Welcome to 2021!

Our theme for this year is ‘Inspiring futures of hope’. This theme is very appropriate considering the unusual times we are living in. It is the fourth part of our Hennessy Vision Statement:

Live Spiritually

Learn Dynamically

Act Justly

… inspiring futures of hope

We are encouraging students to dig deeply into their own personal reservoir of hope. Each of us have a personal set of beliefs and values and it is these we can call on to get through difficult times and to help us to achieve our dreams.

This year we welcome 76 new Year 7 students, 16 new students to join our Year 11 cohort as well as students into Years 8, 9 and 10. We also welcome Miss Beth Doherty, our new Religious Education Coordinator, Mr Peter Igoe-Taylor, the new Rice House Leader, Mrs Maryann Schiller, in a teaching role and Mr Phil Mitchell returns from leave.

It was wonderful to be a part of the Year 7 Meet and Greet on Tuesday night. Parents were given information but more importantly a chance to meet teachers and other parents.

Students seem very happy and are enjoying their new classes. Many of them confided that they were ‘over’ the holidays and looking forward to returning to school to their friends and the routine.

Our Annual Improvement Plan for 2021 focuses on three areas:

Spirituality. Miss Doherty will be working closely with teachers and students to develop their spirituality and to provide opportunities for prayer and personal growth. Next week Year 11 will participate in their two day retreat at Galong Monastery

Learning Dynamically. Hennessy is very proud of the achievements and growth of its students but we can always do better. I have challenged staff and students to be on a quest for continuous improvement. Last week all staff participated in an introduction to Catalyst which is a new archdiocesan teaching and learning initiative. This initiative will run over three years and aims to challenge teachers to focus on teaching strategies which are strongly evidence based.

Wellbeing. This year, our new student award system begins. This system was trialled in Term 4 last year. Students receive individual awards for their achievements across the three areas of Living Spiritually, Learning Dynamically and Acting Justly and all points contribute to overall House points. A big thank you to Mrs Janice Dunk and Mrs Jess Mcinerney for developing this new program.

We will also be presenting our new Wellbeing Framework which complements our Teaching and Learning Framework to guide our work in providing for the wellbeing of all our students.

COVID guidelines continue this year and all students, staff and parents are reminded not to attend school if they have been to a hotspot as identified by NSW Health. If you are unsure about the guidelines please contact the school.

Our annual swimming carnival will be held next Friday, February 12. Parents are welcome to attend but will need to sign in and sit in a separate area from students based on COVID  advice.

I am really looking forward to a happy, productive and busy 2021. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email (kathy.holding@cg.catholic.edu.au) if you have any concerns or queries.

Kathy Holding

WELCOME BACK

It’s been wonderful to see all the students return this year and a huge welcome to all our new students. I am very thankful for the way students have been patient with any issues and being proactive in seeking assistance to solve them – we have had a few technical glitches! I am looking forward to a great year in 2021. 

I’d also like to welcome new staff for 2021 – Ms Doherty and Mr Igoe-Taylor and also we are delighted to have Mrs Schiller and Mr Mitchell back with us. Hennessy is very fortunate indeed. 

HSC RESULTS

Congratulations to the Class of 2020 who achieved excellent results overall. They had a very tough year and yet, considerable growth was seen across every subject for students. A special congratulations to College Dux Bridie Minehan who has just be awarded the Philippa Weeks Law Scholarship at ANU and Shannon O’Brien who was a recipient of a Ramsay Scholarship to study in Sydney. Other students have gained apprenticeships and employment and we continue to look forward to hearing what they do next.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM PARENT SUMMARIES

Each week parents should receive an email summary of announcements and tasks on each google classroom page. However you will need to have accepted an invitation that was sent when your child first joined google classroom at Hennessy – if you have not received this please contact your child’s House Leader to check your email details are correct. Once connected to one classroom page, you’ll be connected to them all.   

CHANGING SUBJECTS

Changing elective subjects will occur until the end Wednesday 17 February (some changes may take place for English and Maths courses during Term 1). 

Year 11 students undertaking either a SBAT or a TAFE course will need to stay in a full program of subjects until later this term so they have had time to sample all their subjects prior to discontinuing a subject. Students doing a full day away from school will be permitted to discontinue a subject earlier than those only doing partial days away.

