In a wonderful example of community spirit and togetherness, students from four Blue Mountains primary schools came together recently for a special Mountains Encounter retreat focusing on what they’ve done and can do to help ensure everyone in society has equal rights, opportunities and is treated fairly.
Students from the Faith In Action (FIAT) teams at St Finbar's Primary Glenbrook, St Thomas Aquinas Primary Springwood, St Canice's Primary Katoomba, and Our Lady of the Nativity Primary Lawson gathered at St Finbar's for the afternoon retreat which, over the past few years, has brought considerable benefits to both students, their schools and the wider community.
Students reflected on what they’d learnt throughout the year and their involvement in social justice initiatives such as Project Compassion, food drives and volunteering for Vinnies and Jesuit Refugee Services.
Mountains Encounter, overseen by Lauren Maund, Director of Catholic Identity and Mission, aims to strengthen bonds among students while offering them opportunities to explore their faith through various enriching activities. Students took part in team-building exercises, faith formation workshops, and reflections centered on the Advent season. The main message was to encourage students to embrace their roles in carrying forward Christ’s mission of service and unity.
One of the highlights of the event was the traditional sausage sizzle dinner where students got to share a meal while learning about each other and their different communities in the Blue Mountains.
The retreat was more than just a gathering, it was a demonstration of how schools in the Blue Mountains are living out their faith through action. Their dedication to social justice and building community proves that living your faith can make a real difference in our world.
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Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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22 Jul 2026
Little Learners - School Readiness Program
Little Learners is St Caniceโs Schoolโs fun, free, play-based school readiness program designed for children aged 3.5โ5 years who will be starting school in the next 1โ2 years.07 Aug 2025
St Canice's Brekky Club
All students are invited to join the St Canice's Brekky Club. Brekky Club will now run on Thursdays โ 7th, 21st, and 28th August.
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12 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ณ๐ Brekky Club โ Thursday, 19th November ๐๐ณ Brekky Club is on Thursday, 19th November, from 8:20am โ 8:40am in the school hall. All St Caniceโs students are welcome to join us for a delicious start to the day! We would also love some extra helping hands. If you are available to volunteer, please complete the Google Form sent via your Compass Parent Portal. Thank you for supporting our school community! ๐๐ We look forward to seeing you there!11 Nov 2026
From Facebook
The Stage 1 duckies are having such a delightful time in the paddling pool. And Stage 1 children are also having a delightful time cheering them on and clapping for them as they dive and zoom under the water! Go Duckies go! How lucky are we to share our learning with 3 adorable fluffy friends? We are lucky duckies!
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12 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ณ๐ Brekky Club โ Thursday, 19th November ๐๐ณ Brekky Club is on Thursday, 19th November, from 8:20am โ 8:40am in the school hall. All St Caniceโs students are welcome to join us for a delicious start to the day! We would also love some extra helping hands. If you are available to volunteer, please complete the Google Form sent via your Compass Parent Portal. Thank you for supporting our school community! ๐๐ We look forward to seeing you there!
11 Nov 2026
From Facebook
The Stage 1 duckies are having such a delightful time in the paddling pool. And Stage 1 children are also having a delightful time cheering them on and clapping for them as they dive and zoom under the water! Go Duckies go! How lucky are we to share our learning with 3 adorable fluffy friends? We are lucky duckies!
11 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ Lots of exciting things happening at St Caniceโs this Term 4! ๐ถ From special events to wonderful performances, there is plenty to look forward to as we enjoy a busy and exciting end to the year! Be sure to check your Compass Parent Portal regularly for all the latest updates, dates and details. We don't want you to miss a thing! ๐๐ #StCanicesKatoomba #Term4 #SchoolCommunity #ExcitingTimes
11 Nov 2026
From Facebook
Remembrance Day at St Caniceโs โค๏ธ Today, our St Caniceโs community came together to commemorate Remembrance Day, pausing at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month to honour and remember the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping missions. Our student leaders led a thoughtful and moving Remembrance Day prayer and reflection, reminding us of the importance of gratitude, peace, kindness and reconciliation. We also acknowledged the courage and service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served Australia, often in the face of great challenges and unfair treatment. As a Catholic school community, we reflected on the words: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9) Together, we observed a minute of silence to remember all those who served, those who lost their lives, and the families who continue to carry their memories. May we carry the message of Remembrance Day into our everyday lives by striving to be peacemakers in our homes, our school and our wider community. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Lest We Forget. ๐
10 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ฆ๐ Little Lyrebirds Free Playgroup is on tomorrow! ๐๐จ Looking for a lovely morning of fun, creativity and connection for your little one? Come along to our FREE Little Lyrebirds Playgroup at St Caniceโs Primary School, Katoomba! Welcoming children aged 0โ6 years and their families, our playgroup is a wonderful place to play, explore, create and make new friends in a relaxed and welcoming environment. ๐ โจ There's plenty of fun to enjoy! ๐จ Arts, crafts and creative activities ๐ Stories and songs ๐ถ Music and games ๐งธ Playtime and new friendships โ A cuppa and a chat with other local families Whether you're a regular Little Lyrebird or joining us for the very first time, we'd love to welcome you! ๐ Where: St Caniceโs Primary School, 158 Katoomba Street, Katoomba โฐ When: Tomorrow, Wednesday, 9:00amโ10:30am ๐ Cost: FREE โ everyone is welcome! Bring your little ones, come as you are and enjoy a morning of play, laughter and connection! We can't wait to see you there! ๐ฆ๐ #LittleLyrebirds #StCanicesKatoomba #FreePlaygroup #BlueMountainsFamilies #PlayLearnGrow
09 Nov 2026
From Facebook
The stage 1 duckies had their first swim today! We were super excited and a bit nervous. Would they be good swimmers? Would Speedy, our little black duckling, live up to his name? Stage 1 have been learning about animal instincts and they predicted that the ducks would know how to swim by instinct! And guess what? They were right! They took to it like a duck to water!
