THE HART
Term 4 2024 - Edition #8
In this newsletter
Principal's Message
Mr Ian Mejia
Mr Paul Murphy
From the Deputy's Desk
Ms Tracey Clarke
Mr Paul Murphy
Teaching and Learning in Years 5 & 6
Ms Jenny Hoare
Mr Paul Murphy
Sport and Choir
Mr. James Landon
Term 4 Overview
Mr. Shaughn Gilroy
Message from the Chaplain
Fr Paul Grant
Student Feature
Thomas Year 7
Important Announcements and Reminders
Mrs Nicole Abbott
Principal's Message
Ian Mejia, Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Students are in the thick of their end of year exams and it has been great to see the boys working well and setting high standards for themselves. I recently spoke at assembly regarding the shift in focus from marks to effort. Despite students having access to all the content, and all the best study and exam techniques a vital part of their success will be the right attitude and the grit to consistently study. An important measure of success should be their consistency, and attitude in the lead up to the exam. Muhammed Ali once said: ‘“The fight is won or lost far away from the witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights,” and I hope our students understand their work in the “gym” is the true success.
As the end of year quickly approaches, please note these important dates in your diary:
Friday 29 November; Last day of student examinations
Thursday 5 December; 11.30am Mass and End of Year Presentation Assembly
Friday 6 December; Community Service Day
Friday 31 January; Students Return
Warm regards,
Ian Mejia
From the Deputy's Desk
Tracey Clarke, Deputy Principal
It’s been a busy few weeks at Hartford College.
Staff were very privileged to be witness to the special relationship between father and son/s at camp. After many decades in boys’ education, this is the first time I have been involved in this event.
Celia Lashlie, the author of He’ll Be Ok (2005), wrote of the sacred journey of boys across “the bridge” to manhood. She elaborates to describe the accompaniment of a significant male companion on this journey. Celia also describes the need to “mums” to stay off “the bridge”. As a mum of three boys this instruction is a difficult one, as I watch my sons undertake this journey with their dad and a number of other significant companions along the way. “Their way” of doing things is not necessarily “my way” but Lashlie encourages me to step back and remember that is OK.
Watching the action on camp, over several activities was uplifting and an inspiring reminder to me as a mum to stay off “the bridge”.
The boys are to be commended for their focus leading into the assessment block. We are now almost half-way through. We have been fortunate to have the expertise of Ms. Jezza Armer assisting in the planning and implementation of these tasks.
As the term winds up, we look forward to some alternative activities taking place.
Dare to Think. Dare to Know.
Tracey Clarke
Teaching and Learning in Years 5 and 6
Jenny Hoare, Year 5/6 Teacher
Memorable Celebrations in Years 5 and 6
This term has been a vibrant and fulfilling time for the students in Years 5 and 6, filled with meaningful celebrations and memorable moments. Alongside these special events, the students have shown dedication and hard work as they prepared for their Yearly Examinations.
Father and Son Camp
The annual Father and Son Camp at Stanwell Tops was a highlight this term. From Cart Racing and the Giant Swing to the Vertical Cluster and Survivor Team competition, it was full of fun and challenges. The camp was filled with excitement, laughter, achievements and special moments that strengthened bonds between fathers and sons and friends. Everyone enjoyed the great food and facilities. It was an amazing experience and a special memory to cherish.
Birthday Celebrations
The boys in Years 5 and 6 love a Birthday celebration. This term, we have enjoyed a pizza lunch for Harry Penberthy’s Birthday and a delightful lunch at the Kiosk at David Phillips Sports Centre for Daniel Gray. Mina, our talented canteen chef, created a party atmosphere with table decorations and an array of treats. She served the boys a delicious selection of pizza, nuggets, and chips, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed. The celebration concluded with a fun game of soccer on the fields, making it a memorable day for all.
Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist
On Wednesday, 13th November, Harry and Alfie Penberthy along with Jaydon Hancock and his Mum, Aniko, celebrated the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Special thanks to Fr Paul for making these sacred Sacraments so special for our families, marking their deeper participation in the catholic faith and their commitment to the life of the Church
A heartfelt thank you as well to Mr. Shaughan Gilroy for preparing the Altar servers and for his solemn singing of the Alleluia, which added a beautiful reverence to the Mass.
