Let's tell the story of a

The Telling Your Stories Project supports Catholic schools to embed local history, faith heritage, culture, and community voice into everyday learning. By co-constructing a place-based story unique to each school, the project strengthens student engagement, literacy development, and a shared sense of belonging grounded in faith and community.

When learners see their own landscape, parish history, and lived experiences reflected in text, learning becomes purposeful and relational. Students are not simply reading stories — they are helping shape the ongoing story of their school. This deepens engagement, strengthens oral and written language skills, and reinforces the values of connection, service, and identity.

The project provides a practical way to honour Catholic Social Teaching while aligning with national curriculum priorities. Through collaboration with families, parish members, and local knowledge holders, schools foster shared ownership and deeper understanding. More than a book, TYS becomes a living resource, a reflection of faith, identity, and community, supporting both academic growth and cultural understanding for generations to come.

Catholic School

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Why Catholic Schools Choose Telling Your Stories

For Students:

This initiative strengthens students’ sense of belonging, identity and connection within a faith-centred community. It supports the mission of Catholic education by honouring the dignity, story and uniqueness of each child, positioning students as storytellers, researchers and contributors to the living story of the school. By celebrating cultural diversity and supporting the integration of immigrant and newly arrived families, it nurtures pride, connection and participation within both the school and the broader Australian context.

For Teachers and Curriculum:

The work aligns authentically with the Australian Curriculum, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority, while embedding local history, parish heritage and community knowledge into everyday teaching practice. It supports culturally responsive and inclusive pedagogy grounded in Gospel values and strengthens partnerships with families, parish communities, Elders and local leaders. It also empowers teachers who are new to the school or region by deepening their understanding of place, story and mission.

For School and Legacy:

This approach creates a lasting resource that reflects the school’s Catholic identity, charism and history, leaving a legacy publication that honours past generations and inspires future ones. It develops a way to continually document significant milestones and faith moments in the life of the school, increasing pride in school culture, parish connections and local heritage. It also contributes meaningfully to school improvement goals and strategic planning, providing a powerful resource to share during major celebrations such as a Centennial.

Everything you need to tell the story of YOUR SCHOOL

A story written by professional learning designers about your school & place

We'll facilitate everything you need to tell the story of your place. We'll organise a meeting with your stakeholders and community, research the history, and craft a story that is perfect for classrooms - from Early Childhood right up to Secondary Students. You have the final say - what do the kids of this place NEED to know?

8 bespoke illustrations created for storytelling

Taking your awesome story, we give it to an illustrator who designs a series of images that you can tell the story from. A picture says a thousand words, and images are an excellent way to introduce the idea of complexity and perspective to older students, while also allowing an easy gateway to historical topics for younger learners.

A suite of teaching resources designed to inspire curriculum integration

We give you everything you need to teach and integrate your story:

Downloadable PDFs
Hardcover Books*
Voice Over Videos
Reference Lists with Links to research
Pedagogy Support
Indigenous Vocabulary Lists*
Translations into home languages*

Discover the Process

How it Works

A lizard sit sits on a rock behind it the city lights glow. It is quoting st Mary Mackillop.

Story Sample

The Story of
Christ the King School

Olive paused, smiled, and said, “So you see, my children, this school has deep roots in the land it stands on and a strong foundation built on our Catholic faith. That is what has helped it grow through many changes — and what will give it strength for whatever comes next.”

“So much has changed over the years, but our connection to this place and our faith has remained constant, thanks to the many courageous people who helped build and guide this community, especially Father Charles Quinn, whose leadership helped shape its early years.”

The Lizard smiled again. “So let’s finish with the words of Saint Mary MacKillop: ‘Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.’”

*This sample is based on an excerpt from a real project but names and details have been changed to protect the school's IP