New school captains Lara and Talia with School Principal Mary Refalo.
The school captains for 2026 were announced on Tuesday 19th August 2025.
Lara Z. and Talia K. have been announced as the new school captains for Term 4 2025 and Terms 1-3 2026. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 19th August by School Principal Ms Mary Refalo.
“Talia and Lara were strongly supported by the staff and their peers in Year 11 during the voting process because they demonstrate strong attributes of leaders,” said Ms Refalo.
They understand their commitment to Catholic service and to integrity. They have a vision for the future of the school and will carry that through.
Ms Refalo
Ms Refalo said that the role of school captain is an important one because the chosen students lead through modelling. “The school captains are models for other students on what it means to be a person of service.”
Talia said that she put herself forward to be considered for the role of school captain because the position is one all about service. “I feel like I am a person who loves to serve others and putting the needs of others before my own gives me a greater satisfaction than fulfilling my own needs,” Talia said.
This is the reason I wanted to be a school captain.
Lara says she put herself forward because she wants to help create a more unified school community. “I want to create a community where everyone can work together in what they are doing so that everyone supports each other.”
Ms Refalo congratulated the new school captains in a letter sent out to parents on Tuesday. “I am confident that they will thrive in this position, and will lead Catherine McAuley with grace and dignity,” Ms Refalo wrote.
Lara and Talitha will be commissioned as the new school captains at the Mercy Day Mass on Friday 5th September.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
More News
19 Aug 2025
Term 3 Social Justice Cause - Remote Laundries
The school is continuing to support Mercy Works and this term will focus on the Remote Laundries Project.
19 Aug 2025
School Captains for 2026 Announced
The school captains for 2026 were announced on Tuesday 19th August 2025.
19 Aug 2025
Year 8 Students Selected To Have Stories Published In Parramatta Youth Book
Two Year 8 students have had their stories selected to be published in a book written by Parramatta youth.
18 Aug 2025
From Facebook
YEAR 9 COMMERCE MARKET DAY 💵 At lunchtime today in Mercy Square, Year 9 Commerce students ran a Market Day as part of their program for the 'Running a Business' unit. Students worked together in small groups to experience the process of running a small business from market research through to selling and business reporting. From churros and loaded cookies 🍪, acai bowls 🍨 and lolly cups 🍭 to tabouleh salad 🥗 and mini Lebanese pizzas 🍕, the rain didn't stop their drive. The market day stalls will be running again on Friday this week with a new batch of stalls!
18 Aug 2025
From Facebook
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 👏🩰 Congratulations to Year 7 student Emily Y. who achieved a “High Merit” grade in her intermediate foundation ballet exam set by the Royal Academy of Dance. Emily had to travel to the RAD centre in Darlinghurst and perform in front of the RAD’s set examiner. This is a fantastic result for what is considered to be one of the most difficult exams. She’s young to be achieving at this level and is going on to now complete her intermediate exam. Goodluck Emily!
15 Aug 2025
From Facebook
YEAR 10 REFLECTION DAY 🙏 Year 10 students gathered together at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta for their Reflection Day held on Tuesday this week.
15 Aug 2025
From Facebook
YEAR 7 😃 A new participation program was launched for Year 7 students this week. The ‘Participation Passport’ will allow students to track their engagement in school activities and acknowledge their involvement in the school community. 👩💻 👩🌾 👩🎨 Students have been asked to present their passport to the organising teacher once they have participated in an activity and have it stamped or initialled to acknowledge their participation. Completed passports can then be submitted to Mrs Cowling so that a record of the student’s participation can be recorded on the student’s report. “We want to give you the opportunity to be recognised for all of those things that you are joining in on,” Mrs T. Cowling, Leader of Learning Wellbeing Year 7, told the Year 7 students.
15 Aug 2025
From Facebook
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT 👏🥋 Congratulations to Year 7 student Annia A. who won Gold 🥇 at the Taekwondo NSW State Championships and National Selection in the Individual Poomsae category (blue belt division). Annia also won silver in the Pair Poomsae category.
14 Aug 2025
From Facebook
BUSKING FOR VINNIES! 🥰 The Music students who helped raise money for St Vincent de Paul today by busking in Parramatta Square did a fantastic job! 💕
14 Aug 2025
From Facebook
The Catherine McAuley Weekly Review for Thursday, 14th August 2025 is now available:
14 Aug 2025
From Facebook
YEAR 11 GEOGRAPHY 🗻 On Tuesday morning this week keen Year 11 Geographers visited the Sydney Institute of Marine Studies for a special student screening of 'White Rock' to support their HSC studies of kelp forests of the Great Southern Reef. White Rock is a 35 minute documentary exposing the boom in longspined sea urchins devastating Australia's kelp forests. Mrs G. Noud, Leader of Learning HSIE - Social Science, said that the film, the lecture provided afterwards, and the short walk around the harbour, were engaging, incredibly valuable to the students' studies and definitely enjoyable, especially on a sunny winter's day.
14 Aug 2025
From Facebook
Year 10 Driving Smart from the Start 🚗 🚗 Last Friday, Year 10 students took part in the RYDA (Rotary Youth Driver Awareness) Road Safety Education Program as part of their PDHPE studies. At a time when many are just starting to get their licence, this one-day workshop was the perfect opportunity to learn practical skills and strategies to keep themselves and others safe on the road. Led by experienced facilitators, including police officers, driving instructors and community road safety specialists, students explored real-life scenarios and heard valuable advice they can carry for life.
14 Aug 2025
Year 7 Students Strive To Do Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well
A new participation program has been launched for Year 7 students.
14 Aug 2025
From Facebook
Catherine McAuley students are busking for Vinnies now in Parramatta Square! 🎶 🎶 The Music students have been there since 11.30am and will be there until 1.30pm so come along and support them if you are in the area!
13 Aug 2025
From Facebook
2ND PLACE WINNERS! 🏆 Congratulations to the tennis students who represented Catherine McAuley at the PDSSSC Tennis Teams Championships held on Monday. The McAuley Team placed 2nd in the event which was held at the Parramatta Tennis Centre. 👏👏👏