Co-Curricular Activities
St Benedict’s Catholic College offers a wide variety of co-curricular activities aimed at supporting the wellness of students and the social aspects of high school. Some of these occur during school hours, whilst some may occur after school. These activities are often based on the needs of students and are catered to fostering a sense of community. These groups are always evolving and the College encourages students to approach their Year Coordinator with any ideas on how these activities can be built upon or added to.
These include:
- Art Club
- Drama Club
- MISA Sport
- Duke of Edinburgh
- MISA Representative Debating
- Choir
- Environmental Group (BEARS)
- Peer Tutoring
- Clean Up Australia Day
- Photography Club
- Debating Club
- Public Speaking
- Hospitality Committee
- Recycling Committee
- Diocesan Sport
- Knitting Club
- Sleek Geeks Science Competition
- Diocesan Representative Sport
- Liturgy Committee
Enrolments & Fees
The Social Action group at St Benedict’s Catholic College is a large team of 40 students lead by a President and Secretary who are passionate about helping others as well as encouraging our whole school community to support local and international charities. The Social Justice team has been involved in the following social Action initiatives:
Term 1
Term 1 involves many students giving up their time raising funds for Project Compassion. This consists of many activities such as Shrove Tuesday where the students sell pancakes in preparation for the coming Lenten period. We also conduct an Easter egg guessing competition and Easter egg raffle as well as selling Zooper Doopers every Tuesday after Sport to support Caritas.
Term 2
Our College conducts a food and warming items drive in Term 2 to support local Macarthur charity, We Are Community. The College also holds an annual event after school that teaches students about homelessness and helps to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal. The evening is full of various activities like, cardboard real estate, Vinnies Fashion Show, MacKillop Games, soup kitchen and a liturgy ‘The Care Factor’.
Term 3
The Social Action Group launches its Catholic Mission appeal in Term 3. This appeal supports the extended communities. Students are encouraged to take part in various activities such as staff v student ‘State of Origin’ games, Jersey Day, BBQ Lunches and Socktober as a manner of raising funds for Catholic Mission.
Term 4
Students conclude the year by supporting Catholic Care in Term 4 in our Christmas Hamper Appeal. This is an appeal that attempts to ensure that all families in our local area have a nice meal and provide some presents for their children.
Sport
At St Benedict’s Catholic College students are provided with ample opportunities to participate in a range of sports. Students have the opportunity to compete in weekly sporting competitions versus other schools in the area as well as other competitions where students will compete against other schools within the Wollongong Diocese. Students who excel in their chosen sport have the opportunity to be selected in pathway teams from here and can go on to represent at a NSW All Schools level. Students who do not wish to represent the College in sports, will be involved in our weekly sport program where a variety of sports are on offer for students to participate in.
Social Action & Justice
At St Benedict’s Catholic College we understand the importance and significance of helping foster within students, experiences and opportunities, to put their faith into action. The study of Religious Education is augmented by the opportunity to live their faith and improve the situation of our Neighbour. In March 2011 Most Rev Peter Ingham DD cited the significance of putting faith into action in the Diocesan “Faith in Action” document.
Catholic schools participate in the Church’s mission “to bring the Good News to the poor” (Luke 4:18). In partnership with parents, parishes and other agencies within the Church and the broader community, Catholic schools are called to give witness to a faith which does justice with love. All have a responsibility to read the signs of the times and to respond with love and compassion, ever seeking to protect human dignity, serve the common good and share resources and privilege.
The Church always seeks to follow the model of Jesus who served those around him with selfless love and a generosity of spirit. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us: