A new space for wellbeing and belonging: the ASPIRE Room
This term, the Inclusive Education (IE) Department at Santa Sabina College has proudly opened the ASPIRE Room – a thoughtfully designed space that is already enriching the daily experience of our students. Grounded in the College’s commitment to fostering a community where every learner feels known, supported and empowered, the ASPIRE Room offers a calm, welcoming environment that places student wellbeing at its heart.
The space has been intentionally created to help students learn with confidence. Students have also embraced the quiet zone, a cosy nook where they can take a quiet moment to breathe, regroup and feel grounded before re‑engaging with their learning.
What makes the ASPIRE Room truly special is the way students describe its impact as can be seen in this comment from Annabelle Gittany and Annamarie El-Hachem of Year 9 ASPIRE:
The IE department has a brand new ASPIRE room, and it has already made such a positive difference to our school community. The space includes a fidget box filled with helpful tools that allow us to focus, calm down and manage our emotions when we need a break from all the great learning we do. There is also a fun and comfortable resting area where we can relax, reset and feel safe in a welcoming environment. The room makes us feel supported, understood and valued, as it shows that our wellbeing truly matters at such an amazing school. We are all incredibly grateful for this wonderful addition to the IE department and would like to sincerely thank Ms Skerman for her hard work, care and dedication in creating such a thoughtful and supportive space for us to learn and grow.
As Santa Sabina continues to grow its wellbeing and inclusion initiatives, the ASPIRE Room stands as a beautiful reminder that when students feel safe and supported, they are able to flourish – academically, socially and emotionally.
Finding our voice: Years 8-10 ASPIRE poetry workshops inspired by The Magic Words
This term, students in the ASPIRE program have stepped into the world of poetry with curiosity, courage and a wonderful sense of play. Guided by the beautifully crafted resource The Magic Words by Joseph Fasano, students have been exploring how language can move, surprise, and connect us – discovering that poetry is not just something we read, but something we feel and create.
The workshops invited students to experiment with imagery, rhythm and voice, using prompts from the book to spark ideas and stretch their imaginations. From sensory poems to metaphor maps, from tiny poems that capture a single moment to bold pieces that express big emotions, students have been learning that poetry is a space where every voice matters and every idea has potential.
One of the most powerful aspects of the workshops has been the way students have embraced the freedom to write without fear of ‘getting it wrong.’ The Magic Words encourages young writers to trust their instincts, notice the world closely and use language in fresh and unexpected ways – and our students have done exactly that. Many have discovered new confidence in expressing themselves, while others have found joy in the creative challenge of shaping words into something meaningful.
I Thank
I thank the earth for its people
I thank the sky for its rain
I thank the sea for its beautiful creatures that
you can just stare and not have a care
I thank the wind for its breeze
I thank the body for its heart
I thank the beginning for its patience
I thank the end for its time
Yes I even thank the end
What would the beginning be without the
fear of the end ?
Ellena Kapetanakis
Year 8 ASPIRE
The workshops have created a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration and celebration. Students have shared drafts, offered feedback and listened deeply to one another’s work, building a supportive community of emerging writers. Their poems reflect a rich tapestry of perspectives – thoughtful, funny, heartfelt and imaginative – showcasing the unique voices of our young poets.
As we continue to nurture and support creativity and literacy in ASPIRE, these workshops remind us of the power of poetry to help students make sense of themselves and the world around them. We look forward to seeing how their confidence and craft continue to grow throughout the year.
Joanna McKeown
Dean of Inclusive Education P-12