Welcome to Week 4! In our last newsletter we were in the midst of school registration. I am pleased to report that we passed with flying colours. The Panel were very impressed with many aspects of the College, including the friendliness, manners and behaviour of our students. They were also impressed with the quality of our teaching and learning and pastoral care. When I receive the final report I will share the feedback in more detail.

Our annual Athletics Carnival was held on Monday. The day was a huge success and student participation was very high. Students competed seriously and did their best to earn points for their team. The leading House changed throughout the day but the eventual winner was Rice. I am told this is the first win for Rice in at least ten years! The house Leader, Mr Igoe-taylor and Rice students were most excited. A big thank you to Mr Brendan Croese and his team for making the day such a well-organised event and such a success.

Naplan testing is currently underway for Year 7 and 9. Students are to be congratulated for their attitude and behaviour in this process. Mr Andrew Fouracre and Mr Andrew Robinson are doing an outstanding job behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Last Week Mr Luke Miller and a small group of teachers took Year 12 students to Wagga. This excursion was an alternative to their Sydney trip cancelled last term and whilst Wagga may not be ‘quite the same’ as Sydney I know students valued this time to be together as a group. Thank you Mr Miller for your work in putting this program together.

Just a friendly reminder that all students are now expected to be in their full winter uniform. We frequently receive compliments on Hennessy students and our uniform is a proud part of our culture.

If you have driven past the school on the Dundas Street side you will see the extensions to the Music Room are underway. Both students and staff are eagerly awaiting its completion.

Please do not hesitate to contact me by email (kathy.holding@cg.catholic.edu.au) if you have any concerns or queries.

Kathy Holding

NAPLAN

Thank you to the students in Years 7 and 9 for their cooperation during NAPLAN. Catch up exams are next week. However this will only on Wednesday and Thursday and an event will be on Compass.  

YEAR 12 PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEWS

These will be held via ZOOM on Wednesday 2^nd June from 4.00-7.00pm. Meetings will be 8 minutes long. This is the last opportunity for parents and students to discuss their progress prior to the final two assessment events before the HSC examinations.

Booking can be made via www.schoolinterviews.com.au

The code for the meetings is: qjxmt

Bookings will be open from 4pm Thursday 13 May and close 4pm Tuesday 1 June.

Teacher ZOOM codes will be available via the Year 12 Google classroom page on the day of the interviews and posted to Compass.

STAGE 5 SUBJECT SELECTIONS

Subject selections for electives will commence in Week 6 where we will be meeting with Year 8 students. Over weeks 6 and 7, KLA leaders will be visiting Year 8 classes to discuss various electives on offer. As Year 9 are already in Electives they will be advised to look at the booklet and talk to KLA Leaders/class teachers if they have questions about different electives. Selections will open Monday 7^th June during Periods 1 and 2 and close Thursday 10^th June at 3.10pm.

The subject selection booklet will be available on all House pages, the Hennessy Student drive and the College website.

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning                                       Director of StudiesSHARON HIBBERT                                                                                 ANDREW FOURACRE 

Every fortnight the students participated in their Student Wellbeing Sessions (SWS). As a College we are reviewing SWS and are looking to see how we can best target students’ needs, whilst empowering  staff and engaging parents in the process.  As was the case with the MyChoizes parent evening were ever possible we will in the future look to include all members of the College community in the implementation of the SWS. We are hoping to address cyber safety in semester 2.

Last week Year 12 attended their excursion to Wagga. Thank you to all the staff that attended and a special thank you to Mr Millar and Mrs Parkman for organising the excursion. SWS

Unfortunately, due to timing and the ever changing Covid 19 situation  we have been unable to lock in an immersion this year. We are hoping to lock in an immersion next year to the Northern Territory.  

As always if you have any concerns please contact your child’s PC teacher or any member of the College’s Wellbeing Team

Last Wednesday 41 Year 12 students and 5 staff headed off to the Wagga region for a 3-day excursion encompassing a variety of team building and career-based activities. The excursion was a Plan B event given that the usual week long trip to Sydney was cancelled due to COVID-19 risks.

