NOVEMBER 2021
ENCOMPASS THE MAGAZINE OF THE SANTA SABINA COLLEGE COMMUNITY
F R O M T H E C O L L E G E P R I N C I PA L
Coming together as a community again
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Contents
College Principal............................. 1
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award........................ 13
Digging in at Del Monte...................................... 27
New community friend..................... 2
Senior student leaders.................. 14
Harmony Day................................ 28
Career Women’s Network................ 4
Service and Community................ 16
The awesome IB PYP.................... 30
Gioia House.................................... 6
Exemplary Dominican.................... 18
Mary Bailey House........................ 32
Unforgettable experiences............... 8
Mission.......................................... 20
Primary Years Library.....................34
Gala concert.................................. 10
Sporting showcase........................ 22
P&F Association............................ 36
Drama showcase........................... 12
A new appointment for Primary...... 26
Around the Plot............................. 38 Back Cover: 2022 Calendar Dates
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EDITOR Victoria Harper DESIGNER Claudia De Giorgi COVER IMAGE College Principal Paulina Skerman with Casper CONTRIBUTORS George Ayoub • Stella Azizian • Jackie Baxter • Marisa Black • Karen Campbell • Belinda Civitarese • Timothy Chung • Nicole Ellis-Windsor • Yvette Graniero • Victoria Harper • Christina Higgins • Simon Mariner • Sharon Sirris • Paulina Skerman • Jane Sulis •Melanie van der Meer • Christopher Walker • Brian Walker
Encompass is published by Santa Sabina College. 90 The Boulevarde Strathfield 2135. The entire content is the exclusive copyright of Santa Sabina College, PHONE 9745 7000 WEBSITE ssc.nsw.edu.au
he year 2021 started off well and we all thought we had turned a corner and that our COVID woes were behind us. Assemblies were back on, school functions were in full swing, parents were able to come back to the school grounds, sport had returned and camps at Tallong were up and running. We even launched our very first Career Women’s Network breakfast, thrilled that alumna Dr Cathy Foley AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist, was able to present the keynote address. And, we hosted the Gala Concert at the Sydney Town Hall. This was my first Gala experience and I sat in awe of the majesty before me; children making music as good as any world class performers. We made it through to Easter before COVID once again turned our world upside down. As quickly as you could say jiminy cricket we had to move to remote, online learning. Again, this happened seamlessly and our teachers did the extraordinary, keeping our young people engaged in their learning in this remote environment. This dragged on throughout Term 3 and it was a particularly stressful time for our Year 12 students who were constantly challenged with shifting dates and deadlines. Would the HSC proceed? If so, when? It was tough going but we made it through to the other side. As I write this Sydney is reopening and in the next few weeks the HSC and IB exams will happen. Leaving my Ugg boots behind and stepping back into my stilettos has been a welcome relief as we return to living life to the full again! There is a renewed hope in the air and a heady feeling of excitement as we welcome our students back to our gorgeous grounds. There is no doubt that we all experienced some form of loss during our time in isolation. Whether we missed celebrating birthdays with friends and family or weddings or being able to say goodbye to a loved one when they passed away, or missing that last day of school milestone with our friends, it’s likely that we all felt pain somewhere. Returning to school, we all know how important it is to acknowledge the losses that our students and colleagues experienced. Coming together as a community again offers us the best possible way to recover. We will also cheer for the fact that we got through it! We made it to the other side and many of us learnt about hidden strengths within ourselves along the way. The COVID lockdown likely presented many of us with opportunities we may never have again, like saving an hour a day in travel time before and after work to go for a walk, or giving us time to linger a little longer over a morning coffee with a loved one. Perhaps it was creating gourmet meals you didn’t
know you could prepare or growing a fabulous garden with produce to feed the whole family. For me, the silver lining was the time I could give to welcoming a puppy into my home and preparing him to join our school community as our wellbeing dog. The profound psychological effects of having a pet are well reported. They make us feel calmer, less anxious and more loved. And, it is well documented that blood pressure drops immediately on petting a dog! For children the benefits are improved emotional, cognitive, behavioural, educational and social development. So Casper has joined our school family. He stood with me at the gates to welcome our youngest back to school after lockdown. Their joy and excitement at seeing him and cuddling him was magical and on his first day at work he did his job well, reducing anxiety levels and sharing the love. The pandemic has certainly turned us upside down and inside out but it has also given us hope that when bad things happen we know that we can get through them and along the way, we adapt to not only survive, but thrive. PAULINA SKERMAN College Principal
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NEW COMMUNITY FRIEND
Above: Casper, the College wellbeing dog, is a Labradoodle, a breed known to be in tune with human emotions.
Casper
The friendly dog 4
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He is also hypoallergenic which is an important consideration for those who suffer allergies.
he arrival of puppies and kittens in homes has been one of the defining features of 2021. They seem to be one of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic. While people work from home under Sydney’s protracted Stay-at-home orders, their pets have loved the all day company. At Santa Sabina it works the other way too – the College has a new puppy, Casper, who comes in to work with the College Principal to lighten everyone’s day and bring us joy. Casper joined our school community as a wellbeing dog. He spends his days in the office of the College Principal, Paulina Skerman, and his nights at her home. ‘We chose Casper for his temperament which is friendly, good-natured and intelligent’, Ms Skerman said. Research points to school dogs enhancing student and staff wellbeing. Studies suggest that dogs are able to act as a stress management intervention and they are known
to boost student attendance and confidence levels as well as motivation to participate in learning activities. ‘Casper visits classes with me and we spend lunch breaks out with the students at Primary, Gioia and Santa. The children have been taught about how to approach him and they know to be gentle and calm with him,’ Ms Skerman said. Casper is not the first school dog to be part of the Santa community. He follows Cindy and Storm who were part of our school community for 30 years as residential companions of Patrick the groundsman. In addition, the dog is an important symbol in the Dominican tradition. Legend has it that Jane, St Dominic’s mother, dreamt that a dog would set the world on fire lighting it up with the flame of truth. The real meaning is associated with the Latin, Domini – canes which is translated as ‘hounds of the Lord’. Dominicans were to be the truth bearers, the theologians of the church.
