St Benedict's Catholic College

Tickets still available for tonight and Saturday 22 June. Refer to below links to purchase your tickets.

St Benedict’s Catholic College is proud to present our very first Musical, “The Wiz”. Based on the original “The Wizard of Oz”, this stage production tells the tale of Dorothy who makes her way to seek the mysterious Wiz in an attempt to get back to Kansas. Along the way she meets a band of characters who accompany her in her quest, such as The Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Book by: William F. Brown, Music and Lyrics by: Charlie Smalls, Adapted from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L.Frank Baum

Don't miss out! Purchase your tickets via TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/CQVJM

The day we've all been eagerly anticipating has finally arrived! Tonight, commencing at 7pm in the College Hall is our inaugural school production - “THE WIZ”, marking a significant milestone in our College's history. After months of hard work, dedication, and creativity, our talented students are ready to shine on stage and deliver an unforgettable performance.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our talented and dedicated school production staff and the parents who have generously supported this production. Their contributions have been invaluable.

We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this special moment with all of you.

Please be advised the canteen will be closed in Week 10 (Monday 1 July to Thursday 4 July). This is to allow our new canteen providers to move in and be ready to commence trading first day back of Term 3.

Please ensure students bring their own lunch and snacks during this period as there will be no canteen facilities available.

I am pleased to announce that John Wheeler has been appointed to the temporary position of Acting Assistant Principal for Terms 3 and 4.

Mr Wheeler is a very experienced leader and has demonstrated a great passion and commitment to St Benedict’s over the past two and half years. I look forward to seeing the great contribution Mr Wheeler will make for the students, parents and staff.

Hospitality students have been providing great coffee and a great selection of sweet and savoury cakes, slices and pastries at our College ‘cafe’, allowing them to build work skills whilst providing a great service for school staff and our senior staff. Running our school cafe simulates working life in the hospitality industry and provides our Year 12 students with valuable real life learning experiences. My thanks and ongoing appreciation for the P&F who provided the specialised equipment for our College to be able to offer this VET Hospitality Framework.

Our school site is located within a very busy precinct and extra care must be taken by all when driving and parking in school zones and the precinct carpark. If traffic rules are broken in a school zone students are at risk. The parking and traffic rules around our schools are there to protect everyone.

Please note:

• Follow parking signs as parking signs are planned with our children's safety in mind. Slow down to 40km/h in the school zone

• You must not stop on or within 20 metres before a PEDESTRIAN CROSSING or 10 metres after a crossing along Hollows Drive

• Always park and turn legally around the school

• Never double park to collect or drop off your children

• Manoeuvres such as U-turns and three-point turns are dangerous in this busy school precinct

• Never park in a bus zone or school bus bay

It is important that we all model safe and considerate behaviour for our young people to see. Thank you so much.

Kind regards,

Mrs Kerrie Piatek

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to my teachers Mrs Logue and Mr Ghignone as well as Catholic Mission for giving me the opportunity to participate in this program. Additionally, I extend my thanks to Unity Grammar for hosting us and for their generous hospitality throughout the interfaith program.

As a result of this program, I know myself and my fellow students at St Benedicts, have been inspired to make more of an effort to commit to concrete actions of harmony. We now have an increased understanding of Islam and the considerations to be made for those of other faiths as we go out into the world. I gained a new perspective on the importance of inter-religious relationships. The students I spoke to revealed to me the profound beauty of Islam. It is not just a religion, but a holistic approach to life that inspires constant consciousness. I’d like to thank them for their patience in answering my many questions. I've realised no matter how much we think we know about our own faith, it's through conversations with people of other faiths, that we learn the most about ourselves.

Approaching things in life with an open heart usually makes for a happier ending. I feel by coming together through this program, we've all gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of each other. At the end of the day, we are all teenagers struggling with the collective stress of our HSC journey and as we move into adulthood, I hope we try to continue to keep our hearts, and minds, open, long after we leave school. Because it's important for all our futures, to embrace the beauty of diversity and surely we should be the generation that breaks down the barriers that exist.

Lara Caridi

This Training Program, a joint collaboration between the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and the CLEM Team is offered to students in Years 10 and 11 in Catholic Secondary Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong. It was an opportunity for students to learn more about what it means to gather as a Eucharistic community at Mass and develop an understanding of some of the ministries of service that they can be engaged in. The day included prayer, keynote presentations from Beth Riolo and Fr James Arblaster, workshops and the celebration of Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord. Flynn Straub also had the opportunity to be an Altar Server in the Mass.

