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 17 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.

Natalie Hutchinson
Acting Deputy Dean of Learning Science and Innovation

Year 7 Students will be creating a mask based on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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

Important Information about Sentral

The Sentral Parent Portal has been upgraded with a new link and a refreshed design. Parents now have access to 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 Learning Conversation 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

CDC NSW have advised that there will be a few minor changes to their current bus 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/

School Travel Passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

In the Opal network, students should travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Students living in rural and regional areas will receive their travel pass from their nominated transport operator. It may be issued via their school or be sent directly to them at home. Note : some rural and regional operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use .

This includes travel within the approved times between 6.30am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their Child/Youth Opal card for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct . The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and well-being of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

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.

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.

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.

Help a Student, Gain a Helping Hand

Do you own or work in a business that could host a student for a one-week, unpaid work placement? Students at Mount St Benedict College studying Business Services are looking for opportunities to gain real-world experience.

Work placement is a mandatory part of their studies, fully insured, and offers businesses an extra set of hands for the week.

How can students help?

Business Services – Reception duties, data entry, customer service, filing, assisting with marketing tasks.

The Skill Engineer acts as the workplace provider for MSB VET students undertaking work placements.

The Skill Engineer establishes, builds and enhances partnerships between schools, businesses, parents and the wider community. They organise for VET students to attend one week of work placement in Year 11 (usually late Term Three), and one week in Year 12 (usually early Term One).

The Skill Engineer source and organise suitable workplaces for students. Their staff monitor and liaise with employers before, during and after work placements. They communicate directly and regularly with the MSB regarding all issues regarding work placement.

Prior to the first work placement in Year 11 The Skill Engineer conduct a compulsory Work Readiness one-hour session with all the VET students involved. The program covers what is expected of the students before and during their placement with regard to communicating with the employer, a workplace safety overview, required paperwork required, personal presentation and other important information.

If you or someone you know can support a student, please make contact with Debbie at The Skill Engineer.

Debbie Thompson
debbie.thompson@theskillengineer.com.au
(02) 4304 3031
The Skill Engineer Ltd.
www.theskillengineer.com.au

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.