Mount St Benedict College was founded by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan in the Order of St Benedict in 1966 and this year proudly celebrates 50 years of educating young women. The College is one of 10 owned by the Sisters in Australia and is run under the auspices of Good Samaritan Education through its Board of Directors and the College Principal.
The core values of the college are Pax, Hospitality and Stewardship, and the promotion of holistic education.
The college offers a rigorous academic program, a comprehensive curriculum and an enriching co-curricular program in the spirit of Benedictine and Good Samaritan tradition.
Facilities: The college is centrally located in Pennant Hills. It has an extensive stand of Blue Gum High Forest which complements the pleasant and modern grounds of the college.
Mount St Benedict College is situated on the corner of Pennant Hills Road and Beecroft Road. As well as special bus services to the college from Kellyville Plaza and Rouse Hill Shopping Centre, it is well served by a network of regular bus routes and is located a short distance from the main northern rail line.
Facilities include a multipurpose hall, art and music suites, design and technology centre, information resource centre, food technology centre, drama studio, dance studio, oval, fitness studio, counselling rooms, modern science laboratories, careers centre, canteen, chapel, basketball/netball courts, tennis courts, gymnasium and wireless site.
Technology is integrated into all areas of college life. Since 2003 the college has continued to expand the use of Technology as a Learn Anywhere Anytime tool. The 1:1 Laptop program provides all students and staff with a standard college device that includes all the software students require across all subjects. The college is wirelessly enabled, meaning that access to network resources and the internet are available from everywhere when onsite. Students will use their laptops in most lessons and will be instructed by the teacher when to switch them on.
Academic: Mount St Benedict College is a non-selective school dedicated to girls’ education. Girls thrive on a holistic curriculum that is tailored to each student. Learning is about discovery and challenge, and girls at the college grow through the personal challenges set for them and by them in the classroom and throughout the co-curricular program.
Years 7 and 8: Students complete a common course which includes English, Geography, History, Languages (French, German and Japanese), Mathematics, Music, MYBennies Integrated Studies, PDHPE, Religious Education, Science, Technology (Mandatory) and Visual Arts.
In 2015 the college introduced a Year 7 integrated learning program called MYBennies. This was the result of two years of research at the college, into how to better engage students in the middle years of schooling, Years 7 to 9. A team of teachers work with Year 7 students to help build connections between the work they do in other subjects as well as acquire the 21st century skills of creativity and problem solving; communication; critical thinking; information and media literacy; global citizenship; collaboration and teamwork; and independence in their learning.
Year 8 Integrated Experiences: All Year 8 students will participate in a range of four high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning experience days.
Electives Years 9 and 10: Commerce, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Food Technology, Geography, History, Information and Software Technology, Languages (French, German and Japanese), Music, Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS), Textiles and Visual Arts.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Community and Family Studies, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, Earth and Environmental Science, Exploring Early Childhood, Food Technology, Geography, Industrial Technology Multimedia, Languages (French, German and Japanese), Legal Studies, Mathematics (all courses offered), Modern History, Music, PDHPE, Photography, Physics, Senior Science, Society and Culture, Software Design and Development, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation, Visual Arts, Visual Design. Extension courses offered in English, Mathematics, Music, History, French, German and Japanese; Philosophy – Macquarie University G&T. VET courses: Information Technology, Entertainment Industry, Hospitality Operations and Business Services. Students may take TAFE courses such as Design Elements and Tourism.
Religious Education: This is compulsory in all years and is based on the Benedictine tradition with a strong emphasis on the balance of work, rest and prayer. Students either study Studies of Religion I or Studies of Religion II in Years 11 and 12.
Sport: Co-curricular sports include basketball, netball, soccer, softball and touch football. Representative sport includes all co-curricular sports as well as athletics, cross country, diving, golf, swimming, surf life-saving, tennis and triathlon.
Co-curricular activities: Debating, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, public speaking, da Vinci Decathlon, Philosophy Club, International Tours, Science Club, Peer Reading Program, STEM Club, Chess Club, Maths Workshop, Gifted and Talented activities, Principal’s Reading Challenge, Student Representative Council, musical ensembles (College Choir, Chamber Ensemble, Concert Band, Junior and Senior Rock Bands, Flute Ensemble, String Ensemble, Middle School Wind Ensemble, private lessons), College Musical (every two years), Junior and Senior Dance Ensembles, Chemical Titration Competition, Future Problem Solving, social justice activities (including community outreach programs).
Welfare and personal development: The college has a Pastoral Care structure that nurtures students within small Homeroom groups and Houses. Homeroom groups are organised on a vertical basis within Houses. Girls remain with their Homeroom for Years 7-12. In this supportive environment students are able to grow and flourish, developing their particular gifts and challenge themselves to venture into new and exciting areas of enquiry.
Mount St Benedict College has committed to Positive Education as a whole-school approach across all areas of curriculum, pastoral care and mission. This initiative nurtures wellbeing in both students and staff, a positive learning environment where students flourish both academically and emotionally.
There is a full-time careers adviser, a special education team and counsellors. Age-specific programs operate in each year. Outdoor education is part of the Years 7, 8 and 9 programs. Retreats, camps and overseas cultural experiences are offered. Social justice awareness is an important part of college life. Parents are actively involved in the life of the college.
Social Justice: The capacity to give and reach out to those in need has always been a significant feature of the Mount St Benedict community. Through focus on refugee and asylum seekers, reconciliation with indigenous Australians, charity organisations and support of various missions, girls become aware of their social responsibility.
The college has enduring partnerships with Good Samaritan missions in the Philippines, Timor L’este, Kirabati and Mater Dei, a school for children with intellectual disabilities in Sydney. As well as actively raising funds, girls have the opportunity to work directly with these communities through immersion programs.
Special features: Mount St Benedict College is not a selective school. However, in examinations conducted by the Board of Studies, students achieve consistently high results and a high proportion of HSC leavers are offered university places. There is also a Gifted and Talented Program and Learning Support Program. NAPLAN, School Certificate and Higher School Certificate results are indicative of a commitment to lifelong learning and reflect the outstanding work of teachers and the efforts of students to develop their gifts and talents.
Founded in 1966 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict, the college mission emphasises […]