Year 7 2026 Experience Day: a joyful first step into high school

On Friday 7 November, Santa Sabina College hosted the Year 7 2026 Experience Day, a vibrant and welcoming day designed to help incoming students begin their high school journey with confidence, curiosity and connection.

The day began with a warm welcome to families, when a beautiful prayer service and welcome from College Principal, Ms Skerman set the tone for reflection and community. From there, students embarked on a dynamic schedule of taster lessons, offering a glimpse into the exciting world of secondary learning.

Throughout the day, students connected in their House groups and met their high school buddies, current Year 10 students who will support and guide them over the coming years. These relationships are the heart of our community, and it was wonderful to see new friendships beginning to bloom.

The day concluded with an informative and reassuring Q&A panel, where students asked thoughtful questions about high school life. From lockers and timetables, to lunch routines, no topic was off-limits, and the panel helped ease nerves and build excitement.

The energy was high, the smiles were wide and the spirit of Santa Sabina shone brightly. We can’t wait to welcome these wonderful young women to the secondary campus in 2026!

Supporting our students to navigate the social media changes with confidence

With new legislation coming into effect in Australia that restricts social media access for those under 16, Santa Sabina College is taking proactive steps to support our students and families through this significant transition.

Our Years 7-9 students recently participated in a dedicated pastoral care session titled ‘Social Media Restrictions and Me’, using resources developed by the eSafety Commissioner. The session helped students understand the upcoming changes, reflect on their digital habits and explore ways to continue to stay connected with peers beyond social media.

What we’ve been doing:

  • Education and Awareness: Students learned about the new laws, including which platforms will be affected and how enforcement may work. They explored the reasons behind the changes, such as protecting youth online, reducing screen time and promoting wellbeing.
  • Promoting Digital Literacy: Delaying access to social media gives students time to build the skills needed for safe, respectful and informed online engagement. The College will continue to work with students to strengthen these skills beyond this session through ongoing digital literacy education and pastoral care.
  • Connection Beyond Screens: Students brainstormed alternative ways to stay socially connected, through House and Homeroom activities, buddy programs, clubs and co-curricular offerings, offline creative projects, messaging alternatives such as Messenger Kids and WhatsApp (with family consent) and face-to-face interactions.
  • Action Planning: Each student created a personalised action plan to prepare for the changes, focusing on what they can control and how to maintain balance in their digital lives.
  • Support Networks: We reminded students that help is always available, from trusted adults, the Pastoral Care team, College Counsellors and external services like Kids Helpline and eSafety.gov.au.

To help families stay informed and continue the conversation at home, we encourage you to explore the following resources from the eSafety Commissioner:

This pastoral care initiative reflects our commitment to nurturing resilient, informed and connected young people. We’re proud of how our students are engaging with these changes and look forward to continuing the conversation with students and our families.

Elise Whiley
Director of Student Wellbeing 7-12