Parent and Carers - please ensure you have consented either way (yes or no) via 'Insights' in Compass. Student's image will appear blurred until consent has been provided.

Click the below link to consent:

https://sbccdow-nsw.compass.education/Records/User.aspx?insId=11#insights

Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.

It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​ Australia is one of the world's most successful multicultural countries and our cultural diversity is at the heart of who we are. Over half of Australians were born overseas, or have at least one parent who was born overseas. That's why it's so important that we celebrate our country's diversity through Harmony Week.

At St Benedict’s embracing diversity and fostering inclusivity are not just mere words but deeply embedded principles that guide our actions and interactions every day. So the celebration of Harmony Week and especially Harmony Day on Thursday 21 March , a day dedicated to promoting cultural respect and understanding, interconnects with our school's Benedictine values and our College Pillar a "Love of Neighbour."

At the heart of Harmony Day lies the essence of acceptance and respect for all individuals, regardless of their cultural background, beliefs, or ethnicity. This principle resonates profoundly with our Benedictine value of hospitality. Just as Benedictine hospitality welcomes all with open arms, irrespective of differences, Harmony Day encourages us to extend the same warmth and acceptance to everyone in our community. By fostering an environment of hospitality, we create a space where every individual feels valued and respected, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive school culture.

A Love of Neighbour provides the framework for our college community to care for one another and the world around us. Harmony Day serves as a reminder of our duty to promote social harmony and unity, both within our school community and beyond. By embracing diversity and championing inclusivity, we actively contribute to building a more harmonious and equitable society, fulfilling our role as stewards of peace and justice.

I would like to acknowledge and thanks to Norcia House and Mr Steve Bulfon who have led our Harmony Week Events and Celebrations here at the College.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, we need to care for the environment in a serious and effective manner, and recycling is one important means to this end. Fr David (Parish Priest of St Mary MacKillop Parish) is pleased to announce that the St Mary MacKillop Parish have partnered with Australia’s largest collector of textiles for re-use, re-purpose, and recycling, SCR Group to make a clothing donation bin once again available next to the Oran Park Mass Centre.

The mandate of SCRgroup is focused on diverting 100 per cent of their collections from landfill through re-homing unwanted clothing in local and international communities that need them the most. Where clothing is unfit for wear, SCRgroup converts them into rags and biofuel. They are also working to convert textile waste into products for resale.

In light of this mandate – and as clearly shown on the graphic that is found on the front of the donation bin - the only items that can be placed in our newly installed SCRgroup donation bin are clothing, shoes, handbags and fashion accessories. Those wishing to donate other items (such as toys or household items) are asked to drop these off at charity stores and other charity providers.

The College is seeking tenders to operate the College Cafe commencing 1 July 2024. Interested parties need to contact Dina Assaf at the College for further information about the tender process. Please call 4631 5300.

Kind regards,

Mrs Kerrie Piatek

We have spoken with a number of year groups throughout the week regarding the uniform guidelines at school. I have included these in the newsletter. Students who breach our uniform expectations may be removed from the yard at recess and lunch until the issue is rectified. This may also involve the confiscation of jewellery. I would ask for support at home when students leave in the morning to ensure their uniform meets College expectations. A reminder that sport uniform is only to be worn on Tuesday or when students have a practical PDHPE lesson as advised by their teacher.

https://www.sbccdow.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Uniform-Guidelines-2023.pdf

Michael Turner

Year 7 Transition Reports

Year 7 Transition Reports will be released through Compass in Term 1, Week 11 on Friday 12 April 2024 at 3pm. Information about behaviour, application, organisation and use of technology will be the focus of this report.

Year 11 Progress Reports & Year 12 Mid-Course Reports and Parent Teacher Student Interviews

Year 11 Progress Reports and Year 12 Mid-Course Reports will be released through Compass in Term 2, Week 2 on Friday 10 May 2024 at 3pm.

