Term 1 Week 7 - Thursday 20th March 2025
Note from the Principal
This year we are implementing a new curriculum in Religious Education called Encountering Jesus. It is the result of many years of developing and refining a Roman Catholic Religious Education curriculum that brings to life Jesus’ mission on Earth and calls us to follow his example in our own lives. The curriculum is appropriately based on traditional elements of our faith, bringing to life a loving God who worked through Jesus to show love, gentleness and humility, and positioning all young people to flourish in their contexts and as people of God. Encountering Jesus has been endorsed by the Vatican’s Dicastero per L’Evangelizzazione, as you can see in the letter sent to the diocese and available here.
As a school in the Mercy tradition, Encountering Jesus supports our values and charism. Catherine McAuley was inspired by a loving God and by Jesus, the son of God, to walk humbly alongside those who most needed support. It is a charism that strives for all to flourish under God’s loving care, and we are proud to follow in a tradition that invites all to do this.
This year implementation of Encountering Jesus is only in Years 7 and 9. The curriculum will be implemented in Years 8 and 10 in 2026. An outline of the curriculum for Years 7 and 9 are available here for your perusal. Teachers of Religious Education have engaged in significant professional learning, and they will continue to do so throughout the implementation period. They have developed school based programs that reflect our context through the Encountering Jesus curriculum. We are excited to be at the stage of implementation and we look forward to watching all those in our community flourish as a result of this. We will explore the Encountering Jesus curriculum at our Term 2 Parents and Carers meeting, and invite you to join us then.
On another note, the HSC Half Yearly Assessment Block begins on Monday for Year 12 students. Year 12 have been rightly busy preparing for the assessments taking place over the next two weeks, and I remind them that good preparation and achievement at this time of the year sets them up well for success throughout the remainder of their HSC year.
To avoid noise or other potential distractions as the building works continue near the BM Building, the Year 12 HSC Half Yearly Assessment Block, and all other Year 12 exams this year, will take place in the EA Building. This venue necessitates some changes, but assessment and examination supervisors are well prepared to facilitate and oversee the assessments, and we expect this assessment period to proceed smoothly.
Good luck to Year 12 students!
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
The past week has seen many students involved in many activities throughout the school - to either learn from community involvement or give of their time and resources to improve the lives of others, specifically through awareness raising and fundraising for Project Compassion. All these activities have reflected the student leaders motto of 'Strive for the Five in 2025'. Underpinning this motto is the goal in 2025 to approach all aspects of the daily routine at CMW with ‘Consistency’ that builds ‘Connection’ that builds ‘Community’.
Year 7 Activity Day
The Year 7 Activity Day was held last Friday, at Vision Valley, Arcadia. This one day outdoor recreation experience for Year 7 students will help foster team building and resilience, as well as developing problem-solving and critical thinking. The day’s activities contribute to each student’s education and social development, building team cohesion and overall wellbeing and community.
Project Compassion
Throughout Term 1 many teachers have worked with students to organise and host fundraisers to support Project Compassion. These events have not only raised funds to improve the lives of many families and help break the cycle of poverty and inequality for an entire community but also raise awareness of the importance of working together as a community and how we can bring about change. Thank you to the House Patrons for overseeing the fundraising events and working with teachers and homerooms to plan and execute these events. I thank parents who have supported their daughters in providing the resources for the many different stalls hosted by students at lunchtime in the name of Project Compassion.
Harmony Week Activities
The theme of Harmony Day is ‘Everybody Belongs’. Harmony Day is celebrated within the community on Friday 21st March however Catherine McAuley highlights the importance of Harmony Day with a week of activities. Student Leaders have been meeting throughout the term to discuss activities that focus on getting to know each other and encouraging belonging. Activities included:
- Students watching a video (link) in Homeroom explaining the meaning of Harmony Week. This began our school’s Harmony Week celebrations.
- In Homeroom students participated in writing prayers on orange shaped hands that were displayed at the entrance of the Chapel.
- Wearing an orange ribbon on Friday. Orange signifies social communications and meaningful conversations, which is incredibly important in our diverse society.
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Athletics Carnival Monday 7th April 2025
Reminder to parents a letter outlining the arrangements for the Athletics Carnival was sent home last Thursday and is also included in the Need to Know section of the Weekly Review. Arrangements regarding transport to and from the venue is the same as 2024 where most students will make their own way to the venue. Students who will travel to and from Homebush Athletics Centre by buses leaving from the school at 8am are required to complete the Google Form by Friday 21st March 2025. Buses will then be ordered based on the responses to the Google Form. The school will not be taking requests to travel by bus after Friday 21st March 2025.
Public Transport Concerns: The Importance of Considering Others While Travelling To and From School
The majority of complaints the school receives from members of the public are regarding our students not standing on trains / buses for passengers, placing their school bag on the seat, students sitting in the disabled seat on public buses / trains as well as concerns about the noise of the girls on the train or bus. When students are using earpods or earphones they speak louder than required. From a school point of view this behaviour and lack of consideration for others is very disappointing as this does not reflect the behaviour of all Catherine McAuley students. We also know the girls offer their seats and adults say no. Regardless of the adult’s response students have been instructed to stand whenever there is an adult standing.
The school continues to remind the students at school assemblies, form assemblies and via student notices of appropriate behaviour when in public including crossing the road safely. To ensure the school is allocated the correct number of buses from the NSW Government students must use their Opal card to tap on and off. I would also ask parents to discuss with their daughter appropriate and respectful behaviour when travelling to and from school.
In the words of Catherine McAuley, “Let us take one day only in our hands at a time. Resolve to do good today and better tomorrow.”
Debbie Grigson
Assistant Principal
Pray With Us
Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for March - For Families in Crisis
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 8
- Year 12 Half Yearly Assessment Block
- Year 12 Legal Studies Excursion
- Year 10 Geography Excursion
- Year 10 History Incursion
- Year 8 Reflection Day
- PDSSSC Open Girls Football Gala Day
Term 1 Week 9
- Year 12 Half Yearly Assessment Block
- Year 11 Geography Field Trip
- CSDA Debating 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:
SCHOOL CONCERT BAND - The school concert band is busy each Tuesday at lunchtime rehearsing their new pieces of music with Ms Picone, Leader of Learning Creative Arts. On Tuesday this week the piece was ‘All That Jazz’.
Monday it was the turn of The Glee Club to rehearse, Thursday was the Senior and Junior Rock Bands and on Friday it is the Junior Vocal Ensemble.
