In mid-March, Year 6 students from 58 primary schools across the Diocese of Parramatta gathered in Penrith to participate in a new formation experience developed by the Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Mission Team called Encounter.
Over four days, more than 3,000 students experienced a reflection day which featured Melbourne-based Catholic singer-songwriter Gen Bryant and her band, supported by musicians from the Diocese’s Mission Enhancement Team and Catholic Youth Parramatta as well as World Youth Day student pilgrims.
Alongside her inspiring and joy-filled music, Gen emphasised that although the students wear different uniforms and go to different schools, things like faith and our love for Jesus connect us all together.
“When I was your age, I was really curious. I started to ask a lot of questions. I wanted to figure out what it was that I believed and what all of this stuff about church that I was learning at school and about God and Jesus,” Gen explained.
“I wanted to share my gifts with others because I started to realise that music has this powerful thing where it can bring people joy and it is a really beautiful thing that I can share with others.
“I’m grateful for these gifts and I've realised that they just haven’t come from nowhere. I've realised that those gifts have been given to me by God on this journey of faith.”
Joshua from Our Lady of Lourdes Primary Seven Hills, appreciated Gen’s honesty throughout the day. “She’s a perfect example of how such humble beginnings can end up very successful and very close to God.”
"When Gen sang her song Raise it Up, I felt that she said to never give up and keep going, even when you fall down,” fellow Our Lady of Lourdes student Jiya added.
Students explored the Scripture of Mark 8:27, where Jesus challenges his disciples to say, “Who do you say I am?”, as well as considering how through Genesis 1:27 they are called through creation, made in God’s image.
Mission Partner Virginia Fortunat said, “Encounter was an invitation to our senior primary students, not just to know about God, but to begin an intimate and personal relationship with God.”
“Encounter took students from a great and energetic Praise and Worship session to the sacred silence of Eucharistic Adoration where they were invited by Fr Chris del Rosario [Administrator at St Thomas Aquinas Parish, Springwood] to have their own conversation with God, and listen deeply to what God is saying to them.”
Along the way, students heard from World Youth Day pilgrims about the transformative experience of their own encounters before, during and after WYD.
The Year 6 students learned about Blessed Carlo Acutis, an inspiration to 21st Century young people in his devotion to the Eucharist and his willingness to share his love through technology. Students were also encouraged to meet other students from other schools during a lunchtime card swap, where they shared the gifts God gave them and what makes them truly unique.
“In the journal exercise, I wrote that I think God’s proud of me,” Evie from Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary Greystanes said. “I think he’s able to recognise that and that I try my hardest to be the best version of me and He’s there to support me for my future.”
Erin Wynne, Acting Religious Education Coordinator at Christ the King Primary North Rocks said “Our students had the privilege of immersing themselves in live praise and worship music led by the talented Gen Bryant. The atmosphere was electric as they sang along and let the music uplift their spirits.
“They had the chance to connect with peers from nearby schools, fostering new friendships and strengthening their sense of community within the Diocese.
“A highlight of the day was undoubtedly the profound experience of encountering Jesus through adoration. In moments of quiet reflection, our students were able to deepen their faith and feel the presence of Jesus in their hearts.”
View photos from this event View full gallery
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Filling Baskets, Warming Hearts! Our wonderful Year 1 students are learning all about kindness and community spirit this week! They are currently on a mission to collect 100 items for the St Vincent de Paul Food Drive. As part of their learning, our youngest students are discovering how their own small actions and generosity can make a massive difference to local families in need. We are so close to our goal! π₯«β€οΈ #CommunitySpirit #StVinniesFoodDrive #GenerosityInAction #Year1 #KindnessCoun
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
β€οΈ A Heartfelt Thank You β€οΈ We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wickramanayaka family, especially Elena and Aidan, for their incredibly generous donation of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses to support our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. As the colder months settle in, many members of our community are facing the harsh reality of homelessness and financial hardship. These donations will provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those who need it most during winter. Elena, Aidan and their familyβs kindness and compassion are wonderful examples of how every act of generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of others. We are so proud to see young people actively supporting those in need and helping to build a more caring community. Thank you, Wickramanayaka family, for your generosity and for helping us make a positive impact this winter. Your support will bring comfort and hope to many people in our community. βοΈπ #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #CommunityKindness #MakingADifference #GivingBack #ProudSchoolCommunity
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18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Filling Baskets, Warming Hearts! Our wonderful Year 1 students are learning all about kindness and community spirit this week! They are currently on a mission to collect 100 items for the St Vincent de Paul Food Drive. As part of their learning, our youngest students are discovering how their own small actions and generosity can make a massive difference to local families in need. We are so close to our goal! π₯«β€οΈ #CommunitySpirit #StVinniesFoodDrive #GenerosityInAction #Year1 #KindnessCoun
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
β€οΈ A Heartfelt Thank You β€οΈ We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wickramanayaka family, especially Elena and Aidan, for their incredibly generous donation of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses to support our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. As the colder months settle in, many members of our community are facing the harsh reality of homelessness and financial hardship. These donations will provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those who need it most during winter. Elena, Aidan and their familyβs kindness and compassion are wonderful examples of how every act of generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of others. We are so proud to see young people actively supporting those in need and helping to build a more caring community. Thank you, Wickramanayaka family, for your generosity and for helping us make a positive impact this winter. Your support will bring comfort and hope to many people in our community. βοΈπ #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #CommunityKindness #MakingADifference #GivingBack #ProudSchoolCommunity
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
π Year 4 are bringing the energy! π Our amazing Year 4 students had an absolute blast participating in ZING! It was fantastic to see them putting their teamwork, focus, and coordination skills to the test through so many fun, high-energy challenges. Everyone showed incredible sportsmanship and gave it 100%. Check out some of the action shots below! πΈπ #Year4 #Teamwork #ActiveKids #SchoolPride
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 5 scientists have been investigating mixtures, chemical changes, and the properties of materials through a range of exciting hands-on experiments. Students explored density using oil, water, and food colouring, observed the colourful movement of liquids in the Magic Milk experiment, and compared different material combinations to determine whether they formed mixtures or new substances. Through predicting, observing, recording results, and discussing their findings, students developed their scientific inquiry skills while discovering how scientists explain the world around them. π¬π§ͺ A fantastic week of curiosity, investigation, and learning!
