A Blue Mountains Christmas tradition continued in Springwood on Thursday, December 3.
About 80 children from Springwood, Winmalee, Faulconbridge and Ellison Public Schools as well as St Thomas Aquinas Primary School and Blue Mountains Grammar School hung colourful handmade Christmas decorations on the tree in Manners Park.
The annual event, which has been running for more than 40 years, is organised by Springwood Neighbourhood Centre, with Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters from the Springwood station bringing ladders to help the children hang their decorations.
Some of the parents of this year's students had hung decorations on the tree themselves as children.
With COVID-19 safety in mind, this year's event was spread out throughout the day with schools arriving at different times to hang the decorations made by their students.
Angela Lin
Decorating Manners Park Chrismas Tree
Maisie Lammont
Charlie Kriton with firefighter Warwick Warren.
Learn more about St Thomas Aquinas Primary
Blue Mountains Gazette
Katoomba news, sport and weather.
-
![Catholic School Open Days - Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta]()
01 Feb 2025
Catholic School Open Days
We are enrolling now! Attend your local Catholic school's Open Day to find out more.
Instagram | CSPD
More News
05 Feb 2025
From CSPD Instagram
๐๐DAY ONE DONE AND DUSTED for some! The first students to begin their 2025 school year were welcomed into classrooms around the diocese today. Many of our first-time high schoolers tackled day one, facing their new adventure with a mixture of nerves and excitement. ๐๐๐ ๐Best of luck to all our students as they begin their 2025 learning journey over the next few days. We know our amazing teachers and school staff will make this an unforgettable year of growth, discovery, faith and creativity. ๐ณ๐โ๐จ ๐ Looking for a school for 2026? Visit our website to check out all our options and find a school to suit you! Link in our bio โฌ #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #backtoschool #firstday #firstdayofhighschool #welcomeback #stthomoasaquinasprimaryspringwood @stmargaretmarys @emmauscspd @stcaniceskatoomba @stpaultheapostles @columbasdoves @delanycollegegranville @maryimmacqhill @holycrossprimaryglenwood
04 Feb 2025
From CSPD Facebook
๐๐AND WE'RE BAAAACK! The first students to begin their 2025 school year were welcomed into classrooms around the diocese today. Many of our first-time high schoolers tackled day one, facing their new adventure with a mixture of nerves and excitement. ๐๐๐ ๐Best of luck to all our students as they begin their 2025 learning journey over the next few days. We know our amazing teachers and school staff will make this an unforgettable year of growth, discovery, faith and creativity. ๐ณ๐โ๐จ ๐ Looking for a school for 2026? Check out all our options and find a school to suit you: ==>parra.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/find-a-school St Margaret Mary's Primary School Emmaus Catholic College St Canice's Primary Katoomba St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood St Paul the Apostle Primary Winston Hills Delany College, Granville Mary Immaculate Primary School St Thomas Aquinas Primary School Springwood Holy Cross Primary Glenwood
04 Feb 2025
From CSPD Instagram
๐ฉโ๐ซSCHOOL IS BACK! Before a single child walks into a classroom for 2025, our teachers are back on site gathering to reflect, learn, plan, collaborate and pray together. Our dedicated teachers are one of our biggest strengths and are all set to make 2025 the best year yet! ๐๐๐ ๐ Looking for student start dates for your school? Make sure you check your Compass app and your school Facebook and Instagram. @stmargaretmarys @emmauscspd @trinitykempscreek #stjohnsprimaryriverstone @holyspiritprimaryschoolstclair #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #teachers #backtoschool
03 Feb 2025
From CSPD Facebook
๐๐READ and CHILL! The Our Lady of the Nativity, Lawson NSW community have the right idea about how to relax this summer holidays. Teachers, students and even former students have been kicking back with a book this summer for some much deserved r&r while feeding their minds. ๐๐ฅฐ We love all the great pics they're sharing of books being devoured wherever and whenever! ๐โฑ๐ด ๐ฃ If you want to join the OLN Primary community, make sure you check out their school open days from 4-6 March. Visit their website to register! ==> olnlawson.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/tours-and-events
03 Feb 2025
From CSPD Instagram
โฐIt's that time again...BACK TO SCHOOL! ๐๐๐As we get set to welcome all our wonderful students into classrooms over the coming days, our CEO Jack De Groot had this message to share. ๐ Looking for info on which day your children start at your local Catholic school? Check their Facebook or Instagram accounts for a rundown of what's happening over the next week. โ๏ธ #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #backtoschool
02 Feb 2025
From CSPD Facebook
โ ๐ฏ๐ต Prepare to be bitten by the travel bug! ๐๐งณ Check out the amazing photos being shared from Japan by a group of St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood students on their 2025 study tour. The pic snapped on their early morning flight over Mt Fuji is enough to have you wanting to pack your bags STAT! ๐ป ๐คฏ The students began their trip by being warmly welcomed at Hokusetsu Sanda Senior High school and meeting the families who would host them for 6 nights. Highlights of the trip have included visiting Universal Studios Japan, the magnificent Kyoto Imperial Palace, the famous โfloatingโ Itsukushima Shrine and torii gate and Hiroshima Castle. โฉ ๐ ๐ ๐ Students experienced a sombre day visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Park, the flame of peace and Genbaku dome (the only structure still standing within the blast zone). They also saw the world's largest gilded bronze Buddha (15m tall!) at Todaiji Temple and learnt how to cook their own okonomiyaki! ๐ฃ๐ก ๐ ๐ธTo see plenty more photos from this exciting adventure head on over to the St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood Facebook page!