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CAREER WOMEN’S NETWORK
Mentors and role models
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he launch of Santa Sabina’s Career Women’s Network in May brought together hundreds of distinguished alumni, parents, senior students and local dignitaries over breakfast in the College Hall. The Career Women’s Network seeks to create one-on-one partnerships between senior students and successful women and men, ex-students as well as parents and friends of the College – a mentorship program on steroids! The program aims to prepare each student for the world beyond the classroom, equipping her with the skills, strength and resilience to be financially independent, engage in healthy and respectful relationships, lead a fulfilling and purposeful
life, balance competing demands, prioritise mental and physical health and find space for calm and contemplation. The launch was exciting, not least because the then-Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian, appeared via video link, but also because our in-person Guest Speaker was Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Cathy Foley AO, an ex-student who gave generously of her time to share her life hacks for success in life in all levels – not just in terms of career. What better way to instil in our graduates a commitment to excellence, confidence to lead with courage and to act with justice and compassion to make the world a better place.
WHO OUR SPEAKERS WERE
DR CATHY FOLEY AO
GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN
PAULINA SKERMAN
Scientist
Then-Premier of NSW
College Principal
– Australia’s Chief
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Above and left: The students and the College community members enjoyed formal presentations and informal discussions over breakfast.
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GIOIA HOUSE
Action Girls and Student Leaders in
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Gioia House
he girls of Years 5 and 6 have fully embraced Gioia House on the secondary campus where they are front and centre in their very own attractive and intellectually stimulating learning spaces within the Martin de Porres Centre. A signature feature for the Gioia House girls is our unique Action Girl framework which helps the students learn about building positive, respectful relationships, age appropriate social and emotional skills and an understanding of ethical principles and behaviours that can be taken beyond the classroom. Guided by their teachers to become people of action, for themselves and for others, they
Above: Gioia House student leaders with their symbols of office Below: Action Girls – recipients of Gioia House Certificates Right: Alannah Quinn, Gioia House Captain.
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have strengthened their sense of community and belonging. The framework embraces pastoral care, a buddies program and mentoring by Year 10 students who support and encourage the Gioia girls to achieve their personal goals and develop their interests and passions. Alongside the pastoral care of the Action Girl framework is Rock and Water – an evidence-based, internationally renowned program that uses physical activities to develop mental and social skills. The program aims to help students to connect their bodies, minds and hearts to develop the self-control, self-reflection and self-confidence they need to be active members of the school community and wider
society. Through engaging in physical activities and games, Gioia House girls learn how and when to be a resilient, strong, unmovable rock and when to adopt communicative, flexible water attitudes. Students in Gioia House follow the mandatory courses of the NSW Curriculum and have the additional advantages of classes in Religious Education, Languages, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Units, Pastoral Care and Community. Philosophy lessons unique to Santa Sabina foster the development of thoughts and a sense of wonder through respectful discussions, helping students develop critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinking skills.
Guided by their teachers to become people of action, for themselves and for others
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U N F O R G E T TA B L E E X P E R I E N C E S
Tallong
where fun builds confidence and strength of character
WATCH COLLEGE PRINCIPAL PAULINA SKERMAN’S VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO TALLONG CAMPUS
I had an amazing outdoor experience and absolutely loved the food. My favourite activity was the flying fox because it was fun and it helped me overcome my fears. When I faced challenges, I took a deep breath and tried my hardest and I ended up going on the flying fox over the dam. These are the words of Year 6 student Ivy Esber after Year 6 camp in May this year. Our stunning outdoor education campus, Tallong, in regional NSW, is 97 hectares of rejuvenating and challenging bush experiences and beauty – the perfect backdrop for students’ social and emotional development. Encouraging children to connect with the natural world has been more important than ever in times of lockdown and pandemic. Time in the outdoors at Tallong allows our students to challenge themselves and build their cooperation, openness and curiosity while also having fun with friends away from home. Our outdoor education program pushes them beyond personal limits to develop strength of character, confidence and a new awareness of their personal capabilities and potential. In Terms 1 and 2, year groups from Santa Sabina were able to make good use of the facilities which had been revived after the breaking of the long NSW drought. Along with kayaking and mountain bike riding, there was the flying fox and the ropes courses to challenge and excite the girls. Sierra Sparrow told Encompass her favourite activity was mountain bike riding: ‘Before we started this activity I was unsure if
I could still ride a bike and even be able to even get on the bike because I hadn’t ridden a bike in two years and never one with gears’, she said. ‘This also made me improve my confidence and I was able to help out my fellow peers. I’m very happy that I received the opportunity to do this fun activity!’ Generations of Santa students tell us that Tallong is ‘their place’. When our COVID restrictions lift we look forward to sharing it again with more of our students, for unforgettable experiences that will set them up, with new confidence and resilience, to face life’s ups and downs.
TALLONG HAS A NEW WEBSITE. HAVE A LOOK HERE ➥ tallong.ssc.nsw.edu.au ENCOMPASS 2021
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GALA CONCERT
WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO OF CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS
Music from around world
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n June we celebrated music from around the world in a jubilant gala concert at the Sydney Town Hall. The sell-out concert featured performances from 500 students, staff and guest artists and included the world première of a new piece, Aihtifal, by our accomplished ex-student composer Elizabeth Younan (Class of 2011). Musical performance is one of Santa Sabina’s key strengths as we believe that it unites us, it makes us happy, and research also suggests it makes us smarter, more social, calmer, prouder, more confident, patient, resilient, disciplined and creative. All students in the Primary Years learn at least one instrument and all our musical students are inspired by our music staff to perform at great heights and lift spirits. The entire concert, Music from Around the World, can be viewed on our YouTube channel – https:// youtu.be/YlgknzNy6RI and https:// youtu.be/wvK1qsU5glk.
Opposite page top left: Danielle Abbott, Primary Years Music Coordinator, conducts the Yr 3-4 Siena Singers. This page top right: Artistic Director Timothy Chung. Other photos: the students of Santa Sabina College’s ensembles, choirs and Symphony Orchestra.
