Each Thursday afternoon a group of like minded students gather together to share their love of drama and creativity. The Captivate After School Ensemble is open to all CEDP students in Years 7-12 at no charge and runs year round during term time. The venue for the Ensemble changes on a yearly basis and currently they are meeting at Parramatta Marist.
Lucinda Armour, Captivate - Drama Practitioner, says the Ensemble is for students from secondary school who are interested in developing their drama skills. “Our work in the Ensemble focuses on communication, improvisation, creativity, play building, voice, movement and dramatic collaboration”.
Catherine McAuley currently has over 50 students involved with a large number of them students in Years 7 and 8 who have joined this year for the first time. Others such as Year 11 student Kirsty have been involved with Captivate since primary school. Kirsty has performed in the 2019 Riverside Theatre production of ‘Forgotten’ and has had the opportunity to travel regionally and interstate with the program. “I find the Captivate Drama Ensemble a great way to express myself creatively and it is such a safe and welcoming environment to do it in'', she says. “It is also nice to meet students from other schools as they often have a different perspective”.
Philippa, Year 9, joined the Ensemble when she was in Year 7, “I enjoy being able to express myself as different characters and I particularly like improvisation as that is really fun”.
Both Isabella and Aneisa, Year 10, participate as a way to develop new skills and a way to make new friends. “It is something I do for fun but I also like to develop as an actor”, says Isabella.
Madeline and Sarah, Year 8 students, joined Captivate for the first time this year and enjoy the fun games as well as finding new ways to express themselves. “It makes us more passionate about drama”, says Sarah. “At Captivate you can express yourself in ways you have never done before”. Madeline adds, “It really makes you step outside of your comfort zone”.
At this stage the Captivate After School Drama Ensemble is not taking any further students as they are running at capacity. For further information or to register a student’s name for 2022 telephone
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
More News
09 May 2024
From Facebook
The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday 9th May 2024 is now available via this link:
09 May 2024
From Facebook
KIDS’ LIT COMPETITION 📚📚 Ten Catherine McAuley students competed on Tuesday in a heat for the Kids' Lit Competition. This competition gives students who are keen readers a chance to show their love of literature. In teams of four, they answer 100 questions that test their knowledge of children's books, classics and contemporary fiction for young people. The heat was held at Loreto Kirribilli. We did not get through to the final but the students really enjoyed the experience of competing against the other teams. The wonderful children's author, Nat Amoore (shown in photo), was a very entertaining host and quiz master for their heat and created an exhilarating atmosphere for the competitors.
09 May 2024
McAuley Students Take Part In Kids' Lit Competition
On Tuesday, 7th May ten Catherine McAuley students attended Loreto Kirribilli for a Kids' Lit 2024 Heat. Kids' Lit is a competition that gives students who are keen readers, a chance to show their love of literature.
09 May 2024
The Lip Sync Competition is Back!
A highlight on the school calendar, the lip sync competition will be a major fundraiser for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter and will be organised by Ryan, Mercedes and Clare Houses. Students are asked to get together either a solo or group act and prepare a “mind blowing performance” for the judges.
09 May 2024
From Facebook
LIBRARY AMBASSADORS 📚 At the school assembly yesterday the 2024 Library Ambassadors received their badges. These students support the library and help students find their next great read.
09 May 2024
Catherine McAuley Partners With Parramatta Womens Shelter
Catherine McAuley Westmead will again be partnering with the Parramatta Women’s Shelter as the social justice focus for Term 2. Staff and students listened to guest speaker Julia Fleming, Education Officer, Women’s Community Shelters, who said that they are very grateful that the school has chosen to support the Parramatta Women’s Shelter this term. The fundraising efforts had a fantastic start with the Mother’s Day stall raising over $1800!
09 May 2024
Mercy Students Come Together to Care For The Environment
Select students from Years 10 and 11 have travelled to Collaroy for the Eco-Justice Retreat, raising awareness about environmental concerns and bringing together the 5 Mercy Schools in Sydney.
08 May 2024
From Facebook
18 students from Years 10 and 11 took part in the Mercy 5 Eco-Justice Retreat at the end of last term. This retreat saw students from the five Mercy schools across Sydney come together to boost awareness and school involvement surrounding the Christian approach of caring for our environment. 💦🪸🌞 Over the two days many activities took place focused around this year’s theme of ‘water conservation’. These activities included the bringing together of water from each school, prayer, project building in which the students refurbished the return and earn program, and a beach clean up. The students involved said that they found the retreat informative and enlightening. “We gained an immense understanding concerning the impact of water wastage, as well as techniques to be more sustainable and environmentally cautious”, they said.
08 May 2024
From Facebook
The Lip Sync Competition is Back! 🎤🎤 “We can’t wait to see your amazing lip sync skills”, the House Leaders of Ryan, Mercedes and Clare told students at the school assembly this week. A highlight on the school calendar, the lip sync competition will be a major fundraiser for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter and will be organised by Ryan, Mercedes and Clare Houses. Students are asked to get together either a solo or group act and prepare a “mind blowing performance” for the judges. There is a Google form to register available to students on Compass.
08 May 2024
From Facebook
Catherine McAuley Westmead will again be partnering with the Parramatta Women’s Shelter as the social justice focus for Term 2. Led by Ryan, Clare and Mercedes Houses the fundraising efforts have had a fantastic start with the Mother’s Day stall held yesterday raising over $1800! This is the largest amount ever raised from the Mother’s Day stall and the school is extremely grateful to all who donated and purchased items. 😍😍 At the school assembly on Wednesday students and staff listened to guest speaker Julia Fleming, Education Officer, Women’s Community Shelters, who said that they are very grateful that the school has chosen to support the Parramatta Women’s Shelter this term. “When we hear about the support from communities like Catherine McAuley it really, truly warms our hearts and fuels our work. I am so grateful to be able to stand here and say thank you to you as a community for supporting us. This is now an ongoing relationship and you have done wonderful work for us in the past - raising money, collecting bed linens and gift vouchers - every bit of support you give us counts!”
07 May 2024
From Facebook
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.
07 May 2024
From Facebook
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
From Facebook
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
From Facebook
All Catherine McAuley parents and carers invited to the upcoming Term 2 P&C meeting! 😃
03 May 2024
From Facebook
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.