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.”
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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🥾 ⛰️ Day 2 on Year 5 Camp ⛰️ 🥾 Nobody told us what we signed up for!Between climbing SO many hills and hiking everywhere we went, camp definitely gave us a workout! Adrenaline-pumping activities like the Giant Swing and Laser Tag were definitely the winners! We even made a new feathered friend, Clinton the curious magpie! He seemed very interested in what we were up to and quickly became part of our camp adventures! From challenging ourselves and discovering hidden talents to enjoying Game Night and making memories with friends. Day 2 was 100% fun, 100% adventure and maybe 100% too many hills! - Katy P Our Year 5 students have now returned home with plenty of stories to share, new experiences under their belts and memories they’ll treasure for years to come. A huge thank you to our staff for making camp such an incredible experience for our students! #Year5Camp #CollaroyCamp #CampAdventures #MakingMemories #Teamwork #Friendship #GiantSwing #LaserTag #AdventureAwaits #StMatthewsWindsor #StMatthewsCommunity17 Sep 2026
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☀️ 🏕️ Year 5 Camp 🏕️ ☀️ What an incredible first day Year 5 had at camp! Our students stepped outside their comfort zones, challenged themselves and created some fantastic memories along the way. From Initiatives Challenge activities that encouraged leadership, communication and teamwork, to the excitement of laser tag, rock climbing and the giant swing, there were plenty of opportunities to try something new and support one another. Of course, we also enjoyed some yummy food and plenty of laughs along the way! It was wonderful to see our Year 5 students showing courage, resilience, teamwork and leadership today. We are so proud of the way they encouraged each other and embraced every challenge! #StMatthewsWindsor #Year5Camp #CourageAndResilience #Teamwork #Leadership #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #MakingMemories #SafeRespectfulResponsibleLearners #BeTheLight
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🥾 ⛰️ Day 2 on Year 5 Camp ⛰️ 🥾 Nobody told us what we signed up for!Between climbing SO many hills and hiking everywhere we went, camp definitely gave us a workout! Adrenaline-pumping activities like the Giant Swing and Laser Tag were definitely the winners! We even made a new feathered friend, Clinton the curious magpie! He seemed very interested in what we were up to and quickly became part of our camp adventures! From challenging ourselves and discovering hidden talents to enjoying Game Night and making memories with friends. Day 2 was 100% fun, 100% adventure and maybe 100% too many hills! - Katy P Our Year 5 students have now returned home with plenty of stories to share, new experiences under their belts and memories they’ll treasure for years to come. A huge thank you to our staff for making camp such an incredible experience for our students! #Year5Camp #CollaroyCamp #CampAdventures #MakingMemories #Teamwork #Friendship #GiantSwing #LaserTag #AdventureAwaits #StMatthewsWindsor #StMatthewsCommunity
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☀️ 🏕️ Year 5 Camp 🏕️ ☀️ Our Year 5 students have arrived at camp and are ready for an exciting day filled with fun activities, new experiences and plenty of adventure! #StMatthewsWindsor #Year5Camp #CampAdventures #LetYourLightShine #MakingMemories
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