College Principal

Every year, from 27 May to 3 June, Australia celebrates National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme was, ‘Now More Than Ever’. Our student leaders’ Address at our Reconciliation Assembly reminded us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will – and must – continue. 

Community Service Prefect Aditi Kamath emphasised to students that our school motto ‘Veritas‘ is a core part of our learning and our sense of humanity. Translated to ‘Truth’, it means that at Santa Sabina, we are truth-seekers who hope to achieve justice for all those overlooked by society, and as we celebrate Reconciliation Week, to acknowledge the role we play when it comes to reconciliation. She stressed that it is crucial that we play our part in collectively building relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures. As we move forward, we wish to seek truth in creating a nation that is strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

At Santa Sabina, we aim to create opportunities for students to contribute to closing the gap by deepening our understanding about our First Nations People. Some of the ways we do this to foster connection, respect, action and change include:

• Participation in immersions that may involve visiting Uluru, Alice Springs, Wiradjuri country and Mutti Mutti country, where there are opportunities to meet Indigenous people and visit sacred sites to develop an understanding and appreciation of our Indigenous peoples’ culture and heritage. 
• Participation in a Salamanca Project focused on specific Indigenous issues where students are able to create awareness, advocacy and take action.
• Participation in the student ministry formation program where students work closely with Baabayn and Ignite Food Store. Baabayn was founded by Aboriginal elders from Western Sydney and provides a range of facilities for Indigenous communities such as ‘speak up sis’, a program for indigenous women and girls to nurture self-esteem and pride in identity and culture.
• Access to a wide range of literature written by Indigenous peoples from our school library where they can understand the perspectives of Indigenous peoples, including those about tradition and culture. 
• Participation in student advocacy groups including Student Action Teams, The Principal’s Youth Advisory Board and other platforms such as Council Youth Advisory Boards and other groups. 
• Calling out racism and actively reinforcing the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the county.

On Friday 31 May, the College welcomed back our Golden Girls and Boys. This year they came from the Class of 1974 and beyond signifying 50 years or more since they graduated from the College. It was wonderful to hear them reminisce about their school days and their obvious love for Santa Sabina. I was able to share news about our students and their successes in a wide range of areas as well as the exciting plans we have in place for the future. 

Congratulations to our Representative Dance teams who showcased their routines for the College community at their concert on Sunday evening. Performances were spectacular – filled with high energy, joy and precision dance moves which kept the audience thoroughly entertained. Dance is an activity that teaches teamwork, confidence and discipline while at the same time keeping students physically and mentally active and off their devices. These are important skills and habits for life that are transferable across any kind of study or work that they might pursue. Students receive instant feedback on their progress and adjust accordingly to get it right – it takes stamina, patience and perseverance. All credit goes to Ms Bryony Williams and her Dance teachers who ensure our students are performing at a very high standard. I wish them all the very best as they embark on their competition season. 

We wish our Primary students well as they compete in their Athletics Carnival this week. My thanks to Mr Dunlop who organises and oversees the carnival in collaboration with Mr Ramalho, our Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities and all staff involved. 

Finally, the Senior girls have participated in two out of the three rounds of the Saint of Origin competition against St Patrick’s College. We are pleased to report that our girls won their Debating round and last week triumphed in their Netball competition making them the ultimate winners of this fun rivalry with the boys. This is the first time in five years that Santa has prevailed. There is still a Volleyball competition to go in coming weeks to close off the competition and we hope they might take home the trifecta! 

Paulina Skerman
College Principal

Dom’s Day 2024

We invite you to join us at our special Dom’s Day celebrations for 2024.

Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Student Awareness and Activism at Santa Sabina

The Salamanca Service Model at Santa Sabina has at its core key stories from our Dominican history and legacy. This structural model underpins how we approach recognition and awareness events like National Reconciliation Week and World Environment Day; both of which we have marked in the last week. 

Awareness and Activism and our Dominican charism and story

The Dominican tradition is rooted in the preaching of Jesus’ life and the teachings of the Gospels. The Order of Preachers down the ages of more than 800 years have, in their preaching, looked for God in the everyday lives and events of the people to whom they preach in word and action. This was definitely the case in 16th century South America. The first Dominicans to travel from Spain to the New World in 1510 landed on the island of Hispaniola. They were welcomed by Bartolome Las Casas, a slave-owning priest on the Island. The Dominicans spent their first year on the island observing, talking, reflecting and praying. They lived with the Indigenous community and witnessed the terrible degradation these colonised people underwent at the hands of the Spanish conquerors. In December 1511 Antonio de Montesinos preached on behalf of the Dominican community on Hispaniola.  

‘I am the voice of Christ in the desert of this island. It would be wise of you to pay attention and to listen with your whole heart and with every fabric of your being… You are all in mortal sin. You live in it, you die in it. All because of the cruel tyranny you exercise against these innocent peoples. Tell me, by what right and with what justice do you so violently enslave these Indians?’

This sermon was the launching point for a wave of new thinking on the basic rights of all humanity. It was driven by the simple Gospel message that we should love one another as God loves us. To the Dominicans in the New World the Indians were  ‘persecuted neighbours made in the image of God’. Bartolome Las Casas was moved to change his slave-owning ways and actually joined the Dominicans by 1522. This great legacy of championing the rights of the most oppressed in society spread back to the University of Salamanca in Spain, where many of the Dominicans had studied. Professor Francisco de Vitoria and his study, lectures and preaching on the dignity of the person were very influential in changing the colonial laws in Spain in 1542. ‘So the Salamanca Process came to be.’

Salamanca House Projects

This week our Year 7-12 students will be moving to the Awareness stage of their projects for 2024 after having discerned through discussion and presentations the social issue they wished to pursue as a House. Our Assistant Heads of House accompanied by a committee of students will lead their House in awareness raising activities and learning in readiness for the action goals that will be fulfilled in Term 3 and the Advocacy focus that will happen in Term 4. 

National Reconciliation Week

From 26 May – 3 June the College has marked National Reconciliation Week with learning in classrooms and across a range of subject areas. Our Student Leaders have initiated Homeroom activities and researched to answer questions that students have asked during Homeroom time. We have had assemblies on both the Primary and Secondary campuses and students undertook actions such as painting a College banner, creating Indigenous wreaths and making written pledges to display on Dom’s Plot. Again, the strength of Awareness, Action and Advocacy has been demonstrated in our approach to this event. 

World Environment Day – Take 3 for SSC Campaign

In our 7-12 Assembly this week the Environment and Sustainability Prefect and her action team introduced a new initiative to the College. We are hoping that this will be adopted across the all campuses. The leaders were excited to inform the community that,

‘This leads to the new environment initiative at Santa Sabina called ‘Take 3 for SSC.’ This initiative stems from the organisation ‘Take 3 for the Sea’ encouraging people to pick up three pieces of rubbish every time they leave the beach or a waterway, with their mantra being simple actions to address complex problems. 

The small action of picking up three pieces of rubbish after every recess and lunch will help reduce the likelihood of plastic ending up in our waterways and make the school a cleaner environment. It is our earth we are saving and we can’t leave it up to other people. Let’s start small and ensure that our actions represent our beliefs – no one thinks we should be living amongst rubbish at school so how about we do something about it.’

A lot is happening in the space of Activism and Awareness around the College at the moment. Please stay tuned to our social media for updates as well as initiating discussions with your children around how they are involved in these initiatives at school. 

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Deputy Principal Operations

With the recent data breach from Ticketmaster in the news, I would like to remind all members of the College community of the importance of strong passwords.  Using a simple eight-number password takes a hacker 37 seconds to break into your account.  The Australian Signals Directorate suggests that the most effective way of protecting your personal information is using a passphrase.  A passphrase is a longer form of password that uses four or more random words with the strongest passphrases being more than 14 characters long (https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/news/ditch-password-for-passphrases).

Other means to protect your password from hackers include:

• Use password software to randomly generate strong passwords.
• Use a different password for each online account.
• Always enable MFA/2FA for online accounts that have this option available.
• Be aware of suspicious activity, whether you are receiving random MFA verification requests or have clicked on a suspicious link.

A reminder to all families that the College gates are closed throughout the day, and all drop-offs and pick-ups should occur in the Kiss and Ride on either Jersey Road or Carrington Road. If there is a meeting arranged at the College or if families are using the Uniform Shop, you will be required to use the intercom at the Visitors’ car parking to be admitted on site.

John Gilmore
Deputy Principal Operations

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Year 11 2025 Subject Selection Evening

The Year 11 2025 Subject Selection evening was held this week for parents and students in the Siena Centre. It was a hive of activity as each faculty showcased subjects they offer for both the HSC and the IB. For the first time this year we invited Southern Cross Catholic College at Burwood to showcase the VET courses that they offer. They will be able to support students who do not want to do a single VET course through a TAFE but through a school while completing their other HSC subjects at Santa Sabina. The Year 10 students sat a careers test with Morisby last term. In Week 5, Emma Goodsir, an educational psychologist from Morisby, ran a session with Year 10 parents and students on how to unpack their individual career profile and explained how this would further support students and their future pathway. 

Churros and Chats

This week, Year 10 students were invited to a lunch session to discuss all subjects in the IB Diploma program. Based on a Spanish theme the girls tasted Churro while listening to students dispel the myths around the IB. We were pleased to invite our alumni from the 2023 IB Diploma course and a large panel of students in Years 11 and 12 to answer questions from the Year 10 cohort. 

Holiday workshops for Year 12

Teachers of Year 12 have now planned their holiday workshops for the July break. This is a wonderful opportunity for the students to consolidate their learning prior to the Trials in early Term 3. These workshops will be listed for the students on the Year 12 VO page. 

Data

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about support provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). I have attached a fact sheet outlining the NCCD.

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Head of Primary P-6

As we reach the halfway mark of Term 2, our school continues to buzz with activities, making it a vibrant place for both learning and community engagement. Over the past few weeks, our students have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of enriching and educational events. 

Last week, in meaningful observance of National Reconciliation Week, our school community engaged in various activities designed to deepen our understanding of reconciliation and reflect on Australia’s history. These activities provided valuable lessons on the importance of building bridges between communities and promoting a unified future.

Promoting healthy sleep and digital wellbeing

As our children navigate a world increasingly intertwined with digital devices, the importance of fostering healthy sleep patterns and managing digital exposure cannot be overstated. Adequate sleep and controlled digital interaction are crucial for the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of young learners. Drawing on the expertise of Dr Kristy Goodwin, a leading researcher on children’s digital wellbeing, below are practical strategies to help parents establish effective digital boundaries at home.

The importance of sleep

Sleep plays a foundational role in a child’s ability to learn, concentrate, and interact positively with others. Lack of sleep can lead to decreased attentiveness in school, irritability, and stress. Parents are encouraged to ensure that children get the recommended amount of sleep for their age group, which for primary school students is typically between 9 and 11 hours each night.

Digital wellbeing

While technology is a valuable tool for learning and development, excessive screen time, especially before bedtime, can interfere with sleep quality. Screens emit blue light, which can disrupt the natural sleep cycle by inhibiting the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

Practical suggestions for parents

• Establish tech-free zones: designate certain areas of the home, such as bedrooms, as tech-free zones to reduce distractions and promote better sleep hygiene.
• Set a digital curfew: implement a digital curfew at least one hour before bedtime to help children wind down and prepare for sleep. This means turning off TVs, tablets, computers, and smartphones to create a more conducive sleeping environment.
• Create a routine: establish a consistent nightly routine that includes time to unplug from devices. This could involve reading a book, discussing the day’s events, or other relaxing activities that don’t involve screens.
• Monitor and discuss: regularly review the content and amount of time your child spends with technology. Discuss with your child the importance of balancing screen time with other activities and the benefits of disconnecting, such as improved mood and better sleep.
• Educate about digital footprint: teach your children about the implications of their digital activities and the permanence of the digital footprint they leave behind.

Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate digital devices but to use them wisely and ensure they contribute positively to our children’s development. Dr Kristy Goodwin’s research highlights that thoughtful, structured use of technology at home can reinforce good digital habits that last a lifetime.