The students embraced the chance to get away, relax and spend some time together in their final year of school and are to be complimented on their overall behavior, respectfulness, and enthusiasm. Here is a report on the trip…

Day 1

We arrived at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory to load up with plenty of sugar for the day ahead. The students also learned about the business from employee, Reanna, who spoke about marketing, sales, sourcing raw ingredients during COVID, supply chains, niche markets and more.

With a packed lunch ready to go, the team headed to the Wagga Tourist Information Centre to meet Uncle James Ingram, a Wiradjuri elder, who took us on a cultural tour of the Murrumbidgee River and Wollundry Lagoon. The weather was perfect for the informative walk, taking in the history of the Aboriginal peoples who once lived along the banks, fishing and weaving baskets as well as looking closely at the murals and art work that commemorate their presence.

   

 In the afternoon we divided into groups to tour the local TAFE Campuses and hear about the courses on offer. At the Macleay St Campus Group 1 got to see some amazing facilities in hair and beauty, childcare, construction, plumbing, commercial cookery as well as learning about diplomas, certificates, and different entry requirements.

Group 2 headed to the TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre (PIC) to explore agricultural courses including heavy diesel mechanics, wool classing, horticulture, and animal studies.

After a long day of learning it was time for a bit of fun and relaxation at the Wagga Ten Pin bowling alley – students got to test their skills and talents and styles, but it must be said that the side gutters saw plenty of action and there may be a few dents in the floor! Winner on the day was Rebecca Cook.

We could not go to Wagga without a team photo at dusk along the banks of the famous Murrumbidgee before then dining at the RSL and heading to our accommodation at Borambola just outside of Wagga.

Day 2 was at Borambola with our instructors, Jacq and Ollie and there we participated in a series of fun challenges and team building activities based around the TV show, Survivor. There was plenty of team work, head scratching, frustration and maybe a bit of cheating, as the teams battled it out over 2 hours, complete with their colour coded bandanas worn in various locations!

In the afternoon things got messy during the Borambola mud run with several students really surprising themselves by going ‘all out’ through the obstacle course. Mr Chifley’s staff team, named ‘Team Friendship’ were amongst the dirtiest  - and silliest!

After a hose off and shower, it was time for archery where a few arrows failed to make the target but a few more were very close to a bullseye. Apparently, the latest dress code for archery is an Oodie!

The Chain Reaction event saw teams try and replicate the Rube Goldberg method. There were some dismal domino fails and some impressive train track successes from our budding scientists and engineers!

In the evening, the stakes were high in the ‘Minute to Win It’ challenges with the staff in ‘Team Friendship’ off to an early lead only to fall away in the final challenges. The dress code for that event was also an oodie (or fish flaps if your name is Jono) and the winning team was – the Oodies!!!

On day 3 we packed our gear and headed to Charles Sturt Uni with a campus tour with Kristen and Michael, followed by lunch and two short lectures about study skills and early entry. It is encouraging to see so many students now keen to take up the opportunity to apply to Uni early and receive a possible offer in June!

Whilst most of the group were walking around CSU Wagga Campus, Imogen, Ailish and Kyle chose to head to the University of NSW Rural Medical School where they got to hear firsthand about rural medicine and entry opportunities. Professor Tara Mackenzie, Associate Dean of Rural Health in the Riverina, and Associate Professor Rashid Hashmi, the Director of Medical Education, took time out of their busy schedules to speak one on one with the students about securing a place at the Wagga Base Hospital training facility. We also heard from first year medical student, Charlotte Barker, who spoke about the UCAT exam and her experiences in her first year of medicine. After that, it was a visit to the Anatomy room where students used amazing technology to look at the body in depth and then a hands-on session at the Clinical Skills and Simulation Lab with Educator Michael Maw. What an amazing opportunity for these 3 students!

We express our sincere thanks to all those organizations, businesses and individuals who made time to meet with our Year 12 students and create a memorable and rewarding experience for all of them. The staff also had a great time being part of the fun and laughter.

Mrs Parkman

Careers Adviser

Congratulations to all the students, staff and helpers involved in our 2021 College Athletics Carnival. Participation in events was fantastic and the day was a huge success. Well done to the following students who demonstrated an outstanding level of participation throughout the day: Sam Graziani, Riley Powderly, BIlly Corcoran, Elisabeth Hall, Jasmine Sullivan, Stephanie Clark, Matilda Harrison, Chloe Laybutt, Cameron Woods, Amelia Chambers, Zara McAlister, Sasha Waugh, Mia Davidson, Macklay Brownlie, Eliza Taylor, Sophie Manchester, Sarah Miller, Regan Bannister, Lucy Eastwood & Jovan Croese.

There were 5 records broken on the day;

• 12 year girls Javelin - Zoe Bould 17.97

(previous record: Bridie Minehan - 17.21 -  2016)

• 17 years boys 400m - George Fuller 56.96

(previous record: Adam Robinson - 57.42 - 2014)

• 17 years boys Long Jump - Declan Laybutt 5.82

(previous record Dylan Roberts - 5.80 - 2016)

• 14 years girls 100m - Eliza Taylor 14.13

 (previous record Ashleigh Carroll - 14.23 - 2014)

• 14 years girls Long Jump - Eliza Taylor 4.31

(previous record Chloe Callaghan - 4.18 - 2008)

The final point score for the carnival was as follows:

RICE - 1018, NAGLE - 979, GALLAGHER - 922 & MCAULEY - 875.

Congratulations to RICE House who have demonstrated Hennessy’s 2021 theme of futures of hope and have shown that winning is possible! This is the first victory for Rice House in the Athletics Carnival, since they were known as Treacy in 2013.

Our 2021 Athletics Carnival Age Champions are as follows:

This term in Peer Support we have been focusing on Anti-Bullying. Year 7 students worked together in their Peer Support groups to create Anti-Bullying posters that have been put up around the school. Each group had a different approach to promoting Anti-Bullying and it was great to see students and their leaders working together.'

Next Friday 21^st May is Hennessy Day.  As such we are celebrating our founder of the College, we are also recognising its 11^th year as Hennessy Catholic College. With our celebrations we will be raising money for St Vincent de Paul’s winter appeal 2021. This year they are focusing on homelessness in our community, as some may know since covid has occurred we have seen an increase in the number of individuals and families struggling in our community. As well as, increased homelessness across Australia. Please watch the short clip to launch the 2021 Winter Appeal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btkJDI9TpDE 

Each day, there will be trivia that will help inform you about the harsh relatives of Homelessness in Australia. Which the students will have access to via Compass.  

Students have been asked to wear their PE clothes tofor Mass which will take place in Period 2 and then change into the day’s theme of pyjamas. There will be prizes for those who are best-dressed individual and best-dressed group. We are asking students for a gold coin donation which will be collected during Period 1 on the day which will go towards the St Vincent de Paul’s winter appeal. Additionally, there will be drink stalls, cakes, slices and lollies on sale during Breaks ½ where the money from these stalls will also go towards the appeal. Rice are running a range of activities in the breaks for students to participate in.  

Year 12 will be hosting activities in the afternoon as a Hennessy challenge where Pastoral Care classes will battle each other in round-robin-style activities for the ultimate winner. A win is 3 points, draw 2 points and loss 1 point. Therefore, there will be no Period 5.  

We wish all Pastoral Care classes the best of luck in the Hennessy games.  

This term the House Cup is in full swing, last term Nagle was declared the overall winners for the term. Each term the points start afresh however, they do tally up for the end of year overall House Cup champion.  

The current leader board for this term is:  

1^st – Nagle 222 points  

2^nd – McAuley 220 points  

3^rd – Gallagher 219 points  

4^th – Rice 200 points  

Additionally, we have three students who have moved to their Bronze level awards. Congratulations to Elisabeth Hall, Emily Pratt and Emily Dillon.  

Well done to all our recent House Awards winners in pictures below.  

Congratulations to all students for their engagement and participation in our College community.  

Last week multiple soccer teams travelled to Canberra to compete in the Arch Diocesan carnival.

Hennessy had some fantastic results with our senior boys team taking out their division.

Open girls and junior boys came second in their respective pools.

A massive congratulations to Charlotte Doldissen and Mitch Brown whom have been selected in the combined CG/Wagga Diocesan team to compete in Sydney for state selections later this month.