regional Industry Education Partnerships) 👏 Students spent the day immersed in hands-on learning, developing practical skills across a range of construction industry areas - from safe site practices to bricklaying, steel fixing, paving, precision cutting and even operating an excavator safely 🏗️🔨 Along the way, they also explored real career pathways in the construction industry and gained valuable insight into what it takes to work on a live site environment. A special congratulations to Aaron, who was named 'Apprentice of the Day' for his outstanding attitude, effort and engagement throughout the program! 👏🌟
05 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
💙 A LITTLE GRATITUDE GOES A LONG WAY 💙 What happens when you ask a school community what they're grateful for? 💭✨ Students and staff from St Pauls Catholic College Greystanes shared the people, moments and everyday blessings that bring them joy, reminding us to take a moment to appreciate the things we often take for granted. Their reflections are a simple but powerful reminder that gratitude can help us focus on what truly matters 🌟 So, what are you grateful for today? 👇💭 @stpaulscollegegreystanes #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #gratitude
05 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
👉FREE PARENT EVENT - Join the CSPD Learning Outcomes Team to find out how our schools deliver an excellent education and leave with practical tips for things you can easily do at home to support your child's learning. Presented by the Family Partnerhip Council and hosted at Penola Catholic College Emu Plains, this is a not to be missed event! See the lnk in our bio for all event details and to register. Want more parent info and events? Make sure you follow the FPC on Insta! @cspd_fpc
04 Jun 2026
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03 Jun 2026
From CSPD Facebook
💛🖤❤️As we close out Reconciliation Week, we reflect on CSPD's participation in last Friday's 20th anniversary of the annual Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service. This moving experience is dedicated to remembering and honouring the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans. 💛🖤❤️ CSPD schools, staff and members of the Jarara Cultural Centre were in attendance, with one of our students, Kaleb Ellison from St Andrews College, Marayong (Official) delivering a deeply personal Acknowledgement of Country. Students from six other CSPD schools joined the Jannawi Dance Clan to perform the opening dance. Student representatives from CSPD schools laid wreaths and paid their respects. 🥰We are proud to have such wonderful representation at such a significant event. To view our full photo gallery and to read our news story about the service visit our website: parra.catholic.edu.au/03-06-26-tribute-fb Catherine McAuley Westmead Xavier College Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown
04 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
💛🖤❤️ As Reconciliation Week comes to a close, we reflect on the 20th anniversary of the Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service - a powerful event honouring the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans. We’re proud of the students, staff and Jarara Cultural Centre representatives who attended, including Kaleb Ellison from St Andrews Catholic College, Marayong, who delivered a heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country. Students from other CSPD schools also performed, laid wreaths and paid their respects. A meaningful day of remembrance, respect and learning. ❤️ 📸 See more photos and read the full story via the link in our bio. @catherinemcauleywestmead @xavierllandilo @patsblacktown @sacmarayong
03 Jun 2026
CSPD joins 20th anniversary tribute to Indigenous Veterans
Since its inception in 2007, the annual Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service has united Australians to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander veterans. Students and staff from schools across the Parramatta Diocese along with members of the Jarara Cultural Centre joined Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and hundreds of other students at Hyde Park for the moving ceremony on Friday 29 May.
02 Jun 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🌏🏃♂️ FROM SCHOOL TRACKS TO THE WORLD STAGE! 🇦🇺✨ A huge congratulations to former St John XXIII Catholic College student Luke Vrataric on his selection to represent Australia at the Under 20 World Athletics Championships in the USA! 👏 This incredible achievement is a testament to Luke's dedication, perseverance and talent, and marks an exciting milestone in his athletics journey 🤩 Adding to the celebrations, Luke has also been awarded a sports scholarship to attend Barton College in the USA, where he will continue to pursue both his academic and sporting goals 🎓🏅 It's always exciting to see our alumni chasing their dreams and achieving remarkable success. Best of luck, Luke, as you take on this incredible opportunity! 💚💛
03 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🏆 BIG NEWS FOR PARRA MARIST! 👏✨ Parramatta Marist High School's Teaching and Learning Team has been shortlisted for Best Professional Learning Program at the Australian Education Awards 2026 🌟 These national awards recognise excellence and innovation across schools throughout Australia, and we're especially proud that Parramatta Marist is the only NSW school shortlisted in this category! 🙌 This achievement reflects the incredible work happening behind the scenes to support teachers, strengthen learning and help students achieve their best every day. A huge congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! 💙🏆 @parramatta.marist #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #australianeducationawards
03 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
💛🖤❤️ ALL IN FOR RECONCILIATION ❤️🖤💛 As National Reconciliation Week comes to a close, the talented choir from St Canice's Primary Katoomba has shared a powerful performance of Midnight Oil's iconic land rights anthem, Beds Are Burning 🎶✨ The performance forms part of the school's submission to Voices for Reconciliation 2026, a national initiative celebrating reconciliation through music and student voice. This is the first of two videos created by the school, with selected entries becoming part of an Australia-wide choral compilation produced by Reconciliation Australia. Their performance is a wonderful reflection of this year's National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day through learning, understanding and action 🤝 What a powerful reminder that every voice has a role to play in building a more connected and reconciled future 💛🖤❤️ @reconciliationaus @stcaniceskatoomba #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #reconciliationweek
01 Jun 2026
From CSPD Facebook
💙🥪 SERVING UP KINDNESS 🥪💙 At St Andrews Primary School Marayong, staff are making a difference one sandwich at a time 🙌 Twice each term, teachers come together to prepare sandwiches for people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity through the school’s partnership with Vinnies NSW. While simple in nature, this act of service has a meaningful impact, providing nourishment, comfort and care to members of the wider Western Sydney community. It’s a wonderful example of faith in action, with staff living out the values of compassion, generosity and service in a practical way 💙 A reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference 🥰✨
02 Jun 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🧠 MATHS MASTERS IN ACTION! 🔢🌟 A huge shoutout to the talented Year 6 team from St Bernadette's Primary Castle Hill, who placed 2nd in Mathematics at the State Final of the Da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar 👏 Competing against 84 teams and more than 1,200 students across Years 5 and 6, the team also achieved an impressive 6th place in Ideation ✨ The Da Vinci Decathlon is a prestigious academic competition that challenges students across 10 disciplines including mathematics, engineering, science, code breaking, creative thinking and more. What an incredible achievement and a fantastic reflection of the students’ teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking skills 🤩🌟 #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #davincidecathlon