Kindergarten excursion

Last week, our Kindergarten students ventured on their first school excursion to Wildlife Sydney Zoo. This important milestone allowed them to explore the world beyond the classroom, fostering their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning in an exciting new environment.

Dance Showcase

Congratulations to all the students who participated in Sunday’s dance showcase. The students’ commitment to countless practices and their outstanding performances were evident and truly appreciated. With an array of dance genres on display, each routine was a testament to students’ dedication and passion for dance. The dazzling and contemporary costumes added a visual splendour that, along with your high energy, captivated and elevated the spirits of everyone in attendance. Also, congratulations to Ms Williams and the coaches for their hard work in preparing the students. We wish the students a successful competition season and look forward to more dance performances in the near future. Please see the photos in Ms Williams’ report.

Primary Athletics Carnival

Last Friday the Gioia House and Senior House Colour Leaders visited the Del Monte students to practise the House cheers in preparation for the carnival. The students’ enthusiasm was palpable, filling the air with excitement and friendships as they perfected their cheers. This week, we are thrilled to host the Primary Athletics Carnival, an event that promises to showcase our students’ sporting talents while promoting teamwork and healthy competition. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to demonstrate their athletic skills and sportsmanship. 

Preparations for the College Gala Concert are in full swing. Our students have been diligently practising for the upcoming concert. This highly anticipated event is set to be a spectacular showcase of their hard work and artistic talents. The concert will feature a variety of performances, promising an evening of exceptional entertainment.

We are incredibly proud of all that our students have accomplished so far and excited for what the remainder of the term holds. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to celebrate the achievements and spirit of our school community.

I recommend our wonderful vacation care program which may be of interest to some families. Vacation care is based on our del Monte campus and includes fun and exciting activities chosen by popular demand of the regular attendees. Read Jackie Baxter’s article in this newsletter for details of the program.

Lord, We give thanks and celebrate the dedication and spirit of our students and teachers. Bless them with your wisdom and grace as they continue to learn and grow together. May their hearts be filled with curiosity and compassion, and their minds with the courage to pursue their dreams.

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6

Events Calendar

LINK to parent VO page

For detailed information about upcoming College events, please refer to the communications sent directly to families via email.

• Tuesday 4 June – St Dominic the Adventurer (Year 4) – 5:30pm, St Peters Rock Climbing
• Monday 10 June – King’s Birthday Long Weekend
• Thursday 13 June – CSNSW Mackillop Cross Country Championships
• Friday 14 June – P&F Disco  
• Monday 17 June to Wednesday 26 June – Healthy Harold Incursions – P-6 Schedule
• Thursday 20 June – Year 3 Assembly – Refugee Week
• Thurs 20 June to Friday 21 June – Year 2 OEE (onsite DM campus)
• Monday 24 June – Gala Concert Rehearsal, 9:00am – 3:00pm
• Tuesday 25 June – Gala Concert Rehearsal, Town Hall 8:00am – 4:30pm
• Tuesday 25 June – Gala Concert, Town Hall 6:00pm
• Friday 28 June – K-6 Athletics Carnival (SSC Secondary Campus)
• Week 9 – Academic Reports released to parents

Important dates for Gioia House:

• Monday 10 June – King’s Birthday Long Weekend 
• Wednesday 19 June POSTPONED to Term 3 – Gioia House Instrumental Concert
• Tuesday 25 June at 6:00pm to 8:30pm – Gala Concert
• Friday 28 June – K-6 Athletics Carnival (SSC Secondary Campus)
• Week 9 – Academic Reports released to parent

Director of Community Relations P-12

Golden Girls and Boys Reunion

Last Friday we welcomed back more than 100 ex-students who graduated at least 50 years ago to the annual Golden Girls and Boys Reunion. Beginning with Mass in the Chapel where our Music students led the hymns and prayers so beautifully, the reunion also involved an elegant high tea in the Hall, campus tours and delightful visits from Year 7 History students. There were several ex-students present who had attended Del Monte and Santa Sabina all the way from Kindergarten to Leaving Certificate! The video and photos below capture some of the joy of the day!

Career Women’s Network

Our Career Women’s Network Breakfast last month brought together senior and recently graduated students with parent and ex-student mentors. We express our gratitude to the 100 mentors who generously contributed their time. We were delighted to welcome back ex-student Justine Schofield (2003) celebrity cook, author, and television presenter, who shared her inspiring journey. Her advice emphasised the transformative power of hard work, seizing opportunities, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, and pursuing passions.

Back to the Boulevarde – a special invitation

For our 130th Anniversary we are arranging a special back to school event for ex-students. This year we are celebrating the Classes of 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014.

Ex-students will be able to catch up with their friends and teachers over drinks and canapés, take tours of the College and visit the Museum and meet Ms Skerman and other members of the Leadership Team.

Tickets are available now.

Yvette Graniero
Director of Community Relations

Director of Mary Bailey House

Vacation Care

Vacation care is only four weeks away. If your child is looking for fun and exciting things to do during the upcoming school holidays, then look at our program, which was developed with OOSH children.

Every day begins with an engaging craft or cooking experience, is illuminated by an exciting incursion or excursion and rounded off with an entertaining film. What more would a child want or need to help them relax, have fun and play with friends these holidays?

Our incursions and excursions include some of the children’s ongoing favourite activities such as the Ultra Gaming Van, Kingpin Bowling, Exergames and Strathfield Park. We included the following new activities The Accidental Invention, Scientifix, Surreal Racing and Runaway with the Circus and brought back some old favourites like Laser Tag and the movies.

Eligible families are entitled to claim a Child Care Subsidy that will reduce the daily OOSH fee. Breakfast and afternoon tea are provided daily. Children are only required to bring morning tea and lunch, just like they would at school.

Primary and Gioia House students are all welcome to attend vacation care. They just need to be enrolled in OOSH prior to doing so. To enrol your child, contact our OOSH Coordinator Frances Windon at ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au or call her on 9745 7790 between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

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

Jackie Baxter
Director of Mary Bailey House

Director of Development

Master Plan

Our long-awaited vision for the College has been released with stage one of the Master Plan in the pipeline ready to begin. The Primary school Rotunda that will be able to accommodate the whole school along with the Rosary garden will transform our Primary play area and provide much-needed protection from the elements for our students and staff.

Following the completion of the Primary Rotunda and Rosary garden, we will look to the new sports precinct on the senior campus to be built with a brand new 25m, 2m depth swimming pool with learn to swim section for our younger students, alongside the state-of-the-art sports stadium that will house three playing courts and seat over 2000 people for assemblies, functions and other events.

We are seeking your support to assist us in making our Master Plan a reality.

4 September 2024 is our Giving Day

The Giving Day will replace our annual appeal for this year and the aim is to engage with the whole school community for 24 hours to raise as much money for both our Building and Scholarship funds.

We are seeking lead donors who can provide us with a donation that others can match. A lead donor will enable us to double our money and we hope that it will be a catalyst for others to give. Please contact me in the Development Office to speak about the possibility of your support.

Donations before 30 June

For many members in our community who would like to donate before the end of this financial year to either the Building or Scholarship Funds, your support would be much appreciated and welcomed. Please click on the link to complete the donations form. All donations above $2 is tax deductible.

Bequests

There may be many in our community who are not aware of ‘The Orange Tree Society” we have at the College; Therefore, I am including 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 here to view the brochure.

George Ayoub
Director of Development
giving@ssc.nsw.edu.au
0414915910

Tallong Campus

A fundamental principle of Outdoor Education is the Plan – Do – Review cycle. Before each activity, students make a PLAN to set up for themselves and their group for success. They then aim to put that plan into action – DO. Post activity, they REVIEW their experiences looking for areas of learning and alternate situations in their life into which they can transfer this learning. During camp, this process is undertaken in a supported environment whereby Outdoor Education professionals and the supporting school staff can provide valuable feedback that enhance the learnings of participants.

With this concept in mind, over the past few months the team at Tallong Campus has embarked on a journey to discover the best way we can source worthwhile feedback from our many and varied guests. This may not sound too difficult a task however deciding on a methodology that would best suit our needs and those of our respondents in this technological age was an interesting process.

The feedback we are seeking is part of the continuous improvement process we are undertaking at Tallong Campus and although in its infancy, our recent feedback trial has given us a positive proof of concept. During the trial we have received some valuable feedback regarding program design and activity offerings, and we are looking forward to full implementation in Term 3.

As part of the trial we have received comments on our final question that are worth celebrating:

How would you describe your Tallong experience to future guests of Tallong?

‘Tallong is a place that feels like home because of the warmth of the staff and the comfort of the incredible food and accommodation, but where you can take time for reflection and growth. I am always grateful for my visits.’

‘A great opportunity to be with students in the outdoors and see them in a different way from in the classroom.’

‘Amazing friendly staff that support you every step of the way. Great amenities and food. The perfect place for students to enjoy their camp, try new things and make new friends.‘

Thank you to the Santa Sabina Year 5 teachers who took part in our trial and a heartfelt congratulations to the team at Tallong Campus. This feedback is befitting of the love, care and effort you all put into every program and the positive difference you make to all of our guests. Your hard work is greatly appreciated by the whole Santa Sabina community.

Steve Fox
Manager Tallong Campus and the Tallong Team

Music in the Senior Years

As the academic year progresses, our students continue to excel and explore new musical horizons. Here is a snapshot of the latest developments in our music program:

Curricular Music in Years 7 and 8

Whilst Year 8 are delving into some ‘head-banging’ music, listening and learning about songs from rock n’ roll artists including Elvis Presley, Year 7 students are diligently preparing for the upcoming Gala performance, now less than a month away. Students should read the information on the Director of Music page to stay informed about transport and rehearsal logistics leading up to the Gala.

Elective Music in Years 9 and 10

 Moving into Years 9 and 10, students have recently completed their composition assessment tasks and are now engaging with new topics, exploring unfamiliar musical styles and genres including 20th century western art music and Jazz. Their exploration through performance, composition, and aural analysis, enables them to broaden their musical perspectives and deepen their appreciation for diverse musical traditions.

HSC and IB Music in Years 11 and 12

In IB Music, Year 11 have been experimenting with Virtual Reality in the College’s Lumination Labs, composing music through kinesthetic movement and 4D visual stimuli. This hands-on experience has provided students with an opportunity to explore a new creative process using non-traditional methods of notation. Year 12 continue with their core performance, composition and musicology projects, and are making sound progress to this end.

Jameson Choe & Veronica Tsang
Acting Heads of Curricular Music 5-12

Get your Gala tickets!

TIckets are already selling fast and this year’s 130th Gala promises to be a highlight of the College year, showcasing our magnificent student body and fostering memories that our students will cherish for years to come.  The theme – A Celebration of Humanity | Growing in Love – is not just a celebration of our College’s history, but through music, it is a statement of our vision for our future.

Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start, with all ticketing being General Admission.

For information about logistics and student participation at the Gala Concert, please see the Director’s submission this week on VV.

Picnic at Hanging Rock tickets available now!

Our Senior Drama Production

Come and see our Year 11, Year 10 and Year 9 student actors performing the legendary Picnic at Hanging Rock in the Black Box Theatre next month!

Everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a Valentine’s Day picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, a group of three of the girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of Hanging Rock. Further, higher, till at last they disappeared. Will they be found or lost forever?

Thursday 25 July 2024 – Saturday 27 July 2024 at 7:00pm

Black Box Theatre
Santa Sabina College

Refugee Week at Santa

Next week (18-22 June) Australians are invited to reach out to refugees. While they wait for determination of their application for asylum, refugees are not permitted to work. They rely on organisations such as JRS for survival.

Please send in to school items from the list below if you’d like to support our drive. Look how basic their needs are! But there’s the opportunity for the dignity of choice if you’d like to donate a gift voucher.

Please leave your donations in the Library.

if you wish to make a monetary donation straight to JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service), you can do so below.

Jane Sulis
Outreach Coordinator

Year 7 vaccinations

In Year 7 students are offered free vaccines for Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) Papillomavirus (HPV) at Santa Sabina College on Friday 14 June 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:
   • Enter your child’s personal details
   • Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child 
   • Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and privacy statement
   • 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 

Vaccination Information

Online consent must be completed by Wednesday 12 June 2024. If you have any questions, please direct them to me at 9745 7187. 

