Welcome to our first newsletter for Term 2. Staff began the term with our guest speaker, Graham Wright, sharing ways to improve our students' results, particularly HSC results. Graham was a very engaging and informative speaker who gave staff many ideas to support and facilitate student growth.

On our first day for students, we launched our new anonymous harm reporting tool, Stymie. Stymie is available to all our students.

‘Stymie helps your child to say something by enabling them to report all kinds of concerns, safely and anonymously. 

• The bystander effect occurs when the presence of others discourages us from intervening in an emergency situation.
• Social influence affects how many children behave, so they are less likely to stand up to inappropriate behaviours in public when the number of onlookers is high.
• Often our children are burdened by serious issues involving their friends but don’t know how to help.

Rather than trying to work against all of these pressures, our solution recognises the nuanced nature of their social currency, by providing them with a safe place to start a conversation.’

More information can be found by visiting their website at:

https://about.stymie.com.au/for-parents/

On Tuesday, we had the great pleasure of hosting Year 10 students from Sacred Heart Central School, Cootamundra. The purpose of the visit was to meet Hennessy Year 10 students and to become familiar with the school, and to learn more about different subject offerings. Thank you to Mrs Zukauskas for organising this event.

Also, on Tuesday, Hennessy Year 10 and 12 students attended the Young careers expo. Students returned very energised and excited to learn about different careers. These kinds of opportunities are very important for students to begin the process of choosing their career and the pathway to achieving it. A big thank you to Mrs Parkman for her work in organising this visit.

The current hat policy has been very successful, with students enthusiastically wearing their bucket hats. The expectation to wear hats for outdoor activities will be extended to all terms of the year to help support a sun-safe community.

You may have heard the radio advertisements for our Open Day. This will be held on May 14 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. This day promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with a wide variety of activities and displays to showcase what student life is like at Hennessy. Please encourage anyone interested to attend.

It was very exciting to hear of the election of our new Pope, Leo XIV. We pray for him in his important role:

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, 
give to your shepherd a spirit 
of courage and right judgment, a spirit 
of knowledge and love. By governing 
with fidelity those entrusted to his care, 
may he, as successor to the Apostle 
Peter and vicar of Christ, build your 
Church into a sacrament of unity, love, 
and peace for all the world.  

Amen.

It has been a wonderful start to Term 2, and we are so grateful for the continued partnership we share with our families and wider community. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen our students shine in ways that reflect the heart of Hennessy Catholic College.

On Good Friday, a number of our students attended the Stations of the Cross at the Arboretum. Their reverent participation in this sacred tradition was a credit to our College and the parish community. Similarly, our students proudly marched in the Young, Harden, Cootamundra and Boorowa ANZAC Day parade, honouring the legacy of those who served and sacrificed. These events speak volumes to the kind of young people we are nurturing – generous in spirit and committed to giving back.

Last week, I had the privilege of working alongside 15 students who voluntarily gave up their lunch break to clean the church. What started as a simple act of service quickly became a special time of bonding and laughter. I was inspired by their willingness to lend a hand and their quiet joy in doing something meaningful for others.

The transition to our winter uniform has been very smooth, and I want to sincerely thank all parents and carers for your support in ensuring that students returned to school dressed correctly. Our uniform is not just attire, it is a symbol of belonging, identity and respect. When worn properly, it tells the world who we are and what we stand for.

This morning we gathered for our much-loved Mother’s Day Mass and BBQ. It is always a joy to welcome so many mothers and significant women in the lives of our students. Your love, guidance and strength are deeply valued, and it was a blessing to honour you today as a community.

Today also marks Blue Mufti Day – Do It For Dolly Day, where we stand together to say “no” to bullying and “yes” to kindness and compassion. Dolly’s Dream is a charity founded in memory of Dolly Everett, a young girl whose life was tragically lost to bullying. The foundation works to educate, empower and support young people, families and schools in creating safer and more compassionate environments, both online and offline. Our students have shown incredible support for this cause, and we are proud to be a school that actively promotes kindness and mental well-being.

We are also pleased to see an increase in student use of Stymie, an anonymous reporting platform that allows students to speak up about issues such as bullying, harm, or concerns for others. Encouraging our students to use their voice safely and responsibly is key to maintaining a respectful and supportive school environment.

We joyfully celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV, a humble and holy man who already embodies the love and hope of the Risen Christ. His first words, “Peace be with you,” echo the greeting of Jesus Himself and set the tone for a papacy rooted in compassion, unity, and renewal. May his leadership guide our Church into a time of deep peace, healing, and courageous witness to the Gospel across the world.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the upcoming Year 11 Retreat, taking place Monday and Tuesday at Galong and the Marie McCormick Centre. This special time will be led by our House Leaders, myself, and Kathy Holding, and it will be a chance for our students to reflect, grow in leadership, and build deeper relationships with one another. These moments of connection are so important in forming not just young leaders, but young people of character and heart.

Thank you, once again, for your continued support. We look forward to the rest of the term with faith, hope and joy.