Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Watching our staff and students grow in faith and confidence
In the first few weeks of Term 4 we will see a number of events that allow our students and staff to take some time for themselves to grow in their faith, spirituality and confidence.
Year 11 Stepping Up Day
On Monday 27 October the College will formally mark the beginning of the Graduating Class of 2026’s final year of school. On this day, witnessed by staff and parents, students will gather to pray and reflect in preparation for their final year as well as receiving their Year 12 badge, something all students wear with pride in their final year.
The Stepping Up Day will also see students involved in three interactive workshops:
- MySTRENGTHS – a coach-led workshop that helps students to discover their Top 5 strengths
- Exams, Stress & Getting Through – a workshop that explores effective study systems, positive sleep and digital habits and how to manage pressure and stress
- MyFUTURE – a workshop that helps students develop a vision for their future and to explore the pathways they need to follow to achieve this vision.
The team from MYStrengths are very keen to be involved in our Stepping Up Day as they understand the need for providing guidance and building capacity in young people to look forward to their futures with confidence and to know themselves as they navigate the important years ahead. In our next Veritas Voice newsletter you will hear directly from our Year 11 students giving their feedback on the day.
Student Leadership Retreat
On the weekend of 1-2 November our newly elected Senior StudentLleaders will head to Tallong for their Leadership Retreat. Here they will partake in sessions on leadership and teamwork led by Ms Skerman and Sr Sheila Flynn OP, put their teamwork skills into practice with outdoor challenge activities led by Ms El Azzi, as well as planning for the year ahead and learning about how to promote our school in an effective manner guided by Ms Graniero. This vital input plus the peace and serenity of Tallong and Geoff’s great food will ensure that our leaders return ready to launch into their leadership year. A huge thank you to Mr Ayoub who will make sure all our students arrive safely on the school bus.
Staff Spirituality Day
The College staff began Term 4 on 13 October by gathering to pray, reflect and discuss at the annual Staff Spirituality Day. All staff, teaching and non-teaching, gathered on campus to celebrate a day entitled: Pilgrims of Hope: A Journey of Faith, Heart and Justice. We heard from Fr John Hayes who led us through the concept of being a pilgrim as well as providing us with insight into his recent Pilgrimage to Rome as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope.
This was followed by the viewing of the incredibly powerful documentary Songs Inside following the story of First Nations singer and songwriter Nancy Bates – a strong friend of the Music department at Santa – as she led a six-month music program with inmates from Adelaide Women’s Prison. As our staff audience witnessed this journey many shed tears at the stories of hope and struggle for the women involved. We certainly understood why this documentary won the Australian Documentary of the Year at the Sydney Film Festival this year.
Staff also explored taking action for hope when they participated in a presentation by Marg O’Shea from ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans) as she deepened staff understanding of human slavery and trafficking in our own country and what actions we can take to make a difference.
Our day ended with a moving liturgy that involved joining together in song, creativity and prayer to mark the Jubilee Year of Hope.
Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care