Founded in 1966 by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict, the college mission emphasises that its education be holistic based on the Benedictine traditions of Pax, Hospitality and Stewardship. It is a place of intellectual endeavour with a history of excellent academic achievement where students succeed across a spectrum of pursuits: academic, cultural, sport and social involvement. A formal pastoral policy offers structures and opportunities for students. Students can involve themselves from Year 7 in the Student Representative Council (SRC) and in the Portfolio structure. Portfolios include Assembly, Environment, Creative Arts, Debating, Hospitality, Liturgy, Social Justice, and Sport. Individual giftedness and achievements are recognised through the merit system at bronze, silver and gold levels.
Facilities: Multi-purpose hall, art and music suites, extensive computing facilities, courts for netball and basketball, multi-purpose sports oval, Information Resource Centre, photographic darkroom, state-of-the-art Technology and Applied Sciences Centre, dance studio, drama studio.
Years 7 and 8: Students complete a common course, which includes Religious Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Technology (Mandatory), PDHPE, History and Geography, Music, Visual Arts, Drama and languages (French, Japanese and German).
Electives Years 9 and 10: Commerce, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, Food Technology, Australian Geography, Australian History, Information and Software Technology, Languages (French, German and Japanese), Music, PASS (Physical Activity & Sport Studies) and Visual Arts.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Community and Family Studies, Earth and Environmental Science, Dance, Drama, Design and Technology, Economics, English (Standard and all Extension courses), Exploring Early Childhood, Food Technology, Geography, IPT (Information Processes and Technology), PDHPE, Languages (French, German and Japanese), Legal Studies, Mathematics (all levels), Modern History, History Extension, Music, Philosophy, Photography, Physics, Senior Science, Society and Culture, Software Design & Development, Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation, Visual Arts, Visual Design. VET courses include Information Technology and 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 1 or Studies of Religion 2 in Years 11 and 12.
Sport: Co-curricular sports include basketball, netball, soccer, softball and touch. Representative sport includes all co-curricular sports as well as athletics, cross-country, diving, golf, hockey, sailing, squash, swimming, surf life-saving, tennis and triathlon.
Co-curricular activities: Debating, drama, dance, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, public speaking, musical groups, and choir, CREST, Titration Competition, Tournament of Minds, Future Problem Solving, social justice activities (including community outreach programs).
Welfare and personal development: 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 Year 8 and 9 programs. Retreats, camps and overseas cultural experiences are offered. Home-room groups are organised on a vertical basis in houses. Girls remain with their homeroom during their entire time at the college. Social justice awareness has been an important part of Mount St Benedict College. Parents are actively involved in the life of the college. There are many social opportunities for parents to meet, and to get to know each other serves as an important method of support.
Special features: Mount St Benedict is not a selective school. However, in examinations conducted by the Board of Studies, the students achieve consistently high results and a high proportion of HSC leavers are offered university places.
From the School: There is also a Gifted and Talented Program and Learning Support Program. NAPLAN, School Certificate and Higher School Certificate results are indicative of our commitment to life-long learning and reflect the outstanding work of our teachers and the efforts of our students to develop their gifts and talents.
Famous ex-students: Olympians Jana Pittman and Jo Carter, Commonwealth Games medallists Jackie Gallagher and Catherine Cox, Krystel Huxlin (Who’s Who in America for medical research), Miss Universe Australia 2008 Laura Dundovic.