College Principal

Last Friday night the College held its Gala Dinner and it was wonderful to have parents, staff, Sisters, members of our Board and as well as trustees from Dominican Education Australia come together to celebrate 130 years of discerning scholarship at Santa Sabina College. It was a nostalgic journey reflecting on our earliest memories starting with the first Sisters and seven school girls who were the founders of the school. We then traced Santa Sabina’s history as innovators in education being one of the first schools to install purpose-built Science laboratories for girls in Sydney to today as early adopters adding our Virtual Reality classrooms. We explored our commitment to service and social justice through the ages, and our desire to offer a holistic education, one that educates the mind, body, heart and spirit. Many thanks to Yvette Graniero, our Director of Community Relations and her team as well as George Ayoub, our Director of Development for their work in bringing the event to life along with members of the Parents and Friends’ Association and Ex-Students’ Association who also contributed to the success of the evening. 

We have recently launched our latest podcast in our Santa Dialogues series – The Taylor Swift Phenomenon! Not being a ‘Swifty’ I had a lot of research to do beforehand and now I consider myself part of the Swift fanclub. We had an interesting conversation about Swift’s global dominance, her gift of storytelling and songwriting, her artistic integrity and intergenerational appeal. I am really proud of our teachers and students who take a risk to put themselves out there and take a stance sharing their perspectives about what matters most to them. In today’s world it takes a lot of courage to share your truth in a public forum and I hope they always have the courage of their convictions. Dialogue is at the heart of our Dominican charism – St Thomas Aquinas believed that dialogue is the pathway to truth stating that ‘we must love them both, those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject, for both have laboured in the search for truth and both have helped us in finding it.’

In our final week of Lent, we enter Holy Week; this is a time when we gather to remember and participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ. This is the most important time for Christians – Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus consecrated bread and wine, this is followed by Good Friday which is the darkest of days when Jesus was arrested, brought to trial and crucified. This is a day of solemnity and as Catholics we observe this day by commemorating the Stations of the Cross. 

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the joy of the Resurrection of Christ, which is the basis of our faith and a time of hope in the world. Easter is a time for forgiveness, a time to love one another, and for hopefulness; not just at this time but always. The resurrection of Jesus shows God’s power over death, his love for us through the ultimate sacrifice and the promise of new life. It is a reminder that despite the challenges we may face, we can have hope and faith that God will be there for us. When Jesus lived on Earth he experienced rejection, betrayal, suffering and pain and while our suffering may be different today, Jesus offers us peace, hope and love. We especially remember the suffering and inhumanity in our world at this time and pray that hope and love can persist despite all odds for those experiencing the brutality of war. 

As this is our last newsletter before our April vacation, I would like to wish students and teachers travelling to Italy for our Italian Tour during the break all the very best as they experience ‘la dolce vita’. 

Wishing you the joy and peace of Easter.

Paulina Skerman
College Principal

Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Celebrating Harmony Day at Santa Sabina

On 19 March 2024 Santa Sabina celebrated Harmony Day. This day is a national day for the celebration of cultural diversity and the development of cultural respect. The message of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’ and at Santa Sabina we have always celebrated this day as a whole campus – Prep to Year 12. 

This year saw Years 5-12 students in Gunagulla, Mundawora and Kurrawa cross the bridge to join students fromm Kindergarten to Year 4 in fun games and celebrations. Our younger students in Teangi, Yetinga and Weelya made their way to the Senior campus to join their older House mates. Students were grouped together in Houses with students from Kindergarten to Year 12 in each group. Senior students also joined Prep and Mary Bailey House students to celebrate Harmony Day together. The older students led the younger ones in games, craft and discussions that helped to generate an understanding of the different cultures students at Santa Sabina identify with. It was a day of sharing and fun. On this day, the entire College was reminded of how lucky we are to belong to a P-12 community which can celebrate days such as this together. There was certainly a feeling of belonging and connection felt by all.

We are all witnesses to Christ embracing his own cross

Thursday evening 28 March marks the beginning of the most solemn period in the Liturgical year for the Catholic Church. We begin The Easter Triduum by celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ passion and death, and on Easter Sunday we joyously celebrate Jesus’ resurrection to new life. 

As the students of across the College prepared to take time with their families over the Easter Break, they also gathered to mark Holy Week with moving and engaging liturgies. These gatherings were reflective of the disciples who gathered around Jesus in his final days.

Holy Week at Santa Sabina has served to acknowledge Easter as a season of hope. We have been reminded that the ultimate resurrection message is to hold steadfast in our beliefs and allow no burden to defeat us as we play witness to Christ embracing his own cross in the days leading up to Easter. 

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Deputy Principal Operations

We have been made aware that there are several students who are not using their Opal travel passes when using public transport from school. By tapping on and off when using public transport, the bus network can forecast the size and frequency of buses to provide on a bus route. Please find details below of the application process for a School Travel Pass and the terms of use as outlined by Transport for NSW.

School Travel Passes

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass but have not yet applied need to apply or update their details as soon as possible.

New Student Opal cards (including new Term Bus Passes) will be sent to the student’s nominated postal address within two weeks of their application being approved.

Terms of Use

Students using School Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Opal terms of use.

This includes travel within the approved times between 6:30am and 7:00pm from Monday to Friday on school days only. Students must use their child/youth Opal for any travel outside these times.

All students are required to comply with the Student code of conduct when travelling. The code of conduct aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of school children and other passengers. It is important that parents ensure their child is aware of this, as failure to comply with the code of conduct can result in a suspension from travel.

I would like to remind families, that the only students using the crossing on The Boulevarde should be those travelling to and from the southern end of The Boulevarde (Liverpool Rd direction). For the safety of students and other road users, all pedestrians travelling to and from the College in the Strathfield Station direction should use the pedestrian overpass on The Boulevarde.

School Crossing Supervisor vacancy

Transport for NSW has advised us that the permanent part-time role of School Crossing Supervisor for Del Monte is vacant. If you know someone who would be suitable for this position please share the information below.

John Gilmore
Deputy Principal Operations

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

In today’s fast-paced world, where technology evolves at an exponential rate, opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and the  ICT  fields are abundant. As we educate our girls about their future, it’s essential to embrace these opportunities to stay ahead in the game. Below is a sample of the  initiatives and programs fostering innovation and learning in these domains.

Lumination Labs

Our Lumination Labs are now up and running and stand at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, particularly in the realms of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). By participating in Lumination Lab learning, our students not only hone their technical skills but also cultivate a forward-thinking mindset essential for navigating the digital landscape. Some of the classes that have recently used the lab include 12 Ancient History – Examining tombs through the lens of an archaeologist. Year 9 Geography – with their Landscapes and Landforms and Place and Liveability Units.

Science Extension in the HSC

This is a one-unit course that students of Science can take in Year 12. It is a rigorous subject that challenges students to delve deeper into scientific research and inquiry, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills essential for success in STEM fields. I asked each student to describe their project: 

I’m looking at the impact of human activity on the distribution, abundance and diversity of coastal foredune plants. Through this I want to increase understanding of the cause of potential vegetation differences along the same stretch of coastline. My hypothesis is that the vegetation in areas with increased human activity will show significant differences in the dominant plant types found in that area compared to areas with lower levels of human activity. It is expected that there will also be a reduction in the abundance and coverage of all plant types found in high human traffic areas. This has potential impacts on the stability of coastal ecosystems, especially in the face of concerns over sea level changes due to climate change.
Hilary Chan  

For my Science Extension major work, I am investigating the the use of CRISPR-Cas9 in CAR-T cell therapy for the treatment of cancers of the blood. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing tool which allows DNA to be altered and in this context a patient’s T cells can be genetically modified to be instructed to attack cancer cells with the matching antigen. I aim to evaluate the effectiveness and viability of this treatment method, as well as consider potential ethical aspects. My project will incorporate researching current methods available for treating blood cancers and the analysis of large datasets to identify trends and possible correlations upon which to base my evaluation. 
Charlotte Pugh

For my Science Extension major project, I am looking into the effect of radiation in soil on plants within the early stages of growth/development. I am hoping that I will be able to do a first hand investigation using radishes, and I am currently receiving advice from scientists at ANSTO. From this I intend to investigate whether a higher level/dose of radiation within soil will result in an elevated rate of defects within the radishes. This will be determined through observation of plant growth and measurement of plant biomass between those radishes grown in soils containing different radiation levels. I have a deep interest in nuclear technology and this project will enable me to investigate one aspect of it from the perspective of its potential influence on plants.
Genevieve Bitar 

My Science Extension project is to investigate varying abiotic factors on bioluminescence, specifically focusing on varying levels of IPTG, a chemical which induces fluorescence in bacteria cultures, to observe changes in luminosity. My major work will incorporate secondary source research and a first hand investigation to gather data on potential factors which influence bioluminescence, which occurs in a wide range of marine and terrestrial organisms. I find it fascinating that living things can emit light and look forward to learning more about this through my project.
Natalie Bui 

UTS Big Day In: Carving Career Pathways in STEM

A number of our Year 11 and 12  students attended the UTS Big Day last week. (A full article with stories appears in this VV) this event served as a gateway to our students’ career opportunities in the STEM field. From robotics to artificial intelligence, attendees gain firsthand knowledge about emerging trends and innovations shaping the future workforce. Moreover, the event facilitates networking opportunities, enabling students to connect with industry professionals and gain valuable insights into potential career trajectories. Whether you’re passionate about engineering, computer science, or any other STEM field, the UTS Big Day In, has equipped our students with the tools and inspiration to embark on careers in this field.

We are currently researching the possibility of running a session at Macquarie University with their Incubator Program for our Year 10 students in their Encounter program. This Program is a beacon for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. It provides a nurturing environment for students to develop their ideas into viable businesses.

In conclusion, the landscape of STEM and ICT presents a myriad of opportunities for students eager to explore, innovate, and make a difference. Whether through entrepreneurial ventures, immersive technologies, or career exploration events, the journey towards success begins with seizing these opportunities and embracing the endless possibilities that lie ahead.

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Head of Primary P-6

As we enter the solemn observance of Holy Week and anticipate the joyous celebration of Easter, we find ourselves in a period of deep reflection and renewal. This sacred time offers us a moment to pause, to consider our spiritual journeys, and to embrace the profound messages of love, sacrifice, and resurrection that define these holy days. Our students participated in the Holy Week Liturgy and visited the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday 27 March,  to deepen their understanding of faith, compassion, and the significance of Easter within the Catholic tradition.

