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- A Message from the Principal
- A Message from the Assistant Principal
- A Message from the Leader of Ministry
- Wati Discovery House (Years 7 and 8)
- Watha Endeavour House (Years 9 and 10)
- Bathu Horizons House (Years 11 and 12)
- A Message from the Leader of Learning HSIE
- A Message from the Leader of Learning DIAL (Digital Innovation and Learning)
- A Message from the Pedagogical Mentor
- A message from the External Sports Coordinator
- Upcoming Events - Term 1 2025
- Parish Mass Times
Bernard Burgess
Dear Catherine McAuley, Catholic College families,
Caritas Australia provided the following reflection in the fourth week of Lent.
One of the most beautiful expressions in the Bible comes from the prophet Ezekiel (Ezk 11:19). ‘Thus says the Lord, I will take their hearts of stone and give them hearts of flesh.’ It is a call to be tender and compassionate.
Most of us have heard the story of the two sons in last Sunday’s Gospel over and over. The brilliance of the way Jesus tells stories is that it still gets under our skin. Here are two young men who think they can live on their own terms. One has a sense of entitlement and demands his share of his father’s estate which he then squanders. He is finally prepared to eat humble pie and find his way home. The other son has a different sense of entitlement. He believes that his hard work and reliability should provide him with a greater share of his father’s love. At different times in our life, we can relate more to one or other of these people. Jesus implies that they are both blind to the way God’s love works and that they both need to grow. They have both been dead and now must come to life.
The Caritas story of the week was of Irene, aged 25, living in the Kongolo region in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her father was killed during a war and Irene lived with her mother with very meagre resources, often going hungry for extended periods of time. Irene first became pregnant as a teenager and later had to raise two children with just the support of her mother. As a single mother, it was challenging for Irene to care for her two sons without a stable income. Irene’s life changed after she participated in the Youth Capacity Strengthening program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas Kongolo. Through the program, she undertook training in sewing and livestock farming, enabling her to generate income to support her family.
St Paul says that we are ‘… ambassadors for Christ.’ ‘… for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation.’ Let us all be part of building that new creation, setting the world to right as best we can. Our part is to reach out in compassion and love to heal the wounds of the whole human family. Let us all Unite Against Poverty as pilgrims of hope in this Year of Jubilee.
Water Walk
This week at CMCC, thirty four of our students and twelve staff participated in one of the College’s Project Compassion activities – The Water Walk. This was a one hour, early morning walk from the College to the local creek and back, to collect water and emulate the daily routine of many in our world who live in much more challenging circumstances than most Australians, and whose access to fresh water is very limited. The walk itself while symbolic, provided the opportunity for students and staff to “walk in the shoes of those less fortunate” and through this commitment raised more than $1100 for Caritas Australia.
Our thanks to Ms Kelly, our Leader of Ministry for her work in organising this event, the fund raising opportunity supported by students, families, staff and the parish, and for the opportunity for our College community to support Caritas during Lent.
Lastly, in this final NEST for Term 1, I encourage our families to read further in this edition to our Digital Innovation and Learning Leader, Ms Nischang’s article regarding responsible use of social media and the College’s policy and procedures regarding the misuse of these platforms and forums. Families are encouraged to have robust and ongoing conversations with their sons and daughters regarding social media, both inside and outside of the College.
Wishing all in the CMCC community a happy Easter during the upcoming school holidays and a safe return to school in Term 2.
United in Mercy
Bernard Burgess
College Principal
Claudette Stace
Term 1 has certainly flown by at CMCC. With so many wonderful opportunities for our students, both in and outside of the classroom, there is always a positive energy and enthusiasm at the College.
As families prepare for the school holidays, and Holy Week for our Easter liturgical celebrations, I wish all families a restful and holy time together and for those travelling on our roads I wish you all a safe journey. For our young drivers I remind you of the importance of being a safe and confident driver. I have included the link below to Road Safety for Young Drivers as a reminder of all the rules our young drivers need to follow to help keep them safe when on the road.
Young drivers | Transport for NSW
Youth Week will also be taking place from the 9th – 17th April. This year, the youth week theme is about:
- celebrating every young person’s unique strengths
- recognising your individual and collective power as our current and future influencers, leaders and decision makers.
Follow the link below to see workshops and activities happening across the state but also nearby in the Hunter and Central Coast.
NSW Youth Week 2025 | NSW Government
I encourage all our students to lean into their strengths and take some time over the holidays to explore their passions and interests and to do something that brings them joy.
Happy holidays and I look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in Term 2.
