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Welcome to the final newsletter for 2024. We are certainly ending the year on a high! Last Wednesday’s Presentation Night was a special evening recognising the many achievements of our students in a wide variety of areas ranging from academic to sporting and community engagement. A big thank you to Mrs Wright, Mrs Hardy, Mr Ashton and all those who supported them to make this such a successful occasion. My speech can be accessed here;
Yesterday the success continued as the HSC results for the Class of 2024 were made available. They say that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and our HSC results yesterday morning are testament to this. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to our wonderful HSC results!
Hennessy can hold its head high as a school where students thrive and achieve their best. The Sydney Morning Herald assembles an annual HSC rankings list for all schools in NSW. Hennessy was ranked 217th this year.
Our top Atars were:
Ben Knapman – 98.95 (equal top College Atar and also named by NESA as an All Rounder due to achieving the highest band results in at least 10 units)
Cybele Hewitt – 97.9
Elizabeth Sinclair – 95.55
Lily Boda – 92.15
Lily Murphy – 91.65
Hennessy’s results placed them as the top-performing school in the region. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for their support this year. I wish everyone a safe holiday break and a Merry Christmas.
As we come to the close of another school year, we as a community are filled with pride as we reflect on the remarkable achievements of our students in their HSC results. Our class of 2024 have excelled, and it is with heartfelt congratulations that we celebrate their outstanding accomplishments. Their dedication, resilience, and hard work have paid off, and we are thrilled to see them rewarded with excellent results.
This success is not just a reflection of the students' efforts, but also of the unwavering support and guidance they have received from our exceptional staff. Our teachers have gone above and beyond in providing academic support and emotional support to each student. Their commitment to fostering a culture of learning has played an integral role in the success we celebrated yesterday.
Equally important has been the ongoing support of our parents and guardians. I extend my deepest gratitude to all families for their encouragement, commitment, and partnership in supporting their children throughout their educational journey. It is through this strong partnership between school, staff, students, and families that we continue to create an environment where our students can thrive.
As this is my last newsletter, I want to express my thanks to the entire community—students, staff, and parents—for the privilege of working at Hennessy Catholic College. I am off to Santa Teresa, Northern Territory (below). I wish all the best to the Hennessy community, a wonderful Christmas for everyone and a great 2025.
As we approach the end of another remarkable year, we would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our students, staff, and families. This year, we embraced the theme of "Learning Dynamically through the Fruits of the Spirit," and together, we have achieved so much.
Throughout the year, we have witnessed incredible growth and development within our school community. The dedication and enthusiasm of our students have been truly inspiring, and the support from our families has made a significant difference in our collective journey. Our staff has worked tirelessly to create an environment where dynamic learning can flourish, and for that, we are immensely grateful.
As we reflect on our accomplishments, we have much to celebrate. From academic achievements to community service initiatives, each member of our community has contributed to making this year a success. We look forward to carrying this momentum into the jubilee year of 2025, which the Catholic Church has declared as a time for "Pilgrims of Hope." This theme encourages us to continue our journey of faith, learning, and growth together.
As we enter the festive season, we wish you all a safe, happy, and holy Christmas. Let us remember that Jesus is the centre of our celebration. As it is written in the Bible, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). May this reminder fill our hearts with joy and peace during this special time.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support and commitment to our school community. We look forward to what the new year will bring and to continuing our journey together.
Wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a wonderful new year ahead.
Welcome back to our last week of the Leadership Lounge! This week brought to you by our School Captains Madi & Josh. Hope you have all enjoyed these super warm and sunny days lately, and are getting ready for your 6-week break.
Term 4 was busy, holding many fun events that kept all students and teachers busy. The prestigious Presentation Night was a huge success, we would like to congratulate once again all award recipients, and thank all who made the night possible.
This concludes the new leadership team's first term of leading the school, and what a great term it has been. Having many events go smoothly such as the Melbourne Cup events and stalls, Socktober events, Christmas door competition and a Candy Cane Fundraiser to end the year off. We would love to thank everyone for a fantastic first term being your leaders and we cannot wait for next year to continue the fun.
A huge congratulations once again to Nagle, for winning the house cup for another year. A big achievement for Camden and Dieter, Eliza and Callum, Mrs Nowlan, and all members of Nagle. What a great year it has been for the green team! The volleyball competition was something all wanted to attend, teachers vs. Year 11 especially played a great game. Although, Year 11 came off with the win, with strong competition from Year 10.
That wraps up this week's edition of the Leadership Lounge. We can’t wait to see you all next year, ready for another year of fun, learning, and taking new opportunities. We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The Gold Award is the pinnacle of our Awards system, celebrating exceptional commitment to living spiritually, learning dynamically, and acting justly. This year at Presentation Night, we proudly celebrated a record number of recipients: James Payne, Eliza Taylor, Liam Payne, Bonny Bromham, Jemima Mergard, Jack Willis, Ruby Holt, Joshua Cameron, and Azalea Sullivan. Congratulations to these outstanding students for their remarkable efforts across all areas of college life!
Congratulations to the following students, who received Silver Awards at our Week 9 College Assembly:
Sophia Hackett - Sophia has excelled as a musician in liturgies, a dedicated volunteer in community service, and an active participant in youth groups and athletics.
Zabir Alam - Zabir has demonstrated outstanding leadership as a Peer Support Leader and Year 10 Captain, excelled in chess competitions, and actively contributed to our community through volunteering and service.
