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
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09 Jun 2026
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21 May 2026
From Facebook
We are so proud of our Year 5 LIFTED Live students who beautifully led this morning’s Laudato Si’ Week Prayer Assembly. 🌏💚 Through prayer, reflection and powerful messages of stewardship and sustainability, they inspired our community to care for our common home and make a positive difference in the world around us.
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21 May 2026
From Facebook
We are so proud of our Year 5 LIFTED Live students who beautifully led this morning’s Laudato Si’ Week Prayer Assembly. 🌏💚 Through prayer, reflection and powerful messages of stewardship and sustainability, they inspired our community to care for our common home and make a positive difference in the world around us.
21 May 2026
From Facebook
♻️🌏 Another activity part of Laudato Si’ Week, our students participated in an engaging and informative session presented by Cleanaway and proudly sponsored by The Hills Shire Council. Students explored the impact litter has on our environment and the detrimental effects it can have on our world and living creatures. Through interactive learning and discussion, students discovered the importance of disposing of rubbish responsibly and the role we all play in caring for our common home. 🌿💚 A wonderful reminder that even small actions can make a big difference in protecting God’s creation.
21 May 2026
From Facebook
🌏💚 During Laudato Si’ Week, our Year 5 Lifted Live students led our school community in a meaningful liturgy, sharing Pope Francis’ message of caring for our common home. Through prayer, reflection and interactive activities, the Year 5 Lifted Live students encouraged us all to think about how we can be better stewards of creation in our everyday lives. We are so proud of the way they confidently led the liturgy and inspired others to take action with faith, hope and compassion. 🌿🙏
21 May 2026
From Facebook
Hearts and smiles were on full display today! ❤️ Our very first group of Mini Vinnies (Years 4 & 5) paid a special visit to MacKillop Catholic Care. The students brought so much joy to the residents through beautiful songs and wonderful chats. 🎶💬 Thank you to Miss Dersch for leading a beautiful reflection before we left, helping our students prepare their hearts for this experience. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the wonderful parents who generously assisted with transporting our students today- Mrs Chehade, Mrs Dababneh, Mrs Merhi & Mrs Slabak, we couldn't have done it without you! 🙏✨
19 May 2026
From Facebook
Today, Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation ❤️🦕visited St Angela's Primary School in the Hills District, Sydney NSW to talk ‘ROAD SAFETY’ during National Road Safety Week! So lovely for me to go back to where I grew up. We are grateful for the opportunity to share lifesaving road safety knowledge and resources with all the students from Kindergarten to Year 6. Nothing makes me happier than to spread the message of ‘hold my hand ‘ & help children understand how important that simple action is in helping them to keep safe outside a vehicle given their cognitive, physical & perceptual limitations around roadways, driveways and carparks. In addition, the students have made a well informed road safety video for their parents to view around safe drop off & pick up at their school via their Facebook Page. Well done everyone 🙏🏻💖💖💖💖🚌🚙🚚🛵 at St. Angela’s and special thanks to their Principal, Mrs Nettleton and teaching staff for supporting this project….Thanking you all for your amazing attention to protecting your students from road trauma through effective communication and education of your student and parent community. #NRSW2026 #StAngelas #LittleBlueDinosaurFoundation #ChildPedestrianSafetyMatters
19 May 2026
From Facebook
🛑 National Road Safety Week 🛑 Today, our K-6 students had a very special visit from Michelle McLaughlin, the inspiring founder of the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation 🦖💙 Michelle shared an incredibly important message with our students about pedestrian safety, reminding everyone to always hold an adult's hand near roads, driveways, and car parks. A huge thank you to Michelle for helping us keep our little dinosaurs safe! We would also like to extend a special shout-out and thank you to Mr. Mittiga, a valued member of our parent community, who generously connected our school with Michelle to make this incredible learning opportunity happen. Families, you can find brilliant resources and road safety tips via the links below: 👉 Learn more: https://www.littlebluedinosaur.org/ 👉 Take the pledge: https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/ #NationalRoadSafetyWeek #LittleBlueDinosaur #HoldMyHand #SchoolIncursion #DriveSafe
18 May 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 Ascension Feast Day Morning Prayer Our Year 1 students beautifully led our school community in morning prayer today, guiding us in reflection and song. They did a wonderful job helping us mark the Feast of the Ascension, which celebrates Jesus returning to Heaven and trusting his followers to carry on his work of love and kindness on Earth. Thank you to our youngest leaders for inspiring us with your reverent hearts and joyful voices!
17 May 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to Quinn (Yr 5) who competed in the Parramatta Diocesan Softball tournament and was selected into the MacKillop team. She will now compete at the NSWPSSA championships. What an achievement! 🥎
15 May 2026
From Facebook
Fortunately, all of us were found not guilty at the High Court and are allowed to return home!