Acting Co-Principals

Santa Sabina College has been a very busy place since our last edition of Veritas Voice. Many of the events and activities that have taken place will be highlighted by other voices within this newsletter, but here are a few things of note. 

Our Year 12 students completed their HSC and IBDP Trials and have returned to the classroom in preparation for the final months of schooling. Some of our HSC students are currently putting the final touches to their major works, whilst others have completed the first stage of their final assessments in subjects such as Drama and Languages.

Our Primary Campus welcomed families to help our community celebrate the first 100 days of Kindergarten and Grandparents Day within the same week. Both of these occasions saw hundreds of people in attendance and were events full of joy and pride for students and their families. 

Science and Book week were again highlights this year – seeing so many staff, students and families involved in these events is so humbling . The focus for Science Week this year was Decoding the Universe – Exploring the Unknown with Nature’s Hidden Language and our Science Department did a wonderful job of not only getting into the spirit of the week with their Taylor Swift inspired ‘Science Era’s’ t-shirts, the fun planned activities within the classroom, but they also organised a wonderful evening where we heard from experts in various fields of Science. Our very own Year 5 student, Mia Bogovic, engaged the audience with her mature approach to using her scientific methodology to form conclusions, Geological Engineer Beatriz Estrada’s infectious enthusiasm for earthquakes was so informative, whilst Anthony Cheong, who is a Genetic Pathologist, dived deeply into the importance and advancement of how genetic testing can be used to prevent and treat certain diseases. Lastly, Paddy Hoare from Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and archaeologist and past student Rebecca Agius spoke about careers of the future and how technology is utilised to reveal our past respectively.

Last week, staff and students on both the Primary and Secondary Campuses really committed themselves to Book Week and its theme Book an Adventure. This week was not only a time to get dressed up in book inspired costumes, but it was a reminder to all of us of the importance of reading and how a good book can take you to places you can only ever imagine. The activities culminated for our Year 10 students on Monday with a visit from acclaimed author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak. We were so fortunate to have Markus join our girls to share his insights on his writing and craft. We are also very blessed to have two respected authors on staff permanently with us, to help inspire and guide our students every day of the week: Melina Marchetta and Christopher Richardson. Our girls on the Secondary Campus are so very lucky to have these authors as their classroom teachers, who work alongside all of our other wonderful teachers across campuses.

On Friday, staff and students took part in what is now an annual Winter Sleepout. On a cold, rainy, wintery night, these staff and students gave up their creature comforts of home in order to bring us awareness of those people who sleep every night without a place to call home and all that entails. Building empathy, compassion and an understanding of the issue of homelessness in our community gives us hope that future generations will continue to be selfless in their actions and strive to eradicate the challenges faced by those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

In addition to these events, our students are continuing to commit themselves this term to co-curricular activities such as Archdale and CSDA Debating, sporting competitions such as Netball, Social Justice initiatives and anything and everything we have on offer at the College. Santa Sabina is truly a place where there is something for everyone!

Interviewing aspiring leaders and witnessing the announcement of College Leaders, the consistent theme for all students involved was the involvement in a broad range of activities that the College offers. Every day we have the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary influence that sport, music and co-curricular activities exert on not only leaders at the College but all students. These experiences nurture personal qualities that simply cannot be quantified by scores or grades.

Engagement in sport shapes students into resilient teammates and leaders. By working towards shared goals, they learn the true value of collaboration, mutual support and perseverance. Music is equally transformative in its impact. Whether students are performing in ensembles, singing in choirs or mastering new instruments they develop discipline, creativity and emotional intelligence. Co-curricular pursuits such as debating, robotics, volunteering or any of the multitude of clubs at Santa Sabina provide students with invaluable avenues for leadership, creative problem-solving and self-discovery.

These life lessons gathered from participating in sport, music and co-curricular activities form a foundation that supports students well beyond their time at school. The camaraderie found in shared experiences not only fosters confidence, but also builds a strong sense of community and belonging. These activities can help them to uncover hidden talents, forge lasting friendships and broaden their worldview.

Participation in these programs is not compulsory, yet it is remarkable to note that 85% of our students have chosen to immerse themselves in at least one co-curricular activity this year. Many eagerly seize multiple opportunities, enriching their school experience and connecting with their peers through shared passions.

Through involvement in these endeavours, young people find a sense of balance and purpose. They return to their studies renewed, motivated and ready to embrace learning. As educators, it is our responsibility to cultivate not only scholarly achievement, but also the holistic growth of engaged, well-rounded individuals equipped for the myriad opportunities and challenges that life presents.