From the Principal
Welcome back to our 60th year - an exciting milestone in the life of our College.
Welcome back to our 60th year - an exciting milestone in the life of our College.
The first week of the school year has been filled with energy, connection, and a strong sense of community. There is always something special about those opening days: new routines forming, friendships rekindled, and a shared sense of optimism for the year ahead.
One of the great highlights at this time of the year is welcoming our newest members, the Year 7 students, who were greeted on their first morning by our Senior Guard of Honour (Click here to see the video) . This much-loved tradition beautifully captures the spirit of our College - our senior students modelling leadership and care, and our youngest students being warmly welcomed into the life of the community. Judging by the smiles (and a few understandably nervous faces!), it was a moment that will stay with them for some time. It was also a day to welcome nearly 20 new students to other year groups.
Midweek, we celebrated academic excellence by honouring our HSC High Achievers in a special ceremony. This was followed by our annual Getting of Wisdom Panel, where our graduates generously shared the insights and habits that supported their success with our current Year 11 and Year 12 students. Their reflections on perseverance, balance, and learning from setbacks were both honest and encouraging. They provided a timely reminder that success is not only built steadily over time but is a collective effort.
Last week, during the school holiday period, we were delighted to welcome over 100 parents to listen to a presentation by psychologist and former classroom teacher Dr Judith Locke, author of The Bonsai Child and The Bonsai Student. In a challenging and thought-provoking two-hour presentation, Dr Locke explored how parenting has changed over the past two decades - and not always in helpful ways. She offered practical language and tools to support families as they navigate the key milestones of adolescence, particularly between the ages of 12 and 17. We are grateful to our parent community for engaging so thoughtfully in such an important and timely conversation before school had started for the year.
It has been a strong and affirming start to the year - marked by welcome, wisdom, and partnership - and a fitting beginning to our 60th year together. We are looking forward to our Celebration Eucharist next Friday presided over by Bishop of Broken Bay Most Reverend Anthony Randazzo and attended by many special guests including the College Captain and students from the very first graduating class of 1971.
Warm regards,
Michael Hanratty
Principal
From the Dean of Mission
It is so lovely to have everyone back on campus and to welcome our newest community members, Year 7! There has been a buzz about the place this week as students caught up with each other and settled into the rhythm of classes. As I mentioned last week, Bishop Anthony Randazzo will celebrate our 60th Anniversary Opening Mass next Friday, which is also a fitting way to start our Year of Peace.
Our Ministry Classes have hit the ground running this year, as Ash Wednesday falls on 18 February. They have been preparing a whole-school Liturgy to celebrate this. The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday. This day marks the last day before the 40-day period of fasting and penance associated with Lent begins. Historically, it was a day to use up rich, indulgent foods like eggs, milk, and sugar, ingredients often restricted during Lent, to avoid wasting them. The tradition of making pancakes with these ingredients became a popular way to use them up, making pancakes a central part of Shrove Tuesday celebrations. This year, pancakes will be made fresh onsite, and we are very grateful to Mrs Johnson and Mrs Elsley from TAS for their support. This change in practice has been driven by our consistent commitment to sustainability and being good Stewards. Students are asked to order their pancakes through Flexischools in advance. The girls have set the price at $5 for two pancakes with toppings, and gluten-free options will be available. Orders close on Friday, 13 February. I’m sure it will be a wonderful community event, along with raising money to assist those in need.
Caritas Trek is one of my favourite events in the Mission Program. Together, staff and students walk 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. We leave early in the morning and are back in time to start the school day. This event has been so popular that we have had to offer two treks to accommodate demand. The sign-up form is in the Student Update, and I encourage Year 7 parents to speak to their daughters about joining us. It really is a wonderful morning!
It is always so wonderful to see so many students, staff and their families involved in the Mission of the College and the Church in helping our neighbour.