Growth through challenges

We take time to reflect on our learning experiences and the challenges we’ve faced this term. We honour both our achievements and our setbacks, recognising them as essential components of personal development. It’s critical to empower our students by encouraging them to take charge of becoming more self-reliant and organised. We (parents and educators) are key in providing opportunities for students to acquire these skills and embrace responsibility. In this process, it’s important to acknowledge and impart that facing challenges and making mistakes are inevitable and vital aspects of the learning journey. In Del Monte and Gioia House, students are provided with opportunities and motivated to venture beyond their comfort zones by attempting new activities without the fear of making mistakes. We understand that if students are apprehensive about the possibility of failure, they might not explore new ideas or think innovatively, which hinders their growth as creative and critical thinkers.

While we work through new mathematics problems, compose texts, or discuss topics, we anticipate students will make mistakes. We offer feedback, and they attempt again. Sometimes, despite their utmost efforts, students might not succeed, and that’s perfectly acceptable. Every child embarks on their unique learning journey, arriving at their destination at just the right moment for them. The focus is on fostering resilience, mastering new abilities, and encouraging inquiry. We recognise that there can be no success without the risk of failure.

Help to keep our students safe

We’d like to remind all Del Monte families about the morning supervision arrangements for the safety and wellbeing of our students. The Carrington Avenue gate opens at 8:15am, with teacher supervision commencing at that time. During drop-off and pick-up times, we kindly ask that you do not park and leave your vehicle in the kiss-and-ride zone. This practice can create an unsafe environment for our students. For everyone’s safety, please use the designated crossing at The Boulevarde and Carrington Avenue. It’s important to remember that our children are always watching and learning from us; by following these guidelines, we’re teaching them how to stay safe in their environment. Additionally, we ask for your cooperation in respecting the private properties surrounding the school by avoiding parking in private driveways.

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to ensuring a secure and efficient process for all.

NAPLAN

ACARA reset the NAPLAN measurement scale and time series in 2023. This means that from 2024, we will be able to see NAPLAN results as a time series and compare them to previous years for Year 5 students. Schools will receive full results, from June 2024, after which parents and carers receive their child’s Individual Student Report at the start of Term 3.

It’s important for parents to recognise that NAPLAN is merely a single indicator of a child’s educational journey. A child’s success is influenced by a diverse array of factors, including the nurturing atmosphere at home, intrinsic motivation, and a distinctive approach to learning. Emphasise your child’s strengths and take every opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments.

THE  LITTERARTY WASTE ART COMPETITION

We are thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement of Year 4 students Jessica and Sofia. Their art piece entitled ‘Then and Now‘, entered into the Litterarty Waste Art Competition, and has been honoured as a finalist. This significant accomplishment highlights their incredible talent and deep commitment to exploring environmental themes through art. The work will be showcased at the 2024 Volvo Ocean Lovers Festival at Bondi Beach from 21-24 March, where the winners will be announced on 24 March at 2:30 pm. We encourage our community to give their support by viewing the 2024 Litterarty Gallery on the festival’s website, going live tomorrow, and join us in wishing our talented artists the best of luck in the final judging. This recognition speaks volumes about the power of art in advocating for our planet, and we couldn’t be prouder.

St Dominic the Adventurer

Last Wednesday our Year 3 students commenced their Dominic Adventurer journey. They have created poetry based on their favourite outdoor places. This week we are looking forward to a Nature Walk and learning about the outdoor environment at Strathfield Park.

Thank you to Mr Walker for leading this enriching program for our Year 3 and 4 students.

Term 2 P-4 Co-curricular

Registrations for Term 2 Co-curricular Activities have been sent to families. A link to the communications can be accessed by clicking on this link: Term 2 Co-curricular.

Parent-Teacher-Student Meeting

We look forward to meeting with you at our parent-teacher-student meeting to discuss your child’s progress on the days below. More information will be communicated in due course.

Del Monte: 14 and 16 May from 3:30pm  to 7:15pm

Gioia House: 21 and 23 May from 3:45pm to 7:30pm

Secondary Library Access and Pick-up Procedures

I need to address a recent trend within Gioia House families, specifically the end-of-day pick-up routine.

Since the beginning of the year, we have observed several instances of parents of Gioia House students entering the library before the conclusion of Period 6, seeking to find their daughters. In some cases, parents have requested to wait inside the library while their daughters finish their after-school activities. This practice is unprecedented and marks a departure from our established protocols.

To ensure the library remains a conducive environment for study and to maintain the safety and security of all students, I kindly ask parents to refrain from entering the library to look for their daughters or to wait for them inside the library. Instead, if you arrive early and wish to meet your daughter, I encourage you to call the library directly. The library staff will gladly facilitate a meeting point outside the library for you and your daughter.

I appreciate your cooperation as these measures are implemented with the best interests of our students’ educational experiences and safety in mind.

Lord, in moments of doubt, remind us of Your promise, ‘I am the resurrection and the life’ (John 11:25), renewing our hope as we await the dawn of victory over the grave.

Wishing you and your families a blessed Holy Week and a joyful Easter season.

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6

CALENDAR EVENTS

LINK to parent VO page

• Monday 1 April – All day – Easter Monday Public Holiday
• Tuesday 2 April – Del Monte and Gioia House P&F Easter Egg Hunt – Various times
• Tuesday 2 April – Year 4 Learning Walk – 2:30pm-3:00pm 
• Thursday 4 April – Prep 2 & 5 Day Families Learning Walk – 1:45pm-2:15pm
• Thursday 4 April – Easter Assembly – 2:30pm-3:00pm
• Monday 8 April – Years 3 to 4 Sydney Catholic Schools Mixed Netball Gala Day
• Tuesday 9 April – P&F Mother’s Day Wrapping
• Tuesday 9 April – Kindergarten Learning Walk 2:30pm-3:00pm
• Wednesday 10 April – Ranger Jamie Aboriginal Experience Incursion – Year 1 
• Wednesday 10 April – Year 2 – Learning Walk – 2:30pm-3:00pm 
• Thursday 11 April – Little Diggers – Year 2 Excursion
• Thursday 11 April – Year 3 – Learning Walk – 1:45pm-2:15pm  
• Thursday 11 April – Year 1 – Learning Walk – 2:00pm-2:30pm 
• Thursday 11 April – Primary Years Assembly – 2.30pm-3.00pm 
• Friday 12 April – Term 1 concludes
• Tuesday 30 April – Term 2 commences
• Tuesday 14 May – Parent-Teacher-Student Meeting
• Thursday 16 May – Parent-Teacher-Student Meeting

Director of Mary Bailey House

Vacation care

Our next program commences on Monday 15 April and operates until Monday 29 April inclusive. The vacation care incursion and excursion program is jam packed with familiar and fun activities including an excursion to Kingpin Bowling and an incursion with Bricks4Kids.

We thought that we’d keep things interesting by adding a couple of new events from

On Thursday 18 April Dr Everwild from Chaos Science Lab will be at OOSH to embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of science.

Cardboard Constructors will be here on Friday 19 April. Wearing hard-hats Cardboard Constructor Instructors will bring in a cartload of cardboard and specialised tools for children to design and engineer mind-blowing structures.

So not to disappoint, we’ve booked Ultra Gaming on Tuesday 23 April as we know how much fun the children have together on the truck.

These are just a snippet of the Vacation Care Program. To view the entire program go to the Veritas Online Out of School Hours Care page. To find out more about Vacation Care and book your child into Vacation Care contact our OOSH Coordinator Frances Windon on 9745 7790 between 2:00pm and 6:00pm or via email at ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au.

The OOSH team is looking forward to Vacation Care and making children’s break from school a fun one during the holidays.

Jackie Baxter
Director of Mary Bailey House

Director of Community Relations P-12

130th Anniversary Gala Dinner

The Gala Dinner last Friday night was a joyful opportunity to bring together all members of our community.

Over 550 guests enjoyed the evening and we thank our MC Rahne Sadler, ex-student from the Class of 1989, for joining us. We invite you to have a look at our photo gallery from the evening:

On the evening we shared a video that traces the College’s history and reflects on 130 years of discerning scholarship and a holistic education supported by our Dominican commitment to service and social justice.

Please enjoy it:

Career Women’s Network – Call for Mentors

We invite you to consider being a 2024 mentor as part of our Career Women’s Network, our ongoing initiative connecting Year 11, Year 12 and recent College graduates with like-minded peers, career mentors and industry partner companies from the College community.

This year we are excited to announce our breakfast will be on Friday 17 May 2024 from 7:00am – 9:00am in the College’s Siena Hall with special guest Justine Schofield (Class of 2003) Australian cook, author and television presenter. 

If you are able to be a mentor at this exciting event or throughout the year, please fill out the details:

Career Women’s Breakfast – Student Invitation

We are delighted to invite our Year 11 and Year 12 students to the Career Women’s Network Breakfast on Friday 17 May 2024. 

We have close to 100 incredible and accomplished ex-student and parent mentors from a wide range of professions and industries who are excited to share their experience and advice with our students – this is an outstanding opportunity for them to make connections, get career advice and create a path to future success.

Please book for students via the image below.

Yvette Graniero
Director of Community Relations

Director of Development

130th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Thank you to our sponsors

I would like to thank our wonderful sponsors who very generously provided some amazing prizes and gifts. Thanks once again to Wally and Suzi Muhieddine Advertising Advantage. The diamond earrings generously donated by Patrick Nader Fine Jeweller were won by an ex-student who was over the moon about winning such an outstanding gift.

Further prizes included return flights and accommodation for two to the Gold Coast very generously donated by Click Click Marketing, accommodation at three venues generously donated by the Laundy family and there were many other prizes that were very generously donated by many members of our community:

Peter Hickey and Family, Strathfield Golf Club, Kelly Gregory and Family, Patrick Gallagher and Family, Stacy D’Amico and Family, Turramurra Music, Infinite Edge Movement, ASICS Australia, Anthony Bouantoun and Family, Captain Cook Cruises, Jbeil Lebanese Restaurant, Rochester Street Butcher , Rugby Australia, Bricks 4 Kids, Art on Canvas, Sydney String Centre, LA Talent Academy, The School Photographer, Luna Park, The Spotted Orchid and Turramurra Music.

Please save this date in your diaries

2024 Santa Sabina College Giving Day 4 September

The College Giving Day is scheduled for 4 September 2024 and will replace our annual appeal this year. For 24 hours we will seek your support to raise funds for both the Scholarship and Building fund. As we get closer to this day, I will provide you all with information on how we can all get behind this day. I hope students, parents, grandparents, ex-students and community members will support us. Thank you to all our community for your continued and valuable support. Please mark this date in your diary and support the College.

Bequests

There may be many in our community who are not aware of ‘The Orange Tree Society” we have at the College; Therefore, I have included a brochure about the Society for you to read and understand. Named after the Orange Tree that sits proudly at the front of the school and without giving away too much, please have a read of the history behind it and a message from one of our ex-students who is a member of the society.

Please click on the logo above to view the brochure.

Please click here to view the brochure.

Advertise your business

I also want to remind you of the opportunity to advertise your business on the College website which is a great way to promote your business to our community.

Please click here to advertise your business. Alternatively, please contact me in the Development office on 97450232 or giving@ssc.nsw.edu.au

George Ayoub
Director of Development

Tallong Campus

Watching students on camp provides the Tallong team with a whole array of feelings. The students take part in activities that are meaningful, that are memorable and at times can be challenging. The way they face these experiences is often inspiring for us as a team.

This was taken to another level in our first program with the NSW/ACT Guide Dogs Association two weeks ago. The group was comprised of 7- to 14-year-old children and their parents and carers in a program designed to provide life skills in a fun and interactive way. They made pizzas guided by a legally blind chef who was absolutely amazing in her mastery of Cheffrey’s kitchen, began their journey of using walking canes, got out on the water for some kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding and took on the challenges of the low ropes and initiative courses. The can-do attitude of all of the young people and their parents/carers cannot be understated and it was a privilege and a pleasure for all involved to see these truly inspiring people in action.

Happy Easter from the team at Tallong.

Steven Fox
Manager Tallong Campus

Music in the Senior Years

Music in the Senior School (Curricular)

As Ms Werlemann embarks on maternity leave, we extend a warm welcome to Niamh Armstrong, who will be stepping in to lead her classes. With a wealth of knowledge spanning various age groups with an expertise in strings, Ms Armstrong is poised to guide our students with excellence. We also extend our best wishes and gratitude to Ms Tsang and Mr Choe as they step into the shared leadership role as Head of Curriculum.

Exciting developments are underway in the senior years of our music program:

Year 7 and 8: Students are wrapping up their performance assessment tasks and embarking on a new journey as composers for their upcoming composition assessment task due early next term.

Year 9 and 10: Continuing to sharpen their musicology, theory, and aural skills, students are also gearing up for their performance assessment tasks. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the fruits of their hard work and preparation.

Year 11 HSC: Students are refining their aural skills through sight-singing activities and melodic dictations, all while preparing for their performance assessment task in Week 11.

Year 12 Music 2 HSC: Having submitted their first draft of the HSC composition, students are awaiting external marking after the final submission. Meanwhile, Year 12 Music 1 students have commenced rehearsals with the Stage Band for their final recitals and are gearing up for their first HSC performance in week 11.

Year 11 and 12 IB: These students have already submitted their first assessment tasks for the year, encompassing composition, analysis, and reflection components of their portfolios. Their diligence, dedication, and enthusiasm toward these tasks are reflected in their pursuit of excellence and creativity, which is truly inspiring to witness. Well done, everyone!

Stay tuned for more updates and achievements from our vibrant music program.

Please also see information about our co-curricular music actvities:

Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey
Music Teacher | Head of Curricular Music 5-12

Maths Homework Help has moved location

Enrichment

Term 1 continues to be a busy time for students thinking outside of the classroom. In this update we congratulate the 2023 Middle School Ethics team for their participation in the international finals, we also take a closer look at the work Years 6 and 7 have been doing in the Junior Enrichment Challenge.

Middle School Ethics Finals

The 2023 Middle School Ethics gold medallists competed in the International finals this February. Their continued hard work earned them a commendation from the judges with the winning three teams all coming from Australian schools. The team was made up of Eve Ardagna, Edith Barrett, Mia Bek, Emily Hirschhorn and Oliva Santangelo and mentored by Kate Pitman-Fernandez of Year 11.

I am so incredibly proud of the fantastic results our Middle School Ethics team has achieved, and more importantly, I am so proud of the passion and hard work that they have put into preparing for this. Watching these girls develop and refine their skills in communication, reasoning and critical thinking has been such an insightful and rewarding experience.

Ultimately, their success is a culmination of the energy, dedication, passion and determination with which they have approached this experience.

It has been truly inspiring to watch them all grow individually and as a team, and their results reflect this incredible growth!

Kate Pitman-Fernandez
(Ethics coach)

Australian Brain Bee Challenge

March is the month of the first round of The Australian Brain Bee Challenge. Some students from Year 10 completed the online exam using the Education Perfect Platform. These students have been training since last year, independently working their way through high order biology and neuroscience content. It was a challenging but enjoyable experience for those who followed through with their commitment.

Participating in the Brain Bee was really interesting and refreshing, allowing us to independently learn about the brain and all of its complex processes in detail. I would do it again if I could, because as well as gaining rich knowledge I also discovered a new interest that I definitely wish to pursue.
Calliope Stewart
Year 10

Junior Enrichment Challenge

Students in Years 6 and 7 have been spending some of their Wednesday afternoons participating in the Junior Enrichment Challenge. 

In their creative writing challenge students were presented with a short poem from Hilda Doolittle titled ‘the Pool’. The students had a single 45-minute session to brainstorm and quickly write an imaginative piece. Below are two student short stories. 

The Pool – Ariadna Diaz

I feel my tail swish as the boat passes beside me. Men standing over, tall grey shadows. A thick, worn out net splashes down next to me, I swim away. The men pull the net back up. I see hundreds of my friends get pulled away while I stay in this giant pool of ours. I think I get away, but I still see the shadows of the men. By that time, I’m too late. I get carried up onto the ship, with other fellow friends. I can’t breathe, but I’m still in the moment. As the giant horn of the ship rings all I can think to myself is what will happen to us. I lay on the damp wooden floor as we arrive at the docks near the markets. As soon as we arrive we get placed into a big box filled with ice. We sit there, barely surviving on the little water from the melted ice. Then comes the big moment, I get bought. I feel every single cut, slice and chop that happens to me. Physically, I am dead, but my soul is alive.

The life of a Fish –  Michaela Zatorski

I swish through the water, following my family. These past few days we have been travelling a lot. We live in a place called the pond, it is very big. I’m not allowed to go too close to the surface because there are these big things called humans. They like to take one or two fish out of the water and away from their families. Everyday me and my friends like to play a game called Run little fish.

The game goes like this, we find a human, then we swim around in a circle very close to it, making sure it can see us. When it does see us we swim away as fast as we can. It is super fun. We are going to play the game again. We swim after each other, looking around for a human. We played the game as usual except this time the human must have really wanted to get us because he fell in! The impact makes the water go up and down. I think to myself, can I survive this? The human is struggling to get out of the water and is splashing all about. Luckily I managed to swim out of the commotion fast enough. I see all my friends get out except for the smallest one. After the human gets out of the water we look all around for her, we find her floating at the very top of the surface. She must’ve been under the human when it fell, the impact must’ve killed her. I get back to my family and I tell them the bad news. Now I am banned from playing that game.

It’s the next day and I really want to play the game, it’s the only fun thing I have down here. I sneak away from my family with my friends. We look for a human, we find one, actually the same one from yesterday! We get into a circle, getting ready to swim super fast. The human must’ve been ready for us.

I got caught in something. 

I realised slowly that I was getting pulled up!

I was getting pulled out of the water!

I try swimming out but I’m trapped.

I get pulled out of the water and get put on something big and white, floating on the surface. I can’t breathe. 

I look beside me and lying there is my best friend. I’m watching him struggle, I wish I could do something. 

Something comes right on top of my head, it’s silver and extremely sharp.

I hear a ringing in my ears and I suddenly see a blinding white.

Holiday Enrichment 

School holidays are a great time for students to use what they are learning in the classroom in the real world.  Inspiration for activities and outings to keep brains active in the holidays are listed below:

School Holiday programs at ANSTO
https://www.ansto.gov.au/whats-on?page=1

School Holiday programs at the Australian Museum 
https://australian.museum/event/school-holidays/

Art Gallery of NSW – free entry and drop in paper crafts workshops for younger students
https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/programs/school-holidays/

MCA – free entry and some activities for younger students
https://www.mca.com.au/events-programs/calendar/school-holiday-programs/

City of Sydney school holiday ideas
https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/tags/school-holidays

Visit NSW school holiday ideas
https://www.visitnsw.com/things-to-do/family-holidays/school-holidays

Matthew Mountford
Dean of Gifted Education

United Nations Award for Santa Style

The United Nations Global Action Youth Fund is an international award which recognises students under the age of 18 years who are taking action to address global challenges at IB World Schools and beyond.

Santa Style is a student-led HSIE Enterprise co-curricula. It is a sustainability social enterprise business initiative. As one of 215 schools in Australia offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma program Santa Style was the ONLY Australian awardee of the 2023 Global Youth Action Fund. This award was in recognition of Santa Style students who have worked collaboratively to create a business to disrupt fast fashion landfill by creating a circular flow model of clothing collection and resale aimed to recycle textiles.

The 2023 UN Global Action Fund award invited the following Santa Style students Rochelle Dias, Lucy Gee, Zoe Kearns, Sofia Kearns, Denise Wong, Sienna Nigro, Sienna Evans, Mia Pisano, Bronte Sprotte and Lucia Juarez to be mentored through online forums by members of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Youth. At these forums these Santa Sabina students collaborated with other awardees from across the world exchanging ideas and gained inspiration from one another. A huge thank you to Mrs Vikki Cummins for her work in chaperoning these students within this international mentor program. In 2024 Santa Style aims to expand this ecommerce system, continue to promote socially responsible behaviour and further reduce waste within the Santa Sabina community and beyond. Students who were part of this international program were presented their certificates at the College Assembly. Congratulations!

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Year 10 vaccinations

In Year 10, students are offered free vaccines for Meningococcal ACWY at Santa Sabina College on Tuesday 2 April 2024.

Vaccinations will only be provided if consent has been received. 

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.service-now.com/school
2. 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. 
3. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required. 
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:  
   1. Enter your child’s personal details. 
   1. Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child. 
   1. Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement.
   1. Provide consent.

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). 

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination.

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx 

Online consent must be completed by Wednesday 27 March 2024. If you have any questions, please direct them to me at 9745 7187. 

Karen Peeters
College Nurse

Vaccination Information

Toys for kittens

Homeroom 5 worked with Mrs Pizzuti and Mrs Sulis to utilise the cardboard tubes left over from toilet rolls in order to work towards sustainability in a way that promotes acts of service. Kittens in shelters are often in need of toys to keep them entertained and gain the necessary skills to enhance their development. These easy to make toys will not only provide hours of fun for kittens in care, but also demonstrate simple ways to contribute to environmental sustainability. 

As a Catholic community, we are called to enact an integral ecology, to remember that the Earth and all its creatures are a gift from God, a gift that we are to be stewards of. 

