Student mobile phone use will be banned across 80 Western Sydney Catholic schools from the beginning of the 2026 school year. The restriction presents a positive opportunity to enhance student outcomes, both in academic excellence and wellbeing.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot feels that consistent restrictions with clear parameters are necessary to support both students and staff.
“Though the majority of our schools already have a phones-off-and-away approach, it’s important to make clear that this is the right approach for all our students,” Jack said. “Of course, there is a place for mobile phones in our lives, but that’s not at school.”
Parent representative George Giovas agrees that school is not the place for mobile phones.
”It is important to have a consistent, proactive and collaborative approach to the issue of mobile phones,” George said.
The safety and wellbeing of all our children and teachers during school is paramount. This is something that needs to be understood, respected and adhered to.
With the social media ban for children and young people under 16 coming into effect in December, the move to restrict phone use feels particularly timely. It also provides an opportunity to encourage students to prioritise real-world interactions and build social skills accordingly. School staff will receive support in implementing this policy throughout the school day, including guidance on appropriate consequences for breaches.
Of course, a small number of carefully considered exceptions to these rules will be allowed. For example, some students with diabetes use mobile phone apps to monitor their blood sugar levels and require access to a phone for safety reasons. Digital literacy will continue to be valued, but the ban certainly supports boundary-setting and perspective.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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10 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Our Story, Told by Every Hand As we conclude our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we are proud to unveil our collaborative artwork, inspired by the stories Billie shared with our students. After learning about the 'forever art' created by Aboriginal Elders to share their communities' stories, every student at St Patrick's added their own handprint to create a unique artwork that tells the story of our school community. Our Year 6 students proudly completed the final touches, bringing together a masterpiece created by every child. As we celebrate this year's NAIDOC Week theme, "50 Years of Deadly," this artwork reminds us that every story matters, every culture is valued, and every student has left their mark on the story of St Patrick's. We hope you enjoy our masterpiece as much as we enjoyed creating it. Watch out for our beautiful community art piece at school. #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats #NAIDOCWeek #50yearsofdeadly #naidocweek #50YearsOfDeadly
09 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Celebrating Culture Together Our Year 5 students thoroughly enjoyed learning from Billie during our NAIDOC Week celebrations. Through storytelling, music, dance and hands-on experiences, students gained a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the importance of preserving stories for future generations. We are so grateful to Billie for sharing her knowledge and inspiring our students through such a meaningful experience. #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats #50yearsofdeadly #naidocweek #50YearsOfDeadly #NAIDOCWeek
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10 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Our Story, Told by Every Hand As we conclude our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we are proud to unveil our collaborative artwork, inspired by the stories Billie shared with our students. After learning about the 'forever art' created by Aboriginal Elders to share their communities' stories, every student at St Patrick's added their own handprint to create a unique artwork that tells the story of our school community. Our Year 6 students proudly completed the final touches, bringing together a masterpiece created by every child. As we celebrate this year's NAIDOC Week theme, "50 Years of Deadly," this artwork reminds us that every story matters, every culture is valued, and every student has left their mark on the story of St Patrick's. We hope you enjoy our masterpiece as much as we enjoyed creating it. Watch out for our beautiful community art piece at school. #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats #NAIDOCWeek #50yearsofdeadly #naidocweek #50YearsOfDeadly
09 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Celebrating Culture Together Our Year 5 students thoroughly enjoyed learning from Billie during our NAIDOC Week celebrations. Through storytelling, music, dance and hands-on experiences, students gained a deeper understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the importance of preserving stories for future generations. We are so grateful to Billie for sharing her knowledge and inspiring our students through such a meaningful experience. #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats #50yearsofdeadly #naidocweek #50YearsOfDeadly #NAIDOCWeek
08 Jul 2026
From Facebook
💙 Go the Blues! 💙 Tonight is State of Origin night, and while we know some of our St Patrick's families will be proudly wearing maroon, we're getting behind the NSW Blues! While these photos were originally taken earlier this year when our students wore blue to celebrate Ms Barton's upcoming wedding, we thought they were the perfect way to show our support for the mighty Blues. Good luck to the NSW team as they take on Queensland tonight. We'll be cheering you on every step of the way! 💙 Go the Blues! 💙
08 Jul 2026
From Facebook
🕰️ Way Back When Wednesday – 1986 This week, we're taking a trip back to 1986! 🇦🇺 Australian Prime Minister: Bob Hawke 🍞 A loaf of bread: Around 70 cents ⛽ Petrol: Approximately 55 cents per litre 🎵 Popular Song: You're the Voice – John Farnham 🎬 Popular Movie: Crocodile Dundee became an Australian classic and captured audiences around the world. 🏉 NRL Premiers: Parramatta Eels defeated the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 4–2 to claim their fourth premiership in six years. Did you know? 📺 Neighbours was one of Australia's most popular television shows, and children everywhere were collecting stickers, marbles and trading cards in the school playground. It was also the year Mrs Standring graduated from high school! Were you at St Patrick's in 1986? We'd love to hear your memories! Share them in the comments below. 💚💛 #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #learningisfunatStPats #waybackwhen #WayBackWhensday #waybackwhenwednesday #waybackwhensday
08 Jul 2026
CSPD students recognised in Refugee Week Creative Competition
Over 125 students from 10 Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) schools have been recognised for their empathy and powerful storytelling as part of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia Refugee Week Creative Competition.
