In 2025, Marist Learning Zone (MLZ) continued to support young people to re-engage with learning through a therapeutically informed learning environment.
Refining practice and process, striving to remain student-focused - always remembering the why!
MLZ worked with 32 students from 15 schools, providing individualised learning, therapeutic care, and strong transition pathways. By the end of the year, 22 students successfully transitioned into their next educational settings, including:
- 11 students returning to mainstream schooling (6 to their enrolling school),
- 2 students securing trade apprenticeships, and
- 9 students transitioning into alternative education settings.
At the end of 2025, MLZ also farewelled two valued staff members, Ruben Galego Montero and Silvia Ines Martinez Garcia. We thank Ruben and Silvia for their lasting impact and wish them every success as they begin their new adventure at a Marist school in Alice Springs.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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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.
04 May 2026
Western Sydney Careers of Today | Parent Education Forum 2026
Choosing a career path has never been more complex. With industries rapidly evolving and new roles emerging every year, many parents feel unsure about how best to guide their child’s future. Join us for an informative and engaging evening designed to help you navigate what’s next.
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27 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! 🏃♀️🏃 Across our schools, students rose to the challenge with impressive sportsmanship and resilience at their cross country carnivals! With cheers from sports leaders, friends, teachers, parents and carers, students pushed themselves every step of the way - showing determination, spirit and a real commitment to reaching the finish line 🙌 Across all year groups, participation was strong, the energy was high and there were plenty of thrilling finishes along the course! What a fantastic display of resilience, encouragement and school spirit 🤩✨ 📸 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Wentworthville, Mary Immaculate Primary School Quakers Hill, St Thomas Aquinas Primary School Springwood, St Monica's Primary School Richmond, St Canice's Primary Katoomba, Gilroy Catholic College, Chisholm Catholic Primary, St Oliver's Primary Harris Park, St Andrews Primary School Marayong, Our Lady of Lourdes Seven Hills, Marian Catholic College Kenthurst
28 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🏆🎤 CSDA PUBLIC SPEAKING GRAND FINAL Our students recently took part in the CSDA Public Speaking Competition, joining peers from Catholic schools across the Parramatta Diocese in a celebration of confident and compelling communication. The Grand Final, held at St Patrick’s College Strathfield, saw students take to the stage with impressive skill, confidence and passion. 👏 Congratulations to our outstanding place-getters: Year 7 🥉 3rd place – Payton P, Cerdon College Merrylands Year 10 🥇 1st place – Heidi S, Catherine McAuley Westmead 4th place – Christian K, Parramatta Marist High Year 11 4th place – Devvin D, St Patrick's Marist College Dundas A fantastic achievement by all involved, well done to every student who participated! ✨ @cerdon.college @catherinemcauleywestmead @parramatta.marist @stpatsdundas #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #publicspeaking
26 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🏆🎤 CSDA PUBLIC SPEAKING GRAND FINAL Students from across our schools took part in the CSDA Public Speaking Competition, bringing together Catholic schools from across the Parramatta Diocese. The competition’s Grand Final was recently held, featuring outstanding speakers who showcased their confidence, skill and passion. 👏 A special congratulations to our students who placed: Year 7 🥉 3rd place – Payton P, Cerdon College Merrylands Year 10 🥇 1st place – Heidi S, Catherine McAuley Westmead 4th place – Christian K, Parramatta Marist High School Year 11 4th place – Devvin D, St Patrick's Marist College Dundas Congratulations to all participants on an incredible achievement! ✨
27 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
YOUNG LEADERS DAY! 🙌 Our Year 6 student leaders joined thousands of peers at the Halogen Young Leaders Day in Darling Harbour for an inspiring day of learning, connection and growth ✨ Through dynamic sessions, interactive experiences and powerful stories from speakers including Kathryn Laga’aia, Jess Yates, Nick Hudson and Jacqui Bell, students were encouraged to embrace leadership with courage, authenticity and purpose. It’s inspiring to see our students stepping up, building confidence and engaging so enthusiastically alongside other young leaders. We can’t wait to see their leadership skills shine in their school communities! 👏 📸 St John Vianney's Primary Doonside, St Bernadette's Primary Dundas Valley, Mary Immaculate Primary Quakers Hill, St Michael's Primary Baulkham Hills, Chisholm Catholic Primary Bligh Park @stmichaelsprimarybaulkhamhills @maryimmacqhill @stjohnvianneysprimary @chisholmcp @halogenaus #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #youngleaders