Kerry Bailey
Dean of Mission
From the Dean of Learning Science and Innovation
How to be a High Achiever
How to be a High Achiever
At our recent College assembly, we were privileged to hear from Julia, our 2025 College Dux, whose reflections on her Year 12 journey strongly reinforced the messages students have been hearing as we begin the new school year.
Julia spoke candidly about Year 12 as a demanding but deeply formative experience, one that requires perseverance, intentional habits, and the courage to lean into challenge. Her message was clear: academic success is rarely the result of talent alone, but rather the product of consistent effort, self-awareness, and supportive relationships.
Central to Julia’s advice was the importance of being present in the classroom. She emphasised that the deepest learning occurs through active engagement, listening attentively, asking questions, participating in discussion, and building strong learning relationships with teachers. This message closely aligns with our College focus on learning as a shared endeavour, where students play an active role in shaping the learning environment.
Julia also highlighted the value of consistency over intensity when it comes to study habits. Rather than long hours or perfect systems, she found that regular, deliberate engagement with learning, even in small amounts, was far more effective. Importantly, she encouraged students to prioritise understanding over memorisation and addressing areas of weakness rather than revisiting what already feels comfortable.
Curriculum News
Free Parent Webinar: Supporting Student Motivation
Free Parent Webinar: Supporting Student Motivation
As part of the College’s R.E.A.L. program, parents and caregivers are invited to attend a free online webinar presented by Elevate Education, focused on supporting student motivation throughout the school year.
Elevate works with our students to develop skills in motivation, study strategies, wellbeing and exam preparation. This session will provide parents and caregivers with practical, easy-to-implement strategies to help reinforce these skills at home.
The webinar will cover:
- Using praise and reassurance to motivate your child.
- Setting relevant and effective goals.
- Helping your child stay motivated in the long term.
Parents and caregivers will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session.
Live Parent Webinar: How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated
Date: Wednesday 11 February
Time: 6:30–7:30 pm (AEDT)
Cost: Free
Format: Online webinar
Click here to register.
James Warren
Head of Languages
From the Dean of Wellbeing
Advice for Parents: Talking to Your Daughter When She Doesn’t Want to Talk
Advice for Parents: Talking to Your Daughter When She Doesn’t Want to Talk
Adolescence is a time of rapid change - emotionally, socially, and academically. When daughters withdraw or resist conversation, it can feel worrying for parents and may feel more acute now after what may have been a long, and at times difficult, summer break. Research shows that open, respectful communication fosters resilience, wellbeing, and stronger family relationships and it is something we like to support our families with at Bennies so we can facilitate effective communication between daughters and families as well as home and school.
Core Strategies
1. Start with Empathy
- Language to use:
- “I can see you’re not ready to talk right now, and that’s okay. I’m here when you’re ready.”
- “I care about how you’re feeling, even if you don’t want to share it yet.”
- Avoid judgment or pressure. This builds trust and signals safety and sits well with our Benedictine principles of listening with the ear of the heart.
2. Choose the Right Time
- Avoid high-stress moments (e.g., right after school or during homework).
- Use low-pressure environments like car rides or walks-research calls these “shoulder-to-shoulder” conversations, which feel less intense than face-to-face.
3. Validate Feelings
- Instead of fixing the problem immediately, acknowledge emotions:
- “It sounds like today was tough.”
- “I’d feel frustrated too if that happened.”
4. Offer Control
- Give choices:
- “Would you like to talk now or later?”
- “Do you want me to just listen or help you problem-solve?”
5. Model Openness
- Share your own feelings calmly:
- “I felt a bit stressed today too, and going for a walk helped me.”
6. Language to Avoid
- “You have to talk to me.”
- “Why are you always shutting me out?”
- “You’re overreacting.”
These phrases can increase defensiveness and reduce trust.
Evidence-Based Insights
Research on adolescent communication:
- Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of Opportunity: Lessons from the New Science of Adolescence.
