College Principal

In the last few weeks, our Year 11 students have been through a rigorous selection process in their quest to become College Leaders for 2024/2025. Impressively, 60 girls put themselves forward for leadership positions and they are all to be congratulated for their willingness to serve the College. This takes courage, confidence and resilience! To those young women who graciously accepted that this wasn’t their time to be in a formal leadership role, life will certainly provide other opportunities to step up and lead.  

I am pleased to announce our Santa Sabina College Student Leadership Team for 2024/2025: 

College Captains: 
Remi Apostolopoulos & Isabel Marturia
Faith & Mission Prefect: Tamara Jabbour
Social Justice Prefect: Kate Pitman-Fernandez
Wellbeing Prefect: Siena Dewhurst
Environment & Sustainability: Matilda Stephens
Arts Prefect: Lily Vincent
Sports Prefect: Caitlin Brennan

Gunagulla House Captains: Cary Yeung & Cecilia Cicco
Kurrawa House Captains: Tiffany Dao & Amadea Khoury
Mundawora House Captains: Charlotte So & Zara Zanic
Teangi House Captains: Rachel Giang & Amelia Goff
Weelya House Captains: Antonia Abounajm & Kelly Ghali
Yetinga House Captains: Gianna Leonard & Lana Mihalic

The College has been a hive of activity in the last few weeks celebrating both Science Week and Book Week respectively. Once again, our Science Showcase delivered a TED Talks style event where experts from our community spoke to the theme: ‘Species Survival – More than just Sustainability.’ Their presentations were really interesting covering diverse examples of how their cutting-edge research is positively impacting our world. There was also a whole week of exciting Science activities on offer during recess and lunch across all campuses and I thank our teachers for bringing Science to life for our students – as they do every day!  

Similarly, Book Week highlighted the power of storytelling. Reading is one of the single most important ways children learn about people, places and perspectives while also developing their vocabularies along with their ability to write well. Reading novels deepens a young person’s capacity to concentrate and it is a good way to relax. Our inaugural Writers Festival was a huge success and students enjoyed spending time in workshops with contemporary authors. You could feel the joy at both the Primary and Secondary Book Parades this year and teachers went all out to dress as their favourite book character. We were so pleased to welcome parents to witness the spectacle and thank those who also went above and beyond by dressing up and joining in the Book Parades.  

You may have seen that we have embarked on a social media campaign in the build-up to our very first Giving Day which will take place on 4 September. Volunteers will join staff to reach out to people in our community throughout the day in an effort to raise money to support the construction of the new Gymnasium and Aquatic Centre. We will be grateful for any contribution that you can make to help our children access these exciting new facilities. 

Today’s Father’s Day celebrations were well attended with close to 1000 fathers, carers and children joining us for Masses and Breakfast. It is so moving to witness the strong bonds our students share with their dads and it is a lovely way to honour dads and all they do in this way. We are immensely grateful to our P&F Association for organising breakfast. Special thanks also to Primo for their generous donation to the College. It was lovely to see the whole community from both sides of The Boulevarde gathered together.

In closing, I would like to acknowledge the work that goes on behind the scenes at Santa Sabina to engage our students in a wide range of community service and social justice activities. Last week our Secondary students took part in the Santa Sleepout to raise awareness about homelessness. In this time, they also packaged food items for the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol to share. Our staff and students also volunteer for Night Patrol helping to provide meals and food service to those in need. Providing opportunities for young people to serve is important in ensuring that they have agency to make a positive difference in a world where so many events are out of their control. The Taliban’s new law in Afghanistan that bans women’s faces and voices in public, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as well as in Ukraine can feel overwhelming when there is little we can do from here to bring about peace. However, taking action to make a positive impact where we can, challenges those feelings of hopelessness and anxiety that young people may experience when they see a world where there is pain and suffering on a large scale. I ask that you encourage your child to get involved in the initiatives at the College that help others; by doing this, they will also be helping themselves. 

Wishing all our dads and carers a very Happy Father’s Day on Sunday.

Take care.

Paulina Skerman
College Principal

Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

In reaching out we also reach in and reach up

Outreach at Santa Sabina is a keystone of our approach to social justice learning. In providing opportunities for our students to reach out to those who may need extra assistance, who may live on the margins of society we are ensuring that our students live the Pillars of Service and Community and in doing so feel engaged, involved and responsible. These outreach opportunities allow our students to also reach in to themselves and to grow in their own understanding and application of important Christian values like compassion, generosity and empathy. These opportunities are also occasions where we witness our students reaching up; moving out of their comfort zones and finding a new understanding of justice and equality. 

This term the Salamanca House Projects have reached the Action stage after going through the Awareness stage in Terms 1 and 2. Below you will find outlines of each House project written by a student from each House organising committee.

Gunagulla

This year Gunagulla chose to focus on Disability Support for the Salamanca Project, specifically for St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga. Disability Support is immensely important, with one in six people in Australia living with disabilities. Due to this we as a House hope to help make school easier and more comfortable for children with disabilities, which is why we chose to focus on St Lucy’s School for students with disabilities. We have begun to donate learning materials and encourage gold coin donations from students in our House, whilst also formulating lesson plans for the students, focusing on learning in a fun, yet educational way to foster a comfortable environment. Through these initiatives, and with more to come, we hope to improve the experience of students with special needs in school so that they can have valuable and fun experiences in comfortable environments. 
Eve Ardagna

Kurrawa

Kurrawa has chosen to focus on Water Pollution for our Salamanca House Project. Over 368 million people use water that is unsafe to drink. 80% of the pollution in the water comes from the land, killing almost a million marine and seabirds annually. The charity we have chosen to support is the Coral Nursery Project on Fitzroy Island, where they aim to restore the damaged reefs, and the coral in particular, due to pollution. To raise awareness for this problem, Kurrawa has taken part in fundraising activities, a ‘nude’ picnic and a plastic-free bake sale. We managed to raise $230 from the bake sale alone!
Tiffany Dao

Mundawora

Mundawora has focused on raising awareness about domestic violence in Australia through our Salamanca Project. Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behaviour found in relationships that can be used to gain power and control. As a House, we’ve explored this issue by examining statistics and identifying ways to support those affected. During community time we have made butterfly origami, a symbol of domestic violence, to show our solidarity and raise awareness. In addition, we have created awareness posters and infographics to further spread information on this prominent issue. Moreover, after further research and understanding, we’ve decided to raise funds for the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre in Redfern and are brainstorming ways to support those affected.

Teangi

This year, Teangi has been dedicated to raising money and awareness for women battling cancer. With a staggering 49,000 lives lost to cancer annually, we took action by organising community games during Homeroom time, where participants contributed a gold coin as an entry fee to support the cause. Each Homeroom set a collective goal to cover 49 kilometres over a week, with students tracking and submitting evidence of their daily steps or kilometres. Through these efforts, our House contributed to this vital cause and strengthened our sense of community, enhancing relationships and overall wellbeing within Teangi. Amelia Goff

Weelya

For our Salamanca House project, Weelya has undertaken the project of helping the elderly through both advocacy and awareness activities and through a hands-on approach. In community time, Weelyans have engaged in activities that have helped us understand the value and importance of caring for the elderly in our community and the positive difference it can make on both them and us. We have even created a mural of ourselves with elderly people in our lives with whom we enjoy spending time accompanied by a reflection about that person. This has helped us gain a sense of appreciation for the impact they make on us in our day-to-day lives. We have also had a group of volunteers visit our local aged care centre, Goondee Aged Care, on a weekly rotation basis which has helped build a personal connection with members of our community. 
Kelly Ghali

Yetinga

In Yetinga, the focus of our Salamanca House Project is to raise awareness about homelessness in all of its forms and collecting donations. The students designed informative infographics and posters to raise awareness in our school about the severity of homelessness and the many misconceptions surrounding it. Students created stalls to display posters and promote donations for these disadvantaged communities. These donations were made into snack packs by the senior students attending the sleepout which will be collected by Vinnies and distributed via Night Patrol. Thank you for the efforts of the students, in particular the members of the Salamanca House Committee and the teachers such as Ms Sulis and Ms Sheehan for keeping us updated on the positive impact of our work. 
Angelina Salman and Emma Wong

Gioia House

Here at Gioia House outreach is very important to us and to our community. There are many opportunities for us to participate in outreach and service for people less fortunate than us. A recent initiative Gioia House has participated in, is donating food to make snack packs for the St Vincent de Paul night patrol. These packs go out to the less fortunate, homeless and the elderly. We are aware there are many people in our community who cannot afford to buy food for themselves and this is a small way we can have a positive impact on someone who needs our help. We also contributed to the JRS Australian Food Bank providing pantry items and essentials such as toiletries. This helps refugees and people seeking asylum in the community. Our donations were able to restock the shelves for people to access food and essential items they need. We also have a personal Outreach Service log where we list the other ways we are finding opportunities to help and serve others.
Chloe Charbel (GH Faith and Identity Leader) and
Mariam Fajloun (GH Social Justice Leader)

Winter Sleepout

Our Senior student leaders have also been busy upon their return from Trial exams organising the Winter Sleepout which took place on Friday evening, 23 August. Aditi and Rochelle reflect on this event:

From 23-24 August, we hosted our second on-site Santa Sleepout. The sleepout is an experiential event where students are given nothing more than a piece of cardboard and their sleeping bag and brave the cold for one night while learning about some of the harsh realities faced by those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. The evening was enriched with meaningful discussions on the importance of programs like Night Patrol and the critical role of snack packs in supporting those who rely on its services. Thanks to the generous donations from our school community, we successfully assembled over 600 snack packs!

