St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter Friday 5 February 2021
ACTING PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear Parents
Welcome back to 2021 and a special warm welcome to our new year 7 students as well as all of the new families joining our ‘Bennies community’. I extend a warm welcome to our new staff who are joining us in this great community.
Mr Gareth Reavell – HSIE Coordinator
Mrs Joanne Dash – Learning Support Coordinator
Ms Lorena Ghignone – VET Coordinator/Tas
Mr Matthew Hall – PDHPE
Ms Lauren Tubby – TAS
Ms Srishti Singh – TAS
Ms Trish Green – SSO Library
Ms Gotty-Lees – SSO Learning Support
Ms Jacqueline Robinson – SSO Learning Support
Ms Angela Camilleri – SSO Food Tech Support
As we return to school for 2021, we begin the year with great enthusiasm and excitement. It was pleasing to welcome students back on to College grounds and see this sense of excitement from them, particularly our new Year 7 students. Year 7 commenced almost a week and a half ago and the students appear to have settled in very well to our community.
Our Year 12 2020 cohort are currently taking the next steps in their journeys, but it would be remiss of me not to congratulate students and families on such an outstanding effort in completing their HSC year. In particular, congratulations to our Dux, Alverta Hidou, who received an ATAR of 95.95. There were 40 Band 6’s (inc. E4) and 72% of courses were above the State average. Additionally, 82.99% of exam results were in the Band 4-6 range. We also had 9 nominations from NESA for outstanding Music, Drama, D@T and Industrial Technology. Overall, we are very proud of our graduates, not just for their scholastic efforts, but also for their contribution to the development of this great community. Congratulations Year 12 2020.
The theme that we will be working within the College this year is: We Belong, We Engage,
We Challenge.This theme will be used throughout the year and will be important to help students to be the best that they can be, and to flourish. There will be more in the coming weeks on this theme.
Staff will be undertaking a Staff Development Day on Friday the 19 February. This day will focus on Teaching and Learning and will help our staff to further develop skills in this area.
We look forward to once again walking with you on the educational journey in 2021.
Welcome back, please enjoy this video of our Year 7 Students enjoying their first day of High School. https://player.vimeo.com/video/508654224
Mr David Costin
Acting Principal
VIA Character Strengths
FROM THE P&F
Welcome to 2021 all Bennies families and a warm welcome to new and Year 7 families.
The P&F look forward to working on key initiatives and activities for St Benedict’s students in 2021. The P&F is established to encourage strong collaboration, interaction and partnership between parents and the College.
The first P&F meeting and AGM is being held on Tuesday 23 February at 7.00 pm. The annual selection of the Executive Committee for the year ahead takes place at the AGM. Nominations for President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary will be held. The agenda will be made available on Compass along with rsvp details. Attendance is encouraged for all to participate.
Uniform survey results
The results from the uniform survey conducted at the end of 2020 are in and will be shared early this term with students and families.
We look forward to an exciting term ahead. A reminder that the P&F can be contacted via the email address: pandf@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au
Fiona Place
P&F President
Reminders
- Keep Covid safe: If your child is sick, keep them home. See below for Covid updates.
- Please do not use Disabled Parking Spaces without a Disability Sticker.
- Tuesday afternoon is Sports Day therefore, if you are collecting your child early they must have a note to remain at school.
DATES TO REMEMBER
- Monday 8 February - Year 8 vaccinations
- Wednesday 10 February - Opening College Mass
- Friday 12 February - House Colours Day
- Wednesday 17 February - Ash Wednesday
- Tuesday 2 March - College Assembly
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MISSION AND VISION
Here we are, 2021. A brand new year and a brand new school year awaits us. A year which lies before us with opportunities for creating a new way of living in our world.
This New Year also marks the 54th World Day of Peace. This year Pope Francis has chosen the theme ‘A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace.’
The culture of care … calls for a common, supportive and inclusive commitment to protecting and promoting the dignity and good of all, a willingness to show care and compassion, to work for reconciliation and healing, and to advance mutual respect and acceptance. As such, it represents a privileged path to peace.
