College Principal

Welcome to the new school year. It has begun in a flurry of celebrations, welcome events and a renewed sense of excitement for what is to come, leaving the challenges of the last few years behind. Santa Sabina College is an exciting place to be and I am thoroughly enjoying being around our teachers, students and families who have returned with a sense of optimism, fully engaged in the life of our school community. Thank you to the more than 500 people who joined us for our Welcome event last week. It was a great opportunity for families to catch up with old friends and reach out to make new ones. The teachers and I really enjoyed the chance to connect with you as we move forward together to care for and educate our young.  

Please take a few minutes to watch my first Principal’s Update for the year, ‘The Lamp Post’, which captures our commencement highlights. We are very proud of the Class of 2022 who achieved very strong results and when combined, their HSC and International Baccalaureate (IB) rankings placed them at 48th in the state keeping Santa Sabina College in the top 50 schools in NSW. The Sydney Morning Herald publishes a ranking which excludes the IB achievements. This is calculated for IB schools by an organisation which analyses senior results across the state and we believe it is important for our community to be aware that the published SMH rank is only part of our story as we have many students who achieve at the highest levels in the IB Programme. 

I would like to thank everyone for their patience as the College migrates to a new online management system. This is a significant undertaking which impacts every aspect of our school operations from finance to daily organisation, communications and human resource management. The roll out of this system is managed in phases and we now have Phase 1 complete and we are moving into Phase 2. There are glitches that we are dealing with along the way and I am grateful to parents who are alerting us to any issues that they are experiencing in this migration process. I would like to thank Mr John Gilmore, Deputy Principal Operations, and Mr Ally Eddy, our IT Manager, for coordinating this significant change as smoothly as possible.  

This week is our traditional ‘Love Week’ at the College and this series of events have been organised by our Student Leaders. Each day there is a different focus, from Self Love, Love your Culture, Love your Community – Teachers and Friends, which involves a student-teacher debate. Thursday sees us focus on Loving our World – and this year we are keeping Turkiye and Syria at the centre of our activities to raise funds for the earthquake victims. Friday is Love your School day and we await the traditional Year 12 yearly theme launch with much anticipation. 

I would like to remind our families that parents and students enter into a contract with the College on enrolment agreeing to uphold the Student Code of Conduct. Part of this is wearing the College uniform correctly. No visible jewellery has been the rule at this College for at least the last 50 years. This is not a new rule. Students may wear a cross on a long chain that is not visible. They may also purchase a cross lapel pin which is available at the Uniform Shop. The skirt is to the knee because that is the uniform length for everyone. False and painted fingernails are not permitted nor are false eyelashes and makeup. Parent cooperation in enforcing these regulations would assist the College as we would prefer not to have to spend time asking students to follow basic rules when there are much nicer things to be talking about. If we are going to have a uniform, then it should be worn properly and with pride.  

In closing, I also ask parents to be vigilant when it comes to knowing who your child is communicating with online. We have a focus at the College on educating children about cyber safety. It is becoming a growing area of concern as predators are very adept at entrapping and exploiting young people. The College will be organising parent workshops this year to help all of us better understand the growing danger in this social online space. Please have regular conversations with your children to ensure they have their privacy settings on and that they only accept invitations to connect from people who they know in the real world. Encourage them to be on their computers in an open space in the kitchen or dining room when they are online. I would also suggest that you delay the purchase of a smartphone for as long as practicable. While the digital world has brought us many positive ways of communicating and working, there is also a dark side to the virtual world. Understanding it better helps us to keep our children safe. 

Next Wednesday, 22 February, is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Our students will receive their ashes in liturgies across the campus. The markings of the ashes in the sign of the cross on the forehead is a public expression of our faith and humility. Lent is a time of fasting, prayer and almsgiving. It is a time when we may also choose to do good deeds, walk away from unkindness, or unplug from the digital world. Through prayer, we come closer to God so that as Christians we can better realise the promises made for us at our baptism, to live justly as Jesus teaches us. 

Lent prepares us for the season of Easter, the most important time in the Church’s calendar. By praying, fasting and giving alms, we are reminded of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus brought the promise of hope to all people so that we may ‘Have life and have it to the full.’ (John 10:10) As we live into that fullness, may we also be challenged to act with love and hope, now and for all future generations.

Paulina Skerman
College Principal

Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

This image of Dominic is by Henri Matisse and is part of his design for a Dominican Chapel in Vence in Southern France. Matisse was not Catholic but answered the request of a Dominican Sister, who had nursed him to health when he was unwell, to design a much needed chapel for her community. I love this image of Dominic because it is so simple, because it depicts Dominic as the sturdy man of study, contemplation and faith – but this sturdy strength is achieved by a simple outline sketch. Our Dominican charism has Dominic at its core but it doesn’t end there. As a Dominican community we shape who we are and what we look like within this strong but gentle scaffold of a man who founded an order that was simple but revolutionary for its time. There is so much potential for us within this framework and 2023 will be an opportunity to occupy the presence of St Dominic as a full and flourishing community. I look forward to the times we can all join together as a community in 2023 to bear witness to the fruit of our connections and relationships.

Fundraising for the humanitarian disaster in Turkiye and Syria

During Love Week on the Yr 5-12 Campus this week we will be raising money for those impacted in Turkiye and Syria by the recent earthquake. We will be holding a mufti day on Thursday 16 February to help assist those affected by this humanitarian disaster. We have also taken time to pray in Homerooms this week for the people of Turkiye and Syria and those from the Global community assisting with the disaster relief efforts.

God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Türkiye and Syria
following the recent earthquakes.
We mourn the death and destruction.
and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

We hold in our hearts those who are injured,
and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.
Grant those affected courage and resilience,
as they rebuild their lives and communities.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

Inspire us to unite in solidarity,
acting swiftly and generously,
so that help may reach all who need it.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

Amen.

https://cafod.org.uk/pray/prayer-resources/turkey-and-syria-earthquake-prayer

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Last week we held the 2022 High Achievers Assembly. We recognised  85 students who appeared on the Distinguished Achievers list for a Band 6 in the HSC or a Grade 7 in the IB, or a nomination for an HSC showcase and/or students who achieved above an ATAR of 90. We were very proud of what they achieved throughout their time at Santa Sabina.

Below is an excerpt from my speech to students and parents

When we welcome new students to the College we encourage them to make the most of every opportunity offered. Some students and parents feel that when it gets close to Year 11 and 12 it is time to stop participating in co-curricular activities, part-time work, sport commitments, camps and opportunities outside of the classroom as time could be spent on study. However, many of our students recognised as High Achievers did not stop; one in particular participated in more; she was a House Captain, completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, played Basketball, coached Basketball, tutored students, had a part-time job and travelled an hour each way to school and received the highest ATAR at Santa Sabina in 2022. Congratulations Holly Davis, and thank you. I also thank all of our top achievers for giving back to Santa Sabina in your time at the College.

Class construction

Construction of class lists and timetables for 2023 started at the end of last year. It was a collaborative process involving Deans, Heads of Department and Heads of House. As professionals, the team looked at a number of factors such as the data from internal and external assessments and observations. The main purpose is to establish a rigorous cohesive learning environment for your child and all of our students. Whilst understanding friendships are important to students, the priority around class placement needs to remain focused on academic rigour. The students have plenty of time to catch up with their friends at recess, lunch, co-curricular clubs and sport and after-school events.

Mathematics classes

Year 7 Mathematics is organised into three streams with two classes in each stream. This will be reviewed as the year progresses and the students settle into Senior School Mathematics.

In Year 8 we have two advanced classes, three mixed ability classes and one class with the cluster of students receiving support.

The Stage 5 syllabus is divided into three substages: Stage 5.1, Stage 5.2 and Stage 5.3. These substages allow students to progress through to various endpoints. All students will study Stage 5.1 content, the majority will study 5.2 content and many students will study some or all of the 5.3 content.

In Year 9, this year we have one accelerated class, three 5.2/5.3 classes and two classes studying the 5.1/5.2 course.

In Year 10 we have created an extra class due to increased enrolments. This means we now have one accelerated class, four classes studying the 5.2/5.3 pathway and two classes studying the 5.1/5.2 course.

English classes

Year 7 and 8 English classes are mixed ability, with two classes incorporating a cluster of gifted students and another two classes containing clusters of students who receive additional support.

Year 9 and 10 English has two advanced classes and the remaining classes are mixed ability, with two classes containing clusters of students who receive additional support.

All core classes in Years 7-10 are mixed ability and the teachers for these classes have data available to cluster students for extension and support as required. Teachers continue to review the assessments and class work throughout the year to ensure each student is being challenged according to their ability.

NAPLAN

ACARA announced on Friday 10 February:

The numerical NAPLAN bands and the national minimum standard will be replaced by the following four levels of achievement:

• Exceeding
• Strong
• Developing
• Needs additional support.

The descriptors for each category will make it clear to parents what their child’s literacy and numeracy skills are at the time of NAPLAN testing, and support discussions with their school on their child’s progress.

NAPLAN is scheduled in March this year allowing schools to access the results earlier. Information for parents is in this article.

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Deputy Principal Operations

Welcome to all new and continuing families to another exciting year. The year has started with a flurry of events on campus and with sporting competitions in full swing, Saturday mornings will be a hive of activity.

The start of a new school year is the ideal time for students to join an ensemble, participate in a new co-curricular activity or play a sport. While sport is not compulsory at Santa Sabina College, we are proud that in 2022 over 80% of our students represented the College in a sporting activity. For those students who are not inclined to play sport, there is a comprehensive co-curricular program available for students to access both during and outside of school hours. I encourage all students to check student notices for details of the co-curricular activities Santa Sabina has on offer.

As the College has grown and technology continues to evolve, several changes to our IT systems have needed to be made to ensure the safety of our data and to improve the user experience when accessing College web pages.

