Term 2 ended with an unforgettable evening! Over 600 performers including students, staff and guest artists came together at the Sydney Town Hall to create magic in our 2025 Gala Concert: Voices of Hope. Given the emotional response from the audience and the standing ovation, it was clear that we were deeply moved by the music. The concert brought Hope to life in the most beautiful way possible. Our students performed at an extraordinary level.
Term 3 is off to a wonderful start and we look forward to the learning, growth and shared experiences ahead.
We commenced the term with our Student-Parent-Teacher Interviews, welcoming families to engage in valuable conversations about Semester 1 learning. These sessions provided an opportunity for students to reflect, receive feedback and refocus on their goals for Semester 2.
We then proudly celebrated the achievements of our students through our Academic, Pastoral and Sports Awards Ceremonies across both Primary and Secondary Campuses. Each award was a testament to the dedication, resilience and effort of our students, supported by the encouragement of their families, teachers and peers. Congratulations to all award recipients – and to every student who strives to do their best each day.
Last Friday, our community came together in faith and joy to celebrate Dom’s Day, honouring the legacy of St Dominic. His commitment to truth, compassion and education continues to shape our college values. The day featured a moving liturgy led by Fr Mark O’Brien, the traditional Year 12 ‘Crowning of Dom’ and a lively student concert. It was a day filled with warmth, laughter and a true sense of the Dominican spirit.
A special acknowledgement goes to our Year 12 students currently undertaking their Trial IBDP and HSC Examinations. This is a pivotal moment in their academic journey and we encourage our entire community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers. We also extend our gratitude to the dedicated teachers who ran workshops during the recent holiday break to support student preparation. We wish our Year 12s every success.
As we approach the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop on 8 August, as Catholics, we prepare to honour Australia’s first canonised saint. Her life of service, courage, and unwavering faith continues to inspire us. Her words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it,’ challenge us to act with compassion and purpose. On her feast day, we invite all students and staff to reflect on how we can embody her values in our daily lives.
Let us continue to support one another, celebrate our successes and live out the values that make our college community truly special.
Digital technologies are transforming all aspects of society, education is no exception. In response to the emergence of these technologies, Santa Sabina has developed a Digital Blueprint to provide the College with direction on how to move forward in this dynamic environment. As with all new technologies, how we use and apply them in practise is key.
The College ICT Committee has identified that in the next five years the focus of Technology at the College will be toward the following five areas:
Artificial Intelligence
User Experience
Infrastructure
Disruptive Technologies
Human Interaction
Underpinning all technologies however, the College places a strong emphasis on the ethical considerations of using technologies, the learning and educational value of technology, teaching e-safe practices to our students and cybersecurity and the protection of our data.
Student attendance at the commencement of term has been disappointing, particularly for our Year 12 students preparing for their trial examinations. While winter is traditionally the time where viruses peak, it has been reported to the College that students are staying at home to study instead of attending classes. There is no better environment for students to prepare for their examinations than at school where students can seek feedback from their teachers and be directed on how best to approach upcoming examinations.
Ann McGovern Acting Co-Principal
John Gilmore Acting Co-Principal
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Outreach and charity in the tradition of Dominic
As has been mentioned in other places in Veritas Voice this week, we celebrated The Feast of St Dominic at the College on Friday 2 August. St Dominic’s Day is an opportunity we relish each year because as a community we can give witness to the Gospel Truth and the influence of the Dominicans in the way we express and practice our faith at the College.
Throughout his life Dominic preached charity and acted accordingly. In 1190, while he was studying in Palencia, a famine devastated all of Spain. Palencia suffered with the rest of the country, and people died of starvation in the streets. Moved with pity at the sight of the dying poor, Dominic resolved to put into practice Christ’s counsel and do all he could to resolve their needs. He determined to sell all his belongings, even his priceless books, which he needed for his studies.
Before the invention of printing in the mid-15th century, books were laboriously copied by hand. Much of this copying was done by monks; the manuscripts, preserved in monasteries, constituted the essentials of Western learning. Books in the 12th century were extremely rare and valuable; thus, Dominic’s sacrifice was immense. Establishing a centre for alms giving, Dominic sold his goods and distributed the money to the poor. Dominic’s act astonished and deeply moved his fellow students and masters in theology. Ashamed of how meager their own assistance had been, they were inspired to give alms in abundance, the citizens of the town opened their granaries, and their united efforts relieved the most urgent needs of the poor.
(The above excerpt is from Reflections of Dominican Spirituality: The Windows of St. Dominic Church, Washington, D.C. by Dr Mary Moran.)
Although our almsgiving on St Dominic’s Day does not meet the sacrifice experienced by St Dominic, we nonetheless give willingly and generously to support the Sisters of the Solomon Islands in their good work. This year in our community collection and via the generous donations of our staff we raised close to $5500 for the Solomonese Sisters. Thank you to all those in the community who contributed to our fundraising this year.
Outreach, service and charity in the Dominican tradition have continued across the campus this term. Under the banner of our Salamanca Model of Service and Outreach, the Del Monte campus has been inspired by Dominican Antonia de Montesinos who observed injustice and spoke up, taking action to bring about change. The P-4 students have collected donations for their Winter Appeal and raised money for the St Vincent de Paul Society via their crazy sock day last week. Our House Salamanca House Projects will also be in full swing this week and next week with each House supporting a cause they have selected using the Salamanca process (begun by Dominicans at Salamanca University in the 16th century) to select a cause or issue to support via a process of discussion, research and learning and to then use this knowledge to determine effective action. Houses are focusing on social and environmental issues and will take actions on the coming week to raise awareness, change attitudes and raise funds. We look forward to reporting on the progress of our Salamanca House projects in coming editions of Veritas Voice.
Melanie van der Meer Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
NAPLAN
The 2025 NAPLAN results have now been released, providing valuable insights into student achievement across literacy and numeracy. At the College, we use this data not just to celebrate areas of growth – such as improvements in reading, spelling, and grammar – but also to identify where additional support is needed. Our teaching teams analyse cohort trends and individual progress to inform targeted interventions, such as small group tuition and differentiated classroom strategies. These insights also guide our planning for curriculum delivery and professional learning, ensuring we continue to build strong foundations in literacy and numeracy from Kindergarten through to Year 12.
Winter Academy 2026
We are thrilled by the strong interest shown in the inaugural Year 9 Winter Academy for 2026, running from 21 July to 9 August at Tallong. This three-week residential experience will take students beyond our Strathfield campus into a dynamic environment of academic inquiry, outdoor education, and experiential learning. Students will engage in English and Mathematics lessons via connection with classrooms at Santa Sabina, while PDHPE theory and practice will be integrated into the outdoor program. Science and Geography will anchor an interdisciplinary project, allowing students to pursue individualised learning pathways. With registrations now closed, we look forward to sharing updates on this exciting adventure that fosters independence, leadership, and resilience.
Semester One Academic Awards
We celebrated the exceptional academic performance of our Year 7 to Year 10 students at the Semester One Awards Assembly held in Week 1 this term. These awards celebrate excellence across a range of subjects and reflect the dedication, curiosity, and perseverance our students bring to their learning. We commend all students for their hard work and look forward to supporting their continued success throughout the year.
Jacqueline Pugh Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning
Head of Primary P-6
As we settle into the new term, we reflect on the vibrant and meaningful events that have brought our school community together over the past three weeks. At the heart of all that we do are our students – curious and full of energy. It has been a joy to witness students’ enthusiasm for learning, connection with their peers and teachers after the holiday.
In a world that often encourages us to seek what makes us happy, it’s important to pause and consider a deeper truth: not everything that brings immediate happiness is necessarily good for us. Sometimes, the pursuit of short–term pleasure or ease can steer us away from what truly nourishes the heart and mind. As educators and parents, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to guide our children towards something more lasting and meaningful – joy.
At Santa Sabina, we are intentional in forming not only minds, but hearts. We guide our students to recognise that true fulfilment comes not from always doing what feels good, but from choosing what is right and just. Through service-learning, daily acts of kindness and our commitment to Gospel values, we help our children understand that joy is cultivated through generosity, humility and faith in action.
In the classroom and in the playgrounds, we encourage our students to reflect not just on what makes them feel good, but on what makes them grow. We celebrate their academic progress, of course, but equally, we honour the times they show empathy, include others, take responsibility, and stand up for what is fair. We remind them that joy can be found in the giving of oneself, in the effort we put into our learning and in the positive impact we have on our community.
Grounded in Gospel values and the Dominican tradition, we remain committed to nurturing young people who are not only successful in their learning, but who live with hope, integrity, and compassion.
Jesus speaks of a joy that is lasting and complete – rooted in His love and truth.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. – John 15:11
The term began with our teachers engaging in professional development, deepening their understanding of curriculum and pedagogy and participating in rich professional dialogue. These opportunities ensure that our teaching is intentional, informed and responsive to the needs of every learner. Our Parent–Teacher–Student meetings provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen the partnership between home and school. These conversations celebrated each student’s growth while setting meaningful goals for the term ahead.
Gioia House Semester 1 Academic Awards
In Week 1, we acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of our Semester 1 Academic Award recipients at our Awards Assembly. These students have demonstrated consistent effort, curiosity, and a love of learning across a range of disciplines. Their commitment to personal excellence, perseverance, and growth is a credit to their character and a reflection of the supportive learning environment fostered by our dedicated staff. We are incredibly proud of each recipient and look forward to seeing all our students continue to strive, learn, and flourish in the semester ahead.
Year 5 Academic Awards
Maggie Anderson – PDHPE Olivia Bijjani – Action Girl Mia Bogovic – Religious Education, English, Maths, Interdisciplinary 1 and Interdisciplinary 2 Alana Boumelhem – Visual Arts Ariane Cutrupi – PDHPE Lina D’Arrigo – Music Alexis Djordjevic – Action Girl Olivia Gan – English, Interdisciplinary 1 and Interdisciplinary 2 Scarlett Ghossein – Interdisciplinary 1 Riha Han – Music Amara Jeyaganesh – Maths and Interdisciplinary 2 Florence Khoury – Action Girl Stefania Lazanja – Languages Helaina Lazari – Languages Eleanor Cheong – Action Girl and Visual Arts Mia Li – Music Angela Li – Religious Education and English Sienna Machaalani – PDHPE Marie Metledge – English, Interdisciplinary 1 and PDHPE Ariti Politou – Music Niamh Quinn – Visual Arts Marley Seeto – Languages Soopia Son Chang – Visual Arts Jennifer Stanton – Religious Education Laura Touma – Religious Education, English and Languages Lydia Wang – Maths and Interdisciplinary 2
Year 6 Academic Awards
Zara Bakhos – English, Interdisciplinary 1 and Drama Phoebe Clarke – English, Interdisciplinary 1, Interdisciplinary 2 and Drama Emma Cooper – English Amelia Coscarella – Action Girl Aiden Curran – Music Alyssa D’Agostino – Languages and Action Girl Abby Deng – Mathematics Alana Dib – Music Harper Doueihi – PDHPE Zara Hraiki – Mathematics and Interdisciplinary 2 Analicia Jayaseelan – Action Girl Emily Korb-Wells – Drama and Music Eloise Lai – Mathematics and Languages Genevieve Lloyd-Jones – PDHPE Grace Mackey – Interdisciplinary 1 Bianca McLeod – Drama and Languages Lucy Middleton – Interdisciplinary 2 Gabriella Mikhael – Religious Education Tiana Nahas – Interdisciplinary 1 Scarlett Nehme – Religious Education Celine Nguyen – English Evangeline Notaras – PDHPE Liz Ong – Mathematics Marla Samaan – Religious Education Sydney Truong – Religious Education, Interdisciplinary 2, Music and Action Girl Elizabeth Van Hore – PDHPE Arianthe Vrastaminos – Languages
Feast of St Dominic
Last Friday, the entire college gathered to celebrate St Dominic’s Feast Day. A sense of unity and reverence marked this special occasion as we honoured St Dominic’s legacy and his enduring influence on our values and education. Central to the celebration was the Dominican mosaic, a powerful symbol of our community – each piece representing the unique gifts, stories, challenges and contributions of every individual. Together, the mosaic reflects the richness of our shared purpose and the lasting influence of St Dominic’s vision for truth, compassion and service in the world.
