Mount St Benedict College
Encyclopedia
Mount St Benedict College is a Catholic, independent, girls high school in the Good Samaritan tradition, offering holistic education based on Benedictine values of Pax, Hospitality and Stewardship. Girls from the Northern and North West regions of Sydney attend the College.
Mount St Benedict College commenced on February 1, 1966 with 65 students under the guidance of Sisters Christopher Burrows and Hyacinth Roche. The College is now an incorporated body which operates as an independent Catholic Congregational school with a Board of Directors. In 2008 there were approximately 835 girls from Year 7 to Year 12. Mount St. Benedict is affiliated with the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA) and their current principal. Mrs. Maria Pearson, is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
(AHIGS).
The Catholic view of life and the mission of Christ underpins and influences all the policies and practices of the school community. The students receive formal religious education and are also encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities which seek to broaden their understanding of, and commitment to, the faith life of the Church and its service to the broader community.
In 1987, in line with other Good Samaritan Schools, Mount St Benedict College was incorporated as a Company with a Board of Directors. The first lay Principal was appointed in 1994. The current Principal is Mrs Maria Pearson.
Today, Mount St Benedict College is a community of over 800 girls and 100 staff following in the Benedictine tradition of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Since its inception, the Benedictine values of Pax, Hospitality and Stewardship have permeated the education process, preparing our students to become women of competence, confidence and compassion.
The co-curricular life of the College spans the academic, cultural and sporting interests of the girls and enriches the educational experience of the students by developing critical thinking and independent learning which assist them in their course work learning.
Sport at Mount ST BEnedict is something that is taken very seriously and this shows in the results of all events girls participate in.
Students at Mount St Benedict College have established a partnership with a high school in East Timor as a way to learn about social justice in a meaningful way. Four students and two teachers took stationery, musical instruments and school supplies to help establish a high school in East Timor. This support has continued for three years.
Arcadia - Named after St Benedict's Monastery located in Arcadia, Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1961. Colour: White
Maredsous - Named after Maredsous Abbey, located in Belgium and founded in 1872. Colour: Green
Stanbrook - Named after Stanbrook Abbey located in Worcestershire, England and founded in 1626. Colour: Orange
New Norcia - Named after a Benedictine, monastic town in Western Australia located 132 km north of Perth. It was founded in 1847 Colour: Purple
Terracina - Named after a Benedictine Monastery in Italy founded by St Benedict himself. Colour: Yellow
Subiaco - Named after the site of St Benedict's monastery and the grotto he stayed in as a fourteen year old. It is located in Italy. Colour: Blue
Monte Cassino - Named after St Benedict's first monastery located in Italy west of the town Cassino. It was built around 529 A.D. and was also the sight of the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1924. Colour: Red
Montserrat - Named after the Montserrat Abbey located in the Montserrat Mountain in Spain. It was founded in the 11th century. Colour: Pink
Mount St Benedict College commenced on February 1, 1966 with 65 students under the guidance of Sisters Christopher Burrows and Hyacinth Roche. The College is now an incorporated body which operates as an independent Catholic Congregational school with a Board of Directors. In 2008 there were approximately 835 girls from Year 7 to Year 12. Mount St. Benedict is affiliated with the Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA) and their current principal. Mrs. Maria Pearson, is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools
The Association of Heads of Independent Girls' Schools , is an association for private girls' schools, based in North Ryde, in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(AHIGS).
History
Established by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict in 1966, the college is an private Catholic girls’ school located in the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay and run under the auspices of the Sisters through its Board of Directors and the school Principal.The Catholic view of life and the mission of Christ underpins and influences all the policies and practices of the school community. The students receive formal religious education and are also encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities which seek to broaden their understanding of, and commitment to, the faith life of the Church and its service to the broader community.
In 1987, in line with other Good Samaritan Schools, Mount St Benedict College was incorporated as a Company with a Board of Directors. The first lay Principal was appointed in 1994. The current Principal is Mrs Maria Pearson.
Today, Mount St Benedict College is a community of over 800 girls and 100 staff following in the Benedictine tradition of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan. Since its inception, the Benedictine values of Pax, Hospitality and Stewardship have permeated the education process, preparing our students to become women of competence, confidence and compassion.
