I want to begin by thanking our entire community for coming together after the tragic death of Year 7 student, Charlotte O’Brien. Your support and compassion have been invaluable, and we will continue to stand by one another in the weeks and months ahead. As a College and a community, we remain committed to supporting Charlotte’s family, our students, parents and staff at this time of great sadness.
I also want to thank the Police for their support and for their efforts on an ongoing investigation. And I want to thank Headspace and all the other experts including the NSW Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW who have worked with the College to ensure we offer the right support for staff, students and families.
For me, this has truly demonstrated the healing power of our Catholic Dominican community that is united in an expression of love, compassion and inclusivity. The words ‘thank you’ seem to fall short, but please know that they come from deep within my heart.
I know that there has been extraordinary commentary around this matter, and I want to emphasise that I am limited in what I can say publicly as there is an ongoing police inquiry and I will never breach the privacy of any student or family at the College. All I can say is that this is very complex, and naturally as a school and as individuals, we have reflected on what we could or should have done differently.
Our Anti-Bullying Policy and procedures are best practice and are continuously reviewed to ensure we provide the best possible care for students and staff. These policies were approved by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) earlier this year, and clearly outline our commitment to act quickly whenever concerns are raised, and to always handle matters in a manner which is appropriate and supportive for young people.
Suggestions of a culture of bullying at the College are confronting and go against the very fabric of our faith and the way we live our lives – they are certainly contrary to what we have witnessed in our community over the last few weeks. This week alone, I have received so many messages from families that talk about their children feeling safe and cared for, that I can authentically say that I know every staff member holds the care of your children close to our hearts.
We continue to work with students experiencing a range of issues including friendship, family and mental health to educate them on reporting matters and developing strategies to help them manage the complexities that life invariably presents. When concerns around bullying or friendship issues are raised, we respond to these with age appropriate consequences according to our policies, procedures and pastoral care programs.
I would also like to reiterate that if you are aware of any issues with your child, please report this to the College immediately so we can investigate and offer the appropriate support to you both. And if you have any questions about our processes or the support you are receiving, please come to me directly.
This week, Headspace has worked alongside the College to deliver sessions with students to help them work through grief, sadness, uncertainty and confusion. This evening’s online Headspace session will provide valuable support to you as parents on how to talk to your child about grief, loss and their own mental health and I encourage you to register via this link.
On a separate note, as we approach the graduation of our Year 12 students, this week marks GRADitude Week. It’s a time for our students to reflect on their journey and express their appreciation for those who have been part of it. We wish them the very best as they prepare for their final school events and the upcoming HSC/IB exams.
Our recent HSC/IB major works showcase was a truly exceptional evening, celebrating the culmination of our students’ hard work and creativity. The quality of the projects presented was nothing short of outstanding. Below is an example of the work presented on the evening.
Meanwhile, our Year 6 students are currently enjoying a memorable camp experience. They have explored Canberra and they are now enjoying time at Tallong, immersing themselves in learning beyond the classroom.
Paulina Skerman College Principal
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
GRAD- itude Week at Santa Sabina
Year 12 2024
Graduation is in the air! Formal and all its fun is coming up followed closely by farewell House picnics, Graduation Assembly, Year 12 Concert and Graduation Mass and Dinner. Our Year 12 students are certainly aware of how much love and energy goes into these end of year events; so much so that they have shown their gratitude in a week full of fun activities and thoughtful gestures- GRAD-itude Week.
Monday was Gratitude for all the extras of our school life that have ensured wellbeing – students had fun by coming to school in their pyjamas in gratitude for all the ways their school experience has ensured they feel comfortable and loved.
Tuesday was Gratitude for their educational journey and how better to mark that than to wear their junior uniforms and have opportunities for students and staff to sign these with messages of hope and congratulations on nearing the completion of this journey.
Wednesday was Gratitude for the relationships and connections that have been made outside the school community. These connections with other schools at Sport, Debating, the Saint of Origin and a myriad of other experiences was marked by the donning of other jerseys – from other schools, other sporting clubs and other interests. It was definitely a colourful day!
Thursday was Gratitude for opportunities and spiritual growth. As the students look towards their futures they dressed as their dream occupations in recognition of the guidance provided by events such as the Career Women’s Breakfast and Careers expos. They also took a moment to pray for each other, the school community and the wider community in a lunchtime liturgy.
Friday will see the last day of classes and gratitude for teachers will be the focus with the students providing morning tea for the staff. Perhaps there will even be one small surprise for the students before they leave at the end of lunch!
In a week at the College that has presented its own particular challenges, the joy of the Year 12 cohort has been welcomed by all. The students’ care of each other, their younger peers and the staff has been outstanding. We thank them for these gestures of gratitude that will ensure they leave their mark on the College. Well done Year 12 2024.
Melanie van der Meer Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Deputy Principal Operations
With many senior students having gained their Provisional licences, parking in and around the campus becomes challenging. I would like to remind all drivers that when parking in and around the Santa Sabina campus that they abide by all parking signs and refrain from parking across driveways. Local residents have indicated that they will call the local council or the police if required.
As is customary during the last week of school for our Year 12 students, we will be implementing additional security measures at the College. This is to ensure that our school community remains safe and undisturbed by any potential disruptions from external students.
We understand that the end of Year 12 is a significant milestone, often accompanied by celebratory activities. While we encourage our students to enjoy this time, we also emphasise the importance of maintaining a respectful and safe environment for everyone.
Our security team will be on heightened alert, and we have coordinated with local authorities to monitor the vicinity closely.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Together, we can ensure a smooth and enjoyable conclusion to the school year for our Year 12 students.
John Gilmore Deputy Principal Operations
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Graduation
As our Year 12 students embark on the final leg of their schooling journey, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the future. This is a momentous time, filled with both reflection and anticipation. While the end of school marks the beginning of new adventures, there is still ample time to prepare for the upcoming examinations. We encourage our students to take full advantage of the holiday workshops and the wealth of resources available on VO and ATOMI. Their dedication and hard work are to be celebrated, and we are confident that they will continue to excel.
HSC and IB Showcase in Week 8
What an evening! The showcase of our talented students’ work in Design and Technology, Visual Arts, Music, History Extension, Science Extension, English Extension, and IB Extended Essays was fantastic. Our students were able to really deepen their understanding in areas they are passionate about. Thank you to the teachers of these students for their unwavering support and dedication; the countless hours of work for students and teachers truly shone through.
Year 10 Commerce Market Day
Last week at lunchtime, our students on the Santa Sabina campus participated in the Market Day, an engaging event where Year 10 students explored the world of small business. In groups of three or four, they planned, organised, and ran their own Market Day Stalls. This hands-on experience included creating comprehensive Business Plans and maintaining logbooks. Additionally, each student reflected on their journey through an Individual Reflection. This project aimed to equip students with practical skills and problem-solving strategies, making learning both fun and impactful.
Action Research Showcases
Kate Corcoran, our Action Research Coordinator, reports as follows:
Our teachers gathered into their Action Research groups last Thursday to deliver the first round of showcases for their 2024 projects. As teams shared their experience of using research and innovation to tackle a problem of practice, we were reminded about the dedication, creativity and professionalism of our teachers in their determination to improve the learning outcomes of their students. In sharing both the challenges and successes of their research, the audience was provided with a snapshot of what can be achieved when teachers work together to look at professional practice through a critical eye and seek better ways of engaging and responding to the needs of our students. The broad and varied range of research topics included: building teachers’ and students’ skills in the use of AI, enhancing the growth mindset in P-4 students, strategies to improve reading fluency in Stage 1, using exemplars and modelling to improve student writing and strategies to reduce cognitive load and improve knowledge retrieval. A special thanks to all of the groups who presented and to the curious and supportive audience members whose questions and insights during the discussions will be valuable in building on their impact by transferring this knowledge to other areas of learning across the College.
Jacqueline Pugh Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Head of Primary P-6
Dear Lord,
We seek Your comfort and guidance. As Your Word reminds us, ‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted’ (Psalm 34:18), be near to us now. Help us show kindness, compassion, and patience to one another, as St Paul teaches in Colossians 3:12.
Grant us strength to support each other with love and grace, reflecting Your mercy in all we do. Guide us through every difficulty, knowing You are always with us.
As we near the end of the term, I want to take a moment to thank both our teachers and parents for your hard work and dedication in ensuring the wellbeing of our students. Your commitment has been invaluable, and I deeply appreciate all that you do.
Please read the information below carefully.
Commencement of Term 4
School resumes on Tuesday 15 October.
Uniform
Students return to school in summer uniform. Please make sure your child is dressed in the appropriate uniform as specified in the student diary. Please be reminded that jewellery and hair accessories are not part of our school uniform. Additionally, ensure that every item of your child’s uniform is clearly labelled to facilitate swift recovery in the event of misplacement.
Haircut style
Please remember that fade or shaved haircuts are not permitted for boys. The haircut should be neat and tidy. All students are required to maintain tidy hair of a single natural colour. When the hair reaches the collar, all of it must be tied back neatly, with a plain elastic natural coloured hair tie or black scrunchie. Students may wear hair accessories available from the Uniform Shop including:
SSC ribbon
SSC headband
SSC hair clip.