Karen Peeters
College Nurse

Uniform Expectations

The students of Santa Sabina College identify themselves in both the immediate and larger community by willingly wearing the College uniform with pride and respect. Students are required to adhere to the College’s Uniform Guidelines at all times. As the semester draws to a close, you may be considering new uniform purchases or making alterations to existing uniform items. May I remind you of some of our expectations, so that your daughter meets our Uniform Guidelines, acknowledged by students and their families on page 25 of the College diary:

Length of uniform

The Uniform Guidelines state:

• Students wearing the College dress or skirt are not permitted to shorten the length. Dresses and skirts are to reach the middle of the knee. 

Please take this into account when purchasing new dresses and skirts. If your daughter’s dress or skirt does not adhere to this point, please ensure alterations to lengthen the garment are made over the coming weekend. Students will be asked to purchase a new skirt or dress if they are unable to comply. 

Jewellery

The Uniform Guidelines state:

• The only jewellery permitted to be worn is a watch, the College lapel cross and one pair of plain sleepers or studs (silver, gold, clear stone or small pearl) for pierced ears which need to be placed in each lower earlobe in matching positions. 

Make-up and nails

The Uniform Guidelines state:

• Make-up, false eyelashes, false nails including acrylics, any nail polish including shellac or SNS and ink markings are not to be worn. 

We would appreciate you discussing these points with your daughter, so that we can work in partnership to foster a sense of belonging and pride. In the coming weeks, the College will be holding uniform inspections. Families will be notified if their child does not meet our expectations. Time will be provided for a student to rectify any issues, however, please be aware that if these issues are not rectified in the agreed time, students will be sent home from school in order to rectify the situation. 

Elise Whiley
Dean of Pastoral Care

Testing Herodotus – Vegetable Mummification

Central to the study of History is the process of inquiry into the past. In Year 7 History, students have been critically analysing and interpreting primary and secondary sources as evidence to reconstruct the religious beliefs of Ancient Egypt. Herodotus is credited as the classical historian who explained the religious practice of embalming. To stimulate curiosity students were given the opportunity to test the classical historian Herodotus’ explanation of embalming by mummifying vegetables. A huge thank you to Loretta Gilmore, with the assistance of Pip Johnston, for challenging her students to think critically and creatively about source analysis.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Students in Year 7 have just completed their study on Ancient Egypt, learning about the social structure and everyday life of citizens, as well as the important role of religion and burial practices, commerce and trade. In History, students learnt hands-on about the process of mummification.

Loretta Gilmore
Year 7 History Teacher

Student Reflections

This was a very enjoyable practical lesson for all students. It was a hands-on activity and we learnt to think deeply to understand what this ancient practice involves. We experienced how difficult it was to execute all these steps and couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to carry out this process on an actual human body, yuck! We all had the chance to creatively design the dead mask and amulet. In conclusion, this was beneficial to build knowledge about one of the unique practices Ancient Egyptians would carry out to prepare the deceased for the afterlife.
Madison Crisafulli

Our aim for this activity was to preserve the cucumber or zucchini as if it was a body in the Ancient Egyptian afterworld. This was an amusing and engaging task as it helped us to learn the process of mummification.
Angelina Taouk and Chloe Sarkis

This was a useful activity and an enjoyable experience for all. Through mummifying the zucchini, we learnt about Ancient Egyptian culture, rituals and beliefs. We successfully understood the process of mummification and had a memorable and interesting experience of using sources to understand Ancient Egypt.
Jessica Lai

Chloe Sarkis (left) and Angelina Taouk

(From left) Isabelle Middleton, Viana Saba and Jasmine White

 (From left) Jessica Lai, Amanda Liu, Annabel Mason, Gia Park and Charlotte Perkins

HSIE Real World Business Learning – McDonald’s Immersion

McDonald’s is an internationally recognisable successful business with hundreds of franchises worldwide. For this reason it is a powerful contemporary case study for HSIE HSC Business Studies and IBDP Business Management students to apply textbook theory in investigating the reality of operational strategy, finance and inventory management, technological adaptation and human resource strategic planning and training.

On 21 May HSIE students were invited to investigate the operational reality of one of the world’s largest fast food chains through a Business Immersion at McDonald’s Haberfield. Students were able to investigate the complex business structure of the McDonald’s business model through the generosity of the McDonald’s Franchise Owner and the leadership team of the People and Culture Manager and Kitchen Manager. Students were invited to observe, explore, discuss, and meaningfully apply business concepts to understand why Mcdonald’s is one of the world’s most recognised fast food restaurants. A huge thank you to Richard Crittenden, Eva Guirguis and Vikki Cummins who facilitated and supervised students on this business immersion.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

History Club – Sharing Heritage and Legacy

Connecting with Santa Sabina College Alumni is a real world learning experience for students of History to better understand legacy. Heritage is foundational as it is inherited and shared by past generations with future generations. Year 7 History students have explored the heritage of Santa Sabina College as part of the History Curriculum to better understand the work of archaeologists, historians and the importance of using sources of evidence to reconstruct the past. Historical empathy is a powerful learning strategy which helps students engage with the past while understanding our contemporary world. To enrich intergenerational connections Year 7 History students wrote a card to an alumna about their experiences as a Santa Sabina student in 2024. Senior members of the Santa Sabina History Club from Years 10 and 11 were invited to attend the Alumni Lunch to authentically experience oral history as stories from the past were shared between generations.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Examples from Year 7 Cards:

Student Reflections

I was very honoured to be able to take part in the Golden Girls and Boys Reunion as part of the History Club. We talked to the alumni and learned about the history from the College and their personal experiences as students. It was amazing to see the school’s development over time and the withstanding traditions built amongst the community. I met some extremely lovely people and these discussions helped to broaden my knowledge of the past.
Lily Vincent
Year 11

As part of the History Club, being able to visit the Golden Girls and Boys Reunion and have conversations with ex-students was a fantastic experience. We had the opportunity of learning about the evolution of our school, its rich heritage, and how learning has changed over time. We learned about being taught by the Sisters, the experience of borders, and the strong bonds formed between students. Some ex-students are also still close friends today! This experience has reminded me about how precious school life is and how wonderful our school community is.
Calliope Stewart
Year 10

It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to speak to some of the alumni at the Golden Girls and Boys Reunion lunch. They were all very intrigued by our school life, and had many funny and interesting stories about theirs to share with us!
Emily Wong
Year 10

On Friday we had the privilege of participating in rich and valuable conversations with ex-Santa Sabina students at the Golden Girls and Boys Reunion. It was amazing to hear about their experiences at Santa and see the strong friendships that still remained after leaving High School. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to them about the new opportunities we have at school now, such as the lamination labs and further subject choices like Philosophy and World Studies. It was wonderful to engage in historical discussions and learn a great deal about school history.
Eve Ardagna
Year 10

130 Years Forward – History Club

Last Friday, the History Ambassadors, alongside senior members of the History Club, had the privilege to attend the Golden Boys and Girls Alumni Lunch. This event was filled with so many wise and educated Santa women and men who we were able to connect with through discussions of memories, service and faith. The youngest Dominican Sister, Sr Diana Santleben OP, called her experience at Santa Sabina College ‘a wonderful gift’, and shared with us information from her current work at the Refugee Women and Children’s Centre in Newcastle. We had the wonderful opportunity to talk to Sr Phillipa Fennell OP who graduated in 1951. She passionately shared her fondest memories of our College and we shared laughs over boarding school student scandals! These women were incredibly inspirational and a testament to the incredible and long-lasting relationships formed between past and present Santa girls. The passion and achievements of these amazing women are truly reflective of the values instilled into Santa Sabina women to this day. The History Club believes that to understand Santa Sabina’s history is to become part of it, and having the pleasure of talking to these kind, strong, smart, and passionate women truly allowed us to feel a part of this community that transcends time.
Remi Apostolopoulos and Anna-Maria Sulukojian
History Ambassadors

Careers Spotlight @ SSC

Career Women’s Network Breakfast

Recently we celebrated National Careers Week which aims to encourage individuals of all ages to recognise that careers are much more than just a job and to promote career development as an important and ongoing process that enables individuals to achieve fulfilling careers. We ended the week with our annual Career Women’s Network Breakfast which was a great success. Hearing former student and television host Justine Schofield share her career journey to date inspired students and her key messages to take risks, try new things and have a strong work ethic were particularly pertinent. Thank you to all of the mentors who attended and shared their career insights with interested students. Your willingness to support students and their future career aspirations is greatly appreciated. Below are the reflections of some senior students who attended the breakfast:

The 2024 Career Women’s Breakfast was an incredible experience that gave me invaluable knowledge for my future. Not only did I gain crucial information on the legal world, but additionally key insights into possible university courses, exchanges overseas and career opportunities with professionals who I met.

The event gave me the ability to hear from a variety of solicitors, barristers and associates with a wide breadth of expertise. Ranging from experts in construction law as well as corporate and commercial lawyers, I had endless perspectives from different specialties.

This was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about my chosen pathway, and I am incredibly appreciative to the professionals I met. I would highly recommend other students to attend the breakfast in future years as it has been pivotal for me in moving forward with career choices.
Alessia Mancuso
Year 11

At the Careers Women’s Network Breakfast, I sat at a health and medicine table, where I had the opportunity to talk to a dentist, GP, epidemiologist and optometrist. I was able to ask all kinds of questions about why they picked their chosen fields, the kind of travel opportunities and placements that are available with each career, and the university pathways they all took. It was extremely helpful to me, being in Year 12, while starting to look at the uni courses I want to do. I also have the opportunity to do work experience if I choose, and I would recommend this to any senior students, especially if you are feeling confused about what career path you want to follow.
Lillian Rochester
Year 12

The Careers Women’s Network Breakfast gave me the opportunity to explore the business/marketing industry and connect with many women who had jobs in this area. Furthermore, we were able to hear from Justine Schofield, an ex-student who has come very far in her career, and was not only on the first series of Australian Masterchef but also now has her own cooking show and cook books. All of the mentors I spoke to emphasised the importance of hard work and going outside your comfort zone in order to achieve something. I left feeling very inspired to work towards my future career goals.
Siena Dewhurst
Year 11

Work Experience Spotlight

Our students continue to show initiative and enthusiasm around seeking valuable work experience opportunities to explore possible career paths. Below is a reflection from Year 10 student Emily Hirschhorn who was one of approximately 80 students recently selected across the state to participate in a highly competitive and hands-on engineering work experience program organised by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW. Below is her reflection on her experience in the program:

During my week at the Engineering Work Experience hosted by UNSW, I was immersed in a series of activities that showcased the field and its real-world applications. The program began with an in-depth exploration of advanced water treatment technologies at the PRW Discovery Centre, where we studied Ultra Filtration-reverse osmosis and UV advanced oxidation processes. This was followed by a visit to Rode Microphones, where we gained insights into engineering telecommunication sites, emphasising the intricacies of audio technology as well as manufacturing and testing protocols. We were then given the opportunity to have a session on Quantum Computing at UNSW with Diraq, which highlighted the cutting-edge developments in this revolutionary field. At the Sydney Opera House, we engaged in geospatial and surveying exercises, employing theodolites, 3D scanners, and GPS/GNSS technologies, which taught us the precision and importance of these tools in maintaining and developing key structures.

We also took part in visits to active work sites at the City Tattersall Club that provided a practical perspective on the challenges and innovations in contemporary construction projects. The integration of high-grade drones and virtual reality technology we used further illustrated how modern engineering leverages advanced tools for planning and problem-solving. The week concluded with university lectures on structural, biomedical, and design sectors of engineering. These sessions not only broadened our  understanding of the diverse fields within engineering but also showed the innovative and interdisciplinary nature of the profession. Reflecting on this experience, I recognise the critical role of engineering in shaping our world and the potential it holds for future advancements. This week gave me the incredible opportunity to explore engineering as a career path and be inspired by women in various roles in STEM.

Emily Hirschhorn
Year 10

I encourage any student in Years 10-12 looking to seek work experience to contact me in order to discuss this further.

