We are just three weeks into the new school year and already we have enjoyed so many opportunities to come together as a school community. Our Orientation day for new students to the College as well as those in Years 5 and 7 was filled with nervous excitement. It was a lovely chance to welcome parents to the College. I spoke to the families about the importance of helping their children to develop their growing independence and take responsibility. By Year 7 children should be getting themselves ready for school, packing their lunches and organising their own homework. The important thing to remember is that our job as parents isn’t to clear a path for our children so that there are no obstacles, but to instead allow them to experience the discomforts that life will invariably deliver so that they can learn to make good decisions, become self-aware, develop coping mechanisms, resolve conflict, develop compassion and feel confident to tackle future setbacks. This is important if we want our children to grow up to be confident and capable adults. You can hear more about ways to support your child to take responsibility, become resilient and be resourceful by coming along to hear Dr Judith Locke present in March. She will be speaking with Primary and Gioia House parents at 6:30pm on 4 March and will then run another workshop for parents of older students the next evening, Tuesday 5 March at 6:30pm. You can register to attend here for the Prep to Year 6 session and here for the Years 7-12 session.
The spotlight is very much on single-sex versus co-education at the moment and the media is certainly enjoying the debate. For the past 30 years, I have worked in a mix of co-educational and single-sex schools and I have loved almost every minute of my time in each of those environments. We are fortunate in this country to have a choice about where we choose to send our children and I see this as a good thing. I myself am a product of both co-educational and girls’ only schooling environments and for me personally, attending a girls’ secondary school was one of the single most empowering experiences of my life and for that I will always be grateful to my parents for the sacrifices they made to allow this to happen for me. I acknowledge though that this is not the case for all girls and it is always about the best fit for the child. However, I do believe single-sex secondary educational environments offer many advantages for adolescent girls and I am passionate about Santa Sabina College and what we achieve for our students. I see the very positive impact of a girls’ only education borne out in the young women with whom I interact every day. At our school, we are fortunate to have the co-educational experience in the Primary Years when there are very few differences between the genders. This allows us to establish emotional and social building blocks for the future before students have to navigate the physical and emotional changes that come with adolescence. In all educational environments, single-gender or co-educational, the principals I know strive to cultivate schools where respectful relationships are highly valued. We work hard to create opportunities to support our students to be able to enter into healthy relationships grounded in respect and to ensure our graduates are good humans who will work to make the world a better, kinder, more compassionate place.
Our annual High Achievers Assembly was a wonderful success and it was great to catch up with students from the Class of 2023 to celebrate their achievements and congratulate them on the university courses that they are about to embark upon. Ella Curran and Cece Addabbo, joint Dux of the Class of 2023 spoke to the girls with their advice of choosing subjects that they genuinely enjoyed, and that despite the cliche, ‘balance was the key’. Ella elaborated explaining that, ‘Learning is about setting your own standards. It’s about extending your passions and desires into tangible skills that allow you to reach your goals. If you focus too much on the numbers, I find you lose your real purpose. And purpose is what drives success. That’s why it’s so important to choose subjects you love and simply commit to doing your best, rather than becoming lost in the corrosive cycle of comparison and competition. When you study in order to extend your own knowledge of the world, that’s when you truly shine.’
As we enter into the Lenten season, we begin a period of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. Pope Francis’ Lenten message is based on the theme: through the desert God leads us to freedom. In his message to us, he writes,
It is time to act, and in Lent, to act also means to pause. To pause in prayer, in order to receive the word of God, to pause like the Samaritan in the presence of a wounded brother or sister. Love of God and love of neighbour are one love. Not to have other gods is to pause in the presence of God beside the flesh of our neighbour. For this reason, prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying, in which we cast out the idols that weigh us down, the attachments that imprison us. Then the atrophied and isolated heart will revive. Slow down, then, and pause! The contemplative dimension of life that Lent helps us to rediscover will release new energies. In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travellers. This is God’s dream, the promised land to which we journey once we have left our slavery behind.
Finally, our Welcome Drinks event for the whole school parent community was just a lovely evening and very well attended. I really enjoyed speaking to parents, hearing how their children are settling into the new year and feeling deeply connected to this community. There was such a feeling of positivity and joy in the air and it was quite contagious. My thanks to all teachers and staff who attended this important event to connect with our families which is so important if we are to work together to see our children flourish.
In this, our 130th year, it is important to consider what it means to be Dominican and to ensure that we can see and live this ethos not just by looking into our yesterdays but also by walking with each other today and by planning for our future tomorrow.
On the landing page of the website for the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands is the following description of the Mission of the Sisters:
Empowered by the gifts of the spirit, alert to the signs of the times and working for Gospel values, we seek to preach truth, defend freedom and promote justice.
‘To read the signs of the times’ is a phrase synonymous with the Dominican Ethos and Sr Mary O’Driscoll explores this notion, presenting it as something that can be both quite academic as well as something very personal and heartfelt. She writes ‘As Dominicans, we are asked to get to reality, we want the truth to come out.’
Her reflections on the meaning of the search for truth emphasise that while study is important, Truth isn’t all about study. It’s about relating, empathising, feeling. Our hearts aren’t secondary to our minds; they’re just as powerful. Truth isn’t all about academic theories; it’s also about considering our personal relationships, and our relationship with the world around us. We’re called, she tells us to “read the signs of the times in our home, communities, and worldwide.”
It’s a lesson taken first-hand from Dominic. One evening in 1206, outside the north gates of the village of Fanjeaux, Dominic sat reading about St Mary Magdalen whose feast day it was. As he reflected on the life of the saint, he was moved to ask God for guidance in what he should do. He also asked for a sign from the Blessed Virgin to help him. Just then, a globe of fire came out of the heavens, hovered a bit, and then, in a blaze of glory, settled over the forlorn and desolate church of Prouille which was nearby. The saint could not believe his eyes. He came back to the same spot the next evening and the sign was repeated. He returned again on the third evening and sure enough the vision appeared again. He took this as the sign he had prayed for and determined that the church at Prouille was the place God wanted him to begin his work. This vision is known as the Seignadou, ‘the sign of God’, in the language of the place and time.
So, let’s take time in 2024, our 130th anniversary year, to read the signs of the times, in fact to see our truth unfolding. As we contemplate, engage, converse, teach and love may we see our truth unfolding before us – a truth that is each day altered and unfurling because we have undertaken these tasks in a contemporary way – responding to the world in which we exist today, now.
AND may we do this not as Dominicans but because we are Dominican.
Our Liturgical start to the year
The start of the year has also been a wonderful time for us to come together to celebrate Mass together across the campus. On Wednesday 31 January Father John Hayes joined us to celebrate two opening Masses for our Years 5-12 students. On Friday 2 February we were joined by Fr Gavin Foster who led the P-4 Opening Mass. During our opening Masses the 13th Anniversary commemorative pins were blessed and all students received these pins to wear on their uniforms for the remainder of the year.
Ash Wednesday and Lent
On Wednesday 14 March we entered the season of Lent by marking Ash Wednesday with House group or grade-level liturgies. During Lent we will be supporting the Caritas Lenten Appeal and various initiatives will occur over the coming weeks. This may also be an opportunity for students to attend Christian meditation, Thursday lunchtime Mass or Rosary groups that are held across all campuses at the College each week.
Melanie van der Meer Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Deputy Principal Operations
Welcome to 2024 at Santa Sabina! Twenty-twenty-four shapes to be another busy year with the College celebrating its 130th anniversary.
There are three ways that families can stay up to date with happenings at Santa: by subscribing to the Santa Sabina calendar; using the calendar function on the College app or through using the calendar on Veritas Online. The calendar is the source of all events that are occurring on both the Santa Sabina and Del Monte campus as well as the community events that occur throughout the year. On the landing page of each issue of Veritas Voice we publish key dates of interest in the next three weeks (taking us to the following issue of this newsletter).
As mentioned earlier, the College app is the primary source of all notifications and schedules for sporting and music activities at the College. By clicking on the sports icon on the app, families can view the training or rehearsal for their child to assist in planning for the week ahead. If families have not downloaded the College app, I encourage families to do so. Simply search the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) for Santa Sabina College. Look for the red and white Santa Sabina College logo.
Veritas Online (also known as VO), our school management system, is a key information source for families. All new families should have received login instructions to access Veritas Online at the commencement of the school year, while existing families can access Veritas Online using their existing details. If you are having any difficulty accessing Veritas Online, please contact our IT Team either by emailing itsupport@ssc.nsw.edu.au or by phoning 9745 7104.
Saturday sporting competitions have commenced for the year. Due to Health and Safety concerns, dogs are not permitted onsite. Please be aware staff will ask spectators with dogs to leave the premises.
A reminder to all families driving to school that the Kiss and Ride zones on Carrington Road and Jersey Road are strictly no parking zones between 7:30am and 9:00am and again between 2:30pm and 4:00pm. Burwood and Strathfield Council Rangers and police regularly monitor the areas around the College to encourage compliance.
John Gilmore Deputy Principal Operations
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Year 12 2023
Our Year 12 students in 2023 achieved a magnificent set of Higher School Certificate and IB results. This cohort navigated the complexities and unique opportunities within the HSC and IB and, consequently, has been awarded the strongest results Santa has seen in over a decade. Last week, we recognised over 95 students in the High Achievers Assembly. The categories included students who received a Band 6 or E4 in the HSC or a Grade 7 in the IB, a nomination or selection for a showcase for their Major Project and an ATAR greater than 90.