- Australian Institute of Family Studies – Parent-Teen Communication.
- Key finding: Teens value autonomy and respect; forced conversations often backfire and can lead to roadblocks down the line.
Mount St Benedict College Values Connection
- Hospitality: Create a safe, welcoming space for dialogue.
- Compassion: Listen without judgment; show care for her feelings.
- Justice: Respect her voice and choices in the conversation.
- Stewardship: Nurture her emotional wellbeing as part of holistic growth.
Practical Tips
Wellbeing
Flourishing in Schools
Flourishing in Schools
Flourishing is a psychological term. It refers to an optimal level of wellbeing where you are happy, engaged, energised and satisfied with life. Every parent and all at Mount St Benedict College wish to see every one of our students flourish!
To this end we are committed to supporting our students to develop wellbeing literacy skills and to take ownership of their own wellbeing. Students have been set up with their own Flourishing at School account and will complete a Flourishing Survey biannually. They will have instant access to their own data and we encourage them to share this with their parents. Students will also set wellbeing goals in consultation with their Homeroom Mentors.
The Flourishing at School platform will have other features that will support our students’ wellbeing: a wellbeing check in feature, a strengths survey, short videos and activities focused on staying well.
It’s important to note that the the survey does not assess for symptoms of mental illness or provide self-help advice for dealing with poor mental health – the focus is mental wellbeing.
More information can be found at https://www.flourishingatschool.com/info-parents
In 2026, students have been asked to complete the survey during Homeroom time and to upload their report on to BenniesNet by the end of Week Two, Friday 13 February.
A letter outlining the Flourishing Survey has been sent to all parents this week.
We are very excited to support our students’ wellbeing in this way. We all know that students who feel well, learn well!
Briohny Hickey
Deputy Dean of Wellbeing
College News
Uniform and Device Reminders
Uniform and Device Reminders
Please check that your daughter’s uniform is immaculate to start the school year. If she has grown over the break, please ensure that her dress/skirt reaches to the bottom of the knee. This is a change to the uniform policy that was communicated to all students in Term Four last year.
We appreciate that many families are working hard to get their daughters’ uniform hems down. The College is extending the deadline to Monday, 16 February, to allow families to adjust hems or purchase new items. Many thanks to Mrs Keogh and Mrs Johnston, who have kindly offered to teach the girls how to lengthen their hems at lunchtimes!
All students must wear their hats to and from school and during break times.
Students are permitted to wear one small plain pair of studs or sleepers at the bottom of ear lobe and one small cross on a chain, which are available from the Uniform Shop. Any additional jewellery (e.g. any rings, extra piercings, nose piercings) must be removed while in school uniform.
Students are not permitted to cover piercings with bandaids or wear clear studs. Additional piercings cannot be worn, even if they are new.
Hair should be of a natural colour and tied up with the College ribbon. Hair should be of a natural colour and tied up with the College ribbon. House coloured ribbons may be worn on House Days such as Carnivals and MSB Day.
No makeup or false eyelashes.
No false nails or nail polish.
There will be student uniform checks in Week Three and beyond.
Students have been reminded
- Mobile phones should be locked in lockers during the school day. Any girl with her mobile on her during the course of the day will have it confiscated and a detention will be issued. Three phone confiscations will result in a meeting with parents.
- A reminder also that the College issued laptops should be used appropriately and for the purpose of learning.
Update to Family Address Details – Action Requested
Update to Family Address Details – Action Requested
As part of a mandatory data collection required by the Australian Government Department of Education, the College is required to provide up-to-date residential address information for students and their parents/guardians.
This information is used to inform national education policy and ensure non-government school funding is calculated fairly and based on need. A detailed Collection Notice outlining how this information is collected, used and protected is provided for your reference.
While no action is required if your details are already current, we ask families to please check and update their address details if they have changed by completing the Change of Contact Details Form available on the BenniesLink Parent Portal: https://bennieslink.msb.nsw.edu.au/
Click here for more information from the Australian Government.
