Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- Teaching & Learning News
- Mission & Ministry
- Ash Wednesday Liturgy
- Year 9/10 Food Tech
- Swimming Carnival - House Themes
- Hennessy House Cup and Awards 2024
- Peer Support
- Row with Roy for MND
- Hennessy Parish Mass - Saturday 2nd March
- Week 1
- SafeTALK - Suicide Prevention Training
- St Mary's Parish Youth Group
- Cootamundra Netball Association
Welcome back to the 2024 school year to all our parents, carers, staff and students! Last week was a week of three days of learning for staff. This professional learning covered a variety of topics including an archdiocesan system day focusing on quality teaching and learning and an introduction to our launch of consistent classroom routines.
This year we welcome Mr Jonathon Watson to our staff. Mr Watson is beginning his teaching career and is very excited to be a part of the Hennessy community. Mrs Amy Mergard has moved into a full-time role this year and Ms Cassie McLachlan will continue in a part-time role. We are very fortunate to have teachers for all our classes as this is not the case across the state in all schools.
This year we have chosen a theme that combines the Archbishop’s wish to make this the Year of the Holy Spirit with the Learning Dynamically aspect of our school Mission Statement. Our theme for 2024 is:
Learning Dynamically through the Spirit’s Fruits
The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit are:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Three of these gifts will be explored each term with students.
You would have read in Compass about our new classroom routines initiative this year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or if you would like to walk around with me to see this in action. When I move around the school I observe very calm classrooms and students engaged in their learning. I would like to thank the teachers for their support and collegiality in commencing these routines.
This week is a very busy week with photo day yesterday, Tomorrow Woman program for girls in Years 10 - 12 today, and our annual swimming carnival on tomorrow. Ash Wednesday is next Wednesday and parents are very welcome to attend our liturgy in the Hall at 9:00 am.
The Year 7 Meet and Greet for parents and carers is on Tuesday 13th February is a great way to meet other parents and your child’s teachers. The evening will commence with an information session in E10 followed by drinks and nibbles on the parish lawn.
I am looking forward to a wonderful year.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)
Welcome everyone to the 2024 school year, in which the students and staff have hit the ground running.
Subject changes - Year 9, 10 and 11 have been busy making changes to their pattern of study. A reminder that they may change subjects as long as there is availability in that class. If the class is full, students will go onto a waiting list for that subject. Students need to collect a form from my office and have it signed by the relevant KLA Leaders and their parents. Once done this needs to be handed to me personally and I will make the change as soon as possible. All students are to stay in their class as indicated on Compass until the new class appears.
A reminder that our Assessment policies and procedures can be found on the College website. I will be meeting with Year 10 students on Thursday 8/2/24 to go over the assessment changes for them. In order to better prepare our year 10 students for their Preliminary and HSC expectations re assessments we are now formalising year 10 assessment. Within that we are implementing 1 exam type task per subject a year which will again help prepare them for their senior years of study. I will meet with Year 11 students to go over their senior assessment policy.
I wish all students, especially year 12 a successful year and my door is open if anyone has any questions or concerns.
It has been wonderful to see all the students filling the College this week. We have had excellent learning experiences already occurring and it has been a pleasure to begin the 2024 journey with your children. This year the pastoral team have developed a solid program to assist in the education and development of students. Each of the programs has been distributed to the Pastoral Care classes.
This week the Year 10, 11 and 12 girls have had the experience of Tomorrow Woman where they have had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and empowering themselves. We have had an incredibly positive response to the program. We are looking forward to welcoming the Tomorrow Woman team back next Semester to work with the Year 10 and Year 11 students again.
Next week we will begin the journey to Easter with Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent. We will celebrate Shrove Tuesday this year with cooking pancakes, to raise funds for Caritas. We invite all parents and community members to join with us in the Ash Wednesday liturgy at 9am on Wednesday.
I have spoken to the students this week about the support systems that they can access within the College. As the first point of contact, students and parents should speak to the students PC Teacher and/ or House Leader. Jessica McInerney as Director of Students can also be contacted as well as myself. We all work together as a team to provide the best care for our students, and we know that students who are happy at school are able to learn better.
Hennessy is a Child Safe School and we believe in listening to our students who are not feeling comfortable or safe in situations. I have had many conversations about helping our friends speak out to a trusted adult with our students and encourage parents to have conversations around this.
The Hennessy Parish Mass is being held on the 2nd of March and we invite all students, families, friends and community to join with us in this celebration. Please email myself or Emily Coffee if you would like to be involved in the mass in an array of different roles.
Some important dates coming up are:
Tuesday 13th February: Year 7 Meet and Greet
Thursday 15th February: Year 11 Information Evening
Wednesday 15th February: Ash Wednesday Liturgy 9am
Tuesday 20th February: Catch Up Photo Day
Thursday 29th February: College Opening Mass and Badge Ceremony 12pm
Saturday 2nd of March: Hennessy Parish Mass 6pm
GALLAGHER
The Gallagher theme for the swimming carnival this year is 'In the Waves'. Dress in your best yellow beach attire!
The Hennessy House Cup has officially launched for 2024. It is only Week 1 and already there are plenty of opportunities for students to contribute to the success of their house whilst gaining individual points. The three areas of achievement for students include:
- Living Spiritually: Engaging in liturgies, masses, and exemplifying leadership and school spirit.
- Learning Dynamically: Participating and excelling in sports events, academic competitions, arts, drama, and music.
- Acting Justly: Demonstrating kindness through various acts of assistance to others.
The 4 levels of achievement that students work toward are as follows:
House Award: Earn 3 House Points, with at least 1 point in each of the three areas.
Bronze Award: Secure 15 House Points, with at least 2 points in each area.
Silver Award: Accumulate 30 House Points, ensuring at least 3 points in each area.
Gold Award: Aim for the pinnacle with 50 House Points, obtaining at least 5 points in each area.
Week 1 Wednesday brought our first Peer Support session for our Year 7 Students. Students engaged with their Peer Support Leaders in get-to-know-you activities and finished off with a scavenger hunt, solidifying their knowledge of important information and landmarks in and around the College. Next week, students will be focusing on building resilience activities with their leaders.
