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- Principal's Report
- Mission & Ministry Report
- Teaching & Learning News
- Canberra-Goulburn Cross Country
- Year 7 PDHPE
- Year 11 Biology
- Milestones Visit
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- NCCD Letter for Parents and Guardians
- College Fee Information
- St Mary's Parish Bulletin
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Welcome to our Week 4 newsletter. The College was an absolute buzz last Wednesday as we hosted our annual Open Day. Dolly the Wellbeing Dogwelcomed families before being allocated a student tour guide to show them around the wide variety of activities and displays. 79 families came through the gates and their tour guides showed them around the school to see what high school life was like. There was a large number of engaging displays and activities and many families commented on how impressive our students were.. A big thank you to the students and staff who contributed to such a successful afternoon. Enrolment interviews commenced this week and bookings for enrolments can be made by phoning Mrs Hardy. Please encourage anyone who missed out on Open Day to ring the school and a tour can be organised.
At our weekly assembly, we were very proud to announce that Josh Cameron has been awarded the Helen Handbury Award. The Award recognises Year 12 students in rural and regional Australia who have shown outstanding community leadership. The award winners will receive funding towards an international trip to experience community development in another culture. Congratulations Josh!
Year 7 - 12 students eagerly donned their costumes for Hennessy Day on Friday. This year's theme is a book or movie character and students always enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to dress up. Mass was held in the Hall followed by activities and funds raised will go to the Vinnie’s Winter Appeal.
I thought I would share a bit of history about the name of our College and Monsignor Hennessy:
- The former St Mary’s Secondary School became Hennessy Catholic College in 2000.
- The school began catering for Years 7 - 12, and it took on a regional flavour as students from neighbouring towns were welcomed.
- The College logo was chosen based on a competition and a student from CSU from Wagga was the original designer of our beautiful logo.
- Monsignor Jerome Hennessy (1855 - 1941) became a priest at the age of 26 in 1881 and came to Young in 1889.
- He is remembered for his outstanding generosity, particularly towards poorer families in the district. There is a story about him giving his own mattress to a poor mother and her family as an example of his kindness towards others.
- He is credited with leading the development of many important Catholic institutions in Young, including the Sacred Heart Hospital, Mount St Joseph’s Old People’s Home, Southern Cross Hall, the kindergarten and infants school opened in 1934, and the Christian Brothers’ residence.
- He was much loved by Catholics and non-Catholics alike and all shops in Young closed for his funeral procession as a mark of respect. His grave is outside St Mary’s Church.
Monsignor Hennessy is someone who should be an inspiration to all our students as a man who cared for others in a quiet, unassuming way and did not want recognition for his actions.
Just a friendly reminder that absences from school do affect progress. Catholic Education encourages all its students to attend school for a minimum of 90% of each school year.
Finally, we thank God for the beautiful rain to nourish our dry landscape.
Celebrating Hennessy Day – A True Display of Spirit and Community
Hennessy Day was a truly joyful celebration of who we are as a school community. It was a vibrant display of school spirit, unity, and fun – a day where we honoured the legacy of our namesakes and the values that shape our College. From the creative and colourful dress-ups to the laughter and teamwork shown in the activities, the energy and enthusiasm from students and staff alike made it a day to remember.
A huge thank you goes to Mr Kershaw and Mrs Nowlan for their work in designing such engaging and inclusive activities. Your creativity and planning brought the whole day to life! A special thank you also to our amazing Year 12 students who led the way in setting up, supporting activities, and modelling leadership and school pride. Hennessy Day was a fantastic reflection of the true spirit of our College, and we are so proud of our community.
Attendance Matters
As a school, we have a legal obligation to ensure that all student absences are explained. We kindly ask that parents and carers notify us of any student absence as soon as possible. Even when explanations are provided, we do monitor attendance patterns closely. If ongoing or frequent absences are noted, House Leaders and Pastoral Care Teachers may reach out to you for further discussion and support. Ensuring consistent attendance is vital for student wellbeing and academic progress.
Stymie – A Safe Way to Speak Up
A reminder to our students and families about the use of Stymie, our anonymous reporting tool. When using the form, please remember that the "name" section is where you enter the name of the person you are concerned about – not your own name. Stymie has already been used to address significant and serious issues around the College, and we thank those who have taken the step to speak up. By using this platform, you are helping to break cycles of bullying and unacceptable behaviour and contributing to a safer and more respectful school culture.
Upcoming Hennessy Parish Mass and Youth Group – June 14
We are excited to invite you to join us on Friday, June 14 for our Hennessy Parish Mass and Youth Group gathering. This will be a particularly special event as we celebrate two members of our school community, Ben Sweaney and Kaelan Dal Molin, who will be receiving their Sacraments for the first time. This is a deeply meaningful moment in their faith journey, and we are so happy to welcome them more fully into the life of the Church. We encourage as many families as possible to attend and share in this joyous occasion.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the life of our College.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD THROUGH THE HSC
Discover effective strategies to help your child navigate the pressures of the HSC. Learn practical ways to foster emotional wellbeing, encourage positive communication, provide essential academic support, and maintain a healthy balance throughout their critical final years.