The first change that families may be greeted with when logging on to the Santa Sabina Learning Management System, Veritas Online, is a change to the login method. The College has engaged with Parent Identification Passport System (PIPS) to log in to Veritas Online via their Microsoft, Apple, Google, or other social media accounts. The advantage of using this system is that the College will not store any data relating to parent passwords on their accounts and it enables other sites such as Parent Lounge to be accessed via single sign-on.

The second major change to technology that families may notice is the move from the Community portal to Parent Lounge. Over the past months, Santa Sabina has moved to TASS as the School Management System and the Parent Lounge is an area where families can update student addresses, edit student medical details, and give permission for students to participate in events, camps and excursions. As the year progresses, Santa Sabina will roll out more features in the Parent Lounge for families to access and we will keep you updated with these changes.

If families are having difficulty logging in to their Parent Account on Veritas Online, please contact IT Support at itsupport@ssc.nsw.edu.au or phone 9745 7104 and one of our IT team will assist in getting you online.

In the mornings and afternoons, both Del Monte and Santa Sabina campuses are a hive of activity, with sport training, music rehearsals and OOSH and other co-curricular activities. Due to the high volume of student traffic on campus we ask families not to use the carparks on campus to ensure the safety of our students. The safest area to drop off and collect students is in the Kiss and Ride areas on Carrington Road and Jersey Road. 

John Gilmore
Deputy Principal Operations

Head of Gioia House

Gioia House update

I would like to congratulate our students for settling back into school routines and making new friends. Smiling faces, happy chatter and a wonderful feeling of togetherness were evident across the Gioia House since the beginning of the new school year.

In the first few weeks of the back-to-school period, teachers have prioritised the wellbeing of their students by having regular check-ins with students and involving them in getting to know you activities. At the start of the year, some students might experience times of uncertainty and possible anxiety over whether they will make friends, who they should play with and so on. We all want the students to be successful in their schooling and through periods of transition. It is worth reflecting, similar to when they were learning to ride a bike, at times, it is important to let the bike wobble. This is important to foster independence, build resilience and empower your child to ultimately be successful.

It was wonderful to host the Year 5 parent information evening session last week. We were thrilled to meet many of you and walk you through the Gioia House learning space. Thank you for taking the time to join us at school and sharing kind and encouraging words. Your positive feedback was very much appreciated. This week, teachers continue making phone calls to parents to introduce themselves and learn more about our students.

We look forward to meeting with you at our online Parent-Teacher interviews on 14-15 June between 3:45 and 7:30pm. Further details will be shared with you in due course. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your daughter’s core teacher.

We look forward to working in partnership with you, providing a learning environment that is rich with experiences, and nurturing those vital skills that will allow students to thrive in a volatile and ever-changing world.

Knowing students

In order to deliver effective teaching and learning experiences and meet individual student needs, we must know our students well. Data that supports the process of knowing each student includes rich information about their academic, social, emotional, behavioural and cultural experiences. Having a well-rounded understanding of each student enables us to adjust our instruction appropriately. 

Teachers have been working hard to collect and analyse data to inform their teaching. Knowing our students allows us to implement early intervention programs and provide enrichment opportunities to our students. 

Gioia House Monday gathering

We meet as a Gioia House community every Monday morning during homeroom time to set a focus for the week and communicate important information to students. Our focus for the last three weeks was courage, embracing opportunities and challenges and loving our neighbours. Monday gatherings are an important time for students to connect through prayer, reflection and announcements. It is crucial that students arrive on time for homeroom every morning and especially on Mondays. 

Here are some of the ways students recognised demonstrating the above dispositions.

~I sat next to someone who was sitting alone. I also wasn’t very confident about running for House Captain, but I built up my courage and nominated myself.

~I was courageous this week by explaining things to people I don’t really talk to and I will show courage tomorrow or the day after tomorrow by reading the prayer in the morning.

~I was courageous because I’ve been getting on time to school every day which is a big improvement. I also have been putting my hand up a lot lately which is a good sign too.

~I was courageous this week by getting out of my comfort zone and talking to some new people.

~I think I was courageous this week because I decided to do a Gioia House leader speech even though I was worried about presenting in front of many people.

~I was courageous for the whole week by trying out new complex problems daily. My goal for the entire week was to try and talk to my peers every day and get to know each of them.

~This week I have been courageous by helping Verona with the finger that she jammed into the car door. I have also been courageous by being helpful to everyone that I see that needs help.

~I felt that this week, I showed a sign of courage by talking to new people and taking up opportunities. I have applied for things I never thought of and talked to people that I’ve never met. These acts of courage have helped me to build confidence and inner strength.

Gioia House leadership

In Week 1, students were introduced to the leadership structure in Gioia House and had the opportunity to nominate themselves for various positions. We had 62 out of 97 Year 6 students who had nominated themselves for a leadership role. I congratulate all students for their courage and interest in making a difference. Students who applied for Gioia House leadership roles will present their speeches this week. Then students will be shortlisted and the voting will take place next week. The leaders will be announced on Wednesday 22 February and the commissioning of the 2023 student leaders will be held on Tuesday 28 February. Parents of the newly elected leaders will be invited to the commissioning.

Homework

We believe that homework is beneficial in this stage of students’ growth. It may help develop effective study habits and broaden their understanding and skills across the curriculum. 

Reading

As reading is an essential lifelong skill, particular attention is given to reading as a significant component of homework. We also encourage a love of books and reading regularly. The habit of reading every night is vital to support students in developing their reading skills.

The recommended daily reading time is 20-30 minutes.

Spelling

Our spelling program is differentiated and students are grouped based on their learning needs. Each week at school, they are introduced to a new spelling rule and complete activities to support the spelling strategies.

Students take their spelling list home to practise by completing activities assigned by their class teacher.

Mathematics

Students consolidate mathematical concepts by completing web-based (Education Perfect) or worksheets/activities assigned by the class teacher in Year 6 and Maths Mentals in Year 5. The recommended time is 30-40 minutes per week.

Year 6 Religion

Students in Year 6 are required to complete a weekly Religion quiz in preparation for the RE test in October.

The recommended time is 20 minutes per week.

For students who wish to ‘opt in’ to further homework tasks, there are enrichment optional tasks that they can request from their class teacher.  

I look forward to sharing more exciting news in the coming weeks.

Calendar dates

• Swimming Carnival: Years 3-12 – 23 February 
• Year 5 Interaction Day: 10 March 
• NAPLAN: 15 – 24 March 
• Year 5 Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong: 24 – 26 May 
• Athletics Carnival K-6: 1 June 
• Parent-Teacher Interviews: 14-15 June
• Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong: 13-15 September

Stella Azizian
Head of Gioia House

Head of Primary P-4

We have had a fabulous start to the school year. 

The start of a new school year can be an exciting but also challenging time for children. To provide support, there are several things that families can do:

1. Prepare for the transition: in the first few weeks of school, you can help your child prepare for the transition by talking about what to expect and establishing a routine for bedtime and wake-up time.
2. Get organised: make sure that your child has all of the necessary supplies, such as a backpack, lunchbox, and school uniform or dress code. Create a designated study area and set up a schedule for homework and other after-school activities.
3. Encourage a positive attitude: encourage your child to see the start of the new school year as an opportunity to make new friends, learn new things, and grow as a person. Remind them that it’s normal to feel nervous, but that they have the skills and resources to overcome any challenges they may face.
4. Stay involved: stay informed about what’s going on at school by attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering at school events, and participating in school activities.
5. Provide emotional support: listen to your child’s concerns and provide reassurance when they need it. Encourage them to talk to you or a trusted adult if they need support or have any problems.

Remember, every child is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. It’s important to find what works best for your child and to be there for them.

Welcome to our new students!

We were very excited to welcome our new students to the campus. Each new student is allocated a buddy to support their smooth transition into the Del Monte family. 

Year 1 2023
Shreya Panyam – 1 Niland
Samuel Van Hore – 1 Gibbs
Chloe Zhang – 1 Niland

Year 2 2023
Armando Sulukojian – 2 Pender
Giorgio Sulukojian – 2 Pender
Natalie Sun – 2 Wrightson

Year 3 2023
Sophia Guo – 3 Theile
Madalena Khoury – 3 Laws
Rishaan Panyam – 3 Paterson
Jessica Princi – 3 Theile
Clare Yang – 3 Laws
Angela Li – 3 Laws
Mia Li – 3 Laws
Vera Zhang – 3 Laws

Year 4 2023
Aiden Curran – 4 Daintree
Mariah Saad – 4 Cook
Marla Samaan – 4 Nepean
Elizabeth Van Hore – 4 Daintree
Grace Welsh – 4 Cook
Abby Deng – 4 Nepean

InitialLit Program K-2

Last year we began our InitialLit journey by introducing InitiaLit into our Kindergarten and Year 1 classrooms. After the success of the program, this year we are expanding the program to Year 2. Last week our Year 2 teachers and EALD teacher completed the training along with our Learning Support Officers (LSOs). This allows for consistent language and practice in the teaching of literacy K-2. This program will now be implemented in Year 2 from next week.  

For those families new to the College InitiaLit is a comprehensive research-based three-year beginning literacy program. InitiaLit is an evidence-based whole-class literacy program providing all children with the essential core knowledge and strong foundations to become successful readers and writers. 

The approach that InitiaLit takes is based on over 30 years of research into how children learn to read and spell. 

New co-curricular – Kung Fu

We are very excited to introduce a new co-curricular activity for students aged 7 to 11 years – Kung Fu! It will begin in Week 4 Term 1.

External Provider: Head Academy Kung Fu                                                                                             
Grades: Year 1 – Year 4 
Day: Wednesday afternoons
Dates: 22 February to 5 April 
Time: 3:15pm – 4:30pm 
Venue: Del Monte Hall

Head Academy Kung Fu has been teaching Jow Gar Kung Fu in Sydney for over 20 years, in four locations. Head Academy Kung Fu aims to teach your children to build confidence, improve their coordination and movement ability as well as learn effective self defence. Each session will aim to teach these in a fast-paced, fun and engaging way where the students will build fitness and flexibility at the same time. 

