2008: Term 2

Dominican Awards

Forty two students from the Primary School Campus were presented with the Semester 1 Dominican Awards for 2008. These special awards were inaugurated in 2006 as a way of acknowledging excellence across a broad range of learning competencies and areas of school life. College Principal Ms Kate Clancy presented the certificates to the recipients in each grade. There are seven categories for these semester awards and they are named after significant Dominicans who have displayed the attributes on which the awards focus.

Athletics Carnival

The Primary, Middle & Secondary School students have all participated in their Athletics Carnivals this term. At all times students displayed great enthusiasm and competed in the spirit of fair play. Students raced, jumped and hurdled as they were cheered on by their peers in House colours. Many have gone on to be selected to represent the College in cluster and other carnivals. 

Year 8 Geography Extension Excursion

As part of the College’s Gifted & Talented Program, Year 8 Geography students attended an excursion with other students from Newington College and the International Grammar School. The group travelled to Bantry Bay to explore human impacts on different parts of the environment. They conducted many tests and experiments, including testing for turbidity, PH levels and nutrients in the water, as well as tests on the soil, and looked at the different flora and fauna species in the area.

Festival of Music

The College’s seventh annual Festival of Music saw over 250 students from Kindergarten – Year 12 participate in six weeks of music making. Students displayed their vocal, instrumental and composition skills through a series of heats which culminated in a Finalists’ concert and awards evening. The Festival plays a significant role in the College’s musical life; it offers students valuable performance experience.

Year 6 World of Maths

Year 6 recently participated in ‘The World of Maths’ mathematics education incursion. Students enjoyed the hands on problem solving activities and puzzles. An interactive musical xylophone used to measure fractions was one of the highlights as students embraced the many challenges of the day.

Santa Fest 2008

Buskers, a DJ Booth and a Vintage Clothes Stall were some of the initiatives that the student leaders at Santa Sabina College implemented during Santa Fest.  Santa Fest is a week of community events to raise funds for the College’s sister school, Holy Rosary Secondary School Montebello, in Natal, South Africa. Since 1991, Santa Sabina students have raised more than $10,000 per year to help students at Montebello gain an education. One of the highlights of the week was the “So You Think You Can Dance” competition where staff performed a rehearsed dance piece in pairs.

Year 12 Latin Study Day

Santa Sabina College hosted a Year 12 Latin Study Day for the second consecutive year, with more than 20 schools from all over NSW and the ACT participating. Students had the opportunity to learn and socialise with other like minded Latin students studying the subject at this level. HSC study seminars and talks from renowned teachers on specific texts ensured the day was a valuable experience for all who attended.

National Art School Acceptance

Four Year 11 Visual Arts students have been accepted into the National Art School HSC Extension Intensive Studio Practice course. The course is classified by the Board of Studies as an Extension course and it is assessed and reported upon in the students’ HSC record. It is extremely difficult course to get into and the College is proud of the students who were selected, having submitted an application and photos of their art making.

Year 7 Maths in Action

Year 7 students recently participated in a Mathematics Day where they had the opportunity to discover all the real and practical applications maths has in daily life. Students participated in problem solving activities, a maths trail around the College, learning about its history. The girls also particularly enjoyed making Mobius strips with coloured paper.

Act of Reconciliation

National Sorry Day was proudly acknowledged by the Santa Sabina College community on Monday May 26. The event started with a traditional Smoking Ceremony followed by song, ritual, drama and speeches. Members of the Morris family travelled from Taree to share with us the stories of their culture. To prepare for the event students from Kindergarten to Year 12 worked with indigenous artist Darren Bloomfield, while Year 9 students took part in a history project that profiled a range of indigenous people. The day ended with a friendly soccer match.

Drama Artist in Residence

Santa Sabina’s Drama community hosted a unique Artist-in-Residence program conducted by Katrina Cornwall in collaboration with Zen Zen Zo, a Brisbane based physical theatre company. Students from Years 9-12 explored the stylistic techniques of Viewpoints & Composition, Butoh Dance and the Suzuki Method of Actor Training. All of these styles emphasise the body, rather than words, as a visually striking and powerful communication medium. Students and teachers alike said the program inspired and invigorated them.