At House events, students may wear their House coloured ribbons. House ribbons are available from the Uniform Shop.
K-2 Swim Program
The Swimming Program for K-2 students commences in Term 4. This program is a compulsory component of the Physical Education program for all students in Years K–2. This year, the program will take place at Enfield Aquatic Centre for two weeks from 15–25 October (Week 1 and 2 of Term 4). The students will participate in a total of 9 x 30-minute daily swimming lessons and will travel to and from Enfield Aquatic Centre by bus.
Classes who have their swimming lesson during the morning session (8:45am–10:45am) are to wear their swimming costume to school underneath their sports uniform. Those classes who will attend their lesson after Recess (10:30am–11:00am) will have the option of wearing their swimming costume to school or bringing it along in a separate bag to change into at school.
Birthday treats
Please ensure that all birthday treats provided are individually wrapped and free from nuts as a precaution to protect the health and wellbeing of all our students.
There is still time to register for Term 4 Co-curricular activities. Registrations can be found in this here This information can also be found on the parent VO page.
Public Speaking
Congratulations to all our finalists on presenting their speeches with confidence and expertise in their topic.
Del Monte
Year 4 – Riha Han Year 3 – Sophie Tsoukatos Year 2 – Shreya Panyam
Gioia House
Chloe Charbel Annabelle Wong
I hope you take the time over the break to rest and recharge, ready to take on Term 4 with renewed energy.
Wednesday 27 November – Year 3-11 Speech Night Rehearsal Day (8:30am-5:00pm, State Theatre)
Wednesday 27 November – College Speech Night 2024 Year 3-11 (6:30pm-8:30pm, State Theatre)
Thursday 28 November – Final Year Assembly (Hall)
Friday 29 November – Splash & Dash Carnival (8:30am-3:20pm, Years K-2)
Monday 2 December – Year 4 Big Day In Monday 2 December – Advent Carols (Senior Campus, 6:00pm-7:30pm)
Wednesday 4 December – K-4 Thanksgiving & Graduation Mass, Yr 4 Boys dancing on Dom’s Plot (9:15am-10:30am)
Wednesday 4 December – Year 4 Farewell and Guard of Honour (2:30pm – 3:00pm)
Wednesday 4 December – Term 4 concludes
Important dates for Gioia House:
Wednesday 23 October 8:45am-11:30am – SCS Mixed Volleyball Gala Day 5-6
Sunday 27 October – Celebration of Music Concert, Conservatorium of Music
Tuesday 29 October 8:30am-1:30pm – SCS Conference 2 Oztag Championships
Wednesday 30 October 5:00pm-7:00pm – Twilight Discovery Tour
Wednesday 6 November 5:00pm-7:00pm – Year 5 Parent Info Evening
Friday 8 November 8:30am-3:20pm – Year 5 & 7 Experience Day
Friday 22 November 5:00pm-9:00pm – Fra Angelico Festival
Wednesday 27 November 8:30am-5:00pm – Year 3-11 Speech Night Rehearsal Day – Award recipients
Wednesday 27 November 6:30pm – 8:30pm – Years 3-11 Speech Night
Wednesday 4 December 12noon-2:00pm – GH Thanksgiving Liturgy and Picnic
Wednesday 4 December – Term 4 concludes
Director of Community Relations P-12
Back to the Boulevarde postponement
After careful consideration after the tragic death of Year 7 student Charlotte O’Brien last week, we are postponing our Back to the Boulevarde event that was scheduled for this Saturday, 21 September.
We hope to hold this event in Term 4 and will communicate a new date soon.
Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. Anyone who wishes to receive a refund please get in touch.
Yvette Graniero Director of Community Relations
Director of Mary Bailey House
Getting Ready for Kindy – Action Research
Respect
We would like to thank our families for their contributions to our Action Research Project by reinforcing our morning routine practices. There has been a noticeable shift in the way the children are entering MBH in the mornings. This in turn has assisted the children in having a positive start and setting them up for a successful day. We encourage you to continue supporting these practices with your children.
The second component of the 5Rs that we are researching and evaluating is Respect.
Respect is an essential character trait for a person to fit into society. It is typically associated with giving appropriate regard to authority figures, and the ability to follow the rules of the family or school, or the conventions of society. You show respect to people through your consideration of their rights and their feelings (J.Locke, 2020).
In light of our research into this trait, we have met regularly with the older preschoolers and discussed respect, what it looks like and the consequences of disrespectful behaviour. To help the children understand what respect involves, we use language and examples like, ‘Did you notice that person was talking?’ ‘Remember your turn is after……’ ‘Did you hear them say that they didn’t need help?’ ‘Can you show me how you did that?’ ‘(Child) is really good at that, you could get help from them.‘
Here are some of the children’s responses when asked how they show respect for others:
Lola: ‘I tell people the right thing to do. I teach them to be respectful by doing the respectful thing to someone else.’
Roger: ‘You don’t hurt other people. You don’t fight about things.’
Laura: ‘You be helpful. If you are not respectful you are doing the wrong things.’
Lola: ‘You have to respect other people. You listen to them and don’t hurt them and you don’t touch them.’
Ted: ‘Help your friends with things that they need help with.’
Clara: ‘When someone is using something you ask them if you can have a turn when they are finished.’
Laura: ‘You have to say can I play too? You don’t ruin people’s work.’
Ted: ‘If other people are talking you have to wait.’
Lola: ‘A way to help people is to listen to them. You have to ask what they are doing and what they are playing.’
Sophie H: ‘It’s a community.’
Some of the consequences of disrespectful behaviour at MBH which were discussed and agreed to by the children are as follows:
a reminder of expectations and consideration of others
time away from the experience and redirected to a quiet drawing
missed opportunities in activities such as gardening, library and tennis. These privileges require respectful behaviour so that all children benefit from the learning these experiences offer.
Parent support –
Below are some examples of our current practices that parents can also use to reinforce and support respectful behaviour
Encourage turn taking when talking and listening so that everybody’s contribution is valued.
Draw children’s attention to any language that could be deemed unkind or impolite. Give them alternative words.
Discuss any concerns about children’s behaviour away from other children.
Encourage your child to care for their belongings and equipment.
Provide opportunities for children to assist or help others.
Draw attention to polite, empathetic interactions with others., e.g. ‘I liked the way you helped your friend.’
Use realistic, appropriate and consistent consequences to help build positive relationships with others (see the list above).
Use realistic praise and encouragement to promote positive attitudes, e.g ‘I liked the way you waited until I finished talking. I am ready to hear what you have to say.’
It will be school holidays at the end of next week and we have a great program of activities and vacation care at OOSH. More details can be found below and we look forward to receiving your booking.
This week we welcome the Year 6 students from the College to Tallong. In an action-packed few days the students will begin their week with a civics excursion to Canberra and then join us at Tallong Campus for some exciting adventure activities.
Over the past few weeks we have hosted programs for MLC Year 4, St Pats Campbelltown Year 8 and Redlands Year 3. In the last week of term we will be hosting the Marist College Canberra Year 12 Retreat. It really is wonderful to have a venue with the beauty and versatility of Tallong Campus, and to work alongside a team that puts our diverse range of guests at the forefront. The following feedback from a recent visiting teacher sums this up very well:
‘A wonderful experience for the students with quality activities and incredible food. The simplicity but high standard of the food meant that the kids were going back for seconds and thirds. The staff were very friendly and very approachable. After many years of attending camps Tallong has proved to be a winner.‘
Heading into Term 4 we are excited to welcome back Director of Outdoor Education Kendal Hann from his epic 12-month journey around Australia. We are looking forward to having Kendal back at the helm steering our ship towards an exciting future as we further evolve Tallong Campus’ new business model.
Just a reminder to any families thinking of attending the parent/child weekend in Term 4 at the Tallong campus. Our capacity is capped at 60 people for this weekend and places are filling up fast. The weekend is designed for Santa Sabina College parents and their children from Year 3 upwards on 26 – 27 October. The charge of $345 per person includes food, accommodation and outdoor education activities. If you book four or more places, the fourth and subsequent places will be discounted by 50%. Bookings can be made online: https://www.trybooking.com/CUKNF
Steve Fox Manager Tallong Campus and the Tallong Team
Director of Development
Giving Day 4 September 2024
Santa Sabina College recently held our First Giving Day, which turned out to be a resounding success. Giving Day saw an overwhelming response from the community, with generous contributions pouring in from alumni, parents, staff, and friends of the college. The Giving Day campaign successfully raised over $313,000, a testament to the strong support and commitment of the Santa Sabina community. This remarkable amount was achieved through the collective efforts of nearly 500 donors who supported us in the event.
The success of the Giving Day was not just measured in monetary terms but also in the level of community engagement it fostered. Our Giving Day brought together a diverse group of supporters, all united by their shared dedication to the College’s mission and values. The participation of almost 500 donors highlights the widespread enthusiasm and commitment to supporting the College’s initiatives.
