St Benedict's Catholic College
Newsletter, February 2 2018
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear Parents
A warm welcome back to the 2018 Academic Year. I am delighted to be back at St Benedict’s after an extended period as Relieving Principal at John Therry last year. I would like to thank the Leadership Team for managing the changes so well and in particular, thank and congratulate Mr LoCascio for his years of service to the College as the Foundation Assistant Principal and his well deserved appointment as Principal at Mt Carmel College at Varroville. In 2018 Mr Costin will continue as Acting Assistant Principal and we welcome Mrs Tarnya Grana to the role as Acting Director of Mission and Mr Michael Turner as the permanent appointment as Director of Wellbeing.
During the Christmas holidays I was lucky enough to travel on a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with educators from the Wollongong Diocese. The Pilgrimage was lead by Bishop Peter Ingham, who will be retiring in the next few weeks after the installation of Bishop Brian Mascord. Although it’s a bit of a cliché, to say that the experience was a life changing one would not be understating it. Not only did we journey through all the key places in Jesus Birth, Ministry and Passion, celebrating Mass in unique places such as on a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee, but also had some powerful experiences with those caring for Syrian refugees in Jordan, those working with marginalized children in a special needs school in Palestine and had an emotional evening with Palestinian and Israeli parents whose children had been killed and were working for peace in the conflict that is ongoing in the West Bank and Gaza. Of most concern to the pilgrim group was the discovery that, in the home of Christianity, the Christian population now numbers well under 5% and, through a variety of measures, the Government is working towards reducing these numbers further. Our support for Christians in the Holy Land and the work of the Fransiscans who look after all the Holy Places is greatly needed.
As you would already have read, St Benedict’s HSC results were very pleasing. We doubled the percentage of Band 6 results from the previous year, 13 out of 19 subjects were above state average and we are now outperforming many of the Catholic schools in the diocese and all the State Schools locally in only our second year. Congratulations especially go to our Dux, Michael Smsarian, and to our Distinguished Achievers, Josh Taylor, Kody Fletcher, Shanae Slattery, Madison-Leigh Colmenar, Sarah Elliott, Mariah Kent, Jackson Lewis, Maddison Maher and Heather Mannion.
I look forward to an exciting year. This year we finish building the school. This is a sentence sometimes I thought I would never write and for those families and staff who have journeyed with us for up to 8 years, it will be a significant moment. The Creative and Performing Arts complex will open (to much fanfare) early in Semester 2. We also pass 850 students enrolled this year and are expecting strong demand for places in Year 7 2019 when enrolments open in about 5 weeks. In 2018, we have the largest groups in Years 10-12 thus far and our Year 12s will proudly tell you that they are the “first group to start at Oran Park”. We now have nearly 60 teaching staff whom I will acknowledge in the next newsletter.
I hope your Christmas break has been an enjoyable one and I know I speak on behalf of the staff when I say we look forward to working with you again this year in the education of the wonderful young men and women you have sent to us.
Warm Regards
Michael Hanratty
Principal
FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MISSION AND VISION
Welcome back to all our staff, students and parents as we embark upon new challenges, new friendships and create new memories. It is with great pleasure that I take up this challenging and rewarding role to help guide and lead the College’s Religious life. This year we would also like to warmly welcome our new staff who have been appointed to teach your sons and daughters in the Religious Education Department - Miss Tabitha Brown, Ms Brooke Hollis, Ms Adriana Hermis, Mrs Natalie Wagstaff and Miss Alexandra Wojcik. Their talent and expertise is a great asset to our school.
This is a significant year in our Church as Pope Francis has declared the theme for 2018 as ‘The Year of Youth’. In his vigil Mass at World Youth Day 2016, Pope Francis declared:
‘My friends, Jesus is the Lord of risk, he is the Lord of the eternal “more”. Jesus is not the Lord of comfort, security and ease. Following Jesus demands a good dose of courage, a readiness to trade in the sofa for a pair of walking shoes and to set out on new and uncharted paths. To blaze trails that open up new horizons capable of spreading joy, born of God’s love and wells up in your hearts with every act of mercy. To take the path of the “craziness” of our God, who teaches us to encounter him in the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, the friend in trouble, the prisoner, the refugee and the migrant, and our neighbours who feel abandoned. To take the path of our God, who encourages us to be politicians, thinkers, social activists.” (Pope Francis, World Youth Day Vigil with Young People, 30 July 2016).
It is my hope that all of us at St Benedict’s Catholic College can be ‘open to new horizons for spreading joy’! I encourage all our students to be involved in the many events and activities that will be on offer in the Religious life of our College, but mostly to take up the call to be youths of mercy, courageous in their daily lives and to walk humbly with God.
