STRIVE Coaches have allocated a food item for each student to donate to our Christmas Appeal. Items can be brought in next week on Monday 27, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 November. Thank you for your support!

Year 11 have organised for Santa to visit Bennies on Friday 1 December, Week 8, at recess and lunch in the Library. All photos are $2 each with proceeds going to St Vincent De Paul.

Students are also welcome to wear a Christmas t-shirt and/or accessory with their sport uniform on the same day.

On Wednesday students of the Fast Forward program attended Western Sydney University. They were given the opportunity to learn more about the value of tertiary education and explore personal strengths, developing problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

Students have been learning about the Earth's systems. They created beautiful rainbow models to demonstrate how salt concentration affects density, this helped them to understand the role of salinity in driving our global ocean currents. Also, for students who are finishing up their science learning this year, we aim to relive some of their favourite practical activities, such as the classic elephant's toothpaste.

Last Thursday, 31 students from the Year 10 Extension Science class attended a day at the University of Sydney where they participated in a Grand Challenge with the theme Igniting the Future of Renewable Fuel. The day was run by Future Anything, a company that specialises in teaching entrepreneurship to high school students.

Alongside nine other schools, students were required to work in groups to ideate and prototype their own innovative, scalable and sustainable solution to make the world a better place. Students were taken through a whole problem-solving exercise and were encouraged to ‘Go Big, Go Wild, Go Together’. They were required to work as entrepreneurs to pitch an innovative idea using or amplifying the use of renewable energy.

The day ended with each team having to 'elevator pitch' their ideas to the other students as well as a panel of judges consisting of academics and entrepreneurs. There were around 45 groups competing in total.

The St Benedict’s teams were amazing and we ended with two teams achieving first and second place in the Grand Final! These students presented their wild ideas with confidence and flare which impressed all the judges.

Congratulations to these outstanding teams:

First place: Jada Halls, Rhianna Versola, Kirsty Fernandes, Lucinda Grace and Ryan Iuliano, for their 'Munch & Crunch' idea.

Second place: Tori Wilson, Claire Small and Jenna Simpson for their “Lift ‘n’ Drift” idea.

Well done to all involved!

Maria de Lima

(Leader of Learning, Science)

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

TERM 4

• Wednesday 29 November - Food for Special Occasions Hosting our Mater Dei Students
• Friday 1 December - Year 8 Science Space Excursion
• Friday 8 December - Year 7 Water Safety / Lifesaving Program

• Tuesday 12 December - Last day for Years 10 & 11
• Wednesday 13 December - Students Activity Day
• Thursday 14 December - Last day for Years 7, 8 & 9 / Parent Teacher Interviews Years 7 to 10 via Zoom (12.00pm - 2.30pm)
• Friday 15 December - Parent Teacher Interviews Years 7 to 10 via Zoom (8am - 12.30pm)

TERM 1 - 2024

• Wednesday 31 January - Year 12 ONLY first day (Sports Uniform)
• Thursday 1 February - Year 7 & 11 ONLY first day (Summer Uniform)
• Friday 2 February - Years 8, 9 & 10 first day (Summer Uniform)

On Thursday Week 7, Year 9 Food Technology had the pleasure of experiencing the process of creating a Traditional Fish trap, showcased by Andrew Oldfield. This term, Year 9 Food Technology has been learning about using Australian bush foods in traditional cultural practices, dishes and cooking techniques compared to modern-day food processes. By using moist tall grass, Andrew thinned out the stems and weaved them together to make them stronger and more durable. He will continuously tie the strands together, making a large trap that will dry over time and become a strong and sufficient fishing trap. We were also allowed to feel the different stages of the grass being prepared for weaving and the final product. Andrew will be working on the fish trap on Thursday’s over the next few weeks in the library. Year 9 Food Technology is looking forward to revisiting the showcase in a couple of weeks, seeing how it progresses and how it relates to our topic “Food in Australia”.

Lucas Fenech, Jordyn McIntosh and Sienna Felice

Breaking down the grass fibres in preparation for twisting and weaving.

Students observing weaving techniques.

Observing the different grass colours and textures throughout the fishing trap as a result of the grass drying out over the past few weeks of weaving progression.

It is with excitement that we invite all our family and friends to our Art Exhibition on Monday 4 December from 4pm to 6pm. Artworks and photographs created by our wonderful students will be on display from Year 7 to Year 12. All works can be seen throughout the J Block and C Block. We look forward to showcasing our talented students with our school community.

The College would like to wish the below teams the best of luck who made it into the Grand Finals next week.

• Girls 7 - 9 Softball
• Boys 7 - 9 AFL

We would also like to wish the Boys 7 - 9 OzTag as they play for the 3rd or 4th position.

Visit the St Benedict's Catholic College Careers website here

Preparing for a scholarship interview

Sometimes as part of the scholarship application process, you’ll need to attend an interview. While the prospect can be nerve-wracking, with proper preparation, you can feel more confident going in. In this blog, we’ll walk you through valuable tips on preparing for scholarship interviews, addressing common questions, and strategies to make a lasting impression.

Research the scholarship

Before stepping into the interview room, familiarise yourself with the scholarship and the organisation offering it. Understand their mission, values, and the specific criteria they are looking for in a candidate. This way, you can tailor your responses to align with the scholarship’s goals, demonstrating your genuine interest.

Know your achievements

Prepare a list of your achievements, both academically and extracurricularly – this could be times where you showed leadership, resilience, or your commitment to community service. Use real life examples to illustrate your skills and experiences so it’s easier for the interviewers to see your potential.

Anticipate common questions

While every scholarship interview is unique, there are certain questions that tend to pop up commonly. Here are some things you should be ready to discuss:

• Your educational goals
• Your career aspirations
• How the scholarship aligns with your ambitions
• Your strengths and weaknesses
• How you’ve overcome challenges

Practice your responses to these questions so you’re confident by the time the interview rolls around.

Present yourself confidently

Confidence is key during any interview. Practice maintaining eye contact, offering a firm handshake, and sitting up straight. These non-verbal cues help convey self-assurance and professionalism. And don’t forget to smile!

Develop your elevator pitch

Craft a concise and compelling pitch that highlights your key achievements, goals, and why you are the ideal candidate for the scholarship. Try to keep it under two minutes, ensuring that it captivates the interviewers’ attention and leaves a lasting impression.

Prepare your own questions

A great way to show your interest in the scholarship is by preparing your own thoughtful questions for the interviewers. Ask about the impact of the scholarship on previous recipients, or seek advice on how to make the most of the opportunities it provides. This demonstrates your proactive approach and eagerness to learn.

Remember, the interview is your opportunity to showcase your potential – and it’s totally OK if you’re feeling nervous! Developing good interview skills will help you later down the track when applying for other opportunities, such as internships and jobs.

You can read more blogs about scholarships and search for opportunities on our website here.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply here. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2024.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

We have a large number of lost property items without names including:

• Glasses
• Sports jackets
• Water bottles
• Jewellery

If anyone is missing anything please come to the administration office to collect.

It has come to the attention of Executive staff that a number of students are turning up to school late without their Compass card. This card is compulsory for all students attending the College. If your child/s has lost their Compass card, please follow these instructions.

If you are thinking of taking extended leave outside of the school holidays that is more than 10 consecutive days, please ensure you complete the attached form below. Any additional leave needs to be approved via the Principal. Completed forms can be dropped into the office either via the parent desk or student desk.

College P & F Uniform Pool orders

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 and collected from the SBCC College Office. We do not return, exchange or refund on 2nd hand clothing as these are donated by families.

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