Year 11 progress reports will provide a grade for each subject, Strive profile and information about behaviour, application, organisation and use of technology.

Year 12 Mid-Course reports will provide a grade for each subject, organisational and interpersonal skills, and contribution to learning attributes.

Parent Teacher Student Interviews will follow in Week 3 of Term 2, on Wednesday 15 May 2024. More information to be provided next term.

Kind regards,

Wendy Fawbert

As we approach the last weeks of Lent - Holy Week begins this Sunday with PALM SUNDAY.

As we approach the culmination of the Lenten season, we immerse ourselves in the profound significance of Holy Week. This sacred period, deeply rooted in Christian tradition, commemorates the final week of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, leading up to His crucifixion and triumphant resurrection.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, a day marked by the joyful celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where crowds greeted Him with palm branches, shouting "Hosanna!" This event symbolises the anticipation of the Messiah's arrival and the beginning of a week filled with spiritual reflection.

Following Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday invites us to reflect on the Last Supper, where Jesus shared bread and wine with His disciples, instituting the sacrament of Holy Communion. This solemn occasion also commemorates Jesus' act of humility in washing the feet of His disciples, emphasising the importance of service and love.

Good Friday, perhaps the most somber day of Holy Week, invites us to contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a time for solemn reflection, prayer, and meditation on the immense sacrifice made for the redemption of humanity. Churches often hold services of remembrance, focusing on the profound suffering endured by Jesus on the cross.

Holy Saturday, the day of quiet anticipation, allows for introspection as we await the joyous celebration of Easter Sunday. It is a time to reflect on the significance of Christ's descent into death and His ultimate victory over sin and death through His resurrection.

Finally, Easter Sunday dawns with the glorious proclamation of Christ's resurrection. It is a day of immense joy and hope, as believers gather to celebrate the triumph of life over death, light over darkness. The Resurrection reminds us of the promise of salvation and the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.

As we journey through Holy Week, let us embrace the opportunity for spiritual growth, reflection, and renewal. May we be inspired by the profound love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and may this sacred time deepen our faith and strengthen our commitment to living lives of love, compassion, and service to others.

This year the parish will celebrate the following Holy Week and Easter services and Masses:

Holy Thursday (28 March):

Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7pm

(in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

Good Friday (29 March):

Stations of the Cross at 10am

(in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

Passion Service at 3pm

(in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

Easter Vigil (30 March):

Solemn Easter Vigil Mass at 6pm

(in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

Please note there will be no 4pm Reconciliation or 5pm Saturday Vigil Mass on 30 March.

Easter Sunday (31 March):

- Mass at 8am (in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

- Mass at 10am (in St Justin's/St Benedict's Hall, Oran Park)

- Mass at 5pm (in St Mary MacKillop Church, Oran Park)

If you ask many students, one of the hardest parts of learning is having to retain mass information for exams. The Association for Studies of Religion (ASR) and ISRA make this learning a little easier by inviting students across New South Wales to experience first-hand a Ramadan iftar (dinner).

The aim of the night, 'A Taste of Ramadan' is to allow students to experience and understand more about Ramadan and how Muslims break their fast and pray, while also allowing them to meet and interact with Muslim students, who share personal reflections of the month.

Students from St Benedict’s had the opportunity to experience Ramadan with Muslims by joining students and staff from Amity College for this breaking of the fast meal (iftar). As well as enjoying a delicious meal, students experienced and observed the following:

• Quran Recitation

• Observing the congregational prayer

• Talks on Ramadan

• Meeting and chatting to Muslim students and staff

• Delicious food

I have included below a reflection from the students who attended.

Last Thursday, Mr Ghignone, Mr White, and a group of students participated in an enlightening interfaith journey at an Iftar dinner hosted by ISRA at Amity College in Auburn, delving into the Islamic tradition during the sacred month of Ramadan. Our participation not only enriched our understanding of diverse religious practices, which is particularly beneficial for our studies in SOR but also offered invaluable insights into the cultural and spiritual significance of Ramadan. As we entered the Mosque, the separation of prayer spaces for males and females vividly highlighted the deep-rooted religious traditions within the community, adding layers to our learning experience.

