St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter - Friday, 10 December 2021
Christmas, in many homes, including my own is the highlight of the year. It is a special time when family and friends come together to share specially prepared food, exchange presents and attend Christmas Mass and prayer services. If you have small children (and not so small children) still at home it is a time of great excitement, with the most treasured memories of many of us coming from our Christmas experience. It is also a significant celebration for Christians all over the world as together we wait to celebrate the birth of Christ.
The Advent season is a beautiful reminder to prepare our hearts as we prepare our homes. This Sunday the third of the four candles in the Advent wreath will be lit: the candle symbolises joy.
Gracious God, send us your grace this Advent Season
so that we can prepare for your coming.
Touch our hearts with longing so that we
can better love and serve you and each other.
Fill us with the hope that we can be transformed
by your Spirit and so help transform the world.
Give us the peace of knowing that you came to share
Our human life and redeem us for the sake of love.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus
whose kingdom we seek.
Amen
As this is the final newsletter of the year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for the support you have given our St Benedict’s community throughout this very challenging year. I would also like to acknowledge our talented and dedicated staff who work tirelessly to provide all students with quality Catholic education experience. We look forward to commencing the new school year in 2022 with our Academic awards Ceremonies that were postponed this week
STAFF FAREWELLS
As we approach the end of the 2021 school year we will be farewelling a number of staff who are moving to new and different opportunities. We wish each of them every success, fulfilment and enjoyment, and thank them for their significant contribution to our Catholic school community and their work in growing students' faith, learning and wellbeing.
David Costin, Gloria Melham, Rachel Newell, Heather Brown, Jane Kelleher, Tabitha Brown, Shontelle Ferguson, Joanne Griffin, Maky Tsomis, Lisa Shamoon, Cara Dimarco and Matthew Hall
RETURN TO SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Monday 31 January - Year 12 Students return
Tuesday 1 February - Year 7 First Day, New Student Induction and Year 11 students return (all students to wear their sports uniforms
Wednesday 2 February - Years 8, 9 and 10 students return
POSITIVE EDUCATION PODCAST
Mr Michael Turner, Director of Wellbeing and Mrs Christy Smith our Leader of Positive Education were recently interviewed by Dr Suzy Green, CEO and Founder of The Positivity Institute in her latest podcast series. In this series Dr Suzie Green is interviewing Australian pioneers and leaders in Positive Education to hear their experiences, key learnings and recommendations for those already implementing or considering implementing Positive Education in their schools. In the podcast episode, Michael Turner and Christy Smith spoke about our College’s Positive Education Strategy and the ongoing development, promotion, and implementation of a sustainable model of Positive Education through the College’s STRIVE Program.
PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATING SUCCESS
Joseph C and Lara C represented our College in the MISA Youth of the Year competition for 2021.The judges gave positive feedback to both students with Joseph C once again named as the 2021 Youth of the Year! He placed 1st out of 18 participants. Our congratulations to both students on this wonderful achievement
Congratulations also to our Year 8 MISA debating team who won the MISA Debating competition, beating Magdalene in the grand final. Team members were outstanding in their final debate. Congratulations to Madison H, Jada H, Samantha E and Jenna S.
I would also like to acknowledge Mrs Grace Settineri and Mrs Magda Mizzi for all the work and the time they spend in preparing our students for these competitions
Western Sydney University Blueprint Competition
Azariah B, Grace B, Ronan C, Jessica G and Lavinia H, were successful in obtaining third Place in the very prestigious WSU Blue Print Competition with their One Touch Bracelet Proposal. The Blueprint Business Idea Competition is designed to help students pursue new business ideas. It also empowers students through business education and enrichment opportunities and provides a first-hand experience in entrepreneurship. The aim of the business idea is to solve a customer problem and students are required to conceptualise, build and market a business. The competition involved students submitting 10 minute pre-recorded video presentation using Zoom and a Q and A with university academics.
Thank you to Mr Mark Mustapic and staff who supported and mentored these students.
HSC Congratulations
Congratulations to Benjamin W on his nomination for 2022 Art Express Competition for his HSC Work 'This Empty Confusion'. This is a significant achievement.
Special thanks also to Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli for supporting and mentoring Benjamin throughout the HSC Visual Art Course.
Principal
As this is my final newsletter, I would like to begin by thanking you, our parent community for your support over the last 9 years. I have been overwhelmed by the support and encouragement that you have shown myself and the College, from the early years where there was nothing but demountable, through to the last couple of years and the challenges that have presented themselves as we have negotiated COVID and remote learning together.
One of the great things about Bennies is the charism of St Benedict’s - which is a truly beautiful Charism. I have always been so very impressed with the commitment of the College, students and families to bring this Charism to reality, so it is a lived charism, and as mentioned, it is quite amazing. Leaving this great community is very difficult, but as I do, please know that you are all in my prayers.
