St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter Friday 13 November 2020
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear Parents, Carers, Family and Friends
In this month as we remember our loved ones let us pray
Bless the memories that we treasure
Bless the lives that we celebrate
Bless the peace that we have found,
May the love which is stronger than death
and which binds us together in the unity of life,
Energise our spirits with divine stillness, now and forever
Amen.
NAIDOC Week 2020
This week our College celebrated NAIDOC Week
This year theme Always Was, Always Will Be”, recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years. The very first footprints on this continent were those belonging to First Nations peoples.
NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations.
As part of NAIDOC week celebrations, our College unveiled a wonderful mural that was designed and painted by Ms Kay Andonopoulus and four students Sophie D, Kalahney F, Sarah B and Tiana O.
The mural is a visualisation of country. Special thanks to Aunty Frances Bodkin the knowledge holder of this area Aunty Fran is the author of the book D’hawaral Climate and Resources.
Year 11 Parent Teacher Evening
On Monday, Year 11 Parent Teacher Interviews were held via Zoom. The purpose of these interviews was to provide parents and carers with information about their child’s achievements in Year 11 and areas requiring further improvement and consolidation, as they prepare for their first HSC assessments this term. Staff very much appreciated those parents who attended the interviews. If you were unable to attend these interviews you can email your child’s teacher for feedback about their academic progress.
“Parents are leaders and experts in their children’s learning. The degree of family engagement in children’s learning is known to have a strong relationships with wellbeing, developmental outcomes, and post-school destinations”
Calendar for the End of Term
As we head towards the end of the 2020 academic year please be aware of the following important dates.
Kerrie Piatek
Principal
VIA Character Strengths
This week our College is focusing on the Character Strength Humour as part of our Strive Program
“I approach life playfully, making others laugh, and finding humour in difficult and stressful times.”
FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Year 10 Examinations
Year 10 have completed their Yearly Examinations this week. This is an important step for Year 10 as they start to complete their Stage 5 education and begin readying themselves for their journey into Stage 6, transitioning into the workforce or other educational settings.
Congratulations to all year 10 on their efforts so far this semester.
Higher School Certificate examinations
The Higher School Certificate examinations ended this week. Our Year 12 students made a great effort in their preparations for these exams and we look forward to seeing the results of the hard work that has gone into their studies. Thank you to all of the teachers for the great efforts in preparing our students for these exams.
Year 11 reports and PTS Interviews
Year 11 have received their Preliminary course reports recently and families have also had an opportunity to engage with staff about how students have progressed this year. Year 11 have now begun their year 12 course work and good luck to the students as they begin their final stages of education at Bennies.
Year 9 Examinations
Year 9 have begun their semester exams this week. Due to changes to assessments last semester, this is in essence the first exam block that the students have sat and will be a great experience for them all as they progress through Stage 5. Good luck to all of Year 9 as they undertake these examinations.
Year 11 Academic Awards and College Captains and Prefect Induction
This week, we were able to recognise the Year 11 students for their efforts and achievements throughout the year. It was great to recognise the students for their attitude and application and they are a great example and model to other students.
We also inducted our 2021 College Captains and Prefects. These students have certainly demonstrated great leadership during their time at the College and we are confident that these wonderful young men and women will do an outstanding job leading our student body throughout the remainder of this year and next year. Congratulations to students on this significant role.
Year 12 Formal
Tonight, Year 12 celebrate their formal. Being a different year, there are restrictions in place for this event, but I’m sure it will still be a wonderful experience for students
Mr David Costin
Assistant Principal
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.
- Please see update from our school uniform shop, Ranier below.
Parents please take note
- Please do not enter details of Covid test for your child through Compass, please notify the office.
DATES TO REMEMBER
- Monday 23 November - Year 7 PAT Testing
- Monday 14 December - Academic Assembly Years 7 and 8
- Monday 14 December - Reports published for Years 7 and 8
- Tuesday 15 December - Students Activities Day
- Wednesday 16 December - Pupil Free Day
- Wednesday 16 December - Parent/Teacher Interviews
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MISSION AND VISION
This week we have been celebrating NAIDOC week in the college, a week that invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country - a history which dates back thousands of generations. It encourages us to see, hear and learn about the First Nations’ 65000+ year history of this country - which is Australian history. This year’s theme is Always Was, Always Will Be.