Kung Fu is a great style of training for those interested in individual development and would like an introduction to martial arts. There will be plenty of skill-based games that aim to improve different facets of their training. Enrol using the link below!

To register please CLICK HERE

Playground

Playing games on the school ground is an important part of a student’s education. It allows them to get out and get some exercise, have fun, learn to work together as a team, and practise social skills. It also helps to develop their physical and motor skills, as well as improve their coordination. 

Through playing games, students can learn how to use the equipment and how to interact with others. This teaches them essential life skills such as communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. 

In addition to teaching children social skills, playing games in the schoolyard can also help to foster a sense of community. This can help students feel more connected to their peers and to the school as a whole. 

Overall, playing games in the schoolyard is an important part of a student’s education. It helps to promote physical and social development, as well as foster a sense of community. 

With this in mind, Mr Dunlop and Mr Haydon are investigating the most suitable equipment for the playground. Skipping ropes and hoops have already been introduced to the Nets Area. Mr Dunlop has also introduced more organised games to the Field area. 

Over the coming weeks, more equipment will be provided to students. Mr Dunlop will take a few minutes at the beginning of PE lessons to introduce the new equipment and how it is to be used safely. 

Currently, Mr Dunlop and Mr Haydon are exploring other ways in which we can ensure that our playground is a safe place while providing adventure and learning for students of all ages.

Veritas Online Grade Pages

Each grade has a page where families can locate information including Homework, Specialist classes, when to wear sports uniforms, curriculum overviews, and so on. This is the best place to find the information you need for your child’s class. The links for each grade page is below. If you are having difficulty accessing your child/ren’s grade page please contact ICT for assistance.: helpdesk@ssc.nsw.edu.au 

Prep – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/2782/

Kindergarten – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/2662/ 

Year 1 – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/2674/

Year 2 – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/2684/

Year 3 – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/2697/

Year 4 – https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/1763/

Please kindly remember that Whatsapp is not official College communication.

Parent helpers – library

We are looking for expressions of interest to volunteer in our fabulous library for Term 1.

As a volunteer, you would be assisting in the library at least one day per week from 9:00am to 10:30am for Term 1. We would love volunteers who are able to assist in the morning on one of the following days: Monday-Fridays. 

If you would like to express an interest in volunteering to assist in the Del Monte Library Parent Helper Program during Term 1, please kindly complete the google form below by Thursday 23 February 2023. On the Google form, you will also be asked if you are available to cover some of our new resources.

An information session will be held. All parents volunteering to help in the library will be required to attend this session if they did not attend a session last year. We will be in contact once the expressions of interests close with more information. 

Please also be advised that unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate toddlers whilst you are volunteering for the program.

Library Parent Helpers Expression of Interest Form

Parent helpers – reading

This year we will be continuing our Parent Helper Reading Program in Kindergarten-Year 2. 

New parents to the program are required to attend a brief information session prior to volunteering. The program will again involve volunteering to assist with individual students or small groups for 30 minutes per week from 9:00am to 9:30 am Monday-Thursday. 

Please note that parent helpers for this particular program are not guaranteed to be allocated to their child/ren’s class. Please also be advised that unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate toddlers whilst you are volunteering for the program.

To ensure the smooth running of the Reading Program all parents who are new to volunteering in this program will need to attend an information session. The Parent Information session will be on Wednesday 1 March at 9:00am in the Hall.

If you would like to express an interest in being involved in the program and are able to attend the Information Session on Wednesday 1 March at 9:00am, please complete the Expression of Interest google form below by Tuesday 28 February 2023.

Those wonderful parents who volunteered last year and would like to volunteer again this year please also kindly complete the Expression of Interest form. Please note that you will not be required to attend the information session.

Thank you in advance for your support by volunteering for this initiative.

2023 Term 1 READING PROGRAM HELPER EXPRESSION OF INTEREST 

Parent helper coffee and resource making morning

As the school year begins we are introducing many new resources into the classrooms for individualised programs.  We are planning a coffee and resource-making morning on Tuesday 21 February 2023 from 9:00am to 11:30am. 

During this time Parent Helpers will be involved in photocopying, cutting, laminating, and building resource packs all while having a coffee and a chat with other parents. If you are able to attend please RSVP via email at n.korman@ssc.nsw.edu.au

Class parent coffee and conversation meeting

A huge thank you to our Class Parents 2023 for volunteering to take on the role of Class Parent. On Tuesday 14 March 2023, we will be having a coffee and conversation to talk about the role, share ideas, and make plans for 2023. An invitation will be sent to our class parents in the coming days. 

Kung Fu punctuation

In Year 3 the students have commenced Kung Fu punctuation! 

Kung Fu Punctuation assists students to learn the importance of punctuation. Kung Fu Punctuation helps the students to identify punctuation marks. Students get a kinaesthetic awareness of what punctuation is, which helps them learn what the punctuation symbols are and what they mean.

In Kung Fu punctuation all punctuation marks are given corresponding kung fu-style actions with accompanying sounds. It is proving highly effective in teaching the intricacies of commas, semi-colons, and full stops.

Please see below photos of the students in Year 3 participating in Kung Fu punctuation!

Drop off and pick up reminders

Here are a few things you can do to help keep your children and others safer during drop-off and pick-up times during the school week: 

Please use the pedestrian crossing at all times. Please avoid crossing in other areas of the road. Make sure your children are fastened in the correct child car seat for their age and size and that it is fitted correctly.  Stick to the 40km/h speed limit in a school zone and look out for children who may be about. Watch for flashing lights on buses. They let you know that there may be children crossing or about to cross the road. A 40km/h limit applies when school bus lights flash.  Always give way to pedestrians, particularly when entering and leaving driveways.

Always park and turn legally around schools. Maneuvers such as U-turns and three-point turns are dangerous during busy school drop-off and pick-up times.  Drop your children off and pick them up on the school side of the road in your school’s designated drop-off and pick-up area. Never call out to them from across the road – they may run to you without checking for traffic.  It’s safest for children to get out of the car through the Safety Door, away from passing traffic. This is the rear footpath side door of the car.

For more information on keeping our children safe around schools visit the parents’ section on safetytown.com.au 

Assemblies

Our first assembly will take place on Thursday 16 February at 11:30 am with entry to the Hall via the Carrington Ave gate. The Carrington Ave gates will open at 11:25 am. Year 3 will be leading the assembly and we look forward to parents joining us.

Joanne Gianinni
Head of Primary P-4

Director of Mary Bailey House

Out of School Hours Care (OOSH)

Santa Sabina College Out of School Hours Care Centre (OOSH) offers education and care to students enrolled in Primary Years and Gioia House. Located on the Primary Campus, OOSH aims to be a place between home and school, where children can relax and play with friends with the support of responsive educators.

OOSH offers three separate programs Before School Care (BSC), After School Care (ASC) and Vacation Care (VC).

Before School Care – keeping children safe

Paulina Skerman recently wrote to families about drop-off protocols and the safety of children on the Primary Campus prior to the commencement of supervision at 8:20am.

If your child needs to arrive at school before 8:20am, we’ll warmly welcome them at Before School Care (BSC). As enrolment in OOSH is separate to enrolment in school, children need to be enrolled in OOSH prior to attending any of the OOSH program. To enrol your child, please contact our Coordinator, Jessica Azzi, via email at: ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au or phone 9745 7790 between 7:00am-8:30am or 2:00pm-6:00pm so they can be enrolled in OOSH.

After School Care for Prep children

As the Education and Care Services National Regulations have specific requirements for children under five years, a modified ASC routine is implemented to accommodate them. This routine involves an OOSH educator meeting and being with Prep children in the Prep classroom from 3:00pm-4:00pm before moving to the OOSH space from 4:00pm onwards. Prep children are served afternoon tea, toilet and play in the Prep space between 3:00pm-4:00pm.

If your child is in Prep and you would like them to attend AS, please contact our Coordinator, Jessica Azzi, via email at: ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au or phone 9745 7790 between 7:00am-8:30am or 2:00pm-6:00pm.

OOSH is a fun and exciting place for children to meet and connect. We look forward to your child becoming an ‘OOSHIE’ and participating in our programs.  

Jackie Baxter
Director of Mary Bailey House

Director of Tallong Campus

The Tallong campus is open for business! For the first time since 2019 we may just have a ‘normal’ term 1. Ten straight weeks of students engaging in outdoor learning has begun. This week we have 170 Loreto Normanhurst students participating in their Year 7 camp.

We started the term off with the Tallong campus open day, held on Sunday 5 February. Close to 160 new students and parents of the College attended making it one of the largest we have held in recent history. These students and parents were able to savour the delicious cooking of Cheffrey and the kitchen team, view the campus accommodation and facilities plus engage in a number of our education activities we have at the campus. 

Have a look at two minutes of highlights from the day

In 2023 we anticipate there being a number of events targeted specifically at the College community. The first of these was our campus open day. The second of these will be the inaugural Mother/Daughter Health and Harmony retreat, to be held over the weekend of 27 and 28 May. Thirdly, our parent and child adventure weekend, will be held in Term 4. The date for this weekend is yet to be confirmed. 
It is absolutely wonderful to be able to open up the campus to our community again after the past few years of lockdowns.

We look forward to a busy and engaging year ahead.

Kendal Hann
Director of Outdoor Education and Tallong Campus Manager

Director of Community Relations P-12

Welcome events

We’ve had a busy start to the school year and welcomed dozens of new students and families with special orientation events. Please enjoy the following video highlights:

First day for Kindergarten

First day for new Year 5 and Year 7 students

Community Welcome Evening 

Discovery Tour Term 1

Our Discovery Tour for prospective Santa Sabina families takes place on Friday 10 March at 9:00am. Tour visitors are able to see a day in the life of the school and hear from our College Principal Paulina Skerman, students and other staff. If you have friends or family who might be interested in enrolling their children, please share with them the information and registration form on our website.

