2008 Stories 

• 4/12/2008 - Debate team wins first crown for school
  Fairfield 's Patrician Brothers College added to its accolades this year with a successful debate season in which four students were named the new state champions.
• 3/12/2008 - 'The Christmas Story' continues
  The crypt of St Mary's Cathedral was illuminated with masterpieces created by Year 5 and 6 students in the Sydney and Wollongong Dioceses, and Catholic children in public schools on Sunday (30 November)...
• 3/12/2008 - Bronze awards for student scientists
  When Kuba Marosz complained he was sick of having to spray his pet phasmids with water twice-a-day to create a humid climate for them, he thought "there must be a better way".
• 19/11/2008 - Olympian presents awards to excelling sports students
  Former Olympian Pat Scammell presented 30 students from Catholic Primary schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney with Sportsperson of the Year Awards in a special ceremony at Christian Brothers' High, Lewisham last night.
• 18/11/2008 - St Brendan's students wrap their landscape
  The playground at St Brendan's Primary in Annandale has an exciting new look, thanks to the bold artistic efforts of its Year 1 and 2 students, who found inspiration from the environmental Installation Artist - Christo Vladimirov Javacheff.
• 18/11/2008 - Students reach out to community
  For the last 12 weeks, St Pius' primary, Enmore's Religious Education Co-ordinator (REC) Laura Rizzo and fourth and fifth-grade teachers have been taking groups of their students to visit house-bound senior citizens every week.
• 18/11/2008 - Technology in action
  St Pius' Primary, Enmore Acting Principal, Eva La Rocca, has no illusions about what has made the small school of 167 pupils one of the top contenders in the Australian Primary Principal Association's (APPA) showcase schools for use of technology...
• 17/11/2008 - Students get sun smart
  Fr John Therry Catholic Primary, Balmain got together with five other schools from Sydney's inner west this week to help launch the SunSmart Primary School program.
• 16/11/2008 - Students and staff celebrate new facilities
  If ever a building has a "new school smell," its St Kevin's Primary School in the northwest neighbourhood of Eastwood.
• 12/11/2008 - 'Best Practice' in Sydney Catholic Schools
  Over 450 middle managers from Catholic systemic primary and secondary schools across Sydney put their heads together last week to tease out ways they can review and improve learning outcomes for the students in their schools.
• 6/11/2008 - Students 'think pink' to fight breast cancer
  Two Year 6 students ventured on a 'pink crusade', hosting a mufti day to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.
• 23/10/2008 - Adding colour to eisteddfod
  Coral reefs were never brighter when St John Bosco Primary, Engadine pupils made it the centerpiece of their two performances in the 2008 Junior Rock Eisteddfod, J-Rock.
• 23/10/2008 - Eastwood student wins world spelling title
  St Kevin's Primary, Eastwood's Rebecca Nichelsen has topped the 2008 International Competitions and Assessments for Schools Spelling competition in her respective age group.
• 16/10/2008 - Catholic Schools Respond to Financial Crisis.
  Catholic schools in Sydney are planning to reduce the cost of education to parents. The impact of the current global financial crisis on families was highlighted in a recent letter sent to school Principals...
• 10/10/2008 - Magazine garners first awards
  'About Catholic Schools' magazine won two awards in the 2008 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) awards in Brisbane last week.
• 10/10/2008 - Bravery award for state's youngest lifesaver Chelsea
  Kindergarten student Chelsea Sandys-Silakivai from St Declan's Primary, Penshurst was presented with a bravery award for saving her mum's life, becoming the state's youngest and bravest recipient.
• 10/10/2008 - Students get a kick out of game's celebration
  St Fiacre's Primary School at Leichhardt kicked-up their heels celebrating 150 years of AFL.
• 10/10/2008 - School Kicks Off Reading Challenge
  At McAuley Primary Rose Bay, 129 pupils embraced the challenge to read 1000 books during the school holidays.
• 10/10/2008 - St Therese's students guests of Islamic college
  Ten Year 5 and 6 students from St Therese's Primary, Lakemba were invited to attend a concert at Rissalah College, a K-6 Islamic school also in Lakemba, in Term 3.
• 23/9/2008 - It's Australian History - But not as we Know it!
  Clever use of technology is bringing Australian History alive for the students of DLS College, Ashfield.
