Term 1 Week 2 - Thursday 8th February 2024
News from the Principal
I’d like to begin the first Weekly Review of the year by thanking all students and their families for the very successful beginning to the 2024 school year. It has been such a joy to welcome students, staff and parents this year, and it has been terrific to hear everyone’s holiday stories. We hope it has been an equally smooth start for you and your families.
I’m also pleased to let you know that our newest and youngest students, those in Year 7, are settling into Catherine McAuley life very well. In their new school uniforms, it is as though they have been part of our community forever. It is lovely to see them take on this school as their own.
At our opening school assembly last week, I spoke to students about the importance of taking well-discerned risks in their learning. Responsible risk taking allows us to stretch our thinking, and to solve problems in a way that is more innovative and dynamic. It is a skill that not only helps them to achieve better in their school work, but one that will also help them to perform better in their adult lives.
Opening School Mass
Tomorrow, as you know, we are celebrating our Opening Mass at 12.00pm in the Morley Centre. I invite all parents to join us for this special occasion, and also to join us for a light luncheon in Dobson Green afterwards if you have time to do so. Some parents request that they take their daughter home early after this mass. However, as students will need to attend period 5 tomorrow afternoon, they will not be permitted to leave school early.
Swimming Carnival Next Tuesday
The school swimming carnival is being held next Tuesday at the new Parramatta Council Pool. This is always a great community day for all students. They will be able to participate in both competitive and novelty events, as well as enjoy the house spirit that develops strongly on a day such as this. It is a compulsory day for all students, and is an ideal opportunity for them to participate in and contribute to their school.
If you would like to attend the carnival to watch your daughter compete, you are welcome to do so. This invitation is limited to parents, carers and infant children, however, and school-aged siblings and cousins are not permitted to attend.
Repairs To Mercy Chapel
In my last letter to you I wrote about the work required on the roof of Mercy Chapel. These repairs will begin next Wednesday, and the building will soon be accessible once more.
Parents and Carers Meeting Next Week
The Term 1 Parents and Carers meeting is also being held next Tuesday evening at 6.00pm. This is an excellent opportunity for us to meet you, and for you to meet other parents, and for us to talk to you about the things that are happening at school and how things work here. I invite you all to attend this meeting and look forward to seeing you there. There are further details in the Need to Know section of this Weekly Review.
Mary Refalo
Principal
Pray With Us
Need To Know
- Term 1 2024 Significant Dates
- Years 7 - 10 PDHPE and PASS Practical Requirements
- Contacting Your Daughter’s Teacher and Other School Staff
- All Parents and Carers Are Invited To Attend the Term 1 Parents & Carers Group Meeting
- Useful Information for Parents
- School Subscription To Study Skills Handbook
- Term 1 2024 eSafety Webinars for Parents/Carers
- Protecting Children In Their Digital Worlds - Education Session With ySafe
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 1 Week 3
- School Swimming Carnival
- Ash Wednesday Liturgy
- School Morning Tour
Term 1 Week 4
- Year 9 Study Skills Seminar
- Year 12 2023 High Achievers Assembly
- NSW All Schools Triathlon Championships
News Articles
Our School on Social Media
Follow Catherine McAuley Westmead on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for regular updates. A recent post is shown below:
Congratulations to our team of students who competed in the Australian Space Design National Competition in January. Our students were paired with students from Padua College in Queensland. They had to respond to a request for tender to build an asteroid capture space settlement, planning structural engineering, operations and infrastructure, personnel factors, automation, and business development.
Our students performed very well and showed exceptional commitment, communication and teamwork skills. Congratulations to Ashyra C. who won the Peter O'Keefe Leadership Award for her outstanding example of service and encouragement to her team. Many thanks to Miss Reynolds and Mr Tjeong who attended with the students to support them over their holiday break.