25 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
➕➗ WORLD MATHS DAY! 🎉 Across our primary schools, students have been engaging in Maths through hands-on, meaningful and fun learning experiences 🔢 🙌 From Kindergarten students exploring patterns, to Year 1 students learning to label bar models and understand how numbers can be broken apart and combined, to organising counters using ten frames, grouping and counting by 2s and 5s. Year 4 students have been building their skills in measurement - learning how to measure shapes and calculate perimeter through practical activities 📏 On World Maths Day, it’s inspiring to see students strengthening their mathematical understanding through exploration and problem-solving across all year levels! ✨ 📸 Holy Family Primary School, East Granville, Christ the King Primary School, St. Aidan's Primary School, Rooty Hill, St Joseph's Primary School Kingswood, St Patrick's Guildford
26 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
WORLD MATHS DAY! 🎉 To celebrate, teachers and students from Mother Teresa Westmead went head-to-head in a fast paced maths challenge! ➕➖➗✖️ The competition was fierce, with teachers bringing the energy - but the students definitely kept them on their toes! 😄 Oh, and we’ve heard six and seven might just be a few of our students’ favourite numbers… 👀 📸 @motherteresawestmead #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #worldmathsday
24 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
ONE EGG, COUNTLESS LESSONS 🥚✨ Egg-related learning has been egg-ceptionally popular across our schools recently! 🧐 Year 11 Exploring Early Childhood students from Catherine McAuley Westmead took on the ‘Egg Baby’ assessment task, caring for an egg as if it were a real newborn for the week. 👶 From naming and decorating their egg babies to bringing them along to school and extracurricular activities, students gave their 'little ones' plenty of attention, even checking in to ‘Egg Day Care’ before Homeroom! Meanwhile, Year 8 Engineering students at Caroline Chisholm College Glenmore Parl took on the ultimate Egg Drop Challenge - designing solutions to protect their eggs from a high fall! 📦 Using creativity and engineering principles, students explored how to slow descent, absorb impact and protect their eggs from breaking - applying concepts like gravity, force and energy in a hands-on way. A CRACKING display of creativity and critical thinking all round! 👏
25 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
SCHOOLS CONNECTING, STUDENTS THRIVING! 🤝🏫 Across our schools, students are stepping beyond the classroom and discovering what’s ahead! ✨ Primary students recently had the opportunity to experience a taste of high school life, visiting nearby secondary schools and exploring new learning environments. Students from Mother Teresa Primary Westmead and St Margaret Mary's Primary School Merrylands spent the day at Delany College Granville, stepping into high school classes including Science, Textiles, Art and English. Year 3 students from Chisholm Catholic Primary Bligh Park visited Bede Polding College South Windsor, exploring the agricultural plot, learning about growing crops, harvesting fresh produce and meeting sheep and ducklings! 🥬🐥 Students from St Canice's Primary Katoomba, Xavier College Llandilo, Penola Catholic College Emu Plains, St. Finbar's Primary Glenbrook and Our Lady of the Nativity Lawson also visited St Columba's Catholic College Springwood for an International Women’s Day Breakfast, where meaningful conversations encouraged students to reflect on a future where women and girls are safe, heard and empowered. It’s inspiring to see our schools coming together, building connections, sharing experiences and learning from one another! 🤩 @bedepoldingsouthwindsor @chisholmcp @delanycollegegranville @motherteresawestmead @stmargaretmarys @stcaniceskatoomba @columbasdoves @penolaemuplains @xavierllandilo #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney
24 Mar 2026
700+ Unite for Project Compassion Big Water Walk
More than 700 students and staff from 23 schools across Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) came together for Caritas Australia’s Big Water Walk in support of Project Compassion. Beginning at Parramatta Park, students carried buckets of water along a 4km route, gaining a glimpse of the daily journey faced by people in developing communities, especially women and children, in search of clean water.
