St Benedict's Catholic College

Students and their families, principals, and Catholic Education Office staff gathered with the Bishop of Wollongong, Most Rev. Brian Mascord, and the Director of Schools, Peter Hill, to recognise the excellent achievements and contributions of these young women and men.

Blake Straub was this years recipient. He was recognised for his religious, academic, and community-based accomplishments as a Year 12 student.

St Benedict's Catholic College would like to congratulate Blake on this achievement.

Keep an eye on our Oliver Homepage and the big Screens for our next competition Mask-A-Rade. This competition invites students to express their creativity with a light hearted approach to Halloween with a mask made by the students - a task which can be undertaken over the holidays. Strict guidelines are to be adhered too, to encourage appropriate entries particularly the exclusion of blood, gore, weapons and similar items.

You can use a mask template and decorate it or you can create a mask from cardboard, egg cartons, clay, fabric, etc - the list is endless. Creativity is the key.

Entries close 27 October 2023 (Friday W3 T4)

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The Social Justice team will be hosting a stationery and sporting equipment drive throughout Week 9, 10 and Week 1, Term 4. We will be gathering the necessary resources for children in Uganda in support of Mary Babirye Kabanda and her team which will be donated around October. Please look out for any notices and please donate anything you are able to! Your small donation can make such a large impact.

We hoping to receive the following items:

Sport

• Soccer Balls

• Soccer Boots (used but in good condition)

• Netballs

• Basketballs

• Handballs

• Skipping Ropes
  
  

Stationary

• Pencil Cases

• Pens

• Pencils

• Coloured Pencils

• Textas

• Glue

• Rulers

• Erasers

• Sharpeners

• Coloured Paper

• Writing Books

• Calculators

• Reusable Lunch boxes

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On Friday the 8 September, Year 12 Construction completed their practical competency in bricklaying.

Students had to lay around 40 bricks and make a 6 course wall that was level and plumb. Students also had to use a bolster to cut a brick in half and a iron to clean up mortar for presentation purposes.

Students worked really well and should be proud of the skills they demonstrated.

Clean up was a big job but students all worked as a team and were packed and cleaned up by the 2.30pm bell.

Congratulations Year 12 on achieving competency in this area!

A special thank you to Mr Andrushko as well who assisted on the day as well.

Ms Lorena Ghignone

VET Coordinator and Construction Trainer

Enrichment is an important aspect of animal husbandry in zoos as it tries to make life at the zoo as natural and stimulating as possible. Its purpose is to induce as near to natural behaviour as possible as well as promoting mental and physical activity.

Put your design and production skills to the test by submitting a new and exciting enrichment object for one of two animals found at Taronga Zoo Sydney. The animals are:

• Echidna
• Sun Bear

Competition details: OPEN NOW

Please see Ms Ghignone if you are interested in entering this competition.

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We would like to congratulate Saige Tautalafua & Blessing Donvenekham as they are going to Port Macquarie in week 10 to represent Southwest Sydney in the Regional Academy Challenge. Both play for the Southwest Sydney Academy of Sport. Recently Blessing also received the coaches award and most valuable player award.

The girls are then both travelling to Samoa in the Term 3 break to represent the 2023 Samoa Netball Association Cup Tournament. They are playing in the team, NSW Samoa Netball Association, and are competing against the below teams:

• Auckland Samoa Netball Association Incorporated
• Queensland Samoa Netball
• Netball Samoa
• Victoria Samoa Netball Association Inc.
  
  

They are playing for the under 21's Samoan World Cup team. We wish them luck!

Year 7 have been learning about different types of energy and have recently been investigating how electricity works. 7P had a great time manipulating static electricity using balloons, their jumpers, the walls and Isabella even sacrificed her hair to the cause! This week they used their problem-solving skills to build a complete electrical circuit from a diagram. Jakob had the right RUOK day apparel to protect him from his group's bright ideas.

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Term 3

• Monday 18 September - Year 12 Mini Carnival Day & Pastoral Day Lunch
• Tuesday 19 September - Year 12 Farewell Assembly & 2024 Captain Commissioning
• Wednesday 20 September - Year 12 Graduation Mass and Awards, Year 12 Reports released on Compass and last day for Year 12 ONLY
• Thursday 21 September - Years 8 & 9 - Incursion with Warner Youth Education and Camden Council about Graffiti Prevention and Life Skills
• Friday 22 September - Last day of Term 3

• Monday 9 October - Staff Development Day - Pupil Free Day
  
• Tuesday 10 October - Students commence Term 4
  
• Friday 15 December - Last day of Term 4
  

A selection of Year 10 students participated in a Youth Ministry program with Mater Dei. Students engaged in a range of activities with Mater Dei students from Years 7 to 10.

From stacking cup challenges, to painting affirmation boxes, positive recognitions of our traits as individuals and getting to know each other. The students of St Benedicts harnessed the character strengths of leadership and teamwork.

It was a wonderful day which engaged our Year 10 students in the local community. More detailed information to come in next week's newsletter.

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Warner Youth Education together with Camden Council will present a motivational Graffiti Prevention and Life Skills Incursion. It is fully funded and no cost to school or students. The incursion teaches students about the consequences of graffiti, particularly tagging and the difference between street art and graffiti.

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Macarthur Independent Schools Association (MISA) are now on social media with Facebook and Instagram. Please see below the pages so you can find them on your socials.

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.

Start Date: Friday 27 October, 2023

End Date: Sunday 29 October, 2023

Time: 4pm Friday - 3pm Sunday

Venue: Guntawang Catholic Youth Centre

Topic: Called to Holiness

Cost: $30 per adult or $70 per family (regardless of size)

REGISTER NOW

MORE INFORMATION

For more information or to help with the organisation of the weekend, please contact Jude Hennessy at jude.hennessy@dow.org.au or 02 4222 2403

Start Date: Friday 20 October, 2023

End Date: Sunday 22 October, 2023

Time: Friday 6:30pm—Sunday 1:30pm

Venue: Cataract Activity Centre

Speaker: Diocese of Wollongong

Topic: Growing Good Men

Cost: $350

RSVP: October 13, 2023

REGISTER NOW

MORE INFORMATION

For more information or to help with the organisation of the weekend, please contact Helen Bennett at helen.bennett@dow.org.au or 02 4222 2403

If in the event you need to take leave outside of the school holidays, you must complete the below form and return it to the office via email: info@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au