Inspired by their school’s mission to celebrate diversity and respect others, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Baulkham Hills recently held Japan Day to enhance student learning about Japanese culture.
As part of the new HSIE syllabus, Year 5 students were given the opportunity to compare the cities of Sydney and Tokyo in a ‘Factors that Shape Places’ unit.
Held in Term Two, Japan Day was a joint initiative between Our Lady of Lourdes Primary and Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill. It was designed to make learning relevant and exciting for the Year 5 students, and engage Year 9 and 10 students in consolidating their own learning through teaching younger students.
One of the activities during the day required students to learn through inquiry about the typical features of a Japanese house, and answer questions such as: ‘How do people and environments influence one another?’ and ‘How do people influence places and the management of spaces within them?’
Such a mutual learning arrangement between the two schools showed a strong commitment to work together to facilitate and maximize student learning.
In addition to helping students learn experientially, it is seen as another opportunity to transition the primary students into high school on completion of Year 6.
It also provides the primary students an insight into what studying Japanese at Gilroy College entails, as all activities on Japan Day are prepared and run entirely by the high school students.
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04 Jul 2025
From Facebook
On the final day of a busy term, a number of students from each year group were treated to pizza as a token of appreciation for their exceptional efforts and contributions to the College and their peers. These students consistently exhibited outstanding behaviour by arriving at school each day with a positive attitude, quietly performing the right actions, and maintaining a high attendance record. Congratulations to these students for setting exemplary standards both in the classroom and on the playground.
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03 Jul 2025
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03 Jul 2025
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Enjoy these photos of our Athletics Carnival.....and more to come over the next 2 weeks!
02 Jul 2025
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Today was an unforgettable day at Gilroy Catholic College, as world-famous artist Johnny Romeo dropped by to share his vibrant journey as a pop artist! He spoke passionately about pop culture and how artists play a key role in sparking conversations about today’s global issues. Our Year 8 Visual Arts students were all ears during an inspiring Q&A, and to top it off, Sienna walked away with a signed, limited-edition print of Johnny's artwork! This is a reflection from a student who attended Johnny’s presentation: “Johnny Romeo shared a lot about his paintings and discussed the meaning behind some of his remarkable Pop Culture artworks. As Johnny Romeo shared his artworks, he explained how they influence, impact and play a part within our daily lives. Johnny Romeo took the time to answer a variety of questions from the students, giving them insightful and meaningful answers for them to take away with them. Overall, Johnny Romeo's art talk was inspiring, entertaining and enjoyable for all of the students, keeping them engaged and attentive throughout the presentation.” We thank Johnny for his inspiring presentation. #johnnyromeoart
02 Jul 2025
From Facebook
Students have been working hard to earn their house points, and the winner for Term 1 is Tchingal Red House with a fantastic 1117 points! Points are earned through merits, non-detentions, community events led by student leaders and representative sports & carnivals. As a reward for their outstanding efforts, Tchingal students were treated to delicious donuts during their wellbeing lesson yesterday—and it looks like they were a hit! Congratulations, Tchingal! Keep up the great work and school spirit!
01 Jul 2025
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Recently, Gilroy Catholic College was proud to welcome former student and leading Hills District real estate agent, Mr. Scott Dunger, along with his team from Manor Real Estate, to speak with students about careers in the real estate industry. Scott, Mark, and Anthony gave an insightful overview of a typical day in the life of a real estate agent, including the qualifications needed to get started as well as the pathways available for career progression. Dyanne also shared valuable knowledge about the critical roles within administration, such as executive assistance and office management. We are incredibly grateful to the Manor team for sharing their time, advice, and industry expertise. The key takeaway for our students? Real estate isn’t just about fancy suits and flashy cars, it’s about building genuine relationships, communicating effectively, and applying strong business skills to build a successful career!
