Term 2 Week 10 - Thursday 4th July 2024
Note From The Principal
This edition of the Weekly Review brings us to the end of the term, where we celebrate many of the initiatives in learning and participation in which your daughters have been involved.
Parent / Teacher / Student Meetings Today and Tomorrow
Today and tomorrow Parent / Teacher / Student feedback meetings will take place for all students in Years 7 - 10, with face to face meetings onsite this afternoon and this evening, and online meetings tomorrow. The meetings follow the Semester 1 reports which were made available on the Parent Portal last week. They offer the opportunity to discuss your daughter’s progress with her teachers in more detail. We look forward to seeing you at school for these meetings this afternoon or online tomorrow.
Support for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter
Catherine McAuley’s commitment to the Women’s Shelter in Term 2 has been a very successful one. At this time we have raised a total of $8,500.00, and received many, many donations of supplies and linen from students and staff. The Lip Synch Battle Finals yesterday was an engaging and fun way for students to conclude their fundraising efforts.
1st Place - Year 12 students
2nd Place - Year 12 students
3rd Place - Year 10 students
I would like to thank you for your support for this important organisation; one that offers safety and dignity to women and children in our local community. Your generosity brings to life Catherine McAuley’s work of enabling better lives for women and children and is greatly appreciated.
Parent Focus Group
Yesterday afternoon I met with a small number of parents of students in Years 7 and 8 to hear from them about what is working well for them and their daughters at Catherine McAuley, and what we could improve. Overwhelmingly, there was a sense of satisfaction with the school and parents let us know that their daughters are very happy at Catherine McAuley. I was joined by Mrs Rehayem, Leader of Learning Year 7, and Mrs Beadman, Leader of Learning Year 8.
The conversation was diverse and useful, covering aspects such as what works and can be improved by way of communication, student assessments and assessment procedures, and opportunities for students to get to know one another better within their year group. We will review the minutes of this meeting carefully and look to implement improvements where we can. I’d like to thank each of the parents who attended this feedback opportunity.
Building Update
The building project at Catherine McAuley and on the Westmead site is progressing as planned, with the car park development continuing into next term. In the next week or so work will begin on the underground components of the construction. The redevelopment of part of the upper floor of the BM Building into performance spaces will begin in the next few weeks, and is anticipated to be completed by Term 4. In the meantime, classes which have been timetabled in this part of the BM Building will be relocated to the demountables that have been installed at the front of the school from the start of Term 3.
I am taking Long Service Leave
I wish to let you know that I will take some long service leave in the first five weeks next term, returning to school at the beginning of Week 6, on 26th August, 2024. I am staying local and spending this time with my family which I will, of course, enjoy greatly. During my leave, the following changes to staff roles will take effect:
- Acting Principal - Ms Grigson
- Assistant Principal - Mr Hall
- Acting Assistant Principal - Miss Brincat
- Acting Director of Studies - Ms O’Donoghue
- Acting Leader of Learning Curriculum: Mathematics - Ms Ghougassian
I will look forward to returning to work at Catherine McAuley mid way through next term.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the School Captains
Hey McAuley,
Can you believe we have arrived at the end of Term 2? We are officially halfway through the 2024 school year! This term has been jam packed, with our Lip Sync Battle Finale kicking off on Tuesday at lunch! The performances were just incredible, and the efforts made by our Ryan, Clare and Mercedes House Leaders, as well as the student participation, has helped to raise a great amount of funds for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter.
The calendar has been especially busy for Year 12 these past couple of weeks. From Wednesday to Friday during Week 8, the Year 12 class embarked on our Senior Retreat. Over the course of these three days, we were guided by the Passionist Youth Retreat Team in many activities designed to encourage self-reflection and consideration of others. This experience allowed us to deepen our connections with each other, strengthen existing friendships, get to know classmates we weren't as familiar with, and mend relationships that have drifted apart. It was a beautiful bonding experience, filled with plenty of fun, as we participated in various games, discussions, and activities. These included writing affirmations for one another, playing trivia, and sharing experiences with our small groups. Last Thursday in Week 9, we had our Year 12 Formal, a special time for students and teachers to dress up and come together for some singing and dancing. The Class of 2024 have been so appreciative of these opportunities to spend quality time together, and make some of our final lasting memories. It has reminded us all of what should be a pivotal focus of each day; gratitude, being grateful for the beauty in our lives.
As this term comes to an end, we encourage everyone to reflect on what they’ve done over the past ten weeks that they are truly proud of, and that worked for them. In saying this, it is equally important to keep in mind our areas of struggle, and think about the little things we can do each day to build ourselves up. At the end of the day, the best that we can do is to try and be the highest version of ourselves!
That’s all from us for now. Have a balanced and restful holiday and don’t forget to Embrace, Excel, Empower!
Alyssa and Lea
School Captains
Pray With Us
Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for July: For the Pastoral Care of the Sick
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 3 Week 1
- Staff Professional Learning Days (Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd July)
- Pupil Free Days (Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd July)
- Students Commence Term 3 (Wednesday 24th July)
- PDSSSC Netball Gala Day
- Year 12 Legal Studies (Optional) Excursion
Week 2
- Year 11 2025 Subject Information Evening
- Year 9 Visual Arts Excursion
- Year 9 Wellbeing Excursion
- Years 7 and 10 Vaccination Catch-Up Clinic
News Articles
- Standout Performances At The Lip Sync Final Held This Week
- Year 12 Students Pause To Reflect On Their Relationships and Rediscover Their Faith At the Year 12 Retreat
- Year 10 Student Representatives Explore The Many Facets of Mercy
- PDSSSC Dance Competition
- Year 12 Students Attend Careers Expo
- Year 11 Students Offered Places In the Uni Step Up Program
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
YEAR 11 BIOLOGY FIELD INVESTIGATION - A bushrat and a crayfish were some of the highlights for the Year 11 Biology students who visited Camp Kedron, next to Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, last month. The students spent the day looking at different plants and animals to determine how they use their adaptations to survive in the Hawkesbury Sandstone Ecosystem. The students looked at the relationship between biotic (living) and abiotic (non living) factors on an ecosystem.
The students learnt how to use equipment such as a compass, moisture metre and a laser range metre to measure abiotic factors such as temperature, aspect, soil moisture, soil depth and soil pH. They measured biotic factors through sampling methods such as quadrat sampling and the capture-mark-recapture method.