After Mass, we gathered for morning tea and enjoyed the beautiful First Holy Communion cake.
Remembrance Day 11th November
On Monday, 11th November, the College gathered just before 11:00 am to commemorate Remembrance Day, a time to honour the sacrifices made by those who have served and reflect on the courage, resilience, and commitment shown by past and present servicemen and women. This day reminds us of the importance of unity, gratitude, and the enduring quest for peace.
During our Service, we watched footage from World War One and the first Armistice Day. At 11am on 11 November 1918, the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. The Germans called for an armistice (suspension of fighting) in order to secure a peace settlement. They accepted the allied terms of unconditional surrender. We also learnt that after the Second World War, the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom's proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in all World Wars. In Australia, on the 75th anniversary of the armistice in 1993, Remembrance Day ceremonies again became the focus of national attention. The remains of an unknown Australian soldier exhumed from a First World War military cemetery in France, were ceremonially entombed in the Australian War Memorial's Hall of Memory.
We gathered as a school community to pray, with Fr. Paul reading from St. John’s Gospel: 'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.'
We then read the poem On Flanders Fields by Canadian poet, soldier, and physician John McCrae, reflecting on the symbolism of the poppy.
To conclude, we recited the Ode and listened in silent contemplation as the Last Post was played, followed by a minute of silence. We proudly sang the National Anthem before processing to the Australian Flag, where we observed another minute of silence at 11:00 am.
Annual Gala Day at Wollemi College
The Hartford Years 5 and 6 students had an unforgettable experience visiting Wollemi College in Werrington on Friday, 15th November. The day began with a lively bus ride filled with excitement as we made our way to Wollemi. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by My Uyeda and the 5 Gold Wollemi students and joined the Wollemi community for a special Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Albert the Great, setting a positive and reflective tone for the day.
The first event was the much-anticipated debate, where our team argued to prove the case, ‘Students should wear school uniforms.’ Representing Hartford, Mason Khachan, Lachlan Harrison, Winter Loy-Blinkhorn, and Joseph Wong delivered their points with confidence and skill. Their strong arguments and sharp rebuttals led to a well-earned victory, showcasing their dedication, flair and teamwork.
Next came the Chess competition, where the Wollemi students dominated and demonstrated exceptional strategic thinking and dominated the game. Though Hartford faced a tough match, the students displayed resilience and good sportsmanship.
Lunchtime was a time for fun and camaraderie, as we played handball on the Wollemi playground, enjoying each other’s company and strengthening the bond between the schools.
The day wrapped up with an exciting soccer match. Hartford took to the field determined and played with great energy, ultimately winning 3-1. Jaydon and Daniel led the charge by scoring impressive goals, supported by excellent defence and teamwork from everyone on the field.
With victories in debating and soccer, Hartford secured the ‘Brotherhood Cup – Wollemi V Hartford,’ a new tradition generously provided by Wollemi to celebrate the friendly spirit and connection between our schools.
We look forward to making this an annual event that brings Hartford and Wollemi even closer together each year.
Congratulations to all the boys for their positive participation, sportsmanship, and camaraderie during our celebrations. It has been a joyous term!
Miss Jenny Hoare
Sport and Choir
Mr. James Landon
Rep Sport Summary
The Hartford College Oztag Rep Team has shown grit and determination throughout a season filled with highs and lows. Despite facing tough competition and a significant numbers disadvantage, the team has displayed resilience and teamwork, earning their place in the finals.
Key moments this season included a standout victory against Marist North Shore, winning 14 - 0, and the development of rising stars such as Angus Morley and Matias Giraldo Ruiz, whose speed and skills have been a game-changer. In both their wins and losses, rep sport this year has taught the boys about the importance of teamwork and the importance of a healthy fraternal culture if a team is to be successful.