This week we aim to recognise that First Nations peoples have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65000 years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were Australia’s first explorers, first navigators, first engineers, first farmers, first botanists, first scientists, first diplomats, first astronomers and first artists! In recognition of the far-reaching contribution of First Nations peoples of Australia we pay our respects to the Dharawal Nation, to their elders past, present and emerging and give thanks for their stewardship of country.
To help us celebrate this week there have been many important initiatives undertaken in the College including a colouring in competition, the unveiling of a mural and information being presented to students during the week. Here is a prayer that we have used in our classrooms this week.
Bountiful God, You love and care for all people
Open your hearts to seek unity and live in harmony with our First peoples
And to respect the gifts of this land.
Through the inclusive love of Jesus Christ.
Living God, we come in trust and hope, placing our prayer in your hands.
For Elders and Wisdom people.
May we open our minds and hearts to learn from those who carry the stories of this country so that we evolve together into a people of respect and gratitude.
God of our Ancestors, whose infinite powers sustain us,
May your wisdom and grace enlighten our future through Christ,
our way, and the Guiding Spirit. Amen.
This week we also had the opportunity to come together in solidarity for Remembrance Day. On the 11th day of the 11th month the College stopped for a minute silence in recognition of those who serve and have served our country. Due to Covid restrictions this year our service was recorded and shared in class to remember the men and women who have courageously fought for our freedoms. We recognise their humility and sacrifice, reminiscent of the words of St Benedict. “The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is becoming to those who value nothing as more dear to them than Christ, on account of the holy servitude they have professed, whether through fear of hell or on account of the glory of life eternal.” (SBR #5).
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Social Justice Update
This has been a very important week celebrating many great events - particularly our Socktober Fundraiser! On Friday 30 October, the College was invited to participate in crazy sock day - a day that encouraged all of our students to bring in a gold coin donation and raise awareness of the disabled and disadvantaged in Cambodia. This day was led by many talented students in Year 11 and their Year Coordinator Mrs Teresa Holland. Events on the day included live artworks in the COLA, video and poster campaigns for awareness of the key issues and even a soccer penalty shoot out - fitting as the theme was ‘Sock it to poverty’! It was a great way to bring our school community together and cheer on students and staff as they bravely took the chance to kick for glory!
Also this day coincided with World Teachers Day and a number of our Year 11 students designed and wrote beautiful thank you cards for all the staff in the College which was a lovely reminder of the importance of community that we have here at St Benedict’s. A big thank you is extended to all the students and staff that helped support this day and to the community for their gold coin donations that have been sent to Catholic Mission to support their annual appeal.
Another event this week included Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week (Monday 9 to Sunday 15 November 2020) led by the BEARs and their leader Miss Joyce. The week aims to provide an important opportunity for our community to improve their recycling knowledge, build better recycling habits and build trust in recycling. The focus of our school campaign aimed to educate and stimulate behaviour change by:
Promoting kerbside, industrial and community recycling initiatives
Giving people the tools to minimise waste and manage material resources responsibly at home, work and school.220 THEME
This year's theme is 'Recovery - A future beyond the bin', and we are encouraged to consider our resources, giving them a second life by reusing and recycling. Reducing our waste not only keeps valuable materials out of landfill it also benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our need for new materials. Reducing and reusing can also save you money at home and in the workplace. At the College we have implemented a new initiative this week to collect and recycle our batteries which is one more way that we are addressing the issue of waste in our school.
The BEARs also have been working very hard around our College. They have been focusing on the waste and recycling programs in our school and have put much love and time into their kitchen garden, which is used by our Hospitality and Food Tech classes. This week their snow peas and herbs, especially the parsley, have been used in a number of classroom cooking lessons.
Well done to Miss Joyce and the BEARs for their continued efforts to support the sustainability and ecological footprint of our College.
This week Mrs Keramea has nominated her Religion class Mackillop Gold as worthy winners of our Work of the Week competition. The class has been working on a cross curricular activity that has been learning about important religious Feast Days and celebrations and translating this information into Spanish. Their display also includes prayers that each student has written, dedicated to the soldiers and their families for Remembrance Day.
