College Principal

We are so happy to be able to open our new Primary playground, Rotunda and Rosary Garden this week for the children to enjoy. Mrs Azizian has spoken to students about the rules for play in this new playground and I am sure they will love the new climbing equipment which is all about adventure and enjoying the outdoors. The new playground will be formally opened and blessed on 16 June and we are grateful to Father John Hayes who will join invited guests for this special ceremony.

It was wonderful to welcome back to the College our most recent graduates as well as our Golden Boys and Girls last week. Whether students had been gone for a few months or more than 50 years, the sentiments expressed were the same; this is a place where they made lasting friendships, learnt to value social justice and service and understood the power of a good education in making the world a better place.  

I recently enjoyed watching our Senior girls engage in a Mock Trial against MLC. It was a sophisticated courtroom, with our student barristers and solicitors very well prepared. I must thank the ‘presiding magistrate’ Sally Partlin, ex-student and current parent who ruled over the judgement. Thanks also to our teacher, Shirley Chan, for preparing our students so well. I was also thrilled to be in the audience for our annual Representative Dance Showcase on Sunday night. We now have the biggest dance company in the school’s history and this is testament to Bryony Watkins our Dance Coordinator and Year 5 Teacher who continues to grow the team by inspiring our students to love dance and all that comes with it, including discipline, collaboration and camaraderie. I was thrilled to see two little boys joining the Primary White Dance Team. All the performers had so much fun, their energy, smiles and dance moves were highly entertaining and they had the audience on their feet and cheering them on. All teams will now participate in eisteddfods and performances across Sydney with our Juniors scheduled to dance at the Sydney Opera House. We wish them all the very best for their upcoming competitions. 

Over time we have been witnessing a drop in attendance at carnivals, retreats and other compulsory school events, like Speech Night. A Santa Sabina education is one that is holistic and it involves participation in the academic, sporting and religious life of the school beyond the classroom. These events are important in nurturing students to connect with others, feel a sense of belonging and a sense of pride – especially when they are barracking for each other at swimming and athletics carnivals. These are activities that have young people engaging with each other, off their digital devices and part of something bigger than themselves, all important for wellbeing. I would ask parents to work with the College to ensure their children are fully participating in their educational experience on these occasions. We will also be helping students to understand that attendance at these events is compulsory unless there is a medical certificate or extenuating circumstances. To help students better understand, they will be required to attend three lunch time detention sessions if they fail to attend compulsory events without a doctor’s certificate. I ask parents to please work with the College to encourage their children to see that we follow through on all of our commitments to our school and peers, rather than picking and choosing what suits us best. Life isn’t about always being able to do what you like, when you like, we also need to know that it’s about showing up when we are supposed to and doing the right thing, even if we don’t want to. 

Social media is a powerful part of young people’s lives — especially for girls. It can inspire creativity and connection, but also bring pressure, comparison, and anxiety. In the latest Santa Dialogues episode, we explore the digital world through the eyes of our students and experts. Joining me are Aditi Kamath, a Santa Sabina alumna who serves on the eSafety Commissioner’s Youth Council (speaking in a personal capacity), Director of Student Wellbeing Elise Whiley and students Lily (Year 11), Louisa and Verena (Year 10), and Shanaya (Year 7). Together, we unpack the highs, lows and everything in between when it comes to life online. You can watch this episode on YouTube below, or find the podcast on Spotify.

Finally, I would like to commend the Years 7-10 students who have engaged well with their first ever assessment blocks. We have established these blocks to help students to extend their ability to concentrate and study given the increasing research that tells us that concentration spans are shrinking in this digital age. Having blocks of time for active revision is an important learning tool and through active revision, students are able to transfer knowledge from their short term memory to the long term memory. I thank Mrs Brodowski, our P&F Parent Education Representative and Clinical Psychologist for her article in this week’s VV which provides parents with some great tips on supporting their children during examinations. 

Paulina Skerman
College Principal