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Welcome to Week 6. I have been very busy this week doing final enrolment interviews before our Year 7 Orientation Days next week. It is a privilege to meet these new students and their parents and to get to know them better. Orientation Days are on September 2 and 3, and in Term 3 on November 6. If you know of any families who are looking to enrol at Hennessy, please encourage them to contact the front office to organise their enrolment.
Year 12 students continue to get their marks back for their recent trial exams. It is very important that they take on board any teacher feedback and carefully reflect on how they can continue to improve. Despite the distraction of early entry into universities, we encourage students to do their best so they can be proud of their achievements and growth.
Next Monday the new Executive Director, Mr David de Carvalho will visit Hennessy for the day. He will visit classrooms and meet with staff, students and community Council reps. As he is new in his role, this is a great opportunity for us to showcase our wonderful school and for him to understand some of the challenges of regional schools.
Students are reminded that the use of mobile phones at school is banned in Years 7 and 8 and restricted in Years 9 - 12. I would highly encourage families to monitor the use of phones and social media at home and to make their child’s bedroom a device-free zone.
Last week I had the honour of attending the Australian Catholic Education Conference. Mrs Natalie Turner also attended as a member of the Catholic School Parents Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (CSPACG). There were many excellent speakers, but the standout speaker for me was Dr Steve Constantino, who spoke about family engagement and challenged us all to consider how welcoming we are to families both new and old. He had a wonderful poem which he had written:
The past two weeks have been nothing short of extraordinary at Hennessy. We witnessed the thrilling conclusion of the Soccer World Cup, with our Year 12s snatching victory from the Year 11s in a nail-biting final. Congratulations to all who took part, and a special thank you to Zabir Alam and the Student Leadership Team for their organisation and enthusiasm in bringing this event to life.
No sooner had the final whistle blown, than the action turned to the courts with the launch of the HENS Cup – netball at its finest! Each year level has taken to the challenge with passion, and already there have been both tears and celebrations. At this stage, it truly is anyone’s game. We thank Mackenzie Gale and the Student Leadership Team for spearheading this much-loved competition.
Next week, our Student Leadership Team will once again lead us in an important initiative: Body Image & Eating Disorders Awareness Week (BIEDAW) (1–7 September 2025).
This year’s theme is Unpacking the Why — raising awareness of how eating disorders develop and exploring how we can best support those affected.
As part of BIEDAW, we will hold a Mufti Day on Friday, 5 September. Students are encouraged to wear something blue and bring a gold coin donation to support the vital work of the Butterfly Foundation. Together, we can make a difference.
Alongside our celebrations, we must also address some challenges. We have seen an increase in Year 7 students’ issues with social media. As per school policy, Year 7 students are not permitted to have mobile phones at the College. Those who do bring phones must hand them in at the Front Office at the beginning of the day. Students who fail to do so will face further consequences. We remind families that the minimum age for most social media platforms is 13, and we strongly encourage parents to discuss with their children whether they are ready to manage the responsibility that comes with safe social media use.
Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome the Year 7 Class of 2026 – our graduating class of 2031 on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. We can’t wait to see the gifts and strengths you will bring to our Hennessy community.
Next week, we will also celebrate our Father’s Day Mass on Thursday morning. We warmly invite all the special men in our community to attend and, if possible, to complete the Google form to assist us in catering for our annual BBQ breakfast.
It has indeed been a fulfilling fortnight of faith, fun, and community and there is so much more to look forward to.
On Friday, 22 August, 34 enthusiastic Stage 5 students set off bright and early for the annual Selwyn Ski Trip. Despite limited snowfall, spirits were high and the group made the most of the day with plenty of fun and laughter.
Students enjoyed the opportunity to experience the alpine environment, try out skiing and snowboarding, and spend quality time with friends and staff. The trip was a fantastic way to build resilience, teamwork, and lasting memories.
A big thank you to the staff who supported the excursion and helped make it such a positive experience for all involved!
Last Thursday, 42 students travelled to Canberra to compete in the CECG Athletics Carnival. Hennessy students participated with great enthusiasm and energy, representing the College with pride. Eleven students achieved outstanding results and have qualified for the NSW CCC Athletics Carnival, which will be held next month. In addition, several students broke diocesan records and three were crowned Age Champion, further highlighting the talent and dedication within our athletics team.
New Records
Malayah Anesbury Jnr Triple Jump 10.70
Eliza Taylor Snr Triple Jump 10.40
Age Champions
13 yr Boys Charlie Beal
13 yr Girls Runner up Klara Booth
15 yr Girls Malayah Anesbury
17 yr+ Girls Eliza Taylor
17yr+ Runner up Callum Holt
Competitors going to Sydney
Kynan Burgess - High Jump and Long Jump
Monique Van Der Merwe- Shot Put
Mercedes Cartwright- 800m
Callum Holt - Long Jump and High Jump
Sybella Murphy - 800m
Annalise Reynolds -800m
Malayah Anesbury -100m 200m High Jump, Triple Jump
Klara Booth - Discus
Charlie Beal - 100m and 200m
Ava McKnight - Javelin
Eliza Taylor- 100m, 200m, 400m Long Jump and Triple Jump
Congratulations to all.
On Monday, 25 August, three school teams travelled to Wagga Wagga to take part in the All Schools Cup Netball competition. It was a busy day with plenty of games and a great chance for students to get involved and enjoy some friendly competition.
All teams played well and represented the school with pride. Thank you to the staff and supporters who helped make the day run smoothly.
On Monday 25th of August 9.2 RE class walked from Hennessy to Boys to the Bush. We met Dean the leader, Mr Dean Bedford, who explained to us what the organsiation was all about. We learned about many things the boys do for the community, like helping kids who are less fortunate, recycling at IGA and donating the money to the various charities that are connected, doing small jobs for people and giving people opportunities to help out.
This is a voluntary organisation and is dedicated to helping out young boys become the best versions of themselves through the actions of service within the community. One activity that they are completing now is the mowing the race course in preparation for the Picnic Races.
A point that has been taken away from this was that 'Together as a community we can work together and help out as much as we can. Remembering that small actions can make a big difference'.
On Wednesday 26 August, three school teams travelled to Tuggeranong to compete in the CECG Basketball Tournament. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, teamwork, and great sportsmanship.
All teams represented our school with pride and enthusiasm, making the most of the opportunity to compete and connect with students from other schools.
A special congratulations to our Opens Boys Team, who went undefeated throughout the day—a remarkable achievement and a testament to their hard work and team spirit.
Well done to all players and staff involved!
