Dance

Mount St Benedict College offers the opportunity for students to engage in Dance through both curricular studies and cocurricular activities.

Curricular Dance

Dance can be studied as an elective subject in Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) and Stage 6 (Years 11 and 12).

Dance in Stages 5 and 6 is designed for students to experience, understand and value dance as an artform through the study of the performance, composition and appreciation of dance.

Students will develop knowledge, understanding and skills about dance as an artform through:

• Dance performance as a means of developing dance technique and performance quality to communicate ideas
• Dance composition as a means of creating and structuring movement to express and communicate ideas
• Dance appreciation as a means of describing and analysing dance as an expression of ideas within a social, cultural or historical context.

Students have the opportunity to perform their repertoire through Assemblies, the annual Creative and Performing Arts Showcase and the HSC Dance Evening.

Each year the NSW Department of Education and Training presents Callback, a selection of exemplary performances and projects from HSC Dance students. Mount St Benedict College has been honoured to have several individual nominations including Core Performance, Core Composition and Major Study Performance as part of their Board of Studies practical examinations. The HSC Dance candidates on the honour roll are:

• 2014 - Keira McEntee - Core Performance and Major Study Performance
• 2012 - Alicia Gardoni - Core Performance and Major Study Performance
• 2012 - Jessika Fisher - Core Performance
• 2012 - Madeleine Silsby - Core Performance, Core Composition and Major Study Performance
• 2011 - Emma Martin - Major Study Performance.

Academy of Dance

The College offers a range of dance programs to cater for a range of abilities. All students can participate in the College-based dance programs which may include jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, ballet and strength and conditioning classes. Students can also audition to be part of one of the Representative Dance Ensembles that compete against other schools throughout the school year.

Ensembles are allocated based on technical ability, stylistic strength and pastoral needs. The ensembles are taught by industry professionals. They run before school and cater for a wide range of abilities - from beginner to elite level dancers. Students have the opportunity to perform their repertoire at events which may include assemblies, the Bennies Festival of Arts, Food and Design and eisteddfods throughout the year. Further opportunities to extend students’ engagement in Dance include the College Musical, the Independent Dance Festival, the Interstate Dance Tour and the CAPA Tour to New York and Los Angeles.

Debating and Public Speaking

Through debating, students develop their skills in public speaking, and their knowledge and analysis of Australian and international issues.

Skills learned in debating have noticeable benefit to students across many areas of the curriculum and enhance their understanding of the world. Mount St Benedict College has a long tradition of excellence in Debating and Public Speaking.

Debating teams are selected from interested students from Years 7 to 12 to compete in the Catholic Schools Debating Competition and the Association of Heads of Independent Girls High Schools (AHIGHS) Archdale Competition.

Public Speaking

There are a number of opportunities for students in all years to demonstrate their 'gift of the gab' and represent the College in the Rostrum Voice of Youth, the Catholic Schools Public Speaking Competition and the Festival of Speech.

Drama

Mount St Benedict College has a packed drama program with a variety of opportunities for students. Some of the highlights of the drama year include:

HSC Dance and Drama Evening

HSC students present their Major Works to the College community. There is a mix of individual monologues and group pieces.

Creative and Performing Arts Showcase

Students from Years 7 to 11 are selected to perform a variety of individual and group scenes.

Year 11 Drama

Year 11 Drama class performs a play for the College community. This year’s production was 'Stories in the Dark'.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a self-developed program open to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25. The Award is non-competitive and encourages young people to set and achieve goals appropriate to their abilities and potential.

There are three levels of the Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and there are four Sections that must be completed for a young person to qualify for an Award.

They consist of learning a new Skill, participating in Physical Recreation and engaging with the wider community through Voluntary Service. The students also complete an Adventurous Journey at each level. This encourages a sense of adventure whilst undertaking a team journey or expedition. As part of a small team, Participants will plan, train for, and undertake a journey with a defined purpose in an unfamiliar environment.

Students in Year 9 will have the opportunity to complete their Adventurous Journey as a part of their Year 9 Residential Experience.

For Gold only, a Residential Project is undertaken which aims to broaden Participant’s horizons through involvement with others in a residential setting.

Future Problem Solving

The Future Problem Solving (FPS) Program was established at Mount St Benedict College in 2006 and has grown steadily each year. Since then the College has successfully achieved in the top 10%, to be invited to participate at each national competition and has now secured four world championship titles.

Students learn to address complex scientific and social problems of the future through the use of a creative and comprehensive thinking process. The process challenges students to apply information they have acquired by research, to some of the most complex issues facing society. They are asked to think, to make decisions and, in some instances, to carry out their solutions.

Specifically, it motivates and assists students in:

• thinking creatively
• developing an active interest in the future
• improving communication skills (oral and written)
• solving problems using a six-step process
• working cooperatively in teams
• learning about complex social issues
• developing research skills
• thinking critically and analytically.

Learning Enrichment

Mount St Benedict College is committed to offering a broad range of activities to enrich the girls' learning experiences.

