Welcome to Week 6. This week, along with all schools in Australia, we commence NAPLAN testing for Years 7 and 9. The students have been congratulated on their outstanding behaviour and commitment to do their best. It is sometimes hard for students to ‘see the point’ of NAPLAN especially since it takes many months for them to receive their results. We have discussed with the students the reasons to do NAPLAN and to do your best:

• NAPLAN gives students and parents insight into how much the student has grown academically in the past two years in literacy and numeracy.
• NAPLAN gives schools feedback on strengths and areas for improvement for each student as well as for the whole year group

Last Saturday night was our Hennessy Parish Mass, this has become a tradition each term with the Mass being followed by Youth Group. A large number of students attended and it was especially heartening to see so many Year 12 leaders at the Mass. The Hennessy  music and singing added to the mass. A big thank you to Mrs Wright for her organisation of this event.

Ash Wednesday was recognised at Hennessy with a beautiful liturgy in the Hall and ashes were given out by Years 11 and 12 student leaders.  This year, the Project Compassion theme is ‘To unite against poverty this Lent’. Each House is hosting a fundraising event to raise funds for Caritas over the next few weeks.

Last night the School Community Council held its first meeting for 2025. The Council discussed their upcoming movie night which everyone is very welcome to attend. They also agreed to support the school in the purchase of an anonymous anti-bullying app - Stymie.  Stymie will be launched with students and staff at the start of Term 2 and will assist students in having a voice to call out inappropriate behaviour in a non-threatening way. The generosity of the Community Council is much appreciated.

The School Community Council is still looking for new members. Please contact Nadine Woods (secretary) if you are interested in this opportunity.

Year 7 and 8 students are reminded that phones are not permitted at school. If they require a phone before or after school they should leave it in the Front Office during the day.

I am excited for the students to see so many sporting opportunities currently being offered both at school and in the representative arena. Hennessy students in last year’s Tell Them From Me Survey rated higher for participating in sport compared to other students in the survey. The Beyond Blue website https://beyou.edu.au/ describes the value of physical activity for young people:

Physical activity promotes many aspects of child and adolescent development, including social and emotional skills, as well as physical development of motor skills. It also supports mental wellbeing. 

Please continue to keep the Pope in your prayers as his health shows signs of improvement.