The evening’s guest speaker, renowned for establishing the first AFL women’s team, shared heartwarming stories about her family’s Ramadan customs, demonstrating how this sacred time fosters unity and closeness among loved ones. Her reminiscences of past celebrations with her grandparents underscored the enduring bonds and cherished memories forged during Ramadan. Overall, the event provided a profound insight into the diverse ways in which adherents of the Islamic faith observe and celebrate Ramadan, emphasising the richness of their traditions and individual experiences.

We extend our gratitude to Mrs Logue for organising our attendance at such meaningful events and for consistently providing opportunities for our college to engage in interfaith activities. This experience not only broadened our perspective but also encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones, make new friends, and embrace the richness of cultural diversity. I encourage students, especially those in younger years, to participate in such initiatives and opportunities as they arise.

Mischa V and Alyssa S (Year 12)

Have a blessed and wonderful Holy Week,

Kimberley Logue

I would like to congratulate the following students who are this years Student House Leaders:

Dharawal

Year 8 - Ferdinand De La Cruz & Carmenssa Ghobrial

Year 9 - Lachlan Helson & Mirela Miklik

Year 10 - Brodie Booth & Asha Healey

Year 11 - Yonghu Lee & Phoebe Osbourne

Year 12 - Bailey Helson & Kaitlyn Benedicic

Hildegard

Year 8 - Wyome Owen & Laney Martin

Year 9 - Alessio Romeo & Emma Wood

Year 10 - Joel Fehrenbach & Grace McGlynn

Year 11 - Joshua Hayford & Kirra Baxter

Year 12 - Landon Messina & Abigail D’Souza

Ingham

Year 8 - Kenjie Sebastian & Nikisha Kumar

Year 9 - Maddison Lacey & Christian Barbadillo

Year 10 - Claudia Di-Filippo & Lucas Fenech

Year 11 - Awer Deng & Aaron Josh Joy

Year 12 - Lucas Azzopardi & Rileigh Griffin

Mackillop

Year 8 - Jordan Ramas & Kiara Bica

Year 9 - Tristan Lane & Sophia Regan

Year 10 - Ronan Taylor & Ashley Leonor

Year 11 - Jenna Simpson & Tino Andreau

Year 12 - Allan Yaqoob & Pia McMahon

Norcia

Year 8 - Ella New & Darcy Russell

Year 9 - Noah Crawford & Lily Taylor

Year 10 - Pedro Sabino & Sophia Perez

Year 11 - Milen Augustine & Charlotte Smit

Year 12 - Jesse Ucar & Dakota Lewis

Polding

Year 8 - Jayden Dominello & Annalise Pitros

Year 9 - Orlando Rossi & Molly Small

Year 10 - Dylan Spiteri & Montana McSweeney

Year 11 - Jye Brown & Jada Halls

Year 12 - Patrick Manny & Libby Isaac

Kind regards,

John Wheeler

• Monday 25 March - NAPLAN Catch Up Tests
  
• Wednesday 27 March - Easter Liturgy
• Wednesday 27 March - Easter Egg Raffle Winners Announced
• Thursday 28 March - Staff Development Day (No students on site)
• Friday 29 March - Good Friday (Public Holiday)
• Monday 1 April - Easter Monday (Public Holiday)
• Tuesday 2 April - School Returns

• Term 1 Holiday Break: Monday 15 April to Friday 26 April
• Monday 29 April - Term 2 begins for staff and students

A huge thank you to everyone in our school community for helping the Social Justice team raise money for Project Compassion. We began the term with the goal of raising $1000. Well, we have absolutely smashed that! At the end of Week 6, we had managed to raise $1300 but since then, Year 9 had their coin trail raising just under $400 and Year 7 had their bake sale, who have raised a huge $1000 since the last check on Friday.

