Head of Primary P-6
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.
— Romans 15:13
As we come to the close of this Jubilee Year of Hope, we pause to reflect on what this theme has truly meant for our school community. Hope is more than optimism – it is a deep trust that, together, we can create a future filled with possibility and promise. Throughout the year, our students, staff and families have embodied this spirit of hope through learning, service, celebration and the everyday moments that make our community so extraordinary. From classrooms to playgrounds, from liturgies to community events, we have witnessed resilience, joy, creativity and a commitment to growing as people of faith and action.
This term has been rich with moments that remind us of the strength and vibrancy of our community:
Dominican Awards and Year 4 Graduation
We proudly honoured students who live their lives inspired by the Dominican Saints. These awards celebrate not only academic growth, but the quiet acts of compassion, leadership and integrity that reflect the heart of a Dominican education. We acknowledged our graduating Year 4 cohort and presented them with a special gift from P&F.
Student achievements
This year has been exceptional for academic excellence at Del Monte and Gioia House, with students achieving outstanding results across multiple domains. In ICAS, we celebrated a record number of students receiving Credit, Distinction and High Distinction awards in English, Writing, Spelling and Mathematics – achievements that reflects both their dedication and their love of learning.
Our success continued in the Young Scientists Competition, where we saw the highest number of student entries to date and an impressive range of top-tier results. The creativity, curiosity and scientific thinking demonstrated by our students were truly inspiring.
Amara Jeyaganesh of Year 5 won First Place in the Chemistry Encouragement Award for her project ‘Which method of coating metal will protect it from oxidation and corrosion most effectively?’. Mia Bogovic not only won the Scientific Engagement Award for her project, ‘Taking a Deeper Dive into the Five Second Rule: Fact or Fiction’, but was also selected for entry into the National ASTA i3 Awards, one of only two primary students in NSW to be selected for this competition. Mia and Amara were joined at the ceremony by Joanna Wong, Joseph Hoang and Jonathan Lin of Year 2 who were recognised for their project, ‘Melted Chocolate in Your Pocket: A Comparative Study of Popular Chocolate Brands’.
We congratulate all students for their remarkable effort and enthusiasm. A special thank you goes to Ms Brigham, whose expertise, encouragement and countless hours of support played a significant role in guiding our young scientists to such exceptional outcomes.
Maddie Stennett (Kindergarten), Darren Chang (Year 2) and Charlotte Smolcic (Year 4) were proud winners of the 2025 Week of the Italian Language and Culture in the WorldCompetition. They were recognised at last week’s Awards Night at the Italian Forum, where they received their prizes and certificates.
Thank you to Ms Panico for inspiring our young learners of Italian language and culture. You can read more and see lovely photos in her article.
Year 4 Big Day In
Our Year 4 students enjoyed a wonderful and joy-filled celebration marking the end of their early years journey at Del Monte. Their Big Day In was filled with memories, laughter and the strong sense of friendship that has shaped their primary years. Thank you to our dedicated parents for providing our students with healthy, delicious recess and lunch.
Guard of Honour
On their final day at Del Monte this year, we once again had the privilege of saying farewell our Year 4 students with our cherished Guard of Honour. This meaningful tradition brought students, staff and families together in a beautiful display of pride and connection as we celebrated the students’ journey through their primary years. The Guard of Honour stretched from our Rosary Garden, winding through the new playground and all the way to the Carrington Street gates—an inspiring pathway lined with smiling faces, cheers and heartfelt applause. As the children walked this symbolic corridor of love and encouragement, our community honoured the friendships and growth that have shaped their time at Del Monte. It was a deeply touching moment to send them forward with our warmest blessings as they confidently step into the next chapter of their learning journey.
Del Monte Christmas Carols
Our students’ voices filled the campus with the joy and wonder of Christmas. With families gathered around, the afternoon was a moving reminder of the power of music to unite us and shine a light on the true meaning of the season. Thank you to Ms Knight and Ms Pensini for leading this joyous event.
K-2 Splash and Dash Carnival
Our K–2 students, together with our friends from St Lucy’s, enjoyed a wonderful day in the College swimming pool, proudly putting into practice the skills they developed during their two-week intensive swimming program earlier this term. Laughter and energy filled the pool as children took part in both competitive and novelty races, all supported and encouraged by teachers, parents and our senior students. It was a joyful celebration of teamwork and the sports spirit.
Del Monte Thanksgiving Mass
Our Del Monte community gathered for the end of the year Thanksgiving Mass, a peaceful and reflective celebration of gratitude for the learning, friendships and blessings of 2025. It was a meaningful moment to thank God for all that has shaped our students this year.
A special highlight was Boys Dancing on the Plot, a joyful and significant milestone for our Year 4 boys. This special tradition serves as their final blessing before leaving the Del Monte grounds to continue their journey. While this rite of passage is unique to the boys at the end of Year 4, our girls will experience their own special tradition when they graduate in Year 12, marking the culmination of their Santa Sabina journey.
Gioia House Liturgy
Our celebrations continued at Gioia House with a beautiful Thanksgiving Liturgy, where our girls gathered in prayer to give thanks for the year and seek God’s guidance for the journey ahead. For our Year 6 students, this liturgy marked the beginning of high school – a significant milestone that touched the hearts of many families. There were certainly a few tears as we reflected on their growth, leadership and readiness for the next chapter.
We concluded the year with our joyful Family Picnic, bringing families, teachers and students together for an afternoon of shared food and conversation.
TERM 1 2026 DATES
| Year Group | Date | Time |
| Prep 2 & 5 Day Induction Day (half day) | Friday 30 January | 9:15am – 12:00pm |
| Prep 3 Day Induction Day (half day) | Monday 2 February | 9:15am – 12:00pm |
| Prep 5 Day Commences (full day) | Monday 2 February | 8:45am – 3:00pm |
| Prep 3 Day Commences (full day) | Tuesday 3 February | 8:45am – 3:00pm |
| Prep 2 Day Commences (full day) | Thursday 5 February | 8:45am – 3:00pm |
| Kindergarten | Friday 30 January | 8:30am – 3:15pm |
| Years 1- 4 | Thursday 29 January | 8:30am – 3:15pm |
| Year 5 | Wednesday 28 January | 8:30am – 3:20pm |
| New Year 6 | Wednesday 28 January | 8:30am – 12:30pm |
| Year 6 | Thursday 5 February | 8:30am – 3:20pm |
| Parent Information Session and Open Classrooms | Thursday 5 February | 5:00pm – 6:00pm |
| College Welcome Drinks | Thursday 5 February | 6:00pm -7:30pm |
As we prepare to enter the Christmas season, I offer my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated teachers, supportive families and wonderful students. Your generosity of spirit and commitment to our community make Santa Sabina a place of light, learning and love.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
— Numbers 6:24–26
Wishing every family a safe, restful and grace-filled Christmas season. May the hope of Christ be your anchor and your joy.
Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6
