Yesterday, 1 September 2022, we celebrated the Blessing and Opening of the College Hall with Bishop Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong and Father David Catterall, Mary MacKillop Parish Priest.

A number of VIP guests, including Mr Peter Hill - Director of Schools. Mr Franc Spinelli - Infrastructure Program School Facilities and Mr Peter Sidgreaves MP - Member for Camden joined with students, staff and families from both St Benedict's College and St Justin's School to celebrate this opening of the hall.

Thank you to the parents and VIP guests including representatives from Fulton Trotter Architects, Steve Watt Constructions and Catholic Education Office who attended the celebration.

A moving Acknowledgement of Country was delivered by Sophie, Carla & Vincent Dinaro, followed by the National Anthem performed by Hannah Dowling and the combined choir led by Mrs Jenny Koryzma and accompanied by the college band and Mr Brandon O'Donnell.

Director of Schools Mr Peter Hill addressed the audience followed by the unveiling of the plaque.

A special thanks to the IT team led by Mr Gregory Trevena & Mr Matt Andruschko who arranged the streamed vision and technical requirements.

The celebration was followed by light refreshments prepared by the College TAS/Hospitality faculty under the guidance of Mrs Tracey Brown, Ms Emma Pepper, Ms Lynette Reavell and Ms Srishti Singh.

Congratulations to everyone involved including all students and staff who prepared in recent weeks and assisted on the day.

WEEKLY PRAYER FOCUS

Date: TERM 3, WEEK 7

THEME: LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF CREATION

“I have heard their cry…I know their sufferings…Come, now! I will send you…I will be with you” (Ex 3:1-12)

Pope Francis and the Australian Bishops invite all Catholics to join the ecumenical Season of Creation. It starts 1 September (World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation) and ends 4 October (Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi). They encourage us all to make this a special time of prayer and action in caring for our common home. All around the world, Christians are uniting to pray and take action for our common home. Join them and celebrate the Season of Creation

The Psalmist declares, “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge...their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the Earth, and their words to the end of the world.” (19: 1-4)

During the Season of Creation, our common prayer and action can help us listen for the voices of those who are silenced. In prayer we lament the individuals, communities, species, and ecosystems who are lost, and those whose livelihoods are threatened by habitat loss and climatechange. In prayer we centre the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.

May this 2022 Season of Creation renew our ecumenical unity, renewing and uniting us by our bond of Peace in one Spirit, in our call to care for our common home. And may this season of prayer and action be a time to Listen to the Voice of Creation, so that our lives in words and deeds proclaim good news for all the Earth.

WATCH

Season of Creation 2022 - short version

Season of Creation 2022

God created all things and has given the human family a unique role in his creation. Made in the image and likeness of God, we have a special relationship with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God made us to be like him and wants us to care for and love the world he created. Our Father, who loved us at the beginning, continues to love us today and always.

Year 12 Students were recently treated to a High Tea to celebrate their achievements. Year 11 students helped by providing food items and staff and students helped with the venue set-up and service.

Many thanks go to everyone involved in the event, especially Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli & Mrs Kerrie Wardley who worked tirelessly to ensure the High Tea was a success.

"On Wednesday the school held its first ever Colour Run. Primarily organised and run by the Year 12 student leaders, the event was a great opportunity to release some energy, have fun with friends and celebrate Wellbeing Week. The College Oval has never seen such a vibrant and colourful display and the afternoon was enjoyed by all. A big thank you to the staff and students who helped run the event as well as both colour up and clean off the students. The success of the event opens up the chances of holding more of these in the future"

Mr John Wheeler

Director of Wellbeing

Bocce Australia has announced the players selected to represent Australia at this year’s Bocce International at the World Junior titles in Monbrisson, France.

Players from across Australia competed at the Australian Junior National and NextGen Bocce Open Championships, 2022 to earn the opportunity to wear the green and gold.

Lara O'Callaghan, St Benedict's Catholic College Year 10 student, has been selected to represent Australia at the Under 18's Bocce World Championships.

St Benedict's Alumni Aaron O'Callaghan, Lara's brother, is also representing Australia in the Under 23 division of the World Junior titles.

We wish Lara & Aaron every success at the event.

The Year 12, 2023 Booklist was distributed to Year 11 students on 12 August 2022.

For students to receive a discount on their order, they need to have placed their order by Tuesday 6 September 2022.

The order form can be downloaded from the website at the link below:

Applications are now open for the University of Wollongong's Summer Master Class program. Classes are open to students commencing Year 12 in Term 4, 2022, and are offered across a range of subjects.

Students who successfully pass their Summer Master Class subject will, at a minimum, be guaranteed a conditional offer or admissions interview to a degree that aligns to the Summer Master Class subject they complete (noting must meet the assumed subject knowledge criteria), and credit towards a UOW degree that could make them eligible to skip a whole subject when they study at UOW.