100 Days of Kindergarten – 100 days brighter
On Tuesday, our Kindergarten students marked a joyful and meaningful milestone – 100 days of school – surrounded by bright colours, laughter, and a strong sense of pride. The theme – 100 Days Brighter – could not be more fitting. Over the past 100 days, our youngest learners have not only grown in knowledge but have truly begun to shine – in their curiosity, character, and connection to our Santa Sabina community. From tentative first steps into the classroom to becoming confident, capable learners, our Kindergarten students have embraced new routines, formed friendships, and met challenges with resilience and joy. Each day, they have brought light into our school with their questions, creativity, and boundless energy.
Celebrating 100 Days Brighter far more than just numbers, it is a reflection of the remarkable journey these children have taken in such a short time. It speaks to their growth not just academically, but in the way they show kindness, wonder, and courage as they explore the world around them.
As we look ahead, we know that the light our Kindergarten students bring today is only the beginning of the brightness they will continue to share in the years to come.
Del Monte Grandparents Day
Blessed are those who have not lost hope
Today, Del Monte was filled with warmth and joy as we welcomed almost 300 grandparents to celebrate Grandparents Day – a cherished tradition that honours the deep connection between generations. Guided by the beautiful theme, ‘Blessed are those who have not lost hope’ (Sirach), we reflected on the quiet strength and unwavering love that grandparents so often embody. In their presence, our students are reminded of stories that shaped families, of resilience passed down through time and of the enduring hope that lights the way forward. The day was brought to life through music, movement and heartfelt performances. Our choir, string ensemble and dance groups offered a beautiful tribute, while Kindergarten students charmed the crowd with their joyful singing. Smiles, laughter, and a few happy tears filled the hall as children and grandparents shared this special moment.
Grandparents’ Day is more than an event – it is a celebration of love that bridges generations, and a reminder that within our school community, hope is alive and well in the bonds we cherish most.
Book Week Parade – 22 August
The 2025 theme is Book an Adventure! Students and families are invited to dress as their favourite characters and bring their stories to life in a colourful and joy-filled celebration. While we love creative costumes, we kindly ask that children choose book–based characters rather than those from movies of franchises like Disney.
P-4 Book Parade
Time: Book Parade will commence at around 9:00am Where: DelMontePlayground To celebrate the day, students from Kindergarten to Year 4 will participate in Author talk with Anna Fienberg — author of many popular and award–winning books for children of all ages, including the Tashi series..
Prep 3-Day students are welcome to join the parade with their parents on Friday 22 August and wear their character costumes on Monday 18 August.
Gioia House Book Parade
Gioia House students will participate in a dress-up book character parade on the senior campus during school lunchtime (12:50pm-1:30pm). Families are welcome to watch the parade.
Important dates in Term 3
Santa Maria Del Monte
Monday 4 August – Friday 8 August – Book Week Thursday 7 – 20 August – Healthy Harold Incursions Wednesday 13 August – Science Week Showcase 5:30pm – 7:30pm – Decoding the Universe Thursday 21 August – Discovery Tour (for prospective families) Friday 22 August – Book Week Parade 9:00am Thursday 28 August – Sport and Co-curricular photos Thursday 28 August – Primary Assembly 2:30pm–3:00pm Tuesday 2 September – P&F Father’s Day Stall Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast – 8:30am-9:15am Thursday 4 September – Primary Father’s Day Mass (P-6) 9:15–10:15am Thursday 11 September – Primary Assembly 2:30pm–3:00pm Thursday 18 September – Years 1– 4 Public Speaking Finals Wednesday 24 September – CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships (K-6) Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Gioia House
Thursday 7 – 20 August – Healthy Harold Incursions Wednesday 13 August – Science Week Showcase 5:30pm – 7:30pm Decoding the Universe Thursday 21 August – Discovery Tour (for prospective families) Friday 22 August – Book Week Parade 12:50pm – 1:30pm Monday 25 August – Sport and Co-curricular photos Wednesday 27 August – STEM Day Thursday 29 August – Father’s Day Mass/Breakfast Monday 1 September – Father’s Day Stall Thursday 4 September – Father’s Day Breakfast – 8:30am-9:15am Thursday 4 September – Primary Father’s Day Mass (P-6) 9:15–10:15am Thursday 11 September – Junior Ethics Olympiad 8:30am-2:30pm Tuesday 16 September – SCS Stage 3 Netball Gala Day Wednesday 17 – Friday 19 September – Year 6 OEE & Canberra Visit Wednesday 24 September – CSNSW Mackillop Athletics Championships (K-6) Friday 26 September – Term 3 concludes
Stella Azizian Head of Primary P-6
Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement
London Alumni Reunion
On 15 July, Paulina Skerman and I were delighted to host a special Alumni Reunion in London. The gathering brought together 18 ex-students and staff, with graduates representing every decade from as far back as 1972 through to 2024.
Held in the heart of London, the event was filled with conversation, laughter, and the sharing of memories from school days in Strathfield to the many life paths taken since. Guests spoke warmly of their time at the College and the enduring connections they still feel to the Santa Sabina community, no matter how far they have travelled.
The reunion not only provided an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, but also to hear updates from the College and share in the pride of being part of a community that spans the globe.
The sense of community and gratitude for both the event and the College was evident, and attendees have already expressed a strong interest in making this a regular tradition for our UK-based alumni.
Invite your friends to discover Santa Sabina!
Our upcoming Discovery Tour is a wonderful opportunity for prospective families to experience the vibrant learning environment at Santa Sabina College. From our dynamic classrooms to our welcoming community, the tour offers a firsthand look at how we nurture each child’s potential.
If you know a family considering school options, we’d love for you to invite them to come along and see what makes Santa Sabina so special.
We look forward to welcoming our fathers, grandfathers and carers at our celebrations for Father’s Day on Thursday 4 September 2025.
Mass will be celebrated in the Santa Sabina Chapel at two different times with Breakfast outside the Chapel on the lawn for ALL families at 8:30am.
7:30am Mass – open to all This Mass is open to all families.
9:15am Mass for Years K–6 This Mass is specifically for all Primary students K–6. If a student is attending the Mass with their family, they are invited to attend breakfast at 8:30am and then make their way to the Chapel for a 9:15am start. Students who do not have a family member attending Mass should come to school as usual and will be escorted to the Chapel by their classroom teacher.
9:15am Mass for Prep fathers Fathers who wish to attend Mass with their Prep students may bring them over to the Chapel and return them to Prep at the conclusion of Mass.
For alumni from the classes of 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 – we are looking forward to welcoming you at our special reunion on Saturday 20 September.
Reconnect with your Santa friends at this annual back-to-school celebration.
Enjoy drinks and canapés, tour the College grounds, explore the Museum, and catch up with former teachers and classmates. You’ll also have the chance to meet College Principal Paulina Skerman and members of the Leadership Team.
Gather your friends and book now to be part of this special evening.
To recognise the exceptional achievements and contributions our alumni continue to make in the world, the College is pleased to give the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award again in 2025.
Last year the inaugural awards were presented to Professor Georgina Long AO, Joint Australian of the Year 2024 (Class of 1988) and Siobhan Toohill (Class of 1989).
This award recognises alumni who exemplify the Dominican values of study, community, service and prayer through their work in their communities, professions and other endeavours.
This email to all ex-students is to invite you to self-nominate or nominate someone you know for the Award.
Eligibility:
must be an ex-student of Santa Sabina College
must have achieved in his or her chosen field at a high level
must have demonstrated outstanding commitment to at least one of the following areas: academic excellence, community service or social justice in the years following his or her education at the College.
Criteria (at least one of these):
Study:
engages in lifelong learning and encourages educational pursuits within the community
has achieved in academic fields that have contributed to the advancement of knowledge or education
mentors or supports current students or fellow ex-students
has been published or given presentations, or undertaken other scholarly activities that have had a positive impact on the community.
Community:
fosters a sense of community and belonging, promoting unity and collaboration among diverse groups
advocates for social justice issues, including but not limited to, equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability
develops and implements programs or initiatives that address social justice concerns
collaborates with organisations or groups to promote social justice.
Service:
actively participates in service activities that benefit others, embodying the spirit of selflessness
demonstrates significant impact on the community through volunteer work or service projects
works on initiatives that have led to measurable improvements in community wellbeing
fills leadership roles in community organisations or projects.
Prayer:
demonstrates a commitment to spiritual growth and reflection, inspiring others in their faith journey.
Nominations can be submitted by ex-students, staff, or community members.
Ex-students can self-nominate.
The completed nomination form must include a detailed description of the nominee’s contributions and impact.
Supporting documents such as letters of recommendation, testimonials and evidence of achievements should be included.
Nominations for 2025 close on 10 October 2025.
Selection process:
A selection committee comprised of ex-students, staff, and community leaders will review all nominations.
The committee will evaluate nominees based on the criteria outlined above.
The winner of the award will be notified and invited to Speech Night (27 November 2025, State Theatre, Sydney), where the award will be presented by our guest of honour.
Yvette Graniero Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement
Director of Mary Bailey House and OOSH
Out of School Hours Care (OOSH)
The OOSH team received positive feedback from parents and children about the recent Vacation Care program. As with the last program the children enjoyed the opportunity to join in a party. They also appreciated the Petting Zoo, Circus and Junior Architects incursions and excursions to the theatre, bowling and park. We’re now planning the next vacation care program and organising activities that the children enjoyed.
On Wednesday 30 July we acknowledged National Out of School Hours Care Educators Day. It celebrates and recognises the important role OOSH educators play in the lives of children.
Our dedicated educators support children before and after school and during Vacation Care. They play an essential in fostering a safe, engaging, and supportive environment for children outside of regular school hours.
OOSH children were asked to write messages to their educators, and this is what they said,
The OOSH teachers are very kind to me and always make Vacation Care fun. They always ask if we are ok and give us a lot of choices to play. Helaina
Thank you OOSH Educators for setting up fun activity and making me feel happy. You are all the best. Mika
Dear OOSH educators, I like when you play with me. Ruoxi
You are the kind teacher. Noah
Thank you, you are the best teachers. Nikki
Dear OOSH teachers, thank you for playing with me, drawing with me and caring for me. Thank you for everything you do. Sophie
Dear OOSH, thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for all the games we play and all the activities we do. I think you all have creative things for us to do. You’re all very kind and I hope you have a wonderful year with us. Kaylee
Dear OOSH educators thank you for making me smile every time I come with the fun activities we do and the delicious food. OOSH is the best. Amara
‘Thank you for taking care of me. Dear teachers I hope you have your dreams fulfilled with love. Abigail
Miss Sophie, I love you because you are very kind and helpful. Aaliya
Jackie Baxter Director of Mary Bailey House and OOSH
Director of Development
Book your place at our Golf Day
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.
I am very keen for all in our community to have the opportunity to be part of the wonderful legacy.
Your family name or those of your children will be recorded on a plaque, creating a permanent legacy that will be cherished by current and future generations. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and generosity.
Please consider this appeal and register your name in the link below
Santa Sabina College invites you to continue this great tradition and contribute to a brighter future. By contributing to the 2025 Veritas Annual Appeal, you will be leaving a legacy that will truly make a difference to all members of our community.