We still have the Easter raffle to go with tickets being on sale at recess in the COLA. Tickets will still be available next week on Monday and Tuesday at recess in the COLA. Winners of the competition will be announced during STRIVE on Wednesday. Thank you to everyone who donated to this competition.

This week we celebrated Harmony week. Harmony week is a wonderful way to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity that we have in Australia but also within our school community. A massive thank you must go to Norcia House led by Mr Bulfon for their enormous contribution to running Harmony Week, but also to their contributions to Project Compassion. Staff and students ran a number of events this week like market stalls, staff v students games (staff beat Year 12 in the tug-a-war which I loved because Christopher F in Year 12 challenged me in our recent College assembly for this event), STRIVE kahoot competition and promoting Cultural Day with a dance performance by Priyanka N (12), Abigail D (12), Eeshika C (12), Anannya M (12), Elvina J (12), Angus D (11), Kirsty F (11), Aaron J (11), Alex J (11), Aryan N (11), Dilshan C (11), Milen A (11).

Today, we ended our week of celebration with Cultural Day where staff and students were invited to wear cultural dress, a jersey or house colours. It was such a wonderful way to see the diversity we have here at Bennies.

Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli

Social Justice Coordinator

Year 11 SLR students had an exciting and fulfilling day on March 20th by participating in a surfing excursion at Killalea Beach. The students, accompanied by their teachers, engaged in learning the fundamentals techniques of surfing under the guidance of Pine Surf Academy.

Upon reaching Killalea Beach, the students received thorough instructions regarding safety measures and essential surfing skills necessary for a successful surfing experience. They spent some time on the shore familiarising themselves with laying on the board, pushing up, and mastering the art of standing on it before venturing into the water.

The enthusiasm exhibited by the students on the shore continued as they eagerly entered the water. While some students quickly adapted and found themselves riding the waves effortlessly, others encountered a few falls before mastering the technique.

Witnessing the students' progression and determination in a new sport was a rewarding experience for the teachers. Despite the initial challenges, the students showcased a resilient "never give up" attitude, which contributed to their eventual success on the waves.

The day was blessed with ideal surf conditions, further enhancing the overall experience. The students' exemplary behaviour and enthusiasm made it a memorable and enjoyable day for everyone involved.

This week in Year 9 Child Studies, students have been learning about pregnancy and in particular, the developing baby in a mother's womb. Students used play-doh to create models of what the fetus looks like at different stages of pregnancy.

As promised here is a glimpse into the life of the PDHPE Coordinator, Mrs Melissa Loudoun. Mel is a dynamic and diplomatic leader. Her background in PDHPE education is extensive, backed by years of experience in designing engaging and inclusive teaching programs and practices. Mel’s ability to foster a culture of collaboration among colleagues and make her staff feel valued is a testament to her leadership skills and understanding of team dynamics.

Our next member of faculty is one that is brimming with enthusiasm. He brings a fresh perspective to our team and his passion for teaching is contagious. Here is a hint:

On Tuesday morning, four senior students headed off to Liverpool Catholic Club for the annual Kari Foundation Universities transition Day. The students were lucky to be presented with a range of useful information regarding different pathways programs that exist at most Australian universities. They had time to explore and ask questions to university staff as well as leading private sector employers such as Endeavour Energy and Optus.

Overall the students were excited to hear from all of the presenters as they look forward to the completion of their senior schooling years.

Earlier this month the St Benedict's Mountain Bike Club represented the college at the Australian Interschools Mountain Bike Competition in Thredbo. Over three days riders from schools all across Australia descended on Thredbo for the largest all-schools mountain bike racing competition in the country.

Six riders from St Benedict's competed across the three days in very challenging conditions. Having had little rain in the region, the trails were extremely dry, dusty and slippery. In addition, with over 1500 riders using these trails during the competition, the tracks became very damaged requiring skill and perseverance to navigate through them, particularly at speed.

