The College joins with the rest of the world in wishing our new Pope, Leo XIV, strength, courage and love as he begins his new role as the leader of the Catholic Church. A champion defender of human dignity and justice, he shares Pope Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment. At his first appearance as the Successor of Peter from the Central Loggia of St Peter’s Basilica, he spoke these words:
‘Peace be with you all!
Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!‘
It was wonderful to begin the term with our whole school Parent-Teacher interviews. The College was alive with conversations about learning and progress; and feedback about our return to face-to-face interviews has been extremely positive. This term we have so very many opportunities for our community to come together and these special moments of connection are so uplifting and important. Mother’s Day Masses and Breakfast were extremely well attended last week and it was really special to give thanks for our mums and significant carers who love us unconditionally. We also had a wonderful Mother’s Day lunch hosted by the P&F Association. This year it was held at Ecco Restaurant and the whole event had a lovely vibe.
Congratulations to our students who received top honours for their diligent approach to learning on their Term 1 Interim Reports. An outstanding number of students were awarded a Pro Summa Diligentia which reflects an excellent and consistent effort in the way they approached every single subject studied in Term 1. We were thrilled to see so many parents attend the Diligence Assembly to celebrate their child’s commitment to working hard and behaving with utmost respect in all classes.
Planning is well underway for our new Winter Academy which will be held for Year 9 students at Tallong in 2026. We have set the dates for the beginning of Term 3 so as not to impact those students who participate in the Gala Concert performance in Term 2. The dates for 2026 are Tuesday 21 July until Sunday 9 August. This new initiative will be trialled next year following strong support by parents and students when we recently asked for expressions of interest. Current Year 8 parents will have the opportunity to hear the details of what is on offer at our Information Night and Year 9 Subject Selection Evening which will be held on Wednesday 11 June. Students who opt to attend the Winter Academy will study an academic program with English and Maths lessons taught online with students at the Santa Sabina campus. Electives will be integrated and students will undertake field projects in these areas. Outdoor and experiential learning activities will also feature as part of the program with treks to Kangaroo Valley and other outdoor adventures on offer. We are very excited by the interest and if all goes well, we hope to add this program to our yearly list of opportunities for students in Year 9.
I would like to let you all know that a memorial plaque has been placed on the grounds to honour our student, Charlotte O’Brien, who passed away last year. Charlotte’s family has been able to visit the site which was blessed on the weekend.
Our Santa Sabina University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Introduction Program is well underway with more than 60 students from Years 10-12 meeting every Wednesday evening. The course is designed by our very own teachers and they have created workshops and engaged guest presenters from the medical field as well as universities to provide our students with an understanding of what this Medical and Dental Admissions Test entails. My thanks to Mrs Imber and Miss Guirguis for developing and facilitating this opportunity for our girls.
Finally, the P&F is hosting its annual Trivia Night on Friday 13 June. This is a really fun night so start thinking about gathering a table. Further details will be published in the next few days, it would be great to see you join in on all the Freaky Friday fun!
Paulina Skerman College Principal
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
May – a month for Mary, mothers and making a difference
Each year in the month of May, Catholics around the word dedicate their prayers and devotions to Mary. For so many Christians around the world and in our own community, devotion to Our Lady, brings with it the confidence and support needed to live a life of faith and hope.
The rosary was given to St Dominic by Our Lady and is one of the most powerful prayers. Praying the rosary with a full heart and blessed intentions can bring great solace and relief. It is a way for those of faith to demonstrate their love and to be reminded that Mary loves all her precious children.
Across the campus in May there will be opportunities for our community to come together in Eucharistic celebrations, in prayer and in saying the Rosary to acknowledge this time of Marian spirituality. Our Years 5-12 Rosary group will meet weekly on Fridays during May and there will be opportunities for our Del Monte students to participate in the Rosary and Marian-focused prayer in their classes.
Last week also saw two beautiful occasions at the College for students to show the love and gratitude they have for their mothers. Both the 7-12 campus and our P-6 campus celebrated Mother’s Day Masses in the Santa Sabina Chapel. Each of these occasions provided opportunities for children to take some time to acknowledge the love, and generosity of their mothers. This time of companionship in prayer also allowed mothers to pray for their children, asking for the strength and wisdom to guide them to attain independence, fulfilment and happiness.
Melanie van der Meer Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Deputy Principal Operations
School Photographs
School Photographs for students on the Del Monte campus will be held on Monday 19 May and for students in Years 6-12 on the Santa Sabina campus on Friday 23 May. This year due to a clash with Year 5 Outdoor Education Experience, School Photos for our Year 5 students and any students absent on these days will be held on 13 June. Please ensure that your child is in full winter uniform including blazer. All students should have their hair tied back and no makeup or jewellery should be visible. Staff will be present on the day to ensure that these standards are met.
Travel connections to the College
There are several ways that students can get to and from school. Transport for NSW has provided an updated list of the bus connections that link with the College. The list is available by following this link. The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) gives eligible school and TAFE students free or subsidised travel between home and school on NSW public transport, including trains, buses, ferries and light rail, for more information please follow this link.
Dangerous traffic acts are reported to the College each day by staff and local residents. Cars performing U-turns across double lines in the kiss and ride areas is one of the actions that I would particularly like to highlight as dangerous to the safety of students and other road users – it is also illegal. Police and council rangers regularly patrol the kiss and ride zones and there are significant fines for those road users caught doing the wrong thing.
John Gilmore Deputy Principal Operations
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Student-Parent-Teacher Interviews
At the start of the term, we welcomed many of our parents from Kindergarten to Year 11 for a return to face-to-face student-parent-teacher interviews. These sessions provided a valuable opportunity for parents, teachers, and students to discuss progress, goals, and achievements. It was also a great chance for parents to catch up with other parents in the breaks. If you missed this session you are welcome to book at our next session on 22 July. We will send out the invitation later this term.
Assessment Blocks 7-10
As was explained earlier in the year, after carefully reviewing the assessment calendars, this year we introduced assessment blocks for students in Years 7 to 10. This change aims to streamline the time students spend on assessment tasks during the semester and to better prepare them for formal testing, which remains the primary method of assessment for the HSC and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This will commence this term Year 9 and 10 Week 5 Year 7 and 8 Week 6. A letter outlining the schedule for the week will be sent to parents this week.
Study Skills
At the end of last term, Elevate ran a comprehensive study skills program for all Year 7-10 students to prepare them for the assessment blocks in Term 2 and 4. Year 7 students attended the ‘Study Skills Kick Start’ seminar, focusing on dynamic reading, note-taking, and conceptual learning. Years 8 and 9 students learned consistent work habits and task management, including developing balanced study routines and overcoming procrastination. Year 10 students participated in the ‘Ace Your Exams’ seminar, which covered critical exam skills such as effective preparation, stress management, and exam techniques. These seminars aimed to equip students with essential skills to achieve their academic goals.
Parent Webinar
Elevate also offers free parent webinars throughout the year and we recommend parents attend the Live Parent Webinar: How You Can Help Your Child Prepare for Exams on Wednesday 21 May from 6:30-7:30pm.
Elevate will be covering:
Prioritising your child’s high-impact work to maximise marks
Improving your child’s time management to avoid last-minute preparation
Helping your child study effectively using past papers.
Early in Term 3, Year 8 students will be asked to nominate electives for study across Year 9 2026 and Year 10 2027. Elective courses run for two years across Stage 5 (Years 9 and 10) and students will study three electives. In order to assist with this process, an information evening has been scheduled for Wednesday 11 June starting at 6:00pm in the Lecture Theatre. During this evening we will also be updating parents on the Year 9 Winter Academy at Tallong. Parents and Year 8 students are asked to attend the information evening.
Jacqueline Pugh Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Head of Primary P-6
I hope all our mums and mother figures enjoyed a truly special Mother’s Day on Sunday. It was a joy to honour you at our Mother’s Day Mass, where we celebrated the love, guidance, and dedication you bring to our community each day.
During the school holidays, a group of Del Monte and Gioia House student leaders represented the College at the Strathfield Council Anzac Day service. It was a moving tribute to our nation’s servicemen and women, and we were especially proud when the Mayor of Strathfield, Councillor John-Paul Baladi, presented Year 6 student Evanna Lui with a certificate recognising her award-winning Anzac artwork.
As Term 2 commenced, we marked Easter at both Del Monte and Gioia. Sr Sheila led a heartfelt session on ‘How to Be an Easter Person,’ exploring the significance of carrying Christ’s light within us all year round. Our students responded with enthusiasm, reflecting on ways they can share hope and kindness in their daily lives.
In Week 1, our Years 5 and 6 students celebrated the Feast Day of St Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Gioia House, with a beautiful liturgy. St Catherine’s courage, unwavering faith, and joyful spirit serve as an inspiration to us all, reminding us to live with compassion and conviction in everything we do.
P-4 Learning Walks
Following our successful Parent-Teacher Interviews earlier this term, where teachers shared your child’s academic and pastoral progress and outlined key learning goals for this semester, we will continue to showcase student learning through Learning Moments on each grade’s VO page and Learning Walks in the classrooms. This term’s Learning Walks will take place on the following dates:
Learning Walks
Prep 5 and 2 Days Friday 23 May at 8:30am
Prep 3 Days Wednesday 21 May at 2:40pm
Kindergarten Wednesday 14 May, 2:30pm
Year 1 Wednesday 4 June at 2:30pm
Year 2 Wednesday 28 May at 2:30pm
Year 3 Thursday 19 June 1:45pm
Year 4 Friday 30 May, 2:30pm
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the exciting learning experiences in every classroom.
Kangourou sans Frontières
This year, as part of our Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program, students in Years 3-6 participated in Maths KSF (Kangourou sans Frontières) enrichment program, organised by Australian Maths Trust. KSF is the largest maths competition in the world, with more than six million participants each year. Our students achieved: 26 Credits, three Distinctions and one High Distinction. Our Year 2 Maths accelerants, Joseph Hoang and Jonathan Lin, competed in the Year 3 papers and achieved Credits. These are outstanding results, and we congratulate all our participants.
High Distinction Award
Natalie Sun – Year 4
Distinction Awards
Irene Jung – Year 4 Axel Leung – Year 3 Lydia (Jinxian) Wang – Year 5
Credit Awards
Year 2 Joseph Hoang Jonathan Lin
Year 3 Ethan Fahmy Sebastian Portelli
Year 4 Cosmo Ko Flynn Lee William Lu Kaylee Lui Priscilla Peng Audrey Wong Alicia Wu
Year 5 Zara Alvaro Olivia Gan Scarlett Ghossein Amara Jeyaganesh Aria Leung Angela Li Marie Metledge Claire Yang
Year 6 Peixi (Abby) Deng Zara Hraiki Tia Jabbour Emily Liang Elizabeth Ong Wan Chen (Leah) Zhu Annabelle Lee
Easter Art Competition
The P&F Easter Art Competition beautifully embraced the spirit of Easter while raising valuable funds for Caritas. We extend our gratitude to every student who contributed their creativity and enthusiasm to this event, and we congratulate our winners on their outstanding artwork. A special thank you goes to the P&F for organising the competition and judging the submissions.
Del Monte
Prep – Kriselle Ma (Prep2) Kindergarten – Victoria Azzi (KG) Year 1 – Ophelia Chen (1N) Year 2 – Sooah Cho (2P) Year 3 – Sabrina Commisso (3BG) Year 4 – Mariah Zanon (4D)
Gioia House
Year 5 – Eleanor Cheong (5COR2) Year 6 – Esther Chiew (6COR3)
School photos
Our 2025 School photos (individual, class and siblings) will be taken on Monday 19 May and Friday 23 May by the company The School Photographer. On these days all students will need to wear their full College Winter Uniform. If the students have Physical Education lessons on either of these days they will need to bring their sports shoes to school in their bag. Please ensure that sports shoes are clearly labelled with your child/ren’s name/s. All orders and payments are completed online via The School Photographer website. Please click on this link and enter this code X1040PC51A.
Sibling photos
Across Campus Sibling Photos
On Monday 19 May from 7:45am – 8:30am in the Del Monte Hall, siblings from across all campuses can have their photo taken together. It will be the parents’ responsibility to ensure their children are at the Del Monte Hall within this timeframe for the sibling photographs.
Del Monte Campus Sibling Photos
Del Monte Campus sibling photos will be taken on Monday 19 May and Friday 23 May depending on the number of bookings.
Group Photos
Year 4 whole grade and the school leaders’ photo will be taken on Friday 23 May. Unfortunately, these cannot be rescheduled. If your child is absent from the group photo, their name will only appear as absent.
Gioia House Photos
Our 2025 School photos for Year 6 (individual and class photos) will be taken on Friday 23 May. Year 5 photos will be taken on Friday 13 June and a whole Gioia House photo will be taken on that day also. On these days all students will need to wear their full College Winter Uniform. If the students have Physical Education lessons on either of these days they will need to bring their sports shoes to school in their bag. All orders and payments are completed online via The School Photographer website. Please click on this LINK and enter this code: X1010SET54A.
Action Teams
Last week, Year 4 and Year 6 students met in their respective action teams alongside their student leaders and teacher mentors to brainstorm meaningful initiatives that will engage the whole school community and drive positive change. Through collaborative discussions, they generated creative ideas from peer-mentoring programs, sustaining the environment, developing fundraising events and community service projects designed to foster inclusion, wellbeing and school pride.
Gioia House and St Pat’s Afternoon Tea
In Week 2, Gioia student leaders met with boys from St Patrick’s College Strathfield for afternoon tea to build connections and brainstorm initiatives that will positively impact their school communities. This is a wonderful tradition that was established three years ago to bring boys and girls together for an evening of collaboration and discussion. We look forward to inviting Year 6 St Pat’s boys to our annual STEAM Gala Day in August. These opportunities play an essential part in building respectful relationships.
Term 2 Curriculum Overview
Del Monte
Term 2 Curriculum Overviews are available for you to access via Veritas Online. To access, log onto the Veritas Online Grade Homepages, select your child’s year group then select the ‘Curriculum Overview’ tab.
Gioia House
You can now access the Term 2 Curriculum Overviews for your child’s grade via Veritas Online. To access, log onto Veritas Online, select ‘Academic Course Overview’ and select your child’s grade.
Years 3 and 4 Homework Club
We are pleased to offer your child the opportunity to join our After School Homework Club, led by Santa Sabina College senior students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Service and supervised by me and Mr Dunlop.
Details:
Commencement date: Thursday 29 May
When: Thursdays, Terms 2 & 3
Time: 3:20 – 4:20 pm
Where: Del Monte Library
Capacity: 10 students
If you would like your child to participate, please email Neda Korman at n.korman@ssc.nsw.edu.au as soon as possible. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to supporting our students’ learning in this new initiative.As we continue into the term, we anticipate the opening of the new Del Monte playground and many exciting events where we will celebrate our students and community.
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our parent volunteers for their dedication in preparing and selling thoughtful Mother’s Day gifts and for your continued support in bringing our community together.
‘Let all that you do be done in love’ (1 Corinthians 16:14). May we continue to serve one another, build our community in faith, and carry Christ’s light throughout Term 2 and beyond.
For detailed information about upcoming college events, please refer to the communications sent directly to families via email.
Important dates for Del Monte:
Wednesday 14 May – Year 3 St Dominic The Adventurer
Wednesday 14 May – Kindergarten Learning Walk, 2:30pm
Thursday 15 May – Primary Assembly
Thursday 15 – Friday 16 May – Year 2 Camp – Tallong Comes to Del Monte
Monday 19 May – School Photography Day
Wednesday 21 May – Year 4 Excursion – The Rocks Walking Tour
Wednesday 21 May – Year 2 Excursion – Little Diggers
Wednesday 21 May – Prep 3 Day Learning Walk, 2:40 pm
Friday 23 May – School Photography Day 2
Friday 23 May – Prep 2 & 5 Day Learning Walk, 8:30am
Tuesday 27 May – Year 4 St Dominic The Adventurer – St Peters Rock Climbing 3:20pm – 5:30 pm
Wednesday 28 May – Year 2 Learning Walk, 2:30pm
Thursday 29 May – Primary Assembly – Kindergarten
Friday 30 May – Year 4 Learning Walk, 2:30pm
Important dates for Gioia House:
Tuesday 20 May – 5-12 Diligence Awards Assembly
Wednesday 21 May – Friday 23 May – Year 5 OEE Tallong
Thursday 22 May – Year 6 Da Vinci Decathlon – Knox Grammar Wahronga
Friday 23 May – School Photos Years 6-12
Saturday – Sunday 24 & 25 May – Mother Daughter Health Retreat at Tallong
Tuesday 27 May – GH SCS Conference 2 Football
Tuesday 27 May – Writers Festival Excursion at Sydney Town Hall
Monday 2 June – SCS Stage 3 Football Gala Day
Tuesday 10 June – K-6 Athletics Carnival
Wednesday 11 June – K-6 CSNSW Mackillop Cross Country Championships
Friday 13 June – Year 5 Photos
Monday 23 June – Gala Day Concert Rehearsal
Tuesday 24 June – Gala Day Concert 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Friday 27 June – Term 2 Concludes
Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement
Its reunion season!
Santa Sabina is coming to London!
We’re inviting all ex-students living in or visiting London to join us for a special reunion on 15 July 2025. It’s a chance to reconnect, reminisce and celebrate the global Santa network. We would love to see you there — register your interest via the link below.
Golden Girls and Boys Reunion
It’s the last chance to book for our annual Mass and Lunch for alumni of 50 years’ standing (and earlier). This special event is for ex-students from the class of 1975 and earlier. We can’t wait to reconnect and celebrate with you.
We are looking forward to seeing our Class of 2024 on Thursday 29 May at their first reunion where they will be able to collect their copies of Veritas 2024.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated P&F members, with a special shout-out to the fathers, for their incredible efforts last Thursday. Their early start and hard work in serving breakfast to hundreds of mothers and students made Mother’s Day truly special. Additionally, their impeccable organisation of the Mother’s Day Lunch was greatly appreciated.
Yvette Graniero Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement
Director of Mary Bailey House and OOSH
Out of School Hours Care
Phew! We’re just coming down from an exciting and fun filled vacation care program. We had such a great time at OOSH during vacation care we can’t wait for the next school holidays. We recently reflected on the highpoints and it brough a smile to our faces. Friendships were forged and good times had throughout the two-week program. Our highlights included the Easter Party. What fun we had making Easter baskets and bunny ears and donning them to go on an Easter egg hunt. The Petting Zoo gave us the opportunity to learn about, touch and feed farm animals. The experience left us feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Seeing Dogman at Reading Cinema made us laugh, while Junior Architects got us thinking and constructing a tall tower and buildings together. With only six weeks until the next vacation care, we’re presently planning a program to keep the fun and laughter going. I hope that your child will join in the fun these next school holidays.
Mary Bailey House
Mothers, grandmothers and godmothers were all invited to our Mother’s Day afternoon tea. Our preschoolers helped with the preparations by making Lemon Myrtle biscuits for the afternoon snack. Every child made a small gift, a key chain that could be carried by their mum as a constant reminder of them. We made sure that every mum received their gift even if they couldn’t make the event.
The event was held in the MBH yard. It was a relaxed and informal occasion that was enjoyed and appreciated by all that could attend. We know that our mums are busy and dedicated people who do a wonderful job of balancing their family and work commitments. We hope that all our mums had a Happy Mother’s Day.
Jackie Baxter Director of Mary Bailey House and OOSH
Director of Development
Veritas Annual Appeal
Santa Sabina College boasts a rich history of nurturing, educating and shaping the future of students in our care. Over many generations, Santa Sabina College has profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of young students, creating a legacy that endures through the years.
We invite you to be part of this enduring tradition and help pave the way for a brighter future. By contributing to the 2025 Veritas Annual Appeal, you will leave a lasting legacy that will significantly benefit our entire community.
