Welcome to Week 2 of Term 3. Students returned excited to see their friends and to continue their learning. Covid and various illnesses are still an issue in the school community. Please remember to follow the COVID protocols below:

Household contacts will not have to quarantine if they have no COVID-19 symptoms but will need to comply with the following requirements for seven days from the time the first person in their household tests positive for COVID‑19:

• Wear a face mask in all indoor spaces when outside of the home, if aged 12 years  and over.
• Students study from home, where it is practical to do so
• Parents/Carers notify the school of their child being a household contact
• If it is not practical to study from home, students must undertake COVID-19 testing and return a negative result in the 24 hours prior to returning to school and then every 48 hours if ongoing attendance is required

We were privileged to have Sister Susan Miller as our presenter on our staff day to start the term. Sister Susan is a Presentation Sister and helped the staff to learn more about Nano Nagle and the Presentation Sisters and how this charism can be further incorporated into our school life. Our other charism is that of the Christian Brothers and the inspiration of Edmund Rice. Edmund and Nano had much in common - they were both Irish and came from rich families but felt the call to work with the poor. Sister Susan described Nano as feeling unsettled until she had accepted the challenge to change her life of privilege to one of working for the poor. In our modern world, this is worth considering our own personal challenges to follow our beliefs and to do what may be hard but is the right thing for us and others.

It is with regret that I announce the resignation of Mrs Sharon Hibbert from the end of this year. Mrs Hibbert is a strong and strategic leader and an outstanding teacher, she has been instrumental in consolidating a very strong culture of teaching and learning at Hennessy. Sharon is highly respected by the students, staff, and families of our community and I wish her all the best as she moves to a new position in 2023

This term we welcome Ms Shelby Inwood to our staff. Ms Inwood will be working in the Front Office. We are very fortunate to have someone with her experience and skills to be joining our Hennessy community.

It is heartening to see so many parents and students take advantage of the Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences held today. If you have been unable to attend please contact the Front office to organise a time.

Year 11 began their leadership process on Tuesday with a presentation led by Mrs Wright. We are very proud of all our Year 11 students and are looking forward to hearing their individual leadership visions for Hennessy as we work towards a new leadership team for 2023.

Catholic Education has once again allocated two extra pupil-free days for this term. Hennessy will have pupil-free days on Friday, August 19 and Friday, September 23.

Please keep Year 12 in your prayers as they prepare for their Trial Exams.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries or concerns.

Kathy Holding 

Principal 

Welcome back to Term 3!

Subject Selections Update

Stage 5

These are now complete and class lists will appear early next week on Compass. Students may request to change classes; 

• if they had originally picked a subject then I will make the change. 
• If they had not originally picked it, then they will be given a permission slip to complete and return. 
• If no vacancy exists they can be placed on a waitlist 

I have been incredibly impressed with all of the students so far - well done Year 8 and 9. 

Year 11

Subject Selections are underway and we had an incredibly successful Information Evening with over 120 parents and students in attendance. I have posted a copy of the presentation and a link to a recording about how to select on Compass. A reminder, selections close  by 4pm Wednesday August 3rd. 

Once selection closes, the lines will be constructed based on student selections. 

Trial Examinations

These are in Week 4 and 5 this term and all exams are on Compass. A reminder that students need to be familiar with protocols and processes in case of Illness/Misadventure - but the very first thing if a student will miss an exam is to contact me. Rescheduled exams will appear on Compass. 

The Year 11 End of Course examinations will take place between Thursday 15th-Thursday 22nd September. The exam timetable will be constructed in the coming weeks. 

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

On Thursday 28 July we conducted our Semester 2 Parent-Student-Teacher conferences online. Teleconferences ran smoothly for the most part but technical gremlins affected audio or video links in a few cases. It seems a long time ago since we last were able to host face-to-face interviews. The uptake of conference sessions indicates that Hennessy families are dynamically engaged in learning. We are grateful for your ongoing partnership with the College and your dedication to your child’s education.

                                               

SHARON HIBBERT                                                  IAN MERGARD 

Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning       Director of Studies

We have had a great start to the term and have enjoyed seeing the students well rested after a well deserved break. We are now moving into the final weeks of Year 12 as they begin preparing for their trial exams and I wish them the best of luck.

This week I was able to lead the Year 11 Leadership Session. In particular we looked at the themes of Servant Leadership, what the cohort would like their legacy to be at Hennessy and the leadership process of the College. Students engaged in meaningful discussions around what the difference between character and skill were. At Hennessy we are so proud of the diverse group of students that we have and all the different strengths that they have. We take seriously our role in assisting students in developing their skills in leadership that include public speaking, time management, organising and running events and meetings. Our fantastic group of Year 11’s took up the challenge and demonstrated strong leadership skills in so many facets of the session. Nominations are now open for the Year 11 students to either nominate themselves or their peers. In the coming weeks, students will submit formal applications, speak to the school at assembly and the school will vote on the leaders. I encourage all Year 11 students and their families to discuss the opportunity that leadership presents at our College and the favourable view that employers and universities have of students who respond to this call.

I had the pleasure of reading most of the students' Semester 1 report cards and was pleased with how all students have taken the opportunities provided at the College. In light of this we are trialling a rewards program with the Year 9 students, that if successful, will roll out to the rest of the College. Year 9 students are given the opportunity to meet or exceed the College expectations of behaviour and academic participation. In Week 5 and again in Week 10, students who have been identified as meeting these expectations will have a group-determined reward. We look forward to working with the students with this initiative of highlighting and rewarding positive behaviour.

This week we welcomed Nathan Galea from the Catholic Education Office in Canberra Goulburn to our Year 10 Religion classes to launch with us the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) at Hennessy. Students who have elected to be a part of the program will meet once a fortnight during a lesson. The program will help students develop their leadership skills and their faith journey in different ways. We are looking forward to seeing the fruits of the Holy Spirit with this program. 

A reminder that the College has moved to online consent for all events, please check the Compass app for events, incursions and activities and do not hesitate to contact the school if you are having any issues.

Mary Wright
Assistant Principal Mission & Ministry

Year 10 students have had the opportunity to join in with Year 11 Science classes to help them with their subject selections for next year. In Biology, the Year 10s joined in with the senior class to have a revision lesson on body systems while witnessing a piglet dissection to see some of these systems first-hand.

Years 9/10 welcomed the return of the 9 poddy lambs this term.

They made a hay feeder for the lambs and will be studying prime lamb production. Other students have made a shelter for the lambs prior to the rain. 

The Ag plot is seeking donations of hay, oats, wheat, lamb pellets and grain feeder for the lambs. These valuable donations will be used to care for the lambs and chooks.

The Ag department have some Isa brown pullets for sale for $25 each. contact maryann.schiller@cg.catholic.edu.au should you wish to purchase some. 

9/10 Ag Students checking and analysing the lambs teeth and heath. The 9 lambs  are being care for by the class. 

Year 8 Tech students have been busy tending to the garden beds, adding paper to feed the worms prior to planting vegetables. 

The U13's and U15's boys Rugby League teams travelled to Cootamundra today to participate in the NSW Country Cup State Semi Finals. 

Teams that participate at this level are in the top 7 in NSW. 

The U13's were gallant in defeat in both their games. 

U15's suffered a loss in their first game but came home with a win in the second 12-4. This places them in the top 5 teams in NSW.

Both teams were a credit to the College and community.

Shoutout to the "Hennessy Helpers" Jasmine Sullivan, James Payne, Esnia Brits and Christine Garlick who assisted in setting up for Dancing with the Stars. Your hard work was very much appreciated!