St Benedict's Catholic College

Thank you to all students and staff for making it a very memorable day.

To see a highlights reel, please click on this video link.

Ms Wendy Fawbert
Director of Teaching and Learning

• Monday 12 June - Public Holiday
• Wednesday 14 June - Year 11 2024 Subject Mentor Interviews - Evening
• Thursday 15 June - Year 11 2024 Subject Mentor Interviews - Daytime
• Thursday 15 June & Friday 16 June - Year 9 & 10 Duke of Edinburgh Hike
• Friday 16 June - DIO Netball Championships
• Monday 19 June - DIO Hockey - Open Boys & Girls
• Tuesday 20 June - MISA Dance Festival - All day
• Thursday 22 June - Senior Boys DIO Soccer
• Friday 23 June - Year 9 Olympian Visit P1 & P2
• Tuesday 20 June - Year 12 Physics ANSTO Excursion
• Friday 30 June - Last day of term - Staff Development Day (Staff only)

On Friday 26 May, Year 9 had a special visit from Chris Doyle. He spoke about his story and how it created his Sense of Self…the theme of the day. His comedic yet serious attitude allowed him to inspire students to always be kind and generous. Chris taught us the valuable lesson of giving rather than receiving, and how this trait can be beneficial. Not only for us now, but for our future selves. Some activities Chris encouraged Year 9 and teachers to participate in were the Catwalk, Writing 100 Things We are Grateful for, teamwork skills like making different objects out of people, and of course, lots and lots of singing and dancing. After all this movement, Chris taught the lesson of being present in the moment and the importance of making sure you take a mental break after such an exciting day. Through this reflection day, students were able to bond and feel a stronger sense of community with their peers and teachers. It was such a fun-filled day and we’re so grateful that we had the opportunity to experience his knowledge and words of wisdom.

Lilia Caridi & Asha Healey

Year 9 Students

This Wednesday Yr 12 Hospitality completed their catering event, in which they prepared a three course luncheon for selected guests. Students were in charge of running the kitchen, completing preparation before the day, and running the service period. Students in this task have shown their passion for Hospitality as well as demonstrated leadership, teamwork and further developed their amazing cooking skills. This task is designed as a simulated workplace environment, so students experience what occurs in industry, and further develop their skills in planning, preparing for and completing a menu in a Hospitality environment, with real industry timeframes.

Thank you also for the Year 11 Hospitality class who assisted with the serving of the food and beverages to guests as a part of this task as well. The venue looked amazing, the menu was a hit and a wonderful experience for all involved.

Our Year 8 Music students took part in a high energy, interactive and FUN performance by the amazing African Beat company.

Every student was given their own djembe drum to collaborate with the other students. Along with the interactive drumming the students sang in African and one group even danced in the African style. This ties in beautifully with the Year 8 Music Program of Universal Music for Term 4. The rhythms and the use of the drum to communicate will give the students a link between the classroom and the performance.

Just as African Beat advertises, the event provided the students to make music together, develop team spirit and group bonding, encourage cooperation above competition, improve communication and listening skills, promote equality amongst the students, enhance imagination and creative thinking – and best of all it was FUN!

In class we have been studying the unit ‘World Myths and Legends.’ As part of this unit, the class was offered an opt-in excursion on Friday 2 June - a Ghost Tour of the Manly Quarantine Station.

After enjoying a great Feast Day at school, the Year 9 History Elective class embarked on the journey to Manly, where migrants with infectious diseases spent time in quarantine before entering Australian society. In class we have been studying the differences between myths and legends and how the tales of Vikings, vampires and ghosts fit within either category. Our visit to the Quarantine Station, which first opened almost 200 years ago, was an incredibly fun way to round out our unit as we got to experience the supernatural firsthand. The class visited old hospital wings and haunted cottages while being told the stories of the souls that once occupied the station. Students in the class were issued with Electro-magnetic Field Readers (EMFs / ghost trackers) which were frequently going off throughout the night. Additionally, students experienced brushes on the shoulder, untying of shoelaces and tugging on hair, all thought to be the works of the station’s resident ghosts.

We would like to thank Ms Hawkins and Mr Ghignone for taking time out of their Friday night to take us. We had an amazing time and will surely remember it for years to come!

Jordyn McIntosh and Domenic Musso (Year 9 History Elective students)

The Macarthur Careers Expo is a premier careers event offered exclusively to more than 3,000 students from the Macarthur Region High Schools. Our Year 10 students were lucky enough to attended this event which was a great opportunity for the students to actively gain up-to-date career information and hands-on experiences from industry professionals in a positive interactive environment.

Here are a few highlights from the students:

Aidan It was good we needed to be there longer

Lincoln: It was an Important day and lots of information was available

Ethan: Lots of information about pathways out of school

Natasha: Really good opportunity to talk face to face with education and employment providers

The winter appeal is upon us and I think the school community will agree that it has definitely felt like winter. With that in mind, the Social Justice team is asking students and families to donate food items to our winter drive that we can donate to We Are Community and St Vincent de Paul. These can be brought to school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Mr Bulfon will be in the TAS Courtyard during STRIVE. The list allocated to each group is below.

The company undertaking the Tell Them From Me surveys has found an error in their process that has resulted in the Faith-Based questions across the Diocese being omitted from the parent surveys. They have undertaken a review of their processes to ensure that this error does not occur again. In working through a solution to gather this information from our parents with minimal inconvenience, we have permission to use their questions for a short 5-question Google Form survey. I would ver much appreciate if you are able to complete these questions

Faith-Based Questions - Parent

We are inviting those adults who might like to discern becoming a Catholic-Christian to take part in our parish RCIA program, that will begin in late July 2023 and go through to the Easter Vigil 2024.

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. While a focus of our 2023-2024 RCIA process will be fortnightly Wednesday gatherings for all RCIA enquirers from 7pm - 9pm (not including the Wednesdays of the school holidays) our parish RCIA process is also about creating opportunities for those who are discerning becoming Catholic - Christians to encounter Jesus and His Holy Spirit through the sacraments and the life of the parish community; to find their home in the Catholic Church; and to thrive in faith and to joyfully live out their call as missionary disciples of Jesus! Some have described the RCIA as a ‘program to become a Catholic’. However, RCIA isn’t a program, it’s a process, a

journey: that won’t finish at the Easter Vigil next year, when those who are ready will receive the Sacraments, but will shape the course of the rest of their lives.

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about RCIA, or to be sent an Adult Sacraments Information Form, please contact the Parish Office via phone (4648 2226) or email oranpark@dow.org.au

P & F Uniform Pool order form - click here

The P & F preloved Uniform Pool has reopened, please complete the order form and send to the P & F by email at: uniforms@sbccdow.catholic.edu.au Our wonderful P&F volunteer Tracey will contact you.

Items can be paid for and collected from the SBCC College Office. We do not return, exchange or refund on 2nd hand clothing as these are donated by families.

Donations of items in good condition can be left at the College Office.

Please come and see the friendly office staff for a box of RAT kits. Either parents can come to the office reception or students can collect via the student desk during recess, lunch or at the end of the day.