Your generous donations will support:
Santa Sabina College Scholarship Fund: Providing opportunities for deserving students to access quality education. Scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, all-round achievements, and musical talent.
Scholarships cover either full or partial tuition fees, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds can benefit from the exceptional education offered at Santa Sabina College. These scholarships not only provide financial assistance but also open doors to a world of possibilities, empowering students to achieve their full potential.
Santa Sabina College Building Fund: Enhancing our facilities to create an optimal learning experience.
Impact of your contribution: Your donation will directly support the educational journey of our students, ensuring they have access to the best resources and opportunities.
Community involvement: By contributing, you are not just supporting a school but investing in the future leaders of our society.
Legacy of excellence: Your support helps maintain the high standards of education and facilities that Santa Sabina is known for.
Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community. Together, we can continue to shape the future.
On Thursday 6 November, the Santa Sabina College Golf Day is scheduled to be played at Strathfield Golf Club. The day will begin with breakfast starting at 7:00am, followed by a round of golf, (Shotgun tee off at 7:30am) and then lunch and prize giving at the club house.
We are looking for businesses or families to sponsor our golf day, either as a hole sponsor or a major sponsor for the day. We would love to hear from you. Please contact me on 0414 915 910 or at giving @ssc.nsw.edu.au
There are Rosary Plaques available for families who would like to have their family name(s) on plaques embedded on our Rosary beads that border the Rosary Garden. If you are interested in sporting the College and leaving a lasting legacy, please contact me on giving@ssc.nsw.edu.au
I am pleased to announce that the Santa Sabina Business Directory is up and running on both the Parent Lounge and on our College website. There is plenty of room if you would like to advertise your business on our sites and I encourage you to support the College while taking advantage of this advertising opportunity.
Well Term 2 has started with a bang. We have a busy schedule with programs for Years 3, 5 and 11 and our Health & Harmony Retreat for mothers and daughters. We will also welcome SCEGGS Darlinghurst, International Grammar School and St Paul’s International College. As well, we are excited to host campus site visits from Canberra Grammar, Optimum Experiences, Oxley College and Pymble Ladies College. It is wonderful to see such growth and interest in the campus despite the droughts, fires, floods and COVID pandemic of the previous five years. This term we will also be presenting to Year 8 parents for a pilot Year 9 winter school – the Tallong Winter Academy – to be run in Term 3, 2026.
Our Health & Harmony retreat is running on the weekend of 24 and 25 May and we still have some spaces available. Please reach out to the Community Relations team for more information. Or book here.
This retreat is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and spend quality time with your daughter with special guest speaker Danielle Miller from Enlighten Education presenting. I have also been told that Cheffrey is preparing a pretty special menu for this weekend.
Kendal Hann Director of Outdoor Education and Tallong Campus
From the Director of Student Wellbeing 7-12
FREE Online Mental Health Workshops for Parents and Caregivers of Teens
The Kidman Centre UTS run Pastoral Care workshops for our students each year:
Year 7 and 8: The friendship formula – Assertive communication, boundaries and confidence
Year 11: HSC and IB Stress Management
Please see more information below.
Elise Whiley Director of Student Wellbeing 7-12
Balancing competition and philosophy – our Senior students shine at the Senior Ethics Olympiads
The recent Senior Ethics Olympiad was a fantastic experience for the 10 competing students. It was great to see them put into practice everything they had been preparing for in their weekly practice sessions. Many students who competed this May have been participating in the Ethics Olympiad since their earliest years at Santa Sabina. It is very rewarding to see a nervous Year 7 student grow into a confident and eloquent senior speaker. Students really enjoyed talking to other teams and hearing their opinions on the sometimes controversial ethical dilemmas.
‘I believe that the Olympiad’s focus on finding common ground between different (and sometimes opposing) perspectives through respectful ethical discussion in order to strengthen a common understanding of an issue and work towards meaningful solutions is so important, especially in a context where there is increasing social division and a lack of respectful discourse on many topics.‘ Kate Pitman-Fernandez Year 12
Students not only get the opportunity to speak to students from other Australian schools, they are also meeting with academics from universities across the world who provide useful feedback, whilst retaining a casual and conversational tone with the students.
‘Everyone is really light-hearted, so if you make a mistake, you don’t feel embarrassed, you feel supported and can laugh it off.’ Davina Rajkumar Year 10
The Olympiad offers a unique balance between competition and philosophy. Students are simultaneously struggling with time limitations and the feeling of not being listened to or understood whilst trying to deliver polite, academic arguments about their way of thinking.
‘Sometimes the opposition did not fully listen to our points, which was kind of frustrating. Personally, I found it challenging to develop and present my ideas in a sophisticated manner with a time constraint. The event itself was both fun and stressful because of its competitive nature.’ Gaby Indra Year 11
Both teams performed remarkably well, pleasingly, the Purple team made up of Eve Ardagna, Mia Bek, Angelina Filipovski, Allegra Musca and Kate Pitman-Fernandez placed second and have been invited to compete in the finals in June.
Matthew Mountford Dean of Gifted Education
Santa Sabina students triumph at Macquarie University’s Startup Pitch Night
Four Year 11 students from Santa Sabina – Claudia Lee, Namina Sogore, Isabella Kelly, and Sophia Yparraguirre – achieved first place with their innovative app, SunGuard AI, at the prestigious Ideas Challenge. Their success highlights their creativity, initiative, and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Ideas Challenge is a six-week online skills-building program designed for emerging innovators and entrepreneurs. Participants complete three extension tasks, each assessed and, if passed, rewarded with a microcredential. Over Term 1, five groups from Santa Sabina entered Macquarie University’s Incubation Hub Ideas Challenge, completing a series of assessments culminating in the development and presentation of a final startup pitch.
We are proud to celebrate the entrepreneurial success of four outstanding Year 11 students Claudia Lee, Namina Sogore, Isabella Kelly, and Sophia Yparraguirre, who were named finalists in the Top 10 Ideas Challenge, a prestigious competition run by Macquarie University’s Incubation Hub in partnership with Young Wisdom.
Selected from a broad field of applicants across Sydney, the team impressed judges with their socially conscious and forward thinking startup: SunGuard AI. This innovative mobile app uses artificial intelligence to promote sun safety, raise awareness, and support early detection of skin-related conditions.
Designed for both iOS and Android devices, SunGuard AI offers a suite of health-focused features, including:
real-time sun safety alerts based on UV index levels
personalised sunscreen recommendations for different skin types
location-based information on nearby medical clinics
advanced UV and mole scanning tools for early skin concern detection
a built-in virtual assistant providing 24/7 support on sun safety.
These features make proactive skin health more accessible, convenient, and engaging for everyday users.
The team was invited to pitch their concept at the inaugural Secondary Student Startup Pitch Night, held at the Macquarie University Incubator, a vibrant space dedicated to nurturing young talent and innovative ideas.
The event brought together the top ten student-led startups from Years 9 to 12, selected through a competitive application process. Finalists pitched their ideas to a panel of industry professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs, competing for a share in a $1000 prize pool, alongside invaluable feedback and recognition from the startup ecosystem.
Our Santa Sabina students demonstrated remarkable creativity, initiative, and professionalism throughout the experience. Participating in an event of this calibre provided them with meaningful insight into real-world entrepreneurship, as well as opportunities to connect with peers and mentors who share a passion for innovation.
We are thrilled to share that the team achieved first place in the competition, an incredible accomplishment that reflects their hard work, vision, and courage. Opportunities like these embody Santa Sabina’s commitment to empowering future-ready learners, students who are curious, collaborative, and confident in shaping a better world through bold ideas.
Rosanne Sukkar Dean of Enterprise & Innovation TAS Teacher
Music in the Senior School (Curricular)
Music students in the Senior School have launched into Term 2 with much energy and enthusiasm.
A standout highlight so far has been the achievements of the Year 10 Rock Band, comprised of students from our Stage 5 elective music class, who recently recorded their first original song. With the expert guidance of our in-house sound engineer, Mr Jason De Wilde, students gained hands-on experience in professional studio recording during lunchtime and after-school sessions. It was an engaging and educational process, offering students a valuable insight into real-world music production.
Meanwhile, our IB Music students are preparing for their upcoming Higher Level Showcase Night, taking place on Monday 2 June in Holyrood. The evening promises to be a creative and inspiring celebration of their work, featuring interactive sound installations and a special performance inspired by the elegance of a candlelight concert. Please save the date, all are welcome to attend!
Our Year 7 and 8 students are also working hard as they prepare for their upcoming practical performance assessments, honing their skills and confidence in live performance settings.
Parents and friends are encouraged to save the date for the 2025 Gala Concert on 24 June, as Year 7 join 600 performers in massed items at the Sydney Town Hall – celebrating their learning journey and impact as part of our Voices of Hope Celebration.
Veronica Tsang & Jameson Choe Acting Co-Heads of Curricular Music 5-12
More Music…
Click below to find out more about Music events and co-curricular opportunities at Santa Sabina College.
Language is the primary tool we use to express ourselves and the words we choose convey our thoughts and feelings. Whilst the Oxford University Press (OUP) recently named ‘brain rot’ (referring to the deteriorating mental state as a result of mindless online scrolling) as the Word of the Year for adults, ‘friend’ was announced as the Australian Children’s Word of the Year for 2024. OUP analysed over 25,600 stories written by Australian students in mid to late primary school and calculated the words used frequently by students. This research gives an interesting insight into what is important in our young people’s lives.
The word ‘friend’ appeared 7.03% more frequently in students’ writing in 2024 compared to 2020–2023. Students wrote about their own friendships, the meaning of friendship, as well as qualities that make a good friend. Stories were written about navigating complex friendship issues, and the value of activities, such as sport, for making new friends and developing personal connections. It is these deep personal connections children value as they enter into an increasingly online world. Although the Australian data differed from the UK where ‘kindness’ was announced the UK Children’s Word of the Year, it is interesting to note that ‘kind’ was frequently used in connection to the qualities of a good friend.
