Next week marks one of my favourite events of the year – the Caritas Trek. This walk provides our students and staff with the opportunity to experience, even if just briefly, what many people around the world must do regularly to access two basic human rights: water and education. At 6:30am, we will leave the College to walk in solidarity with young women across the globe as they collect water and bring it back to their communities. It’s a powerful and humbling experience, uniting us all for a common cause.

Wrap with Love returns for 2025 every Monday at lunchtime. Sessions are held in the Library and students are welcome to bring their lunch and water bottles to these sessions. Students work to knit, crochet and sew beautiful handmade blankets that can be donated to those in need. Wrap with Love is a non profit organisation, so relies on the generous blankets made by students throughout the year. By contributing to Wrap with Love, our students embody Hospitality and Stewardship, recognising that that their skills are a gift from God and sharing in those gifts is an act of graciousness, service and compassion. Resources are provided, however, students may like to bring their own 4mm knitting needles or crochet hooks and yarn. For more information, please feel free to contact Mrs Jacinta Wells at jwells@msb.nsw.edu.au.

This week Year 7, along with 23 staff, have headed to Stanwell Tops for the first of our residential experiences for the year. At Bennies, we have continued with our commitment to the residential and retreat program, much against the movement of a number of other schools who, due to staffing and costing concerns, have chosen to walk away from these experiences. For us we see these programs as an essential element in our suite of offerings with academic and non-academic staff alike attending as a way of supporting the girls to thrive. The last three days have seen the girls grow and whether growing in friendships, connections or self-confidence, this growth then has significant short and long-term benefits. A recent article by NcNatty, Nairn, Campbell-Price and Boyes (2024) explored the lasting impact of outdoor education on adolescent girls. Their research, based on interviews of school alumni, identified four key benefits of outdoor education to their lives post school. The four factors, focusing on the healing benefits of time in nature, impact on overall wellbeing, development of independence and establishment of strong female friendships and identity, are the reason why we continue to invest in our programs. As the girls fervently wrote in their journals during our time away, excited for the day when in Year 12, they can look back at their six experiences during high school, I hope they reflect that they reap the same benefits that their predecessors, as well as the alumni in the McNatty article, have had from their residential experiences. Our next experience, in a few short weeks, is the Year 10 Urban Challenge, where the girls will spend three days, accompanied by our staff as well as the staff of Urban Challenge, completing a series of activities and service. These activities, also a reflection of our bespoke program focusing on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, form a part of the unique and long-lasting Bennies experience. Whilst there may be less Frozen themed dance moves from Year 10 in comparison to the Year 7s, the sense of joy and camaraderie remain a consistent, and we look forward to them extending their capacity and friendships during their time away.

Sheri Upasiri
Dean of Wellbeing

As we begin the 2025 school year, student leadership programs have been underway, allowing opportunities for growth, and the development of students in their leadership roles. So far, we have had the launch of the 2025 Student Representative Council for Years 7-11, our College Executive Captain represent the College at the Berowra Lions Club Youth of the Year Program, and Year 10 Students, Amelia T, Olivia M, and Jemma P attend the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment. Student Leadership at the College is ongoing, and there are several events and opportunities offered to students throughout the year. Here is some insight into what has happened so far:

In 2025 the following vaccines will be offered:

Year 7 - students are offered free vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough), (dTpa) and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Year 10 - students are offered the meningococcal ACWY vaccine.

If your child is in Year 7 or Year 10, you can give consent online for these routine school vaccinations.

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received.

How to Provide Consent:

Year 11 Engineering Studies students were challenged to design and build a catapult in class. They were limited to certain resources and a time limit.

Students rose to the challenge and in typical engineering fashion, tested their design and then refined them to maximise performance.

Being able to think quickly and adapt to the situation is an important engineering skill that we are developing in class.

Year 11 Engineering Studies Class

Melina Moyes
Tas Faculty

Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is sat by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.

NAPLAN 2025 will take place from Wednesday 12 March to Monday 24 March.

NAPLAN is just one part of our school’s learning assessment program. The tests assess literacy and numeracy skills your child is already learning at school, so the best preparation is their everyday classroom learning. Our school will also undertake activities to help students become familiar with the types of questions and tools available in the online tests.

The public demonstration site https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public- demonstration-site is available for you to see the format of the online tests.

Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA website and the NAP website https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers.

Click here for NESA Naplan information.

If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact Ms Natalie Hutchinson.

Learning Support sent out NAPLAN parent/carer consent for disability adjustments to parents last week. Please make sure to return those forms by 21 February.

Please contact Mrs Andrea Harney, Acting Head of Learning Support if you have questions regarding this.

Save the Date - Bennies is holding our annual Open Day on Sunday 2 March from 10.00am - 2.00pm.

Tell your friends with daughters currently in Year 5 that enrolments for Year 7 2027 are now open.  Prospective families can register to attend: https://enquiry.msb.nsw.edu.au/events , and lodge an online Expression of Interest to reserve your daughter's position on our database.

If you have a daughter, or know someone who has a daughter commencing Year 5 this year, now is the time to submit your Expression of Interest (EOI). This is easily accomplished by visting the College website and selecting Enrolments where you will find "How To Enrol". You can also book for the College Open Day on Sunday 2 March. All families who have lodged their EOI will receive the link inviting them to complete their Application for Enrolment in the week commencing Monday 3 March. If you have any questions, please email registrar@msb.nsw.edu.au or call 9980.0406

Congratulations to the Bennies Class of 2024 on their HSC achievements. Mount St Benedict College is proud to feature a video series that celebrates the diverse pathways and stories of our Bennies Class of 2024 Graduates.

Beyond Bennies: Reflections from Milania, Class of 2024, College Dux.

Check out the newest edition of the Library Newsletter ! Read about the Library’s initiatives to help with the Years 9 and 10 Wide Reading programs. See our latest displays, explore the latest book arrivals, discover our featured author, and get inspired by the Genre of the Week.

In 2025, Mount St Benedict College has partnered with a new canteen provider.

Introduction from Vanilla Blue

Vanilla Blue are excited to be your new canteen provider at Mount St Benedict College. As finalists in 2023 and 2024 for “Education Site Caterer of the Year”, we focus on wholesome lunches and snacks that will be freshly prepared on-site each day by our dedicated and friendly canteen team including your Canteen Manager- Migumi, Chef- Josh and Canteen Assistants- Kym, Sharon and Prin.

If you have any questions or would like to speak to our team, please call 1300 556 086 or msbcanteen@vanillablue.com.au .

Menu

Please view our menu here.
There are Daily Deals, click here.

Students are not permitted to order hot drinks including coffee, except for Year 11 and 12 students, who are permitted to order hot chocolates before school or during study periods.

Payment information
Orders can be placed up to 8am on the day via the Flexischools app, or over the counter by Student ID card (linked to the Flexischools account) or physical bank/ATM cards.
Please note the canteen does not accept cash.

Vanilla Blue supports the College’s policy on mobile phone usage, so we are unable to accept payment by mobile tap-and-go.

Your student Flexischools account should already be linked to the new canteen menu.

Sign up to Flexischools here.

Special Excursion Menu

The canteen will be open for breakfast next Thursday 27 February, before the Swimming Carnival bus departure. Please order prior to 12pm on the day before.

You can also pre-order lunch and pick it up from the canteen before you leave.

Please find attached the new CDCNSW School Travel Advice which is effective from Monday 3 March 2025. Most services have not changed. CDC NSW have added a few new routes such as:

Route 600 will operate between Parramatta and Pennant Hills Station.

Catch the train or new route 590 between Pennant Hills and Hornsby to/from school.

Route 660 updated Castlewood start location.

CDCNSW would like to remind students they must have a valid Opal card to travel on all public transport, including school buses, and must tap on and off morning and afternoon.

Click here to see bus travel advice.

To access the College calendar log in to BenniesLink (Parent Portal) Calendar.
Click here

*College Assemblies For Parents

College Assemblies are livestreamed for the MSB parent community at 9:40-10:45am on the dates specified in the schedule above. The live stream link is here.