COMMUNICATION

Please note that staff will attempt to respond to all communication within 1 working day of receiving it but are not expected to be answering emails out of reasonable working hours. A list of staff emails is available on the College website.

This year we will continue to focus on our learning agenda by working on our learning cycle and incorporating some different approaches. Staff have attended a one day professional development program to begin this process and will commence online training next term.

We look forward to another great year at Hennessy.

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning                              Director of Studies

SHARON HIBBERT                                                                        ANDREW FOURACRE 

Wellbeing@Hennessy

Hopefully the Christmas break was a time for you and your families to relax, reconnect and recharge batteries. As we approach 2021 we hope that the virus will soon be under control and as much as possible life return to normal. Let us take courage in the words of St Mary Mackillop “ Be calm and full of hope” 1873. As a College community we indeed are full of hope for 2021 and will remain calm with whatever 2021 throws at us.

It was great to see all the students return over the last week. Our new year 7’s with crisp uniforms and excited looks enjoyed the final day in their transition to high school on Friday. The rest of the students returned hopefully willing to learn and with a new zeal for learning throughout the upcoming year. As with the start of every new year we encourage students to approach with enthusiasm and in the knowledge that the staff are starting afresh and eager to engage in teaching and learning

Some reminders for students as they begin the new year: 

Phones can be a distraction for students as they engage in learning. With this in mind and being Covid friendly students are required to place their phones in pockets in every classroom at the start of each lesson. They will then collect them at the end of the lesson. On occasions students maybe directed by their classroom teacher to use their phones to support their learning otherwise they are to be placed in the phone pocket. 

If your child is absent they are required to bring a note to their PC teacher on their return to school. It is is a legal requirement for the College to be accountable for students. It is also aids the college’s ability to track and support student Wellbeing.

As I mentioned it was great to see students return in their correct uniform. Part of the presentation of students is their grooming. Boys need to be clean shaven, some have returned with their holiday growth still visible. Boys will have until next Monday to rectify the problem.  Hair that touches the collar needs to be tied up for both boys and girls.

Over the upcoming weeks the College will be hosting Community BBQ’s at Cootamundra, Boorowa, Harden and Grenfell. This is an important event that allows the College to touch base with our feeder schools and their communities. It is also an important part   of the K – 12 pathway that both our feeder schools and Hennessy are part of. 

Next week Year 11 will participate in their retreat. One of the goals of the retreat is to allow the year to bond together as they take on the role of being College leaders and role models for the rest of the student body. It will allow students also to get to know each other and learn the qualities and strengths of their peers. It will also be a time for those students who wish to stand for House Vice Captain to start formalising there applications as voting will occur in Week 3.

With the closure of international boarders we are not able to travel to Cambodia. The college is exploring other options within Australia. We will keep you updated

Road works are taking place in Dundas Street, and the drop off and pick up for buses has been transferred from Dundas Street to Caple Street. This requires students to gather in the under croft area of an afternoon and listen for their bus to be called.  To ensure the safety of our students we request that you do not use Dundas street for parking and pickup. Students must exit from the gate near E-block and use the pedestrian crossing at the top of Dundas Street. With the increase in traffic this is vital for the safety of all in our community

As always if you have any concerns please contact your child’s PC teacher first or any member of the Colleges Wellbeing Team.  We look forward to working with you this year

Mark Chifley

Assistant Principal Mission and Wellbeing

Year 7 & 8 Technology- Agriculture students are motivated and excited for the term.

In teams, the students will be completing a Sunflower challenge. A flower of Hope.  Discussing and finding resources as a team to make a successful sunflower garden bed. Great to see families becoming involved in delivering manure and straw for their child's project.  

A variety of Poultry Breeds will be soon arriving at the Ag plot. First to arrive is some show quality French Baran Hens.

Year 7 are very excited to meet the 20 Days old which are due to hatch soon, these will be Isa Brown Hens, which the students will monitor their growth and Behavioural patterns. 

If your family would like to support the growth of the Ag. Plot please contact Maryann Schiller at the college, maryann.schiller@cg.catholic.edu.au

Year 9/10 Art were thoroughly enjoying our first Art topic of clay where we will be hand building clay pots.