01 Jul 2025
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Last Friday, Gilroy Catholic College was bursting with house spirit as we held our annual Athletics Carnival! The atmosphere was electric, with cheers echoing across the grounds in a spectacular show of support, energy, and community spirit. A massive thank you to our incredible staff, student leaders and student volunteers whose dedication made the day such a success — your efforts didn’t go unnoticed! Record-Breaking Highlights A special congratulations to Year 11 student Caitlyn, who made Gilroy history by breaking two long-standing school records: Long Jump (16s Girls): Surpassing the 2003 record of 5.06m with a new distance of 5.10m. High Jump: Caitlyn broke the 1995 record of 1.48m — not once, but three times — finishing with an outstanding 1.54m, a full 6cm above the 30-year-old benchmark! Your determination and talent are inspiring, Caitlyn — your name is now firmly etched in Gilroy's athletic history! This week and over the school holidays, we’ll be sharing snapshots from the day capturing the fun, sportsmanship, and community spirit that made it unforgettable. Stay tuned!
30 Jun 2025
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27 Jun 2025
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Last week, our students were getting hands-on (and flour-covered!) in the Make It Bake It Challenge to celebrate National Archaeology Week! The challenge? Recreate an archaeological artifact or site using edible materials, a creative (and tasty) way to explore our ancient past! From Marie Antoinette to the Egyptian pyramids, students are connecting with history in a fun, unique and meaningful way. Because archaeology isn’t just about digging, it’s about curiosity, creativity, and understanding the stories that shaped our world. This challenge helps students engage with history beyond the textbook, encouraging research, innovation, and a whole lot of teamwork. We especially enjoyed taste-testing our delicious creations! Congratulations to Jack (Year 11) and Claudia (Year 12), who were the respective winners in our senior cohorts. #NationalArchaeologyWeek #MakeItBakeIt #HistoryYouCanEat #StudentCreativity #EdibleArchaeology
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award – Practice Adventurous Journey 18th–20th June The largest group of Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates from the College in many years successfully completed their Practice Adventurous Journey from the 18th to the 20th of June. Day 1 – Kayaking the Hawkesbury The journey began at the Deerubbun boat ramp in Mooney Mooney, where students carefully packed their gear into the hatches of their kayaks and received final briefings. From there, they paddled along the beautiful Hawkesbury River, navigating around the many oyster leases scattered throughout the waterway. A scenic stop for lunch at Back Beach, Fiddletown, offered a welcome break before the group continued on to Marramarra Creek in Marramarra National Park, where they set up camp before nightfall. Day 2 – Hiking Smugglers Ridge On the second day, students swapped paddles for hiking boots and embarked on a bushwalk along the Smugglers Ridge Track. The hike featured spectacular views and fascinating insights into the area’s natural and cultural heritage, making for a truly enjoyable and enriching experience. Day 3 – Paddling Home With the tides in mind, students set off early on the final morning, gliding through the morning mist as they made their way back along the Hawkesbury River to the boat ramp. From there, they returned to school, tired but proud. Congratulations to all participants on their achievement. The journey was a challenging yet rewarding experience, and a significant step towards completing the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.
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Last week, our talented Hospitality students hosted delighted College staff at recess and lunch, providing the perfect opportunity to showcase their growing skills in food preparation and service. The students created an exceptional experience, from beautifully presented food that tasted as good as it looked to warm, professional service delivered with a smile. This event not only left a lasting impression on staff but also served as a valuable learning experience for the students. It helped build their confidence and refine their skills as they move closer to their future careers in the hospitality industry. Well done to all involved!
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Recently, Gilroy Catholic College Year 11 Biology students attended two Biology excursions. The first one was to Bobbin Head to learn about mangrove systems based on our topic of ecosystem dynamics, which got us to study the factors that impact a plant's change in different environments. The second one was to the Australian Museum, Botanical Gardens and a visit to Taronga Zoo to learn about biological diversity in animals and plants. The two days were very impactful and helped us to develop in-depth studies that are very important for our assessment, as well as gain more knowledge about scientific studies. Ella, Year 11.
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