Other frequently used words included love, hope and superpower. Hope was written about positively in terms of ‘hopes and dreams’, the desires and aspirations of the writer, as well as in a negative way focusing on losing hope or having no hope. Superpowers were seen as ways to heal and save people from difficult or overwhelming situations. The top eight shortlist appears below:
Word
Total uses
Change, relative frequency
Friend
4,538
7.03%
Love
3,821
60.70%
Play
3,449
3.34%
Game
1,901
12.68%
Hope
1,345
27.55%
Fact
406
36.64%
Leader
242
10.27%
Superpower
67
107.90%
The major themes found in the Australian data showed students writing about:
1. Connection/Social and emotional learning: focusing on the value of friendship
2. Fantasy, adventure and magic: displaying imagination and an interest in adventure, fantasy and magic
3. Society and learning: showcasing their knowledge and learning, with the word ‘fact’ trending this year notably about safety, the environment and personal interests
4. Animals/Environment and nature: Pollution and the environment continues to be a topic that students are concerned with, particularly the impact on animals and the ocean.
For teachers and families, understanding the language our students are using is a key contributor to building positive connections, effective communication and achieving strong learning outcomes.
If you would like to read more, you can access the full report here.
Susan Lombardo Head of Library 5-12
References:
Heaton, B. (2024, December 2). “Brain rot” named Oxford Word of the Year 2024 – Oxford University Press. Oxford University Press. https://corp.oup.com/news/brain-rot-named-oxford-word-of-the-year-2024/
Russell, D. (2025, April 3). Video infographic: Words most frequently used by children. Teacher Magazine. https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/video-infographic-words-most-frequently-used-by-children
Oxford University Press. (8 B.C.E.). OXFORD’S Australian Children’s Word of the Year 2024. https://www.oup.com.au/primary/2024-childrens-word-of-the-year
Save the Date – 2025 SSC Science Showcase
The Science department would like you to ‘Save the Date’ for our annual SSC Showcase to be held during Science Week on Wednesday 14 August.
This year’s theme is ‘Decoding the Universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language.’ This theme seeks to uncover the mysteries of the universe by exploring the languages of nature and mathematics, and the field of quantum science.
If you have attended previous Showcases you will know that we feature guest speakers from a wide range of careers utilising scientific knowledge.
Look out for further details later this term.
Year 10 vaccinations
In Year 10, students are offered free vaccines for Meningococcal ACWY at Santa Sabina College on Monday 2 June 2025. (Please note the change of date from 27 May, due to a clash with exams).
Vaccinations will only be provided if consent has been received.
Follow the steps to log in to your existing ServiceNSW account. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. If you don’t have a ServiceNSW account, refer to ServiceNSW to create one.
Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.
Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child/ren. You will need to:
Enter your child’s personal details.
Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child.
The HSIE Faculty embraces learning strategies which heighten student engagement in the exploration of the world around them. The Stage 4 Geography Syllabus asks students to engage in geographical inquiry to explore the relationships between people, places and the environment and to ultimately grow into informed, responsible, and active citizens. Shared is the virtual product of Year 8 Geography students Maddison Rice, Ella Rixon, Chiara Salvati, Lillian Scott and Elizabeth Mattar who designed a News Report to communicate Geographical information. Thank you to Vikki Cummins, teacher of Geography for this creative and engaging teaching and learning strategy.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Teacher Reflection
Creating the News Report was a way for students to work in groups, with student choice of a recent natural disaster and research through self inquiry learning. In a snapshot, students had to create a news broadcast of a recent Australian natural disaster (cyclone, floods, fire, drought). In groups of four, one student was the scientist, explaining how the natural disaster occurred; a bystander, describing the impact on individuals and the community; a news broadcaster and a weather reader. Students were excited, diligent, focused and creative when creating their news broadcasts. Vikki Cummins HSIE Teacher
Student Reflections
I really enjoyed this task because it gave us the opportunity to collaborate with friends and learn in a fun and engaging way when researching how and why the Hunter Valley Floods of 2015 happened. This task was beneficial for me as it combined teamwork, research, and creativity. Overall, it was a fantastic learning experience that I would love to participate in again. Zahra Triulcio Year 8
Making a video in groups taught me to express my knowledge creatively and collaborate with others so that we could all benefit from one another’s understanding of the topic of Australia’s worst drought on record in 2017. Chloe Wahbe Year 8
I enjoyed the research and presentation task because I had the opportunity to explore different natural disasters that have happened in Australia, and my group chose to focus on Cyclone Alfred in 2025. It was not only interesting but also fun, as we looked into the details of how such disasters impact people in our country. The task allowed us all to use presentation skills and filming techniques, making the learning experience engaging. This task was a great way to be creative, collaborate with peers and gain knowledge of geography in Australia through natural disasters. Elise Robertson Year 8
Careers Spotlight @ SSC
Term 2 has seen a busy start to the Careers Program at Santa Sabina.
Introduction to Medicine & Dentistry Program
Our inaugural Medicine and Dentistry Program commenced in Week 1 this term. This is an eight week program that aims to help students gain familiarity with the university entry pathways into studying Medicine and Dentistry, understand the organisation and structure of UCAT testing, and connect with practising doctors and dentists. It also aims to encourage students to reflect on their readiness for a future in medicine or dentistry. In Week 1, we began with an overview of the program and an introduction to the pathways into medicine and dentistry. Last week we explored the nature of the UCAT exam in more detail and heard from a fourth year medical school student, Julia, who joined us remotely to share with students her valuable insights into the UCAT as well as her experience of medical school thus far. Over the next few weeks, students will hear from other doctors and dentists who will unpack sections of the UCAT paper, as well as universities who will speak about their programs and pathway programs. Students will also have an opportunity to attempt a UCAT practice paper. We hope this is a valuable learning experience for our students who are considering a career in Medicine or Dentistry.
Below is a reflection from a Year 12 student on her takeaways from the program so far.
I have genuinely found the Introduction to Medicine and Dentistry Program very insightful in furthering my understanding of the processes involved in entering medicine, as well as what post-medicine entry life will look like. It has enabled me to establish a structured plan and overall sense of direction in terms of my preparation to enter medicine, enhancing my confidence and determination in this pursuit. Benedicta Darkwa Year 12
Holiday Work Experience Spotlight
Over the Easter holiday break, Emmalia Borralho had the opportunity to attend work experience in a legal setting. Below are her reflections on the experience.
During my two-week work experience, I worked alongside Tanya, a barrister at Wentworth 13. I attended the Supreme Court daily, gaining insight into how the legal system operates and learning about the different types of courts as well. I was able to see cases in the Equity Division, Direction hearings and I went to the Federal Circuit and Family Court where I watched an immigration case. During my work experience, I assisted in preparing briefs and had valuable discussions with Tanya about my interests and future plans. She offered helpful advice and shared her experiences, which gave me a deeper understanding of the legal profession. Thank you so much to Ms Guirguis, for getting me in contact with Tanya. I learnt a lot during the two weeks, and it’s definitely a career I am interested in continuing to pursue. Emmalia Borralho Year 12
National Careers Week
This week, we celebrate National Careers Week which takes place each year in May. The purpose of the week is to highlight and celebrate the personal, economic and social benefits of careers development and planning. It also aims to raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes and broaden horizons about careers whilst recognising the need for ongoing reskilling and upskilling to support career development throughout life. It is never too early for young people to begin discussing and researching their career aspirations. The more informed students are, the greater their capacity to make appropriate career related decisions that suit their individual needs and priorities. I encourage students to reach out if they need further guidance.
In light of National Careers Week, a range of activities and events have been organised for students to participate in. During Homeroom, students have taken part in activities designed to spark interesting conversations and encourage students to consider career paths they haven’t come across before.
National Careers Week will end with our much anticipated annual Career Women’s Network Breakfast this Friday morning which is a fantastic opportunity for senior students to gain insights into the career paths of members of our community and hear from guest speaker and ex-student, Faith Halliday. We look forward to welcoming many members of our community to the breakfast on Friday and trust that it will be an enriching experience for our students and career mentors alike.
Upcoming career events and opportunities
Click here to view the upcoming careers events and opportunities. I encourage your daughter to register for events that are of interest.
Eva Guirguis Head of Future Pathways and Partnerships
History Club – memory and legacy of Anzac Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance. This year as a nation Australians commemorate the milestone of 110 years of the first landing of the Anzac fighting forces at Gallipoli in 1915. The legacy of Anzac Day is to honour with gratitude the memory of those who have given their all for their country and identify the values of the Anzac spirit. Students studying History across Years 7-11 engaged in source analysis and inquiry. To build historical and civil understanding students explored primary resources from the Digital Classrooms and Digital Memorial Boxes of the National Museum of Australia and the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park.