• 4/9/2008 - Maths Minds Mingle
  One hundred bright mathematically-minded students from seven Catholic schools in the Sutherland Shire competed in a Mathematical challenge with a difference at Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer on 6 August.
• 1/9/2008 - School merger to provide better learning environment
  The relocation of Bethany College's Kogarah staff and students to the Hurstville Campus will see 270 girls from years 7 and 8 relocate to a new $16 million state-of-the-art campus this year.
• 28/8/2008 - 'SMART' Teaching at St Felix's
  Students are reaping the benefits of new and exciting approaches to the foundational areas of learning - literacy and numeracy.
• 26/8/2008 - Top students win Cardinal honour for excellence
  Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, has honoured 46 outstanding students for their high achievements during their last six years of secondary schooling.
• 18/8/2008 - Students learn science on the claws of their hands
  A keen interest in the world of science brought 11 primary students from St Charles', Ryde to the riverside heritage setting of the Newington Armoury at Sydney Olympic Park for Science in the Suburbs, a two-day event of hands-on workshops and shows.
• 18/8/2008 - Teacher joins world's greatest explorers
  It's hard to believe that Science was his least favourite subject when he went to school.
• 4/8/2008 - Schools invited to lift Olympian spirits
  Students across the nation are being invited to cheer on their favourite Australian athletes from their own desks ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
• 24/7/2008 - Burwood Catholic Vocational College
  A combined submission from eleven Catholic Colleges in Sydney's Inner West has secured funding for the development of a new Trade Training Centre at Burwood.
• 3/7/2008 - From classroom to Parliament
  Students from St Francis De Sales Primary, Woolooware and Freeman Catholic College, Bonnyrigg Heights were invited to take part in a State Parliamentary Inquiry about children and young people yesterday.
• 2/7/2008 - Students online
  HSC students have a new and improved website, dedicated to helping them navigate their end of high school exams.
• 20/6/2008 - From war-torn Sudan to Australia's hopeful next Prime Minister
  Fleeing war in Sudan and leaving her father behind, Akoi Majak embarked on a two-year journey that saw her live in a refugee camp in Uganda en route to Australia.
• 17/6/2008 - Funds for lighthouse school
  Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Waterloo is the first Catholic primary school in NSW this year to receive Federal funding to enlighten students about career and further study options.
• 17/6/2008 - Construction students build College Grotto
  St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney needed a sanctuary and place of meditation for generations of students enrolling, and 34 high school students looking for a senior building project were able to build just the thing.
• 12/6/2008 - Federal Minister Launches Environment Program at St Mel's Campsie
  A major national environment program was launched by the Federal Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett AM at Mel's Catholic Primary School Campsie yesterday.
• 11/6/2008 - TV Crew join World Youth Day queue
  Trinity Catholic College, Auburn students received a visit from Channel 7 weather presenter Sara Groen last night. Ms Groen conducted Channel Seven's Evening news weather live with the students as part of the pilgrim backpack preparations...
• 6/6/2008 - Feast-day festivities
  Marist College, Eastwood and Trinity Catholic College, Auburn joined two other Marist schools from across Sydney last Friday to celebrate today's Feast day of Saint Marcellin Champagnat (6 June), the founder of Marist Education...
• 6/6/2008 - Maths students validated and introduced to benefits of trade
  Bright Mathematically minded pupils were exposed to an array of job choices last Friday in a first-ever Mathematics Extension 2 day organised by the Catholic Education Office, Sydney for more than 100 secondary school students.
• 3/6/2008 - Book praise for school
  Aquinas College, Menai students and teachers praised in new book for supporting former student's return to school following a traumatic car accident.
• 3/6/2008 - Teachers cast for world stage
  Anita Finneran is use to playing female leads but is yet to portray Mary Magdalene, the role she will take up in the WYD08 Stations of the Cross reenactment across various Sydney locations in July.
• 21/5/2008 - Backpack project gets Sydney's students into spirit of World Youth Day
  When hundreds of thousands of visitors arrive in Sydney for World Youth Day, they'll receive bright yellow-orange-and-red backpacks loaded with items useful for young pilgrims...
• 16/5/2008 - Hands-on Lessons in Helping Others
  The school community at St Ambrose's Primary, Concord West pack and deliver meals to homeless in Sydney's CBD on the first Friday of every month.