02 Feb 2025
From CSPD Instagram
โค๏ธ๐๐ค Generosity bridges the distance - from Mount Druitt to the NT โค๏ธ๐๐ค We are incredibly proud to highlight the amazing generosity of the Sacred Heart Primary Mount Druitt community. A huge donation of clothing was sent to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College, a bilingual school in Wadeye โ Australiaโs largest remote Indigenous community, located 420km south-west of Darwin on the land of the Kardu Diminin people. This is a beautiful example of how we can come together to support one another, no matter the distance. Thank you to all who contributed to this heartfelt initiative. ๐๐ Letโs continue to spread kindness and keep building connections across communities! ๐ซถ โนTo find out more about the amazing school community at Sacred Heart Primary Mount Druitt visit their website! #sacredheartprimarymountdruitt #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #spreadingkindness #socialjustice #OurLadyOfTheSacredHeart #ThamarrurrCollege #Wadeye #IndigenousCommunities #NorthernTerritory
01 Feb 2025
From CSPD Facebook
โฝโค๏ธ Get ready...2025 is going to be BIG! Our partnership with the Western Sydney Wanderers is all set to kick off. โฝโค๏ธ ๐ข Our CEO Jack de Groot, recently addressed Wanderers supporters before the Auckland FC match at CommBank Stadium, highlighting how our Wanderers partnership is set to make a real impact in local schools - building community and creating opportunities for students both on and off the field. It was a memorable moment for Jack when he was presented with a Wanderers jersey in recognition of this exciting partnership. ๐ฅฐ โจIt was inspirational to connect with past students like Danny Egarchos (Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown) and Luke Kolenko (St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes) playing key roles with the Wanderers, and to see team Captain Lawrence Thomas (St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes) in action on the field. โจ Catholic education was well-represented on the day with George Giovas, the President of the Parramatta Parent Representative Council (PRC) and his family also in attendance. We were excited to learn that George volunteers with the Wandercrew to support the team! ๐ช ๐ Santa Sophia Catholic College This partnership is about more than football; itโs about empowering students and fostering community connections. โฝโค๏ธ Western Sydney Wanderers FC PRC Parra ๐ Read more on our website! ==> parra.catholic.edu.au/2025-WSW-Partnership
31 Jan 2025
CSPD kicks off exciting partnership with Western Sydney Wanderers
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has announced an exciting new partnership with Western Sydney Wanderers FC, set to kick off in 2025. This collaboration will provide students across the Diocese with unique opportunities to develop their football skills, promote sportsmanship, teamwork, and a love for the game in Western Sydney.
31 Jan 2025
From CSPD Instagram
๐ข WARNING: you WILL want to travel after you see this!๐งณ Check out the amazing photos being shared from Japan by a group of St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood students on their 2025 study tour. โ ๐ฏ๐ต The pic snapped on their early morning flight over Mt Fuji is enough to have you wanting to pack your bags STAT! ๐ป ๐คฏ The students were warmly welcomed at Hokusetsu Sanda Senior High school and hosted by local families. Highlights of the trip have included visiting Universal Studios Japan, the magnificent Kyoto Imperial Palace, the famous โfloatingโ Itsukushima Shrine and torii gate and Hiroshima Castle. โฉ ๐ ๐ ๐ Students experienced a sombre day visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Park, the flame of peace and Genbaku dome (the only structure still standing within the blast zone). They also saw the world's largest gilded bronze Buddha (15m tall!) at Todaiji Temple and learnt how to cook their own okonomiyaki! ๐ฃ๐ก ๐ ๐ธTo see plenty more photos from this exciting adventure head on over to the St Columba's Catholic College, Springwood Facebook page! #parracatholic #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #westernsydney #cspd2025 #studytour #japan #bluemountains #springwood @columbasdoves
30 Jan 2025
From CSPD Facebook
๐คฉHow CAPTIVATING is this student photography? ๐ธ Check out the creative images captured by a talented group of students in Years 9-11 from across the Parramatta Diocese who took part in the Arts Factor Analogue Photography Workshop in Term 4 last year. The interactive two day workshop with photography industry professional, Wolter Peeters allowed students to experience the full process of analogue photography. Students had a blast capturing the unique sights of Parramatta, loading film and developing their negatives in order to create their own prints in the darkroom. ๐ ๐ท ๐Learn more about the workshop provided by CAPTIVATE through this gorgeous online flipbook: ==> captivate.aflip.in/54956549a4.html Delany College, Granville Catherine McAuley Westmead Emmaus Catholic College Nagle College, Blacktown South St Patrick's Marist College St Agnes CHS Rooty Hill #parramattamaristhighschool #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #photography #extracurricular #creativearts #analogue #parramatta