Anzac Commemoration Services are an opportunity for communities to be unified in the act of respect. The formal Commemoration Service was observed by our school community through the College Assembly and included the Ode, The Last Post, one minute of silence for the fallen and The Rouse. The members of the History Club who led the service included Calliope Stewart, Monterey Tam, Emily Wong, Charlotte Salameh and Poppy Haigh. Year 7 History students created the wreath for the fallen and Year 11 Modern History students designed the reflection video. Prayers were also given for the fallen. Thank you to the Director of Music Amy Richardson, Trumpet Tutor Toby Rands and the College Assembly Choir for the heartfelt musical expression that set the reflective tone of the College commemoration.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Student Reflections
The Anzac Day commemoration was a powerful reminder of the bravery and sacrifice displayed by Australian and New Zealand soldiers. Being a part of the ceremony made me feel honoured in preserving their legacy and sharing the values of courage, mateship and unity to the school community. Monterey Tam Year 11 History Club Ambassador
The Anzac Commemoration assembly was a respectful, and poignant celebration of all those soldiers who fought in the world wars. As we listened to poetry and the Last Post, we were reminded as a school community on the importance of honouring these legacies. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to play a role in commemorating the effort and sacrifice of all those men and women who served in the war. Emily Wong Year 11 History Club Ambassador
It was an incredibly rewarding experience to take part in the Anzac Commemoration assembly. Standing before the assembly, I felt the weight of history and the significance of honouring those who had served and sacrificed their lives for our country. As I spoke the words of the poem ‘After the Service’ by Jeff Cook, I hoped to convey the respect and gratitude that Anzac Day represents. Poppy Haigh Year 11
The opportunity to participate in the Anzac Day Commemoration during assembly was touching as well as didactic, reminding us to appreciate the sacrifices made by many for our nation, and the unity in gratitude and respect. Calliope Stewart Year 11 History Club Ambassador
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Monterey in our Modern History class to conduct research into the experiences of Anzacs as well as an investigation into how their legend is commemorated in the present. This enabled us to construct a reflection video, in which we shared our learning with the school community in a reverent and engaging manner. Charlotte Salameh Year 11
Action Research Term 2 update
During the Professional Learning Day at the start of this term, groups got together to work on their Action Research projects. After some further planning and analysis of data gathered so far, groups took turns sitting with each other to share snapshots of their projects and to seek ideas on how to progress. This collaborative exchange of expertise and creative ideas helped groups navigate some of their research challenges while also generating innovative ideas for new practices and building meaningful connections across projects. I am looking forward to seeing the successes, insights and pivots that emerge over the coming weeks as groups work on designing, implementing and measuring the impact of their adjusted practices. A big thank you to all teachers involved for your professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to this process of continually improving our impact on student learning.
Kate Corcoran Coordinator of Action Research
Strengthening Global Connects – Kopanang Connect Mother’s Day Raffle
The aim of the HSIE Co-curricula Santa Kopanang Connect is to inspire students to work within the space of a social enterprise to lead ethical possibilities into community advocacy and future focused global action. Students wanted to give the women of Kopanang a special personalised item considered a luxury such as soap on Mother’s Day. The strategy to raise money was a Mother’s Day Raffle. Thank you to Sister Sheila who donated the prize for the Mother’s Day Raffle. The prize was a hand embroidered framed picture valued at $150.
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Lorelai Chung from Year 7 who won the draw at Assembly on 30 April. This project raised $494 for the women of Kopanang. Thank you to the Santa Sabina community for their generosity in supporting this global social justice initiative.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Student Reflections
The Kopanang Connect Mothers Day Raffle prize was a beautiful embroidery made by the women in Kopanang, with a heartfelt message on the back. We thoroughly enjoyed the organisation and ticket selling process, and experienced so much kindness with a large amount of donations and ticket sales. All profits went to the women in Kopanang and this Raffle had an amazing turn out! Abigail Middleton Year 11
This Kopanang Connect Mother’s Day raffle raised money for a little luxury for the women in Kopanang supporting the community and all of the women allowing them to continue to learn new skills in both numeracy and literacy and support their families. Annelies Notelaers Year 11
Assistant Head of Gioia House
Gioia House Outreach – Making a Difference
Throughout Term 1, the students participated in our outreach initiative to raise money for Project Compassion – Caritas Charity. The students took part in a Gioia House Bake Sale, made donations to their class/family Project Compassion money box and donated to the Santa Sabina House Caritas Water donation. The purpose of our fundraising efforts was to raise money for communities in Samoa to implement a filtered water system, allowing people to access clean water for drinking, cooking and hygiene purposes. We would like to thank all the students who donated to all of our Project Compassion initiatives, we know your generosity will have a positive impact on people around the world.
The Gioia House students raised the following amount:
Well done to all the Gioia students for helping make a difference to communities who need our help.
Action Girl Pastoral Programs
Our Gioia House Term 2 Action Girl Pastoral Program will focus on relationships, friendships, belonging, and identifying our personal values. The students will be guided through a series of lessons with a different focus each session. This week, the students focused on relating to the analogy that friendships can be like riding a rollercoaster. All relationships will have unexpected highs, lows, twists and turns along the way. We discussed how we need to adapt and navigate these changes, as they are a common part of dealing with different relationships. This lesson focused on self-compassion, teaching students self-care strategies, and identifying their character strengths. It is important for students to celebrate their positive attributes, which can improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Our Rock and Water Pastoral lesson also takes place fortnightly. Last week, our lesson focused on attitudes to resolve conflict. The students identified ways they can take on a rock approach and not succumb to peer-pressure or alter their values; other times it is best to have a water approach, where you still maintain your opinion but respect other opinions too. Depending on the situation, the students identified which approach would be more suitable for different scenarios. The students took part in the practical component of the lesson and positioned their bodies as a ‘rock’ where they were solid and grounded. The students then moved their bodies like ‘water’ to represent a more fluid water approach. Our session ended with balancing in our Rooster-pose position, where we focused on our breathing, being still and calm.
Marisa Maks Assistant Head of Gioia House
What’s happening in Year 5
5CORE1
Our students have had a great start to the new school term. In Science class, they successfully completed an experiment on dissolving sugar in water, demonstrating their understanding of solubility. By measuring and recording the amount of sugar dissolved in water and how this affected its mass, they showcased their ability to conduct precise scientific investigations. Their detailed observations reflect growing proficiency in scientific methods and critical thinking. They took satisfaction in following the scientific method and look forward to future experiments.
Alison Di Ciaccio Year 5 Teacher
5CORE2
During Mathematics lessons Year 5 have been posing questions and gathering data to find out more about the students in Year 5. Some questions posed were:
What is your favourite flavoured ice cream?
What is your favourite colour?
What sport do you like to play?
From the data collected graphs were constructed and the data interpreted. Year 5 found out that the most popular sport to play was soccer (almost a quarter of the grade), followed by swimming and netball. The most popular colours were pink and blue and the most popular ice cream flavour was cookies and cream. 50% more students liked green than yellow.
Wendy Anetter Year 5 Teacher
Interdisciplinary
During Interdisciplinary this term, Year 5 has been looking at Australia’s history specifically during colonisation and the early 1800s. They have developed their research skills in finding out about how First Nations Australians lived during the early 1800s as well as the European settlers. They examined a range of sources and were curious about the range of clothing, tools and objects used. The students collaborated with their peers and shared their learning about this time period with the class.
Bryony Watkins Year 5 Teacher
Italian
In Year 5 and 6, Term 2 has begun with a showcase of research on the traditional Italian festival ‘Carnevale’, with a focus on the world-famous ‘Carnevale di Venezia’ (Carnival of Venice). Students have worked on group projects exploring the historical roots of this tradition and some interesting facts about the way in which it is celebrated in Italy today. Everyone has enjoyed learning about the ancient Venetian art of mask-making and has created some beautiful masks. Group presentations and artifacts were shared in class, and everyone has participated enthusiastically in fun quizzes.
Daniela Panico Italian Teacher
What’s happening in Year 6
6CORE3
At the start of Term 2, Year 6 students have been focusing on the concept of time in their mathematics lessons. They have been practicing how to tell time using analogue clocks and converting these times to the 24-hour format. In one engaging activity, students were given a specific time to display on an analogue clock and then convert it to 24-hour time. This hands-on activity was not only enjoyable and engaging but also allowed students to apply their understanding of time to real-life scenarios.
Sian Tierney Year 6 Teacher
6CORE4
Mathematics in Ms Milicic’s class involved a scavenger hunt related to 12- and 24-hour Time. Students had to read the time, find the clues which were in 24-hour time and then use the letter of the answer to decode the final puzzle. A fast, fun-filled paced activity.
Ann Milicic Year 6 teacher
Year 6 Maks/Dunphy
Each morning during homeroom, the students take turns to lead us in prayer. We focus on the prayer of the day and reflect on how we can apply Jesus’ teachings to our everyday lives. This is a wonderful way we can begin our day with love in our hearts and the mindset to always try our best, speak kind words and display thoughtful actions each day.
Eamonn Dunphy and Marisa Maks Year 6 teachers
Music at Gioia House (Curricular)
Gioia House has started strongly for Term 2. The Gioia House Strings program has continued to learn and perform a wide range of repertoire. Year 6 Mini Maestros has continued to build strongly on their ensemble skills learning pieces like Dragon Dance to challenge them. In the Year 5 Mini Maestros program, the students had their very first opportunity to perform as a full band and have started to prepare Beethoven’s Ninth. In these large full band sessions, the students learn and understand what it looks like to work as a large musical team. To listen to each other and understand where their instrument fits in the grand scheme of the music.
As the students receive more music it is vitally important that students practise regularly so that they can continue to grow and develop as well-rounded musicians. It will also be more enjoyable for the students.
Students now have all four pieces that they will be performing at the Gala Concert at the Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday 24 June! Supporting rehearsal resources for Gioia House Choir can be found on Veritas Online. We encourage students to use these resources at home to help their individual development.
Stay tuned for information about the forthcoming Voices of Hope Gala Concert on Tuesday 24 June 2025 at the Sydney Town Hall, which will feature every child from Gioia House as part of our massed choir (alongside Years 4 and 7) as further expression of their rich musical opportunities at Santa Sabina.
Formal communication will be sent to performers shortly with key details about rehearsals in the leadup to the event and tickets will go on sale at 9:00am on Monday 19 May 2025.
Veronica Tsang & Jameson Choe Acting Co-Heads of Curricular Music 5-12
More Music…
Click below to find out more about Music events and co-curricular opportunities at Santa Sabina College.
Continuing our series of author visits to Gioia House, the Library is excited to announce Jessica Townsend will visit Year 5 and 6 on Tuesday 27 May to promote her new book Silverborn, the latest book in The Mystery of Morrigan Crow series. Jessica will be taking students back to Nevermoor as Morrigan Crow embarks on a thrilling new adventure and learns more about her magical world and uncovers the mysteries of her past.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Silverborn, or any of the first 3 Nevermoor books, to be signed by Jessica on the day, please scan the QR code and complete the order form. All orders must be received by Friday 23 May to arrive at school in time for the visit. Please note orders received after this will NOT be able to be signed.
What should my child read?