In the HSC, we had five top HSC All-rounders: Cece Addabbo, Ella Curran, Nesia Putri, Sophie Rigon and Allanah Tannous. We had 18 awards to students who placed in the top 5, 10 and up to 20th in the state. We had 18 students in Design and Technology nominated for SHAPE. Eva Whitbread will play her Music 1 piece at the Opera House in the ENCORE showcase in the coming weeks. Anna Le’s HSC artwork is not only in ARTEXPRESS at the prestigious Art Gallery of NSW, but it was also the piece chosen for the ARTEXPRESS Invitation and 94.5FM invited Anna to speak about her artmaking practice. Ella Curran has received an award from the History Teachers Association for her History Extension work.
The 2023 IB Diploma students were collegial, curious and a cohesive group; their teachers spoke of how they dug deep when the workload got heavy. We congratulate our top-achieving students, Sophia Abdallah and Rosanna Cartwright, who both received an IB score of 44 out of 45. It is a rigorous broad course as all students are required to learn a language and complete study in all curriculum areas: English, Maths, Science, Humanities and the Arts. They also write an Extended Essay, complete a service component and study the Theory of Knowledge.
In my speech to the students, teachers and parents, I also recognised the quiet achievers and the students who kept their teachers on their toes, sending them up to 10 years worth of past papers as practice for feedback. These students made such a difference not only for their mark but for the cohort. I congratulate every student in the HSC and IBDP as they worked hard and have been rewarded well.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN is scheduled for March this year and we have started preparing students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is an online test (except writing in Year 3), so the IT team is supporting each student as they upload the Lockdown Browser for their device. Parents will receive a letter with the dates and equipment this week. It is a requirement that each student has a set of wired headphones (not Bluetooth). Parents can learn more about it in the NAPLAN information brochure for parents/carers.
Dr Judith Locke
In the staff days before the students returned at the start of the year, all teachers and non-teaching staff had the privilege of listening to Dr Judith Locke, a registered clinical psychologist, former teacher, and school counsellor on supporting our students to be confident and independent. Judith is also the author of Bonsai Child and Bonsai Student. She is an outstanding presenter who understands children’s challenges and how we can support them while at school.
We have two parent evenings in March. Monday 4 March will cover parenting tips for children in Primary Years, and Tuesday 5 March is pitched to parents and carers of students in Years 7-12. I highly recommend parents attend one or both of the Parent Evenings. As a parent of older children myself, I can only say I wish I had Judith supporting me with parenting.
Jacqueline Pugh Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Head of Primary P-6
Our school year commenced with a spiritually uplifting Welcome Mass, marking the start of a new academic journey. The Mass set a positive and reflective tone for the year ahead, reminding us all of the importance of faith, unity, and a commitment to learning and personal growth. It was a beautiful way to welcome both new and returning faces, encapsulating the spirit of our school and paving the way for an inspiring and successful year.
As we welcomed back our students to Del Monte and Gioia House, our teachers have been focusing on providing opportunities for students to build connections with their new peers and settle into their daily school routines. We understand that the start of a new school year can bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety for some students, especially around forming friendships and adjusting to a new environment. Just like learning to ride a bike, it’s sometimes necessary to let things wobble a bit. This approach helps in fostering independence, building resilience, and empowering your child to navigate transitions successfully.
We are excited to begin our educational partnership with new families and to continue strengthening our bond with existing ones. This year, we are committed to nurturing our students as active learners, deeply involved in shaping their own educational journey. We look forward to seeing them take on challenges, and show kindness and understanding within our learning community.
It was wonderful to host Del Monte and Year 5 parent information evening session last week. We were thrilled to meet many of you and walk you through new initiatives and current programs. Thank you for taking the time to join us at school and sharing kind and encouraging words. Your positive feedback was very much appreciated. Del Monte parents had the opportunity to meet with their child’s class teacher for a brief meet and greet in Week 1. This week, Gioia House teachers continue making phone calls to parents to introduce themselves and learn more about your daughter.
Knowing students
To effectively meet our students’ diverse needs, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of their academic and social and emotional needs. In the first two weeks Del Monte and Gioia House Teachers were actively engaged in gathering and analysing student data, which informed tailored teaching strategies, early interventions, and enrichment opportunities. We are actively working on enhancing our reporting format to provide parents with a clearer understanding of their child’s academic progress. This improvement aims to offer more insight into students’ current standing and guidance on their potential growth paths.
My visits to classrooms have been a truly enriching experience. Engaging in conversations with the students, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about their distinct personalities and diverse interests. Each class I enter brims with incredible energy, and the students’ enthusiasm and curiosity are incredible to observe.
Year 4 Leaders
Last week, I had the privilege of discussing the important topic of leadership with Year 4 students. We delved into various aspects of what defines a good leader and explored the broader concepts of leadership. It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm among the students as they are now in the midst of preparing their speeches, with many expressing a keen interest in nominating themselves for the role of Del Monte Captain. Teachers and I are eagerly looking forward to hearing their speeches next week. This is an exciting time for our young leaders as they embark on a journey of self-discovery and development in their leadership skills.
Gioia House Leadership
In Week 1, Gioia House students were introduced to the leadership structure. An impressive number of Year 6 students, 58 out of 101, stepped forward to nominate themselves for various leadership roles, showcasing their enthusiasm and commitment to serving the community. This week was marked by the nominees delivering their compelling speeches, setting the stage for the challenging task ahead for us – shortlisting five candidates for each student leadership position and three for each house colour leader role.
The voting for Del Monte and Gioia House leaders will take place on Friday, 23 February, and the elected leaders will be announced on Monday, 25 February. The commissioning of these new leaders is scheduled for Thursday, 29 February, marking a significant milestone in their leadership journey. I extend my congratulations to all the students who demonstrated remarkable courage by stepping up. We also look forward to welcoming the parents of the newly elected leaders to the commissioning ceremony, a moment of pride and celebration for our school community.
K-4 College Pillars Awards
We are excited to announce the introduction of the College Pillars Awards this year. These awards are a significant addition to our school’s tradition, recognising and celebrating students who embody the core qualities of our pillars: Prayer, Community, Service, and Learning. The recipients of these awards, nominated by their class teachers will be awarded at our school assemblies. To ensure that our younger students fully grasp the importance and meaning of these pillars, we have developed child-friendly descriptions, which have been unpacked in classrooms. This initiative is more than just an acknowledgment of individual achievements; it is an affirmation of our College values. By highlighting the actions and characteristics that reflect these pillars, we aim to encourage all students to live these values deeply and authentically in their daily lives.
We congratulate Pillars Award recipients:
Prayer Prayer is like talking to a friend, and it can be done in different ways. It’s a chance for each of us to connect with God and share our thoughts and feelings. The Dominican pillar of prayer reminds us to take moments in our busy lives to think about what really matters and what makes us happy. Zara Fajloun
Service Helping others is like following the good things Jesus and St. Dominic did. When we talk to God, learn new things, and make friends, it makes us want to go out and do good things for others. That’s what service is all about – putting our faith into action by helping and caring for people. Joanna Wong Adriana Elias Christopher Fajloun Dohhyun Park Vijayan Jayaseelan
Community Community means being together and supporting each other, both here at school and outside. It’s about making friends and caring for each other. The Dominican Pillar of Community reminds us to be a good person, be kind to others and be connected with others. Abigail BouAntoun Isabela Barros Damier Lin Sebastian Hidalgo Abigail Amor Evelyn Metledge Andrea Khoury William Lu
Learning Learning is like an exciting adventure where we work together to discover new things and grow into our best selves. We aim to be curious learners, asking important questions, being strong when things get tricky, thinking about what we learn, and teaming up with friends to understand and enjoy learning even more. Leo Deng Anthony Chidiac Victor Rizk Zoe Nguyen Leo Wany Samuel Chidiac George Rizk Oscar Kochman Olivia Lai Yousseff Taouk Valentina Nader Aria Leung Ivy Taouk Scarlett Ghossein
Gioia House Action Girl Awards
At Gioia House, our ongoing commitment is to foster qualities such as integrity, respect, advocacy, kindness, and confidence, while creating opportunities for our girls to engage in positive actions. To recognise and encourage these efforts, any teacher can nominate a student for the Action Girl Award. These awards are presented at the Gioia House assembly, celebrating students who actively embody these values and make meaningful contributions to our community. This initiative reinforces our dedication to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are not only academically capable but also socially responsible and compassionate.
This week’s Action Girl Award recipients are showcased in Ms Maks’ report.
Road Safety
The safety of our students is our highest priority, and it has come to our attention that there are increasing concerns regarding road safety near our school. Unfortunately, there are too many instances of drivers disregarding road safety rules, thereby putting your children, our students, at risk. We urge all members of our college community to be vigilant and adhere strictly to road safety regulations.
We kindly request all parents and guardians to follow the road safety rules diligently, especially in and around Carrington Road. This includes observing the school zone speed limits, adhering to parking restrictions, and ensuring safe street crossing. These measures are crucial in maintaining a safe environment for our students and help in preventing accidents.