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DRAMA SHOWCASE
D U K E O F E D I N B U R G H ’ S I N T E R N AT I O N A L A W A R D
Canoeing for Gold
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ndertaking the renowned Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a challenge embraced by many Santa Sabina students and making it to Gold Award level takes tenacity and determination while allowing the development of skills and true grit. For many participants the Adventurous Journey component is the greatest challenge, particularly at Gold level where a three- to five-day trip is required. In the Easter holidays of 2021 seven students successfully undertook a four-day canoe journey along the Kangaroo River, camping in the bush at night. Days were spent paddling, sometimes against a strong headwind, using compass and maps to pace the journey and decide on the best rest spots for lunch and for overnight. The joys of being in the natural world, surrounded by wildlife, were offset by the sobering effect of visible remnants of the 2019/2020 bushfires in the area – sooty black tree trunks amongst new shoots of vibrant green. According to the College’s Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning, Christopher Walker, ‘the girls recalled the highlights of the journey as simply
‘We ensured that it was humorous and that we modernised the sonnets to connect with the audience’
being in the natural world, enjoying the peace and solitude found when canoeing, and the friendships that continued to grow from shared experiences.’ Mr Walker believes these students are now ready to ‘Shake the World’. Gold participant Tiana Pangallo of Year 11 made the most of the experience, reflecting: 'I feel like the camp component for a lot of people, even me in the beginning, is like "It's only a short trip and then I'll never have to do it again". However, what I've gained is that this is something that can not only connect you with the physical environment around you, but also with the people you are with. You will get what you make out of the trip and this was why having such a positive mentality throughout was so beneficial for us and really made the expedition.' Easter in Kangaroo Valley
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EVELYN DRINIAS Year 11 student
Love was in the air!
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arly in the year the Drama students of Year 11 collaborated with the String Ensemble to give an amazing musical and theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s sonnets for the College community. It was a special experience for the performers from Year 11 to undertake their own investigation of
Shakespeare. ‘We ensured that it was humorous and that we modernised the sonnets to connect with the audience’, said Evelyn Drinias. According to Bella Merlino, the performance included impromptu interpretation to enhance traditional theatrical techniques which they had been studying in class.
ENCOMPASS READERS CAN ENJOY THIS BRIEF VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS:
It was marvellous to be back in live performance mode and share the talents of our performing arts students with the Santa Sabina community.
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SENIOR STUDENT LEADERS
Welcome Our new Student Leaders O
ur College Captains, Clare Moses and Sienna Ters, are confident and optimistic. Clare says,‘Being given the opportunity to represent such a passionate and talented student body through leadership is truly a privilege’. ‘My main goals are to facilitate the growth of the nurturing, fun and challenging environment that we have at the College, and to be someone the student body can depend on.’
According to Sienna, ‘It feels surreal to think that, already, our year group has stepped up as leaders of the College and I have every confidence that we will be able to carry forward the wonderful and rich legacy set by those before us.’ Both Captains believe they are part of a senior cohort that demonstrates great support of one another and a desire to encourage their peers in various facets of College life.
Student Executive Leadership Team TERM 4 2021 TO TERM 3 2022
CLARE MOSES
COLLEGE CAPTAIN
MOLLY BARRY
FAITH & MISSION PREFECT
ZARA KEARNS
SERVICE & SOCIAL JUSTICE PREFECT
BELLA MERLINO ARTS PREFECT
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SIENNA TERS
COLLEGE CAPTAIN
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ISABELLA XIAO
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY PREFECT
DARCEY BABBAGE
SPORT AND WELLBEING PREFECT
House Captains
TERM 4 2021 TO TERM 3 2022 Sienna, speaking from remote learning, said, ‘What I am most looking forward to is returning to a face-to-face environment and being an integral part of the annual events which are at the core of our community spirit.’ Both captains agree that leadership is about serving the community which has faith in them. They are looking forward to serving, ‘with creativity, fun and enthusiasm.’
GUNAGULLA
KURRAWA
MUNDAWORA
ALISSA CASTELLARI
KRISTEN ELIAS
LILY CHAHOUD
EMILY VELLAR
EMILIE JOHNSTON
HOLLY DAVIS
LEADERSHIP IN CURRENT TIMES
Being a student leader in a pandemic is no easy task – just staying on course in studies and co-curricular life is hard enough. Our new student leaders are nonetheless filled with optimism and undaunted by possible challenges ahead. In mid-2021, all the applicants for the leadership positions demonstrated their love of the College. College Principal Paulina Skerman was immensely impressed with all applicants. ‘Their desire to be living examples of God’s love, particularly in serving our school community while acting and advocating for the more vulnerable in our world was inspiring’, according to Ms Skerman. ‘My interviews with the girls took me away for a brief time from the woes of COVID and reminded me that there are young women all around us at Santa who are our hope for a better future’, she said.
TEANGI
WEELYA
YETINGA
FRANCESCA BANZON
JADE BROGAN
SAARAH DEWHURST
MARIA LOMBARDO
ANGELA CANTALI
LOREDANA LEONARD
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SERVICE AND COMMUNITY
CROSS-HEAD HERE
MS mega swim
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n May, a group of Year 12 students participated in the MS 24 Hour Mega Swim Challenge at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre. Team member Emma Southon said that MS Mega Swim ‘is a fun team relay event where teams have a swimmer in the water for the entire 24 hours and compete for laps swum and money raised, in support of people living with MS’.
The students had a lot of fun but found it more challenging – physically and mentally – than they had anticipated. However, through ‘laughter, tears, a few packets of Allens’ jelly snakes’, they had completed the MS Mega Swim with a total of 53km swum in 24 hours. With $8500 raised thanks to the generous support of the College community, the students have helped
people living with multiple sclerosis to access vital support services such as MS Peer Support and the MS Employment Support program. The students undertook this challenge to honour two parents of their team affected by MS, Emily Mattocks’ late father Nigel and Sophia Pinkerton’s mother Jane.
Prefect Afternoon Tea
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lso in May the student leaders hosted a networking event with prefects from other Sydney schools as their guests. Sport and Wellbeing Prefect Caitlin Zocco said the afternoon was a great opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas about the different visions for leadership, exciting initiatives and strategies that the
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Inspirational I
Paralympian Louise Sauvage with Year 10 students.
n June the students of Year 10 welcomed an inspiring visitor to campus – Australian Paralympic wheelchair racer and NSW Institute of Sport coach, Louise Sauvage OAM. Ms Sauvage spoke about disability and inclusion as part of Year 10 pastoral care lessons. The students felt fortunate to hear from Ms Sauvage in person about her own story including her determination to be her best despite her physical differences. She told the students about how she has always been in a wheelchair so for her she does not see her disability as a limitation, rather it’s just who she is. Louise inspired the students with her determination to win Gold and to represent her country.
prefects of other schools have in place. ‘During the afternoon we ran a game of ultimate scissors paper rock, trivia, dodgeball AND song association that bonded the entire group of students together’, she said. ‘Ms Skerman also delivered an inspiring speech on the significance of leadership as a service, and our role and influence as young leaders in changing the world for a better future.’ The senior students’ precinct of our Siena Centre and amphitheatre came alive with visitors from other schools.
