A defining moment of 2025 was the inaugural Celebrating Excellence Awards Ceremony, hosted by Catholic Schools, in which the Emmaus Awards were conferred to celebrate the profound impact of staff across diverse roles and settings. Staff were also formally recognised for 25 years of dedicated service to Catholic education, and the outstanding achievements of our highest-performing graduates from the Class of 2024 were celebrated. This occasion was not only a recognition of accomplishments, but a tribute to the passion, perseverance and purpose that underpin the vocation of Catholic education.
Parent engagement deepened this year through the transition to FACE Forums, complemented by strong participation in webinars and consultation processes. The Federation of Parents hosted a series of expert-led webinars supporting families in areas such as Building Positive Relationships, Supporting Wellbeing in Children and Teens, and Transitioning to Kindergarten. A highlight was the Annual Mass Celebrating Diverse Learning, a moving celebration of inclusion, compassion and the boundless potential within every learner, especially those who are differently abled.
Our commitment to expanding opportunities for high potential and gifted students continued to flourish. Enrolment in the Virtual Academy provided rich, transdisciplinary learning experiences, while the University of Newcastle High Performing Student Program celebrated students who excelled in first-year university units across Business, Mathematics and Medical Sciences.
For thirteen years, ASPIRE has been a beacon of creativity and artistic expression in our Diocese. The 2025 production was a standout event, showcasing the talents of over 150 young creatives. This year saw an expansion of offerings, further enriching opportunities in the creative and performing arts.
Representative sport continues to be a valued part of student life. The Diocesan Netball Gala featured 57 teams from 11 secondary schools, with the introduction of the Intermediate Boys’ Division following the success of last year’s junior trial. All schools participated in the SSSA Basketball Championships, and students engaged in a wide range of competitions including the McKendry and Morgan Stewart Cups, Lawn Bowls, All Schools Rugby 7s, Netball NSW Cup, NRL School Boys and Girls Cup, Basketball NSW Tournament, Northern NSW Schools Girls League, Rugby League 9s and Oztag NSW.
In 2025, Catholic Schools Office staff and Shared Services personnel visited 38 schools, affirming achievements, exploring challenges and supporting operations. These visits focused on three key themes: Catholic Identity is Authentic, Student Potential is Realised and The School is Thriving and Sustainable.
Our transition of inner-city schools to 7 to 12 years continued with the refresh of Trinity Catholic College, Adamstown.
Curriculum reform remained a high priority, with NESA’s comprehensive overhaul of the NSW curriculum aimed at strengthening foundational knowledge, capabilities and values. Professional learning, led by the School Improvement & Learning Team and schools, focused on supporting curriculum implementation throughout the year.
The continued rollout of the Religious Education Curriculum K–10, grounded in the pedagogy of encounter, received sustained positive feedback and showed early improvements in Religious Literacy outcomes. The trial of key roles such as Priest Chaplain and Family Engagement Coordinator further strengthened parish-school-family connections.
2025 marked the launch of the RISE Project (Reimagining Inclusive and Specialised Education), a collaborative initiative between CSMN and Dr Tess Rendoth from the University of Newcastle. The project aims to assess the current landscape of inclusive education in Diocesan schools, identify strengths and develop recommendations to shape a shared philosophy of inclusion across the Diocese.
Throughout the year, several schools celebrated significant anniversaries, reflecting the enduring legacy of Catholic education and the inspiration of our patron saints. Notable milestones included:
- St Mary’s College, Gateshead – 60 years
- St Catherine’s College, Singleton – 150 years
- St Therese’s, New Lambton – 100 years
- St Joseph’s, Wingham – 90 years
- Corpus Christi, Waratah – 90 years
- St Francis Xavier, Belmont – 75 years
- St Aloysius, Chisholm – 10 years
We are grateful for all that we have achieved as a system in 2025 and looking forward to building on our successes in 2026.