Santa Scholars

Our first publication for the year is Santa Scholars 2022 which showcases the academic achievements of students and staff in 2022, with a particular focus on our 2022 results. Santa Scholars is published on our website and is also available in hard copy from our office: communityrelations@ssc.nsw.edu.au.

Communication

First and foremost, we send you emails. Because we often use a mailing list campaign for these, for some parents they end up in your spam/junk inbox. Please check this and ensure newsletter@ssc.nsw.edu.au is added to your sender list.

All the emails we send to you are backed up on the parent portal under communication: https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/7917 We do this for your convenience, so you do not have to scroll through your inbox to remind yourself of information.

The P&F Association operates a WhatsApp chat group – this is not official College communication.

Yvette Graniero
Director of Community Relations

Director of Development

Thank you to many in our community who have passed on their best wishes to me in my role as Director of Development. For those who are new or for those who are unaware this is a new position in the College aimed at complementing and enhancing the relationships within the College and engaging with external supporters of the College.

Santa Sabina College has over many decades provided an outstanding education for our students, from the visionary Dominican Sisters of the late 1800s through the last century. Now as we enter 130 years of Dominican education at Santa Sabina College, a Master Plan is underway led by our College Principal, Ms Skerman, to ensure we continue to provide quality educational facilities for both our current and future students.

Your support, financially as well as in other ways, is vital in continuing our Dominican journey. We will be sharing with you all in the near future, some of our development priorities and some options on how best to support our College.

In the next couple of months, our Veritas Annual Appeal will be launched aimed at inviting all in our community to work together for projects that are much needed as well as others that will transform the lives of a young student. Your financial support will provide quality facilities both in the Primary and Secondary campuses including academic support. Further details will be available for you in the coming weeks and I thank you all in advance for the continuing support you provide for our students.

Together with your help, we will be able to transform the lives of our students so that they can flourish into the independent, confident and engaged young adults.

George Ayoub
Director of Development

Dean of Pastoral Care and Head of Year 7 

Welcome to the Class of 2028!

There has been much joy throughout the secondary campus as the College welcomed Year 7, the Class of 2028! Their start was smooth and more manageable as a result of a three-day orientation program, allowing Year 7 to settle in nicely with the responsibilities that come with being a secondary student. Students have learned to navigate timetables and classrooms and have felt very grown up using their lockers. Their Year 11 buddies have been very supportive and they will continue to guide and mentor Year 7 through this transition period. 

The Year 7 Information Session and Welcome Drinks was a wonderful opportunity for staff and, in particular, Year 7 Homeroom Teachers to connect with families and we look forward to future events to strengthen relationships. 

Year 7 Interaction Day

On Friday 10 February, Year 7 students energetically participated in Interaction Day. Underpinned by our Dominican Pillar of Community, the purpose of Interaction Day is to allow students to find ways to establish and broaden their friendship circles, as well as develop a strong culture of inclusion and respect amongst the cohort.  

Pastoral Care Program

The College is delighted to have established a specialised team of staff who will deliver Pastoral Care lessons to each year group once a fortnight in 2023. The aim of the program is to develop in all students, strength of mind, resilience and wellbeing so they can flourish in all aspects of their adolescence and beyond.

	2023 Theme	Term 1 Focus
Year 7	Strong Relationships	Being New, Making Friends: Developing communication skills, self-awareness, respect for self and others and understanding the inclusive culture at the College
Year 8	Strong Choices	Supporting myself and others: Looking after yourself, your emotions and helping others
Year 9	Strong Community	Keeping it real: Skills and strategies to promote inclusivity, equality and respectful relationships
Year 10	Strong Voices	I’ve got the power: Power in relationships, seeking help, setting boundaries and supporting others
Year 11	Strong Self	Caring for myself as a learner: Understanding and appreciating the importance of caring for self in order to be the best version of themselves as a learner, friend, family member and member of the wider community.
Year 12	Santa Strong	How will I be Santa Strong this year? How to thrive, not just survive in Year 12.

Year 11 HSC and IB Stress Management Workshop

This term as part of our Academic Resilience program, Year 11 students will engage in a workshop facilitated by UTS aimed at reducing the stress that can often accompany the HSC and IBDP. 

Parents are also encouraged to take a look at the parent workshops that UTS is offering to support adolescent wellbeing. These workshops are offered both in person and via Zoom. 

Please click here for further information.

Important dates

Swimming Carnival: Thursday 23 February
School Photos: Friday 24 February
Year 7 Outdoor Education Experience: Tuesday 28 February – Friday 3 March 
Year 7 Vaccinations: 7 March

Elise Whiley
Dean of Pastoral Care and Head of Year 7 

High Achievers Assembly 2022

Annual Love Week

This week at Santa, we have held our annual love week celebrations. Love week is time for us to come together as a community and celebrate the universal experience of love. This ties in with our team’s focus on community, and this week has been filled with lots of activities to bring us together as a Santa community.

On Monday, we celebrated Love Yourself day, with a very successful chalk drawing session, as well as dancing at lunch. We also wrote our teachergrams ready for Wednesday. We had music playing in the Piazza as well, which meant students were free to come and hang out with their friends, adding to the atmosphere of recess and lunch.

On Tuesday we celebrated Love Your Culture day, which involved painting a banner showcasing our school’s diversity of culture, and cultural dancing. There was a great atmosphere at recess and lunch, and it was fantastic to see everyone celebrating their culture and heritage.

Wednesday was Love Your Teachers and Friends Day. We distributed over 400 teachergrams written on Monday that show appreciation for our teachers’ constant support! Thank you to all of the students who wrote these teachergrams, it is so important to acknowledge all of the hard work that our teachers put into our learning.

We also had a very dramatic students vs. teachers debate, with the topic of, Should We Call Teachers By Their First Names? Thank you to Mrs Van der meer, Mrs Harris, Ms Graniero, and Ms Burton for providing the winning argument! This event will go towards our students vs. teachers competition, with more events coming throughout the year. Today we celebrated Love Your World day, with a mufti day to raise money for the many people living in distress due to the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. We also had an environment walk, where students could sign a variety of petitions surrounding the environment, to raise awareness about the many environmental issues affecting our society.

On Friday, students will watch the much anticipated Year 12 theme launch, for Love Your School day.

Thank you to all of the students who participated in this year’s Love Week. We were very happy to see lots of participation, and this will just be the start of many more fun community events.

The Student Leadership Team

Welcome to our students from Japan

We warmly welcome Suzu Yaegishi and Reina Hiramoto from Fujimigaoka High School in Tokyo and Arisa Nada and Miu Odagiri from Soshin High School in Yokohama.

They are attending classes at Santa Sabina and staying here until 1 April. 

Aya Shiragaki
Japanese Teacher

Professional Learning – Action Research

This year we are thrilled to be working in partnership with experts from UTS to develop and implement our K-12 Action Research Project. Facilitated by Professor Nick Hopwood and Dr Tracey-Ann Palmer, the opening workshop provided a high energy refresher course on the why, what and how of action research. During this workshop, teachers were reminded of the value of using qualitative and quantitative data to measure the impact of their practices and the importance of using this data to identify and address ‘problems of practice’. With preliminary groups formed and a wide range of focus areas identified, groups will now spend time refining their research question, engaging in research into current best practice and identifying the data they will use to measure the impact of their intervention. While critical reflection and reiteration of teaching and learning practices is nothing new to teachers at Santa, the action research process provides the methodology to be more collaborative, strategic and measured as we strive to develop and implement evidence enriched, high impact pedagogical practices. Stay tuned…..

Kate Corcoran
Action Research Coordinator and Teacher of Social Science

Peter Pan is flying in!

Welcome to the Junior Drama Production of Peter Pan! An adaptation of the original play by J.M. Barrie. We ‘jumped ship,’ as performance rights on our previous play choice were proving difficult. 

Peter Pan is a magical playful adventure that teaches us to live with joy and curiosity. Don’t be afraid to try new things and let your imagination fly!

Auditions have been completed, parts have been allocated and rehearsals have started! Performances take place on 17, 18, 19 and 20 May in the Black Box Theatre.

This is a terrific production for our creative and performing arts students to develop their talents. We are extremely excited to be working on the magical production of Peter Pan!

Take a peek at the auditions:

Nicole Ellis-Windsor
Head of Drama and Visual Arts

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Overland Track

The Overland Track is renowned as one of the great hikes of the world. The journey travels over the Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania. It is a landscape that explores sharp dolerite mountains areas, lush rainforests and expansive button-grass plains. The track itself is a 65-km trip over six days in some of Australia’s best wilderness areas.

Over the January holidays, 10 Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award students embarked on the journey as part of their Adventurous Journey. With excited and tired eyes, the group departed Sydney bound for Launceston for final preparations for the trip.

Day 1 – Ronny Creek – Waterfall Valley Hut
With weary minds and heavy packs, the group left Ronny Creek for the first (and hardest!) day on the track. We travelled over the plains on the boardwalk throughout to Crater Falls and onwards to Crater Lake for magical alpine views. The group then climbed up the rocks and trail towards Marion’s Lookout, which overlooks the iconic Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain. The day continued on along the trail with views overlooking the journey ahead and with Barn Bluff by our side.

After a long and challenging first day, the group settled into camp with weary eyes.

Day 2 – Waterfall Valley Hut – Lake Windermere
Day 2 is the shortest day on the track, which came with some relief following the efforts of the previous day. The group continued along the trail among the other travellers, sharing the experience. One of the beauties of the Overland Track is the side track options to see mountains, rainfalls and lakes.

The group left our packs on the trail and headed off to Lake Will for an enjoyable lunch and swim under the expansive feeling of Barn Bluff. As the group rolled back onto the trail, we enjoyed the shorter walk towards Lake Windermere. Before we settled fully back into the night, the group went for another swim at Lake Windermere – still a very cold swim !

Day 3 – Lake Winderemere – Pelion Hut
Today’s hike was a long and consistent hike. Leaving Lake Windermere behind, the group travelled towards Pelion Hut. The leaders for the day (Stephanie and Raquel) did a great job of keeping the group moving through the 15km day hike. The highlights of the day were walking with Mt Pelion West in front of us – another of the beautiful mountains that make this journey so special and unique. With weary eyes, the group eventually made it to Pelion Hut where we recovered for the evening.

