Diocesan News
ACS Primary Sport - Winter Sport
Close to four hundred students from around the Diocese travelled to Sport UNE in Armidale for the Armidale Diocesan Winter Trials on Friday, 28th March. An array of talent was on display in all codes, despite the typical New England weather. Students played several games, showing off their elite abilities and skills throughout the day. Sport UNE was a great facility, especially because it had all the sports in one place for the day.
Our team managers, convenors and selectors for the trials did an amazing job, as always. We are so lucky to have so many dedicated teachers to provide opportunities like this one to our students.
NETBALL
Mrs Hatton changed codes for the day, normally at the League; however, she did a fabulous job of convening. From all reports, students, parents and staff had a fantastic day.
Thank you to Alison Hatton, Amanda Sheridan and Millie Woolaston for attending today to assist Melissa Schweitzer in selecting a superstar side for the Polding Netball championships. A special mention to the O’Connor Catholic College students for assisting with the umpiring and our volunteer parents for coaching the team. All the girls played exceptionally well in the cool weather, and I saw lots of smiling faces and impressive netballers on the court.
HOCKEY
The Hockey trials were exceptionally well run and I heard some great feedback on the sideline that the trials were so well run! Kids had a great day and really enjoyed the skills and drills session. Jodi Woolaston, Cathy Shepherd and Tahlia Morrissey are pretty familiar with the sport of Hockey and ran a great day. Thank you to Connor Shepherd and the O’Connor students for also assisting throughout the day.
Again, all students performed so well in the cooler weather, making friends off the turf and showing off their skills on the turf. Well done
Congratulations also to the Boys' Hockey students. Unfortunately, we did not have enough numbers to hold trials.
FOOTBALL
Outstanding Football on display from all students today. Shout out to Nick O’Neill, Sophie Maher, Emily Press, Nicole Henn and Dallas Hyatt for assisting with a great day. The skills session was a great way to start the day, and the whole day ran smoothly despite the drizzling rain for most part of the day.
LEAGUE
What a great day of league for both 11-year-old & 12-year-old students. Some superb footy, lots of encouragement on the field amongst teammates and great sportsmanship.
Shout out to Casey Chard for convening the day and allowing it to run so smoothly. Thank you to Sam Casson, Katie McMeniman, Emma Martin and Mark Galliene for taking on the team manager roles, Jarred, Claire and Steve for doing a top job as our referees and the parents who helped out with the coaching roles.
We had some super tough students attend. The intensity was high and the skill level even higher. I was impressed with the fabulous tackles and strong defensive lines. I also loved listening to the players form friendships on the sidelines.
Congratulations to the following students who will attend the Polding trials in Bathurst in May.
ACS Sport - NSWCPS & NSWCCC Swimming Championships
We sent a Primary team of 62 students and a Secondary team of 19 students to the NSWCPS & NSWCCC Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 2nd & Wednesday 3rd April at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
All students represented their families, schools, and diocese very well.
We had some children medal throughout the day for both Primary and Secondary.
Primary
Wyatt Shorter; 11 yrs Boys 50m Breaststroke - Gold & 11 yr Boys 50m Backstroke Gold.
Jimmy Fitzgerald; 10 yrs Boys 50m Freestyle Bronze
Banjo Fitzgerald; 11 yr Boys 50m Freestyle - Silver & 11 yrs Boys Butterfly - Gold
Belle Nichols; 10 yrs Girls 50m Freestyle Gold & 8-10 yrs Girls 50m Butterfly - Bronze
Lewis Mainey 10 yer Boys 50m Freestyle - Bronze & 8-10 yrs Boys Breaststroke Bronze.
Junior Girls Relay Team; St Xavier’s Team, won the gold medal and broke the Polding record!
PP5 Relay; St Joseph’s Mungindi - Bronze
PP6 Relay; Sacred Heart Boggabri - Bronze
Secondary
Josh Spinks; 200m Fresstyle Bronze
Senior Girls 4 x 50m relay; McCarthy Catholic College senior girls relay team - Bronze
All those medaling will now compete at the NSWPSSA (Primary) and All Schools (Secondary) Swimming Carnivals. We wish all students the very best at these trials.
Spirit Of Catholic Education Awards
Nominations are now open for the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2025.
Please nominate outstanding staff, students and volunteers across our Diocese for an award!
Nominations close: 11th April, 2025
2025 Students as Authors Writing Competition
The 2025 writing competition is now open for all students in the Diocese of Armidale Catholic Schools. The competition celebrates students and their creative writing talents across four age based categories.
Winning entrants will have the opportunity to work with illustrator, Trish Donald, to develop their story into an ebook published for an audience of 250,000 Catholic education students across 15 Diocese. Please promote the competition with your school community and support students to enter. Entries close Friday 30th May.
NCEC Federal Election Materials
2025 Federal Election materials, now available on the NCEC website.
- The 2025 Federal Election page includes: A two-page Parent Priorities document
- A four-page Briefing document for school/system leaders and politicians
- A School Funding Explainer
- A Dispelling the Myths page
You may also find this article useful: Federal Election on 3 May – What You Need to Know
While not a formal media release, it includes comments from Jacinta Collins on the election and our key priorities.
See link 2025 Federal Election materials
ACS CAPA grant information
As most of you may be aware, in 2018 Armidale Catholic Schools introduced the new support of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) grant that is available for all Primary and Secondary schools. The CAPA grant is a funding model that provides opportunities for schools or outside programs to design experiences that extend our young people's learning in this curriculum area. Further information can be found through the staff portal under the Mission & Learning Central; Curriculum; Creative Arts. Many examples on the CAPA website provide creative ways to implement this CAPA funding initiative into your school. Please feel free to get in contact with Heidi Hardaker hlebrocq@arm.catholic.edu.au if you have any further questions or require support throughout the application process.