My very best wishes to our Year 12 students this week as they undertake an Assessment block comprising traditional examination-style tasks, oral tasks and other styles of assessment. It is always a stressful time, and they are certainly in our prayers. Their retreat at the end of this term is a very special time in the calendar for Year 12 – their final experience of Tallong, and a unique opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal. Many thanks to the teachers who are leading and supporting the girls throughout their retreat.
Last week before the Easter break, we saw great participation and success at the annual Athletics Carnival for students in Years 6-12. There was an increase in participation at the carnival by about 10% on the previous year. Many records were broken including five from Year 7 student Tilly Hannan. Nicolette Donofrio clocked a time of 12.55 for the College 100m sprint championship race. This is a national age winning performance. Other records were broken on the day including Renee Lewis (Year 10) – four records and Emma Wheadon (Year 7) – four records. All up, 39 records out of 76 events were broken on the day.
At the recent Tildesley Tennis Shield Championships, Santa Sabina ranked 14th. Given that this was only our second year of participation since the 1970s, this was a very pleasing result. Isabella and Karla Pirina (Year 9) were selected for and played in the NSWCCC team which came second in the NSW All Schools championships. This is the best result for CCC (Combined Catholic Colleges) in 10 years. In Swimming, 10 students have been selected in the CGSSSA swimming team to compete at the CCC championships this coming Friday.
Participation in sport, as well as other co-curricular activities, is one of the best ways for developing resilience, and broader friendship networks for students of all ages. Please encourage your children to join in. Netball starts next Saturday with approximately 220 girls participating.
The Farrer girls, four sisters at both the Primary and Secondary campuses, were featured in this week’s The Catholic Weekly for being current members of the Sydney Children’s Choir at the same time – a rare achievement (www.catholicweekly.com.au/one-sister-act-thats-hard-beat/). Mrs Karen Carey, our Artistic Director Emerita, said in the article, “School music education is enriched by taking part in programs like the choir. Collaboration and a welcoming community is a way of developing better musicians and a musical environment which has no borders.”
Our wonderful P&F Association who continually support the College provides so many opportunities for our students. We are grateful to them for donating funds from both last year’s and this year’s fundraising efforts. The money will be used to purchase video conferencing technology that will allow us to expand the “classroom” well beyond the four walls. We will be connecting with students locally and internationally; conducting virtual excursions; and live streaming within the College. Thank you to all parents who have made this possible.
Some of my favourite moments this week have been seeing the excitement of Year 3 students visiting the Textiles classrooms on the senior campus, listening to the percussion band on the Primary Years campus, visiting Mary Bailey House and seeing the wonderful work of Director Mrs Jackie Baxter and her team of educators there. It’s a great opportunity to spot the children of our staff, and to know that as a community we support staff to combine their professional and family responsibilities. Finally, seeing the completion of the Siena Centre Stage 2 has been rewarding. We are now just waiting for the final Certificate of Occupation with students using the space from the commencement of Term 2.
In this season of Easter, may we be living instruments of Jesus and share the joy of this Easter season. An Easter Mass will be held on Friday 11:30 am with our Primary students in the Santa Sabina Chapel. All are welcome to join us.
I conclude with Pope Francis’ message for peace on Easter Sunday. In a tweet to his global audience, he wrote “Our faith is born on Easter morning: Jesus is alive! The experience is at the heart of the Christian message.” On Christianity’s most joyous day, Pope Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, from Syria, to Israel and Palestine, the Korean peninsula and Venezuela. At this time we join in his prayer for peace, asking the Lord for peace in our hearts as well.
Dr Maree Herrett
Siena Centre Stage 2 has been rewarding. We are now just waiting for the final Certificate of Occupation with students using the space from the commencement of Term 2.
In this season of Easter, may we be living instruments of Jesus and share the joy of this Easter season. An Easter Mass will be help on Friday with our Primary students in the Santa Sabina Chapel. All are welcome to join us.
I conclude with Pope Francis’ message for peace on Easter Sunday. In a tweet to his global audience, he wrote “Our faith is born on Easter morning: Jesus is alive! The experience is at the heart of the Christian message.” On Christianity’s most joyous day, Pope Francis called for peace in a world marked by war and conflict, from Syria, to Israel and Palestine, the Korean peninsula and Venezuela. At this time we join in his prayer for peace, asking the Lord for peace in our hearts as well.
Dr Maree Herrett
