Term 4 Week 7 - Thursday 28th November 2024
Note from the Principal
Yesterday at school the Creative and Performing Arts Faculty held their annual showcase. There were two performances, one held in the afternoon for students in Years 7 - 10 and the other held yesterday evening for a more general audience. We were pleased to welcome so many parents and siblings of the performers.
The students performing in musical, drama and dance items showed great talent and poise, and were very enthusiastic and entertaining. I would like to thank them for their commitment to their performing arts studies and congratulate them on their performances. I would also like to thank their teachers, Ms Picone, Ms Morrison, Ms Flynn, Ms Romanous and Miss Woo for their work with students in Music, Drama and Dance, as well as the many other staff who made the Performing Arts Showcase such a successful event.
As students are completing their formal assessments for the year, I congratulate them on their focus and efforts. These will be rewarded in their accumulated learning and skill development, and their Semester 2 report will indicate their successes. I also remind them that learning is continuing in their classes. The school’s expectations regarding attendance and diligence remain in place until the conclusion of formal classes this year.
In the following section of today’s Weekly Review Miss Brincat has written about the feedback processes available to you in these next few weeks regarding your daughter’s achievements. Both the Semester Report and the Parent / Teacher / Student interviews provide you with important opportunities to review her progress and to make plans for the next academic year.
All the best for a lovely week ahead.
Mary Refalo
Principal
Photos from the Creative and Performing Arts Showcase are available on the school's Instagram and Facebook pages.
News from the Acting Assistant Principal
While the busy assessment period for students in Years 7 - 10 is coming to an end, our Year 11 students have just completed their first HSC assessment tasks. Teachers are also busy collating feedback for students and completing reports. Students and parents in Years 7 - 10 will receive their semester 2 reports during week 9. These reports will provide students with valuable feedback on their efforts and achievements in class this semester. They will also receive a semester grade and a yearly grade.
The first aspect of a students report that I encourage both students and parents to look at is their learning profile for each subject. This reports on the following areas: being actively engaged in the learning, using teacher and peer feedback, demonstrating a respect in the classroom to teachers and peers, demonstrating a positive work ethic and demonstrating a willingness to accept challenges in their learning. Students should be aiming to achieve at the proficient level in each of these areas. Achieving at this level sets up a good platform for doing their best academically.
On the 17th and 18th December, Parent / Student / Teacher meetings will take place for Years 7 - 11. Information about these will be sent home with reports. In preparation for these meetings, I ask that students reflect on their own efforts and achievements this year by considering the following questions:
- Have I achieved the goals I set for myself at the start of the year?
- What worked well for me in my studies this year?
- What am I proud of this year?
- What things do I need to work on for 2025?
While reports are an important way for students to get feedback on how they are progressing academically in each of their courses, for students to achieve maximum learning growth it is also important for them to get feed-forward - the advice about what they need to do next. So I encourage students to ask their teachers at these upcoming meetings, ‘what is ONE thing that I can concentrate on to improve my achievement in this subject (or in my writing for example) in 2025?’
Learning isn't just about grades or achievements—it's about resilience and perseverance, curiosity and wonder. Students should reflect on everything they have accomplished, big or small. Every question they have asked, every problem they have solved, and every new skill they have practiced and be proud of the progress they have made in 2024.
Sharon Brincat
Acting Assistant Principal
From The School Counsellor
Headspace Mt Druitt is planning several activities during the month of December.
- A Domestic Violence Walk has been organised at 9.30am on Tuesday, 10th December aimed at stopping violence in our communities. To be held at 11 Cleeve Close, Mt Druitt. For more details, contact Yvone on 0452 530 259 or Dora on dora.onesemo@health.nsw.gov.au.
- Petspace Café is hosting an afternoon cuddling and playing with cute puppies or kittens. Encourage your daughters to take part in learning about how pets help with improving their mental health and exploring the animal industry with Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre and their role in helping rescue animals. To take place on Friday, 6th December from 3:30pm - 5:30pm at Headspace Mt Druitt, 55 North Parade, Mt Druitt. All young people aged 12 - 25 years are invited. To register, contact 1800 683 784 or email: headspacemtdruitt@uniting.org.
As the school term ends for this year, it is important to reflect on your daughter’s achievement and accomplishment and the importance of enjoying the summer break to relax and recharge. If you daughter needs mental health support over the summer holiday, 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: 1800 650 890
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 8
- Year 10 PASS Excursion
- Year 7 PDHPE Excursion - Dee Why Beach
- Year 10 All My Own Work Seminar
Term 4 Week 9
- Duke of Edinburgh Silver Adventurous Journey
- Years 7-11 Awards Ceremony
News Articles
- Mercy In Action As Students Visit Cabrini Nursing Home
- Visual Arts Teachers Fundraise For The Jesuit Refugee Service With Handmade Ceramic Crosses
- Year 7 Students Explore The Mercy Value Of Hospitality
- McAuley Indigenous Students Contribute To Reconciliation Action Plan Artwork
- Cricket and Basketball Teams Runners Up In The PDSSSC Competition
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
ORIENTATION DAY FOR YEAR 7 2025 - So much excitement at Catherine McAuley on Friday, 22nd November as the future Year 7 2025 students came to school for their orientation day! The students learnt much about the school and particularly enjoyed touring around with their Year 10 and 11 tour guides. We look forward to welcoming them back to Catherine McAuley Westmead next year.