St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter - Friday, 26 November 2021
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Year 7 2022
Over the past few days we have welcomed the newest members of our College Community, Year 7 2022. We have been very impressed by their maturity and also the hospitality and welcome they displayed to each other.
The students were provided with a tour of the College and also participated in MYAT testing.
I look forward to welcoming them in January 2022 . A big thank you to our staff who assisted with the organisation of this program.
Student Congratulations
St Benedict’s Year 10 students have been successful in reaching the finals of The Blueprint Business Idea Competition, a Western Sydney University initiative to engage with high school students from Sydney and Greater Western Sydney Region.
The competition was 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 the creation, submission and presentation of original content that highlights the business idea.
The presentation night is being held today commencing at 4:30pm.
We wish our Year 10 students Jessica G, Lavinia H, Azaria B, Grace B and Ronan C all the best.
BYODD Program
Year 10 parents and students have received communication through Compass this week about our BYODD program.
A reminder that If you require further assistance with your BYODD Macbook, please make contact with the IT Department (help@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au) to discuss your needs or contact Mr Matthew Andruschko our ICLT Coordinator via email at andruschkom01@dow.catholic.edu.au
Warm regards
Mrs Kerrie Piatek
Principal
COVID Protocols
A reminder to all students and families that we are operating under our COVID protocols. 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.
Reminder about Haircuts and uniforms
College staff have been working with students around uniform issues. It is important for all families to know that we maintain high expectations in regards to uniform. Students who are not in the correct uniform - including issues around hair, jewellery and make-up, can expect to be issued with normal consequences until this issue is addressed. Those students whose issues continue to be extreme and not resolved, can expect further consequences.
Please know that this is not an ideal solution, but the very small percentage of students who are not complying with this rule are setting a poor example to others in our College community.
Screen time
I was reading a report on the website parentandteen.com. The article talked about the issue of screen time – which I mentioned last newsletter. Below is a segment from this website as well as some good advice for parents in regards to this area.
What did the study find?
This study is an update to a similar one conducted in 2015. For this report, researchers surveyed almost 1,700 children between the ages of 8 and 18-years-old. Teens were asked about what devices they use and what they do on those devices.
Here are some of the key findings:
- Not including homework, tweens spend an average of 4 hours 44 minutes per day using screen media. Teens spend an average of 7 hours 22 minutes using screen media.
- Compared to 2015, significantly more teens and tweens report watching online videos (think YouTube and Twitch) every day.
- Fewer teens are watching live TV than in 2015, preferring to watch shows on their own schedule on their favourite devices.
- About 2 in 10 eight-year-olds now own a smartphone. By age 12, about 7 in 10 children own a smartphone.
- Teens use social media for a little over an hour each day on average and almost two-thirds of teens say they use it every day.
- Boys are more likely than girls to play video, computer, and mobile games than girls. Girls are more likely to listen to music, use social media, and read using digital devices.
What can parents do?
Parents’ would be wise to rely on parenting practices that are backed up by decades of scientific research, as well as their own intuition. After all, you know your family best. Here are a few ideas.
Role Model
Are you constantly checking emails at the dinner table? Mindlessly scrolling through your social media timelines before going to sleep every night? Teens notice these behaviours and assume they’re appropriate unless you show and tell them otherwise.
Consider putting your phone away at dinner and encouraging your family to do the same. Before bed, make sure the phone or tablet is out of reach so you aren’t tempted to check that latest notification. Or at least consider putting it on “Night Mode” to lower the brightness and “Do Not Disturb” mode so it isn’t dinging and vibrating throughout the night and disrupting your sleep.
Agree on Screen Time Rules
This goes hand-in-hand with role modelling and is also an important part of a balanced parenting style. Work with your teen to set reasonable expectations about screen time use and consider creating a family media agreement.
When rules are made without any discussion, they can feel like a punishment. Before you make a rule like, “All devices must be charging in the kitchen at 10 pm” talk with them about it. Do they use their phone as their alarm clock or have an app that helps them fall asleep? These might be reasons to amend this rule. And if you do set a rule, make sure you try follow it too!
