St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter - Friday, 12 November 2021
(ABC News: Elena de Bruijne)
The level of support and best wishes extended to our HSC students by the St Benedict’s and wider community has been extraordinary, so too is the dedication and resilience displayed by our HSC students who have successfully commenced their HSC formal examinations. The smiling faces coming out of their second English examination this week was very different to the nervous smiles as they commenced the English papers. We continue to keep Year 12 and their families in our prayers.
Heavenly Father, we bring before you our St Benedict’s HSC students.
Give them the gifts of wisdom, right judgement, knowledge and courage.
Bless them with calm hearts and clarity of mind as they sit for their exams.
May they be affirmed in their efforts and may they know that you are there with them.
We pray that they will stay calm under pressure and work to the best of their ability.
May they feel your loving presence in their lives, now and always, and may they be
strengthened by the prayerful support and best wishes of us, the St Benedict’s community.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, now and forever.
Amen
Information will be forwarded by the end of November with further details related to these important events. As Level 3 restrictions are in place for all schools in NSW, the College hopes to be able to live stream any events that parents and carers are not able to attend.
To support the College in the organisation of these events could families who have not returned the photo consent form, to please do so by Friday 26 November. This form is available on the College website or from the College office.
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 include below some important reading for parents about the amount of screen time that students should have. This comes from the Government run Australian Institute of Family Studies (https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/2021/08/05/too-much-time-screens-screen-time-effects-and-guidelines-children-and-young-people):
- no more than two hours of sedentary recreational screen time per day for children and young people aged 5–17 years (not including schoolwork).
Most Australian children spend more time on screens than is recommended. Estimates from primary research suggest only 17–23% of preschoolers and 15% of 5–12 year olds meet screen time guidelines. Screen time has also been shown to increase between the ages of 10 and 14, especially among boys. The types of screen- time that increased was electronic gaming for boys and TV, computer use and social networking for girls.
During the COVID-19 lockdowns, families reported that they spent more time watching TV and movies than before and that children were spending 35 minutes more time on screens a day on the weekends.
What is the evidence on the effects of excessive screen time?
For children younger than five years, there is strong evidence that screen time has negative effects on:
- weight
- motor and cognitive development
- social and psychological wellbeing.
Screen time in this age group may be associated with the following problems in later childhood:
- emotional problems in girls
- family functioning for both boys and girls.
For children and young people aged 5–17 years, screen time may have negative effects on:
- weight and diet (especially from TV viewing)
- behavioural problems, anxiety, hyperactivity, attention, self-esteem and psychosocial health.
For this age group, some research links screen time with depressive symptoms. The type of screen time, and how it is used, affects outcomes for children and young people. For instance, watching TV may result in less physical activity and children being more disengaged or less attentive, and may negatively affect family functioning.
Studies do not always agree about the effects of excessive screen time, likely because of differences in their methods. However, research suggests that excessive screen time in children, especially young children, is likely to lead to unhealthy outcomes in the short and longer term. In addition to the time spent on screens, it is also important to consider the type of screen time and how it is used.
Assistant Principal
The weather is warming up, Advent is almost here and that means Christmas and holidays too. A lot has been happening across the College within and outside the classroom. It has been and it is truly wonderful to hear the conversations and laughter, movement of staff and students and the College getting into this new kind of ‘normal’.
Our Year 12s also commenced the HSC exams this week.
Here is a special prayer for our Year 12s.
Prayer for HSC Students "You Got This"
Let us especially pray for our young people as they front up for the HSC.
God, we ask that they especially feel your closeness during the HSC exam period.
Give them calm hearts and quiet confidence in the knowledge that you hold them in the palm of your hand.
Bless them with keen understanding and retentive memory.
Give them the ability to grasp things correctly, be exact in their explanations
And an ability to express themselves clearly.
Point out the beginning, direct their progress and help in them in the completion of each of their responses.
Holy Spirit send them your gifts of wisdom and knowledge.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, and the God of their own faith tradition
Amen
The Set Aside Prayer
Lord, help me to set-aside
everything I think I know about You
everything I think I know about myself
everything I think I know about others, and
everything I think I know about what I’ve studied,
and everything I don’t know or can’t remember
and give to the best of my ability
No comparisons!
Remembrance Day Commemoration
Staff and Students had the opportunity to stop at 11am on Thursday and pause to remember those men and women who have served and those who have died in all wars and peacekeeping operations.
The Poppy.
I am not a badge of honour,
I am not a racist smear,
I am not a fashion statement,
To be worn but once a year,
I am not glorification,
Of conflict or of war.
I am not a paper ornament
A token,
I am more.
I am a loving memory,
Of a father or a son, (or a husband or a daughter)
A permanent reminder
Of each and everyone.
I'm paper or enamel
I'm old or shining new,
I'm a way to saying Thank you,
To every one of you.
I am a simple Poppy,
A reminder to you all,
That courage faith and honour
Will stand where heroes fall.
We will remember them
We will remember them
Lest we forget
#wewillrememberthem
#bringingpeopletogether
#lestweforget
PRAYER
O God, our ruler, and guide,
In whose hands are the destinies of this and every nation,
We give you thanks for the freedoms we enjoy in this land
And for those who laid down their lives to defend them:
We pray that we and all the people of Australia,
Gratefully remembering their courage and their sacrifice,
May have the grace to live in a spirit of justice, of generosity, and of peace;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever. Amen
Mrs Kimberley Logue
Director of Mission and Vision
Religious Education Coordinator
Stay healthy HSC hub
Find tips for looking after yourself during your senior studies and dealing with changes and challenges arising from studying in the time of COVID-19.