The funds raised during the Giving Day will be instrumental in enhancing and improving our facilities. The generosity of the donors will have a lasting impact on the College community, ensuring that Santa Sabina continues to offer a high-quality education and enriching experiences for its students.
On behalf of the College Board, our Principal, staff and students I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the donors for their generosity and support.
A special thank you to our Community Relations team, the organising committee, volunteers, parents and everyone who contributed to making the Giving Day a memorable and impactful event. Your efforts and dedication are deeply appreciated.
Santa Sabina College Community Golf Day
We turn our attention now to the SSC Community Golf Day to be held on 7 November at Strathfield Golf Club.
I am seeking from our community gifts to raffle off on the day and I am also calling for sponsors who would like to advertise their business during the event. Please see the Golf Day brochure above and please contact me if you can help or would like further information.
We are thrilled to congratulate our Year 12 HSC Music students on their outstanding performances during last Thursday’s HSC performance examination. Their dedication and hard work were evident in every performance, showcasing a range of talents and impressive musicianship.
Later that evening, both our IB and HSC music students presented a captivating array of compositions and performances. The variety was extraordinary, featuring a range of styles from contemporary Western art music to live looping, and music for games and film. These students demonstrated exceptional skill and creativity, and we commend them for their commitment to their craft.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to practicum teachers Ms Heuston and Ms Lam, who joined our team for four weeks this term. Their innovative and engaging lessons have inspired our students to think creatively, expanding their understanding of music while enhancing the learning experience and fostering deeper critical thinking. We wish them all the best as they continue their journey in music education.
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.
Cibelle’s Showcase
On Wednesday 4 September, Cibelle Hanna showcased the culmination of her interdisciplinary unit – a delicious morning tea.
This unit incorporated Cibelle’s subjects, including Food Technology, Visual Arts, English, Studies of Religion and PDHPE. Each subject had a significant role in the execution of the morning tea. For example, Food Technology organised the preparation and baking of the treats, English composed the recipes and invitations, Visual Arts assisted in sculpting and decorating the dragon, and PDHPE assessed the nutritional benefits of the refreshments.
During the morning tea, a vast array of food was made, including sandwiches, sausage rolls, frittatas, muffins, scones, and chocolate crackles. Each of these was catered to and supervised by Ms Bachmann, Ms O’Hanlon, Ms McKeown, and Ms Vanderhaas, along with the help of the Year 11 Food Technology class, whom we thank absolutely for the lovely experience.
As the morning tea commenced many students and teachers attended, where Cibelle then showcased her sculpture – in her own words “A Light furry with gems surrounding her.”
Jana Zogib Year 11
International Chemistry Quiz
On 21 August and 22 May, 39 students from Santa Sabina College in Years 8 to 12 participated in the 2024 International Chemistry Quiz hosted by Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)
This global competition presents an engaging and thought-provoking challenge for students to exercise their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The questions in the Quiz go beyond the standard syllabus content and encourage students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. All of the participants welcomed the chance to explore the world of Chemistry in a novel context.
We appreciate all our students who elected to participate and especially congratulate the following students who achieved exceptional results:
High Distinction award: Year 9: Lillian Gill Year 12: Hilary Chan
Distinction awards: Year 8: Chloe Xu, Abigail Yang Year 10: Annelies Notelaers, Charlotte Salameh Year 11: Aaron Marquarding, Charlotte So, Jayden Xie
Credit awards: Year 8: Ruby Hill Year 9: Alannah Quinn Year 10: Emily Hirschhorn, Calliope Stewart Year 11: Evie Ash, Tiffany Dao, Chloe Gu, Michelle Indra, Isabel Marturia, Kate Pitman-Fernandez, Ava Raiti Year 12: Elvira Guan, Aditi Kamath, Carmel Mayo, Charlotte Pugh
Students will be presented with their High Distinction and Distinction certificates during a College Assembly and all other certificates will be presented in class.
Science Department
Year 8 Outdoor Education Experience
The Year 8 Outdoor Education Experience took place recently at Mt Kiera and Killalea Regional Park in the Illawarra region. The students were exposed to new places away from Tallong for their Year 8 camp, to broaden their horizons and see other opportunities for experiencing the outdoors. A great addition to this program is for students to go rock climbing at Mt Kiera. It was many students’ first time rock climbing in the outdoors and learning the technique to climb up solid rock!
The groups explored the Killalea area by canoeing and paddling on the Minnamurra River. The students loved the stand up paddleboards and the canoeing as they played around and learnt how to paddle, fall in and just enjoy time on the water.
Over the years, the Outdoor Education program has involved mountain biking, as it is an important skill for life. The students were able to practise these skills and go on a mountain bike exploration of the Killalea Regional Park. They tried spotting whales and enjoyed the expansive open views of the Pacific Ocean.
Overall, the students had a wonderful time building new relationships, creating memories and simply enjoying the outdoors. I wish to thank all the teachers who were involved in the program, as it was a great success with your support.
Chris Walker Coordinator of Outdoor Education and Experiential Learning
Student Reflections
Year 8 camp was four days of fun, challenges, friendship building, and education. My Year 8 peers and I were grateful as during camp we got to come together in groups and get to know each other and also spend time in the outdoors. One of my favourite moments was stand up paddle boarding. This is because as a group we would work together to glide through the water and beat each other in a fun and competitive race. We refreshed ourselves as a collective by jumping in and splashing worry-free in the cold water. This is my favourite moment because this was a time when my peers and I could spend time together and build connections and memories we will forever recall. As a whole, this was a time I will never forget and a camp that will always be remembered as a few days of adventure, joy and gladly good weather. Xylah
It was amazing how quickly a group of mere acquaintances was able to become a tight net of friends, which was why camp was such an incredible experience. I enjoyed every aspect of it, and really felt as though I did things I never would have tried without the encouragement of my peers and teacher. My favourite part was the rock climbing because as I was looking at that tall wall of rock, I turned to the girl next to me, a girl I had spoken only a few sentences to before, and told her I would not make it. But then, she gave me a boost and I made it to the top of the wall. That is my favourite part of camp; everybody helps and looks after everybody. It was an unforgettable experience that I will, without a doubt, laugh about in the years to come. Harriet
Authentic language experience @ Santa
This year, our Italian language students have had the unique privilege of engaging with native Italian language assistants in the classroom. This initiative, led by the Italian association Co.As.It, aims to promote and maintain the Italian language and culture.
The presence of our language assistants, Anna, Angela, and Claudia, has been incredibly beneficial for our students. Hailing from three very different parts of Italy they have been giving the students an even more sophisticated view on the regional variety of Italy.
Each week, students actively participate in classes across all year groups, providing a real-life context for practising Italian speaking skills. Through Q&A sessions, students from various year levels have had the chance to interact with the assistants, asking questions about life in Italy, debunking stereotypes and learning more deeply about Italy’s culture. This has not only enhanced their conversational skills but also offered valuable insights into Italian culture and daily life.
For our senior students, having regular meetings with the assistants has been instrumental in their preparation for the HSC speaking examination which was held in late August and early September. The one-on-one practice sessions have significantly boosted their confidence, fluency, and vocabulary.
We feel extremely fortunate to have been given this opportunity thanks to Ms Formosa. This initiative has enriched our language program, providing an authentic and real-world perspective for our students.
Natasha Mascolo Italian Teacher
Macquarie Bank: Empowering Women in Finance and Technology Experience
Last week a group of Year 10 students attended the Macquarie Bank: Empowering Women in Finance & Tech Event. The day introduced students to the finance industry and demonstrated the breadth of skills and disciplines within the industry, whilst also empowering students to consider a range of career paths.
Brittany Poynting Acting Dean of Innovation & Enterprise & TAS Teacher
Shadow Judging
Learning in the Library
This year a panel of Year 6 Gioia House and Year 10 students took on the role of judging the shortlisted books selected by the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), judging the younger and older reader categories respectively. Each panel met once a week at lunchtimes with the Teacher Librarians to discuss the six titles from their respective categories.
Part of their role was to commit to reading all six books in Term 2 and the first part of Term 3 so that, as Shadow Judges, they could deliberate and select a winning title on behalf of Santa Sabina College. It was wonderful to see the students refer to the same criteria used by the CBCA judges, providing opportunities to debate the literary merits of each title. Participating schools in this initiative were also asked by the CBCA to submit their vote for the winning title. The votes were tallied and the Shadow Judging winners were announced the same day as the CBCA selected winners. Interestingly, our selected winning title, (Inkflower by Suzy Zail) matched the Shadow Judging collective vote from participating schools. The same applied for the younger reader category. Our panel chose Scar Town by Tristan Bancks which coincided with the collective vote!
We would like to thank our participating Year Shadow Judges who volunteered their time to support this exciting initiative. In Year 10 we thank Annelies Notelaers, Charlize Cencigh, Harris-Roxas, Emily Chase, Poppy Haigh, Eve Ardagna, and Allegra Gibson. In Year 6 we thank Annabelle Wong, Jorja Matthews, Sabrina Ferrerosa Jurado, Pheodora Jayaseelan, Shanaya DSouza, Rose Dwyer and Annabelle Wong.