Santa Sabina College Scholarship Fund
Please support Santa Sabina College via the Annual Appealby clicking on the link below and completing the online donation page. (All donations above $2.00 are Tax deductible)
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.
I am always surprised by the diversity of clients we see at the Tallong campus. During the recent non-term time the campus hosted retreats from both the Ministry of Nirvana Organisation and the Chabad youth organisation. The Ministry of NIrvana is a not-for-profit charity organisation dedicated to providing services that enhance mental health and wellbeing for all. Approximately 40 adults participated in the weekend retreat and another one has been booked for later in the year. The following week we then hosted a retreat for 50 students from the Chabad youth organisation. Chabad Youth NSW’s Camp Gan Yisroel offers an immersive camp experience that combines fun activities with learning and traditions, providing young people with unforgettable memories and a deeper connection to their heritage.
At the core of the above is education and self development. This term the campus will deliver experiences and programs for the following clients in addition to our own students: Hills Grammar, MLC Burwood, Gib Gate (Frensham), Emmanuel College, Canberra Grammar and Marist College Canberra.
We are also beginning the advertising for the annual Santa Sabina Parent Child camp. This year it will be held on the weekend of 20-21 September. More details will be forthcoming however this year we are looking to incorporate some more adventurous exploration activities on the campus and of course Cheffrey will be putting something special together for the Saturday dinner.
Hopefully we will see a few more new faces from the College at Tallong this year.
Kendal Hann Director of Outdoor Education and Tallong Campus
Student perspectives: guiding our Santa Strong Pastoral Care Program
Term 2 was a busy period as students from Years 7 to 12 participated in a series of annual surveys aimed at deepening our understanding of their resilience, connections and overall wellbeing. As previously communicated to families, all students in Years 7-11 took part in the Resilient Youth survey, while a select group of students from Years 9-12 contributed to the 2025 Mission Australia Annual Youth Survey.
Year 12 students completed their final survey for the Black Dog Institute’s Future Proofing Study, a long-term research project they have been involved in since Year 8. In addition, Year 7 students completed a dedicated Transition Survey to help us better support their move into high school.
Each year, once the survey data is reviewed, the Pastoral Team thoughtfully adapts the Santa Strong Pastoral Care program to align with the evolving needs of each year group. Below is a preview of the key themes that students will explore in Pastoral Care lessons this term:
Term 3 Santa Strong Pastoral Care Program
Year Group
Unit
Key Themes
Year 7Strong Relationships
Friendship Resilience
How to positively manage friendship breakdowns, empathy, choosing the right words, mentoring
Relationships, staying motivated, transition points and rites of passage, gratitude, consent.
Year 7 and 8 Pastoral Care – The Friendship Formula
As part of the College’s ongoing commitment to student wellbeing and personal development, our Year 7 and 8 students recently took part in an engaging workshop titled The Friendship Formula. Led by Rohanna Chan, a clinical psychologist from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the session introduced students to practical strategies for building and maintaining positive relationships.
Focused on assertive communication, the program helped students develop confidence, set healthy boundaries, and navigate social situations with respect and self-assurance. These essential skills not only support their current friendships but also lay the foundation for strong interpersonal connections throughout their lives.
We’re excited to continue supporting our students as they put their learning into action and strengthen their social and emotional wellbeing.
Sleep Health Week: the missing link in student wellbeing
Insights from the Future Proofing Study, a longitudinal research project conducted by the Black Dog Institute, highlight the critical role that high-quality, consistent sleep plays in supporting adolescent wellbeing. Alarmingly, the data shows that many teenagers are not achieving the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep per night or maintaining regular sleep and wake schedules.
To mark Sleep Health Week, the Black Dog Institute and the Sleep Health Foundation will co-host a free 45-minute live webinar titled Sleep On It: The Missing Link in Student Wellbeing. Designed for teachers and parents, the session will take place on Monday 11 August at 4:00pm and aims to explore practical approaches for supporting healthy sleep habits among young people.
The webinar will:
highlight key findings from the Future Proofing Study relating to adolescent sleep
offer strategies parents can use to foster better sleep routines at home
introduce Sleep Ninja for the Classroom – an engaging, curriculum-aligned sleep education program for Years 5-8 that Santa Sabina will proudly pilot as part of our commitment to student wellbeing.
Presenters include:
Kate Maston, Black Dog Institute Psychologist and Future Proofing Program Manager
Kayla Grant, PDHPE Teacher and Wellbeing Advisor
Dr Linda Schachter, Sleep and Respiratory Physician
Dr Moira Junge, Sleep Health Foundation CEO and Health Psychologist (Facilitator).
When registering, participants can submit questions for the panellists to address during the session.
Elise Whiley Director of Student Wellbeing 7-12
Join us next week in Science Week!
We invite you to celebrate Science Week with us as we showcase the work of members of our community in the STEM fields. The theme for National Science Week in 2025 is Decoding the Universe: exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden languages. With a diverse range of presenters sharing their expertise, we hope to build student awareness of possible career pathways and insights into some fascinating fields of research and practice. Please come along and celebrate this free event with us.
Date: Wednesday 13 August Time: 5:30pm – 8:00pm Location: Santa Sabina College Lecture Theatre, 90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield
Event format:
5:30pm: Complimentary light refreshments in the foyer
6:00pm: Five dynamic presentations
Q&A: Engage with our experts after each talk and during the networking session.
Presentations:
I love science: running with the science baton (Mia Bogovic of Year 5)
Shake it up: the amazing science of earthquakes and earthquake design (Beatriz Estrada, Geological Engineer, Santa Sabina parent)
Making genetic connections – unravelling the mystery (Anthony Cheong, Genetic Pathologist, Santa Sabina parent)
From isotopes to innovation – careers at ANSTO that change lives (Paddy Hoare, Technical Sales Manager – ANSTO, Santa Sabina parent)
Digging up the past: the science of being an archaeologist (Rebecca Agius, Archaeologist, ex-student from the Class of 2016)
Don’t miss this free event! Students and families can explore career opportunities and connect with pioneers in diverse fields.
Congratulations to Year 10 Rock Band Boulevarde 27 on their successful performance at Dom’s Day last Friday amongst all the other performers who self-developed their own artistic contributions. It was an enjoyable experience for all, and a wonderful addition to the day’s festivities.
In Stage 4, Year 8 began an exciting unit on film music, discovering how soundtracks shape emotional responses and enhance storytelling. Year 7s have been introduced to traditional Japanese music while simultaneously building foundational keyboard skills through learning popular song arrangements. There has been plenty of enthusiasm around our newest purchase of MIDI keyboards!
Year 9 are learning about the development of the Western orchestra from the 1600s, looking into how historical instrument designs influenced ensemble sound. Meanwhile, Year 10 are analysing orchestral scores from The Lord of the Rings, exploring modes and texture in their new unit, Music for Multimedia.
Wishing our Year 12 HSC and IB music students the very best as they prepare for their examinations, submissions and performances.
Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey Head of Music 5-12 (Part time)
Veronica Tsang Acting Co-Head of Music 5-12
A Message from the Director of Music
Click here to find out more about Co-curricular opportunities and Music Performances at Santa Sabina College.
On Sunday 3 August, the History Club Ambassadors had the honour of representing Santa Sabina College at the touching 32nd Burwood Council Sandakan Remembrance Service, which commemorated 80 years since the Sandakan death marches. Since 1993, the Burwood Council and Sandakan Community Educational Committee have hosted this service to honour and commemorate the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners of war who tragically lost their lives in Borneo walking from Sandakan to Ranau at the end of World War II. Twenty-three of them had come from the local Burwood community. The ceremony was held at Burwood Park which houses the only Sandakan memorial in Sydney.
Despite the rain that Sunday morning offered, a sense of grace imbued the service. It was beautiful to see the community gathered and united to pay respects to the lives that have shaped our national identity of courage, empathy and resilience, and to acknowledge our country’s history. However, the memorial didn’t just teach us about Australia’s history; it taught us about the strength found in community, the power of love and empathy, and the beauty of our shared humanity. In the words of Paul Keating, ‘Australians should know the truth about their history. A nation is stronger for knowledge of its shared experience, and the experience of these men should be engraved in the national memory’.
As a part of the memorial, Calliope Stewart on behalf of Santa Sabina College read a passage from a Sandakan prisoner of war survivor, Mr Richard Braithwaite. The entry served as a powerful reminder of these soldiers’ unbreakable spirit amidst hardship, and invited reflection on their legacy of courage, determination and resilience. To conclude the service, Emily Wong and Monterey Tam laid a wreath as a sign of remembrance. Monterey laid a wreath at the foot of the Sandakan cenotaph on behalf of the school, as a symbolic act of respect and remembrance, honouring those who sacrificed their lives and ensuring their legacy is acknowledged by the community. Emily laid a wreath in the memory of the recently passed Galdys Barnes – a cherished member of the Burwood community, and passionate, dedicated advocate for remembrance – as her father Ralph had tragically died at Sandakan.
Santa Sabina students had the opportunity to connect with ex-student and prefect Aditi Kamath (Class of 2024), who read a passage during the service. Aditi is the 2025 Burwood Council’s Young Citizen of the Year and she is working on social justice community initiatives.
The Sandakan Remembrance Service was a profound experience that united members, schools and leaders of the local community to commemorate the lives lost to the atrocities of Sandakan with sensitivity and emotional depth. We feel very privileged to have taken part in this service.
Calliope Stewart, Emily Wong and Monterey Tam Year 11 History Ambassadors
Scales, feathers, and fettuccine: Year 7 meets the wild side of Science
Year 7 students had the opportunity for hands-on learning thanks to Sydney Zoo’s visit to the Santa Sabina College Campus. They had the opportunity to handle feathers from ostriches and emus and feel the texture of shedded skins from snakes and lizards, as well as turtle scales. In learning about how these various body coverings allow scientists to classify vertebrate animals with common characteristics, this launched a new topic of learning for the term. The real excitement swelled in meeting Spike the Spiny Leaf Insect, Loki the Magnificent Tree Frog and Fettuccine the Children’s Python. Overall it was a highly engaging opportunity for all.
Hannah Truong Assistant Head of Science & Science Teacher
Preparing for the Santa Sleep Out
I remember being moved a few years ago by a short letter to the editor of the SMH after a bout or rain like this present one which asked, ‘How do homeless people cope in this weather?’
This question brings home to us the importance of agencies like the St Vincent de Paul in supporting people through periods of homelessness.
Our student leaders are asking everyone in the Santa community to bring in the items that make up the snack packs that are given out by Night Patrol crews.
Would you like to do something practical to address the problems of homelessness and of those people who may have a place to call home but who have so little that after rent and electricity there is no money for food. Night after night people line up at the Night Patrol van to keep hunger at bay. On Christmas Day a few years ago a man said to me, ‘I don’t care what’s on the sandwich; I haven’t eaten anything all day.’
On the night of the Santa Sleep Out, senior student volunteers will pack five of the items from the list below into a snack pack. Last year we made nearly 300 snack packs. We are hoping that with your help we can do even more this year!
Please send in your donations before Friday 22 August; they will be collected in the library.
Jane Sulis Outreach Coordinator
Excellence In Geography – national prize winner
I am thrilled to announce the most exciting news. Louise Thill from Year 8 has won equal First in NSW in this national Australian Geography Competition.
The Australian Geography Competition is completed by thousands of students from hundreds of Australian schools.This competition is highly regarded as it tests both geographical knowledge and the application of skills and the use of maps, graphs and geography stimulus. It is an initiative of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and sponsored by the University of Melbourne, University of NSW, Western Sydney University and the University of Western Australia.
The highest-scoring geography student in each State and in the combined Territories (ACT, NT and the External Territories) receive a prize and award certificate to celebrate their excellence and exceptional achievement. Congratulations Louise Thill!