In light of numerous allergies among our students, we ask parents to be mindful when bringing birthday treats to school. We request that any treats provided are individually packed and nut-free. To ensure the safety and inclusion of all students, these treats will be distributed at the end of the school day. This precaution helps us to safeguard the health of all our students while allowing them to celebrate these special occasions safely.
Parent helpers
We welcome parents to volunteer as a helper on the Del Monte Campus please visit VO and select the Primary Parent Helpers tab to fill out the Google doc or click on this LINK.
Gracious God, as we begin this Lenten journey, guide our hearts and minds towards renewal and growth. Help us to embrace simplicity, to find strength in fasting, and to be generous in our giving. May this season of Lent bring us closer to You and to each other, fostering a spirit of compassion and love in our school community. Amen
May this Lent be a time of meaningful introspection and spiritual growth for all of us
Stella Azizian Head of Primary P-6
Calendar events
DEL MONTE CALENDAR EVENTS
Thursday 22 February – Years 3-12 Swimming Carnival, SOPAC
Tuesday 27 February – Prep to Year 4 School Photos
Wednesday 28 February – P&F General Meeting
Thursday 29 February – Commissioning Leaders Liturgy 2:00pm
Monday 4 March – 6:30pm – 8:00pm Judith Locke Parent Evening Prep to Year 6
Wednesday 6 March – Friday 8 March – Year 4 Camp, Tallong
Thursday 7 March – International Women’s Day Dinner, College Hall
Wednesday 13 March to Monday 18 March: Year 3 NAPLAN
Thursday 28 March – Holy Thursday (College closed)
Friday 29 March – Good Friday Public Holiday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday Public Holiday
Monday 8 April – Years 3 to 4 Sydney Catholic Schools Mixed Netball Gala Day
Friday 12 April – Last day of term
GIOIA HOUSE
22 February – 3-12 Swimming Carnival
23 February – SSC Photos
4 March (P-6) – Dr Judith Locke parent presentation
5 March (7-12) – Dr Judith Locke parent presentation
13-18 March – Year 5 NAPLAN
22 March – 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Prep
We have started the school year by welcoming 47 nervous and excited students into Prep. The students are beginning each day with growing confidence and independence as they wave goodbye to their parents and enter the Learning Space. Did you know that our youngest learners are already able to unpack their own bags when they arrive in Prep each morning?
Currently, a favourite activity in Prep is Developmental Play. Developmental Play is when a variety of activities are made available from which the students can choose to participate in. This type of play helps to develop our students’ social skills as they learn to share and communicate with each other.
Kindergarten
The students in Kindergarten have had a very positive and successful start to the year. They are already demonstrating resilience, respect and responsibility when engaging in learning experiences, following daily routines, meeting new friends, and moving around the school safely.
The students have begun to develop a sense of community during social activities and have met their Year 4 Buddies. The Kindergarten and Year Four Buddies have been paired according to their respective colour houses and will meet fortnightly to engage in various group activities.
Our BeFit Program has also commenced and will continue fortnightly on Tuesdays, during even weeks only. The students will be required to wear their sport uniform on these Tuesdays, in addition to their usual scheduled PE day.
We look forward to working in partnership with you and your child during 2024!
Stella Azizian Head of Primary P-6
Director of Community Relations P-12
We have started our 130th Year anniversary of Santa Sabina College with great joy and celebration and we have already had a number of opportunities to come together as a community. At our Opening school mass, all students and staff were presented with an anniversary pin that was blessed by our priest to wear during this year. Last week we hosted close to 600 parents at our Welcome Drinks and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to all come together.
Bookings for our Gala Dinner next month at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel are building, but we still have a few tables left. Click on the invitation below to book and help us make the anniversary one to remember!
Every Year Group is represented with tables, so don’t worry if you don’t have a full table, we will be able to seat you with other parents from your child’s cohort.
We are excited to announce that our MC for the evening will be Rahni Sadler of the Class of 1989, an award-winning television journalist, media presenter and keynote speaker. Entertainment will be provided by Planet Groove, Sydney’s best covers band. A large number of Dominican Sisters and staff members will be in attendance and are looking forward to celebrating with you.
Enrolment for Prep and Kindergarten 2025 and Year 5 and Year 7 2026
Enrolment interviews for Prep and Kindergarten 2025 and Year 5 and Year 7 2026 are now open. If you need to enrol a student for these year groups please ensure you do this as soon as possible as places are filling fast. Applications can be made via the College website:
The 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner is upon us with much planning taking place behind the scenes. As you know our Gala Dinner will be held at the Fullerton Hotel, Sydney where we hope the majority of our community can join us in this momentous celebration. If you have as yet to organise your seat for the dinner there is still time. I encourage all our community to get behind this event and enjoy a night with friends, make new friends and support the College. Please click on the link to purchase your ticket(s).
The College is offering an opportunity for you to make a difference in the lives of our boys and girls with the launch of our sponsorship proposal for the 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner. We are seeking major sponsors who will lead our fundraising initiatives and be recognised by our community.
The Rosary Garden – As a major College Sponsor you will have exclusive rights for the opportunity to purchase a family plaque that will be embedded in the stone of the Rosary Garden in the Del Monte Rotunda. There are only five (5) on offer.
If you would like to sponsor the College dinner, I would be more than happy to discuss this initiative with you.
4 September – Our first-ever Giving Day at Santa Sabina
10 October (TBC) – SSC Community Golf Day @ Strathfield Golf Club
George Ayoub Director of Development
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 Del Monte 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 at the primary school prior to 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 and 8:30am or 2:00pm and 6pm so they can be enrolled in OOSH.
After School Care for Prep children
As the Education and Care Services National Regulations has specific requirements for children under 5 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 and 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 and 8:30am or 2:00pm and 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
Tallong Campus
The Tallong Campus Open Day launched the New Year here at Tallong in splendid fashion on Sunday 4 February. The Tallong team was very busy in the lead-up preparing the grounds, setting up the activities and camping displays and it was well worth the effort with upwards of 140 guests joining us on the day. ‘Cheffery’ and the kitchen team outdid themselves again, not only with the stunning food but also with the sensational animal fruit displays.
A huge shout out to our Year 10 Leaders who conducted the Campus Tours throughout the day. Temperatures in the low- to mid-30s did not hold back their smiles nor their enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to hear them sharing stories of their time at Tallong and their outdoor education journey at Santa Sabina with our guests. What a group of legends!
Special thanks also to Yvette Graniero, Chris Walker and our Outdoor Education staff in supporting the setup of the Open Day and delivery on the ground.
We are now back in the swing of our Outdoor Education programming with Tallong Campus partnering with Loreto Normanhurst, Roseville College and Wenona over the coming weeks. We finish the month with a program we all love – the Santa Sabina Year 7 ‘Coming Together’ experience.
Steven Fox Manager Tallong Campus
Music in the Senior Years
Music in the Senior School (Curricular)
It’s been an exciting start to the year as we welcome our new Year 7 cohort and continue the musical journey with Year 8.
In Year 7, students are diving into the fundamentals of music with a focus on ‘The Building Bricks of Music’, while also honing their singing skills through partner songs. Meanwhile, Year 8 students are delving into the rich history of popular music, tracing its roots from African influences to the emergence of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
For our Year 9 and 10 Elective students, this term marks a deep exploration of the six Concepts of Music through engaging aural tasks and expanding their music literacy. Year 9 will explore Theatre Music, with a spotlight on Opera, Ballet, and Musicals, while Year 10 will embark on a journey through composition and Australian Music, with a particular focus on Indigenous and contemporary classical music.
As for our Year 11 IB and HSC courses, students are delving into the senior curriculum, applying their elective knowledge to set work analysis, composition, and performance opportunities.
Year 12 IB and HSC students are diligently preparing their portfolios, compositions, performances, and set work analyses for their final submissions and exams.
We’re also thrilled to announce that all elective music classes have been invited to attend this year’s ENCORE performance, showcasing the exceptional talents of the 2023 cohort from across NSW. We’re especially proud to highlight Eva Whitbread from our 2023 Music 1 class, who was chosen from thousands of candidates to showcase her talents at this prestigious event.
Here’s to a year filled with musical exploration, growth, and celebration!
Students are enjoying class in the refreshed learning spaces at Holyrood.
IB Music Showcase – ‘Cadences of Life’
Join us on Thursday 29 February at 5:00pm in the Blackbox Theatre for our IB MUSIC Showcase. Hosted by Ms Veronica Tsang and the Year 12 IB Music class, ‘Cadences of Life’ is a showcase of IB Music Higher Level Projects, with each work having undergone a rigorous process of composing, workshopping, collaborating, rehearsing, and refining. The showcase offers a musical journey featuring original compositions in a range of styles, exploring themes of grief and change, friendship and love. Please enjoy this trailer,and we hope to see you there!
Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey Music Teacher | Head of Curricular Music 5-12
Japanese Cultural Exchange Opportunity 2024
Host families wanted
For over 30 years, Santa Sabina has enjoyed hosting Japanese exchange students from Japan. These exchanges have provided a valuable learning experience for both hosted and hosting students and fostered many ever-lasting friendships.
The students are looking forward to this opportunity to live in Australia and share customs, traditions and culture with Australian families. The students will be arriving on 28 April and expected to depart on 29 June. We are asking families to host for two to five weeks during this time. The exchange student will contribute a weekly fee of $250 to each host family.
