Term 4 Week 2 - Thursday 24th October 2024
Note from the Principal
This week we welcomed next year’s Year 7 cohort to the school for their Transition Interviews with teachers from Catherine McAuley. We look forward to welcoming them again for their Orientation Day on 22nd November. We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with each of the students who will soon become Mercy women and their parents, and we are eager to get to know them better over the next six years of their education here.
For each of your daughters, Term 4 is very much progressing as a term for learning and growing. As students move towards their final formal assessments for the year, they should be working hard to achieve their very best in each of their subjects, even the ones they struggle with. Learning, as we know, is a continuous process that requires diligence and self-discipline, and our school motto, ‘strive for higher things’, motivates students to do this. Although the final formal assessments take place during the term, learning and the achievement of outcomes continues until the last week of term; we look forward to watching the learning growth of your daughter until then. Miss Brincat has written more about your daughter's learning in her section of today's Weekly Review.
Finally, a reminder from me that the Catherine McAuley Parents and Carers Group meet on Tuesday evening, 29th October, in the BM Building. The meeting is an excellent way to catch up on what is going on at the school. You are all invited to join us; further information can be found later in this Weekly Review.
Mary Refalo
Principal
Year 7 Transition Interview Night
Year 7 Transition Interview Night
News from the Acting Assistant Principal
The HSC exams have continued this week with students sitting exams across a number of subjects. Groups of students studying together, as well as students and teachers engaging in conversations about their subject areas, has been a common sight over the first two weeks of exams, as the students support one another in their preparation. With two more weeks of the HSC remaining, we continue to wish our Year 12 students good luck.
Year 11 students have been engaging in conversations with their teachers as they prepare to make decisions about their subjects moving into their final year of school. At this time many students elect to discontinue a subject, with some also changing courses in Mathematics, English and Religion. I encourage the students to consider the academic rigour of their subject, as well as those they are achieving well in and those they enjoy and to gather information to help them make informed decisions about their HSC subjects. Some courses will have their first HSC assessment task this term. The Year 12 2024/2025 Assessment Handbook will be shared with students and parents in Week 4.
Students in Years 7 - 10 are busy preparing for final assessment tasks. Throughout the term there will be a range of formal and informal assessment tasks and I encourage families to have conversations with their daughters about what they are learning and what is coming up for them in their classes. Our Year 10 students will have a formal assessment block in Week 4. Earlier this week the exam timetable was shared with them and parents can access this here. Students will have study time throughout the day when they do not have a scheduled exam and in between exams.
With final assessments on the horizon, I would like to remind parents and students that our Tutor Program continues this term. We have tutors available to all students in the Library from 2pm - 5pm Monday - Wednesday and from 1pm - 4pm on Thursdays. Our tutors are available to our Year 11 students during their supervised study periods on a Thursday afternoon. Finally I would also like to direct parents and students to the Study Skills Handbook, accessible through the student intranet site. Here they will find a range of useful resources to help them prepare for their upcoming assessments and exams.
While Term 4 is an exciting term, as we move towards warmer weather and the end of the year, I encourage students to remain curious in their learning, to set clear and achievable goals, seek and accept feedback, stay determined and to always give their best to strive for higher things.
Sharon Brincat
Acting Assistant Principal
From The School Counsellor
Youth Development Scholarships 2025
Over the last seven years, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) has helped over 7610 students since 2017. They are continuing to offer $1000 scholarships to students enrolled in education (Years 10 - 12) or training in 2025.
Students who previously received a scholarship may be eligible to re-apply for another in 2025 if they are still at school or Tafe. The eligibility criteria include living in public or community housing, supported accommodation, being on the NSW Housing Register, or receiving private rental assistance from DCJ.
Each successful student will receive $1000.00 to help with school expenses and secondary support services. Applications are now open for high school students and close at 5:00 pm on Friday, 21st February.
Visit the website dcjnsw.info/scholarships for more information on how to apply. If you have any further questions, contact the Scholarships Team on phone 8753 8673 or education@homes.nsw.gov.au
If you have any concerns about your daughter’s mental health, feel free to contact the School Counsellor, Mrs Suzan Boulattouf (Mon-Fri) on 9849 9100 during school hours.
If you daughter needs mental health support after hours, do not hesitate to reach out the services listed below:
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 131114
Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Headspace: 1800650 890
Parent Line: 1300 1300 52
Dial 000 in a life-threatening emergency.
Suzan Boulattouf
School Counsellor
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 4 Week 3
- Year 10 Geography Excursion
- Year 10 History Incursion
- Year 8 Pastoral Care Seminar
- Year 7 Science Excursion
- Parents and Carers Group Meeting
Term 4 Week 4
- Year 12 2025 HSC Presentation for Parents
- Year 10 Exams
- Year 9 Career Development Day
- School Morning Tour
News Articles
- Ms Fernandes Retires After 50 Years Teaching at Catherine McAuley
- Live Performance Of English Work For Year 8 Students
- Students Committed To 'Truth and Peace' - Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement Schools Launch
- Year 8 Student Returns From European Tour With Gondwana National Choir
- Year 11 Student Plays At Jack Newton International Junior Classic
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
Happy World Teachers' Day - A message for Catherine McAuley teachers from the students.
World Teachers' Day is tomorrow Friday, 25th October 2024. The theme is 'Hats Off For Teachers'.
