Filter Content
Welcome to Week 8. This week Harmony Week is celebrated across Australia. This year Jannat Bakri, from our Student Leadership Team, ensured that this year was a particularly memorable one. Students were involved in an art competition, canteen specials and an interfaith prayer service today. The interfaith prayer service is a first for Hennessy and our special guests were Miss Mariam Albaf and Fr Jiss. At this service we prayed for tolerance and understanding of other faiths. Miss Doherty organised a refugee tent to be part of the prayer space, and students were encouraged to donate to Caritas to buy a tent for a refugee community. Thank you to Jannat and Miss Doherty for their work in organising this special event - a great example of ‘inspiring futures of hope’.
Students have been very busy both in and out of the classroom as Term 1 draws to a close. Many students are working hard on assessment tasks and I would encourage students to always seek help if needed and to act on teacher feedback to improve their work.
Our Hospitality students and Miss Worner were particularly busy on Tuesday when they catered for an awards morning tea for special award recipients from 2020, our sponsors and their families. They also assisted with the Gallagher Dine and Donate on Tuesday evening. Thank you for your support and hard work.
Hennessy has strong connections with the surrounding schools and is keen to help out wherever possible. This week Hennessy students have assisted with the St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Cross Country days.
Last night the annual Jordan McLean Cup was held. Hennessy students once again displayed both their skills and sportsmanship. Hennessy was once again victorious in retaining the Cup. This is our fourth consecutive year!
Please do not hesitate to contact me by email (kathy.holding@cg.catholic.edu.au) if you have any concerns or queries.
NAPLAN PRACTICE TESTS
Next Monday 22 March, Years 7 and 9 will be undertaking the NAPLAN Practice tests. All students need to ensure they have the Lockdown browser installed – please use the following link: https://www.assessform.edu.au/layouts/Technology/LockedDownBrowser.aspx
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
This year we will be undertaking a hybrid model for our conferences which will be held on Thursday, 25th March.
Year 12 will remain in normal classes but classes for Years 7-11 will be cancelled though supervision is available in the library.
The format will be as follows:
- 8am-1pm – Interviews will be in person at the College in E block. Please register in the Hospitality room.
- 1pm-2pm – all Staff break (no interviews)
- 2pm-6pm – Interviews will be held remotely using ZOOM. ZOOM codes will be available via Compass and student House Pages on Wednesday 24th
Booking for all interviews will be as usual via https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/ and the click ‘Make a Booking’. The booking code is rpxrp
ATTENDANCE
Regular student attendance is a key to success so that students maximise the learning opportunities in each class with the help from their teacher. Attendance in Year 11 and 12 needs to be regular and when students are absent they need to ensure they check in with their Google classroom page for subjects missed that day.
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning Director of StudiesSHARON HIBBERT ANDREW FOURACRE
As one of the 5 core elements of the College’s Wellbeing Framework –Student Voice, the College continues to seek avenues to strengthen their leadership skills. Next Friday year 11 students along with Mrs Holding and Mrs Hibbert will attend the She Leads conference in Canberra. The She Leads College Conference is a one-day leadership event that gives female students in years 11 and 12 the opportunity to formulate skills in leadership, develop their leadership identities, and reflect upon the varying challenges faced by a diverse range of young women in attaining leadership roles.
Next week Mr Igo-Taylor will be leading the Year 9 boys in a day that will focus on “ Leadership and Respectful Relationship”. The day will challenge our boys to reflect on what it is to be a young leader in an ever changing world. It will also focus on respect and challenge the ideas of its “boys being boys, it some tomfoolery or it the way its always being.” The boys will also be physically challenged with some training and a cardio work out.
Another opportunity for students and staff that will occur early in term 2 is the Choizes Program that will be offered to years 8 and 10. This year there will also be a parent evening which will also be part of the Community Councils open forum. More details to follow.
Congratulations to Gallagher House in particular its Vice Captain Eliza Butts who hosted the first dine and donate for the year. Mr Miller has included a report.