Year 10 Morrisby and Subject Selection Evening

Thank you to the many parents and students who joined us last week for the Morrisby Information Webinar. I hope that it was helpful in understanding how to unpack the Morrisby Profile and use the interactive features of the website. I encourage any students wishing to explore their profile further to arrange a time to meet with me by contacting me via email. I look forward to seeing many parents and students and the Year 10 Subject Selection Evening where I will be able to assist with career-related and TAFE enquiries.

Careers events and opportunities

Please click here  to see the upcoming careers events and opportunities. I encourage students to review these and register for relevant events.

Eva Guirguis
Head of Future Pathways and Partnerships

Sailing Camp

The Santa Sabina Sailing Camp will take place from 1- 4 July 2024. This experience is being offered in conjunction with Drummoyne Sailing Club for students in Years 9-11.

The aims of the Sailing Camp are:

• to learn introductory sailing skills
• to broaden the outdoor experiences available to students
• for students to experience Sydney Harbour in a new way.

Specific details regarding the program are outlined below.

Date:
1 – 4 July 2024

Venue:
Drummoyne Sailing Club
2 St Georges Cres, Drummoyne NSW 2047

Drop off and Pick Up
Students will need to be dropped off at Drummoyne Sailing Club by 9:00am daily and will be dismissed at 4:00pm.

What to bring:
Enclosed shoes
Hat
Sun safe clothes
Towel
Clothing able to get wet and stay warm. If students have wetsuits, neoprene tops and/or bottoms, it would be advisable to wear these for the week. Showers and change rooms are available.
Spare casual clothing for when not participating in sailing lessons.

A list of items will be also available from Drummoyne Sailing Club.

Activities:
Start Sailing Sail 1 and Start Sailing 2 Course – no previous sailing experience is required.
Sailing and Motor Boats
Exploring Sydney Harbour and Cockatoo Island
Water-based activities

Prerequisite
Students must be able to swim 50m.

Food
Students will need to bring their own lunch and snacks for the duration of the program. There will be an opportunity for students to purchase food at Birkenhead Point.

Capacity
Minimum registration is eight. Up to 40 are able to register.

Registration
Registration will be available via this link to the Drummoyne Sailing Club. Your child will need to be registered with Sailing Australia as part of the course – this is completed upon registration.

Consent
Consent and permission will be required from the families of those attending. This will be made available on the Parent Lounge following the closure of registration.

Personal Items:
Students are welcome to bring with them any electronic devices or personal items; however, it will be the sole responsibility of the student to look after their equipment and to ensure its appropriate use. For safety purposes, students will need to bring their mobile phones.

Expectations
This is an optional experience for students and therefore there are high behavioural expectations of those attending. Any misconduct will result in parents immediately collecting their daughter from Drummoyne Sailing Club. As with all Santa Sabina College-sanctioned experiences, the College staff take very seriously the safety and wellbeing of our students and require all those who will be joining this experience to adhere to our student safety protocols. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all students, staff, and parents to avoid any situation that may endanger and/or compromise the students or the College. This includes (but is not limited to) a complete ban on alcohol, smoking/vaping, and other illicit materials whilst on this experience.

Cost
The cost of $500 will include four days of sailing lessons and various related sailing experiences.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the Santa Sabina Sailing Camp at c.walker1@ssc.nsw.edu.au, or on 0428 231 822 or 02 9745 7124.

Christopher Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning (K-12)

Assistant Head of Gioia House

Gioia House Action Girl Pastoral Program

This term the Gioia House Action Girl program has four key focus areas: 

1. Communication – A Key to Cohesion
2. Identity and Resilience
3. Building Belonging
4. Beyond the School Gates – Our Community, Our Actions

The students have participated in the first two sessions which have been supported by our guest presenters Julia (AIS Community Cohesion Manager) and Kate (Together for Humanity Professional Learning Lead). Teachers have been working collaboratively to give students the opportunity to continue to develop their sense of belonging, responsibility, compassion, empathy and resilience to accompany our Pastoral Action Girl Program.

The first Communication session focused on:

• Understanding the benefits and challenges of communication
• The importance of Attending Skills for effective communication
• Practical strategies for effective communication.

The students took part in a variety of activities which demonstrated the importance of clear communication and good listening skills. We identified positive communication and focused on the importance of open communication. 

The second Identity session allowed the students the opportunity to build a Tree of Life. The purpose of this activity allowed the students to reflect on what forms and impacts our identity. The students listed on the Roots their ancestry and background. The Trunk symbolised their skills, strengths and interests and the Leaves represented the people in their lives who are their support and role models. 

The students actively participated in both sessions and shared some insightful and thoughtful responses. We look forward to the next couple of sessions which will continue to provide opportunities for the students to identify how we develop a sense of belonging and the impact we can have on our community and service to others.

Gioia House Action Girls

Congratulations to the following students who received an Action Girl Award and Badge at our last assembly. They have demonstrated a commitment to their learning environment and continue to look for ways to support others and our community.

Year 5:
Ava Lapanaitis
Lillian Mackey
Gabriella Mikhael
Emily Korb-Wells

Year 6:
Sophie Ash
Anastasia Bucciarelli
Isabella Shiner
Olivia Wang

Gioia House Leaders

Our Gioia House leaders worked together with their fellow Year 6 House peers to decide on the cheers for the Primary Athletics Carnival. The Gioia House Leaders taught the cheers to the Gioia House students and also went across to Del Monte in collaboration with the Senior Colour Leaders to teach the students the cheers. We cannot wait to hear which House will be the loudest and have the greatest team spirit at the carnival.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House

Da Vinci Decathlon

Earlier this term, a dedicated team of Year 6 students attended the Da Vinci Decathlon at Knox Grammar. In the lead up to the event, the team completed several challenges to strengthen their understanding and confidence across a range of disciplines. 

At the competition, the students worked through a range of exciting and challenging tasks with a particular emphasis placed on higher order thinking skills. Each activity focused on one of the following disciplines – Mathematics, Science, Ideation, Code Breaking, Creative Producers, Cartography, English, Engineering, Art & Poetry and Legacy. It was a very competitive environment where the girls had the opportunity to collaborate on tasks in timed conditions. 

Brooke Panagopoulos
Gioia House Curriculum Leader

Music at Gioia House

Music at Gioia House (Curricular)

Curriculum Music Class

Excitement fills the air as the Gioia House students delve further into musical understanding. This term, they are honing their skills in anticipation of the Gala Concert. To ensure our students are immersed in musical growth and performance excellence, in class they are deciphering musical scores, perfecting their stage presence, practising pitch recognition and singing with confidence.

Cecilia Pensini
Music Teacher Years 5-6

Curriculum Choral – Gioia House Choir

Our Gala performance repertoire serves as an invaluable vehicle for learning, as Curriculum Choral time enables students to apply the score reading skills they are acquiring in class. This approach not only reinforces theoretical knowledge but also lays the groundwork for healthy choral singing. In this dynamic learning environment, students are honing essential ensemble skills such as blending their voices seamlessly, placing sound to achieve a beautiful tone, and mastering the art of phrasing. Additionally, they are learning to sing expressively by incorporating dynamics and other markings provided by composers into their performances.

As we prepare for our upcoming performance at the Town Hall in three weeks, we are also focusing on the critical aspects of performance and stagecraft. These elements are integral to delivering a polished and professional performance. We greatly anticipate the moment we can showcase our hard work and progress to the community. We can’t wait to share the beauty and expressiveness of our music, demonstrating the profound impact of our collective efforts and the comprehensive education we provide in our choral program.

Curriculum Instrumental – Gioia House Strings and Band program ‘Mini Maestros’

Gioia House Strings continue to build their exciting momentum towards their featured performance at the Gala Concert to be held on 25 June 2024, while Mini Maestros have their eye on their public performances to be held next term. The Mini Maestros program aims to develop the ensemble skills through the introduction of our Concert Band sessions, with the long term goal of presenting the idea of eventual graduation through the Mega Maestros extension group into our College Concert Band.  

Jameson Choe & Veronica Tsang
Acting Heads of Curricular Music 5-12

Gala massed choral items – rehearsal tracks

For all the students participating in massed Choral features at the Gala Concert, a reminder that VO boasts exhaustive resources to support personal revision. Here is the link for Gioia House Choir. Events like Gala represent a collective achievement, and we commend our students for their diligent personal preparation to ensure a world class outcome is achieved as always.

Get your Gala tickets!

TIckets are already selling fast and this year’s 130th Gala promises to be a highlight of the College year, showcasing our magnificent student body and fostering memories that our students will cherish for years to come.  The theme – A Celebration of Humanity | Growing in Love – is not just a celebration of our College’s history, but through music, it is a statement of our vision for our future.Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start, with all ticketing being General Admission.

For information about logistics and student participation at the Gala Concert, please see the Director’s submission this week on VV.

Learning in the Library

On Wednesday 22 May at 12:00 noon, Gioia House students, along with 2 241 490 people across 21 000 locations took part in National Simultaneous Storytime, listening to the picture book, Bowerbird Blues by Aura Parker. Every year a picture book, written by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family homes, bookshops and many other places across the country. This year’s book, Bowerbird Blues, is a moving story of longing and connection, that unfolds as the bowerbird’s search for blue things sends him spearing across the sea, sky and city.

National Simultaneous Storytime is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.

Here are some Year 5 reflections about the event:

I really enjoyed the storytime. It was very fun and calming. I also loved how it is based on a true story and it is such a lovely book about birds and nature.
Emma Cooper

I love the story Bowerbird Blues because it was such a fun book but also it was interesting. It was such a calming and entertaining book for me.
Melania Sara

I had really enjoyed how the bird found everything not as important as love.
Marla Samaan

I loved listening to the story, I found the meaning of the book very interesting. Even if you have a lot of things it doesn’t make you happy.
Esther Chiew

I like how she is very creative and how she is a writer and illustrator. I think she is very talented.
Gabriella Mikhael

Michael Moses, Susan Lombardo and Melina Marchetta
Library Staff

IPSHA Debating Competition

Our enthusiastic debaters began their IPSHA Debating season on Friday 17 May at Santa Sabina College with the topic: That there should be a class on how to use the internet correctly. Both the Affirmative and Negative teams were challenged by Thomas Hassall’s solid arguments and demonstrated confidence and resilience.  Working as a team, they rebutted Thomas Hassall showing flexible thinking.  We continued to build on our matter, method and manner with another debate versus Penrith Christian School on the topic: That we should ban contact sports. It was wonderful to see our students engaged and making connections with other debaters. We look forward to the remaining debates, learning and developing many skills.

Ann Milicic
Year 6 Teacher

Day of AI

As part of the Day of AI, Year 5 students celebrated innovation and progress through a series of interactive lessons. These lessons provided students with hands-on opportunities to experience artificial intelligence firsthand. They gained a deeper understanding of AI’s uses and its significant impacts on human society. Applying their newfound knowledge, students created presentations on how AI can be leveraged to improve existing issues within our community. Moving forward, students will continue to explore future technologies and refine their problem-solving skills through STEM lessons.

Yu Han Chen
Year 5 Teacher

Blueback in Year 6

This term, Year 6 has been reading Tim Winton’s Blueback, a story about a young boy named Abel who lives in Longboat Bay. His father was killed by a tiger shark when Abel was young. When out fishing for some abalone with his mother, Abel encounters a massive blue groper he named Blueback and promises from then on to protect this beautiful fish. Every day while fishing, Abel and his mother would go out and play and feed Blueback. The story examines many fascinating themes and one of the key take-aways is the relationship between Abel and Blueback. As they both grow older, many things around them change, but Abel will do anything to protect Blueback and the bay from danger.

The girls in 6A have been busy drafting some poetry that explores this pivotal relationship between Abel and Blueback. A few examples of their writing are below:

Tiffany Anderson
Year 6 Teacher

Poetry in Year 6

This term, Year 6 has been reading Blueback by Tim Winton. The students of 6McL have spent time exploring different text types. When researching interesting facts about the blue groper, students compared and considered the features of informational texts compared to the descriptive language used to describe Blueback in the novel. The girls drew Blueback as they saw him described by Tim Winton using evidence from the novel to label his personality, whilst comparing these descriptions to facts about blue gropers. 