We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental…We have only one heart, and the same wretchedness which leads us to mistreat an animal will not be long in showing itself in our relationships with other people.

Laudato si, 139; 92

Chloe Pizzuti
RE Teacher

Authentic Learning in Commerce

One of the rights of citizens within a democratic nation such as Australia is the participation in political elections once 18 years old. In Year 10 Commerce this term students have been learning about the political process in Australia. Authentic learning is a teaching strategy that encourages students to construct concepts and relationships in contexts that involve real-world problems and projects that are relevant to the learner. As an authentic learning experience, students in Ms Vikki Cummins’ class were given an immersive opportunity to participate and organise a Class Election using the preferential voting system which is used in Australia. Students demonstrated engagement and deep learning about the political system.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Year 10 Commerce conducted a class election where students actively participated by forming single-issue political parties, presenting persuasive arguments to the class to vote for their party. Through negotiation, students learn firsthand how political parties engage in preference deals. Students cast their votes and the ballots were counted. Students were engaged in this authentic learning experience, demonstrating both the first-past-the-post and preferential voting system.

Vikki Cummins
HSIE Teacher

Student Reflections

Today in Commerce, we had an interactive exercise by conducting a class election. I gained a practical understanding of how different voting systems work. I also experienced the democratic principles in action as well as how political parties negotiate preference deals. It was fun seeing how competitive everyone got. This made the learning interesting.
Siana Pinto

I really liked the immersive approach to learning because I learned both knowledge about the political process but also important skills such as working in a group to come up with a creative single issue political party, the skills of public speaking. I also learned firsthand how political parties engage in preference deals by negotiating and compromising. Today’s lesson gave me a deep understanding of the Australian democratic process, making me feel more prepared when I am old enough to vote.
Abigail Middleton

The atmosphere in the classroom buzzed with excitement and anticipation as we all cast our votes and when counting began. I found this authentic learning experience an exciting way to learn about the process of voting. Because I was actively participating in my learning in this hands-on activity I gained a practical understanding of how different voting systems work but also experienced the democratic principles in action.
Amelia Qasim

Science of Learning Action Research

As part of Santa Sabina’s action research program, it has been exciting for us to focus on investigating a pedagogical approach known as ‘The Science of Learning.’ The approach focuses on helping reduce excessive demand on a brain’s working memory, helping learners commit more information to long term memory. Key strategies we are keen to investigate are explicit teaching, repetition and practise, and linking information to prior learning.

Our goals for the program are based on our research question:

How can we reduce cognitive load for students so more information is transferred from working memory to long term memory?

Before designing and planning our intervention strategies, we aim to collect a range of quantitative and qualitative data and information to inform our research. These sources will include student pre- and post- tests, student surveys and information from academic and practitioner literature. If our research is successful, we hope to see evidence our students can better commit information to long term memory thereby supporting teaching and learning outcomes. We are looking forward to sharing our findings as they come in.

Michael Moses
Teacher Librarian (5-12)
English Teacher

Calligraphy in Years 9 and 10 Japanese

Our class had great fun interacting with the Japanese exchange students doing the calligraphy activity. We got the chance to witness one of the Japanese exchange students – Airin – to write our names in Japanese Calligraphy before we wrote it ourselves with the help of the other two exchange students who made the activity extremely eventful and fun.  
Wendy Wang
HRYO2

Careers Spotlight @ SSC

With the holidays almost upon us, this can be a good time to rest and reset as well as do some further investigation into career pathways and take advantage of some fantastic holiday workshops. We also have a busy Careers Program planned to look forward to in Term 2. Some dates that you may like to note down in your calendars for next term are detailed below.

Year 10 Careers Profiling – Wednesday 1 May 8.30-10.30am

All students in Year 10 will undertake the Morrisby Careers Profiling during Periods 1 and 2 on Wednesday 1 May in the Hall. The Morrisby Profile aims to help students find their career direction using scientific profiling of abilities, personality, interests and motivation to help them discover their unique characteristics. This will be particularly significant as students prepare to undertake subject selection and in choosing the most suitable pathway and subjects for their senior years. 

National Careers Week – 13-17 May

A number of careers-related workshops and events will take place to celebrate National Careers Week.

Career Women’s Network Breakfast – Friday 17 May 7:00-9:00am

National Careers Week will culminate in our annual Career Women’s Network Breakfast for members of our community and senior students. Find more information including student registration here.

Year 12 Careers Expo – Friday 28 June

Term 2 will end with a visit to the Western Sydney Careers Expo at Sydney Olympic Park for all Year 12 students to gather information from over 100 different tertiary providers and employment organisations.

Students will receive more information about these events closer to the date.

I encourage all students to consider the upcoming careers events happening over the coming weeks and the holidays and to contact me should they require any further information or guidance related to future pathways.

Wishing all families a safe and blessed Easter and holiday break.

Eva Guirguis
Head of Future Pathways & Partnerships

Exploring Virtual Games in Geography Club

Introducing the new HSIE co-curricula in 2024 – The Geography Club!

This is a new HSIE Club that develops Geography skills in a fun way. This term geographers have been using virtual reality gaming through the program of Geoguessr. This game takes students on a journey around the world. Players are randomly placed somewhere in the world on Google Street View and are challenged to use their geographical knowledge and critical thinking skills to try to guess their location. Students are able to zoom into clues such as street signs, natural and man made landmarks and even consider the weather to determine their guess. This is a team game which is timed and awards points based on the accuracy of each guess. The closer teams are to the mystery location, the more points they achieve! The Geography Club members have been playing this game throughout this term and the winning team won a box of chocolates. A huge thank you to Ms Natalie Fairfax who is leading the Geography Club. Geography Club meets in room 323 on Wednesdays in Week B and everyone is welcome to join.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflections

I like going to Geography Club because we always have fun. I feel like I have definitely expanded my knowledge of the subject, which is helpful in Geography lessons. What I most love is that Ms Fairfax makes every session fun, finding unique activities for us to do.
Harriet Hoogland
Year 8

Geography club provides such a positive and enjoyable environment to challenge and expand upon our knowledge of the world through engaging, interesting activities. In addition to the knowledge and enjoyment we derive from participating in this club, it also creates a space where meaningful and authentic connection with students from different year groups is cultivated. Recently, we have been participating in challenges related to immersing ourselves in a variety of different places around the world through games such as Geoguessr, where we are ‘dropped’ in a random place somewhere in the world by Google street view and through examining various clues and indicators in the surrounding environment, we have to figure out where we are in the world. Geography club is such an exciting and interesting club that we all look forward to very much!
Kate Pitman-Fernandez
Year 11

Geography club is an amazing experience where we have heaps of fun while learning from the activities as well as our peers.
Charlotte Reavell
Year 8

130 Year Flashback – Santa Swimming

Thinking about the success of our 2024 Swimming Carnival, it is only right to reflect on the past swimming carnivals and look how far Santa Sabina has come. Ms Suluis recalls “that when the school carnivals were held at the Santa Sabina pool there were only four colour Houses and the day’s program was mainly made up of novelty races. It was a school community day full of Santa school spirit!” The House system grew to six and the names of the Houses changed to indigenous names under the leadership of Principal Lawson. From the 1960s was always a competitive Santa Sabina Swim team. Today we hold our Swimming Carnival at the Olympic Pool in Homebush and it is still a fun community day and we have continued our tradition of singing and chanting.

Remi Apostolopoulos and Anna-Maria Sulukojian
Year 11
History Club Ambassadors

Do you think that Ms Sulis is pictured as a student in this photo of the 1967 Swim Team?

Look carefully, can you find a family member in any of these Santa Sabina swimming photos?

Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Ceremony

On Thursday 21 March, Olivia Nahkle, Rosanna Cartwright and Sienna Chan were awarded their Gold Award for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at Accor Stadium. The event was hosted by the NSW Office of Sport and schools throughout NSW were invited. It was a celebration of the many stories, adventures, achievements, and dedication to the pursuit of expanding personal horizons. Those receiving their Gold Award are congratulated on an outstanding achievement and should be proud of their efforts.

The Gold Award is the highest certificate that a participant can achieve in the Award Scheme. They must complete 52 hours of Physical Recreation, Skills, and Volunteer Service – a year of consistent dedication. As well as these hours, they complete two Adventurous Journeys and the Gold Residential Project.

The notion with the physical recreation, skill and volunteer service is that students are building their own self-esteem through involvement in community activities and developing skills for life.

The Adventurous Journeys are expeditions away from their comfort zones exploring and building upon previous outdoor skills in a final expedition where students take ownership of the journey. These journeys took place in Tasmania (Overland Track), Sydney Harbour National Park and the Budawangs National Park.

The Gold Residential Project is an experience where students are working with people in new environments towards a collective goal. This could be volunteering at a youth camp, participating in an interstate sporting event, attending a study camp, or even taking part in an international project. Students are encouraged to seek new opportunities to get the most out of their Gold Award for the Residential Project.

One of the best parts of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the opportunity to create new memories and lifelong skills with like-minded individuals. I can recall my own experience during my Gold Award when we rode from Mt Kosciusko to the coast on mountain bikes – it was the adventure of a lifetime that opened the pathways to many new outdoor experiences.

To all those who are completing their DOE, keep going! It is a worthwhile achievement and forms bonds for life amongst your Santa Sabina peers. I look forward to celebrating more wonderful achievements from Santa Sabina students in the coming years. 

Christopher Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning

UTS Big Day In 2024

The UTS Big Day In excursion was a memorable and insightful experience. The presenters informed us on the many different career options that were available within the STEM industry, as well as opportunities straight out of high school or in the near future. Dr Tim Kitch from Adobe talked to us about the wonders of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Valessa Basic from ASD, companies like Animal Logic, WiseTech and Canstar Blue who spoke to us about the uses technology plays in their work. Mr Bowen from Microsoft also spoke to us about the wonders of AI such as Chat GPT and other softwares similar to it. He presented the advantages of these programs, and how they can assist with many different tasks in the workforce.  Representatives from the ADF also came and spoke to us about the numerous opportunities the Defence force has with the STEM field. 

Overall our most memorable experience was when we were able to walk around, visit stalls, talk to the presenters, compete in games and ask questions. Many different prizes were available to win, from the lollies offered at stalls to speakers and bluetooth headphones in the raffle at the end of the day. A very memorable experience! 