24 Mar 2026
Beginning the Journey: 2026 Educators Commissioned
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has officially welcomed almost 100 beginning teachers and nine new principals at its 2026 Commissioning Ceremony, held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.
23 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
NATIONAL PUPPY DAY! 🐾✨ Today we’re giving a big paws up to our incredible school wellbeing doggos! 🐕 Furry friends Yale (Trinity Primary School Kemps Creek), Carlo (Santa Sophia Catholic College Gables) and Inky (St Michael's Blacktown South) bring more than just cuteness to the school day 🐶💛 They play a very impawtant role in supporting student wellbeing - spreading joy, lending a calming presence during counselling sessions and always being there for a cuddle or a quiet moment when it’s needed most! 🥰 We’re so lucky to have these paw-some companions in our school communities!
24 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
LIFTED Leaders 2026 🙌✨ Student leaders from across our high schools gathered for LIFTED Leaders - a powerful day of connection, collaboration and living out their faith in action. ⭐️ Through rich conversations and shared experiences, they explored social justice and developed ideas to take back and inspire change within their school communities. We’re so proud to see our students continue to grow as leaders, making a meaningful impact in their school communities 👏🤩 📸 Don’t miss the highlights - head to our Facebook page to view the full gallery! @parracatholic @catholicyouthparra #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney
23 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
💧 What can you do to help SAVE WATER and protect this precious resource? Today is WORLD WATER DAY - a time to raise awareness of the global water crisis, with over 2 billion people still living without access to safe, clean water. It’s also a call to action for all of us to use water more responsibly. 💭🚿 This year’s theme, “Water and Gender: Where water flows, equality grows,” highlights how women and girls are disproportionately affected by limited access to water and sanitation, and how improving access can transform lives. 🙌 Fresh from taking part in The Big Water Walk, the incredible students from St Andrews College Marayong have shared simple, practical tips to help us all make a difference. Every drop counts - let’s work together to protect and care for our water 💙 @sacmarayong #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #worldwaterday
21 Mar 2026
From CSPD Facebook
🌏 EVERYONE BELONGS! 🧡 Today we celebrate HARMONY DAY - a celebration of cultural diversity, unity, inclusion and respect for all 🙌 Across our schools, communities marked Harmony Week through cultural activities and by wearing orange or traditional dress, celebrating the rich diversity that makes each of us unique. Together, we can keep building a culture of belonging where everyone is valued, respected and included 🤝 📸 Marian Catholic College Kenthurst, St Patrick's Marist College Dundas, St Monica's North Parramatta, Catherine McAuley Westmead, Chisholm Catholic Primary Bligh Park, Christ the King Primary School, St John's Primary, Riverstone,St Bernadette's Primary Dundas Valley,Holy Spirit St Clair, Mary Immaculate Primary School Quakers Hill, Holy Family Primary School, East Granville, St Anthony's Primary, Girraween
22 Mar 2026
From CSPD Instagram
🌏 HARMONY DAY! 🧡 Today we celebrate Harmony Day - a special occasion recognising cultural diversity, unity, inclusion and respect for all 🙌 St Bernadette’s Primary Lalor Park marked the day with an unforgettable celebration, featuring a DJ playing cultural music and creating an electric atmosphere as students and staff paraded through the playground dressed in orange, traditional attire and proudly waving their flags! 🎶🤩 Together, let’s continue to build a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued, respected and included 🤝 @stbernadettesprimarylalorpark #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #westernsydney #parracatholic #harmonyday