Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Our Year 12 students are now on the home stretch, having completed their trial exams and reflecting deeply on feedback to refine their learning. With focus and determination, they are preparing for their final four weeks of school before their HSC and IB examinations.

With the HSC exams coming up, we are looking for volunteers to help some of our students as readers in various exams taking place from 16 October to 7 November. If you are interested or would like to know more, please get in touch with me at j.pugh@ssc.nsw.edu.au.

Cultivating Business Relationships

Our Year 12 HSC Business Studies and IB Business Management students had a highly successful afternoon visiting the Coca-Cola Head Office in North Sydney. The excursion provided valuable, real-world insights into the key business functions of operations, marketing, human resources, and finance within a large global organisation. Students were able to connect classroom theory with practical examples, reinforcing their understanding and adding depth to their preparation for final assessments.

Santa Sabina parent, Simone Casonato, in her role as National Business Manager, Europacific Partners, provided valuable insights into the real world experiences of the operations of a multinational business such as Coca-Cola and strategies and innovations used to make it a household Australian product. Simone’s interactive session unpacked real world business concepts which align with the NESA and IB curriculums.

Student Reflections

The Coca-Cola excursion was beneficial because it showed how a large company actually operates, beyond what we learn in class. It helped me see how different areas of business connect, like operations, marketing, finance and HR. Hearing from staff made the theory more real and gave me a better idea of how businesses respond to challenges. This experience will help me in the HSC as I now have a clearer understanding of another case study I can use in extended responses.
Ava Casanato
Year 12

I thought the excursion was really valuable because it helped connect what we learn in class with how businesses actually operate. Instead of just reading about concepts, we got to see them in action within a global company. It showed me the importance of planning, organisation, and adapting to change. The experience made the content feel more relevant and practical, and I feel more confident applying these ideas in my Business Studies exams.
Bridget Miliauskas
Year 12

Visiting Coca-Cola made case studies in Business Studies more engaging and practical. It showed how a business operates on a global scale, while also managing staff, customers, and production. I liked hearing about the challenges they face and how they adapt to change, because it linked back to what we study in class. Having this real-world experience will make it easier for me to explain business concepts and write stronger answers in the HSC.
Alexandra Algie
Year 12

Showcasing our research-informed practice at the NSW Teachers’ Guild Conference

As our Action Research teams prepare to share the findings of their 2025 projects with colleagues in the coming weeks, we were proud to see our work featured at the 2025 NSW Teachers’ Guild Educational Research Conference at UTS over the weekend. As project coordinator, Kate Corcoran led a workshop for participants, highlighting key successes and insights from the third year of our Action Research Professional Learning Program.

With a strong emphasis on regular reflection and ongoing refinement of practice, we offered practical guidance on how to launch and sustain an impactful Action Research program. Kate opened with the thought-provoking question, ‘How do we measure the impact of our practices?’ – a theme that resonated throughout the session. Kate showcased the diverse research and data-gathering methodologies our teachers now confidently use to measure and reflect on the effectiveness of their instructional strategies.

The workshop was not only a chance to share our journey in developing a culture of research-informed practice but also to celebrate the meaningful improvements in teaching and learning that have emerged over the past three years. It’s inspiring to see our Action Research Program recognised as a model for high-impact professional learning – driven by curiosity, collaboration and a shared commitment to improving student outcomes. 

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning