The cold start to winter did not stop us celebrating our Feast Day, commencing with a beautiful Mass celebrated by Father Andrew Doohan. The Mass had special significance as it was the first time, we have celebrated our Feast Day Mass in the new college hall. The importance of our college’s Benedictine spirituality was captured beautifully by Father Andrew in his homily.

Thanks must go to Mrs Kimberley Logue, Mrs Tarnya Grana, the Liturgy Committee and all the staff and students who contributed to the preparation and organisation of the Mass and the student and staff presentation awards ceremony. Thanks also to the music staff, Mrs Jenny Koryzma and Mr Brandon O’Donnell and the student vocalists and musicians, who provided the wonderful music that helped make this Mass so memorable.

Special congratulations to those staff who received ‘10 Year Service Awards’ for their significant contribution to our college community and to the students from Year 7 to Year 12 who were recipients of the inaugural STRIVE award. This was awarded by Strive Coaches to two students in their STRIVE class who have engaged in their STRIVE conversations to set effective goals in their learning and wellbeing, and is a student who embodies the statement “something to strive for, nothing to run from”.

From the Mass, our college community moved to the COLA where every member of the community was given a drum and taught different drum patterns, playing together as a whole community or in a call and response pattern by following the lead of the African Drumming Group. 1000 drums in any one place, as you can imagine was a lot of fun but most importantly it was about sharing this memorable experience with every member of our wonderful Bennies community.

The stalls organised by the STRIVE classes were varied and well received by the students. Special thanks to all the STRIVE coaches and students for the creative energy you gave to the organisation of each activity.

The day which concluded with “Bennie Got Talent” which once again was packed with quality performances and with every act receiving wonderful support from our student audience. Once again, for the students and staff that participated in this day and our parents for their continuous support, I am truly thankful.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is Be Brave. Make Change a challenge. Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation to Make Change for the benefit of all Australians, change starts in your daily life – where you live, work, play, and socialise. Of Special significance today, 3 June 2022, is 30th Anniversary of the historic Mabo decision, a 1992 legal case that marked the first formal recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australia.

Creator of all things,
Both seen and unseen.
Speak to us in your great wisdom.
Make us strong as we seek
Your help and guidance.
Teach us to love all people
Regardless of race or colour or belief.

May we listen with great care
To the heartbeat of this land
And to its people
Who cared for it so well
And for so long.

May the peace these people and their land
Have always enjoyed
Continue to be strengthened and preserved
By all who wish to come and be part of
This country and it's ‘Ancient Dreaming’.

St Benedict pray for us

Amen

(Used with the permission of Elizabeth Pike,1998).

(view online here - paragraph 3, Private Members' Statements 362, Parliament of New South Wales)

Camden Electorate ANZAC Day Services.

I thank the speakers of the day, Mayor Therese Fedeli and keynote speaker Flight Lieutenant Benjamin Lindsay, who is an explosive ordnance engineering instructor at the Defence Explosive Ordnance Training School. I also thank the students from St Benedict's Catholic College, Tim Logue and Pastor Mike Smith.

It is a worthwhile and positive experience to be involved with the SBCC P&F, working closely with the College Principal and Leadership team to enrich the learning opportunities of our students.

The work of our P&F helps to ensure that our students experience at St Benedict’s Catholic College is of the highest quality.

Expressions of interest are currently sought for the SBCC P&F Executive Team. If you would like to make a contribution to our college as a P&F Committee member please email your details to: pandf@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au.

Expressions of interest for Year 7, 2024 may be registered here

O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons.

As we embrace these winter months ...

May the earlier setting of the sun

remind us to take time to rest.

May the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet remind us of the brevity of this earthly life.

May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who give us your breath of life.

May we give thanks for the blessing of the winter season and praise you for your goodness forever.

Amen

Stay Warm

Beginning with National Sorry Day on Thursday 26th May, this week is National Reconciliation Week. This year also marks the 5th anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart (https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/)

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2022 is Be Brave. Make Change. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. For the Catholic Church in Australia, this week offers us a time to be fully the Church that God dreams for us - a Church in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make their own unique contribution and that contribution is joyfully received by others.

Today 3 June 2022 marks the 30th Anniversary of the historic Mabo decision, a 1992 legal case that marked the first formal recognition of Indigenous land rights in Australia. Mabo and others v Queensland (No 2) (1992) – more commonly known as 'Mabo', acknowledged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique connection with the land, as the High Court of Australia overturned the legal doctrine of terra nullius (‘land belonging to nothing, no one’) which implied that no-one held ownership of the land until the arrival of European settlers.

St Benedict’s classes participated in class liturgies that were organised by our Aboriginal Education Assistant Ms Caitie Oldfield.

Loving God, you call us to work together to be one people.

May we work together to bring hope and healing to all who live here in Australia.

Help us to show compassion and justice to all, especially our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

brothers and sisters, whom we have treated so badly in the past.

May we walk forward in a spirit of healing and reconciliation so that all may live with dignity and

respect.