Monitor
Violent and pornographic material is available all over the Internet. YouTube can expose tweens and teens to bigoted ideas and conspiracy theories that are presented as facts. You may have some luck with setting parental controls, but these vary from website to website and may not be strong or customisable enough to keep your teen from watching really inappropriate stuff. Plus, if your teen is anything like I was growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s, they’ll easily figure out how to get around them. A better strategy is to practice open, two-way communication.
Try to be the kind of parent whose teen volunteers information to them, instead of being the kind of parent who repeatedly asks “What are you watching?” and “What are you doing on there?” You can also model this behaviour by sharing your favourite YouTube videos or memes. This will likely prompt your teen to do the same and creates an environment where screen time can be seen as a social activity, not just an individual activity.
Assistant Principal
Advent begins this Sunday and is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical calendar. Year C begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent in 2021 (28th November) and now continues in 2022. It reminds us too of the end that is to come: ‘As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.”
In the Christian traditions the capacity to wait has been inherited from the Hebrew story. The Jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah to come and this ancient longing is part of their identity as a people of faith. In the Christian story we are waiting for the second coming of Christ, our Messiah, at the end of time. We do not know when this will happen so we need to be in a constant state of readiness. We need to learn to wait well.
In the playgrounds of our schools and in our classrooms, in our backyards and our boardrooms, in our chapels and our cathedrals, in our homes and in our hearts; we need to be ready for what is to come. We need to stay awake!
This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges, especially in light of recent lockdowns. As we hopefully ease back into the routines of our lives from the advent of lockdown, may we see how our re-emergence into new life mirrors the Advent season as we await the birth of the Saviour. God chose Mary to give birth to Jesus, and Christ has chosen us as his dwelling when we meditate on his Word and receive him in the Eucharist.
As we countdown the days to Christmas during these difficult times, all Staff have been gifted with this daily 'Blessed' Daily Advent and Christmas reflections 2021, that they may be graced with moments of silence to ponder in their heart (cf. Lk 2:19) the many “blessings” in life—inspiring them in their call to “blessedness” (that is, “holiness”) where true happiness is gained (cf. Pope Francis, Gaudete et exsultate, 64)
Year 12
Year 12 Studies of Religion class sat their HSC examination yesterday. For many this was their last examination. A paper that was challenging but fair and accessible. Well Done to Year 12.
Preparations are underway for the Year 12 Graduation and Mass of Thanksgiving to be held on Tuesday 7 December 2021
Mrs Kimberley Logue
Director of Mission and Vision
Religious Education Coordinator
Year 7 Literacy Bootcamp
During Week 10, all students in Year 7 will participate in a Literacy Bootcamp. The Literacy Bootcamp will consolidate the Year 7 Literacy learning during the year.
The Literacy Bootcamp will be held over two days;
Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 December.
Students will not be involved in normal classes over these two days, however, Sport will run as normal on Tuesday afternoon.
Year 10 into Year 11 Test Drive
As part of the Year 10 Final Weeks Plan, students will be involved in a one day Test Drive of their Year 11 courses on Wednesday, December 1.
KLA Leaders have nominated teachers who will run a 50-minute session with the students to introduce them to their Stage 6 course.
This session may consist of, but is not limited to:
- Sharing the Syllabus and explaining the course structure
- Going through the draft assessment plan
- Sharing examples of HSC Major Works or Exam Questions
- Introducing a concept or topic to engage the students
- Conducting an experiment
- Discussing the equipment and textbook requirements
Preparation for HSC Learning will be the focus of this opportunity. Students not continuing with their HSC will be engaged in Career learning and planning modules.
PAT Testing Program 2021
During Week 9, students from Years 7-9 will participate in Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) in Mathematics and Reading Comprehension. PAT tests are designed to assess each student’s current capability against the appropriate standard for their age.
The key feature of the PAT Tests is that there is a common scale for comparison covering the range of year levels that allows progress to be tracked from year to year. The tests will indicate what skills students have mastered, what skills they are consolidating and even more importantly, what skills they need to be educationally stretched.
Unlike NAPLAN, the PAT assessments do not have a student/parent report. However, student data is available to our College Teachers and is a valuable source of information on each student’s development. The College will be using these tests to help provide valuable and immediate data on student growth and to help us personalise learning to meet student needs.
