St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter - 11 August 2017
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents/Carers
Over the last week and in the coming week we experience three major events for the Catholic Church in general and the Church in Australia specifically. Last Sunday was the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus, where he was accompanied to the top of a mountain with three of his closest disciples and they witnessed ‘the light’ as He appeared with prophets from the Old Testament. The Transfiguration may be a reminder for us that, whilst God is with us always, there are times when we need to stop and recognise Him in our lives. We may not always see the Transfigured Christ, but if we adopt the Benedictine virtue of silence and take time to listen, we allow God to be fully present in our lives.
Last Wednesday, we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. As our Patron, St Mary MacKillop is a beacon showing how an ‘ordinary person’ can reach the ultimate goal of sainthood. St Mary has a special place for us as a trailblazer for Catholic education in Australia and we are blessed to have members of her order, the Josephites, actively working within our community. A small group of our students represented us at a celebration of this event with Bishop Peter, the St Mary MacKillop Parish, St Justin’s and St Francis, The Catholic Women’s League and a number of guests at a wonderful mass in St Mary MacKillop Church. This was something that I am sure our students will remember with fondness.
Next Tuesday (August 15) is the Feast of the Assumption. This is the day that we celebrate the fact that Mary, the Mother of God, was assumed body and soul into heaven. This is again an extremely important celebration in the Church’s calendar and is a Holy Day of Obligation. I encourage everyone within our community to find Mass times at your local parish to celebrate this day.
After an extensive leadership development program and following an application and interview process, I am pleased to announce our College Leaders for 2018. The choice presented to the panel was excellent and gives great hope for a vibrant and dedicated incoming student leadership. These students will be able to build extensively on the great work that has occurred with our first few foundation leaders. I congratulate these students and all the applicants. A formal induction ceremony will occur later this term.
College Captains:
Anthony Conlon and Maddison Crawford
Prefects of Ministry and Mission:
Caitlin Burke, Mikayla Gauci and Jake Schloeffel
Prefects of Learning:
Isaac Hobman and Courtney Schonell
Prefects of Co-Curricula:
Jayde Bermingham, Cooper Davidson and Thomas Haidle
Again, we have had a number of events occurring over the last fortnight that are important to our community. Following the annual Catholic Club Mass and Luncheon, the club has made a very generous donation to St Benedicts. This will be used along with previous donations, to improve the facilities around the College. I thank the Catholic Club for their ongoing support of education in general, and specifically the support that they give to St Benedict’s.
We farewelled our Japanese student guests who stayed with families in our community over the past two weeks. By all accounts, the interactions were of great benefit to those students and the host families and I thank those who were involved for extending the hand of welcome that is part of the St Benedict’s community.
Our HSC students are coming to the end of their Trial Examinations. Many of them have worked extremely hard up to this point and I encourage all students to reflect on their results, bask in the glory of what they have achieved, and work on the skills that can be improved between now and the final HSC exams in Term 4.
On Thursday evening, we held a parent and student study skills seminar conducted by Dr Pru Salter. This evening was very well attended by students and parents and the message that Pru delivered is about making life easier for the students through organisation and focus. This is a lesson that can be used by all of us in any walk of life. I thank the parents who attended, and we look toward continuing this relationship with Pru into the future.
Steve Lo Cascio
Acting Principal
COLLEGE MISSION AND VISION
The prayer focus at the moment continues with the Benedictine virtue of Hospitality. Last week we learnt that Saint Benedict states in his rule
“Let all guests that come to the monastery be received as Christ. For, one day, he will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
The Benedictine notion of Hospitality therefore is based on the scriptures. St Benedict who, like St Paul, saw the values and ways of society as often contrary to the Christian way of life. St Benedict wanted the monastery to be a place where God's love continually was felt and was transforming for all who came there.
Year 12 High Tea
The Social Action group, in conjunction with the Year 11 students, organised the recent Year 12 High Tea. This is such a special event in our community as it is a key way of wishing our Year 12 students the best of luck for their examinations. Additionally, it is an important expression of Hospitality as we welcome all of the cohort on the day before their trial exams, to a place where they can be together and enjoy the collegiality of the group. I felt privileged to be a part of this great experience.
Feast Days
On Tuesday 8th August we celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. This day allows us to remember this great women and leader in our Church and to celebrate her contribution, not only to our faith, but to our society. The Diocesan Mass was held at our Oran Park Parish. It was a beautiful celebration and a wonderful opportunity for our students to be involved in such an event. Next Tuesday is the Feast of the Assumption and I will speak more about this in the next newsletter.
Reflection Days
Reflection Days are important and compulsory events for the College. The Year 7 Reflection Day is next Friday, 18 August, and I am really looking forward to this day. The students will engage in a program based on the unit ‘Ways People Pray’ and is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience a variety of prayer. Indeed, students have been busy in class making their own Rosary Beads in preparation for this event.