Zara Zanic, Tiffany Dao & Remi Apostolopoulos
Year 10

Assistant Head of Gioia House

Gioia House Action Girls

Congratulations to the following Action Girls who received their Award and Action Girl badge at our 5-12 Assembly this week:

Year 5: 
Phoebe Clarke
Emily Cooper
Kate Hennessy
Petra Lam

Year 6: 
Olivia Abi-Hanna
Annalise Elias
Orlanda Rychter 
Annabelle Wong

Community Time

During Community Time our Gioia House buddies focused on our weekly theme, ‘Compassion’. The students discussed ways we can show compassion, such as donating to Project Compassion – Caritas fundraising, looking out for others, helping in the classroom, being a supportive friend, asking someone if they’re okay and also identifying what compassion looks like at home. The students worked with their buddy to create a Heart Puzzle, listing the ways we will continue to show compassion each day. 

Harmony Day

During Harmony Week the students throughout the College moved into House groups and took part in a variety of activities celebrating cultures and traditions around the world. This was a great opportunity to have all our Santa Sabina students come together and celebrate Harmony Week.

Be an Upstander

Our Gioia House theme for the past couple of weeks is ‘Be an Upstander’. During Homeroom and Pastoral lessons, the students defined ‘Upstander’ and discussed the importance of being an Upstander. We brainstormed what an Upstander would Look like, Sound like and Feel like. The students also developed short scenarios to identify times when it is important to be an Upstander and the positive impact that can have on others.

Gioia House Project Compassion Fundraising

Thank you to all the students and families for generously donating to our Gioia House Easter Raffle. Our Gioia House Leaders and Year 6 students have been selling raffle tickets each recess and lunchtime to help support Caritas Charity. Once we return from the Easter long weekend we will come together to celebrate Easter and Jesus’ resurrection through prayer. We will also announce our Easter raffle winners at our Gioia House gathering. 

Wishing everyone prayers and blessings during Holy Week and a happy Easter.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House 

Confirmation

Confirmation is the means by which the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the baptised candidate, just as the Holy Spirit was given to the apostles at Pentecost….The Holy Spirit draws the candidate closer to Christ. The Holy Spirit also strengthens the person to live as a witness of Christ.

Springer, 2011 p40

In the Sydney Archdiocese, the sacrament of Confirmation is conferred upon a child in Year 6. The candidate should be turning 11 years of age or older in the year in which they are to be Confirmed. Each candidate nominates a sponsor who is a Confirmed and practising Catholic over the age of 16 years. The role of the sponsor is to provide spiritual guidance and support to the candidate and present the candidate to the Bishop for anointing on the day of Confirmation. Each candidate must choose a Catholic Saints name for their Confirmation name. The chosen saint should be someone the candidate admires for their deeds or qualities.

Confirmation 2024 at St Martha’s Strathfield

To participate, prepare and receive this sacrament… please contact St Martha’s Parish for an enrolment form. Hardcopies can be found in the foyer of our Church. This sacrament will be for those candidates in Year 6 or over and have received the sacrament of First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

The Enrolment Fee for Confirmation 2024 is $50.

(This Fee covers the cost of workbooks and resources.)

CONFIRMATION 2024

for children in Year 6 or older

Parent information Session: 6:00pm Monday 6 May 2024
1st lesson: 3:30pm Saturday 11 May
2nd lesson: 3:30pm Saturday 18 May
3rd lesson: 3:30pm Saturday 25 May
4th lesson: 3:30pm Saturday 1 June

REHEARSAL: 6:00PM FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024

Sacrament date: 6:00pm Friday 21 June 2024

Confirmation 2024 at St Joseph’s Enfield

The Parish of St Joseph’s Enfield would like to welcome all children who have not completed the Sacrament of Confirmation to attend this program here at St Joseph’s Enfield. For more information see the information below or contact Fr Kim Ha in the Parish office on 9747 4884.

Enrolment Day: 
Wednesday 3 April at 3:30pm – 4:30pm in the Parish Meeting Room

Classes:              
Wednesday 10 April at 4:00pm in the Parish Meeting Room
Wednesday 1 May at 4:00pm in the Parish Meeting Room
Wednesday 8 May at 4:00pm in the Parish Meeting Room

Rehearsal:        
Wednesday 22 May at 4:00pm in the Church           

SACRAMENT DATE: Sunday 26 May 2024 at 1:00pm in the Church

At St Joseph’s Catholic Church, 126 Liverpool Road Enfield

Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P- 6

Music at Gioia House

Music at Gioia House (Curricular)

Gioia House continues to embark on their musical journey across all curriculum lessons with enthusiasm and dedication.

In choir, students are diligently rehearsing four pieces for the upcoming Gala concert: ‘Ciranda Da Lua,’ ‘Beethoven No. 9,’ ‘I Belong,’ and ‘Raise Your Voice.’ These selections not only showcase their musical talents but also provide opportunities to delve into the nuances of Portuguese and German pronunciation.

Meanwhile, in instrumental lessons, students are eagerly preparing for performance assessments under the guidance of their tutors. The Year 6 instrumental extension group is mastering pieces like ‘Dragon Dance’ and ‘High Adventure,’ demonstrating commendable progress. Additionally, Gioia House Strings is gearing up for their performance at the Gala Concert with their rendition of ‘Electric Sinfonia.’ Across all Gioia House curriculum lessons, students are reinforcing the skills and knowledge gained in choir and instrumental sessions. It’s inspiring to witness their collective dedication and growth in the realm of music education.

Please also see information about our co-curricular activities:

Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey
Head of Curricular Music 5-12
Music Teacher

Imaginative Texts in Year 5

Year 5 students have been examining imaginative texts and the descriptive language used within these. They have explored the effect of using descriptive language in imaginative writing and using some stimulus pictures endeavoured to include this descriptive language in their own writing.

Wendy Anetter
Year 5 teacher

Lenten studies

As part of our Lenten studies in Religion we used Scripture passages to learn about the events of Holy Week. This activity allowed students to reflect on Jesus’ journey to His crucifixion, His suffering and sacrifice. Students demonstrated their understanding using visuals and key phrases or words to represent the Bible passages. 

Ann Milicic 
Year 6 Teacher

Seed germination in Year 6 Science

In Science Year 6 are growing alfalfa seeds. What we first did was we got some petri dishes and put some cotton in the dish. We sprinkled a handful of seeds on the cotton and sprayed some water. Then, we waited. The first few days, we watered them once daily. But then, we noticed that they weren’t growing that well so we decided to water them twice a day. However, most of the plants were STILL not growing much. Then, we had a great idea. We decided to put a string in a pot of water and put the string into the petri dishes. We did this for a few days and the results were amazing. Most of the plants were growing leaves, roots and stems. The plants occasionally flooded but the plants were growing strong. 
Leah Han
6McL

In Science I have had a lot of fun learning about seed germination. It was very interesting to see how after putting a lot more water in a lot of people’s plants grew. The seedlings’ roots continued to grow as well as the seedling itself. I learnt that when looking after a plant you want to put a lot of water but not too much so that it will drown and you need to have it in some sunlight. I thought it was very interesting that if you don’t put the seeds in the correct conditions they can die pretty quickly. Overall I have loved doing seed germination this term and examining and observing how a plant grows.
Isabella Grasso
6McL

This term the whole of Year 6 had lots of fun learning how to germinate alfalfa sprouts. It was really good how we learnt not to over-water or under-water our plants so they could grow the best. This project will help a lot in life when we want to grow our own plants. I really liked how we recorded the height, number of plants germinated and the observations we saw. Overall this was really really fun and I now want to grow my own plants at home. 
Isla Kenniff
6McL

Growing alfalfa seeds was enjoyable and interesting. It was fun because each day It would grow little by little, Each day we would record. some would grow fast while others would grow slower. Watching them grow helped me learn about a cycle for plants. This journey for our plants was fun and I hope to do it again in the future.
Alannah Jabbour 
6McL

Leonie McLaren
Year 6 Teacher

Curriculum updates

NAPLAN

All NAPLAN assessments have now been completed. We take a moment to extend our congratulations for the diligent efforts and commendable performance of all students. Throughout this process, the students have showcased not only their academic skills but also their embodiment of the fundamental values encapsulated by the 5Rs: respect, resilience, resourcefulness, responsibility, and self-regulation. Their respect was evident in the manner they approached each task, showing consideration for their peers under assessment conditions. Moreover, their resilience shone through in the face of difficult questions or time constraints, demonstrating an unwavering determination to persevere. These students exhibited resourcefulness by utilising various strategies to tackle problems, displaying a keen ability to adapt and innovate. Additionally, their sense of responsibility was evident as they took ownership of their performance and dedicated themselves to giving their best. Lastly, their mastery of self-regulation was evident in their ability to maintain focus, and stay composed throughout the assessment period. Overall, as they complete this significant milestone, these Year 5 students not only exemplify academic prowess but also embody the essential qualities that will serve them well in their future endeavours.

PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM

The recent curriculum reform by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) in Mathematics and English reflects and aims to improve educational standards, prompting teachers to embark on a journey of planning, evaluation, and dedicated implementation of the new syllabuses. The Stage 3 teachers are undertaking comprehensive assessments of the curriculum changes, ensuring that instructional materials and assessment methods are aligned with the revised standards. Their commitment to professional growth and student success is evident as they navigate the complexities of the reform, striving to create enriching learning experiences that empower students to thrive.

The Mathematics and English syllabuses incorporate essential content and fundamental skills that enable students to develop their understanding as they progress through their educational journey. Many connections exist within the focus areas of Mathematics and English syllabuses, to ensure students develop an understanding in an interrelated manner so that students are able to make connections with their learning. 

Stephanie Yiorkas
Gioia House Curriculum Leader

Y6 Anderson STEM

Once a fortnight the girls in Gioia House participate in a STEM lesson, led by our Leader of Learning Technology P-6, Alana Ivancsik. So far this term the students have explored what makes a good game and have critiqued a variety of online games based on their design, special effects, level of difficulty, storyline or animation, instructions on how to play the game and enjoyment, to name a few.

Currently, Year 6 are designing and making their own digital game that will be able to be played online. In groups of four across two classes and with a theme of ‘Stars’, the girls need to ensure their game is a clicker, chase or pong game. Once their games are finalised, they will be entered into the Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. We cannot wait to trial the finished products! 

Tiffany Anderson
Year 6 teacher

Year 5

In our Interdisciplinary Unit ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, Year 5 have been exploring their own sense of identity, with the influence of our Dominican Heritage, whilst reflecting on their own values and beliefs. The students also analysed how multiculturalism is present in Gioia House as well as within Australia. 

To conclude the unit, students are currently working on a group presentation that demonstrates their understanding and connection of personal, SSC and Australian identities. 

Stephanie Yiorkas and Jane Sulis
Year 5 teachers

Assistant Head of Primary P-4

Harmony Day

Harmony in music is the combination of two or more notes, played simultaneously, to create a single, harmonious sound. In the artistic world, harmony is achieved through the unification of artistic elements of colour, form, shape or proportion to create a cohesive whole that is neither repetitious nor chaotic. Just like its musical and artistic counterparts, Harmony Day is a celebration of the many cultures that come together to form one peaceful community – a group of people who together, are more than the sum of their individual parts.