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children Award

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children at North Rocks acknowledged Melissa Gallace’s outstanding achievement in the 2007 HSC with two awards. This was a proud moment for Melissa, her family and her teachers. Melissa received The Printacall Prize, which is presented to a student assisted by the RIDBC (Hearing Impairment) for outstanding performance in the HSC and The Garfield and Norma Barwick Award presented to a student assisted by the RIDBC who achieves the most outstanding performance in the HSC. Melissa is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Science at Sydney University and is interested in pursuing Social Policy in the future.

The Commissioning of the New College Principal

The Santa Sabina College community welcomed with warmth and pride its first lay Principal, Ms Kate Clancy, at a commissioning ceremony and Mass held in the College Chapel. Ms Clancy takes over the mantle of leadership from a long line of Dominican principals who have led the College since 1894. The ceremony started with a traditional Indigenous Smoking Ceremony conducted by Biripi elder Aunty Ali Golding. Ms Clancy was presented with soil from the College’s five campuses, a journal and other symbols to sustain her leadership. Ms Clancy is a distinguished educator and brings to the Santa Sabina College a breadth of experience and wisdom as a highly regarded educational leader.

Year 12 Retreats

Year 12 students recently attended a three day Retreat. The theme was “The Fullness of Life”. Students participated in activities that centered around their physical self, healing, relaxation methods, Christian meditation, reflected on their experience of God in their lives, participated in small group discussions and workshop activities. Students said they enjoyed the hands on activities, the liturgy and the opportunities to be creative.

South African Immersion

In the April school holidays a group of Year 11 students and staff had the privilege of sharing the lives of black African families in the township of Tsakane on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The group was inspired by the women of the Kopanang Project who, despite the challenges they face, gather strength from their faith in God and participation in the church community to which they belong. The Sisters and students of Montebello, Santa Sabina’s Sister School, were also incredibly generous in their hospitality and the Santa girls were able to meet the students who will travel to Australia for World Youth Day.

Strathfield Council Youth Achievement Awards

Strathfield Council along with the Rotary Club of Strathfield and the Strathfield Council Sports, Recreation and Youth Committee celebrated Youth Week (April 5 -13 ) with the presentation of the Strathfield Council Youth Achievement Awards. Two individual students and a sporting team from Santa Sabina received awards. A Year 10 student was the recipient of the Arts and Culture Award, a Year 12 student was the recipient of the Environment, Science and Technology Award and the Junior Water Polo Team won the Strathfield Team Sports Award.

WYD08 Cross and Icon at Marrickville

A group of 50 Santa Sabina students and staff celebrated the arrival of the WYD08 Cross and Icon at St Brigid’s Marrickville on Monday 7 April. The Motet Choir sang hymns leading up to the arrival of the Cross and Icon. The inclement weather resulted in the Stations of the Cross being celebrated inside St Brigid’s Church with different schools reading the prayers at each station. Santa Sabina students read the prayers for Station 13; Jesus is laid in the tomb. At its conclusion, all were invited to venerate the Cross and Icon, receiving a small cross and a card as a memento.

Mary Bailey House Celebrates 10 Years

A wonderful celebration of the College community was recently held to mark 10 years of outstanding care and early education for the children attending Mary Bailey House. Over 150 joined in the party, which gathered together families and staff who have been part of MBH during the last 10 years, along with those involved in planning for the Centre some 16 years ago.

Year 11 Mock Trial

Congratulations to Year 11 Mock Trial team for their outstanding performance in their latest trial. The team, acting on behalf of the Prosecution, demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the law and the court process by producing a persuasive case resulting in a win over the defending team. Mr Franco Pomare who presided over the trial was particularly impressed by the realistic and convincing statements of the team’s witnesses and the skilled and professional conduct of the team Barristers. He also commented on the detail and accuracy of the notes prepared by the team Solicitor.

Celebrating WYD08 at SSC

World Youth Day is the Catholic Church's week of events for youth and with youth. It will gather thousands of young people from around the world in Sydney to celebrate and learn about the Catholic faith and to build bridges of friendship and hope between continents, peoples and cultures.

Dominican Welcome Week is a festival to bring youth with a Dominican connection  together from around the world in the days leading up to World Youth Day 2008. The program includes guest speakers, bands and live performances, dynamic discussion groups, inter-faith and inter-cultural activities and reflective prayer and liturgy. It will be held at Santa Sabina College on July 13 & 14 2008. The theme of our festival is “The Power of Two Feet”, focusing on the two feet of contemplation and action.  

To find out more, go to the Dominican Sisters' website at http://www.opeast.org.au/wyd08/index.html

or the World Youth Day site at http://www.wyd2008.org