• 13/5/2008 - Students face first nationwide test
  Up to 20,000 Catholic school students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 will sit their first nationwide test on language conventions and writing today as part of the Federal Government's new National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN)...
• 2/5/2008 - 40,000 students surprised with gift
  Every primary school student in the Sydney Archdiocese will receive their very own set of Rosary beads this month as part of an initiative to encourage a greater devotion to Our Lady and the practice of praying the Rosary.
• 29/4/2008 - Homestay
  Don't miss this great opportunity to be part of WYD2008 in Sydney. Sign up to be a Homestay Host to visiting pilgrims during July. Any room at your place for two on more young people?
• 29/4/2008 - School ready for the world
  Michelle Elliott, World Youth Day Co-ordinator at Freeman Catholic College at Bonnyrigg Heights, has never attended a World Youth Day event herself. But she can't wait. In the next two months, the fourth-year teacher will be helping to co-ordinate...
• 11/4/2008 - Students keep Anzac spirit alive
  Hundreds of Catholic school students braved the scorching sun yesterday and gathered at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park for the annual RSL and Schools Remember Anzac Commemoration Service...
• 7/4/2008 - WYD Cross and Icon visits Sydney schools
  The World Youth Day Cross and Icon tour across Sydney's Catholic schools wraps-up today after a three-day tour across 12 locations from 7-9 April.
• 26/3/2008 - School's record donation for Charity
  Marrickville's Casimir Catholic College just continue to keep giving. The school raised a record amount of $15,000 during lent this year in order to help provide education and work opportunities for some of the 115 million disadvantaged children...
• 25/3/2008 - Historic Visit
  The World Youth Day Cross and Icon visited St Martha's at Leichhardt for the first time followed by three Catholic schools in Ashfield on 20 March.
• 19/3/2008 - World Youth Day Cross and Icon visit CEO, Sydney
  The World Youth Day cross and icon will return to the Sydney diocese tomorrow, visiting the Catholic Education Office (CEO), Sydney at Leichhardt for the first time.
• 18/03/2008 - Bicentenary Bonanza
  More than 4500 students have come together from across Sydney to mark the bicentenary of the Patrician Brothers.
• 5/3/2008 - Altars for World Youth Day 2008
  Students in Catholic Secondary Schools in the Archdiocese of Sydney have the privilege of constructing 36 Altars for the celebration of Mass in various centres during WYD week in July.
• 29/2/2008 - Young leaders forum
  Young leaders from Sydney's Catholic secondary schools met last night with Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell, to share views about being young Christians and witnesses in a contemporary world.
• 29/2/2008 - Schools clean up climate
  Students from St Brendan's Primary, Annandale have joined thousands of schools in the fight against grime as part of the 2008 Schools Clean Up Day today.
• 29/2/2008 - Students put Lent into action
  As a practising and faithful Catholic, James Gwynne has always viewed Lent as a season of fasting, prayer and sacrifice - a time to give up some of one's own pleasures to relate more deeply to Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
• New Song for WYD Opening Mass
  With a 22-year career as a teacher and composer of liturgical music behind him and over 150 songs and eleven music collections to his credit, John Burland now has another reason to feel pleased and honoured.
• Partnership pays off
  Isolated from the mainland, 16 indigenous people from the Tiwi islands will now get a chance to share their traditions and faith with 500,000 pilgrims abroad after being partnered by three Catholic schools in Sydney to attend World Youth Day 2008.
• 1/2/2008 - Big Book helps 5000 start school
  Going to school for the first time can be fun and exciting, but also daunting for both child and parent. With the right preparation, this transition can be made easier.
• 23/1/2008 - Targeted Graduates - 2008
  40 teachers who graduated from Regional and Metropolitan Universities in 2007 were honoured in a ceremony at the Catholic Education Office, Leichhardt on 23 January 2008, in the presence of family, friends and staff of the Catholic Education Office.
• 23/1/2008 - Catholic Schools Enrolments Buck the Trend
  Figures just released by the Sydney Catholic Education Office (CEO) reveal that overall enrolments in Catholic schools continue to rise - defying a long-term downward trend for school-aged children in the Sydney region.
• 16/1/2008 - Catholic Teachers Getting Younger
  The average age of teachers in Catholic schools across the Sydney Archdiocese is significantly younger than in the past.