Angelic Sutherland - Angelic has excelled in sports, including touch football, beach volleyball, league tag, and netball. She has contributed to the Hennessy community through events such as Variety Night, Socktober, and the Grandparents Day Mass.
Lachlan Li - Lachlan has excelled as a Peer Support Leader, a musician for liturgies, and a valuable contributor to events like Variety Night and Orientation Day. He achieved first place in the Lawn Bowls State Finals.
Sofia Minehan - Sofia has participated in the Da Vinci Decathlon, Engineers Without Borders, and various liturgies as a musician. She competed in Soccer and Touch Football and volunteered as a science helper on Open Day.
Lincoln Sutherland - Lincoln has represented the college in rugby league, cricket, rugby 7s, netball, basketball, cross country, and beach volleyball. He excelled at the Athletics Carnival, and volunteered at the Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival.
Cayden Cross - Cayden has excelled in rugby league, basketball, netball, and Rugby 7s (players’ player). At the Athletics and Cross Country Carnivals, he was crowned Age Champion in the 14 Years Boys category. Cayden has been commended for helping peers in Science and volunteering to read in English class.
Oliver Miller - Oliver has participated in rugby league, basketball, and soccer. He demonstrated leadership through roles like CSYMA retreat leader and Open Day tour guide. Oliver also volunteered at the Year 6 Orientation and the Boorowa Touch & Netball Carnival.
Sebastian Silk - Sebastian has demonstrated excellent academic effort, particularly in Geography and Science. He has been an active participant in school and parish events, volunteering as an altar server at Mass and engaging with the St Mary's Parish Youth Group.
Madison James - Madison has demonstrated strong commitment to PDHPE and Religion in 2024. She has also shown a great sense of community through volunteering and participating in college events such as the Cherry Festival float decoration, Open Day, Colour Run, Melbourne Cup, and Socktober.
Emily Buck - Emily has set new records at the College Swimming Carnival in the 200m IM and 50m Backstroke and was crowned Age Champion in both Swimming and Cross Country. Her commitment extends beyond sports, excelling in English, PDHPE, and Agriculture.
Mercadez Cartwright - Mercadez was Age Champion at the College Cross Country Carnival and she has represented the College in basketball, netball, athletics, and cross country. Her community spirit has been evident through her participation in all Year level lunchtime challenges.
Callum Holt - As Nagle House Captain, Callum demonstrated dedication and responsibility. He excelled in athletics, setting a CG Athletics record in the 17+ Boys High Jump, and participated in basketball, soccer, beach volleyball, and cross country.
Edward Maloney - Ed's leadership as Gallagher House Captain is complemented by his musical contributions at College and parish masses, and his involvement in playing and officiating a range of sports including touch football, rugby league, and basketball.
Malayah Anesbury - Malayah set multiple records at the Athletics Carnival, including the 14 Years Girls 100m, Long Jump, and Triple Jump. She also went on to break records in the 100 & 200m events at Canberra Goulburn Carnival. Malayah has volunteered at events like the Trent Barrett Shield and Year 6 Orientation Day.
Joshua Reeves - As an altar server and CSYMA leader, Joshua has played key roles in liturgical events and retreats, including the Holy Communion and the Journey with Jesus Retreats. He has been actively involved in St. Mary’s Parish Youth Group and delivered a great performance in Variety Night.
Riley Noakes - Riley has competed in a wide range of events, including the CG Netball Championships, ACT/Southern NSW Rugby 7s Finals, and CCC Cross Country. He was also the 16 Years Boys Age Champion at the College Cross Country Carnival. Riley was a committed Peer Support Leader and a volunteer at the Young Careers Expo and St. Vincent de Paul Breakfast Program.
Kobe Owen - Kobe has excelled in sport, competing in the CG/Wagga Touch Football Team at the CCC Championships and the Country Cup Rugby League Finals. Off the field, he has contributed as a coach and referee at the Trent Barrett Shield and the All Schools Touch Football Carnival. Kobe's academic efforts in English and History reflect his commitment to learning.
Amy Glasgow - Amy excelled in cross country, earning the title of 16 Years Girls Age Champion and placing 2nd at the CG level. Her academic perseverance, especially in Science and Agriculture, is commendable, as is her involvement in community and school events, from volunteering at Orientation Days to participating in creative competitions.
Ivy Murphy - Ivy has actively served in the St. Vincent de Paul Breakfast program and St. Mary’s Parish Youth Group. Academically, Ivy achieved strong results in Science and English, and her contributions to college sports teams, liturgies, and volunteering are commendable.
Bonjour! Our Year 7 French Banquet was a magnifique celebration of culinary teamwork and creativity.
The day began with our talented Year 10 Hospitality students expertly preparing key elements of the dishes during periods 2, 4, and 5. The Year 7 students took over the kitchen, guided by their Year 10 mentors, to craft a delicious array of eight classic French dishes, including:
- Mini quiche
- Gougères
- Savoury crepes (chicken, Dijon mustard, and grilled cheese)
- Croque Monsieur
- Tarte Framboise
- Crepe Suzette
- Paris Brest (French dessert made of pastry and a praline flavoured cream, covered with flaked almonds).
- Croissant (with chocolate crème pâtissière and strawberries)
Each group had about 25–30 minutes to prepare their dish, ensuring there was enough to share with the entire class. The students then plated their creations beautifully and gathered to enjoy a true French feast. The banquet was made even more special with refreshing beverages prepared and served by the Year 10 students.
It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved, showcasing teamwork, creativity, and a taste of French cuisine. Félicitations to all the students for their hard work and bon appétit!
