THE HART
Term 2 - Week 6
In this newsletter
Principal's Message
Mr Frank Monagle
Ash Wednesday Mass
Mr Paul Murphy
Teaching and Learning
Miss Jenny Hoare
From the Chaplain
Fr Paul Grant
Mr Paul Murphy
History of the Ancient World
Mr James Landon
Compass Information
Marie Yeo
Special Events & News
Mr Ian Mejia
Chess Club
Dr Emma Wood
Principal's Message
Mr. Frank Monagle, Principal
Dear Parents and Friends,
What a whirlwind start to the year! It has finally come together and Hartford College is underway. I trust that this is the beginning of a wonderful future for the College, its first parents and students, and the many generations of families and boys in the years that will follow.
The commencement has been relatively plain sailing perhaps because of the level of experience of the teaching staff. With boys coming from a variety of schools, there have been some settling in issues as they get used to our expectations. Outside the classrooms, it has been great to see the boys getting along so well. Hand ball is the perennial favourite.
Preparation for NAPLAN, which is much earlier this year, and is all online, is underway. Of course, it involves all except Year 6.
The first week closed with the Official Opening and Blessing with Archbishop Anthony Fisher. He and Chairman Tim Mitchell both spoke of the vision for Hartford that we hope to bring to fruition in the days and years ahead. It is a joy to work with other educators who see the big picture.
But we are now faced with the reality that these pioneering boys have come from a variety of schools, and each has a story to tell us. We are discovering gaps in their learning here and there and developing strategies to bring them all along. Patience and perseverance will be needed. I wish to encourage all parents to encourage the boys with the tasks set for homework and above all, do all you can to promote their reading; both prescribed texts and other quality literature.
Mentoring is now underway. We have preferred not to take the boys out of class during the introductory days. Your son's mentor will be in touch soon to set up this term's meeting.
As I said at the Official Opening, I want to thank all those who have made the establishment of the College possible especially the parents who have shown such faith in the ideas and ideals that we have promised for Hartford.
Term Two Celebrations
The Easter Season
Mrs Jenny Hoare, Years 6 & 6
It has been a wonderful start to Term Two for the students in Years 5,6 and 7. After their moving and dramatic performance of Jesus’ passion at the end of Term One, the students have continued to celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection through their study of the Season of Easter. The Easter Season continues after the resurrection for 50 days until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The students have learnt the significance of the Paschal Candle (Easter Candle); which represents Christ as the light of the world. In class, the students have focused on the features and symbols of the Paschal Candle and designed their own candles with the cross, the Greek letters Alpha and Omega and the five grains of incense, representing the five wounds of Jesus.
ANZAC DAY Commemoration Service
The Hartford College Community participated in a solemn and meaningful ANZAC Day Commemoration Service at the start of the term. The students gathered to remember all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The students were involved in reading the Acknowledgement of Country, the history of ANZAC Day, prayers, readings, the Gospel and Poems that honoured the memory of all those who have fallen in battle, those who have mourned them and of all who have been the victims of armed conflict. The service concluded with the Ode of Remembrance, the Last Post, the Rouse and the National Anthem. This was the first time the Hartford Community had gathered for an ANZAC Commemoration Service, and it marks the beginning of an important tradition that will continue at Hartford College.
The students in Years 5 and 6 created beautiful ANZAC Day poems and artwork in honour of this great tradition.
May the Month of Mary and Mother’s Day
Throughout the month of May, the students have been learning about the Catholic tradition of honouring Mary. The custom of dedicating
the month of May to Mary dates back to the 13th century. Mary has a unique and privileged place in the Church. Because she responded yes to becoming the Mother of God, she is our first model of discipleship and our model of grace and trust in God. The students have been learning about the Rosary and the many feasts of Mary in May, most importantly, the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians (May 24th). On this day, we acknowledge Mary as the Patron of Australia. The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days, and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820. It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians as principal Patroness.
St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral.
It is fitting that we celebrate Mother’s Day in May. The students in Years 5 and 6 thoroughly enjoyed making surprise gifts for their Mothers to celebrate Mother’s Day. A 'special thank you' to Michelle Loye( Mother of Winter), who came into our class to teach the students how to make beautiful chocolates. Michelle’s expertise, patience and generosity made the experience exciting and memorable. We hope that the Mums had a wonderful Mother’s Day and know how special they are.
Birthdays Celebrations
Birthday celebrations are important days in our community. Throughout the year, the students enjoy coming together to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for their peers and be treated to a delicious array of cakes or doughnuts. These days bring great joy to the students and create a sense of belonging and community spirit.
Sport for Life
Rugby Union skills have been the focus of Hartford’s Sport for Life Program over the last four weeks. The NSW Waratahs Development Team have provided two experienced coaches, who are current players, to teach the boys passing skills, agility drills, strength drills and fitness games. Although Rugby is not necessarily their sport of choice, the students have embraced the new skills and enjoyed its challenges. For the remainder of the term, the students are looking forward to Sydney FC’s Football Program.