We also introduced engaging activities, including a trivia session on homelessness and general knowledge, and a cost-of-living exercise that encouraged students to budget around the monthly JobSeeker payment of $816.90.To conclude our evening, we gathered for a beautiful candlelit reflection in the liturgy. Afterwards, students warmed up with hot chocolate and sandwiches before settling into their sleeping bags in St Elizabeth’s courtyard, ready to brave the cold. Around midnight, however, the weather took a turn, and it started to rain. Despite the discomfort and the challenge of staying dry, students showed resilience, embodying the spirit of the event. We hope this meaningful night inspires students to approach future volunteer and outreach efforts with even greater empathy and understanding.

We hope this meaningful night inspires students to approach future volunteer and outreach efforts with even greater empathy and understanding.

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

A note from our Outreach Coordinator

This is not a one-off event. There is an ongoing need for the goodies in the snack packs. Vinnies gives out three thousand packs a week! 

So if you want to help people in economic distress, you can send in donations at any time. Just add some muesli bars or snacks to the shopping trolley when you do your family shopping and send them with your child. Choose whatever is on special this week! They can be left at any of the reception desks at the College. Making a regular contribution and asking your children to carry them into school shows them the value you place on living out Jesus’ reminder: Whatever you do for these, the least of my brothers and sisters, you do for me.

Packs are made up with five items chosen from this list: 

 Multipacks of 

• chips
• sultanas
• noodles
• cup-a-soups
• fruit cups 
• biscuits 
• muesli bars 
• Le Snacks Dippits 
• individual serve tuna 
• popper juices

Jane Sulis
Outreach Coordinator

Deputy Principal Operations

Strathfield Council is currently seeking input from students, parents and staff in the Local Government area to inform development of new pedestrian and cycle links within the local area. Walking and cycling to school are efficient and sustainable ways to travel short distances within the suburb, and further development of infrastructure would be beneficial for the Santa Sabina community. Please complete the survey using this link to have your say.

Term 3 is stacked with events for parents, students and the community to join together. To stay up to date with all the happenings across both campuses you can easily access the College calendar in several ways. 

The College App provides access to the all the events in the College calendar as well as providing parents with student co-curricular schedules by clicking on the Sport button. For those families who do not have the College App, instructions are available by following this link.

Parents can subscribe to the College calendar by using an external calendar such as Google calendar, Apple Mail or Outlook calendar. Instructions on subscribing to the calendar are available on Veritas Online or by following this link.

The final way to access the College calendar is via Veritas Online. Click on the Calendar at the top of the page and you will be able to access the latest events and happenings at the College.

John Gilmore
Deputy Principal Operations

Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Science Week 

This year’s Science Week theme, ‘Species Survival: More than just sustainability,’ highlighted the crucial role of science and innovation in ensuring that species survive and thrive in our ever-changing world. During Santa Science Showcase, our enlightening evening of presentations, distinguished professionals shared their insights. Charbel Antoun discussed the role of engineers in the renewable energy transition, while Dr Annalise Crane explored the unique challenges of aviation medicine. Jade Greenhalgh presented on nuclear science and technology applications, and Dr Laura Kerrison shared experiences from her veterinary career. A recent graduate of Santa Sabina, Linda Losurdo, delved into the potential of plasma physics, and Bernard Zanic discussed the importance of efficiency and sustainability in modern supply chains. These presentations provided valuable insights into how various fields contribute to the theme of species survival. Each speaker offered a unique perspective on how their work supports different areas of STEM. The event fostered thought-provoking discussions and highlighted how science and innovation can ensure a thriving future for all species.

Senior Subject Conferences

Deputies and Deans continued to meet with Year 10 students and parents this week to discuss as they prepare for their senior years. During the meeting, we emphasised the importance of selecting a balanced pattern of study that aligns with each student’s interests, strengths, and career aspirations.

I have recommended that students attend the forthcoming university Open Days to gain valuable insights into their future study options. The University of Technology Sydney (UTS),  The University of Sydney and the University of Notre Dame will hold their Open Days on Saturday 31 August. Australian Catholic University (ACU) (North Sydney) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) will hold theirs on Saturday 7 September. These events provide an excellent opportunity for students to explore different campuses, meet faculty members, and learn more about the courses and facilities available. Attending these Open Days can significantly aid in making well-informed decisions about their future academic paths.

Year 12 IB and HSC Major Works Showcases evening

Please join us at our Year 12 IB and HSC Major Works Showcases evening on Thursday 12 September 2024 beginning at 4;30pm.

The Showcases will proceed as follows:

4:35pm – 4:50pm Room 106: HSC English Extension
4:55pm – 5:15pm Room 106: HSC Science Extension
5:15pm – 6:15pm Room 106: HSC History Extension
5:00pm – 7:00pm Boardroom 601: HSC and IB Visual Arts
5:00pm – 6:00pm Room 606: IB Extended Essay
5:00pm – 6:00pm Room LER: HSC and IB Music
6:00pm – 7.30pm St Elizabeth’s: HSC Design and Technology

Official Opening 6:15pm in the St Elizabeth’s Courtyard

Refreshments will be served.

All members of the Santa Sabina community are welcome to view and hear about these stunning projects before they are submitted to the NSW Education Standards Authority for marking of the IBO.

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Head of Primary P-6

As we move through Term 3, I am thrilled to share some of the exciting activities and celebrations that have taken place and are coming up across Del Monte and Gioia House.

Gioia House Annual STEM Gala Day

On Wednesday 4 September Santa Sabina College will host its highly anticipated STEM Gala Day, designed to inspire, engage, and educate our students about the exciting possibilities within STEM. To build connections and to promote inclusivity, diversity, and equal opportunities in STEM education, we are thrilled to welcome Year 6 students from St Patrick’s College to join us in a collaborative learning environment, breaking down gender stereotypes and encouraging all students to explore STEM fields. We look forward to a fun-filled day. Students are to wear school sports uniform on this day.

Enrichment Program

At Santa Sabina, we are committed to providing a rich and diverse range of enrichment opportunities for all our students. This year alone, we have implemented small group differentiated programs in English and Maths to ensure that every student is both challenged and supported at their individual level. These groups, which work within the classroom environment, are guided by our dedicated class teachers and supported by Ms Panagopoulos, our Gifted Education Coordinator, as well as Ms Meehan, our Diverse Learning Coordinator.

In addition to our core programs, we have introduced a variety of enrichment opportunities in Maths, such as Maths Explorer and Math Quest. These programs are designed to stretch our students’ thinking, foster a love for mathematics, and encourage them to engage deeply with the subject. We are continuously exploring new activities to expand our offerings as they become available.

Research has shown that students benefit greatly when they are not consistently pulled out of their regular classroom environment. By providing a balanced offering of enrichment opportunities within the classroom and in small group settings, students can access advanced learning without missing out on the essential social and collaborative aspects of their regular classes. This approach helps maintain a sense of belonging and ensures that students do not feel isolated from their peers. Furthermore, in-class enrichment allows students to apply their advanced skills in a real-world context, often leading to a deeper understanding and mastery of the content.

Giving Day – Mufti Day

All Del Monte and Gioia House students are invited to wear mufti clothing to school and bring a gold coin donation in support of our annual Giving Day. This is an important event in our community where we open our hearts by supporting the construction of our new Sports and Aquatic Centre, to make a meaningful impact on the lives of both current and future students.

Students must adhere to school expectations for casual dress: no nail polish, hair should be neatly tied, and midriff shirts or clothing with offensive prints are not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are also required.

Del Monte P-4 Mufti Day – Wednesday 4 September
Gioia House Mufti Day – Tuesday 3 September

Public Speaking program

Our Public Speaking Program at Del Monte and Gioia House is already underway. Students in Years 1-6 are actively engaged in writing and presenting their speeches during their lessons, developing their oral language and communication skills and expressing their ideas with confidence.

This program is designed to meet the Outcomes of the English K-10 NSW Syllabus, providing a structured approach to teaching and learning public speaking skills. Finals will be held at the end of the Public Speaking Program. The class teachers will select the finalists according to an agreed grade criteria. One finalist is selected from each class to compete in the grand final.

Del Monte Years 2-4 – Thursday 12 September
Gioia House – Monday 9 September 2024 

Students in Year 5 and 6 will have the opportunity to present their speeches in a non-competitive finals event with students from St Patrick’s College.

Parents of students who qualify for the finals will be notified via email. 

Science Week celebration

Last Friday, students from Prep to Year 6 immersed themselves in the wonders of science as we celebrated Science Week. It was a day filled with exploration, discovery, and most importantly, fun! Our students engaged in a variety of hands-on experiments, sparking their curiosity and deepening their understanding of scientific concepts.

