The Comfy Class Team developed designs for sustainable school furniture
STEM MAD is a program where students develop a STEM project that is designed to make a difference (MAD).
The Year 10 students who took part this year have been meeting since March with their teams and industry mentors after school every Monday. Projects developed by the students included designs for an ear implant to help with vertigo, a design for sustainable school furniture, a digital stethoscope to transmit vital information to a GP, a device to help with posture while using technology and an AI plushie.
All schools in the Parramatta Diocese came together on Wednesday 7th August at CathWest Innovation College to display their work. Miss Reynolds, Science and Mathematics Teacher and STEM Coordinator, said that the showcase gave the students the chance to display their projects with their peers, the opportunity to receive feedback and learn from viewing other student work. “Our teams were outstanding in their presentations and received a lot of positive feedback from the judges”, Miss Reynolds said.
Congratulations go to the following teams for their special awards:
‘Kaida’ - Highly Commended Project on the Day
Natalia K., Rhea T., Alphonsa J. and Gabrielle F.
‘Tech Neck’ - Best Overall Project on the Day
Kashish A.
‘ZenZoo Buddy’ - Highly Commended Communication
Adut K., Majerin P., Heidi K. and Tanisha A.
Vertigo Implant Group STEM Mad 2024
ZenZoo Buddy - Highly Commended Communication
The students from ‘Kaida’, who were awarded the ‘Highly Commended Project’, decided on developing a digital stethoscope for use by patients who live in rural or remote areas and may not have easy access to a GP. Their design allows a patient to use the digital stethoscope to recreate a physical auscultation, recording heart sounds and vital electrical information, which can then be transmitted to a GP for analysis. “With almost 28% of the Australian population residing in a rural or remote area, and with cardiovascular health and coronary heart disease a high cause of death in these areas, we identified there may be a need for a product like ours”, said team member Natalia K. “For a doctor to be able to receive vital information without actually having to physically have the patient with them may offer a life saving service”.
The ‘ZenZoo Buddy’ Team was awarded a ‘Highly Commended Communication’ award for the communication concerning their product. The team created an AI Friend/Therapist specifically for children suffering from social and separation anxiety. “We chose this issue as we felt children’s mental health is not prioritised enough compared to physical health and both are equally important”, sais team member Adut K. “Separation anxiety is something one of our team members as a child suffered from so we wanted to try and find a solution to the problem”.
Kaida - Highly Commended Project on the Day
Tech Neck - Kashish Amlani
Unplugmatic Group STEM Mad 2024
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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13 Sep 2024
CSDA Debating Wrap Up
The Catholic Schools Debating Association debating competition has finished and at the school assembly last week Mr Thomas Fraser, Debating Coordinator, acknowledged all students and gave a summary of how each Year group performed.
12 Sep 2024
From Facebook
R U OK? 🥰 Today is R U OK Day and to help celebrate this, as well as promote the school library’s growing wellbeing collection, a new display area has gone up in the library. The display was put up based around the research that has shown the many benefits of reading for mental health. More information available via this link: https://australiareads.org.au/news/benefits-reading-mental-health/?mc_cid=f99f24049b&mc_eid=26f7c8caa3
12 Sep 2024
From Facebook
PDSSSC ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 🥇 On Wednesday the 4th of September, 25 students attended the PDSSSC Athletics Championships, and they had a fantastic day with several standout performances: - Clara F. set a new record in the 14s 200m sprint with a time of 25.81 seconds. - The intermediate 4x100m relay team, featuring Tanisha S., Evonne S., Maria K. and Clara F. took 1st place. - Anisha R. achieved 1st place in both the 15s Discus and Shot Put events. - Many students also secured 2nd and 3rd places in their respective events. All students who placed first in their event will progress to the NSWCCC Carnival. A special thanks to Ms Brewer and Mr Pineda for their help with running the field events. #sportingachievements #PDSSSC #catherinemcauley #catherinemcauleywestmead
12 Sep 2024
From Facebook
CLASS OF 2024 🤩 The countdown has begun!!! The traditional Year 12 countdown banner was hung in Coolock Court this morning by the Year 12 students. This year the theme is a Spotify playlist and today as the banner was hung there were 14 songs left before Year 12 leaves.
