Year 8 English students explored growth through 'Peeling the Onion'
This term, Ms Shipley’s English class have been reading the novel, ‘Peeling the Onion’ by Wendy Orr as part of their study on the concept of Growth.
The concept of the onion is central in understanding the main character's growth and identity, and to explore the concept further, Ms. Shipley brought in an onion to class to demonstrate.
At first, students were hesitant to cut into it, expecting their eyes to burn or sting, however that was not the case. The experience prompted a thoughtful discussion surrounding how their assumptions caused fear, steering them away from delving into the onion deeply.
This idea reflects the struggles that Anna, the main character of the book, faces after she suffers a life-altering accident.
From this, students learned that the concept of an onion is really powerful in understanding how we as individuals can challenge ourselves further by exploring the layers of our identity to get to the core of who we are.
-
09 Jun 2026
Helping Your Child Learn at Home - Practical strategies every parent can use
How can you help your child learn at home without stress, conflict, or overwhelm? Join CSPD’s Learning Outcomes team for a practical parent session focused on simple, realistic ways families can support learning at home, from primary through to secondary school.
17 Jun 2026
Try a Career Day @ CathWest Loyola Campus
Year 10, are you curious about trying a career...? Register for CathWest's 'Try a Career Day' at the CathWest Loyola Campus!
More News
14 May 2026
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS 📸 Year 11 Visual Arts students who have participated in a Captivate photography workshop or studied 1 Unit Photography were invited to an early morning photo shoot this week, arriving at school at 6am to capture striking images of the new building in the morning light.
14 May 2026
From Facebook
ENVIRONMENT WEEK 🌿 There was plenty of creativity and fun in Mercy Square at lunch today as students continued celebrating Environment Week at Catherine McAuley! Organised by the Student Leaders of Environment, students spent yesterday and today expressing their appreciation for the natural world through colourful chalk art on the Mercy Wall. Using non-toxic chalk, students transformed the space into a vibrant display of creativity, with lunchtime buzzing with activity.
14 May 2026
From Facebook
The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday, 14th May 2026 is now available:
14 May 2026
From Facebook
SCHOOL DEBATING 💬 The Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA) competition continued on Wednesday night with Round 4, where Catherine McAuley achieved an impressive result, winning 5 out of 6 debates. Teams across all year groups secured victories, with the only loss coming in the Year 12 debate. All debates were against La Salle Catholic College, Bankstown. Congratulations to all students on their efforts and achievements throughout the season so far! Thank you to Katrina N. from the Year 9 Media Team for capturing these photos.
14 May 2026
Music, art, movement: why creativity matters more than you think
Did you know creativity is one of the biggest predictors of how well children do in school and in life?
14 May 2026
Around the Classrooms
From creative design projects to hands-on fieldwork and powerful historical insights, students have been actively engaging in a range of enriching learning experiences across the classroom and beyond.
13 May 2026
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS ➡️ Year 11 Textiles and Design students in Mrs E. Maher’s class have designed and created a range of unique bags inspired by historical, cultural and contemporary influences as part of their Design Unit. Each student incorporated fabric manipulation techniques and key elements and principles of design into their bag to bring their creative ideas to life. Fantastic work and impressive creativity on display!
13 May 2026
From Facebook
YEAR 9 MEDIA TEAM 📸 At the recent Mother’s Day Liturgy and Morning Tea for Year 9 students, the newly formed Year 9 Student Media Team had the opportunity to put their photography skills into practice using the school cameras. Students enjoyed capturing photos with a custom social media frame created as a fun photo prop for the event. Well done to the students on their fantastic start and we look forward to seeing more photos and news stories from the Year 9 Media Team throughout the year.
13 May 2026
From Facebook
YEAR 10 GEOGRAPHY EXCURSION 🌊 On Friday, 8th May, Year 10 Geography students took part in their coastal case study excursion, visiting Long Reef and Collaroy beaches. Students gained hands-on experience conducting fieldwork by measuring sand dune profiles, assessing weather conditions and vegetation, and observing the coastal management strategies used at both locations. This was a valuable opportunity for students to see Geography in action and apply their classroom learning in a real-world environment.
13 May 2026
The Story of Altiora Week - The Student Leaders of Learning Recap This New Initiative
The Student Leaders of Learning summarise the very successful Altiora Week, a week full of exciting activities for students.
12 May 2026
From Facebook
Catherine McAuley Westmead recognised by the Sydney Morning Herald as among the top 130 schools achieving the biggest gains in literacy and numeracy across NSW! 🙌🙌
12 May 2026
From Facebook
🏃♀️ PDSSSC CROSS COUNTRY 🏃♀️ Last Friday 8th May, a group of students proudly represented the school at the PDSSSC Cross Country Carnival held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre, Horsley Park. Students from across the Parramatta Diocese came together for a day of competition and school spirit. Events were held for students aged 12–18, with the top six place-getters qualifying for the NSWCCC Carnival in June. Congratulations to all of our students for their outstanding effort and encouragement of one another throughout the day. A special congratulations to Sophie S. (Year 8) and Ziana P. (Year 7), who both received ribbons and qualified for the next round! 👏
12 May 2026
From Facebook
ENVIRONMENT WEEK 🌿 Today’s ‘Repurpose Pop-Up Stall’ showcased a range of handmade items created by students in the Earth Action Committee (EAC), encouraging the McAuley community to consider the environmental impact of mass production and the value of repurposing materials. Under the leadership of the Student Environment Leaders, the stall, held in Mercy Square at lunchtime, featured crochet bags, keychains, pouches, earrings, bookmarks, hair ties, AirPods cases and more, all thoughtfully handcrafted by students. All funds raised will support this term’s social justice cause, the Parramatta Women’s Shelter.
12 May 2026
From Facebook
BUILDING CONNECTIONS 🤝 Connections continue to form across year groups as the Year 7 students buddy up with Year 12. Last week, Clare and Veritas came together in Mercy Square as they sat down for a chat and a catch up. A simple but meaningful way to build connections, confidence and a strong sense of community. 🧡❤️ - Ms S. Malek
12 May 2026
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS ➡️ Students in Mrs E. Maher’s Year 9 Textiles class have created a colourful collection of cushions as part of their Furnishings focus area. Inspired by designers working across the textiles industry, from fashion and handbag designers to toy makers, students explored creative decorative techniques including embroidery and appliqué to bring their ideas to life. The class produced a range of beautifully crafted designs, showcasing both creativity and developing textile skills. 🧵🪡