Term 1 Week 3 - Thursday 9th February 2023
Notes from the Principal
Last Friday we held our Opening Mass in the Morley Centre. As it always is, it was a wonderful and beautiful way to celebrate the year ahead and to welcome our all very special newest school students from Year 7 to Year 11 by inviting them into the Circle of Mercy. We were thrilled to have 190 parents and carers join us for Mass and for refreshments afterwards, and we thank you for attending. You will read more about the Opening Mass in other sections of The Weekly Review.
This week saw our first CMW Parents and Carers meeting for the school year, an event that was also attended by a large number of parents. It was a very full meeting, with a detailed agenda and an opportunity to meet the parents who lead the CMW Parents and Carers Group, as well as other parents in the school community. I would like to thank the Chair, Elisabeth Majnaric, for leading this group and for their support of Catherine McAuley.
I hope you enjoy the many wonderful news items in this edition of The Weekly Review.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
The Catherine McAuley community has offered me a very warm welcome. I am extremely pleased to join the Westmead Catholic Community.
At the assembly last week I spoke about the year beginning and it is up to the girls to write their own chapter for 2023. I pointed out that the pages are blank at the moment and it is the choices they make that will fill the pages.
I suggested that the chapter will be about three aspects of learning. Learning about the God who loves them, learning their lessons and learning what it means to be part of a community.
The girls were told that they are created by God and so have infinite dignity and value and that they should never put themselves down or give up because they have unique gifts and talents that need to be used for the good of themselves and others.
I told a story about a student I once taught. He was considered to be not quite at the level of Mathematics that he should have been at. I taught him in a small Mathematics class in Year 8. He had a great desire to improve and finished the year in first place. By Year 10 he was studying Advanced Mathematics. He went on to study Mathematics 3 unit. He eventually became an actuary. The point of the story was that you can always improve if you are prepared to put in the necessary effort. Students must own their learning and be prepared to seek and act upon feedback from their teachers.
Catherine McAuley has an excellent reputation in the local and wider community. I encouraged the girls to do everything possible to add to this reputation because in the long run they can only benefit from this. This includes the way they wear the uniform, their behaviour on their way to and from school and their use of social media.
I very much look forward to journeying with the girls and their teachers to make 2023 a highly successful one measured against the level of faith in action, learning growth and community building.
Michael Hall
Assistant Principal
Pray With Us
There Is Kindness Everywhere - Mercy Moment 8th February 2023
From The School Counsellor
Welcome Into The New School Year
Changes in a young person’s physical or mental health can affect their schooling and relationships. A sense of wellbeing and connectedness in school promotes optimal development and contributes to academic success. Support is available for your daughter’s either mental health or physical health concerns.
Requests to see the School Counsellor can be made by parents, guardians, students, or Leaders of Learning Wellbeing within the bounds of confidentiality. Students aged 14 or under will need parental consent.
Counselling may include:
- Individual student counselling.
- Assistance with attendance, transition, or re-entry of students back to school.
- Referral to other Diocesan services or community-based agencies or specialists.
- Liaison with parents regarding your daughter’s wellbeing.
- Consultation with staff for the purposes of supporting your daughter at school.
If you have any concerns about your daughter, feel free to contact the School Counsellors; Mrs Suzan Boulattouf (Mon-Fri) or Mrs Kathryn Rogers (Wed-Fri) on 02 9849 9100 during school hours.
For extra support and advice, do not hesitate to reach out to the services below:
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 131114
Mental Health Access Line: 1800 011 511
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Headspace: 1800650 890
Parent Line: 1300 1300 52
Dial 000 in a life-threatening emergency.
Suzan Boulattouf
School Counsellor
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:
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS - Year 12 English Standard students have begun their Study of Module A: Language Identity and Culture. Students in Ms Shipley’s class analysed a poem by the Vietnamese-Australian poet and educator Vuong Pham.
'Mother' explores the relationship between a mother and son, whilst remembering the mother's childhood. Rich imagery is employed, transporting the family back to Vietnam - 'My mind’s eye turns to childhood, to shadows stirring beneath star fruit trees'. Ms Shipley brought in some starfruit and lychees to fully immerse the students in the poem!
Need To Know
- Year 7 PAT R and PAT M Adaptive Tests
- Years 7 - 10 PDHPE and PASS Practical Requirements
- Lost Property
- eSafety Commissioner Webinars for Parents and Carers
- Tuesday 7th February was Safe Internet Day. Information sheets from eSafety Commissioner below:
- National Apology Day
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 4
- Academic Assembly
- Diocesan Project Compassion 2023 Schools' Launch
- Long Distance Swimming Carnival
- Year 11 WSU Academy U Orientation
Term 1 Week 5
- Ash Wednesday Liturgy
- Lifted Leaders Evangelisation and Networking Event
- NSW All Schools Triathlon
- Welcome to Year 7 Parents' Afternoon
- Year 12 Hospitality Excursion
- Years 9 and 11 Study Skills Session