Curriculum
Mount St Benedict College offers a rigorous academic programme and a comprehensive curriculum. The curriculum caters for a diverse range of needs of students and allows for the more able students to engage in fulfilling and rewarding courses of study while also catering to the needs of students with special learning needs.The co-curricular life of the College spans the academic, cultural and sporting interests of the girls and enriches the educational experience of the students by developing critical thinking and independent learning which assist them in their course work learning.
Co-Curricular activities
The College offers a comprehensive program of co-curricular activities, including:- Future Problem Solving
- Da Vinci Decathlon
- Tournament of the Minds
- Debating & Public Speaking
- Mock Trial
- Dance Ensemble
- College Choir
- Chamber Ensemble
- Concert Band
Sports
Mount St Benedict College offers students the opportunity to participate in sport at a representative level as well as in co-curricular teams. In addition all students in Years 7-10 participate in a fortnightly Physical Activity program.Sport at Mount ST BEnedict is something that is taken very seriously and this shows in the results of all events girls participate in.
Community
Mount St Benedict College has many community avenues. Besides the Parents and Friends, the Ex-students Association and the partners with the Good Samaritan causes (Mater Dei School in Narellan, Kiribati, Bacalod Kinder School in the Philippines, and Railaco High School in East Timor), students are involved in many community activities:- Caritas Australia through work with Project Compassion during Lent
- Vinnes CEO Winter Sleepout
- Social Justice * Reconciliation Week
- Refugee and Asylum Seekers Week
- Make a Difference - group of students who discuss current issues, raise awareness and take action
Students at Mount St Benedict College have established a partnership with a high school in East Timor as a way to learn about social justice in a meaningful way. Four students and two teachers took stationery, musical instruments and school supplies to help establish a high school in East Timor. This support has continued for three years.
House system
There are currently eight houses in the College each named after Benedictine Monasteries.Arcadia - Named after St Benedict's Monastery located in Arcadia, Sydney, Australia. It was founded in 1961. Colour: White
Maredsous - Named after Maredsous Abbey, located in Belgium and founded in 1872. Colour: Green
Stanbrook - Named after Stanbrook Abbey located in Worcestershire, England and founded in 1626. Colour: Orange
New Norcia - Named after a Benedictine, monastic town in Western Australia located 132 km north of Perth. It was founded in 1847 Colour: Purple
Terracina - Named after a Benedictine Monastery in Italy founded by St Benedict himself. Colour: Yellow
Subiaco - Named after the site of St Benedict's monastery and the grotto he stayed in as a fourteen year old. It is located in Italy. Colour: Blue
Monte Cassino - Named after St Benedict's first monastery located in Italy west of the town Cassino. It was built around 529 A.D. and was also the sight of the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1924. Colour: Red
Montserrat - Named after the Montserrat Abbey located in the Montserrat Mountain in Spain. It was founded in the 11th century. Colour: Pink
Notable alumnae
- Jana Pittman, athletics
- Joanne CarterJoanne CarterJoanne 'Jo' Carter is an Australian figure skater. She is the 2007 Australian national champion. She skates at Canternbury, Norwest & Macquarie. She began skating at 4 years of age and went on to represent Australia in the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics. She placed 25th in Torino...
, ice-skating - Catherine CoxCatherine CoxCatherine Cox is an Australian netball player. Cox has played regularly for the Australian national team since her first appearance in 1997 and is a member of the ANZ Championship team West Coast Fever....
, netball - Jackie Fairweather (née Gallagher), triathlon and long distance running
- Monica Brown, Australian Catholic hymnwriter
- Laura DundovicLaura DundovicLaura Dundovic was born in 16 September 1987 in Sydney, Australia, of Croatian parents. She is a beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Australia 2008 and represented Australia in the Miss Universe 2008 competition, in which she placed in the top ten....
, model and former Miss Universe Australia - Jaclyn MoriartyJaclyn MoriartyJaclyn Moriarty is an Australian novelist, most known for her young adult literature.-Biography:Moriarty was raised in the northern suburbs of Sydney. She has five sisters and one brother. Two of her sisters, Liane Moriarty and Nicola, are also novelists. Moriarty studied English at the University...
, author - Christina Parie, X Factor 2011 Top 6 Contestant