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EXEMPLARY DOMINICAN
Bella Merlino of Year 11 OPPOSITE: Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW presented the award during Sydney’s lockdown.
Bella’s exceptional community service recognised by the Order of Australia Association
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ella Merlino’s tireless fundraising and advocacy through award-winning public speaking and filmmaking have been recognised by the NSW Branch of the Order of Australia Association. Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of NSW, presented Bella with the Youth Community Service Award in September. Bella’s fundraising event Mind Games for Dementia broke the Australian record for an online fundraising event as well as raising much needed funds to support the fight against this disease. More than 125 players, many from the Santa Sabina community, helped Bella break the record. Bella’s film, Dementia, has also been selected for showing at international film festivals in the US later this year. The Award presented by the NSW Governor recognises NSW senior high school students who have shown exceptional service to their communities. Bella’s selection, as one of 25 award recipients, indicates that she has demonstrated exemplary, selfless service and leadership. Her Excellency noted that Bella has made a significant impact using media to give the most vulnerable in our society a voice. She urged Bella to keep on with her advocacy work and taking a stance on important issues.
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MISSION
THE SALAMANCA MODEL Our Salamanca Model is underpinned by the Salamanca Process. As an integral part of the charism of the Order of Preachers and of Catholic Social Teaching, the Salamanca Process calls for a synergy between the Dominican intellectual and apostolic life by directing study, research, analysis and action towards addressing the challenges that the world faces. At Santa Sabina, students undertake collaborative, project-based service learning and individual acts of service. They are required to identify a challenge the world is facing, conduct research into the issues before determining ways they can take action. Undertaking a course of action to address the issue is the culminating step.
Advocacy and Action – service and social justice beyond our ‘bubble’
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n providing opportunities for our students across and beyond the curriculum during our long phase of remote learning in 2021, action and engagement have been our driving forces. There has been a flourishing of advocacy and action at the College. Ironically at a time where we could feel the least useful we have actually found ways to raise our voices and our hands to support those in most need in our local and global community. We have a structure that enables all students to seek and understand justice and to serve willingly and it is called the Salamanca Model. Initiatives led by student leaders and student action teams across the school have also continued to flourish in 2021. Fridays for Future, an initiative of the Environment and Sustainability Action Team led by Eloise Struthers
in Year 12, has seen students take up House Cup challenges in vegan cooking, sustainable arts and craft, healthy exercise in our great outdoors and signing petitions to advocate for endangered animals. These initiatives have been supported by hundreds of our students and they have recorded their contributions on our learning portal as well as earning House Cup points. We encouraged students and staff interested in taking action in support of the women and children of Afghanistan to write letters and sign petitions. Our Social Justice and Mission Action teams organised Santa Sleeps Out in September, raising funds for St Vincent de Paul Homelessness services. Night Patrol, a longstanding Santa Sabina activity, continued via the donations of snack packs and toiletries for the St Vincent de Paul Society to distribute to homeless people.
So, we continue to raise our hands and our voices in prayer and service at Santa Sabina.
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CLOCKWISE: Scenes from Santa Sleeps Out, an activity embraced by hundreds of our students.
Dom’s Day with a difference
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his year we celebrated St Dominic’s Day remotely on 5 August as we all continued his work as seekers and speakers of truth, Veritas. It was the 800th Anniversary of his death and the worldwide theme for Dominicans was At Table with St Dominic, inspired by the Mascarella table, on which the first portrait of St Dominic was painted. We celebrated
St Dominic as a saint enjoying table fellowship with his brothers, gathered to preach God’s word and share God’s gifts of food and drink. As sons and daughters of Dominic, we too were invited to eat at the table to be united by truth and love and to defend the dignity and rights of all people, particularly those on the peripheries of societies and our world.
WATCH OUR UPLIFTING LITURGY FOR ST DOMINIC’S FEAST DAY
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SPORTING SHOWCASE
Notable achievements in sport
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n 2021 students from across a diverse range of sporting activities have showcased their talents while earning selection in their sports representative program to compete at state level. Here is a snapshot of students who continue to work hard, enjoy what they’re doing and who represent the College with enthusiasm and commitment.
CROSS COUNTRY
In cool conditions, students from Years 7 to 12 competed in the Catholic Girls Secondary Schools Sporting Association (CGSSSA) Cross Country championships at Bicentennial Park in Sydney Olympic Park. Kate Farrer of Year 7 (12 years), Emma Wheadon of Year 10 (16 years) and Annika Ingwersen of Year 9 (15 years) were placed in the top three of their age group and, along with Maggie Farrer of Year 7 (12 years), were selected for the state championships (NSWCCC Cross Country) in June. Annika Ingwersen placed third in her age group at this event. Scarlett Chidiac, Mina Ju and Amelia Woods from Gioia House and Primary Years competed at Eastern Creek in the NSWCPA Championships against very strong opposition. Our resilient girls battled the elements as well as the competition.
VOLLEYBALL
In our outstanding Volleyball program, several players have been selected for state volleyball squads: Jennifer Yang was selected in the U23 NSW Volleyball squad, while Isabella Cook, Isabella Simurina, Lucy Palmer and Chloe Hatcher were selected in the U19 NSW Volleyball squad. Furthermore, the following is an impressive list of achievements for our volleyballers.
NSW Senior Indoor Phoenix Representative: Jennifer Yang NSW CCC Representatives: Cece Addabbo, Chloe Hatcher, Izzy Cook, Jennifer Yang, Lucy Palmer, Teagan McDonnell, Luisa Uzelac, Jasmin Maronese NSW U16 All Schools Representatives: Brodie Whelan, Elizabeth Buckley, Eloise Forrester, Isabella Simurina
NSW Tri-Series All Star 7 Award: Lucy Palmer Beach Volleyball: Jennifer Yang and Izzy Cook came eighth in the National Youth Beach Volleyball Championship and won Silver in Volleyball NSW Beach Schools Cup #1 Division 1 Pairs. Luisa Uzelac and Jasmin Maronese won Bronze in Division 2 Pairs and SSC teams 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 all received medals.
