St Angela's students try to figure out how a hot air balloon landed on their oval
St Angela’s Primary, Castle Hill students arrived at school on 20 August, 2015 to find something unusual.
As part of St Angela’s Writing Festival, a hot air balloon that looked as if it had crashed, was placed on the school oval.
The writing festival encourages all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 to write an informative, persuasive or entertaining piece based on the hot air balloon.
Classes came out to examine the scene and its many artefacts and returned to class to plan and begin their writing.
Principal Tony Calabria said the writing festivals are a great way to stimulate students’ imagination.
‘The students were all curious and had their own ideas about what it was and how it got there,’ Tony said. ‘There was a buzz with plenty of talk in every corner of the playground.’
‘We believe initiatives like the Writing Festival are working to improve learning outcomes and are being reflected in our Naplan results, with 80 percent of our Year 3 students in the top two bands for writing’ he said. ‘This and many other strategies have helped our goal of enhancing the children’s writing.’
All written pieces will be published in a special class display folder to be read by others.
What is inside the top secret box?
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
-
31 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Happy World Teachers' Day to our incredible teachers! Today, our staff were treated to a special morning tea and showered with appreciation from our wonderful school community. We are deeply grateful to our Parent Representatives for organising this thoughtful celebration, and to all our families for your kind messages, generous gifts and ongoing support. As a Catholic school, we recognise that teaching is more than a profession, it is a vocation. Through their patience, compassion, encouragement and care, our teachers strive to be the face of Jesus to our students each day, nurturing not only their learning, but also their faith, confidence and sense of belonging. Thank you to our amazing teachers for all that you do and for the positive difference you make in the lives of our students every day. We are truly blessed to have such dedicated staff and such a supportive community. 💙✨🙏🏻29 Oct 2026
From Facebook
A Transformative Day at Cana Farm 💚 🌿🐴 Today, our Year 6 MacKillop Award students had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cana Farm, a Cana Communities initiative, where they dedicated their time to serving others through caring for the animals and helping with various tasks around the farm. Beyond their hours of service, students were invited to reflect on the deeper meaning of their experience, making meaningful connections to the biblical story of The Wedding at Cana and the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Human Dignity. Through this experience, students discovered the importance of taking the time to truly listen, understand and connect with others, recognising that every human person deserves to feel seen, heard, valued and loved, regardless of their background or circumstances. It was a truly transformative day that reminded our students that service is not simply about what we do for others, but how we encounter others with compassion, respect and an open heart. A heartfelt thank you to Martin and David from Cana Farm for providing such an enriching and meaningful experience for our students. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to put our faith into action and witness the power of human connection. 🙏
Latest News More news
31 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Happy World Teachers' Day to our incredible teachers! Today, our staff were treated to a special morning tea and showered with appreciation from our wonderful school community. We are deeply grateful to our Parent Representatives for organising this thoughtful celebration, and to all our families for your kind messages, generous gifts and ongoing support. As a Catholic school, we recognise that teaching is more than a profession, it is a vocation. Through their patience, compassion, encouragement and care, our teachers strive to be the face of Jesus to our students each day, nurturing not only their learning, but also their faith, confidence and sense of belonging. Thank you to our amazing teachers for all that you do and for the positive difference you make in the lives of our students every day. We are truly blessed to have such dedicated staff and such a supportive community. 💙✨🙏🏻
29 Oct 2026
From Facebook
A Transformative Day at Cana Farm 💚 🌿🐴 Today, our Year 6 MacKillop Award students had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cana Farm, a Cana Communities initiative, where they dedicated their time to serving others through caring for the animals and helping with various tasks around the farm. Beyond their hours of service, students were invited to reflect on the deeper meaning of their experience, making meaningful connections to the biblical story of The Wedding at Cana and the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Human Dignity. Through this experience, students discovered the importance of taking the time to truly listen, understand and connect with others, recognising that every human person deserves to feel seen, heard, valued and loved, regardless of their background or circumstances. It was a truly transformative day that reminded our students that service is not simply about what we do for others, but how we encounter others with compassion, respect and an open heart. A heartfelt thank you to Martin and David from Cana Farm for providing such an enriching and meaningful experience for our students. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to put our faith into action and witness the power of human connection. 🙏
23 Oct 2026
From Facebook
Our families are having a spooky fun time at our annual Bingo Night! 👻 thank you to our Year 3 parents for hosting a fantastic event!