Year 12 Graduation
Year 12 were able to have the most beautiful Graduation Mass and Awards ceremony this week. It was great to be able to celebrate with our families and young people this most significant event.
Congratulations to our Year 12 students on graduating High school. Congratulations to all of our award recipients as well for their commitment to the College and their studies.
COVID Protocols
A reminder to all students and families that we are still operating under our COVID protocols for next week. All students would be familiar with these now and I ask all families to speak with their children about these protocols and reinforce the importance of following them.
Mr David Costin
Assistant Principal
Year 12 Graduation Mass
A most beautiful and reverent Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated on Tuesday 7 December in the Hall. It was a very special, proud and significant moment for our outstanding and most wonderful Year 12's. A day that finally arrived.
Thank You to Fr. David Catterall for celebrating this Mass. In his homily, Fr. David's captured the essence of the year that has been and tied to the Benedictine line of listening with the ear of your heart.
“What matters is that over the years each of you have been here at St Benedicts, you have had daily opportunities to come to know Jesus better, to know yourselves better, To know your world better.
In the absence of congregational singing due to restrictions we were blessed to have Mrs Koryzma, Hannah (Year 10) and Alyssa (Year 9) lead and provide music.
Year 12 also got involved as readers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Thank You to Kira W, Emily A, Nicholas P, Sydney M, Grace C, Riley H, Nicholas C and Sienna R.
Year 11 Reflection
Brooke F and Gwen U from Year 11 wrote a beautiful Gospel Reflection for the Year 11 liturgy. Unfortunately this liturgy did not take place but I wanted to share their words. It captures effectively the year that has been, the message of the Gospel and the First reading plus their hopes for 2022 as Year 12.
This Gospel of Luke highlights to us the importance of having a strong foundation at the core of each individual. In our lives, we too can create a foundation as strong as the rock.
This foundation is built on faith, well-being, education, friends, family and teachers. We can strengthen this through prayer, interactions with others, putting our best effort into our work and taking time out for ourselves. This is all a balance and when it is maintained it builds a strong foundation, essential for the HSC year ahead and also life.
St Benedict also speaks about the importance of balance: prayer, work, rest and recreation. During the season of Advent as we wait in anticipation and hope for the coming of Jesus, we are able to recognise and appreciate the ones in our lives that are our “rocks” in times of joy, need and hardships.
A question for everyone:
Who are the loyal and unconditional people who encourage, challenge and inspire you?
Take time to seek them out this Advent and express your love, gratitude and affection for them.
Advent is a time for preparation for the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ. It also focuses on HOPE, LOVE, JOY and PEACE through the lighting of four candles.
The New Year symbolises a chance at recreating and perhaps resetting oneself. When this New Year begins, so does our second term of HSC. There is a lot to look forward to including the Senior Retreat, an opportunity to strengthen our foundations and relationships with one another.
The reading from Jeremiah conveys the idea that God has a plan for all of us and we must trust and have hope for the future.
This year has proven to be challenging; however, we have flourished, learning new skills, ways of learning and engaging online, and strengthening qualities such as our resilience, perseverance and gratitude. If we are able to conquer 2021, there is no doubt in our journey and success for our HSC year in 2022 and all future endeavours.
We are not alone, we can always lean on the shoulders of our family, friends, teachers and peers, as we will all be going through this together and in times where we feel alone or anxious draw on your faith in God.
We have not only survived year 11 but we have thrived despite all the challenges such as COVID-19, the various lockdowns, online learning, as well as trying to maintain connections with our peers and teachers while in lockdown.
As we move into 2022, let’s draw on our faith, the strength of our friendships and in the words of Mr Limbrey “get the little things right so the big things can fall into place.”
We also wish students leaving the College good luck, and a thank you to the teachers moving to other schools who have contributed so much to the school community
We wish everyone a blessed and safe Christmas as well as a restful holiday.
Director of Mission and Vision
It is with great excitement that St Benedict’s Catholic College can announce that Year 12 student, Benjamin W, has had his artwork ‘This Empty Confusion’ selected for ARTEXPRESS 2022. This is the College’s first time having a student chosen to appear in this exhibition. ARTEXPRESS is an annual exhibition that displays numerous exemplary artworks from across the NSW state by visual art students for the HSC examination.
This year was an extremely challenging year for our Year 12 cohort and in particular, those students who studied in subjects that had a practical component to their HSC examination. Despite the stress of the COVID lockdown in the lead up to the due date for the visual art body of work, Benjamin continued to work consistently throughout the year working throughout recess and lunch times, and in Term 3 over Zoom lessons and virtual practical check ins, to submit a highly resolved Body of Work that revealed a sophisticated understanding of the practice of oil on canvas paintings and a time based form demonstrating a technical sensitivity and refinement of artistic skills.