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
AI in Education Action Research
After exploring and experimenting with the latest applications of Artificial Intelligence in education, Ms Rosanne Sukkar (Dean of Enterprise and Innovation) and Mr Mark Strong (Head of English) have taken their 2025 Action Research Project to the next level by coordinating and delivering a series of Teachmeets to share their findings with colleagues.
These fortnightly mini-workshops are designed to expand teachers’ skills in the use of digital intelligence tools to enhance instructional practice, streamline workloads and empower students to consume and engage with information in a discerning, creative and meaningful way.
In the first of these Friday morning sessions, teachers explored how Canva’s AI tools can be used to create mobile-friendly study apps for students. This week’s session, titled From Prompt to Plan, will showcase how tools like CoPilot and NoteBookLM can be used by teachers to accelerate and enhance their lesson design. What better way to wrap up the week than by building our professional practice over breakfast (fresh manoosh) with colleagues! Many thanks to Rosanne and Mark for their continued dedication to this exciting project.
Kate Corcoran Action Research Coordinator
Santa Style – Inter-School Showcase
The HSIE co-curricular Santa Style continues to be an influence in the space of fashion sustainability. Theresa Lahood, Eva Villarroel, Evelyn Little and Maddie Younes from Year 11 accepted the invitation to showcase Santa Style’s achievements at the Inter-schools Sustainability Forum. They shared how Santa Style is a sustainability social enterprise designed by Santa students and how they have taken the concept of circular fashion and turned it into a reality through social media and community engagement. A huge thank you to Vikki Cummins for supporting the students of Santa Style.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
Teacher Reflection
Santa Sabina students shone at the Inter-school Environment Event impressing the audience with their presentation of ‘Santa Style’ – a bold initiative that blends sustainability with entrepreneurship. Santa Style saved 500 garments (75 kilos) from landfill in its first year, leaving other schools inspired and impressed by the impact and creativity of our students.
Vikki Cummins HSIE Teacher
Student Reflections
Attending the Inter-schools Sustainability Forum was such an inspiring experience that opened my eyes to how small actions can create big change. It was incredible to collaborate with students from other schools and share ideas on building a more sustainable future. Eva Villarroel Year 11
Attending the Sustainability Forum was an inspiring and empowering experience that allowed us to showcase our Santa Style initiative, learn from passionate students and professionals tackling real-world environmental challenges, and left us feeling motivated to continue driving positive change in our community and beyond. Maddie Younes Year 11
Whitsundays Sea Kayaking – Adventurous Journey
The Whitsundays is renowned for its beautiful beaches, snorkelling and soaking up the warmth. But for 12 Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award students, their trip looked a bit different. It entailed an adventurous kayaking journey around the islands – camping in tents, paddling with turtles and cooking dinner on the beach. It was a deeper style of journey where students embarked on the adventure of a lifetime in the tropics.
The journey began on the famous Whitehaven Beach – a significant and beautiful place. The group paddled to local reefs and islands to go snorkelling! They embarked on a long travel day as they kayaked (with turtles and dolphins) to the infamous Hill Inlet Lookout which has beautiful views of Whitehaven Beach and the surroundings. The start of the journey was smooth and the girls were getting into the rhythm of the trip and enjoying their surroundings.
From here, the journey travelled south along Whitsunday Island. Strong winds made it unsuitable to paddle, so we ended up taking a water taxi to Henning Island – a secluded island where we would continue our journey! The group enjoyed a day of relaxing and soaking up the surroundings.
Next we travelled to Sid Harbour. The group took a day hike through the rainforest up to Whitsunday Peak for the glorious views of the region. The hike, whilst challenging, was a highlight for the girls as they were able to see where they had paddled and the parts of the journey before them. As the group paddled to their campsite for the night, they were fortunate to have the best sunset views of the trip.
Sea kayaking journeys are often dictated by the winds, currents and tides. The group was aiming to embark on a crossing of Whitsundays Passage, but the unsuitable weather conditions didn’t allow us to travel. As we turned our boats back to camp, the group learnt that we can only control our controllables – our attitude and preparation. The weather is out of our hands and we had to adapt. As we reflected on the journey of the final night – we appreciated the challenges that we had and the beauty of the places we had travelled.
Sea kayaking is a team effort and the journeys move with the ebbs, flows and rhythm of the ocean. The group had to work together to move kayaks from the tide, pack boats and paddle together. We adapted to the conditions and had the adventure of a lifetime. Well done to the 12 students who embarked on this journey in paradise for their Gold Award.
Student Reflections:
Kayaking through the Whitsundays was unforgettable. This Duke of Edinburgh journey was one to remember, which my peers and I spent days kayaking around Whitsunday Island and more, completely surrounded by ocean and sky. We camped on quiet beaches, cooked together, dealt with salt, sunburns, and sore arms, and somehow had the best time doing it. It wasn’t glamorous, but that was the point. We had to rely on each other, laugh through exhaustion, and take in the kind of beauty you can’t get from a photo. It pushed us, and it bonded us in a way that’s hard to explain, but impossible to forget. Eva Villarroel
The 8-day sea kayaking trip at the Whitsundays Islands as part of my Gold Duke of Edinburgh experience was both challenging and transformative. From unpredictable weather to long stretches of paddling, the expedition demanded endurance, resilience, and trust. Our camp leader Bess brought a steady, encouraging presence that grounded us and brought such a positive vibe to the trip.
Across the group of 12, we cultivated a deep sense of camaraderie through teamwork and shared effort. Everyone leaned into communication and collaboration, whether they were leaders of the day or setting up camp and even helping all of us with the morning packing before a long trip.
What stood out most was how we fostered relationships with people we hadn’t connected with before, breaking down social barriers and forming bonds throughout this trip, creating memories we will always cherish. This journey taught me that growth often comes with challenges and building resilience, and when your team works well together, all the challenges become much easier to overcome. It was an unforgettable trip of personal growth and disconnection from everyday life. Caitlin Leong
Our eight days in the Whitsundays on a sea kayaking expedition for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh was a challenge that pushed us beyond any of our expectations. The conditions tested our endurance through long paddles, strong winds and unpredictable weather. But through these moments, we built resilience and learned how to support all members of our group, whether that was through UNO, singing or camping under the stars. As the trip unfolded our group embraced each other, becoming a team, a team that relied on each other and strengthened our friendships that we gained along the way.
Our kayaking guide, Bess, helped us in more ways than we could’ve imagined, her wealth of experience and knowledge (at just 20!) helped us build our confidence, learning how to pack our kayaks and paddle efficiently. Mr Walker’s tight planning and broad capabilities helped us throughout the journey, ensuring we were always sun-safe and enjoying the expedition to the fullest. Our journey was rich in knowledge and excitement, whilst only eight days the trip will stay with us for a lifetime. Emma Kearns
Our Gold Duke of Edinburgh trip to the Whitsundays was a truly incredible, and unforgettable experience which was a mix of adventure and learning. We kayaked through crystal waters, hiked through stunning terrains, and camped under a sky filled with stars. From snorkelling, to eating dinner on the beach, every moment brought laughter, loads of singing, teamwork, and lasting memories. Abigail Middleton
The Whitsundays Gold Duke of Ed trip was an amazing opportunity where I learnt how to kayak and spent time learning how to find directions using the stars and how tides impact our travel kayaking. I really enjoyed sleeping outside and seeing the stars and sunrise from my sleeping bag. Another highlight was singing together on the kayaks and all of the fun games that we played on land. Annelies Notelears
History Club AI Lunchtime Learning in the Lumination Labs
This term the History Club is exploring AI through the fabulous Santa Sabina Lumination Labs. This is a great way for students to be digitally immersed within historical sites. A huge congratulations to the History Ambassadors for leading this History Club AI Lunchtime series. Students from all year groups are encouraged to come and join in the History Club on Wednesdays at lunch time to play with AI for virtual learning.
Brigida Zagora Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)
From the History Ambassadors
In our most recent History Club lunchtime meeting, we had the exciting opportunity of using some of the school’s fantastic education tools, the Virtual Reality Lumination Labs, to explore one of the world’s most renowned ancient cities by using AI. While listening to a track about the rich history of Ancient Rome, students were able to take a virtual walk around famous sites such as the Colosseum, and even fly up to the top of structures! Multi-sensory immersion in the history of Ancient Rome, in all of its grandeur, added depth and nuance to students’ studies and knowledge of the city – the architecture, the culture, and the people.
Lifelike AI interaction with the environment and architecture prompted appreciation of the power of human creativity, whilst virtual placement amongst other Romans reminded us of the key historical concept of empathy. It’s easy to feel detached from ancient societies, however, everybody who attended our session left with a layered understanding of Rome’s humanity – the daily routines and social dynamics that shaped lives.
Students from younger years found the experience especially engaging and fascinating, as it allowed them to experiment with new, hands-on methods of learning rather than traditional classroom work. We heard many ‘Oohs!’ and ‘Aahs!’, lots of giggles, and many thoughtful questions revolving around life in Ancient Rome – ‘What’s this building called?’, ‘What was this used for?’, ‘I can’t believe that they lived like this!’. It was lovely to witness the intersection between historical curiosity and learning. History brings people together! Students of all ages joined us and mingled – from Year 7 right through to Year 11. The appeal of the Lumination Labs endures.
The VR immersion deepened our critical thinking and gave added context to things we’ve learned in class. Ultimately, this virtual reality experience was a wonderful opportunity to learn and socialise, and we look forward to hosting more sessions in the future!
Calliope Stewart, Emily Wong and Monterey Tam Year 11 History Ambassadors
Learning in the Library
Book Week in the Library 16-23 August 2025
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr Seuss
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are. – Mason Cooley
Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home. – Anna Quindlen
Reading is important. If you know how to read, then the whole world opens up to you. – Barack Obama
These quotes, to list just a few, highlight the joy of adventure that comes with reading. Each year the Children’s Book Council of Australia selects a number of significant Australian books in competition for Book of the Year, with the theme this year being ‘Book an Adventure’.
This year’s Older Readers Shortlist includes a contemporary Australian gothic novel from a debut author, a verse novel about the pain of loss and shame, with the healing power of small acts of kindness and a futuristic fantasy story. Romantasy, combining elements of Romance and Fantasy, is currently one of the fastest growing genres amongst YA readers.
The week will be marked in the library with a range of book themed activities for students to participate in, the Shadow Judging, Book Swap, author visits and writing workshops and the Book Week Character Costume Parade on Friday 22 August at lunch.
During the week, Student Leaders will be holding a Book Swap where students can donate a book and purchase one for a gold coin donation. If your child has any books they have loved and would like to share with others, please bring them into the library. Students are encouraged to leave a small message in the book to the next reader, encouraging connection and building a community of readers.
Students who wish can come in costume of their favourite character or author and bring a gold coin donation to raise funds for students in the Solomon Islands. Appropriate Free Dress day clothing guidelines and protective footwear for practical subjects apply.
Students who do not wish to come in costume must wear full school uniform.
Families are invited to attend the Parade on the Small Hockey Field from 1:00pm.
Susan Lombardo Head of Library
Akka Project: a journey of connection and kindness
During the school holidays, I joined a group of nine Australian teenage girls and seven mothers who travelled to India as part of the Akka Project. The Akka Project is an initiative led by my family to create opportunities for mothers and teens to volunteer and engage in project work at the Parikrma Humanity Foundation. Our connection with Parikrma goes way back to when my mum volunteered there as a teenager.
The word ‘Akka’ means ‘big sister’ in Kannada (the local language). At Parikrma, teachers are called Akka or Anna ‘big bother’ because they are seen as family and that sense of family was something we felt from the moment we arrived. Parikrma Humanity Foundation was founded 20 years ago by Shukla Bose, inspired by her time working with Mother Teresa. Today, Parikrma supports over 2,000 children from slums and orphanages, providing them with high-quality English education, healthcare and nutrition across four schools and a junior college.
