Last week we welcomed in the 2021 school year. After a day of preparation on Wednesday, the school staff were delighted to see the arrival of students as they returned from their holidays. Students have quickly settled back into the school environment and are attentive to their classes and their peers, and they are looking forward to participating in extra curricular activities.
It is always such a great joy to welcome into the school community a new cohort of Year 7 students. The girls starting Year 7 have done so with maturity and ease. Whilst there are the usual teething problems of feeling lost in a large environment and a new context, they are determined and resilient. They should be proud of their achievements so far. We are looking forward to welcoming you to the Year 7 Welcoming Afternoon next Friday after school, during which time your daughters can take you on a tour of the school and you can meet her homeroom teacher.
In this newsletter you will notice that school activities are returning to normal after the holiday break, and within changed COVID guidelines. This morning we celebrated our School Opening Mass; as always, this was a lovely celebration of the Catherine McAuley community and Mercy welcome to the start of the year. In addition, school and MCCS sports competitions are slowly returning to normal, and some traditional school events are returning to the calendar. At this time we are still not able to invite parents to many school events, although some exceptions are permitted, including the on-site Parents’ and Friends’ Association meeting taking place in the Father David Scott Resource Centre on Tuesday evening at 6.30pm, to which you are all invited. We thank you for your continuing patience in this regard.
I recently listened to a short interview with Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, who spoke about how schools have coped with the challenges of 2020. He reflected on how the role of teaching has fundamentally changed and made special mention of education being more of a relational process rather than a transactional process which was magnified throughout 2020 due to Covid. Schools are not just about the academic achievement of students but also about their social and emotional wellbeing. They are about creating the conditions that allow our students to be the best version of themselves.
As I reflect on the work being done at Catherine McAuley, I am confident that the right conditions are being set up for our young women. We are talking about student learning with a strong focus on good discipline, a safe and supportive environment and high expectations. Our school motto Altiora Quaerite - Strive For Higher Things guides us in all we do.
So as I leave the Catherine McAuley community to take on a new challenge, I leave with confidence that the staff, students and parents are working together on the common goal of providing the conditions that allows our young women to achieve their best in a safe and supportive environment and that all members of the school community feel a sense of pride in what they do as well as in their community as a whole.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students and parents for their support over the past three years. I also thank all of my colleagues, both teaching and support staff, and in particular my coordinators, who always rise to meet any challenge they are presented with - they are truly an amazing team of people and I have genuinely enjoyed working with them all. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the School Leadership Team - Ms Mary Refalo, Ms Debbie Grigson, Ms Genevieve Banks, Miss Sharon Brincat and Ms Katie Patterson for being such a wonderful and supportive team to work with. I have learnt much from this wonderful community and I will miss you all. I wish each and everyone of you all the very best.
God Bless and Thank you
Ms Silvana Rossetti
Assistant Principal (Learning & Teaching)
On behalf of the Pastoral Team, I welcome Year 7 students and their families and any new students and their families to the Catherine McAuley Community.
At the beginning of the school year it is important for the girls to use a range of resources and strategies to prepare for learning each day. The following information is provided to assist girls and their families to prepare for each school day and to gain the best out of each learning opportunity.
Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.com.au - our school’s access details are:
Username: mcauley
Password: 189results
Ms Debbie Grigson
Assistant Principal (Pastoral Care/Administration)
After a very different summer holiday with COVID 19 health orders and border closes, it has been great to return to school. Some aspects of our lives have become more unpredictable, for example planning overseas travel. However in this chaotic world there is one certainty, at Catherine McAuley Westmead, we take our business of learning very seriously. After an absence of time it is always wonderful to see familiar faces and welcome those who are new to our school community.
The Religious Education (RE) Team welcomes three new staff members to our faculty: Miss Elizabeth Pasion, Miss Julia Shipley and Mrs Colleen Kofron.
We are also very pleased that existing members of staff, Mrs Talitha Flynn and Mrs Diane Jarosevski have also joined the RE Faculty.
Despite the difficulties of last year, the Graduating Class of 2020 performed well in both the Studies of Religion I and Studies of Religion II courses. Once again, both courses were above state average and we congratulate these students and their teachers on their achievements.
The rationale of the Studies of Religion (SOR) syllabus states “SOR provides a learning experience that prepares students for further education and training, employment and full and active participation as citizens within society.” Perhaps some of the tensions played out in world events may have been avoided if the participants had included Studies of Religion (SOR) in their learning schedules. Venerable Catherine McAuley’s vision was that those in her care must equip themselves to take their place in the world and in Westmead we continue this legacy.
In 2021, students in Stage Five - Years 9 and 10 are now studying the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta’s Draft New Curriculum (DNC). Through inquiry learning they will explore complex issues including : The relevance of knowing and imitating Jesus as a way to enhance all human flourishing and The significance of Indigenous Spirituality to contemporary Australian life. Later in the year, Stage Four - Years 7 and 8 will begin their learning journey with the DNC.
Thank you to our families for their continuing support of our endeavours here at Catherine McAuley Westmead. We look forward to sharing with you the successes of your daughters throughout the year.
Ms Genevieve Banks
Religious Education Coordinator
Congratulations to Carol G., Year 12, who has recently received a ‘Lone Star Program’ scholarship with the Western Sydney Academy of Sport for her sport of fencing. Carol first became interested in fencing by participating in the school fencing program on a Thursday afternoon. She is the only fencer this year to receive the scholarship. Well done Carol!
The Library Ambassadors are a student group who work with Mrs Lorenzutta to promote the library collection and services to the wider school community. The 2020 Ambassadors led a series of initiatives including ‘Book Snaps’, ‘Tie Die’ and ‘Get Peared with a Book’ campaign.
If you are an avid reader with big ideas then this may be the role for you. Keep an eye out on the student notices for more information regarding applications which open next week.
Do You Have Any Second Hand Uniform Items for Sale?
Do You Wish To Purchase Any Second Hand Uniform Items?
The school has had a number of requests regarding second hand uniforms and although our school uniform shop does not sell second hand items directly we have set up an area on the school website for parents to list their items for sale.
If you are interested in purchasing second hand uniform items perhaps you might like to check the school website under ‘Enrolments / Uniform Shop’ and see what items are listed.
If you are a parent with an item to sell please email mcauley2ndhanduniforms@parra.catholic.edu.au with your item details and photos. The school website under ‘Enrolments / Uniform Shop’ gives you more information.