New Choir Initiative
Hartford College is thrilled to announce the launch of a new choir program this academic term, offering students a unique opportunity to explore the rich traditions of sacred music. The program will delve into a range of works, including Gregorian chant and traditional polyphony/motets, with the long-term intention of providing music to accompany the liturgy at school masses.
St Augustine says that “The one who sings prays twice." This is because when one glorifies God through music, the mind ponders the divine through the words of the prayer, but the soul is likewise moved to ponder the divine through the beauty of the melodies.
Whilst this discipline is relatively new to the boys, they have already shown significant improvement and potential to produce a beautiful sound. We look forward to watching the boys continue to develop in both their skills and appreciation for music as a means of giving glory to God.
Mr. James Landon.
Term 4 Overview
Mr. Shaughn Gilroy
As athletes train, working mercilessly through physical trials, long hours dedicated to their sport, and the maintaining of strict diets, all in order to perform in a single event, so too have the Hartford College boys trained their minds through subject content this year, working their brains around new concepts and ideas, long hours dedicated to their study, and the maintaining of a strict mental regime, all in order to perform on paper in the yearly examination. Some will be happy with their results, some will be sad, but all in all, they’ve come to this moment through real effort and growth in character. This is something they should be proud of. Growth in character—from boys, and hopefully, after some time, to gentlemen who are both amiable and amicable. You must be so very proud, as am I.
There has been a clear rising of the transcendental of beauty in the minds and hearts of the boys. The transcendentals are universal properties of being that reflect its very nature, transcending particular things and leading the soul, from the created order to God. Its roots are in classical philosophy such as Plato and Aristotle, but St Thomas Aquinas rounds the edges and purifies the concept, teaching that these truths uplift man toward divine fulfillment.
Beauty. Year 7 & 8’s have been researching beautiful ancient mosaic art and are working to create their own. This is a clear path that has brought a sense of objective beauty into their lives as well as a few additional things currently going on in the College. Mr Landon has been running a choir, teaching the boys how to use their voices in a beautiful way through the use of ancient, sacred music. Three boys and a mother recently received their First Holy Communion. The boys from the Society of Altar Servers of St Charbel and Our Lady assisted in creating a beautiful atmosphere at Holy Mass through reverence and traditional serving methods, to point the attendees and candidates towards the beautiful truth that Jesus Christ, Who is God, lowers Himself down to His beloved followers in Holy Communion in order that He may dwell in them and raise them up to Himself. There is much more to speak on the subject of beauty and the attitudes of the Hartford boys, but you can witness it for yourselves in real time.
There have been more notable things that will be present in other articles but one highlight for the Society of Altar Servers of St Charbel and Our Lady was that they had the privilege of serving Holy Mass for the Bishop Meagher earlier this time. The good Bishop was impressed with the boys. They were honoured and chuffed!
God bless, enjoy the summer with your boys and Merry Christmas when it comes!
Mr. Shaughn Gilroy
Message from the Chaplain
Fr. Paul Grant
As we glide into the final term of the year, Hartford College remains as vibrant and engaging as ever. Each time I walk through the school’s gates, I am struck by its energy and warmth. This lively atmosphere is due not only to our enthusiastic students but also to the dedication and spirit of our teachers and staff, who bring so much color and excitement to daily life. I am deeply grateful for their commitment.
Several recent events have made this time particularly fruitful. I had the privilege of visiting the father-son camp, where I celebrated Mass and met many of the fathers. It was a great venue, and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Another important occasion was our solemn and prayerful Remembrance Day, which I am confident will inspire in our students a deep sense of patriotism and reverence as God-fearing Australians. However, the highlight, most closely tied to my role as Chaplain, was today’s celebration of three students making their First Communion. This was a significant moment for the entire school, and I believe these young boys will cherish the memory of this sacred milestone.
In our Monday virtue classes, we have been working through various "vices" to understand their nature and the virtues that counter them. Recently, we discussed the vice of being a "killjoy"—one who, due to negativity, spoils the joy of others. The opposing virtue here is cheerfulness or joyfulness—a simple but profound positive spirit. I ended the class, as is my custom, with a poem to emphasize the importance of avoiding vices and cultivating virtues:
Poem
In darkened minds, where joy is locked away,
The seeds of sorrow grow in deep decay.
