Term 4 Week 9 - Thursday 12th December 2024
Note from the Principal
As the year draws to a close, we continue to be quite busy at Catherine McAuley. This morning the food hamper donations for JRS and St Vincent de Paul were collected, ready for delivery. There are numerous hampers, filled with grocery items that will bring joy and relief to many local families this Christmas. In addition, our fundraising and collection for the Jesuit Refugee Service has concluded, with a total of $6,650 having been raised. Again, this generosity will improve the lives of many in our community who access this service.
I would like to thank each of you and your daughters for your generous contributions to these important causes. We all know the adage that ‘many hands make light work’, and in this circumstance, our individual contributions have culminated to a shared contribution that will make an impact for others.
Some of the many food donations collected for JRS and St Vincent de Paul.
Tomorrow afternoon we are holding our Academic Assembly in the Morley Centre. This is an opportunity for us to honour all of our students as they ‘strive for higher things’, and in particular those whose achievement and effort have been exemplary throughout the year. It will be a lovely celebration for the school community, and we invite you to attend if you can. The Academic Assembly begins at 1.00pm.
Finally, today I would like to let you know of staff who are leaving us for positions at other schools and to explore other avenues. These staff members are:
- Mrs Newman and Mr Lennon, who are retiring from teaching next year
- These teachers who will be taking positions at other schools:
- Ms Dowling
- Miss Kelleher
- Miss Breen
- Miss Radisavljevic
- Miss Grow
- Miss Woo
- Miss Tulau
- Sensai Reynolds
- Mr Duarte, the Science lab technician, is at the end of his contract with us
- And our school counsellor, Mrs Boulatouff, will be the school counsellor at another school.
I would like to thank these staff members for their commitment to the school community in the time they have worked with us, and wish them well on the next stages of their journeys.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Venerable Catherine McAuley established her first school in Dublin in 1827 with the purpose of empowering her students with knowledge so that they could escape poverty and actively participate in society. At Catherine McAuley Westmead, we strive to continue Catherine’s vision by providing a Mercy education which is committed to the full development and achievement of the potential of all students.
Each student has received her semester two school report and as the 2024 academic year draws to a close, it is quite timely to reflect upon the achievements of the school year. Questions to be asked include were my semester grades and personal profiles an improvement on what was achieved in semester one? Were my yearly grades the same or better than those achieved in 2023? In preparation for the new school year, it is worth discerning what strategies you used that assisted you in your learning. What can you change to improve your performance? The summer holidays provide us with a time to rest, reflect and if necessary reset for 2025. Catherine McAuley herself always strove for excellence and here at school we commit ourselves ‘to do the ordinary extraordinary well’ in all things, especially our learning.
This coming Sunday is the third Sunday of Advent and is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word meaning ‘rejoice.’ We rejoice as we know that the coming of the Messiah is imminent. Again this Sunday in Luke’s Gospel, we hear how John the Baptist was imploring the people to be ready for the coming of the Messiah. In the busyness of our preparations for Christmas Day, let us remember to take the time to listen to God, to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight’ (Luke 3:4). One way that we have been preparing at Catherine McAuley has been through the creation of Jesse Trees. The symbols and stories – which are hung on the tree – call to mind the people and events through Salvation History, which lead to the birth of Jesus. May the Christ Child bring peace to our world and many blessings to you and your families.
Ms Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Nativity Scene, Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth.
Pray With Us
Pope Francis' Prayer for the Immaculate Conception
The Advent Wreath - The Candle of Joy (Shepherd's Candle)
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 4 Week 10
- Years 7 - 11 Parent / Student / Teacher Meetings
- Year 12 2024 HSC/ATAR Morning Tea
- Staff Professional Learning Days / Pupil Free Days
- End of Term 4
Term 1 2025 Week 1
- Staff Professional Learning Day
- Years 7 and 11 Students Commence Term 1 on Tuesday, 4th February 2025
- Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 Students Commence Term 1 on Wednesday, 5th February 2025
- Opening School Mass
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:
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS - For their last practical lesson of 2024 Mrs Bonello’s Year 11 Hospitality class baked close to 400 cookies for the residents and staff of Cabrini Nursing Home Westmead! The cookies were gift wrapped and will be given to the residents and staff by Year 9 students who have been visiting the nursing home this year.
