Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4

Pastoral Update

Everyone belongs and caring for our common home

Over the past three weeks, students have further consolidated their understanding of what it means for everyone to belong. Students have explored this overarching theme through our Harmony Week and Neurodiversity Week celebrations. They have also explored this theme in the context of how all people from all nations form part of our global community, with a collective responsibility to care for our common home – the Earth and all its inhabitants and natural resources. Pope Francis invites us to answer the call to care for others and care for God’s creation through his encyclical, the Laudati Si, inviting us to respond to ecological issues with a ‘profound interior conversion’ (LS, no. 217); a change of heart, an openness and willingness to respond to the world around us.

Harmony Week: celebrating diversity at Santa

Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises and embraces the diversity of Australians from all backgrounds. It promotes inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Harmony Week was celebrated in a very special way at Santa Sabina, with students across all grades and learning contexts joining together to participate in activities designed to build connections, foster a sense of community and have fun, whilst working together on common goals. Watching the senior girls care for our Del Monte students and St Lucy’s learners was heartwarming and inspiring. It demonstrated the strong sense of community and support within our school.

Neurodiversity Week: embracing unique minds

Neurodiversity Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and fostering understanding of the diverse ways in which our brains function. It celebrates the unique strengths and perspectives of all individuals.

During Neurodiversity Week, students engaged in activities to learn about the importance of embracing neurodiversity, highlighting the value of different thinking styles and encouraging a more balanced view of individual strengths and challenges. Students were surprised to learn that some of our greatest thinkers, including Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla and Leonardo da Vinci, had neurodivergent minds.

Earth Hour: a global movement for the planet

Earth Hour is a global event that began in Sydney in 2007, initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). During Earth Hour, millions of people around the world switch off their lights to show their support for environmental issues and their commitment to taking action. This year, Earth Hour took place on Saturday 22 March 2025, at 8:30pm. The world went dark, creating a quieter and more peaceful atmosphere.

Switching off lights is not only good for the planet but also beneficial for our wellbeing. Studies show that reducing exposure to artificial light, especially from screens like mobile phones and tablets, can improve our sleep. Better sleep helps regulate our circadian rhythms, leading to less fatigue, reduced depression and overall happier lives.

To commemorate Earth Hour at Del Monte, students learned about its importance and things that they can do to participate at home. Classes switched off their lights, smartboards, air conditioning and devices during the last 15 minutes of their learning on Friday 21 March. Students then sat down to enjoy a story in the peaceful, ‘unplugged’ classroom. We hope you enjoyed celebrating Earth Hour at home with your families and remember that any day is a good day to celebrate Earth Hour by unplugging and switching off.