DIVING
Lucia Pappalardo (Year 8) and Claudia Pickett (Year 9) competed in the NSW All Schools Secondary Diving Championships. Overall, Claudia received sixth place while Lucia placed in fifth position.
FUTSAL FOOTBALL
Claudia Cicco of Year 11 was selected in the Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) team to play in the All Schools Championships.
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The College Senior Futsal team won the NSW Regional Schools Championship (Eastern Suburbs/St George). They qualified for the State finals in Term 3 to be held at Windsor but it was postponed due to the Sydney lockdown. The U16 team came fourth in the Bankstown region competition.
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SPORTING SHOWCASE
GYMNASTICS
In Artistic Gymnastics, Claudia Pickett of Year 9 won on floor and came second on vault in the level 7 category at the CGSSSA Championships. In Acrobatics India Matheson of Year 5 represented NSW in the Australian Championships and received second place overall in Level 7. In Rhythmic Gymnastics, Sophie Lee of Year 8 won team Gold at the Australian Championships in the Junior International Division. Isabelle Lee of Year 5 won Team Gold and Individual Bronze in the Rope apparatus at the Australian Championships in the Sub Junior division.
DANCE
Our dancers performed a great show for an audience of 400 in the SSC Representative Dance Showcase. Students from all our dance troupes showcased the dances they have been working on for the first two terms of 2021.
TENNIS
The team of Ashleigh Camilleri (Year 9), Heer Arora (Year 10), Rosanna Cartwright (Year 10) and Cara Cuzzocrea (Year 9) competed in the Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) Tennis Championships in Bathurst, representing the CGSSSA team. The team received a Bronze medal and were only two points away from playing in the Gold medal match. The match report stated that the semi-final played by our girls was the best and most competitive match of the tournament and won accolades from the organisers.
CGSSSA BASKETBALL
Our best performing team – the U14s – gained a mighty second place overall in the competition.
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A NEW APPOINTMENT
CROSS-HEAD HERE
Digging in at DEL MONTE
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Welcome Our new Head of Primary
An introduction from Paulina Skerman, College Principal
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t the beginning of 2022 we will welcome Ms Joanne Giannini to Santa Sabina College as our new Head of Primary. Joanne is a Catholic educator and leader with more than 20 years’ experience as a teacher, Religious Education Coordinator, Deputy Principal and expert in primary curriculum development. Joanne is warm and engaging and she enjoys building strong relationships with the children and families in her care. She is passionate about delivering a holistic education that gives students a strong foundation spiritually, emotionally and academically where children feel safe and supported to learn. Joanne will engage with staff and students to create an environment at Del Monte where each student's personal growth, dignity and self-esteem are nurtured and where all members of the community will continue to flourish. Joanne’s extensive academic qualifications include Master of Religious Education, Master of Educational Leadership, Bachelor of Education, and she is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in Change Management. Joanne loves travelling and exploring new places and she enjoys spending time with family and friends and having a good laugh. I am delighted that Joanne will be joining our Santa community and look forward to welcoming her to our school.
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he Primary Years gardening club members began 2021 working hard to prepare their gardens for the year ahead. The children cleaned up rotting and finished plants, removed invasive weeds that had taken hold over the Christmas and New Year break, and prepared the soil in preparation for the planting of our crops and native shrubs. During the year they have been using their Mathematics skills and creative ability to re-design one of our gardens to make it more attractive for our community, as well as for our local bird, frog and insect species. The young gardeners have been motivated to build awareness and knowledge of sustainability issues and to take action in these areas. The garden is so much more than a garden – it provides an opportunity for the students to develop their critical thinking and to provide innovative solutions towards more sustainable patterns of living for the 21st century. TOP AND BELOW: Happiness blooms in our school garden.
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H A R M O N Y D AY
CROSS-HEAD HERE
Everyone belongs
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armony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Our College celebrated the theme ‘Everyone belongs’ with activities on Tuesday 16 March. On the Primary Years campus there was fun, laughter and learning as we
gathered in House groups with our teachers, and with some of students from the senior campus. We explored new games from other countries and learnt about places we had never visited. The rain stayed away and though the sun did not shine, the day was brightened by all the smiles as everyone joined in the fun.
GUNAGULLA
KURRAWA
MUNDAWORA
TEANGI
WEELYA
YETINGA
Everyone belonged. Everyone was included. Everyone was respected.
We all had fun being together.
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THE AWESOME IB PYP
LEARNING how to LEARN
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ur approach to teaching from Prep to Year 4 is based on the rigorous International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme that facilitates the development of skills for lifelong learning. Within that Programme the Approaches to Learning (ATL) complement the learner profile, knowledge, conceptual understanding and inquiry. The five sets of skills are research, thinking, communication, self-management and social skills. The development of these skills is grounded in the belief that learning how to learn is fundamental to a student’s education. The five categories of interrelated skills aim to support students of all ages to become self-regulated learners who know how to ask good questions, set effective goals and pursue their aspirations with determination. Sub-skills in each of these skill sets are relevant to the developmental stage of the children. A research skill for a Kindergarten student might look like using all senses to observe and notice details. For a Year 4 student this might look like gathering data from primary and secondary sources. Our younger students might draw key ideas while listening to a text while older students use Sketchnoting or other note-taking strategies to record key information. Our older students acknowledge and reference their sources in bibliographies using the Harvard Style. Our younger students work towards this by identifying the title, the author and then the publisher of books that they are sharing.
The ATL have clear connections with the general capabilities of critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, information and communication technology capability, intercultural understanding, literacy, numeracy, personal and social capability that are identified in our NSW curriculum. The IB provides an additional level of explanation and guidance around the best ways to support students as they develop these skills. The awesome IB PYP sometimes takes our students to our senior science labs. Even in Kindergarten! In 2021 our Kindergarten students have been learning about the properties of materials and how materials can be used for different purposes depending on their properties. Focusing on ‘bendy and stretchy’ materials, the Kindergarten children worked with Year 9 students and our Science teachers to make Oobleck. This substance is ‘sticky’, ‘stretchy’ and ‘sometimes hard’. Our students needed to use skills in thinking and communication. The Kindys learned about safe behaviour and working together and they had a lot to say about the experience: Jordan said: ‘This is so cool’! Valentina said: ‘I am having so much fun’! Richard said: ‘This is the best day ever’!
OPPOSITE PAGE AND ABOVE: It is always a joy to see the interaction between our older and
younger students – a beneficial and wonderful learning experience for all involved.
