Catherine McAuley Westmead eNewsletter

News from the Principal

As the year comes to a final close, there are some lovely stories from the past week on which to report.

Yesterday, of course, we heard about this year’s HSC results. Students’ achieved very well in many of their courses, and they have, again, done themselves, their families and their school proud. The results reflect a focussed dedication to ‘striving for higher things’ throughout students’ high school experiences from Year 7 to the end of Year 12. Each of them is to be enthusiastically congratulated. We look forward to hearing more about their adventures and successes over the coming years.

More about the HSC achievements can be found in this Weekly Review.

Last Friday we held our Academic Assembly in the Morley Centre. The assembly is an opportunity to honour students in Years 7 - 11 who have achieved consistently excellent academic results, well-developed personal profiles and determined effort in a wide range of their subjects throughout the year.

During this assembly we also present some special awards, including the Catherine McAuley Award to one outstanding student in each of Years 7 - 11. This award is given to a student who epitomises the Mercy values of excellence, hospitality, justice, integrity and courage. The winners of these awards this year are:

Year 7 - Auriella Eid
Year 8 - Riya Franklin
Year 9 - Charlotte Boutros
Year 10 - Angelica Decologlon
Year 11 - Kaitlin Commodore

This is a significant award, and each of these students is to be warmly congratulated for her personal attributes and her commitment to her faith and her school.

Last week I let you know about the staff from Catherine McAuley who are leaving us for other adventures in 2025. I would also like to let you know that Miss Nenchev has taken a position at another school, and that Mr Nguyen is taking a 12 month secondment as Religious Education Coordinator at a school in Parramatta Diocese, and will return to us in 2026. I wish both of these teachers well for their next steps.

Finally, I wish you all the very best for a blessed and holy Christmas, filled with the joy of the coming Christ and surrounded by family and friends. We look forward to returning to school for the 2025 school year, and to working in partnership with you in the interests of providing the best possible Mercy education for your daughters.

Mary Refalo
Principal

Pray With Us

A Christmas Pray - Moonless Darkness Stands Between
Fourth Week of Advent - The Advent Wreath

Need To Know

Week 1 Term 1 2025

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, 7th February, 12pm

Term 1 2025 Week 2

Long Distance Swimming Carnival

Link to Parent Calendar

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:

CABRINI NURSING HOME - A group of seven Year 9 students, a representative from each Homeroom class, have spent every Thursday afternoon over the past nine weeks visiting residents at the nearby Cabrini Nursing Home. These visits have allowed the students involved to learn mercy in action for themselves.

Thursday last week was the final visit for these students as next year a new group of students will attend. The students have written about their final visit:

“We had a wonderful time and said our goodbyes to our friends we have got to know over the past 9 weeks. We are excited for this to continue in the new year with the current Year 8’s - we have told our friends that the students are excited to meet them next year. The cookies made by the Year 11 Hospitality students were well received and the residents and staff gave their complements to the chefs!