From creating fascinating chemical reactions and learning about the properties of solids and liquids to generating a mini tornado and building models of cloud formation and rain, the students experienced the magic of science firsthand. They also explored how natural processes shape and change Earth’s surface by constructing their own structures, fostering a greater appreciation for the world around them.

At Santa Sabina, we are deeply committed to embedding STEM education in our curriculum. Science Week is just one of the many ways we encourage our students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and develop a lifelong love of learning in STEM.

Book Week – Reading is magic

This past week, our Gioia House and Del Monte students embarked on a magical journey during Book Week, fully embracing this year’s theme, ‘Reading is Magic.’ The week was packed with enriching experiences designed to ignite a love of reading and a deeper connection to the literary world.

Our Head of Library and Information Services has written a detailed rundown of the activities which were embraced by all students across the College.

Father’s Day Mass

Our Father’s Day Mass was a beautiful celebration of the special people who play such a vital role in our students’ lives. It was a time to honour and give thanks for the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures who provide love, guidance, and support every day.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the mothers who volunteered their time and effort to organise the Father’s Day gifts for our students on both campuses. We truly appreciate all that you do to support our school. 

Calendar events

LINK to parent VO page

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

Important dates for Del Monte:

• Thursday 29 August – Father’s Day Breakfast/Mass 
• Wednesday 4 September – Giving Day
• Wednesday 11 September – MBH and Prep Athletics Carnival
• Friday 27 September – Term 3 Concludes
• Tuesday 15 October – Term 4 Commences
• Tuesday 15 October – K-2 Swimming Program commences

Important dates for Gioia House:

• Thursday 29 August – Father’s Day Mass
• Wednesday 4 September – GH & St Pat’s STEM Collaboration Day
• Monday 9 September – Public Speaking with St Pat’s
• Friday 13 September – Speak Up Competition
• Tuesday 17 – Friday 20 September – Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience and Canberra visit
• Friday 27 September – Term 3 concludes

Stella Azizian
Head of Primary P-6

Director of Community Relations P-12

Generations Breakfast

We invite current students and their families who have an ex-student connection to join us for breakfast as part of our 130th Anniversary celebrations.

Venue: Siena Centre Amphitheatre
Date: Wednesday 4 September 2024
Time: 7:30am-8:45am

Please feel free to bring photographs or other Santa memorabilia to share at the breakfast.

Jane of Aza Playgroup

Santa Sabina community playgroup

For new and future members of the Santa Sabina community – please join us!

Back to the Boulevarde

On Saturday 21 September, 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.

Yvette Graniero
Director of Community Relations

Director of Mary Bailey House

Book Week Celebrations

Mary Bailey House

The Book Week theme Reading is Magic was acknowledged through books that had a little bit of magic in playrooms. In Daintree Rainforest, the teachers read two Mem Fox books, The Magic Hat and Possum Magic, to our preschoolers. In Lilly Pilly Gully the educators read Room on a Broom by Julia Donaldson to our younger preschoolers and in Cradle Mountain, Owl Babies by Martin Waddell was read to our infants and toddlers.

After the reading of the books, the children were invited to create a hat that was inspired by the story or one of the book characters. Then during Book Week the children were invited to dress as their favourite storybook character and wear their hat during our Book Week celebrations.

OOSH

The primary school Book Week celebrations continued into After School Care (ASC). The ASC program for Book Week had the children design and paint their own book covers. This activity saw the children mix and layer paint while talking about their favourite books and the books they were reading. 

To close out Book Week, we all dressed up in our favourite book attire. We loved seeing all the amazing outfits from the Gruffalo to Minions, Harry Potter and a ballerina. The educators even got into the book week spirit dressing up as Thing 1 and Thing 2. We finished Book Week with a disco party in OOSH. Playing some of the children’s favourite songs we danced along and played a few games. Some of our favourite games were musical statues and musical chairs. As the children showed off their dance moves their peers cheered them on in great spirit. 

Overall, Book Week was an exciting time at OOSH that we celebrated over a few days. We continue to strive to give our children an enjoyable and enriching experience while they are at OOSH. 

Jackie Baxter
Director of Mary Bailey House

Director of Development

As you know, we are now less than a week away from embarking on our first Giving Day. I do understand that you all receive much communication from the College about all sorts of events, activities, programs and the like. I am appealing to everyone in our community from students, parents, ex-students to friends of the College to get behind our Giving Day and support the College in providing our students will the best possible facilities and programs we can offer.

On Wednesday 4 September we will have members of our community making phone calls to parents, ex-students and friends to raise as much money as we can to kick start our Master Plan. Please support us with whatever amount you can give, no matter how large or small your contribution is. If everyone in the community supports the College, our students will be the beneficiaries.

Thank you for taking the time to consider our request. I am looking forward to sharing with you all the outcome of this special day.

You can make our donation here.

SSC Annual Golf Day

Once again, the College along with the P&F would like to invite everyone in our community to join us for the annual Santa Sabina College Golf day. Open to all, the golf day aims to build strong community connections, provide an opportunity for our community to enjoy a day together and create wonderful memories.

I am seeking sponsors for the day from members of our community or companies that would be willing to sponsor a hole, or prizes for the day. Please contact me to discuss further.

When: Thursday 7 November 2024
Where: Strathfield Golf Club

Time: Tee off at 7:30-7:45am.

The cost is $190.00 per person which includes breakfast, 18 holes, lunch and drinks. There are limited spots available so please book early to avoid disappointment.

If you have any questions, please contact me on 0414 915 910 or giving@ssc.nsw.edu.au 

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

Tallong Campus

August in Tallong is a time when nature puts on a spectacular show, painting the landscape in brilliant hues of green and gold, under the clear blue skies. The vibrant wattle blossoms create a stunning contrast against the eucalyptus gums, reminding us of the simple joys that nature brings into our lives.

After hosting Emanuel College last week Tallong is back on the go. We have a full book of work through to October when will be hosting our first Sri Lankan Buddhist Retreat during the next school holidays. This unique program highlights Tallong’s commitment to fostering diverse experiences and learning opportunities.

We are excited to announce that bookings for the 2024 Parent Child Weekend are now open. To be held on the weekend of 26 – 27 October, this is a great opportunity for a weekend of fun and adventure, exploring all that Tallong Campus has to offer. We look forward to seeing you!

Steve Fox
Manager Tallong Campus and the Tallong Team

Music in the Senior School

Curriculum Music in the Senior School 

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:

Curriculum Music in Years 7 and 8

Year 7 and 8 students recently completed their listening assessments, focusing on the rich traditions of Japanese music and the evocative world of film scores. In the coming weeks, they’ll be participating in some exciting and creative lessons led by our enthusiastic pre-service teachers, Ms Heuston and Ms Lam.

Elective Music in Years 9 and 10 

A special congratulations to our Year 9 students for their outstanding performances at last Friday’s recital. Their hard work and dedication truly shone as they showcased their musical talents. Meanwhile, Year 10 students are delving into the captivating compositions from Shrek and The Simpsons, exploring how these iconic scores were crafted.

HSC and IB Music in Years 11 and 12

Year 12 students have just wrapped up their trial exams and are now gearing up for their final performances and portfolio submissions. As part of this preparation, some of the HSC compositions have been recorded live by our resident studio engineer, Jason de Wilde.

We encourage you to join us for two special occasions: the combined HSC Year 11 and 12 recital on Friday 6 September in Holyrood, and the Year 12 HSC and IB showcase on Thursday 12 September in the LER. These events are wonderful opportunities to support our talented students and celebrate their achievements.

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

To keep up to speed with all the Co-curricular Music offerings and happenings from P-12 at Santa Sabina College, be sure to jump over to read our Director of Music’s Page . Reach out to the Music Office if we can assist you with any queries you may have about the opportunities available to your child at Santa Sabina College.

Science Week @ Santa

Species Survival: More than just sustainability. This year’s theme aimed to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring not just the survival of different species but their ability to thrive in an ever-changing world. 

There are a range of critical challenges impacting Earth’s human, animal and plant habitation and through STEM we have extraordinary capabilities to research and tackle these challenges as well as unlock new approaches to the existential threats faced by living creatures.

Science week at Santa was a very exciting week filled with a range of different learning experiences for all students. At the secondary campus, students in homerooms competed in the Science Trivia Quiz. Can you name the three chemical elements that make up most of the human body? Citizen Science involved students participating in real research projects run by scientists all over the world.

Run for the second year in a row, our Santa Science Showcase was an evening of inspiration and awe as we heard from members of the Santa Sabina community, including ex-students. Charbel Antoun, Dr Annalise Crane, Dr Laura Kerrison, Linda Losurdo, Bernard Zanic and Jade Greenhalgh engaged us by sharing how STEM has been central to their work. Their passion was evident and encouraged us to always remain curious and have courage to take on new challenges to solve problems. 

Your participation in celebrating Science Week made it successful and it was a highlight of Week 4. 

Grace Li 
Science Teacher

Learning in the Library

Celebrating the magic of reading throughout Book Week

‘Oh! The places you’ll go!’ Dr. Seuss once said.