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MARY BAILEY HOUSE – BABIES TO SIX-YEAR OLDS
Honouring and empowering our youngest children
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SCAN THE CODE TO SEE OUR YARNIN CIRCLE VIDEO
ary Bailey House is the College’s Early Education Centre for babies from six weeks old up to children aged six. Our Mission is to honour children and empower them to express their voice and rights. We make this possible by acknowledging and valuing the uniqueness of every child and fostering a community of learners within each playroom. In 2021 we readily observed children of all ages discussing and working together to imagine, create, solve and resolve matters important to them in play. During Sydney’s lockdown we had to imagine, create, solve and resolve ways to sustain a community of learners with children learning at home. In Cradle Mountain (six-weeks-old babies to two-year-olds) and Lilly Pilly Gully (two- to three-year-olds)
we made this possible by sharing with children at home what the children at the centre had been doing through images and film. We invited the children at home to do the same. We arranged virtual meetings so that friends could connect. These occasions were always full of joy as children smiled, laughed, waved and chatted with one another. We celebrated Book Week with the virtual telling of the story Tiddalik the Frog and Aboriginal Children’s Day through the shared viewing of ABC Play School: Walking Together episode. We acknowledged Father’s Day by creating a film in which children at home and the centre told their dads how much they loved them (with some help from their mums). In Daintree Rainforest (three- to six-year-olds) we provided families with information sheets and links to
online experiences for preschoolers learning from home. Parents shared stories and images of their children learning and our teachers and educators reciprocated by posting their daily escapades on the College’s community portal, Veritas Online. We continued to include the children at home in the playroom project on sustainability by inviting them to share their theories through drawing. We conducted literacy sessions online and our focus teachers and educators remained connected with their children, and their children with one another, through email and virtual meetings. After National Reconciliation Week we created a video about respecting and caring for Mother Earth. JACKIE BAXTER Mary Bailey House Director
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PRIMARY LIBRARY
CROSS-HEAD HERE
‘What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education’.
A fresh new look
for our Primary Years Library
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nfluential American educator Harold Howe once said, ‘What a school thinks about its library is a measure of what it feels about education’. Santa Sabina College has two libraries – on each of the Primary Years and Secondary campuses – and in the summer of 2021 our Primary Years Library received a refreshing makeover to reflect its importance in the lives of our youngest students. The upgraded library and enhanced Makerspace support the education and needs of our students. We now have modern, beautiful, flexible spaces and breakout rooms for the students.
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We were very excited to open our doors to the students with this fresh new look. When designing the renovations, we wanted our spaces to be student-centred and flexible. We collaborated with the school community and asked students and teachers for input. As a result, our library is welcoming and attractive, inspiring, comfortable and reader friendly. It can accommodate individual and class-based research activities. It is a space where students can read for pleasure, develop curiosity and find assistance for their learning. In our Makerspace, students collaborate, communicate, create, think critically and solve
problems. In this space they are challenged and yet they can relax and have fun. Students collaborate at desks or work with robotics on the floor.
WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR REFURBISHED LIBRARY
Top: Collaboration in the revived Makerspace. Bottom: Storytime for Prep with their teacher Clare Wood.
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P & F A S S O C I AT I O N
Events for the community
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e hosted a number of highly successful events during the first half of the year and launched more ways to stay connected such as year group specific WhatsApp groups and welcome packs for new families. We kicked off the year with a Primary Years Picnic which was the first time in 12 months many parents had been able to visit the grounds in person. We also had the opportunity to launch the first ever Welcome High Tea, held at Doltone House in the city. This event was a beautiful opportunity for parents, their daughters and members of the Santa Sabina community to come together and meet other families. We can’t wait to do it all again next year. This year, pleasingly, we were able to host the College Mother’s Day Breakfast for our mothers and their children with enormous support from our fathers. Our Mother’s Day Lunch was a sell out yet again. This is definitely the highlight of the event season with so many opportunities for past, current
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and future Santa Sabina mothers to be celebrated in a beautiful setting. For the first time we were able to offer College merchandise which was so successful that we sold out. We were able to gather in Term 2 at Strathfield Golf Club for a trivia night, another sold out event! We were joined by ex-students along with many supporters of the College both local and from around Sydney. It was a fun night for the wider community and also a fantastic distribute for the P&F even during tough times. Although the health restrictions placed on us in June meant that all further fundraising opportunities and events would be postponed until 2022, including our two major fundraisers, we are so proud to have been able to distribute over $100,000 to be donated to the College to enrich the education of the students, highlighting the resilience and generosity of our community during trying times. This includes over $12,000 to purchase innovative educational robotics equipment and other resources for the senior students. With the end of yet another year comes the opportunity to thank some wonderful people who
have helped shape the P&F during 2021. Firstly, I would like to thank the outgoing P&F Executive members, Elena Ierado (Vice-President Senior Years) and Melanie Burnicle (Secretary) for all their tireless work, support and friendship they have shown our community during their service on the P&F Executive. I would also like to thank all those volunteers who helped out at our various events this year including all the dads who volunteered for the Mother’s Day Breakfast. Thank you Kathy Gittani and Viktoria Abraham and all the mums who made the Mother’s Day stall a huge success along with everyone on the College Dinner Committee for all their hard work. Without these wonderful people P&F events and initiatives would not be able to happen. Finally, a big thank you to all the unsung heroes of 2021, the College teaching, corporate and support staff who showed up day after day helping parents and carers through yet another lockdown with their children. Thank you for your commitment to our children and their outcomes in 2021. BELINDA CIVITARESE President
Opposite page: Mother’s Day lunch. Above: Scenes from the Senior High Tea, Del Monte Welcome, Gioia House Welcome and the Colour Fun Run from late 2020.
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A R O U N D T H E P L O T – E X - S T U D E N T S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N
All the news from
Around the plot
From the President
Above: Celebrating the centenary of the Santa Sabina College Ex-Students’ Association in April were College Principal Paulina Skerman and Ex-Students’ Association President Sharon Sirris.