Regional Farewell Masses for Bishop Peter Ingham
As you may be aware our beloved Bishop Peter Ingham, who was a great friend and champion of St Benedict’s since its conception, has retired his position as our Diocesan Bishop. To help commemorate and celebrate his service, please be advised of Parish-based Masses scheduled that you and your families are warmly invited to attend. This will provide a final opportunity for parishioners to say their farewells. Refreshments will be served following mass - all are welcome and no RSVP is required!
St Paul’s Catholic Church, Camden - 7:30pm, Wednesday 7 February 2018.
For more info. contact 4655 8797
Holy Family Catholic Church Ingleburn - 7:30pm, Tuesday 13 February 2018.
For more info. Contact 96052785
I would like to wish all our staff, parents and students blessings as they begin to prepare for the year ahead.
Mrs Tarnya Grana
Acting Director of Mission and Vision
From the Parent and Community Engagement Officer
Happy New Year and welcome back to all our parents and community supporters, and a special welcome to our new parents of Year 7.
Research and experience has shown that the most successful students thrive when all three stakeholders in education, the students, the teachers AND the parents are engaged in the learning process.
To that end, my role was created last year, to help the Principal to ensure that an effective three way partnership in education happens at St Benedict's.
This year, we plan to start a number of strategies to involve you, the parents, in a more meaningful way. And no, this doesn't mean helping at fetes and working bees. Our intention is to invite your involvement in the core business of the school; the education of your children. Strong community and parent links benefit all, but especially your children.
Stay tuned for more developments in this area as the term unfolds.
Andy Lundy
Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator
Welcome Year 7, 2018
P & F Clothing Pool
The P&F Clothing Pool will be open each Thursday morning from 7.45am to 8.15am.
It is located in 'D Block' directly above the school canteen (at the top of the stairs).
Please make sure to sign in first at the office before entering the school grounds.
Should you not be able to make it on this day and/or time, please send your child up with a list of items required.
The Clothing Pool is 'cash only' and all funds raised go directly back to the P&F.
I can be contacted on 0410 486 083 between 7am and 6pm.
Regards
Mel Nicholas
UPCOMING DATES TO NOTE
- Laptop Information evening for Year 7 - Wednesday 7 February at 6pm in Camden Civic Centre
- Laptop Boot camp - Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February
- P-Plate evening - Thursday 15 February
- Year 10 Reflection Day - Friday 16 February
- Year 12 Uni Discovery Day - Wednesday 7 February at 7.30am return 4pm
Year 7, 2019 - Information evening 14 March in Camden Civic Centre 6.30pm for 7pm start.
1:1 MacBook Program
St Benedict’s implements a 1:1 MacBook program for all students from Year 7 through to Year 12. The program has extended the learning environment from the physical constraints of the classroom to give our students the capability to collaborate, share information, work across disciplines and take control of their learning. The program equips each student with a wireless Apple MacBook Air computer to use at school and at home, enabling communication and collaboration among peers and teachers.
Students in both Year 7 and Year 10 are supplied with an Apple 13” MacBook Air computer and protective bag. The MacBook remains the property of the school under a three-year leasing program. At the end of this period, ownership is transferred to parents. This policy works extremely well as all MacBooks have a full three-year warranty with Apple Australia, including repairs as a result of hardware failure.
There has been a change in the damage policy for students in Years 7 and 10 receiving 2018 MacBooks. There is no longer ‘accidental damage’ or ‘non-accidental damage’, just damage or loss. The school will no longer be covering 50% of repair costs in relation to damage. Instead, parents/guardians will have to cover costs for any damage that is not under warranty. Parents/guardians are strongly recommended to check their Homes and Contents Insurance Policy. Many companies have a ‘Portable Contents Insurance’ type of policy which can be added to existing home content policies, protecting any loss or damage that may occur to the MacBook (and other family items as well).
The 2018 MacBook Information evening for Year 7 students, older new students and parents, will take place this coming Wednesday 7th February at 6pm at the Camden Civic Centre (corner Oxley & Mitchell Streets). Please note the change in venue and earlier time to cater for people attending Bishop Peter’s Farewell Mass at St Paul’s Camden.
The Year 10 students’ MacBooks will be rolled out to them during Week 2. A reminder that the Student Responsibility Agreement and the MacBook User Agreement must be signed by both students and parents before students can take possession of their new MacBook. If parents have any further queries regarding the 1:1 MacBook Program at the College, please ring or email Mr Jim Gallagher (gallagherj01@dow.catholic.edu.au).
Ordination of Bishop-Elect Brian Mascord and Official Farewell Dinner for Bishop Peter Ingham
“Opportunities are available for you or your business to support the staging of these significant events. Please contact Debbie Gates, Director, Development and Community Engagement, Diocese of Wollongong on 4222 2446 or visit our website at www. dow.org.au if you would like to find out how to, or to, accept this invitation. “