To access the College calendar log in to BenniesLink (Parent Portal) Calendar.
Click here

*College Assemblies For Parents

College Assemblies are livestreamed for the MSB parent community at 9:40-10:45am on the dates specified in the schedule above. The live stream link is here.

The MSB Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 27 February at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Homebush Bay.

This is a compulsory school day. All students are required to attend. Students who are unwell will require a doctor’s certificate. The carnival will be on regardless of the weather, as the venue is indoors. Please remember to text the MSB Absentee line on 0407 461 087 should your daughter be unwell.

Spectators: Parents are welcome to attend as spectators. No admission cost for spectators. All parents will be required to sign in at the venue and must be seated in the first bays (closest to the main entry) in either grandstand.

Uniform: Full College PDHPE uniform must be worn to and from school. An appropriate one-piece swimming costume must be worn at the Aquatic Centre.

What to Bring : Swimming costume, towel, swimming cap and water bottle. Students will have limited access to the canteen during the day, however we strongly encourage bringing your own lunch and snacks. Do not bring any electronics.

PLEASE NOTE: Students are required to bring their College House swimming cap. This is a requirement from the Aquatic Centre. Swimming caps can be purchased from the College Uniform Shop for $8.00 in House colours. We encourage all students to purchase their House colour cap before the day. Parents can purchase caps via FlexiSchools online.

Year 8-12 students in the two new houses (Jamberoo and Scholastica) will receive a cap free of charge.

Year 7 students have already purchased their swimming cap at uniform outfitting and will receive it when they arrive to the carnival.

See the permission note sent via Operoo for full details.

This year, we are excited to be offering the Austria Music & Language Learning Tour to take place in the December holidays. This tour is designed to provide a unique opportunity for students who are studying or are thinking of studying German or are involved in cocurricular or curriculum subjects.

A webinar was held by Mrs Sandy Huang, Music Teacher and Music Academy Convenor and Mrs Christina He, Leader of Cocurricular, click here to see a recording .

Expressions of Interest to attend are now open. To register your interest, please complete the form. This is NOT an official registration for the Tour as all applications will undergo an approval process. We will notify students who receive a place on the Tour and further information will then be provided about registration and payment.

For more information please see this brochure.

Sandy Huang
Teacher and Music Academy Convenor

Dignity Dishes

The Duke of Ed students are volunteering their service to the local community by engaging in the School's Dignity Dishes program.

Fifty students from Years 9 to 12 will be providing home cooked meals each week for people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of experiencing homelessness. All Duke of Edinburgh students were offered an opportunity to be able to contribute to this not-for-profit organisation.

These hours contribute to their Voluntary Service section for their Duke of Ed Award and we very much appreciate their efforts to this worthy cause. The students were involved in a presentation this week from Sherin, Dignity's National Partnerships Manager. The presentation was informative yet also confronting to hear stories of the homeless and of the need for assistance in the community. I believe our students will not only be practising their cooking skills, fulfilling their Duke of Edinburgh requirements but also get a lot out of giving back to the local community, especially to those who are most vulnerable.

Jodi Halmarick
Outdoor Education Academy Convenor

2025 Open Day P&F Committee are looking for volunteers to serve at the BBQ service and Refreshments stands for our visitors.

When: Sunday 2 March 2025

Please click this link to book your timeslot and/or refreshment donation.  You are able to book for more than one timeslot.

If you are unable to assist on the day, you might consider donating cakes and/or slices. Food donation guidelines:
- Please do not donate items that require refridgeration.
- when signing up please put your name/daughters' name on containers you wish to have returned.

Deliveries:

Deliveries can be made to the MSB Centre Reception [Entry via Hull Road, drive up to the Rose Garden turning circle] on Friday 28 February between 10:00am - 2:00pm and Saturday 1 March in the Main Carpark between 12:00pm - 2:00pm (entry via Pennant Hills Road). Please do not deliver prior to these dates, Alternatively, bring your item/s on the day to the Hildegard Centre Foyer. We appreciate your help.

P&F Executive Committee

In today’s fast-paced world, industry trends are constantly reshaping the way we work, live, and build our careers. As new technologies emerge and market demands shift, staying ahead of these changes is crucial to making informed career decisions.