Another text type that we have explored is poetry. Throughout the term a pivotal focus point of the novel is the relationship between Blueback and the main character Abel Jackson. Students studied the expressive language used to describe this relationship in the novel whilst examining the fundamentals of poetry. The girls have been working hard on their own poems describing this important relationship of the story. 

Sian Tierney
Year 6 Teacher

RE in Year 6

During Religious Education lessons, the students have been developing their understanding of the Ascension of Jesus. Students were given a task to create a detailed poster and identify the correct colours, symbols and phrases to show their knowledge:

• God will send the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit will empower the disciples to be witnesses in the world.
• Jesus will come again in glory. 

Marisa Maks
Year 6 Teacher

Reading in Year 5

Students in 5 Williams have been working hard on their understanding of texts using a range of reading comprehension strategies. Their focus at the moment has been understanding the main idea of texts and categorising these into a hierarchy.

Students have enjoyed gaining a better understanding of how to identify the main idea of a text and putting it into a hierarchy to gain insight into how authors best highlight their main ideas. The students have been focussing on two different texts ‘Boy Overboard’ & ‘Songbird’ as well as many short texts to analyse as a class. We have also enjoyed continuing our conversations about different books we are reading as we have been inspired by the authors who have visited the college, and being part of National Simultaneous Storytime

Bryony Williams
Year 5 Teacher

Position – Year 5

Through engaging hands-on activities, Year 5 Kostakis have been learning about grid-map reference systems and practising plotting and labelling points on a number plane, first noting the horizontal position and then the vertical. They are learning the skills to identify and record coordinates of given points in the first quadrant. Year 5 Kostakis students have created a detailed map of the redesigned Luna Park, incorporating specific criteria related to coordinates, scale, compass directions, rides, and toilet blocks. They thoroughly enjoyed this task and were so eager to apply what they have learnt throughout this topic.

Tayla Kostakis
Year 5 Teacher

Year 5 Outdoor Education Program

The Year 5 Outdoor Education Program recently took place at Tallong. The students challenged themselves by completing a range of activities including Orienteering, Mountain Biking, Abseiling, Group Challenges, Service Learning (removing fireweed which is a fire hazard) and Streamwatch (examining the insects living in the natural environment by the creek). A great time was had by all as the students forged new friendships and moved outside their comfort zones. Of course it wouldn’t be Tallong without ‘Chefferey’s’ amazing food. Read some of the students’ reflections below.

Highlights

A highlight for me was abseiling because I was too scared to do it last year, but this year my friends in my group encouraged me. I found it really fun. I did it twice! I was really proud.
Perla Charbel

Bike riding. I enjoyed bike riding because it was fun going around the tracks and going up and down the hills.
Alyssa D’Agostino

My highlights were abseiling, streamwatch and showers. I enjoyed abseiling because it was fun having to lean back and have support. Also climbing down to the rock was really fun. I also enjoyed Streamwatch. Some people fell in and everyone was laughing including those who fell in. I enjoyed the showers. It was really nice getting to be clean after being dirty all day.
Ava Lapanaitis

Challenges

My two challenges were riding a mountain bike because I never rode one before. The scale was confusing but eventually I got the hang of it. My other challenge was falling asleep on the first night because I was so excited and happy.
Irina Li

I found the streamwatch challenging because it was hard to catch a bug and not fall in.
Alyssa D’Agostino

My challenge was getting through the day with wet shoes. My second challenge was mountain biking because of the trail. It was challenging because the trail was really thin, wet, slippery and rocky.
Ava Lapanaitis

Something I learned

I learned how to light a camp stove using fuel and a matchstick.
Ava Lapanaitis

I learned to never doubt yourself. This is because of the amount of activities that I was scared to do but I did and I really enjoyed them.
Perla Charbel

I learned how to balance across a rope.
Alyssa D’Agostino

Year 5 Outdoor Education Experience

The Year 5 Outdoor Education Experience took place at Tallong during Week 3. For many, it was their first time at Tallong where they were able to experience the magic of the place. For those who had been to Tallong before, it was a great opportunity to welcome new friends.

The Year 5 program was jam-packed with fun adventurous activities and time to relax in nature. The students were able to test themselves on an abseil, continue to refine their skills on bikes and challenge themselves on the low ropes course. Abseiling is traversing down a slope backwards – it is commonly done around the world in exciting places! The mountain biking was rewarding for students to continue to develop their skills as they learnt to corner, handle the bike and ride in new conditions. During the Low Ropes, the students worked collectively through physically challenging modules.

These adventurous activities are designed to broaden students’ horizons and safely expose them to more challenging activities. It is important during these times for students to experience challenges as it helps them to develop confidence to face further challenges in their lives. Each year, we build upon previous experiences and increase the level of challenge at Tallong for the growth of our students.

Time in nature is good for our health. It slows down heart rates, reduces anxiety and makes us feel more centred. During the program, students participated in Service Projects to support the habitat at Tallong. They also participated in the Streamwatch where they looked at the invertebrates and living creatures in Barbers Creek. To finish off their nature time, the students learnt to make hot chocolate at a nearby campsite and had a fun time experiencing the joys of cooking outside and building shelters.

The Year 5 program at Tallong was a wonderful time for students to form close friendships in their Year level and create lifelong memories at Tallong. Thank you to all the teachers who attended and supported the program.

Christopher Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning

Assistant Head of Primary

Pastoral Update

As the middle of the school year draws near, students settle further into the regular routines and natural rhythms of the term; patterns become more deeply ingrained into the everyday. We use this time in the pastoral setting, to strengthen student understanding of behavioural expectations and deepen their connections with each other, by revisiting with fresh eyes, concepts introduced earlier in the year. By now, all students are well versed in the five essential skills for school and beyond; the five Rs that build capability and confidence: resilience, self-regulation, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility. They are now ready to put these skills into practice to connect with those around them (Making Friends), look after themselves so that they can be a good friend (Flourishing) and recognise that failing to keep their own emotions in check can have a significant impact on others (Self-Regulation).

Parents play an important role in supporting and reinforcing these concepts with their children. The Friendology program suggests parents should think of this role as a ‘Friendship Coach’ to reassure their children, give them advice, be a good role model and express confidence in their child’s ability to build and maintain healthy friendships.

Making Friends

Research indicates that we are living in a time of Friendship Recession; a time when people report having fewer friends and an increasing number of people are experiencing loneliness. Building social connection, therefore, becomes a significant priority for ourselves and for our children.

In Week 4 this term, students explored the theme of ‘Making Friends’. They learnt that making new friends is not easy and can often feel quite awkward, but there are steps that they can take to form friendships built on trust and respect. These include being an inviter (not waiting for an invitation) and spending quality time with people is important when it comes to building connections. They also learnt that when it comes to friendships, quality is far more important than quantity and that healthy connections are essential to our health and wellbeing.

More information about making connections can be found in this Headspace publication.

Flourishing

In Week 5, students revisited the theme of Flourishing: Doing Good and Feeling Good, with a particular focus on the ‘Feeling Good’ component. At the heart of this theme is the understanding that in order to be a good friend to others, a good learner in the classroom, or a good sister or brother to their siblings, children need to look after themselves. Moreover, students learnt about the importance of self-care to be a good friend.

To explore this theme, students created a list of device-free activities that make them feel good. Their list needed to include at least one activity from each of the following categories: sports (e.g. playing soccer), music (e.g. playing piano), nature (e.g. going for a walk) and interpersonal (e.g. helping mum and dad by stacking the dishes, making their bed or playing a board game with brothers or sisters).

Self-Regulation

Emotional regulation is the ability to experience big emotions, allow them to sit with you and take steps to defuse them. In his book Permission to Feel Dr Marc Brackett explains that ‘The goal [of self-regulation] isn’t to get rid of emotions. It’s to embrace and experience them as they are and learn strategies for how to manage them, so they don’t have power over you.’ Students first learn to recognise signs they are feeling angry, upset or disappointed or any other big emotion outside of the green Zone of Regulation. Once they can recognise when they are feeling these big emotions, children are ready to understand that if they don’t take action to regulate themselves when they feel this way, that there can be implications on those around them.

Healthy Harold

With only weeks to go until the Healthy Harold van pays a visit to all primary classes, students have been preparing for the imminent arrival of guest of honour, Harold, and his supporting crew. This lovable giraffe with his unique spots, reminds us of the uniqueness and diversity of each child.

Each class will participate in a program specifically aligned with their Term 2 PDHPE units of work, in the Healthy Harold van that will be parked onsite at the Del Monte campus from 17 – 26 June. Programs are designed ‘to empower our children to make safer and healthier choices’ and equip them with fundamental skills, information and strategies to thrive.

Healthy Harold has been visiting schools for over 40 years … watch this space for further updates, reviews and photos of his visit to Santa this term.

Paddle Pop Sticks

This term, a school wide reward system was reintroduced at Del Monte to recognise and appraise occasions where students display positive behaviours in the classroom and on the playground, by giving them a paddle pop stick the same colour as their House Colour. Students place these paddle pop sticks in the boxes in the Warami play area for the Year 4 leaders to collect and count at the end of each week. The House Colour with the greatest number of paddle pop sticks will receive a group reward which will be announced at Assembly at the end of the term.

Lauren Petroni
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Acting Curriculum Leader P-4

Music at Mary Bailey House and Del Monte

Music at Mary Bailey House (Curricular)

Mary Bailey House is buzzing with the sounds of children’s voices. We have been exploring the use of dynamics when we sing; whispering to ensure our voices are soft and singing with full voices so that all the staff can hear us. As we have moved into the middle of the year, the students are mastering essential skills such as patience in waiting their turn, attentive listening to instructions, harmonious ensemble playing, tonal singing, and active participation. The nurturing environment that is created fosters a sense of safety and inclusivity, empowering each child to confidently engage and freely express themselves through music.

Cecilia Pensini
Music Teacher | Head of Strings P-4

Music at Del Monte (Curricular)

It was great to hear our marvellous students performing at the Term 2 Recital, learning concert behaviour (introducing your piece and yourself, bowing, clapping others) and playing a piece for the enjoyment of the college audience. 

In class music our students love using the instruments to explore the concepts of music. Year 4 have arranged rhythm compositions and performed them on djembes in groups. Year 1 enjoyed the big bass drum, creating a rhythm which the class echos, as part of a larger singing game. All grades rehearsed singing Hearts on Fire for the Reconciliation liturgy and as always raise their voices in song with great enthusiasm. 

Students are gearing up for the Gala Concert with combined rehearsals of groups across the grades. Always looking ahead, we have begun preparations for St Dominic’s Day, learning responses and songs for the celebratory Mass. 

Phillipa Knight
Coordinator of Music P-4

Gala massed choral items – rehearsal tracks

For all the students participating in massed choral features at the Gala Concert, a reminder that VO boasts exhaustive resources to support personal revision. Here is the link for Del Monte (Laudare, Siena & Year 4) Choirs. Events like Gala represent a collective achievement, and we commend our students for their diligent personal preparation to ensure a world class outcome is achieved as always.

Gala tickets selling fast!

TIckets are already selling fast and this year’s 130th Anniversary Gala promises to be a highlight of the College year, showcasing our magnificent student body and fostering memories that our students will cherish for years to come.  The theme – A Celebration of Humanity | Growing in Love – is not just a celebration of our College’s history, but through music, it is a statement of our vision for our future.

Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start, with all ticketing being General Admission.

For information about logistics and student participation at the Gala Concert, please see the Director’s submission this week on VV:

Religious Education

Come Holy Spirit

The Trinity inspires us ‘to live with others and for others’

Pope Francis

In the past few weeks, we have celebrated two major feast days in our church, the feast of Pentecost and the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Pope Francis said that celebrating the Trinity is  ‘not so much a theological exercise, but a revolution in our way of life. God, in whom each person lives for the other in a continual relationship, in continual rapport, not for themselves, provokes us to live with others and for others.’ (12 June 2022).

The Holy Trinity teaches us about the nature of God as a community of persons. It reveals to us that God is not solitary, but a loving communion of three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine relationship is a model for our human relationships, calling us to live in unity, love, and mutual respect. In our school community, we strive to reflect the love and unity of the Trinity in our daily interactions.

Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ,
And for the Holy Spirit who guides us.
Help us to live in your love,
To show compassion and kindness,
And to build a community that reflects your unity.
May we always seek to serve and support one another,
Growing together in faith and love.
Amen

National Reconciliation Week

Last week, our school commemorated National Reconciliation Week, a significant event that acknowledges the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and emphasises the importance of our collective journey towards reconciliation. National Sorry Day held on 26 May each year is the first day of National Reconciliation Week. This is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and nation.

The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, reminds us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will – and must – continue.

Our Del Monte Liturgy shared the story of our Warami Poles and their significance to our school. On each of the poles, there is a background with the colour of each house colour telling the stories of the people who gather on that Country. Our students created beautiful wreaths as part of their National reconciliation activities.

Year 8 religion students visit Del Monte

 Year 8 Religion students visited the del Monte campus this week, to share their incredibly professional and brightly coloured parable stories. The students had spent time taking a parable from the Bible and modernising it to be a children’s story.  Our students felt fortunate to have these stories read to them and they were very engaged with the pictures and the way the Bible stories were retold. Some students found it interesting that the Bible stories had a moral at the end that is still relevant today. They loved connecting with their older schoolmates and making new connections, especially with the Year 8 students who brought in stickers!

 Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P-6

Philosophy Club has come to the Del Monte campus! 

Students from Year 2 to Year 4 have started pondering the big ideas of life through a weekly Philosophy Club. Story books provide provocations for philosophical questions such as ‘What makes someone or something worthy of respect?’’ and ‘How should we treat our friends?’ Research shows that students who are exposed to philosophical thinking improve their reasoning, communication and emotional management. 

Student Reflections

I enjoy having deep thoughts so when I joined I enjoyed that there were people that had strong opinions like me. I like to have a good debate so it was fun having a team to debate with. I like how we get to express our ideas,thoughts and opinions. 
Jessica Princi
4 Daintree

I liked debating. I also liked mixing with other year groups as well as hearing other people’s opinions. Eleanor Thill
4 Daintree

I like Philosophy Club because:

• The debates are intriguing and fun.
• Deep thoughts.
• Big thoughts and ideas.
• Intriguing, Fun, entertaining, thinking and thoughts.
• Podcasts.

Sofia Brodowksa-Nidelkos
4 Daintree

Brooke Panagopoulos
Year 3 Teacher and Gifted Education Coordinator P-6

Crazy Sock Day

Outreach at Del Monte – Crazy Sock Day on Thursday 27 June

Winter is almost here! As we turn on our heaters and electric blankets, we ask you to take a moment to consider those who are struggling with essentials at this time of year.

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW has launched its annual Vinnies Winter Appeal, with a focus on supporting these vulnerable individuals. The funds raised will provide assistance with food, clothing, household bills, and specialist homelessness services. It will also support people in need to find and maintain secure housing.

At the College we are actively involved in social justice initiatives, learning about fairness, equality, and how to advocate for those in need. Del Monte will be hosting a Crazy Sock Day on Thursday 27 June. Our students will be asked to wear colourful socks with their school or sports shoes. Open your generous heart by donating to support the disadvantaged in our community.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6

Art

In our art lessons students have been working incredibly hard to create their own sculptures from a wide range of materials. In Kindergarten, students are creating a giant and and a smaller pumpkin sculpture with a focus on painting, printmaking and drawing neat patterns. In Year 1, students are busy exploring painting techniques and learning to manipulate paper to create giant plant sculptures. In Year 2, students are exploring the underwater world of coral. By learning to roll, bend and twist cardboard, students are creating their own mini coral sculptures. Year 3 students are finding out all about glass sculptures from the artist Dale Chihuly. Students are painting and cutting their own ‘fake glass’ creations made with special plastics. Year 4 students are busy manipulating newspaper and masking tape in order to create huge food sculptures based on the artist Peter Anton. 

Bel Frolchenko
Primary Art Specialist K-4

Year 4 excursion

Year 4 students enjoyed participating in the immersive walking tour of the Rocks as part of the History curriculum. They learned about first contacts between the Eora and the British, the Aboriginal way of life before and after colonisation, and significant people and events in the early colony. Students were given the opportunity to dress up as the governor, soldiers, convicts or free settlers. They observed the use of sandstone in the creation of early buildings such as Cadman’s Cottage. Students were fascinated when shown the use of seashells in early architecture. It was a fun experience filled with learning! 

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

Year 3 excursion to Wild Life Sydney Zoo

Year 3 students embarked upon our excursion to Wild Life Sydney Zoo with great enthusiasm. They were eager to see the variety of Australian animals at the zoo and explore connections to their Science unit about the classification of animals. Students demonstrated their knowledge, understanding and skills by taking notes and classifying animals based on observable features. The Tasmanian Devils and the crocodiles were particular favourites. Year 3 were accompanied by a team of thoughtful parent helpers whose assistance was invaluable as we explored the zoo throughout the day. The excursion was both an enjoyable and informative learning experience.

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

Year 2

On Monday 27 May, Year 2 commenced their Mathematics unit of Fractions and Length through engaging in a hands-on interactive activity. Here students explored the concept of halves and quarters by working within small groups to place pegs along a skipping rope, indicating the half-way and quarter-way points.

Some groups challenged themselves further through dividing their skipping rope, using pegs, into eight equal parts to represent eighths. Throughout this activity, students participated in group discussions surrounding fractions as equal parts of a whole and discovered that similarly to quarters, which are half of a half, eighths are half of quarters. The students were very excited to continue exploring fractions through interactive activities in their upcoming Mathematics lessons. 

Merissa Perivolarellis
Year 2 Classroom Teacher

Year 1 Science

In science, Year 1 has been learning about energy that comes from heat, sound and light. They were super lucky to be invited over to the senior school to have a lesson in the Science labs! While they were in the labs the students split into groups around tables that had some special equipment such as a light box, a mirror, some prisms and some slides to block and direct the light. The students investigated the statements:

1. Light travels in a straight line.
2. Light can bend.
3. Light can split into colours.

In their groups, students used the equipment to manipulate the light and discover if the statements they were investigating were true. Year 1 was very grateful for the opportunity to learn in the Science labs and learnt a lot about light from the experiments they conducted.

Kindergarten excursion to Wildlife Sydney Zoo

On Thursday 30 May, the Kindergarten students attended their very first excursion to Wildlife Sydney Zoo. The visit provided a first hand opportunity to observe a variety of Australian native animals in environments that replicated their natural habitat. The excursion was planned as a provocation for future writing experiences in which the students will be creating descriptive texts about a chosen animal. 

We were blessed with beautiful weather on the day and the students enjoyed their bus trip to Darling Harbour. Travelling over the Anzac Bridge and seeing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the distance, were particular highlights of the journey!

While at the Zoo, the students were excited to see many fascinating Australian animals, including a Bare-Nosed Wombat, a Goodfellow Tree Kangaroo, and a Southern Cassowary. 

The students listened intently to an animal keeper talk on Western Grey Kangaroos, as they ventured excitedly through the Kangaroo Walkabout. The day culminated in an enjoyable lunch break on the ‘Koala Rooftop’ where the students observed no less than eight Koalas including the newest addition, Baby Parker!

The Kindergarten teachers would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing group of parents who gave generously of their time to accompany us and provide additional supervision on the day. We would also like to thank and congratulate the students themselves for demonstrating respectful behaviour during their excursion. They were wonderful ambassadors for our College and did themselves, their teachers and their parents, proud!

The Kindergarten Team – Anna Donato, Rebecca Saba and Vicki Spillane

Prep

We are very busy learners in Prep… 

This term in mathematics we are focusing on correct number formation. To help remember how to correctly form our numbers we can say rhymes as we write each number…

1 = A downward stroke, my that’s fun. Now I’ve made the number one.

2 = Half a heart says, I love you. Now add a line and I’ve made the number two

3 = Around the tree, around the tree. Now I’ve made the number three.

4 = Down and across. Now down once more. I have made the number four.

For literacy we are continuing to learn how to write our name from left to right with correct use of upper-case and lower-case letters.  

During our PreLit lesson we continue to learn about the letters (graphemes) S, T and M and the sound (phoneme) these letters make. We like to play the game Eye Spy and try to identify objects in our room that begin with these sounds.

As part of our Interdisciplinary Unit of Work (IDU) we have been researching some factual information about different farm animals. We can describe the appearance of sheep and the diet of cows. Through play we also develop and reinforce what we are learning about in class. 

Monique Evans and Lorette Quinlan
Prep Teachers

Del Monte Library news

Author Visits by Nat Amoore and Tim Harris!

We’re thrilled to announce that acclaimed children’s authors Nat Amoore and Tim Harris are coming to our school on the afternoon of Tuesday 18 June. They’ll be sharing their passion for storytelling, creativity and imagination with students in Years 2-4. After the author talks, Nat and Tim will also be holding a book signing session.

You can pre-purchase books by these amazing authors through Gleebooks and they will be delivered to the school before the event. Orders close 14 June so get them in quick.

If you miss the cut-off date, don’t worry! Gleebooks will also be hosting a stall in the foyer of the Del Monte Hall for additional sales from approximately 2:45pm. Please note that any books purchased on the day won’t be able to be signed.

Meet the authors

Nat Amoore is a Sydney-based writer known for her delightful and engaging books. Her debut novel, Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire, became Australia’s #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019. Since then, she has continued to captivate young readers with her imaginative stories.  Recently, Nat launched her brand-new junior fiction series, Showerland, with the first book titled Break The Curse. Illustrated by the incredibly talented James Hart, this enchanting series has already been announced as Dymocks’ Kids Book of the Month!

Tim Harris is a prolific author, comedian, and educator. His witty and hilarious books have won the hearts of readers worldwide. Tim’s latest work includes the Ratbags series, which promises laughter, adventure, and unforgettable characters.

He’s also co-authored the delightful picture book This Is My Book with illustrator Heidi McKinnon. Released on 7 May, this book celebrates the joy of storytelling and creativity.

Patricia Doonan
Del Monte Librarian

Director of Music

This term so far we have commemorated the Anzacs; celebrated St Catherine’s Feast; performed in assemblies and College functions; serenaded in recitals; workshopped with Musica Viva; and prepared appropriate music for both Mother’s Day and Golden Girls and Boys masses – all while shaping up our program for the 130 Years Gala Concert at the Sydney Town Hall! Now less than three weeks away on the evening of Tuesday 25 June 2024, we encourage you to secure your tickets using the link below as they are selling fast!

The remaining days and weeks of term are now focused solely towards our collective vision. Thank you to parents and supporters who are assisting their younger children with their personal revision, making use of the resources that have been made available on Veritas Online. We are thankful too for the maturity and integrity of our ensemble students who are honouring their musical commitment with preparation, practice, punctual arrival and engagement in all rehearsals! 

See you at the Town Hall!

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12

Get your Gala tickets!

TIckets are already selling fast and this year’s 130th Anniversary Gala promises to be a highlight of the College year, showcasing our magnificent student body, and fostering memories that our students will cherish for years to come.  The theme – A Celebration of Humanity | Growing in Love – is not just a celebration of our College’s history, but through music, it is a statement of our vision for our future as a College.

Doors open at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start, with all ticketing being General Admission.  

To purchase tickets, please go to Trybooking:

Important information and permission forms

Important information about the event itself has now been communicated via email to all performers and their families, and Parent Lounge is open for the granting of permission ahead of the event. 

We have linked the key communication pieces below once more for your ease of reference:

• Del Monte Students (Laudare and Siena Singers; Year 4)
• Gioia House Students (All Years 5 and 6)
• Senior Curriculum Students (All Year 7)
• Senior Ensemble Students (Years 8-12)

As one might imagine, chasing the individual logistics for 600+ performers is quite the feat – and we are very thankful to those who support us by attending to these matters promptly.

Parent Lounge

Masses Choral items – rehearsal tracks

For all the students participating in massed Choral features at the Gala Concert, a reminder that VO boasts exhaustive resources to support personal revision.

• Del Monte (Laudare, Siena & Year 4) Choirs
• Gioia House Choir
• College Choir
• Chamber Choir

Events like Gala represent a collective achievement, and we commend our students for their diligent personal preparation to ensure a world class outcome is achieved once more.

