St Benedict's Catholic College

National Science Week this year officially lands on 12-20 August. However, due to Wellbeing Week at St Benedict’s, we have decided to celebrate Science Week from 21-25 August (i.e. Week 6).

The school theme this year is Innovation: Powering Future Industries. This incorporates the advancement of technology in all industries including artificial intelligence (AI), medicine, agriculture and everything else you can think of! The science staff warmly welcome everyone to take part in the following activities:

Happy Science Week!

From the Science Staff

The Big Science Competition was held at St Benedict’s back in Term 2. We had 30 students from across year 7-10 competing. The Competition was a 50 minute multiple choice quiz testing science knowledge, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Questions were set in real-life, contemporary contexts, making them relatable. Everyone who competed is to be congratulated on their involvement. We had some fantastic results.

The following students obtained Credit awards:

Elizabeth Robertson, Kyleigh Denise Ponseca, Lica Villarosa, Nadia Chiavaroli, Samantha Essex and Nathan Whittles.

Special congratulations go to Charissa Robertson from year 8, who obtained a Distinction Award.

I look forward to more students participating next year.

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How proud am I? On Thursday 17 August, I had the pleasure of attending the MISA Young People Public Speaking Competition with our Year 9 representative, Lilia Caridi. Students who enter this competition are required to speak with passion and conviction on an issue that affects young people today, in addition to being interviewed by a panel of judges who asked questions about what our young people think about issues that affect them on a local, national and international level.

Among the 19 students who competed, topics ranged from being a teenager in 2023, the effects of vaping, gender equality and feeling loneliness in our connected world. Lilia chose to speak about her topic, ‘Look at the Time’ highlighting how, despite being young, we should appreciate the special moments in our life and make them count because time passes by so quickly that we sometimes do not realise we actually do not have all the time in the world.

I am so proud of Lilia. She represented herself, her family and our College with great distinction. The panel of three judges certainly felt Lilia was the strongest speaker in both the interview and the speech, as she was awarded FIRST place! Such a wonderful achievement and a testament to her ability as a powerful and engaging speaker.

Congratulations to Lilia. She certainly deserved to be awarded first place in this Competition. Having the courage to speak passionately in front of an audience is something Lilia should certainly be proud of.

Thank you also to Mrs. Settinieri and Lilia’s family who helped prepare Lilia for this Competition.

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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 new and exciting enrichment object for one of two animals found at Taronga Zoo Sydney. The animals:

• Echidna
• Sun Bear

Competition details: OPEN NOW

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

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St Benedict's Catholic College invites the College Community to come along and see the amazing work from this years, Year 12 students. The showcase features Design and Technology, Timber and Visual Arts major projects, followed by the Music performances which will feature in the foyer of the hall.

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The 2023 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge ends Friday 18th August 2023. We had 15 amazing students accept this challenge to read 20 books by this date and we congratulate all of them for their efforts. Each student who accepted the challenge will receive a prize pack from the Library and those students who successfully completed the challenge will be presented with a Certificate from the Office of the NSW Premier awarded at the College Assembly in Term 4. In addition, all of these students will receive House points for every book read. Our challengers representing the College are:

Keep your entries coming !

You can use your designer skills by way of original artwork or digitally generated. You must include in your Book Cover design a Title, the Author and Illustrator (that’s you) and the genre (yes Manga is included). The more authentic you can make your book cover the better and there are great prizes on offer.

Entries will be accepted Monday Week 6 (extended due to the Staff Development Day)

See the Oliver Homepage for more information.

The Library will be implementing Technology Free Friday for the remainder of the year at the Recess and Lunch break. This will provide our students the opportunity to either:-

• Read a book

• Play Chess

• Play Games

• Ask for direction

Relax - this will not apply to Senior Students!

Happy reading.

The Library Team

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Term 3

• Monday 21 August - Year 11 PDHPE - First Aid Course
• Tuesday 22 August - Year 9 & 10 Guest Speaker / Year 12 Breakfast with Mrs Piatek / Year 11 EEC Exploring Tree Macarthur
• Tuesday 29 August - HSC Showcase / D&T, Timber & Visual Arts / 4 - 5PM in Hall / Music Performances / 5 - 6.30PM Hall Foyer
• 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
• 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
  

Riley Elliott travelled to the Gold Coast to compete in the Down Under Winter Classic Baseball tournament over the recent school holidays. He pitched and played in the outfield for the 16U Southern Sea Dawgs team, which comprised of players from NSW and New Zealand. As a result of his performance during the tournament, Riley has been selected to play on the Aussie Drop Bears 16U team travelling to Naples and Auburndale, Florida, in September 2023 to compete in the Perfect Game International tournament.

Perfect Game is one of the top baseball scouting organisations in the USA. Their tournaments provide exposure to professional scouts and college recruiters to help players progress their baseball careers.

Good luck Riley in this upcoming tournament.

The P & F committee is an integral part of the overall daily operations of the school. It's also an important way for promoting strong partnerships between parents/carers and the school.

We are seeking some assistance for the upcoming P & F Father's Day Breakfast. The details are:

Where: St Benedict's Catholic College, in front of the Hospitality rooms

Time: 7am - 8.30am

Assistance needed: There are a variety of roles available that include, setting up of event, packing away, serving breakfast

Please complete the below expression of interest form and a member of the P & F committee will be in touch with you.

https://forms.gle/CF9tzo72JdD4Neub7

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.