The killjoy walks a path of bleak despair,
Rejecting light yet burdened by the air.
Each word a weight, each glance a shadow cast,
In gloom and doubt their hollow lives are fast.
They shun the laughter, drown in sullen tones,
And find in every rose a field of stones.
To close one's heart and see the world as bleak
Is but a door to hell, though few would seek.
For bitterness consumes the soul's delight,
And day by day, it drags them into night.
Yet those who rise with smiles upon their face,
And give to others kindness, light, and grace,
Find heaven’s peace within each simple day,
And walk with joy along a brighter way.
For cheerfulness, like sunlight to the soul,
Can warm the heart and make the spirit whole.
In laughter’s glow and love’s embracing hand,
They step toward heaven in a joyful land.
So choose the path where light and love reside,
And cast the killjoy's chains of gloom aside.
For those who lift their hearts and gladly live,
Find peace eternal that the world cannot give.
That wraps up a brief summary of recent happenings in the Chaplaincy at Hartford College. Until next time, and with an eye toward a bigger and even more fulfilling school year ahead, warm regards.
Regards
Fr Paul Grant
Student Feature, Thomas Year 7
NIGHTMARE
PLAN:
Who is Hamish? Black hair, brown eyes
How old is he? 13
Where does he live? He lives in the neighbourhood of Footdee
Who does he live with? Mum, dad, two dogs (Japanese Spitzes)
(highlight the adjectives in the story below)
Hamish woke up with a start. His feet were exposed to the midnight air and he felt like his toes had turned blue. Looking down at his left arm to locate his watch, he could see goosebumps on his skin from the blue light of the moon shining through his bedroom window. Hamish suddenly remembered what had woken him in the first place. It was a nightmare. In the nightmare two men dressed in black from head to toe with balaclavas, had kidnapped Hamish and his mother and thrown them into the back of a white van. The men appeared to be over 6 feet tall and had muscular builds.
“Crash!” Hamish heard what sounded like glass breaking at the back of the house. Blood quickly flushed his face, and he was beginning to break out in a cold sweat. Acting quickly, he grabbed his Leatherman from his bedside table and quietly exited his room. Now there were butterflies in his stomach as he approached the back of the house to investigate the sound. Footsteps could be heard from the kitchen and as he approached, he could see his dogs Coco and Buttercup were gnawing down on sizeable strips of beef jerky. Maybe his nightmare wasn’t a nightmare after all. Hamish cautiously switched on the lights to check on his dogs. The dogs appeared to be happy and distracted by the beef jerky but he noticed hundreds of shards of glass on the kitchen floor. Hamish suddenly jumped backwards and gasped for air, realising he had narrowly missed sighting the burglar.
Fighting the urge to become batman and take matters into his own hands, with the use of his Leatherman, Hamish dialled 101 for the police. He figured, with her long hours at work, she could use some extra sleep while he handled the situation. Half an hour later, the police had arrived with their sharp navy-blue uniforms, badges and weapons. Their loud knocks on the door woke mum up from her deep slumber and she stumbled into the loungeroom asking Hamish, “What’s happening darlin’?” Hamish looked pale as he responded by saying, “I think there were some burglars in the house mum, there’s a bunch of broken glass in the kitchen.” Shocked and fearful she asked, “Are you okay?”
That morning at school everyone commented on the redness of Hamish’s eyes. His eyelids felt like they weighed a ton, but he knew it was all worth it to protect his family.
CHECKLIST FOR A GOOD STORY:
- Interesting characters
- Intriguing plot
- A complication including danger
- Showing not telling by using adjectives and adverbs
- Correct spelling and grammar
- Readability: sentences are not too long, and they are easy to read.
- Good sentence structure
Important Announcements and Reminders
Term Dates 2025
TERM 1: Friday 31 January - Friday 11 April
TERM 2: Tuesday 29 April - Friday 27 June
TERM 3: Wednesday 23 July - Friday 26 September
TERM 4: Tuesday 14 October - Wednesday 10 December
Compass Information
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.
