Welcome to Week 4. There continue to be many opportunities for all our students to pursue their interests, passions and talents. Monday’s athletics carnival was a great example of this. After a wet weekend, the sun shone on a near perfect day. Students enthusiastically competed in many events.  A big thanks must go to Mr Brendan Croese and his team of helpers for putting together such an enjoyable and well organised day. Thanks must also go to Mrs Natalie Turner and her helpers from the Community Council for organising the canteen and barbeque on the day.

Last week I had the absolute privilege of attending the Year 11 retreat at the Galong Monastery. The theme of this retreat was Salt and Light and was based on the gospel of Matthew:

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Students were involved in many activities and reflections led by Daniel Merza (from Sydney, author of ‘Get the Monkeys off your back”, Mrs Mary Wright, Mr Phil Mitchell, MrsTracey Cullen, Mr Luke Miller, Miss Jess Buchanan and Mr Rob Cullen.

A highlight of the two days was the walk up to the grotto and the night-time liturgy focusing on forgiveness. The students were a credit to the College. Thank you to Mrs Wright for organising such a meaningful and memorable experience and also thank you to all the teachers who supported her.

Tomorrow is Hennessy Day which is a day of fun but also an opportunity for mass and a reflection on the values and attributes of Monsignor Jerome Hennessy as our founder and how we might adopt lives of kindness and community service.

Today you will be sent an email outlining details of planned industrial action next Friday, May 27. Please keep an eye out in Compass or your emails for this letter.

Keep safe and Happy Hennessy Day!

On Friday we celebrate our Founders’ Day - Jerome Hennessy. Hennessy Catholic College named after the Reverend Monsignor Jerome Henessy who is remembered for being a tireless worker for the church. He was instrumental in the development of Sacred Heart Hospital, Mount St Joseph’s Old People's Home, Southern Cross Hall and schools. Today Hennessy Catholic College very much embodies the same spirit of which Jerome Hennesy was known for. Our connection to the wider community and school spirit is evident in all that we do, our participation in liturgies, masses and retreats ensure the continuation of our faith and the respect and dignity for which we treat each other with and ourselves is a testament to our College namesake. Thanks must be given to Mrs Jessica McInerney who has worked extremely hard alongside the House Leaders and PC Teachers to organise ways to celebrate the day to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul. 

Next week we will be visited by the Cyber Safety Project presenters. In the digital age it is so important that young people are able to ensure their own safety while they are online. Each of the year levels will hear a talk aimed at the results they submitted in a Cyber Safety survey. Teachers will also be hearing from the presenters in a staff development workshop in the afternoon and later that evening, in conjunction with the community council, the presenters have offered a discussion with parents. I encourage all parents to attend this very information session to work together in securing our young people’s online worlds.

The Year 12’s embark on their Year 12 Excursion to Sydney on Monday. The excursion is a fantastic opportunity for students to create memories as well as experience a hands on aspect to their learning. 

Last week I attended the annual year 11 retreat with the cohort. The retreat had been moved by a term due to Covid restrictions last term. The retreat was an incredible experience of fun, friendship and faith. The Year 11 cohort were responsible, respectful and willing to be vulnerable in a range of different settings. I was incredibly proud of the way the group bonded together and the positive and uplifting memories they created. A special thanks to the teachers who attended the retreat with me, Miss Buchanan, Mrs Cullen, Mr Mitchell, Mr Miller and Mrs Cullen. Some of the comments from retreat reflection included:

“It was good to get to know other people that I hadn’t really spoken to before in a mature environment. It was nice to not worry about being judged and the way that everyone was interacting without worrying about prior friendship groups and ideas of people.”

“Just thank you. I had people I wasn’t speaking to because of immature arguments that only got resolved because of this retreat. I really appreciate you for giving me a new perspective and PLEASE ensure the affirmations and forgiveness ceremony happens again next year”

“All in all, I enjoyed it a lot. I was surprised by this. The bus ride home was also more enjoyable, and I think that everyone had bonded a little bit, which made it easier to mesh together and interact on the way home.”

“It was amazing to see the way that people think about you and to think of all the unique ways you think about other people. To know that there are people you barely talk to that still notice things about you is amazing and eye-opening.”

FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Subject Selections Year 8 and 9

It’s that time again where we are coming up to subject selections for 2023. The first stage of this will be Year 8 and 9 choosing their electives. The following dates are for your information:

• Friday 3rd June - meeting with Yr 8 in PC to go over what will be happening
• 3rd-8th June - KLA Leaders will meet with students in Year 8 to go over elective choices; Year 9 students are encouraged to seek our teachers and KLA leaders if they have any questions
• Tuesday 7th June - Parent Information Evening at 6pm in E10.
• Wednesday 8th June - selections open for Years 8 and 9; students will be selecting during the day - they can reselect if they change their minds twice more until selections close.
• Wednesday 15th June - selections close at 3.10pm
• Friday 24th June - selection receipts due to the Front Office. 

The subject selection booklet will be available on EACH House Google classroom page, the College website and the Student Team Drive from Wednesday 1st June. 

If your child has any questions the following leaders are responsible for the subjects listed. Not every subject will run, but we do offer them all each year.

Subject Selections for Year 11 2023 will take place in week 2 of Term 3. 

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

SAVE THE DATE - Year 12 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

When: Thursday June 9

Time: 4-7pm via Microsoft Teams

Bookings can be made via Compass, commencing in Week 5. An announcement will be posted to Compass to remind you.

These interviews will provide an opportunity to gain some focussed advice after the reports are published ahead of the Term 2 tasks, HSC Trials exams and the HSC exams. Meetings will be 10 minutes in duration to allow for a more in-depth discussion.

Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning                                                      Director of Studies

SHARON HIBBERT                                                                                                 IAN MERGARD 

On Tuesday the combined Year 11 and 12 HSC Hospitality class invited students to attend a Morning Tea to demonstrate their culinary skills.  They prepared a range of hot and cold appetizers that needed to be a mix of sweet and savory and include a house-made sauce. Each kitchen brigade did extremely well and this service period went toward meeting the unit requirements of SITHCCC006 'Prepare appetisers and salads'.

10.3 Science class has been exploring the complexities of DNA.  This week they were tasked with extracting DNA from Bananas!

The college held its annual athletics carnival on Monday and was a tremendous success.  The enthusiasm and participation of students was fantastic.  Due to the slippery surface, High Jump is currently being held at the college and will conclude next week.  All athletics results will be posted in the next newsletter.

Year 12 modeling the process of examining ice cores to explore climatology.

These amazing students from Rice and Gallagher were the house award recipients for this week.  Congratulations everyone for your wonderful contribution to our Hennessy Community.