Australian Stock Exchange Simulation

Commerce students are given the opportunity to purchase and sell shares at real prices to match their skills against students from all over Australia.

Bennies Book Club

Every Thursday at recess students meet in the IRC Reading Area to discuss books, authors and complete activities organised by the Teacher Librarians and Mrs Collins Pope. Book club members also have the opportunity to write reviews.

Chess Club

Meets weekly and everyone is welcome to enjoy social chess. There are many educational and social benefits derived from participating in a chess club:

• Chess dramatically improves a student’s ability to think rationally
• Chess teaches the value of hard work, concentration and commitment
• Chess makes a student realise that she is responsible for her own actions and must accept the consequences.

da Vinci Decathlon

The da Vinci Decathlon is held annually at Knox Grammar School. Gifted and Talented students from Years 7 to 10 are selected and coached in teams of eight to represent Mount St Benedict College in general knowledge, art and poetry, logic, mathematics, engineering, creative producers, philosophy, word games and chess.

Tournament of Minds

This activity provides an opportunity for girls from Years 7 to 10, working in a team, to participate in creative activities involving challenging problems which demand divergent thinking. Activities include theatre sports, games and lateral thinking.

Market Day

"Running a Small Business" forms part of the Year 10 Commerce program. Students experience the pressure, stress and excitement of the business world as they organise their businesses, develop their products, and sell them at our lunchtime market.

Maths Workshop

Maths Workshop provides a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where students are able to receive assistance on a more individual basis. The Mathematics Department runs regular study and revision sessions for students from all year groups.

Reading Challenges

The Principal's and Premier’s Reading Challenges aim to encourage in students a love of reading for leisure and pleasure, and to enable students to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely.

Learning Tours

Students at Mount St Benedict College have access to rich learning and mission opportunities including interstate and overseas learning tours.

Upcoming Tours:

• German Exchange - 2018
  
• CAPA USA Tour - September 2018
• Footsteps of Benedict Tour - December 2018 / January 2019
• Japanese Tour - 2019

Music

There are many opportunities for students to explore and develop their musical talents through participation in a vast number of co-curricular activities. Students can improve their performance ability and their confidence whilst experiencing a sense of achievement from performing with a group of talented musicians.

College Choir

An ensemble open to all year groups. Students perform a broad repertoire including popular, musical theatre and choral works. The College Choir has a prominent role in College events throughout the year.

MSB Concert Band

This ensemble is open to all students who have performance experience on any woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. Keyboard, guitar and bass players are also encouraged to join. Students will perform a repertoire including popular music, film music, overtures and classic themes. Students can improve their performing and music skills while developing their ability to perform as part of an ensemble.

Rock Band

Students with a passion for rock and pop music have been joining together to create the MSB Junior and Senior Rock Bands. These groups are usually made up of four to six performers including electric guitars, bass, drums, keyboard/piano and vocals.

Orchestra

Throughout the calendar year, the students involved in Chamber Ensemble and Concert Band combine as an orchestra to perform at College events.

Chamber Ensemble

String and woodwind players have the opportunity to perform challenging repertoires ranging from classical, jazz, music theatre and popular works. This is a valuable opportunity to develop ensemble skills in a fun environment.

Flute Ensemble

This ensemble enhances group performance in a variety of settings.

String Ensemble

An ensemble catering for students who play violin, viola, cello or double bass. Students perform a variety of pieces written specifically for string quartets and ensembles from a range of genres.

Middle Years Wind Ensemble

An ensemble designed to foster the transition into the MSB Concert Band. All students commence in the Middle Years Wind Ensemble prior to joining the Concert Band.

Music Instrumental Tuition

This program caters for students who wish to learn or further develop their skills on a particular instrument. Students can choose from a wide range of instruments including:

• Clarinet / Saxophone
• Flute
• Guitar / Electric Bass
• Percussion / Drumkit
• Piano
• Trumpet / Trombone / Euphonium / Tuba
• Violin / Viola / Cello / Double Bass
• Voice.

Private lessons cater for the individual and students progress at their level of ability. Instrumental tutors who are proficient performers and teachers conduct these lessons. Lessons occur during class time for half an hour once a week on a rotating schedule.

Musicals

A College Musical is produced every two years. These productions are a highlight of the College calendar and allow our students to combine their talents in an exciting and challenging project.

• 2022 - The Addams Family
• 2019 - Beauty and The Beast
• 2017 - High School Musical
• 2015 - Hairspray
• 2013 - Grease
• 2011 - Sweet Charity
• 2009 - Annie
• 2007 - Little Shop of Horrors
• 2005 - The Wiz
• 2003 - Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Science

There are many opportunities to get more involved in Science.

• Year 7 Science Club
• Year 8 STEM Club
• Year 8 gifted science students have the opportunity to attend the Forensic Science Camp
• Year 10 gifted science students are invited to participate in the ‘Big Science Competition’
• Years 11 and 12 Chemical Titration Competition
• Students who complete quality Student Research Projects are invited to display their findings at the annual Science/TAS/STEM Expo.