Day 4 – Pelion Hut – Kia Ora Hut
Day 4 presents a few options. Summit a mountain or enjoy the views from Pelion Gap. The group decided that they would embark on Mount Pelion East, which has a smooth and challenging climb up for some amazing views near the top. The leaders for the day were tasked with motivating, setting the pace and getting the group safely up the mountain. As the group climbed up, the landscape opened up with views stretching back to Cradle mountain and overlooking the rainforests and landscape ahead.

As the group descended back down the mountain, they took the time to ponder the journey ahead and see where they have come so far. The group then continued back down towards Kia Ora Hut for the evening.

Day 5 – Kia Ora Hut – Windy Ridge Hut
Waterfalls of the Mersey River Day! Today the landscape truly changed away from the alpine rocky mountains to the lush temperate rainforest. The trail winds its way through rainforest among the roots of the leatherwood trees. It feels as though we’ve entered a completely different world.

Today’s side tracks offered us Fergussen Falls and D’alton Falls. We were lucky enough to get very close to the waterfalls and even enjoy them on our own.

One of the beauties of getting out into nature is to experience it without distraction and have a ‘Nature Break.’ This is designed for silent time to simply listen closely, watch intentionally and feel peaceful with the place you’re in. We had a few very peaceful moments enjoying the waterfalls and following the trail of a drop of water as it travels along its water path.

As the group left these beautiful waterfalls, it was the last full day on the trail for the group.

Day 6 –Windy Ridge – Narcissus Hut/Ferry Dock
With a ferry booked for 9:30am and 10 kms of hiking ahead, the group awoke at 4:00am and were walking by 5:00am, under headtorch light. With focused minds, lighter packs and strong minds – the group headed out for the track.

The group walked smoothly and proudly on our last day of the hike. They have become very competent, and comfortable with this style of travel at this point and their previous days’ hard work has paid off. The group arrived at Narcissus Hut after three hours of solid walking and with plenty of time to relax before the ferry ride across Lake St-Clair.

As the ferry rolled into the jetty, there were screams of celebration and excitement for the wonderful accomplishment of the Overland Track.

Well done to the 10 students who successfully completed the journey and for some, the completion of their Gold Award. Congratulations!

Christopher Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning

Information on Naplan 2023

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday is a traditional feast day that precedes the observance of the Lenten fast a day before Ash Wednesday. On the Senior Campus, the Faith and Mission student action group are selling pikelets at lunchtime in the Piazza. All proceeds will support the vital work of Project Compassion and Caritas Australia.

We encourage our Santa community to get behind this wonderful initiative in preparation for the Lenten Season, a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Ryan Reyes
Dean of Mission

I am poem

I am hopeful and welcoming

I wonder what challenges the future will bring

I hear the calm waves crashing on the rugged shore

I see a wonderful place filled with endless possibilities

I want time to be frozen and thrown away

I am hopeful and welcoming

I pretend to bounce on fluffy, warm, white clouds

I feel the wind brushing against me

I touch fields of flowers

I worry that some things aren’t as they seem

I cry when I’ve been let down

I am hopeful and welcoming

I understand that everyone is different

I say we all deserve a chance

I dream about our world being one big adventure    

I try to be truthful to myself and others

I hope to explore and encounter amazing things

I am hopeful and welcoming

Sienna

I am friendly and curious 

I wonder what people could achieve if they didn’t give up

I hear the sound of the ocean crashing on the sand

I see a land filled with happiness and peace

I want everyone to be treated equally 

I am friendly and curious

I pretend that I am always brave

I feel the icy ocean water on my fingertips

I touch the steaming hot sand

I worry about the future

I cry when I am yelled at

I am friendly and curious

I understand that no one is perfect

I say that happiness should never end

I dream about a world of endless possibilities

I try to learn from my mistakes

I hope that everyone feels safe

I am friendly and curious

Alegra 

I am intelligent and resilient

I wonder about the true meaning behind aliens

I hear the lone wolf howl

I see a sky of lights

I want to discover a planet

I am intelligent and resilient

I pretend to know words untold

I feel a sea of clouds

I touch the bright tips of flowers

I worry about test results

I cry about destruction

I am intelligent and resilient

I understand not everyone is good

I say we can always change

I dream of world peace

I try to impress my family

I hope to see magic

I am intelligent and resilient

Aria

I am kind-hearted and trustworthy

I wonder about the past, present and future

I hear chirping birds and chattering leaves

I see warm colours blended into the worn trees

I want a colourful, bright world

I am kind-hearted and trustworthy

I pretend to be happy when I’m sad

I feel a playful breeze touching my cheeks

I touch the Autumn leaves

I worry that I will always be a dependent person

I cry when nobody listens to my voice

I am kind-hearted and trustworthy

I understand that the planet is tangled in many ways

I say everyone has equal rights

I dream about a better place

I try to do my part in making a sustainable world

I hope everyone around me is healthy and safe

I am kind-hearted and trustworthy

Chloe

I am calm and adventurous

I wonder what it would be like to travel the world

I hear baby birds chirping 

I see huge mountains bigger than my school

I want to see places I have never seen before

I am calm and adventurous

I pretend I’m on a big journey 

I feel like breaking free

I touch the green grass

I worry  I’ll be kept away

I cry with happiness when I think about things I desire

I am calm and adventurous

I understand that life journeys might be tough

I say it’s good to try new things

I dream that I will be able to explore the world

I try to reach my expectations

I hope my dreams will come true

I am calm and adventurous

Lara

I am joyful and brave

I wonder what challenges the year ahead holds

I hear the salty waves collapsing on the wet sand

I see a world where everyone belongs

I want everything to be equal and right

I am joyful and brave

I pretend I am in an imaginary world

I feel the soft breeze slip through my hair 

I touch the grassy hills of the earth

I worry about the world’s future

I cry when something bad happens

I am joyful and brave

I understand that sometimes I will have to be flexible

I say never give up

I dream about sitting on a fluffy cloud

I try to do my best

I hope I will do well in school this year

I am joyful and brave

Audrey

I am loving and optimistic

I see my future, bright in the sun

I want to travel the world

I am loving and optimistic

I pretend the ocean is outside my door

I feel the warm breeze

I touch the fluffy clouds roaming the sunset

I worry I’m not good enough

I cry when others are mistreated

I am loving and optimistic

I understand that life won’t always be fair

I say put others before yourself

I dream of a loving world

I try to be the best version of myself

I hope I live a fulfilling life

I am loving and optimistic

Madison

I am humble and welcoming

I wonder what tomorrow will bring

I hear a whistle blow in the wind

I see ants building homes

I want my dog to live as long as I do

I am humble and welcoming

I pretend I am touching  a fluffy cloud

I feel commended

I touch a spirit at night

I worry about the future of our Earth

I cry when I am yelled at

I am humble and welcoming

I understand why we are all different 

I say I love my family

I dream of heaven, shining brightly

I try to do my best work

I hope for peace on our Earth

I am humble and welcoming

Chantel

I am resilient and honest

I wonder why we have emotions

I hear the whistling wind

I want for a moment to last forever

I am resilient and honest

I pretend to be able to pause time 

I feel pride in my heart

I touch a soft fluffy cloud

I worry that I am doing something wrong

I cry that good things have to end

I am resilient and honest

I understand that we have to learn

I say that netball is the best

I dream of a peaceful world

I Try  to do my best at everything

I hope that I will be happy

I am resilient and honest

Isla

I am confident and honest 

I wonder how many people truly forgive 

I hear birds chirping on the tree branch

I see a flash of light in a dream

I want to pause time 

I am confident and honest 

I pretend to bounce on clouds 

I feel unstoppable and unique

I touch the crashing waves coming to shore

I worry about being let down 

I cry when tears fall out of my eyes

I am confident and honest 

I understand we always make mistakes 

I say to myself put the most effort in 

I dream about my future 

I try my best, every step in the right direction

I hope to fulfil my eyes, ears and dreams

I am confident and honest

Verona

I am humorous and optimistic

I wonder what really happens in people’s mind

I hear waves hitting the shore

I see light in everything I do

I want to freeze time in a box

I am humorous and optimistic

I pretend to always have good thoughts 

I feel the butterflies inside

I touch my past self

I worry about the future

I cry that the moments has passed forever

I am humorous and optimistic

I understand moments in time

I say, let’s bring back the memories

I dream of light coming to life

I try to work hard

I hope I can achieve my goal someday

I am humorous and optimistic

Emmy

I am responsible and positive

I wonder who my dog’s mum is 

I hear the buzz of people’s chatter

I see a beautiful sunset

I want to travel the world 

I am responsible and positive 

I pretend my dog can talk 

I feel my dog cuddling up to me when I’m sad

I touch my snuggly soft dog

I worry when my dog is sick 

I cry when I’m hurt

I am responsible and positive 

I understand that there are many kind and unkind people in this world 

I say that every person is good 

I dream to live in a world without war

I try to see the best in other people 

I hope to see a beautiful clear ocean

I am responsible and positive

Eden

I am funny and confident

I wonder what the future is going to be like

I hear the waves crashing on the rocks

I see kindness in every room

I want everything to be right

I am funny and confident

I pretend I am in an imaginary world

I feel the softness of clouds 

I touch the fresh grass

I worry what’s going to happen in the future

I cry when I know something bad is going to happen

I am funny and confident

I understand that’s life isn’t always going to be awesome

I say prayers in my head

I dream about a world full of goodness

I try my best when I am working 

I hope my cat is always going to be with me

I am funny and confident

Bethan

Love Week Celebrations

This week our senior school leaders have provided the students with a variety of activities to celebrate love this week. The students have been taking part in activities during community time with their buddies, creating hearts of gratitude and identifying different ways we show love. The students have also been taking part in writing chalk messages about love in the Piazza, taking part in dance during their lunch break, celebrating our different cultures through painting and music and finding opportunities to show each other love each day.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House

Pastoral and Wellbeing in Gioia House

Welcome to the 2023 school year. It was lovely to meet many new families and see some familiar faces at our Year 5 Parent Information evening. The teachers and I have been really impressed with how smoothly the students have settled into Gioia House. They are getting used to having a variety of core and specialist teachers and are looking for opportunities to create new friendships while valuing some of the already established friendships.