Congratulations Mackillop Gold! You have all earned 10 points to your respective Houses!
God Bless;
Mrs Tarnya Grana
Acting Director of Vision and Mission
Laptop usage at the College
A reminder of our responsibilities on laptop usage at the College.
- At all times laptops should be carried in the school approved case and zipped up.
- Drinking next to a laptop is not permitted due to spillages. (This can be a costly repair).
If you have any concerns please come and see me or the IT department.
Mr Andruschko
SCIENCE NEWS
WOMEN IN AVIATION FORUM
On the 30 of October, I had the privilege of participating in the virtual WAI Virtual Emerging Leaders Forum. This event was about inspiring women in aviation to become leaders and the skills and traits they would need for a career in aviation. I was also able to talk to Stephen Hudson, Boeing Defence Australia’s Chief Engineer, about where he sees Boeing and careers at Boeing. The panellists came from firefighters from Sydney Airport to Pilots to Engineers to Scientists working at NASA. Learning about women overcoming challenges in a male-dominated career was a very inspiring experience.
I am very honoured for being allowed to participate this year and can’t wait to see what I will be able to do in aviation in the future.
Caitlin B
Year 9
CAPA NEWS
Year 12 Drama HSC Theory Component occurred last Wednesday with many of our students feeling very confident about their responses in this examination. Good luck year 12!
Ceremonial unveiling of the Dharawal Mural
My name is Kay Andonopoulos and I am a proud Wiradjuri woman. I am so pleased to present our completed mural project.
First and foremost, I would like to pay respects to the First Nation People and Custodians of Country.
As an integral part of this artwork development, deep respect is paid to the traditional owner’s past, present and emerging, the Dharawal people -. This land was never ceded, and it is upon this ancestral land that St Benedict’s Catholic College was built. As we share our own knowledge and art practices within this space, may we also pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever within the Aboriginal Custodianship of Country.
I would like introduce my wonderful team of students who worked with me in collaboration to produce this mural artwork: Sophie D, Kalahny F, Sarah Band Tiana O. As a team we have worked incredibly hard to ensure this artwork is worthy of our Community. Without missing a day, these students would approach me to plan the best time for work on the project. All through the development of the project we have talked, listened, and supported one another, as we know it is as important to listen as it is to be heard.
Firstly, we thank our Principal Mrs Piatek who’s trust and belief in our capabilities, allowed us to realise our collective vision for the design. Mrs Piatek gave us free reign to visualise Country through a mural design that we believe reflects Country.
Very importantly, we thank and pay respect to Aunty Frances Bodkin, knowledge holder and Dharawal Elder. Aunty Fran has provided us with the amazing resource of written knowledge in the book: ‘D’harawal’ - climate and natural resources’. The written knowledge in Aunty Fran’s book ensured accuracy when we were visualising Country.
We would also like to acknowledge the contribution from the Aboriginal department for their kind donation for the materials. Mr Peter Morris for his communications and Ms Kate Oldfield for her contribution of ideas.
It is important to acknowledge the TAS department – Mr Andruschko and Mr Gavin for contributing their own free time in preparing the panels for exhibition and Mr Topham and Ross Tyson for mounting the four panels so beautifully.
Most importantly, we owe a debt of gratitude to the CAPA department for their very generous contribution of materials, space, and in particular Mrs Koryzma for volunteering her free time. We are aware that Mrs Koryzma was key in facilitating the roll-out of this project. Her determination, organisational skills, time and energy, directed this project to the finished stage, allowing us the focus on the design that you can see now.
A special thank you goes to Mr Trevena and Mr Bucinskas for the time taken to assemble the digital presentation
Overall, this has been a collective Benedict community group effort and as such, we are proud to share it now with St Benedict’s Catholic College as part of our rich and diverse culture.
We would like to tell you about the mural and our design and how the connection to Country is made. There is much knowledge about Country so we have chosen the stories that relate to our design.
Aboriginal people are a diverse group of hundreds of nations and clans within those nations.
Each with our own connection to Country and unique seasonal calendars.