Catholic Schools NSW is hosting a Parent/Carer information session. If you are interested, here is the link to register.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bh_Cu8e5SHueq4J3wB9IJA#/registrationDate: 11th June, 2025
Time: 7:00pm
Last Friday, 30 students from Hennessy attended the Canberra-Goulburn Cross-Country Carnival at Stromlo Park. We congratulate Amy Glasgow and Harlee Cartwright, who finished in 1st place, Eliza Taylor in 2nd place, Braxton Cross, who placed 3rd and Azalea Sullivan who finished 4th in their respective age groups. These students have now qualified to compete at the CCC Cross-Country Carnival in Sydney later this term, and we wish them all the best as they take the next step in the competition.
Well done to all students who competed on the day:
Annabel Bailey, Charlie Beal, Harlee Cartwright, Mercadez Cartwright, Braxdyn Cross, Christopher Davis, Ava Dawe, Oliver Edwards, Melanie Galvin, Amy Glasgow, Tyler Hemsworth, Jayda Holt, Lachlan Holt, Leo Holt, Ruby Holt, Leila Ismay, Jai Jasprizza, Ava McKnight, Phoebe Murphy, Angus Oldfield, Somer Oldfield, Zac Reid, Annalisse Reynolds, Harry Robinson, Jimmy Smith, Azalea Sullivan, Daisy Sullivan, Eliza Taylor, Toby Wales, Jack Willis and Scarlett Woods.
As part of the term 2 unit, Students in 7.2 and 7.4 PDHPE were asked to showcase different ways the Nutbush can be presented.
The smiles show how much fun they had!
As part of the Year 11 Biology Course on respiratory systems, students conducted fish dissections to understand how different species breathe.
Through the dissection, students identified the key components of the fish's respiratory system, including gill arches, gill filaments, and blood vessels. They witnessed the importance of gill structure for gas exchange, where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is expelled.
This practical activity enhanced students' scientific skills, such as precision, observation, and teamwork. By working in groups, they shared their findings and discussed the connections between the fish's respiratory system and classroom learning.
On Wednesday our 9/10 elective Child Studies class went to Milestones Early Education Center, Young, and observed the preschool class. We saw how Grace, the educator, incorporated new learning skills and play based learning into fun activities that they enjoyed.
Before the children entered they showed us how to put on their learning bubbles and this demonstrated that even at a young age they have an entry and exit routine similar to Hennessy. The children played bingo and learned how to identify different letters. Possa-bill then popped in for a visit and he showed emotions and feelings, taught them basic consent (asking before giving someone a hug), positive thinking and body language skills.
The children also worked together and further developed their teamwork skills, to build towers of blocks according to the numbers on the sheet. This taught them to count and develop their fine motor skills while also having fun. They also performed multiple songs which involved them moving around and singing along with Grace. They had songs where they would jump up and down, count backwards, and do many actions, everyone got involved.
Grace then asked if we had any questions, that she then answered for us, and then some of the kids also had questions for us! Grace then talked about how we could have a career in childcare, if we wanted to. Miss Coffee and Grace said that they will organise another time for us to go back and observe their outdoor play, which is exciting. This all links back to what we are learning about in Child Studies which is play-based learning, learning milestones, characteristics of play and fine and gross motor skills. We were so lucky to be able to have this opportunity and we enjoyed it very much.
By Ruby and Emma
Congratulations to the following students on their recent sporting success;
Eliza Taylor who made NSW U18 Combined Catholic Colleges Rugby league team
Riley Butcher NSW Southern CCC U18 team and Nic Canellis Presidents Team and are trialing for NSW CCC team today and tomorrow
Lexie McGovern Competing at the All Schools swimming today
Term 2 Fees are now due.
If you have not already done so, please arrange payment of your account or contact Nadine Woods, Business Manager to discuss payment arrangements.
New Direct Debit Payment Option has Arrvied!
We are pleased to announce that Hennessy Catholic College has recently introduced the BPoint Enterprise Solution to manage direct debit arrangements for the payment of school fees. This payment option is in addition to our BPay facility.
What is BPoint and What Do You Need to Do?
BPoint is a secure Commonwealth Bank payment processing platform designed to facilitate online payments, while ensuring the highest security standards. This system safeguards your financial information using industry-leading security measures.
Our new direct debit platform will allow you to pay school fees using either a bank account or a credit card (excluding AMEX). Please note that payments made via credit card will incur a 0.5% surcharge.
Establishing Direct Debits.
Next week, families will receive an email outlining estimated weekly, fortnightly, and monthly repayment options to ensure all fees are paid by the end of the year. These amounts will also include any outstanding 2024 balances.
What next?
You will receive an email that will provide a start date for direct debits and options for selecting your preferred payment frequency. Once a payment frequency is selected, you will be directed to enter your bank/credit card details. Once the information is entered, you will receive an email from no-reply@bpoint.com.au . The email will contain two links,
1. The first link requires confirmation of the direct debit arrangement. Please note that the link will expire within 7 days.
2. The second link provides a copy of the eDDRSA for your records.
While using the direct debit payment option is not compulsory, many families find it helpful in staying up to date with their financial obligations.
For any questions or further assistance, please contact our Finance Office.
