Term 3 Week 6 - Thursday 24th August 2023
News from the Principal
Mercy Day and Belonging
Next week we celebrate Mercy Day at Catherine McAuley Westmead. The theme for the day is McAuley Rewind, honouring the history of this school.
The day is a very special one for our school community. We will begin with a whole school Mass, which is always a beautiful and joyful coming together of the Catherine McAuley community. During Mass the school leadership team for 2023 - 2024 will receive their badges and this year students in Years 9 and 10 will also receive a school badge to wear everyday on their blazers. Students will be in full, formal school uniform for the beginning of the day and for Mass.
We invite all parents and carers to join us for this special celebration Mass in the Morley Centre, and for morning tea in Coolock Court afterwards. We would be thrilled to see as many of you there as possible.
Following Mass, students will change into their theme costumes. There has already been a lot of excitement about this, with students working together to come up with the right outfit for the afternoon’s activities. During this time, lunch, provided and served by the Parents and Carers Group, will be served, and there will be a number of games and activities for students to participate in. Any money spent on the afternoon activities will be part of our fundraising for the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Project in Timor Leste.
As we always do, we are celebrating Mercy Day in September. The date marks the anniversary of the opening of Mercy House, the house in Dublin built by Catherine McAuley in 1827 as a destination for Dublin’s unemployed, uneducated and uncared for. Catherine, an educated, middle class woman, purchased the land with money she received in an inheritance, much to the chagrin of members of her family and of fellow Dubliners who could not understand why she would spend her money in this way.
On Mercy Day at Catherine McAuley Westmead, we proudly celebrate all that Catherine stood for, and all that she taught us about living in a way that honours and follows the teachings of Jesus. We reflect on our school values, those authenticated by our foundress, Catherine, and followed by Mercy schools and communities over the world, and we do this because they show us how to be people who follow in the footsteps of our God.
I’m sure your daughter has spoken to you about her excitement for Mercy Day, and that she will continue to look forward to it as the date approaches. The letter sent to you about Mercy Day is pinned in your Compass Newsfeed. Further information is also available in the Need To Know section below.
Mary Refalo
Principal
Pray With Us
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:
NETBALL CHAMPIONS! Another PDSSSC Grand Final and another Catherine McAuley Team wins!! Following on from the success of the Junior McAuley Soccer Team, on Thursday last week it was the Intermediate 1 Netball Team who won the PDSSSC Intermediate Netball Grand Final. The McAuley team beat Gilroy Catholic College 31-16. Well done!!
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 3 Week 7
- PDSSSC Athletics Carnival
- Year 12 Modern History and History Extension In School Activity
- Music Captivate Cluster Class Excursion
- Bishop of Parramatta Student Excellence Awards
- MERCY DAY
Term 3 Week 8
- Year 11 Exams
- Year 12 Community and Family Studies Masterclass
- Year 8 Maths Day
- Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student Excellence
- Bring It On Dance Competition