To celebrate Book Week last week students from Years 5-11 took part in our inaugural Writers Festival, attending workshops and lectures by a range of acclaimed Australian authors and illustrators, and exploring new cultures, ideas and art forms. 

Sarah Ayoub, author of The cult of romance and Hate is such a strong word, talked with Year 8, 9 and 11 students about her experience growing up in the Lebanese community in Australia, her path to a successful career in journalism and shared her passion for young women to be empowered by their own personal stories. Sarah’s own personal story, particularly her romantic love story, greatly inspired our students.

Year 7 and 9 English students were treated to a session with Pip Harry. Pip shared the inspiring real-life story behind her highly acclaimed book August & Jones, which celebrates the power of friendship to overcome adversity. This must read book is now a favourite part of the Year 6 Accendo program.

A passion for human experience underpins Wai Chim’s writing. She shared with our Year 7 and 9 students her definition of creativity, bringing new ideas to existing cultures and to always keep trying and experimenting. Wai Chim explores Chinese culture and her childhood growing up as part of the diaspora in her writing. Her diaspora identity is evident in her book Freedom Swimmer, inspired by her father. Her stories of her time as a contestant on Australian Survivor: Brains vs Braun were also a highlight.

Debut author Graham Akhurst read to our Year 11 students from his novel Borderland and shared his proud Indigenous heritage. Isabel Marturia reflected that ‘It was really interesting to learn how his fiction writing was inspired by his own life experiences, and the in depth process of proofreading and consultation that is within the writing process.’ Isabelle Law continued ‘I am so grateful to have heard Mr Akhurst’s brief synopsis of the novel, as well as his readings of selected excerpts, as it encouraged me, along with my friends, to learn more about the deeper meanings of the book. His presentation allowed us to gain further insight into the importance of accurate cultural representation within literature, and how reading a diverse range of genres can provoke different demographics to explore new types of stories.’

Year 9 Visual Art students were fortunate to attend a masterclass with Indigenous artist Charmaine Leddin-Lewis, who emphasised it is important to find a medium you like, use quality materials and remember to play with art. Charmaine has illustrated picture books for Bruce Pascoe and Cathy Freeman. Chloe Charbel (Year 6) resonated with Charmaine’s message that pictures unite us regardless of language barriers. Charmaine shared with Gioia House the visual power of emojis, inspiring Year 6 students to begin writing their own emoji stories in Library Wide Reading lessons.

Capping off Book Week this year, the library held a Book Week Parade for students in Years 5-12 to share their favourite books and characters. The parade raised over $500 for Room to Read, a not-for-profit charity aiming to improve literacy through gender equality in girls’ education through books written in local languages to encourage a habit of reading. Students and staff wholeheartedly embraced this initiative with enthusiasm and great joy. Our winners for Best Costumes went to Evangeline Notaras, whose Alice in Wonderland outgrew her house, Rose Dwyer (Madeline), Kate Pitman-Fernandez (Scientist Elizabeth Zott from Lessons in Chemistry) and Ms Akkari (Beetlejuice).

So as predicted by Dr. Seuss, this Book Week saw students and staff travel through time and place, meet new people, experience new cultures and envision possible literary and artistic futures, and we can’t wait to see all the places our students’’ll go.

Susan Lombardo
Head of Library (5-12) and the SSC Library team

Future of Food Youth Design Challenge winner

A real-world Geography solution

The Geography Club is a HSIE co-curricular activity giving interested geographers the opportunity to meet at lunchtime to refine their Geography skills, discuss geographical contemporary issues and enter real world competitions. A huge congratulations to Kate Pitman-Fernandez from Year 11 for winning the Senior Category of The Future of Food Youth Design Challenge! This competition is hosted by The Young Change Agents which is a nonprofit social enterprise leading the way in youth entrepreneurship in Australia. To share her idea, Kate made a live presentation to an audience of judges, people in the industry, and educators last night via Zoom.

Kate’s idea of a PlantBox was to provide families living in ‘food deserts’ with a flexible, accessible way to cultivate healthy food that they can eat. Kate also hopes that the PlantBox will provide practical knowledge regarding nutrition and growing food to the greater community. Kate has won a Change Agents prize pack, two virtual mentoring sessions to help her idea progress, $100 in seed money to further develop her idea, or a $100 voucher to Kakadu Plum. A huge thank you to Natalie Fairfax for supporting Kate in entering her PlantBox idea into this competition.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflection

Student Reflection

I was announced as one of the winners of the Future of Food Youth Design Challenge. This Australia-wide challenge asked participants to engage in an ideation process and ‘reimagine the future of food’. This prompt called on me to consider the social, ethical and environmental issues associated with the way we currently grow, interact, distribute and consume food.

Throughout this ideation process, I identified the issues of ‘food deserts’, which are areas wherein residents lack access to affordable healthy food or contain a high ratio of unhealthy food outlets to healthy food outlets, and a lack of hands-on engagement with education regarding healthy food choices. Food deserts also disproportionately affect people living in rural or low socioeconomic areas.

My solution, ‘The PlantBox’, involved a cross sectional approach that provided students with the materials to establish a self-sustaining plant garden. This intersected with a school curriculum that places an increased emphasis on providing students with a practical knowledge of cultivating food, particularly vegetables and fruits. This came in the form of a foldable box able to be posted across Australia to rural communities, which can assume two forms: an entirely self contained ‘plant box’ that can be used in indoor spaces, or a box that can be folded out to convert into a plant bed that can be placed outside to cultivate an even wider variety of crops. Contained within this box were all materials and tools needed to establish a self-sustaining garden, such as compressed soil, gloves, various seeds suitable for the region and so on.

I believe this solution provides students across Australia with access to healthy food options to incorporate into their diet, and gives them the opportunity to put theoretical knowledge into practice. This will lay the foundations for healthy decision making when it comes to food choices throughout one’s life.

Kate Pitman Fernandez
Year 11

Shredding the slopes

The annual Snow Weekend took place over 16 – 18 August. This is the third year that this event has taken place, and it continues to be a highlight of the optional Outdoor Education Experiences that is on offer to students. The program is open to those in Year 9 – 11 and is aimed at first timers and beginners to experience the beauty, fun and adrenaline of the snow! The program takes places in Smiggin Holes at Perisher Resort, which is a family-friendly and beginner friendly area –  perfect for our program.

Students can choose either Snowboarding or Skiing for the weekend and participate in  group lessons, free snow time and the opportunity to experience the fun of the snow. Learning to ski or snowboard is a challenge and it’s great to see the students take up the opportunity. It often means lots of time falling over, learning how to slide, use the edge of the skis, and how to make it up a J-bar without falling over. It was great to see the resilience in our students continuing to learn the new skill. The beauty of the program is that students often learn the basics of the sport and get hooked, hopefully creating an opportunity for a lifetime love of the snow.

This year, 36 students attended this year and all had a wonderful time hitting the slopes. I wish to thank Ms Kempers, Ms Poynting and Mr Conolly for their support during the program. We look forward to another great program next year when more Santa Sabina Shredders hit the Slopes!

Chris Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning – Year 8 Geography Fieldwork

Year 8 Geography students were given the opportunity to engage with the real world to collect and analyse primary data to better understand the importance of water in our world and historically how social status can impact water accessibility. Students were encouraged to apply geographical skills and knowledge and then ask questions of their data to draw conclusions and make future recommendations. A huge thank you to Richard Crittenden for organising this fieldwork experience and the Geography teachers for facilitating the learning activities.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflection

On 14 August Year 8 Geography travelled to The Rocks where we gained a deeper understanding of our unit of ‘Water in the World’. The fieldwork included exploring different locations such as the Tank Stream, where we learnt about the different ways water was used in the past and how it is being used today. It was fascinating to see the differences. We also had the opportunity to go to different places like Cadmans Cottage, Macquarie Place Park and Customs House, where we participated in an interactive experience. I enjoyed going to Customs House the most as it had a model of Sydney and we could use it to locate specific places and understand the paths that water took.
Nicola Diamantopoulos

I had a really enjoyable and entertaining time where I learnt about the history of Australia’s water dating back to the arrival of the First Fleet, to the processes of modern times. The tour guides took us all around the city, stopping at old historical houses, buildings, landmarks, and even the first European park in Australia, containing a fresh water well that connects to the main stream. I absolutely loved this excursion and was very grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the history of Australia’s water whilst having an amazing time with my friends. Overall, this fieldwork was a huge success and it could not be possible without the hard work that teachers implemented during the planning and organising process.
Tiana Charbel

During my Geography field trip, I learned that poorer individuals historically lived farther from the water supply, while wealthier families had closer access. Additionally, tens of thousands of years ago, The Rocks was a pristine coastline and the home of the Gadigal people. Today, it serves as a cultural and gathering hub in the heart of Australia’s largest city. I particularly enjoyed how the tour guides vividly explained the rich history of The Rocks, enhancing our understanding by taking us to various sites for a more immersive experience.
Rachel Feng

Legal Studies Immersion – Federal Parliament Youth Advocacy Program

A huge congratulations to Anna-Maria Sulukojian who was selected to attend the Youth Advocacy Program at Parliament House in Canberra. Anna-Maria represented Santa Sabina College in a two-day weekend political program and engaged in a variety of parliamentary roles within this real-world simulation Parliamentary Program. This authentic learning experience has given Anna-Maria a deeper understanding of the content of Year 11 Legal Studies as she applied her knowledge of democratic law making and the Australian constitution to better debate law reform.
Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflection

I was recognised for my work as a Ryde Youth councillor and was selected by the ANC to represent Santa Sabina College and complete their two-day Young Advocacy Program at the Parliament of Australia. This program aims to advocate for youth political involvement and awareness in our society. 