A meeting will be held towards the end of Term 1 to introduce host families to each other and to answer any questions you may have. In the past, Australian families have thoroughly enjoyed the hosting experience and have recommended it to others. We thank you in anticipation of your assistance.
If you would be interested in hosting one of these students next year, please email Ms Shiragaki: a.shiragaki@ssc.nsw.edu.au. Please note that family members aged 18 or older are requested to apply for the Working with Children Check (WWCC). It is a requirement for anyone who works or volunteers in child-related work in NSW and there is no application fee for a volunteer.
Thank you for your interest in the program.
Aya Shiragaki Japanese Teacher
Students from Japan
We celebrated a Setsubun festival with three Japanese exchange students this week and Year 7 and 8 Japanese classes made an Oni mask.
Sayaka Arikawa and Airin Tominaga are from Fujimigaoka High School in Tokyo and Lemon Kiyokawa is from Soshin Girls High School in Yokohama. They are enrolled in Year 10 and will assist some of the Year 7-10 Japanese classes this term.
Santa Sabina host sisters: Lisa Geddes, Alexis Gittani, Aaliyah Ngo, Holly Ward, Bamji Xylah and Cary Yeung.
We would like to sincerely thank the host sisters and their families for warmly welcoming the Japanese exchange students.
Year 7 Japanese (Setsubun Oni masks)
Year 9 Japanese class (Setsubun Origami)
Year 7 Japanese: Oni mask making
Aya Shiragaki Japanese Teacher
Virtual Learning in Year 11 Ancient History
In 2024 the HSIE Faculty is exploring innovative teaching and learning strategies to challenge students to think critically and creatively. Virtual Reality can deepen learning by giving students the opportunity to build memorable and immersive authentic learning experiences that are not usually possible in a normal school day. During a double lesson, Year 11 Ancient Historians had the opportunity to explore the tomb of Nefertiti through a virtual reality site study using our Lumination Labs in the Santa Sabina Library. Students had the freedom to investigate areas of the physical structure of the tomb and the hieroglyphics and symbols on the tomb walls that they found interesting. The aim of this lesson was to provide students with an immersive experience to heighten their engagement with the archaeological site of an Ancient Egyptian tomb and question how this tomb provides evidence about Ancient Egyptian society and historical personalities. Student feedback reported high levels of engagement, motivation and creative historical critical thinking.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (History and Social Sciences)
Student Reflections
Nefertiti’s tomb showed valuable insight into ancient Egyptian gods and beliefs especially in relation to the afterlife. For example the recurring image of Osiris, the God of the Dead, and the symbolic connection through images on Nafrati. I also found the virtual reality space of the tomb interesting and engaging, especially in understanding the height and layout of the tomb. It allowed me to better understand and appreciate the amount of labour and effort it would have taken in Antiquity to make it and how many key elements of the tomb have survived and been preserved over time, even after facing tomb robbers. Emily Guerreiro
This digital site study is different from using stratigraphy and artefacts as it allows us to fully immerse ourselves into an Ancient Egyptian tomb to understand what life was like back then. The decoration on the walls of a tomb can allow us to learn about hieroglyphics and Ancient Egyptian culture and why the person in the tomb was so important to Ancient Egyptian society. The value of the digital tomb analysis is that we are able to fully immerse ourselves, however the limitation is that we aren’t able to touch artefacts. Lauren Turner
The Lumination Lab was a really immersive experience that allowed us to engage with Ancient Egyptian culture. It was really interesting seeing the paintings, and carvings that adorned the walls, additionally, seeing the meaning behind them. I enjoyed seeing the different sections of the tomb, it felt really life-like and I even found myself moving around the tomb as if I was there in reality. It was really engaging and a great learning experience, I had a lot of fun. Claire Carroll
The digital Lumination Lab visit provided an immersive visual learning experience which allowed us to get up close and personal in the constraints of the digital world with hieroglyphs and tomb layouts. Through our exploration of the walls we can learn about how hieroglyphs were displayed and set out and what information they could provide to Historians studying Ancient Egypt. The experience is valuable in terms of the amount of visual information which can be analysed. Lily Vincent
The Lumination Lab site study was very different, it felt very surreal and strange as the light shone in particular areas, I could see a lot of dust in the air. It was very interesting to virtually walk around the tomb and look at the engravings on the walls. Sofia Moyano
The experience was very immersive as I was drawn into the virtual world of the tomb of Nefertari. I enjoyed being able to explore the tomb and examine the walls in detail where there were lots of engravings and images of different gods the Egyptians worshipped at the time. The Virtual Reality made the experience very real as I found myself ducking to avoid hitting the ceiling or crouching down to see the hieroglyphics on the walls. Tiffany Dao
Year 10 vaccination program
In Year 10, students are offered free vaccines for Meningococcal ACWY at Santa Sabina College on 2 April 2024.
Vaccinations will only be provided if consent has been received.
Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
Enter your child’s personal details.
Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child.
If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form directly from the College Nurse.
The benefits of providing consent online:
easily update your child’s details
receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).
Online consent must be completed by Friday 15 March 2024. If you have any questions, please call me on 9745 7187.
Karen Peeters College Nurse
National Youth Science Forum
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) offers an extraordinary eight-night program with two sessions in Brisbane and Canberra for Year 12 students eager to dive into the realms of STEM. Gathering over 500 students nationwide, NYSF provides engaging lectures, site visits, team-building activities, and many more fun activities. All students are put into constellation groups based on their interests in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and robotics, which fosters enduring connections with like-minded peers.
For us, a highlight of NYSF was Career Day which offered students a direct link to real professionals in a variety of STEM fields. This exclusive opportunity allowed for insightful discussions, the chance to pose questions, and the potential to find mentors who can shape future career paths. NYSF also introduced us to new facets of STEM that we were previously unaware of. This program extended beyond the science we learn in the classroom, sparking curiosity and motivating all of us to explore fields beyond our immediate interests. We are so glad we were able to seize this incredible opportunity – the memories and connections we got to make are unforgettable!
If you are interested in applying for next year it typically opens around May for current Year 11 students. Teacher references are a requirement and getting support from Rotary sponsors is encouraged.
Happy Scienceing 🙂
Hilary Chan and Genevieve Bitar
Careers Spotlight @ SSC
The Careers Program is starting to take shape in 2024 with students engaging in careers interviews, pattern of study discussions, exploring options at TAFE and work experience opportunities.
Class of 2023 Achievements
Congratulations to the Class of 2023 on their outstanding results and successes in reaching their desired post school pathways. We had a number of students secure early offers from universities including ANU, Notre Dame and ACU. Most notably, we had over 80 early offers from UTS and a further 30 from Macquarie University. We also had a number of students successfully secure co-op scholarships including two at UNSW and two at UTS. It was wonderful to celebrate the success of the cohort at the recent High Achievers Assembly and to hear of their plans for this year and beyond. We wish them well and look forward to them joining us at future Alumni events.
Key Dates for Year 12
Last week I met with Year 12 and provided them with an overview of key dates for the year ahead which can be referred to below. This is a helpful way to plan for the year ahead and keep a record of important dates and months for university applications. Confirmation of some dates related to applications for early entry, scholarships and open days will be shared with students as it becomes available. Year 12 are encouraged to use Term 1 and 2 to explore a variety of career options and get involved in a range of co-curricular, service and social justice activities to bolster their applications for next year.
Upcoming Events
Please click here for upcoming careers events and opportunities.
I encourage students to get in touch if they would like any further information on these events or any specific careers guidance around their interests and aspirations.
Eva Guirguis Head of Future Pathways & Partnerships
Gioia House Pastoral
Welcome to the 2024 school year! It was great to meet new and existing families at our Welcome Information session and our welcome gathering last week. The Gioia House students have impressed us with how well they have settled into Gioia House, especially our new Year 5 students.
This week we presented our first Action Girl Awards. Students are nominated to receive an Action Girl Award for displaying a positive attitude, taking responsibility and being organised each day, looking out for others and our environment.
Congratulations to the following Action Girls:
Emma Cooper Emily Nguyen Evangeline Notaras Chiara Mazza Ola Kochman Sireen Sukkar Lily Mikhael Gabriella Khalil
Gioia House Pastoral programs
Our Pastoral programs focus on student wellbeing, spiritual, social, emotional, cognitive and physical domains. Students take part in a variety of wellbeing programs and Service Learning opportunities.
Some of the Pastoral programs we offer include our Action Girl Pastoral program where we focus on building self-confidence and developing skills to deal with a variety of situations. The students have been looking into the qualities of an Action Girl, qualities such as being inclusive, respectful, honest, resilient, responsible, empathetic and compassionate.
Our Rock and Water pastoral program 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. This week the Year 6 students revised the symbolism of the Rock and Water Salute and practised focusing on their breathing and holding the Golden Rooster pose to pause, focus and centre themselves.
Our Gioia House Be Active session takes place once a fortnight, where students build on their teamwork skills and connect with all the students within Gioia House. Last week we enjoyed our first Gioia House Be Active afternoon where the girls build their collaboration skills, take part in a variety of outdoor games, and continue to build relationships with all Gioia House students and teachers.