Some reminders if students are unable to wear footwear for whatever reasons slides and thongs are not acceptable footwear. Students who attend school in this footwear will be removed from the playground for breaks 1,2 and 3.
As always if you have any concerns please contact your child’s Pastoral Care Teacher, House Leader or any member of the College Wellbeing Team.
On 18 March, we celebrated our very first Multifaith Assembly at Hennessy College. This event was held to mark the occasion of Harmony Week, which is celebrated in Australia during March each year.
Organised by Jannat Bakri, one of our senior leaders, and with support from some of the teaching staff, the Assembly brought together the entire college and visiting representatives Miss Mariam AlBaf from the Muslim Community and Fr Jiss Sunny from the Catholic Christian Community.
The event began with a Welcome to Country from Nikita Bell, a Year 9 student who both acknowledged the land of her traditional elders and spoke in Wiradjuri language.
Ms Beth Doherty, Religious Education Leader spoke about interfaith harmony, speaking about Pope Francis’ recent visit to Iraq and his meeting with the Grand Ayatollah during that trip. She also referenced “Nostra Aetate”, the Vatican II document on relations with other faiths.
Four giant Project Compassion boxes decorated the stage, and donations were collected for Caritas’ annual fundraiser. Today, donations were specifically targeted toward raising money for a Refugee Tent and Beds for a family in Bangladesh. We also had a tent installation as part of our prayer space, to remind everyone that we are a country made by immigration, and to reference the refugee experience and the need for more tolerance in our nation.
Chelsea House (Year 11), Imogen Noakes (Year 12) and Elisabeth Hall (Year 9) read a multifaith slam poem called “We sing our song/Everyone belongs” which is included below.
Miss Mariam AlBaf read from the Holy Qu’ran, and spoke about growing up as a proud Muslim in Australia. It was her first time presenting at a multifaith gathering, and she confessed to being more likely most days to be talking about Shakespeare as a professional English teacher than talking of her faith. Her presence was greatly appreciated by the community.
Fr Jiss Sunny, the parish priest of St Mary’s and the Young Mission read an interfaith blessing and expressed his appreciation for the wonderful students and teachers we have at Hennessy.
Mrs Kathy Holding, Principal of Hennessy College thanked everyone for their participation, and reminded everyone of this year’s theme “Inspiring futures of hope” as she paid tribute to our guests and the way our students are living out this message every day.
Finally, we ended with a musical piece “Freedom is coming” sung by Ashley Langford (Year 8), Elizabeth Reeves (Year 8), Trysta Willoughby (Year 11), Ms Beth Doherty and Mr Damien Foley, and accompanied on cajon by Lily Payne.
We thank all of our staff and students for their participation in this unique event. In some small way, through events such as this, we can proclaim as a Catholic College our welcome to people of all faiths and none.
While we might have different names for God, different ways of worship and different customs, but we are all part of one big human family, which is joined together by a common thread of love.
We have all come from love, and to love we shall return.
We sing our song/Everyone belongs
A multifaith slam poem
By Ms Beth Doherty
We sing a song
A song that has been
Whispered in hushed, musical tones
In burning bushes
Proclaimed from thrones
Or in the still, small voice of our hearts.
Through the ages
With many stages
Turning pages
Of holy books
Sacred writings
Words of God, the creator
Words of
fighting
Learning,
righting wrongs
Learning how to
Sing our songs.
You teach us how to live,
Creator, spirit, maker of all things.
How to give,
How to forgive
And speak of the good and the bad and
the wild, wild life that is ours alone
Each of us called to be one.