UOW will be running two public online information sessions via Zoom: 7.00 pm, Tuesday 30 August 2022 7.00 pm, Wednesday 7 September 2022. Students and their families can access further information or book a spot to attend an information session by visiting: https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/outreach-pathways/year-12/year-12-summer/

The Premier’s Reading Challenge has now ended. The following students are to be congratulated for the outstanding efforts in taking this challenge, earning House points and experiencing wider reading for leisure and pleasure.

Timothy C, Maddison L, Tristan L, Hana S, Kaylan S, Natasha J, Agnes J, Crystal S, Mikaylah R, Claire S, Zac V, Favour A, Lara C, Isabella M

These students will all receive a super cool prize pack from the Library next week - check Compass for a notification to come to the Library.

In addition, 9 of our amazing challengers will also receive a Certificate issued by the NSW Premier and awarded at the College Assembly in Term 4.

For more information regarding the NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge for next year, please see the Library staff.

St Benedict’s students and staff have access to both a physical library and a digital library (Sora).

CEDoW has clear and consistent guidelines on text collections within our system of schools.

The St Benedict’s college library collection is balanced with print and digital resources that are diverse and informed by learning and teaching requirements. Resources purchased or made available by the college are carefully selected in consultation with college staff. College library text collections contain broad, general and specific selection criteria for education resources.

Library staff make decisions on age-appropriate resource suitability as texts are purchased by the college. This age-appropriateness is guided by author and publisher recommendations as well as bookshop and recommended website reviews. However, most importantly, library staff apply professional knowledge and experience to ensure resources are relevant and suitable, and that the collection as a whole is balanced. Junior students are sometimes unable to borrow texts in the library that are considered more suitable to older students at the College. However, a written permission note from the student’s parent or guardian giving consent to allow books catalogued as ‘suitable for Year 9+” may be submitted to the Library which will then be added to the student’s profile.

There are many fantastic opportunities available for students at our College. Unfortunately many of those experiences are not photographed due to student permission to publish forms not being submitted to the College Office.

If your student has been involved in a sporting team or extra curricular activity but their photo has not been published in the newsletter please complete the permission to publish form and lodge the form at the College Office.

The permission to publish form is available to download here

Mon 12 Sep - Preliminary Course Examinations Commence, NSWCCC Athletics - Homebush

Thurs/Fri 15 & 16 Sep - Year 9 Outdoor Ed (Camp)

Fri 16 Sept - Year 12 Mini Carnival Day & Pastoral Day Lunch

Mon 19 Sep - Year 12 Final Day of Lessons

Tue 20 Sep - Year 12 Farewell Assembly

Wed 21 Sep - Year 12 Graduation Mass and Awards, Year 12 Reports released on Compass

Fri 23 Sep - Year 7 Vaccination Visit 2

End of Term 3

Mon 10 Oct - Term 4 Starts

Wed 12 Oct - HSC Examinations Commence

Tue 25 Oct - YML & Middle Leaders Induction Ceremony 8:10am

Fri 28 Oct - Year 7 History Incursion

Tue 01 Nov - Year 11 Report Release via Compass 2:45pm

Wed 02 Nov - Senior Retreat

Mon 7 Nov - Year 12 Sign Out, Year 11 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews 3-8pm

Tue 08 Nov - P&F Meeting at 6.30pm

Wed 09 Nov - Year 12 Formal

Fri 11 Nov - 25th Annual CDF Sports Awards

Wed 23 Nov - Yr 7 2023 Orientation evening - 6.30pm - Hall

Fri 25 Nov - Yr 7 2023 Orientation Day for Students

Tue 13 Dec - Year 9 Academic Awards - 8:50am - Hall, Year 10 Academic Awards - 12:50pm - Hall, Last Day Year 10 and 11

Wed 14 Dec - Closing Mass and Yr 7-9 Academic Awards - Hall - 8:10am, Yr 7-9 Report Distribution via Compass at 2:45pm

Thu 15 Dec - HSC Results Released, Students Activities Day

Fri 16 Dec - Term 4 Ends for Students, Yrs 7-10 Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews (all day)

Tue 20 Dec - Term 4 Ends (Staff)

End of Term 4

RANIER has advised that there may be significant delays with the college uniform. This delay is due to COVID lockdowns in China.

Orders placed for home delivery are despatched twice a week from the Uniform Shop. Orders placed for collection from college office will be available Mondays after 2:30pm, orders placed prior to 9am Monday will qualify.

TRADING HOURS DURING COLLEGE TERMS:

Monday 9am – 5pm

Tuesday 9am – 5pm

Wednesday 9am – 5pm

Thursday 9am – 5pm

Saturday 9am – 12pm

Collection from shop | Collection from College | Home Delivery

CONTACT:

Ranier Schoolwear Unit 5/6-8 Porrende Street Narellan 2567

Online purchasing and appointments visit: shop.ranier.com.au

Email: stbenedict@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