We make our prayer in Jesus’ name.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK (#NRW2022)

“Be Brave. Make Change”

Aboriginal Our Father:

You are Our Father, you live in heaven

We talk to you, Father you are good (repeat)

We believe your Word Father

We your children, give us bread today (repeat)

We have done wrong, we are sorry

Help us Father not to sin again (repeat)

Others have done wrong to us

And we are sorry for them, Father today (repeat)

Stop us from doing wrong, Father

Save us all from the evil one (repeat)

You are Our Father, you live in heaven

We talk to you, Father you are good (repeat)

Kimberley Logue

Context

Social media is used in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) to help create vibrant Catholic school communities of faith and learning. In this context, social media is any form of online presence used in valid educational contexts that facilitates inclusive relationships, contemporary communities and multi-directional interactive exchange of information, conversation or activity. Users of social media are required to manage their digital footprint by interacting responsibly and ethically, in line with our Catholic ethos, respecting the dignity of all involved.

CEDoW maintains a social media presence on various platforms, including but not limited to: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Users of social media should consider their rights and responsibilities for promoting the respect and dignity of all participants.

Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Social Media Standards

CEDoW encourages the use of social media for open and productive dialogue. When using social media it is expected that individuals will:

• respect the dignity of self and others in the context of their role

• not promote perspectives contrary to the Catholic faith

• not bring the school into disrepute

• not publicly criticise CEDoW, schools, staff or students

• align with the parameters of the intended purpose of the social media presence.

In order to create a positive experience and the maintenance of respectful relationships it

is expected that no material posted:

• includes any content that a reasonable person considers in any way is defamatory, discriminatory, rude, aggressive, abusive, harassing, intimidating, threatening, insulting, hurtful, hateful, offensive, obscene or indecent

• constitutes trolling

• is unlawful or where the user does not have the necessary rights, licenses and/or consents to post, including infringement of copyright or any other intellectual property rights;

• breaches or invades anyone’s privacy;

• impersonates or misrepresents any person, organisation or entity;

• consists of any proprietary, confidential, sensitive or private information;

• constitutes spam, unauthorised advertising or soliciting, or links that contain any kind of virus, spyware or malware;

• appears to contain irrelevant or excessive links or coded information;

• is off-topic, redundant or excessively long;

• encourages conduct that may, or would, constitute a criminal offence or give rise to civil liability, or that otherwise violates any local, state, national or international law or regulation.

Social Media and Privacy

CEDoW, OoD, Strategic Planning and Policy – AMC – 27032019

Click here to view the policy online at the CEDow Website:

CATHOLIC EDUCATION DIOCESE OF WOLLONGONG SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENT

The St Benedict's College BEARs Group acknowledged World Environment Day with the creation of this video:

St Benedict's Catholic College - World Environment Day 2022 Student Video

On the 31st of June, the Year 11 Geography class went to Cabramatta to immerse ourselves into the Asian-Australian culture and the immigration that the area has experienced. While we were there we saw traditional Asian architecture, bakeries and groceries. The class got to enjoy the oriental flavours of Asia through pork buns, banh mi's and bubble tea. We were also privileged to get an informative presentation from a Fairfield City Council member about the demographics of the area, the area's history and the future plans for Cabramatta.

• Danielle (Year 11 Geography student)

We went to Cabramatta for the day for our topic 'Cultural Integration' and experienced a presentation on the history of the place and Fairfield in general, speaking of how the area became very multicultural. I saw a lot of different Asian shops and grocers, as well as the European influence in some of these. For lunch, I ate a Banh Mi crispy chicken roll as well as oolong bubble tea. From the presentation, we learnt a lot of interesting facts about the area, including how different the early 90s were. We also learned that Cabramatta was once full of Italian shops and culture instead of Vietnamese. This excursion linked to our learning in Geography as we got to experience a different area that focused on mainly one culture that had a history of many others. As well as the influence that some companies/brands (mostly European) still have on these places no matter where it is and what culture is celebrated.

• Hayley (Year 11 Geography student)

We went to Cabramatta for our new topic 'Cultural Integration'. A presentation was shown at the Whitlam Library and informed us about the history of Cabramatta, the multiculturalism that exists in Cabramatta and Fairfield City in general. I enjoyed learning about the history of Cabramatta which extended my existing knowledge and also being able to experience the culture that is present in Cabramatta. I ate a Bahn mi which is a Vietnamese roll and some boba/bubble tea which originated in Taiwan. Interesting facts I learnt was about how before the Vietnamese came it was occupied by Europeans which included Italians, Germans and Dutch. I learnt that in Cabramatta they are very accepting of other cultures and have a lovely community. It links to my learning in Geography because Cabramatta is a place where cultural integration has occurred and it's kept their ever-growing multiculturalism an important part of their community.