Important additional rehearsals

In addition to all regular ensemble rehearsals for which FULL attendance is required between now and the Gala Concert, the following additional rehearsals have been scheduled and we request that they are diarised promptly to ensure punctual arrival.

24-5 June – final run throughs and concert day

24-5 JUNE – FINAL RUN THROUGHS AND CONCERT DAY
In addition to the rehearsals listed above and all regular ensemble commitments, all Gala performers need to be aware of their call times and requirements across Monday 24 and Tuesday 25 June.

To be read in conjunction with the permission letters linked above with transport directions, please ensure you are across the rehearsal schedules for both days:

Monday 24 June 2024 – Rehearsal Schedule (Santa Sabina Hall)
Tuesday 25 June 2024 – Technical Run-through Schedule (Sydney Town Hall)

Santa Sings! Community Choir

Though winter is upon us and the desire to stay in for an evening is increasing in its allure, those who have rugged up; grabbed their travel cups and hot drinks have found their hearts warmed in Holyrood as they’ve sung full-voiced with fellow community members! Some alumni are travelling hours each way to attend, and the joy is palpable. Santa is well known as ‘The School that Sings’ and this group has been established with the purpose of drawing ex-students, existing community members, parents and friends, and our Dominican Sisters together through music. See the photos from our first gathering here.

Previous experience is not necessary, and an exciting performance cameo is right around the corner…

Register via this link to be kept up to date with this choir’s happenings, and join us for our next rehearsal in Holyrood on the public holiday, 10 June between 7:00pm and 8:00pm.

Holyrood access

The College has been working to increase security across the College, and as such, Holyrood is now to remain locked at all times – accessible only by student ID Cards during school hours. Students are reminded to carry their Student ID Cards on them at all times to ensure they present for lessons and classes in a timely manner.

Mother’s Day Mass

Thank you to our Del Monte musicians, and our Chamber Strings and Chamber Choir who served the community in the Mother’s Day Mass on Thursday 9 May 2024, helping to ensure this annual tradition was a memorable and heartwarming occasion for all in attendance.

Career Women’s Networking Day

It was lovely to see one of our advanced Chamber String ensembles embodying the Dominican Pillars of Service and Community as they arrived at school bright and early on Friday 17 May to help set the atmosphere as guests arrived for the anticipated Career Women’s Network breakfast.  A highly successful networking event ensued, and we thank our musicians for setting the tone for a brilliant morning!

Golden Girls and Boys Mass

The Golden Girls and Boys Mass Friday 31 May was a beautiful reunion with our Chamber Choir leading the congregation in reflection and worship. In addition to standard mass offerings, the choir enjoyed singing a selection of beloved hymns that have echoed in the Chapel in past decades – with the old School Song and the beloved St Dominic’s Hymn evoking fond memories. Nostalgic alumni joined us in full voice.

The gathering gave testimony to the strength of the enduring bonds within the Santa community. As voices joined – students past and present – the essence of a Santa Sabina College education was encapsulated. This is truly a place where tradition meets the future, and where every student graduates as part of a larger, connected family.

Santa Sabina Recital Series

The afternoon of Friday 24 May saw the final offering in our Semester 1 recital series, with a growing program and a list of 35 solo performers necessitating the move from Holyrood to the College Hall for the second time this term. We have been delighted to see the numerical growth in our private tuition stream this year – with nearly 100 more students taking private lessons, up from this time last year. Pleasing too is the high standard of performance consistent in these recitals, a testimony to our extraordinary team of music tutors for their work with our students each week.  We look forward to announcing the dates of the Semester 2 recital series, and affording this experience for our young musicians.

PHOTOS FROM GIOVANNI PORTELLI

Musica Viva Competition

Our Chamber ensembles on the Senior Campus are busily filming their submissions for the biennial ‘Strike A Chord’ Competition.  Entering the national competition affords all candidates a complimentary Coaching Program by internationally respected music education body Musica Viva – offering intensive training that will support performance outcomes for curriculum musicians and our ensembles alike, while also having benefits for the school as we foster significant strategic partnerships.

Update: Music Tours 2025

Expressions of interest are still open for our Italian Music Tour to be held in 2025. Our experienced Music travel professionals Hayllar Music Tours have prepared a magnificent proposal for tours, and applications with deposits are now due on the revised date of 27 June .  Please reach out to music@ssc.nsw.edu.au if you would like any further information.

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.

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.

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12

Director of Sport and Co-Curricular

This long weekend will give us a great opportunity to reset and ensure we re energise towards the final sprint in Term 2.

I have only to thank firstly the College Sports Department for such a great term and the provision of great experiences in Sports and Co-curricular Activities to our students. It has been a very busy term but Santa has been displaying great performances in all areas facilitating our students to achieve in all levels. My thanks extend to the students who have been amazing in their display of the College values and our staff and parents’ community for the support and hard work to ensure it all runs smoothly.

I would like to give a big shout out to SAN03 who went all the way to Frensham to play Football and won their game 3-0 with 10 players on the pitch.

Individual students’ selections and achievements

Congratulations to Mulan Dang and Jolene Wang for coming second in the Table Tennis NSW Girls Schools Challenge Cup.

Congratulations to Danna Park for coming fifth at the NSW All Schools Swimming 50m freestyle.

Congratulations to Lucia Pappalardo for coming third in the NSW All Schools Diving Championships and qualifying for Nationals later this year.

Congratulations to Armani Jameson for making it into the NSWCCC Water Polo Team.

Congratulations to the Debating Teams who won 7-5 over St Pat’s at the Saint of Origin CSDA Round three weeks ago and the netballers who won the second round on Friday last week giving us the win of the Event in 2024. The final Volleyball round for Saint of origin is on 14 June at St Pats.

Congratulations to the girls [on the list here] who represented the College at the NSWCCC Hockey Tournament in Bathurst two weeks ago.

Congratulations to Alessandra Ronsisvale (Year 6) who has been selected to take part in the Mackillop Football teams after trials in Goulburn last week.

Athletics Carnival Results 

Congratulations to all students for a marvellous day on 16 May at Olympic Park.

A massive congratulations to the students and Houses on the tables below:

Netball

Thank you to all the parents who put their hands up to volunteer for duties this past weekend. Unfortunately, the weather played havoc with our scheduled games again with only the 8:00am, 9:30am and 11:00am games proceeding.  

There are no games this weekend but we are very excited about hosting Swifts players Sarah Klau, Allie Smith and Sophie Fawns on Tuesday 11 June.  All Santa netballers are invited to come and grab a selfie or an autograph from 3:30-4:00pm.

The New Zealand Netball Tour Team continue their preparations and will be mentored by the Swifts players and are also playing their first friendly game on Thursday 6 June against the ERNA Metro development team.  

Debating and Public Speaking

CSDA Public Speaking

Santa Sabina Public Speakers began this year with a strong start in their success and representation of the college in the CSDA Public Speaking Competition in Term 1.

The competition holds three rounds with heats, zone finals and the Grand Final. We had eleven students representing the College and are proud to present the following competitors:

Emilia Srdanovic – Grand Finalist
Julia Le
Hayley Chan – Zone Finalist
Harriet Hoogland
Davina Rajkumar – Zone Finalist
Mia Bek – Grand Finalist
Eve Ardagna – Grand Finalist
Sophia Rahme 
Tanisha Chari
Zara Powter 
Olivia Radford

Congratulations to Emilia Srdanovic and Eve Ardagna who made the Grand Final in their respective divisions and both finished the 2024 competition with fourth place!

Rostrum Public Speaking 

Three Santa Sabina students represented the College in the Rotary Rostrum speaking competition with the Strathfield heat, hosted at the College in Term 1. 

Santa Sabina Speakers included:

Mia Bek
Davina Rajkumar
Molly Hoogland

We would like to congratulate the above students for their representation of the College.

NSW Plain English Speaking Award

On Tuesday 7 May, Eve Ardagna and Remi Apostolopoulos spoke in the NSW Plain English Speaking Award.

This competition is centred around the students delivering a speech on a topic of their choosing and then having to deliver an impromptu speech with limited preparation time.

Both Eve Ardagna and Remi Apostolopoulos won their initial heat as Local Finalists and participated as Regional Finalists.

Congratulations Eve and Remi!

Archdale Debating Competition

The Independent Girls’ Schools Association (IGSA), Archdale debating competition began 21 May 2024. This is where we have eight teams competing in a speaking style different from that of CSDA. 

We wish all our debaters luck in this competition. 

CSDA Debating Competition

In Term 2 on a Friday evening, Santa Sabina has 12 debating teams which compete in the CSDA Debating Competition. Thus far, the students have presented great successes in the first five rounds of the competition. One in particular being the round against St Pat’s Strathfield, where the students had seven wins against the St Pat’s.

We look forward to seeing how the debaters finish off the season and wish them luck in the last upcoming round in preparation for Eliminations Rounds.

Primary Sport update

Stage 3 Soccer Championships

Congratulations to the Stage 3 Soccer team who competed at the Conference 2 Soccer Championships on Tuesday 28 May at Meadowbank Park. Coached by Mr Ramalho, the team competed strongly and finished 2nd overall in their pool. The girls will now compete at the Sydney Catholic Schools Inter-Conference play offs (Date TBC).

Primary Cross Country

Congratulations to all students who participated at the Sydney Catholic Schools Cross Country Championships on Tuesday 14 May.

A special mention to Freya Ingwersen (12 Years – first Place), Alessandra Ronsisvalle (11 Years – first Place), Charlotte McCarthy (11 Years – fourth Place) and Erin Grogan (11 Years – fifth Place) who all progressed through to the Mackillop Cross Country Championships to be held on Wednesday 5 June at Sydney International Equestrian Centre.

Luiz Ramalho
Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities

Representative Dance Showcase 2024

On Sunday 2 June, our 110 Santa Sabina Representative Dancers took to the stage for their dazzling performance, the Representative Dance Showcase!

Staff, families, friends and ex-students were impressed by our eight teams, ranging in ages from Years 1-12, performing their competition routines for the first time this year. Each team and their coaches train weekly and also during their weekend intensively in Terms 1 and 2. The Representative Dance program continues to grow each year and in 2024 we are so proud of our dancers’ talents in performance and Dance skills, their commitment and work ethic and great sense of teamwork which will continue to grow as they compete throughout the season. These attributes and skills are at the core of this program and what was demonstrated on stage on Sunday evening.

Audiences were so impressed by our dancers’ confidence on stage, their dynamic movements, their personalities shining and of course their incredible costumes. We thank all those who attended the evening and look forward to sharing footage of the performances with the community soon!

Bryony Williams
K-12 Dance Coordinator & Year 5 Teacher

Enrichment

May has been an incredibly busy time for enrichment activities at the College. We are very proud of our students who continue to commit to these activities on top of their academic and sporting workload.

Da Vinci Decathlon 2024

This year Santa Sabina entered six teams from Years 6-11 in the da Vinci Decathlon competition held at Knox Grammar School, a thrilling day consisting of 10 academic pursuits in the spirit of the Olympics. The event is massive, spanning over three days and involving thousands of students from schools across NSW. This year the theme was Utopia and the 10 events included Art and Poetry, Cartography, Code Breaking, Creative Producers, Engineering, English, Ideation, Legacy, Mathematics and Science.

All students displayed collaborative teamwork and enthusiasm in their approach to the challenges. The diverse talents of the Santa Sabina students were highlighted through the commendable achievements of all students. A special mention goes to the Year 8 team who placed 12th overall.

The following teams achieved a place for particular events:

Year 7 team

1st in Art and Poetry
7th in Ideation

Year 8 Team

3rd in Creative Producers
5th in Cartography
11th in Art and Poetry
12th in English
13th in Science

Year 9 Team

7th in Cartography
15th in Engineering
16th in Science

Year 10 Team

7th in Art and Poetry

Year 11 Team

2nd in Engineering
8th in Cartography
16th in Ideation
16th in Code breaking

Congratulations to all students who competed on the day, they worked so hard from very early in the morning and represented the College valiantly.

