Welcome to Week 3.

One of the goals the Student Leadership set this year is ‘Community Connections’. We have certainly been working towards this goal recently. Last Tuesday was the annual Year 7 Meet and Greet. This event was well attended and was a great opportunity for parents to meet the Year 7 teachers and to socialise with each other. 

On Tuesday, staff travelled to Sacred Heart Cootamundra to host a BBQ for new 11 students and their families and Sacred Heart students from Year 10. On March 5, we are inviting all new Hennessy families to join us for 8:00 am mass followed by a breakfast on the parish lawn.

On Tuesday students and staff voted for Year 11 House Vice Captains. Candidates gave a speech to their House before the voting began. A big thank you to all those students who nominated, I am pleased to announce that the successful students were:

Ayon Peiris - Gallagher Vice Captain

Nick Canellis  - McAuley Vice Captain

Josh Cameron - Nagle Vice Captain

Beau Beddow - Rice Vice Captain

Absent: Nick Canellis

I look forward to working with these students as part of the Student Leadership Team for 2024.

Our new classroom routines are making a difference. Teachers are reporting more settled, engaged classes. They are also reporting on more time to focus on teaching. Students are becoming accustomed to the new routines and they are becoming an automatic part of their behaviour which is great to see. Please remember I would love to walk around the classes with anyone who is interested in seeing what learning looks like at Hennessy.

Next Thursday is our Opening Mass, everyone is most welcome to attend and we would love to see as many parents and carers there as possible.

As we move into the second week of Lent, I will end with this Lenten Prayer:

‘Heavenly Father, As I enter another week of my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings.’

HSC: All My Own Work

To be eligible for the HSC, students must complete HSC: All My Own Work.

This is a program designed to help HSC students follow the principles and practices of good scholarship. This includes understanding, valuing and using ethical practices when locating and using information as part of their HSC studies. Students who have completed the program will also know about penalties for cheating and how to avoid malpractice when preparing their work for assessment. The program was completed by year 11 students who are new to the College this week and year 10 will complete their modules next week in preparation for 2025 studies.

Subject changes - Subject changes will cease at the end of this week for year 9, 10 and 11. Reminder that they can only be made as long as there is availability in that class.

Year 10 Assessment changes for 2024

In order to better prepare our year 10 students for year 11/HSC expectations, especially 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.

Number of assessment tasks per subject per Term

• ➢ Maximum of one summative common task of various types per subject, per term.
• ➢ One formal end of course exam / or semester for each subject (4 task - 1 must be exam)
• ➢ Continue with ongoing formative in class assessment

Expectation/process for summative common tasks:

• ➢ Students are expected to hand in the task on the due date. Students will contact the college if they are away on the day it is due. They will also inform their teacher if they are away on planned leave. Penalties for late or non completion will be a Zero mark given and the student cannot get an A grade for that subject
• ➢ N-warning letter sent home

Task will still need to be completed and marked. 

The last two weeks have been filled with great achievements from our students through our House Cup system. Students have been trying out for sport, pushing themselves academically and showing kindness to each other through their interactions. 

Last week we celebrated the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday and a service led by our Student leadership team. Lent is a time of reflection and is often associated with “giving up” something. I see this as an opportunity for us all to give up the excess in our lives and strip back to who we are as people of God and growing in closer relationship with God. 

Our fundraising for Project Compassion and Caritas begins in Week 4 where each House will take a week to fundraise for this important cause. Project Compassion assists particularly the whole community project providing much needed resources for better living conditions, education and working opportunities. As the Houses fundraise for this important cause, please give generously.

On Thursday next week we will celebrate our Opening Mass and Leaders induction ceremony. We welcome all the members of the community to join us for this important event. All students will need to wear their summer academic uniform. If students have sports on that day, they will need to pack their summer academic uniform to change into. 

We also invite all new families to the College to celebrate mass and have breakfast with us on March the 5th from 8am.

This week the pastoral team have worked on a few issues with supporting students. We really encouraged our students to speak to a trusted adult as soon as they felt they had seen or heard something that was not quite right. Our students are model young people who are navigating a world that we have not experienced as young people and although are excellent at dealing with many issues, still require assistance from adults. Please encourage your children to discuss any issues with you, or any member of the pastoral team. 

This week we finalise our Year Level Captain applicants and I am so pleased with the quality of the applications as well as the courage our students have taken to step out of their comfort zone to represent their peers. Speeches will be held in PC next week and I am so excited to work with this bright group of people in making our College a better place.

Welcome back to the first Leaders Lounge for 2024! We have only just begun, and the first few weeks have been chock-a-block full of action and exciting events. 

On the first Friday back, the school hosted their annual swimming carnival. Participation was through the roof, especially from our Year 12’s with 7 heats for the 50m freestyle, way to go! A shout out to Emily Buck for her new records in 15 year girls 50m backstroke (37.71) and 200m Individual Medley (2:57:57), as well as all those who participated in our hardcore belly flop, diving and flip competition. (Even Mr Morton had an attempt at an almost fantastic backflip). With great participation and competition, Nagle just came home victorious, winning the swimming carnival by a close 1 point!

Last Friday Students from years 7-12 took a trip to Cootamundra to participate in the Cootamundra Beach Volleyball competition. On the day teams played in round-robin games versus schools from Cootamundra, Tumut, Gundagai and Yanco. Despite the heat, and fierce competition, Hennessy showed up with great success: the year 7 team made it to the grand final, and put up a fight, although just lost to Sacred Heart, and the A-grade stage six Hennessey team went home with a new bucket hat and bragging rights - being UNDEFEATED! After a hot, sweaty day, with stiff competition, Henessy was lucky to be able to cool off in the Cootamundra pool between games. 