The aim of our trip was to build a celebration of play, creativity and connection. Aussie and Parikrma teens came together as global citizens, learning from one another and forming relationships rooted in empathy and fun. Through hands-on collaboration across two Parikrma schools, we fostered inclusive learning, sparked curiosity and deepened intercultural understanding. From storybook lessons and sports to art, science, and shared laughter over boardgames, every moment was about building bridges and stepping into each other’s worlds through the universal language of play.
Through community engagement and fundraising, the Akka Project team raised $10,000 and filled our suitcases with board games, books and teaching resources. One of our main focus areas was raising awareness of menstrual health. We provided menstrual underwear to Parikrma students and ran health education sessions, sharing our own experiences. Altogether, we collected 1,200 pairs of menstrual underwear, supporting over 500 Parikrma girls with two pairs each. A huge thank you to the Santa Sabina community for your generous donation to this drive!
Another major project was to revamp and restock the library at one of the Parikrma schools. The shelves had been empty for 20 years. As a team, we rebuilt the library and filled it with hundreds of donated novels and books. Seeing the space burst into colour and knowledge was incredibly rewarding; it lit up the room and brought excitement to learning. It made us reflect on how lucky we are here in Sydney to have access to books, and reminded us that a simple shelf of stories can ignite a love of reading and spark imagination.
It’s hard to summarise this experience as I walked away learning so much about myself and also the world around me. Some of my personal highlights included playing with donated volleyballs and handballs, doing 1:1 reading with students who needed extra support, making friendship bracelets, and introducing Parikrma students to fairy bread (which they thought was hilarious!). Even something as simple as making playdough with Year 10 students, then watching the kindergarteners play with it for the first time, are memories I’ll never forget.
This trip has created lasting bonds and genuine friendships with students at Parikrma, friends I’ll keep forever. We learnt so much from them. Every day, no matter what’s happening at home, they walk into school with huge smiles and a hunger to learn. I came away feeling like they were my biggest teachers. They showed me resilience, compassion and how connection can be built through something as simple and beautiful as play.
So what’s next? Akka Project is preparing for the next group trip in 2026. If this is something you’d like to learn more about, check out the website: www.akkaproject.org. We’re also seeking support from the Santa Sabina community to collect chapter books, storybooks, and early readers for Parikrma students aged 5–18 years to build the library of another Parikrma school. In addition, we hope to empower the mothers of Parikrma students with menstrual underwear and are collecting sizes 8, 10, 12 and 14. We are also hoping to offer teacher exchange programs. The Akka project is only just starting but we hope to be a pathway forward for more students and family.
Xylah Bamji Year 9
Year 8 in the Lumination Labs
As part of their unit of work on Landscapes and Landforms, Mrs Pizzuti’s Year 8 Geography class partook in a VR experience in the College’s Lumination Labs. Here, the girls could bear witness to the destruction of landscapes and landforms caused by these geomorphic hazards.
Chloe Pizzuti Religious Education and Geography Teacher
Year 7 Vaccinations
In Year 7, students are offered free vaccines for Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa)Papillomavirus (HPV) at Santa Sabina College on Tuesday 12 August 2025.
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.
Online consent must be completed by Friday 8 August 2025. If you have any questions, please direct them to me at 9745 7187.
Karen Peeters College Nurse
Assistant Head of Gioia House
Being a responsible digital citizen
During our Gioia House Pastoral and Community Time, the students took part in an online Responsible Digital Citizenship session with a theme of Online Boundaries and Consent. The session began with an online interactive video that shared key points to consider and appropriate behaviour when online.
The activities developed by the eSafety Commissioner are designed to support students as they learn about online consent and permission, and how to define online boundaries.
By the end of the session, the students were able to:
identify consent and permission in a variety of online settings
define and practise setting personal boundaries online
develop help seeking and reporting strategies.
The online video allowed students to experience different real-life scenarios, followed by the opportunity to discuss the appropriate action in different situations. All students were highly engaged, reflecting on what it means to be a responsible digital citizen and how their words and actions can impact others.
The eSafety Commissioner online website has useful resources specific to different age groups. It also contains free online webinars which parents can register for to ensure we continue to keep up to date with current issues and strategies to help support our children.
In Gioia House, we continually encourage all our students to be Action Girls. We acknowledge the positive qualities students display in the classroom, around the school, at school events, how they treat fellow peers and their teachers and they look after our school environment.
Last week Mrs Watkins shared how proud she was of the Gioia House Representative Dance Group who competed over the weekend at Ryde Eisteddfod. The students demonstrated their ability to show maturity and self-regulate when they were initially faced with the challenge when their music did not play, the students had to gracefully leave the stage. Once the students recomposed themselves and returned to the stage to complete their routine, the wrong music played, the students once again remained calm and professionally waited for their correct song. Once the correct music began the students performed their routine confidently, making their Dance teachers, parents and Santa Sabina Community proud. The students were also awarded first place for their performance. Well done girls!
Ms Azizian awarded all the Gioia House Representative Dance Group an Action Girl Award.
Congratulations to our Action Girls:
Bella Ayoub Amelia Baltinos Esther Chiew Ariane Cutrupi Alira Djordjevic Zoe Garrett Scarlett Ghossein Sophia Gomesis Christina Jabuka Eloise Lai Elena Magri Bianca McLeod Elise Schojer Khaleesi Staveris Sydney Truong Zara Zaika
Friendology Program
This term, all Gioia House students will continue to focus on a skills-based social and emotional learning program – URSTRONG: Friendology – that helps build children’s skills in fostering and maintaining healthy friendships. It aims to assist students in developing the skills, language and self-confidence to be better friends and develop a solid foundation for future healthy relationships.
The key areas that are taught in each lesson include:
Building Self-Worth
Bullying Prevention
Conflict Resolution
Healthy Relationships
Case studies
How to Get Real
How to Make Friends & How to be a Great Friend
How to Put out Friendship Fires
How to be a Friendship Ninja
How to handle Tricky Situations
How to Take Control & Feel Heard
How to remember U R STRONG!
Our Vision for Friendology for our students is to develop life-long skills, strategies, language, and understandings about friendships and relationships that will enable them to foster healthy relationships.
Marisa Maks Assistant Head of Gioia House
Gioia House Curriculum Leader
Term 3 Curriculum Overview
The Term 3 Curriculum Overviews for Year 5 and Year 6 have been updated and are accessible via Veritas Online. These overviews provide families with a comprehensive summary of the learning content and focus areas across the key learning areas.
Curriculum Overviews serve as an important bridge between home and school. They support parents and carers in gaining a clear understanding of what is being taught in the classroom and provide valuable opportunities to engage meaningfully with their child’s learning. When families are informed and involved, students are better able to make connections between what they are learning at school and their experiences at home. This partnership enhances student engagement, reinforces learning, and fosters shared commitment to educational success. We encourage all families to take time to review the overviews on Veritas Online.
Stephanie Yiorkas Gioia House Curriculum Leader
Music at Gioia House (Curricular)
It’s wonderful to be back from parental leave, as I pick up the reins of Curriculum Music for Gioia House, supported by the whole music team.
Thank you to Mr Jameson Choe for his acting role in this space while I was on leave. Mr Choe continues his dedicated work with Brass, Woodwind and Percussion instruments as part of the Curriculum Instrumental program, alongside Ms Victoria Jacono-Gilmovich who oversees the String programming.
We commend Gioia House students for their wonderful performances across the start of term – including in the Academic Assembly and last Friday in the Dom’s Day Mass. Curriculum performances will feature across the coming semester at Fra AngelicoFestival, End of Year Masses and Assemblies, and within the instrumental showcases (with dates to be announced shortly).
Wishing all our Gioia House students a music-filled term to come!
Froukje Werlemann-Godfrey Head of Music 5-12 (Part time) Heads of Curricular Music 5-12
A Message from the Director of Music
Click here to find out more about Co-curricular opportunities and Music Performances at Santa Sabina College.
The girls have started exploring that energy is everywhere, different types of energy do different things and energy can be transferred and transformed. As an introduction, they were involved in hands-on demonstrations of energy in action.
Through a series of rotational stations, they saw first hand how energy is used, transformed and/or transferred.
Eamonn Dunphy and Marisa Maks Year 6 Teachers
06 CORE 2
Australian Government
In preparation for our Year 6 Outdoor Education Experience in Week 9 we have been learning about how our Government works and looking forward to our visit to Parliament House in Canberra. At the moment we are learning about the time of Federation and the important people who played an important role at this time in Australian History. We are looking forward to investigating and creating an election scenario in our class to better understand the process of voting and how it works in our democracy. Parents feel free to speak to your child about your voting experiences.
Leonie Trees Year 6 Teacher
06 CORE 3
Brainstorming for Public Speaking
This term, Gioia House students have begun their participation in the Public Speaking Program. Year 6 students have spent time this week engaging in brainstorming sessions, where they were encouraged to think deeply about issues, concepts and personal interests they feel passionate about. These sessions provided a valuable opportunity for students to reflect on their values, experiences, and ideas they would like to share with a wider audience.
Following their initial brainstorming, students worked collaboratively in small groups to share and discuss their ideas. These small group discussions allowed students to think critically and to consider alternative perspectives, ask thoughtful questions, and respectfully challenge each other’s viewpoints.
This activity also played an important role in helping students begin to shape their ideas into focused speech topics. More importantly, it marked the beginning of a journey that will support the development of several important skills, including critical thinking, clarity in oral communication, self-confidence, and the ability to listen actively and respond thoughtfully. Over the coming weeks, students will continue to build on this foundation as they begin drafting, refining, and delivering their own speeches as part of the Public Speaking Program.
Monique Taylor and Tiffany Anderson Year 6 Teachers
06 CORE 4
Debating Term 3
In our recent debate on the topic Video Games Are Beneficial to Children debaters from both Santa Sabina College and Loreto Kirribilli brought fresh perspectives, using research and real-life examples to build compelling arguments around cognitive development, teamwork and strategic thinking in gaming. Their approach engaged the adjudicator, turning what could have been a simple discussion into an interesting exchange of ideas. Beyond the debate, our students extended a gracious welcome to the visiting school, fostering a friendly atmosphere throughout the event. We thoroughly enjoyed the debate and look forward to our next one.
Ann Milicic Year 6 Teacher
What’s happening in Year 5
05 CORE 1
Throughout Term 3, students in Gioia House will be participating in the Public Speaking program, designed to foster confidence, communication and presentation skills. The program commenced with a class brainstorm exploring a range of topics based on students’ interests, values and perspectives. Following this, students submitted their top three topic choices via a Google Form and provided a written justification for their preferred option.
Student responses were analysed and five topic choices were selected. 5CORE1 then worked collaboratively in groups examining one topic and brainstorming possible arguments and subtopics that can be utilised in their speeches. The class reconvened to share our ideas. Students were actively engaged in this process, building upon each other’s contributions and considering diverse viewpoints.
Stephanie Yiorkas Year 5 Teacher
05 CORE 2
Australian Planetariums Incursion
On the first Friday of Term 3, students in Year 5 were visited by Australian Planetariums. They entered an inflatable dome with a 360 degree projection system. Inside the dome the students watched films and learned about the different planets in the Solar System. They were quizzed to gauge what they had learned using LED pucks. The students also learned about Indigenous Astronomy. Some student reflections are listed below,
I liked the visual effects and presentation which made the learning fun and exciting. Sofia Brodowska-Nidelkos
I learned that there are phases of the moon, like the new moon and quarter moons. Aimee Hu
I liked how it was very realistic and doing the quiz with the LED pucks. It made me think about all the planets and how they are different and what makes them unique. Mia Li
I liked the documentary about Indigenous Astronomy and how the aboriginals told stories using the planets which helped their everyday lives. Bella Nash Estrada.