Benjamin’s artwork “This Empty Confusion” is a work of art that explores “fear and anxiety, two emotions that one would feel when suffering from memory loss when living with Alyzheimer's disease. Throughout my body of work…, I chose to depict the internal thoughts and emotions of an individual living with this condition on a daily basis. The paintings accompanying the stop frame animation capture in time the highly emotive moments of fear and confusion with the animation allowing the paintings to come to life. The intent behind my work was to engage and connect the audience to feel what this horrible disease can do. Everything in the animation was handmade, the set, the puppets, their clothing and the props."
The CAPA Department along with the College would like to express our congratulations to Benjamin on this achievement. You have demonstrated commitment and hard work to your studies and we are very proud of this outcome. Well done Ben, remember us when you are famous!
Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli
Year 12 Visual Art Teacher
__________
St Benedict's Team wins 3rd place!
Western Sydney University: The BluePrint Business Idea Competition for Year 10 students
The Business Idea BluePrint Competition is a Western Sydney University initiative to engage with high school students from the Greater Western Sydney Region. The competition is designed to help students pursue new business ideas. It also empowers students through business education and enrichment opportunities and provides first-hand experience in entrepreneurship. The aim of the business idea is to solve a customer problem and students are required to conceptualise, build and market a business. The competition involves the creation, submission and presentation of original content that highlights the business idea.
Congratulations to our team of the following five Year 10 students: Jessica G, Lavinia H, Azaria B, Grace B and Ronan C who put in a huge effort to submit an impressive Business idea for the BluePrint Competition. The students had multiple Zoom meetings with University Lecturers from the WSU Business Faculty to guide them with their presentation. The team members were punctual to all the Zoom meetings with WSU and they collaborated with the WSU University Lecturers in a way that made them worthy ambassadors of St Benedict’s.
Also the Year 10 Coordinator Mr McAteer and staff from various KLA’s at St Benedict’s provided ongoing assistance to the students. The students are to be commended for the countless hours that they put in to submit an impressive Business idea for the WSU BluePrint Competition which resulted in them reaching the finals of the Competition.
There were exciting prizes on offer from WSU for this Competition.
1st Team Prize: $3000 JB Hi-Fi gift card
2nd Team Prize: $2000 JB Hi-Fi gift card
3rd Team Prize: $1000 JB Hi-Fi gift card
Winning School: $5000
There were a record number of schools participating in the Competition this year and only 5 schools made it to the finals which were held on the 26th November from 4:30pm-6:30pm via Zoom. After our team’s 10 minute video presentation was shown to the judges they faced a gruelling Q & A from the judges. At the end of the evening WSU announced that our Team got 3rd place in this prestigious competition so the team will receive a $1000 JB Hi-Fi gift card.
Congratulations again to Jessica, Lavinia, Azaria, Grace and Ronan on their outstanding achievement.
Mr Mark Mustapic
Careers Adviser/TaPS
__________
Young Scientist Awards - Distinction for Azariah B
This year we only had one entrant for the Young Scientists Award which is run by the Science Teachers Association of NSW.
I’m pleased to announce that Azariah B of Year 10 has been awarded a Distinction Award for her project on “What kind of memory do teenagers have (visual vs auditory) and does this differ between genders?”. Azariah completed this independent investigation as part of her Student Research Project. Through this, she demonstrated excellent working scientifically skills and an ability to analyse and interpret experimental data. She ended up concluding that female teenagers have better auditory memory while male teenagers have a better visual memory.
Congratulations Azariah on a great effort!
Ms de Lima
Leader of Learning (Science)
‘For it is in giving, that we receive’ - St Francis of Assisi
Another year is done and what a year it has been! Throughout 2021 the Social Justice team, led by our wonderful President Hugh and Secretary Xhandra, have brought many initiatives to our school community both face to face and throughout the Covid lockdowns. In particular, with the return of the students back to school in Term 4, we hit the ground running organising many Christmas initiatives to help those in our local community through supporting Catholic Care and St Vincent de Paul with our Christmas appeal.
Whilst we still worked with Covid safe restrictions it meant we could not meet together as a team. Instead, we met in year groups at specific times. Yet, despite this challenge, the team worked seamlessly to support Catholic Care with collecting food for Christmas hampers and gifts for 12 children in 10 local parishes around the Macarthur region. Every day, our team would collect these items from STRIVE classes and bring them to C4 to be compiled together for each family. The food and the presents that were donated by the St Benedict’s community was overwhelming and we thank each and every one of you for supporting us.
