2009: Term 1

Museum of Sydney

Years 3&4 students were privileged to attend the opening of a wonderful exhibition at the Museum of Sydney: Shooting Through Sydney by Tram. The exhibition was opened by former Premier the Hon Bob Carr. The children enjoyed front row seats and a special viewing of the interactive and historic exhibits. They were provided with 'tickets' to ride the tram and special attention from the tram conductor!

Year 12 Retreat

Year 12 attended their Retreat experience at Tallong Campus and Elanora Heights. The theme of the Retreat was “The Fullness of Life”, a focus on how we allow ourselves to journey towards healing and wholeness so that we maintain an awareness of the whole self: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Students enjoyed a range of discussions and prayer opportunities as well as yoga, meditation, massage, beading, claywork, painting and bread making workshops which offered contemplation and creative expression.

Japanese Language Proficiency

Each year in December, students in Years 11 and 12 are given the opportunity to sit for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Last December, two students sat for Level 3 whilst one sat for Level 4. All passed with flying colours. This test was conducted in over 40 countries with more than 300,000 candidates. It provides an objective assessment of Japanese language ability against an internationally recognised standard. The test is also a useful tool when applying for student exchange and home stay programmes and future employment opportunities. Level 4 is commensurate with Japanese at HSC level and Level 3 is commensurate with First Year University. To achieve this fantastic result at the end of Year 11 is a most outstanding achievement.

Socceroos Visit Santa Sabina

Socceroos players Scott Chipperfield, Mile Sterjovski, Michael Beauchamp and Richard Garcia visited Santa Sabina College to interact with Kindergarten and Year 4 students participating in the Primary School’s Better Buddies Program. The players fielded questions such as “What is your favourite position?” and “Why did you choose to play soccer?” before testing their frisbee, tunnel ball and skipping skills. The Better Buddies program, which has been implemented at Del Monte since 2007, nurtures friendships and care across year groups and extends the leadership opportunities for our students. Students engage in regular and structured activities with their ‘buddies’ and the values of the program are embedded into the curriculum.

Life Education Van

The Life Education Van has been on the Primary School Campus for a week.  Each class visited the van and participated in activities that enhanced their learning within the outcomes found in the PDHPE Syllabus. Each session addressed outcomes the children will be further exploring in class. The programs focused on areas such as Healthy Life Choices, Friendships and Healthy Living.

First Aid Course – Caring for Kids

Congratulations to the second group of 24 parents who successfully completed their St John’s Caring for Kids First Aid Training. The course was interactive and practical, covering topics like CPR, choking, shock, bleeding, fractures, burns, poisoning and the care and management of injured people.

Go For Green Gala Day

Four students attended the “Go for Green Gala Day” hosted by Strathfield Council. The day was held at Newington Armoury, Sydney Olympic Park. The day started with a bike ride around the area to observe the natural ecosystem. At the Bird Discovery Centre, students learnt how to identify and recognise different bird species by their beak shape, feather colour and patterns. Water was then tested for acidity/alkalinity, salinity, temperature and turbidity before dipping nets were used to try to identify different species of invertebrates.

Middle School Camp

During the week of March 9–13 all Middle School students participated in activities that focussed on academic and pastoral aspects of their development. Each student went to camp at Tallong Campus for two nights. The program focused on skills development in the areas of outdoor education, leadership and self reflection. It was embedded in a strong program that fostered good peer relations, peer support and team work. A Reflection Day focused on the theme Water of Life. In recognition of the International Year of Astronomy, the girls also engaged in an activity using telescopes as well as doing a CSI activity based on the environment, requiring observation and thinking skills.Confident Communication and the Peer Relations Workshop were other activities in a challenging and exciting week.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is a national event that celebrates diversity in our community and promotes respect and goodwill. This year the College community engaged in cross campus experiences that included time for all students K-12 to work together. Young and old created friendship bracelets and paper chains and learned a new dance! Primary and Secondary students made visits to Mary Bailey House, while students on the Middle & Secondary Campus enjoyed a week of culinary delights and a concert to raise money for Caritas.

Santa Goes on Safari

Congratulation to all the students and staff who performed in the K – 12 Concert, Santa Goes on Safari. The students worked incredibly hard to produce an evening of musical gems. The concert highlighted the musical progression that is available to students from Year 1 through to Year 12. The diversity of ensembles and their repertoire is a testament to a lively and vibrant music faculty.

Grandparents’ Week at Mary Bailey House

Establishing a sense of community is one of the primary goals of the early educators at Mary Bailey House.  Each year during Grandparent’s Week we open our doors to some of the most important people in a child’s life and invite them in to immerse themselves in a morning of wonder and play. Throughout this week it is not uncommon to see grandparents and their grandchildren building towers, pushing cars, throwing balls and reading stories in the various play spaces of Mary Bailey House.

Middle School Dinner

The annual Middle School Dinner was recently held. Over 320 parents, daughters and staff spent an enjoyable evening getting to know each other in House groups. The students participated in activities such as trivia competitions and created a centrepiece for their tables.