30 Jan 2025
From CSPD Instagram
What a fantastic opportunity for student๐คฉ๐ to learn about ceramics and develop their artistic skills... all thanks to wonderful workshops run by CAPTIRVATE (our Creative and Performing Arts team).๐จ๐ฝ CAPTIVATE ran expert hand building๐๐ป๐ and surface treatment workshops late last year with students from Catherine McAuley Westmead, Emmaus Catholic College, Kemps Creek, Marian Catholic College Kenthurst, Nagle College, Blacktown South, Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown, St Agnes CHS Rooty Hill and St Andrews College, Marayong (Official) learning a range of innovative techniques and applications to build their own repertoire of ceramics skills. ๐๐ #cspd2025 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #CAPTIVATE #creativeandperformingarts @catherinemcauleywestmead @emmauscspd @mariancatholiccollege @nagleblacktown @patsblacktown @stagnesrootyhill @sacmarayong
29 Jan 2025
From CSPD Facebook
Inspiration for our budding artists! โจ๐จ Year 10 students from St Andrews College, Marayong (Official) had the amazing opportunity ๐คฉto attend a workshop with artist Stephen Hall. ๐ผ๏ธ๐ Stephen shared how art has been deeply embedded in his life thanks to his art teacher mother, ๐ and he has gone on to create a vast body of work that spans many forms, including captivating picture books filled with Surrealist narratives. ๐๐๏ธ During the tutorial, Stephen drew horses ๐and figures ๐คshaped by raw emotion, emphasising the importance of layers of meaning in art. ๐๐ He also shared innovative techniques like creating textured effects using scrunched paper tips, experimenting with ink and water spray to guideline work and spontaneous patterns, and bringing depth to impasto textural landscapes. Stephen encouraged the students to work hard, saying: "Some people pick up (art) really quickly, other people take longer - itโs about doing and being brave, being experimental and creative." Find out more about St Andrews College Marayong by visiting their website: https://www.standrewscmarayong.catholic.edu.au/About-Us/What-We-Offer
29 Jan 2025
From CSPD Instagram
On International LEGO Day we're highlighting the collaborative efforts of a history buff and his LEGO builder dad. ๐คฉ๐๐ฅ LEGO Master in the making, Seb Rich, a Year 10 student at St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes worked with his dad, a keen LEGO enthusiast and member of SydLUG (Sydney LEGO User Group), to design and build an impressive LEGO moc (My Own Creation) which they displayed at Australia's biggest LEGO fan exhibition, Brickvention, held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne during the school holidays. ๐๏ธ๐ฅ๐ This huge (4.8m x 2.2m) and intricate display was inspired by the Persians and Britons civilizations in the popular Age of Empires II computer game and was a crowd favourite at the popular LEGO event. ๐ฐ๐๏ธ๐ฎ๐คฉ๐ Seb's favourite subject at school is History ๐ and he loved the opportunity to combine his passion for the past with his dad's LEGO hobby. The build took many months to prepare and used thousands of LEGO bricks and parts of all shapes and sizes. ๐๐งฐ๐ท The father and son team even got a visit and a thumbs up from Brickman himself! More than 10,000 members of the public visited the event over three days. ๐ฒ๐๐ #ageofempires #LEGOmoc #brickvention #cspd2025 #legobuilders #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #westernsydney #greystanes @stpaulscollegegreystanes #internationallegoday
28 Jan 2025
From CSPD Facebook
What do you do when you're a history buff and your dad is a LEGO builder? ๐คCollaborate! ๐ฅ It's International LEGO day and we're highlighting the efforts of a LEGO Master in the making. ๐คฉ๐ Seb Rich, a Year 10 student at St Pauls Catholic College, Greystanes worked with his dad, a keen LEGO enthusiast and member of SydLUG (Sydney LEGO User Group), to design and build ๐๏ธan impressive ๐ฅLEGO moc (My Own Creation) which they displayed at Australia's biggest LEGO fan exhibition ๐, Brickvention, held at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne during the school holidays. This huge (4.8m x 2.2m) and intricate display was inspired by the Persians and Britons civilizations in the popular Age of Empires II computer game ๐ฐ๐๏ธ๐ฎ and was a crowd favourite at the popular LEGO event. ๐คฉ๐ Seb's favourite subject at school is History ๐ and he loved the opportunity to combine his passion for the past with his dad's LEGO hobby. ๐ The build took many months to prepare and used thousands of LEGO bricks and parts of all shapes and sizes. ๐งฐ๐ท The father and son team even got a visit and a thumbs up from Brickman himself! ๐ฒMore than 10,000 members of the public visited the event over three days. ๐๐ #ageofempires #LEGOmoc #legobuilders #brickvention