United in Mercy
Siobhan Kelly
As Term 1 comes to a close, we take this opportunity to reflect on what has been a meaningful and faith-filled start to the year at CMCC. Our students have wholeheartedly embraced the school’s faith life, demonstrating compassion, generosity, and a strong commitment to social justice.
"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)
One of the key highlights of this term was our fundraising initiatives, where students put their faith into action in support of those in need. We kicked off our efforts with the Shrove Tuesday pancake stall to raise $213 for Project Compassion. This event not only provided a great service learning experience for our senior hospitality students, it also served as an opportunity to reflect on the significance of Lent and the spirit of giving.
Following this, our community came together for the Project Compassion Water Walk, an event designed to raise awareness about the struggles faced by vulnerable communities around the world who lack access to clean water. Students showed incredible enthusiasm and generosity, surpassing our original fundraising goal of $1,000 and raising a remarkable $1,078! This achievement is a testament to the compassion and dedication of our school community, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed.
In celebration of this milestone, students were given the opportunity to participate in an Ice Bucket Challenge with their teachers at the conclusion of the event. Fifty students took part in this exciting challenge, adding an element of fun while reinforcing the importance of our collective efforts in making a difference.
Water Walk and Ice Bucket Challenge
As we move into the next term, we remain committed to continuing our faith-based initiatives and encouraging our students to live out the values of compassion, courage, hospitality and faith in action. We thank our entire school community for their generosity and support, and we look forward to another term of meaningful engagement and positive impact.
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Term 1 focus- ‘Positive interactions with my peers’
As we conclude Term 1 2025, I would like to acknowledge Wati Discovery House at Catherine McAuley on their positve start to the year, truly embodying the spirit of Catherine McaAuleys words, "We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us." From the very first day of the year, Wati students have demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm, dedication, and a commitment to making a positive impact both within and beyond the school community. To capture the positive start, this article focuses on final messages from Year and Year 8 Leaders of Wellbeing and key Pulse Check Data that measures the positive interactions between peers at CMCC. Eachfortnight students are provided the Pulse Check survey in their LEA class where they answer the following questions:
During Term One of 2025, a focus has been placed on students’ overall positivity, stemming from their interactions with peers. Often a vital factor of a young person's overall satisfaction with their schooling experience, having strong connections with others builds a variety of social and emotional strengths. At CMCC, our data shows that majority of our students find this a community where positive interactions occur daily. Across Wat Discovery Hosue, Term 1 2025 has witnessed our strongest results for positive peer interactions from Year 8 (3.81 out of 5) and our highest ever average in Year 7 (4.25 out of 5). Along with our targeted program development, this will be celebrated in our Week 11 House Assembly which is an opportuinity to promote our welcoming and cohesive school environment. Below are the key figures captured in an infographic from our Pulse Checks completed in Year 7 and Year 8 LEA:
Year 7
Congratulations, Year 7, on completing your first full term of high school! You've made great strides in adapting to new subjects, routines, and friendships, showing hard work, resilience, and positivity throughout. A quick reminder to submit your consent for Year 7 Camp via Compass and return medical notes when received. As we approach the holidays, I wish all Year 7 students and their families a restful, reflective Easter break, and look forward to the next part of your journey!
Year 8
Our Year 8 students have had a demanding few weeks, with assessments, including their in-class English task this week and their Religion assessment due today. It’s natural for them to be tired at this stage of the term, and your support at home makes all the difference. Thank you for your ongoing support. Your partnership is invaluable in helping our students grow into respectful, responsible, and kind individuals. Wishing you and your family a restful break when it arrives!
United in Mercy,
Wati Discovery House Leaders
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Watha Endeavour House
As the finish line for Term 1 is well within our grasp, I would like to recognise the efforts of the Watha Endeavour House community, inclusive of students, LEA teachers, classroom teachers, co-curricular staff, parents and caregivers. Throughout the academic literature, there is significant conversation regarding the engagement levels of students in Year 9 and 10 as they graduate from the early excitement of commencing secondary education, but the exit points of Year 10, or Stage 6 seem so far away. At Catherine McAuley Catholic College, we have remained targeted in our approach to addressing these potential concerns through discerning curriculum design, proactive and reactive wellbeing supports and a co-curricular program which reaches all corners of the student population.
In this last edition of The Nest for Term 1, we have wanted to highlight just one component of our fortnightly Pulse Check.
