Head of Primary P-6

Welcome to Week 3 of Term 4! We’ve had a busy start to the term, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum with many more engaging activities and events ahead. We’re grateful for the strong support from our families as we work together to create a memorable and enriching experience for our students.

Celebration of Music

On Sunday night, we were privileged to witness a breathtaking performance by our Del Monte and Gioia House students at the Sydney Conservatorium. Each child illuminated the stage, captivating the audience with their remarkable talent and dedication. These performances were a true testament to their hard work and commitment, filling both parents and teachers with immense pride.

A huge thank you to our extraordinary music teachers for their unwavering dedication and effort in nurturing these young talents. And, of course, congratulations to all the performers for their outstanding showcase. 

Instrumental Workshop with Consort 8

Year 3 and 4 Instrumental students of Recorder and Strings enjoyed a workshop with Renaissance group Consort 8. They workshopped a piece with Consort 8, learnt a dance from the period, as well as explored the different styles of Renaissance instruments including recorders of many sizes and a lute.

Gioia House Instrumental Program

We look forward to welcoming families to our instrumental classrooms on Wednesday 13 November 2024, at 11:30am in Santa Sabina Hall. This is a fantastic opportunity for families to experience firsthand the exceptional program offered to students at the College. For more details, please refer to the email sent by the music department this week.

Gioia House Maths Olympiad

Congratulations to Annabelle Wong, who obtained a perfect score of 20 out of 20 along with only 126 students from the 36,860 who completed the Junior Division Maths Olympiad this year. This placed her in the top 0.34% of participants. She will be awarded with a special Gold Medal.

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Junior Division Maths Olympiad 2024 program. The Top 25% in Maths Olympiad goes to Victoria Hidalgo, Pheodora Jayaseelan, Gabriella Tadros and Emily Ng.

Gioia House Maths Challenge Games

Congratulations to all students who participated in the Maths Games 2024 program.

The top six scorers are Leah Li, Abby Deng, Valentina Da Pra, Annabelle Lee, Sophie Ash and Eloise Lai.

Gioia House IPSHA Debating

The Gioia House IPSHA Debating season concluded with the highly anticipated Gala Debating Day on 25 October 2024. Hosted by William Clarke College in Kellyville, this event showcased the talents of many young debaters who addressed contemporary issues with insightful arguments. Once again, our students received high praise from adjudicators for their creative thinking and eloquent debating skills.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ms Anderson for her dedication and hard work with the students this semester. Congratulations to all the students who committed to this co-curricular program. 

2025 Class Lists

The class list will be released to families in the final week of Term 4. We fully appreciate the apprehension that often accompanies the start of a new school year, especially for students new to Santa Sabina College. While we strive to accommodate all parental requests, it’s important to recognise that student placement is a complex process. We value parents’ insights and consider these requests when appropriate. Our teachers invest significant thought and effort into organising classes and engaging in extensive discussions, reflection, and review. Class placements consider various factors, including academic aptitude, social skills, physical and emotional wellbeing, student compatibility, and current friendship groupings. However, fostering new relationships is a key part of our educational process, helping students expand their social circles and understand that friendships can evolve.

We appreciate your understanding of the complexities involved in class placement and remain committed to creating an enriching and supportive environment for all our students.

Understanding the impact of chat apps

Research shows that excessive use of messaging apps can lead to anxiety and hinder face-to-face communication skills. Dr Kristy Goodwin, a leading expert in digital wellbeing explains, ‘Children’s brains are impressionable, and constant digital engagement limits their ability to develop empathy and problem-solving skills.’ Digital detoxes, she suggests, are essential for teaching balance, helping children recognise the role of technology as a tool rather than a distraction. Children who rely heavily on online connections may struggle with building strong, in-person relationships. 

Parents play a critical role in guiding their children’s use of devices, especially with chat apps and social media, which require close monitoring due to potential risks. Research highlights that young children lack the maturity to fully understand the complexities of online interactions, making parental guidance essential. Dr Goodwin, says, ‘Parents are the gatekeepers of their children’s digital world, responsible for setting boundaries and helping them develop safe online habits.’ Judith Locke, a psychologist specialising in child development, echoes this, noting that unrestricted access to social media and messaging apps often leads to impulsive behaviour and emotional stress.