And some thoughts from our Shadow Judges about the initiative:
Shadow judging has been one of the best experiences of the year. I loved all the discussions and especially reading the books! Annabelle Lai Year 6
I loved how my opinion was taken into consideration and we could all debate. Shanaya DSouza Year 6
Shadow judging inspired me to read books that I had never even thought of reading. Sabrina Ferrerosa Jurado Year 6
The shadow judging experience pulled us out of our comfort zones and into new genres, allowing us to discuss and express our views on such varying novels. It was immensely enjoyable and certainly helped us to develop a wider appreciation of reading. Eve Ardagna Year 10
Michael Moses, Melina Marchetta and Susan Lombardo Teacher Librarians
Farewell to our Environment and Sustainability Leader, Bronte Sprotte
It was with some sadness but mostly joy and gratitude that the Environment Committee said farewell to their dedicated and passionate leader, Bronte Sprotte.
When Bronte joined the committee way back in Year 5, it was clear that this was a student with a strong and genuine commitment to the protection of the natural environment. In her early years on the committee, Bronte played an active role in raising awareness about environmental issues and motivating her peers to get involved in the many projects initiated by the committee.
Bronte has been a keen participant in the Schools Strike for Climate project since its introduction in 2018 and was instrumental in embedding the global Fridays for Future program into the College calendar.
As leader of the committee this year, Bronte relaunched the energy-reducing FLAWED program into all senior campus classrooms and has introduced a number of waste reduction programs including pen and battery recycling and the expansion of Return and Earn bottle recycling. She has ensured that the committee has been a regular feature of school assemblies and other events such as Love Week and Santa Fest using every opportunity to educate the community about environmental issues and encourage positive action. While the committee will not be the same without Bronte, she has certainly helped build a culture of commitment to collective action towards our ongoing goal of achieving a more sustainable future for our planet.
Kate Corcoran, Beth Meldrum, Richard Crittenden and the Student Environment Committee
Careers Spotlight @ SSC
Key dates for Year 12 – reminder
As Year 12 prepares to graduate next week, below is a reminder of the key dates to be aware of:
UAC Registration with UAC due: 30 September EAS due: 21 November Students are encouraged to carefully monitor offer rounds and change preferences before the rounds close as indicated below. Students can only receive one offer (if applicable) per round. There is no guarantee students will receive another offer so it is essential that students accept their offer. Once an offer has been accepted, students should remove the course from their preferences and rearrange their preferences should they wish to be considered for further rounds.
Scholarships and Cadetships UNSW Coop Scholarship: due 30 September UTS Bachelor of Accounting Coop Scholarship: due 11 October WiseTech Bachelor of Computer Science (UTS) Cadetship: due November. Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship: due 13 January
Early Entry Many early entry programs have now closed and some institutions have started to make offers. Students are encouraged to accept all early entry offers and make their decision after UAC offers are released. If students accept an early offer, they no longer need to have the course listed as a UAC preference.
WSU: 13 November (round 2), 11 December (round 3), 1 January (round 4) Torrens Uni: applications reviewed as they are received. Apply any time before 30 November Notre Dame: 26 September (round 3), 4 December (round 4)
Elite Athlete & Performer Schemes USYD: due 31 October UNSW: due 30 November UTS: due 2 December
Upcoming Careers Events To view the list of upcoming careers events and opportunities, click here. There are a number of upcoming holiday workshops that I encourage students to register for.
For any further careers related enquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact me or encourage your daughter to see me.
Eva Guirguis Head of Future Pathways & Partnerships
Assistant Head of Gioia House
R U OK?
During the Gioia House Community Time, the students discussed the importance of communicating and connecting with each other. We spoke about the people we can go to in times of need and the importance of reaching out to others. The students viewed an R U OK interactive video which showed different school scenarios and talked students through the four important steps of an R U OK? conversation. Students also shared different ways we can start conversations with people who are close to us as well as people who may need someone to talk to.
We also worked together to create origami paper cranes. The paper crane symbolises Hope and Peace. Together as a community, we created our paper crane display in the Gioia House breakout area to remind students of the hope, peace and strong connections we can work together to achieve.
To conclude this pastoral session we prayed:
Heavenly Father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. I need hope for a calm and joyful future. I need hope for love and kindness always. I pray for peace and safety. I need your light, Lord, in every way. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and service.
In your name, I pray, Amen.
Speak Up competition
On Friday 13 September, the St Ignatius Riverview & Santa Sabina College Speak Up competition was held at St Ignatius College. The Term 3 Gioia House Speak Up team worked hard to prepare their speech and participate in weekly sessions. The students are commended for their amazing speeches and confidence when presenting at the competition. We are so proud of all the students for the personal goals they achieved and the support they showed for each other. Congratulations to Analicia Jayaseelan who was awarded the winner of this competition.
With one more week left of Term 3, I pray that everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday break.
Marisa Maks Assistant Head of Gioia House
STEM Gala Day
On Wednesday 4 September, students from Gioia House participated in our annual STEM Gala Day with the Year 6 students from St. Patrick’s College Strathfield. We began the day by hearing from a range of guest speakers, sharing their knowledge and experiences on how STEM can be used to solve problems and change the world. Students worked in mixed groups to design and construct a solution to their given case study following the design thinking process. A range of resources were provided that students could use to create their prototypes such as Makey Makey, Spheros, LEGO Robotics and craft materials. The afternoon saw students pitching their ideas to other groups, with some groups presenting their prototypes to all students and staff.
It was a fabulous day where our Gioia House girls were able to collaborate with the students from St. Patrick’s College to solve real world problems using STEM. They were able to forge new friendships that we hope will continue to flourish in the future.
Student Reflections
On STEM Day, I felt we could all connect with all the students in a variety of activities. We were able to explore different forms of technology. I personally enjoyed the experience and would love to do it again. Tiana Year 5
STEM gala day was a nice collaborative experience. We got to meet new people and connect with them. I really enjoyed this experience and wish to do it another time. Mila and Georgii Year 6
Alana Ivancsik Leader of Learning Technologies P-6
What’s happening in Year 6
Energy
This term, 6A students have been exploring energy in their Science lessons. Students have learnt that energy is everywhere, different types of energy do different things and energy can be transferred and transformed, from one form to another. The students have been experimenting with the design, testing and evaluating of a product or system that demonstrates energy transformation, further developing an understanding of the interrelationship between force and energy.
This week the girls in 6A focused on energy storage and transformation by conducting a catapult experiment. In small groups, the girls built their own catapult using everyday materials such as chopsticks, paddlepop sticks, plastic straws, a small plastic container, elastic bands and masking tape. The challenge was to then experiment with how to use playdough, play around with the sizes of playdough and how to use their catapult machine to ‘catapult’ their playdough to the furthest distance. It was a lot of fun, as well as being a fantastic opportunity for the girls to be creative, problem solve and explore elastic energy.
Tiffany Anderson Year 6 teacher
English
This term in English, Year 6 has been focusing on perspective, context, and authorial choices through our text Worse Things. This free verse poetry book by Sally Murphy is about ‘connections, the ways they are made, and what happens when they are lost or elusive.’
In recent weeks, we have been learning how to create a free verse poem, specifically a ‘definition poem,’ a term coined by Sally Murphy herself. As a class, we identified key words and themes explored at different points in the book. Students then had the opportunity to create their own definition poems by looking through dictionaries and thesauruses, exploring definitions, similes, and synonyms related to their chosen theme.
Through their own authorial choices, students played with words and phrases until they had a poem that both defined the word and connected with the text. They added drawings and symbols to enhance the effect on the reader, creating their very own multimodal definition poem!
Sian Tierney Year 6 Teacher
Class Vegetable Election
6MD have been inquiring into Australia as a Nation, focusing on Federation and the electoral process of electing representatives to the Federal Parliament.
The class ran an election whereby eight parties were formed, each representing a vegetable. The parties of Capsicum, Carrot, Avocado, Pea, Lettuce, Potato, Cauliflower and Corn prepared and delivered a campaign to the other parties, as well as a Year 5 class.
Officials ran the voting process, using the system of preferential voting. Once the votes were counted, parties eliminated and votes reallocated, the Pea party was declared the winner with a majority 58% of all votes.
Running an actual election provided an insight into the process and the importance of the democratic right of everyone to have a say.
Eamonn Dunphy & Marisa Maks Year 6 Teachers
What’s happening in Year 5
IDU
Currently in the students IDU Unit, they are exploring migration from European Settlement through the 19th century. They have revisited Colonisation, examining the reasons for establishing colonies after 1800, and researching the Gold Rush and Eureka Stockade. The class divided themselves and acted out their understanding of the British Government and Miners fighting for independence.
Tayla Kostakis Year 5 teacher
STEM
In STEM lessons this term, Year 5 students have been immersed in an exciting project: designing rover prototypes. Using Lego Spike kits and the Lego Spike APP, they experimented with building and coding their rovers. Throughout the term, they navigated the entire design cycle, from planning and development to creation. This hands-on experience not only allowed them to turn their ideas into reality but also helped them develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. The students thoroughly enjoyed the process, showcasing their creativity and collaboration at every step.