The Year 8 Reflection Day is also approaching and will look at the theme of the ‘Value in me, the value in others’. Notes went out for this Reflection day and can I ask that families return this by the due date, Friday 18 August. (Copies of the Permission Note are available on the College Website.)
Upcoming Events
There are some exciting events coming up over the next month or so which I would encourage all families to keep an eye out for. Firstly, GLOW is on again soon (Friday 25 August) and this event continues to grow in popularity. Additionally, our first ‘LIVE’ event of the year is on towards the end of this term. Not only is this a really enjoyable event, but it is also a great opportunity for students to continue to engage in Youth ministry.
Mr David Costin
Acting Assistant Principal / Director of Mission and Vision
St Mary MacKillop Feast Day Diocesan Mass
The Year 12 High Tea
Year 9 2018 Elective Information Evening
Students with surnames A -L will meet in the Library.
Students with surnames M - Z will meet in E Block.
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2017, 07:00 PM
St Benedicts Catholic College, Oran Park Drive, Oran Park, New South Wales, Australia
Big Science Competition
Students from St Benedict’s participated in The Big Science Competition last term. This is a national competition run by Australian Science Innovations, with over 20,000 students from around the country participating. We had 32 students from years 7-10 who chose to compete. The online test went for one hour and students had to answer a series of questions which tested critical thinking and problem solving skills, set in real-life, contemporary contexts.
Congratulations to all participants who competed. Particular mention must go to the following list of students who obtained a credit or higher.
High Distinction:
Julian Di Giovanni (Year 9)
Distinction:
Cooper Colmenar (year 7)
Braydon Haskett (year 9)
Marie Bull (year 10)
Emily Newton (year 10)
Credit:
Claudia Bournes (year 8)
Shaye Thorne (year 8)
Ashlee Stevens (year 9)
Bray Aquino (year 10)
Jorjah Landrigan (year 10)
Portia Zuber (year 10)
I hope to see more students participating in this worthwhile experience next year.
Maria de Lima
Science Coordinator
State Interschools Equestrian Competition
On Friday 16th June several St Benedict's students competed at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Eastern Creek in the State Interschools Equestrian Competition. It was a very competitive event with over 30 students from all over the state competing in the Show Horse Secondary Championships alone. I placed a 1st in Show Horse ridden phase and came 11th overall. I’m very proud of how my horse, DQ Saint, performed on the day.
Congratulations to all the other St Benedict’s students that competed as well.
Taryn Poidevin (Year 10)
Taryn Poidevin has been asked to represent NSW at the National Interschools Competition at Toowoomba.
Alannah Dale (Year 8) competed on Thursday in the Combined Training and placed 6th overall. She also competed on Saturday and Sunday in the dressage.
Eliza Craig (Year 12) competed 4 tests over 2 days in both the novice and elementary dressage tests.
Sport News - MVPs for Week 4
Congratulations to the following students who were nominated as MVPs for Week 4:
MILO Cricket:
Joseph Abdallah
Swimming:
James Hunt and Bella Kitching
Soccer:
Bianca Lackovic
Taekwondo/NRL:
James Quintiao
NRL/Taekwondo:
Mia Pieplenbosch and Ryan Elborough
Martial Arts:
Tristian Bernoth
Netball:
Althea Dela-Cruz and Lazar Kljajic
Barefoot Bowls:
William Meredith and Tiarna Belay
Beach Sports:
Byron Smith
Bowling A:
Allirah Hill
Bowling B:
Joshua Cefai
Crossfit:
Caleb Crawford
Golf:
Georgia Mair
Pilates/Yoga:
Bryanna Rixon
Powerwalking:
Eric Mougious
Spin Class:
Alexia Hobman
Tennis:
Marcus Battistuzzi
MISA Sport
Our MISA teams had their first week of competition against Broughton Anglican College.
Year 7-9 Girls Soccer Win
MVP: Caitlin Orridge
Year 10-12 Girls Soccer Loss
MVP: Tayla Valente
Year 10-12 Boys Basketball Loss
MVP: Lachlan Parker & Isaac Hobman
Year 10-12 Girls Basketball Loss
MVP: Alex Wark
Year 7 Girls Netball Win
MVP: Olivia Hooton
Year 8 Girls Netball Win
MVP: Alannah Dale
Year 7-9 Boys 12’s AFL Win
MVP: Brayden Hort
Year 9-10 Boys Rugby League Loss
MVP: Aiden Fornari
Yours in Sport
Miss Liska
Year 7 Reflection Day
Morning tea will be provided. Students are to bring their lunch and drinks for the day.
Friday, Aug 18, 2017, 08:15 AM
Don Bosco Youth & Recreation Centre, Mamre Road, St Marys, New South Wales, Australia
Good luck to all students representing St Benedict's at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival on Friday 18 August. Congratulations to all for making the team.
Our Year 8 MISA Debating team will compete on Thursday 17 August. Good luck to everyone involved.