Thank you for your support in keeping our records accurate.
Jude Edwards
Operations Admin Manager
News from the Library
News from the Library
The Library team have recently reviewed the referencing style used at the College and have decided to switch to APA 7th edition, which is the standard used by most Australian universities. Right now, students use Harvard referencing, but starting in 2026, APA 7th edition will be our official referencing style.
This change is designed to help students align with university expectations and make the transition to tertiary study smoother.
Don’t worry—this won’t be a big change! The College already uses the SLASA online referencing generator, which supports APA 7th edition. Students will still use the same platform to create their references, so the process will feel familiar.
The Library team is here to help make this transition as easy as possible and will start supporting APA 7th edition straight away. From 2026, all assignments will clearly state that APA 7th edition is the required style. In the meantime, we’ll provide plenty of support through the Library and in the classroom.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Library team. We’re happy to help!
Rebecca Shiels
Library Manager
Upcoming Events
Cocurricular News
PAX
PAX
Earlier this week, we officially launched the 2026 value of PAX at the Welcome Assembly. In the Benedictine tradition, PAX is more than the absence of conflict but rather a way of living that calls us to right relationship with self, others and God. Mrs Kerry Bailey, Dean of Mission, encouraged us to think of peace as a verb – a call action in our everyday dealings with others. To find peace, we must pursue it. Our Cocurricular Program provides a powerful space for students to practise this Benedictine value in meaningful and tangible ways.
This year, I really encourage our students to listen deeply, act with humility and place the good of the community alongside personal achievement whether it is through their sport, performing arts, debating, musical or lunchtime clubs. It is important to be reminded that how we go about our everyday interactions with others helps foster positive relationships of peace and respect that extends beyond the Red Brick Wall. PAX is lived when students show graciousness in competition, patience in rehearsal, attentiveness to others’ voices and commitment to shared goals. It is evident in the way students resolve challenges collaboratively, support one another through setbacks and celebrate success with gratitude rather than self-importance. By engaging in cocurricular life, students are invited to grow not only in skill and confidence, but also in character.
So as we begin this year, I encourage all our students to be involved in the Cocurricular Program. To choose to ‘show up’ and be actively engaged in their learning in the way that Mr Hanratty described in his Assembly Address. To be intentional, deliberate and pushing outside their comfort zone by not taking the easy way out.
It has been very pleasing to see the amount of registrations that have been busily coming through. It is going to be an eventful year filled with new initiatives across the program as well as the much-anticipated biennial College Musical, Wizard of Oz!
A gentle reminder that all registrations are now made through Clipboard. All parents will need to access Clipboard to register and provide permission for their child to participate. If you have not logged in yet, you will need to request a link from our ICT Helpdesk. Clipboard can also be accessed via the Parent Portal BenniesLink. All students will be able to access Clipboard. The instructions can be found here but it is also available via the Student Update this week. I highly encourage students to access Clipboard at their earliest convenience as it will provide specific times, locations and scheduling changes to help them be more organised in their learning this year. Please note, students will have viewing access to all activities on Clipboard and parents/guardians will be the only ones that can register and provide permissions.
Christina He
Dean of Cocurricular
Ex-Students
Mount St Benedict Ex-Students Association Meeting
Mount St Benedict Ex-Students Association Meeting
MSB Ex-Students are warmly invited to the upcoming MSBESA Meeting.
Date: Monday 16 February 2026
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Online via
zoom
RSVP using the link provided so the Committee can prepare for our online meeting please RSVP here.
Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, your ideas, energy, and presence matter. MSBESA thrives when new faces join the conversation; so come along, contribute, and help shape the future of our vibrant alumnae network.
All ex-students are welcomed. Fresh voices. New ideas. Shared connections.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Kind regards
Mrs Emily McCubbin
Acting MSBESA President
