Blacktown region
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| Blacktown Regional Co-ordinator Connie Cassar |
Regional Coordinator’s Message
In the Blacktown Region, there are eight parishes: Blacktown, Blacktown South, Doonside, Lalor Park, Marayong, Plumpton, Rooty Hill and Seven Hills. Within these parishes there are 31 state schools; one is a Special School and about 175 Catechists/SREs who belong to the parish community and volunteer to spread the Good News to our Catholic children who attend state schools.
There has been a great deal happening within the region so far this year. At the start of 2010 the secondary students in Yrs 10 & 11 from Patrician Brothers began teaching SRE at Blacktown South Public School. There was an amazing response from 12 students who are now involved and committed to the SRE Ministry. The students are teaching some of the infant classes and helping the SRE teachers with some of the primary classes. The students are supported by the RE Coordinator and the Yr 11 Coordinator at Patrician Brothers. We are gratefully and thank the Principal and SRE Coordinator at Blacktown South Public for their assistance during this process.
Training Courses have been well attended by new SRE teachers and it is always great to see those experienced SRE teachers attend courses as a refresher.
This term many SRE Teachers gathered for a Special Needs In-service at Granville parish. They were inspired by Trish Mowbray who presented a wonderful day on how to best manage challenging students in their classes. The wisdom shared by the SREs during this in-service was informative and uplifting.
We are experiencing something different this year in the Exploring Scripture In-services across the diocese. This is about telling Bible stories to children using 2D images and 3D figures such as ‘Peg People’ & Biblical Characters. The aim of this style of telling Bible stories is to help the students develop spiritually and find direction in their lives.
There was a fantastic response from the SRE teachers and assistants when they attended two of these in-services held in Blacktown region. I am really inspired when I see SRE teachers take on the challenge to learn something different and who are searching for new ways to enhance their lessons.
By popular demand we are offering workshops in term 3 on how to make Biblical Characters. So if you are a new SRE teacher or a SRE teacher wanting to add to your collection take this opportunity and join the workshops. Dates and venues TBA.
Connie Cassar
Regional Co-ordinator of the Blacktown Region
for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta and the
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)
Blacktown schools
Teaching days across the Blacktown Region are Tuesdays to Thursdays at various times during the day. Times vary across the parishes. Please see below for a full list of schools within our region.
Blacktown Schools
St Patrick’s Parish Blacktown
Blacktown South Public School
Blacktown North Public School
Blacktown West Public School
Blacktown Girls High School
St Andrew the Apostle Parish, Marayong
Marayong Public School
Marayong Heights Public School
Marayong South Public School
Quakers Hill Public School
St Michael’s Parish, Blacktown South
Walters Road Public School
Shelly Public School
Mitchell High School
St John Vianney Parish, Doonside
Doonside Public School
Crawford Public School
Doonside Tech High School
The Good Shepherd Parish, Plumpton
Plumpton Public School
Glendenning Public School
William Dean Public School
Hassall Grove Public School
Hebersham Public School
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Seven Hills
Bert Oldfield Public School
Seven Hills Public School
Seven Hills North Public School
Vardys Road Public School
William Rose Special School
St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park
Lalor Park Public School
Lynwood Park Public School
Seven Hills West Public School
Kings Langley Public School
St Aidan’s Parish, Rooty Hill