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- Principal's Report
- Teaching & Learning News
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- The Leaders Lounge - Student Leadership Article
- House Cup - Silver Awards
- ACT Brumbies 10s High School & College Championships
- Enrolment for 2024
- Ag News
- Studies in Catholic Thought
- Science
- Grandparents Day Mass & Breakfast
- Leadership Mass & Luncheon Photos
- Hilltops Small Buisness Community Forum
- Socktober - Tuesday 24th October
- St Mary's Parish Bulletin
- Young Community Spring Fair
Welcome to the first newsletter for Term 4. The students have returned very positively, and it is wonderful to see more and more proudly wearing their new hats each day. A reminder that wearing either the new College hat or the current College hat is a requirement for all outdoor classes and when on the oval from the start of Term 4. Hats are available from the Front Office and can be paid for either via Qkr at the office.
This term we welcome Ms Amanda Cooke to our Hennessy community. Ms Cooke is joining us from Young High School and is an English and HSIE teacher. She has very generously agreed to commence at Hennessy early in the role of Acting English Leader as Ms Stadtmiller is on leave for all of Term 4.
The HSC exams have commenced and whilst there are always mixed emotions after an exam, many students are smiling and reporting that the exam was what they expected. Please continue to keep the Class of 2023 in your thoughts and prayers as they work through their exam timetable. The last exam for Hennessy students is on November 2.
On Tuesday a very beautiful Leadership Mass was celebrated for our new student leaders. It is always a proud moment to see a new group of young men and women on the altar as their parents pin on their badges. I had the great pleasure of spending some time with them on their Leadership Retreat at Galong and was very impressed by their creativity and enthusiasm. This group will not be content to just do things as they have always been done. Hennessy is certainly in fine hands for the remainder of 2023 and 2024! It was also reassuring to see that the new team is half boys and half girls. The new Student Leadership Team are as follow:
College Captains - Jasmine Sullivan & James PayneRice House Captains - Amelia Rowan & Caitlin Drum
Please keep the Grandparents’ Mass and Breakfast in your diary for November 3. RSVPs need to go to the Front Office for catering purposes. We are hoping to see a very big roll up of grandparents and significant others.
Principal
Year 12 HSC examinations
Year 12 have made a great start to their HSC examinations which continue until Thursday November 2. A reminder that if a student misses an exam for any reason, to contact the office asap and get the illness/misadventure forms from myself to submit to NESA. Failure to do so will result in not qualifying to receive a HSC.
Year 11 Examination feedback and Transition to Year 12 2023
Year 11 students have been receiving feedback from their exams and it’s very important that they use this to formulate a plan to acknowledge and build on their strengths but also to develop on their weaknesses.
Last week we met with Year 11 to go over expectations for year 12, planning for the future and also the processes for changing subjects. A decision regarding Maths and English levels is needed asap, however, if students are unsure about other subject changes it is better to stay in class for now than to make a decision that cannot be reversed. It is important that students know and are happy with their pattern of study, especially if they want and need to qualify to receive an ATAR. Students are to stay in their classes until Compass changes as well.
Subject Changes Years 9-10 electives for 2024
Just a reminder that students in years 8-9 may still change elective subject choices if they wish too and should see myself and Mr Mergard about this.
Assistant Principal - Teaching & Learning
This term there has been a change to the Uniform Policy process. Students who receive their first initial warning will now also receive an email notifying them that they have been placed on Compass for a uniform warning. From Level 2 parents will receive communication from the school. We are hoping that this encourages our students to take more responsibility for their actions and to be aware of where they stand in the uniform policy process. A reminder that for all formal occasions students are expected to wear the academic uniform for mass and events regardless of whether or not they have Sport. Students and parents will be notified the day before formal events of the type of uniform required if it differs from the normal daily running. On cooler mornings and days, students are expected to wear the woollen knit jumper and not the Sports Hoodie.
There have been some student social issues that have presented in the last couple of weeks. As a Catholic College we pride ourselves in living out the values of the Gospel and that we believe in forgiveness. When dealing with student issues we follow due process and seek the support of families, the student and the College community in guiding our students in contributing positively to our world. We develop educational processes to address any issues. Issues are treated with the highest of confidentiality and we are committed to continuing to develop our students to be people who are empowered to change the world for good.
Next week we will begin the initial surveys for the Macquarie University Study titled “The Power of Teacher-Student Relationships Study at Macquarie University”. The first survey is a 35 minute student survey which will be completed in Year 7 to 10 English classes. The survey link will be sent to the students directly.
This project focuses on identifying the elements of a positive teacher-student relationship in secondary school and how these positive relationships can support students’ wellbeing, motivation, engagement, and achievement in Maths, English, and Science. The aim of the study is to better understand how these relationships can protect against well-documented declines in motivation and engagement that occur in adolescence. This research will offer insight about how teachers and students can build more positive relationships that promote students’ wellbeing, motivation, and engagement across secondary school.