The students have also continued to focus on their fitness by maintaining their involvement in club sports and staying active during lunch breaks. During PDHPE lessons, the students have been working on improving their one-kilometre running times, maximum sit-ups in one minute, and push-ups in thirty seconds. We encourage the students to practice these disciplines often in order to measure their improvement in our testing weeks. We are also in the process of organising our annual Cross-Country Running Competition.
History of the Ancient World
Mr James Landon, Year 7
In History, students have completed an overview of the Ancient World, learning about the first homosapiens and how factors such as changing climates, scarcity of resources and war have contributed to human evolution.
Students have begun to understand how these fundamental needs have informed the progress of mankind to develop from nomadic tribes into the empires and civilizations of Antiquity.
Students have also begun to experience what it means to be a historian, developing their skills in interpreting archaeological findings and source analysis, and how these disciplines have contributed to the formation of the ‘out of Africa’ theory which we use today.
Moving forward, students will begin to apply their historical skills to some of the major ancient civilizations, investigating their societal values, most influential events, and how they have evolved over time.
Special Events & News
Mr Ian Mejia, Deputy Principal
NAPLAN 2023
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Each year students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
From 2023, NAPLAN is moving to Term 1 and will take place from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March. The reason for this change is so that results can be returned to schools earlier in the year which will support teachers to understand the learning needs of their students and plan accordingly.
NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school learning assessment program and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.
In preparation for NAPLAN 2023, our school will undertake activities to help students to become familiar with the format and functionality of the online tests. These activities are not an assessment of student ability and will not be marked.
Students and parents can access the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.
From the Chaplain
Fr Paul Grant, Chaplain
It was good to see all the students and teachers at the Ash Wednesday Mass and receive the Ashes.
It reminds us that we will one day become ashes; practically nothing, and that God is everything.
Although now we are already something and have to become even more.
As I said in the homily at the Mass, praying really does help us to improve. It is the way to get close to God. Whenever we feel a bit down, hurt, lonely, or we have been mean: we can say, "Sorry my God! I know that I am not close enough to you. Help me be close to you”.
This will certainly bring peace to our soul.
I am looking forward to being part of the school, a small part, but will try to visit Hartford College a couple of times during the week.
I have lived in this part of the Eastern Suburbs for many years and this Educational Initiative is the best thing that has ever happened here!
As always, keeping you and your families and all your activities in mind.
Music
Miss Marie Yeo, Registrar & School Secretary
It has been an exciting start to our school this term and Music has certainly found its place amongst it!
In the first few weeks, students learnt that Music is one of the seven Liberal Arts and holds a vital role in their education. As an “art” (from the proto-Indo-European root word ‘ar’ meaning “to join/fit together”) of “number in time”, Music is a language that finds itself everywhere in the natural world as much as it can be heard from man-made instruments.
Years 5 & 6 have found their singing voices and I am delighted to discover a potential choir out of the mix. Starting with “Do-Re-Mi” from the Sound of Music, students have been learning about Solfege and Curwen’s hand signals, learning to sing echos and rounds. Students have also learnt that everything in the world has an innate heartbeat, and that the “art” of music is to put together collections of sounds on every heartbeat.
Year 7 students have been discovering the origins of early music instrumentation, exploring the history of music as a means of understanding its theoretical and practical evolution through Time. Alongside ancient Jewish and Greek modes - scale patterns which form the basis of most ancient notational theory – and tones and semitones - intervals which identify pitching and different sound waves – students have learnt about Pythagorus’ Monochord, the ancient ancestor of the violin, guitar and harp family. The keyboards have been a vital tool in developing their theoretical knowledge.
As they develop their theoretical and musicianship skills throughout the year, the students will continue to learn how music is used both as a means of worship from man to God and a form of human flourishing, identifying a means of entertainment in its healthiest form. The students seem to love Music overall and there have only been positive results consequentially. It will be exciting to see how this “art” will develop their minds and character throughout their schooling.
Chess Club
Dr Emma Wood, Philosophy
Hartford College is delighted to announce the establishment of its Chess Club, led by Dr Emma Wood.
Chess, with its long and rich history, is one of the world’s most played games.
The game inspires critical thinking, strategic thought, develops memory, cultivates patience and enhances problem-solving skills – not bad for a board game.
Players not only enjoy a simulated battle - they also learn to win or lose graciously.
Appreciating the consequences from each move and predicting the opponent's response are also important life skills.
The Chess Club will be starting soon and would love if you registered your son to participate.
Please click the link: Register for Chess Club
About
THE HART is Hartford College's newsletter for parents and students. Here you will receive all the latest news for what is happening around the school.
The name 'THE HART' refers to a mature stag of more than five years old. Its use is now considered in a more poetic form deriving from the Middle English word hert.
The word hart can be found in many classic texts such as the Old English epic Beowulf, which names Hrothgar's royal hall Heorot after the Danish word hjort meaning "deer".
J. R. R. Tolkien uses the word hart in his book The Hobbit, especially in the scenes traveling through Mirkwood Forest.
Shakespeare's uses the word in his plays, particularly the Twelfth Night as a pun between 'hart' and 'heart'.
It is in the spirit of these great works that we decided to name our newsletter THE HART since we want our boys to grow into mature and wise men like a faun grows into the stag or hart.
This newsletter will go to the heart of what is happening at our school by sharing news, stories and events.
