Term 2 has been a busy and fulfilling term, and throughout these past 10 weeks, there has been great enthusiasm and dedication from our students. Whether it was in the classrooms, on the sports field, or during house and social justice events and other extracurricular activities, their commitment to achieving the goals set through STRIVE really demonstrated their eagerness to learn and to do their personal best. We have seen students engaging in thoughtful discussions, displaying creativity in their projects, sharing their musical talents on Feast day and striving to reach their full potential academically.

I would also like to express my gratitude to the parents and carers for your support and encouragement. Your involvement in your child's education, whether it was attending parent-teacher meetings for Year 11 and 12 students, attending our information nights or Mother’s Day morning tea and assisting with homework, has played an important role in your child’s growth in both learning and wellbeing. We are immensely grateful for your partnership in nurturing our students' talents and guiding them towards becoming well-rounded individuals.

As the holiday break approaches, I wish each and every one a restful and relaxing time with family and friends. This break is an opportunity to rejuvenate and recharge, allowing our students to return in Term 3 with renewed enthusiasm.

I would ask that you continue to keep Year 12 students in your prayers over the holiday break as they study for their Trial Exams and for some, complete Major Projects. I would also like to acknowledge and thank those Year 12 staff who will be meeting with Year 12 students over the holiday break to support them in their learning during this most significant period.

The College will hold Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings for all Year 7-10 students and their parents/carers in week 1, Term 3.

• Monday 17July – 8.30am -3.00pm These will be face to face interviews.
• Thursday 20 July – 3.30pm- 8.30pm via Zoom.

• Friday 30 June - Last day of term - Staff Development Day (Staff only)
• Monday 3 - 9 July - NAIDOC Week
• Monday 17 July - Face to Face Parent /Teacher /Student Interviews for Year 7 - 10 (Pupil Free Day)
• Tuesday 18 July - Term 3 Commences for all students
• Thursday 20 July - Year 7 - 10 Parent Teacher Interviews via Zoom - 3.30pm - 8.30pm
• Friday 21 July - Bennies Bring a Blanket (Social Justice event) - 3pm - 6pm at the school

On Wednesday 28 June our school captains Katelynn Tripodi and Blake Straub attended the Student Leadership forum in Sydney. This event was hosted by the Education Team at the NSW Parliament. Together with other student leaders from around the state our Captains were able to hear from state members from both sides of Parliament. They were able to learn about how government processes work and see first hand how the day runs whilst parliament is in session. We were surprised to see that the state parliament is not all that different to school with different bells being used to call members to session.

Students from the forum also had the opportunity to ask questions of our state leaders and the range of questions showed the maturity and insight that these young people have regarding the complexities and challenges facing our state. We had the opportunity to sit in on Question time which was definitely an experience! Katelynn and Blake were able to meet with our local member for Camden, Sally Quinnell. Finally we walked down to Government House where we were given a tour of the public rooms and were able to enjoy some refreshments with Colonel Michael Miller the Official Secretary to the Governor. As always, Blake and Katelynn were excellent ambassadors for our College community.

This term has been a busy term with students and staff in the area of numeracy. A role designed to assist, support and coach staff as well as engage with students delivering lessons and working collaboratively in an effort to improve our school numeracy results. But we don’t want it to stop there… How is your child being engaged in their learning and retaining their numerical skills? How is your child trying to further build and develop on their skills?

Here are some strategies that could be implemented in the home…

1. Budgeting: Involve children in creating a household budget, allocating money for different expenses, and tracking spending.

2. Cooking: Cooking provides many opportunities for using numeracy skills, such as measuring ingredients and setting cooking times.

3. Shopping: Involve children in creating shopping lists, comparing prices and quantities, and calculating discounts.

4. DIY projects: Engage children in DIY projects that require measurement, such as measuring and cutting wood, calculating materials needed, and working with tools.

5. Games: Board games and card games are a fun way to improve numeracy skills, such as counting, adding, subtracting, and strategic thinking.

6. Time management: Teach children time management skills by setting schedules, using timers, and setting deadlines for completing tasks.

7. Gardening: Gardening involves many numeracy skills, such as measuring plot size, calculating amounts of seeds or fertilisers needed, and monitoring growth rates.