The Australian Jobs and Skills Atlas provides a comprehensive overview of labour market data at a national, state and regional levels. JSA has also conducted research to identify emerging roles in the Australian labour market.

Lucy Elgood
Pathways and Partnerships Resource Teacher

Mount St Benedict has a dedicated careers website to assist students with their career research and post-school planning. In addition to the main website, students have their own secure area to create and store their personalised career documents.

The site is also designed with parents/carers in mind, so you can access information to help your child with their career planning and post-school decisions. The site can be accessed via the Careers and Post School Options icon in the parent portal, BenniesLink.

Whilst exploring the site, you may find it benificial to familiarise yourself with the following sections:

School Careers Newsletters

Calendar of Events

Message Board

Appointment booking with Careers Advisor

College Uniform Shop

The College Shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during Term Time between 8.00am-12.00pm and 1.00pm-4.00pm, and is located near the Hall Courtyard.
Click here to see the 2025 College Shop price list

Nikki Horbach
College Shop Manager

Year 7 Winter Uniform Outfitting

Students will be returning to school at the beginning of Term Two in full winter uniform.

Year 7 students will be fitted for their winter uniforms on Tuesday 25 February and Wednesday 26 February. Students will be collected from their classes and brought to the fitting location at a pre-assigned time.

• Once fitted, the College Shop will record the sizes on a slip that will be given to the student. Orders can then be placed via the Flexischools website.

• Please order and make payment for your daughter’s uniform from the Flexischools website before Tuesday 11 March, to ensure fulfilment before the end of term.

• Students will be notified via email when their order is ready to collect from the College Shop.

• Please discuss with your child before the fitting their preference for either the winter pants or kilt (or both) so they can advise the fitting staff of the item/s they want to try on.

• If they require other items, they can visit the College Shop on another day to be fitted for these.

• For hygiene reasons, students are not allowed to try on tights.

• All items should be tried on at home, and if an exchange is required, this can be done through the College Shop. All items being returned/exchanged should have tags attached, be unworn and in new condition.

• Please note: there are no refunds or exchanges for tights that have been taken out of the packaging.

Please click here to view the College Shop brochure.

Senior Winter Uniforms

Students will be returning to school at the beginning of Term Two in full winter uniform.

It is compulsory for all Year 10 students to purchase the senior blouse for winter. Stocks of this and other winter items will be available from March.

The winter blouses are the same fit (apart from the sleeve) as the summer blouse so please order the same size as your summer blouse, or go up or down a size as required.

All senior winter uniform items can be ordered online through Flexischools. When you receive your order, please try it on at home and return to the College Shop with the tags and packaging if an exchange is required. Please note we cannot refund or exchange tights that have been taken out of the packaging.

1. Please purchase the items your daughter requires before Tuesday 25 March, through the Flexischools website to ensure that you will receive items before the end of Term One 2025. Please click here to access the Flexischools site.

2. Please click here to obtain a copy of the current price list. All prices are also listed on the Flexischools website.

3. The College Shop will send an email to your daughter when the order is ready to collect from the College Shop. Please disregard the collection date given to you by Flexischools when you place your order.

For over 165 years the Sisters of the Good Samaritan have eased the pressure placed on vulnerable women and children by offering a safe haven, education, food security and hope.

Today is a great day to donate to the Sisters’ ministries in Australia, the Philippines, Kiribati and Timor Leste!

If you wish to support a particular program please choose your preference on the donation form.

Blessings to you Good Samaritan. Thank you for your generosity.

Click here to donate.

We are delighted to invite you to our upcoming Term One free webinars for parent and carers. These are great opportunities to up your skills so that you can support your child's learning at home and at school. Can't wait to see you online!

A free online webinar for parents and carers
Presented by Mary Ryan, Head of Professional Learning, CSNSW

Learn the basic language of school so that you can better engage with your child’s school and learning:

Learn the lingo so you can talk the talk – handy definitions

Find out what’s new in the new curriculum K-12

Ask questions and chat with the presenter.

Two sessions offered:

25 February, 12.30pm – 1pm

26 February, 7.30pm – 8pm