12 September 2025

Principal’s Report

150 Years Celebrations

A huge thank-you to everyone involved in the 150 Years Celebration last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to share stories, connect with the Sisters, to reunite with past students and staff and showcase our wonderful school and its history.

Some of the brief highlights of the week included:

· The beautiful Parish Mass and morning tea on Sunday 31st, which brought together many part of our history to celebrate the date of the arrival of the Sisters – 31st August, 1875.

· The School Liturgy and celebrations with the Sisters, representatives from the Catholic Schools Office, past principals and staff on Monday. Our students’ reverence and engagement in the ceremony was exemplary, noted by many of our guests as being a great indication of the culture of our school.

· The opening of our Pop Up Museum and afternoon school tours.

· Sally Neaves, Integral Ecology Animator/Mission Ministry Resource Coordinator for the Mercy Institute Centre working with our Year 9 students to plant a Mercy Garden in front of our Administration Building.

· M@SC Performance in Thursday night that reminded us of the long and significant history Music has played in our school’s history.

· Our Decade Celebration on Friday, linking in nicely with the community for our Father’s Day liturgy and celebrations.

· Presentations to our Year 5 and 11 students from Sr Sally Bradley about Mercy Works and how we as a school can continue to strengthen and support the mission of the Sisters of Mercy.

We were truly blessed to share a wonderful week with our community. We look forward to building on the wonderful history of our school.

David Crawford
Principal

Student Spotlight

• Is your child excelling in an activity outside of school? We would love to hear about it and share it with our College Community. To be featured in ‘Student Spotlight’ please send an email with the details including a photo to admin@singleton.catholic.edu.au 
  

Upcoming Events

• Please note that these dates and times are subject to change and that all efforts will be made to communicate this through the College communication platforms.

Term 3

Term 4 

Assistant Principal - Primary

This term has been filled with wonderful opportunities for our Primary students to showcase their talents and take part in celebrations that enrich the life of our college. We are incredibly proud of the way students have embraced each occasion with enthusiasm, commitment, and joy.

• Our 150-Year Celebration was a highlight. Students contributed to week-long celebrations, in particular the liturgy through song and reflection, that honoured the history and spirit of our community.
• M@SC Night was another standout, where Primary students impressed with their instrumental performances, showing both skill and confidence on stage.
• The Father’s Day liturgy was a joyful occasion, with Year 4 students leading the community in prayer and song that reminded us of the importance of family and community.
• In the Young Scriptwriters program, students have been looking at characters and different genres of theatre as well as developing ideas for a performance event in Term 4.
• Primary students have been preparing for their upcoming performance in the Junior Theatre Makers
• Upper Hunter Public Speaking Competition – students from Kindergarten - Year 6 represented our school in the diocesan competition.
• First Lego League Challenge – a robotic program combining elements of research, coding, problem-solving and engineering.
• Sporting events and competitions - Todd Woodbridge Cup, Upper Hunter Soccer Gala Day, golf, touch footy and AFL competitions.

We congratulate all students for their efforts in these performances, activities and celebrations. Each occasion has contributed to the life of our college, fostering pride, creativity, and connection across our community.

High Expectations: Primary Uniform Reminder

This week started the transition period to summer uniform. St Catherine’s students are expected to wear their uniform with pride. High expectations across all aspects of school life support academic achievement and positive behaviour.

Currently, we are focusing on the following uniform expectations:

Shoes

• School shoes are to be black and polishable, with laces.
• School shoes with velcro are allowed for K-2.

Hat

• A school hat is required each day.

Hair

• Shoulder length hair is to be tied back.
• Hair accessories are to be in school colours – navy, teal or white

Sport uniform

• Sport uniform is worn on sport day, only.
• White socks only to be worn with the sport uniform

Please notify your child’s class teacher if your child is unable to wear the correct uniform. For extended periods or extenuating circumstances, contact the Assistant Principal.

Felicity Pearce
Assistant Principal - Primary

Awards

Primary

Primary students are acknowledged for both academic achievement and effort, and for positive contributions to the life of the College. Teachers individually award Encouragement Awards (white awards) to students throughout the term. Students accumulate these awards to achieve higher levels of recognition. If your child receives the following number of awards, please send them in to Student Services for recognition of the next level of awards. 

 4 Encouragement Awards       =        Merit Certificate
4 Merit Certificates                   =        Certificate of Excellence
3 Certificates of Excellence       =        Certificate of Distinction

Students also earn ‘Gotchas’ for exhibiting Positive Behaviours for Learning.

Distinction

Excellence

Merit

Kinder

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

REC/Ministry News

The past three weeks have been a joyful and faith-filled time in our school community as we celebrated a number of special events together.

