St Angela’s Primary Castle Hill marked a significant milestone on Tuesday 28 April with the official opening and blessing of its new buildings and facilities, presided over by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv.
The new learning spaces represent an exciting future for the St Angela’s community, designed to be welcoming environments that provide updated classrooms, learning streets equipped with kitchen and creative arts facilities, a meditation garden, playgrounds, a kiss-and-drop area and improved accessibility across the site.
“St Angela’s has experienced significant growth in recent years, with many new facilities taking shape,” said Jack de Groot, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
“These developments reflect our strong commitment at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese to supporting high‑quality learning opportunities for families across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
“What matters most is the work that happens inside these classrooms, the quality of learning and teaching, the relationships that are formed and the sense of belonging that is created for every member of the school community,” he said.
Image: Gene Ramirez/Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
The new facilities represent more than just physical growth, they highlight the school’s ongoing focus to create learning environments that nurture both student wellbeing and academic success.
“Our new purpose-built learning spaces reflect our Catholic identity and the evolving direction of education across the Diocese,” said Principal Leanne Nettleton. “They provide environments that support explicit instruction, while allowing the flexibility to open spaces when collaboration and shared learning are required.”
In his homily, Bishop Vincent reflected on the theme of transformation, both physical and on a deeper human level, reminding the community that schools are not simply built from bricks and mortar, but are formed through relationships grounded in faith and service.
“St Angela’s is great not only because of the state-of-the-art facilities, it is a great place because it is a place of transformation,” said Bishop Vincent. “Our mission here is to transform lives and relationships. It is to create a community of faith, hospitality, compassion and love.”
CSPD representatives at the celebration included principals from local Catholic schools along with Gerard Giesekam, Executive General Manager Finance and Infrastructure, Clint Zammit, Head Infrastructure Planning and Delivery, along with board chair Elizabeth Crouch AM and board member Maria Pearson. The construction team behind the project, FAL Construction, was also in attendance, represented by Managing Director Anthony Falcon and other representatives from the company.
Image: Gene Ramirez/Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
A number of distinguished guests were also in attendance, including Greg Warren MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Premier, Alex Hawke Federal Member for Mitchell and Dr Michelle Byrne, Mayor of the Hills Shire Council.
Representing the school’s history were some of its former leaders including Sr Venera Nicolosi (founding principal), Tony Calabria (principal 2010-2019), Anne Cronin, Monica Fitzalan and Michelle Yager (former assistant principals).
Other special guests were Vicar for Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Parramatta, Sr Patty Andrew, other members of the Ursuline community, and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Deacon Michael Tan.
As St Angela’s looks to the future, the new spaces stand as a symbol of growth and opportunity, continuing the legacy of St Angela Merici and her belief in education for all.
Sabrina De La Motte and the Social Media Officer for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese.
This article was originally published in the 2026 June | Winter edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine. You can read it online here or pick up a copy in your local parish.