This project has received university ethics approval and approval from the Canberra & Goulburn Catholic Education Office.
This project is a 2-year longitudinal project, with the potential to participate in a third-year intervention study regarding how to build positive classroom relationships. The study will be completed by students in Years 7-10 and their Maths, English, and Science. In the first year, will complete a survey in Term 4. In the second year, students will complete short weekly surveys across Term 2. We look forward to working with the Macquarie University and exploring the results. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Welcome to the ALL NEW LEADERS LOUNGE!
We are extremely excited and honored to be your Captains for 2023/2024. Although not as tall as the last, we will try our best to ensure that this year is a great one. We would like to thank Jack and Sonika, the outgoing College Captains, for the excellent foundations they have left.
Last Monday, the new leadership team attended the Leadership Retreat at Galong Monastery. The retreat was run by the fabulous Mrs Wright and Mrs McInerney. Our team of students were able to develop connections and new leadership skills. As a result, during this time after lots of discussion and great collaboration, we came up with our vision and focus areas for 2024: Wellbeing, in particular mental health; School spirit; and, Community Action! The leadership team have prepared a busy and fun year ahead.
A huge congratulations to all those students who received Silver Awards in week 9 last term. These were: Sonika Brits, Sybella Murphy, Jack Murphy and Hugo Davidson. With this award, students received a nice new fancy pen, as well as a $20 Canteen voucher! Week one this term saw more Silver Awards going to Azalea Sullivan and Lizzie Reeves! Congratulations to all our silver award winners. We hope to see many more awards throughout this term.
Talking about achievement… WELL DONE TO NAGLE for winning what seems like another term!! “Told you James.” Just check out this previous newsletter article;
Just a reminder that Socktober is on the 24th of October - bring in a pair of funky socks to school with a gold coin donation. Also, decorations of your PC socks will be shown during SWS, ensuring you have a speaker and a model for your socks. Don’t forget there is a hot chip lunch out for the win! As well as the penalty shoot-out at break, where the winner will win a $20 canteen voucher. It’s $1 for entry.
Lastly we would like to give a shout out to the year 12’s of 2023. They have led us through, what I’m sure we can all agree on, a great year! We wish them all the best as they continue with their HSC exams.
That’s all from us! Have a great week?
Jasmine and James
(College captains)
Congratulations to our most recent SIlver Award recipients; Azalea Sullivan and Elizabeth Reeves.
Azalea Sullivan has gained points in Living Spiritually by being elected as the Year 8 Year Captain, and through her participation in Parish Masses and Youth Group. She has Learned Dynamically through her commendations in Geography and History and involvement in Netball, Basketball, Soccer, Tennis and Touch Football. Azalea has volunteered in many of the opportunities to Act Justly in the College, such as Dine and Donate and the Young North Breakfast Service.
Elizabeth Reeves has Lived Spiritually through her impressive display of leadership with new Year 7 students, the College Open Day and CYSMA, as well as her involvement in Parish Masses and Youth Group. It is great to see her wide range of achievements in the Learn Dynamically category, ranging from a Variety Night performance, Soccer, Rugby League, Beach Volleyball and Hospitality. Elizabeth’s ability to Act Justly was demonstrated as a soccer referee, caterer, regular helper at Young North Breakfast service and Dine and Donate attendee.
Hennessy had a successful day at the ACT Brumbies High School and College 10s Championships yesterday.
The year 7/8 team went undefeated and claimed the Championships in a tight final against Yass High School by 2 points.
Year 9/10 team lost 1 game all day. They then put in an awesome effort in the final game (1st v 2nd) and claimed the championship convincingly.
The following email was received from the Brumbies organiser;
Congratulations on your schools results yesterday. I know you impressed a lot of schools with how well Hennessy played and the sportsman ship showed across both teams all day.
Cheers
Reinhold
Well done to all involved!
Last Thursday students travelled to Wagga to attend the Digital Agrifood Summit.
It was an impressive summit, of the whole HSC Ag course in one day. The students were well feed and cared for during the day, including a savory hamper and drinks for the bus trip home.
The day started, with the presentation of 6 Case Studies, of business', growth trials and developments. Including Cotton Tracking from seed, growth to garments, and land fill. Sustainability Framework with Angus beef production, transgrid, power from methane and so much more.
There was a CSU vet clinic visit, with Identification of 20 skulls, visit of the digital farm, with plant density and pasture analysis with technology.
The last visit was seeing GUSS, at work an autonomous spray unit in action, also an Autonomous John deere tractor, and electron reader of soils.
Year 12 Ag students also completed an analysis of lamb chop proportion of bone, muscle and fat.
This week students completed community service for their course by tidying garden beds for St Mary's Church yard. The results speak for themselves!
This week in Science, 7.2 have been working on modeling space, while 8.4 have been disecting kidneys! Photos show they have had a great time doing so!