This year we celebrated Harmony Day in a very special way at Santa Sabina, by bringing students together from Kindergarten right through to Year 12, in House groups. These groups met in locations across the Del Monte and senior campuses and completed activities to promote communication and develop relationships across campuses and amongst students.

Living in harmony is not a new term or concept. We learn through the letters of St Peter and St Paul to early Christian communities that they lived their lives in harmony; sharing their everyday belongings, their talents and their faith. In our modern world, we recognise that living in harmony in the multicultural country of Australia enriches and enhances our lives, we recognise and appreciate the richness and depth that these cultural differences bring to our lives.

Watching the interaction between students from across campuses, between grades and from a multitude of cultural backgrounds, was a special way to celebrate Harmony Day and one that I’m sure the students will remember as one of the many special moments of their days here at Santa Sabina.

Responsible Use of Devices and eSafety

As technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, we have an important responsibility of teaching children about the ways to use technology safely and responsibly. Understanding how to use technology safely and responsibly is explicitly taught to the students as part of their Digitech lessons and is continuously reinforced and supported within classrooms, to ensure children develop the skills and knowledge required to be responsible digital citizens at school, at home or any time they are using technology.

Students from Year 3 upwards bring their own device to school for use as a learning tool within the classroom. In order to use these devices in the classroom and connect to the College internet, students must, with their parents, read and accept the school’s expectations outlined in the Student Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement, which can be found in all student diaries.

Raising children in this digital age brings new challenges to parenting. Here are practical ways to support your child’s understanding of ways to use technology safely and responsibly, and support the work that they are doing in the classroom:

• Store and charge devices outside of children’s bedrooms.
• Switch devices off at least two hours before bedtime.
• Have children use their devices in communal areas of the home such as in the living room, lounge room so that you can oversee what your child is accessing.
• Schedule some screen-free time to spend together as a family.
• Remember that you are a role model to your children and should be mindful of how you use of technology to ensure you set a good example.

Lauren Petroni
Assistant Head of Primary P-4

Music at Mary Bailey House and Del Monte

Music at Mary Bailey House (Curricular)

At Mary Bailey House we have been learning a new “Welcome Song” in a West African dialect. The song, Funga Alafia helps the students to sing about welcoming the day with their minds, their words and their hearts. The students are encouraged to use actions whilst singing as this enhances hand-eye coordination, vocabulary enrichment, improves confidence and enhances listening skills and following instructions.

Cecilia Pensini
Music Teacher
Head of Strings P-4

Music at Del Monte (Curricular)

At Del Monte we have been singing with prayerful hearts and minds as we journey through Lent to Easter. Our liturgy songs tell the story of Jesus and we think about the words as we sing. We have rehearsed many songs for our Holy Week Liturgy and our Easter liturgy. It is really great to hear the joy in their voices when the students sing, both in class and as a whole school. Our musicians have learnt to play the repertoire to accompany the singing, honing their ensemble skills.

Please also see information about our co-curricular activities:

Phillipa Knight
Coordinator of Music P-4

Religious Education Update

Holy Week

Today, the Del Monte community came together to commemorate Holy Week by participating in a Holy Week Liturgy. It combined prayer, song, actions, listening and silence to reflect on the final days of Jesus’ life, his suffering and death. The prayerful reflection engaged students in key events of Holy Week in different ways. Classes solemnly recalled Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday with a grade liturgy in the Del Monte chapel through prayer and song.

Holy Week leads us to the most important feast in the Church’s year – the Easter celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. By dying on the cross, Jesus reconciled the world to God and offered the gift of eternal life to all. 

Del Monte students will celebrate Easter in a liturgy on Thursday 4 April at 2:30 pm. All parents are welcome. There will be no awards given out at this gathering.

Project Compassion

Thank you again to everyone who has supported the Project Compassion appeal. Your donations will make a difference to the lives of others. By putting compassion into action, we can make a difference today, For All Future Generations.

Please return all Project Compassion boxes and envelopes to the school office by Friday 12 April or donate online via the Caritas website at lent.caritas.org.au.

Anzac Day

This year Anzac Day – Thursday 25 April – falls during the school holidays. You may want to share a prayer with your family to mark Anzac Day.

God of love and liberty, we bring our thanks this day for the peace and security we enjoy,

which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in times of war.

We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit may live on in us and in generations to come.

That the liberty, truth and justice which they sought to preserve may be seen and known in all the nations upon earth.

This we pray in the name of the one who gave his life for the sake of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Blessings

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and blessed Easter break. May your hearts be filled with hope, peace, and love as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Happy Easter!

Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P-6

Learning Moments

As mentioned at the Parent Information Evening earlier this term, we will be moving forward with Learning Moments on Veritas Online, rather than Seesaw. Learning Moments is a snapshot into your child’s classroom learning where they are able to share a range of learning opportunities with their teachers and parents. To access your child’s Learning Moments, please follow the steps below: 

1. Log into Veritas Online
2. Find, and click on, your child’s name in the left menu bar
3. Scroll down to see Learning Moments that have been posted.

If you would like to download your child’s journal from last year on Seesaw, you must do so by 30 April. Please follow these instructions:

1. Sign into your Family or Student account at https://app.seesaw.me.
2. Tap your Profile Icon in the top left corner, and select the gear icon.
3. Tap Account Settings.
4. Scroll down and tap Download Journal Archive
5. Tap the Download Journal button for the journal you want to download. This might take a while depending on your Internet speed and how many posts your child has in Seesaw. 

Alana Ivancsik
Leader of Learning Technology P-6

Curriculum updates

A huge congratulations to Year 3 on the completion of NAPLAN testing. It was a big week for Year 3, but they demonstrated persistence, commitment and grace throughout the testing period. 

Across the curriculum – grade highlights

Our new Kindergarteners are taking it all in during their daily InitiaLit sessions. A typical session would see them review taught sounds and letters and explore new concepts, followed by small group activities. Finally, they would go through the Storybook component where they engage in shared reading activities including understanding concepts about print, exploring new vocabulary and applying taught skills to reading.

Last week, Ms Meehan’s Year 1 streaming group became Super Noun Detectives as they learnt about how nouns are people, places and things that we can see all around us. They sung a noun song and used magnifying glasses to search for nouns in the classroom.

Year 2’s spelling streaming has seen a fantastic start over the past few weeks. The students are engaged and demonstrate a sense of responsibility as they take ownership of their learning. They have enjoyed collaborating with their peers across the grade, allowing them to dive deeper into their thinking and learning.

Year 3 students have been busy in their specialist lessons. In Music lessons, they have been focusing on notating rhythm by listening to familiar and simple songs. They have learnt to take their knowledge of clapping a rhythm, to applying it to written notation. Furthermore, they learnt to keep the beat to ‘Ickle Ockle, Blue Bottle’ by tossing a ball to each other in a circle. In Art, Year 3 has studied the works of Australian artist Howard Arkley and replicated his techniques through a series of paintings of houses and suburbia. 

Kate Bakhos
Curriculum Leader P-4

Term 2 External Co-curricular Programs

Registrations are now open for all Term 2 Co-curricular programs. Please click on the links provided to register your child/ren.

Ryan Dunlop
PE and Co-curricular Coordinator (P-4)
Primary Sport Coordinator (P-6)

Year 4 at Tallong

Year 4 students had a wonderful time participating in the Outdoor Education Experience at Tallong. They engaged in a variety of activities such as mountain biking, abseiling and orienteering. It was fantastic to see students approaching activities with a growth mindset and encouraging their peers. Other highlights included roasting marshmallows at the campfire, spending time with our Year 10 leaders and enjoying Cheffrey’s delicious meals. These memorable experiences at Tallong strengthened students’ teamwork, communication and resilience. 

Edward Wang, Catherine McGrath, Nicole Meehan, Calista Camarda
Year 4 Teachers

Year 3

Year 3 students enjoyed an interesting visit to the College Museum as part of their history unit about change and continuity in the community. They were very engaged in exploring the different artefacts on display. The students were particularly interested in the uniforms, furniture and learning materials from the past. The museum visit ignited their curiosity about what our school community was like in the past. As part of their study, students formulated inquiry questions and are eager to continue their research into the history of Santa Sabina College, how the community has changed and what has stayed the same.

Margie Attard, Kate Bakhos, Louise Harris, Lauren Petroni and Brooke Panagopoulos
Year 3 teachers

Year 2 Harmony Day

Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. It is a day for all Australians to embrace cultural diversity and to share what we have in common. The central message for Harmony Week is that ‘everyone belongs’, reinforcing the importance of inclusiveness to all Australians. On Tuesday 19 March, Year 2 along with the rest of the Santa Sabina school community came together to participate in Harmony Day activities with the senior students in House groups.

Merissa Perivolarellis, Tina Nicotina and Cara Brigham
Year 2 Teachers

Year 1 – Friendology

We’re thrilled to announce that Year 1 has kicked off their journey into the exciting world of Friendology this term! Through engaging activities and discussions, our students are learning to be their own best friend and master their emotions. One particularly engaging task that has captured their imagination is the creation of a pair of sunglasses with attachments of kind words, serving as a reminder of the positivity they possess within. We’re excited to witness the growth and development of our students as they embark on this journey of Friendology and exploring their ‘Inner Ninja’.

Kelly Garcia, Erin Horne and Yasmine Kaballan
Year 1 Teachers

Kindergarten

In their Mathematics lessons, the Kindergarten students have been thinking logically and creatively, as they recognise, continue and create repeating patterns, using hands-on materials such as counters, teddies, cubes and other objects. They have then described their creations by identifying the ‘core’ of their repeating pattern as an AB (two part) or ABB, AAB, ABC (three part) pattern. The students had great fun using sounds and actions to copy and continue patterns in both their Mathematics and Music lessons! To extend their thinking, the students were challenged to create circular patterns and to continue and extend patterns by filling in the missing element.

The students have also been developing their understanding of length as an attribute and have enjoyed using playdough and informal units such as cubes and pop sticks, to measure and compare the lengths of various objects. They have learnt that when comparing and ordering objects according to length, the objects must be aligned end to end. The students have used the mathematical vocabulary of long/short, longest/shortest and longer than/shorter than, when representing and comparing lengths of different classroom objects. It is wonderful to witness our Kindergarten students thinking like Mathematicians every day!

