Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Santa Fest – a celebration of community and fundraising for Kopanang Community Trust and our ‘sister school’ Montebello

So what is Santa Fest? Santa Fest is a week-long fundraising event that has become synonymous with fun, hilarity and community – as well as thinking of our fellow Dominicans overseas and being able to contribute to their education, and the education of our own hearts. 

Santa Fest started in the early 1990s after a visit from Sr Michael, a Dominican sister from a school in Montebello, called Our Lady of the Rosary. The town of Montebello is about an hour’s drive out of Durban in South Africa. She was a friend of Sr Judy’s who was principal of Santa Sabina College at the time. Sr Michael spoke passionately about apartheid in South Africa, and also entertained the students and staff with her Zulu dancing and positive approach to life. Sr Michael spoke passionately about the coming of democracy and the desire for freedom and equality. 

As a result of this, the student leadership team pledged to raise money for our new ‘sister school’, which would help pay for the education of girls at Montebello, a tradition that still continues today. In fact, our Year 12 students have committed themselves to raising money for at least one Year 12 Montebello student to be able to enter the Boarding School and therefore dedicate more time to her final year of studies without the pressure of walking many miles to and from her home each day. 

The funds raised during our Santa Fest week are also used to support the Kopanang Community Trust, a women’s project in Tsakane, Johannesburg. This project supports women, children and their community as a response to the HIV crisis in South Africa and was established by Sr Sheila Flynn OP, a Dominican Sister who we have the pleasure of working with at Santa Sabina. The women of Kopanang are famous for the beautiful quilted and embroidered art they produce and sell.

The Year 12 Student Leaders, Action Team members and Homeroom Representatives have organised a week of fun and food with a free dress day, a staff versus student debate, a busking concert, sausage sizzle, pizza lunch, cake stall and a number of other stalls and activities. We look forward to continuing this tradition of community support and fundraising and on reporting our results to the College once Santa Fest is over. 

Thank you to all students and their families who have supported Santa fest this week. 

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care