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma, who has generously crocheted and donated 50 beautiful blankets for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Our Winter Sleepout will take place this Thursday for students in Years 4β6. As part of the experience, students are invited to donate blankets and warm accessories to support people in our community during the colder months. Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma's incredible handmade blankets are a wonderful contribution and a fantastic example of kindness, generosity and community spirit. There is still time for families to donate blankets, beanies, scarves, gloves and other warm accessories, even if their child is not participating in the Winter Sleepout. Donations can be left at the school office. Thank you to Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma for helping us support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and make a difference in the lives of others this winter. β€οΈ
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 3 have been exploring the fascinating world of printmaking, using a variety of textured materials to design and create their very own printing plates. From corrugated cardboard creating bold stripes to bubble wrap making patterned circles, students experimented with different textures to bring their ideas to life. Using planning sketches, hands-on materials, and plenty of creativity, our young artists carefully arranged, glued, and constructed unique artworks ready for printing. It was wonderful to see students problem-solve, collaborate, and express themselves through this exciting artistic process.
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
15 Jun 2026
From Facebook
In music πΆ this term, Year 2 has been learning about the relationship between beat and rhythm in music compositions. They have explored the techniques of dynamics (volume) and tempo (speed) in music and the impact these techniques have on the listening audience. Each week the students have practised using a tambourine, triangle and clapping sticks, working on using correct technique. Additionally, the students are beginning to learn how to understand, read and compose musical compositions using musical notation concepts. This has allowed students to compose their own compositions in groups, and play them using the three instruments for an audience. πΆ
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 5 have been working hard in English, upgrading their writing with adjectival clauses, stronger verb groups, and more precise vocabulary. Theyβve been swapping out simple words for sharper synonyms and discovering that every word has a job to do. Their sentences are growing in depth, detail, and confidence. Through oral construction with partners, students have been rehearsing and refining their ideas before writing, discussing different ways to strengthen sentences and selecting the most effective language. This collaborative talk has helped students develop greater confidence as writers while deepening their understanding of how language choices can engage and inform the reader.
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
πβ Ball Skills in Action! βπ Our Kindergarten students have been having a fantastic time participating in Zing Learning Ball Skills! Through fun and engaging activities, they have been developing their coordination, balance, teamwork and confidence while learning important fundamental movement skills. From bouncing and catching to throwing and rolling, every session has been filled with smiles, laughter and lots of active learning! π We are so proud of the enthusiasm, perseverance and positive attitudes our students have shown as they challenge themselves and celebrate their successes. Well done, superstars! ππ Click here for more photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QnHlU5aa2Ipo3tODGPpueJcES0zkoyGf?usp=sharing
11 Jun 2026
From Facebook
This week in Religious Education, our Year 6 students read and unpacked two foundational pieces of scripture to explore how God works within us. We unpacked Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 to learn the difference between the Fruits of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. To help us remember the difference, we talked about it like this: The Fruits of the Spirit are the qualities that grow inside our hearts when we follow God- like love, joy, peace and patience. They shape who we are. The Gifts of the Spirit are special talents and abilities God gives us to help others and build up our community and church- like wisdom, faith and healing. They shape what we can do. To bring these concepts to life, Year 6 designed beautiful, creative artworks in their RE books. Take a look at their amazing work samples below to see how they visually captured the difference between a fruit that grows and a gift that is shared! Click below for more photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eox1sUnN4qB8NPEjfB009wgjWgPv3Q0U?usp=sharing
09 Jun 2026
From Facebook
π Boosting Our Literacy Skills: Becoming Thoughtful Writers and Readers! Our students are working hard to level up their writing by learning how to join ideas together using connecting words like and, but, so, and because. They are discovering that while these longer sentences help their writing flow smoothly, each part of the sentence can often make sense all on its own! To make their stories more engaging for the reader, our learners are now using a mix of short and long sentences alongside very thoughtful word choices. They are also becoming "language detectives" by identifying descriptive words in the books they read, which helps them understand how authors add detail and meaning to a story. By noticing how professional writers use sentence structure and vibrant language to grab an audience's attention, our students are developing into insightful readers and creative writers! π #SchoolLiteracy #WritingSkills #YoungWriters #NSWPrimarySchools #LearningTogether