Catherine McAuley Westmead eNewsletter

News from The Principal

International Women’s Day - Continued Input For Students

Last week the global calendar featured International Women’s Day, a commemoration of the cultural, political and socio economic achievements of women. The School Captains, Zara Z. and Victoria C., wrote about the breakfast they attended in last week’s CMW: The Weekly Review.

This week we have continued the theme of celebrating women by listening to the voices of some of our female leaders.

Last Sunday a number of senior students and accompanying teachers attended various lectures and presentations at the Sydney Opera House’s All About Women series. This is the third year we have been present at this event, and each time students have been both inspired and challenged by what they have heard from leading women, such as Laura Tingle, Randah Abdel-Fattah and Rosie Batty.

At the school assembly this week, Sr Mary-Louise Petro, Congregational Leader of the Parramatta Sisters of Mercy, addressed the students. She spoke eloquently and engagingly about what it means to be an ‘international Mercy woman’, highlighting the important values that underpin the Mercy way and challenging us to consider what it looks like to show anger in a way that is merciful. An important aspect of Sr Mary-Louise’s address was that our emotions and actions ‘should hurt no-one’.

Finally, Dr Mariam Chaalan, a family doctor, clinical researcher, educator and feminist spoke to Year 11 students in an address entitled ‘Let’s Talk About the F Word - Feminism’. Dr Chaalan invited students to challenge their expectations of gender equality, including equal opportunities for women in the workplace and pay scale. She also focussed on the importance of using a critically literate disposition in relation to social media, and she highlighted the importance of education in improving gender and social equality.

We were pleased and honoured to have each of these opportunities to listen to the thoughtful and insightful reflections of our female leaders, and we use their inspired words as models for our own behaviours and aspirations.

Chapel Mass Returns

We are very pleased to let you know that Wednesday morning mass is, again, scheduled weekly now that COVID restrictions have eased somewhat. Mass is celebrated every Wednesday morning at 8.00am for students who would like to participate in this opportunity for prayer. The mass is presided over by Fr Walter or another local parish priest, and students from both Catherine McAuley and Parramatta Marist High School are invited to attend. The Mercy Chapel is used alternatively with the Marist La Valla Chapel.

This week's attendance was very high, with the Mercy Chapel almost filled with students and teachers wanting to begin their day with mass.

Mary Refalo
Principal

Sr Mary-Louise Petro, Congregational Leader of the Parramatta Sisters of Mercy, speaking at the school assembly this week.

Pray With Us

A Poem For Lent

News Articles

This Week on Social Media

Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. One of the posts from this week is shown below:

Congratulations to the students who were presented with their Premier’s Reading Challenge Medal at the school assembly this week. This medal is awarded to students who complete the challenge every year from Year 3 to Year 9.

The Premier's Reading Challenge for 2022 has started and is open to all students in Years 7 - 9. The challenge is to read 20 books from the Premier's Reading Challenge list between now and August. If you have partaken in the challenge before please see Mrs Lorenzutta or Ms Newman in the library for more information.

Need To Know

Upcoming Fortnight

Week 9

Year 12 Half Yearly Exams
Year 9 Reflection Day
Year 8 Geography Incursion
Year 8 History Incursion
Duke of Edinbugh Award Training
Mercy 6 Senior Students Day
PDSSSC Netball Gala Day

Week 10