Head of Primary P-6
We love each other because He loved us first.
John 1- 4:16
The last three weeks have been nothing short of love — love for faith, love for learning, love for our community and love for one another.
Our love for faith was beautifully expressed as we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This holy day, central to our Catholic tradition, was marked with reverence and joy across our College. Students in Years 5 and 6 joined the College community on the Senior Campus for a special Mass, gathering in prayer to honour Our Lady. Meanwhile, our younger students on the Del Monte Campus participated in class liturgies, reflecting on Mary’s ‘yes’ to God and her role as a model of faith, courage, and love. These celebrations reminded us of the importance of placing Christ at the centre of all we do and of Mary’s enduring presence as our guide and inspiration.
When we prayed to Mary, I felt like she was close to us, looking after us like a mother.
Year 3 student
Love for community
Our Discovery Tour last week further reflected our community spirit. We warmly welcomed prospective families who were deeply impressed by the talents of our musicians, dancers, and the confidence of our student Q&A panellists. They delighted in visiting classrooms, seeing learning in action, and were fascinated by our new playgrounds, where joy and connection flourish.
When I help others and they help me, we become friends. That’s how you make friends.
Kindergarten student
We now look forward to celebrating the special men in our lives at the Father’s Day Mass on 4 September. In the lead-up, our tireless mums have been busily purchasing and wrapping gifts for our Father’s Day Stall. Students will be able to purchase gifts on 2 September. Please ensure payments are made beforehand.
We are so thankful for the generosity of our parents who continually give their time and talents to strengthen the bonds of our community.
Love of friendships
Our Prep and Year 3 Buddy Program has brought so much joy to the playground, with students spending time together, playing games, and sharing laughter. The Year 3 students have embraced their role as caring buddies, guiding and looking after our younger children as they begin their transition into Kindergarten. These special moments of play are helping to build confidence, trust, and lasting friendships, showing our youngest learners what it means to belong to the Santa Sabina community.
I like it when my buddy holds my hand. It makes me feel safe. I also like playing on the big playground.
Prep student
It’s fun being a buddy because I can help the Preps and be like a big sister.
Year 3 student
Love for reading
Even the wet weather couldn’t dampen our annual Book Character Parade. Students and staff alike stepped into the magical worlds of their favourite books, bringing beloved characters to life with colour, imagination, and creativity. We were blessed to welcome Anna Feinberg, a well-known Australian author, who captivated our students with her storytelling. This celebration was a true testament to the joy and love of reading that is alive at Del Monte. A heartfelt thank you to Ms Doonan, our Teacher Librarian, and Ms Kaado for their organisation in making this event such a success.
I wish Book Week could be every day.
Prep student
Love for Science
During Science Week, our students embraced the theme Decoding the Universe. They explored the wonders of science through hands-on experiments, investigations, and inquiry-based learning. From exploring the mysteries of space to testing discoveries right in their classrooms, students engaged deeply with the world around them, igniting a sense of curiosity and awe.
Congratulations to Mia Bogovic (Year 5) for her outstanding presentation at the recent Science Showcase. Her love of Science was evident in her captivating and confident delivery, which impressed the wider College community. We are so proud of Mia for sharing her knowledge and passion with such enthusiasm.
I love Science because it makes me think about how things work and how I could be a scientist one day.
Year 5 Student
Love of new connections and curiosity
Our collaboration with St Patrick’s College for the annual STEM Gala Day was another highlight. Gioia House girls worked side by side with St Patrick’s Year 6 boys, tackling real-world problems through design thinking. Together, they shared ideas, built solutions and discovered the joy of teamwork.
We were privileged to hear from inspiring guest speakers:
- James Lancaster, CEO of RenewIT.
- Caitlin Murphy is an ex-Santa Sabina student and a final-year software engineering student at UTS under the Women in Engineering and IT Co-operative Scholarship.
- Miriam Maher, also a former Santa Sabina student, is now completing her final year of Electrical Engineering at UTS, and someone I was privileged to teach in Year 5.
I loved working with the St Pat’s boys because we all had different ideas, and together we made something even better.
Gioia House Student
The day was filled with laughter, new friendships and innovative ideas. We are grateful to Mr Wang and the Gioia House teachers for organising this incredible event, and to the staff and students of St Patrick’s for their valued partnership.