Our representatives made the college proud in the way they supported each other while racing and demonstrated sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the event. The competitors had an incredible time together and we look forward to more races throughout 2024.

The SBCC MTB Club would like to extend a massive thank you to Mrs Piatek and the college P&F for supporting the club in this event. We must also send an equally massive thank you to the parents who took time off work to bring their riders down to compete for the college. We are very grateful.

The club is always on the lookout for more members, so if mountain biking interests you and you would like to be a part of the club please come and see Mr O'Donnell.

Check out the action by clicking the Thredbo 2024.mp4 video:

Some of the year 8 science classes were privileged to have Ms Caitie Oldfield, our Aboriginal Education Assistant, join their classes and present how Aboriginal people use ochre for their artwork, as well as the cultural significance of its use in ceremony and Indigenous culture.

Students were taught where ochre comes from and then given the opportunity to create their own designs. This was part of the Magical Matters unit in which students are learning about compounds and mixtures. This was an excellent opportunity and learning experience for all involved. We thank Ms Oldfield for her time.

Year 7 have been learning about lab safety and practicing their skills in measurement. On Monday they completed a practical which was a challenge to follow the instructions and take exact measurements of the coloured water to make a rainbow with their test tubes. They worked on their skills in teamwork as well as using a pipette and measuring cylinder.

Year 9 Food Technology have been practising their cake decorating skills in preparation for their upcoming cake assessment. Check out these awesome cupcakes!

Miss Singha and Mrs Flores

On Wednesday, March 20, Sarah Fordham, Art Educator and Artist from the Australian Catholic University, ran a workshop with Year 12 exploring how to tackle the HSC writing examination for both the trial exams and the final HSC exam.

Students spent 3 hours learning various tips and tricks on how to navigate the Visual Art written paper, with some ideas that they can also take into their other subjects, like how to unpack a question, what to do in their 5 minutes reading time, how to organise their notes during each holiday break and at the end of each unit rather than just before the exam.

Below are a few comments made by students in our class regarding the workshop:

Students have been working hard on developing their Reg Mombassa inspired school landscape artwork using charcoal for the past few weeks. Students chose a section of the school to photograph ensuring they established either a one-point perspective or two-point perspective. Students have then transferred their photograph to paper by using the grid method of drawing to help create a realistic drawing. I look forward to sharing the final works with you in the coming weeks.

Year 7 have been busy developing their artmaking skills through creating more self-portraits, this time using a continuous line. These portraits required students to examine their facial features and create their portraits through using one solid line. There were many giggles throughout these lessons! We then chose colours to use throughout the artworks that represented their personalities.

Year 7 have also begun learning about the art movement Cubism with a focus on Pablo Picasso. This work will assist students for their first assessment task in Term 2 where they will complete an in class task exploring Cubism and Cubist portraits.

Congratulations to our Year 12 Music class for all of their preparation with this week's assessment task. Performance is still a strong elective amongst our music students. It’s also very exciting to see many of our year 9, 10 and 11 students rehearsing throughout recess and lunch breaks preparing for their tasks. And lastly our year 8 music students should all be studying for the theory exam in week 9. Using either their work booklet or lessons placed on google classroom.

Good luck musicians.

Mrs Koryzma

Rehearsals are well and truly underway for our school's first production. Currently we are busily sorting out costumes, tickets, programs, sets, designs and dances. Our year 7 students were very excited when they heard that they will be involved in the show along with Mr Agoo and Mr Arcuri. Our wondering Parents and Friends committee have very kindly agreed to cover the cost of the lighting and some of the audio equipment, we thank them very much and know that our students will benefit from a professional experience. A big thank you to Ethan, Christian, Rhiannon and Maddison who treated us with a sneak preview at Tuesday's assembly. Tickets will go on sale next term so make sure you do not miss out!!!