Each new season is marked by the movement of the stars in the night sky and changes in the weather, coinciding with the life cycles of plants and animals.
Like many Aboriginal groups around Australia, Dharawal people have a detailed, local understanding of their own seasons, the environment and have been living their lives according to their own seasons for thousands of years.
The Dharawal Country and language area extend from the southern shores of Port Jackson to the northern shores of the Shoalhaven River, and from the eastern shores of the Wollondilly River system to the eastern seaboard.
This mural depicts the sunset and the silence of the night.
It is said that this was the time of storytelling when the children would listen to the storyteller and learn how and why the laws which they must obey came to be. Sometimes the audience would be treated to dance to illustrate the story. When the stars became visible in the night sky the children would go to bed, the men would move away so as not to disturb the sleeping children with their voices and laughter, and women would talk amongst themselves until they, too, fell asleep. It then became the “Time of the Silence of the Night” and the stars clearly visible. The sky was and remains a stellar calendar indicating when the seasons are shifting and when certain foods are available. For example, within the spread of the milky way an emu is visible – not a constellation as such but a clear emu shape formed in the blend of stars and black matter. At different times of the year this emu in the sky is orientated so it appears to be either running or sitting down. When the emu is “sitting”, it is time to collect their eggs.
Time of Parra’dowee: This is the season we are coming into now. It is said that this season begins with the great Eel Spirit calling his children to him, and the eels which are ready to mate make their way down the rivers and creeks to the ocean.
This is the time when it is unwise to camp near rivers; the weather is getting hotter and storms and heavy rain more frequent.
The golden yellow flowers of the Acacia Binervia indicate the beginning of the season, giving plenty of warning of the storms to come.
In massive numbers, the freshwater eels begin their long journey down the rivers and creeks and out to sea where they will reproduce and die. The time of the Eel signifies the time to prepare for the very hot weather, which will, within the next two moons, scorch the land and the people. During this time, also, the fish will be running in the rivers.
Bilim, the long neck turtle, will emerge from his home billabong after rain and up to two kilometres to seek a mate in a new waterhole. *It is during this time they can be seen crossing the roads, so you need to be aware and look out for them.
Thank you,
Kay Andonopoulos, Sophie D, Kalahny F, Sarah B and Tiana O.
Jenny Koryzma
CAPA Coordinator
YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS
It has been a busy few weeks for St Benedict’s in Youth Ministry.
Last week at the College Assembly we announced the winners of the Where Do You See God Competition.
We had some amazing entries and thank everyone for their participation and involvement in the competition. The winners are listed below.
Our overall winner with this wonderful piece of artwork was Charlotte M of Year 10. She won a $50 Coles Myer Gift card!
We also held interviews for our Youth Ministry leaders for 2021. I am pleased to announce the following students as YMLs for 2021. They look forward to leading the College in Youth Ministry.
Joseph A, Michael C, James H, Jared S, Blake S
SPORTS NEWS
Yours in Sport
Mrs Ashleigh Durrant
Sport 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.
UPDATE FROM RANIER SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOP
Ranier are excited to announce a new and improved online shop platform starting in Term 4. In addition to the existing features that have served families well, we have introduced new features to improve your user experience. Our website is suitable for use on all mobile devices including iPads, tablets and mobile phones.
Families will be able to:
· View images and prices of all products on one page
· Find information on shop opening hours and location
· View school uniform policy
· Easily book appointments for fittings
· View status and history of purchases
· Choose click and collect or home delivery
With the new changes, we do require all parents to re-register with their email. No student number or school password will be necessary.
All uniform bookings made will be recorded in the new website, there is no need for re-booking.
If you have any issues with registration, please contact our Customer Support on 02 8337 7290.
Ranier Shop guidelines – Covid-19
- No more than 1 family in the store at a time (or allowing 1.5m gap)
- Staff to remain behind the counter when customers are present
- Any customer displaying any illness will be requested to leave the store and purchase online or by phone
- Counter will be disinfected with spray and paper towel (or disposable wipe) throughout the day
- Tap and go payments are encouraged
- Hand sanitiser is available at all times for customers.
- Any returned stock (including fitting room returns) is to be placed on the counter by the customer.
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.