Wendy Anetter Year 5 Teacher
05 CORE 3
Christian Stewardship
During their Religious Education Unit, Year 5 have been exploring the concept of Christian Stewardship and caring for God’s creation. This ties in very nicely with our Interdisciplinary unit, There Is No Planet B, where students understand the impacts humans have on our environment. Students explored and discussed a range of environments and the beauty and wonder found in these places. They expressed these as artworks and enjoyed taking a moment outside to reflect on how creation makes them feel.
Bryony Watkins Year 5 Teacher
05 CORE 4
To start off Term 3, Year 5 Kostakis students’ have been diving into the fascinating world of 2D shapes—focusing on triangles and quadrilaterals. Through hands-on activities and targeted lessons, students are learning to identify and describe the properties of these shapes, including how to measure and compare angles. These learning experiences are helping students connect different mathematical ideas, encouraging them to think critically and solve problems using their knowledge of geometry.
Tayla Kostakis Year 5 Teacher
Gifted Education in Gioia House
Young Scientists
OurYoung Scientist participants have been hard at work – even over the holidays – as they begin drafting their scientific reports. This exciting journey has been a true collaboration between home and school, with valuable guidance from our talented Senior School Science Department.
Thanks to the curiosity and dedication of the students and Ms Brigham, some fascinating findings are already emerging.
Maths Challenges
The Maths Olympiad and Maths Games teams from Gioia House kicked off the term by tackling the third contest of the year. The girls approached each challenging problem with remarkable persistence and focus, demonstrating both skill and determination. After each contest, students have the opportunity to discuss the problem solving techniques they utilised while listening to the techniques their peers used. Some students nominate themselves to explain their strategies to the group as a whole, further enhancing their skillset. As the term has progressed the students’ confidence and skill level in Mathematics has improved.
Some of these girls also participated in the Australian Maths Competition which is the nation’s longest running and most well-known maths competition for school students. The competition is designed for high achieving mathematicians who get the opportunity to challenge their thinking through tackling unique problems. This year, 42 of our Primary students entered the AMC and they are all congratulated on undertaking a very challenging competition.
Last week, The Gioia House Kitchen Garden Club hosted their inaugural produce markets. The team sold their homegrown produce to the Gioia House students via donation. Fresh produce, including parsley, lemon thyme, oregano, rosemary, lettuce (rocket and cos), chives, spinach and even potatoes were snapped up by appreciative customers.
Now it’s back to the vegepods for additional seedling planting and harvesting over the next few weeks.
The Gioia House Kitchen Garden Club
Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4
Teaching humility: a foundation for friendship and respect
One of the most important qualities to teach children is to be humble. When we encounter humble people in our lives, we cannot help but notice that they deeply care about the people around them. They show great care and respect, and they recognise the dignity in every person.
Helping children understand and practise humility is essential for nurturing meaningful friendships and respectful relationships. Humility teaches children to value others’ perspectives, celebrate shared successes, and accept mistakes with grace. To explore this concept, students read picture books to spark a conversation about humility in action, in familiar settings. For example:
In the classroom: Asking for help when you don’t understand a concept, or praising a classmate’s creative ideas during a group project or class discussion.
On the playground: Letting someone else take the first turn, or congratulating a friend for winning a game without showing jealousy.
At home: Apologising to a sibling after an argument, or helping to clean up without being asked.
In the community: Volunteering to help others, listening respectfully to different opinions, or acknowledging when you make a mistake and trying to make it right.
These everyday moments help children develop empathy, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence — key ingredients for building trust and resolving conflicts peacefully. In a world that often celebrates individual achievement, guiding young learners to be humble empowers them to grow into kind, compassionate and collaborative individuals.
Term 3 Curriculum Overviews
The Term 3 Curriculum Overviews for Prep to Year 4 are now available on Veritas Online. These documents outline the key focus areas and content to be covered throughout the term across all learning domains. As a valuable connection between home and school, we encourage parents to review their child’s Curriculum Overview to gain insight into the concepts being taught and to actively support their learning journey.
Lauren Petroni Assistant Head of Primary P-4 and Curriculum Leader P-4
Religious Education News
St Dom’s Day 2025
Last Friday, our College community, including the Dominican Sisters, students, staff, parents and ex-students, came together to celebrate St Dominic’s Day. We gathered in celebration of all that has shaped our school and our proud history and reflected on what we are being called to do.
Our students have spent the last week retelling the story of St Dominic using our beautiful Dominican dolls, designed and created by the women of Kopanang. Sr Sheila Flynn OP and Sr Judy Lawson OP were instrumental in the development of the Kopanang Community Trust to help women in South Africa. Other symbols that represent St Dominic de Guzman are sunflowers and oranges.
St Mary of the Cross-Mackillop Feast day – 8 August
Mary MacKillop was born on 15 January 1842, in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne. With the support and spiritual guidance of Fr Julian Tension Woods, the Parish Priest of the South-East of South Australia, she opened the first St Joseph’s school in Penola in 1866. It was in an old stable. Her brother helped her to make it habitable for a school room.
Mary MacKillop had a deep connection to God, whom she loved so much in the person of Jesus. Even in times of intense hardship, disappointment, loss of friendship and even betrayal, Mary MacKillop always welcomed the movement and wisdom of the Holy Spirit within her.
Mary was beatified on 19 January 1995 at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, in a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II. She was canonised as St Mary of the Cross at a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on 17 October 2010.
Feast of the Assumption of Mary Feast Day – 15 August
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a special Feast Day of the Catholic Church. God chose Mary to be the loving mother of God’s son, Jesus. On this day, we specifically remember that Mary is the mother of Jesus, that she believed in Jesus and was one of his faithful followers and believers. She was the first disciple. From the very first moment of her life, Mary loved God. Mary said ‘Yes’ to everything that God asked her to do. On this day, the Church acknowledges that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has a special place in the life of the Catholic Church as the Mother of God. Today we celebrate the holy day when, at the end of her life, Mary was taken to heaven by God, to be with her son, Jesus.
Tina Nicotina Religious Education Coordinator P – 6
Music at Del Monte and MBH
At Del Monte we are developing our music analytical skills through songs and movements. Here are some of the ways we have been developing our knowledge.
In Year 4 we can sing in Canon (like a round) while moving in concentric circles. This develops our hearing of parts within a larger group, maintaining our own part with a common sense of beat.
Year 2 composed in groups, collaborating with one another in their groups to create a movement for one particular part of the song. They perform their part at the correct time, without verbal direction, showing they are able to make sense of the music they hear.
Kindergarten children have been finding patterns in songs and jumping in and out of hoops when they hear the pattern, with longer phrases requiring walking around the hoop.
Phillipa Knight Coordinator of Music P-4
A Message from the Director of Music
Click here to find out more about Co-curricular opportunities and Music Performances at Santa Sabina College.
Year 4 students created charcoal artworks featuring a black cockatoo silhouette. Their project was inspired by the text Fire by Jackie French, and Bindi, a verse novel by Kirli Saunders. The students linked the themes of fire and rain in the book with charcoal, made from burnt wood. Before drawing, the class discussed bushfires and how fire turns wood into charcoal. Using sticks of vine charcoal, blending tools, and heavy paper, each child traced the cockatoo’s outline. By smudging with fingers and blending stumps, they created smooth transitions that hint at rain’s arrival. Students engaged enthusiastically within this task and it proved to be an effective way to commence their English unit for the term.
Merissa Perivolarellis Year 4 Classroom Teacher
Year 3
This term, Year 3 students have begun exploring the important topic Be Alert, Don’t Get Hurt as part of their PDH studies. The unit focuses on developing students’ awareness of road safety and responsible behaviours in everyday settings.
Road Safety Awareness
Students have actively participated in discussions and activities that highlight the role of pedestrians and the importance of safe road-crossing practices. Through interactive learning, they’ve examined how to identify safe places to cross and the responsibilities of being alert near roads.
Kiss and Ride Safety Posters
To reinforce these concepts, students created informative posters illustrating safe behaviours at the Kiss and Ride area. This creative task helped them communicate key safety messages visually and consider the needs of both drivers and passengers.
Learning Road Signs
Understanding common road signs has also been a key focus, enabling students to better interpret their surroundings and behave appropriately near traffic zones.
Next Steps: Bicycle Safety
Looking ahead, students will turn their attention to bike safety. They’ll explore best practices for riding in shared spaces, helmet use, and ways to stay visible and protected while cycling.
Catherine McGrath Year 3 Teacher
Year 2
The world of forces
In their Science unit this term, students in Year 2 are investigating forces. As part of this exciting unit, they enjoyed an incursion with Ranger Jamie. Students participated in a number of activities designed to provoke their curiosity, stimulate their thinking and elicit questioning.
Students enjoyed the very hands-on experience of making slime and exploring how applying a force, such as squashing and stretching, changed the shape of an object.
They designed and built their own rocket before launching their spacecraft into the sky, learning how shape and design affects movement. This was an exciting investigation into air pressure and its effects on everyday materials.
Students participated in billy cart races to observe how objects with wheels move. They explored how to conquer forces whilst working together in teams building their communication skills, balance and fitness.
The children investigated the forces of air pressure, push, pull and friction by participating in a number of games and hands-on experiences with the expert guidance and supervision of Ranger Jamie’s team of science teachers. It was an interesting and exciting day which provoked as many questions as it answered.
We look forward to continuing our exploration of forces in Science Week and throughout Term 3.
Margie Attard, Cara Brigham, Alison di Ciaccio, Tina Nicotina and Brooke Panagopoulos Year 2 Teachers
Year 1
This term, Year 1 has been learning about the story of St Dominic. The children learnt about Dominic’s family through a storytelling session using the ‘Dominic Dolls’. The children learnt about Dominic’s parents, Felix and Jane, and his two brothers, Mannes and Anthony.
In Year 1, the Dominic story focuses on the symbols of the black and white dog and the torch which are in the Santa Sabina College Crest. Before Dominic was born, his mother Jane went to visit a holy monk in a nearby village of Silos. The monk’s name was Dominic of Silos, Jane told the monk she had a dream about the baby she was carrying. In her dream she saw a black and white dog running around the world with a torch in its mouth. The monk told Jane that he thought it meant that the baby in her womb would be ‘A Hound of Heaven’, carrying God’s light around the world. On Friday 1 August ,to celebrate St Dominic’s feast day, the children created their own dog and torch.
Year 1 Teachers
Kindergarten
We have certainly enjoyed an exciting start to Term 3, with many ‘firsts’ and celebrations for our Kindergarten students. Our first St Dominic’s Day, our first 100 Days of Kindergarten and our first Grandparents Day celebrations have been joyful, engaging and memorable.
We began the term learning about St Dominic and his special care of others less fortunate than himself, his love of family, learning, reading and outdoor activities. The students wrote about what St Dominic likes to do and made connections with similar things they enjoy doing. Sr Sheila’s visit to our classrooms, to share Dominic’s story, added a special touch to learning about his family using handcrafted dolls.
We were blessed with sunshine for our 100 Days Brighter celebration. The students began the day with a beautiful liturgy to celebrate and give thanks for the knowledge and skills learnt, for the special friendships nurtured and for the blessings granted. They then enjoyed a picnic with their parents and teachers and were involved in a variety of fun and bright activities with a focus on the number 100. The love and joy our Kindergarten students have for their learning was reflected in their colourful attire and the way in which they participated enthusiastically in this special day.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the parents of our students for the way in which they joined in these recent festivities and we look forward to the next 100 days of Kindergarten!
Anna Donato, Alana Ivancsik, Brooke Napper and Vicki Spillane Kindergarten Teachers
Prep
Welcome to Term 3! We’re thrilled to launch a new term filled with curiosity, connection, and learning.