Patrick Dodson an inspiring presence at Santa Sabina

Santa Sabina hosted the Caritas Just Leadership Day, attended by 200 students from Sydney Catholic schools, including student leaders from the College. Students were challenged to consider if the world will be a better place for their presence in it during an address by indigenous leader Patrick Dodson. Students were reminded that Australia’s future is in their hands: ‘you will be writing the next chapter of our history’ he said, ‘the chapter about our inclusive Australian identity.’ Mr Dodson, the brother of Australian of the Year Mick Dodson, is the former Chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and winner of the 2008 Sydney Peace Prize.

Moonlight Magic

The production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by drama teacher Mr Michael Gallaway was a wonderful showcase of the talents of all those involved.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the historic 1894 building, the production developed a moving atmosphere which was so much enjoyed by audiences over three nights. Our talented drams students from Years 5 – Year 11 were joined in the cast by visiting actors from neighbouring schools.

Open Day at Tallong Campus

The College’s Tallong Campus in the Southern Highlands welcomed over 300 guests to its 10th birthday celebration and Open Day. New and ‘old’ families, former students and staff, Tallong neighbours and guests all came together to celebrate in a great spirit of community. Sr Sheila spoke of the vision for the labyrinth, the development of which the P&F are supporting. Guests enjoyed the delicious catering and wonderful hospitality of the Tallong staff and the music of the Chamber Ensemble. Director Paul Holmes showed families new to the campus the facilities which our students enjoy, while young and old tested their mettle on the high ropes and flying fox.

Our Community’s Response to the Victorian Bushfire

Across the College groups of people have been considering how best to respond to the devastating Victorian fires.

In addition to the collection taken up by the Secondary students at their opening Liturgy a group of Year 11s held a cake stall. Year 12’s fundraising evening on March 6 will be for the Bushfire Appeal, while the proceeds of the Primary School Leaders’ pancake morning will also be for the Red Cross Appeal. A staff raffle is underway.

Ideas for a further project to occur in Term 2 once the media coverage has abated somewhat are also being developed. During Term One the College will continue its commitment to Caritas’ Project Compassion and to our Dominican charities.

Singer Young Designer Challenge

The College warmly congratulates ex-student Emilia Querin (HSC Class of 2007) who was a national runner-up in the 2008 Singer Young Designer Challenge. Emilia entered her HSC DT Major Design Project into the competition. Emilia's design "Fairies with Finesse" was selected for its visual presentation, application and mastery of machine embellishments' techniques, originality of design and attention to detail.

Japanese Cultural Tour

Students from Years 9-12 have developed their Japanese language skills during a three week experience immersed in the culture of Japan. Highlights included being billeted for nine days with host families and attending school with host sisters in Kagoshima where calligraphy, a tea ceremony and dressing in a kimono were part of the adventure. A trip on a bullet train to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Dome, and the War Memorial Museum was another highlight. The tour ended with visits to some of the shrines and cultural sites of Kyoto and Tokyo. Our students look forward to reciprocating some of the hospitality shown to them once those joining the Santa community on exchange from Japan arrive later in Term 1.

‘Aspire not to have more but to be more’

The launch of the Pastoral theme for 2009 has occurred across the three campuses of the College, and is inspired by the wisdom of the great South American Archbishop Oscar Romero. It has been a powerful message as we have prayed for those so terribly affected by the Victorian fires and sought ways to contribute to the Red Cross Appeal. Two Year 12 students in their reflection on our theme have emphasised the power of community and the promise of 2009 by noting that” ‘statistics say that people are most happy in doing something for others. We suspect that aspiring to be more is much easier when you are not alone...one person makes a difference but when others join in a different reality is created. If we all put in a little effort something wonderful is possible.’

Honours for the Class of 2008

72 students gathered with their parents, students and the staff of Santa Sabina to celebrate their outstanding achievements in the 2008 HSC. The school community acknowledged the achievements of those students who gained a place on the BOS Distinguished Achievers List. The Head of the Secondary School expressed the College’s pride in the girls’ outstanding results, noting that the wonderful results of our students endorse the programs at Santa Sabina which enable students to achieve both academic and personal excellence in a culture of high expectations. Full details of our results, including the Performance Band Data can be viewed in the HSC Results section of the website.

Science under the Microscope

During the Christmas holidays five Santa students spent a week at the Siemens Science Experience at Sydney University and Macquarie University. Students report that they had a wonderful time and learnt much about forensics. Several of the girls are now considering a future career in Science and are looking forward to joining our own Science Club, which offers a wide variety of activities, such as preparation of entries for the Eureka Sleek Geeks video competition, the Young Scientist Awards or taking part in the Murder Under the Microscope online challenge.

The CSIRO Incursion

Year 6 recently explored the exciting world of science with an Incursion conducted by the CSIRO, (Commonwealth Science Industrial Research Organisation.) Students explored physics and biology, with a number of experiments set up at stations. These included a balloon experiment, a room radiation test and laser target. The girls also had the opportunity to engage in voice testing and the use of a telescope.