Our College had 5 students attend and be trained as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Year 10 - Lilia Caridi, Flynn Straub and Lucas Fenech

Year 11 - Chloe Seychell and Jorden Galea

Kind regards,

Kimberley Logue

Over the next two weeks, Year 8 students will have a series of important decisions to make about Year 9 and 10 at St. Benedict’s Catholic College.

Key dates for the Stage 5 Elective Selection process are as follows. Further information will be emailed next week.

Kind regards,

Wendy Fawbert

We invite our Year 7 – 10 students to participate in English, Mathematics, Science and Digital Technologies Assessments. These assessments are voluntary, and you can choose to enrol your daughter/son in any that interest them.

ICAS is developed by the University of NSW. The Assessments are designed to target students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills. The fully online assessments are designed to recognise and reward academic excellence. They are based on the curricula for the relevant year. Students are asked to demonstrate a deeper, integrated, and thorough level of knowledge.

The assessments are suitable for students wishing to extend themselves academically and require students to think beyond the classroom. Your child will be presented with high-quality, expert-developed questions, allowing them to apply their learning without the need for prior study or revision. Students in the High Performance class are strongly encouraged to participate in the tests.

In order to enter your daughter/son into the assessments, please follow the instructions below. The payment portal closes on Monday, 29 July 2024. Any families who are experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact the school in regards to registering for these competitions.

Tests will take place between Monday 5 August – Friday 30 August. Test windows are indicated below and a specific timetable will be sent to participants closer to the test dates.

In 2024 students have the opportunity to participate in the following subjects:

• ICAS English Year 7 – 10
• ICAS Mathematics Year 7 – 10
• ICAS Science Year 7 – 10
• ICAS Digital Technologies (Year 7 only)

Cost per test: $19.95 including GST

If you would like your child to participate in any of the subjects listed above, please visit the online Parent Payment System to make a direct payment to UNSW Global. The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments.

Access details for parents

Our school’s unique access code is: HPL875

Your parent page link is: https://shop.icasassessments.com//pages/pps

Online parent payment closes: 29 July, 2024

IMPORTANT: Please enter your child’s name accurately into the System as it will appear on their ICAS certificate.

If you have any questions about the competition, please contact me at the College.

Kind regards,
Marc Ghignone

• Monday 24 June - DIO Hockey (Boys & Girls)
• Thursday 27 June - Year 11 & 12 SLR Excursion Luna Park
• Thursday 27 June - Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge
• Thursday 27 June - Year 8 African Drumming Incursion
  
• Week 10 of this term July 1 to July 5 - SCHOOL CANTEEN CLOSED ALL WEEK. THIS IS TO ALLOW THE NEW PROVIDERS TIME TO BE READY FOR OPENING OF TERM 3.
  
• Thursday 4 July - Last day of term for students
• Friday 5 July - Staff Development Day

School Holidays - Term 2

• Term 2 Holidays - Monday 8 July - Friday 19 July

Term 3

• Monday 22 July - Pupil Free Day
• Monday 22 July - Year 7-10 Parent / Teacher Interviews (Face-to-Face)
• Tuesday 23 July - Term 3 Commences - All Students

Students in the 12 HSC English Standard course were able to immerse themselves into the world of Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible. Enhancing their study by taking notes and making sure that the invaluable information provided was comprehensively understood. They engaged deeply with the characters' moral dilemmas and the historical context of the Salem witch trials, allowing them to appreciate Miller's commentary on McCarthyism and societal paranoia.This immersion fostered a deeper appreciation for the enduring relevance of Miller's work in today's world.

Sometimes, it is hard to remember when converting units of measurement to divide or multiply. We have all seen the charts where we multiply and divide by following the arrows to get to the unit of measurement we want - like the one below!

But to ensure you are going the right way in a test (when you don’t have that chart with you), always remember the following!

Suzanne Seychell

Numeracy Instructional Coach

seychells01@dow.catholic.edu.au

As part of a community building initiative, Year 9 were challenged with a Bridge Building Competition. Each STRIVE class engaged in constructing a bridge using 750 paddle pop sticks and two bottles of glue. Congratulations goes to 9.3 STRIVE class who worked as a team to build a bridge in a classroom setting over a period of two weeks. This bridge was able to withstand a weight of 45 kilograms without breaking. This challenge was aimed at engaging the students to work as a team to achieve a goal. It is hoped that the group will engage in other challenges next semester to help develop a sense of community and belonging.