As reflected in the infographic, the ‘average’ Watha Endeavour House student is ‘sometimes’ happy with peer interactions, with Year 9 averaging a rating of 3.80 out of 5, and Year 10 a rating of 3.96. As reflective educators, we always striving to guide, support and positively challenge our students to improve themselves. Therefore, the messaging within Watha Endeavour House has been consistent; be mindful of our use of language, utilise active listening skills, and to demonstrate empathy. As always, we encourage this conversation to be continued at home, as we all strive to improve the learning and wellbeing outcomes for the young people in our care.
Year 9 Highlight of the Week
Congratulations to all those Year 9 students who registered and participated in the Water Walk raising awareness for those without access to clean drinking water, and vital funds for Project Compassion. Year 9 had the most students from any cohort across the College – Well Done, Year 9!
Year 10 Highlight of the Week
Teachers of Year 10 have been mounting significant praise for our Year 10 cohort this week. Accounts of committed creative writing in English, brave efforts on the sporting field, discerning preparation for assessment and generally, a warmth of collegiality throughout the College community. Congratulations to Year 10 for espousing the College values in your daily actions.
United in Mercy,
Watha Endeavour House Leaders
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Stage 6 Update – A Strong Start to 2025
As we move through Term 1, it has been incredibly pleasing to witness the way our senior students have embraced the challenges and opportunities of Stage 6 learning.
Year 11 students have made a fantastic start to their senior journey, settling into their courses with enthusiasm and determination. They have transitioned into the routines and expectations of senior schooling with maturity and positivity. The first round of assessment tasks is now well underway, and it’s great to see so many students approaching these with focus and commitment. These early tasks are a valuable opportunity to establish strong study habits and refine time management skills, setting a solid foundation for success in the senior years.
As we move towards Term 2, the level of academic rigour will naturally increase, and it’s important for students to remain proactive in managing workloads. Staying organised, seeking feedback, and balancing study with wellbeing will be key to maintaining momentum. If you need any support—whether it’s study strategies, subject guidance, or simply a check-in—please feel free to reach out to Mrs Browne at any time. Keep up the great work, Year 11.
A number of Year 11 students have also recently undertaken their White Card training course, an essential qualification for anyone looking to work in the construction industry. This training equips students with the knowledge and skills required to work safely on a construction site, covering topics such as workplace health and safety legislation, hazard identification, risk management, and the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Throughout the course, students developed a strong understanding of safety protocols, emergency procedures, and their responsibilities in maintaining a safe work environment. Completing this certification is a significant achievement and opens up exciting pathways in trades and construction-related careers.
Our Year 12 students have now officially passed the halfway mark of their final year of schooling. This milestone offers a valuable moment to reflect on their journey so far and refocus as they head into their final terms. Their resilience, leadership, and commitment have been commendable.
Both Year 11 and 12 are currently working through a busy assessment period. While this can be a demanding time, it is also a chance to grow important skills in organisation and self-management. Some helpful strategies to navigate this period include:
- Create a Study Schedule: Mapping out assessment due dates and planning regular revision sessions helps reduce stress and ensure a balanced workload.
- Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Tackling assessments in smaller, manageable parts makes them feel less overwhelming and helps with focus.
- Prioritise Wellbeing: Staying active, eating well, and maintaining healthy sleep patterns are essential for performing at your best.
- Seek Support Early: Teachers and the Stage 6 team are all here to help—don’t hesitate to reach out.
Finally, a reminder that Early Entry applications have now opened for many universities. This is an exciting opportunity for Year 12 students to gain conditional offers before the HSC exams. Students are encouraged to check their emails and the Stage 6 Teams page regularly for updates, links, and key dates regarding Early Entry programs.
We would like to commend all Stage 6 students for their focus, work ethic, and engagement so far this year. Their dedication is a true reflection of the values we uphold at Catherine McAuley Catholic College, and we look forward to seeing all they will achieve in the months ahead.
United in Mercy,
Bathu Discovery House Leaders
Alexander Finall
Year 9 History students
Year 9 History students have been exploring their first topic of the year, The Making of the Modern World. A key focus has been understanding and effectively communicating the cause and effect relationships between major historical events and processes, particularly how they contributed to the outbreak of the first global war in the modern era.
Through collaborative and creative activities, students examined how the Industrial Revolution set in motion key developments such as militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism, factors that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War I. To deepen their understanding, students used visual learning tools such as cause and effect chains and flowcharts, allowing them to map out these complex connections in an engaging and interactive way.
This approach not only strengthened their ability to analyse historical events but also encouraged them to communicate their insights effectively, a skill that will serve them well throughout their historical studies for the remainder of this term and into their next topic Australians at War.
Yeah 11 Modern History and Society and Culture students
Year 11 Modern History and Society & Culture students recently had the privilege of visiting the Sydney Jewish Museum, where they explored historical artefacts and participated in a workshop on the role of historians in shaping narratives of the past. A deeply moving highlight of the experience was hearing from Holocaust survivor Dasia Black, who shared her harrowing story of survival as a child during the Holocaust.
Born in Poland in 1938, Dasia was just four years old when her parents made the heartbreaking decision to leave her in the care of a Polish Catholic woman to keep her safe. Forced to take on a new identity, she hid in plain sight, never seeing her parents again. After the war, she was adopted by her aunt and uncle.
Hearing Dasia’s firsthand account was an unforgettable and powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of remembering the past.
Leticia Nischang
Dear Students and Families,
As we embrace technology in our learning environment, it is crucial that we use digital platforms responsibly and in accordance with school policies.
Digital Responsibility and Respect
Recent incidents have raised concerns about the misuse of our college’s digital assets and resources. I want to remind our community of the expectations and responsibilities that come with using technology at school.
Unauthorised Use of the School Logo and Social Media Posts
The Catholic Schools of Maitland-Newcastle (CSMN) and other appropriate authorities are actively investigating recent incidents involving the unauthorised use of the school logo on TikTok and other social media platforms. Some students have also posted photos of students and staff without their consent. These actions breach CSMN and College policies and may have legal consequences. The school logo represents our community and should only be used with proper authorisation. Posting images or videos of others without consent violates privacy policies, constitutes defamation, and can lead to disciplinary action. We urge students to think carefully before sharing content online and to respect others' rights and privacy. Please talk to your children about their TikTok use and the importance of developing respectful relationships.
Caring for Devices -Personal and School Laptops
Another concern is the neglect of laptops. Some students do not charge their personal devices before school, increasing the demand for borrowing school laptops. Additionally, borrowed devices are not always returned at the end of the day or are not handled with care.
Students must take responsibility for technology, ensuring their own devices are charged and ready for lessons, as we only have a very limited amount of school laptops that can be borrowed. School devices will not be available to students who misuse, damage or take them home.
Our Commitment to Digital Responsibility
As a College, we are committed to fostering a culture of digital responsibility, guided by our Catholic values of compassion, courage, hospitality, and faith in action. We ask students to be mindful of their online actions and take proper care of school resources. By demonstrating compassion, we respect others' privacy and dignity; with courage, we make ethical digital choices; through hospitality, we create an inclusive and safe digital space; and with faith in action, we uphold integrity and responsibility in all we do.
For guidance on responsible digital practices, please feel free to contact me at any time leticia.nischang@mn.catholic.edu.au
Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a safe and respectful digital environment.
United in Mercy
Mrs Leticia Nischang
Tamara Carrigan
This past Sunday, I was lucky enough to be able to climb Tomaree Mountain in a pocket of time that the sun came out. If you’ve ever made the climb, you’ll know it’s quite the incline! As I reached the summit, I was struck by the parallels between the climb and our journey in education. Just as each step up the mountain required effort, determination, and a clear sense of footing, so too does our work at Catherine McAuley Catholic College. We are all on a journey, and each project we undertake is a step towards that summit. As the Pedagogical Mentor, I like to think of myself as a bit of a project Sherpa, guiding staff up the mountains in education to reach new heights.
Literacy PLC: A Collaborative Inquiry Approach
Much like the initial ascent of the mountain, this project involves laying a strong foundation. By bringing together educators to collaboratively inquire and share best practices, we are building the very fabric of our teaching. This collaborative approach ensures that our strategies for teaching reading retrieval and inference skills are not only effective but also grounded in research, shared knowledge and experience. In leading this group of teachers and leaders, we have completed data audits on out students’ literacy ability and achievement and are narrowing our focus to drive meaningful change through professional learning and embedding strategies for literacy improvement in our classrooms.
Supporting Faculties and Staff in Setting Professional Development Goals
This year, our Strategic Improvement Plan Learning Goal is to Develop and embed high-impact literacy and numeracy strategies informed by professional learning for learner engagement and achievement. By helping our educators set aligned goals, we are raising high expectations and a culture of rigour and resilience. I have already worked with many Leaders of Learning this term in setting Faculty and Team goals, and staff are busy implementing their own professional goals to ensure classroom impact.
Reaching the summit of Tomaree Mountain I am always met with the most vibrant and rewarding views, much like the successes we achieve together at Catherine McAuley. Each step, each project, and each goal brings us closer to our vision of a thriving and collaborative educational community where faith, purpose, fulfilment and joy are achieved by all. Together, we are climbing to new heights and creating a vibrant and resilient educational environment.
Yours in the climb and in Mercy.
Chris Tyrie
Sports Highlights
Senior Girls AFL
Outstanding effort from our Senior Girls who came first in the Tier 2 competition!
Senior Boys AFL
Well done to the Senior Boys who came second in the Tier 2 competition.
U/14 Boys Cochrane Cup Rugby League
On Wednesday 26 March, the Boys 14’s Rugby League Team travelled to Cessnock for the Cochrane Cup gala day.
Our first game was against San Clemente Mayfield where we had a dream start with back-to-back tries from Hayden and Noah. San Clemente then hit back with a try, and early in the second half they scored again making the score ten -all. It had everyone on the edge of their seats, Noah then scored again making the score 14- 10. A successful conversion made the score 16- 10. Hayden then scored again to make it 22- 10 after the conversion. San Clemente then scored and converted to make it 22- 16. This was the final score, we won!
Our next game was vs Saint Marys Gateshead, with them scoring 36 unanswered points, but I would like to highlight some amazing defensive efforts specifically from Noah. Hayden also scored a length of the field try to end the day on a high note making the final score 36-4.
Overall, it was a fantastic day with lots of promise. Thanks to Mr Tyrie and Mr Tonks for coaching and Mr Burgess for coming to watch.
Well done boys!
Report by Ruben Phillips
Junior Boys AFL
A very young team played their hearts out against much older and bigger teams at Warners Bay. The team gained invaluable experiences across the 5 games they took part in.
Junior Girls AFL
The girls put on a solid performance in their 4 games coming away with 2 wins from 4.
Mountain Biking
Declan Northcott competed at the Hunter all-schools mountain biking at Kempsey.
His results were:
Under 15s cross country course -4th out 36
Overall Funduro 29th out of 133
Wel done Declan!
United in Mercy
Chris Tyrie – Relieving External Sports Coordinator
Key Dates 2025 |
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| Thursday 10 April |
Last Day for Students |
| Friday 11 April |
Pupil Free Day |
| Monday 14 April - Friday 25 April |
Easter holiday break |
| Monday 28 April |
Pupil Free Day |
| Tuesday 29 April |
Students return for Term 2 |
| Term 2 |
Year 10 Stage 6 Pathways Information Evening |
| Wednesday 7 May - Friday 9 May |
Year 7 Camp |
| Monday 12 May |
Winter Uniform |
| Friday 16 May |
Mothers Day Breakfast |
| Friday 23 May |
Year 7, 2026 Enrolments close |
| Monday 2 June |
Examination Week commences |
| Monday 9 June |
Kings Birthday Public Holiday |
| Monday 23 June |
Year 10 Work Experience commences |
| Monday 30 June |
Year 11 VET student work placements |
| Thursday 3 July |
College Athletics Carnival |
| Friday 4 July |
Pupil Free Day |
| Thursday 24 July |
Year 10 Vaccinations |
St Brigid’s, Raymond Terrace
(69 William Street)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 5.30pm
Sunday 9.30am
Weekday Mass:
Tuesday 7.00am
Wednesday 7.00am
Friday 9.15am
St Christopher’s, Medowie
(On the site of Catherine McAuley Catholic College, Medowie)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 5.30pm
Weekday Mass:
Tuesday 5.30pm
Friday 5.30pm
Our Lady Help of Christians, Mallabula
(1193 Lemon Tree Passage Road)
Weekend Mass:
Sunday 7.30am
Weekday Mass:
Thursday 9.15am
St Michael's, Nelson Bay
(12 Sproule St)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 5.00pm
Sunday 8.30am
Weekday Mass:
Tuesday 5.00pm
Wednesday 9.15am
Thursday 5.00pm
Friday No Mass
St Brigid's, Buladelah
(26 Buladelah Way)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 5:00pm (1st, 3rd & 5th Saturdays)
Sunday 8:30am (2nd & 4th Sundays)
St Stephen's, Tea Gardens
(Witt St)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 5:00pm (2nd & 4th Saturdays)
Sunday 8:30am (1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays)
Our Lady of Rosary, Karuah
(Tarean Street)
Weekend Mass:
Saturday 6:30pm (Vigil - 1st, 3rd & 5th Saturdays)
Sunday 8:30am (2nd & 4th Sundays)
St Peter-in-Chains, Stockton
(13 Dunbar Street)
Weekend Mass:
Sunday 9:00am
Weekday Mass:
Thursday 8.30am