Supporting young people to develop a deep love and a regular habit of reading is a key goal of the library. To help foster growing reading engagement, defined here as a positive attitude and frequent engagement in reading, influencing and being influenced by literacy skill attainment (Merga, 2022), teacher librarians strive to share expertise in quality and contemporary literature. The buzz that exists in the library throughout the school day helps us to know our students and foster connections to ensure the right book lands in the right hands.
We are often asked by teachers and parents what our students should be reading. To support selection of suggested literature and texts to encourage reading for pleasure, staff, students and families can access curated lists of recommended books, targeted to student age groups. Titles included in the Premier’s Reading Challenge and links to eBooks and eAudiobooks are also available.
As the cover of the book is always important in giving the first impression, students can browse a range of texts in the library collection and select a book to read more. Choices can be reserved or saved to a list for later.
To access lists through Veritas Online and find out more:
Promoting reading as an enjoyable activity that invokes positive feelings and memories, as well as providing access to books and space to read, are good first steps to developing strong reading habits.
If you would like further information please contact me or one of our Teacher Librarians: Melina Marchetta or Michael Moses.
Reference: Merga, M. K. (2022). School libraries supporting literacy and wellbeing. Facet Publishing.
Susan Lombardo Head of Library 5-12/Extended Essay Coordinator
IPSHA Debating
Our IPSHA Debating team embarked on their first debate against St Andrew’s Cathedral School. From the moment the debate began, the students showcased their enthusiasm, quick thinking, and confidence in public speaking. They learned invaluable lessons – how to build compelling rebuttals, listen critically, and respond with poise under pressure. The friendly yet competitive atmosphere allowed them to sharpen their skills and build upon their teamwork and persuasive techniques. We look forward to our Debating season and are excited for our next round.
Ann Milicic Gioia House Debating Co-ordinator
Cultivating Problem-Solving
At Gioia House, we believe that mathematical application and creative problem-solving are key to developing critical thinking and communication skills. Through our Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program we offer a range of engaging programs and contests where we nurture students’ ability to reason and justify their ideas while tackling complex problems.
This term, Primary students have embraced the challenge of mathematical problem-solving through exciting competitions such as Maths Games, and Maths Olympiad. These contests not only sharpen their analytical skills but also inspire a love for mathematics.
Our Gioia House girls did very well in the Kangourou sans Frontières (KSF) maths competition last term, with 15 Credits and one Distinction achieved. Congratulations girls!
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4
Pastoral and Curriculum Update
Healthy friendships are built on trust and respect
Across the first two weeks of term, all P-4 classes spent time introducing the first of the two most important qualities of every friendship; Trust. The second quality, Respect, is set to be explored throughout Weeks 3 and 4. These qualities, Trust and Respect, form the basis and foundation of healthy friendships.
Wellbeing coach Charles Feltman defines trust as, ‘choosing to risk making something you value, vulnerable to another person’s actions.’ Brené Brown draws upon this definition to establish the 7 Pillars of Trust that can be easily remembered through the acronym, BRAVING: Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, the Vault, Integrity, Non-judgment, and Generosity.
At the heart of this definition, is an understanding that trust is not built through grand and extravagant gestures, but rather, in the little things that we do, that show care and respect for things that are important to those around us. To help students develop a deeper understanding of what trust looks like in a friendship, students completed activities to identify the small, consistent everyday actions they can take to build trust and form healthy friendships. The BRAVING acronym was used to help students understand that these small trust-building actions come in many different forms and contexts.
Cyber safety talks
Last week, students in Year 3 and Year 4 participated in a talk led by Senior Constable Gabriella di Marino, Youth Office from Auburn Police Area Command. Constable Gabriella discussed important ways for students to stay online, presenting information from the Australian Federal Police’s Think U Know program. She emphasised the importance of privacy, advising students not to share personal photos or information online and to respect personal boundaries.
During the session, Constable Gabriella showed the students a number of short clips and asked them to identify any potential ‘red flags’. The students successfully identified common mistakes that can be made online and their responses demonstrated that they understood why sharing personal details such as full names, home addresses, photos in school uniforms or local sport teams can be dangerous, recognising that it is often difficult to discern who they are interacting with online. This gave rise to a discussion about the importance of checking settings to ensure their interactions are restricted to friends and family members.
Constable Gabriella also highlighted the importance of children not having devices in their bedrooms, encouraging them to keep devices in common areas of the home such as the lounge room, kitchen or family rooms where parents are present and able to monitor their online activities. She stressed the importance of open communication with parents if they ever come across something that makes them feel uncomfortable online and discussed other places to seek help including the College counsellor and Kids Helpline.
Constable Gabriella encouraged the students to be upstanders and to tell trusted adults if they see something concerning, whether it’s a website, direct message or part of a group chat. She also explained the difference between bullying and someone being mean on purpose as a one-off isolated incident. Constable Gabriella reminded the students that bullying involves repeated actions that hurt, harm or humiliate, and stressed the importance of reporting disrespectful behaviour.
The Cyber Safety talks were highly informative, providing students with valuable tips and information to ensure their online safety. We were impressed by the students’ engagement in the sessions and their responses about ways they can continue to stay safe online and reach out to trusted adults when issues arise.
Further information and fact sheets about online safety, parental controls, gaming safety and creating a tech agreement for home are available for parents on the eSafety Commissioner and Think U Know websites.
National Road Safety Week
This week is National Road Safety Week. Throughout the week, students have been learning about how they can stay safe on the roads. Daily themes included Speed Matters, The Road to Zero, Get Home from Work Safe, Road Safety for Every Age and On the Same Path.
National Road Safety Week culminates in a special day on Friday 16 May, National Walk Safely to School Day, where all primary school aged children are encouraged to walk part or all of the way to school, follow road safety rules, share the footpath with pedestrians, cyclists and other members of the public and ensure that they always hold an adult’s hand to cross the road.
Lauren Petroni Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4
Religious Education update
‘Lord God, we lift up all mothers to You. Grant them the strength to face the daily challenges with courage and the wisdom to guide their children towards a life of faith and service. Encourage them when they are weary and inspire them when they feel overwhelmed. Bless them with Your peace and love, now and forever. Amen
Mother’s Day
On Thursday 8 May, we celebrated our mothers, grandmothers, aunts and motherlike figures who have nurtured and cared for us throughout our lives. The Mass was a time to thank and reflect on what these special women do for us daily. Father Gavin Foster sang a beautiful traditional Māori blessing during his homily.
Month of Mary
The month of May is traditionally associated with devotion to the Rosary and several significant feasts dedicated to Mary, such as the Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 May, Our Lady of Fatima on 13 May, Mary the Mother of the Church on 20 May, Our Lady Help of Christians Patron of Australia on 24 May and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 31 May.
The Rosary
The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Our Lady. This month, the Rosary will recommence, and students are invited to pray the Rosary during First Break, 10:40 – 11:00 am in the Del Monte Chapel every Thursday and Friday.
Christian meditation
Here at Santa Sabina, we share a devotion to Christian Meditation. Combining this ancient prayer form with a desire to reach out and help others, many students find daily meditation at school a helpful prayer form. Students develop discipline and control over themselves during this practice, where they can reflect on their day and centre themselves, ready for learning. During meditation, students learn to pray in a way that can bring peace and inner calm through connection with God.
Sr Jill Shirvington OP provides weekly meditation for students, parents, and staff. Students and parents are welcome to the Del Monte Chapel each Friday from 8:20 for meditation.
Tina Nicotina Religious Education Coordinator P-6
Music at Del Monte and MBH
Music at Mary Bailey House
Term 2 Music classes off with a bang with some new songs for the children’s repertoire. Miss Polly had a Dolly has been a great addition to help with sequencing. We have been using scarves as a fun and engaging way to explore various musical concepts like dynamics, pitch and musical phrasing. This fosters both creative expression and a deeper understanding of music. We will continue to incorporate scarves into our classes, but will change the repertoire to expose the children to various genres of music.
Music at Del Monte
Our students have been making joyful music!
A highlight of this term so far has included a combined Laudare Singers and Siena Singers rehearsal to prepare all singing parts for our item at the Gala Concert. Although our rehearsals are early in the morning, the singers were very enthusiastic and excited about the Gala!
In curriculum Music classes, Year 4 are learning ensemble skills through movement and untuned percussion with speech patterns. Year 3 recorder students are playing five-note songs, which uses both hands and very good breath control. The Monday String Programs were recently visited by guests from another school who wanted to observe the wonderful work they do each week!
Our Kindergarten friends are keeping the beat using our ‘pet’ mice (toys, not real ones!). Our mice move very quickly (allegro), although sometimes they are sleepy and slow (lento).
Stay tuned for information about the forthcoming Gala Concert on Tuesday 24 June at the Sydney Town Hall, which will feature Del Monte Choirs and String ensembles, and every child from Year 4 who will join in the massed choir (with Years 5-7) as part of the special rite of passage that marks the end of the Del Monte journey!
Formal communication will be sent to performers shortly with key details about rehearsals in the leadup to the event and tickets will go on sale at 9:00am on Monday 19 May 2025.
More Music…
Click below to find out more about Music events and co-curricular opportunities at Santa Sabina College.
On Wednesday 7 May, Year 4 students were fortunate enough to engage in a NSW Police Cyber Safety talk led by Senior Constable Gabriella di Marino from Auburn Police Area Command. Through this talk, students explored concepts including creating secure passwords, how to be safe and cautious of strangers online, cyber bullying and how to be wary of potential online scams. This proved to be a very effective and engaging way for students to delve deeper into our Digital Citizenship and eSafety practices taught at Del Monte as part of our Digital Technology program.
Merissa Perivolarellis Year 4 Classroom Teacher
Year 3
Year 3 have commenced the unit ‘How can I be safe and active’ in PDH. They have explored healthy habits and ways to be safe and healthy at school and at home. Last week, Constable Gabriella spoke to the children about cyber safety and provided helpful strategies on how they can remain safe online.
Catherine McGrath Year 3 Teacher
Year 2 Mass Unit Update
This term, our Year 2 students have been exploring the concept of mass in their Mathematics lessons. They have been learning how to estimate, measure and compare the mass of different objects using balance scales. Through hands-on activities and experiments, the students are developing a solid understanding of mass as an important measurement attribute.