Our 150 Years of Mercy celebrations brought the whole school together in prayer and thanksgiving at a beautiful Mass and liturgy. Staff, students and families, past and present, also enjoyed exploring a pop-up museum filled with memorabilia that highlighted the legacy of the Mercy Sisters and education in our community. Year 9 students worked alongside the Sisters as part of their Reflection Day to plant a commemorative garden, students shared their amazing music talents at the M@SC evening as well as some very impressive culinary skills, while a dress-up day saw students and staff embrace the spirit of the eras with creativity and fun. Year 11 and Year 5 students also had the privilege of hearing Sr Sally share about the important outreach of Mercy Works.

We also gathered as a school community to celebrate Father’s Day with a K-12 breakfast, followed by a K-6 liturgy beautifully lead by Years 3 and 4, and classroom visits, giving students a chance to show appreciation for their dads and father figures. Year 10, along with students in Years 1, 2, 3 and 6, participated in parish Mass, over the past few weeks while Year 4 enjoyed a wonderful visit to school by Fr Thomas, strengthening our parish-school connection.

Year 6 students undertook the Religious Literacy Test last Tuesday, demonstrating their learning and understanding of faith. This Friday (12th Sept) , McAuley House celebrate with a liturgy and engaging activities that foster house spirit and community.

These events have highlighted the richness of our traditions, the strength of our community, and the values of faith, service and learning that continue to guide us. Our connection with Mercy reminds us to live and work with ‘Mercy Hearts’ each day.

Meagan Edwards  and Leanne O’Brien
RE/Ministry Coordinators

Celebrating 150 Years

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Library News – Primary

Book Week

The highlight of Term 3 in the library is always Book Week! Our theme was Book an Adventure. The library lessons this term focused on the short-listed books.  As part of our Book Week celebrations, many events and activities were undertaken.

Book Week Parade

The students all looked amazing in their varied costumes, including the year 12’s who dressed up and joined in the parade.  A big thank you must go to the parents/guardians for organising these costumes.

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Melissa Morris
Teacher Librarian - Primary

Kindergarten News

Kindergarten have been mastering their reading skills using hands on reading activities.

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Kindergarten Teachers

Canteen

Canteen Roster

Canteen Staff

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop will continue to operate using appointments and a drop-in system. The appointments are for uniform fittings for families who need to try on uniforms and drop-ins are for families who know what they need to purchase or are picking up orders. 

For your convenience, the uniform shop is located on site with access through the Admin office.

Opening hours throughout the school term are as follows:

Tuesdays

08:30am - 11:30am By Appointment
01:30pm - 03:30pm Drop In

Thursdays

08:30am - 11:30am Drop In

Fourth Saturday of the month

09:30am - 11:30am Drop in
11:30am - 01:30pm By Appointment
(during school term only)

Alternatively, uniforms can also be ordered online and delivered to your child’s classroom (primary) or student services for secondary. 

For appointment bookings and online orders please visit:

Carley Vaughan
Uniform Shop Supervisor

Parish

150^th Anniversary Mass

What a fabulous turn out for the Anniversary Mass on Sunday 31 August and then to join with everyone at morning tea after Mass was a great sign of the community associated with the Sisters of Mercy and St Catherine’s Catholic College. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Mass in any way and for those who attended.

Sacraments of Confirmation & Holy Communion Mass

We are looking forward to Mass on Sunday 21 September at 4pm in St Patrick’s Church where Bishop Michael Kennedy will confer the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion. Please ensure you keep the children of our Sacramental Program in your prayers in the lead up to this special moment in their faith journey. All members of the parish and college community are invited to attend this Mass to support these children in their faith journey.

Perpetual Day of Remembrance

Each year on 14 September we, as a Diocese, observe Perpetual Day of Remembrance. This day is a public acknowledgement of the deep harm caused by the Church in the past, particularly the pain and suffering endured by survivors of abuse, their families, and those that have been lost. It is an occasion to re-commit ourselves to remembering what happened so as not to allow those things to be repeated. Our Parish will commemorate this day in our masses on Saturday 13 September and Sunday 14 September.

News and Events

Find news and events in the Parishes of Singleton and Branxton, including the weekly bulletin and mass times at:

https://singletoncatholicparish.org.au/

Keep up to date with events and faith formation opportunities within the Diocese:

https://mn.catholic.org.au/cdmn-news/events/

As always, we welcome you to Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Singleton, St Brigid’s Church, Branxton, St Catherine’s Church, Greta and St Paul’s Church, Glendonbrook. 

Fr Thomas Chirackal
Parish Priest

Community Notices