Welcome back to Term 3. Firstly, I would like to thank Mrs Wright for taking on the role of Acting Principal in my absence. Mrs Wright is a very strong and competent leader and it is great to know that the school was in such safe hands while I was away.

This term, we are very excited to welcome four new staff members:

• Mrs Michelle Rathjen is joining us from Young High School. Mrs Rathjen is a very experienced Science teacher.
• Ms Antonia Barreto is joining us from John Therry Catholic College in Rosemeadow and is a very experienced English teacher.
• Miss Vanessa Mitchell is an ex-student who is joining us in her first teaching position.
• Ms Rebekah Meharg is joining us as a Classroom Support Assistant from Young North Public School.

We warmly welcome each of these staff to the Hennessy community and look forward to working with them.

Staff were very privileged on the first day of term, to have both Dr Patrick McCardle and Father Richard Thompson present a day of faith formation around the notion of Pilgrims of Hope. Patrick McArdle is the Chair of the new Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited (CACGL) Board. Father Richard would be known to many as a former parish priest in Young and is now the Vicar General for the Archdiocese. They led the staff in an exploration of pilgrimage and hope and how this can be incorporated into our daily lives; the day was one of discussion and reflection. We thank them both for giving up their time to spend the day at Hennessy.

On the theme of pilgrimage, Mr Ian Mergard and Mrs Emily Nowlan have returned from a pilgrimage to Rome and Sienna. This pilgrimage involved staff from across the archdiocese, led by Archbishop Christopher Prowse. They spoke enthusiastically of what a special privilege this was to experience a pilgrimage.

Another pilgrimage was our adventurous group of staff and students who visited Cambodia and Vietnam as part of their Immersion Program. It is lovely to hear stories of the trip and to talk to students about the profound effect such an experience has on their lives. A huge thank you to Mrs McInerney, Mrs Noakes and Ms Inwood for being a part of this trip and being involved in the huge amount of organisation needed to make such an event happen. A big thank you also to Mrs Navori, Mr Croese and Mr Kershaw, who were a part of the group.

Last night we held our Years 7 - 11 parent-student-teacher conferences. This is an invaluable opportunity to spend time with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you were unable to make the meetings last night.

Year 12 students embark on their Trial Examinations next week, please keep them in your prayers.

God, You fill us with hope               

God, You You fill us with faith

God, you will us with love

You accompany us on life’s journey   

Open our ears to Your voice

Open our ears to your beauty.

Open our hands to your work.

And open our hearts to your Spirit.

Amen.