I would like to thank Year 9 and the STRIVE coaches for entering into the spirit of this competition.

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On 13 June, all Year 9 had the opportunity to attend a History Excursion to help provide us with a deeper context of the World Wars as well as learn facts about interesting sites in the Sydney City. Year 9 were separated into 2 groups that each went on different journeys, in which they would eventually switch over.

The group I was assigned to, headed into the ANZAC Memorial first where we got the chance to learn about stories behind the World Wars (I and II) and what some of the Australian soldiers had to undergo as a result of fighting for their country, Australia. We were lucky enough to witness an act performed by one of the workers there, allowing our group to witness just scenes of what a particular soldier had to go through, even though it was Historical Fiction. But it didn’t end there … we explored the halls of the Memorial, viewing the range of ways the ANZACS and the wars were portrayed in art as well as see the different soils that were collected from the grounds where soldiers fought and put into tubes, some tubes even being empty due to closed-off access to those particular grounds.

After successfully exploring and learning interesting facts about the ANZAC Memorial, the 2 groups switched sides and it was now our turn to go on a 4km walk, visiting and learning more about the intriguing sites located in Sydney. These sites included; St Mary’s Cathedral, Botanical Gardens (looking out to the harbour and towards Bardeleys Head) and the Harbour Bridge (providing a close-up view of the Opera House). In this, we learnt many facts that were previously unknown to many and a portion of this information, located in the city, were unfolded to many students that day.

As a result, Year 9 successfully had the opportunity to embark on a History Excursion to the Sydney City, learning crucial facts surrounding the link(s) between Australia and both World War I and II. Not only was this an educational experience with all of our classmates, friends, staff and teachers but also a fun time we all got to share together.

The overall experience for the Year 9 History excursion was very educational and entertaining. On this day we went to the ANZAC Memorial & Royal Botanical Gardens where we did two things. The first part of our day is where we were at the ANZAC Memorial where we saw a performance from a member of their staff where they were retelling a story of a man in the war and all the feelings and things they went through. Then we had a tour of the ANZAC Memorial where we got to see all the items from the war. While on this walk the lady told us about everything, all the meaning and what happened and the stories of some soldiers. From learning all this they had an activity for us where we had to go back and think about all we have learned and the performance at the start of the day and write or draw a perspective of one of the people in the story and write what they might have felt like.

After the first part of the day was done we headed over to the St Mary’s Cathedral where we learned the history behind the church and how it was significant to Australia being the first Catholic cathedral. After going to the cathedral we made our way through the Sydney Botanical Gardens where we sat down overlooking the Sydney Harbour. Looking out to the harbour we were facing towards Bardeley's Head. Where we learned all about the Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour, after the walk, we got to sit down and look at the amazing view of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Overall this part of the day was really fun because we got to have a break and went on a 4km walk but also had the learning experience and saw them in real life.

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A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Retro Day in Week 5. We had such a wonderful time dressing up for a good cause! The team is still collecting items for our Winter Appeal to support St Vincent de Paul, Camden. We are looking for the following items:

• Deodorant

• Breakfast Condiments

• Wipes

• School Snacks

Each STRIVE group has been allocated an item to bring in. These can be brought to the collection point in the TAS quad every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during STRIVE for the remainder of the term.

Oodie and Trackie day is back! Wear an Oodie and trackie to school for $2 on Thursday Week 10 to raise money for SVDP. All money can be given to your STRIVE coach.

WinterFest is taking place on Friday, Week 1, Term 3 from 3pm - 6pm. WinterFest is like a mini Feast Day, where House Leaders and the Social Justice Team will run many food, drink and game stalls to support our local community. The team is aiming to run the event like a Christmas in July market. There will be a $5 entry fee, payable when providing consent on Compass with students receiving a sausage sizzle. However, there will be many food and drink stalls for students to purchase from (cash only).

We are asking students to add to the fun by wearing a Christmas Jumper or festive outfit with two lucky door prizes up for grabs! We will have live music performed by students throughout the afternoon too, so why not spend a fun afternoon with your friends! More details to follow in the next week.

If you would like to join the team, then please feel free to attend a meeting Wednesday Day 8 at recess in J1 or send Mrs Castelli an email.

Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli

Social Justice Coordinator

At St. Benedict’s, we offer a unique and life-changing experience through our voluntary parenting program for students enrolled in Community and Family Studies (CAFS) and Exploring Early Childhood (EEC). This program features "smart babies" that use wireless programming to track and report on caregivers' behaviours. The babies, weighing 3.5 kg and measuring 51 cm in length, are incredibly lifelike. They mirror the schedule of a newborn and require realistic care such as feeding, burping, rocking, nappy changing and responding to temperature and weather conditions.