Last week the Gioia Students had a Gioia House Buddies session during Community Time to allow the students to get to know each other better. The Year 6 buddies answered the questions from the Year 5 students, and they found common interests and started to build the special bond buddies share.
Safer Internet Day
The Gioia House students took part in Safer Internet Day on Tuesday 6 February with the theme this year being Connect. Reflect. Protect. The eSafety Commissioner provided a live virtual classroom webinar to help Years 5 and 6 students identify ways to protect themselves when gaming online. Students learned about the benefits of gaming, quality gaming habits, and how to contribute to a positive gaming culture. The students took part in the live webinar and completed activities to demonstrate their understanding of ways they can be safe when playing online games.
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
Music at Gioia House
Music at Gioia House (Curricular)
We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming our newest members to Gioia House, and it’s been a joy to introduce them to our vibrant musical community. From joining the Gioia House Choir to diving into instrumental lessons and curriculum classes, our new Gioia House girls are already making waves.
The harmonious blend of voices in our choir sets the stage for our upcoming Gala Concert, and rehearsals are underway with enthusiasm and excitement. Each girl has connected with her instrumental tutor and received her instrument for the Mini Maestros program, igniting a passion for music that is truly inspiring. Led by the expert guidance of Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich, our Gioia House Strings have already begun their rehearsals, setting the stage for an incredible journey ahead.
In their curriculum lessons with Mrs Pensini, the girls are applying their learnings from choir and instrumental sessions to enhance their music literacy and aural skills.
With such engaging and creative experiences underway, we’re gearing up for a fantastic year filled with learning, growth, and the joy of making music together!
Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey Music Teacher | Head of Curricular Music 5-12
Academic Course Overview
Thank you for joining us at the Parent Information Evening. The information session provided a quick demonstration of how to locate the Curriculum Overviews for Year 5 and Year 6. To explore this further, please click the link to direct you to the Academic Course Overview page. The information and overviews will be continually updated throughout the year.
Stephanie Yiorkas Gioia House Curriculum Leader
Year 6 and the Beatitudes
The students of Year 6 Milicic have been exploring the meaning of the Beatitudes as a way to live a Christian life. We have read Scripture stories and interpreted the message given to Christians in the Sermon on the Mount. Students selected a Beatitude that resonated with them and created their modern interpretation for display.
Ann Milicic Year 6 Teacher
Maths Challenge
Students have enjoyed a Maths Challenge where they are given six specific numbers which they can only use once. They have to strategise using addition; subtraction; multiplication; division; square and cubed numbers; and any other strategy to get to a given number.
Please ask them to explain this in more detail and share some of their thinking and use of strategies with you.
A sample question: Using the following numbers.
Leonie McLaren Year 6 Teacher
Philosophical Thinking in 6DM
The girls in 6DM have been busy creating analogies for the emotion of disappointment. In groups, they were provided with a variety of analogies that they needed to explain and justify. Here are a few examples:
How is disappointment like a BBQ?
Most of the time you can control the heat, like you can sometimes control your emotions.
You can close the lid to hide your disappointment, but it will keep building up. Or you can open it and address the emotion.
How is disappointment like a new game?
The more you learn about the game, the more you know how to deal with the challenges ahead, just like disappointment.
As the levels increase in difficulty, the harder it is to deal with your emotions.
Hope is disappointment like chewing gum?
Chewing gum has different flavours, just as disappointment can have different feelings and levels.
Chewing gum can stick to you, just like disappointment. However, it can be removed.
How is disappointment like snow?
You can choose what you want to make of it.
It can drop challenges on you, but you have to push through.
How is disappointment like a car?
As the car accelerates, the fumes are pushed out, just like disappointment being released.
The car can drive at different speeds, just like disappointment levels.
How is disappointment like a cupboard?
Both a cupboard and disappointment can be dark on the inside. However, when you open the door and let the light in, things can become a lot clearer.
When you keep filling your cupboard with items, it is like adding more to your disappointment levels.
Eamonn Dunphy and Marisa Maks Year 6 Teachers
6A collaboration and friendships
The girls in 6A have settled in beautifully to the new school year and have been getting to know one another. It has been fantastic to see new friendships developing, the kindness each student is showing one another, and the way the girls have been working collaboratively with their learning. We are off to a fabulous start!
Tiffany Anderson Year 6 teacher
Assistant Head of Primary P-4
Over the past few weeks since starting my position here at the P-4 campus, I have felt very warmly welcomed into the wonderful community we enjoy here at the College. I join the College as an ex-parent, ex-student and eternal truth seeker. In many ways, my return to a community that I have known and loved for many years, has felt like a homecoming, with friendships rekindled and new ones emerging as I get to know students, parents and the beautiful staff I have the pleasure of working alongside in educating your children. I look forward to getting to know many more families over the coming weeks at the Carrington Avenue gates, around the campus or at special functions and events, including our Coffee and Conversations for Lunar New Year tomorrow.
Pastoral Care
We are excited to announce the rollout of a number of changes to our Pastoral Care program at the Primary campus this term that have resulted from an extensive review, in 2023, of Pastoral Care policies and practices. The changes include the introduction of the DM Pastoral Behaviour Matrix and commencement of Community Time for K-4 students. The result is a Pastoral Care program that is grounded in contemporary research, one that promotes student agency and employs a shared language across the College campuses to support consistent understanding and develop lifelong skills of respect, resilience, resourcefulness, self-regulation and responsibility.
Del Mont Pastoral Behaviour Matrix
Del Monte Pastoral Behaviour Matrix
The Del Monte Pastoral Behaviour Management Matrix was introduced to staff at our Staff Professional Learning Day at the start of the term, to students in their classrooms during their first week back at school, and to parents at our Parent Information Evening last week. The matrix forms part of our Pastoral Behaviour Management Framework which outlines the processes to help students learn and allow others to learn in a safe and respectful environment. It establishes clear, positive expectations for student behaviour in classrooms, on playgrounds and whilst on school excursions. Students use the matrix to identify and take ownership for unsafe and disrespectful behaviours exhibited by themselves and others and use explicitly taught strategies to self regulate, develop resilience, increase readiness to learn and allow others to learn.
In helping students resolve pastoral issues, staff employ a series of restorative questions to establish: what happened, what behaviours were being displayed and the restorative actions that can be taken to resolve and restore the relationship. This process also includes logical and reasonable consequences for student behaviour that breaches the College expectations and policies. Further details about the Behaviour Management Policy are outlined in student diaries.
We continue to commit to ongoing development of the Pastoral Care program with emphasis on the five essential skills your child needs for success at school and beyond; resilience, self-regulation, resourcefulness, respect and responsibility. We look forward to working with you and your child, as we work together to develop these lifelong skills.
Community Time
Last Thursday marked the first of our Community Time sessions where Kindergarten students met their Year 4 buddies for the first time. The students engaged in this session with great excitement and delight in having the Year 4 Leaders of our Primary campus, take them under their wings and form a friendship that will in many cases, last well beyond their first year of Primary school.
Students in Years 1-3 met in their House Colour groups during Community Time, participating in fun and engaging activities around the theme of Friendship. Designing the Community Time groups in this way, provides a platform for peer-to-peer learning in vertical groups across the Primary campus and aligns with the Homeroom grouping used on the senior campus. It builds friendships and community between students across different grades as they learn from each other and develop skills together.
Love Week
P-4 students have enjoyed participating in a variety of activities to celebrate Love Week this week at Del Monte. Each day of Love Week, saw students engage in a variety of activities centred around a daily theme.
On Monday, students explored the theme, Love Your Family, your Teachers and your Friends, creating illustrated love hearts with images and symbols of practical ways to put this theme into action. These hearts will be placed in our prayer space at this week’s assembly. On Tuesday, students offered up gratitude prayer intentions as they engaged with the daily theme of Recognise Your Blessings. The theme of Love Your Neighbour was brought to life through Ash Wednesday liturgies in our DM Chapel on Wednesday. To develop an inclusive culture by learning about each other, students explored the rich history and traditions of the Lunar New Year, on Thursday this week. To celebrate this occasion, students wore a touch of red. The playgrounds were bursting with colour and the students delighted in learning activities put together by our EAL/D Staff. Love Week concludes this Friday with students exploring the theme of Love God’s Creation by taking time after lunch to clean up classrooms and playground areas.
Lauren Petroni Assistant Head of Primary P-4
Year 4 – Leadership
Year 4 has been exploring the definition of leadership and leadership qualities. Students have had the opportunity to listen to Mrs Azizian share her expert knowledge about being a leader. In class, students are working collaboratively to expand their understanding about types of leaders and working effectively in teams. Soon, they will have opportunities to share leadership speeches to their peers which highlight their own leadership qualities.
Edward Wang, Catherine McGrath, Nicole Meehan and Calista Camarda Year 4 Teachers
Religious Education
Welcome to 2024 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 3-year cycle built around the 3 synoptic gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke. We are currently in Year B with the readings of Mark.
LENT
ASH WEDNESDAY
Holy God, you are good and loving.
As we celebrate Ash Wednesday,
we pray that during this time of Lent.
we will try to turn our hearts in love and kindness to you,
by doing good to those around us,
so, that we may become more like Jesus, your Son.
