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“We are not islands, we are in the world to live in God’s image: open, in need of others and in need of helping others.”
These words were said by Pope Francis on June 12 this year and it embodies the spirit of Hennessy, especially over the past few weeks when we have been challenged. Helping others is one of the most fundamental Catholic values and staff have pitched in and gone above and beyond; students have willingly worked with combined classes and there has been a sense of charity throughout the College. These are difficult times for schools but Hennessy continues to be a welcoming place where the dignity of every individual is respected and supported. And for that, I thank you all.
The end of term seems like it should be a time to wind down from a long winter block. It’s never been my favourite as the days get shorter and colder. But it’s certainly been extremely busy. Over the past two weeks, we have:
- Welcomed the Mary Quinnane Choir Festival to our College - and congratulations go to West Wyalong for taking out First Place
- Hosted a Chess tournament against St Mary’s
- Had the Community Council host a movie night fundraiser at Southern Cross Cinema
- Students competing in the Inter-Diocesan Soccer and Riverina Country Cup competitions
- Year 12 students taking part in the QANTAS Business Studies Lecture
- Welcomed local State member Steph Cooke who met with our Year 12 leaders and to discuss her leadership journey
- Hosted a session from our Careers Advisor Mrs Parkman for Year 10 about Year 11 options
- Finally had Variety Night after 2 years!
This cannot happen without the amazing work of our staff and their support of these ventures both organising them, but also the staff who stay behind to take classes. It truly does ‘take a village’. So it has been a very busy term with the added challenges of staff shortages at times but the students are to be thanked for their flexibility and the staff for their hard work in keeping all classes on track. Unfortunately, this is a widespread issue for schools but Hennessy will continue to work to our very best to ensure that quality learning continues in every class.
A reminder our first day for students is Tuesday 19th July (Day 2) as Monday is the Staff Spirituality Day. I wish every family a safe and restful break. Mrs Holding will be back at the start of Term 3.
Mrs Sharon Hibbert
Acting Principal
FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Year 12
Congratulations to Year 12 who have mostly finished their assessments apart from the Trials and some major works which are due in Term 3. It’s a huge task and they have handled it well.
The Trial HSC Timetable is now final - these will be in Weeks 4 and 5 of Term 3. Students will only be required to be at school for their examinations but may access the library at other times.
Over the holidays students should be using time to study for the exams. The best type of study is to practice past paper questions as this helps develop written skills which is essentially what the exams are testing. Just reading over notes and making study notes are useful to consolidate knowledge but are not effective unless they lead to practicing the application of that knowledge. ATOMI is also useful and a great starting point to revise content. Past papers are available on the NESA website along with criterias, some sample answers and marker feedback. Most students will have access to other papers as well from their class teachers.
Free ATAR Lectures are on in the July holidays - information has been posted to your Yr 12 classroom page and students should consider taking advantage of these free sessions to assist them with Trial preparation. So while they should rest, it’s not the time to ‘down tools’ - it’s the time to ramp up the study habits.
Subject Selections Year 11 2023
Subject Selections for Year 11 2023 will take place in week 2 of Term 3. There will be a Parent Information Session on Tuesday 26th July and selections will open after this. During Period 5 a subject market will take place in the Hall and students will have time to talk to current Yr 11 students about their subjects. A letter and the Subject Handbook is available on Compass and the Google classroom House pages. The booklet is also available via the College website.
Selections will open the following morning and close by 4pm Tuesday August 2nd. Students should also use the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences in Week 2 to discuss choices.
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
SAVE THE DATE
Year 7-11 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences are in Week 2 Term 3
When: Thursday 28th July from 8am-6pm (Year 12 students have normal classes that day and are not expected to make interview bookings). More details to come.
Reports
Semester 1 Reports for Year 7-10 will be published on Friday 1 July. Parents will be able to download their child’s reports via the parent portal on Compass. Report grades follow NESA’s Common Grade Scale:
- A: The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
- B: The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
- C: The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
- D: The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
- E: The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.
SHARON HIBBERT IAN MERGARD
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning Director of Studies
It has been a pleasure to see the wonderful work of the students at Hennessy in reading their reports over the past weeks. Hennessy students certainly distinguish themselves with not just a dedication to their academic achievements, but also through their involvement in the life of the College. There have been a plethora of initiatives that students have been able to participate in from sporting, to spiritual, volunteer work and lunchtime clubs. It has been so pleasing to see the way the students have taken up these opportunities and pushed themselves outside of their comfort zone.
The first day of next term will be a pupil free day as staff have a scheduled Staff Spirituality Day. We will welcome Sr Susan Miller from the Presentation Sisters to guide us in the history and challenge of being a school with a Presentation Charism. Spirituality Days are integral to staff and school development as they connect us to our meaning and purpose as educators in the Catholic system.
The College will celebrate NAIDOC Day on Thursday of Week 1. Thank you to Mr Igoe-Taylor who has organised a smoking ceremony, indigenous games and cultural conversations for the school throughout the day.