09 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ถ๐ Did you catch the St Caniceโs Choir and Harmony Group performing live last week with Ms Frazer? ๐ค If you missed it, there's another chance to enjoy their wonderful voices! Join us on Wednesday 18th November at 2:20pm, at the base of the driveway on Katoomba Street, as our talented students share their musical talents once again. Come along, show your support and enjoy a little St Caniceโs musical magic! ๐ต๐ We'd love to see you there!
05 Nov 2026
From Facebook
So much excitement in Stage 1! Today we welcomed not one, not two, but three lovely ducklings! Meet Pikachu, Macaroni and Speedy. Speedy had wobbly legs but by this afternoon he had found his strength and was up walking around the box and pecking like the boss! We measured the ducklings and found Pikachu and Macaroni are 17 cm and Speedy is 10cm. We are sure he will catch up soon. We are all just a bit in love ๐ We are also very excited at just how much our chicks are growing and changing. They had to move into a bigger cage so they could practice their running and flying....and snoozing. Check out those new wing feathers! And finally, please read the amazing writing from Stage 1 superstars as we record like biologists the growth and change in our feathered friends each day. What a wonderful way to learn!
05 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐๐ Celebrating our wonderful teachers! ๐๐ Today we celebrated World Teachersโ Day at St Caniceโs, taking the time to recognise and thank the amazing teachers who make such a difference in the lives of our students every single day. Our teachers do so much more than teach. They inspire curiosity, nurture confidence, encourage creativity, celebrate achievements and create a place where every child feels known, valued and supported. From the big milestones to the little everyday moments, their dedication, kindness and passion help our students learn, grow and shine. โจ A heartfelt thank you to our incredible teaching team for all that you do. We are so lucky to have you as part of our St Caniceโs family! ๐๐ฆ Happy World Teachersโ Day! You are all gems! ๐ #WorldTeachersDay #StCanicesKatoomba #ThankATeacher #OurTeachersAreGems
04 Nov 2026
From Facebook
๐ A place to belong, learn and thrive! ๐ At St Caniceโs Primary School, we are more than just a school โ we are a welcoming community where every child is known, valued and encouraged to grow. We nurture a love of learning and support every student to achieve their personal best through engaging, contemporary teaching practices in a caring and supportive environment. โจ From the classroom to the playground, there are so many opportunities for students to discover their interests, explore their talents and shine! ๐ต Music ๐จ Creative Arts ๐ป Technology โฝ Sport ๐ Engaging learning experiences There is something for everyone at St Caniceโs! Come and see what makes our little school so special. We would love to welcome you and your family for a school tour and introduce you to our wonderful community. ๐ St Caniceโs Primary School โ a little school with a big heart! ๐ฆ
29 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Stage 1 are loving being proud chick parents! Today we watched the chicks have a little run and start to flap and try a little fly. Two clever stage 1 people made a chicken maze and we gave them a go at trying to get to the end of the maze to find the chick food. No chicks managed it but we know in stage 1 that sometimes learning takes time and perseverence so we will try again tomorrow!
28 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Could school get any more exciting? Stage 1 welcomed 5 new chicks this morning. Meet Oreo, Steve, Lightening, Darth Vader and Bluey! We have started being biologists and tracking Cookie Pie's growth with a line graph. We will add to it each day. Cookie Pie was looking very proud of him or herself as she stood on the scales today having gained 16 grams! We were also most impressed by Lucky's feathery legs. What great legs for Katoomba weather! The highlight is definitely getting to hold or gently stroke a chick. The children have been so gentle and respectful of our delicate feathered friends.
27 Oct 2026
From Facebook
๐ฃ EGG-CITING NEWS IN STAGE 1! ๐ฃ Weโre absolutely eggs-static to announce the safe and healthy arrival of SIX adorable little chicks this morning! ๐ฅ๐ A huge congratulations to Ms Clarke and the Stage 1 team on welcoming these fluffy little bundles of joy into the world. We think there may have been a few extra peeps of excitement today! ๐๐ฃ Our Stage 1 students are learning all about living things and how to care for them. What better way to bring their learning to life than with some very cute, very fluffy and very pecky new arrivals? ๐ฅฐ Weโre sure there will be plenty of chick chat over the coming days as our students watch these little ones grow! Welcome to the world, little chicks! We canโt wait to watch you grow! ๐ฅ๐ฑ๐ #StCanices #Stage1 #EggcitingNews
22 Oct 2026
From Facebook
๐ง Water Safety at St Caniceโs! ๐ฆ Today, our students enjoyed a water safety presentation delivered by Becca, a representative from Blue Mountains City Council. With the warmer weather approaching and more opportunities to enjoy our beautiful local waterways, it was perfect timing to learn about the importance of staying safe in and around water. ๐โ๏ธ A big thank you to Becca and Blue Mountains City Council for sharing these important safety messages with our students! Stay safe, stay water wise! ๐ #StCanicesKatoomba #WaterSafety #BlueMountainsCityCouncil #StudentWellbeing #StayWaterWise
22 Oct 2026
From Facebook
๐ณ๐ฅฃ BREKKY CLUB IS BACK! ๐ฅ๐ Join us at St Caniceโs Brekky Club on Thursday, 29 October! ๐๐ ๐ Thursday, 29 October 2026 โฐ 8:20 am โ 8:40 am ๐ In the School Hall All St Caniceโs students are welcome to come along, enjoy a yummy breakfast and start their school day feeling happy and ready to learn! ๐ฅฐ We look forward to seeing you there! ๐ฆ๐