On Tuesday, the Year 11’s had their opportunity to run for Vice House captain. 

Each student’s speech was done incredibly well, with quite a few respectable nominees for each house. It’s a tough vote! There were further trials for touch and the elite Hens Netball squad, all the best to nominees.

Furthermore, last Tuesday, Parents were allowed to come down to school to learn and talk about their Child’s movement into year 7, for the year 7 meet and greet. It was a fantastic social event for the parents to get to know their children’s teachers and socialise amongst themselves with nibbles and a drink. It was a great opportunity for the school community to become stronger, and for the new students to get more comfortable in a new learning environment.

Moreover, last Tuesday some of our year 12’s made some house-coloured pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday leading into the Lenten season. This was then followed up with the Hennessey Ash Wednesday Liturgy, where students received a cross of ash on their forehead to signify that “From dust you were created and to dust you shall return”. Students were commended for their respectable behaviour during the liturgy. 

Upcoming events: 

• Catch up photos - the College catch-up photo day is scheduled for the 23rd of February. Students who were unable to have photos earlier in the term will be scheduled for the catch-up photo day. Make sure you’re looking good!

• Year level captains - nominations close on Friday the 23rd of Feb and voting will occur in week 4

• Opening School Mass & Hennessey Parish Mass - Hennessy’s Opening School Mass will be held on Thursday the 29th of February at 12pm. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend. Following the Opening School Mass will be the first Hennessy Parish Mass for the year on March the 2nd at 6 pm. Students from Hennessey will be involved in reading, singing, leading, music, serving and many other ministries. The Youth Group will be held immediately after mass and will be from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm. All young people from Year 7 to 12 are invited to attend. House points are up for grabs!

ALSO, Don’t miss out on Acting justly by participating in the 

Row with Roy

If you are interested please fill out the Google form.

Finally, congratulations to Nagle for taking an early lead in the House Cup! 

“Please continue to participate and give everything a go!” 

Thanks for tuning in to this weeks Leaders Lounge, 

James and Jasmine,

Your College leaders ?

7.1 have been busy discovering the amazing products produced by Poultry in Australia as a vital agricultural enterprise. With the challenge of chicken or egg. 

Students have successfully  completed introduction to the kitchen and first practical. Making the perfect boiled egg! 

The College Swimming Carnival was held on Friday 9th February. Participation levels were up, with our open boys and girls leading the way. Congratulations to Emily Buck, who broke two records in the 15 years girls division;

50m Backstroke - 37.71 (the previous record was set by Emma Byrne in a time of 38.47 in 2005).

200m Individual Medley - 2.57.54 (the previous record was set by Ellie Rutter in a time of 2.57.75 in 2016).

Our winning house was Nagle. The final point score was as follows:

1st  Nagle (757 points)

2nd Rice (620 points)

3rd Gallagher (569 points)

4th McAuley (532 points)

Congratulations to the Age Champions and Runners Up for 2024:

Year 9/10 PASS have been working on their volleyball serves and digs during practical lessons. 

    

                    



    

                                    

After the first two weeks of school, Nagle House have taken the lead in the House Cup with 85 points, closely followed by Gallagher on 78, Rice on 71 and McAuley on 61. Our 2023 House Cup leader, James Payne, is on top of the student leaderboard with 6 points.  Congratulations to our first House Award recipients for 2024; Chaz Cooper, Stuart McEvoy, Eliza Taylor and Lily Boda. These students have gained at least 1 point in each of the 3 areas of Living Spiritually, Learning Dynamically and Acting Justly. Finally, our leading PC is currently McAuley 6, with notable contributions from Sarah McDonald, Angelic Sutherland, WIll Glover and Lewis Shae. 

The power of bubbles. 

Students developed a different understanding of bubbles, to what, why and how. After warming the solution students made bubble using. Non circle shapes, to further their testing skills of how a bubble makes a perfect sphere. 

The students have been busy learning about the history of Agriculture and the effectiveness of Aboriginal farming techniques. 

Applying the techniques to see if they can grow corn from seed to Harvest, as James Ruse did. 

Students have harvested a large range of vegetables, including corn, tomatoes, squash, avocado and Celery. 

They have also been busy monitoring the health and well being of the College Isa Brown hens.

Our Year 11 Beginner Hospitality students have begun the year by delving into the art of precision cuts and garnishes. In their first practical session, they demonstrated their skills with the 'macedoine' cut, achieving precise 10mm x 10mm pineapple cubes. The students also segmented oranges and utilised a 'fanning' technique to garnish with strawberries. Despite being their initial hands-on experience, the students showcased promising culinary abilities, setting the stage for an exciting journey ahead. Well done!

The students have also been busy over the holiday growing their plants for the Experimental design plant growth trials. Students have designed experiments to measure the effects of plant density to develop a further understanding of the  spacing, growth stages  methods of recording data.  Students have monitored the plants on a regular basis measuring the height, number of leaves, width and many other measurements to ensure a conclusive report can be collated and presented.  

They are also studying the importance of the plant developments within the world and the powerful photosynthesis occurring in plants. 

Students have set up trials to monitor the development of plants. Measuring the different abiotic factors affecting plant growth and production.