Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta students had the opportunity to shine when the Captivate performing and creative arts program recently hosted its 10th Anniversary Showcase at Quaycentre, Sydney Olympic Park.
The show combined a spectacular musical ensemble of 165 students, backed up by the 1000-student primary choir and 190-student secondary choir singing songs such as One Dream, Come Back to the Sea, Keep your Lamps Trimmed and Burning and River Run Free.
VIDEO: A glimpse into the amazing Captivate performance
This was complemented by a dance ensemble of 382 dancers who kept audiences enraptured. There was also a secondary drama ensemble of 90 students and a student ‘spoken word choir’ comprising 80 students from four primary schools.
One of the highlights of the performance was the use of puppetry and props to reflect the showcase’s storyline. The impact of the puppets was dramatic, guiding the audience through show’s theme of ‘creativity’: from the igniting of the creative spark, through to creative play, creative block, creative flow, and finally creative genius. The show’s finale was a stunning performance of Rihanna’s Diamonds in the Sky.
Captivate director Mark Hopkins said that for many students involved, it was their first major public performance.
“Others were consolidating many years of practice, rehearsal and performing, honing their skills for HSC practical examinations in the coming weeks or auditions for specialist post school arts study pathways in the coming months.
“Captivate is the program by which all students, regardless of prior experience or the location of their school, can access specialist learning in the arts.
“With a constant stream of research documenting evidence of the cognitive and social benefits of arts participation and learning, it is vital that such learning is part of each child’s education.”
St Andrew’s Primary, Marayong acting Principal Kim McDonald described the show as a rewarding experience for all those involved.
“Students have been rehearsing since February, both during recess and lunch breaks and also at formal off-site rehearsals with other students in the Diocese as well as during the school holidays,’’ Mrs McDonald said.
“This level of collaboration and creativity has provided opportunities for students to express themselves in a unique way. We are so proud of the students and thank them for their commitment, enthusiasm and persistence over such a long period of time.”
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04 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π CTK Supports Caritas Australiaβs Big Walk for Water! π§ This Lent, Christ the King Primary is Uniting Against Poverty as part of Project Compassion. Our goal is to raise $1500 to support communities around the world with access to clean water, healthcare, and safe shelter. Every donation helps bring dignity, hope, and real change. π β‘οΈ Donate here: Project Compassion Fundraiser As part of our faith in action, weβll also be hosting a Big Walk for Water on Friday, 13 March 2026, 9:30β11:00am. The morning includes a Liturgy in St Mary MacKillop Hall followed by a walk around the school, helping students understand the daily challenges millions face to access clean water. Thank you for helping us Unite Against Poverty this Lent! π
04 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π EXCITING NEWS! π Today (4 March) is Dollar Match Day for Caritas Australiaβs Project Compassion! π From 10:00am AEDT, every online donation made to our fundraising page will be DOUBLED β up to a national cap of $50,000! π That means: π° $50 becomes $100 π° $100 becomes $200 π° $200 becomes $400 Matched funds are provided by a generous supporter (not the school), and all donations go directly to Project Compassion. Matching applies to individual online donations up to $1,000 and runs until the $50,000 cap is reached β so be quick! β³ Thereβs never been a better time to Unite Against Poverty and make double the difference for vulnerable communities around the world. πβ¨ Donate here π https://www.projectcompassion.org.au/fundraisers/christthekingprimaryschoolnorthrocks
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04 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π CTK Supports Caritas Australiaβs Big Walk for Water! π§ This Lent, Christ the King Primary is Uniting Against Poverty as part of Project Compassion. Our goal is to raise $1500 to support communities around the world with access to clean water, healthcare, and safe shelter. Every donation helps bring dignity, hope, and real change. π β‘οΈ Donate here: Project Compassion Fundraiser As part of our faith in action, weβll also be hosting a Big Walk for Water on Friday, 13 March 2026, 9:30β11:00am. The morning includes a Liturgy in St Mary MacKillop Hall followed by a walk around the school, helping students understand the daily challenges millions face to access clean water. Thank you for helping us Unite Against Poverty this Lent! π
