Dr Vanessa Moss graduated from Catherine McAuley in 2004 and returned to school to speak to students about her amazing STEM career.
Dr Vanessa Moss graduated from Catherine McAuley in 2004 and since that time has embarked on an amazing STEM career.
Currently a Radio Astronomer based at CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), Vanessa works with the world’s biggest telescopes to explore and understand our universe.
Organised by Ms Xuereb, Leader of Learning Pathways, Dr Moss returned to school on Monday this week to talk about her journey since high school and the work she is involved in. Students were able to listen to Dr Moss speak about her current role where she oversees science operations for the groundbreaking ASKAP telescope in remote Western Australia. Vanessa manages astronomical observations from specification to arrival for processing at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre.
Dr Moss has also recently been named as a ‘Superstar of STEM’ and is looking forward to returning to Catherine McAuley again to talk to students.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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13 Aug 2025
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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.
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14 Jul 2025
From Facebook
STUDENT ARTWORKS ✏ Year 9 'Botanica Exotica' pencil artworks created this year. Beautiful!
10 Jul 2025
From Facebook
AROUND THE CLASSROOMS ➡️ Year 7 Geography students spent Term 2 learning about places and liveability. Students of Mrs P. Relan had the opportunity to use the skills and information they had obtained in class to work in small groups to create their own community. Mrs Relan said the students worked very well together, with great enthusiasm and creative flair, to create their communities in only a short period of time. Year 7 student Michelle P. said she really enjoyed working with her teammates as they planned their city and thought about how their designated roles (town planner, Minister of Safety, etc) might play a part in supporting their build. Michelle said her group included items that would make their city liveable such as a hospital that also provides a retirement home, a large public school and university, restaurants, an apartment block, a beach, a police and fire station, parks, a town hall, a church, train station, museum, sporting ground and more. Michelle said each building was specifically placed in a position to create convenience as they had thought about things like placing the train station near the school and the police station near the hospital.
10 Jul 2025
From Facebook
KNITTED OR CROCHETED SQUARES WANTED! 🐑 The school's Charity Crochet Group is collecting 25cm x 25cm knitted or crocheted squares to be made into a collaborative blanket for the Parramatta Women's Shelter. Knitted squares can be brought to school for Mrs Malek.
07 Jul 2025
From Facebook
STUDENT ARTWORKS 🖌 Some of the amazing Year 10 artworks created so far this year - ‘Grace Disgrace’.
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.