Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta students had the opportunity to shine when the Captivate performing and creative arts program recently hosted its 10th Anniversary Showcase at Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park.
The show combined a spectacular musical ensemble of 165 students, backed up by the 1000-student primary choir and 190-student secondary choir singing songs such as One Dream, Come Back to the Sea, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning and River Run Free.
This was complemented by a dance ensemble of 382 dancers who kept audiences enraptured. There was also a secondary drama ensemble of 90 students and a student ‘spoken word choir’ comprising 80 students from four primary schools.
One of the highlights of the performance was the use of puppetry and props to reflect the showcase’s storyline. The impact of the puppets was dramatic, guiding the audience through show’s theme of ‘creativity’: from the igniting of the creative spark, through to creative play, creative block, creative flow, and finally creative genius. The show’s finale was a stunning performance of Rihanna’s Diamonds in the Sky.
Captivate director Mark Hopkins said that for many students involved, it was their first major public performance.
“Others were consolidating many years of practice, rehearsal and performing, honing their skills for HSC practical examinations in the coming weeks or auditions for specialist post school arts study pathways in the coming months.
“Captivate is the program by which all students, regardless of prior experience or the location of their school, can access specialist learning in the arts.
“With a constant stream of research documenting evidence of the cognitive and social benefits of arts participation and learning, it is vital that such learning is part of each child’s education.”
St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong acting Principal Kim McDonald described the show as a rewarding experience for all those involved.
“Students have been rehearsing since February, both during recess and lunch breaks and also at formal off-site rehearsals with other students in the Diocese as well as during the school holidays,’’ Mrs McDonald said.
“This level of collaboration and creativity has provided opportunities for students to express themselves in a unique way. We are so proud of the students and thank them for their commitment, enthusiasm and persistence over such a long period of time.”
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
-
11 Sep 2026
From Facebook
๐ฌ๏ธโก Year 6 Science was spinning around this week! ๐ช๏ธ As part of our study of renewable energy sources, students got creative as they designed and constructed their very own wind turbines using everyday materials. ๐งโป๏ธ Our challenge was to create a working wind turbine that would spin when a wind source was present! ๐จ๐ Through the scientific design and make process, students experimented, problem-solved and discovered that their propellers would only turn effectively when they were slightly slanted and the axle was structurally attached. ๐ฌ๐ก It was fantastic to see students design, test, modify and improve their creations! ๐โจ ๐ฑโก Have a look at our amazing designs! ๐๐08 Sep 2026
From Facebook
โป๏ธ RECYCLE YOUR CANS & WATER BOTTLES! ๐ Help our school turn your eligible drink containers into resources and equipment that our students will benefit from! ๐โฝ๐จ Through Return and Earn, every eligible 10c can and bottle returned helps us raise funds for our school community. So, before you throw those cans and water bottles away, send them in to school! ๐ ๐ฅค What condition do your drink bottles and containers need to be in? For our return points to accept your containers, they must be: โ Uncrushed โ Not broken โ Empty โ Have a visible barcode โ Lids on, where possible Every can and bottle counts! ๐ฑ Recycle today. Support our school tomorrow. ๐
Latest News More news
11 Sep 2026
From Facebook
๐ฌ๏ธโก Year 6 Science was spinning around this week! ๐ช๏ธ As part of our study of renewable energy sources, students got creative as they designed and constructed their very own wind turbines using everyday materials. ๐งโป๏ธ Our challenge was to create a working wind turbine that would spin when a wind source was present! ๐จ๐ Through the scientific design and make process, students experimented, problem-solved and discovered that their propellers would only turn effectively when they were slightly slanted and the axle was structurally attached. ๐ฌ๐ก It was fantastic to see students design, test, modify and improve their creations! ๐โจ ๐ฑโก Have a look at our amazing designs! ๐๐
08 Sep 2026
From Facebook
โป๏ธ RECYCLE YOUR CANS & WATER BOTTLES! ๐ Help our school turn your eligible drink containers into resources and equipment that our students will benefit from! ๐โฝ๐จ Through Return and Earn, every eligible 10c can and bottle returned helps us raise funds for our school community. So, before you throw those cans and water bottles away, send them in to school! ๐ ๐ฅค What condition do your drink bottles and containers need to be in? For our return points to accept your containers, they must be: โ Uncrushed โ Not broken โ Empty โ Have a visible barcode โ Lids on, where possible Every can and bottle counts! ๐ฑ Recycle today. Support our school tomorrow. ๐
07 Sep 2026
From Facebook
๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ผ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก! ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฆ๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐น๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ, โ๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐, โ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐น๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐. ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ . ๐โ๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐ก๐๐ข๐โ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐, ๐ผ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐๐. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐, โ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐. ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ข๐โ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก'๐ ๐คโ๐ฆ ๐ผ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐โ. ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ 6 ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟโ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐ด๐ผ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ด๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐๐ผ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese #fathersday
06 Sep 2026
From Facebook
๐ Happy Fatherโs Day! ๐ Today we celebrate and give thanks for all the special men who have loved, guided and supported us - fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, father-like figures and carers. Your love, strength, wisdom and care make a lasting difference in the lives of our children and families. ๐ We also remember with love those fathers and father figures who are no longer with us. May their love and memories continue to live on in the hearts of those they have left behind. ๐๏ธ On this special day, we look to St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and a wonderful example of faithful, selfless and loving fatherhood. May St Joseph continue to guide and bless all fathers, grandfathers, godfathers, carers and father figures as they nurture and care for those entrusted to them. ๐๐ Happy Fatherโs Day to all the wonderful father figures in our community! ๐
03 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 2 students have been putting their mathematical thinking and creativity to work as they used 2D shapes and 3D objects to design and create their very own cityscapes! Students explored how different shapes and objects can be combined to represent buildings, roads and other features of a city. They carefully planned their designs, identified the shapes and 3D objects they used, and brought their ideas to life through creativity and construction. It was wonderful to see students applying their mathematical knowledge in such a fun and hands-on way while proudly creating their own unique cityscapes!
01 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Calling all Fathers, Grandfathers and Carers to join us for our Father's Day BBQ Breakfast this Friday followed by a liturgy at 9am. To help us with catering arrangements, please fill in and return the slip posted on Compass by Wednesday 2nd September. If you have any questions, please contact the school office on 8633 8500.
28 Aug 2026
Our schools are cracking the reading code
Do you remember how you learned to read? For a vital skill that is linked to all other learning, itโs surprisingly difficult to explain how to go about learning it.
28 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ Year 5 Learning in Action! ๐ฆ๐บ Our Year 5 students have been busy researching early settlement in Australia and have produced some fantastic information reports! They are now in the process of publishing their work and bringing their research to life. โ๏ธ๐ ๐ค Year 5 Debating Our debaters have also been working incredibly hard to develop a strong, convincing argument. As the negative team, they are debating the topic: ๐ฆ โZoos should not exist.โ They have been researching, preparing arguments and practising their debating skills as they work towards presenting a winning case! ๐๐ค Our debaters have worked really hard to come up with a winning argument. We are the negative team, our topic โZooโs should not existโ Congratulations on your win year 5 โญ
27 Aug 2026
From Facebook
All Hands on Deck! ๐ This morning at Holy Trinity, it was truly all hands on deck! Our leadership team saw a need and stepped up to do something about it, working together, sharing ideas, problem-solving and making thoughtful decisions to support our youngest learners. At Holy Trinity, we are constantly making, reflecting on and reviewing decisions to ensure our little learners have the very best opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. ๐ฑ๐ Every hand makes a difference! ๐คโจ
25 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ค Voice of Youth โ Year 6 ๐ค Our Year 6 students recently participated in Voice of Youth. A lot of preparation, thought and hard work goes into creating and delivering these speeches. Our students researched their topics, developed their ideas, practised their delivery and built the confidence to stand up and share their voices with others. We are incredibly proud of the effort and dedication our Year 6 students demonstrated. It was wonderful to see them speak with confidence, passion and purpose. Well done, Year 6! Your voices matter, and we are so proud to hear them! ๐๐ค๐
22 Aug 2026
From Facebook
๐ถ๐ Symphony of Stories โ Book Week 2026! ๐๐ถ What a magical celebration of books, imagination and storytelling! โจ Our students embraced this yearโs โSymphony of Storiesโ theme, arriving in wonderfully creative costumes inspired by a range of fairy tales, storybook characters and different genres. ๐๐งโโ๏ธ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ They didnโt just dress the part , they truly became their characters, bringing their stories to life with confidence, creativity and some fantastic performances! ๐ญ๐ A huge thank you to our wonderful parents and families for joining us and helping make Book Week such a fun and memorable celebration. Your creativity, time and enthusiasm made the day extra special! โค๏ธ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese #bookweek #SymphonyOfStories