High Achievers From The Class of 2023 Honoured At Special School Assembly

The Class of 2023 High Achievers

The Catherine McAuley Westmead school community honoured the high achievers from the Class of 2023 at a special school assembly on Wednesday this week.

23 students, all who achieved an ATAR of over 90 in the 2023 Higher School Certificate, were honoured by the staff, students and parents who gathered in the Morley Centre for this special occasion.

Mr Michael Hall, Assistant Principal, speaking at the High Achievers Assembly

Mr Michael Hall, Assistant Principal, told those gathered that success is no accident. “It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. The Class of 2023 led the way in caring for one another, sharing with one another and daring to be courageous enough to take responsible risks to ensure they were able to achieve their best”.

Claudia Nguyen was announced as the Dux for 2023. Shown with her family and School Principal Ms Refalo

Each of the returning students achieved an ATAR of 90 or above, placing them in the top 10% of the State, with Claudia Nguyen, the highest placed Catherine McAuley student for 2023, ranked in the top 1%. Claudia was named the Dux of 2023 for her ATAR of 98.9. Claudia attained a band 6 result in Studies of Religion 1, Chemistry, English Advanced, Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Extension 1, Physics and Legal Studies. Claudia has accepted an offer from Sydney University to study a Bachelor of Law and Arts.

Catherine McAuley had two students named as an All Rounder - Claudia Nguyen and Mikayla McKinnon, with both awarded the NSW Premier’s Award for All Round Excellence after achieving a band 6 in at least 10 units. There were 94 students on the merit list meaning they achieved a band 6 result in at least one of their courses and a significant number of the year group, 84%, have been offered a place at university, TAFE or private college.

School Principal Ms Mary Refalo told the assembly that the school loves this assembly. “It is one of the first of the year for us and it is a highlight of the school year because it is a time we celebrate the conclusion of last year’s HSC by honouring you, the high achievers of 2023”, she told those gathered.

Ms Refalo reminded the students that they achieved over 90 because of their very high attendance levels at school, by listening to feedback from their teachers and peers, because they were self disciplined, they enjoyed school and because they learned how to learn using the skills of resilience, collaboration, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. “In all, you practised our school motto, ‘to strive for higher things’, and you attained higher things”.

Class of 2023 High Achievers

• Jacinta Abdulahad
• Michelle Abraham
• Daanya Aga
• Nikita Bellett
• Mary Fakhr
• Elyce Joseph
• Caitlin Kenyon
• Ramyarekha Lal
• Halie Luk
• Makayla Mckinnon
• Liya Nagawkar
• Ketaki Naik
• Claudia Nguyen
• Jasmine Ong
• Andrea Pinto
• Sophia Poole
• Helena Qaddoura
• Mariana Rebaza
• Isabelle Roque Talato
• Emma Santa Maria
• Shreya Shiva Subramaniam
• Ruby Wainwright
• Gabrielle Youssef