At the end of the simulation, a report is generated, deducting points for miscare, incorrect positioning, lack of head support, and inattention. Most students are quite relieved to return the babies and walk away with a renewed appreciation for their own parents.

Tamara is a valued member of our team. Her time management skills, ability to meet deadlines, and productivity have allowed her to excel in teaching. Tamara's greatest strength is her organisation skills. Organisation and thoughtful planning create the foundations for meaningful learning, foster success and contribute to a positive and nurturing learning environment. Her students appreciate the thriving educational atmosphere she creates and her unparalleled understanding of their individual learning needs.

Our next teacher has been with us since the beginning. He has witnessed the school's journey from spare classrooms in Mt. Carmel to demountables in a paddock, and finally to the well-resourced and functioning school it is today. He creates strong connections with students and holds high expectations for the fundamentals of life. If you need an engaging activity to get students moving and enjoying physical activity, he is the go-to teacher.

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Year 7 have been continuing to work on their monochromatic artworks. These feature the use of Grid drawing so as to create realistic portraits and shadows. These works will take students till the end of the term to complete.

Students have also worked on lessons in understanding facial proportion and scale. This was in order to support students with their understanding of the facial form (in our long study on portraiture). Year 7 have also briefly studied JR and his works using portraiture, observing how portraiture can change with place and time.

Year 9 are finalising their school landscape body of work inspired by Reg Mombassa (Mambo) and Mulga the Artist. These works will be on show in the COLA for all to see on Monday Week 10 at recess.

Photographs of the works will be featured in the next newsletter.

Year 10 spent the day in the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney on Thursday Week 7, exploring The Archibald Exhibition. The Archibald Prize is the most prestigious art award in Australia. The prize is awarded to the best portrait of a person who is distinguished in the arts, letters, science or politics. Students have been studying portraiture in class throughout the semester so it was a fantastic opportunity for them to see artworks up close. Thank you to Mr White, Mrs Smith and Mrs Grant for taking Year 10 to the gallery. Below are two overviews of the day written by two Year 10 Visual Art students:

“The Archibald Exhibition is an annual event that was held in the Art Gallery of NSW. The Year 10 Visual Arts Elective class were fortunate enough to experience this exhibition and were showcased a variety of artworks. The vibrant colours, intricate details, and powerful emotions portrayed in the artworks were truly captivating. Each piece had a unique story to tell, evoking a range of feelings. As I wandered through the gallery, I couldn't help but be drawn into the world of each painting and portrait. The diversity of styles and subjects was astounding, from bold and abstract pieces to more traditional and realistic portrayals. The talent and creativity of the artists were truly inspiring, making it a memorable and enriching visit.” - Simran S.

“As I walked into the Art exhibition, I couldn't help but be awestruck by the sheer talent on display at the Archibald Prize exhibition. As a student, I'd heard so much about this prestigious art award, but nothing could have prepared me for the vibrancy and energy that filled the room. The intricate brushstrokes, bold colours, and thought-provoking themes all came together to create an immersive experience that left me inspired and challenged. I found myself continuously drawn to the more unconventional pieces that pushed the norms of traditional portraiture, like Laura Jones’ winning portrait of ‘Tim Winton’. As I continued to explore the exhibition, I was struck by the diversity of styles and themes on display, from the hyper-realism of Matt Adnate’s ‘Rhythms of heritage’ to the abstract of Shaun Gladwell ‘A spangled symbolist portrait of Julian Assange floating in reflection’, Each piece seemed to tell a unique story, inviting me to step into their world and immerse myself in their vision. As I wandered through the galleries with my classmates, I felt grateful for this opportunity to witness some of Australia's most talented artists in action – it was truly an unforgettable experience”. - Hayley E.

Year 12 have handed in their HSC Body of Work for a progress mark. Their completed Body of Work is due on Monday September 2 2024 for NESA marking. Congratulations Year 12 on your hardwork and perseverance so far. Not too long to go!!

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Whilst you’re exploring the Oliver Home Page check out our range of Ebooks and Audiobooks accessed via the Sora App.

Many of our students are currently participating in the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge IT’S NOT TOO LATE to join them! Come see the Library Staff to organise registration and be a part of the challenge. All students participating in the challenge will be eligible for a prize from the Library as well as the opportunity to receive a Certificate issued by the NSW Premier awarded at the end of year College Assembly, not to mention reading a wide variety of new and exciting books.

