The College wishes all of our fathers and grandfathers a very happy Father’s Day on Sunday. We celebrated this special occasion today with two Masses, and beautiful breakfasts that our generous P&F catered. A great opportunity for our fathers to spend dedicated time with their children is our special Father/Child weekend at Tallong in November. This is also a time for Dads to get to know each other while riding the flying fox or navigating the ropes challenge. This weekend is organised by the P&F and we thank them for their commitment in building community at Santa. Their AGM will be held on 12 September this year, and we invite you to attend. As you know next year is 125th celebration, and we are eager to have as much parent participation as possible throughout the year.
This weekend is the culmination of a very successful netball season with a record 8 teams in the ERNA Grand-Finals, after eleven teams had reached the finals series. I acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Ms Sarah Dawes as netball coordinator, and the demonstrable improvements in both final results, and quality of coaching. Please join us if you can at Meadowbank on Saturday to cheer on our Santa Teams.
Our outdoor and retreat campus at Tallong has been busy hosting Year 4 students last week in an engaging and challenging outdoor education experience. Next week sees Year 8 heading down for their outdoor education experience.The College has always valued learning beyond the classroom, and Tallong allows us to provide tailored experiences across multiple year levels. Ms Michele Naughton as Tallong Campus Director and Ms Jodi Halmarick as our Outdoor Education Coordinator facilitate these experiences in an expert manner, and are always looking for new ways of engaging our students.
In planning for 2019, we are creating a schedule of optional interstate and international trips for students from Years 6-12. We will offer this schedule before the end of the term so that families can make informed choices about these additional opportunities for their daughters. We know that such experiential learning is unparalleled in the opportunities for students to grow intellectually, as well as socially and emotionally. As well those students who have the good fortune to participate are expected to share their learning with their peers upon return to school.
As we approach the last few weeks of term, we are mindful that our Year 12 students are approaching their final school days at Santa Sabina. One of the treasured traditions for our Year 12s is the relationship with our Dominican Sisters as prayer companions. On Tuesday this week the HSC Prayer Companions’ morning tea was hosted with 25 Sisters enjoying heartfelt conversations with our senior students. Sr Jill Shirvington OP talked to the girls about her prior experience as a Santa student, and the Dominican network that they will always be a part of. She reminded them that one day in the future they would turn around and say to a young student, ‘I’m a Dominican too’.
Just as the Year 12s are reaching their milestone, so too are our Year 5 students on the Primary Campus, as they prepare for the PYP Exhibition to be held on 13 September. I enjoyed meeting with Year 5 and learning about their areas of research, and they ways they are being mentored by staff from across the College, and using a wide range of College resources. This is our third PYP exhibition, and it is promising to be outstanding.
As we approach Father’s Day this Sunday we remember all father’s:
God, our Father
Bless these men,
that they may find strength as fathers.
Let the example of their faith and love shine forth.
Grant that we, their sons and daughters,
may honor them always
with a spirit of profound respect
Dr Maree Herrett