From next term Hennessy Catholic College will be using the Compass platform to obtain parent consent for school excursions, events and activities. Parents will still receive hard copies of notes from the College, however all school consent will be provided through the Compass App.
Please note: No payment will be accepted through the Compass App. Payment will only be accepted through the Front Office by cash or card or through the QKR payment method.
To provide consent for your child to attend activities, you will receive a notification on your Compass App. Navigate to the child you have received notification for.
Below are instructions as to how to provide consent for your child. Navigate to the Compass App on your device. In the upper right hand area a green box will notify you as to the Event Consent Required.
Click on the blue writing “Click here for more information”. This will take you to the events page for your student. Any events that your student requires consent for will appear.
The details of the event are provided under your student image along with the option “Awaiting consent”. Please note, although the Compass cost may indicate $0.00 there may be an associated cost as described on the permission letter. Click on Awaiting consent
This will take you to the event details and consent page.The permission note will be available here digitally as well as the ability for you to enter your child’s medicare card and other important information pertaining to the event. An example of this is provided below.
The student will now have consent to attend the event and this will appear on their Compass schedule. If payment is required please pay the front office by cash or card or via QKR.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Yet another term has come to an end and Nagle students continue to live our motto ‘Not Words but Deeds’. It has been pleasing to see the way they have taken on challenges and push themselves outside their comfort zones. Highlights for the Semester include winning both the Swimming and Athletics Carnivals. This was through students having a go resulting in high participation levels. I encourage all Nagle students to make the most of the opportunities that are on offer at the College.
At our most recent Nagle House meeting the following student received Awards:
House Awards
Year 7: Azalea Sullivan, Hugo Davidson, Sienna Dwyer and Archie Quinn
Year 8: Dominic Cusack, Brianna Caldwell, Mia Davidson
Year 9: Sophie Barnes, Lizzy Reeves, Reagan Griffin,
Year 10: Zarlie Quinn, Indy Bedford, Jasmine Sullivan, Benny Knapman, Camden Cummins
Year 11: Jasmine Chesworth and Sophie Maloney
Year 12: Madeline Wegmann, Campbell Cummins, Nikki Gale
Bronze Award
Eliza Taylor
Free Circus and Celebration of Family Event
The World Meeting of Families is an event that, like World Youth Day, is celebrated every three years in a different city in the world. This year the main event was held in Rome, but Pope Francis asked that this year every diocese in the world host events which bring families together for their encouragement and edification.
Sunday 10th July, 2pm-4pm
Sacred Heart Central School, Morris St, Cootamundra.
Sausage sizzle, popcorn & fairy floss are available for sale.
Cost: FREE. Seats limited. Register at https://bit.ly/WMF_FREECIRCUS
More information click below
or contact lara.kirk@cg.org.au 0429 192 869
If you are interested please contact Mrs Nowlan emily.nowlan@cg.catholic.edu.au
Notes will be going home to interested students in week 1 next term.
Why a Vinnies School Sleepout?
There are more than 116,000 Australians experiencing homelessness every night. More than 43,500 of these are young people aged 25 years and younger. This is a staggering number that continues to rise due to the increasing cost of living, the lack of affordable housing options, the increase in mental health issues, and most significantly, the impact of domestic and family violence facing our communities.
A School Sleepout allows Hennessy students and school communities to connect on a personal level with the issue of homelessness by sleeping out for one night.
Through “sleeping rough” for one night during winter, the School Sleepout initiative hopes to
give students a tangible experience of what it would be like to experience homelessness.
It also aims to bring awareness about the realities facing those members of our community with no place to call home.
Year 9/10 FoodTech concluded their term's unit, Food For Special Occasions, with a High Tea in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - Their teacher, Mrs Duff might just be an avid Royalist!
The students cooked and presented a variety of sweet and savoury treats such as the traditional scones with cream and jam, lime tarts, chocolate mousse cups, Victoria Sponge, cucumber sandwiches,smoked salmon rolls, vol au vant and asparagus and cheese galettes.
C4 could have been London's Ritz Hotel as staff and students enjoyed all these amazing treats, just like a traditional English High Tea.
Mrs Moncrieff was wonderful behind the scenes with her planning and preparation which allowed the morning to run so smoothly.
Hennessy College had 3 teams participate in the Riverina Country Cup Finals in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday. All 3 teams played exceptionally well with both the Under 13s and 15s winning their respective divisions. Our depleted Opens side was narrowly defeated by a very skillful Kooringal High in the finals.
The 13s and 15s will now progress through to the Country Cup State Semi’s to be held in Cootamundra on Thursday 28th of July.
Congratulations boys on an outstanding effort, good luck in the next round.
Agriculture students have been out and about the past few weeks visiting YLAD and being very excited to help Agriculture Carbon Trading for the future.
Who knew so much chemistry in soil science.