Yu-Han Chen Year 5 teacher
Science
Year 5 has been learning about telescopes and how these are used to observe, predict and understand events in the solar system. The students started with using the ray kits to explore what happens to light when it passes through curved lenses and mirrors. They learned about rays that converge and diverge.
Some student observations were:
Zara: Using the triangular lens we were able to make a rainbow.
Addison: Using the mirror lens we made the light bounce back.
Ava: We used the crescent shaped mirror to make the light rays diverge.
Wendy Anetter Year 5 teacher
Music at Gioia House
Curriculum Music in Years 5 and 6
Curriculum Music Class
Over the past few weeks, Years 5 and 6 Music classes have been learning the traditional Maori stick song E Papa Waiari, which is a cultural stick song sung by the Maori people of New Zealand. We have learned how to perform a stick game in pairs that requires coordination, focus and precision. The students have composed their own ostinati (repeated patterns) to go along with the song. It has been a lot of fun!
Score reading is an integral part of our music-making in Years 5 and 6 at Santa Sabina. In Choir and Instrumental lessons, we look and sing/play music of quite a high level that requires understanding and comprehension of how to read music. In class, we have been looking closely at scores (written music) to see if we are able to decipher the signs and symbols of written music and locate various common musical features within the score.
Cecilia Pensini | Music Teacher Years 5-6
Assistant Head of Primary
Pastoral Update
The past three weeks have seen the students engage in two national wellbeing initiatives, R U OK? Day and National Child Protection Week. They have also continued their learning within our Friendology program, focusing on the importance of forgiveness in friendships.
National Child Protection Week
National Child Protection Week (NCPW) is an initiative to promote the safety and wellbeing of all children. It recognises that children’s safety and wellbeing is a joint and collective responsibility shared by all members of the community.
NCPW has been in existence for more than 30 years and the core message is that ‘protecting children is everyone’s business.’ Child abuse and neglect are complex issues and all people should feel empowered to have conversations and work together to prevent their occurrence.
The theme for 2024, ‘Every conversation matters’ complements the overarching campaign message, ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’. Year 3 and Year 4 students learned how to spot ‘red flags’ when they are online. They also learned about safe and unsafe behaviours, ‘unsafe secrets’ and inappropriate questions and requests. Younger students created artworks about meaningful conversations and identified people in the ‘Safety Circle’ who keep them safe.
R U OK? Day
On R U OK? Day, students came to school wearing yellow accessories and participated in a number of activities in classes, grade groups or with their buddies. Learning began in classrooms with an online visit from celebrity guest, Healthy Harold, along with his friends, Thought 1 and Thought 2 and learned that asking someone if they are OK is important as it can make them feel less alone. They also learned that letting someone know how they’re feeling can really help and that anytime is a good time to check in with a friend. Older students learned that sometimes our friends need time before they are ok to talk about things that are worrying them and that if the problem is serious, they can suggest to their friend to talk with a trusted adult.
Friendship is forgiveness
Forgiveness is important in friendships. Students began their learning about forgiveness in friendships by recognising that we are all imperfect and that we all make mistakes at times and therefore, we all pass the ‘human’ test – we all make mistakes, we all fail sometimes, we all have difficult days and we all do things that we regret.
Students also learned that forgiveness is about letting go, moving forward and not holding on to things. To be effective, forgiveness must come from the heart and when this happens, it helps us to feel lighter and allows for personal growth as well as building stronger friendships. To get to the point where we forgive and forget in friendships, we need to be able to talk things out, address and resolve the issue, let it go and move on.
To bring this learning to life, students created hot air balloons to let go of the ‘heavy stuff’ that weighs them down, recognising that they are not perfect and neither are their friends. On their hot air balloons, students wrote a message of forgiveness to themselves or to a friend.
Lauren Petroni Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4
Over the next two weeks, we encourage families to continue to donate the following items.
Prep
Kindergarten
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Juice poppers
Canned tuna Cuppa soup/sachet soup
Packets of sultanas Noodle cups
Fruit cups Sandwich-size ziplock bags
Nut-free muesli bars (please ensure they are chewy, such as Uncle Toby’s Choc Chip Bars)
Packets of biscuits (e.g., single-serve Tiny Teddies) Le Snak/ Cheese Dippits
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 remember him in a special way. 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 have received the Sacrament of First Communion during the last few weeks or will be receiving the sacrament very soon.
GIOVANNI PORTELLI 2024
Images courtesy Giovanni PortelliPhotography
Loving Father, As we come to the end of another term we turn to you in prayer May the holiday be a time of rest and recreation to help restore and re-create us in your image and likeness, as we enjoy more of the love and presence of our families, on whom we ask your blessing.
Amen.
Tina Nicotina Religious Education Coordinator P-6
Year 4
Year 4 students have been exploring how and why natural processes and human actions change the Earth’s surface over time. They identified evidence of change through exploring different types of rocks and fossils and learned to classify rocks into three categories – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Students worked in small groups to engage in a hands-on investigation with a range of rocks provided by the SSC Science Labs, including quartz, marble and sandstone. They recorded their observations and conducted additional research to become experts on their chosen rocks. Students enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to view, discuss and learn more about how rocks reflect changes on the Earth’s surface.
Anna Donato, Nicole Meehan, Calista Camarda and Edward Wang Year 4 Teachers
Year 3
In Science this term, Year 3 has been investigating the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon. This interactive unit is structured so students first build their knowledge of the Sun and the impacts it has on Earth. We then used this knowledge to create a video of the interactions between the Sun, Earth and Moon, describing what causes night and day and the seasons. Year 3 enjoyed learning about the ancient practice of telling the time using the Sun.
We discovered that as the Earth spins, the position of the sun in the sky moves, it causes shadows that we can follow. In the middle of the day, the sun is high in the sky and the shadows cast are short; as the sun moves lower, by the afternoon, the shadows become longer. This pattern is repeated every day. Over 2000 years ago, people realised they needed an accurate way to tell the time. Time needed to be measured. Until mechanical clocks were invented 500 years ago, the most common measurement of time was the sundial.
We designed and tested our own sundials. We used a compass to carefully mark South indicating our position in the Southern Hemisphere. When we placed our sundials in the sun, we could make a mark where the shadow falls, showing the time on the hour.
Year 3 has thoroughly enjoyed Science this term and gained a lot of new knowledge and skills to share with their families…just ask them!
Margie Attard, Louise Harris, Brooke Panagopoulos and Claire Pecker Year 3 Teachers
Year 2
Last week, our staff and students joined in the recognition of R U OK? Day, a special initiative aimed at promoting open, supportive conversations about mental health. The day encourages everyone to ask, ‘Are you OK?’ and fosters a culture of care and understanding, reminding us all of the importance of checking in with one another. On Thursday 12 September, our students were invited to wear YELLOW in support of this important day.
For our Year 2 students, learning how to support their peers and talk about how they feel is an important life lesson. This year, the RUOK? Day focus is on how to ask a friend ‘Are you OK?’ Please enjoy our photos.
Year 2 Teachers
Year 1
During Geography this term, Year 1 became park designers. They started by learning about the different types of natural, managed and built features that they can see in their community. They used Google Maps to look at satellite images of Strathfield to identify places that they like to go and what special features they might have. When it came to designing their park, Year 1 had to answer lots of questions about the purpose of their park, how they can make it inclusive for all people and what they would want to have in their dream park.
Using a grid, they designed their parks making sure they included a play area, somewhere for people to sit and a place to eat and dispose of rubbish. They labelled their designs and developed a key with symbols to represent features on their map. The students have thoroughly enjoyed learning about maps and features of the environment through this creative experience.
Kelly Garcia, Erin Horne and Yasmine Kaballan Year 1 Teachers
Kindergarten
This year, the Kindergarten students have been learning about the importance of having a growth mindset.
Having a growth mindset means that you believe your intelligence and abilities can be improved with effort, practice, and the implementation of appropriate strategies.
The students were introduced to specific vocabulary to assist them with recognising positive and negative thinking about themselves as learners, and used visual charts to remind them of strategies they can employ when faced with a challenge.
Mistakes have been reframed as opportunities for learning and growth, and the power of the word ‘yet’, has been emphasised as a positive motivator to remind students that if they persevere and don’t give up when encountering new or challenging learning experiences, they will eventually succeed. The phrase, ‘I can’t do this’ has been replaced with, ‘I just can’t do this YET’’.
It is wonderful to witness our Kindergarten students using such positive language to affirm themselves as learners, while also encouraging their peers to do the same!
On Wednesday 11 September our Mary Bailey House preschooler friends joined us for our annual Prep/MBH Athletics Carnival. The children thoroughly enjoyed showing off the gross motor skills they had learnt in their specialist PE lessons by participating in running, jumping and throwing activities. Many mums and dads came along to watch and it was a great morning for all involved.
