Mrs Julie Brown, respected Mathematics teacher, has decided to retire after 33 years at the school. Mrs Brown started teaching at Catherine McAuley in 1987, first teaching Biology and Mathematics, and then moving to the Mathematics Department exclusively.
In her 33 years at the school Mrs Brown has held a number of positions including Mathematics Coordinator, Assistant Principal and Acting Principal on occasion. She has coached and adjudicated debating and public speaking for many years and ran teacher professional development workshops. Known to be a passionate Mathematics educator and enthusiastic Mercedes House team member she will certainly be missed at the school.
Staff held a morning tea to farewell Mrs Brown on Friday 18th September. The cupcakes had blue sprinkles to represent Mercedes House and of course had mathematical symbols!
Mrs Joanne Evans, Mathematics Coordinator, and Mrs Lorena Thill, Assistant Mathematics Coordinator, spoke on behalf of the school, and of course had to include mathematical puns in their speech - “Julie led with wisdom, fairness, not calculating but measured in her decision making and problem solving when dealing with students and parents...She is an engaging teacher and was willing to share her ideas with colleagues. She differentiated well and readily integrated a variety of highly effective teaching strategies”.
Ex students and now teachers at McAuley, Miss Adele McGlone and Miss Sangeeta Raja, said that Mrs Brown was “a wonderful teacher who always encouraged her students to have a try and to learn from their mistakes, increasing the probability of students returning to math for another year”.
Current Year 12 student Maria Matthew said that from Year 7 her first lesson of Maths with Mrs Brown changed her previous anxiety with the subject and that Mrs Brown is a teacher she will never forget.
The school wishes Julie Brown all the best in her retirement and thanks her for her dedication to teaching.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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MOTHER’S DAY STALL 🩷 Fundraising for the school’s Term 2 social justice focus began today with a Mother’s Day Stall organised by Clare, Mercedes and Ryan Houses. All money raised this term will go to the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. Catherine McAuley has supported the shelter since its inception in 2019 and the school is proud to continue our support this year. Thank you to all students, families and staff who donated gifts and for those students who purchased a gift.
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Just a typical busy lunchtime at Catherine McAuley! Every lunchtime is busy at Catherine McAuley and today was no exception. From netball tryouts, to concert band rehearsals to the Mother's Day Stall, the school grounds are always so busy! 😀
07 May 2024
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Three Year 10 Catherine McAuley students this morning took part in the filming of a video by Catholic Schools Diocese of Parramatta. The students were on set at Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School and did a wonderful job saying their lines to camera. The footage will be used in a video to appear later this term. 🎥 🎥
06 May 2024
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All Catherine McAuley parents and carers invited to the upcoming Term 2 P&C meeting! 😃
03 May 2024
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Mercedes, Ryan and Clare Houses were busy today getting ready for next week’s Mother’s Day stall. The funds raised from this activity will go to the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. Thank you to everyone for your donations.
02 May 2024
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The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday 2nd May 2024 is now available via this link:
02 May 2024
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Bonjour to Ms Helene Millot, a native French language teacher, who is helping our French language students with their French every Thursday. Bienvenue!! 🇫🇷
02 May 2024
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Ciao to Ms Martina Vignoli who is helping our Year 11 and 12 Italian Beginners students with their Italian. Ms Vignoli is a native Italian speaker and works with the students every Thursday. Benvenuto nella nostra scuola! 🇮🇹
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PROJECT COMPASSION ✝️ Over $10,000 raised!!! Thank you to all students, families and staff who have helped Catherine McAuley raise $10,250 for Caritas Australia this year for Project Compassion. Amazing!! Naydeen P., Student Leader of Technology, has put together this 2 minute video highlighting all the fundraising efforts for Project Compassion this year. THANK YOU!
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Year 12 Legal Studies Student One Of 30 NSW Delegates At The National Constitution Convention
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01 May 2024
From Facebook
Sara E., a Year 12 Legal Studies student, recently represented NSW at the 29th National Schools Constitutional Convention held at Old Parliament House, Canberra. To be chosen for this was a significant achievement with Sara chosen after first attending the NSW Constitution Convention. Sara was selected for the state level convention after submitting a 500 word response to a question about reformation of the Australian Constitution. Following this, she was then voted by students who attended the state convention to be one of 30 NSW students to represent the State at the National Convention. At the Convention, Emeritus Professor Clement Macintyre led a two-day program in which students explored, ‘Section 96 of the Constitution allows the Commonwealth to grant funds to areas that fall outside those prescribed in Section 51. Should Section 96 be amended to decentralise the power of the Commonwealth?’. Delegates also had the opportunity to attend a Prime Minister’s Reception at Parliament House hosted by The Hon Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister; a meeting with the Governor-General, The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) at Government House; and an official dinner at the National Press Club. Well done Sara on representing NSW and Catherine McAuley Westmead so admirably!
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