Catherine McAuley Westmead eNewsletter

News from the Principal

This week is National Reconciliation Week, a calendared focus on ‘tackling the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make a difference for all Australians’. The theme, Be Brave: Make Change challenges us all to walk together in solidarity and respect. Over the next two weeks, the Strong Sisters will lead the school community in highlighting ways we do this at Catherine McAuley. It has been a wonderful week of celebration, culminating next Wednesday in a smoking ceremony in Mercy Square.

Whilst this week is National Reconciliation Week and there are focus activities at school, the Catherine McAuley community always supports reconciliation and change so that we continue to build solidarity and respect with our sisters and brothers.

Learning and Feedback in Term 2

School continues to be a busy place as we move into the depths of Term 2. Students will be completing assessments to demonstrate their progress in each of their subjects. They are also receiving feedback on their progress from their teachers, self-assessing their work, and participating in processes of peer assessment.

In addition to this, feedback in the form of reports and Parent / Student / Teacher meetings are being planned.

Reports to students in Years 11 and 12 have already been distributed and posted to the Compass Parent Portal, with online Parent / Student / Teacher meetings taking place last night. Many thanks to all the parents and students who attended the online format to participate in these valuable conversations.

For students in Years 7 - 10, reports will be available on the Compass Parent Portal at the end of Week 9, with Parent / Student / Teacher meetings at the end of the term (30 June and 1 July). More information about both reports and the feedback meetings will be sent later in the term.

Attendance

I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the importance of strong attendance patterns at school. When students are at school, they are learning and benefiting from their participation in the school community.

I acknowledge that there is some illness in the community at the moment, and students should remain at home if they are particularly unwell. If students have a positive diagnosis for COVID-19, they are also still required to remain at home for at least 7 days (please continue to let us know if this is the case by sending an email to mcauleyattendance@parra.catholic.edu.au and include the dates of day 1 and day 7 of the diagnosis).

With this in mind, students should not stay away from school for minor complaints or because the weather is uncomfortable.

Some families are choosing to travel abroad now that the international borders have re-opened. Please be reminded that trips during which students will be absent from school require my approval for leave (leave forms are available on the school’s website).

The school’s procedures for absence and attendance are outlined on the school website, under the Policies and Procedures tab, and in the students’ School Planner on page 7A.

Ms Mary Refalo
Principal

Form assemblies last week had a focus on Reconciliation Week. Photo shows the Year 10 assembly.

Eva, Year 8 Strong Sisters, read out a speech over the PA system as part of Reconciliation Week celebrations. Shown here with Mrs Stewart-Sandeman, Strong Sisters Coordinator.

Pray With Us

Walk Together With Courage – A Prayer for Reconciliation

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:

Year 11 Textiles and Design students of Mrs Bonello and Ms Andrews were required to design and create a bag with inspiration from a historical, cultural or contemporary perspective for their Design Unit.

Students were taught various fabric manipulation techniques throughout the unit and learnt about the elements and principles of design. They then incorporated these principles and fabric manipulation techniques into their bag to ensure it fulfilled the design brief.

Need To Know

Upcoming Fortnight

Please see school calendar in sidebar for dates and details.

Term 2 Week 7

CSDA Debating Round 6
Environment Week
Year 12 Careers Excursion
Years 9 and 10 Dance Excursion
Talented Year 9 Mathematics Workshop
Year 8 Reader / Tutor Program

Term 2 Week 8