Our Gioia House Pastoral program focuses on calling students to be Action Girls, where we encourage the students to display qualities of an Action Girl – being inclusive, respectful, honest, trustworthy and seeing a need and doing something about it. 

We offer an extensive Pastoral Program as we understand the importance of giving our students the opportunity to focus on their wellbeing. We make it a priority to provide students with the tools and strategies they can use to help them deal with everyday situations. We also encourage the students to develop their home organisational skills, by packing their school bag and resources the night before, getting a good night’s sleep (between 8 – 10 hours is recommended) and making sure devices are put away at least an hour before bedtime and not kept in their bedroom to avoid distraction. 

Some of the Pastoral programs we offer include our Action Girl Pastoral program where we focus on building self-confidence and develop skills to deal with a variety of situations.

We have our Rock and Water program which has been developed using Martial Arts principles where a series of exercises and games are practised to develop confidence and the ability to self-reflect. 

Our Gioia House Be Active session takes place once a fortnight, where students build on their team work skills and connect with all the students within Gioia House. We have enjoyed an afternoon of rotation sessions which included modified volleyball games, basketball and soccer. The girls enjoy getting together during our Be Active sessions.

GH community time buddy program, and Service Learning program are where students have the opportunity to be Action Girls and look for ways we can help others who are less fortunate than ourselves. We also take part in college community events such as carnivals, harmony day and love week.

We hope your daughters have come home telling you about all their wonderful new experiences in Gioia House and we look forward to a wonderful year working together with you and your daughters.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House

Negative Numbers Scavenger Hunt 

Students were very engaged in a negative number scavenger hunt. Students solved numerous addition and subtraction word problems that involved negative numbers. Students then used the solutions to crack a code. The answers to the problems were scattered around the classroom and each corresponded to a letter which spelt out the code: Neptune is -214 degrees celsius.   

Students reflected on their learning:

It was a really fun activity, we moved around the room to solve a code. The code was interesting too.

Eloise

This task helped me with positive and negative integers, the scavenger hunt was a fun activity

Lillian

This maths lesson was very engaging which made me think deeply about negative numbers. I enjoyed this task and it helped me understand more.

Julie

I think this was quite fun, I am improving my mental sums and accuracy.

Cadence

I really enjoyed this activity, it gave me a chance to practise adding and subtracting with negative numbers. The passcode (Neptune is 214 degrees celsius) was also an interesting fact. I would definitely like to do an activity like this again.

Claire

Information on Naplan 2023

Introducing John Haydon, Assistant Head of Primary

Staff Story

There are a few new faces on our Primary Years Campus and one who is a complete natural at getting to know our students and helping them feel at ease is our Assistant Head of Primary, John Haydon.

He seems to be an expert on all things that interest our young boys and girls and has the knack of bringing the quiet ones out of their shell. Visible out and about on campus for much of the day, John takes time to engage in conversations about Lego Minecraft or whether the tooth fairy might visit and to take an interest in what is front of mind for our youngest students.

‘The research says that if you feel happy to come to school, you feel safe and you have friends that’s the most important thing. This is primarily what parents want,’ John says.

 ‘And when you build an environment like that, people learn.’

Easing anxiety seems to be John’s speciality. But along with looking after everyone’s wellbeing, his position also entails organising the day-to-day organisation of the Primary Years.

He enjoys getting to know students and teachers and much of his day is spent dropping in on classrooms, successfully coaxing reluctant children into class and organising playground equipment and activities to make lunch and recess the best it can be for the children.

‘I want to see lots of play and activities to keep children engaged. If we play well and come into the classroom relaxed that comes across into our learning. If we are stressed and upset or we’ve had a bad play or didn’t feel safe in the playground, that negatively affects our learning in the afternoon’.

John is working on this by assigning different areas to different types of play and obtaining more equipment for our children to play with.

‘The more things they have to do, the more engaged they are in play, the better everyone’s day. I’m very big on imaginative play – being able to get students imagine and be creative is what the future is all about.’

John always speaks of his work from the perspective of students. ‘We really need to connect with the students and see what their needs are’.

But he started out his career working in foreign exchange in a bank – long days in a windowless room took their toll and he changed to teaching as he realised this was where he could really make a difference. He retrained and now has a several degrees in education and educational leadership as well as having undertaken courses in growth and in Religious Education. Employed for many years by Sydney Catholic Schools, John worked in a number of teaching, administrative and leadership positions, enjoying the challenges of each.

‘Schools are rich and exciting places full of change and surprises’, he says.

With his calm and kind manner, his wish to get to know all students, and his approach to running Del Monte in a student-centred way, we can all count on John being available to all of his students at no notice and with all the time each interaction needs. He is spending most of his time getting to know the people and the workings of our Primary Campus but when he does take a break it’s for long walks with his adult children, conversations with his seven siblings and the occasional round of golf.

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer

Introducing Reneé Andrews, Instructional Leader Primary Years

Staff Story

Helping our teachers and students of the Primary Years adapt to the NSW Education Standards Authority syllabus is our new Instructional Leader, Reneé Andrews, whose capacity, energy and enthusiasm are making their mark across Del Monte.

With her wide-ranging background teaching students and teaching teachers to upskill, Reneé has come to us most recently from the tertiary sector where she has been upskilling, training and assessing preservice teachers at the Australian Catholic University and Macquarie University. Prior to that, Reneé was a Primary Teacher and is thrilled to have returned to the Primary education sector.

‘I love seeing children grow in their learning’, she says.

‘I had missed the beauty of their creativity and spontaneity. In a school you never know what you’re going to get any day. You can see your goals come to life and see children flourish as they progress each year.

‘At Santa Sabina, I can see a community where the staff and the parents have the same vision for our students – their best interests. This motivates me to come to work each day and keeps me passionate about teaching’.

Yet the role of Instructional Leader involves teaching teachers as well as students. Initially this term Reneé is sharing her expertise with teachers, particularly in utilising the Gradual Release Model, but within the next few weeks will be focused on students as she moves around all our Primary learning spaces ­– working alongside teachers in partnership to model best practice.

The Gradual Release Model is an evidence based approach which empowers teachers to start their teaching with explicit instruction to support and direct students’ learning. Pearson & Gallagher (1983) call this the ‘I do’ phase. This is followed by the ‘We do’ phase where teachers share knowledge and skills with students interactively, through guided experience and work stations. Finally, the students experience the ‘You do’ phase where knowledge has been transferred and independent progress takes place.

Reneé sees many opportunities in this explicit approach. ‘We have a clear focus throughout our teaching to provide an intentional, individualised, direct and scaffolded approach to learning. Having the shared understanding across the entire campus enhances students’ opportunities with a proven, consistent and high quality pedagogical method’, she says.

Getting the best out of all our students is the ultimate goal. Building the strengths of our ‘amazing teachers’ through giving them the right tools along the way is Reneé’s job.

When she’s not at work, Reneé is a busy mother who loves spending time with her family. She also is a lifelong learner and currently has her sights set on embarking on a PhD. But first there’s much research and reading needed. Before then, there are the simple ways she achieves a work/life balance – going for walks and going to the beach.

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer

Introducing Ebony Russell, Art Teacher and Festival Director

Staff Story

Internationally renowned ceramicist Ebony Russell is our new Art Teacher in the Primary Years. She is also Festival Director of our forthcoming Fra Angelico Arts and Culture Festival (a twilight event for the whole community taking place late this year).

Ebony teaches art to all our students from Prep to Year 4 and is also a lecturer at Australia’s oldest art school – the National Art School in Darlinghurst – where she specialises in the teaching of ceramics to 3^rd year university students. A busy and successful practising artist, Ebony’s art is part of the permanent collection at The Powerhouse and is currently on display at Powerhouse Ultimo. She also has work on display at the Bendigo Regional Art Gallery, the Wollongong Regional Art Gallery and even in Los Angeles where her work can be seen in the Think Pinker exhibition at Gavlak Los Angeles, alongside the work of artists such as Andy Warhol.

As our Primary Years Art Teacher, Ebony thrives in the colour and magic of the Primary Years artroom, Coolibah, telling Veritas Voice that teaching makes her a better artist.

‘Teaching was something I always thought I would do – my mother was a piano teacher and I grew up around seeing teaching as a profession for a woman who wanted to have a family too’, she says.

‘Teaching helps me develop beyond my own set of likes and interests in art. It allows me to extend myself in other mediums: I have to teach many other techniques, processes and styles which actually only helps me become better in the artwork I’m making. Sharing the creative process with other people and being able to problem solve with students extends you across other forms of art making’.

As a young school student herself, the school art room was Ebony’s happy place where her art teachers supported her and reinforced her sense of worth.

Ebony went on to study for a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree followed by a Master’s of Education. As a specialist in ceramics, she is renowned for her unorthodox technique of using royal icing cake decorating tools to make her porcelain sculptures. Despite pushing the boundaries in this way, Ebony is also referencing her matrilineal craft line which has been highly influential and inspirational in her career and personal development.

Ebony’s family emigrated to Australia from Europe in the 1950s and her grandmothers, mother and aunts were primarily homemakers who excelled in crafts such as crochet, sewing and cake decorating. They used these crafts to set up small businesses.

‘I really wanted to extend that into becoming a professional artist and teacher and use a different medium’, Ebony says.

‘It is a point of pride for me to be a female that could contribute through a career in the arts. I was passionate to continue my studies at university while raising a family and model to my young daughters that we can follow our dreams. I always wanted to be a mother, an artist and a teacher. I love being all three.’

