SPRING 2016 n CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF EDUCATING YOUNG WOMEN MSB Jubilee Celebrations n VALE SISTER MARY ROCHE SGS Second College Principal 1974-1979 n CHAMPION PROBLEM SOLVERS College wins two Future Problem Solving World Championships Principal’s Message Our 50th anniversary Jubilee Year this year, has coincided the night was the enduring nature of the friendships forged with the Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis. It over the years by MSB students and staff. It was delightful to be has been a time of reflection and renewal for us, as well as part of such a joy-filled celebration. a time for celebration. We have focussed on the theme of In Term Three the College hosted Engage and Innovate, a public Jubilee, reaffirming our commitment to our Good Samaritan forum for educators, sharing together stories of innovative Benedictine values. We have given thanks for the generosity practices in schools. With world-renowned keynote speakers, of all those who have helped to build our College into the Julie Temperley and Keren Caple, from the Innovation Unit dynamic community it is. sharing practice from various parts of the world, Mount St To celebrate Eucharist and hear the voices of two thousand Benedict teachers then shared some of our recent innovations, members of our extended community filling St Mary’s which have been aimed to enhance the engagement of Cathedral with song was the highlight of our year. We were students in their learning. Teachers from other schools were delighted to be joined by a number of former Principals and also able to present their practices on the theme of the forum. staff and a particular thrill was the presence of Sr Mary Roche Alongside all our special events, normal College life has (Sr Hyacinth) who made the journey from Brisbane to be with continued with many successes in sport, Future Problem us on the day. We were saddened to hear of her death just a Solving and other co-curricular activities. Within the pages few weeks later, but felt privileged to have been able to share of this edition of Bennies Buzz you will catch a glimpse of with her some of her stories from the early days of College life. the many and varied activities which make life at Mount St The Jubilee Ball in May was a sparkling evening of friendship, Benedict College so rich and rewarding for all of us. good food, music, storytelling and dancing as former staff, students and parents came together with current staff and parents. Our first College Captain, Cathy Ferndale (nee Woods), shared some insights into life in the early days. One of the Maria Pearson common themes which emerged in speaking with people on Principal 2 | Bennies Buzz Summer 2016 Former students pictured with former Principal Sr Lia van Haren SGS at the Jubilee Afternoon Tea Jessica Micallef MSBESAFrom President the This year has been an exciting one for the College and completed an internship with the United Nations Assistance MSBESA alike. Ex-students joined the College for a number to the Khmer Rouge Trials in Cambodia. We look forward of Jubilee events, including the Jubilee Afternoon Tea, Jubilee to supporting more ex-students in the future by officially Ball and the Jubilee Mass. Each event provided a unique launching this grant in 2017. occasion for ex-students to indulge in the nostalgia of being I have been very fortunate to take on the role of MSBESA a Bennies girl. Most importantly, these events have been President at such an exciting time. I would like to thank an opportunity for ex-students to reconnect with former the MSBESA Committee Members for 2015-2016 for their classmates, teachers and principals and connect with current contribution during the past year. Bennies students. On behalf of MSBESA and all ex-students, I would like to thank the College staff and students for their If you are an ex-student please consider joining Bennies hard work in organising these wonderful events, a fitting Connect to keep in contact with the College and your former tribute to this milestone. classmates at www.benniesconnect.com We were very fortunate to have three inspiring ex-students form the panel of this year’s ‘Beyond Bennies’ event on 6 April. Melanie Drayton (Class of 1993), Catherine Holliday (Class of 1994) and Julia Calixto (Class of 2005) shared their wisdom and journeys since Bennies and delighted students with stories of their time at Bennies. Jessica Micallef During 2016, MSBESA has provided funding for two ex- Class of 2007 students undertaking overseas volunteering pursuits. President Hannah Ryan (Class of 2010) volunteered in Zambia with International Citizens Services and Liz King (Class of 2010) Summer 2016 Bennies Buzz | 3 CelebratesMount 50 years St of educating Benedict young women College In 2016 Mount St Benedict College proudly marked the 50th Looking back over fifty years it is encouraging to find that anniversary as a school, its