22 Oct 2026
From Facebook
🧦⚽💛 SOCKTOBER: Walking in the Shoes of Others 💛⚽🧦 Our Socktober celebrations began with a meaningful liturgy led by our Year 6 MacKillop Awardees, who reflected on the Gospel of the Good Samaritan and its powerful message of compassion, kindness and care for others. Connecting Jesus’ call to love our neighbour with the mission of Catholic Mission, students engaged in prayer and dialogue, deepening their understanding of the challenges faced by children and communities in Malawi and the importance of standing in solidarity with those in need. Students put their creativity into action by making their own sockballs using odd socks and recycled materials! ⚽ Through this hands-on experience, they gained a greater appreciation of how children around the world find joy in playing with handmade soccer balls, while learning the importance of empathy, gratitude and global responsibility. Despite the rainy weather, we made it work and embraced the spirit of Socktober! 🌧️💛 We are reminded that even small actions can make a big difference when we put our faith into action. A heartfelt thank you to our staff and families for their wonderful support, and a special shout-out to our Faith in Action Coordinator, Miss McEntee, for organising this meaningful day! Together, we can kick goals for good! 🌍❤️
15 Oct 2026
From Facebook
A group of our Yr 4 & 5 MIni Vinnies visited the MacKillop Catholic Care today. They brought joy through song and dance. Just like the residents and carers, our students look forward to seeing them again soon. Thank you to our parent helpers for assisting with transportation, we are grateful for your support.
12 Oct 2026
From Facebook
2026 Sacrament of First Reconciliation – REGISTRATION CLOSES TODAY!!! Our Lady of the Rosary Kellyville Parish invites all parents of baptised children in Year 2 or above to register for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Key Information: How to Register: Complete the registration form on this page: https://olorparishkellyville.org.au/sacraments/... Deadline: Please complete your registration by Monday, 12 October to reserve a place. Contact: If you have any questions, please email sacraments@olorparishkellyville.org.au. See less
28 Sep 2026
Celebrating 40 years of Voice of Youth and the power of student voice
Six Year 6 students from 58 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) Primary schools came together at St John XXIII Catholic College Stanhope Gardens on 22 September for the Voice of Youth Grand Final, showcasing their public speaking skills through a series of thoughtful and engaging speeches.
25 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominations are now open for students wishing to trial for the 2027 Parramatta Diocesan Primary Sport Teams.
24 Sep 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 5 students have enjoyed fabulous weather and a great first day at Vision Valley. Commencing with a beautiful liturgy and a wonderful outdoor setting and then moving into activities throughout the day. Now all very eager to enjoy a delicious dinner together!
18 Sep 2026
From Facebook
This afternoon, our Year 6 students proudly showcased their learning through a wonderful assembly! Students took part in a mock House of Representatives, debating and creating their own laws around school days. It was wonderful to see their confidence, teamwork and understanding of how our government works on display. Well done, Year 6!
17 Sep 2026
From Facebook
On Monday a selection of our Year 6 Mackillop Award students and Year 5 Mini Vinnies students had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Catholic Mission Socktober Launch at Wanderers Fives, where they participated in a day of reflection, learning and soccer! A highlight of the day was the soccer matches, while also learning about the importance and significance of Socktober and how it supports communities in need around the world. Our students returned inspired and excited to share their learning with the rest of our school as we prepare to launch Socktober at St Angela’s in Term 4. We look forward to seeing how, together as a St Angela’s community, we can put our faith into action and make a difference! 🧦⚽💙
16 Sep 2026
From Facebook
2026 Sacrament of First Reconciliation – Registration Opens on Monday, 21 September! Our Lady of the Rosary Kellyville Parish invites all parents of baptised children in Year 2 or above to register for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Key Information: How to Register: Complete the registration form on this page: https://olorparishkellyville.org.au/sacraments/#reconciliation Deadline: Please complete your registration by Monday, 12 October to reserve a place. Contact: If you have any questions, please email sacraments@olorparishkellyville.org.au.