Head of Primary P-6
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
As we come to the end of Term 3, we are filled with gratitude for the many ways our school community has come together to celebrate, connect and support one another. This term has been marked by the events that truly reflect the heart of Santa Sabina.
Father’s Day Mass
Our beautiful Father’s Day Mass, where students, families and staff joined in prayer and thanksgiving for the fathers and father figures in our lives. It was a reminder of the strength of family bonds and blessings of sharing faith as a community.
R U OK? Day
Our commitment to wellbeing was brought to life during R U OK? Day, with Del Monte and Gioia House students engaging in thoughtful activities that encouraged kindness, care and the importance of checking in on one another. The Wellbeing Action Team led our assembly with such maturity, helping us remember that simple conversation can make a difference.
Online Safety
We encourage families to be vigilant and continue monitoring their children’s use of devices and online activities during holidays, especially the apps that have online game and chat functions. Please reinforce respectful communication while messaging or emailing friends. Please check the eSafety Commissioner website for advice on how to keep your children safe online.
Coffee & Conversation
This week we welcomed parents to our Coffee & Conversation morning, which focused on sharing information about two of our key bespoke programs at Del Monte – the Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program and the Diverse Education Program. It was a very successful gathering, with parents eager to learn more about the opportunities and support available for our students.
We were delighted to hear from Ms Panagopoulos, P–6 Enrichment Coordinator, who provided insights into the Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program and the ways we nurture the gifts and talents of our high-potential learners. Ms Nicole Meehan, P–4 Diverse Education Coordinator, also shared the many ways our school supports diverse learning needs and ensures every student is given the chance to thrive.
The morning was a wonderful opportunity for open dialogue, with parents asking thoughtful questions and engaging in conversation about how we can continue to work together to support each child’s journey. We thank all who attended and look forward to continuing these conversations in future sessions.
Primary Disco
The Primary Disco last Friday was a joyful event, with students dancing the night away under the caring supervision of our staff and parent volunteers, while parents enjoyed the opportunity to connect and socialise. A heartfelt thank you to our P&F, who organised the evening so beautifully and worked tirelessly to provide food, drinks and ice cream for our children and families. It was a wonderful celebration of friendship and community.
Social Action Expo
A group of Del Monte and Gioia House student leaders proudly represented Santa Sabina at the Social Action Expo held at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview. They shared the College’s outreach initiatives and gained valuable insights into the social justice programs of other primary schools, broadening their understanding of how young people can make a difference in the world. The day was further enriched by inspiring guest speakers from SchoolAid, b kinder and Cana Communities, who encouraged students to continue leading with compassion, empathy, and action.
Ethics Olympiad
Our Gioia House Ethics Olympiad teams shone on the international stage, competing against schools from Singapore, New Zealand and across Australia in a challenging Junior Ethics Olympiad. The Gioia House Black Team impressed the judges with their reasoning and collaborative approach, earning a Gold Medal, while the Aqua Team followed closely with a strong performance behind third place. Both teams engaged thoughtfully with complex ethical cases, demonstrating exceptional critical thinking and respectful dialogue. Judges commended our students on the depth of their analysis, their ability to listen to differing perspectives and the maturity of their responses in what was a rigorous competition.
Public Speaking
Public speaking is an important skill that helps students develop clear writing, confident delivery and the ability to express ideas with impact. This term, both Del Monte and Gioia House students worked diligently to compose and present their speeches, showcasing creativity, thought and courage. The Gioia House finalists then competed against St Patrick’s students in a friendly competition, which has become a tradition that continues to strengthen the bond between our schools. We congratulate all our students for their compelling and eloquent speeches and for embracing the opportunity to grow as confident communicators.
We also congratulate The Gioia House and Del Monte finalists and overall winners of 2025 Public Speaking:
Year 1 – Ariana Gittany
Year 2 – Lorenzo Pensini
Year 3 – Alessandro Pace
Year 4 – Romey Dib
Year 5 – Mia Bogovic – Runner-Up Highly Commended
Year 5 – Amara Jeyaganesh – Overall Winner
Year 6 – Bianca McLeod – Top Impromptu
Outstanding student achievements – ICAS Test results
Congratulations to all students who participated in the 2025 ICAS Assessments, and a special commendation to our award recipients for their outstanding achievements.
English
Distinction
Year 2
Serena Dong
Joseph Hoang
Jonathan Lin
Riona Sengupta
Year 3
Sebastian Portelli
Year 4
Irene Jung
William Lu
Alicia Wu
Spelling Bee
HIgh Distinction
Year 2
Jonathan Lin
Year 4
Irene Jung
Distinction
Year 2
Lorenzo Pensini
Damian Seo
Evan Yip
Claire Zhang
Year 3
Siobhan Chung
Year 5
Angela Li
Jennifer Stanton
Mathematics
High Distinction
Year 2
Jonathan Lin
Year 4
William Lu
Year 5
Jingxian Wang
Distinction
Year 2
Daren Chang
Serena Dong
Joseph Hoang
Oscar Ko
James Likoudis
Year 3
Siobhan Chung
Axel Leung
Sebastian Portelli
Year 4
Natalie Sun
Prep and MBH Athletics Carnival
Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience in Canberra and Tallong
Year 6 has begun their exciting trip with a well-received visit to Questacon in Canberra for some hands-on science activities.
Next term
Term 4 commences on Tuesday 14 October. Students are required to return in full summer uniform. Please refer to the uniform guidelines in your child’s school diary to ensure they are dressed appropriately from the first day of term.
As we come to the end of Term 3, we give thanks for the gift of learning, friendship and community. We look forward to a wonderful Term 4 filled with exciting learning and community celebrations. In the meantime, we wish all our families a safe, restful, and joy-filled holiday break.
Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6
Term 4 Co-curricular Program
Important dates Term 4
Santa Maria del Monte
Thursday 18 September – Years 1- 4 Public Speaking Finals
Wednesday 24 September – K – 6 CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships
Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Monday 13 October – Staff return ahead of Term 4
Tuesday 14 October – Term 4 commences
Tuesday 14 October – Year 4 Dominic the Adventurer 3:20pm-4:00pm
Friday 17 October – Kindergarten Excursion
Wednesday 22 October – Discovery Tour for prospective families
Thursday 23 October – Assembly
Friday 24 October – Colour Fun Run
Saturday 25 October – St Dominic the Adventurer Badge Presentation at Tallong
Monday 27 October – K-2 Swim Program commences
Wednesday 5 November – Year 5 2026 Parent Information Evening
Thursday 6 November – Assembly
Friday 7 November – Year 5 2026 Experience Day
Friday 7 November – K-2 Swim concludes
Friday 21 November – Fra Angelico Festival
Tuesday 25 November – St Dominic Awards & Year 4 Graduation Assembly 2:00-3:00pm
Thursday 27 November – Speech Night at The State Theatre 6:30pm-8:30pm (Years 3-11)
Friday 28 November – K-2 Splash and Dash Swimming Carnival
Monday 1 December – Year 4 Big Day In
Monday 1 December – Advent Carols
Tuesday 2 December – Del Monte Carols 1:30pm-3:00pm
Wednesday 3 December – K-4 Thanksgiving Mass
Wednesday 3 December – Term 4 concludes
Gioia House
Wednesday 24 September – K-6 CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships
Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Monday 13 October – Staff return ahead of Term 4
Tuesday 14 October – Term 4 commences
Wednesday 22 October – SCS Stage 3 Volleyball Gala Day
Tuesday 28 October – SCS Conference 2 Oztag Championships
Monday 3 November – IPSHA Debating Gala Day
Friday 21 November – Fra Angelico Festival
Thursday 27 November – Speech Night at The State Theatre 6:30pm-8:30pm (Years 3-11)
Monday 1 December – Advent Carols
Wednesday 3 December – Thanksgiving Liturgy and Picnic
Wednesday 3 December – Term 4 concludes
Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6