In a wonderful example of community spirit and togetherness, students from four Blue Mountains primary schools came together recently for a special Mountains Encounter retreat focusing on what they’ve done and can do to help ensure everyone in society has equal rights, opportunities and is treated fairly.
Students from the Faith In Action (FIAT) teams at St Finbar's Primary Glenbrook, St Thomas Aquinas Primary Springwood, St Canice's Primary Katoomba, and Our Lady of the Nativity Primary Lawson gathered at St Finbar's for the afternoon retreat which, over the past few years, has brought considerable benefits to both students, their schools and the wider community.
Students reflected on what they’d learnt throughout the year and their involvement in social justice initiatives such as Project Compassion, food drives and volunteering for Vinnies and Jesuit Refugee Services.
Mountains Encounter, overseen by Lauren Maund, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, aims to strengthen bonds among students while offering them opportunities to explore their faith through various enriching activities. Students took part in team-building exercises, faith formation workshops, and reflections centered on the Advent season. The main message was to encourage students to embrace their roles in carrying forward Christ’s mission of service and unity.
One of the highlights of the event was the traditional sausage sizzle dinner where students got to share a meal while learning about each other and their different communities in the Blue Mountains.
The retreat was more than just a gathering, it was a demonstration of how schools in the Blue Mountains are living out their faith through action. Their dedication to social justice and building community proves that living your faith can make a real difference in our world.
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Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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29 Oct 2025
From Facebook
📚✨ World Teacher’s Day is this Friday! ✨📚 This week, we celebrate the incredible dedication, passion, and care our teachers bring to every lesson and every student. 💛 There’s truly no better gift than a few heartfelt words — so let’s make their day! Encourage your child to write a short, handwritten note to their teacher to say thank you for all they do. A simple message can mean the world. 💌 Let’s fill our classrooms (and hearts) with gratitude this World Teacher’s Day! 🌎👩🏫👨🏫 Thank you (in alphabetical order!) Mr Baddock, Mrs Bentley, Mr Bond, Mrs Brown, Mrs Cole, Mrs Crawford, Mrs Dempsey, Mrs Dodd, Mrs Fisher, Ms Harris, Miss Hutchings, Ms Loughlin, Mrs Maund, Mrs Parkes, Ms Power, Mrs Visocchi #WorldTeachersDay #ThankATeacher #GratitudeInAction #oln #ourladyofthenativity #ourladyofthenativitylawson #lawson #cspd2025
23 Oct 2025
From Facebook
🕊️ Praying the Rosary in October 🌸 During the month of October — the Month of the Rosary — our students and teachers have been gathering at recess to pray together. This simple act of faith unites our community in reflection, peace, and gratitude. As we pray the Rosary, we honour Mary and deepen our connection to Jesus through her example of faith and love. These moments remind us that prayer is at the heart of our Catholic identity — nurturing a sense of belonging, hope, and shared mission in our school. 💙 #oln #ourladyofthenativity #ourladyofthenativitylawson #cspd2025 #rosary #prayer
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29 Oct 2025
From Facebook
📚✨ World Teacher’s Day is this Friday! ✨📚 This week, we celebrate the incredible dedication, passion, and care our teachers bring to every lesson and every student. 💛 There’s truly no better gift than a few heartfelt words — so let’s make their day! Encourage your child to write a short, handwritten note to their teacher to say thank you for all they do. A simple message can mean the world. 💌 Let’s fill our classrooms (and hearts) with gratitude this World Teacher’s Day! 🌎👩🏫👨🏫 Thank you (in alphabetical order!) Mr Baddock, Mrs Bentley, Mr Bond, Mrs Brown, Mrs Cole, Mrs Crawford, Mrs Dempsey, Mrs Dodd, Mrs Fisher, Ms Harris, Miss Hutchings, Ms Loughlin, Mrs Maund, Mrs Parkes, Ms Power, Mrs Visocchi #WorldTeachersDay #ThankATeacher #GratitudeInAction #oln #ourladyofthenativity #ourladyofthenativitylawson #lawson #cspd2025
28 Oct 2025
Nagle College Launches New STEM Scholarship for Future Innovators
Nagle College Blacktown has announced the launch of the “Christine Howe STEM Academic Scholarship”, a new opportunity designed to support and inspire young women passionate about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Students enrolling in Year 7 from 2026 are eligible to apply for the scholarship, which reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to excellence in learning within a supportive Catholic community.
23 Oct 2025
From Facebook
🕊️ Praying the Rosary in October 🌸 During the month of October — the Month of the Rosary — our students and teachers have been gathering at recess to pray together. This simple act of faith unites our community in reflection, peace, and gratitude. As we pray the Rosary, we honour Mary and deepen our connection to Jesus through her example of faith and love. These moments remind us that prayer is at the heart of our Catholic identity — nurturing a sense of belonging, hope, and shared mission in our school. 💙 #oln #ourladyofthenativity #ourladyofthenativitylawson #cspd2025 #rosary #prayer
17 Oct 2025
From Facebook
📱 Parent Talk: Delaying Smartphones – The Why and How An invaluable session for every parent navigating the digital world 🌏 We’re pleased to share a fantastic opportunity for parents and carers in our community to attend a free talk hosted by WaitMate.org.au: “Delaying Smartphones – The Why and How” Held at Blue Mountains Grammar in Valley Heights. This session is open to families from across the broader school community. It offers practical advice, expert insights, and relatable strategies to help you delay smartphone use – while still staying connected and supportive as a parent.
15 Oct 2025
From Facebook
Another glorious day at OLN! How lucky are we to have such a beautiful playground? #oln #windowintolearning #cspd2025 #lawson #ourladyofthenativity #ourladyofthenativitylawson #playground
14 Oct 2025
From Facebook
Welcome back to Term 4! These smiling faces were a joy to see on the playground this morning—full of energy, ready to learn, and excited to kick off the final term of the year. Let’s make it a great one! 🌟📚🎉
30 Sep 2025
From Facebook
Happy birthday to all these wonderful children who celebrated their birthdays in September. We all hope they enjoyed their special day.
28 Sep 2025
From Facebook
We are excited to share that Ms Power will soon be travelling to Timor as part of our ongoing commitment to outreach and global connection. During her visit she will be supporting local communities and strengthening our partnership with schools there. Please join us in wishing her a safe and rewarding journey as she represents our school with generosity and care. You can follow her adventures on Instagram at @faithjourneyintimor to see updates along the way!
26 Sep 2025
From Facebook
✨ Last week, we had a Zing-tastic time as Malakai from Zing visited us for a high-energy showcase! 💃🕺 Our students were buzzing with excitement as they showed off all the amazing dance moves they've been learning this term. From sharp choreography to unstoppable enthusiasm, they truly brought the rhythm to life! A huge thank you to the Zing team for inspiring our dancers and helping build confidence, coordination, and creativity through movement. 👏💫
16 Sep 2025
From Facebook
The Premier’s Reading Challenge ends this Friday! Don’t forget to finalise your book entries.
10 Sep 2025
From Facebook
Happy birthday to all these wonderful children who celebrated their birthdays in August. We all hope they enjoyed their special day.
09 Sep 2025
From Facebook
05 Sep 2025
From Facebook
🧡 Father’s Day Breakfast at School 🧡 This morning we celebrated our amazing dads with a delicious Father's Day breakfast at school! ☕🥓🍳 Bacon and egg rolls were a big hit, fueling everyone up for the friendly dads vs dads handball competition — and let’s just say, the kids weren’t the only ones showing off their skills! 😄🏓 Thanks to all the families who joined us — it was a fantastic way to start the day and celebrate the awesome father figures in our community. 💙
03 Sep 2025