Ms Fiona Sandeman, Strong Sisters Coordinator on left with ex-student Shanaya Donovan, a proud Dharug Woman, and Strong Sister students.
Catherine McAuley concluded the school’s Reconciliation Week celebrations with a smoking ceremony in Mercy Square.
Led by The Strong Sisters the ceremony took place via live stream to all Homerooms, who then proceeded to walk through the smoke as the students walked to their first class for the day.
A smoking ceremony is an ancient Aboriginal custom that involves smouldering native plants to produce smoke. This smoke is believed to have both spiritual and physical cleansing properties. Thank you to Dharug Women - Shanaya Donovan, Class of 2021 and her mother Ms Clarke-Jones, who performed the smoking ceremony.
Ms Clarke-Jones, mother of former student Shanaya and a Dharug Woman, addressing the school assembly.
Year 12 students walking through the smoke at the smoking ceremony.
On Friday, 27th May as part of the Reconciliation Week events Year 8 Strong Sisters student Jordan B. represented Catherine McAuley at the Indigenous Veterans Commemoration Service held at the ANZAC Memorial, Hyde Park. This moving ceremony celebrated the contribution of indigenous veterans.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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Nexgen Women's Trade Day Program @ CathWest Loyola Campus
Ready to explore a future in trades? We’re offering two hands-on training days designed especially for women and you can choose to attend one day or both!![CathWest Innovation College]()
07 Jul 2025
Upskill Workshops @ CathWest Loyola Campus
Use the Term 2 School Holidays 7 - 8 July for an opportunity to upskill for employment outcomes and develop skills in your passion area. Limited spaces are available!![IT Traineeship program for Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese]()
13 Aug 2025
Become an IT Trainee and earn while you learn
If you are a Year 10-12 student, attend an information session on either 13 or 14 August 2025 (4pm-6pm) at Aengus Kavanagh Centre, 59 Railway St Rooty Hill NSW 2766 to get started.
More News
04 Jul 2025
From Facebook
END OF TERM 2 😀 Best wishes for an enjoyable break. The school office will be closed from 3pm today and will re-open at 9am on Monday 14th July for phone enquiries only. The school office will be completely open on Monday 21st July. School resumes for students on Wednesday, 23rd July.
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday, 3rd July 2025 is now available:
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
PARRAMATTA WOMEN’S SHELTER 💜 Thank you to all members of the Catherine McAuley school community who have donated items to The Big Give for donation to the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. The photo doesn’t truly capture the large amount of items which have been received but there are approximately $2000 worth of groceries!!
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
Thank you to the guest judges for yesterday’s Lip Sync Final 🎤 Julia Fleming and Dannielle Miller from the Parramatta Women’s Shelter and the Walk the Talk Program. As a school, we have contributed a donation to Parramatta Women’s Shelter of $7000, an additional $3300 in vouchers, approximately $2000 of groceries and a number of crochet blankets prepared by the Charity Crochet Group.!! 🙌 🙌 Thank you to all students, families and staff for helping the school support this worthy cause! 😍😍 @parrawomensshelter @womenscommunitysheltersau
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
Congratulations to the Year 12 winning performance ('The Ed Heads') at the Lip Sync Final yesterday. Highlight clip!
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
LIP SYNC FINALS 🤩 Yesterday the Lip Sync Finals was held, the school’s last fundraising event this term for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter. Well done to all the student acts who were selected to perform and to the teachers who performed a final surprise act! 1st Place - Year 12 ‘The Ed Heads’ Runners Up - Year 11 ‘16 Teen Doing 16’ Additional acts were from Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12.
