Mobile phones
Parents please be reminded not to text or phone your child during school hours. If you need to contact your child, please phone our office where our office staff will be able to assist you. Students’ phones will be confiscated if they are visible or in use, even if they are texting back their parents. Students may be given the option to use phones in class for specific learning experiences, but this will be at the direction of the teacher.
Year 7, 2023 Enrolment Information - Wednesday 16 March 2022
Our College is hosting a Tour Night and Information Night for parents/carers and their primary school children who are considering enrolling in Year 7 2023.
The College Tour Afternoon and Information Session will take place on Wednesday, 16 March from 3.30pm, and is an important way that we showcase the unique learning, wellbeing model and the various activities that occur on a daily basis at St Benedict’s.
Registration for College Tours is essential at https://www.trybooking.com/BXNUH
Our students will act as host on the night guiding our visitors to the various displays and talks in our contemporary classrooms and facilities. Parents and carers will have the opportunity to speak with staff about our learning programs, STRIVE programs and co-curricular opportunities.
The support provided by our students, along with their respectful manner and their insightful experience as a St Benedict’s student, and the valuable educational information provided by our staff will ensure that this evening once again will be a wonderful success.
Warm regards
Mrs Kerrie Piatek
Principal
'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.’
Matthew 25: 35-36
Our Catholic school community in the Diocese of Wollongong stands in solidarity with the Lismore Diocese and broader community during these extremely challenging times. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
In response to the devastating floods impacting the Northern Rivers community of Lismore, Vinnies NSW has launched an emergency flood appeal.
The community of Lismore has been one of the hardest-hit areas by the floods with homes and businesses overflowing with water.
"Families have had their lives upended and homes have been destroyed as a result of this crisis," said Jack de Groot, Vinnies NSW CEO.
"Vinnies has volunteers located in communities across the state who are ready and willing to provide practical financial and material assistance as well as emotional support, to people in need during this challenging period," says Paul Burton, Vinnies NSW State Council President.
As a response to this critical need donations to the Vinnies Flood Appeal can be made at via the following link: Vinnies Flood Appeal, by calling 13 18 12, or at any Vinnies shop.
As a Catholic community in the Diocese of Wollongong – "It's what we do, it's who we are."
College Diary
Students in Years 7-10 have been issued with a College Diary. This is an important resource for students in order to consolidate their learning and also provides advice and resources for their wellbeing, including a weekly sleep tracker. I encourage all parents to discuss this with their children at home throughout the week.
Assistant Principal
LENT - Second Week
Apparently, there is an old Syrian saying ‘inside the people you know, there is a person you don’t know.’ One of God’s gifts is the grace to keep discovering beautiful things about the people close to us. If you talk to people who have been married for a long time, they will often mention the way their partner surprises them, even after twenty years of sharing the same kitchen sink. Likewise, our children and our friends. If we put them in a box with a label, we can become blind to some unexpected wonders God wants us to see.
Perhaps it was like this for Peter, James and John on the occasion of the transfiguration which we hear about in the Gospel today. By this stage, they have been on the road with Jesus for quite some time. They have seen the storm calmed, the demoniac brought to peace, the woman healed of her haemorrhage, the daughter of Jairus raised to life. They have heard outrageous things. You’d think they’d be getting the picture by now.
The experience on the mountain allows them to understand that they have hardly begun to understand the depth of the mystery of Jesus. A voice from the cloud says ‘this is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’
Project Compassion
Watch a short film about Biru’s story here.
This week, as part of Project Compassion, we hear the story of Biru, a young man from the Ho ethnic minority in India. He lives with a disability. But there is so much more to him that needs to be seen. Our support of Caritas Australia has empowered him to become an entrepreneur, to meet his future with pride, confidence and hope. Project Compassion challenges us to see beyond the immediate situation of people such as Biru and discover the person we don’t yet know, to celebrate the possibilities of life ‘for all future generations.’ Both before and after their great experience on the mountain top, Luke’s Gospel reminds us that the disciples still face a challenging road. Life will teach them more and more about Jesus.
Let us all be open to the lessons of a real relationship with the God of justice and love.
Director of Mission and Vision
Religious Education Coordinator
Student voice - Project Compassion Launch
This week marks the beginning of Lent at St Benedict’s and for Christians across the world, and in the spirit of almsgiving, Mrs Castelli as well as two Year Ten Social Justice representatives, Grace C and Joseph C, were provided with the opportunity to attend the Project Compassion launch via zoom run by Caritas Australia. The event began with an explanation of the theme for 2022, ‘For all future generations’. This year's Caritas focus isn’t simply limited to those who are struggling currently but also their children and the people of the future. With a key focus on six main eye-opening stories spreading from Australia all the way to India, we were able to understand the struggle and difficulties that these people face in their daily lives and how Caritas Australia and Project Compassion can help change the lives of millions. Throughout the launch, we were able to hear from the perspective of a worker for Caritas who travelled to India to guide those who were struggling. We were introduced to Biru, a key focus of the fundraising and Project Compassion, who was forced out of his work due to a disability. However, with the ongoing support of people from across the world of the charity, Biru was provided with the funds to open his own bike repair business as well as the training needed for this. This meant that his future and the future of his four daughters and wife are secure. Caritas continually helps to guide him as well as the thousands of other people who face difficulties every day whether it be due to disability, poverty, or oppression.
As the launch continued, we were provided the opportunity to both share our ideas with other schools as well as note the ideas of others for potential fundraising initiatives for all schools to raise as much money for Caritas this year. Ideas including selling hot cross buns, crazy hair day, mufti days and many more were proposed and the social justice team intends to act on as many as we can. The launch was concluded with a talk from Bishop Terry Brady of the Sydney Archdiocese, who explained his experience with Project Compassion, encountering Jesus in our lives, and led the concluding prayer. This opportunity was an extremely insightful experience and taught us all about the importance of Caritas and their aims and goals for this year. We hope to be proud ambassadors and follow the path they have laid for us creating and running new initiatives and fundraisers that will all go towards the strive for justice and equality throughout the world. Thank you to Mrs Castelli who provided the opportunity, we greatly appreciate it.
Grace and Joseph, Year 10 Social Justice.
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Book v Movie Trivia Competition
It’s coming…
The great St Benedict’s Library
Book v Movie Trivia Competition
Did you know some of your favourite movies are actually based on books here in the Library? Yes, really!
Whether you’ve read the book or seen the movie -
get your Kahoot buzzers ready and test your knowledge.
Great prizes to be won!
Watch this space for more information about when and how you can be a part of the great Book v Movie Trivia competition
The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) fast facts
Challenge opens Monday 28 February 2022
Challenge ends Friday 19 August 2022
- Read 20 books (15 from the PRC Booklist and 5 personal choice)
- Books read since the challenge ended last year can be counted towards this year’s challenge
- To register sign up with the Library Staff - any time
- PRC Books in our Library have a big red sticker
- PRC Books on Sora (digital books) are listed as PRC Books
- Complete the challenge - receive an award issued by the NSW Premier
Students may visit the Premiers Reading Challenge website here
Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia – Commemorative Book
This beautiful resource is now available for purchase from the National Catholic Education Commission.
From Humble Beginnings: Commemorating 200 years of Catholic education in Australia features a history of the oldest existing Catholic school in each Australian diocese.
The commemorative book is full colour and includes historical and contemporary images of the schools. It is available in paperback and hardcover versions and would make a great addition to school libraries or as a bicentenary moment.
Click here to pre-order the Commemorative Book.
P & F Clothing Pool
The P & F Clothing Pool has reopened, 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. Items can be paid for and collected from the SBCC College Office.
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/.