Yet living in harmony
Is not so easy
It is more than please and thank you
It is more than recognition
It has been written
That real acceptance is being willing to sacrifice
Your life for others
It’s where everyone
Is your mother
Your brother
Your sister
We are all attending this party
All invited
All of us have a place
A handwritten invitation into the space
We want your face
Whether it be black, white, brown or blue
You, and you and you
You are important
Created
Loved
Breathed into being
By a God of love
We all may have different
Images of God
Or understandings
Of where she/he trod
But in order to live in harmony
We must listen
And whether we’ve been christened
Or welcomed in the name of creator
Or given a name, prayed into
A newborn’s ear
We are all here
Together
One
But many
Tasmin Sommer is a Year 7 Gallagher student at Hennessy who has recently committed to doing something positive to raise awareness for young people who have been impacted by childhood cancer. Tasmin made the choice to grow her hair to raise both funds for the cancer Foundation but also to donate her hair so it can be used to make a wig for someone undergoing cancer treatment, The hair will be sent away to ‘Wigs for Kids’. Tasmin set a goal of $500 and has surpassed that total by reaching $700. She plans to have at least a 20cm length of hair chopped off this Friday 19 March. Tasmin is to be congratulated on this very mature initiative and as she says “together we can all make a difference.” In this year where Hennessy is focusing on “Inspiring Futures of Hope” we thank Tasmin for doing her bit to inspire us.
If you would like to support Tasmin through a donation please visit the link below:
https://fundraise.kidswithcancer.org.au/fundraisers/tasminsommer/wigs-4-kids
Mr Luke Miller
Gallagher House Leader
8.4 A very productive team in the greenhouse. Completing propagation cuttings of salvia, and succulents. Selecting and planting seeds for future planting. The students have been very successful with establishing their vegetable garden beds, and will be harvesting the lettuce to use in their hamburgers.
7.4 Assessed and analysed the hens, after learning how to identify key features of a laying hen. The students put it to practice to determine which hens are laying or not. The Isa Brown female chickens, the students have monitored and evaluated over the term To purchase the chickens please contact Mrs Schiller at the College. maryann.schiller@cg.catholic.edu.au The chickens are to be collected prior to 30th March.
On Tuesday 16 March members of Gallagher House gathered for the first Dine and Donate evening of 2021. This was an opportunity for Gallagher House to demonstrate how we can come together as a community of staff, students and families. Dine and Donate is an event which aims to raise funds and also prepare and donate vital meals to the less fortunate in the Hilltop’s community. The initiative consists of students coming to school with family members and preparing meals. The students and their families then sit and enjoy a meal with the other students, families and staff. The remaining meals are then packed and sealed and donated to local charities to be given to those less fortunate.
We were fortunate to have a good turn out on the night with a total of 30 guests taking part in the preparation and sharing of the meal. It was great to see our students, family members and staff working side by side to produce a lovely meal of Daniah meatballs. Once dinner was complete we were able to package a total of 40 meals which will be distributed by St Mary’s Parish to people within our local community who are needing assistance. We also raised $130 which will go towards Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion for 2021.
Our thanks goes towards everyone who supported this fantastic initiative. The evening would not be possible if it was not for the excellent organisation of the evening from Ms Meg Worner and her wonderful team of student helpers.
Mr Luke Miller
Gallagher House Leader
Hennessy College sucessfully defended the Jordan McLean Cup last night. Hennessy fielded 4 teams U13s, U15s, Girls League Tag and Opens.
Hennessy managed 3 very convincing wins to retain the title. Congratulations to all our players, your athletisism and sportsmanship is admirable.
CASE MANAGER REQUIRED
We require a case manager to work approximately three days per week helping vulnerable women achieve their goals. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a start- up facility supporting women who have exited rehabilitation centres and are getting ready to get back into society as fully productive members. Experience and qualifications in the areas of mood disorders, addiction and trauma essential.
Contract rate: Negotiable subject to qualifications and experience – contract role
Please email resume to kate.cleary@galongfarm.org
For more information on the Farm visit www.thefarmingalong.com.au
Enquiries 0404 112 428
The Farm in Galong is a Therapeutic Community situated in country NSW
HOUSE CARE SUPERVISOR REQUIRED
The Farm in Galong, a residential facility for vulnerable women and children, is seeking a house care supervisor to oversee the housekeeping of the facility and transfer cooking, cleaning and budgeting skills to clients. This is a contract role for 15 hours per week and pay is approximately $32 per hour.
Please email resume to kate.cleary@galongfarm.org
For more information on the Farm visit www.thefarmingalong.com.au
Enquiries 0404 112 428