• Jemaima (Year 11 Geography student)

On the 31st of May, my Year 11 Senior Geography class had the opportunity to experience and explore the culture present within Cabramatta. The day began with an informative presentation on the history and development of Cabramatta and greater Fairfield City before our class was able to walk along the streets of Cabramatta to understand the lifestyle set up for locals in the area. During the walk, we were able to purchase and try local foods such as the popular and delicious Bahn Mi along with drinks such as sugar cane juice. The day was constructive in giving our class first-hand information about cultural integration and allowed us to see how multi-cultural parts of society continue to operate and thrive in a world becoming more and more dominant in a mass consumer culture. Overall, the excursion was incredibly beneficial and well-enjoyed by all senior geography students who attended.

• Chelsea (Year 11 Geography student)

The Senior Geography excursion to Cabramatta was invaluable in allowing us to gain information regarding Vietnamese culture and the nature of cultural diffusion within Australia. An enjoyable experience, visiting the Whitlam library provided additional information from an expert, relevant to our studies. However, the social aspect proved crucial – the highlight speaking to a local resident on their cultural background.

Congratulations to our Year 11 Geography students for their outstanding participation and enthusiasm during our field trip to Cabramatta. I would also like to thank Mr McAteer for joining us on the day.

Mrs Madelaine Reinhold

Senior Geography Teacher

On Monday this week, Year 10 PASS took part in a Wheelchair Basketball Incursion. Brendan from the Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT came out to the College and provided some valuable information to our students about living with a disability and participation in wheelchair sports. Students had the opportunity to participate in a game of Wheelchair Basketball. Well done to all students on their fantastic participation throughout the sessions!

Miss Paton and Mrs Novak

Families of current Year 5 students are invited to complete an Expression of Interest for Enrolment for Year 7, 2024.

Expression of Interest is not a formal enrolment application, but an opportunity to be included in St Benedict's College information and enrolment timelines as they become available.

Click the image above or click here to register your family's details.

Thursday 30 June - Year 7 - 10 Parent Interviews 3:30pm - 8:30pm (Zoom)

Friday 1 July - Year 7 - 10 Parent Interviews - 8.10am-2.30pm (Zoom)

Mon 06 Jun - Year 12 - English Advanced HSC Symposium, Seymour Centre

Tue 07 Jun - NSWCCC Cross Country - Eastern Creek

Wed 08 Jun - Year 10 Fast Forward Program, Year 12 UOW Discovery Day, Year 8 Music - African Beat Company Incursion

Thu 09 Jun - Year 10 Mace Excursion

Fri 10 Jun - Staff Development Day - Spirituality / Pupil Free Day,

Basketball - Yr 7-8 & Yr 9-10- Qualifying Tournament

Mon 13 Jun - Queens Birthday Holiday

Tue 14 Jun - MISA Debating Semi-Finals

Fri 17 Jun - Year 9 Reflection Day - Offsite

Tue 21 Jun - MISA Dance Festival

Mon 27 Jun - TAFE Trade Readiness Course

Tue 28 Jun - TAFE Trade Readiness Course ,

MISA Debating Grand Final

Wed 29 Jun - TAFE Trade Readiness Course

Thu 30 Jun - TAFE Trade Readiness Course,

Year 7 - 10 Parent Interviews 3:30pm - 8:30pm (Zoom) **Updated**

Fri 01 Jul - TAFE Trade Readiness Course

Year 7 - 10 Parent Interviews - 8.10am-2.30pm (Zoom) **Updated**

End of Term 2

Mon 18 Jul - Term 3 Starts

Tue 19 Jul - Stage 6 Academic Award Ceremony - College Hall

Mon 25 Jul - Stage 4 Academic Award Presentation - 8:10am, Stage 5 Academic Award Presentation - 11:00am

Mon 01 Aug - Trial HSC commences

Thu 04 Aug - 2023 Captains Interviews

Mon 08 Aug - Feast of St Mary MacKillop

Mon 15 Aug - Feast of the Assumption, Science Week

Tue 16 Aug - P&F Meeting - 6.30pm, NSWCCC Girls Netball Champs - Penrith

Fri 19 Aug - Science Week, Year 12 High Tea

Tue 23 Aug - Bishop’s Student Excellence Awards (2022 Cohort – Year 12)

Thu 25 Aug - MISA Youth of the Year (MCCC)

Mon 29 Aug - Staff Development Day - Wellbeing / Pupil Free Day, Wellbeing Week

Fri 02 Sep - LIVE 2022

Mon 12 Sep - NSWCCC Athletics - Homebush

Tue 20 Sep - Year 12 Farewell Assembly

Wed 21 Sep - Year 12 Grad Mass and Awards

End of Term 3

Mon 10 Oct - Term 4 Starts

Wed 02 Nov - Senior Retreat

Tue 08 Nov - P&F Meeting at 6.30pm

Fri 11 Nov - 25th Annual CDF Sports Awards

Fri 18 Nov - Year 12 Formal TBC

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

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 Academic Awards - 7-9

Thu 15 Dec - Students Activities Day

Tue 20 Dec - Term 4 Ends

End of Term 4

RANIER has advised that there may be significant delays with the school 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 school office will be available Mondays after 2:30pm, orders placed prior to 9am Monday will qualify.

TRADING HOURS DURING SCHOOL 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