Term 1 Week 2 - Thursday 6th February 2025
News from the Principal
The first days of the school year have been very successful for all of us at Catherine McAuley. We were, as always, excited to meet the incoming Year 7 students, as well as other new students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11. New students were greeted on Tuesday by a large number of Year 12 student leaders who ensured they knew where to go and what they should be doing. Transition days for Year 7 into high school and Year 11 into senior studies and the first day of school for students in other year groups were very successful, and we are confident that your daughters have been well set up to begin their studies in 2025.
Last week I wrote to you about changes to the school site and adjustments needing to be made to students’ arrival and departure from school. New routines for arriving at school and leaving the site are developing, with students clear about where they need to be at certain times of the day. Thank you for reading my communication and discussing it with your daughters.
As I welcome you to the 2025 school year, I take this opportunity to remind you of CSPD’s document, Family and School Partnership Principles and accompanying video.
Unfortunately, sometimes parents or carers (sometimes a child’s grandparent, for instance) who collect their child from the site’s Kiss and Drop treat staff from any of the three schools disdainfully. I would like to remind all members of the Catherine McAuley community to be respectful of the staff that are supervising the Kiss and Drop area; they are maintaining a safe and effective environment for all children being picked up from here. It is disappointing to hear that too often staff supervising in this area of the school are treated with disrespect.
Tomorrow we are holding our Opening Mass in the Morley Centre at 12.00 noon. You are very warmly invited to attend this important school event, and initiation rite for students in Year 7 and new staff. Please be seated by 11.45am as we will begin promptly, and join us for a light luncheon afterwards. It is best to arrive on public transport; alternatively, parking may be available in the Westmead Hospital car park.
We are all looking forward to a successful and joyful year for each of your daughters as they complete another year of their high school education. At this morning’s assembly I encouraged each student to strive for higher things this year - to:
- strive to be the best friend she can be
- strive to take care of herself in the best possible way
- strive to be the healthiest she can be
- strive to be involved in school life as much as she can
- strive to learn as much as she can
- strive to be the best she can be.
Mary Refalo
Principal
Pray With Us
Need To Know
- Catherine McAuley Leadership Teams 2025
- Important Updates on Vehicle and Pedestrian Access for the Westmead Catholic Community Site
- Term 1 2025 Significant Dates
- Contacting Your Child's Teacher and Employees' Right To Disconnect From Work
- All Invited To The Parents & Carers Group Meeting for Term 1
- Student Printing Credit
- Catherine McAuley Westmead Is A Subscriber To The Study Skills Website
- FREE Webinars For Term 1 From The eSafety Commissioner
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 2
- Long Distance Swimming Carnival
Term 1 Week 3
- Year 12 Geography Fieldtrip
- Year 11 Assessment Information Evening
- Parents and Carers Group Meeting
News Articles
- Year 7 Students Reminded To Strive For Higher Things
- 2025 School Theme - ‘Strive For The 5’
(A recap of the article from October last year for the benefit of our new families) - Year 11 Students Gain The Skills and Knowledge For An Effective Start To The Year
- Student Achievements
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
WELCOME BACK ALL STUDENTS - All students returned to school on Wednesday and were welcomed by Ms Refalo, School Principal, at yesterday's assembly. The School Captains also welcomed all students and the Year 7 students joined in the school song for the first time.
The School Captains reminded the students of the school theme for 2025 - ‘Strive For The 5’. The ‘5’ represents the five Mercy values of Justice, Excellence, Hospitality, Courage and Integrity. The slogan, which the student leaders developed to demonstrate the school theme, is chanted before the school song.
Student Leaders: In mercy we thrive
All: Strive for the five
Everyone: In mercy we thrive, strive for the five
