On November 7 each year the Order of Preachers celebrates the feast of All Dominican Saints, in which the Dominican Order honours those saints and blesseds of the Order who cannot be celebrated individually throughout the year, as well as those whose place in heaven is known only to God. In the College this important day was marked by prayer. Father Gavin Foster referenced the significance of this day to our community when he celebrated the eucharist at our Grandparents and Grandfriends Day on the 6-12 campus. It was very special to welcome so many members of extended families, as we had with the Grandparents Day on our Primary campus earlier this term. As a grandparent I am very aware of how special the relationship between grandparent and grandchild is.
We have recently had our Prep, Kinder and Year 7 Orientation days. It was exciting to welcome the newest members of our community and know that they will be celebrating with us next year our very special 125th birthday. We have just learned that Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP will be presiding over our opening Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday 5 February 2019. Both current and former members of our community are welcome to attend. What a special way to begin the academic year.
Our inaugural MY8 Exhibition last Friday night was a wonderful demonstration of student-driven inquiry and research. Working in small groups, students explored a diverse range of topics within different global contexts. Their products included performance, film, websites, models and writing. The exhibition was held in the Siena Centre and was opened with musical performances by taiko drummers and the newly formed sinfonietta, performing the original composition of Year 6 student, Inez Crosby. Congratulations to all students involved, and to the teachers and coaches of Year 8. A particular congratulations to Ms Santina Gambrill, Director of Middle Years Holistic Learning. We can now look forward to the 2019 exhibition.
We have been notified of significant student achievements very recently. Three of our HSC Music students, Angela Kim, Lauren Wu, and Cecilia Su, have been nominated for possible inclusion in ENCORE, a selection of performances and compositions from Higher School Certificate Music students. Congratulations to these students and their teachers. In the Edmund Rice Centre Justice Literary Writing Competition 2018 Santa Sabina students were winners in two categories. For Writing (Years 7-9) Preethika Mathan (Year 7) won in the Writing category for ‘Deadly Silence’, while Bella Merlino (Year 8) won for her film, ‘A Voice’ in the Video Category (Years 7-9). Similarly Rosanna Cartwright (Year 7) was a winner in that same Video Category for her film, ‘Cold’. In addition to the winners, Nesia Putri (Year 7) won a Highly Commended award! Congratulations everyone! #likeasantagirl
It was a privilege to attend the ‘birthday bash’ concert that celebrated the life of Australia’s music icon Richard Gill AO on Monday night at Angel Place. What made it particularly special for Santa Sabina as a community that has been the beneficiary of Richard’s vision for music and his generosity of spirit was the inclusion of approximately 25 Santa students in the choir, as well as that of Cello performer, Charlotte He, in one of the orchestras.
In this very busy final term of the year, we remind you of significant community events that will culminate in the Advent Festival of Readings and Carols on Friday 30 November in the Chapel, and our community Christmas Carols on Wednesday 5 December on the Primary campus. Our service outreach each year involves contribution to Christmas hampers. Our Coordinator of Outreach, Ms Jane Sulis, has organised a new system for our traditional hampers collection, one which better serves the community. For families of students in Years 6 to 11, watch out for an email from us this week, explaining the best way to donate. Our Christmas hampers are just one of the ways out students act with compassion and in true Christmas spirit.
We pray together:
St Dominic is usually depicted walking…
Always moving forward,
Both agile and serene…
Moving through the world
And through time
To praise, To bless, To preach,
Gripping the Gospel to his heart
With Joy as his answer to challenge,
Leading the way through a thorny path.
(Adapted from Thomas McGlynn OP)
Dr Maree Herrett