8. Crafts: Many craft projects require numeracy skills, such as measuring and cutting fabric, calculating patterns, and working with shapes and dimensions.

By incorporating numeracy into daily activities, students can develop a practical understanding of how maths is relevant to their everyday lives.

Suzanne Seychell

Mackillop Gold / Numeracy Coach

Auditions will take place on Tuesday 18 July 2023 (Drama Rooms)

St Benedict’s is proud to announce a school production of the The Wiz in June 2024. Auditions will take place on Tuesday the 18 July 2023 (during sport time, drama room). All our students have access to the audition material, and we encourage all students from Years 7 – 10 to get involved in this school community event.

This musical is traditionally performed by an all-Black cast, as it was intended to adapt L Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz into African American slang and culture. Auditions are open to all and will be conducted in a fair, merit-based and transparent manner, so that the final casting displays the diversities of our school culture, which we celebrate and are proud of.

If you wish to audition you need to access the audition material on Google Classroom (hqvr3vp), watch and sing/speak through the material and present it (using the backing tracks given) during the audition in front of Mrs Koryzma, Mr O’Donnell and Miss Bryant (new drama teacher).

You will also need to complete the Google Form informing us of which part/s you wish to audition for. The Wiz - Sign Ups Form

There are many other roles in the school production: Backstage crew, lighting, photos/video, social media, tickets, costume, makeup, to name a few. If you are interested in helping out you MUST complete the Google Form and list the jobs you are interested in.

Casting Notes from The Wiz

Originally produced with an all-Black cast, it is preferred that the main characters are cast with people of colour, but there are no restrictions so long as the spirit of the The Wiz is maintained and cannot be confused with The Wizard of Oz.

If you have any concerns surrounding the nature of our school production, please contact Jenny Koryzma via email koryzmaj01@dow.catholic.edu.au

The winter appeal is upon us and I think the school community will agree that it has definitely felt like winter. With that in mind, the Social Justice team is asking students and families to donate food items to our winter drive that we can donate to We Are Community and St Vincent de Paul. These can be brought to school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mr Bulfon will be in the TAS Courtyard during STRIVE. The list allocated to each group is below.

Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli

Social Justice Coordinator

This term Year 10 have been honing their presentation skills while completing a unit on Landscape Architecture.

From perspective drawings using copic markers and watercolours and render, CAD models on SketchUp to animation flythroughs, Year 10 have learnt a lot and have produced amazing work.

Next term students will be model making and starting to problem solve their brief of updating our Learning Garden at the College.

Well done Year 10!

Ms Lorena Ghignone

VET Coordinator, TAS/VET Teacher

A massive congratulations to Angus Charlton from Year 10 who attended the Queensland State Titles for the Jiu Jitsu Championship over the weekend. Angus won two golds, placing first for both Gi and No Gi. The College is incredibly proud of his sporting achievement and here are some photos of the winner.

Congratulations to Bray Aquino, one of our former students, who was selected to represent Australia in the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin 2023. He received a gold medal in the 100m Level A Athletics.

Visit the St Benedict's Catholic College Careers website here

Please come and see the friendly office staff for a box of RAT kits. Either parents can come to the office reception or students can collect via the student desk during recess, lunch or at the end of the day.

Please come along to Campbelltown Theatre Group to support both Ethan and Maddison who are performing in the Disney production of Frozen.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.ctgi.org.au/

Studio5 is an educational resource located in Campbelltown for students in the Diocese of Wollongong. An innovative space for students from Years 10, 11 & 12 to study. Students can access the latest technology and equipment in a safe and secure environment. An excellent resource for HSC preparation.

If you are interested in attending Studio5 to study head to www.atstudio5.com

College P & F Uniform Pool orders

P & F Uniform Pool order form - click here

The P & F preloved Uniform Pool has reopened, please complete the order form and send to the P & F by email at: uniforms@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au Our wonderful P&F volunteer Tracey will contact you.

Items can be paid for and collected from the SBCC College Office. We do not return, exchange or refund on 2nd hand clothing as these are donated by families.

Donations of items in good condition can be left at the College Office.