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espite the significant restrictions that COVID19 has brought upon our community in the last 12 months, the Ex-Students’ Association continues to be involved in College life and in the wider community. In 2020 the Association presented each member of the Class of 2020 and the graduating Year 4 boys with a gift and a certificate acknowledging their membership of the Ex-Students’ Association. After many years as President I stepped down at our Annual General Meeting but was pleased to welcome our new President, Elizabeth Pooley (1971), other new committee members as well as Sr Pauline O’Reilly OP in the position of Dominican Liaison, representing the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands. The year 2021 marks the centenary of the Association. We celebrated this with a special liturgy and a
fabulous garden party in the College grounds on 11 April. There were over 160 people present including past and present students of our College and of other Dominican schools from around Australia. At this event the Association launched the sale of the Ex-Students’ commemorative centenary rose. In May we saw the opportunity for the Association to be involved in the College’s breakfast event to launch the Career Women’s Network for senior students. We were delighted to be able to assist with the catering costs of the event and have so many ex-students present who advised current students about their careers. On behalf of the Santa Sabina Ex Students’ committee I wish all readers of Encompass a safe and happy remainder of 2021 and a brighter 2022. SHARON SIRRIS (CROWE-MAI 1975) President 2015-2021
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A R O U N D T H E P L O T – W H AT S A N TA G AV E M E
Allison Yee (1987)
Every experience shapes you
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hat experiences happened at Santa that helped shape my life? Three words immediately come to mind: truth – leadership – community. I attended Santa from 1982 to 1987, entering the gates in Year 7, knowing only one other girl from my primary school. I grew up with three brothers and uncles, who had friends who had brothers. Everywhere I went there were boys. It was an era where gender differentiation was still the norm, in family, education, sport, study, career. When I arrived at Santa, I loved that it was an all girls’ school. I loved the ‘can do’ attitude, not because of the binaries, but because you were you. Every moment I was at Santa, I felt that gender did not matter. We were seen for our interests, our abilities, our strengths. I knew if I ever had a daughter, I would want her to be a Santa girl.
VERITAS
It was written on our diaries, our bags, our blazers. It stuck. Veritas. Truth. Our learnings at Santa were steeped in our school motto. What began as an understanding of universal truths naturally matured into an exploration of my own truth. For me that meant pursuing a pathway in life, love and work that is meaningful and purposeful. After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Sydney University, followed by further postgraduate studies in accounting, I pursued my true passion for community service by studying a Master’s in Community Management at the University of Technology Sydney. Moving from the corporate accounting and consulting sector to the not-for-profit sector was an important and authentic direction for me.
Alison with her daughter Jade (Year 11).
LEADERSHIP
I am grateful for the opportunity I had at Santa to experience leadership roles under the guidance of a dedicated team of teachers and leadership mentors. In Year 11, I was a Homeroom Prefect and in Year 12, I joined the Executive Team as College Vice-Captain. Santa has always
Paying it forward
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I am currently the General Manager of Inner West Neighbour Aid, a not-for-profit organisation that supports people over 65 with centre-based and community programs, exercise programs, shopping support, nature and wellness workshops, social and intergenerational activities, gardening in clients’ homes as well as the 5 Senses Garden in Rhodes. Inner West Neighbour Aid’s vision is a community where seniors connect
and share their knowledge to lead active, social and independent lives. To this end, I have also been involved with establishing a trusted private handyman service targeted at seniors. I am very proud to be part of this organisation, working alongside a team of professional staff who facilitate programs, connections and relationships that bring joy. I am also inspired by our amazing volunteers who show us every day that there is always an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference. My former roles in the community sector have included Aged Care Manager at the Benevolent Society, Project Manager at AFFORD (Australian Foundation for Disability), Director of Community Service Development (Autism Spectrum Australia) and Executive Manager of Business Development and Strategy at Marist 180 (formerly Marist Youth Care). One of my greatest joys is sharing my love for martial arts and how challenges, learning and reflection help us to become the best versions of ourselves. During my years at
Commerce and Bachelor of Advanced Studies – Dalyell Scholars), majoring in Accounting and Finance, and completed part of my degree at Harvard University as an exchange/study abroad student. I pursued a career in the financial services industry and have experience across Investment Management, Equity Research and Equity Capital Markets. I am currently an Equity Research Analyst at Macquarie Capital, which gives me access to executive management teams (CEO, CFO)
and boards of ASX listed companies. It involves studying a cohort of listed companies and advising institutional investment managers (hedge funds, mutual funds, super funds) on investment in the businesses I specialise in. I am passionate about my work and highly encourage those who have a high level of curiosity, strong quantitative skills and robust interpersonal skills who seek dynamic, unpredictable and highly intellectually rigorous work to consider a career in Equity
COMMUNITY
Marni Lysaght (2011)
look back on my time at Santa Sabina fondly. I have retained the discipline, accountability, integrity, and strong sense of social justice I developed and acquired during my time at the school. In my final year, I was focused on cadetships to acquire industry experience as opposed to university scholarships. As a result, work in the financial services and investment banking industry
instilled a strong sense of social justice but beyond that, it instils a strong sense of accountability. My memories of leadership at Santa were about upholding the rules, respecting our elders, listening, facilitating meetings, being fair, a role model, friendly and inclusive, representing the school with pride, and arranging fun and creative interschool challenges with St Pat’s. Thirty years on, what leadership means to me is still very much the same, except the bit about St Pat’s boys.
accompanied my university studies. I gained experience at an investment banking firm straight out of school and continued for the first two years of my degree, and subsequently had internships at Morgan Stanley and Aberdeen Standard Life. I studied a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) at the University of Sydney (current equivalent is the Bachelor of
Alison teaches martial arts.
Santa I began training in Kempo Bushido Ryu karate and achieved my 1st dan black belt in Year 11. I then went on to train in Tae Kwon Do and competed in Canada at the World All Styles Organisation World Titles in 1996. I founded a karate school in 1995 and still teach to this day. Having taught over 1000 children over the years, the karate school in many ways is a lovely blend of my experiences at Santa: community and leadership. I loved my time at Santa. I passed the baton on to my daughter Jade when she started middle school in 2016. It is her school now. Jade will be in the class of 2022, the next generation of Santa girls creating their own memories and experiences.
Research, Investment Banking or Investment Management. My education at Santa Sabina has shaped my consistent interest in charitable efforts and ensuring I have a positive impact on society and the environment. I believe in ‘paying it forward’ and spent a university break volunteering as a teacher in South Africa. My current charitable work and interests have led me to be a Climate Leader with Al Gore's Climate Reality Project and a volunteer with the United Nations.