Outstanding student achievements
World Korean Speech Contest
We extend our warmest congratulations to Soopia Chang of Year 5, who has achieved an extraordinary accomplishment at the 29th World Korean Speech Contest, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 14 August. Competing in the highly challenging Open Age category, Soopia broke through significant barriers and was honoured with an Outstanding Award, as well as the prestigious Prime Minister’s Award.
News In My Neighbourhood
Congratulations to Riona Sengupta of Year 2 for her outstanding achievement in ABC Education’s inaugural News In My Neighbourhood Competition. Riona’s engaging entry, My teacher, Ms Attard, captured the judges’ attention and earned her a winning place in this national competition. We are so proud of Riona for her creativity, thoughtful storytelling and the way she showcased the spirit of our school community through her writing.
Speaking Schools Australia
Congratulations to Olivia Gan of Year 5 for her fantastic achievement in the 5th Annual Rising Voices Public Speaking Championship, held on 17 August. Olivia achieved 1st Place in the Stage 3 (Years 5–6) division. This is a remarkable accomplishment in a competition that attracted over 250 participants from schools across Australia and overseas. We are incredibly proud of Olivia for representing Santa Sabina College, displaying her confidence, eloquence, and skill in public speaking on the national stage.
Inner West Eisteddfod Speech and Drama Competition
Congratulations to Peggy Peng (Year 2) on her excellent achievements in recent Eisteddfods. At the Ryde Eisteddfod, Peggy received a Highly Commended in Verse Speaking (Test Piece, 8 Years Only). She also shone at the Inner West Eisteddfod, where she was awarded 2nd place in Poetry Recitation and 3rd place in Prepared Reading. We are proud of her talent and confidence in sharing her love of literature and performance.
These remarkable accomplishments reflect the talent and commitment of our students, and we are immensely proud of their success.
P-6 Father’s Day Mass
We are looking forward to welcoming familes, particularly fathers and father figures to celebrate Father’s day with us next week on Thursday. Please join us for breakfast at 8:30am followed by Mass at 9:15am. If you haven’t booked yet, please do so to help us with catering:
P-6 Disco – Friday 12 September
This year’s theme is Back to the 80’s. Think neon, scrunchies, sequins, and glow sticks! It’s time to light up the dance floor!
Parents are welcome! Feel free to stay, eat, and socialise while your kids are dancing the night away!
Location: Del Monte Hall
Disco times:
- 5:00pm to 5:45pm: St Lucy’s, Prep, Kindergarten and Year 1
- 6:00pm to 7:00pm: Year 2, Year 3, Year 4
- 7:15pm to 8:30pm: Gioia House
Dress: Dress safely for the disco, choosing comfortable footwear and avoiding items that may cause tripping or accidents while dancing.
Environmental sustainability: When purchasing outfits or accessories, we encourage families to be mindful of reducing waste by reusing items you already have at home or choosing sustainable options where possible.
Safety: For the safety of our students and families, we kindly remind everyone to drive slowly and park considerately along Carrington Street when dropping off and picking up children for the disco.
Food:
$15.00 – Kid’s Ticket
Includes: Disco entry, sausage sizzle, juice popper, and a small ice cream.
$10.00 – Adult Ticket
Includes: Sausage sizzle or steak sandwich + drink (can or bottle of water).
Vegetarian option available, must be pre-booked due to limited availability on the night.
Important dates in Term 3
Santa Maria Del Monte
Thursday 28 August – Primary Assembly 2:30pm-3:00pm
Tuesday 2 September – P&F Father’s Day Stall
Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast 8:30am-9:15am
Thursday 4 September – Primary Father’s Day Mass (P-6) 9:15-10:15am
Friday 5 September – Year 1 Incursion
Thursday 11 September – Primary Assembly 2:30pm-3:00pm
Friday 12 September – P-6 Disco
Thursday 18 September – Years 1-4 Public Speaking Finals
Wednesday 24 September – K-6 CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships
Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Gioia House
Monday 1 September – Father’s Day Stall
Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast 8:30am-9:15am
Thursday 4 September – Primary Father’s Day Mass (P-6) 9:15-10:15am
Thursday 11 September – Junior Ethics Olympiad 8:30am-2:30pm
Tuesday 16 September – SCS Stage 3 Netball Gala Day
Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 September – Year 6 OEE & Canberra Visit
Wednesday 24 September – K-6 CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships
Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6