We make our prayer in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
On Wednesday 14 February, the Del Monte students participated in a liturgy to mark Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday begins our forty-day season of Lent that leads to Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together like the people of the Old Testament to remind ourselves that we don’t always follow God’s ways and need to ask God for His mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God and to have a change of heart so that we can live in the right relationship with God and each other.
Ash Wednesday also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
ASH MONDAY
Our Maronite students began their Lent on Ash Monday. The Maronite Lenten season begins with the “Entrance into Great Lent” on Cana Sunday. The common term for this day, “Clean Monday”, refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods. It is also called ‘Ash Monday’.
The theme of Project Compassion 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We are encouraged to put our compassion into action this Lent through our prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations, or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au
ROSARY DURING LENT
The Del Monte students are invited to pray the Rosary every Monday and Tuesday at Recess/ 1st Break in the Del Monte Chapel. The students will line up in the office area and then forward into the chapel. They will eat their food before they come into the chapel to pray.The Rosary will be led by Mrs Nicotina each day.
Please encourage your children to come and join us
TERM 1 MASSES, LITURGIES AND ASSEMBLIES
Our liturgical celebrations throughout the year take many different forms. As a catholic community, we gather regularly to pray and to celebrate liturgies and special feast days. Some of these celebrations include classroom, grade and whole school liturgies.
Classroom Prayer is an important part of children’s development of their relationship with God and is particularly encouraged through their participation in daily class prayers
Assemblies– Each fortnight the whole school community comes together for a time of celebration and collective worship. We celebrate the achievements of the school with our Pillar Awards. Prayer is an integral part of this assembly.
Mass– Throughout the year we have the joy of celebrating the Sacrament of the Eucharist in our Opening School Mass, Mother’s Day Mass, Father’s Day Mass and Our final mass of the year.
Special Liturgies–Important events in the Church’s liturgical year are celebrated as a class grade or school community. We hold these liturgies both in the Santa Sabina and Del Monte chapels.
Term 1 Masses, Liturgies and Assembly Dates
Thursday 29 February – Commissioning Leaders Liturgy 2:00 pm
Thursday 14 March –Assembly 2:30 pm
Monday 25 – Wednesday 27 March – Holy Week Liturgies
Thursday 4 April – Easter Liturgy
Thursday 11 April – Year 1 Assembly
Tina Nicotina Religious Education Coordinator P-6
Year 1
Year 1 has had a great beginning to the new school year establishing their daily routine, making friends and commencing their exciting new learning experiences. They have begun the Science unit ‘Living Things’ with a focus on the observable features of living things and their environment. Students engaged in a walk around the school grounds where they identified living and non-living things and completed a checklist with their classmates. Once they returned to their learning space, they discussed their findings and drew their conclusions, some creating posters of what they had discovered. It has been interesting observing the class as they begin to use technical language while exploring and answering questions through participation in these guided scientific investigations.
Year 1 Teachers
Italian
Term 1 has begun with students of all grades exploring new vocabulary and expressions for greetings through a song, some role plays and an exciting online flashcards quiz.
In Year 3 and Year 4, students have discovered that, different to Australian cultural habits, in Italy people use a formal register when speaking respectfully or to a senior person. This point generated some very interesting group discussions and students with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds shared their knowledge of the cultural practices in use in different countries.
In Prep, students have started the Italian program and were thrilled to meet Toby the Italian tiger. And everyone was able to greet one another in Italian by the end of the first lesson.
Daniela Panico Italian Teacher
Music at Mary Bailey House and Del Monte
Music at Mary Bailey House (Curricular)
As we welcome new students into the Daintree Forest Room, we start the year by becoming confident in the structure and cues used in Music time. Students are learning to march to the beat of a drum when entering the classroom, sing familiar songs and nursery rhymes, use claves to count and learning to sit together to enjoy music. The Mary Bailey House students have shown that they love joining in making music and are all eager to join in and show Mrs Pensini how well they can sing.
Music at Del Monte (Curricular)
We are straight into making marvellous music this 130th Anniversary year! Instrumental Music is up and running – instruments distributed, new music started, Chamber Strings and Camerata Strings underway, Laudare and Siena Singers beginning their new Gala music (shhh, it’s a surprise!), and happy classes of singing and playing xylophones and percussion. Our littlest students have had their first lessons exploring the Music Classroom, singing favourite songs with Mrs Knight on the guitar and having a dance to music from the piano.
Director of Music
Welcome to 2024 – a year to be earmarked with joy, community and music – and hopefully on many occasions all three at once!
There is a buzz in the air as talk of our 130th Anniversary Gala Concert in June starts to fill rehearsals and classes. Our annual Gala Concert is a glorious occasion that gives impetus to all our Music programs, canvassing all campuses and presenting an opportunity for our students to perform at the beautiful Sydney Town Hall. Our intentions for our special 130th Gala are no exception and plans are well underway as we plan to navigate our College’s rich history, and make a bold statement for its future through our music.
On this theme, I am delighted to officially share the link to the video from our Gala Concert 2023 – Sounds of Santa. I would like to honour the extraordinary efforts of the students and staff who delivered this tremendous outcome. What a night! This concert will forever be etched in my memory, as I sat in the audience as a guest of the College. That night, I started to imagine where this brilliant collective of music educators and students might dream to head next… the word limitless still comes to mind.
Bring on our 130th year and a community of Santa Sabina students who we know will #shaketheworld through their music.
Amy Richardson Director of Music P-12
Santa Sings!
Since popping feelers out for a new community singing initiative – we have been overjoyed to hear from nearly 80 members of our community who are keen to join the fun! Low pressure and likely to happen at various times of the year around significant events, there is still time for more people to come on board! More information will be emailed in the weeks ahead. Spread the word! Tell your friends! Register via this link!
The College App
Downloading and updating your notifications for the College App has never been more critical, as this resource is now central to the function of our department’s administrative processes. Over the summer we worked to streamline our co-curricular offerings with those of the Sport Department. Very soon you will notice the ‘Sports’ button on the APP will become ‘Co-curricular’, and all our offerings will be accessed via this portal. in fact – they’re ALREADY THERE – if you’re happy to ignore the ‘Sports’ title!
To see your scheduled activities each week – even now, you can click SPORTS > SCHEDULE and you’ll notice ‘red numbers’ on each of the days of the week. This indicates how many activities you have, and under each day you will see the times and venues for piano lessons, choir rehearsals, netball training, etc.
Remember that you’re checking ‘SCHEDULE’ not ‘CALENDAR’ for all these activities.
Register for Private Lessons
The year is off and racing, but we are still able to accommodate new starters (based on child’s school year) for private tuition in Piano, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Voice, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn, Orchestral Percussion, Drumkit, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Composition and Musicianship.
Other levied activities in 2024 include Taiko Drumming and Group Musicianship Classes, and we are also taking expressions of interest for mentored Rock Bands and Music Production/Audio Engineering classes.
Don’t forget that one of the best ways to apply new musical skills is in a Group ensemble context! We have many ensembles on offer at Santa Sabina College, and though the year is still underway, there is still time to sneak in. Jump on board with our ensemble program of choirs, bands and orchestras in 2024!
The annual Santa Sabina College Australian Composers Day Camp invites students and teachers from all over NSW to join us at Holyrood for a one of a kind enrichment opportunity.
Saturday 2 March between 3:00pm – 5:00pm – Santa Sabina students will work exclusively with Australian Composer and Barkindji Songwoman NANCY BATES towards a commissioned work to be premiered as part of our 130th Anniversary Gala Concert.
Sunday 3 March between 9:00am – 3:30pm is open to students from any school. A panel of industry experts will guide the learning for our aspiring composers, including guest mentors ELLA MACENS (one of Australia’s most celebrated and commissioned young composers; noted for her expansIve and lyrical orchestral and choral compositions); DANIEL ROJAS (award-winning performer-composer specialising in the rich and vibrant Latin American aesthetic) and NICK RUSSONIELLO (internationally respected composer-performer with a specialisation in contemporary technologies and their applications within the live composition context).
From first-time composers to those students with established portfolios, it is our hope that this day will help each participant find and develop their own compositional voice, and empower them with skills and inspirations to make their mark through music across the years to come.
The future of Australian Music is bright.
Spread the word to your musician peers around the state! If you have friends in other schools who might be interested in attending, forward them the flyer linked below or have them register with this link.
Congratulations to Estelle Gilmovich who is featuring as part of the current Opera Australia season of The Magic Flute by Mozart at the Sydney Opera House.
Holiday Music! Santa was alive with the sounds of magnificent music even through the summer holidays as the SYO’s Summer School spread out around Santa Sabina. Congratulations to all students who attended this enriching week, culminating in a performance at the University of Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music.
Opera House Fun! Congratulations to Estelle Gilmovich who is featuring as part of the current Opera Australia season of The Magic Flute by Mozart at the Sydney Opera House.
Also featuring at the Sydney Opera house in the weeks ahead is Year 12 Graduate 2023, Eva Whitbread, who was invited to play out of a shortlist of thousands of NESA HSC Music 1 candidates all over the state. This is a coveted achievement and we look forward to seeing her take the stage on 4 March 2024.
Free Concert Opportunity As part of our ongoing partnership with early music ensemble Consort 8 (featuring our former Director of Music, Timothy Chung) Santa Sabina students are offered free attendance at their forthcoming concert to be held in the Santa Sabina Chapel on 23 March 2024.