A special thank you to teachers Brittany Poynting, Jessica Burgess and Brooke Panagopologus who assisted with coaching, supervision and marking of challenges on the day.

Student Reflections

‘Da Vinci was a fun, challenging and inspiring experience for me and the Year 7 team. I think we learnt a lot more from the Da Vinci decathlon than facts about Leonardo da Vinci or complex mathematical formulas – we learnt how to take on challenges as a team, how to enjoy a competition whilst also working hard, and when to change a plan when our original one wasn’t working. We all took so much away from being a part of this team.‘
Jess Price
Year 7

‘Participating in this year’s da Vinci Decathlon was an amazing experience. The day pushed us to think both critically and creatively across all disciplines and we were able to extend ourselves well beyond classroom learning as well as work collectively and collaboratively with our teammates. Thank you to Mr Mountford who oversaw the opportunity, organising the weekly training sessions and accompanying us to the event. Also, a thank you to Ms Burgess who also accompanied us, providing continuous support throughout the day.‘
Claudia Lee
Year 10

Science and Engineering Challenge 2024

The Science and Engineering Challenge was held at Lucas Heights at ANSTO this year. The Challenge involved Years 9 and 10 students interested in turning scientific curiosity into real world problem solving. Thirty-two students attended the event, working alongside university lecturers and engineers from the University of Newcastle and ANSTO staff.

Students built stable bridges, anti-earthquake structures, gliders and turbines and solved complex problems using science, pattern recognition and trial and error.

The competitive and fun environment was palpable and students had the opportunity to make connections with age peers from other schools.

Santa Sabina’s efforts were rewarded with Second place. We are very proud of the students and their commitment to STEM. To achieve such an outcome, quartets of students had to earn points in each of their events.

‘Attending the Science and Engineering Challenge was such a great opportunity and I can say with great confidence that every single student who participated was both challenged and immensely enjoyed all activities. Faced with problems that we would otherwise not encounter within classes, we were continuously pushed to extend our problem-solving skills and think critically. Thank you to Ms Sheehan and Li who accompanied us!‘
Claudia Lee
Year 10

‘We did some great teamwork activities, where students were divided into groups of four to tackle different challenges, testing our skills in Science and Engineering. Our group participated in the bridge challenge. We were tasked with constructing a bridge using a limited selection and quantity of materials and we needed strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills to complete this task. The objective was to design a structure capable of withstanding progressively heavier weights without collapsing. At the day’s finale, the bridges were tested and we were thrilled when our bridge successfully withstood four stages of weights, earning us second place out of the eight competing schools, the best result Santa Sabina has gotten yet. Overall, the day was highly enjoyable and immensely beneficial. It was a great experience that allowed us to apply our classroom knowledge in a practical setting, grow our STEM skills, and connect with peers.’

Senior Ethics Olympiads

We congratulate the 10 students from Years 10,11 and 12 who competed in the Senior Ethics Olympiads in May. The two teams, made up of a mixture of ethics veterans and newbies performed brilliantly. Our teams just missed out on placing, coming 4th and 5th. Students discussed ethical conundrums with teams from other Sydney Schools and were scored by judges using a strict set of criteria.

As always, our students received special commendations from the judges as well as useful feedback for improvement.

‘The Senior Ethics Olympiad was a great experience with a day full of ethical debates and discussions relevant today. I enjoyed being in a team with such well-spoken and articulate peers alongside learning about philosophical theories and new topics to apply and think about in everyday life.‘ 
Anna-Maria Sulukojian
Year 11

The Ethics Olympiad competition is a wonderful opportunity that allowed us to put the skills and understanding accrued over the course of a term and a bit into practice. The competition was an amazing way to engage with ethical ideas relevant to our daily lives and modern world in an enjoyable, meaningful way with students from many different schools across NSW!
Kate Pitman-Fernandez
Year 11

Matthew Mountford
Dean of Gifted Education

Inclusive Education

At Santa Sabina College, we are committed to creating an inclusive learning community where all students belong, are engaged and enabled to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand and respect others.

Our strategies and practices include:

• the identification, monitoring and review of student needs
• making adjustments to learning informed by a range of qualitative and quantitative data from external professionals’ diagnostics reports and internal assessment screening tools
• consultation with parents/carers, teachers, and allied service providers to inform the level of need and recommended adjustments
• the development of Personalised Learning Plans that reflect the needs and adjustments in place to support students with disability, language and other diverse needs
• ensuring differentiation of programs and pedagogy to support the continuum of diverse student needs.

In the Primary Years the IE Team works with classroom teachers to ensure that students with disability and learning needs are supported through intervention programs and in-classroom support.

At Gioia House the focus is on literacy and numeracy intervention in class and specific intervention programs such as MacqLit, Reading, Spelling, Numeracy intervention.

On the Secondary Campus the IE team runs the ASPIRE Program – a targeted, specialised, intervention program in Years 7-12 to provide responsive educational support tailored to the needs of diverse learners.

We work to ensure that environments and programs are responsive to the diverse needs of each learner through facilitating equitable opportunities and a holistic strength-based approach to include students with cognitive or learning disability, physical or sensory disability, or social/emotional disability, as well as students from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

The Inclusive Education Team helps to facilitate access and participation opportunities for engagement in learning for all students through a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, support and problem solving to make reasonable adjustments so that learning is equitable.

If you would like to contact the IE team, please email Jo McKeown, Dean of Inclusive Education P-12 (j.mckeown@ssc.nsw.edu.au).

St Lucy’s at Santa

Enrolling now

We are pleased to announce that St Lucy’s at Santa is expected to commence in Semester 2 2024 for Kindergarten and Year 1 students. This satellite school program provides students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a specialised educational program within their classroom, and benefit from all the social opportunities that our Primary Campus can offer. For enquiries please contact enrol@stlucys.nsw.edu.au or visit www.stlucys.nsw.edu.au

From the P&F Association

Mid Term Update

It has been a busy term with so much happening and more exciting events planned for our Santa community.

The P & F committee are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that each year group is supported and given the opportunity to grow and come together as a cohort. We cannot do this work without your support and commitment to our children and their education.

The recent P&F General Meeting on 22 June was a productive meeting where we were provided with an update as to the school developments, upcoming events, and how we as parents can assist our children on a daily basis. Debra’s article on the Art of Conversation (below) is a great way to help our children strike up a conversation and engage in a positive manner.

We cannot wait for next week’s Primary School and Gioia House Disco. The children are looking forward to it and we hope to see many parents socialising and enjoying a sausage sizzle. Please ensure that you buy your tickets no later than 10 June 2024 via the trybooking link below.

Don’t forget to save the date for our Trivia Night next term. Start organising your teams as we know it can get very competitive. More details to come. Stay tuned!

Parent and family catch ups

Given the short term and the array of social and school events throughout the term, the year catch-ups have been limited. We are looking forward to more events happening next term. 

However, the Year 7 cohort managed to organise a fabulous night at the Home Grounds in Five Dock. It was great to meet the new families that have joined the school, and we look forward to many wonderful gatherings in the future as the children grow.

We have quite a number of Save the Dates below so please mark them in your calendar! See Past Events section below for photos of the recent gatherings.

The P&F Association

Upcoming Events

🎉 Primary School & Gioia House Disco! 🎉

Get ready to rock at our upcoming Disco with the theme Party Rock!

👪 Parents Welcome! Feel free to stay, eat and socialise at Warami during the event. 🎉

🗓 Date:                 Friday 14 June

📍 Location:            Del Monte Hall

🕔Disco Times:       

• 5:00pm to 5:45pm – Prep, Kindy, and Year 1
• ⁠6:00pm to 7:00pm – Year 2, Year 3, Year 4
• 7:15pm to 8:30pm – Gioia House

RSVP by 10 June via the TryBooking link

Tickets:

• Kids Ticket: $15 – Includes Disco Entry, Glowing Wristband or Finger Lights, Sausage Sizzle, Juice Popper and a small Ice Cream
• Adult Sausage Sizzle: $10 – Includes Sausage Sizzle or Steak Sandwich and a Can of Drink or Bottle of Water

🌭 Pre-book your sausage sizzle to guarantee availability as there will be limited extras on the night.

Additional purchase items on the Night: Glowing Wrist Bands, Finger Lights, Drinks, Coffee and Ice Cream.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

🎉 Save the Date: Santa Trivia Night! 🎉

Are you the smartest person in the room? Prove it! Come along to the Santa Trivia Night! Come along for an evening of fun and a chance to put all of your knowledge to good use!

 🗓 Date:     23 August 2024

⏰ Time:      7:00pm

📍 Location: To be Confirmed

Parent Catch Ups

🌟 Year 10 Family Catch Up! 🌟

Don’t forget the Year 10 Family Catch Up is coming up! It is a chance to unwind and have a chat about all things Year 10.

🗓 Date:       Saturday 15 June 2024

⏰ Time:       3:00pm to 5:30pm

📍 Location: Regatta on the Bay

                  UTS Haberfield Rowers Club

🌟 Save the Date: Year 2 Family Catch-Up! 🌟

Hello Year 2 families! It’s that time again to get together and have a few laughs. Who knows maybe Gio may put in appearance or two 😊 Save the date!

🗓 Date:       Saturday 17 August 2024

⏰ Time:       6:30pm

📍 Location: To be confirmed

Details of the venue will be confirmed soon.

🌟 Save the Date: Year 8 Parent Dinner & Drinks! 🌟

Year 8 parents this night is for you! Put it in your calendar for an amazing night of socialising and a great deal of fun.

🗓 Date:       Friday 26 July 2024

⏰ Time:       6:30pm

📍 Location: To be confirmed

It’s been a while since the last catch up so we hope families can attend! Details of the venue will be confirmed soon.

🌟 Save the Date: Year 9 Dinner! 🌟

Join us for a special Mother and Daughter dinner. It is not often that our girls get to spend one on one time with mum so let’s take advantage of such moments. Mark it in your calendars. Venue to be confirmed shortly.

🗓 Date:       Friday 26 July 2024

⏰ Time:       6:30pm

📍 Location: To be confirmed

Past events

Year 7 Family Catch Up

The Year 7 families enjoyed a lovely evening catching up with old friends and welcoming new families that joined the school at The Home Grounds in Five Dock. We look forward to the next catch-up!

Parent Education

The Art of Conversation by Debra Brodowski 

As adults we know the importance of having conversations with others, people new to our work, community group, sports team. The art of conversation, starting with ‘small talk’, finding points of common interest so that we can ‘dig deeper’, helps build strong and meaningful relationships with others, as well as allowing those that might be new in a social situation to feel included.

Our young people are more connected than ever before, to gaming, to social media, to technology, to sms’ing/ snap-chatting etch. Such ‘hyper-connection’ has meant that there are likely to have been fewer opportunities to practice having actual conversations with others. The potential impacts of this are many:

• Lowered levels of empathy and emotional understanding with others
• Feeling disconnected to others
• More ingroup – outgroup behaviour (people being excluded, formation of cliques)
• Increased feelings of social anxiety and avoidance of in-person interactions

Whilst we still need our tech based interactions with others, it’s an integral part of our lives, we also need to balance this with face to face interactions and ‘the art of conversation’. 

The art of conversation

Have you ever noticed a situation where you see your young person with their friend and there’s silence? You later ask ‘what happened?’ and the response is ‘I didn’t know what to say?’ The art of conversation has a few key elements that we are able to share with our young people:

• Starting a conversation can happen in a few ways:
  • noticing something about the context of the environment: ‘It’s so cold today, isn’t it?!’
• • making a compliment to the other person: ‘I really like your … where did you get it?’
  • asking a question about them: ‘What was the best thing that you did on the weekend?’
• Keep the conversation going by:
  • adding something personal to the conversation to build on what was just said
  • using open-ended questions to keep the conversation going (ones that require more than a yes/no answer).
• Actively listen to the other person. Show that you are paying attention by:
  • maintaining eye contactodding
  • smiling.

As people it’s normal to feel self-conscious about striking up a conversation and have a fear that we will be judged harshly. The reality is that we all have an inherent desire to feel included and be liked and form connections with others. Teaching your young person the art of conversation is building with them a crucial skill for their confidence and their social-emotional well-being.