Term 3 Week 7 - Thursday 31st August 2023
Notes from the Principal
This week’s build up to Mercy Day tomorrow has been an exciting time for students and teachers, with much anticipation and discussion of House cheers, fancy dress and shared lunches. Yesterday’s House cheers were also a wonderful display of student unity, collaboration and cooperation between students of all ages, very capably led by the Student House Leaders. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm for this special day, a day that unites us in our celebration of the school’s foundations and history.
Integral to the day’s celebrations is the important fundraising we will do for the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Nutrition Program, an important program that improves sustainable health and quality of life for women and children in Timor Leste. Already, students have learned about this project and its impacts, and they raised $1100 this week at the Father’s Day stall run by Clare and Dobson Houses.
As I mentioned in last week’s Weekly Review, the day begins with Mass at 9.30am. I invite you to join us for this special event, and to join us for morning tea afterwards.
A reminder to students that they should be dressed for the start of the day and for Mass in their formal winter school uniforms, with blazers pressed and shoes polished. As they will change into their costumes after Mass, uniform items should be labelled to avoid them being lost.
This weekend also marks Father’s Day. All of us at Catherine McAuley wish our fathers and father figures a very happy Father’s Day. We thank you for all that you do for your children and loved ones.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Assistant Principal
Optimising Learning
Every student needs to make the maximum effort to ensure they are setting themselves up for success. Every student in each of the six year cohorts needs to not only satisfy all current requirements but also think ahead.
Year 12 students might be thinking that because they have completed all their assessment tasks that they can sit back and take it easy. In fact the opposite is the case. Students who receive high band results actually increase their effort to ensure that not only are they prepared for the exams in October but also they are helping all members of the cohort to perform better in the actual exam than they did in their school assessment. This way their school assessment mark will be moderated higher.
Year 11 students need to approach these end of course exams with the thinking that the better they work and perform before they actually start their HSC classes the better prepared they will be. Everything they are learning in their Preliminary Courses can be used and built upon.
Year 10 students have been told to ensure that they pay particular attention to developing their writing skills. Ultimately that is all the markers will judge them on; how well they write. Those continuing with Mathematics must increase their effort to ensure they finish with a deep understanding of all the units they study.
The same goes for Year 9. Next year they will be eligible for their first credential - Year 10 Record of School Achievement. They must ensure that they at least make a satisfactory effort in all courses. Without a Year 10 Record of School Achievement (ROSA) they cannot progress to Stage 6.
Year 7 and 8 students need to ensure that they complete all mandatory subjects to at least a satisfactory level otherwise they will not be eligible in 2025 and 2026 for their ROSA. This year’s Year 8 cohort will be the first who must study Mathematics in Years 11 and 12 so obviously must make their work in Mathematics be at their highest level.
The key to optimising learning is attendance. Yes, students can learn from home but it is not the best learning environment. The classroom is the best learning environment because learning is a collaborative undertaking. Students sometimes learn from the teacher and quite often they learn off each other. Students need to be at school every single day.
As always, if you have any questions about your daughter’s learning do not hesitate to contact their teacher, coordinator or myself.
Michael Hall
Assistant Principal
Pray With Us
News from the School Counsellor
RUOK? Day 2023 is scheduled for Thursday, 14th September and it is our National Day of Action when we are each reminded that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and to be able to start a conversation on how you are travelling?
As parents, it is very crucial to be aware of certain behaviours and signs that indicate a child might be struggling and knowing when to bring it out. These behaviours include:
- Arguing with someone
- Problems at school
- Experiencing grief or loss
- Not sleeping well
- Withdrawn from friends or family
- Lost interest in activities and things your daughter usually loves
- Lashing out at people and getting angry, including the people they care about
- Crying or becoming emotional.
Sometimes as adults, we cannot be expected to fix someone’s problems, let alone have the expectation of our children to know the best way to help and support their friend.
However, they can be encouraged to listen to what their friend is saying, let them know they care and to reach out to a trusted adult (teacher, school counsellor, parent) if they are worried about their friend. By accessing the appropriate support via an adult, your daughter can learn that asking, “Are you OK?” is a key life skill and hopefully the same will apply if your daughter is struggling herself.
Below are some helpful conversational steps to help navigate a conversation when someone says, “No, I am not OK”.
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:
Congratulations to the Catherine McAuley team who has been selected for the STEM MAD (Make a Difference) National Secondary Showcase to be held in Melbourne later this year!! Congratulations to these Year 10 STEM Club students and well done to all the Year 10 STEM Club students who attended and presented at the STEM MAD Showcase at CathWest Innovation College last Wednesday. This showcase celebrated STEM-based learning initiatives with students presenting solutions to real-world problems.
In addition to making their presentations the students had the opportunity to participate in many STEM related activities such as F1 racing and bottle rocket launching.
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 3 Week 8
- Year 11 Exams
- Year 12 Community and Family Studies Masterclass
- Year 8 Maths Enrichment Day
- Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student Excellence
- Bring It On Dance Competition
Term 3 Week 9
- Year 11 Exams
- Year 10 Pastoral Care Seminar
- Year 9 Pastoral Care Seminar
- CSPD Education Mass
- Mercy 5 Eco-Justice Day
- NSW Athletics Championships