It was a beautiful bright sunny day when Bishop Vincent Long and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) Executive Director Greg Whitby blessed St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong’s new Sr Josita Paczkowska Learning Centre.
The occasion marked the end of a long journey for the school in its quest to update its facilities. Now students, teachers and the wider school community can embrace the beginning of a new learning experience and journey.
Acting Principal Kim McDonald said all of the school’s learning spaces, and particularly the Sr Josita Paczkowska Learning Centre, gives students the opportunity to use talents God has given them. Bishop Vincent Long led the blessing of the new school building and acknowledged what a ’great achievement’’ it was for the school.
“This brand new school building will transform many lives. It will see relationships enhanced, friendships formed and futures invested. We must also acknowledge the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth who have been actively working in the school since its beginning,’’ Bishop Long said.
“Sr Josita was an inspiration for this community and her legacy will now lives on,’’ Bishop long said.
CEDP Executive Director Greg Whitby also acknowledged the sisters and said they must be amazed to see how the school is coming along. “They could not have seen 40 years ago what their legacy has brought them.”
Mr Whitby also thanked the State Government for their support in providing some funds which helped bring the building to life.
“We recently carried out a research project with Melbourne University about what we are doing with our school buildings,” Mr Whitby said. “We always want to support the learning experience and this research has shown the direction we are heading in with regards to our building projects is is the right one,’’ Mr Whitby said.
“This building is only as good as what happens in it,’’ Mr Whitby said.
Mr Kevin Conolly, the Riverstone State MP who was also representing the Minister for Education, said the government was happy to assist in the new school building becoming a reality as it believes in parents having a choice
“Parents are the first teachers and educators of their children. It is a partnership that starts with their children and the end product is the child that grows and learns in that space,’’ Mr Conolly said.
The new building has certainly lifted the spirits of St Andrew’s Primary and has ignited students desire to learn and grow.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 has been inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires! After reading the story, students worked in groups of 2–4 to design and build their own magnificent creations using concrete building materials. They showed fantastic teamwork and creativity as they brought their ideas to life. We are so proud of their amazing efforts!
29 Jun 2026
From Facebook
⚽️ Congratulations to all four of our Stage 3 boys’ and girls’ soccer teams on a fantastic day at the Soccer Gala Day! We saw great skill, teamwork and plenty of goals, with every team showing excellent sportsmanship and representing St Andrew’s with pride. 💙💛 A big thank you to our teachers for their support and coaching, and to our parents for cheering on the teams throughout the day. 👏
Latest News More news
02 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Year 1 has been inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires! After reading the story, students worked in groups of 2–4 to design and build their own magnificent creations using concrete building materials. They showed fantastic teamwork and creativity as they brought their ideas to life. We are so proud of their amazing efforts!
29 Jun 2026
From Facebook
⚽️ Congratulations to all four of our Stage 3 boys’ and girls’ soccer teams on a fantastic day at the Soccer Gala Day! We saw great skill, teamwork and plenty of goals, with every team showing excellent sportsmanship and representing St Andrew’s with pride. 💙💛 A big thank you to our teachers for their support and coaching, and to our parents for cheering on the teams throughout the day. 👏
26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🎉🏃♀️🏃♂️ Congratulations to Amelia, William, Rhys and Violetta on proudly representing the Parramatta Diocese at the NSWCPS Cross Country Championships! 👏💙 A special congratulations to 🥉 Violetta, who finished an outstanding 8th, and 👏 Rhys, who achieved a fantastic 18th place. Well done to all four students on this wonderful achievement. You have represented our school and the Parramatta Diocese with pride! 💙💛🏅
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
💙Our hearts are full of gratitude! 💙 A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful St Andrew’s community for your generous donations of pantry items for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. 🥫🧃🍝 As always, every item donated will be gratefully received and will make a real difference to those experiencing hardship in our community. ❤️ Your kindness, compassion and willingness to support others embody the spirit of giving that makes our school community so special. 🤝✨ Thank you for helping us bring warmth, hope and support to the poor and vulnerable this winter. 🧣☕🏠 We are deeply touched by your generosity. 💙🙏
17 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 4 have been exploring how body systems enable movement through the study of bones, muscles and joints. In Science, we created artwork inspired by X-rays, carefully representing the bones in our hands. Check out our X-travagant work! 🦴✨
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏃♂️🏃♀️🌟 A big congratulations to all of our students who competed in the Parramatta Diocesan Cross Country at Eastern Creek! 🌟 Our students put in a fantastic effort and represented St Andrew’s with pride, determination and sportsmanship. 💙💛 We were thrilled to see so many personal bests achieved across all age groups! 👏🎉 A special congratulations to 🏅 William, 🏅 Rhys, 🏅 Amelia and 🏅 Violetta, who all finished in the Top 8 and have qualified for the next level of competition. What an incredible achievement! 🌟 We are so proud of every student who took part. Well done everyone! 🎊👏🏃♀️🏃♂️
13 Jun 2026
From Facebook
It’s official! ⭐️🎉👏 SAPS is delighted to share the exciting news that Mrs Bond will continue to be part of our wonderful school community, having officially been appointed as our new Principal! Congratulations, Mrs Bond! ⭐️👏🎉
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Our little Kindergarten scientists have been investigating how different materials are used for different purposes and how some materials are more durable than others. To put their learning into action, students took on the challenge of building homes for the Three Little Pigs using a variety of materials. They explored, tested, and compared which materials made the strongest and most durable houses. It was wonderful to see their creativity, problem-solving skills, and scientific thinking as they worked together to design and build their houses. Well done, Kindergarten scientists! 🌟🏠✨
11 Jun 2026
From Facebook
✏️ Our Year 2 students have been developing their persuasive writing skills by writing letters to Mrs Bond, advocating for a new playground 🛝 and a garden filled with sweet-smelling flowers 🌸. 💡 The children also brainstormed creative fundraising ideas to help bring their projects to life. It was wonderful to see them sharing their ideas, supporting their opinions and thinking about ways to improve our school. 🌟 Future leaders in the making!
10 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our fantastic Students of the Week and Best Classes for Weeks 6 & 7! Your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to learning have made you wonderful role models in our school community. We are so proud of your achievements—keep up the great work!
09 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🔊🪇 Sound Investigation in Year 2! 🪇🔊 In Year 2, students have been investigating how different materials and actions can affect the volume and pitch of sound. Using bottles brought from home, students added rice and a variety of pasta to design and create their very own musical instruments. Through hands-on exploration, students discovered that high-pitched sounds are created by fast vibrations and higher frequencies, while low-pitched sounds are produced by slower vibrations and lower frequencies. There was so much excitement, curiosity, and music-making as our young scientists explored sound in action! 🎶🎵🤩
09 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🦴 Year 4 have been busy exploring the amazing human body! This week, our young scientists learned all about bones and the important jobs they do. From protecting our organs to helping us move, we discovered how our skeleton keeps us strong and supported. The students enjoyed identifying different bones, learning their names, and finding out fun facts about the human body. There were lots of curious questions and enthusiastic discussions along the way!