The program included: A Day in the Life of a Politician, A Day in the Life of a Journalist, Attending Question Time, Job Shadowing a Parliamentary Staffer and My Voice, My Choice. In this last session, I presented a speech on the complex affairs of immigration in our country delivered in the building of the Old Parliament House. During this experience, I was assigned to work in the office of the Honourable Paul Fletcher MP, who is the Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy. This experience gave me the privilege to experience and better understand the responsibilities of Federal Parliamentary Ministers.

It was great to be given the opportunity to talk to various MPs and Senators, most notably Mr Julian Leeser the Member for Berowra who discussed with me the immense importance of youth involvement in Australia’s political landscape. He also shared with me his journey to being elected into the House of Representatives. Overall it was an insightful experience of which I am proud.

Anna-Maria Sulukojian
Year 11

Assistant Head of Gioia House

Gioia House Action Girls

Congratulations to our Gioia House students who were awarded an Action Girl Award. The following students have demonstrated a commitment to their learning and showing respect through their words and actions. 

Congratulations to our Action Girls:

Year 5:
Theresa Bassil
Catherine Daoud
Elena Magri
Grace Welsh

Year 6:
Deanna Deligiannis 
Madeline Dus
Mariam Fajloun 
Michelle Ho

Gioia House Outreach

The senior students and Ms Sulis called for us to give generously as part of the Santa Sabina Sleepout. Ms Sulis shared with the Gioia House students the St Vincent De Paul Night Patrol van gives around 3000 snack packs each week. We thank the Gioia House students and staff who generously donated grocery items to go towards making snack packs for people less fortunate than ourselves. The senior students were able to make 600 snack packs which was greatly appreciated by the people in need. We continue to encourage the Gioia House students to find ways they can contribute to people in need

Bullying No Way

During our Gioia House Pastoral lessons, the students took part in the Bullying No Way: ‘Everyone Belongs’ National Week of Action (12 – 16 August). The students looked at the definition of bullying, which is ‘The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group’. We discussed the importance of feeling like we belong at school, home and other communities and groups. The students identified what groups they belong to, and we also discussed there are some people who struggle to feel like they belong. We spoke about the importance of embracing who we are, respecting everyone’s differences and standing up together against unkindness. Students were also given a few different scenarios where they were asked to identify what the right thing to do would be and the strategies we can use if someone is targeting ourselves or how to be an upstander.

Marisa Maks
Assistant Head of Gioia House

What’s happening in Year 6

Friendship

It is a well-known fact that friendships improve wellbeing, attitudes to learning and academic performance. Developing and maintaining friendships is important for a child’s social, emotional, psychological and moral development.

Positive friendships enable children to learn and practise important social and emotional skills. These include communicating effectively, getting along with others, coping with and solving problems, self-regulation of emotions, and understanding and responding to the reactions and points of view of others. Within friendship groups, children develop their ability to think about issues that arise between friends, to negotiate and solve problems.

Having just one supportive, loyal, trustworthy friend promotes the development of psychological resilience. It helps play a protective role when managing relationships with a difficult peer relationship, peer group or social conflict in general. The quality of a friendship can have an impact on resilience, providing a buffer against stress and challenging life events. 

Recess and lunch times are a wonderful time for the girls in Year 6 to strengthen friendships, make new connections and get to know one another. Some girls like to sit and relax, talking in groups, while others enjoy walking around, playing sports or even visiting the library. It is lovely to see the girls enjoying themselves, laughing and having fun, especially as the weather starts to warm up. I’m sure it is a highlight of many girls when asked about their day at school!

Tiffany Anderson 
Year 6 Teacher

Mathematics

Year 6 has started their new mathematics unit on Representing Quantity, focusing on fractions. Students are learning to understand fractions as parts of a whole, identifying the numerator, denominator, and vinculum. To reinforce their understanding of comparing common fractions with related denominators, they created a fraction number line. Each student wrote fractions with denominators of halves, quarters, eighths, thirds, sixths, fifths, and tenths on a post-it note. Using their knowledge of common multiples, they then placed their fractions on the number line. This engaging, hands-on activity left the students feeling confident about fractions!

Sian Tierney
Year 6 teacher

Public Speaking

This term the Year 6 students have focused on developing their Public Speaking skills. The students chose from six topics, brainstormed, researched and wrote a two-to-three-minute speech. The students conferenced with their teachers and with each other, to receive constructive feedback to encourage and develop their public speaking writing skills. This week all students presented their speech to the class. All students did an amazing job and impressed us with their subject matter, manner and method. 

Marisa Maks and Eamonn Dunphy
Year 6 Teachers

What’s happening in Year 5

Interdisciplinary Unit

Year 5 students have been exploring the universe in the Interdisciplinary Unit ‘There’s No Planet B’ and Science lessons. 5Core1 students were divided into two groups to simulate how planets orbit the sun in the solar system. By standing at appropriate distances and running or tip-toeing at the correct pace, students learned how each planet has its unique position and movement. The lesson was wrapped up with a Q&A session with Ms. Sheehan, where the girls learned more about the Big Bang Theory and fascinating facts about our universe. This lesson sequence deepened students’ understanding of where we are in place and time, helping them appreciate our beautiful planet.

Yu-Han Chen
Year 5 Teacher

Science Week

The theme for Science Week this year was Species Survival: More than just Sustainability. 5A conducted an experiment examining oil and water pollution. The students poured water and then oil into a container and observed what happened to the oil. They then added liquid soap and observed what happened to the oil when this happened.  Alyssa said she felt ‘very bad about what happened to the sea creatures when they were caught in an oil spill.’ This experiment enabled the students to see more clearly the impact on sea life and think of ways to prevent and clean up if these spills occur.

Wendy Anetter
Year 5 Teacher

Book Week

During Book Week, our Year 5 students immersed themselves in the enchanting theme of ‘Reading is Magic.’ The week was filled with a variety of engaging activities that brought stories to life and sparked their imaginations. The students were captivated by the power of books. They particularly enjoyed dressing up as their favourite literary characters and sharing their love for reading with their class. They showed so much joy and excitement throughout the week, making it a truly magical week that highlighted the importance and fun of reading.

Bryony Williams and Tayla Kostakis
Year 5 Teachers

From the Assistant Head of Primary

Pastoral update

As the term progresses, our weekly Pastoral Focuses have continued to explore ways to build community and strong friendships with students participating in the Bullying No Way National Week of Action and exploring the concepts of Respect in Action and Courage.

Bullying No Way National Week of Action

Del Monte students participated in the Bullying No Way: National Week of Action from 12 to 18 August. The focus for the week was all about community building, under the 2024 theme of Everyone Belongs and purple was the hero colour.

Belonging is a critical part of the human experience where all members in a community feel valued for who they are, where differences are embraced and respected, and where people stand up for others and speak out against unkindness. Throughout the National Week of Action against Bullying, daily themes were explored including challenging stereotypes, promoting empathy, embracing diversity, fostering positive relationships and providing support.

Respect in Action

American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, ‘The only way to have a friend is to be one.’ As teachers and parents, children often come to us for help with their friendship problems. Whilst it may be tempting to jump in and ‘fix’ these problems, it is often best to start with a conversation to ascertain what is happening and asking questions to understand the bigger picture.

The theme of Respect in Action was used to help students understand the reciprocal relationship between having good friends and being a good friend. They learned that this can be done by noticing those around them, listening, asking questions and following through on promises. Healthy, respectful relationships can be built by honouring and accepting our friends for who they are – their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. Moreover, by showing respect to those around us, enables us to be a good friend to those around us. This in turn, enables us to have good friendships.

Courage

According to Karen Young, ‘Courage isn’t about something magical that happens inside us to make us “not scared”. It’s about something magical that happens inside us to make us push through fear, self-doubt, anxiety, and do the things that feel hard or risky or frightening. Sometimes, courage only has to happen for seconds at a time – just long enough to be brave enough.’

Courage comes naturally to some children, whilst others feel that courage is incredibly difficult. The good news is that courage is a skill that can be taught. Like many skills, practice makes perfect; practising through small acts of bravery in friendships helps children build courage. A quote from E. E. Cummings, ‘It takes courage to grow up to become who you really are’ was used in conjunction with Thinking Routines to help students think deeply about courage.

Curriculum Update

ICAS Assessments

Many students from Years 2 to 4 have participated in the ICAS Writing, English, Spelling Bee and Mathematics Assessments over the past month. Whilst the assessments are not compulsory, those students who participated in them are congratulated for challenging themselves and for stepping outside of their comfort zones.

Science Week

Students enjoyed celebrating all things Science during National Science Week, with all grades completing a science experiment in class groups. Even the teachers shared in the excitement, with many dressing up in safety goggles and lab coats.

National Science Week is an annual celebration of science and technology. The theme for 2024 is ‘‘Species Survival – More than just Sustainability’. This theme emphasises the significant role of science and innovation in ensuring survival of living things in an ever-changing world. 

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

Religious Education news

God our Father, you made the family a community of love.
Bless our fathers as they follow your Son, Jesus.
Let their faith, hope, and love shine in our families,
and show us the way to you.
Strengthen our fathers as they
serve our families and communities.

On Thursday 29 August, we celebrated a beautiful Father’s Day Mass with our dads in the Santa Sabina Chapel. Father’s Day allows us to recall and affirm the particular gifts that fathers bring to families. This includes our fathers, grandfathers, uncles and important father figures.  We hope all the dads, grandfathers, uncles and caregivers enjoyed a wonderful day.

In the words of Mariam Fajloun, 
‘a father should be nurturing, caring and compassionate. Helping and guiding us in the right way of life. My father displays many of these qualities, every day from helping me with my daily tasks to coming and watching my speech and drama performances. No matter what he’s always been there to help me, and to show me that he cares and to show me nothing but kindness and nurturing’. Dad I love you. 

Sacramental Program of First Communion

In the sacrament of Holy Communion, we remember what Jesus did for us in his life, death and resurrection. We remember particularly the Last Supper, that final meal Jesus shared with his disciples. At that meal, Jesus gave us the Eucharist so that we could especially remember him. When we receive Communion, we believe that we receive the person of Jesus into our very beings. We become one with him, and we become one with each other. As a community, we become ‘the body of Christ’

 We pray for our students who will receive the Sacrament of First Communion during the next few weeks or who received the sacrament recently.

Service Learning Initiative

This term, as part of our Del Monte Service Learning Initiative, we are inviting students and families to donate snacks for the St Vincent De Paul Night Patrol.

Night Patrol is an outreach service that operates across Sydney, providing meals, snacks, blankets, toiletries, hot beverages, and companionship to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This service is invaluable in supporting those in need within our community.

Throughout the term, we encourage families to contribute the following items, which students in the Year 4 Service Team will use to create ‘snack packs’ for the Night Patrol van. This van provides food and care to many homeless individuals each week.

We kindly ask for donations of the following items:

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our Religious Education program. Together, we are making a significant impact on the spiritual growth of our children.

Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P-6

Music at Del Monte & Mary Bailey House

Music at Mary Bailey House (Curricular)

Music making at Mary Bailey House is fun, energetic and fast-paced! While it may seem that we do a lot of repetition in our classes, repetition is a key component of learning. When we repeat something, the brain starts to get used to it, understand it and build neural pathways to remain permanent. Not only does it create neural pathways but it creates structure for the students and helps them to know what is going to happen next. Our favourite songs to repeat at the moment include: Wind the Bobbin Up, Funga Alafia (to prepare for our Fra Angelico Festival) and Come on Everyone!

Cecilia Pensini
Head of Strings P-4
Music Teacher

Music at Del Monte (Curricular)

We have enjoyed looking at different ways of showing pitch. The parachute has been very popular! With the parachute we can show if the song goes up or down. Our Year 3 and 4 students have focused on revising their treble clef notes. Sometimes we jump to the notes on the chalk lines outside the classroom, sometimes we have races with paper plates to put them on the stave on the wall. Lots of active learning!
Phillipa Knight
Coordinator of Music P-4

To keep up to speed with all the Co-curricular Music offerings and happenings from P-12 at Santa Sabina College, be sure to jump over to read our Director of Music’s Page . Reach out to the Music Office if we can assist you with any queries you may have about the opportunities available to your child at Santa Sabina College.

Del Monte Library News

Celebrating our students’ magical Book Week

This year’s Book Week was truly enchanting, thanks to the incredible efforts of our students and teachers. The theme, ‘Reading is Magic,’ was brought to life in the most imaginative and delightful ways. From wizards and fairies to mythical creatures and beloved storybook characters, the parade was a vibrant display of creativity and enthusiasm.

As we applaud our students for their outstanding participation, we also look forward to the adventures that await us next year. The theme for Book Week 2025 is ‘Book and Adventure.’ This exciting theme promises to take us on thrilling journeys through the pages of our favourite books. Whether it’s exploring uncharted territories, embarking on epic quests, or discovering hidden treasures, we can’t wait to see how our students will bring these adventures to life.

Let’s continue to celebrate the joy of reading and the endless adventures it offers. Here’s to another year of magical stories and unforgettable journeys!

Patricia Doonan
Teacher Librarian

Year 4

The many diverse and exciting events of recent weeks have kept our Year 4 students immersed, engaged and interested in the array of hands-on learning tasks. The following few are reflected in the photos below.

We continue to relate and build community with our Kindergarten friends who have developed respectful relationships with their Year 4 buddies. The oldest students on our campus are provided opportunities to foster responsibility, care and guidance for our younger students.

Our experiments during Science Week aimed at demonstrating the effects of weathering, erosion and deposition on our Earth’s surface. The students demonstrated their understanding and completed lab reports.

Our Book Parade last week was a wonderful celebration of great literature and our favourite pastime, reading. The showcase of costumes was truly amazing and demonstrated such fun and creativity!

Anna Donato, Nicole Meehan, Calista Camarda and Edward Wang
Year 4 Teachers

Year 3

Year 3 has engaged in a variety of learning experiences across all subject areas.

They have enjoyed exploring measurement by using metre squares to measure larger spaces on the playground. Back in the classroom, the students thought about the practical application of tessellation and explored creating tessellating patterns with shapes.

In Science, Year 3 students participated with excitement in Science Week experiments investigating the power of the sun. They compared the effects of the sun on tonic water and tap water. They found this experiment very engaging and made thoughtful predictions and observations.

But the highlight of our recent learning was Book Week. Students enjoyed the opportunity to connect with quality literature by dressing up as their favourite characters. Their costumes provoked much discussion about the stories they enjoy reading and the characters that bring these stories to life. 

Margie Attard, Claire Pecker, Louise Harris and Brooke Panagopoulos
Year 3 Teachers

Year 2

Reading is Magic

Books aren’t just marvellous; they are a marvel. They can transport us and transform us and return us to our original state. They are the greatest illusion. Mere words on a page when read can inspire the mind and a child to dream the impossible and head into the world in search of the possible!

Terry Pratchett

This year, our school celebrated Book Week during the week commencing 19 August, with the theme ‘Reading is Magic.’

As part of the festivities, Year 2 participated in the Book Parade on Friday 23 August. Our students showcased their creativity and enthusiasm by dressing up as their favourite literary characters. The costumes were truly spectacular and added a magical touch to the celebration.

Thank you for your support in making this event a memorable experience for the children.

Year 2 Team

Year 1

Children today are spending less time outdoors, which can negatively impact their health, wellbeing, and development. Outdoor activities, like those on Outdoor Classroom Day, are essential for making children happier and healthier. Regular time spent outside helps them develop crucial life skills, fostering both physical and mental growth. 

On Wednesday 31 July, Year 1 students enjoyed a vibrant Outdoor Learning Day to encourage creativity, motivation and curiosity. The day featured outdoor literacy lessons, a reflection on St Dominic, the creation of a gratitude garden, and various outdoor games. Students had the delightful opportunity to share morning tea and lunch with their furry friends, adding a special touch to the day. Excitement was in the air as some lessons took place under a tarp or in a tent, creating a unique learning environment. Students also enjoyed reading outside with their friends and concluded the day by assembling an outdoor passport to reflect on their experiences.

Kelly Garcia
Year 1 Teacher

Kindergarten 

The Kindergarten students have had an eventful few weeks filled with many varied learning opportunities. On Thursday 8 August, students and teachers celebrated 100 days of Kindergarten with a liturgy in the hall, followed by a picnic on the field. We were blessed with beautiful weather on the day. Back in their classrooms, the students completed literacy and numeracy activities centred on the number 100, including making a necklace using 100 fruit loops. This was certainly a highlight for many of the students!

On Friday 16 August, all classes on the Primary Campus participated in a variety of scientific investigations as part of National Science Week. The Kindergarten students engaged in an exciting experiment during which they made oobleck using simple household ingredients. They had a wonderful time exploring how the oobleck changed from a solid to a liquid, and then back again. This was linked to the students’ learning in Mathematics where they had been exploring the internal volume of containers by filling them with liquid and describing the contents as ‘full’, ‘about half full’ and ‘empty’. Further connections were made with the students’ investigations in the focus area of three-dimensional spatial structure, as they explored the solid form of oobleck and experimented with making different three-dimensional models.

Last Friday, 23 August, the Kindergarten students enjoyed dressing up as their favourite book characters to participate in the Del Monte Book Parade. The students came dressed in a variety of costumes representing the theme ‘Reading is Magic’. After the parade, the students completed descriptive writing in class by writing about the character they dressed as. What a fun-filled and busy three weeks of learning it has been!