Last week, our inquisitive young scientists ventured into the vibrant world of investigation with a hands-on experiment that sparked awe and wonder! As part of our science unit on predictions and hypotheses, students explored the Skittles Experiment, watching in amazement as the colours from the lollies spread and danced through water.
Through predicting outcomes, observing changes, and sharing their wonderings, students built important skills in scientific thinking—laying the groundwork for lifelong discovery.
We look forward to sharing many more moments of joy and growth with you this term as our youngest learners continue to grow academically, emotionally, and socially.
Rebecca Saba and Monique Evans Prep Teachers
Italian at Del Monte
Term 3 has begun with storytelling sessions focussing on Italian literature for children. Students of all grades have engaged in the reading of the classic Italian tale Pinocchio by using bilingual texts, online interactive books and videos.
Each grade has focussed on different aspects of the story and discussed the values taught by the book, that is, the importance of being truthful, brave and unselfish. Students have learnt some vocabulary through songs and rhymes and have recreated Pinocchio’s adventures using some colourful finger puppets. Some artwork representing Pinocchio and other characters of the story will be part of a drawing competition for the celebration of Book Week 2025.
Daniela Panico Italian Teacher
Gifted Education in Del Monte
CBCA Shadow Judging
A curious and creative group of Early Years students – our very own Story Explorers – have been preparing for Book Week in a very special way. They took part in the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Shadow Judging Book of the Year Awards, exploring the magic of storytelling through this national program.
Using a simplified version of the official judging criteria, the children thoughtfully examined the shortlisted picture books. After lively discussions and careful consideration, they crowned The Garden of Broken Things by Freya Blackwood as their pick for Picture Book of the Year!
We’re so proud of their enthusiasm, insight, and love for literature. What a wonderful way to celebrate Book Week!
Maths Extension
Term 3 kicked off with a burst of hands-on learning for our enthusiastic Year 1 and 2 Maths Quest group. Students have been diving into problem-solving activities that challenge their thinking and creativity.
Through making, extending, and describing patterns, they’ve been building a rich mathematical vocabulary – laying the foundation for confident and curious learners.
Young Scientists
Our Young Scientist participants have been hard at work – even over the holidays – as they begin drafting their scientific reports. This exciting journey has been a true collaboration between home and school, with valuable guidance from our talented Senior School Science Department.
Thanks to the curiosity and dedication of the students and Ms Brigham, some fascinating findings are already emerging.
The Social Justice Year 4 Team would like to thank all the Del Monte students and parents for their incredible generosity during Crazy Sock Day. We are proud to support the Vinnies Winter Appeal, helping people in need with food, clothing, housing and more.
It was wonderful to see our students wearing their colourful socks with pride, showing not only their creativity but also their compassion. The gold coin and other donations will go a long way in making a real difference to those who need it most.
At Del Monte, we believe in standing up for fairness and kindness. Thank you for being part of this important social justice initiative. Together, we are helping to build a more caring and supportive community.
Your kindness warms hearts this winter.
The Social Justice Team
Director of Music P-12
Welcome to Term 3
Second semester begins! It’s been lovely to see all the new faces joining ensembles after the success of our Gala Concert at the end of last term! Enjoy this video of our concert finale – where you’ll hear 600 Voices of Hope ringing out together!
Welcome back also to Ms Froukje Werlemann-Godfreywho returns from parental leave to her post as Head of Curriculum P-12, supported by Ms Veronica Tsang who remains acting as a co-Head. Ms Alana Thorne officially joins us from this term onwards, and we are delighted to have this dedicated educator as a part of our music team.
As we line up all the wonderful events and performances across the rest of the year, Holyrood and large rehearsal spaces across both campuses are a daily hive of industry! Preparations are well underway for our upcoming Italy Music Tour departing in less than eight weeks, with 34 students and supporting staff rehearsing passionately, refining their repertoire ahead of this incredible international experience.
Last week, we celebrated the Feast of St Dominic, affectionately known as Dom’s Day, with a tremendous array of musical offerings from our students during both the Mass and in the concert afterwards. The whole celebration truly captured the vibrant essence of the Dominican Charism. On Wednesday, we were delighted to have Dr Paul Taylor (composer of the Mass of St Benedict and Mass of St Francis) with us from Melbourne to workshop his setting of the mass with us.
Friday Afternoon Open Recitals
Our Open Recital Series continues in Term 3 with another instalment this Friday at 3:45pm in the Adams Room, Holyrood. These informal performances are a wonderful opportunity for students to share their music in a supportive environment. Interested in performing? Speak to your private music teacher about how you can sign up for our next one!
Chamber Music Recital
On Tuesday 26 August from 5:00pm, join us for an evening of intimate small ensemble performances at our Chamber Music Recital. Held in the Chapel, this beautiful soirée features our highly accomplished Chamber musicians in a range of duets, trios, quartets and other groups to present an exciting selection of chamber works. All are welcome!
New music learning opportunities – pipa lessons!
As our Guzheng Ensemble expands to incorporate other aspects of chinese traditional music, we are delighted to officially re-name this group our Chinese Music Ensemble. As part of this growth, we’re thrilled to introduce Ms Iris (Xinyang) Li, to the team – our new tutor offering pipa lessons! The pipa is a traditional Chinese string instrument known for its expressive sound and rich history. Students interested in exploring this unique musical opportunity are encouraged to register via this link.
About Ms Iris (Xinyang) Li
Iris is a visionary pipa soloist, composer and educator, known for bridging Eastern tradition and Western creativity through music in Sydney. She was the first student in history to graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music majoring in a Chinese traditional instrument—the pipa.
With over a decade of teaching experience, Iris is passionate about nurturing young musicians and sharing the beauty of Chinese music with students of all backgrounds. Her method book My First Pipa Bookis the first English-language Pipa guide written for students outside China, making the instrument more accessible and engaging for young learners.
Iris is also the founder and director of Amazonite Ensemble, a youth fusion music group made up of talented primary and high school students. The ensemble brings together Chinese and Western instruments to create vibrant cross-cultural performances. They regularly appear at community festivals and events across Sydney, sharing music that celebrates diversity and creativity.
Iris brings this ensemble experience into her work at Santa Sabina. She hopes to inspire students to engage with music not only as a skill, but also as a way of connecting cultures and expressing identity. All levels are welcome – no prior experience is required. Students who already have experience learning the Pipa are especially encouraged to join and take their skills further in a supportive environment.
You might like to read more about Ms Li on Little Red Book (小红书) where she shares teaching and performance videos with her 8k followers! (悉尼琵琶老师 Iris)
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Join an ensemble, class or learn an instrument!
We believe that music makes life and the human experience so much richer – and therefore it should be accessible to all. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced musician, there’s a place for you in our music programs at Santa! From choirs and orchestras to bands and contemporary ensembles, studio engineering classes and private lessons – we offer a wide range of opportunities for all abilities.
It’s never too late to start learning an instrument or join an ensemble, and the start of semester is the perfect time to slot in. Come and be part of something special! Register via this link.
Please reach out to music@ssc.nsw.edu.au if we can support your music journey in any way!
Wishing all our students a wonderful semester to come.
We have just started Term 3 and we have been extremely busy in the Sports Department.
Weekly interschool sport has witnessed two Hockey, four Football and three Basketball teams in the IGSA Comp for Years 7-12. The Junior School students have been playing IPSHA girls Touch Football in three teams and two Boys Football teams. We have joined the Meriden Invitational Badminton Competition with five teams of students in Years 6-12 on Friday nights and our Senior team (Years 10-12) has joined the MLC Water Polo Competition on Friday nights too. All of these were added by our Rep Volleyball teams (eight), IWNA Netball (t27), Representative Dance teams (nine) and eight Debating teams Representing the College at the Archdale (IGSA) Competitions.
We are also getting ready to embark in our Representative Athletics season, joining the IGSA Twilight Carnivals on 1 and 8 August and the CGSSSA Carnival on 15 August.
As I write this article I am also watching our CGSSSA Basketball team training to take part in the Competition on the 30 August (Wednesday) at Camelia Sports Centre.
To make all this happen and ensure the College is represented appropriately in all levels, I would like to thank my team at the Sports Department for all their work facilitating staff and players development throughout the Sports seasons. I would also like to thank our coaches for nurturing our students’ passion for sport and developing them to the heights they want to achieve, our parents community and finally our students who show pride and passion while embracing the College colours in all events they take part in.
Co-curricular photos 25 and 28 August
Please note these group photos will be taken as follows:
Years 7-12 – Monday 25 August
Del Monte – Thursday 28 August
More information will follow regarding students’ uniforms and photo schedules.
Luiz Ramalho Director of Sport and Co-curricular Activities
Co-curricular Clubs
Co-curricular Clubs started this week. We can see a great deal of engagement in activities such as Athletics, Fit Club, Boxing, Dance and Mandarin. These clubs have been very successful introducing the students to a non-competitive environment where they can develop the passion for co-curricular activities and take it further in their school lives.
Individual and team students achievements
Congratulations to Jade Dominis in Year 9 on her selection into the NSW Rugby Sevens Under 16 2s Girls team.
The Australian Schools Rugby Union Championships were held at the Sunshine Coast Stadium from 11 July to 13 July 2025.
Jade’s team came third out of eight teams from all over the country.
Congratulations to Alessandra Ronsisvalle in Year 7 for coming eigth in the NSW All Schools Cross Country Championships.
Congratulations to Lydia Wang Year 5, who achieved outstanding results during the school holidays at the Jack Newton Junior Golf State Age Championships! She was named net runner-up in the Girls U10 division and crowned the JNJG Mini Golf State Age Champion (Girls 10 Years).
Congratulations to Jolene Wang (Year 8) for winning a bronze medal at the 2025 National Table Tennis Championships in Traralgon, VIC, in the U21 Women’s doubles this month.
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent the College at the IGSA Twilight Athletics Carnivals on the 1 and 8 Aug at SOPAC and the CGSSSA Athletics Championships at SOPAC on the 15 Aug.
Student Name
Surname
Year Group
Mariah
Saade
7
Mila
Amore
7
Lillian
Ayoub
7
Freya
Ingwersen
7
Ola
Kochman
7
Elyana
Lahoud
7
Rachel
Michael
7
Alessandra
Ronsisvalle
7
Evie
Santa Maria
7
Abbey
Schutt
7
Faith
Ata
8
Ava
Cetinic
8
Dana
Park
8
Madison
Rice
8
Isla
Socratous
8
Layla
Antico
9
Natalie
Bechara
9
Scarlett
Chidiac
9
Valentina
Gibson
9
Sophie
Hickey
9
Chelsea
McIntosh
9
Noele
Nader
9
Francesca
Placanica
9
Mikayla
Tadros
9
Amelie
McKee
10
Allegra
Musca
10
Mira
Nguyen
10
Lisa
Geddes
11
Arianna
Harris
11
Olynda
Lebeau
11
Charlotte
Rudd
11
Emily
Vrckovski
11
Bonnie
Bayly
12
Caitlin
Brennan
12
Emily
Gilmore
12
Congratulations to the students who have been selected to represent the College at the CGSSSA Basketball Championships at Camelia Sports Centre on Wednesday 30 Aug.
Student Name
Surname
Year Group
Esther
Jin
Year 7
Abigail (Abbey)
Schutt
Year 7
Allegra
Afonso
Year 9
Layla
Antico
Year 9
Xiyuan (Khloe)
Cui
Year 9
Jade
Dominis
Year 9
Mila
Ettorre
Year 9
Elaine
Fang
Year 9
Cassandra
Katsinas
Year 10
Gabriella
Morkos
Year 10
Gabrielle (Gabby)
Nakhle
Year 10
IGSA Sport
Term 4 Registrations are now open for Tennis, Water Polo, Badminton and Touch Football.
