From the Principal
People have puzzled over the miracle of the loaves and the fishes for ages. As told in the Gospel of Mark, some 4,000 had followed Jesus into the desert, and after three days, food had run short. Somehow, Jesus managed to feed them, and how he did it is the mystery that remains unsolved.
There’s no suggestion that Jesus had brought a cartload of pita sandwiches. Nor were there shops nearby where the disciples could buy enough for everyone. No doubt a few in the crowd had the foresight to bring some extra bread. But what was that among so many?
It’s easy to get fixated on the food and miss the allegory. It was from the crowd that Jesus called forth what was necessary, and in that crowd was at least one person whose generosity may have been the spark that caused others to act. Whatever happened that day was a great moment in the ministry of Jesus.
I’ve often wondered whether Jesus still prefers to work his signs through our common efforts. If so, it means that what you and I bring to the table is important. But of even greater significance is what we as a community bring to the table. When we, as a community, work side by side in service to others, things happen that we could never do alone. And that has never been more evident than this week at the College, Where a myriad of events called forth the skills and highlighted the goodness we bring in the service of others.
From the Dean of Mission
It has been an incredibly full and enriching two weeks as we enter the Season of Lent and launch our Project Compassion Campaign. Last week, 170 students and 30 staff members participated in the Caritas Trek over two mornings. We went from rain the first morning to heat the second! Together, we walked to a local creek to collect water in solidarity with girls around the world who must do this every day before they go to school. Once we reached the creek, we took time to collectively reflect and pray. Mrs Wells has written a more detailed account of our Trek, which you can read below.
Mission News
Caritas Trek Reflections
Caritas Trek Reflections
With the start of Lent this week, it is an opportunity to stop and reflect on how we can put others before ourselves in acts of discipleship and community. As a result, last week, students from all year groups embarked on the annual Caritas Trek. The trek is a 6km walk to develop empathy and solidarity with women and children around the world who live without clean water and need to walk extensive distances to collect water. The impact of journeys such as these can have additional effects, such as reducing the time spent in school. Toefata’iga, a Samoan school girl says, “Without water, school ended early, and we missed so much”. Therefore, to build awareness for the work of Caritas Australia and the positive outcomes that come with supporting Project Compassion, on Tuesday and Friday this week, our students carried water containers to school, experiencing what just one day might feel like for those in vulnerable communities. Shreya, in Year 7, shared her thoughts on the impact of this experience for her, “The Caritas Trek has helped me have awareness for people in poverty. I participated in an event where I could step into other people’s shoes and understand what some others might go through. It taught me what hardships people must face each passing day and what organisations such as Caritas can do, with our support, so that the world can live more equally”. Additionally, Shiksha in Year 7 connected the experience to our school value of Hospitality; “we walked together as a community; supporting each other, helping each other collect water, sharing the water containers on the way back to the school and looking out for one another the whole way”. As a community, we can continue to support our Trek groups and the work of Caritas Australia in communities like Samoa and Vietnam, by sponsoring the Caritas Trek online fundraiser page here. As a College community, we are guided to this compassionate approach in Peter 4:9 -10, “Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”. This week, students were encouraged to act as good stewards as we engaged in Caritas Week and embarked on the Lenten journey with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday.
Mrs Jacinta Wells
Deputy Dean of Mission
Wellbeing
Student Leadership Update
Student Leadership Update
Student Representative Council (SRC) 2025
Congratulations to all students who applied for the SRC for 2025!
This year, we received an outstanding 116 applications across all year groups from Years 7-11, each demonstrating the passion, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact within our College community. The selection process was incredibly competitive, and every applicant should take pride in their dedication to serving their peers.
The SRC plays a pivotal role in fostering a strong and vibrant school culture. These elected representatives act as the voice of the student body, advocating for Student needs, concerns, and ideas. They are responsible for organising events, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that students are actively involved in decision-making processes that shape their school experience. The SRC also works closely with College staff and leadership to build connections and create meaningful initiatives that benefit the entire community.
A special congratulations goes to the following SRC representatives for 2025:
Curriculum News
NAPLAN 2025
NAPLAN 2025
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.
Encore Showcase
Encore Showcase
On Monday, 24 February, students in Year 10 to Year 12 went to the Encore Showcase. This concert showcases the outstanding musicianship of HSC students from NSW schools and their talents as singers, instrumentalists and composers.
Presented by the NSW Education Standards Authority, ENCORE is an exciting opportunity for current music students, teachers and the general public to see and hear a selection of exemplary works presented for the 2024 Higher School Certificate Music examinations.
The program illustrates the range, variety and challenges offered by the 3 HSC Music courses across styles, genres and musical periods. Featuring solo and ensemble, vocal and instrumental works, there is something for everyone – from classics to jazz to contemporary music.
Students were inspired and motivated in preparation for their HSC performances.
