I extend my sincere appreciation and congratulations to all staff and students responsible for such an outstanding celebration of musical excellence, imagination, and the spirit of Santa Sabina community at its best. The concert, at City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney on Friday 15 June, was a sellout with good reason.
There are so many staff and students who contributed to the occasion, and who deserve acclamation. However, I take the opportunity of particularly acknowledging Karen Carey, our Artistic Director Emerita, whose concept for Cantilena was the culmination of her vision for Santa. With four commissioned compositions, partnership with the Song Company and the King’s School, the performance of HSC students’ compositions (Antoinette Ayoub and Courtney Cousins), all music staff taking turns in conducting, and mass student involvement, the concert took the combined efforts of so many people to bring it all together. I extend my thanks to all who enabled this concert to be such a success.
Our video captures many highlights – listen to these angelic sounds:
Year 11 students are currently on Retreat at Tallong and Kiah Ridge with their teachers, and are guided by the theme of Identity. The students will have the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God, and the question Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew’s Gospel “Who do you say I am”? Time for reflection about themselves, their relationships with others and their relationship with God is essential for our young people.
As well as our wonderful achievement in the RACI NSW Titration Competition for Schools at Kambala last week (reported on in the latest Veritas Voice) a team from Year 8 has just won Best High School in Sydney in the School Science Project Competition run by the NSW Health Department’s Sydney Local Health District. The competition encourages students to get thinking about what it means to be healthy so Joanna Benedict, Sonya Jayatillake, Sophia Witting and Victoria Kim chose to research “How does Music Affect the Brain?” – so relevant here at the “school that sings”. They presented their research methods and conclusions at the Sydney Innovation and Research Symposium – a large gathering of health professionals – last week and were presented with a $5000 prize for Santa Sabina. Their data showed that those who play or listen to music were better equipped to handle stress and anxiety than those who do not.
Congratulations to the students on this exceptional result and to Ms Rachele Rugiero, our Gifted Education Coordinator, who mentored them.
This video, courtesy NSW Health, captures snippets from the symposium.
My best wishes to our intrepid team of 14 students and Ms Rugiero heading off to the USA for NASA Space School later this week. These future engineers, mathematicians, scientists and astronauts will extend their work in STEM activities as well as enjoy a cultural program. A great way to spend the term break! I’m looking forward to following their blog on Santa’s website.
Don’t forget that tax-deductibility for the 2017 financial year ends this Saturday. Please support Santa Sabina College via our annual appeal before midnight on 30 June.
As the term draws to a close tomorrow, we are mindful that it is the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, two of the most significant saints in the history of Christianity – St Peter, the rock upon which the Church was built, and St Paul, the missionary who took the Church to the world.
We honour the faith and courage of Saints Peter and Paul. May we also share their zeal for spreading the fire of the Gospel by being witness to God’s love. Through the example of these men, may God continue to enrich our faith and keep us strong in the truth.
Dr Maree Herrett