Anna Donato, Rebecca Saba and Vicki Spillane
Kindergarten Teachers

Prep

In Prep we have been focusing on building the children’s understanding of number sense. They have enjoyed engaging in songs and rhymes involving counting forwards and backwards. One favourite learning experience is counting to 100 with dance moves. Other learning experiences have involved representing one-digit and some two-digit numbers using materials such as blocks, playdough, pegs etc. These tasks involve the children practising their fine motor skills as well as the skill of counting with one-to-one correspondence. 

Monique Evans and Clare Wood
Prep Teachers

Get ready to nest with Bowerbird Blues!

Exciting news ahead! The Del Monte library will soon transform into a Bowerbird’s nest in support of ALIA’s National Simultaneous Storytime. Aura Parker’s enchanting tale, Bowerbird Blues, follows a young bowerbird’s quest for delicate blue items, but something seems to be missing. This marks the 22nd year of the National Simultaneous Storytime, and we’re eager to delve into this colourful tale on Wednesday 22 May.

But wait, there’s more! We’re calling on students to lend a hand. In the spirit of a little bowerbird, we need your help collecting small blue recyclable items. These will be crafted into beautiful decorations for our Bowerbird nest! Imagine the joy of seeing our nest bloom with a splash of blue brilliance, just like in the pages of Bowerbird Blues.

So, gather your blue treasures – whether they’re bottle caps, ribbons, or bits of paper – and let’s make our nest shine. Drop off your blue treasures at the collection point in the Del Monte Library foyer. We can’t wait to witness the evolution of our bower.

Happy reading!

Patricia Doonan
Teacher Librarian

Wests Tigers visit Del Monte

On Wednesday 6 March, we were thrilled to welcome some special guests to our school as players from the Wests Tigers dropped by to share an inspiring message with our students. The visit was not just about showcasing their athletic prowess but also about imparting invaluable life lessons centred around the theme of ‘Striving for Your Best.’

Wests Tigers players John Bateman and Elias Sukkar shared personal stories of dedication, perseverance, and the importance of setting goals.

Through engaging activities and Q&A sessions, the Tigers emphasised the importance of having a growth mindset and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. They encouraged our students to set ambitious yet achievable goals and to approach every endeavour with passion and determination.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Wests Tigers for taking the time to visit our school and for imparting such invaluable wisdom to our students. May their message of ‘Striving for Your Best’ continue to resonate within our school community, inspiring us all to reach for the stars and pursue our dreams with unwavering commitment.

Ryan Dunlop
PE and Co-Curricular Coordinator (P-4)
Primary Sports Coordinator (P-6)

Director of Music

As we embark on the Easter Holy week together as a community, right across our school we can feel the delightful shift in both the natural and musical seasons.  This time of year with its more settled climate, earlier sunsets and settling daily rhythms provides a chance for us all to reflect with gratitude – for life, for music and for the God who has given us both things richly for our enjoyment!  At this time of year, new life is often the theme – and new songs too are springing up around the Music Department in the form of both student compositions and in the commissions that are in place for our 130th Gala Concert.

It is a wonderful time to be alive and making music at Santa Sabina College.

Wishing you and your dear ones a beautiful week to come.

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12

Music Staff Update

As Ms Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey embarks on maternity leave, we extend a warm welcome to Niamh Armstrong, who will be stepping in to lead her classes and support our programs. With a wealth of knowledge spanning various age groups with an expertise in strings, Ms Armstrong is poised to guide our students with excellence. We also extend our best wishes and gratitude to Ms Veronica Tsang and Mr Jameson Choe as they step into the shared leadership role as Head of Curriculum. We wish Ms Werlemann all the best as she commences this exciting new adventure!

We also welcome Ms Brielle Amato who is now supporting our Music Administration at Del Monte campus.

Director’s Honour Roll

Del Monte Music Assembly

Every term around Week 7 we enjoy our Music-led assembly at Del Monte. On Thursday 14 March, the Year 4 Curriculum String Ensemble performed a beautiful arrangement of Skye Boat Song prepared and conducted by Mrs Cecilia Pensini and her team of expert string tutors, with a cameo from Year 12 student Isabella Yang. As always, it is a joy to sing our school song accompanied by our budding string players.

Santa Sabina Recital Series

Thank you to those who joined us for the Open Recital on Friday 15 March in the Santa Sabina College Hall, as 27 students from our Private Tuition program presented their latest work for families and friends. These recitals take place each term, and we are thrilled to offer these positive performance experiences for students who are developing confidence in their craft and aspects of presentation. Thank you to our specialist tutors who prepared them so diligently for this opportunity. We look forward to the next open recital on Friday 24 May, and additionally welcome members of our community to join us on Monday 8 April 2024 as Year 10, 11 and 12 students present their current repertoire for assessment.

Gala Dinner Entertainment

On Friday Night, one of our advanced Chamber ensembles gave their time to help create the requisite celebratory atmosphere for guests arriving at the 130th Gala Dinner! Thank you to Eloise Dahm, Estelle Gilmovich, Sophia Wong, Serena Li and Aiden Curren for their fun repertoire selection, curated by our Head of Strings 5-12 Ms Victoria Jacono.

MUSIC TOURS 2025 – Information Night – 2 April

On Tuesday 2 April 2024, we will have an information night for our proposed Music Tours in 2025!  In the Lecture Theatre at 5:00pm (Japan Taiko & Language Tour) and 6:00pm (Italy Music Tour) – our experienced Music travel professionals Hayllar Music Tours will be present to walk us through the exciting proposed itineraries for both tours, and offer important information for interested parents and students who will be in Years 9-12 in 2025.  We are delighted to offer two tours in 2025 – a tour to Japan in the April school holidays for our Taiko and Japanese language students, and a larger scale tour to Italy in the September holidays that will be open to any Santa Sabina ensemble musician in the College-approved age group.

NEW GUZHENG ENSEMBLE! 

We are proudly welcoming the internationally respected artist and Sydney Conservatorium of Music Zheng expert, Ousiyu (Julia) Luo to our Santa Sabina College Music Team, as we add Guzheng lessons to our vast list of weekly offerings! Our proposed Guzheng Ensemble has already had a pleasing response, and we are still taking enrollments to be launched this coming Tuesday 2 April 2024 in the Adams room in Holyrood! 

To register for the ensemble and/or for Private Lessons with Ousiyu (Julia), please follow the standard registration process.

REGISTER FOR MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES AT SANTA SABINA

Register via the College App or using the link below for lessons in any of the following instruments – Piano, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Voice, Flute, Guzheng, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn, Orchestral Percussion, Drum Kit, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Composition and Musicianship individual or group lessons. In addition to private tuition, one of the best ways to apply new instrumental skills is in a Group Ensemble context. Santa Sabina ensembles have shown strong growth in numbers and committed attendance this year – with preparation for our 130th Year events kicking off across all streams! Jump on board with our ensemble program of choirs, bands and orchestras in 2024 by registering with the link below.

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.

Director of Sport and Co-Curricular

As we head towards the end of the term, I would like to share a reflection about how busy but also how rewarding the term has been.

In the Co-curricular Activities domain we saw the Mandarin lessons take off at Del Monte and Senior Campuses very successfully. A huge thank you to teachers Grace Ng (Years 5-12) and Wendy (Chen) Li (Years 2-4) for working tirelessly to ensure our students master this beautiful language.

Ms Tiana Pangallo has been appointed our Debating and Public Speaking coordinator and she has been delivering a great program with several students being at the CSDA Public Speaking finals and 90 students trialling for our debating teams this week.

We ran our Years 3-12 Swimming Carnival at SOPAC and we had a remarkable day. From there we had outstanding performances in the Representative Pathways in Senior (CGSSSA) and Junior Schools (CPS).

We have been very busy on Saturdays, hosting sports for more than 2,000 people each weekend and showcasing to all the visitors our very own ‘Volleyball Barbecue’. I would like to send a huge thank you to all the Representative Volleyball families for giving up their time each weekend, making a difference as they raise funds for the program.

Our IPSHA Footballers in Years 3-6 had a great finish to Term 1 displaying high quality football but more importantly enjoying every second on the field.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the following IGSA Sport teams who will be playing finals/play offs on 6 April:

Touch Football: SAN01 and SAN08
Badminton: SAN03
Tennis: SAN05, SAN06 and SAN07.

I would love to thank all of our community members: students, staff, parents and families for all the support given to Sport and Co-curricular at Santa Sabina College and I wish everyone a happy and safe Easter.

Primary Sport update

Primary Cross Country

Congratulations to the following students who have qualified for the Sydney Catholic Schools Cross Country Championships to be held on Tuesday 14 May at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek.

Primary Representative Sport

Good luck to Year 6 students Elyana Lahoud, Abigail Schutt and Alessandra Ronsisvalle who are trialling for the Sydney Catholic Schools Soccer team on Monday 8 April at Sky Park, Sydney FC Headquarters – Macquarie Park.

Good luck to Scarlett Matheson (Year 6) who will travel to Goulburn on Friday 5 April to attend the Mackillop Hockey Trials.

Sydney Catholic Schools Conference 2 Netball Championships

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent the College at the Sydney Catholic Schools Netball Championships on Tuesday 2 April at Cintra Park Netball Courts, Concord. We wish the girls the best of luck!

Primary Sport – What’s on in Term 1 and Term 2

TERM 1

TERM 2

Ryan Dunlop
PE and Co-Curricular Coordinator (P-4)
Primary Sports Coordinator (P-6)

Invitational Volleyball Update

This past weekend saw the final round of the Term 1 Invitational Volleyball Competition. Over the term Santa Sabina hosted 130 teams from 11 different schools. The weather was kind to us in the last round and we were able to play all scheduled matches which resulted in some fabulous results, congratulations to the following Santa Sabina teams:

Silver Medal
SSC12 – Year 8 Div 1A
SSC11 – Year 9 Div 2B
SSC06 – Year 10 Div 2A

Gold Medal
SSC15 – Year 8 Div 2B
SSC16 – Year 8 Div 2C
SSC05 – Year 10 Div 2A
SSC03 – Opens Div 2A

Thank you for the ongoing support from our dedicated coaches, referees and parents, we look forward to seeing you all again in Term 4.