Jubilee year with a number the values that informed the early years of the College of celebrations. are still the same now – the emphasis on the Benedictine heritage and the Good Samaritan traditions that Coinciding with the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the were evident in those early years are still the Church, it has been a fitting time to reflect on driving force at the College. the identity and traditions of the College, to give thanks for all those who have been From the beginning Mount St Benedict part of the journey and to look forward College offered girls a broad with hope to the future. curriculum, a wide variety of co- curricular activities and many In the 1960s the Sisters of the Good different sporting opportunities. As Samaritan recognised the need for a the College has grown it has gone Catholic school for girls in the Hills from strength to strength in each of District of NSW. In 1966 Mount St these areas, consistently achieving Benedict College was opened, with excellent academic results, having the first classes taking place in the a reputation as a highly successful basement of the Mount St Benedict sporting school and making a name for Novitiate. Those first students and their itself in many competitions, particularly teachers probably could not have foreseen at a global level in Future Problem Solving. the population explosion that was to take place in this area of Sydney, which would see the Thanks to the foresight of the Sisters, the College College grow to its current size of over 1000 students. continues to enjoy a beautiful position overlooking an area of remnant Sydney Blue Gum High Forest which makes a beautiful backdrop to the modern facilities we now enjoy. 4 | Bennies Buzz November 2016 Jubilee Afternoon SundayTea 6 &March College 2016 Tours Current students led former students on tours Bennies uniforms over 50 years The MSB Flute Ensemble performed Coinciding with Open Day, the College was pleased to welcome back over 200 former students and staff for afternoon tea and tours of the College. Current students proudly led tours around the College. Whilst imparting information, the girls in turn received a ‘Bennies’ history lesson from those on their tours – a beautiful sharing of MSB heritage, past and present. There were many members of the first year group, Class of 1971 in attendance, as well as representatives from many subsequent year groups. There was great delight in former students reconnecting with former staff and two principals Sister Agnes Farrugia SGS (Sister Jean Marie) 1980-1981 and Sister Lia van Haren SGS 1987-1992. Above: Current Principal, Maria Pearson welcomed former Principals Sr Agnes Ferrugia SGS and Sr Lia van Haren SGS November 2016 Bennies Buzz | 5 The first College Captain gave the after dinner address Jubilee Ball MC for the evening- Saturday 28 May 2016 Julia Calixto, College Captain 2005 The MSB community gathered for 2005 was the MC for the evening and College known affectionately as a wonderful evening of celebration, Cathy Ferndale (nee Wood), from the ‘The Pioneers’. with over 350 people coming together Class of 1971 and first College Captain, Many of the ex-students and former for the Jubilee Ball at Curzon Hall. gave the after dinner address (see staff were delighted to reconnect with Many members of the broader MSB over the page for excerpts from her Mr Alan Moran and Mrs Helen Sinclair, community – former students as highly entertaining speech about the both former Principals of the College. well as current and former staff and beginnings of the College). parents were privileged to hear from Gathered guests certainly got into two of the College’s former school There to support Cathy on the night the spirit of celebration, with a captains. SBS journalist, Julia Calixto, were six of her fellow classmates who crowded dance floor evidence of a College Captain from the Class of were part of the first cohort of the successful night! 6 | Bennies Buzz Summer 2016 Jubilee SundayEucharist 19 June 2016 St Mary’s Cathedral It was a most uplifting time for the College as the MSB community gathered in St Mary’s Cathedral to share Eucharist in celebration of the College’s 50th anniversary. Adding to the sense of occasion many students and staff travelled to the Cathedral on a specially chartered ‘Bennies’ train. Despite the inclement weather the Cathedral was filled to capacity as The Most Reverend Peter Comensoli, Bishop of Broken Bay presided over the Eucharist, enhanced by MSB dancers, musicians, choristers and all those who assisted through their various ministries. It was fitting that the MSB community could share the occasion with many of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, who gave so much of their lives to Catholic education in the Benedictine tradition, including Sr Clare Condon SGS, Congregational Leader, four previous Principals, Sr Mary Roche Continued next page..