Pope Francis – Section 9, A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace
The year began for Staff on Wednesday 27 January, with a beautiful liturgy themed “MY STORY… OUR STORY...THE STORY”. We normally have a combined Mass with the Staff from St Justin’s Catholic Primary School, Oran Park, but due to Covid restrictions, we were unable to do this. The Staff of St Justin’s provided the College with a lovely gift “a jar full of words of encouragement”. We sent prayer cards across - wishing staff a wonderful year ahead and may it be a happy one.
May God make your year a happy one!
Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,
But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;
Not by making your path easy,
But by making you sturdy to travel any path;
Not by taking hardships from you,
But by taking fear from your heart;
Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,
But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;
Not by making your life always pleasant,
But by showing you when people and their causes need you the most,
And by making you anxious to be there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope, and joy to you for the year ahead!
It was so wonderful also to see students return through the school gates filled with excitement, joy and hope. Firstly, with Year 7, then Year 12 and the rest of the College.
Our Year 12s are in the midst of getting organised for their upcoming Senior Retreat which was rescheduled from November 2020 to March this year. The purpose of the Year 12 Retreat is to provide an opportunity for each student to reflect, share and learn about themselves, their relationship with others (especially their family), and their relationship with God. This process will take place through a number of planned activities and a Retreat Liturgy/Mass.
The Retreat is part of the Religious Education Program and as such, it is compulsory that every Year 12 student attend. The Retreat promises to be a very rewarding and worthwhile experience. To know ourselves truly, we need to take time to ‘listen’ to ourselves and reflect on what is happening in our lives and to come to terms with what it means for us.
It will provide a unique opportunity for students to develop an understanding of themselves in the world. They will be challenged with the ideas of what they value and what they believe is important to them, as this is where their ‘heart’ will be. They will also be challenged with things that once were important and possibly no longer or things that they might need to consider to be important.
PRAYER FOR 2021
As we begin the 2021 school year,
we give thanks for the new opportunities and challenges it will present.
There will be surprises and serendipities, doubts and delights.
There will be short weeks and long terms and the colour and movement of life
in and beyond the classroom.
We will be reminded of the challenges we faced in 2020, particularly the coronavirus pandemic and its wide social and economic repercussions.
We will be proud of our collective impulse to come together as an Australian community
that looks after each other through struggles and success.
As we look forward let us take with us an attitude of gratitude for all we do have.
Let us build ourselves better and stronger this year as we acknowledge
that in all we do we are always in it together as part of God’s greatest gift - the human family.
May we BE THE LIGHT.
I am very excited to be back after being on maternity leave during Term 3 and Term 4 last year. I would like to personally thank Mrs Tarnya Grana for her leadership of the RE Team in my absence.
Wishing one and all a most blessed and wonderful year.
Mrs Kimberley Logue
Religious Education Coordinator
Welcome to Year 7
Welcome Year 7 students and parents to St Benedict’s Catholic College.
For the students and parents, I have not personally met yet, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Miss Julia Liska and I am a PDHPE Teacher. This is my 6th year at the College, and I am delighted to be the Year 7’s Year Coordinator.
As the students and parents of our newest College community, I will endeavour to make your journey into High School as easy as possible. I am committed to ensuring that all students are having a fulfilling time here.
Our warm and friendly staff have been helping the students settle into the College community to build the skills, attitudes and values they will need to fully participate in the rich educational life that our College offers. Teachers and staff are assisting in ensuring that your child is able to move with ease from primary to secondary education.
Over the past week, students have been participating in a range of activities, including building skills for high school life, STRIVE activities, sports activities and regular classes. We have started teaching the practical skills and behaviours required for the years ahead. These key skills include using school diaries to stay organised, understanding teacher feedback and using College facilities.
On the first day of school, I spoke briefly with the students about ‘Be Your Best Self’. This theme will be constantly explored, and students will be challenged to ‘Be their Best’ in everything they do, from their classwork, to their interactions with other students on the playground and even interactions with staff. Students have already displayed great enthusiasm and positive relationships with those around them.
Here at the College, year 7 students are grouped based on their house groups. Below are the Year 7 house groups and their Strive Coaches:
The upcoming events for year 7 include:
- Wednesday 10 February- Opening College Mass (Week 3).
- Friday 16 February - Staff Development Day (Week 4).
The first week has been exciting and action-packed, with many more thrilling activities in the coming weeks. The transition into high school can be a daunting experience but always reach out to your friends, classmates, Strive Coach, teachers and Year Coordinator with any questions or concerns you may have.
If you have any questions, feedback or concerns throughout the year, you are most welcome to contact me - liskaj01@dow.catholic.edu.au or via the school phone 4631 5300. I look forward to getting to know you and seeing your child grow as a St Benedict student.
Miss Julia Liska
Year 7 Coordinator
CAPA News
Another busy start to the year for the Creative and Performing Arts Department. Our Year 7 students will be receiving their Visual Arts diary and bag during class. Students must remember to bring all necessary equipment to each lesson. Our Year 8 Music classes will find all of the classwork in a printed booklet and on google classroom. Elective Drama, Music, Photography and Visual Arts have already begun working and great progress has already begun. Year 9 photography students are reminded to return the ‘Phone Policy’ notes to Mrs Kovacevic ASAP. And our Stage 6 Drama, Music, Photography and Visual Arts are busily preparing for busy times ahead.
The Music Tuition Program has also begun. All students involved in the program have been notified of their times. Any year 7 students interested in learning an instrument in a private lesson setting are to contact Mrs Koryzma via email for further details.
koryzmaj01@dow.catholic.edu.au
Dance troupe will begin on Tuesday morning 9 February from 7:30 - 8:30. Mrs Liska will speak to our year 7 students shortly about how to join.
Mrs Jenny Korzyma
CAPA Cordinator
Youth Ministry News
Welcome to Term 1, 2021!
We are hopeful that Youth Ministry at St Benedict’s will look a little different from 2020, providing lots more opportunities for our students to be involved and develop and strengthen their faith.
This year we will be running LIVE events on the following dates:
LIVE aims to draw young people into responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community and to forge a sense of community and spirituality amongst them.
This year our Youth Ministry will be led by a group of ten students across years 10 and 11. The students have a range of initiatives ready for this year and can’t wait to share them with the college community.
Miss Tabitha Brown
Youth Ministry Coordinator
TAS News
Senior Corner
The Senior Corner is a wonderful privilege for our Year 12 students. It will be open most recess and lunch breaks from Wednesday Week 2, 2021.
Students can use the wonderful facilities that include microwaves, toasters, and a sandwich press. Students will have access to tea, coffee and hot chocolate beverages. Sliced bread with margarine, jams and vegemite are all provided for them, including skim and full cream milk.
There is a verandah outside this room, with coffee tables, stools, 6 picnic tables and large outdoor umbrellas available for them to use.
Mrs Teresa Holland
Year 12 Coordinator
ABSENCES
We ask Parents/Carers to only report all day absences via COMPASS, part day absences should be reported to the office via phone on 4631 5300 or email to info@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au
If a student is having an absence of 3 days or more, a request should be sent to the Principal via email to info@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au
If a student is having an absence of 10 days or more an Application for Extended Leave should be completed and submitted to the office with a copy of the students itinerary, if the absence is within Australia or a copy of flight tickets if the extended leave is to be outside Australia. A copy of the Application for Extended Leave can be found here .
FIRST AID NOTICE
Given the presence of COVID-19 coupled with the commencement of the influenza (flu) season, our school has an important responsibility to provide a safe environment for students and staff. Your child should not attend school if they are showing any flu like symptoms.
If a student is sent to the office with flu like symptoms we will place them in isolation and call their parents to organise for them to be collected as soon as possible.
Your support in keeping our school healthy and safe is appreciated.
LOST & FOUND
We have a number of unmarked clothing items, jewellery, reading glasses and containers which would like to be returned to their owners. Please ask your child/ren to come to the office if they may have lost one of these items.
We ask parents to check that all their child/rens items are marked clearly with their name in permanent marker.
Any items not collected will be given to the P & F Clothing Pool at the end of Term 3.
P & F CLOTHING POOL
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 with availability.
CatholicCare now offers the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) in the Macarthur region, helping seniors to access entry-level support services to live independently and safely at home.
If your grandparents, parent(s) or anyone you know requires aged care assistance at home, please ask them to call 4628 0044 and ask for Melissa or Colleen.