07 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Learning Through Story, Culture and Connection Today we are celebrating the experiences of our Kindy, Years 3 and 1 students during our NAIDOC Week incursion with Billie. Students listened carefully to stories, explored traditional artefacts, enjoyed music and dance, and learnt how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures have been sharing knowledge and history through storytelling for generations. Each experience helped our students build a deeper appreciation of the rich cultures that continue to shape our nation. #50YearsOfDeadly #naidocweek #50yearsofdeadly #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats
06 Jul 2026
From Facebook
NAIDOC Week at St Patrick's Our Year 2 students were privileged to learn from Billie, who proudly shared her Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions as part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations. Through storytelling, traditional artefacts, music and dance, students enthusiastically embraced every opportunity to learn about the rich histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It was a meaningful experience that encouraged curiosity, respect and a deeper appreciation of Australia's First Peoples. Stay tuned as we continue sharing our NAIDOC Week celebrations throughout the week! #NAIDOCWeek #naidocweek #50yearsofdeadly #50YearsOfDeadly #StPatricksParramatta #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #learningisfunatStPats #cspd
05 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Celebrating NAIDOC Week – 50 Years of Deadly This week, we proudly celebrate NAIDOC Week and this year's milestone theme, "50 Years of Deadly," honouring five decades of celebrating the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Year 4 students experienced a special cultural incursion led by the wonderful Billie. Students explored traditional dress, listened to the sounds of instruments made from bamboo and wood, learnt traditional dances, and discovered how stories have been shared through art for countless generations. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding, appreciation and respect for the world's oldest continuing culture. #50yearsofdeadly #50YearsOfDeadly #NAIDOCWeek #naidocweek #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #learningisfunatStPats #cspd
03 Jul 2026
From Facebook
🇦🇺💚💛 Go Socceroos! Year 4 showed their green and gold spirit last Friday as they came together to watch the Socceroos take on Paraguay in their final group match at the FIFA World Cup. The students loved cheering on Australia and learning more about teamwork, resilience and representing your country on the world stage. With stars like Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Aziz Behich, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato leading the way, our students are now eagerly looking ahead to tomorrow morning's huge knockout clash against Egypt. May the good luck continue! A win would see the Socceroos create history by claiming Australia's first-ever victory in a FIFA World Cup knockout match. What an incredible achievement that would be! Good luck, Socceroos! Our Year 4 students and the entire St Patrick's community will be cheering you on every step of the way. 💚💛 Come on, Australia! 🇦🇺⚽
03 Jul 2026
From Facebook
💚❄️ Winter Appeal - Thank You! ❄️💚 The generosity of our St Patrick's community continues to amaze us! Last week, we proudly delivered our second collection of donations for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Seeing another vanload of generously donated items was a wonderful reminder of the compassion and kindness that lives within our school community. Every donation represents more than just a practical item; it is a message of hope, dignity and care for someone who may be facing a difficult winter. Thank you to every student, family and staff member who has contributed to this year's appeal. Through your generosity, you have helped bring warmth to others and shown what it truly means to live out our faith through service. Together, we are making a difference, one act of kindness at a time. Our school may have made two collections, but together we have made one incredible difference. #FaithInAction #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #StPatricksParramatta #LivingTheGospel #CommunitySpirit #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #learningisfunatStPats #cspd
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
❤️🧥 Winter Appeal - First Collection🧥❤️ Our St Patrick's community has once again demonstrated what it means to put our faith into action. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our students, families, and staff, we have delivered our first donation collection for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Every blanket, jacket, jumper, beanie, scarf and non-perishable food item donated is a reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others. As the winter months continue, these gifts will help bring warmth, comfort and hope to those doing it tough. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Your generosity reflects the Gospel values we strive to live each day at St Patrick's. There is still time to donate as we continue to support this important cause. Together, we can make a real difference. 💚 "For it is in giving that we receive." #FaithInAction #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #StPatricksParramatta #CommunityKindness #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #learningisfunatStPats #cspd
01 Jul 2026
From Facebook
🕰️ **Way Back When Wednesday** 🕰️ Can you guess the year? 🔹 The Prime Minister of Australia was Julia Gillard. 🔹 The biggest song in Australia was 'Party Rock Anthem' by LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock. 🔹 The biggest movie at the Australian box office was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. 🔹 A loaf of bread cost around $2.70. 🔹 Petrol was approximately was $1.35 per litre. 🔹 The Manly Sea Eagles were crowned NRL Premiers after defeating the New Zealand Warriors in the Grand Final. 🔹 And who could forget? "The Royal Wedding" of Prince William and Catherine Middleton captivated millions around the world. Have you worked it out yet? 🤔 🎉 The year was... 2011! Take a trip down memory lane with us as we revisit another chapter in the history of St Patrick's Primary School. 📸 Do you recognise anyone in this week's photo? 💭 Where were you in 2011? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments! #WayBackWhenWednesday #StPatricksParramatta #SchoolHistory #Throwback #2011 #BelongToSomethingGreater #cspd2026 #100yearsofcatholiceducation #learningisfunatstpatsparramatta #catholicschools #cspd #learningisfunatStPats