As Year 8 wrapped the presents in our version of “Santa’s Workshop” listening to Christmas songs, we discussed how wonderful it was to be able to allow another child to wake up on Christmas morning with not only one gift but at least five gifts each, thanks to the generosity of our school community.
Along with the Christmas hampers and gifts, the team encouraged staff and students to donate a gold coin to St Vincent de Paul by wearing a Christmas t-shirt and accessory. This was definitely the Christmas cheer we needed as a community. Thank you to everyone who took part.
I would like to finish our final newsletter article of 2021 by thanking the St Benedict’s College Community for your ongoing support of the Social Justice team. We could not raise awareness about various issues without your participation. I would also like to thank all staff for supporting the team with their ideas and events, from encouraging students to participate to collecting donations and often going out themselves in their own time to buy items needed.
Thank you to Hugh and Xhandra for leading our team. It has been a tough year for everyone but your encouragement and optimism both in school at assemblies to our meetings online during remote learning and social media posts. You have been wonderful. Finally, thank you to the Social Justice team, a group of 40 wonderful people who have given up countless hours, lunch times and recesses to meet and engage in planning and organising events to help raise awareness for those in need both locally and internationally. I look forward to seeing what we can do together next year.
For now, have a rest and recharge those batteries over the school holidays. I wish all our staff, students and families a happy and safe Christmas.
God Bless,
Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli
Social Justice Coordinator
Hospitality with Ms Lorena Gighnone
Congratulations students, well done!
Dear Students, Parents/Carers
It's that wonderful time of year again "December"
In the office we find December is a great time to clean up, condense, regroup and look forward to a fresh start next year.
In order to achieve this, we need your help with Lost Property.
We have so many items without names in lost property that surely someone must remember misplacing a Jumper, Sports Jacket, Cap, or Blazer.
We even have 1 black school shoe, now you ask how could that be ?
We have an answer - maybe it's a Tech shoe? Maybe a change of clothes after school? but this shoe and all our other unnamed items need their owner to collect them.. Unfortunately if these unnamed items are not claimed by next week, they will all be donated to the clothing pool - except the shoe, we are saddened to say, although in great condition, and has been here for quite some time, without the other - this shoe is of no use to anyone.
Parents/carers, please, if you could take a moment, as possibly your child hasn't, to please check if you have all parts of the College uniform you have paid for - in your wardrobe.
If not, please call or email the office info@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au and we will certainly endeavour to match articles to students and please don't forget we have " a shoe."
We almost forgot to mention the reading glasses and invisaligns - makes you wonder, - just like the shoe ?
Admin Team
2022 College commencement dates and time
10 December 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
I am writing to let you know of the details for the start of the 2022 school year. Please note that there is a change to the time for the commencement of school to 8:10am. Students should be at school by 8:05am to be ready for this 8:10am start time.
Please note the following commencement dates for each year group for 2022.
• Year 12 – Monday 31 January 2022
• Year 7, Year 11 and new students – Tuesday 1 February 2022 (all students should wear sports uniform)
• Years 8, 9, and 10 – Wednesday 2 February 2022
If you have any questions, please contact the College office on the number above.
Kind Regards
Kerrie Piatek
Principal
Ranier Uniform Shop - Summer Sale
2022 School Transport
2022 school travel applications are now open
Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new
application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for
the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a
new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).
Students who change address, school, campus location, or who 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 current entitlements are updated
and remain valid. 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 the system will
automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not
meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive 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 2022.
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.
School Student Transport Scheme site change
On 1 October 2021 the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) information
and application portal was moved to transportnsw.info. This will assist families
to find all their travel information in the one place.
Travel from Term 1 2022
We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use
and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card
(within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start
of the school year.
Applications for the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) open at the start of Term
4 2021 for travel in 2022, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be
ready for the start of the new school year.
Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue
travelling on their existing card each year.
The start of the year is a difficult period for local bus operators, and students travelling
without a valid ticket make service planning and operations increasingly difficult.
We recognise that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean
they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal
network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel on a
Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater
Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.
Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school
year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support
our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from
the start of the school year.
Please also remember that students using Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line
with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.
Further information can be found at transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/school-travel
Enquiries can be submitted at transportnsw.info/contact-us/feedback/passes-concessions-feedback
School Fee Accounts
Just a reminder that school fee statements are sent monthly to every family by email. Please can you check your junk or spam folder if you have not received your statement.
All parents should be able to see their account balance/transactions on Compass if you have any issues with your compass account please contact the school office and the admin staff will be able to assist you.
School fee accounts should have beeb finalised by 10 December 2021. If you have any issues please contact the finance office by phone or email finance@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au.
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.
MY FIT REWARDS - ATHLETE'S FOOT STORES
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/.