Term 2 Week 9 - Thursday 26th June 2025
Note from the Principal
Achievements for Year 12 Students
There have been a great many opportunities for growth and celebration for students in Year 12 in recent weeks, and they are to be congratulated on these achievements.
Last week Year 12 students attended their Senior Retreat at Lake Macquarie. For students, this was a powerful experience, and one in which they took time to reflect on their own lives and values, their relationships with others, and their relationship with God. Students spoke highly of the retreat experience and the insights it has given them as they grow into women and prepare to leave school.
I congratulate Year 12 students on their commitment to the Senior Retreat, and their participation in this important experience. I would also like to thank the teachers who attended to support your daughters for the three days they were away.
In addition to this, three Year 12 students have recently experienced great success in their Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. You may have seen information about these achievements on the school’s social media pages.
Last Friday evening two students, Summer and Georgia, were nominated for the award of VET Student of the Year for the Penrith and Blue Mountains region. A nomination in this event is a significant and prestigious achievement. I am very pleased to let you know that Summer won this award for her participation and contribution in VET Fitness and VET Business Services. I congratulate both students for their achievements, and also their teachers, who prepared them so well.
Congratulations also to Niamh who was a competitor in the WorldSkills National Championships for VET in Schools in Brisbane. Niamh’s category was Business Services, and she achieved second place and the silver medal for this event. This is also a significant achievement for Niamh.
You can read more about these achievements in a later section of this Weekly Review.
Creative and Performing Arts
On Tuesday the school's Dance troupes participated in the PDSSSC Dance Competition at St John XXIII, Stanhope Gardens. The girls danced well, with two of the troupes achieving second place. Congratulations to all the dancers, and to Mrs Flynn for her work in preparing them for this competition.
Last night the Creative and Performing Arts faculty held their mid-year showcase, Winter Stories. It was a fantastic evening, with students’ works in Visual Arts and Music, including the music performance groups, on display. It was a truly wonderful evening, with students’ works a demonstration of the school motto, ‘strive for higher things’.
Many thanks to those who performed, the teachers who facilitated the event, and to the parents and families who attended this celebration of students’ skills in their Creative and Performing Arts classes.
Student artworks on display
Music students performing
Senior Jazz Ensemble with their trophy
Social Justice in Term 2
This term the school focussed on supporting the Parramatta Women’s Shelter by increasing awareness of the shelters and their important work, by collecting donations of household items, and by raising necessary funds for this organisation.
Last Friday night students in Years 11 and 12 and their teachers gathered for the annual Winter Sleepout. This is a time for the students to show their empathy and understanding for the many in our community who are without shelter and adequate food or clothing during these winter months. A story later in this newsletter will present these facts in more detail. The evening is designed to promote students’ thinking about those around them, and to raise some funds to contribute the Women’s Shelter.
Many thanks to Ryan and Mercedes Houses for coordinating this social justice focus, and particularly to the House Patrons and House Leaders of these Houses for their leadership of this work. I’d also like to thank all families for supporting this cause through your donations.
We have raised approximately $9000 for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter - what a fabulous achievement!
Reports and Feedback Opportunities
A reminder that this week students in Years 7 - 10 will receive their semester reports. Information about the Parent / Student / Teacher meetings will be sent to you with the reports. We look forward to seeing you at these meetings, where you can hear from your daughter’s teachers about her progress and achievements in her classes this semester.
Please remember that if you have a concern about your daughter’s learning at any time, the first person you should contact is the class teacher. If you still have concerns then contact the relevant Leader of Learning Curriculum. If you are still concerned, then you are invited to contact Mr Hall, the Assistant Principal who oversees learning at school. The Leader of Learning Wellbeing should not be the first point of contact with the school over a learning issue.
Mary Refalo
Principal
News from the Director of Catholic Identity & Mission
At Catherine McAuley, the end of Term 2 is rapidly approaching. While learning is our core business, students have participated in a multitude of extra curricular activities and have generously supported the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. For our Year 12 students, a highlight of Term 2 has been their Senior Retreat which was held at CRU Lake Mac from Wednesday 18th June - Friday 20th June. Our partnership continued with the Passionist Retreat Team, Tom, Sinead and Laura, who presented the Retreat Program. Students were accompanied on their Senior Retreat by Ms Banks, Ms Morrison, Ms McGlone, Miss Reynolds, Ms Pasion, Mr Bautista, Ms Alison, Ms Aquina, Ms Carlin, Ms Ghougassin, Mrs Grima, Mrs Howlett, Mrs Jarosevski and Mrs Mills. Also, on Thursday afternoon, Ms Refalo was able to join Year 12 for some sessions and dinner.
The Senior Retreat was held from Wednesday 18th June - Friday 20th June.
Year 12 not only enjoyed the stunning location on Lake Macquarie and its beautiful sunrises and sunsets but were able to ‘retreat’, step aside from their everyday lives. As they near the completion of their secondary education this precious time enabled them the time to explore some important questions: Who am I? Who am I in relation to others? And who am I in relation to God? Over the three days, students participated in warm up activities, small group discussions, whole year group sessions, community time, affirmations, prayer and liturgy and listened to inspiring stories. Year 12 now return to their daily lives with these affirming messages: You are capable of great things, you are stronger than you realise and that you can make a difference. However, the key takeaway message is that God is with you and loves you unconditionally.
This year, Fr Tom Green, Assistant Priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral, has been a regular presider at Wednesday Morning Mass. On Monday afternoons Fr Tom has also visited Stage 4 and 5 Religious Education classes. Fr Tom has generously assisted the Religious Education Teachers in their delivery of the new curriculum, Encountering Jesus. Additionally, Fr Tom has addressed questions on a number of topics related to our Catholic Faith. We are very appreciative of the support we have received in semester one from the clergy from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Wentworthville.
Fr Tom Green, Assistant Priest at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Lastly, let us remember that Pope Leo XIV began his papacy with the words “Peace be with you all!” May we heed these words and pray that world leaders will seek Mercy and Compassion, so that Peace may reign, enabling all to live a life truly befitting of their God given dignity.
Genevieve Banks
Director of Catholic Identity and Mission
Pray With Us
Need To Know
Upcoming Fortnight
Term 2 Week 10
- Year 12 Chemistry & Physics Kickstart Workshop
- Year 12 CAPTIVATE HSC Group Performance Exhibition
- Year 10 Vaccination Program
- Years 9 & 10 Visual Art Excursion
- Years 7 - 10 Parent / Student / Teacher Meetings
Term 3 Week 1
- Term 3 commences
- Pupil Free Day - Monday 21st July
- Pupil Free Day - Tuesday 22nd July
- Year 9 Activity Day
- PDSSSC Netball Gala Day
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:
CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS MID-YEAR SHOWCASE - Students from the Year 10 Media Team interview Visual Arts Teacher Ms Schmaltz as they explore some of the student artworks on display.