Term 3 Week 2 - Thursday 31st July 2025
Note from the Principal
This week at school we have celebrated International Day of Friendship, a day dedicated by the United Nations to appreciate and strengthen the relationships we have with our friends, and to build relationships with others.
In our Catholic Mercy tradition we often talk about our values, and the values of hospitality and integrity come to mind when we think about the intentions of International Day of Friendship. Good relationships are built when we are welcoming and loving in our interactions with others, and when we care for people in a way that shows we recognise them as people of God. It is obvious, when we have a special focus such as the Parramatta Women’s Shelter, that we are acting in a loving way. Sometimes, though, we can be reminded to be welcoming and loving to those in our direct communities. International Day of Friendship helps us to remember this.
In this Weekly Review, you will read more about the celebrations for the International Day of Friendship, as well as the many other things taking place at Catherine McAuley this week.
Parent Information and Support Materials for the Religious Education Curriculum, Encountering Jesus
You will remember that this year in Religious Education all schools in the Parramatta Diocese are implementing the new curriculum in Religious Education, Encountering Jesus. This term in their Religious Education classes, Year 7 students are studying a Learning Cycle called ‘Who is God’ and the Learning Cycle Year 9 students are studying is called ‘Is religion a force for good or evil in the world?’.
Just this week, the CSPD Mission Team has published some parent information and support sheets about both of these units. These documents include summaries of the units, links to relevant scripture underpinning the main themes found in the units, and offering a prayer and some discussion points for you at home. Please find these support documents here:
- Stage 4 (Year 7): Learning Cycle 3 Who is God?
- Stage 5 (Year 9): Learning Cycle 3 Is religion a force for good or evil?
Parent and Carers Meeting Next Week
Just a reminder to you that we will have our Term 3 Parents and Carers Meeting next Tuesday evening, 5th August, starting at 6.00pm. An invitation is included in this Weekly Review. You are all very welcome to attend.
Have a wonderful week, everyone.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
International Friendship Day
On Wednesday 30th July as a school community we celebrated the International Day for Friendship. Hospitality Leaders Tahlia and Georgia worked with the SRC to prepare for the day with the development of a Friendship Wall in Homeroom having explored the following questions:
- What does friendship mean?
- What makes someone a good friend?
- How do you show kindness and support to your friends?
- Why is it important to include others?
- How can we make sure everyone feels valued and accepted?
On Wednesday, students joined with their friends to build friendship bracelets and/or participate in Just Dance with a friend for double House points. It was truly an international experience as the school community welcomed our visiting students from Iida Girls School, Nagana, Japan. In true Mercy Spirit led by Year 11 students, the school community welcomed our visitors formally at the school assembly by singing our traditional Mercy blessing.
Hospitality Leaders overseeing the friendship bracelets
Just Dance organised by the Sport Leaders
Students visiting from Iida Girls School, Japan at the school assembly this week
Parramatta Women’s Shelter
A BIG thank you to all who had a part in the fundraising and awareness raising for Parramatta Women’s Shelter throughout Term 2. The response has been overwhelming. I would like to express my gratitude to the House Patrons for their leadership of teams of students and staff to achieve incredible results in 10 weeks. Also a big thank you to Mrs Leanne Kempys (Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 10) and the Year 10 Staff Wellbeing Team for the initiatives that have been developed by Year 10 students in response to the Walk the Talk Project focusing on the importance of ‘Respectful Relationships’ in all areas of our life.
This is a summary of Term 2 donations to Parramatta Women’s Shelter:
- Over 20 handmade blankets crocheted by staff and students
- From ‘The Big Give’ $3000 worth of grocery items including the staff drive for laundry detergent
- $4180 of vouchers
- $7030 from activities organised by students from Years 7 to 12.
Julia and Tania from Parramatta Women’s Shelter joined us at assembly on Wednesday to receive these items and express their heartfelt thanks to the students and families of Catherine McAuley for their support of women and families in need.
$4180 worth of store vouchers were one of the items given to the Parramatta Women's Shelter
Building Wellbeing: Staff and Students
In the Weekly Review last week, Ms Refalo highlighted the importance of students developing resilience. On Tuesday afternoon staff gathered to discuss ways to support students to further develop their social and emotional wellbeing including adopting healthy sleep patterns; exercising regularly; developing coping, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills; and learning to manage emotions. With a growth mindset students have the ability to bounce back from adversity and challenges and learn to navigate the ups and downs of adolescence and beyond.
The focus of the staff discussions were on Donna Cross’, Associate Professor University of Western Australia and Clare Rowe’s , Child and Adolescent Psychologist, approach to adolescent wellbeing. For adolescents to have healthy wellbeing they need to develop the ability to sit with struggle, that ultimately gives them the courage and confidence to overcome adversity. Adolescents need guidance to have emotional flexibility so they connect with others, ultimately developing a capacity to give to others. As a staff we need to take opportunities to challenge, guide and support students to have the confidence not to always have the answer or solutions straightaway.
Last Friday, Year 9 students displayed courage and confidence as they took up the many challenges at the Activity Day at Vision Valley. Staff and students have commented on the connections that were established as students supported each other to climb literally higher, problem solve situations and critically think of better ways to achieve their goal in given situations. This was a day of building relationships, resilience and cohesion. Thank you to Mrs Louise Beadman and the Year 9 Wellbeing Team for supervising, supporting, encouraging and also taking the challenge to join the activities.
Debbie Grigson
Assistant Principal
Year 9 Activity Day
Year 9 Activity Day
Pray with Us
Need to Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 3 Week 3
- NAIDOC Week
- Parents and Carers Group Meeting - Tuesday 5th August
- Years 9 & 10 2026 Subject Talks
- Year 10 RYDA Excursion
Term 3 Week 4
- PDSSSC Tennis Teams Championships
- Year 10 Reflection Day - Tuesday 12th August
- Year 7 English Incursion
- Year 8 French Food Excursion
- Year 7 Science Excursion
News Articles
- An Extraordinary Donation For The Parramatta Women’s Shelter
- Welcome to Visiting Japanese Students From Nagano, Japan
- Catherine McAuley Students Place 3rd In Shakespeare Drama Competition
- Year 10 Students Explore Careers Options With Sydney Trains
- Years 9 and 10 Visual Arts Students Immerse Themselves At The Art Gallery of NSW
- Year 8 Prayer Books
- Senior Netball Team Wins PDSSSC Netball Gala Day
- Student Achievements July 2025
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
SUBJECT CHOICE - Biology? Business Services? English Advanced? Hopefully last night all questions were answered as the Year 10 students and their parents attended the Year 11 2026 Subject Selection Evening.
Students and their parents had the opportunity to speak with Leaders of Learning Curriculum and subject teachers who were available for questions. Following the subject market a parent information session was held with parents hearing about the many pathways of study at Catherine McAuley as well as the NESA requirements for the HSC.