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AROUND THE PLOT – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Hannah Rayment (2006), Gemma Rayment (2010) and Emily Cummins (2010)
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Communities for communities
any students leave Santa Sabina with a deeper passion for social justice and are inspired to pursue charity work and volunteering, which is certainly the case for sisters Hannah (2006) and Gemma Rayment (2010) and Emily Cummins (2010), who sit on the volunteer committee of Communities for Communities (C4C). C4C is a 100% volunteer-run organisation dedicated to supporting communities in need through fundraising, community events and immersion trips. Formed in 2002, C4C began as a small group of friends who wanted to make an impact as volunteers. The founder and President, Lance Brooks, is the father of a Santa Sabina graduate (Michelle Brooks, 2005). Santa Sabina ex-students and current families volunteer and generously donate time and money as individuals or provide business sponsorship. Now, 19 years later, C4C has raised almost $3 million for projects in Australia and abroad, engaged over 1800 volunteers, hosted over 130 community events, supported over 2000 families, and built more than 900 houses in six countries. C4C is committed to building and connecting community. Volunteers have travelled on unique immersion experiences to Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, our volunteers have spent time working in villages to build houses, schools, sanitation facilities, provided safe water, electricity, disability access and playgrounds. In Australia, C4C has also supported Lucas Gardens School, Five Dock. Our fundraising efforts have gone towards paediatric physiotherapy services, much-needed
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classroom technology and a range of facilities and programs including a hydrotherapy centre, a school bus, and an all-abilities playground. More recently, C4C commenced a new partnership with the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council, assisting their school holiday program. Local indigenous children participate at the end of the term with C4C volunteers running a range of activities including sport, art and craft, games and music that promote health, wellness, and cultural awareness. Another new partnership is with the Kokoda Memorial Trust, whereby C4C supports the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, Concord, to ensure the walkway is preserved, and educational and informational activities continue. At the heart of C4C are the people who volunteer their time to help at events, travel on immersions, or sit on the committee to ensure the organisation runs smoothly. Hannah, Gemma, and Emily have been on 12 immersion trips between them and organised and assisted at countless fundraising events. As the current Vice-President of C4C, Hannah is proud of the impact the organisation has had on many communities, and the connections she has made. ‘I am so thankful for the education I received at Santa that placed a huge emphasis on social justice, kindness and giving back to the community. Despite it sometimes being a huge commitment, I love volunteering for C4C, raising money for great causes and meeting other great humans who also want to make an impact in the lives of others.’ If you are interested in finding out more about C4C, please follow the organisation on social media or visit www.communitiesforcommunities.com.au.
Danielle Funston (1999) and Vanessa Andersen (1989) are both partners at national law firm, Maddocks, and Santa Sabina mums
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anielle bonded with Vanessa immediately and recalls Vanessa being welcoming, inclusive, principled and down to earth. Vanessa was drawn to Danielle for exactly the same reasons. It was therefore no surprise for either of them to learn that they were both Santa Sabina girls! Vanessa left Santa after Year 9 to finish school in Canberra after which she studied Arts/Law at ANU. Specialising in employment law, she leads the NSW Government team at Maddocks and works with both private and public sector employers. Vanessa is also the Sydney Graduate and Recruitment Partner. Vanessa has a son, Henry (HSC 2021), and a daughter, Evie, who is a Year 9 Santa girl. Vanessa did not hesitate to enrol Evie
for the Dominican values of celebrating the whole person and a commitment to social justice. Following Year 12, Danielle was employed by the College, teaching various string ensembles, the College orchestra and private violin lessons. She simultaneously completed a Communications (Media)/Law degree at UTS in Restructuring and Insolvency law. She has worked on a number of high profile matters involving Australian and overseas entities. Danielle has two daughters and her eldest, Audrey Williams, will be starting at Goia House next year. Danielle is a director of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association and also a director of St Lucy’s School Wahroonga – a role she truly cherishes.
Dr Annalyse Crane (1996) was a champion swimmer at school and former PE teacher (2003-2006) at Santa
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he has reignited her passion for swimming not in the pool but in the ocean. Annalyse is a patrol captain at Cronulla Surf Life Saving Club and has competed in the state and national titles. In her spare time she swims around Shark island and up and down the beaches of Cronulla. Anna has three children with her husband Brad and they celebrate 10 years of marriage this year. Annalyse works as a specialist General Practitioner in Kirrawee with an interest in aviation medicine.
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AROUND THE PLOT – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Keri Jones (Bullivant 1965) wrote a beautiful account of her life since Santa Sabina Kerryl McGrath 1960
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erryl McGrath began travelling to Santa Sabina in 1956 by train from Menangle, quite a distance from the College. At her enrolment interview Mother St John recommended she travel with Helen Clarke who would look after her on the long commute. Kerryl says, ‘Helen certainly did look after me. On one occasion after days and days of rain when we arrived at the entrance gate absolutely drenched, Helen decided we should go home. Home we returned and I was severely admonished by my mother.’ ‘I am not sure when it was that another teacher, Sr Denise, said to my mother, ‘I do not think that Helen Clarke is a suitable companion for Kerryl.’ With the advantage of
Melanie Evans (1994)
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elanie is CEO of ING Bank Australia. Melanie studied a Bachelor of Commerce at UNSW while completing an industry cadetship program. She has spent 25 years in financial services and returned to study to complete her Master’s at UNSW as well as executive education at Harvard Business School. Melanie has led businesses across equities, superannuation, investments, consumer banking and business banking. Melanie’s most important role is mum to her two children (Sophia 5 and James 4). She volunteers her time as a Director of Surf Life Saving Australia, a Director of the European Australian Business Council and a Director of the Australian Banking Association. Melanie is a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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maturity, I realised what Sr Denise meant was ‘Kerryl is easily led’. I related this to Helen in later years – we had a laugh! What I really want to tell everyone is that Helen is now Sr Helen Clarke in the Sisters of Charity and was on the Board of St Vincent’s Hospital. What a success Helen has been, how lucky I have been to be her friend and I am thinking that our time at Santa Sabina prepared us for greater things in life.’ As for Kerryl herself, after secretarial school she joined BP Australia. Later she retrained as a teacher and taught at the Dominican school Prouille in Wahroonga. Kerryl’s family was instrumental in raising funds to build the current College Hall.
Monica Barten (1999)
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fter completing a BA in Communications at UTS followed by a Master’s in International Communications at Macquarie, