Head of Primary P-4 Del Monte
On Friday 29 July our community celebrated the feast of St Dominic, our patron saint. As a Catholic, Dominican school, Santa Sabina College is committed to educating the whole person in a setting that allows students to flourish into young men and women who are well-prepared for their future wherever their passions may take them. Our College lives our Dominican Charism by the four pillars of Prayer, Study, Community and Service.
The analogy of a table can be used to emphasise the importance of all four pillars. Each of the pillars represents the leg of a table. If one of the legs is removed the table will not be able to stand. It must have four legs to stand still; remove one and the table will not be able to stand. In this way, the pillars are the legs of our school Veritas table. Our goal is to foster these values, together with a spirit of prayer, respect for the dignity and uniqueness of each person, and the pursuit of excellence. With this in mind I am filled with gratitude for the ways in which we have lived our Dominican charism this term.
Study
InitiaLit
Last term we introduced the InitiaLit program at Santa Maria del Monte into Kindergarten and Year 1. To assist with the implementation of this program, we have had some very dedicated parents assisting each morning. Last week another group of parents attended an information session to assist the program by working with individual or small groups. The program is already showing excellent results. I am most grateful for the partnership with our parents in implementing this research-informed program. This will ensure that they have strong literacy foundations.
Digital Technology lessons are commencing in Prep!
This semester we will be expanding the Prep program to include Digital Technology! The Prep students will engage in digital technology lessons where they will learn about the importance and responsibilities of being a digital citizen. They will also learn to use technology to engage in their learning. During Prep Digital Technology lessons students will learn how to use school technologies in preparation for Kindergarten. Our fabulous Digital Technology teacher Mrs Ivancsik will teach these lessons in Prep with Mrs Wood each week commencing this week.
100 Days of Kindergarten
On Friday 22 July, Kindergarten celebrated their 100th day of Kindergarten. Kindergarten students and their teachers came dressed as centenarians to commemorate the day. Throughout the day they also engaged in fun learning experiences centred around the number 100. Congratulations Kindergarten!
Community
Colour Run
On Friday 16 September we will be having a fun run organised by the P and F! The Colour Run will take place after lunch on the Senior Campus. This event will be a P and F fundraising event. We are very much looking forward to the afternoon. There will be more information and sponsorship forms coming soon!
Prep and MBH Athletics Carnival
On the morning of Friday 16 September from 9:30am-10:30am, we will be having a Prep and Mary Bailey House Athletics carnival. The event will take place on the Del Monte Field and Prep and Mary Bailey house families are more than welcome to attend and cheer on our little athletes!
Service
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Gandhi
St Joseph’s
Last term we reached out in love and service to a Catholic school community in Lismore who had been devastated by the floods. This school lost all that they had and classes to this day are still being held in a nearby church. The church is converted into learning spaces during the week. At the end of last term the care packages lovingly put together by our students using donations from our community were delivered. The St Joseph’s community were overwhelmed with the generosity of the Santa Sabina community.
The Principal wrote a heartfelt thank you and expressed that the care packages and gifts were absolutely overwhelming and very much appreciated. She shared with me that the students had so much fun discovering all that they have been given. The Principal expressed that the kindness and generosity shown to the students, staff and community by the Santa community will remain a treasured memory.
Watch the video the St Joseph’s community made to express their gratitude: Thank you Santa Sabina!
I sincerely thank again all in our community that helped to make a difference in the lives of this community by reaching out in service and generosity to assist a community in need.
Classroom makeovers in the Literature Building
Our Dominican charism is also characterised by a love of the beautiful and appreciation for beauty and the aesthetics. Over the holidays, our classrooms in the Literature Building have had their aesthetics improved. The students were very excited to be welcomed back to their new classrooms. As each day passes the classrooms are continuing to be decorated with the students’ work. We look forward to sharing these with you in the coming weeks during this term’s Learning Walks.
Curriculum
Thank you kindly to the parents who expressed an interest in offering feedback on the curriculum, your feedback was valuable and appreciated.
Important term dates
Below are the dates for some of the experiences planned for the children in Term 3 for your diary.
| AUGUST | |
| Wednesday 3 | 5:30 pm Year 4 Camp Parent Session in the Hall |
| Monday 8 | Feast of Mary McKillop |
| Monday 15 | Feast of the Assumption |
| Tuesday 16 | ICAS – English Competition Years 2-4 (Optional) |
| Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 | Year 4 Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong Campus |
| Tuesday 20 | ICAS – Mathematics Competition Years 2-4 (Optional) |
| Monday 22 – Friday 26 | Book Week |
| Wednesday 31 | Father’s Day Stall |
| SEPTEMBER | |
| Thursday 1 | 8:00 am P-4 Father’s Day Breakfast 9:15 am Mass in the Santa Sabina Chapel |
| Friday 9 | 2:40 pm Kindergarten Learning Walk |
| Monday 12 | 2:30 pm Year 1 Learning Walk |
| Tuesday 13 | 9:00 am Year 2 Learning Walk |
| Tuesday 13 | 2:30 pm 3 & 5 Day Prep Learning Walk |
| Wednesday 14 | 9:00 am Year 4 Learning Walk |
| Thursday 15 | 9:00 am Year 3 Learning Walk |
| Thursday 15 | 2:30 pm 2 & 5 Day Prep Learning Walk |
| Friday 16 | P-4 Colour Fun Run on the Hockey field on the Senior campus |
| Tuesday 20 – Wednesday 21 | Year 2 Tallong Comes to Del Monte |
| Thursday 22 | 3:15 pm Term 3 Concludes |
Joanne Giannini
Head of Primary P-4