Brooke Napper, Rebecca Saba, Vicki Spillane 
Kindergarten Teachers

Prep

Our Prep students have been thoroughly enjoying their current Interdisciplinary Unit which is all about conducting various science experiments. The children have been learning about how to make predictions, observe an experiment using more than one of their senses and then record the results.

In Religious Education the children have been learning about God’s creation. One learning experience the students loved was illustrating various parts of God’s creation using chalk. 

Monique Evans and Clare Wood
Prep Teachers

eSafety in the Primary Years

eSafety is an important, underlying part of our teaching within the classroom setting and during our Digital Technology lessons. Students P-6 explore a range of topics ranging from the importance of creating safe passwords, to our digital footprints and the importance of creating and maintaining safe online communities. 

The eSafety Commissioner is a great resource that offers programs and resources to support students, teachers and families. Please see the information below regarding their forthcoming parent webinars aimed at supporting parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences:

• Tuesday 3 September: Understanding how to support your child with online gaming
• Thursday 5 September: An introduction to online safety and emerging technologies
• Wednesday 11 September: Consent and online boundaries: how to support your primary-aged child

Alana Ivancsik
Leader of Learning Technology P-6

Italian in Del Monte

This term, students have participated in storytelling focussing on the classic Italian tale ‘Pinocchio’.

Everyone has enjoyed reading some passages from the book in Italian and English and exploring some new vocabulary and expressions. a variety of activities complemented the reading sessions in each grade, such as researching author Carlo Collodi and writing book reports in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4, learning rhymes in and action songs in Kindergarten and Prep.

Also, a fun puppet show was performed in class, with a photo booth session at the end! In Book Week, the Blue Fairy visited Del Monte students and reminded them about the importance of being brave, truthful and unselfish.

Daniela Panico
Italian Teacher

Director of Music

Discovery Tour performances; HSC Practical Trials and Composition & Recordings; the annual Chamber Recital; Year 9 Recital; Assemblies and two Father’s Day Masses… The past few weeks have been their usual hive of activity for our Santa musicians across the College!

While our Year 12 students begin counting in weeks until the end of their schooling journey, these students remain impressively enthusiastic and engaged in all their co-curricular music ensembles – rehearsing and collaborating with their younger peers, and determined to leave a legacy behind for the next cohort to build upon.

Interestingly, the statistics do seem to indicate that those Year 12 students who keep up these pursuits to the very end of their schooling journey seem to consistently perform better in their studies than their less ‘busy’ counterparts! Perhaps it’s the aspect of social connectivity, or the healthy life balance that these commitments ensure, but this phenomenon has always been an interesting one to observe.

Regarding the passing of proverbial batons, it was pleasing at the Chamber Recital on Tuesday evening to see the transition to new leadership begin as Lucia Juarez was succeeded by incoming Arts Prefect for 2025, Lily Vincent, who offered her first official duty in welcoming our concert attendees.  

I would like to take this moment to thank Lucia for her service and example in 2024 (and across her whole school journey!) and to congratulate Lily for her appointment. I would also like to commend all of the worthy Year 11 applicants who applied for the role of Arts Prefect for 2025. These students are invariably already demonstrating exceptional leadership in our programs, and we are looking forward to seeing the extraordinary mark the Class of 2025 will make through their music and leadership in the year to come.

Chamber Recital

Thank you to the wonderful attendance who joined us for our Chamber Recital on Tuesday evening. From the opening performance of Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for two orchestras – one in the balcony of the Chapel in conversation with the one in the heart of the Chapel, our students dazzled with both their musical maturity and their superlative musicianship. From student-led chamber ensembles to Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir, an ambitious program of new Australian and international works was presented. A programming masterstroke from our Head of Strings 5-12 Victoria Jacono, was this year’s innovative inclusion of Violin Quartets, a Viola Quintet and even a Cello Octet (with a featured Double Bass) – in place of the traditional string quartet. We commend all our students for their excellence – in both attitude and skill – and thank our wonderful Music staff for their investment here.

Santa Sabina Recital Series

Open Studio Recitals

Continuing in our Recital Series for the semester, this Friday 30 August in the Adams room of Holyrood, an Open Studio Recital will feature learners from Prep to Year 12 from within our Private Tuition stream at Santa Sabina College. All members of our community are welcome to attend!

Curriculum Recitals

The Year 9 class is a huge cohort in 2024 – and this talented class presented their learnings last Friday afternoon for family and friends. I commend Mr Choe for his work with this group of students to support so many students to be ready for performance to such a high standard. 

On Friday 6 September, Years 11 & 12 will also be presenting recitals for the community as part of their final HSC preparation this term. Year 12 IB & HSC students will also be showcasing their compositions and other projects on Thursday 12 September. We welcome you to come along to support these students.

Sinfonietta & Gioia House Strings Open Rehearsal

There is no doubt that our Santa Sabina Strings programs have been experiencing tremendous growth in the last year. For Year 6 Gioia House Strings students approaching the end of their curriculum String learning journey, if they have yet to do so, now is a perfect time to consider joining the Sinfonietta Strings to continue realising their potential in this domain. We look forward to showcasing our learning with parents and friends on 23 September in our annual BREAKFAST CONCERT, with a featured performance also from our Chamber Orchestra, as we showcase Santa’s full successive program and the growth opportunities for our beginner and intermediate string players.

Existing participants will be receiving an email early next week with key information about two exciting performances that are proposed before the year is out. It’s not too late to add your expression of interest to join the fun!  Start clearing out your Monday evenings, and get ready for this wonderful, low pressure way to spend some time together as a community – with a remarkable outcome and experience on the other side. All experience (or inexperience!) levels welcome… 

Ignore the hesitation, and just jump in! We can’t wait to sing with you! 

Register for Music opportunities at Santa Sabina

The start of semester is the perfect chance to consider what skills and experiences might still be waiting for you as part of your holistic schooling journey! In addition to signing up to be part of our ensembles (choirs, bands and orchestras), you can now register via the College App or by using the link below for lessons in any of the following instruments:

Piano, Harpsichord, Harp, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Voice, Flute, Recorder, Zheng, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, French Horn, Orchestral Percussion, Drum Kit, Guitar, Bass Guitar and individual or group tuition in Composition or Musicianship!

This week, we welcome internationally respected Saxophonist and Educator, Dr Peter Leung to our Santa Sabina specialist team. There has never been a better time to sign up for Saxophone lessons (or any of our other great offerings for that matter)! Register with the link below.

Find out more!

If you would like to know more about one of our music offerings across the school (be it choirs, bands, orchestras or private tuition) please reach out via music@ssc.nsw.edu.au or to Ms Suzanna Touma in the Music Office at s.touma@ssc.nsw.edu.au and we will be happy to assist you.

To find out more about what’s happening in Curriculum Music at Santa Sabina, be sure to check out the Curriculum Music pages under each of our campus headers.

Wishing a lovely few weeks until our next VV post.

Amy Richardson
Director of Music P-12

Director of Sport and Co-curricular

It has been an extremely busy but very productive Term 3 here at Santa Sabina College Sport and Co-curricular Activities.

On Saturdays, we have seen four Basketball, two Hockey, five Football, 25 Netball and two Junior Touch Football teams showing pride while representing the College at the ERNA, IGSA and IPSHA Competitions. 

On Fridays, our Chess masters have been also representing the College at the IGSA Competition and five of our Badminton Teams have been playing in the Meriden Invitational Competition.

I am pleased to say that a number of our teams have a very good chance of playing in the IGSA finals and 18 of our 25 Netball teams are playing in the ERNA Netball Finals.

I was also very happy to watch our dancers at the Dancelife Unite on Friday last week (23 August) at the University of NSW Science Theatre. Ms Williams and her team of coaches deliver a great program not only displaying great performances but letting our students represent the College with all their hearts on the stage.

Our Co-curricular Clubs have been running successfully this term with Fencing (Years 5-12) being a highlight as the students are absolutely loving it!

I would like to make a special mention of our Senior Athletics team who competed at the CGSSSA Athletics Carnival on 16 August.

I congratulate the students and the relay teams on the list here.

In summary we had two records broken (Caitilin Brennan 17 years 400m) and Ava Cetnic (Triple Jump 12-15 Years) as well as five x 1sts, 13 x 2nds and 13 x 3rd places across track and field events.

This week our students took part in the Stage 2 Primary Soccer Gala Day on Tuesday 27 August, the NSWCCC Netball Championships in Penrith on Wednesday 28 August and Senior NSW Volleyball Schools Cup Championships across the week. On Friday our dancers are participating in the CGSSSA (Senior School) Dance competition.

Netball

Santa Sabina Junior, Intermediate and Senior Teams enjoyed playing in the NSWCCC Netball Championships at Jamison Park, Penrith yesterday. It was a great day of local competition from Monte, Rosebank and Mt St Benedict and from far flung schools from Leeton, Dubbo, Forbes and Bathurst.

Representative and Saturday Sport and Co-curricular Activities

We are finalising the offers for Term 4 regarding Co-curricular Sports/Fitness Clubs: Athletics, Mandarin lessons, Badminton, Boxing and Fencing and the registration link will be open soon.

