Term 1 Week 8 - Thursday 21st March 2024
Notes from the Principal
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese has engaged in a program for growing Catholic identity in all schools in the diocese. Implementation of the program began last year and is being rolled out over three years; this year, Catherine McAuley is participating. Further details about this will be shared with you in a separate communication next week, however, I would like to let you know a summary of what this means for Catherine McAuley.
The program begins with a survey about Catholic identity at school for staff, all students, and we will also invite you to participate. The survey period will begin next week. Following this, I will participate in a two week study period at Leuven University in Belgium in late May, where I will work with others to analyse our school survey data. This will give us the information we need to respond accordingly.
We are looking forward to this important opportunity to understand our school community better, and to grow Catholic identity in our context.
For Year 12 students, the end of the term is a very busy one, with half yearly exams beginning next week and taking place over the following fortnight. We wish them well as they approach this important time of consolidating their learning through these assessments. We are confident they will achieve their very best and will use the feedback received from these exams to inform the next steps in their learning.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
The past week has seen many students involved in many activities throughout the school to either learn from community involvement or give of their time and resources to improve the lives of others specifically through awareness raising and fundraising for Project Compassion. All these activities have been community building opportunities for the Catherine McAuley students and staff.
St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish Community Breakfast
On Monday, 18th March students from Year 9 accompanied Ms Refalo, Ms Grigson and Ms Banks to the St Patrick’s Day Community Breakfast with the theme of ‘Strengthen Community Through Service’. This special event, hosted by the St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, is an opportunity to come together, celebrate shared values, and recognise the incredible service contributions within the wider Parramatta community. The keynote address was presented by Carly Ryan, a representative from Orange Sky Australia. For those unfamiliar, Orange Sky is an extraordinary organisation that provides free laundry services to the homeless, ensuring dignity and fostering community connections amongst those who are most vulnerable. Their commitment to helping people in need, one wash at a time, truly embodies the spirit of service and community. The St Patrick's Day Community Breakfast isn't just a meal; it's an opportunity to strengthen bonds and commitment to serving the Parramatta community.
Catherine McAuley students with a representative from Orange Sky at the St Patrick's Cathedral Parish Community Breakfast.
Harmony Week Activities
The theme for 2024 Harmony Day is ‘Everybody Belongs’. Harmony Day is celebrated within the community on Thursday, 21st March however Catherine McAuley highlights the importance of Harmony Day with a week of activities. Student Leaders have been meeting throughout the term to discuss activities they could put in place that highlights the importance of this year’s theme. The activities focused on getting to know each other and encouraging belonging. Many of the activities organised to support Project Compassion also had a theme of Everybody Belongs acknowledging the need for everyone to feel they belong. This was particularly highlighted by the Year 7 and 12 Clare House Charm Stall where students were encouraged to purchase a charm for a friend or purchase charms as a friendship group.
Other activities included:
- Students from different cultural backgrounds leading the school in prayer each morning in their native language
- Friendship charms made by Years 7 and 12 Clare and sold for Project Compassion
- Grade chats with Years 7 and 8 organised by the Student Leaders
- Wearing an orange ribbon on Friday. Orange signifies social communications and meaningful conversations, which is incredibly important in our diverse society.
- During Friday lunch students are encouraged to share a friendship meal highlighting ‘Everybody Belongs’.
Harmony Week activities included grade chats between Years 7 and 8.
Project Compassion
Throughout Term 1 many teachers have worked with students to organise and host fundraisers to support Project Compassion. These events have not only raised funds to improve the lives of many families and help break the cycle of poverty and inequality for an entire community but also raise awareness of the importance of working together as a community and how we can bring about change. These events have provided students with the opportunity to build community within their homeroom and with other homeroom groups. Thank you to the House Patrons for overseeing the fundraising events and working with teachers and homerooms to plan and execute these events. We do have fundraising events for Project Compassion up until the end of Term 1. I thank parents who have supported their daughters in providing the resources for the many different stalls hosted by students at lunchtime in the name of Project Compassion.
Senior Constable Kellie Redwood Presents To Year 7 and Year 10 Mentors
Senior Constable Kellie Redwood works with our school community to address issues that may be of particular interest to the students. Last week she presented a program, ‘Creating a Positive Digital Footprint’, by providing information, support and guidance on online and personal security, intervention strategies and other issues relating to safety and the use of online platforms. Once the presentation was completed Year 7 students worked with their Year 10 Peer Mentors to put the strategies presented by Senior Constable Kellie Redwood into practice.
Senior Constable Redwood with Year 7 students
Public Transport Concerns: The Importance of Considering Others While Travelling To and From School
The majority of complaints the school receives from members of the public are regarding our students not standing on trains and buses for passengers and placing their school bag on the seat. We know at times the girls offer their seats and adults say no. Regardless of the adult’s response students have been instructed to stand whenever there is an adult standing. In addition to students not standing for members of the public, we are currently receiving a number of complaints of students sitting in the disabled seat on public buses, as well as concerns about the noise of the girls on the train or bus. When students are using earbuds or earphones they speak louder than required. The school continues to remind the students at school assemblies, form assemblies and via student notices of appropriate behaviour when in public including crossing the road safely.
In the past two weeks the school has been advised by members of the public that students are not considerate of others when travelling, particularly on the buses travelling to and from the Hills area - buses 661, 662, in both the morning and the afternoon. From a school point of view this behaviour and lack of consideration for others is very disappointing as this does not reflect the behaviour of all Catherine McAuley students. The school does communicate these incidents to students and the students who are responsible are addressed in accordance with school procedures.
Students travelling on school buses specifically arriving and leaving from the bus bay are reminded of their behaviour and use of appropriate language. To ensure the school is allocated the correct number of buses from the NSW Government students must use their Opal card to tap on and off.
I would also ask parents to discuss with their daughter appropriate and respectful behaviour when travelling to and from school.
Debbie Grigson
Assistant Principal
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 9
- Year 12 Half Yearly Exams
- Australian Brain Bee Competition
- Mercy 5 Senior Advocacy in Action Day
- Good Friday
Term 1 Week 10
- Year 12 Half Yearly Exams
- Year 11 Geography Fieldtrip
- Year 8 Geography Excursion
- Year 8 Medieval Incursion
- Year 8 Japanese Incursion
- PDSSSC Tennis Teams Championships
News Articles
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
Congratulations to Year 12 student Shivali S. who competed last week as part of the Parramatta Marist Team at the Subs in Schools Australia National Finals in Adelaide. The Subs in Schools competition is a high level STEM project where students have the opportunity to learn about complex engineering systems and build an operational Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs) or submarine.
The Parramatta Marist Team, of which Shivali is a member, placed 3rd in the National Finals last week and also won ‘Best Managed Enterprise’. Congratulations Shivali and the Marist Team!