Mrs Koryzma

The 2024 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge begins on Monday 26 February 2024 and ends 23 August 2024. The Library is looking forward to encouraging and supporting this fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves and explore a variety of books. Here are some quick facts and for any further information, please just ask the Library staff.

Keep an eye on the Oliver home page for information regarding all new resources.

Happy reading

The Library Team

Wool4School is an annual student design competition encouraging budding designers to use Merino wool for innovative thinking and creative design. First launched in Australia in 2012, Wool4School now involves over 100,000 students worldwide.

The Brief

ELEMENTS - Earth, water, fire and air.

Create a unique design made from wool, taking inspiration from the earth’s natural elements. From fashion design to architecture, visual arts, and beyond – there’s no limits to your area of design. Research the design properties of wool and investigate how these can be included in a design that embodies your interpretation of your chosen element of earth, water, fire or air.

Click on the below QR code for further information or visit: www.wool4school.com/

It is that time of year again, where students have just sat down to do their NAPLAN tests for numeracy, reading, literacy conventions and writing. Throughout Week 7, the Year 7 and Year 9 students sat these examinations which will allow us as teachers and parents to see the progression over time in various domain areas. The tests provide schools, states and territories with information about how education approaches are working, areas to be prioritised for improvement, and those schools requiring support in the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy.

In my role as Numeracy Instructional Coach, this is my priority when the results come out to see where we can develop and improve our students in their numeracy skills. Students are reported against four levels of achievement; “exceeding”, “strong”, “developing” and “needs additional support”. Here is a brief description of the four levels of achievement:

• Exceeding: The student’s result exceeds expectations at the time of testing.

• Strong: The student’s result meets challenging but reasonable expectations at the time of testing.

• Developing: The student’s result indicates that they are working towards expectations at the time of testing.

• Needs additional support: The student’s result indicates that they are not achieving the learning outcomes expected at the time of testing. They are likely to need additional support to progress satisfactorily.

Currently, our data indicates that students are needing to work on fractions, decimals, percentages, real numbers (Stage 4) as well as geometrical shapes, transformations and figures and real numbers (Stage 5). Real numbers involve things like unit conversions and measurement.

Through various activities and team teaching opportunities, I will be engaging with a variety of classes across multiple Key Learning Areas in order to address these areas.

Suzanne Seychell

Numeracy Instructional Coach

seychells01@dow.catholic.edu.au

We wish Jude Hamilton and Mikaylah Robinson the best of luck as they are competing in Little Athletics on the weekend for NSW. Jude is competing in the 3000m and the 1500m and Mikaylah is competing in the 300m hurdles and High Jump.

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

2024 University Early Entry Guide - please click here.

On 29/02/24 senior students completed their White cards. The White Card course is a requirement to work in the Construction Industry, it will cover the basic WHS knowledge required before commencing work tasks within any of the building sectors. This course requires the ability to demonstrate personal awareness of Work Health & Safety (WHS) legislative requirements.

The students had a wonderful day and are eager to begin their work experience at some stage this year.

.

• https://www.esafety.gov.au/
  This website is great as it as resources for parents, children and educators

• https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-issues/esafety-guide
  This lists information about all the latest games, apps and social media to be aware of, that children may be using.

• https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/staying-safe-online
  
  Trauma Informed Practice
• https://professionals.childhood.org.au/centre-trauma-aware-responsive-education/
  https://www.berrystreet.org.au/ - Has great resources

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.

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

RANIER has advised that there may be significant delays with the college uniform. This delay is due to COVID lockdowns in China.

Orders placed for home delivery are despatched twice a week from the Uniform Shop. Orders placed for collection from college office will be available Mondays after 2:30pm, orders placed prior to 9am Monday will qualify.

TRADING HOURS DURING COLLEGE TERMS:

Monday 9am – 5pm

Tuesday 9am – 5pm

Wednesday 9am – 5pm

Thursday 9am – 5pm

Saturday 9am – 12pm

Collection from shop | Collection from College | Home Delivery

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