Principal’s Update 2018 – 10

Education is a common good and not just an individual achievement.

The OECD has launched The Future of Education and Skills 2030 project to find out how best to prepare learners for the future. The year 2030 may seem a long way off but in our context it has to be part of our thinking and planning.

Our youngest students in Mary Bailey House, Prep and Kindergarten will be young adults in 2030, having completed 13 years of formal schooling. As the OECD  has said, “We are preparing them for jobs not yet created, for technologies that have not yet been invented, to solve problems that have not yet been anticipated”.

We share this responsibility with families, community and a range of other stakeholders. According to the OECD, “To navigate through such uncertainty, students will need to develop curiosity, imagination, resilience and self-regulation; they will need to respect and appreciate the ideas, perspectives and values of others; and they will need to cope with failure and rejection, and to move forward in the face of adversity”. While these attributes are admirable and necessary, they need to be underpinned by purpose. In our Catholic, Dominican context, that purpose is more than one of individual success. Our purpose is to help educate students to contribute creatively to a better world, and to advocate for social justice.

That emphasis on being outward focused is evident in our students, from their involvement in co-curricular and service activities, to the care they show for one another. This does not mean we’re perfect by any means, but the approaches to teaching and learning, to pastoral care and to discipline share an emphasis on the importance and value of positive relationship; between teachers and students, between peers, between colleagues. On our Primary campus, we see the “essential agreements” that students help construct to shape both classroom and playground behaviour. These are different from “rules” established by the teacher. Essential agreements are the result of a process of discussion, justification and consensus. They become just part of the way “we do things” when reinforced in all different contexts.

Focusing on some singular achievements of our students in the last few days, it’s very pleasing to congratulate a number of students on success in different fields: 

  • Four Year 8 students – Joanna Benedict, Victoria Kim, Sonya Jayatillake and Sophia Witting – won the Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium’s School Science Project competition for Best High School. The students did a project on how our school helps student wellbeing by highlighting the link between mental health and music. They submitted a multimedia entry – Music and its Effect on the Brain – Without Music, Life would B♭! – and report summarising their research. They will be presenting this at the Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium next week. The prize of $5000 (awarded to the College) from NSW Govt Sydney Local Health District will be presented to the students at the awards ceremony during the symposium on 22 June.

  • Santa’s Mock Trial team had a win last night against a much more experienced team from Meriden. Congratulations to the following Year 10 students – Tatum Faber, Ailish McDonagh, Grace Campbell, Elle Carmichael, Antonia Moulos and Veronica Abal. Many thanks also to Ms Kate Corcoran, Head of HSIE, for her work in preparing and supporting our Mock Trial students.

  • The following students have achieved outstanding sporting recognition in their chosen discipline:

    • Boxing National Championships
      Saba Chamoun

    • Basketball U18 team
      Alana Goodchild

    • Cross Country
      Brigette Vanderham, Lara Bosnich, Renee Lewis, Alexandria Kalamvokis and Ailish McDonagh. (These girls have all been selected onto the CGSSSA team to compete at the CCC Championships.)

    • Football CCC team
      Lara Bosnich, Ailish McDonagh, Claudia Chicco and Kaitlin Kiparizo

    • NSW All schools Volleyball Quad Series
      Teagan McDonnell, Dominique Murphy, Chloe Hatcher, Caitlin Bettridge, Chloe Devine, Lara Muirhead, Angelina Smerdely, Stephanie Muirhead, Alexandra Molloy, Alyssa Mair and Jessica Criss.

I am looking forward to our Cantilena Music Concert at the City Recital Hall in Angel Place this Friday night. It promises to be spectacular.

Our Prayer

Gracious God provide us with a listening heart that we see and hear the voice of each of our children.

We ask you God to strengthen and guide all in our Catholic community. Grant us the ability and time to listen carefully when our students come to us seeking help.

May we respect, listen and do what is required to help all children feel safe and loved.

Let your grace and love fall gently upon our students giving them the inner strength, peace, and resilience.

We ask you God to provide each us with the wisdom to involve children in making Santa Sabina a welcoming, supportive community.

Dr Maree Herrett