St Benedict's Catholic College
Benny's Bites, Friday 13 August 2021
A message of support from the Governor of New South Wales
Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales has prepared a video message to to share with students, staff and families
Click the image above or cut and paste the URL into your browser:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wb6zr7ndvfng1bc/August%202021%20School%20Message%20Edit.mp4?dl=0
Many of you would remember that last year we used a parent portal website to house much of the information that was coming out to parents during remote learning.
I am writing to inform you that we have updated the parent portal with information relevant for 2021 and will continue to update this site while remote learning continues.
On this website, you can find a range of information and resources on topics such as Faith and Spirituality, P&F minutes, Wellbeing, Technology, Attendance and Engagement, Fees and Finance, HSC and Post Schools pathways, Physical Activity and Sport, Extra-Curricular and Remote Learning.
You will be able to access the parent portal at: https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/sbccparentportal/home
If you have any questions, please contact the College office.
Kind regards Mr David Costin Assistant Principal
Family Week
Family Week, which celebrates the vital contribution families have made to Catholic education in Australia coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
A huge thank you to our St Benedict’s families for your support of your sons and daughters and the College during remote learning.
SBCC IT Help Desk
Any student who is experiencing issues with technology (zoom, computers, etc) is to complete the following online request form.
This will give you the best and fastest solution to your technology issue.
Please bookmark this form for future reference.
Next week is National Science Week!
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology. The school theme for National Science Week 2021 is Food: Different by Design. It honours the United Nations International Year of Fruits and Vegetables and the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
Free online event - Science Space with Dr Karl
Join virtually as Science Space presents a Q&A with Dr Karl. This icon of science will present the answers to your burning questions from why bees buzz to why the sky is blue! Put your questions to Dr Karl during 90 mins of live Zoom Webinar starting off with a show to get things rolling. Dr Karl will choose a few of his favourite questions, and if your question is among them you will receive a signed copy of Dr Karl’s latest book!
When: Monday 16 August 2021, 6.00pm
Places are limited so booking your FREE place is essential, and to get your question to Dr Karl!
Australian Museum - Sydney Science Trail commencing 13 August 2021
The University of Sydney - free online event
University of Sydney (Faculty of Science) Event: Future Plants for Food Security
https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/news-and-events/events/future-plants-for-food-security.html
A collection of science projects to try at home.
Hope you can all take the opportunity to do something science-related next week, learn something new and enjoy yourselves!
Maria de Lima
Science Coordinator
In this Covid world Youth Ministry at St Benedicts is looking a little different to what it would usually look like in Term 3. This term we are running two initiatives:
LIVE Online (Every Second Wednesday. Week 5, 7 and 9)
Faith and Wellbeing Session released every Wednesday.
LIVE Online Session 1
CYMW are running the LIVE afternoons through Zoom, inviting all the Catholic High Schools across the diocese of Wollongong to participate.
Wednesday 11th saw Over 100 people online. These young people in their own time joining together as a Catholic Community is remarkable.
It looked a little different, but it really was an immersive faith experience. Time well spent for staff and students alike to take time out of the day to get to know God.
Tips from this LIVE were:
1. Take some time to sit in silence.
2. God tells Jeremiah some pretty interesting things. Check out this book in the bible, read a passage, does it speak to you?
3. Get outside and check out something beautiful. Something Awe-some.
A big shout out to Azariah in year 10 for winning the lucky door prize. Your prizes will make their way to you soon.
If you missed this week’s LIVE, don’t stress, tune into Week 7 Live, Wednesday 25th Aug 3:30-4-15pm.
Please Email Miss Brown for more details about this event.
Faith and Wellbeing Session
Each week on a Wednesday a “Faith and Wellbeing” document will be shared on compass for students to engage with. The document includes a theme on a Gospel Value, how to live out the Value, reading on a Saint who embodied the Value and then actions that can promote the focus value in your life.
Through students completing one of the activities and sharing a picture of it with Miss Brown they have the opportunity to earn house points but also increase their own faith and wellbeing during this Covid time.