12 Sep 2024
From Facebook
CAREER BREAKFAST 😀 Thank you to the four ex Catherine McAuley students from the Class of 2017 who returned to school this morning for the ‘Digital Tech and Law’ Career Breakfast. They are now all forging ahead in their careers in either law or digital technology. Katarina Di Constanzo and Tiana-Jade Atkinson are both working in law and Jocelyn Tong and Janina Osinsao are both working in digital technology. The former students answered a series of questions posed by Ms Xuereb, Leader of Learning Pathways and Partnerships and advised students on not only how to pursue a career in these areas but general advice on time management and negotiating study and the workforce in an area often dominated by men.
12 Sep 2024
PDSSSC Awards
Students who excelled in PDSSSC sports during Terms 1-3 were acknowledged at the school assembly on Wednesday, 11th September.
11 Sep 2024
From Facebook
Congratulations to Year 7 student Billie F. for being named the U12 Age Champion at the PDSSSC Swimming Carnival held earlier this year. Billie was awarded her trophy at the school assembly this morning. 🏆
11 Sep 2024
Catherine McAuley Year 8 Reading Project 2024
10 Sep 2024
From Facebook
Term 3 fundraising for the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Program has been an extraordinary success with $20,000 raised so far! 🙌🙌🙌 Caritas, Dobson and Veritas Houses have taken the lead this term in organising the fundraising activities and awareness campaign for the Mercy Works program which sees chickens donated to villages across Timor-Leste to help reduce the risk of severe malnutrition in children under five years old. 🐔🥚 Fundraising activities have taken place during Term 3 with Mercy Day last Friday providing an additional opportunity for fundraising. Activities on Mercy Day included escape rooms, karaoke, a haunted house, a photo booth, dessert decorating and some of the stalls selling food and drink included stalls selling snow cones, popcorn, spider fizzy drinks, chocolate coated marshmallows, zooper doopers, international foods and many more. Read the full story here: https://www.mcauleywestmead.catholic.edu.au/10-09-24-MercyWorks
10 Sep 2024
$20,000 Raised For The Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Program
Term 3 fundraising for the Mercy Works Chicken and Egg Program has been an extraordinary success with $20,000 raised so far! Caritas, Dobson and Veritas Houses have taken the lead this term in organising the fundraising activities and awareness campaign for the Mercy Works program which sees chickens donated to villages across Timor-Leste to help reduce the risk of severe malnutrition in children under five years old.
10 Sep 2024
School Community Gathers For Mercy Day
Mercy Day is one of the most important events celebrated at Catherine McAuley Westmead. It is the day the school commemorates our foundress, Catherine McAuley and celebrates the foundation of the school as one based on Mercy values - social justice, hospitality, courage, integrity and excellence.
10 Sep 2024
From Facebook
THANK YOU ❤️ A special thank you to the members of the Parents & Carers Group who generously gave up their time to assist with serving lunch to students and staff on Mercy Day! Your help is always greatly appreciated!! Thank you also to the Year 11 Hospitality students who so beautifully served our guests at the Mercy Day morning tea.
09 Sep 2024
From Facebook
Congratulations to the Student Leaders and Assistant Leaders who were commissioned at the Mercy Day Mass on Friday. The leaders received their badges from School Principal Ms Refalo and the school community prayed God’s blessing over the newly commissioned leaders. 👏👏👏
09 Sep 2024
From Facebook
MERCY SYMBOLS ✝ Our school Masses always begin with the procession of Mercy symbols. At the Mercy Day Mass on Friday it was Danijela who brought forward the shawl. Late one night in 1832 Catherine carried home in her woollen shawl a newborn baby of a poor woman who had died of cholera. The shawl is a symbol of giving protection and shelter to those in need. Alphonsa brought forward the Mercy cross. This cross was designed by Catherine McAuley, a symbol of her deep love for the crucified Jesus. Brianna brought forward a picture of Catherine McAuley. Catherine founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland. Ava brought forward a cup and saucer. Catherine believed that welcoming people who needed help and offering them something to eat or drink was a way to share God’s love. Just before Catherine died she asked that her Sisters have a ‘good cup of tea’ together to comfort each other. Kashish brought forward a pair of walking shoes. The Sisters of Mercy were known as the ‘walking nuns’. These shoes are a symbol of the work done by the Sisters of Mercy and all who walk in their footsteps.
06 Sep 2024
From Facebook
MERCY DAY 2024 🥳 Congratulations to our new school captains for Term 4 2024 & 2025 Kaitlin C. and Emily G. who were commissioned this morning at the Mercy Day Mass.