Term 4 Week 9 - Thursday 7th December 2023
Notes from the Principal
Students’ Semester Reports
Early this week you would have received notification that your daughter’s Years 7 - 10 report is available on the Compass Portal. I hope that for both you and your daughters, this was something you looked forward to reading: it is, after all, the result of a semester of hard work and diligence in learning and excellence in all areas of her education.
Last week in the Weekly Review I invited you to make times to see your daughter’s teachers at the Parent / Teacher / Student meetings which are being held next week (information about these was sent on Tuesday afternoon with the notification of the report). If she has done very well, then the meetings are a time for celebration, and if either you or your daughter have questions about her achievements this semester, then the meetings offer an opportunity to understand this, and to move forward next year.
Once again, we are offering the Parent / Student / Teacher interviews in both a face to face and an online format to enable you to attend more easily and in a way that suits your preference.
Academic Awards Assembly
The Academic Awards Assembly is being held tomorrow afternoon. This is always a time of great celebration and joy for the entire school community, as we pause before the end of the year to acknowledge the achievements of many at Catherine McAuley.
A major award given to one student in each year group is the Ambassador for Catherine McAuley Award. This award is given to a student who lives out the Mercy values in all that she does. The recipient of the Ambassador for Catherine McAuley Award is a student who is merciful, who shows hospitality, integrity and courage, who is just in her response to others and strives for excellence in all that she does.
I know that those who attend the Academic Awards Assembly tomorrow will enjoy celebrating the successes of all who receive awards.
The Weekly Review today
Today’s Weekly Review will be the final one for the year. Next week I will send you a letter with Christmas blessings from all of us here at Catherine McAuley, as well as other information that may arise. I hope you enjoy this edition, and have a lovely week.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
The end of another year is an opportunity to reflect upon the achievements of the 2023 academic year at Catherine McAuley Westmead. It is also a chance to review what we value and how we can ‘do things better’ in the new year. At Catherine McAuley Westmead, the students are provided with a range of experiences which enables them ‘to strive for higher things’. As Catholics, we have the example of some exemplary people who have followed in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and model for us how to be the person that God wants us to be. In the following paragraphs are a few highlights showing how at Catherine McAuley Westmead we live our mission by being Christ to others.
In mid November, Year 7 experienced their first Reflection Day at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Year 7 students explored what it means to be a Mercy Girl with an emphasis on the Mercy Value of Hospitality. Students were given opportunities to work together in small groups, class groups and individually. We were most fortunate that Fr Robert Riedling, Episcopal Vicar for Education and the Dean and Administrator of St Patrick’s Cathedral was able to speak to the students. He selected a passage from the Gospel of St Matthew (25: 31-46), commonly known as The Judgement of the Nations. The Corporal Works of Mercy are contained in this passage and Fr Robert spoke about how each encounter with another person should be as if it was with Jesus himself. As People of Mercy, we need to be mindful of the fact that Venerable Catherine McAuley took this message to heart in all her encounters with others, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. It was wonderful for Year 7 to spend time together and join with the parish community for Mass.
Year 7 students at their Reflection Day in November.
For many of our students, they encounter the other in the people that they serve. At the end of November, Fr Januario Pinto O. Carm, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville, commissioned Year 11 students Chelsea and Mikaela to be Extraordinary Ministers of Communion in Schools. We thank them and along with Jemma, Minesha, Jessica, Emma and Aleena for their willingness to serve our school community in this important ministry.
On Monday evening, 4th December, Natalie (Year 7), Victoria, Martina and Angela (Year 8), Angelica and Zoe (Year 9), Elisha (Year 10) and Sacha (Year 11) accompanied Ms Grigson and Ms Banks to the Mass of Thanksgiving to Celebrate the 60th Year of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The principal celebrant was Most Reverend Vincent Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv DD STL. Sacrosanctum Concilium was the first document issued by the Council fathers of Vatican II.
Year 11 students Chelsea and Mikaela.
Mass of Thanksgiving to Celebrate the 60th Year of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
The vision of the Council was to renew the life of the Church for the sake of evangelising the modern world. The anticipated reforms of the Sacred Liturgy was to encourage a greater participation of the laity in the Mass. A few significant reforms included the use of the vernacular, restoring the prayers of the faithful and the inclusion of a homily. The reformed rites also provided the opportunity for the laity to assist the ordained clergy in the celebration of the liturgy. Prior to Sacrosanctum Concilium these opportunities for encounter would have been denied to our students. At Catherine McAuley, Sacrosanctum Concilium is not limited to a theoretical understanding of Christianity in Studies of Religion but is a lived reality for many of our students who serve in a range of Mass ministries.
Friday 8th December is a significant day for our school community. Not only is it the day when we recognise the achievements of our students at the Academic Awards Ceremony, it is also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1888 on this day, 135 years ago, Mother Clare Dunphy and her eight Sisters established the Foundation of the Sisters of Mercy, Parramatta. In this important year, the Sisters of Mercy, Parramatta have continued their ministries and provide ongoing support for our school community. We give thanks to God for their service and may we always remain true to the Gospels which informs everything that the Sisters of Mercy do.
Currently we are in the Season of Advent, it is a season of renewal, of hope in a new age to come. A time of preparation for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. As Catholics we have a certain hope that God’s Kingdom of justice and peace will one day prevail. Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, writes:
Action for justice and peace is always most effectively rooted in Christian love, which does not take sides in the conflicts but which seeks true reconciliation through dialogue, a lasting peace through which the dignity of every human person of whatever faith and nation is respected.
May we remember the dignity of each may in all our encounters as we prepare to welcome the Christ Child, the Prince of Peace into our hearts on Christmas morning and every day of our lives.
Wishing all our families a blessed and peace filled Christmas.
Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 4 Week 10
- Years 7 - 10 Activity Days
- Years 7 - 11 Parents / Student / Teacher Meetings
Term 1 Week 1 2024
- Staff Professional Learning Days
- Years 7 and 11 Students Commence Thursday, 1st February
- Years 8, 9, 10 and 12 Students Commence Friday, 2nd February
News Articles
- Catherine McAuley Student Class of 2016 Announced As The NSW Rhodes Scholar-Elect For 2024
- Catherine McAuley Team Wins Techgirls STEM Competition
- Catherine McAuley Students Enhance A Love of Reading In Primary School Students
- PDSSSC Update Terms 3 & 4 2023
- Congratulations To The Teachers Who Have Graduated From Mathematics Program
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:
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS 👏👏👏 The school is celebrating the success of two of our Class of 2023 students in both Textiles and Design and Design and Technology. Sophia P. and Amelia F. have both been nominated for the HSC Shape exhibition. This exhibition features a selection of students' exemplary 2023 HSC major projects from Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design. Congratulations Sophia and Amelia!