A particularly exciting event for those Year 3 and 4 recorder players who might like to see different versions of their instrument! Look at these interesting Recorders that will be played a the concert!
Find out more
If you would like to know more about one of our music offerings across the school (be it choirs, bands, orchestras or private tuition) please reach out via music@ssc.nsw.edu.au or to Ms Suzanna Touma in the Music Office at s.touma@ssc.nsw.edu.au and we will be happy to assist you.
Sport and Co-curricular
A very promising 2024 ahead of us in Sport
On Saturday 10 February we started our Saturday Sport here at Santa and across different venues in Sydney.
The College has been well represented with 51 teams and approximately 390 students in Years 3-12 playing sport across the IGSA and IPSHA Competition as well as our well-known Invitational Volleyball.
We have also witnessed more than 200 students taking part in the Representative Dance Auditions and 80 students registered to try out to be part of the SSC Representative Volleyball program.
This week, we have also started to offer on the Senior Campus our Sport and Fitness Co-curricular Clubs: Athletics, Swimming, FitClub and Boxing have always been a very popular choice for our students who want to keep active and improve their fitness levels.
It makes me feel extremely proud to be part of a community that values sport and physical activity when I see the large number of students involved. I am sure that they will keep active for their whole lives and lifelong memories will be created during these activities. They create a perfect environment for our students to excel and develop in an area of interest while interacting with other members of the community leading to friendships which will last for a long time.
Debating and PublicSpeaking Update
The Catholic Schools Debating Association (CSDA) will be running their annual Public Speaking Competition in Term 1 2024. Please fill in the form below if you are interested in competing for the College in this competition.
Competition Information:
Two students can compete in each Year Group.
Speaking times (Years 7 and 8): four minutes
Speaking times (Year 9): five minutes
Speaking times (Year 10): six minutes
Speaking times (Seniors): eight minutes
Topics will be sent two weeks before Round 1 (16/02)
Round 1: Friday 1 March 2024 – Venue TBA
Finals dates are still to be confirmed.
Please note: Selections for positions may be held if we have more students wishing to participate than the competition will allow. Selection dates will be set once final expressions of interest are received.
Expressions of interest are due on Monday 19 February 2024.
Using the College App for Communication – Sport and Co-curricular Activities
As we have started one more term of Sport and Co-curricular Sport please note that we are working really hard to have the College App as a central spot where information, registration and the students’ schedule will be placed to ensure our students don’t miss an event and that there is one main channel where all information is.
To be able to see your child’s schedule, please Open the App, click on Sports, and then Schedule to check the coming training and matches:
You can also use the College App and click on the Registration button (below Schedule) when registrations are out for Sport and Co-Curricular Activities.
Luiz Ramalho Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities
Staff Story
130 years on
Staffing a school such as Santa Sabina College is no small endeavour. There are nearly one and a half thousand young people we look after – 1400 students (boys and girls) aged from six weeks (in our Early Education Centre Mary Bailey House) to 18 years old (Year 12). Then there are two campuses comprising eight hectares of land, buildings, facilities and gardens in Strathfield and 97 hectares of bush, buildings and outdoor education facilties at Tallong. There are teachers, heads of department, the College Principal and four deputies, learning support officers, lab assistants and librarians in the front line, interacting with students on a daily basis. Then there are other professionals looking after IT, student health, marketing, communication, property maintenance and the collection of school fees…overall we are a diverse staff of 370, full- and part-time.
This is a far cry from our opening day in January 1894, 130 years ago, when our total enrolment was seven girls aged between 11 and 14 years old, housed in one building (Rosary Lodge) and taught by six Dominican Sisters.
Santa Sabina now has five distinct campus areas: Mary Bailey House (for the babies and toddlers), Santa Maria del Monte (for Prep to Year 4), Gioia House (Years 5 & 6), the Santa Sabina campus for Years 7-12 and Tallong for Outdoor Education, retreats and other activities for students and families. Looking after the students in Years 7 to 12 are 13 teaching departments or faculties. A sprinkling of our teachers have been working here for more than 30 years, while many more are new this year. A large number of staff are ex-students of the College, fondly returning to their alma mater and imbued with the strong sense of community and service each graduate takes with them into the world. There are four professional departments staffed by non-teachers and beyond this are outside suppliers such as visiting priests for our Chapel services, Midford who run the Uniform Shop, Bon Apetit for the canteen, BNP security guards to keep us and our facilities safe after hours, cleaners, the child care workers who work before and after school at OOSH, ex-students and other sporting heroes coaching sports teams after hours. Looking after everyone are the volunteer members of the Board of Governance and its committees. Supporting our great endeavours are the voluntary P&F Association and Ex-Students’ Association Committee members. Over and above as well as within, there are the Dominican Sisters who walk quietly amongst us, shining their light upon us and sharing their intellects, insights and counsel.
All of us have passed our Working With Children Checks and are trained annually in First Aid and in Child Protection and the vast majority of us have at least one (but most often more) university qualification. The teachers love continuing to learn – in 2024 there are 30 Action Research Projects underway.
It all adds up to a warm, diverse and highly qualified community of educators and other professionals whose number one purpose is to educate, nurture and support our incredible community of learners, in whom we take such pride.
Reflecting on the impact the Santa Sabina staff have had on their journeys, our high achieving Year 12s from 2023 had this to say:
As a person who loves the humanities, my teachers have been so crucial in developing my ability to think deeply and critically. But by far the most notable thing about the teachers at Santa Sabina is that they were committed to my growth as an individual, not just as a mark. In all of my subjects, my teachers helped me to not only achieve my best academically, but also to grow into the best version of myself as a learner.
Ella Curran (ATAR 99.85)
The support of my senior teachers in particular gave me the means and confidence to work towards reaching my goals.
Cece Addabbo (ATAR 99.85)
Santa Sabina has inspired me to exceed limitations, lead by example and explore varied perspectives. All of my teachers were phenomenal and helped me to achieve my aspirations.
Rosanna Cartwright (ATAR 99.70)
The unwavering support and dedication of my IB teachers and community created an environment for me to pursue my goals and improve as a student and person.
Sophia Abdallah (ATAR 99.70)
My class teachers, Homeroom teacher and my Head of House all gave me the mental and academic support I needed to achieve my goals this year. They provided me with content, resources and people to talk to in times of stress and worry and I will be forever grateful for them.
Alannah Tannous (ATAR 99.50)
The teachers at Santa are fantastic and their incredible support, both academically and pastorally, helped me not only achieve, but go beyond the goals I set. My teachers were always there to go through feedback and help me improve, but more importantly emphasised the importance of progress over perfection and an all round balanced lifestyle expanding beyond school which allowed me to achieve what I set my mind to.
Emma Carroll (ATAR 99.35)
Victoria Harper Publications and Marketing Officer
From the P&F Association
President’s Welcome
Welcome and a warm hello to all our new and returning families! This year has taken off with a flying start with the end of Week 3 almost upon us. Last Thursday evening I was honoured to have the opportunity to welcome on behalf of P&F the parents and carers of the College that turned out in large numbers to the Welcome Drinks. For those who were unable to attend, I thought it pertinent that I repeat here some of the key messages delivered within my speech in order to welcome the whole community whilst thanking our dedicated and hard-working representatives and volunteers who have signed up for 2024.
Background As a parent of five children, I have officially been at the College for eight years now meaning I’m officially halfway with eight years to go. But with my wife’s family now in its fourth generation at Santa Sabina who’s really counting anymore? At the end of this year, like numerous families before us, my wife Rachael and I can claim to have been through every emotional rollercoaster ride at this school from Prep through to Year 12. This year alone we have a special year where my four daughters move into milestone years including Years 5, 7, 10 and 12.
Personal and P&F Goals I joined the P&F with a simple aim: for everyone to feel like they are part of a community. A community where people are supportive of each other, where families look out for each other and where established families look after new families to the school. Where we have One College, One Community from Prep to Year 12. For 2024, our P&F goals for this year align with my previous statements – enable the College community to be as welcome, open, and inclusive as possible.
Community participation As great as the P&F is, we simply can’t achieve all our goals without you. So if you’re interested in better understanding the school, meeting new people, building community or simply understanding more what your kids are up to then please join us and volunteer. It can be for one event or for the whole year – Just reach out to a member of the P&F. All help is greatly appreciated, and we have already had a great uptake of both parent representatives for each year group along with volunteers.
We also understand that people are busy with work and other commitments, but we still want to provide that supportive environment. So, I therefore encourage everyone, to please take advantage of the opportunities to connect with other people – it will help you and your children to feel a part of the school. And, even if you are time poor, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute in raffles and other items should you wish to.
Community events Please find below a short list of events that are either run by the P&F or are College-led that the P&F provides support for:
College 130th Anniverary Gala Dinner – I encourage you to organise your tables and buy tickets now or simply reach out in the ticket sales link and state that you want to be put with a year group when you purchase, and we will organise the rest for you.
Trivia night
Del Monte Disco and family night
College Annual Golf Day
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events and gifts
Colour Fun Run for P-6
Tallong Parent Child Camp
And finally, Term parent get togethers:
These will be put together for each and every year by the year group representatives and will include a variety of events from coffee catchups to parent night outs
We will also have a focus on key new intake years including Kindy, Year 5 and Year 7
These get togethers are a key opportunity to forge relations early on that will continue throughout your children’s school career and beyond.