04 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π EXCITING NEWS! π Today (4 March) is Dollar Match Day for Caritas Australiaβs Project Compassion! π From 10:00am AEDT, every online donation made to our fundraising page will be DOUBLED β up to a national cap of $50,000! π That means: π° $50 becomes $100 π° $100 becomes $200 π° $200 becomes $400 Matched funds are provided by a generous supporter (not the school), and all donations go directly to Project Compassion. Matching applies to individual online donations up to $1,000 and runs until the $50,000 cap is reached β so be quick! β³ Thereβs never been a better time to Unite Against Poverty and make double the difference for vulnerable communities around the world. πβ¨ Donate here π https://www.projectcompassion.org.au/fundraisers/christthekingprimaryschoolnorthrocks
02 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π£ Join Us for Sunday Parish Mass! To celebrate Catholic Schools Week, Christ the King Primary warmly invites all families to Sunday Parish Mass on 8 March 2026 at 10am. πβ¨ Come together with our Parish community as we celebrate our Christ-centred school, where Catholic values, care for the whole person, and a love of learning guide us every day. Please RSVP by Thursday 5 March via the Compass Post. We can not wait to celebrate with you! π
02 Mar 2026
From Facebook
π£ Join Us for Sunday Parish Mass! To celebrate Catholic Schools Week, Christ the King Primary warmly invites all families to Sunday Parish Mass on 8 March 2026 at 10am. πβ¨ Come together with our Parish community as we celebrate our Christ-centred school, where Catholic values, care for the whole person, and a love of learning guide us every day. Please RSVP by Thursday 5 March via the Compass Post. We can not wait to celebrate with you! π
27 Feb 2026
From Facebook
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26 Feb 2026
From Facebook
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26 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Zone Swimming Update Congratulations Bella on making it through to the next level, Parramatta Diocese in both freestyle and backstroke:) ππ»ππ»
26 Feb 2026
From Facebook
πββοΈπ¦ Hills Zone Swimming Carnival π¦πββοΈ Our students proudly represented Christ the King at the Hills Zone Swimming Carnival! π It was fantastic to see their determination, sportsmanship and team spirit on display this morning. Whether competing in the pool or cheering on their teammates, our students gave their very best. We are so proud of their efforts and the way they represented our school community! ππ
25 Feb 2026
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πβ Week 4: Maths Activity & Shrove Tuesday π₯ Kindy had a fantastic Week 4 filled with learning and celebration! In Maths, students were actively engaged in hands-on activities, building their skills and confidence while having fun. ββ¨ We also celebrated Shrove Tuesday, learning about its meaning as we prepare for Lent, and enjoying some delicious pancakes together! π₯π A wonderful week of learning, faith and fun!
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From Facebook
CTK Begins the Season of Lent with Ash Wednesday βοΈππ Thank you to all of our families who joined us for our Ash Wednesday Mass and Liturgy last week βοΈ Our students showed great reverence throughout, and we are very proud of the respectful way they participated π π #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #CTKCommunity #ChristTheKing #CTKNorthRocks
23 Feb 2026
From Facebook
We were so fortunate to welcome back former student Mitchell Moses to Christ the King last week! It was a proud moment for our community to see one of our own inspiring the next generation with his dedication and success. Thank you for taking the time to visit, Mitchell β we loved having you back. Go the Eels! ππ
23 Feb 2026
From Facebook
ππ Year 2 Shrove Tuesday ππ Our Year 2 students enjoyed celebrating Shrove Tuesday last week with a fun and meaningful day! π₯ They learned about the importance of this special day in the Church calendar as we prepare for Lent, and of course, enjoyed some delicious pancakes! It was a wonderful opportunity to come together in faith, reflect, and celebrate as a class. #cspd2026 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #parracatholic #CTKCommunity #ChristTheKing #CTKNorthRocks