03 Jul 2025
From Facebook
YEAR 10 CAREER DEVELOPMENT DAY 👩💼👩🔬👩⚕️ Year 10 students recently participated in a valuable Career Development Day, designed to support them as they begin to consider their subjects for Years 11 and 12. The day began with an informative session from Ms McGlenchy, VET Leader, who explained how VET and EVET courses differ from traditional HSC subjects. She also introduced students to School of Now and Cluster classes as additional learning options for courses not offered through the school. Student Ambassadors from the University of Sydney spoke about course applications and a consultant from Turning Point Consulting helped students explore their strengths and personal characteristics, and how these can guide subject choices in line with individual goals and interests. To conclude the day, former students Lucienne, Halie and Andrea shared their experiences with subject selection, study strategies and senior school life, answering questions and offering encouragement from a peer perspective. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many walking away with a clearer understanding of their options and a sense of relief that there is no single path to success. Key takeaways included: “Choose the subjects you enjoy and are good at, not just what others suggest.” “The HSC isn't the end of the world, there are many pathways to university and careers.” “Be open-minded. It’s okay not to know your exact career yet.” “Subject selection is about what suits you, not what scales better.” “Your ATAR doesn’t define your future, passion and persistence matters.”
03 Jul 2025
Year 10 Geography Students Explore The South Coast On Overnight Field Trip
Geography students recently attended an overnight field trip to the South Coast.
03 Jul 2025
Creative and Performing Arts Celebrated At The Mid Year Showcase
The school celebrated the talents of students across both the creative and performing arts facilities at the annual mid-year showcase.
03 Jul 2025
School Gathers For The Blessing Of Statue and New Stained Glass Windows In The Mercy Chapel
A service for the blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy and the new Mercy Chapel windows was held at the school.
02 Jul 2025
From Facebook
SPECIAL CELEBRATION! 🤩 The Catherine McAuley school community gathered together this morning for the blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Mercy and the new Mercy Chapel windows. Students and teachers watched a livestream of the service from their Homerooms whilst Sisters of Mercy Sr Margaret, Sr Barbara, Sr Margaret and Sr Patricia; stained glass window artists Gillian Brown and Karen Elengikal, from Stained Glass Overlay Penrith; students and teachers who were involved in the creation of the stained glass windows; and staff and student leaders, gathered in the Mercy Chapel. Father Walter Fogarty, Coordinating Pastor, Westmead Catholic Community, celebrated the service and gave the blessing. School Principal Mary Refalo thanked all those who contributed to the creation of both of the new beautiful works of art to be contained in the chapel. “I invite everyone in our school to take ownership of them and to look at them as evidence of our Mercy charism and a way of life that expresses mercy, hospitality, justice, courage, integrity and excellence,” Ms Refalo said. Stained Glass Overlay Penrith
02 Jul 2025
From Facebook
Year 10 Global Connections students have recently returned from an overnight field trip where they explored the physical and human geography of the south coast. 🌊 The students visited Minnamurra Rainforest, where they collected data to test the conditions of the air, soil, wind and water quality and Werri Beach in Gerringong, where they saw the impact to the coastline left by the recent wind storm. On Day 2 the students visited both of the Kiama blowholes, and conducted more hands-on fieldwork at Windang Foreshore, where Lake Illawarra meets the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, students were able to see the human connections to these places, and the geographical processes that transform the environment.
02 Jul 2025
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS ➡ Year 8 PDHPE classes participated this week in an information session with a facilitator from Kids Helpline. The students said they enjoyed learning about what services this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, phone counselling service offers. Some quotes from the students are below: “This session was a great way to understand what people our age can be going through and how talking to someone can make a big difference in somebody's life.” “Grace, the Kids Helpline Facilitator, was really helpful because she told us that if we have an issue, either in school or outside of school, she can talk to us at any time, whether it’s morning or afternoon. She told us most calls are in the afternoon after kids come back from school.” Kids Helpline Official “I really enjoyed the interactive call with the Kids Helpline Facilitator and found everything we were told about the calls interesting. For example, we were advised what we would be told when we call them, how long calls can go for, how they help people who have aged out of the service (they help people who are 5 - 25 years old so if anyone turns 26 then Kids Helpline will help them find another service) and more. After the call, if I wanted to call the Kids Helpline I would feel very comfortable to do so.”
02 Jul 2025
Charity Crochet Group – Warming Hearts This Winter
Students have been meeting every Wednesday at lunchtime to crochet for charity.