Catherine McAuley is participating in a totem project aimed at highlighting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s inextricable connection to land, water and sky. Led by The Strong Sisters, a group of indigenous students at the school, all students have been invited to join the project to work together to introduce totems and promote environmental sustainability.
A totem is a natural object, plant or animal that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have connection to. Each individual can have several totems that represent different levels of kinship and connection. The Catherine McAuley school totem is the eel.
The eel has been chosen as the school’s totem because the land the school stands on (in the City of Parramatta) has been occupied for over 60,000 years by the Burramattagal people, a clan of the Dharug. ‘Burra’ means eel and ‘Matta’ means place, with ‘Barramatta’ being ‘the place where the eels lie down’.
As part of the project students will research the eel and seek to understand its habitat, feeding, lifecycle and threats. The wetlands area behind the school will continue to be rehabilitated with the aim to provide a safe habitat for the eels. Students will also explain the significance of the school’s totem to the McAuley and Mother Teresa community.
Look out for more developments with this project soon including the release of eels into the wetlands area.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
More News
17 Apr 2024
From Facebook
READING IS FUN! - A group of Year 11 students have been working with Mother Teresa Primary School students every Wednesday morning this past term in a reading program which will continue all year. Each term a new group of Year 11 students will take part and for half an hour every Wednesday before school they will spend time reading and listening to Years 1-3 students. The program is a rewarding experience for both the Catherine McAuley students and the Mother Teresa ones.
15 Apr 2024
From Facebook
Chatting with Year 7 students it is apparent that the stand out feature for most of them, as they complete their first term at high school, is that they have made lots of new friends and are enjoying the varied activities the school has to offer. 🥰 Read the full story on our website: https://www.mcauleywestmead.catholic.edu.au/news-events/news/2024/04/10/05/05/year-7-students-complete-first-term-at-high-school-with-lots-of-new-friends
12 Apr 2024
From Facebook
11 Apr 2024
From Facebook
The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday 11th April 2024 is now available via this link:
11 Apr 2024
Senior OzTag Team Wins PDSSSC Grand Final
The Catherine McAuley Senior OzTag Team has won the PDSSSC competition in what was a very wet grand final last Thursday, 4th April!
11 Apr 2024
Year 8 History Students Enjoy Interactive Medieval Session
Semester 1 Year 8 History students last week enjoyed an interactive medieval session to complement their study of Medieval Europe.
11 Apr 2024
Year 8 Geography Students Explore The Importance of Water In The World At The Rocks
Semester 1 Year 8 Geography students had an exciting day at The Rocks last week as they explored the importance of water in the world.
10 Apr 2024
From Facebook
PROJECT COMPASSION ✝ Last days of Project Compassion fundraising. 😍 Yesterday there was a karaoke fundraiser organised by Year 11 Dobson with students making a gold coin donation to watch or participate and today it was Years 7 and 12 Coolock who organised a spider drink stall.
10 Apr 2024
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS ➡️ Who doesn’t love the smell of brownies? 😀 For these lucky Year 10 Food Technology students of Miss Grow they spent their last lesson of the term today making and then eating brownies.
10 Apr 2024
Year 7 Students Complete First Term at High School With Lots of New Friends
Chatting with Year 7 students this week it is apparent that the stand out feature to most of them, as they complete their first term at high school, is that they have made lots of new friends and are enjoying the varied activities.
10 Apr 2024
From Facebook
Year 8 Geography students spent the day last Wednesday exploring The Rocks and learning about the importance of water in the world. 💦 💦 The students learnt about the connection between water and social status in the early days of colonisation and they learnt about the Tank Stream which used to be the main source of water in the area. It flowed through what we now call Pitt Street.
09 Apr 2024
From Facebook
PROJECT COMPASSION ✝️ Year 12 students continued a tradition this morning which they started when they were in Year 7 with Mrs Wilson (now retired) as their Year Coordinator. The students every year save their loose change and do a money trail as a Project Compassion fundraiser. This year, given it is their last, the students excelled and raised $706.65! 🙌 The House with the longest money trail was Veritas House, who also raised the most money with a total of $235.90. All Year 12 Homerooms contributed with Caritas House raising the next largest amount with $167.80. Well done Year 12 on this tradition and for raising so much today for Project Compassion. 😍😍
09 Apr 2024
From Facebook
SENIOR OZTAG TEAM WINS GRAND FINAL 🙌 🙌 Congratulations to the Senior OzTag Team who have won the PDSSSC OzTag competition. The grand final took place last Thursday between Catherine McAuley and St Patrick’s, Dundas. Catherine McAuley won 3-0. Coaches Miss Passion and Mrs Muggleton said the team had a great season. 👏👏👏 And well done to the Senior Volleyball Team who versed St Patrick’s in the PDSSSC Volleyball Grand Final and lost 57-49. Well done to St Patrick’s.
05 Apr 2024
From Facebook
At Catherine McAuley Westmead we follow the Catholic tradition of praying the Angelus at midday. 🙏 🙏 This Marion devotion originated in the 13th Century and is led by our Liturgy and MAG Leaders. When praying the Angelus our focus is on the mystery of the Incarnation which recognises that God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus while retaining his full divinity. We also reflect how we as people of faith can respond to God's invitation just as Mary said "yes" to God.