Developing real-world skills

Dr Judith Locke, the author of The Bonsai Child, emphasises that heavy messaging app use can hinder resilience, as children miss out on face-to-face challenges that teach emotional regulation and conflict resolution. Research supports that children engaging in regular, in-person activities experience higher happiness levels, stronger social skills, and better academic performance. Locke recommends encouraging real-world interactions like family activities and team sports to build these skills.

Practical steps for parents

  1. Set device-free times: Establish tech-free zones at mealtimes and two hours before bed to reduce screen reliance.
  2. Encourage offline activities: Promote face-to-face playdates or group activities for social skills.
  3. Model healthy tech use: Show children balanced screen habits by setting your own device boundaries.
  4. Limit chat app access: For younger children, limit time on messaging apps or consider supervised alternatives.
  5. Introduce digital detoxes: Schedule screen-free weekends or school holidays to foster creativity and focus.

Teachers are frequently tasked with addressing issues that originate online outside of school hours, often over weekends or holiday breaks. Incidents that occur on social media or through messaging apps can spill over into the school environment, impacting students’ relationships and class dynamics. As a result, teachers find themselves dedicating significant time to investigating online conflicts instead of focusing on their primary responsibilities of teaching and resource preparation. We kindly ask families to collaborate with the school by setting clear boundaries and fostering responsible online behaviour. This will help ensure that school time remains dedicated to learning and student development.

Years 3 and 4 BYO Device

If you are thinking of purchasing a computer as a Christmas gift for your child, here are the specifications for BYODD.

Co-curricular Activities Registration

There is still time to register for Term 4 Co-curricular activities. Register here. This information can also be found on the parent VO page.

Sports and Co-curricular Photos


Photos are now available to purchase through The School Photographer.

Stella Azizian 
Head of Primary P-6

Term 4 Key events
Calendar events

LINK to parent VO page

For detailed information about upcoming college events, please refer to the communications sent directly to families via email.

Important dates for Del Monte:

  • Wednesday 30 October – Twilight Discovery Tour
  • Thursday 31 October – Primary Assembly
  • Wednesday 6 November – Kinder 2025 Experience Day & Parent Info Session
  • Thursday 14 November – Kinder 2025 Experience Day 2
  • Thursday 14 November – Primary Assembly
  • Thursday 14 November –  Friday 15 November Year 3 OEE
  • Tuesday 19 November – Prep 3 Day Experience Day & Parent Info Session
  • Thursday 21 November – Prep 2 & 5 Day Experience Day & Parent Info Session 
  • Friday 22 November –  Fra Angelico
  • Tuesday 26 November – Dominican Awards K-2 Assembly (9:30am – 10:15am)
  • Wednesday 27 November – Year 3-11 Speech Night Rehearsal Day (8:30am-5:00pm, State Theatre)
  • Wednesday 27 November – College Speech Night 2024 Year 3-11 (6:30pm-8:30pm, State Theatre)
  • Thursday 28 November – Final Year Assembly (Hall)
  • Friday 29 November – Splash & Dash Carnival (8:30am-3:20pm, Years K-2)
  • Monday 2 December – Year 4 Big Day In
    Monday 2 December – Advent Carols (Senior Campus, 6:00pm-7:30pm)
  • Wednesday 4 December – K-4 Thanksgiving & Graduation Mass, Yr 4 Boys dancing on Dom’s Plot (9:15am-10:30am)
  • Wednesday 4 December – Year 4 Farewell and Guard of Honour (2:30pm – 3:00pm)
  • Wednesday 4 December Term 4 concludes

Important dates for Gioia House:

  • Wednesday 23 October – 8:45am – 11:30am – SCS Mixed Volleyball Gala Day 5-6 
  • Tuesday 29 October – 8:30am – 1:30pm SCS Conference 2 Oztag Championships 
  • Wednesday 30 October – 5:00pm-7:00pm – Twilight Discovery Tour 
  • Wednesday 6 November – 5:00pm-7:00pm – Year 5 Parent Info Evening  
  • Friday 8 November – 8:30am – 3:20pm Year 5 & 7 Experience Day  
  • Wednesday 20 November – Festival of Music 
  • Friday 22 November 5:00pm-9:00pm – Fra Angelico Festival  
  • Wednesday 27 November – 8:30am – 5pm – Year 3-11 Speech Night Rehearsal Day Award Recipients 
  • Wednesday 27 November – 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Years 3-11 Speech Night  
  • Wednesday 4 December – 12:00 noon-2:00pm – GH Thanksgiving Liturgy and Picnic