Sandy Huang
Teacher CAPA Faculty
College News
Beyond Bennies – International Women’s Day
Beyond Bennies – International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day celebrations commenced this week with the College’s annual Beyond Bennies Assemblies. Three inspiring alumni joined us to share their experiences since finishing school, what we at the College fondly refer to as ‘beyond the Red Brick Wall’, Sarah Assaf (Class of 2018) a Cyber Security Engineer, Emma Bugarija (Class of 2019) a Speech Pathologist specialising in Auslan and complex needs, and Amie Meehan (Class of 1998) an award-winning Journalist and PR specialist. Our three guests span different industries and career stages, and the wide-ranging discussions were engaging and inspiring. They each recognise and are grateful for the education they received at the College. They remember the educators who made a difference, the opportunities that were available to them, and the spirit of community and mutual support they each bring to their careers. The messages to create and embrace opportunities, to back yourself, and to strive to achieve the best outcomes for yourself and for others, will be touchstones for students as they pursue their learning and career goals.
CDCNSW Updated Timetable as of 17 March 2025
CDCNSW Updated Timetable as of 17 March 2025
CDC NSW have advised that there will be a few minor changes to their current timetable which will commence from Monday 17 March 2025, and include;
More routes such as the 637 and 638 morning services have been added to the advice, as there were occasional reports that route 2037 was arriving late at Mount St Benedict College. Due to connections at Galston High School at 7:58am, the bus was unable to depart earlier. Students now have earlier options, which have now been added to the timetable below.
Route 3144 will no longer operate. This was a school bus from Beecroft Station to Mount St Benedict College which was not being used in the past year. Students have other services to Mount St Benedict College from Pennant Hills Station which can be used instead such as the 632 and 625 bus in the morning. Click here to see timetable.
We remind students they must have a valid Opal card to travel on all public transport, including school buses and must tap on and off, both morning and afternoon.
If you wish to work out a route to Mount St Benedict College for your child please use the Trip Planner section on the TransportNSW website via the following link: https://transportnsw.info/
Library Newsletter
Library Newsletter
The latest issue of the Library Newsletter is now available! Exciting things are happening at the Library. The Principal's Reading Challenge and the Premier's Reading Challenge are now open. We have a variety of new books, eBooks and magazines for borrowing. Check out our latest displays, author of the week and genre of the week.
Important Information about Sentral
Important Information about Sentral
The Sentral Parent Portal is being upgraded with a new link and a refreshed design. As part of this upgrade, Sentral will be unavailable to Mount St Benedict College parents from Thursday 6 March to Monday 10 March .
From Monday 10 March , you will be able to access Sentral again via the College parent portal, BenniesLink , or through a direct link. Please ensure you review the updated Sentral Log in Guide for important information. Please note: the new Sentral link will not be active until the update is complete.
Updated Guides
New user guides will be available on BenniesLink and the College website from Monday 10 March , including:
How to access the Sentral Parent Portal
How to reset your password
How to book a Parent-Teacher Interview
Technical Support
Before seeking assistance, please refer to the guides linked above for important steps on logging in. If you need further support, contact help@msb.nsw.edu.au .
Scott Broadbridge-Brown
DIRECTOR OF ICT
Upcoming Events
Cocurricular Sport
Cross Country: Our College Cross Country event has been pencilled in for Tuesday 25 March. This will be a competitive event only. Students will receive an expression of interest form from Mr Nosti in their College email in Week Seven. Students must complete this if they wish to compete. The event will take place in the morning during classtime on College grounds.
College Swimming Carnival: Last week we held our College Swimming Carnival at SOPAC. It was a wonderful day, and I would like to thank the students for their participation and spirit on display throughout the day, and staff for making this event run smoothly.
The results of the carnival will be communicated at our next whole College assembly. We will announce the winning houses of both competitive and participation, as well as our individual age champions. Our next assembly is within Houses where all top three finishers will receive their ribbons.
Darren Nosti
Sport Academy Coordinator
Representative Sport
Golf: Recently, two students were invited to the NSWCCC Golf Trials. Congratulations to Ariel C and Gina C from Year 7 on qualifying to compete for NSWCCC at the NSW All Schools Golf Championships in Dubbo later this year. This is a wonderful achievement for such young athletes to qualify in an open age division (Under 18s).
Triathlon: Sophie P from Year 10 and Sophie V from Year 7 attended the NSW All Schools Triathlon at the Sydney International Regatta Centre last week in the Junior and Intermediate divisions respectively. Both were gruelling individual events, with some fantastic results.
Sophie P finished in 33rd position overall and 10th in NSWCCC. Sophie is eligible to compete with the intermediate division again next year.
Sophie V finished in fourth in the NSWCCC category, and 20th overall. Sophie is eligible to compete with the Junior division again next year.
Darren Nosti
Sport Academy Coordinator
P & F News
Year 7 Parent Welcome Event
Year 7 Parent Welcome Event
Year 7 Parents and Caregivers are invited to the
Year 7 Parent Welcome Event.
Come along and meet some new parents and become a part of the Bennies community.
Canapes and the first drink are proudly provided by the Bennies P&F.
Date:
Friday 21 March 2025
Time:
7.00pm – 10.00pm
Venue:
Hotel Pennant Hills Function Room, 352 Pennant Hills Road PENNANT HILLS
Cost:
No charge to attend this event. Canapes and the first drink are proudly provided by the Bennies P&F.
RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/CZTFM by Friday 14 March.
College Shop
Community Notices
Good Samaritan Lent Appeal
Good Samaritan Lent Appeal
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.