Registrations will close on Friday 22 August.
Unfortunately the recent weather has put a dampener on the start of our Term 3 IGSA sports meaning many of our teams have been washed out. We are hopeful that the conditions will be better for the remainder of the term so we can get all of our games played.
Congratulations to SAN03 Basketball on their win on the weekend!
Netball
Term 3 sees the return to the IWNA Winter netball competition. Most teams have two or three regular games left before we head to finals season with semis scheduled for 23 August, finals on 30 August and grand finals on 6 September. We have multiple teams sitting in the top four positions on the ladder and are looking forward to seeing them play our first finals at IWNA.
Congratulations to Olivia Bouantoun, Julia Salmon and Madison Taouk who were all awarded their Santa Sabina Club Umpire Certificates in Round 11 and will now work towards their IWNA Association Badge. Well done ladies.
Round 14 on 16 August will see IWNA hosting a ‘Crazy Hair & Sock Day’ to raise funds for The Kids’ Cancer Project. Please get behind this very important event and make a donation to help fund vital kids cancer research and don’t forget to wear your silly socks!
Joanne Gocher Netball Coordinator
Representative Dance
Term 3 is our biggest term for representative dance with all of our teams competing at a range of eisteddfods. The term kicked off with our Years 1-6 dancers competing at the Ryde Eisteddfod on Sunday 27 July, and The Ultimate Dance Challenge (TUDC) on Sunday 3 August. All teams showed great enthusiasm, teamwork and resilience, particularly our Primary Black Dance team who showed immense professionalism when there were multiple issues with their music, but they remained focussed and ended up coming out on top at the Ryde Eisteddfod!
We are always proud of our dancers and look forward to their upcoming competitions and we thank our extended dance community of dance mums, dads, grandparents and all community members who continue to commit to this program and support each team. Our Juniors results at these two eisteddfods were as follows: Ryde Eisteddfod
Infants Dance Team – Highly Commended
Primary Black Dance Team – First Place
TUDC Infants Dance Team – Highly Commended
Primary White Dance Team – Highly Commended
Primary Black Dance Team – Second Place
Primary Hip Hop Dance Team – Third Place
We look forward to the next few weeks where we will be hitting eisteddfod stages almost every weekend in August!
Bryony Watkins Dance Coordinator
Primary Sport
Sydney Catholic Schools Football Championships
On Tuesday 22 July, the Gioia House Football team proudly represented Santa Sabina at the Sydney Catholic Schools Inter-Conference Playoffs, held at Majors Bay Reserve in Concord.
The team showed incredible determination and skill throughout the day.
In the team’s opening match, they fought hard but were narrowly defeated 1–0 after a last-minute goal from a corner. This result then led to the bronze medal match where the girls battled through to a tense penalty shootout, ultimately finishing just short of a podium spot. Their efforts earned them a well-deserved fourth place overall in Conference 2.
We are extremely proud of the team’s performance, sportsmanship, and resilience. They represented Santa Sabina with heart and should be congratulated for their achievements!
Primary Athletics Carnival – Age Champions and Winning House
Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Athletics Age Champions at their respective assemblies last week.
Age Group
Age Champion
2nd Place
3rd Place
7/8 Years Girls
Chanel Seely
Zoe Nguyen Sooah Cho
7/8 Years Boys
Emilio Medina
David Nader
Samuel Chidiac Matthew Khawaja
9 Years Girls
Audrey Tita
Sabrina Commisso Olivia Lai
9 Years Boys
George Rizk Oscar Kochman
Samuel Van Hore
10 Years Girls
Eve Vastas
Elise Buttigieg Sophia Guo
10 Years Boys
Henry Li
Damien Abi-Hanna
Jude Sassine
11 Years Girls
Emily Korb-Wells
Sophia Gomesis Bella Ayoub
12 Years Girls
Ariana Cassimaty
Erin Grogan Lillian Mackey
Congratulation to Henry Li and Emily Korb-Wells who were awarded Overall Age Champions
Congratulations to Weelya who were the winning house of the Team Spirit Trophy!
Congratulations to Teangi who were the overall winning house!
Sydney Catholic Schools Conference 2 Athletics Championships
On Monday 4 August, 32 students across Del Monte and Gioia House attended the Sydney Catholic Schools Conference 2 Athletics Championships. All students represented the College with pride and gave it their all in their respective events.
Congratulations to the following students who produced some amazing results and will now represent the College at the Sydney Championships on Friday 29 August.
Charlotte McCarthy 1st Place 1500m and 800m
Stefania Lazanja 3rd Place 200m
David Nader 5th Place 100m
Emily Korb-Wells 1st Place Long Jump
Ariane Cutrupi 3rd Place Long Jump
Congratulations also goes to our Junior Boys 4 x 100m Relay team (Giorgio Sulukojian, Armando Sulukojian, Damien Abi-Hanna and Henry Li) who finished 4th overall and have also progressed to the Sydney Championships.
Ryan Dunlop PE and Co-curricular Coordinator P-4
Rising star Calista Camarda
Award-winning graduate Calista Camarda brings academic brilliance to the classroom
Staff Story
Meet Calista Camarda – Santa Sabina’s youngest teacher and a rising star in education! With multiple academic awards from the University of Sydney and a passion for creativity, Calista is inspiring the next generation every day.
Calista Camarda may be at the start of her teaching career, but she’s already turning heads with a string of prestigious academic awards and a passion for education that’s impossible to miss.
A standout graduate of the University of Sydney, Calista was awarded the University’s Academic Merit Prize in 2023 and earned a place on the Dean’s List of Excellence in both 2022 and 2023. Her academic journey – leading to her Bachelor of Education (Primary) – also includes a 2021 Merit Prize, underscoring a consistent record of excellence. With grades and interests that could have opened doors to science or architecture, she chose instead to pursue her calling in primary education.
Now the youngest teacher at Santa Sabina College, Calista leads the Year 4 Daintree class in Del Monte with a blend of intellectual rigour, creativity, and compassion. ‘It’s something I’m really passionate about,’ she says. ‘I love to see students grow and flourish and being part of that journey.’
Her path to the classroom was inspired early on by her grandmother’s family day care. ‘It was such a nurturing environment,’ she recalls. ‘I knew I wanted to be part of that for other children.’
Calista’s connection to Santa Sabina began as a prac student, followed by an internship, and ultimately a permanent teaching role. Today, she guides a class of 23 boys and girls with a focus on emotional connection and academic growth. ‘Building a relationship with them is the most important thing – because if you don’t have that connection, it’s hard to build content knowledge.’
This month, her students are exploring poetry – a challenge for some, but one Calista meets with patience and encouragement. Her teaching is enriched by a specialisation in mathematics and a deep well of creative talent.
A self-taught artist, Calista’s realistic pencil drawings – especially of animals – earned her a Highly Commended award at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show. She uses her artistic skills to inspire creativity and visual learning in her classroom.
She’s also a competitive dancer, having trained since age nine and performed at venues such as the Sydney Opera House and ICC Sydney. She’s even judged dance competitions. ‘Dance has taught me discipline, resilience and the value of creative expression – qualities I bring into my teaching as well.’
Despite her accolades, Calista remains humble. ‘I just really love teaching at Santa Sabina,’ she says. ‘The staff are beautiful – always collaborative and helpful.’
With her award-winning academic background, creative flair and deep commitment to her students, Calista Camarda is not just a promising young teacher – she’s a rising star in Australian education.
Victoria Harper Editor
From the P&F Association
Dear Parents and Friends
Welcome back to Term 3, more than half way through the year already. We hope the break was restful and you are ready to join us for an array of exciting events this term!
The P&F Committee have quite a few events planned in the coming weeks and we will share them with you once the final preparations are made.
Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting
The next Parents and Friends (P&F) General Meeting is coming up and we would love to see as many of you there as possible!
🗓 Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Benincasa, Senior Campus, Santa Sabina College
This meeting is a fantastic opportunity for us all to come together, share ideas and discuss plans to support our school community. We’ll be covering several important topics, including upcoming events, fundraising initiatives, and ways we can all contribute to making our school an even better place for our children.
There are also a number of positions that are opening at the end of the year. If you are interested in helping with events and building on our community, please come to the General Meeting to find out more roles. If you have any items you’d like to add to the agenda, please send them to the P&F Secretary, Mary, via email at secretary@ssc.nsw.edu.au by COB Monday, 25 August 2025.
Father’s Day Gift Wrapping Volunteers
We are calling out to our wonderful volunteers for help at our Father’s Day Gift Wrapping. It is scheduled for Tuesday, 19 August, from 8:30am to 2:00pm in the Del Monte Hall.
We would love your help, from wrapping presents, cutting ribbons and having a great yarn!
With Father’s Day around the corner we will be reaching out to our wonderful community for assistance for the Father’s Day Stall and Breakfast. Please join the link below if you can help at the stall and the breakfast.
Don’t forget that the best way to get updates about all events of the P&F and for your particular child’s year activities, is by joining the WhatsApp groups for your child’s year group.
Please reach out to our P&F Communications Rep Jumana Commisso on 0403 355 115 and she will make arrangements to add you to the appropriate WhatsApp year group.
Warm regards
The P&F Association
Upcoming Events
🎉 Save the Date: Prep to Year 6 Disco
The Prep to Year 6 Disco is on 12 September 2025! This is the most looked forward event for all the young kids!
Details will be circulated soon.
🗓 Date: 12 September 2025
📍 Location: Del Monte Hall
Parent Education – Debra Brodowski
Helping our young people navigate big feelings
As parents, we often wish we could shield our young people from emotional storms. The truth is though, emotions big and small, are part of growing up. We can even feel big feelings as adults. The key for managing big feelings isn’t to avoid them, but to recognise, understand, and manage feelings in healthy ways.
How can we support our young people in developing this skill? There has been some great work done by the Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence who have created a framework that helps build emotional intelligence through five core skills; think RULER.
What does RULER stand for?
Recognising emotions in oneself and others
Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions
Labelling emotions accurately
Expressing emotions appropriately
Regulating emotions effectively.
How can parents use RULER at home?
Here are some simple ways to bring RULER into everyday parenting:
Recognise
Start by helping your young person notice their emotions. Use gentle questions like:
‘I see your fists are clenched and I’m wondering, are you feeling frustrated?’
Model this yourself by naming your own emotions:
‘I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, so I’m going to take a few deep breaths.’
Understand
Explore what might be causing the emotion:
‘I can hear that you’re upset because you didn’t feel included with your friends today. That makes sense it’s hard to feel left out.’
This builds empathy and helps kids connect feelings to experiences.
Label
Teach a rich emotional vocabulary. Move beyond ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ to words like ‘disappointed,’ ‘anxious,’ or ‘excited.’
If your young person is struggling to find the right word, try using an emotion wheel or chart to help.
Express
Encourage healthy expression, through words, journalling, music, movement, or quiet time. Help them develop a strategy that’s aligned with their interests.
Validate their feelings:
‘It’s okay to feel angry. Let’s find a way to talk about it.’
Regulate
Help your young person to develop learn calming strategies such as:
Deep breathing
Counting to 10
Drawing or journaling
Taking a break.
Final thoughts
Emotional regulation isn’t about being calm all the time, it’s about knowing what you feel, why you feel it, and what to do next. By using the RULER approach, we give our young people lifelong tools to thrive.
Let’s raise emotionally intelligent young people, one feeling at a time.
‘It’s not about being remembered. It’s about whether I created enough change.’
As Westpac’s first Chief Sustainability Officer and now Santa Sabina’s 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Siobhan Toohill has helped reshape global standards in banking, climate policy and human rights.
In this short video, she shares what legacy really means. The full interview launches on Monday 11 August on Exceptional, Santa Sabina Ex-Students’ Association podcast.