Week 5’s focus is on family. I encourage you to try out one of the following activities this weekend.
Cook and share a meal together
Play a board game such as monopoly together
Sit and watch a movie together
Organise a zoom with your extended family and ask this question: what have you been doing to stay sane during lockdown?
Have a technology free night and sit as a family and chat about anything
Take Care
Miss Brown
Youth Ministry Coordinator
SBCC Parent Portal
The SBCC Parent Portal has been developed to keep parents informed and up to date with remote learning at St Benedict's Catholic College.
Click through the link or portal banner above, or copy and paste the URL into your browser:
https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/sbccparentportal/home
If you have any questions please contact the College Office. info@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au
Mr Andruschko
Leader of ICLT and Information Services
Technology Faculty
CatholicCare offers mental health support through Mindfulness webinars
The uncertainty of the current times we live in, mixed with physical distancing and isolation from families and loved ones due to the recent COVID lockdown has left many feeling anxious, stressed, and worried.
To help support people through these difficult circumstances, CatholicCare Wollongong under the direction of Lysa Fitzgerald, Acting Manager of CatholicCare's Families and Communities program, has released six Keeping Calm and Connected:
Mindfulness webinars with practical steps to reflect and calm the mind.
Or cut and paste the URL into your browser:
Borrowing e-books is easy!
All staff and students have 24 hour access to great ebooks and audiobooks via Sora,
our gateway to the digital library.
Sign in with your CeNet login to the School Library Oliver home page then scroll down to click the ACEN member collection and open a world of reading. You can download the Sora app to your phone too so you can read anytime, anywhere!
Our MangaMania competition has been extended so keep creating your amazing Manga characters.
Winners in the junior and senior categories will be voted by students and teachers.
We have some great prizes on offer for the most popular characters when we return.
In the meantime, you can scan and upload your entry to sbcclibrary@dow.catholic.edu.au anytime.
Remember, your design must be original, hand drawn and appropriate.
You need to tell us 3 things about your character/design
- your character's special power
- description
- name.
Premier's Reading Challenge - extended until Friday, 3 September 2021
Fantastic News regarding the NSW 2021 NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge - the
challenge has been extended until Friday 3rd September 2021.
Currently we have five amazing students who have already completed the challenge
and several more challengers representing St Benedict’s are very close to achieving
their goal of reading a total of 20 books!
Stay healthy HSC hub
Visit the Stay healthy HSC hub for more information
https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/stay-healthy-HSC?q=
Compass lesson access for parents
Did you know that you can use your parent/carer Compass login to check your child/rens planned lesson content and scheduled Zoom sessions for the day?
Watch our short one-minute video to find out how to review lessons by clicking the compass logo above or using the URL below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uQbNmKl7o3a_l1boSvbocYUu2pnZdkvt/view?usp=sharing
Please contact me if you have any questions at kelleherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au .
Miss Jane Kelleher
Mathematics & Religious Education
A message from St Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish, Oran Park
Just a reminder that the Camden/Oran Park Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society remain available to provide emergency assistance by telephone, and drop off resources as required.
Any person requiring assistance should telephone the Conference on (02) 8250 1484 and a Conference Member will retrieve details and follow-up requests for assistance.
Information for affordable food hampers is available through Our Community Pantry (a community food rescue initiative) or copy and paste the URL into your browser: https://www.ourcommunitypantry.com.au/.
Endeavour Energy apprenticeships 2022 intake
Click through on the image above or cut and paste the URL into your browser:
Rainer Schoolwear Shop update
College uniforms can be purchased online and will be processed when the store reopens.
For online purchasing information visit: shop.ranier.com.au or by email narellan@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
Phone: 02 8337 7290
MY FIT REWARDS - ATHLETE'S FOOT STORES
P & F Clothing Pool
The P & F Clothing Pool is currently on hold, and will recommence when mandatory NSW Health Orders allow. Please contact the P & F via pandf@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au with a list of your requirements and a contact telephone number and Tracey will contact you.