College Principal

The focus this week for our country is on National Reconciliation Week. This is a time for all Australians to learn more about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Reconciliation Week occurs at this time every year as we commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey, firstly, the 1967 referendum which took part on 27 May 1967 and saw more than 90% of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census, and, secondly 3 June is significant as it was on this day that the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Kioki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ – land belonging to no one, and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title. 

We celebrate National Reconciliation Week in our school and recognise that Reconciliation must live in the hearts and minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, ‘Be A Voice for Generations’, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – and for the benefit of future generations to act for a just equitable and reconciled country for all. In our Dominican way, we seek to understand first through listening to another’s position that may be different from our own and respond with respect. Not to pretend there are no differences, but to build unity. 

Last week we were delighted to welcome the Golden Boys and Girls to the College for Mass and lunch.  These ex-students form part of an exclusive club, they must be past pupils for 50 years or more so last week the Class of ’73 were welcomed into the fold. The deep love they hold for their school and for the friends that they made here so long ago is testament to the strong community bonds formed at Santa Sabina College. Some of their school stories were hair raising and I assured them that our girls would never do such outrageous things to their teachers today! 

We held our inaugural Health and Harmony Mother Daughter weekend retreat at Tallong last weekend and it was a really beautiful event. Loving connections were strengthened between mother and child and it was a really relaxing weekend with planned mindfulness activities, yoga, bushwalking, a beautiful liturgy and a rejuvenating time in the great outdoors. As always, the meals were delicious and our Chef Geoffrey created food for the soul as we sat about the fireplace sharing meals and sharing stories. Madonna King’s sessions for mums and daughters on themes of friendship, confidence, communicating needs and feelings were very engaging and she drew upon her research with thousands of adolescents across Australia to highlight important issues for consideration. My heartfelt thanks to Elise Whiley, our Dean of Pastoral Care and Year 7 Coordinator, for bringing this vision to life. 

Massive congratulations also to our Peter Pan cast and crew. It was such an enjoyable production and I enjoyed seeing our young performers really developing in their confidence as they entertained us for the four sold-out performances. Much thanks to Mrs Ellis-Windsor and Mr Freeman who gave up their Sunday mornings to prepare the students so well. This week we also had the Representative Dance Showcase which showcased the talents and high energy of our brilliant dancers from all year levels.  

Our primary students participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime initiative last week which saw all Senior Staff reading The Speedy Sloth to students in our early years Primary classes. We also had our Year 3 and 4 students excited to visit the Sydney Writers Festival and they were able to participate in a wide variety of workshops with authors. 

Congratulations to our students from Years 2-6 who competed at the Sydney Catholic Schools Cross Country Championships and to those who have progressed to the Mackillop Cross Country Championships. This week we wish our Primary students well as they compete in the Del Monte/Gioia House Athletics Carnival here at school.   

It’s difficult to believe that we are halfway through the school year already. In all the busyness of our lives, I hope that you and your children are taking time out to relax and find peace. 

Go gently

Paulina Skerman
College Principal