Joanne Gocher
Invitational Volleyball and Basketball Coordinator

Representative Volleyball Update

It has been a busy few weeks for some of the representative athletes, with final selections for the all-star team soon to be released, and multiple athletes on the Gold Coast competing at both the Australian Schools Cup and the Australian Youth Beach Volleyball Championships. The start of the week saw five representative athletes – Alexis Gittani, Annabel Cantali, Emily Morgan, Mackenzie Bedford and Violet Addabbo – represent NSW at the national championships in their respective age group. Some outstanding performances from all athletes with some fantastic finishing results, Special mention to Mackenzie for finishing fifth in the country with her partner at the tournament! Full results can be found below:

Emily and Violet – 21st
Mackenzie and her partner Sybella – 5th
Annabel, Alexis and their partners – 11th

This, however, was not the end of the week. As athletes, Annie Mullen, Elizabeth Buckley, Frankie Martin, and Madison Low all head up to join their fellow Santa Sabina squad mates, to represent the College at the Australian Beach Volleyball Schools Championships, in which schools from all over the country compete against one another in their year groups! Some amazing results were once again achieved. Special Mention to Emily and Violet who finished up with a bronze medal in a fantastic tournament that saw them only losing one game (to the gold medal winners), and to our other young athletes Annabel, Alexis, Frankie, Madison, Annie and Elizabeth for competing in their first national pairs tournament. A Full list of the results can be found below:

Annie and Elizabeth – 10th
Annabel and Alexis – 13th
Frankie and Madison – 16th
Emily and Violet – 3rd

Lewis Jupp
Head Volleyball Coach and Coordinator 

Netball Update

After several weeks of selections and grading, our 25 netball teams are once again ready to take the court.  Training has commenced and training days and times can be located in VO and under your daughter’s schedule via the College App.

The draw is also now available and can be found in VO and PlayHQ and will be uploaded to the College App shortly.

The first game will be played on 6 April and while we have coaches for every team we are still in need of several team managers which we would like to lock in before Round 1.  This role can be shared, so please consider volunteering and sharing the fun.

Wishing all of our players, coaches, managers and umpires a very successful season ahead.

Joanne Gocher
Head Netball Coach and Coordinator

VACATION CARE

Our April Vacation Care program is packed with new and exciting incursions. We’ve included an incursion with after school activity Bricks4 Kids and other incursions were selected by the children from FUN Day Out. There’s certainly a STEM theme running through the program. Please see below for full information.

Bookings for vacation care are now open. If you book before the end of term, you’ll pay the permanent vacation care daily fee of $80 per child plus incursion and excursion cost. If you book during the school holidays the daily fee is $82 per child.

If you would like your child to attend vacation care, please contact OOSH Coordinator Frances at ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au or call OOSH on 9745 7790 between 2:00pm and 6:00pm.

Vacation care is always an enjoyable experience for children. With a focus on leisure and fun, children always make friends and come home with stories to tell about their day at OOSH.

We look forward to seeing your child at OOSH during the next school holidays.

Jackie Baxter
Director of Mary Bailey House

Tennis Camp

Join our Tennis and fitness camp in the school holidays from Monday 15 April to Wednesday 17 April. Book by clicking on the image below.

St Patrick’s Day

On Monday 18 March, four Year 10 students were privileged to attend the St Patrick’s Day Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by the Most Reverend Terence Brady, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Sydney. This occasion was a testament to the power of God’s grace and St Patrick’s profound impact on Catholicism in Ireland and Australia. 

St Patrick, a beacon of faith, is credited with being the first to preach the good news of Christ in Ireland, leaving an indelible mark on the country. His unwavering dedication to the faith inspires all Catholics and underscores the profound impact of evangelisation and spreading the Gospel to all corners of the world.

By celebrating the life of this great saint, we are reminded of the importance of evangelisation and preaching the Gospel, which is also central to our Dominican charism. Both St Patrick and St Dominic exemplify the dedication and zeal required to spread the Good News, each uniquely leaving a profound impact on the Church and inspiring believers to live out their faith with joy and enthusiasm.

Ryan Reyes
Dean of Mission 

Uniform Shop Easter and Holiday Trading Hours

The Santa Sabina College Uniform Shop will close from Wednesday 27 March 4:00pm until Tuesday 2 April at 1:00pm due to Public Holidays.

The Uniform Shop will then close for the school holidays on Friday 12 of April 2024 at 4:00pm reopening Friday 26 April 2024 at 9:00am. 

Term 1 2024 Extended Trading Hours 

Tuesday 9 April – 8:00am-5:00pm 
Thursday 11 April – 8:00am-5:00pm 

Term 2 2024 School Holiday Trading Hours

Friday 26 & Monday 29 April – 9:00am-3:00pm appointments required

Term 2 2024 Extended Trading Hours  

Tuesday 30 April – 8:00am-5:00pm 
Thursday 2 May – 8:00am-5:00pm 

The uniform shop will return to normal trading hours from Monday 6 May 2024.  

Meredith Saade
Santa Sabina College Uniform Shop Manager
P: 9745 7045
W: www.midford.com.au
Book an Appointment: https://Midford.as.me/SantaSabinaCollege

Hours:
Monday 8:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday 1:00pm-5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 1:00pm-5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-4:00pm

From the P&F Association

End of Term Update

As Term 1 comes to a close, the Parents and Friends (P&F) Association is pleased to share some exciting updates and extend our heartfelt thanks for the spirit of community that continues to thrive within SSC.

Mother’s Day Gift Wrapping Volunteers

 We are thrilled to announce that after our recent call for volunteers for the Mother’s Day Gift Wrapping event, we have had an overwhelming response of 27 volunteers! Scheduled for Tuesday 9 April, from 8:30am to 2:00pm at Del Monte Hall, this incredible turnout is a testament to the esprit de corps within our SSC community. The eagerness to contribute from our community is what makes our events so special.

Parent Socials Across Year Groups 

Since the last issue of Veritas Voice, we’ve seen heart warming gatherings among parents from Prep, Year 1, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, and Year 9, who have taken the opportunity to connect over morning and afternoon teas. These socials are invaluable for building relationships and supporting each other within our vibrant school community. Photos of these year group catch ups can be seen in the Past Events below.

Farewell and Thanks to Sia Zanon 

We bid a fond farewell to Sia Zanon, who concluded her tenure as P&F Association Vice President – Primary on 19 March. Over the past three years, Sia has been an indispensable part of our community, contributing significantly as both a Social Coordinator and Vice President. Her efforts, especially the memorable primary school disco and the delightful Welcome to Santa Sabina College cookies, have left a lasting impression. While Sia is stepping down, she has graciously offered to continue supporting the P&F. We cannot thank her enough for her dedication and wish her all the best in her future endeavours. Thank you Sia 🙏❤️.

Welcome Daniel Pace as the New Vice President – Primary 

With Sia’s departure, Daniel Pace, previously our Communications Coordinator and father to Alessandro (Year 2) and Marco (Kindergarten), has been nominated and elected to fill the position of Vice President – Primary. Daniel’s commitment and understanding of our community make him a perfect fit for the role.

Call for Communications Coordinator Nominations

With Daniel stepping into his new role, we are now seeking nominations for a new Communications Coordinator. This vital role includes managing our community WhatsApp groups, drafting contributions for Veritas Voice, and distributing key communications from both the school and the P&F. This is a rewarding role and an excellent opportunity for those looking to deepen their involvement with our community beyond their current cohorts. With Daniel continuing his service within the P&F, he has offered to assist the incoming coordinator in their duties throughout the remainder of his tenure, ensuring both a smooth transition and ongoing support for the incoming Communications Coordinator. If you’re interested in the role, please reach out by emailing pnfcomms@ssc.nsw.edu.au.

As we wrap up the term, we want to express our deep appreciation for the continued support and involvement of the entire community. The P&F Association looks forward to another term filled with community building and many more memorable events.

The P&F Association

Upcoming Events

🌸 P&F Mother’s Day Stall & Gift Wrapping Volunteers Needed! 🌸

G’day everyone! Hope you’re all doing well. We’re gearing up for our annual Mother’s Day Stall on:

• Monday 6 May at Gioia House
• Tuesday 7 May at Del Monte

This is a lovely opportunity for our kids from Mary Bailey House to Year 6 to find special gifts for their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, carers, or any significant mother figure in their lives.

To make this happen, we really need your help! We’re looking for volunteers for:

• Gift Wrapping Day: on Tuesday 9 April, 8:30am – 2:00pm at Del Monte Hall.
• Mother’s Day Stall: on 6 May at Gioia House, 8:30am – 2:00pm, and 7 May at Del Monte.

If you can volunteer, even just for a few hours, it would mean the world to us and make the event extra special for the kids!

Please fill out your availability by Friday 5 April: Click here to register!

Got questions? Feel free to contact Houda Taouk at 0406 711 664.

Thanks so much for your support! Let’s make this Mother’s Day event a memorable one! 🥰

The Mother’s Day Stall Committee 2024
Marie Gebrael, Houda Taouk, Meaghan Aldridge-Chow

Parent Catch Ups

Past Events

130th Anniversary Gala Dinner

Last week the Santa Sabina College 130th Anniversary Gala Dinner was held at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney. This event marked a significant milestone in our College’s history and was a fantastic evening dedicated to celebrating the collective achievements and spirit of our community. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support and participation from all attendees, making the evening memorable. The P&F was proud to assist in facilitating this gala, highlighting the strength and unity of our College community. Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributing to the event’s success. We look forward to continuing our support for events like this in the future.

Prep Parents Afternoon Tea Catch Up

Year 1 Parents Morning Tea Catch Up

Year 4 Parents Morning Tea Catch Up

Year 5 Parents Morning Tea Catch Up

Year 9 Parents Morning Tea Catch Up

Parent Education

Role modelling for parents by Debra Brodowski

Who is your child’s role model? Is it Taylor Swift? Sam Kerr? Or maybe it’s James Tedesco or maybe Lionel Messi? Sure, these individuals are inspirations for their areas of excellence and can be idols for many young people, however the person who has the most unique and profound influence on shaping the lives of your young child is ‘you’. You as the parent, the caregiver, you are the primary influence for your child in setting an example and providing guidance and support. 

Your guidance and behaviour shapes the beliefs, values, and behaviours of your child. Thinking about this for a moment and the impact that you have on your child:

• How do you cope with stress and pressure? Do you remain steady to ride the storm? 
• How do you resolve disagreements with others? Do you value maintaining friendships over the need to be right?
• How do you interact with technology in your life? What does screen time look like for you and how does that compare to what you are saying to your kids?
• What does routine look like? How does that help with your wellbeing?
• How do you cope with failure? Setbacks are normal. How do you process and bounce back?

We all have moments where we say and behave in front of our children in a way that we may not be so proud of. Owning it and reflecting back to your child that maybe you could have responded differently is also powerful role modelling. Even in times when they may not be speaking to you about their own challenges, they see you, they hear you, and they learn from your actions.

Your child will do as you do, not necessarily just what you say. You have such a profound and positive impact in shaping the lives of your children. It’s your gift to their future.

Holiday Coding and Robotics Camp

EdTech Group is holding school holiday camps in coding and robotics in various locations across NSW including one at Santa Sabina on 15 and 16 April. For more information see below:

Super Camp

Click on the image to see it as a pdf.