Term 3 Week 4 - Thursday 15th August 2024
Note from the Acting Principal
This week the school has supported the Bullying No Way: Everyone Belongs Campaign. This year Bullying No Way Week focuses on what it means to belong and how challenging stereotypes, showing empathy, embracing diversity and having positive relationships can reduce the chances of bullying happening in our school community. Each day there there has been a message in Compass relating to a topic of the day and supported by a short video. This link outlines the message shared with students each day. In Form Meetings for Years 7 - 10 on Wednesday the following Presentation was explored and discussed. The elements highlighted in this presentation reflects our school values and the importance of respectful relations with all we meet each day.
Year 10 and Year 11 students have been involved in the Student Leadership process as the Catherine McAuley Community selects our School Captains, Portfolio Leaders and House Leaders for 2024-2025.
On this day, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, we pray for guidance and wisdom as our student leaders are chosen by the staff and their peers.
As we conclude another week of community building and learning, I ask you to reflect on the following quote from Venerable Catherine McAuley:
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can, in all the places you can,
at all the times you can, to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can.
Debbie Grigson
Acting Principal
News from the Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
As we approach the end of week four, Term 3 has been very busy for the Catherine McAuley Community. Year 12 students are finalising their Trial HSC Exams. This morning Year 11 voted for the 2024-2025 School Captains which will be followed by the voting for House and Portfolio Leaders. Our awareness and fund raising activities continue for the Mercy Works’ Chicken and Egg Project to support maternal and infant health in Timor Leste. Behind the scenes, planning and preparations have begun for when we come together as a school community to celebrate Mercy Day on Friday, 6th September. Our learning is not limited to classroom activities but extends to all our pursuits and participation at Catherine McAuley Westmead.
Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day has been celebrated in the Church since the 5th century. However, it was not until 1st November 1950, that Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Dogma of Mary’s Assumption, body and soul into heaven. It is a privilege granted to Mary, as she is the Mother of Jesus. Apart from all Sundays of the year, the Catholic Church in Australia celebrates two additional Holy Days of Obligation. They are the Assumption and Christmas Day.
We were most blessed to celebrate Mass before school on this Holy Day of Obligation. The Very Rev Robert Riedling, Dean and Administrator of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and Episcopal Vicar for Education, was our presider for Mass on this special day where we honour Mary. I would like to acknowledge the support given to the Westmead Catholic Community throughout the year by the clergy from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wentworthville.
Year 10 attended their Reflection Day at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday, 13th August. It was timely that amidst finalising subject selections for Stage 6 and voting for Assistant Leaders, that Year 10 were able to join together as a community. Year 10 students explored the Mercy Value of Justice. The Cathedral staff and parishioners were very welcoming to the students. Fr Tom Green, Assistant Priest spoke to the students about Justice, particularly from the Catholic understanding of the Virtues. His words connected perfectly with what the students are learning in Religious Education lessons, that is how the early philosophers formed guiding principles for right and wrong before the time of Jesus. Priest in Residence, Fr Joseph Nguyen presided at the 12:30 pm Mass.
Special thanks to Mr Hall, Ms Dae, Mrs Gribble, Ms King, Miss Hogan, Ms Kelleher, Ms Radisavljevic and Ms Banks who accompanied Year 10. A highlight of the day was the activity led by Mrs Gribble and Miss Hogan where the students were divided into groups of varying sizes. The largest groups were issued with the least number of ‘units’ whereas the smallest groups received the largest number of ‘units’. Students needed to work together to make decisions about how they would allocate their resources to healthcare, education, technology, energy, food and water. Through this simulated activity, students could see that injustice does exist and in their discussions and reflections they could address these inequalities. In the future, some of these students will hold offices of responsibility and it is very reassuring to know that their Mercy Values will guide them in their decision making.
As people of faith, may we remember to pray with Our Holy Father that “political leaders will serve their people … working for integral human development and the common good … giving priority to the poor.”
Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Year 10 Reflection Day
Year 10 Reflection Day
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Week 5
- Year 12 HSC Trial Examinations
- Year 11 PDHPE/Fitness Incursion
- Year 11 2025 Subject Counselling Interviews
- Year 10 PDHPE Excursion
- Year 9 Commerce Market Day
- Music, Sport and Co Curricular Photos
- Education Mass and Mission Expo
- International Chemistry Quiz
- Years 11/12 Sleepout
Week 6
- Higher School Certificate Drama Practical Examination
- Year 11 Drama Incursion
- Year 9 Activity Day
- Years 9 and 10 2025 Subject Selection Talks
- NSWCCC Netball Championships
- School Morning Tour
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:
CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK - ‘Species Survival: More Than Just Sustainability’. This week is National Science Week and the theme ‘Species Survival’ explores some of the critical challenges impacting Earth’s human, animal and plant habitation, especially here in Australia. To celebrate, the Science Department organised an escape room challenge for species survival during lunch time on Tuesday. Students competed in small teams as they worked their way through a number of challenges relevant to the theme that tested their scientific skills.