The Year 2 Team
Year 1 and Anzac Day
To begin the term, Year 1 students took the lead in organising a commemorative liturgy to honour the Australians who served on Anzac Day. The students exhibited reverence and reflection throughout the preparation of a prayer space with significant symbols representing the sacrifices made by the servicemen and women.
During the liturgy, the students observed a minute of silence, allowing everyone to reflect on the bravery and dedication of those who served. Following this, they performed a song for peace, their angelic voices echoing through the assembly.
The event was a moving tribute, demonstrating the students’ deep respect and understanding of the importance of Anzac Day.
Lest we forget.
Kelly Garcia Year 1 Teacher
Kindergarten
It has been a wonderfully busy start to the new term, beginning with celebrating the new liturgical season of Easter and gathering last week to honour our mothers during our special Mothers’ Day mass. The students demonstrate great interest in learning about Jesus’ life and story and continue to show reverence whenever visiting the Chapel.
In English, we have been engaging with an array of quality literature, exploring the purpose of different texts and discussing whether they have been written to entertain readers or to inform them.
Our Mathematics lessons are currently focused on exploring different number combinations and learning about the ‘Friends of Ten’. The use of ten frames, unifix cubes and various other concrete materials to demonstrate understanding is of paramount importance in enabling students to grasp mathematical concepts.
The Kindergarten students have certainly returned to school with enthusiasm and are demonstrating greater maturity and confidence as they engage in these learning experiences.
We continue to count and record the number of days we have been in Kindergarten, and are looking forward to celebrating our hundred days of school early next term.
Brooke Napper, Vicki Spillane, Anna Donato, Alana Ivancsik Kindergarten Teachers
Prep
We have had a very busy start to Term 2!
PreLit Lessons
During our PreLit lessons, we have started to learn about the letters (graphemes) S and M and the sounds (phonemes) these letters make. We love playing the game ‘Eye Spy’ to identify objects in our room that begin with these sounds. Check out some of our PreLit photos!
Maths
Currently, our maths focus is Geometric Measure: Length.
We are learning to make direct and indirect comparisons to decide which object is longer. By placing objects side by side and aligning the ends, we can compare lengths directly.
We had so much fun working together to create the longest tower using linking cubes! Take a look at our maths photos.
Mother’s Day
We were very eager to attend the Mother’s Day Stall and make a special gift for our loved ones. We hope you liked it! Here are some photos from our Mother’s Day activities.
Monique Evans and Rebecca Saba Prep Teachers
Italian at Del Monte
Across grades, Term 2 has begun with students using vocabulary and expressions in Italian for welcoming one another and asking about their holidays. Everyone has engaged in exchanges about their Easter break and their time spent with family and friends. Among the various activities, students have enjoyed conducting interviews in Italian in the classroom and have found out that most of their classmates were feeling happy to return to school and to see their friends.
Daniela Panico Italian Teacher
Cultivating problem-solving and creativity at Del Monte
At Del Monte, we believe that mathematical application and creative problem-solving are key to developing critical thinking and communication skills. Through our Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program we offer a range of engaging programs and contests where we nurture students’ ability to reason and justify their ideas while tackling complex problems.
This term, Primary students have embraced the challenge of mathematical problem-solving through exciting competitions such as Maths Explorer, Maths Games, and Maths Olympiad. These contests not only sharpen their analytical skills but also inspire a love for mathematics.
Meanwhile, our Writers’ Club is off to a fantastic start! Students from Year 2 to Year 4 have come together to hone their creative writing abilities. Last week, they explored sensory descriptions to bring scenes to life, culminating in the creation of tension-filled paragraphs that kept their readers on edge.
Through both mathematical and literary pursuits, our students are building confidence, creativity, and resilience in their learning journey. We look forward to seeing their continued growth!
Right now, many people in Australia don’t have a safe place to live, warm clothes to wear or a warm bed to sleep in. This winter, more people than ever need help. Our Del Monte Winter Appeal is supporting those who are struggling in our local and wider community. Sometimes, people just need a little help to pay bills or rent, so they don’t lose their homes.
Some families have to leave their homes because they are not safe. We can help by caring, sharing, and supporting others who need a helping hand. By helping our Del Monte Winter Appeal, you can support people who are doing it tough. Your help gives them the things they need now and also helps them build a better future.
The Social Justice Team are collecting any of the following:
men’s woollen socks
ladies socks
warm gloves
scarves
beanies
small pkt tissues
small torch
jumpers
warm jackets
doonas
flannelette sheets
blankets – all sizes
Please donate any of the above items over the next four weeks. We will be collecting them from your classroom each week.
Thank you for supporting our initiative!
The Social Justice Team
Tina Nicotina Religious Education Coordinator P-6
Cultivating Problem-Solving
At Gioia House, we believe that mathematical application and creative problem-solving are key to developing critical thinking and communication skills. Through our Thomas Aquinas Scholars Program we offer a range of engaging programs and contests where we nurture students’ ability to reason and justify their ideas while tackling complex problems.
This term, Primary students have embraced the challenge of mathematical problem-solving through exciting competitions such as Maths Games, and Maths Olympiad. These contests not only sharpen their analytical skills but also inspire a love for mathematics.
Our Gioia House girls did very well in the Kangourou sans Frontières (KSF) maths competition last term, with 15 Credits and one distinction achieved. Congratulations girls!
Our students are working hard, and there is much anticipation building as we prepare for our annual Gala concert at the Town Hall in the final week of this term! Weekly rehearsals and numerous supporting projects are in full swing, and this year’s Gala ‘Voices of Hope’ promises to be an unforgettable evening for students and the broader community. Tickets will go on sale on Monday 19 May at 9:00am. With the Town Hall seating fully subscribed year after year, we encourage you to get in fast to ensure you secure your seats. We look forward to seeing your children shine at this event.
We believe that what sets our Santa musicians apart, is not just their commitment to musical excellence, but also their fierce commitment to being young people of character – Voices of Hope in our world, at a time when we need it most. We recognise the Dominican pillars of Study, Prayer, Community and Service are intrinsically entwined within our music-making at Santa.
Even in the busy seasons of school life, we commend our students who consistently show up to serve others – whether by providing music for College and broader community events; by supporting the spiritual life of the College during Holy Week, St Catherine’s Feast Day or Mothers’ Day Masses; or by rehearsing in lunchtimes to perform in their peers’ compositions and curriculum assessments. We are very proud of these fine humans and look forward to showcasing 600 of them at the Town Hall.
Read on for further information about happenings in the Music Department.
At 6:00pm on Tuesday 24 June 2025, 600 performers will take their place on the Sydney Town Hall stage in our annual Gala Concert. Fitting with the Year of Jubilee theme, this year’s concert program is set to stir and inspire as we take our place in the world, seeking to be Voices of Hope in our world – featuring all co-curricular ensembles and every student from Years 4-7. Formal communication will be sent to performers shortly with key details about rehearsals in the lead up to the event and tickets will go on sale at 9:00am on Monday 19 May 2025.
Learning an instrument and learning to perform are two different skill-sets that the aspiring musician needs to hone as part of their journey. Our Friday Open Recitals are designed to support growth in these holistic skills, and we are proud of the students who (nerves and all!) share their music with their parents and friends, growing in confidence as they do.
We know this confidence pays dividends in many different aspects of their school life and beyond, and moreover we thank them for offering attendees such a lovely afternoon of entertainment!
There is still an opportunity for students to sign up to our final recital for term on Friday 30 May. Students are encouraged to speak to their music tutor if they would like to take advantage of this wonderful learning opportunity.
We welcome anyone in our community to join us in the audience in the Adams Room in Holyrood from 3:45-5:00pm on Friday 30 May 2025.
Congratulations and thanks to those who performing in the recital on Friday 9 May.
Music Industry Offerings – Pilot Thursday Class
Our pilot Music Production & Studio Engineering class has been happening every Thursday this term from 3:30-4:30pm. Students in the class have been engaged in various exciting projects, including recording and mixing the debut original single for our Year 10 Rock Band (comprising members from our Stage 5 Elective Music class). Under the expert guidance of our in-house sound engineer, Mr Jason De Wilde (sought-after trainer and TAFE instructor!) our students are gaining hands-on experience in professional studio recording that will prepare them for a diverse musical futures.
This (currently free!) co-curricular activity is open to students in Years 7-12, with registration available through the College App and VO. At the end of this semester, we will be considering the viability of the class as one of our formal co-curricular offerings. Come along and see what it’s all about!
Join a Music activity?
Innumerable Music opportunities are available to Santa Sabina students from P-12. You can register for an Ensemble or Private Tuition via the Co-curricular Button on the College App or directly via this link: Register for Music Opportunities
Please reach out to our Music Office if we can assist you further.
More Music…
Click below to find out more all that is happening Music Curriculum at Santa Sabina College.
I am delighted with the levels of engagement displayed by our students in Sport and Co-curricular Activities at the beginning of Term 2.
We are starting Term 1 Saturday Sport (and Debating) Competitions, facilitating the following:
two IGSA Hockey teams = 32 players
five IGSA Football teams = 77 players
five IGSA Basketball Teams = 47 players
27 Years 3-12 Netball teams playing the IWNA Competition = around 215 students
Two Years 3-4 IPSHA Boys Football = 20 players
10 CSDA Debating teams and eight Archdale (IGSA) Debating teams = 71 students
I am not getting tired of thanking all students, parents and staff who have been showing nothing but a great deal of passion to ensure the best experiences are offered to our students in the Sports and Activities domains.
Co-curricular Clubs
Boxing, Athletics, Fencing, Badminton Skills, Mandarin, Recreational Dance and Fit Club – 141 students enrolled across all programs.
Representative Sport
Representative Volleyball Program
We have eight teams = 78 players.
Year 10 results – 2nd team Gold, Year 7 Silver and Year 10 first team and Year 9 first team Bronze on the round of the VNSW Schools Cup at the end of last term.
Representative Netball
Teams have been selected to play competitions all year round (Juniors, Years 7-8, Intermediate, Years 9 and 10, Seniors Years 11-12), we aim to play the Netball NSW Schools Cup in Baulkham Hills on 25 June as well as CGSSSA (Played last term) and NSWCCC Netball.
CGSSSA Football
Both teams (Juniors 7-9 and Opens 7-12) earned a Bronze medal being a great achievement, considering that the Association moved from 5 to 8 schools.
On 23 May, 21 students are taking part in the CGSSSA Cross Country Championships.
Representative Dance
Our nine teams from Years K-12 are getting ready to tackle the Eisteddfod season and achieve as high or higher than last year.
Individual Students Achievements:
Zara Matta in Year 9, grand finalist of the Rostrum of Youth Public Speaking Competition – this Thursday 15 May.
Jade Dominis, in Year 9 Selected to CGSSSA Rugby League
Raquel Calandra in Year 12 Selected to CGSSSA Touch Football making through to the NSWCCC grand finals.
Isabel Marturia in Year 12 won the Australian Artistic Swimming Championships representing the Sydney Emeralds Junior free team
Luiz Ramalho Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities
Primary Sport
Sydney Catholic Schools Stage 2 Netball Gala Day
On Wednesday 9 April, 38 students across Year 3 and 4 attended the Conference 2 Netball Gala Day.
The day was filled with energy and excitement as the students played multiple matches against teams from other schools across the inner west area.
Congratulations to all students who participated on the day, it was great to see the amazing skills, teamwork and sportsmanship shown by all students.
NSWPSSA Swimming Championships
Congratulations to Romee Lee, Genevieve Lloyd-Jones, Charlotte McCarthy, Grace Mackey and Celine Nguyen who all attended the NSWPSSA Swimming Championships last term.
Our Senior Girls 200m Freestyle Relay team (Romee, Genevieve, Charlotte and Grace) finished in second place, earning them a silver medal.
In the lead up to the Championships, the team broke the Conference, Sydney and Mackillop record and are officially ranked the 2nd fastest Senior Girls School Relay team in NSW.
Individual Achievements
Charlotte McCarthy made the final of the 50m Backstroke, finishing in 8th place.
Genevieve Lloyd-Jones made the final in 5 individual events, finishing with a Bronze Medal in the 200M Individual Medley.
Romee Lee also made the final in three individual events, finishing 4th in Freestyle and earning a Silver medal in Butterfly. Romee broke the record in the 50m Butterfly, only for it to be re-broken shortly after.
Genevieve and Romee will now go on to represent NSW at the School Sport Australia Champions in Ballarat, Victoria from 25-29 October.
Sydney Catholic Schools Cross Country Championships
On Tuesday 6 May, 24 students across Del Monte and Gioia House attended the Sydney Catholic Schools Primary Cross Country Championships at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek.
All students gave it their all and produced some pleasing results. Congratulations to Charlotte McCarthy (2nd Place) and Erin Grogan (3rd Place) who have progressed through to the Mackillop Cross Country Championships to be held on Wednesday 11 June at the Sydney Equestrian Centre.
Sydney Catholic Schools Soccer Championships
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent Santa Sabina at the upcoming Sydney Catholic Schools Soccer Championships on Tuesday 27 May. We wish the team the best of luck as they compete at the first stage against all Conference 2 schools.
Chiara Mazza
Ariana Cassimaty
Zara Bakhos
Alexis Djordjevic
Grace Mackey
Marie Metledge
Marla Samaan
Stefania Lazanja
Lillian Mackey
Grace Welsh
Antonia Srdanovic
Mischa Sleiman
K-6 Primary Athletics Carnival
Information about the Primary Athletics Carnival went out via email to all families last week.
If your child is interested in participating in Championship events, please CLICK HERE to fill out the nomination form. All nominations are due Tuesday 3 June.
If you are interested in being a parent helper on the day please CLICK HERE. Entries are due by Friday 30 May.
Sydney Catholic Schools Stage 3 Soccer Gala Day
Students in Years 5 and 6 are invited to attend an Inter-school Soccer Gala Day on Monday 2 June. Expression of Interest will be sent out soon.
Ryan Dunlop PE and Co-curricular Coordinator P-4 Primary Sports Coordinator P-6
Welcome to Term 2! We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and a restful break. The P&F Committee has been working tirelessly to organise a number of events for the Santa Sabina community.
This term has started with a bang, from the Mother’s Day Breakfast, the Mother’s Day Luncheon and to the incredible and creative entries that were received for the Easter Art Fundraiser Competition. It has been so busy that we have yet to catch our breath!
Mother’s Day Week of Events
Yet another very successful Mother’s Day week has come and gone. The Mother’s Day Stall and Breakfast could not have happened without the months of planning and hard work of the P&F committee, school staff and our wonderful volunteers in assisting putting these events together.
A special acknowledgement goes to the Mother’s Day Committee and Sub-Committee who gave up their time to purchase and wrap the presents for the mums, grandmothers, aunties and all mother figures in our children’s lives and also to those who volunteered in the morning helping serve breakfast. We cannot do what we do without the hard work and commitment of our volunteers.
A big thank you goes to our sponsor Primo Foods, who again generously catered for the Mother’s Day breakfast. Due to their support and generosity, the P&F is able to donate $1000 to the Parramatta Women’s Shelter as a token of our appreciation and to be able to help a very worthy local organisation with financial assistance.
Special Mother’s Day Raffle Thank You
The Mother’s Day Raffle was a tremendous success, raising close to $4,000 thanks to the generous support of our community! Congratulations to all of the lucky raffle winners, be sure to collect your prizes if you haven’t already done so.
Lastly, we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who generously donated prizes for the Mother’s Day Raffle:
Betty Pardalis
La Prairie
FY Smile
Stacey D’Amico
Putney Dental Care
Wellness Local Mortlake
Combine Air Concord
MCo Beauty
Limp in Leap Out Physiotherapy
Heidi Curran
Adore Me Hair and Beauty
The Athletic Buddha
Iris Li – Westfield Vouchers
P&F Term 2 General Meeting
The next Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting is coming up and we would love to see as many of you there as possible!
🗓 Date: Wednesday 28 May 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30pm
📍 Location: Benincasa, Senior Campus, Santa Sabina College
The meeting will include a set agenda with an opportunity to meet the P&F Executive Committee Members and Parent Representatives for 2025.
Any items of General Business for the meeting (including questions for the Executive) should be sent no later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday 21 May. Please contact Mary Reyes at secretary@ssc.nsw.edu.au if you have any items of General Business to be included on the meeting agenda. Your involvement makes a real difference, and together, we can achieve wonderful things for our school and our children.
Trivia Night – 13 June 2025
Our annual Trivia night is on 13 June 2025. This year’s theme is Freaky Friday! It’s going to be a night full of laughs, games and lots of fun. YouPizza will supply us with the pizza on the night. BYO drinks. Start collating your teams and may the best dressed table win!! Trybooking link will be emailed shortly.
Warm regards
P&F Executive Committee
Past events
Mother’s Day Breakfast
On behalf of all the SSC Families and the P&F, a big thank youto all those who volunteered to help make the Mother’s Day Breakfast a huge success. These events don’t happen on their own and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Mother’s Day Lunch & Raffle
The Mother’s Day lunch was a wonderful afternoon spent with our school mum and some of our own mums. It allowed us to pause, reflect and just enjoy the flow of food, drinks and great company.
A special thank you to all the donors, Ecco Restaurante and the Mother’s Day Committee. The lunch and raffle was a perfect ending to cap off an amazing week of appreciation for mother’s and mother figures in our community!
Upcoming dates – Year Group Catch-Ups
Year Group Catch-Ups
Keep an eye out for your year group catch-ups for this term. The year group reps are organising the next round of gathering which we will circulate shortly.
Year 3
Past events
Year 2 & 4 Catch-up
Parent Education – Debra Brodowski
Inclusive and Supportive School Environment
School is a wonderful place to make friendships, learn, and stretch the comfort zone of the young person in your life. One of the more current ways that this is occurring is through providing opportunities for mentoring and peer support across different year groups. In our own community we see this through the formation of buddies across different year groups, as well as the use of vertical homerooms in the high school.
Interacting with peers from different age groups helps students develop a sense of belonging that transcends traditional grade boundaries. The benefits of these approaches can be seen in the development of your young person in many ways:
Building confidence: Younger students gain reassurance knowing they have older peers to turn to for guidance, while older students develop self-assurance by taking on leadership roles. This mutual exchange bolsters confidence on both sides, empowering students to engage fully in their academic and social lives.
Enhancing efficacy beliefs: Cross-age interactions provide real-life opportunities for students to witness and participate in problem-solving, decision-making, and goal-setting. Younger students observe older peers navigating challenges, which demonstrates the attainability of success. Older students, in turn, reinforce their efficacy beliefs by serving as role models and realizing their capacity to contribute positively to others’ experiences.
Promoting wellbeing: Having students interact within different age groups can help promote feelings of security, reduce feelings of isolation, and strengthen social ties. These interactions help students feel valued and understood, contributing to greater emotional stability and mental health. Having a diverse network of peers ensures that students have access to support and friendship, even during difficult times.
Supporting your young person in connecting and maintaining these networks is a wonderful way for parents and caregivers to nurture these relationships, and these can create other opportunities for informal cross grade support networks to be created. Supporting your young person with these can be done in a number of ways:
Encourage participation in school programs: Encouraging your young person to actively participate in these initiatives can help them build meaningful relationships beyond their immediate peer group.
Foster open communication: Create an environment at home where your young person feels comfortable discussing their experiences and interactions with peers from different age groups. This can help you understand how they are benefiting from these connections and offer guidance when needed.
Role model inclusive behaviour: Our young people often mirror the behaviour of adults around them. By demonstrating respect and inclusivity in your own interactions, you can inspire your young person to adopt similar attitudes in their peer relationships.
By actively supporting and encouraging these interactions, you can help your young person cultivate a sense of belonging, develop essential life skills, and build a strong foundation for emotional and social growth.
