More than 120,000 school students in Sydney will to showcase learning in action when over 300 Catholic schools celebrate Catholic Schools Week from March 11 - 17.

Catholic schools from the Sydney, Parramatta and Broken Bay dioceses will unite to kick off the annual celebration of week-long events to showcase the successful learning happening throughout Catholic schools and their contribution to education and the community.

The Executive Directors of schools in the three dioceses, Br Kelvin Canavan (Sydney), Mr Greg Whitby (Parramatta) and Br Tony Whelan (Broken Bay) said in a joint statement that Catholic Schools Week was also about recognising how Catholic education plays a vital role and is a part of educating the "next generation of young Australians".

Br Kelvin added that Catholic schools were committed "to educating young Australians to excel, become leaders, highly skilled, informed, innovative, compassionate, tolerant and just".

"We hope our students continue to be an example to others," he said.

"Our schools are proud to be enlivened by the Gospel and founded on the person of Jesus Christ, who is our example.

"The annual Catholic Schools Week event gives us a chance to celebrate this foundation and celebrate the strength of Catholic schools and Catholic education. With a tradition of more than 185 years in Australia and record student numbers in our schools across the nation, we have much to celebrate."

Catholic schools play a vital role in educating more than 20 per cent of the nation's students. There are more than 670,000 Catholic students Australia-wide, with NSW comprising around one-third of this number.

Br Kelvin added: "Catholic schools have excelled in helping the poor, the battlers, the migrants, and those from non-English speaking backgrounds gain a quality education.

"They offer to young people, their families and the wider community a wonderful grounding in the very best aspects of faith, teaching and learning.

"One of the most significant strengths of our schools are their commitment to develop in young people knowledge and experiences of a God who loves them unconditionally and to connect them with the wider faith community dedicated to love all people, especially those most in need.

"We're proud of the academic and sporting achievements of students and their ongoing commitment to social justice, and want to share this success by inviting the wider community into our schools."

Throughout the week, Catholic schools will host open days, reading programs, maths lessons, liturgies, art shows, book launches, morning teas, Social Justice events and other activities to invite parents and the community to join in and sample learning in action.

At Our Lady of the Annunication Primary, Pagewood, religious singer-songwriter and composer John Burland will conclude celebrations of Catholic Schools Week on Wednesday 14 March.

He will spend the morning with parents and students in music, song and dance.

School Principal Rosemary Andre says parents will be able to take part in the music and movement workshop with their children.

"Students, staff, families and the wider community are all invited to join in celebrating this special day and other open classrooms during the week to see learning in action," she said.

"Catholic schools promote the integration of faith, life, culture and learning and this is a special week where we can showcase this in action."

The newest Catholic school in the Parramatta Diocese, St Mark's Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens, will welcome former NSW Minister for Education, John Aquilina to a breakfast with parents and families from local Catholic schools on Wednesday 14 March.  

"This is an opportunity for the three schools in our Catholic learning community, St Marks, John XXIII Catholic Primary, Stanhope Gardens, and Holy Cross Primary, Glenwood, to come together and celebrate our learning and teaching achievements. It is also an opportunity to thank the parish community for its continued support of Catholic education."

A Sydney-wide advertising campaign will help raise awareness about the upcoming annual event.

This year's theme is 'Learning in Action'.

Ted Myers, Head of Communications at the CEO, Sydney says "the publicity campaign for the 2007 Catholic Schools Week will be the biggest ever."

"The major thrust of this advertising is to draw positive attention to the great things that happen in Catholic schools every day and to invite interested people to visit their local school to see Learning in Action," he added.
                

Facts about Catholic Schools

.    More than 670,000 Catholic students Australia-wide (20 per cent of the school age population is educated in Catholic schools)

.    There are 585 Catholic schools in NSW comprising of 65 per cent of non-government schools in NSW and 18% of all NSW schools.

.    238,139 Catholic students in NSW (CEC Aug 2005)

.    Sydney: 147 systemic schools and 20 congregational schools educating nearly 80,000 students

.    Parramatta Diocese: 75 systemic schools and 6 congregational schools educating nearly 42,000 students

.    Broken Bay: 43 systemic schools and 10 congregational schools educating 25,000 students

.    The Australian taxpayer and parental contributions fund Catholic systemic schools with the State and Federal Governments providing about 80 per cent and the remaining 20 per cent from parents in school fees, building levies and other charges

.    Principals of Catholic systemic schools accept enrolments at any time during the year, but the official enrolment period generally runs during the month of May in the year preceding enrolment
 
.    Fees charged by Catholic schools vary according to the diocese and type of school

.    Discounts generally apply for the second and third child attending systemic schools - the fourth child and subsequent children are waived from annual fees

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For Further Information
Bernadette Zebec, CEO, Sydney Communications Tel: 9568 8223 /

Annette Loughlin-Smith, CEO Parramatta, Communications Manager Tel: 9840 5680