Some people pass through institutions and leave no trace.
Others leave part of themselves behind, woven into the walls, the classrooms, the traditions and the daily rhythms of a place, so that long after they have gone, their presence continues to shape it in quiet and enduring ways.
And now, we farewell one of those people.
To speak of Paulina only through achievements or years of service would be to miss the deeper truth of her contribution. Her leadership has never simply been about position. It has been about presence.
The deeply human way she has stood alongside this community through moments of joy, challenge, growth and hope.
Her life has been marked by journey and purpose. From Far North Queensland to Toowoomba, Canberra to Sydney, and now soon to Rome, hers has been a life shaped by curiosity, courage and a willingness to embrace what comes next. Each place has added to the wisdom she carries. Each community has been stronger for her presence.
And when that journey brought her here to Santa Sabina, it was perhaps no surprise that she was first captivated by the music.
Because music has always been one of the defining sounds of this College, and Paulina immediately understood what it represented. Not simply excellence, but harmony, discipline, creativity and joy. She recognised in that music something true about this place, a school where young people are invited not only to achieve, but to flourish – together in community!
But perhaps what so many of us will remember, above everything else, is not what Paulina achieved.
It is how she made people feel.
Because for Paulina, people were never an interruption to the work.
They were the work.
Whether it was a student at her door, a parent navigating uncertainty or a staff member needing support, Paulina never lost sight of the person behind the problem.
And that ability to truly see people shaped every aspect of her leadership.
When Paulina arrived at Santa Sabina, she brought fresh eyes and a bold vision. But what made her leadership special was that she never pursued change for the sake of change. She pursued it because she saw possibilities for people.
She imagined a Year 5 experience that could be something more, and Gioia House was born. She deepened our understanding of inclusion through St Lucy’s at Santa Sabina. She revitalised Tallong as a place of adventure, formation and connection. And she inspired initiatives such as Dominic the Adventurer Award and the Fra Angelico Festival of the Arts, ensuring every student could discover their gifts and find a place to shine.
In every case, she looked at what existed and dared to imagine what could be.
She also understood that strong schools are built through partnership.
Under her leadership, our connections with the Parents and Friends’ Association and the Ex-Students’ Association have deepened and flourished. Through those partnerships, generations of Santa Sabina families and alumni have remained genuinely connected to the life of the College.
And then, during one of the most uncertain periods in recent history, when our community was navigating isolation and uncertainty, Paulina somehow knew that what people needed was connection, comfort and a little joy.
And so, Casper arrived.
During COVID and beyond, he has brought smiles, companionship and many gentle moments of calm to students, staff and families alike.
It may seem like a small thing.
But perhaps it says something much bigger about Paulina’s leadership.
She understood that relationships matter, that kindness matters and that sometimes the simplest gestures can make the greatest difference.
Under Paulina’s leadership, academic excellence and wellbeing were never competing priorities. They were partners.
And while we rightly celebrate the strong academic outcomes achieved during her tenure, those results sit alongside something equally important: a culture where students knew, with certainty, that they would be supported every step of the way.
Of course, leadership is not truly tested in times of ease.
It is tested in times of uncertainty, scrutiny and change.
Paulina has led this College through all of those moments.
Through every challenge, she remained anchored by her values, her faith and her belief in the goodness of this community.
Leadership is often spoken of as the ability to shape a community.
What I have always admired about Paulina is that she also allowed herself to be shaped by the communities she led.
Santa Sabina has undoubtedly been changed by Paulina.
But I think Paulina would be the first to say that Santa Sabina has changed her too.
The Dominican tradition calls us to truth, scholarship, justice and community.
Paulina has not simply worked within that tradition.
She has embodied it.
She has shown us that leadership is not ultimately about authority, but about service.
And now, as she enters a new and beautiful season, having recently become a grandmother and preparing for the next chapter in Rome, we celebrate not only what she has given, but what lies ahead.
Years from now, there will be students in Gioia House, participating in Dominic the Adventurer, attending Winter Academy, performing in the Fra Angelico Festival, singing in the Gala Concert and finding moments of peace in the Rosary Garden.
They may never know the full story of how those things came to be.
But they will be living her legacy.
So, on behalf of our entire community thank you Paulina –
For your wisdom.
For your courage.
For your compassion.
For your leadership.
And for the part of yourself you will leave with us.
We wish you every joy in the journey ahead.
Yvette Graniero
Director of Community Relations and Strategic Engagement
