Head of Primary (P-6)

Del Monte

The past weeks have been full of exciting experiences and achievements across both the Del Monte and Gioia House campuses. Our Year 1 students led a poignant Remembrance Day Liturgy, attended by many parents at Del Monte, while Gioia House hosted a special prayer service. 

Year 3 OEE

Our Year 3 students returned from the Outdoor Educational Experience at Tallong with newfound resilience and memories of thrilling outdoor activities and friendships.

Year 4 Showcase

This week, the Year 4 Showcase was set to impress, highlighting this year’s theme, ‘Communities: An Integral Part of Our Life.’ Families were immersed in a presentation that combined performing and visual arts with exemplary student work from various Key Learning Areas. I congratulate all students for their outstanding musical performance, class work and presentation skills.

Additional light installation

I am pleased to announce the improvement to Kindergarten and Year 4 classrooms. Understanding the importance of a well-lit educational environment for both learning and wellbeing, we have installed additional lighting in all Kindergarten and Year 4 classrooms. This upgrade ensures that our young learners receive optimal lighting conditions, which are crucial for visual tasks and overall classroom engagement. 

Grandparents Day

We welcomed over 400 grandparents to Del Monte today for Grandparents Day. This special occasion dedicated to celebrating the invaluable role that grandparents play in our children’s lives. This event was an opportunity for us to acknowledge and honour the wisdom, love, and support that grandparents provide to our students. Comment end  

Gioia House Digi-talk

Our Year 5 students took part in the DigiTalk digital citizenship program, skillfully led by our Year 11 IB CAS (creativity, activity service) students, underscoring the importance of responsible online engagement.

Outreach program

Students in Gioia House focus on the theme of servitude and generosity. In this spirit, we encourage family participation in our outreach program to support St Paul’s Pantry in Burwood through donations of food items and gift vouchers. With only three weeks left to the end of the school year, we are hoping that donations will arrive in time for delivering them to St Paul’s Church. We thank you for your support and generosity. 

Festival of Music

Last week, the Year 5 and 5 students shone brightly at the Festival of Music, captivating the audience with their exceptional singing and ensemble performances. Their display of talent and passion was truly breathtaking, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. We eagerly anticipate experiencing their artistic brilliance once again at the upcoming Fra Angelico Arts Festival this Friday. It promises to be another remarkable showcase of their musical and artistic skills, and we encourage everyone to join us in celebrating the talents of our gifted students.

Stage 3 new Maths syllabus

Gioia House teachers recently participated in a workshop focused on the newly introduced Mathematics curriculum. This workshop provided a valuable professional development opportunity, enabling the teachers to gain a thorough understanding of the new syllabus, outcomes, focus areas, content and teaching strategies. Additionally, it offered a platform for them to collaboratively plan the scope and sequence for 2024.

St Dominic’s and Speech Night Awards

On Tuesday 28 November from 11:30am to 12:45pm, we will gather a community in the Del Monte hall to acknowledge and celebrate the achievement of our K-4 students. The Dominican Awards are named after a Dominican Saint and the criteria for each award reflects that Saint. The awards are also a celebration of excellence and growth across disciplines, representing the holistic Dominican education provided here at Santa Sabina College. St Dominic and the Dominican Saints continue to inspire us to live our lives true to the Gospel message. At the Award ceremony, we will honour the Year 4 students with a gift and a Graduation certificate.

This year our Year 3 and 4 students will also take part in the College Speech Night Awards celebration in the State Theatre on Thursday 30 November. Please note that this is a compulsory event for all students in Years 3 to 6.

Swap it

Earlier this year, we introduced you to the Swap It Healthier Lunch Box program, an initiative recommended by the NSW Government. We hope that this resource has proven to be a valuable tool in creating healthier lunch options for your children.

We’re excited to inform you that Swap It has recently launched a new feature designed to make healthy eating even more accessible. You can explore this feature and other resources on their website: http://www.swapit.net.au/.

The new feature, soon to be available, offers a personalised way to stay informed and inspired: the Swap It message service. This service allows you to receive tailored messages directly to your phone or email. These messages will not only keep you updated with practical tips but also provide free resources to assist in identifying foods that could be swapped out for healthier alternatives.

We encourage you to take advantage of this new feature and continue exploring the wealth of information available on the Swap It website.

Safety on Carrington Avenue

I would like to address an important matter concerning the safety of our students, particularly regarding the crossing on Carrington Avenue during drop-off and pick-up times.

Carrington Avenue, being a busy thoroughfare, poses certain risks, and it’s crucial that we all adhere to safety protocols to ensure our children’s safe passage to and from school. When dropping off or picking up your children, please be vigilant and adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Always use the designated crossing areas. These crossings are supervised and are the safest points for children to cross the road.
  • Be mindful of the speed limits, especially during school hours. Reduced speed not only ensures your safety but also that of the children and other pedestrians.
  • Take the time to educate your children about road safety, including looking both ways before crossing the street and using pedestrian crossings.
  • We understand that mornings can be rushed, but patience and courtesy go a long way in ensuring everyone’s safety.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the safety of our school community.

Sports and Co-curricular photos

Photos are now available to order. Photos are able to be viewed and ordered online at www.theschoolphotographer.com.au using the Online Order Code below:

23S1230PC46A

The photo prices are:
$18.00 each, 2 for $34.00, 3 for $46.00, 4 for $58.00 or 5 for $70.00

Any additional photographs are $10.00 each. This discount is only available per family order.

The photos will be available to view and purchase ONLINE ONLY.

BYODD 2024

How to access the BYODD information:

  1. Login into the Parent Portal on Veritas Online. 
  2. Click on College Information.
  3. Click on the icon called Information Technology. 
  1. Click on the icon called BYODD. 

Please note that Google Chromebooks are not compatible with the Santa Sabina College network. We are an Apple school therefore, it is highly encouraged that students’ devices are an Apple product to support the educational softwares seamlessly. If you are selecting to purchase an iPad, please be mindful that your child will need to provide a detachable keyboard. Also, a list of required applications will be provided at the commencement of 2024 to download. 

Please use this link to access further information. 

Del Monte Thanksgiving Mass

As we approach the end of the school year, we are delighted to invite the students and families of Del Monte to join us in a Thanksgiving Mass. 

Gioia House Thanksgiving Liturgy

Year 5 and 6 students will mark their time in Gioia House with a Thanksgiving Liturgy. Families are invited to join us for this celebration, followed by a picnic. Students are welcome to bring extra food to share with family and friends.

This spiritual gathering will be a time to reflect on the year’s journey and express our gratitude for all the blessings and learning experiences. We look forward to seeing you there for this special occasion.

Stella Azizian
Head ofPrimary P-6