It is estimated the energy saved as a result of installing solar panels at 10 Catholic Schools in the Parramatta Diocese would result in 45% reduction of electricity consumed, resulting in a saving of $495k per annum.
Up to 10 Catholic Schools in the Parramatta Diocese will play a pivotal role in getting schools powered solely by renewable energy and teaching students about sustainability.
The Diocese has engaged corporate energy experts Verdia to conduct detailed site assessments and project scoping at 10 pilot schools in a bid to instal rooftop solar panels and upgrade the LED lighting.
Merrylands, Cerdon College Principal Patricia Baker said they are delighted to have been selected as a pilot school for this project.
"Given the rising cost of electricity in a school's limited budget, Cerdon College hopes to be able to make savings on its power bills while at the same time teaching students significant lessons on ways of reducing electricity consumption, efficient and renewable ways of producing electricity, whilst at the same time encouraging students to understand peak energy consumption times and relative costs of producing electricity," Mrs Baker said.
"The College hopes this program will enhance the existing STEM curriculum within the College and encourage a change in student's ideas regarding electricity usage."
Inspections of all the sites have just been completed. The focus for the inspections was to identify lighting equipment already installed, confirm technical feasibility and assess structural suitability of roofs to install recommended solar photovoltaic systems.
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta Infrastructure Program Manager David Cosgrove said the proposal would be to eventually roll the project out to all 80 schools in the Diocese.
"The lighting equipment recommended during our assessment is suitable for replacement of the existing fittings and will improve the school’s learning environment," Mr Cosgrove said.
"This change provides reduction in glare, colour rendering improvement, reduction in electricity consumption.
"In addition, the lighting replacement program will reduce maintenance across all sites."
The schools on the pilot list include:
- Chisholm Primary School Bligh Park
- Xavier College Llandilo
- St Michael’s Primary School Baulkham Hill
- St Patrick’s Marist College Dundas
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26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
⚽💚 Go Socceroos! 💛⚽ Our students had a fantastic time celebrating the Socceroos' final pool game today! From dressing up in green and gold, cheering on during the match to getting creative with soccer themed arts and crafts, there was plenty of excitement and team spirit around the school. Go Socceroos! 🇦🇺⚽ #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #socceroos #chisholmsport
26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🥦🥕🌻 Giving back to our community from our gardens 🌻🥕🥦 This week our wonderful students harvested fresh produce from our school garden for our outreach program. We are so proud to have donated the harvest to the Hawkesbury Community Kitchen. They were incredibly grateful for Chisholm’s hard work, dedication, and compassion. Thank you to everyone involved in making a difference! #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmgardens #givingbacktothecommunity #hawkesburycommunitykitchen
26 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏃♀️ Congratulations to Paige, Zarlie and Peyton on proudly representing our school at the NSW CCCPS Cross Country Championships! All three girls achieved fantastic results and demonstrated determination and resilience throughout the event. A special congratulations to Peyton, who has now qualified to progress to the NSW PSSA State Championships! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and can't wait to cheer you on at the next stage. #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmsport #gogirlsgo
24 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏃♂️ Motiv8 Term 2 After School Clinic Our students had an absolute blast developing their skills, staying active and, most importantly, having fun with their friends. From exciting games to engaging challenges, there were smiles all around as students embraced every opportunity to learn and grow. A big thank you to the Motiv8sports Hawkesbury team for providing such an energetic and positive experience for our students. Looking for something fun these school holidays? Motiv8sports Hawkesbury have a range of exciting school holiday clinics on offer. #motiv8hawkesbury #AfterSchoolClinic #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmsport
23 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🪥🦷Year 1 and Year 3 Health 🪥🦷 Year 1 and Year 3 students have been learning about hygiene this term, with a special focus on keeping their teeth healthy and strong. As part of their learning, students have taken on a 28 Day Challenge to build positive dental habits and care for their growing teeth. Thank you to Colgate Australia and New Zealand for supporting our students through the Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program. We can't wait to see these happy smiles grow even brighter! #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #colgatebrightsmilesbrightfuture #chisholmhealth
22 Jun 2026
From Facebook
📸✨ Year 4 Photography Exhibition ✨📸 A talented group of Year 4 photographers have been exploring the art of photography through a series of creative challenges. Each week, students focused on a different photography composition technique before heading out around the beautiful Chisholm grounds to capture their own interpretation of the theme. We are incredibly proud of their creativity, imagination and growing photography skills. #chisholmcatholicprimary #Year4Photography #chisholmcreativearts
21 Jun 2026
From Facebook
⚽ Congratulations to Paige on her selection in the MacKillop soccer team following recent trials at Wanderers Football Park, Rooty Hill! Paige will now represent MacKillop at the NSWPSSA Football Championships. We are incredibly proud of this fantastic achievement and wish her all the best! #SoccerSuperstar #chisholmsport
19 Jun 2026
From Facebook
📸 Freeze! 📸 Can you guess what’s happening in these pictures? 🤔 Our Year 2 students have been exploring drama through a fun tableau activity, using their bodies, facial expressions and teamwork to tell a story without moving or speaking! Working together, students created frozen scenes to represent different characters, emotions and events. It was wonderful to see their creativity, imagination and confidence shine as they stepped into role and brought their ideas to life. #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmcreativearts #year2learning
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🤸♀️🤸♂️ Year 1 Gymnastics Fun! 🤸♂️🤸♀️ This term, our Year 1 students have been enjoying a fantastic gymnastics program during their sport lessons. Throughout the program, students have been developing their fundamental movement skills while building confidence, strength and coordination. They have been learning and practising a range of gymnastics skills, including balancing, rolling, jumping, landing and supporting their body weight in different ways. Students have also been challenged to work safely, follow instructions and persevere as they learn new skills. Well done, Year 1! #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmsport #gymnastics
17 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏅Congratulations to Our Athletics Superstars!🏅 What an incredible day of competition, determination and sportsmanship at our Athletics Carnival! A huge congratulations to all of our students who placed in their events. Your hard work, perseverance and positive attitude were on full display, and we are so proud of your achievements. We were also thrilled to recognise and celebrate our Age Champions for 2026. This is a fantastic accomplishment and a reflection of your dedication, effort and commitment throughout the carnival. #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #AthleticsCarnival #AgeChampions #chisholmsport
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Our playground is ready and waiting for another exciting day of learning, laughter and fun! #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #chisholmplayground #schoollife
15 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to this week’s White and Grey KIC Badge recipients! We are so proud of your efforts in demonstrating our school values and being safe, honest and respectful learners. Keep up the fantastic work! 👏 #chisholmcatholicprimaryschool #kicbadge #chisholmcommunity