Term 2 Week 6 - Thursday 6th June 2024
News From The Acting School Principal
Another week of rich learning experiences at Catherine McAuley
In the past week students have had an opportunity to be involved in a range of activities that have enhanced their learning and enriched their experience of different subject matter they are studying. Some of the experiences are subject based or activities that build skills such as collaboration, team work, curiosity, perseverance, critical thinking, problem solving and creativity.
Students have had the opportunity to be involved in two different literary events organised by Ms Elizabeth Newman. The first was a writing workshop with Will Kostakis. Will Kostakis is an award-winning author for young adults and splits his time between writing novels, working as a journalist and touring high schools nationally. His workshops with students from Years 10, 11 and 12 focused on writing creative and engaging short stories and crafting character voices via collaborative exercises. On Tuesday, Year 7 students worked with Lisa Nicol, Australian author, to extend their creative writing skills by engaging in the possibilities of language and written expression. Students involved in the workshops appreciated the opportunity to receive advice and listen to the experience of two different authors on the art of writing and story.
On Wednesday, Year 12 PDHPE classes visited the Australian Catholic University ‘BEST Hub’ at the Australian Catholic University Blacktown campus. The BEST Hub is home to top-of-the-range sporting facilities, including a strength and conditioning suite, aquatic recovery pool, an industry leading 3D motion capture biomechanics laboratory and exercise physiology labs. Students learnt about the latest sports technology by participating in a range of activities.
On Thursday evening, Mrs Gloria Noud accompanied Year 12 geography students to the University of Technology for the first of a series of conversations on 'Global Game Changes'. The topic for the evening was 'The Green Infrastructure Revolution - Cities'. The students heard from an expert panel that included Anthony Burke, host of Grand Designs Australia, on issues related to urban landscapes, urban planning, the transformative power of green infrastructure and the need for innovative urban planning. It was a great opportunity for students to experience first-hand the importance of deepening their knowledge and understanding of people and how they live, and the importance of this in creating a world where our cities are smarter, greener, more communal and more sustainable.
Congratulations to the students involved in the The Shakespeare Carnival held last weekend. The weekend provided opportunities to be involved in workshops, intensive rehearsals and performances to a supportive audience in the York Theatre, Seymour Centre. The Catherine McAuley entry came second in the Self Devised Category. Thank you to the Captivate staff and Ms Kate Picone for preparing and supporting the students.
Debating concluded this week with the final round against St John Paul II College. Thank you to the staff who have worked with students in preparing them each week for debating. Thank you also to the staff and parents who have supported the students by their presence at debates. We wait with anticipation to know the teams that will make it through to the elimination round next week.
Students from the Catherine McAuley Strong Sisters represented the school on Friday, 2nd June at the 2024 Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service held at Hyde Park. Students were joined by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, The Hon. David Robert Harris MP, NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, many more dignitaries and hundreds of other students attended the ceremony which was part of 2024 Reconciliation Week. Guided by members of the Jarara Cultural Centre and accompanied by Mrs Fiona Stewart-Sandeman, the students laid wreaths and paid their respects to Indigenous veterans for their incredible sacrifice in serving and protecting our country.
As we give thanks for the many opportunities our students have to develop and flourish I share with you the story of Carlo Acutis born in 1991 and died at the age of 15 in 2006. Carlo Acutis was an Italian website designer who documented Eucharistic miracles and approved Marian apparitions, and catalogued both on a website he designed before his death from leukaemia. Acutis was noted for his cheerfulness, computer skills, and devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life. Carlos Acutis was beatified, or declared “Blessed” by Pope Francis on 10th October 2020.
Shaped by the opportunities presented to them, Catherine McAuley students are encouraged to respond to the needs of our time by their involvement and commitment to their learning, challenged to be characterised by relentless curiosity, learning from what they encounter. I encourage all students to take the risk to become involved in the range of experiences and activities offered to them at Catherine McAuley. “If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.”
In the words of Catherine McAuley - “Let us take one day only in our hands at a time. Resolve to do good today and better tomorrow.”
Stop Press: next week's Weekly Review will focus on the Athletics Carnival, which was a great success with high participation from students in both field and track events.
Debbie Grigson
Acting Principal
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Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 2 Week 7
- Year 12 Careers Expo
- Year 10 Vaccination Clinic
- Year 10 Global Connections Overnight Excursion
- Year 7 Activity Day
- CSDA Debating Elimination Round
Term 2 Week 8
- Year 11 Biology Excursion
- Year 11 2025 Subject Selection Talks
- Senior Retreat
- CSDA Debating Elimination Rounds
- PDSSSC Open Girls Football (Soccer) Gala Day
- PDSSSC Years 7 - 9 Football (Soccer) Gala Day
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Students from the Catherine McAuley Strong Sisters represented the school on Friday at the 2024 Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service held at Hyde Park. Students were joined by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, The Hon. David Robert Harris MP, NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, many more dignitaries and hundreds of other students at the moving ceremony which is part of 2024 Reconciliation Week.
Guided by members of the Jarara Cultural Centre, the students laid wreaths and paid their respects to Indigenous veterans for their incredible sacrifice in serving and protecting our country.