Visit the Stay healthy HSC hub for more information
https://education.nsw.gov.au/student-wellbeing/stay-healthy-HSC?q=
Year 7 Visual Art
Year 7 have been working on their relief prints exploring how botany has been used in art throughout the art timeline, with a particular focus on Australian native plants and artists such as Margaret Preston and John Wolseley. Since returning face to face, students have been working hard each lesson to create their wonderful prints.
Year 10 Visual Art
Year 10 began learning about Street art and artists such as Banksy whilst in remote learning. Since their return to school, they have designed imagery exploring various issues they feel passionate about to go onto a skateboard deck using the characteristics and style of street art.
Year 11, who are now Year 12, have embarked on their HSC course in Visual Arts and have begun the process for researching and developing their ideas for the HSC Body of Work. This BOW will take them a year approximately 9 months to complete and so we wish them well. I look forward to seeing what you produce.
Year 12 Visual Arts have completed and handed in their BOWs for marking and have now begun their HSC examinations. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them well for all their examinations but particularly for their Art exam on Friday 26 November 2021. I also look forward to sharing photographs of their BOW with the school community once the examinations have been completed.
Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli
Visual Art Teacher
Mangamania closes this week!
These are some of our amazing entries we’ve received so far to the Mangamania competition.
Design your manga character and tell us a little bit about him/her and email it to sbcclibrary@dow.catholic.edu.au
No scanner - no problem - just take a photo of your drawing with your info and email it - but be quick! Entries will be be accepted up and until 9.00 am Monday 15th November 2021
Voting will commence via google doc Week 7 and great prizes are up for grabs!!
The Premier’s Reading Challenge has come to a close. All our participating Challengers are to be congratulated on their fantastic effort and our Challengers will be awarded great prizes later this term including a super cool prize pack from the Library with all the reading essentials like hot chocolate, snacks, bookmarks and a torch (for late night reading)!
Don’t forget you can access ebooks and audiobooks through the digital platform Sora - Just go to the College Library Homepage Oliver and click on the Sora button to open a world of reading or you can download the app to your phone. It’s a great way to relax.
Staff and students are now also able to borrow magazines through Sora. All magazines are available for simultaneous use -so there is no waiting. Magazines are on loan for 14 days then they self-return and back issues of magazines are also available. Check it out today!
Learnpath Guides
A wealth of information! Explore our Learnpath Guides through Oliver, choose your year group and subject or simply do a quick search - it’s only a few clicks away!
Both our Homepage and the LearnPath Guides are constantly being updated and added to, so don’t forget to check it out regularly.
Happy reading
The Library Team
Congratulations to the SBCC Debating Team
Well we were finally able to hold round 7.
For the first time the girls were able to pre prepare for the debate and they certainly outdid themselves. The girls performed exceptionally well, taking out the win. This puts us clearly in the lead in the competition and we remain undefeated.
Madison H opened the debate presenting a clear definition of the topic and creating an outstanding model for her team to argue for.
Jada H was magnificent in arguing her points and cementing her team's position on the debate.
Samantha E won the debate with her outstanding rebuttals.
Jenna S was a great support for her team members making sure they were well equipped with arguments and rebuttals.
Congratulations girls!
Round 8 is next Tuesday.
Magda Mizzi
English Teacher
“The firm commitment for human rights springs from an awareness of the unique and supreme value of each person.”
Pope Francis, May 20, 2016; via Twitter
Over the course of remote learning, the Social Justice team worked tirelessly to continue having a presence in our school community by promoting the importance of health and wellbeing. Since returning back to school face to face, the team have begun preparations for our final term of fundraising for 2021.
Throughout Term 4, there will be a number of Christmas initiatives taking place to support families in the Macarthur region. Year 7 will be collecting food and toiletries to create hampers for 10 families who are supported by Catholic Care and our local parishes. Year 8 will assist with these hampers by raising money to purchase the baskets, wrapping and Christmas bonbons to complete the hampers.
Year 9 and Year 10 will be encouraged to donate a gold coin in their STRIVE classes in order to purchase a gift to give to a child whose family is receiving a hamper.
The team will also be supporting St Vincent de Paul through encouraging the whole school community to wear a Christmas t-shirt and/or Christmas accessory on Tuesday Week 9 and Tuesday Week 10 with their sport uniform. In order for students to participate, the team asks that they donate a gold coin to their STRIVE coach on each day.
On Thursday 11 November, our team’s president Hugh H and secretary Alex A, attended a Caritas Australia panel meeting with other students from across Australia, to discuss why they feel so passionate about Social Justice and what they hope to achieve and see in the future.
I was so honoured and so proud to be a part of this meeting, where I could listen to the wonderful comments made by all students, but particularly by Hugh and Alex. They discussed how social justice is the pillar of community, and not just our local community, but the world as a whole. They discussed various issues that they felt were important for members of our community to be aware of, and how they raise these issues through the multiple fundraisers they organise.
It was apparent that students want to be the spokesperson for those who need the help to speak and they acknowledged how lucky they are in their own lives and how, they want to give back. They noted the importance of not just doing something, but to understand why they are doing it. I was so proud to hear how our students related their actions in social justice back to the Benedictine values of our school and how those values help to instill a greater respect for each other.
It is through the initiatives that our team at school and every one of us who support them, that the conversation can take place. It is a dialogue that needs to happen in order for us to make these big changes in the world. I look forward to seeing what our students can achieve over the next five weeks at school by responding to the needs of our community.
Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli
Social Justice Coordinator
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 are unable to 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/.