Monique Evans and Clare Wood Prep Teachers
Music at Del Monte & Mary Bailey House
Music at Mary Bailey House (Curricular)
This week at Mary Bailey it was Grandparents Week, where guests were invited to spend some time with their grandchildren and join in with any activities that they would like to. We were able to take this opportunity to perform some of the songs we have learned this term to our special guests. The children loved this and performed beautifully each time.
Cecilia Pensini Head of Strings P-4 Music Teacher
Music at Del Monte (Curricular)
In Week 7 it was the Music Assembly, and the student groups which performed were the Taiko Club and the Year 3 Strings. Selected music students also led us in prayers and introductions. The students performed all aspects of the Assembly with aplomb and sincerity. Music learning and performance gives us opportunities to collaborate, to be organised to listen to one another, and of course to give joy to others.
Taiko Club is open for students in Year 3 and Year 4 and is held on Tuesdays at lunch. If you are interested in joining or in having private tuition in a wide range of instruments, please click on this link.
We are really enjoying making music in our music lessons. Some of the activities we are exploring:
Year 4 has been using xylophones to compose and perform ostinati (repeated patterns) to accompany their Rocky Mountain song. They have combined their ideas and created larger compositions.
Year 3 space compositions: They have created lots of ideas around the idea of space, and are now applying their music knowledge to their ideas. They have explored graphic and standard notation of their ideas.
Year 2 has been looking at dynamics (loud and soft) and applying it to their songs and games.
Year 1 are being music detectives and using their ears to decide if the sounds are pizzicato or arco. They are putting the string family into order from lowest in sound to highest.
Kindy are developing their singing voices while playing lots of lovely music games.
Prep are enjoying exploring loud and soft, fast and slow. We have discovered that soft is a really tricky concept! However, we are starting to show the idea of soft with our hands, with our instruments and with our movements. 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.
Gifted Education
Term 3 has been a busy term where students across Del Monte and Gioia House have taken part in a range of exciting activities within and beyond the curriculum to meet and extend their learning needs.
Australian Mathematics Competition
Each year the Australian Maths Trust holds the Australian Mathematics Competition which is the nation’s longest running and most well-known maths competition for school students. The competition is designed for high achieving mathematicians who get the opportunity to challenge their thinking through tackling unique problems. This year, 22 of our students across grades 4-6 entered the AMC and they are all congratulated on undertaking a very challenging competition.
A special mention goes to those students who achieved very highly.
Distinction Annabelle Wong (Year 6) Renhou Hu (Year 4) Jay Park (Year 4)
Credit Isla Choi (Year 6) Emily Ng (Year 6) Michelle Ho (Year 6) Leah Zhu (Year 5) Alefed Jin (Year 4) Ashton Chung (Year 4) Liam Nguyen (Year 4) Claire Yang (Year 4)
The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee
We are very proud of the fantastic spellers we have across our Primary Campus and so we entered them into the 2024 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee competition, where they battled it out with students across Australia spelling words such as ‘finicky’ and ‘aviary’. Our students recognise the power of spelling in helping them to build a rich vocabulary. Congratulations to the following students who made it to the State Finals:
Annabelle Wong (Year 6) Jay Park (Year 4) Kira Tang (Year 4) Aria Leung (Year 4)
Australasia Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO)
Working mathematically is an essential part of the Mathematics syllabus which is embedded in the outcomes and content we teach each day. The working mathematically processes present in the Mathematics K–10 syllabus are:
communicating
understanding and fluency
reasoning
problem solving.
This year, many students across Primary have been embracing mathematical problem solving through the Maths Quest, Maths Explorer and Maths Olympiad contests, as well as through targeted grouping. By engaging with problem solving, students have learned important group-work skills while developing real-life problem solving skills. Our students have now competed in four contests across the year. Each week, APSMO releases a Problem of the Week which is a great way to keep flexing those problem solving muscles.
Book Club
This term a group of resourceful Year 4 students have started a Book Club in which they devise activities each week for students across the school. The Book Club not only entertains students while giving them a structured environment in which to interact, but it gives the organisers opportunities to develop their leadership and communication skills. This fantastic initiative is supported by Mrs Meehan and Ms Carmada.
Classroomdifferentiation – spotlight on Year 1
Through assessment and targeted differentiation teachers ensure that students are engaged in learning experiences that meet their needs and spark their interest. This term, Year 1 students have been engaged in Reader’s Theatre where they get to practise reading and performing at the same time. Lot’s of fun was had when groups presented to each other, giving specific feedback which will help students improve next time.
As one of the highlights of Term 3, students in Prep and Kindergarten have explored vocabulary on fruit and vegetables by engaging in a range of activities. New words were presented through an interactive video, and everyone was encouraged to listen to and repeat sounds with correct pronunciation. All students participated in a survey by saying the name of their favourite fruit and found out that ‘mela’ (apple) and ‘fragola’ (strawberry) are the most popular fruit in the whole grade.
During morning tea, students in Prep were able to name the types of fruit in their lunchboxes while eating. And playing ‘Il mercato della frutta e della verdura’ (Fruit and vegetables market) was a lot of fun in Kindergarten!
Daniela Panico Italian Teacher
Del Monte Library is open for book donations!
Did you know that the Del Monte Library is open to book donations? This is a wonderful opportunity for you to contribute to our growing collection and support our students’ love for reading.
We welcome a variety of book types, including:
Board Books and Picture Books: Perfect for our youngest readers in Mary Bailey House. Bilingual or cultural texts: To enrich our collection making it more inclusive for our diverse community. Fiction: To spark imagination and curiosity.
Please ensure that all donated books are in good condition. Your generous contributions will not only benefit our school but also benefit our sister school in the Solomon Islands. Any books that our library cannot accommodate will be passed on to them, helping to foster a love of reading in their community as well.
In addition to supporting education, donating books is a fantastic way to promote environmental sustainability. By reusing and repurposing books, we can reduce waste and give these valuable resources a new life, rather than letting them end up in landfills.
Thank you for your support and generosity!
Trish Doonan Teacher Librarian
Director of Music
Celebration of Music Concert
Parents and students will be emailed in coming days with important information about our forthcoming annual Celebration Concert to take place on Sunday 27 October 2024 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the beautiful Verbrugghen Hall. This date will be exactly 130 years to the day since a local newspaper article was published about the first ever Santa Sabina College concert. To mark this extraordinary moment, selected ensembles will be performing as part of the Celebration of Music Concert, andtheyhave been working tirelessly to hone a program of exciting works set to provide a wonderful afternoon of entertainment. Please be sure to read any communication pieces from the Music Department, and note that due to the limited seating at the venue, there is unfortunately a cap of two tickets per family. Book early to avoid disappointment.
It seems that Term 3 is our ‘Recital’ term at Santa. Many of our Friday afternoons in August and September have seen musicians of all instrumental disciplines taking to the stage to showcase their development as young performers for family and friends alike. There are just two more recitals scheduled before the year is out, and these Open sessions will feature students from across the school who learn within our Private Tuition program. Please join us in Adams, Holyrood this coming Friday from 3:45pm for the next feature in our Recital series.
Performance for the Sisters at Regina Mundi Convent
Beyond merely learning an instrument, developing confidence and performance craft are also important considerations for any aspiring young musician.The only way to grow is to do it! We are so fortunate to have our Dominican Sisters with us on site, who support our girls in so many aspects of their schooling, and their musical growth is no exception. Vocal Tutor Tanith Bryce facilitated a dellightful lunchtime concert at the Regina Mundi Convent on Wednesday 4 September, and students richly benefited from this opportunity to share their work with a supportive audience. Students developed a thoughtful program of solos, duets and ensemble pieces, and It is our hope to present another lunchtime concert before the year is through.
NESA Examinations and Senior Showcases
Last Thursday 12 September was a momentous day for our graduating musicians. During the day, our HSC Music 1 and 2 students presented their performances for an external panel of NESA markers, and in the evening, they joined forces with the IB cohort to present compositions and performances for appreciative parents and friends. An additional performance opportunity was afforded to the HSC students in both Year 11 and 12 on Friday 6 September, and we commend both classes for their committed offerings within all these contexts.
Chamber Choir performs at Sydney Opera House
On Thursday 5 September, Chamber Choir were delighted to join as guests of the Sydney Children’s Choir to perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and iconic Australian band, The Cat Empire.
Guest Seminar by AMEB Chief Examiner
On Friday 6 September, the Chief String Examiner of the Australian Music Examinations Board, Caron Chan, joined us in Holyrood to present to students who are preparing for their Associate Diploma and Licentiate Examinations. Ms Chan offered advice on all aspects of preparation towards these examinations, and we are thrilled that the session was able to be filmed for any students who were unable to attend. Please reach out to our Head of Strings 5-12, Ms Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich if you would like to be given access to view this valuable presentation.
Sinfonietta & Gioia House Strings Breakfast Concert
For Year 6 Gioia House Strings students approaching the end of their curriculum String learning journey, now is a perfect time to consider joining the (unauditioned) Sinfonietta Strings on Monday mornings to continue growing in this area! For people who might be interested to see the full scope of opportunities available toour young string players, we look forward to showcasing our learning with parents and friends in the Santa Sabina Hall THIS COMING MONDAY 23 September. Our annual BREAKFAST CONCERT will also offer a featured performance from our Chamber Orchestra, as we walk our audience through Santa’s full successive program and the growth opportunities for beginner and intermediate string players alike. There will be a coffee van on site from 7:20am for parents to purchase their morning caffeine boost, and free pastries to enjoy while students warm up in the Hall. We look forward to having you with us!
Santa Sabina Community Choir
After an exciting inaugural performance as part of the 130th Gala Concert at the Sydney town Hall in June, the School that Sings is getting ready to gather its community for another hearty performance or two before the year is out!
Rally your friends and family! Lock in the dates below! Join us in Holyrood, as we have fun exploring a range of musical styles, with planned feature performances for both the Fra Angelico Festival and the beautiful Advent Carols in the Santa Sabina Chapel on 2 December. If you have yet to do so, please express interest in joining the fun with this COMMUNITY CHOIR EOI FORM. More information will be sent via email.
Community Choir Rehearsals
Monday 21 October | 7:00 – 8:00pm Monday 4 November | 7:00 – 8:00pm Monday 18 November | 7:00 – 8:00pm
Community Choir Performances
Friday 22 November | Fra Angelico Festival Monday 2 December | Advent Carols
Reach out to Director of Music Amy Richardson for more information music@ssc.nsw.edu.au
Director’s Honour Roll
Congratulations to the following students who have been rewarded for their diligent preparation towards recent Eisteddfods, Competitions and Examinations. We especially congratulate Year 4 student Soopia Chang who has received the ‘Golden Classical Award’ and 1st place in the Junior Division of the New York International Piano Competition, with a subsequent invitation to fly to New York and perform in recital at Carnegie Hall in December 2024.
We deeply appreciate receiving this message from Soopia’s mother:
We are deeply grateful to the music department, especially Miss Angela Kim (Santa Sabina College alumna, Class of 2019), for inspiring Soopia from a young age. Her guidance, along with the opportunities to perform at the Friday Music Recital, has significantly enhanced Soopia’s confidence and experience in public performances.
We are proud to be part of the Santa Sabina community, which fosters such a supportive and enriching musical environment.
As Director, I would also like to add my thanks to all of our wonderful tutors at Santa Sabina for their continued work with our students from P-12. My congratulations are offered to the following musicians for their achievements this term:
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
New York International Piano Competition
1st Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Wollongong Eisteddfod (10y & under)
1st Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Sydney Eisteddfod (10y & under)
2nd Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under) Own choice
1st Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under) Australian
2nd Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Australian National Eisteddfod (10y & under) Own Choice
1st Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
Australian National Eisteddfod (10y & under) Duet
1st Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Pianoforte
City of Ryde Eisteddfod (10y & under)
2nd Place
Soopia Chang
Year 4
Viola
Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (2nd Grade)
1st Place
Sophie Jabbour
Year 8
Cello
AMEB Examination (Preliminary)
A
Aiden Curran
Year 5
Double Bass
AMEB Examination (Grade 7)
A
Emily Korb-Wells
Year 5
Pianoforte
AMEB Examination (Grade 3)
B+
Grace Welsh
Year 5
Pianoforte
AMEB Examination (Grade 1 – Piano for Leisure)
A
Esther Chiew
Year 5
Pianoforte
AMEB Examination (Grade 2)
B
Aiden Curran
Year 5
Double Bass
Masterclass with Barry Green from the USA
N/A
Dominique Portelli
Year 5
Pianoforte
City of Ryde Eisteddfod (10y & under)
HC
Dominique Portelli
Year 5
Pianoforte
St George Instrumental Eisteddfod (10y & under)
3rd Place
Liam Nguyen
Year 4
Pianoforte
AMEB Examination (Grade 3)
A
Liam Nguyen
Year 4
Pianoforte
Hawkesbury Eisteddfod (10y & under)
HC
Claire D’Souza
Year 7
Clarinet
Examination (Grade 3)
A
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.
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 our community a safe and refreshing holiday.
Amy Richardson Director of Music P-12
Director of Sport and Co-curricular
I write this article with a great deal of satisfaction to talk about how proud Santa students are of representing the school and playing fairly, leaving their hearts on the court and field.
This past weekend we had six teams playing in the IGSA Sport semi-finals: SAN01 and SAN02 basketball, SAN01, SAN03 and SAN05 Football (Soccer) and SAN01 Hockey.
I had the opportunity to watch the three Football matches here at Santa and witnessed our students playing graciously, disputing every single ball and leaving all in the field.
The reports from Basketball and Hockey were along the same lines, which makes me feel great about my role at the College and how much support we get from our community.
I would like to congratulate all students who took the courts and fields on Saturday highlighting SAN02 Basketball and SAN03 Football who are playing Grand Finals this coming weekend.
I would like to give a big shout out to our five Badminton teams (Years 6-11) who played the Meriden Invitational Badminton Competition till Friday last week when all teams earned the right to play the final round.
I also would like to acknowledge and congratulate SAN01 Chess team for making it to the finals of the IGSA Chess Challenge to be played at Meriden this coming Friday. The students topped their pool and are now looking forward to playing the matches that may lead them to the shield.
The following students have been selected to represent NSW (NSW Phoenix) at the Australian Youth Volleyball Championships this week and next week in Bendigo.
Please see photo below:
Back row (Left to right) Charlotte Brown – U16 Phoenix Sky team Mackenzie Bedford – U16 Phoenix Sky team Audrey Lowe – U15 Phoenix Sky team Wenxuan Wang – U15 Sky Phoenix team Annabel Cantali – U15 Phoenix Navy team
Front Row (Left to right) Alexis Gittani – U15 Phoenix Navy team Emily Morgan – U16 Phoenix Sky team Violet Addabbo – U16 Phoenix Sky team
Special Mention to: Elizabeth Buckley – Reserve for U18 Phoenix team Frankie Martin – Reserve for U15 Phoenix teams
This term was definitely a busy one but the rewards and the nurturing of our sense of community leading to great performances is to be highlighted and makes us all realise that all the efforts put into sport facilitation at Santa bring a huge reward when we see our students achieving success and engaging with an active lifestyle.
Representative and Saturday Sport and Co-curricular Activities
Individual Students’ Achievements
Alessandra Ronsisvalle – NSWPSSA Football
The following students represented CGSSSA at the NSWCCC Athletics Carnival on Monday 16 September:
Caitilin Brennan (Year 11) Ava Cetnic (Year 7) Sophie Hickey (Year 8) Annika Ingwersen (Year 12) Olynda Lebeau (Year 10) Amelie Mckee (Year 9) Mira Nguyen (Year 9) Lily Stewart (Year 12)
We had some outstanding performances and the highlights of the day were:
Caitilin Brennan (Year 11) – 4th in the 400m. Annika Ingwersen (Year 12) – 3rd in the 1500m race. Ava Cetnic (Year 7) – 1st 80m Hurdles,1st High Jump, 4th Long Jump. Lily Stewart (Year 12) 1st – 100m Hurdles and 1st Long Jump.
Reminders:
Registrations are still open for Co-curricular Sport/Dance and Fitness Based Clubs in Term 4.
Please register via the College App. Click on the Sport Registration button, this will take you to the Calendar.Click Activity Selection on the top right to select the required registration.
The offers are: Athletics, Fencing, FitClub, Mandarin, Badminton, Boxing, Swim Club and Recreational Dance.
The Recreational Dance Club Term 4 (Years K-8) commences Week 2 Term 4, register your child now via the Parent Portal. This is a fun club for students of all dance abilities to learn dance in an inclusive environment with their friends.
Luiz Ramalho Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities
Representative Dance
The SSC Representative Dance program has truly shone this year and that is a testimony to our incredible and talented dancers, our amazing and knowledgeable Dance coaches, and of course our wonderful supportive Dance families. Each year, mine, the Dance coaches and the Sport department’s goal, is to continue to grow the program in both quantity and quality. This year we had 112 dancers part of the program which was a huge achievement. We had a total of eight teams competing across Years 1 to 12, including our new Years 7-9 Jazz Team. As a squad, we competed at seven eisteddfods in 2024, at which we were highly competitive. Altogether, our teams competed 42 times collectively and out of these 42 times, placed 35 times! This is an amazing achievement for our dancers and we couldn’t be more proud, not only of their placings, but the way they represented the College by showing great teamwork, commitment and enthusiasm. This brings a smile to my face and gives the coaches and me the passion to continue to do what we do.
On Monday 16 September, we celebrated our Dance community and the dancers’ achievements at our annual awards breakfast. This was a beautiful celebration to recognise our dancers, the coaches, families and the support of the Sports Department and College. I’d also like to recognise our Dedication to Dance Award Recipient for 2024, Ellise Pirto. She was awarded this incredible award as she has shown commitment to this program over numerous years, and has been an integral member and role model of her teams. We also bade farewell to one of our exceptional coaches, Sally Danagr, who has played an integral role in the development of this program over her many years here. We wish her well as she embarks on her new chapter doing exciting things in a range of areas in the Arts.
We thank all the dance community for an amazing representative dance season and look forward to another great season in 2025.
Primary Sport
Sydney Catholic Schools Stage 2 Football Gala Day
On Tuesday 27 August, students from Year 3 and Year 4 participated in the Conference 2 Football Gala Day. Held at Edwards Park, Concord, the event brought together students from various Catholic schools in the inner west area, all eager to compete and have fun. The day involved a series of friendly matches, where students demonstrated some silky Football skills, excellent teamwork and commendable sportsmanship. Congratulations to all involved.
Sydney Catholic Schools Pre-Post Athletics Championships
Congratulations to Freya Ingwersen (1500m) and Alessandra Ronsisvalle (800m and 1500m) who have qualified for the Mackillop Athletics Championships being held on Wednesday 25 September at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. We wish them all the best as they compete against students from Catholic Schools across NSW.
Sydney Catholic Schools Oztag Championships
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent Santa Sabina at the Sydney Catholic Schools Oztag Championships being held at Timbrell Park, Five Dock on Tuesday 29 October. We wish the team all the best at the upcoming tournament.
Tuesday 29 October – SCS Stage 3 Oztag Championships
Friday 29 November – K-2 Splash and Dash Swimming Carnival
Netball update
It is time to reflect on the season that was and to thank and congratulate our wonderful Santa Netball community.
Whilst we got off to a very wet and soggy start, the sun eventually came out allowing us to get back on court and play netball.
All 25 teams produced some amazing results that would not have been possible without the support of our Santa families, our managers and above all our fabulous coaches. We had 18 out of 23 eligible teams make finals, with 10 progressing to the grand finals.
I would like to thank each and every player who helped and supported other Santa teams by filling in when those teams were short. Quite a few of our teams were plagued by injuries and illnesses, especially towards the end of the season and it was comforting to know that the Santa Spirit is alive and well and that the girls were willing to help out when they could.
It should be noted that some of our teams may not have made it to finals without your help, so again, thank you.
Our 2024 Umpiring Development Program saw five students successfully complete the course, with one achieving her ERNA badge. In fact, we had five students in total achieve their ERNA badge and two were awarded their National C badge this year. We look forward to watching these students continue on their umpiring journey next year.
Please see here for photos of our grand finalists and our junior presentation.
We are looking forward to seeing you all back on court next year.
Congratulations to our IPSHA Touch Football Teams who competed this Term. Our Year 5 and 6 team developed their skills and went through the eight-week season undefeated. Our Year 3 and 4 team showed incredible energy and determination and improved with each game, winning their final match out at Kambala, against Ascham, even when they were short of players. Both teams did a fantastic job, working with a number of different coaches and we hope to see them all back next year in our IPSHA or IGSA teams.
IGSA
Congratulations to all teams who competed in the IGSA competition this term. We had some fantastic results with six of our teams competing in the Semi Finals on Saturday (2 Basketball, 3 Football and 1 Hockey). The girls all played their hardest with some very close results across both sports. Congratulations to SAN03 Football and SAN02 Basketball who have progressed to the Grand Final this Saturday. We wish you the best of luck in your final matches this coming Saturday.
From the P&F Association
Dear Santa Families
We are devastated and deeply saddened by the passing of Charlotte O’Brien last week. It is difficult to comprehend what has happened and it is normal for us to be searching for answers. At this time, it is important for our community to turn our minds to coming together with a focus on support – support the O’Brien family for their loss, support our children in their grief and support one another as a community.
In communication with the school, the P&F supports the meal train initiative setup and continues to explore ways to provide assistance to both the family and the community. There has been a wonderful show of support for the family to date through this initiative and we thank the community for coming together.
We also believe that it is extremely important that we continue to support one another through grief as we are doing and continue to come together as a community.
Debra’s article below is extremely helpful and we strongly encourage you to read it and apply the suggestions as you see fit.
Change of Date Trivia Night – 25 October 2024 at Del Monte Hall
After careful consideration within the P&F and out of respect for Charlotte, her family and the community in mourning, we have decided to postpone the trivia night to Friday 25 October (Term 4 Week 2).
For those who have already purchased tickets and can attend on the new date, you do not need to do anything. For those who can no longer attend please reach out to us at pnfcomms@ssc.nsw.edu.au.
We look forward to bringing the community together and welcoming everyone to trivia in the new term.
Yours in friendship
P&F Executive
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 25 October 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.
The Del Monte parents would have received the Colour Fun packets by now. If you haven’t already registered your child please do so by following the instructions in your child’s sponsorship booklet to create a profile at www.australianfundraising.com.au. At the end of the fundraiser either order prizes to receive or donate to a cause.
🗓 Date: Friday 18 October 2024
⏰ Time: T.B.A.
📍 Location: Del Monte Field
Please make sure students wear a WHITE shirt and closed-in shoes.
Students will be given free sunglasses and a rainbow headband for the event.
Students will be covered in non-toxic, biodegradable colour powder from head to toe.
Colour Powder is made of high-quality corn starch and permitted food colours. Safety data sheet is available upon request.
For further information, please contact Tatiana via ssprimary@ssc.nsw.edu.au
Parent Education
Grief by Debra Brodowski
As a community over the past week, we have experienced unimaginable shock and grief. It has been incredibly emotional and difficult to comprehend. Our brains, in trying to understand and process our grief have been feeling wired and on edge. If that’s how we’re feeling as adults, the young people in our lives have the additional challenge of trying to grieve without having their brains fully developed to do so. Our brains don’t become fully developed until well into our mid-20s, and so for our young people, this means that there are many things that will be more difficult to process as they grieve.
So how do we support our young people whilst we are also grieving as a community? The College has provided a comprehensive set of resources over the past from Headspace and Mackillop to assist, so I won’t double up here. Please refer to those resources already sent through. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some top tips that I am using with my own family.
Focus on what you can control
There is so much information at the moment, both on social media and in the news, that is adding to our responses to grief. For me and my family, we are staying away from these sources of information at this time. They only lead to more uncertainty which is not helpful to our grieving process. As a family we focus on what we can control. We ask if they want to speak about anything or ask any questions, and if they don’t that’s fine. We focus on how we can control our own distress and grief.
Safe people
It may not be immediate parents and caregivers who they want to speak with. As young people enter into their tween and teen years, they branch out in terms of accessing support. Parents aren’t the only source of support for them. We have identified safe adults that they can speak with (their choice, our endorsement), both within the College and also within the family/family friend unit. These safe people also know that they may get a call to have a chat and know that everything that is discussed remains private, and only shared with their knowledge if it is important for a parent/caregiver to know.
Community building
We are here to support in whatever way we can to support the O’Brien family as well as our friends in the Santa Sabina community. We connect with those who we care about and offer our support in any way we can.
As a family, and a College, and a community, we can support one another with care, compassion, and empathy to grieve the tragic loss of one of our fellow students.
Uniform Shop holiday hours
Vacation Care
Vacation care begins on Monday 30 September and bookings are now available. Vacation Care runs every day in the Santa Sabina holidays (apart from the Labour Day Public Holiday). If your child is looking for fun and exciting things to do during the school holidays, then look at our program, which was developed with OOSH children. Children are welcome to enrol for certain days, weeks or the whole program. Prep children who are five years old are welcome to participate.
Every day begins with an engaging craft or cooking experience, is illuminated by an exciting incursion or excursion and rounded off with an entertaining film. What more would a child want or need to help them relax, have fun and play with friends these holidays?
Daily costs vary from $82 to $130, depending on activities scheduled. Eligible families are entitled to claim a Child Care Subsidy that will reduce the daily OOSH fee. Breakfast and afternoon tea are provided daily. Children are only required to bring morning tea and lunch, just like they would at school.
Primary and Gioia House students are all welcome to attend vacation care. They just need to be enrolled in OOSH prior to doing so. To enrol your child, contact our OOSH Coordinator Frances Windon at ooshmail@ssc.nsw.edu.au or call her on 9745 7790 between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
I look forward to seeing your child at OOSH during the school holidays.
Jackie Baxter Director of Mary Bailey House
School Holiday Tennis Camp
Lego Looking for a Home?
Do you have unused Lego cluttering up your cupboards but can’t bear to throw it out?
I have a solution to your problem!
Pack it up and we will send it with other educational supplies to the Dominican sisters’ schools in various locations around the Solomon Islands. Can you imagine the joy your Lego will bring to little ones who have never seen Lego or Duplo.
Please include any instruction books, to give new builders ideas of what is possible with these wonderful blocks.
You can drop them off to school – any campus – or if you want to make this a holiday project, with your children – you can bring your donations to the classrooms under the Santa Sabina hall on Monday 14 October when we will be packing. Or phone me to work out pick up or deliver at other times. 0425 25 22 89.
With thanks!
Jane Sulis Coordinator of Outreach
The Ultimate Drama Workshop
Join us during the school holidays for The Ultimate Drama Workshop. You have a choice to come for one, two or even better three days!! Students who come along for the three days perform at the end of the workshop for family and friends.
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.