In conclusion, I would like to say a huge thank you to the P&F executive team for all their hard work in setting up this year to date for success and for providing a final welcome to everyone at the College. I look forward to meeting and catching up with as many of you as possible as the year progresses.
Ben Middleton President SSC P&F
2024 Parent Representatives
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has generously stepped forward to serve as a Parent Representative or Event Volunteer. Your willingness to contribute your time and energy is a testament to the strength and vibrancy of our community. Over the coming week, our newly appointed Parent Representatives will introduce themselves in the year group WhatsApp chats. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact they will have in fostering a sense of unity and engagement among our families. The dedication of individuals like yourselves is crucial in building and sustaining the warm, welcoming environment that defines our school. Thank you for your commitment to making a difference; we look forward to seeing the wonderful contributions you will bring to our community.
Upcoming Events
Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting
We’re excited to announce the upcoming Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting. We would love to see as many of you there as possible!
🗓 Date: Thursday 28 February
⏰ Time: 7:00pm
📍 Location: Benincasa, Senior Campus, Santa Sabina College
This meeting is a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together, share ideas, and discuss plans to support our school community. Whether you’re a long-standing member or new to the school, your input and participation are invaluable to us.
We’ll be covering several important topics, including upcoming events, fundraising initiatives, and ways we can all contribute to making our school an even better place for our children. If you have any items you’d like to add to the agenda, please send them to the P&F Secretary, Mary, via email at secretary@ssc.nsw.edu.au by COB on Friday 23 February 2024.
Please mark your calendars! Your involvement makes a real difference, and together, we can achieve wonderful things for our school and our children.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
International Women’s Day
Join us in celebrating International Women’s Day with a special event hosted by the Santa Sabina College Ex-Students’ Association, the Parents and Friends’ Association, and our College community. This year’s theme, ‘Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,’ promises an evening of insightful discussions and panels, followed by a delightful supper and drinks on the Grotto lawn.
📅 Date: Thursday 7 March 2024
⏰ Time: 6:00pm
📍 Location: Santa Sabina College – Lecture Theatre – TAC Building, 90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield
Dads are welcomed and encouraged to join us in this celebration, highlighting the importance of support and advocacy for gender equality from everyone in our community.
Tickets are available for adults at $55 and school students at $35 (for the first 100 student tickets sold, $45 for tickets thereafter). Secure your spot now by booking at Trybooking.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage, learn, and celebrate the vital role of women in our society. Let’s come together to support and accelerate progress towards gender equality. See you there!
🎉 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner – Friday 22 March – Fullerton Hotel
Dear Parents!
Santa Sabina College is thrilled to invite you to the 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner, a night of celebration, reminiscence, and community spirit.
This gala is not just a dinner; it’s a celebration of our journey, achievements, and the wonderful community that makes us who we are. It’s an evening to dress up, enjoy great food, and make lasting memories with the Santa Sabina community.
Table bookings:
Book a whole table for 10. A perfect opportunity to get together with friends, year groups or sporting teams!
Prefer to mingle or new to the College? Simply click on the link below and you will be able to detail who you would like to sit with or your year group that you would like to be seated with and we will organise it for you.
🌟 Don’t miss this chance to be part of our historic 130th Anniversary celebration. Book your spot now and join us for an unforgettable evening!
We can’t wait to celebrate with you. See you at the Gala!
Warm regards
SSC P&F Association
Past Events
Welcome Morning Tea
On 29 and 30 January, the Santa Sabina College Parents and Friends (P&F) Association hosted welcoming Morning Teas for new families joining the senior and primary campuses respectively, offering a warm introduction to our vibrant community. These events, marked by an atmosphere of warmth and inclusivity, provided a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to connect, share experiences, and look forward to the exciting journey ahead in their new school environment. Special acknowledgment goes to Sia, whose exceptional organisation and culinary talent, particularly her homemade welcome cookies, became the highlight of both days. These cookies not only delighted the taste buds but also symbolized the nurturing and welcoming spirit of Santa Sabina, making the start of the academic year memorable for everyone involved.
Information Night and Welcome Drinks
On the evening of 8 February, Santa Sabina College’s community spirit was in full bloom at the Welcome Drinks event held around Dom’s Plot. This gathering was a testament to the vibrant and supportive network that defines our school, providing an excellent opportunity for new families to blend with existing members of our community. Following the informative Parent Information Sessions for various year groups, the event allowed parents to mingle, forming new connections and strengthening old ones, under the beautiful canopy of camaraderie that Santa Sabina prides itself on.
Special thanks are extended to the dedicated members of the Parents and Friends’ (P&F) Association who volunteered on the night — Ben Middleton, Alex Cantali, Sia Zanon, Mary Reyes, Tatiana Rafael, Babitha Toal, Janelle Powter, and Daniel Pace — whose efforts in welcoming new families went above and beyond. Their warm presence and engaging conversations ensured that every attendee felt a part of our strong, united community, ready to support each other through all facets of the educational journey.
Parent Education
Starting 2024 by Debra Brodowski
It’s a start of a new school year. We have welcomed new families to the College and we have reconnected with familiar faces. Schedules are in filling up and the learning and studying has begun. For those of you who are new to the College, a warm welcome to you all. I hope that you have managed to attend some of the College events to meet some new faces and feel welcomed. For those of you who have returned for another year welcome back!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Debra (it’s Deb really, Debra only when I am in trouble with my mum!). I have been a parent at the College for eight years; I have a daughter in Year 8 and a daughter in Year 6. My day job is as a Psychologist, my all the time is being a Mum. I am part of the P&F, and my role is as a Parent Education Officer. Each newsletter I try and share some of my thoughts and experiences of my work life and parent life and share some ideas with you to consider. Make of it what you will.
The start of every school year for us as a family brings up a mix of feelings:
Excitement! What will the year bring?
Dread…. No more sleep-ins every single day…
Uncertainty – what might be different; again, what will the year bring?
This is all entirely normal, and I acknowledge that it can take a few weeks to settle back in to what a routine for the term might look like.
I asked my daughters what they thought of as being most important for the start of the year. They mentioned:
Being nice, friendly, and including everyone: some students may not know many people, others might have noticed friendship groups have changed. It is important to be nice and help others feel included and not feel left out, and not exclude.
Allow students to join extra co-curricular activities because you can meet new people and build better social skills.
Start building a good routine for the year for your children (start the year as you intend to proceed). This last one is my suggestion, it helps with family sanity.
What does this mean for us as parents:
Support our children with conversations that help them navigate through the year, rather than being overly directive. This is so valuable when it comes to in-school challenges that may occur. Asking questions such as:
What’s most difficult for you?
What is something that you think could be most helpful in fixing this situation?
What do you think is a step you could take?
Our children are masterful problem solvers and such questions as these can help them build skills that will help navigate them through life.
Co-curricular College activities are a great way of meeting new people, having your child engage with students who they may not normally spend time with socially, and helping build team skills. There are so many co-curricular activities on offer, discuss the options with your child and try one out.
A helpful routine allows enough time for unstructured play, rest, structured activities, and homework. Each family’s needs are different, so establishing a plan that works best for you and your needs is more important than adopting another family’s plan.
Enjoy 2024, all the best with all the good fortune that it may bring!
Tote Bags at the Uniform Shop update
Santa Sabina College Tote Bags are now available from the Uniform Shop – $35 each for Years 5-12.
Please be reminded that the Uniform Shop’s normal trading hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00am-4:00pm and Tuesday and Thursday 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Meredith Saade Uniform Shop Manager
Mortlake Youth Mass
International Women’s Day event
From the Ex-Students’ Association
The Ex-Students’ Association, the P & F Association and the College are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all members of our school community, past and present, to join us in celebrating International Women’s Day 2024.
To be held on the evening of Thursday 7 March in our beautiful College grounds – the perfect setting for Santa Sabina’s 130th anniversary and an opportunity to come together as a community.
This year’s panel will discuss the UN Australia theme of Count Her In; Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. We have an engaging and diverse panel of speakers to discuss this topic, and here is a sneak peak of just a few of our esteemed line-up:
Channelle Jacob (Class of 1989) – a Human Resources Executive, with a challenging and successful international career in banking
Lani Nioplias (Class of 1993) – a working mother who has overcome challenges to re-invent herself and thrive
Bridget Sakr (College community) – a business leader with more than 20 years’ financial services experience
Adrielle Touma (Class of 2014) – an Investment Manager with experience in Venture Capital and qualifications in Actuarial Studies
The panel will be hosted by Marie Myssy AO (former SBS journalist and executive producer) and a former College mother and current grandmother.
The panel discussion will be held in the Aquinas Centre. It will be followed by an exquisite supper and drinks on the Grotto lawn.
This is a great opportunity to return to the College in its 130th Anniversary year and connect with our community. Whether you’re a student, parent, ex-student, or friend of the College, your presence is invaluable. Please join us.
WHEN: Thursday 7 March AT 6:00pm WHERE: The Aquinas Centre – Lecture Theatre Followed by supper and drinks on the Grotto lawn
COST: Adults: $55 Students: $35 (Student tickets have been generously subsidised by the P&F Association).
