Term 1 Week 3 - Thursday 13th February 2025
Note from the Principal
After what was an exciting and busy last week, this week students have settled into their new routines for 2025. There is always a sense of relief and achievement when routines are established, and this week has really enabled that for all of us at school. By now your daughters will have had lessons in each subject, and they will be developing a sense of what is needed to succeed in each area of their studies this year. Please remember to get in contact with your daughter’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns about how she is settling in or about her progress.
Other aspects of school organisation and participation have also started well. Student attendance has been very good thus far, although we have only been back at school for a week. I encourage each student to maintain regular attendance throughout the term to enable her to get the most from her education.
I’d also like to thank you for your support in our rearrangements of driving and parking onsite. Whilst it has been a change to the way we usually do things, the change has been effective. One area that remains of concern is the driveway in front of Gate 2 (temporarily closed). It has always been both illegal and unsafe to pull into the driveway to drop your daughter off at school. Now that the pedestrian gate has moved to the side of that gate, it is even more unsafe to illegally pull in here. Please avoid this; rather, use the kiss and drop area via Gate 3. Thank you for being mindful of this.
Next Tuesday the Parents and Carers will hold their first meeting for the year. It will begin at 6.00pm for 6.30pm and will be held in the BM Building. Further information about this event can be found elsewhere in this Weekly Review. All parents and carers are very welcome to join us for this meeting, held once each term.
Lastly, I’d like to let you know what a great celebration last Friday’s Opening Mass was for the entire school community. During Mass, the school community focussed on what is important during the year ahead; that being living out our values of mercy, hospitality, justice, integrity, courage and excellence so that we can each be the very best people we can be. We also commissioned our new school leaders, and invited all new students, including Year 7 students, and new staff, into the Circle of Mercy. I would very much like to thank Bishop Vincent for leading our celebration and Father Robert and Father Walter for concelebrating our special Mass. Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for this special event.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
On Friday 7th February, Catherine McAuley Westmead gathered in the Morley Centre for the Opening School Mass. As a Catholic school in the Mercy Tradition we prayed for God’s blessing for the new school year. Also at this Mass, new student leaders were commissioned, new staff and students were inducted and the whole school gave their commitment to living a God centred way of life. Our principal celebrant was Most Rev Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, OFM Conv DD STL and our concelebrating priests were Very Rev Fr Robert Riedling and Rev Fr Walter Fogarty.
In his homily, Bishop Vincent reminded the congregation that the essence of Catholic Education is not merely about the pursuit of individual success but rather the formation of a social conscience and public responsibility. Bishop Vincent spoke about how Venerable Catherine McAuley brought about the vision of Jesus Christ to care for those who were shamed and ostracised. Catherine’s legacy continues through the ministry of the Sisters of Mercy and now is passed onto the members of the school community named in her honour.
The Mass readings were quite timely as they spoke of the hope which comes to us from God and energises us. Hope is central to all we believe and do and Pope Francis has declared that 2025 is the Jubilee Year of Hope. It may not be widely known but in ancient times the Jewish people observed a jubilee year (Leviticus 25). The jubilee year was held every fifty years, whereas Catholics observe the jubilee year every twenty-five years or during other years as called for by the Pope, for example, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. As life expectancy was shorter in Biblical times, most people would have hoped to participate in a jubilee year once in their lifetime. The land was left fallow, slaves were freed, debts were forgiven and land was returned to the original owners.
For Catholics, as Pilgrims of Hope, the jubilee year is a special time of prayer, pilgrimage and conversion. It is a call to experience God’s Mercy through responding to God’s Word, encountering Christ in the Sacraments and through spiritual renewal. Bishop Vincent stated that Catherine McAuley is proudly a community of disciples and pilgrims of hope with our fellow human beings. Now that Year 7 have received their Bibles, they can join with the whole school to study and follow God’s Word just as during her life, Catherine McAuley did. New members of staff received a candle with the school crest. Together, Year 7 students carrying the Word and the new staff carrying the Light which represents our Mercy spirit, formed a Circle of Mercy. On behalf of the school community, they followed the School Banner and carried their symbols as tangible reminders that we are people of Mercy and Pilgrims of Hope as we strive for higher things.
Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
New members of staff received a school candle.
Year 7 students carrying their school bibles.
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 3
- Year 12 Geography Fieldtrip
- Year 11 Assessment Information Evening
- Parents and Carers Group Meeting
Term 1 Week 4
- Years 11 and 12 Ancient History Excursion
- Years 11 and 9 Study Skills Seminar
- Year 7 Parents' Welcome Afternoon
- School Swimming Carnival
- CSDA Public Speaking Competition Round 1
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:
YEAR 7 HOUSE BADGES - Each year members of the Catherine McAuley staff work with the Mercy 5 Staff Formation Program to develop a special project for their school community. One of the most recent Mercy 5 Projects for Catherine McAuley Westmead has been the development of House badges.
At the Opening School Mass Year 7 received their House badge. The House badge is a reminder of how during their time at Catherine McAuley Westmead each student will build community within their Homeroom and House as young women of Mercy.