Individual Students’ Achievements

Annika Ingwersen: Representing NSW All Schools she came second with her team at the School Sport Australia Cross Country Championships.

Isla The: She came third Overall in the NSW State Artistic Gymnastics Championships. Isla also came second on Balance Beam and fourth on uneven bars.

Luiz Ramalho
Director of Sport and Co-Curricular Activities.

Primary Sport

Sydney Catholic Schools Athletics Championships

Congratulations to all students who competed at the Sydney Catholic Schools Conference 2 Athletics Championships held on Tuesday 6 August. All students did a tremendous job representing the College and should be extremely proud of their efforts.

Congratulations to the following students who have progressed to the Sydney Athletics Championships being held on Friday 30 August at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre.

Freya Ingwersen

• First Place in 12 Years 1500m (SCS Conference 2 Record)
• First Place in 12 Years 800m

Alessandra Ronsisvalle

• First Place in 11 Years 1500m
• First Place in 11 Years 800m
• Third Place in 11 Years 200m

Eloise Lai

• Second Place in Junior Girls High Jump

Charlotte McCarthy

• Third Place in 11 Years Girls 800m

Audrey Tita

• Fourth Place in 8 Years Girls 100m

Abigail Schutt, Alessandra Ronsisvalle, Evie Santa Maria and Lillian Ayoub

• Second Place Senior Girls 4x100m Relay team

Coming up in Term 3

Friday 30 August – SCS Sydney Athletics Championships
Wednesday 11 September – Prep and Mary Bailey House Athletics Carnival
Tuesday 17 September – SCS Conference 2 Netball Gala Day (Stage 3)

From the P&F Association

So much has happened in the last three weeks. It has been fantastic to see the Santa community out and about at the various events. More than halfway through the term but yet still so many more events planned!

Father’s Day Week of Events

Yet another very successful Father’s Day week. The Father’s Day stall and the Breakfast couldn’t have happened without the months of planning and hard work of the P&F committee, school staff and our wonderful volunteers in assisting putting these events together. A special acknowledgment goes to the Father’s Day Committee & Sub-committee who gave up their time to purchase and wrap the presents for the dads, granddads, uncles and all father figures in our children’s lives and also to those who were volunteering in the morning helping serve breakfast. Without your assistance it makes putting on events such as this very difficult.

A big thank you also goes to our sponsor Primo Foods, who have generously catered for the Father’s Day breakfast. It is due to their support and generosity that the P&F is able to donate $1,000 to the Parramatta Women’s Shelter as a token of our appreciation and able to help a very worthy local organisation with financial assistance.

Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting 

The next Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting is coming up and we would love to see as many of you there as possible!

🗓 Date: Wednesday 4 September 2024

⏰ Time: 6:30 PM 

📍 Location: Benincasa, Senior Campus, Santa Sabina College

This meeting is a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together, share ideas, and discuss plans to support our school community. We’ll be covering several important topics, including upcoming events, fundraising initiatives, and ways we can all contribute to making our school an even better place for our children. If you have any items you’d like to add to the agenda, please send them to the P&F Secretary, Mary, via email at secretary@ssc.nsw.edu.au by COB Monday, 2 September 2024. 

Your involvement makes a real difference, and together, we can achieve wonderful things for our school and our children.

Trivia Night – 20 September 2024 at Del Monte Hall

The Santa Sabina Trivia Night is fast approaching! If you have not already formed your team then get cracking. It’s going to be a night full of laughs, games and lots of fun. We are fortunate enough to have a local pizzeria, Miz Tutti, who will supply us with unlimited pizzas on the night. BYO drinks. So gather your friends and book your tickets. Link to purchase the tickets is below.

Parent and Family Catch Ups

We have several Catch Ups over the past few weeks and more Save the Dates below so please mark them in your calendar!

 We look forward to seeing you at Trivia Night!

The P&F Association

Upcoming Events

🎉 Santa Trivia Night! 🎉

Come along to the Santa Trivia Night for an evening of fun and a chance to put all your knowledge to good use! Start forming your groups of ten!

 🗓 Date:       Friday 20 September 2024

⏰ Time:        6:30pm for a 7:00pm start

📍 Location: Del Monte Hall

Ticket price $55. The trivia ticket includes trivia, unlimited pizza from Miz Tutti and games. BYO drinks.

 Parent Catch Ups

🌟 Prep Catch-Up! 🌟

It’s been a while since the last catch-up so let’s see all the Prep families join us for an afternoon where the kids can run around and the parents can get to know each other better!

🗓 Date:        Sunday 15 September 2024

⏰ Time:       1:30pm

📍 Location: The Briars Sports Concord

Order your own dinner and drinks.

🌟 SAVE THE DATE – Year 6 Dinner Dance! 🌟

Save the date for the Year 6 Dinner Dance for the Year 6 students and their partners.

🗓 Date:        29 November 2024

⏰ Time:       6:00pm

📍 Location: Details to come.

Past Events

 🌟 Dads’ Night for Kinder, Year 5 & 7 Dads! 🌟

The Dads’ night out was a success. It was a MEGA night full of laughs, fierce competition & bruised egos! The boys clearly had a great night and there were some serious bonding sessions!

🌟 Mums’ Night for Kinder, Year 5 & 7 Mums! 🌟

The mum’s night out was filled with lots of banter, laughs and making new friends! It is always nice to be able to get out and mingle with likeminded mums 😊

🌟 Year 2 Family Catch-Up! 🌟

What’s a Year 2 catch-up without our in-house photographer popping into our photos not once but twice…how does he do it?! Let’s just say the night was a blast!

Parent Education

‘R U OK? Any Day‘ by Debra Brodowski

Thursday 12 September is R U OK? Day, a national day of action where we are reminded to look out for, and check in on, those around us to ask R U OK? R U OK? is a suicide prevention charity that inspires Australians to support one another through asking the simple question ‘R U OK?’

R U OK? acknowledges that a lot can happen to a person in a year, in a month, in a week, or even a day, and if we are noticing a shift in someone’s social and emotional wellbeing we need to remember ALEC:

• Ask R U OK?
• Listen with compassion to what is going on for them and the potential impact that this may be having
• Encourage action, what’s one thing we can do that may make a difference to this situation?
• Check-in, not just once, but regularly, to show that you care and that they are an important person in your life

Teaching the young people in our lives about R U OK? and ALEC will help them develop empathy and understanding in the care for others. It also helps develops strong and lasting connections. One of the most powerful ways of fostering these skills is role modelling the behaviour in the home, allowing yourself to be open to others asking you ‘R U OK?’’ and having you answer in a genuine and authentic way? What’s meant by this?

Have you ever had a rotten day (I could use much stronger language, however will maintain decorum)? Nothing’s gone to plan and you just want to reset and have a do over? In those moments, have you ever had anyone at home ask you, R U OK? because they’ve noticed that you don’t seem yourself, a bit more cranky, a little more snappy? And when you’ve been asked R U OK?, was your answer the stock standard beige ‘I’m fine?’ because you don’t want to be a bother to others and so you’ll just straighten yourself up and push through?

Now think of this kind of situation, but with your young person in your life. If they’re having a bad day and you ask ‘R U OK?’ do you want them to answer ‘I’m fine’ and just push through, like you? Or would you prefer them to be genuine and open up to what’s going on for them?

The power in the message of R U OK? as a parent or a caregiver isn’t just in being able to ask of your young people and expect a response; it’s also about role modelling vulnerability and openness about how to answer a question. Acknowledge the rotten day, be open to how you feel, sit with the feelings, and share how you might be able to then problem solve the feeling.

Modelling how to ask, and to respond to R U OK? any day of the year has a profound and positive impact on people’s willingness to talk about their challenges, and reduce stigma around mental health impacts.

St Lucy’s at Santa Sabina

St Lucy’s is now enrolling for Kindergarten and Year 1 in their satellite class starting in 2025, located in the beautiful St Dominic’s Building on our Santa Sabina campus in Strathfield. This satellite program is designed for eligible students aiming to transition to a mainstream school. For enquiries, please contact enrolments at enrol@stlucys.nsw.edu.au or visit www.stlucys.nsw.edu.au.

Year 12 Showcases

Please join us at our Year 12 IB and HSC Major Works Showcases evening on Thursday 12 September 2024 beginning at 4:30pm.

The Showcases will proceed as follows:

4:35pm – 4:50pm Room 106: HSC English Extension
4:55pm – 5:15pm Room 106: HSC Science Extension
5:15pm – 6:15pm Room 106: HSC History Extension
5:00pm – 7:00pm Boardroom 601: HSC and IB Visual Arts
5:00pm – 6:00pm Room 606: IB Extended Essay
5:00pm – 6:00pm Room LER: HSC and IB Music
6:00pm – 7.30pm St Elizabeth’s: HSC Design and Technology

Official Opening 6:15pm in the St Elizabeth’s Courtyard

Refreshments will be served

All members of the Santa Sabina community are welcome to view and hear about these stunning projects before they are submitted to
the NSW Education Standards Authority for marking of the IBO