Term 3 Week 9 - Thursday 19th September 2024
Note from the Principal
This week has seen students quite settled as they approach the end of the term, with classes busily completing units of learning in each of their subjects.
For students in Year 12 however, their year, and indeed their formal education, is coming to a conclusion. Year 12 students are attending each of their classes for the final time this week and early next week, and for them, there is a paradoxical joy and sadness as they say goodbye to the old and they welcome the new. Next week will be busy for them as they participate in their end of Year 12 activities and events, and my hope for them is that this will be a happy time, and one that will allow them to enjoy their memories of their time at school. I also wish them luck as they prepare for their HSC exams, the culmination of their school education, which begin on 15th October. We know they will do themselves and their school proud.
As we move toward the end of the term and the beginning of next term, there are a number of teachers who have taken leave and others who are filling leadership positions. These teachers and their replacements are listed for your information. If you have any questions about any of these arrangements, please phone the Leader of Learning Curriculum for more information. Mr Hall will be on leave during Term 4 and some Leaders of Learning are taking leave for part of the term. During this time, the school’s Leadership Team will be as follows. Other changes are listed in this document.
- Principal: Ms Refalo
- Assistant Principal Wellbeing Matters: Ms Grigson
- Assistant Principal Learning Matters: Miss Brincat
- Director of Catholic Identity and Mission: Ms Banks
- Director of Studies: Ms O’Donoghue.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News From The Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Earlier in the year, Very Rev Fr Robert Riedling, Dean and Administrator of St Patrick’s Cathedral and Episcopal Vicar for Education, extended an invitation for students to assist at the Parish and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Community Lunch which was hosted by St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday, 14th September. Students and staff worked behind the scenes to create bunting to decorate the Cloisters Hall and provide greeting cards. More importantly, on the day students from Years 10 -12 willingly joined the parish volunteers to support the community lunch. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet people supported by JRS, to share a delicious meal and to get to know each other better. Our students were also kept busy entertaining the children with various activities including a jumping castle. One of the parish volunteers sought clarification from Ms Grigson, Miss Reynolds and myself if we were all from Catherine McAuley. We could proudly answer "yes". It was wonderful to see so many students give willingly of their time to serve at this initiative. In the future we look forward to continuing this partnership.
While we have been kept busy at school with our learning, examinations, assessment tasks and extracurricular activities, there has been much activity and excitement for some of our closest international neighbours. Pope Francis has recently returned to Rome after travelling to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Timor-Leste, and Singapore. This has been the longest trip of his papacy and interestingly it drew some attention from not only the Catholic media but also from the mainstream media. For The Conversation, Darius von Guttner Sporzynski titled his article ‘Popes were once confined to Rome. Now they travel the world – and Francis’ current journey is particularly significant’.
The ‘particular significance’ is not Pope Francis’ advancing years (he is 87 years old) nor his reliance on the use of a wheelchair. The significance lies in the diversity of religious faiths within the populations of these countries. Our Studies of Religion students know that Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim nation, with just 3% of the population who are Catholic. In PNG about a quarter of the population are Catholic. In Timor-Leste the population is predominantly Catholic, 97%. We know that both these countries face hardships and are supported by Mercy Works. This term, all students at Catherine McAuley Westmead have been actively supporting Mercy Work’s Chicken and Egg project in Timor Leste which aims to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Pope Francis’ final destination was Singapore which is known for many things including its religious diversity. The Catholic population would be similar to Indonesia’s, between 2-3%. Here he continued his message of goodwill and peace by acknowledging that “all religions are a path to God”.
At Catherine McAuley may we be like Pope Francis and embrace and celebrate the diversity in our community. Also, just as Venerable Catherine McAuley and our student volunteers at the Parish and JRS Community Lunch extended hospitality to strangers, we must remember that we are sisters and brothers united by God’s love for all.
Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Week 10
- Student Leaders' Conference
- Year 12 Graduation Mass
- Year 12 Graduation Ceremony
- End of Term 3
Term 4 Week 1
- Staff Professional Learning Day / Pupil Free Day (Monday, 14th October)
- Student Commence Term 4 (Tuesday, 15th October)
- HSC Written Exams Commence
- Year 11 Japanese Excursion
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:
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS - Well done to Year 8 students Jillian D.B. and Crystal M. who both competed last Thursday in the Carlingford Lions Club Voice of Youth competition. This competition is open to Years 7 and 8 students and asks them to prepare and present a speech, as well as deliver an impromptu speech.
Mr Thomas Fraser, HSIE Teacher and Public Speaking/Debating Coordinator said both Jillian and Crystal did exceptionally well but unfortunately did not gain a place.