The Library will proudly be supporting NAIDOC WEEK in the upcoming weeks followed by the Olympics which will include visual displays, resources and competitions. Keep an eye on the Oliver Homepage and the Library TV monitors for more information.

Happy reading!

The Library Team

Tuesday 11 June

Tuesday 18 June

Senior Girls Netball

It has been a privilege working with the Senior Girls Netball team this week. Composed of Year 11 and Year 12 students with a diverse range of experience this team has won game after game! The versatility and depth of skill among this team is impressive. They manage to show great sportsmanship and teamwork on the court. They leave every game, no matter how challenging, with a big smile on their faces. So great to see!

Congratulations to the Senior MISA Netball team, they have finished the term in first place and head into the Grand Final next week against William Carey Christian College. It will be a difficult game. Best of luck to them all.

I was also lucky enough to take a select few of this MISA team to the Diocesan Netball Carnival on Friday 14 June. Playing a total of 5 games throughout the day, they did exceptionally well, missing out on first place by 3 goals. This game could have gone either way but unfortunately we didn't get the win we needed. This was still a great achievement for this team.

Again, wishing them all the best in preparation for the final next week, I know it will be an exciting game to watch.

Ms J Bulger

Senior Netball Coach

MISA Girls 7-9 Basketball

The MISA Girls Basketball have had a season to remember, marked by stunning victories, close matches and unwavering spirit which led them to the grand finals. Their teamwork, strategy and individual brilliance were on full display every week. Their only loss of the season against MACC provided them an opportunity to refocus the team’s vision and efforts, and was able to bounce back stronger, during the semifinals.

In the grand finals, they were against SFCC, a team equally driven and talented. From the get-go, it was clear that this match was going to be a thrilling game. Whilst both teams were evenly matched, the girls displayed exceptional skill and sportsmanship. As the final minutes of the game came, the girls really tried to bring home the trophy. Despite the loss, the girl’s performance was nothing short of the SBCC spirit. They played together, for each other and cheered one another. I look forward to another opportunity to bring home the trophy next year.

Throughout the season, several players stood out for their exceptional skills and achievements:

• Diaan M, MVP, led the league in assists and steals. She also holds the highest score in the team during this season.

• Lauren K, ability to read and call out opponents’ key mannerisms and how to utilise it to our advantage during the game.

• Madison A and Isabella M’s ability to drive to the basket in order to control the tempo of the game but also created numerous scoring opportunities for her and her teammates.
  
  

Well done to all.

Ms. C Flores

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Studio5 has relocated to a new site in Campbelltown and is now open for students from Years 11 and 12 to study Monday - Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm and during school holidays.

To book, send an email to studio5@dow.catholic.edu.au with your name/school and the date/time you plan to attend. Cancel at any time via email.

Printing and binding facilities available.

Address: Suite 3.01, Building B, Lvl 3, 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown NSW 2560

Website: https://www.atstudio5.com/

Email: studio5@dow.catholic.edu.au

Contact: Natasha Hamilton 0429 193 168

For all things related to the College BYODD program, please visit the College BYODD Site. Here you will find all information relating to the BYODD program including device requirements, Apple Care + and how to configure your device for use at the College.

For questions relating to BYODD, please contact the College or email:

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/byoddsbcc/it-support

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Please find attached the school bus timetable for 2024 or you can click on the link below to see our school timetable that has been uploaded onto the transit systems website.
https://nsw.transitsystems.com.au/

P & F Uniform Pool order form - click here

The P & F preloved Uniform Pool has reopened, please complete the order form and send to the P & F by email at: uniforms@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au

Our wonderful P&F volunteer Tracey will contact you.

Items can be paid for in cash ONLY and collected from the SBCC College Office.

Donations of items in good condition can be left at the College Office.

Please note Rainier's office hours over winter:

• Narellan Shop will be closed on Fridays ONLY from 21 June – 2 August
• Narellan Shop will be closed for stocktake from the 8 July – 13 July (one week only)

CONTACT:

Ranier Schoolwear Unit 5/6-8 Porrende Street Narellan 2567

Online purchasing and appointments visit: shop.ranier.com.au

Email: stbenedict@ranier.com.au

Phone: 02 4647 8942

Responses will be provided during opening hours

For more immediate assistance, Head Office details are

Online: ranier.com.au/contact

Email: custservice@ranier.com.au