Head of Primary P-6

As another successful and extremely busy academic year comes to a close, we look forward to enjoying a very well-earned break. Each year presents us with its unique set of challenges and opportunities, prompting us to take a moment to reflect on what truly matters in our lives. It is a time for celebration, gratitude for friendships, families, and our faith in God.

Del Monte Thanksgiving Mass

The Thanksgiving Mass held at Del Monte last Wednesday was a heartwarming gathering that brought students from Kindergarten to Year 4, along with their families. This beautiful celebration of faith was truly remarkable. The angelic voices of our children resonated with every heart.

Gioia House Thanksgiving Liturgy

On Wednesday, we celebrated Gioia House Thanksgiving Liturgy and acknowledged the Year 6 students and their time in Gioia House. It was a very moving occasion and an opportunity to give thanks to God for the friendships we formed, the challenges we faced and the knowledge we gained. After the liturgy, students and families enjoyed a picnic on our stunning school grounds. It was a wonderful community occasion to connect and enjoy food. I thank families for providing food and creating a true sense of community. 

K-2 Splash & Dash

Our Kindergarten, Year 1, and Year 2 students had a fantastic time at their Splash and Dash event held at the College swimming pool this past Monday. The children had a blast as they enthusiastically took part in a variety of races and engaging novelty games. We thank Mr Dunlop for his outstanding organization and for ensuring the carnival ran seamlessly. We also extend our gratitude to Year 10 students for helping our young students throughout the event.

Year 4 Big Day In

We celebrated the culmination of our Year 4 students’ time at Del Monte with a series of enjoyable events. One highlight was the Big Day In on Monday, organised by Motiv8sports, which featured a day filled with thrilling activities. It provided our students with a fantastic way to commemorate their last week in primary school. We thank P&F for their efforts in arranging a sausage sizzle lunch and providing delicious cake for our students to savour. We are confident that these experiences have created lasting memories that our children will treasure for years to come.

Gioia House Reading Challenge

Congratulations to our Gioia students on their achievements in the Principal’s Reading Challenge! Their dedication to reading and commitment to reading is a testament to their passion for learning and love for the written word. Ms Marchetta and Ms Lombardo presented the students with certificates and awards from the reading challenge.

Gioia House intervention

Our intervention program for the year has successfully concluded, with students making significant progress in the areas of reading, spelling, and numeracy.

The MacqLit Program, in particular, has been a resounding success, benefiting students in Years 5 and 6. Through engaging in various reading, spelling, and comprehension activities, students have developed stronger phonemic awareness, improved fluency, and expanded their vocabulary. Notably, these efforts have translated into increased student confidence and improved results.

As we eagerly anticipate the new year, we look forward to resuming the MacqLit Program, building upon the positive outcomes achieved this year.

Additionally, our reading program has yielded promising results, providing an excellent opportunity for Gioia House students to engage in reading sessions with their older peers in the Santa Sabina library. This initiative will be further refined and reintroduced next year, fostering a love for reading and enhancing literacy skills among our students. Please encourage your children to continue reading throughout the school break further developing their reading fluency and joy for reading. I thank Ms Dib for her hard work in supporting our students.

Class placement

We fully appreciate the apprehension that often accompanies the start of a new school year, particularly for students who are new to Santa Sabina College.

While we genuinely wish to accommodate all parental requests, it’s essential to acknowledge that the placement of students is a complex process. We understand that parents’ perspectives can provide valuable insights to support this process, and we do consider these requests when appropriate. Our teachers invest significant thought and effort into organising classes, engaging in discussions, reflection, and thorough review over an extended period. In determining class placements, numerous factors come into play, encompassing academic aptitude, social skills, physical and emotional wellbeing, compatibility among students, and even considerations of students who work well together, as well as those who may not. Current friendship groupings are indeed a consideration; however, they are just one of many criteria taken into account.

It’s important to emphasise that fostering new relationships is an integral aspect of our educational process, enabling students to expand their social circles and understand that friendships can evolve. Our teaching and learning experiences are intentionally designed to facilitate cross-grade learning and foster social interaction among students.

We appreciate your understanding of the complexities involved in class placement and remain committed to creating an enriching and supportive environment for all our students.

Congratulations to every student for their commitment and hard work, whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, or on the stage. We are proud of all their achievements, no matter how big or small they are. We congratulate the recipients of the Dominican and Speech Night Awards for 2023. Your dedication and achievements serve as a true inspiration to us all! 

2024 Term 1 commences

Del Monte

Years 1, 2, 3, 4 Tuesday 30 January
Kindergarten Wednesday 31 January
Prep 5 & 3 Day Orientation
Experience Tuesday 30 January – 9:15am-12:30pm
Prep 5 & 3 Day commences (full day) Wednesday 31 January
Prep 2 Day Orientation Experience Thursday 1 February – 9:15am-12:30pm

Gioia House

Year 5 students and NEW Year 6 Monday 29 January at 8:45am-3:20pm
Year 6 students Tuesday, 30 January at 8:30am

I will write to parents about the commencement of the 2024 school year for the Del Monte and Gioia House students in more detail in the second part of the summer holidays.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the staff for their hard work and care of all students. Thank you to the parents for their support and partnership. Your generosity in offering your time and commitment to serve our school community is truly appreciated.

I wish each community member a very happy, healthy, and safe summer break.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6