The PAT testing process will be explained to all students and should not be seen as a stressful “pass or fail” assessment. It does not require students to undertake any preparation for these tests. Students will be encouraged to view the tests as a way for teachers to learn more about their capabilities and then design learning programs that will help them improve.
The tests are online, multiple-choice and each test will take approximately 40 minutes.
Below is some general information about the tests and the schedule:
PAT Maths assesses number, algebra, measurement, geometry, statistics and probability in multiple-choice format. The assessments also address the mathematical processes of understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning. The skills assessed by each question are mapped against the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics.
PAT Reading tests measure and track student achievement in reading comprehension, word knowledge and spelling. It provides teachers with objective information for planning effective learning programs.
Adaptive Assessment
Just like NAPLAN Online, PAT Maths and Reading Tests are adaptive to provide a better user experience. The nature of adaptive assessment means that students are likely to see different items (questions), and different numbers of items, in their tests. To reduce student anxiety, it is important to understand that there will be differences between students’ tests based on the difficulty of the questions and the level of achievement as they move through the test..
Each Year 7 - 9 student will complete the tests at the following times:
Students who are absent for one or more tests will be required to sit the missed test(s) in their first class back at school.
Students will need to bring a fully charged laptop to school each day in order to ensure the smooth running of these tests.
Please do not hesitate to contact the College if you have any concerns about the PAT testing process.
Chris Shelton
Director
Teaching & Learning
MISA Youth of the Year Public Speaking Competition
St Benedict's Catholic College representatives Joseph C and Lara C participated in the MISA Youth of the Year competition for 2021. The feedback from the adjudicators was very positive, in fact they made a point of saying that both students are our future school leaders.
I am pleased to announce that we have maintained our winning streak with Joseph nominated as the 2021 Youth of the Year! He placed 1st out of 18 participants. Congratulations Joseph.
Congratulations also to Lara who was brilliant in her presentation, and while she did not place, she was so proud of her content and delivery. I was surprised she did not place as I was blown away by her poise and confidence, but it just goes to show how strong the competition is.
Grace Settineri
English Teacher
Hildegard House Coordinator
Prayer to end violence against women
Just and merciful God,
As a mother comforts her child,
so you comfort us* . Grant us the
grace to reflect your love for all
women who are created in your
image and likeness.
Provide comfort and a safe
resting place for those who have
experienced violence, and give
eternal peace to those who have
died through acts of hatred.
As a community of faith, give us
the courage to love and protect
women everywhere and at all times.
Heal your children who have
seen loved ones subjected to
ill-treatment. May they grow to be
people who respect the personal
dignity of others.
Soften the hearts of those who
do harm. May they repent, seek
guidance, and replace their acts
of violence with deeds of love.
We ask this through Christ,
our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady Help of Christians,
Pray for us.
St Rita of Cascia, Pray for us.
*cf. ISAIAH 66:13
The UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on Thursday, 25 November 2021.
Pope Francis has said: “Violence against women cannot be treated as ‘normal'. It is not right for us to look the other way and let the dignity of so many women, especially young women, be trampled upon.”
In partnership with the Office of the Bishop and CatholicCare, a prayer card has been created for all CEDoW staff members and secondary students, which includes a list of support services.
Please join us as we highlight the importance of taking a stand against domestic and family violence, and continue to support our staff and students by placing a spotlight on the positive role we can all play, by eliminating discrimination and violence against women and encouraging respectful relationships.
Sincerely
Peter Hill
Director of Schools
Bennie's Cafe
Bennie's Cafe is open for online Flexischools orders only.
Click and Collect purchases only - there will be no items purchased with a card, all orders must be online. (no exceptions)
All collections will be staggered:
Students in Years 7-9
Collect from the Cafe
Year 7 - Recess: 10.27; Lunch 12.57pm
Year 8 - Recess: 10.37; 1.07pm
Year 9 - Recess: 10.32; 1.02pm
Students in Years 10 - 12
Staff members on the supervision roster will collect the lunch orders and take them to the students allocated area.
Year 10 - G-Block, Village Green (E-Block and Library Quad if it is raining)
Year 11 - B/D Block TAS Quad
Year 12 - S block Senior Area
Students should present their Compass Card to collect their order from the teacher.
Thank you for your understanding and patience while we implement COVID safe protocols.
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 are to be 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/.