As Director of our Fra Angelica Arts and Culture Festival, Ebony aims to create an evening that celebrates and showcases the creative arts across our school in a way that brings our community together. Watch Veritas Voice in the coming months as we bring your further details as the festival program develops.

Outside the classroom and the gallery, Ebony can be found in her studio working on a commission from the Australian Catholic University and entering other work in national and international competitions. She is a busy mother and wife with a dynamic family which includes a husband, two daughters and two cats, and an ongoing home renovation. To cap it all off, Ebony is also the coach of the Under 9s netball team in the Five Dock All Saints club.

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer

St Dominic the Adventurer Award

We are excited to launch the St Dominic the Adventurer Award to our students in Years 3 and 4. Registrations will open next week. Look out for an email to learn more about the program.

Chris Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning.

Premier’s Reading Challenge

The 2023 Premiers Reading Challenge begins this year on 27 February and concludes on 18 August. Your children will all be receiving their PRC login details. Furthermore, all the books in the library will be marked with the PRC label and you could look up the list of books up online.

Please keep encouraging your children to read every day.

Sebastian Dell’Orefice
Teacher/Librarian

Safer Internet Day

On Tuesday 7 February, students from Prep to Year 6 participated in activities to acknowledge Safer Internet Day – a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces. This worldwide initiative is celebrating 20 years in 2023, making it a great time to reflect as well as look forward to how we can be safe digital citizens. This year the theme in Australia is Connect. Reflect. Protect.

Our students will continue to explore how to be safe digital citizens this term in their Digital Technology lessons. We will explore:

• How we can connect with our friends and family online in a safe way
• Reflecting on how our actions online can affect us and others
• Explore ways that we can protect ourselves by making safe choices online. 

The eSafety Commissioner offers free online webinars to provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences. An overview of the webinars provided in 2023 can be found here.

Alana Ivancsik
Leader of Learning Technology P-6 & Year 4 Teacher

Religious Education News

Welcome to 2023 and the start of a wonderful year filled with many joyful moments for our students, families, and staff.

Prayer for the start of the year

Lord Jesus, we ask for Your help as we begin this new school year.

Allow us to experience Your presence in the many blessings You put before us. Open our eyes to the new challenges and exciting opportunities that this new school year brings.

Open our heart and mind to new friends and new teachers.

Give us a generous spirit to be enthusiastic with our studies and courage to accept new opportunities.

Help us to be attentive to one another and let us experience Your presence in our new friends.

Jesus, inspire us to do our best this year!
Amen

The Liturgical Calendar

For Catholics, the liturgical calendar marks the Church year, a sequence of seasons and feasts celebrated in all liturgies and celebrations. In each liturgical year, we celebrate the entire life and paschal mystery of Jesus Christ.

The beginning of Advent marked the start of a new liturgical year, which marks the transition of the Lectionary cycle for the readings from Year A to Year B to Year C. These cycles are a result of the Second Vatican Council, which ordered a change in the Sunday readings at Mass so that Catholics would become more familiar with the text of the Bible. As a result, we have a three-year cycle built around the three synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We are currently in Year C with the readings of Luke.

To mark our liturgical season of Ordinary time (green) the Prep to Year 6 classes were presented with classroom sacred space cloths, crosses, candles, and bibles. The students were involved in setting up the scared space and reflected on this season of Ordinary time, in preparation for Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Ash Wednesday – 22 February

The season of Lent is nearly upon us. Lent and Easter are times of renewal and commitment to new life. Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) that commences on Ash Wednesday and goes to the Saturday before Easter, which is the holiest and most special day of the year for all Christians.

Lent is often described as a time of preparation and provides us with a wonderful opportunity to deepen our relationship with God through a dedication to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is a time for personal reflection that prepares people’s hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.

Opening School Mass

On Tuesday 28 February at 11:30am we will be celebrating our Opening School Mass. At this Mass our student leaders will receive their leadership badges. Parents and Carers of all students are invited to attend this Mass which will be celebrated in the Santa Sabina Chapel.

Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P-6

Information on Naplan 2023

Swimming Carnival (Years 5-12)

Please note the below for a smooth run of the Swimming Carnival on 23 February at the Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Arrival time: Families are requested to drop students off at the venue (Olympic Blvd, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127) no later than 8:15am.

Gioia House students: Ms Azizan will be at the Centre at 8:15am for roll call and supervision.

No canteen access for students. All students need to bring recess and lunch.

Parents will sit on the Western Grandstands, separated from students.

House Captains will have the events list and check with students for marshalling to ensure the correct attendance in each race.

Uniform and race attire:

Full PE Uniform (students dressing up for House cheering to change at the venue and change back to leave or compete).

Students must wear House or College Swimming cap, black Santa Swimming suit or black race suit (or an appropriate one piece costume). Students without the correct swimming attire will not be able to participate in the Carnival events.

Years 5-6 parents picking up to report to the class teachers for roll call marking. Areas to be advised by the Carnival announcer.

I wish all of our students a great day but please do not hesitate to contact the College Sport Department at sport@ssc.nsw.edu.au should you have any queries or need assistance.

Luiz Ramalho
Director of Sport and Co Curricular Actvities

From the Artistic Director

Congratulations – AMEB exams

Congratulations to the following students and their teacher Mrs Jacono-Gilmovic (Head of Strings 5-12), who achieved excellent results in their Australian Music Examination Board awards:

Natalie Sun	Year 2	2nd grade violin	Honours
Elly Tao	Year 4	3rd grade violin	Honours
Estelle Gilmovich	Year 6	7th grade viola	Honours
Tatijana Sesar	Year 6	Preliminary grade violin	Honours
Ruby Polifroni	Year 6	Preliminary grade violin	Credit
Amelia Woods	Year 8	1st grade viola	Honours
Chloe To	Year 6	Preliminary violin	Honours
Eloise Dahm	Year 11	7th grade violin	Honours
Eloise Dahm	Year 11	3rd grade musicianship	Credit
Chloe Constantinidis	Year 9	4th grade violin	Credit

Join an Ensemble

For more details, please visit the music information page on Veritas Online:

https://veritasonline.ssc.nsw.edu.au/homepage/62

Learn a musical instrument

Read about why the Australian Government believes learning a musical instrument is beneficial:

https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/musical-benefits

Music can benefit your child in many areas – language, maths, concentration and social skills, just to name a few! So whether or not your child learns a musical instrument, try to expose your child to music as much as possible and enjoy the many benefits!

Brain growth

Studies in neuroscience show that music can enhance brain function in children. Musical activities (such as playing an instrument, singing or just listening to music) stimulate the brain, and this brain workout leads to improved brain structure with the formation of new neural connections.

Language skills

Studies also show that young children who participate in music classes have improved speech development and learn to read more easily. Learning music helps to develop the left side of the brain (related to language and reasoning), assists with sound recognition, and teaches rhythm and rhyme. Songs can also help children remember information (just think of the Alphabet song!).

Maths skills

Music can help with the development of maths skills. By listening to musical beats your child can learn basic fractions, pattern-recognition and problem solving. Children who study music also have improved spatial intelligence and ability to form mental pictures of objects – skills that are important for more advanced mathematics.

Memory, attention and concentration

Recent studies have shown that people who are musically trained have better working memory skills, helping them to remember things even while their minds are busy with other matters – important aspects of mental arithmetic and reading comprehension. Learning music also requires significant levels of concentration, training children to focus their attention for sustained periods.

Increased coordination

Just like playing sports, playing and dancing to music helps children develop their motor skills. Making music involves more than the voice or fingers; you also use ears and eyes, as well as large and small muscles, all at the same time. This helps the body and the mind work together.

Achievement and discipline

Learning music teaches children to work towards short-term goals, develop routine and practice self-discipline.  Setting aside regular time for practice develops commitment and patience. Mastering a new piece of music leads to a sense of pride and achievement, and helps children to learn the value of self-discipline.

Social skills

Making music with other people (like in a band or choir) improves children’s social and emotional skills.  They learn to work together as a team and develop their sense of empathy with others. Researchers have found that when children play music together – from simple rhythms to larger group performances – they are better able to tune into other people’s emotions.

The joy of music

Music can give children a way to express themselves, to unleash their creativity, to be inspired and uplifted, to relax, and to relieve stress and tension. Just think about listening to a beautiful piece of classical music, singing along to a favourite song with friends, or dancing to a great song on the radio – music can make your heart sing!

Music for life

With all these benefits, try to expose your child to music as much as possible – listen to music together, sing songs, play rhythm games, go to concerts or make your own instruments together. Your local library, community centre or music society may offer music programs for kids. If your child wants to learn a musical instrument, your options may include a school music program, private music teachers, and group music activities such as choirs, recorder groups and bands.

Morning rehearsals and Homeroom attendance

All students in morning ensembles must adhere to the following rules:

1	Most musicians will only have one morning rehearsal a week
2	On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday rehearsals will finish at 8:35am (Instrumental) or 8:40am (Choral) and students will make their way directly to Period 1
3	Tuesday morning rehearsals will finish at 8:20am or 8:25am and students will make their way directly to Period 1 by 8:30am
4	Students in two or more ensembles are permitted to miss a maximum of two Homerooms per week
5	Students must tell Homeroom teachers which morning rehearsal(s) they attend
6	Students in two or more ensembles must rotate the day of their Homeroom attendance from Week A to Week B – this avoids leaving the same ensemble or missing the same Homeroom from week to week
7	Rolls will be marked by Ensemble Directors at each rehearsal and sent to Student Services at 8:45am
8	Homeroom teachers will have an updated list of all ensembles throughout the term

Summary

• Students in two or more ensembles must attend Homeroom at least TWICE a week
• Students must communicate with Homeroom teachers about their ensemble days at the start of each Term
• Students may participate in special events such as birthdays or as required by Homeroom teachers

Thank you for your cooperation.

Timothy Chung
Artistic Director P-12

Term 2 IPSHA and IGSA Sport Opportunities

All IPSHA and IGSA Sport Registrations are now open. To register your child, please click the following links to register and find more information.

Registrations will close on Friday 3 March 2023. Late Registrations will only be accepted if there are remaining spots to fill and a 10% late fee will be charged.

Please note that in case of a registration withdrawal, refunds will only be provided two weeks before the first training session is offered and after that exceptions will be only for medical reasons (families are required to present a doctor’s certificate).        

I
GSA sport (Years 7-12) – Basketball, Football and Hockey

In Term 2, Santa Sabina College will be competing in the IGSA Basketball, Football and Hockey Competitions. The competitions are open for all students in Years 7-12. All games are played on Saturdays from 8:00am to 12:00 noon at various venues across Sydney.

All teams will have one training session each week, lasting approximately 1-1.5 hours. Teams will train at the College either before (7:00am-8:15am) or after school (3:30pm-5:00pm). These will be advised prior to the competition starting.

If you are interested in playing please complete the respective registration form below.

IGSA Basketball Term 2 Registration Link

IGSA Hockey Term 2 Registration Link

IGSA Football Term 2 Registration Link

IPSHA Sport (Years 3-6) – Boys’ Football and Girls’ Hockey

In Term 2, Santa Sabina College will be competing in the IPSHA Boys Football and Girls Hockey Competitions. The competitions are open for all students in Years 3-6. All games are played on Saturdays from 8:00am to 12:00 noon at various venues across Sydney.

All teams will have one training session each week, lasting approximately 1-1.5 hours. Teams will train at the College either before (7:00am-8:15am) or after school (3:30pm-5:00pm). These will be advised prior to the competition starting.

If you are interested in playing please complete the respective registration form below.      

IPSHA Girls Hockey Term 2 Registration Link

IPSHA Boys Football Term 2 and 3 Registration Link

ERNA Netball

Santa Sabina College competes in the Eastwood Ryde Netball Association (ERNA) Saturday Netball Competition that will run from Saturday 29 April through to Saturday 9 September 2023 (Finals). The competition is open to Santa students turning 9 years of age or older in 2023. Games are played at Brush Farm Park, Eastwood (8-10 years) and Meadowbank Park (11+ years) from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Game times will not be confirmed until late March but each team will play at the same time each week. Training is held either before school from 7.00am-8.00am or after school from 3.30-4.30pm on the College Netball courts. 

Registrations are via PlayHQ and are open until the 28 February 2023.

If you DO NOT have a PlayHQ account, you will need to set one up first, you can do this in advance to save time. PlayHQ sign up

If you intend to use an Active Kids Voucher, please have the code ready prior to registering and enter it on the right side of the payment page before you submit a payment.  Note: vouchers cannot be used retrospectively.

ERNA Netball Term 2 and 3 Registration Link

Note: unfortunately, late registrations cannot be accepted due to internal and external grading deadlines. However, students can be placed on a waitlist and will be contacted if they can be accommodated when ERNA opens second round invitations.

Should you have any questions prior to registering please contact Ms Gocher via j.gocher@ssc.nsw.edu.au.

InterSchools Snow Sports (K-12)

More details will follow regarding InterSchools Snow Sports. If your child is interested in representing the College at this event, please fill this Expressions of Interest Form by Friday 24 February.

Run Club and Fit Club (5-12)

Run Club (Wednesday morning) and Fit Club (Wednesday afternoon), provide opportunities for students to participate in some extra training. Further details can be found via each link:

Run Club Term 2 Registration Link

Fit Club Term 2 Registration Link

Senior Years Boxing (Years 10-12)

Boxing classes are held for senior students in the College gym on Friday mornings.

Senior Years Boxing Term 2 Registration Link

Rachael Simmons
Assistant Director of Sports and Co-curricular Activities 

Introducing Luiz Ramalho, Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities

Staff Story

Managing more than 20 sports and in excess of 55 other co-curricular activities is the responsibility of our new Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities, Mr Luiz Ramalho.

Luiz grew up near Sao Paulo in a soccer-mad family and in a country, Brazil, which many would argue is obsessed with the sport, particularly at World Cup time. Luiz’s grandfather was a professional player and his father and brother were semi-professional while Luiz himself grew up playing it on the street with his friends, watching it on TV and occasionally skipping his own class to play with PE classes at school where he was one of 10,000 students.

His five-year degree in PDHPE qualified him both to teach and administrate all sports. He played football and volleyball at a high level for his university and managed the football program while also running holiday camps and community sport programs focused on football and tennis. His first career appointment was managing a program for his local council which facilitated sport for underprivileged communities and kept kids off the street and out of trouble.

Luiz has experience coaching all sports. And he has developed a passion for teaching Primary Years students who respond well to the lifelong benefits of playing sports and engaging in team activities outside the classroom.

Luiz’s Australian citizenship (in 2017) came about when he was sponsored as a specialist to coach soccer within a sports training company here. He has also taught Primary sports at Masada College (St Ives), taught at and managed sports and extracurricular activities at Kambala, where he discovered that competing against the mighty teams of Santa Sabina was a difficult challenge.

‘For two years I spent every Saturday here and I have memories of being made very welcome and treated well’, says Luiz.

Working at Santa Sabina thus became a long-held dream. ‘I’m very excited to be starting here,’ he says.

At Santa Sabina, Luiz is also teaching PE to Years 5 and 7 and is immensely impressed at the enthusiasm of our girls and boys in engaging with sport and other co-curriculars. He believes that engaging children in co-curriculars that speak to an individual passion brings benefits beyond that activity into classroom work – enhancing academic achievement more broadly – and strengthening wellbeing. Our co-curricular program as managed by Luiz extends across a vast array of interests from Arabic club to Debating, Dance and Musical Theatre. The Sports and Co-curricular team includes four other permanent staff and dozens of peripatetic casual coaches and specialists.

Outside of work (which includes Saturdays), Luiz is a busy husband and father of two sports-mad young boys who he regularly takes out on their bikes, to play football and basketball and for swimming at the beach. A return to playing football himself is also on the cards, but not until his sons are a little more independent.

Luiz’s warmth, enthusiasm and international experience are a gift to us at Santa Sabina and we encourage all of our students to get involved in our enviable co-curricular program and reap the benefits.

Victoria Harper
Publications and Marketing Officer

Safety Around Schools – do you know the road rules?

Whether you are a parent doing the school pick up/drop off or a road user driving through local school zones, Council’s Safety Around Schools flyers (linked below) can help you understand the road rules and navigate our traffic environment safely:

·       School Zones: Understanding The Rules

·       School Pick Up/Drop Off Zones: Understanding The Rules

·       Children’s Crossing: Know The Rules

·       Pedestrian Safety With Children: Why Kids Need A Hand In Traffic

Police and parking officers regularly patrol school zones and stringent penalties apply.

For more information, visit:

https://www.burwood.nsw.gov.au/For-Residents/Our-Environment/Road-Safety-Around-Our-Schools

https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/schools/index.html

Let us always use our roads responsibly

Usha Arvind
Road Safety Officer
Burwood Council

International Women’s Day dinner

The Ex-Students’ Association are so pleased to be co-hosting our International Women’s Day event with the P&F, on Wednesday March 8.

We are excited to announce that Emma Duxbury will be chairing the panel.

Emma, founder of ED Media Management, is a  journalist, newsreader and media management and branding specialist.

On the panel we also have Johanna O’Rourke, newly appointed Group General Counsel & Company Secretary ASX Limited.

This community event is for parents, senior students, staff and ex-students.

Please buy your tickets through trybookings.

Looking forward to seeing you,

Elizabeth Pooley

President Santa Sabina College Ex-Students’ Association

From the P&F Association

Welcome to 2023

Welcome back to all families and students to what will be a wonderful 2023. A special welcome to all new families to Santa Sabina College, we are all excited to meet you in person at one of the many upcoming events in 2023.

Term 1 has already been buzzing with activity with the Principal’s Welcome Drinks kicking off the year to a great start. We hope you enjoyed the afternoon and made new connections throughout the school. We are looking forward to celebrating International Women’s Day 2023 with a Dinner on 8 March at Le Montage. Make sure you don’t miss out on what will be a great night and opportunity for all to Network and meet the school community. To secure your tickets please see the details below.

Outside of the P&F led events your Parent Representatives are busily planning year group catch ups so keep an eye out for invitations. If you haven’t done so make sure you connect with your Year Group via the Santa Sabina College WhatsApp by completing the online form to ‘Join Groups’ found on Veritas Online

Yours in friendship

Joseph Gittani
P&F President

Upcoming events

International Women’s Day 2023 ‘Embrace Equality‘

An opportunity to connect, discuss and ignite conversations of stepping forward to Embrace Equality.   Limited seats available. Book Now

Parent education

‘Building Community’ by Debra Brodowski

As we start 2023, there’s a sense of excited anticipation in the community. It seems that the acute years of the impacts of COVID-19, with associated lockdowns, remote learning, disrupted activity, are a thing of the past. 2023 seems to be emerging as a year where we are able to come together as a community, building bonds, forging friendships, both for our young people and ourselves.

There are many benefits to building community:

• We feel an increased feeling of safety and security
• We are friendly to others and build friendships, allowing us to feel supported in times of need
• We are able to celebrate the joys the year may bring, and help out when we need to lend a helping hand.

Building community does not happen automatically. Whilst it feels like our children, particularly those that are younger, can forge friendships based on liking the same colour, TV show, or movie, maintaining friendships take effort and work. Of course, this effort is worthwhile and has enormous rewards to our mental health and wellbeing.

How do we support our young people in building community in 2023?

• Getting involved in activities with others. Try a psort, a music group of some other co-curricular activity
• Participate in College-based events.
• Be inclusive, invite others, particularly if them may not know too many people.

These allow the opportunity to connect with old friendships, as well as create new ones. Being friendly creates a College of inclusiveness and connectedness, one where each and every person benefits from the kindness and gratitude from building community.

Being friendly, as well as building friendships is a powerful way of building a College community where everyone is able to benefit.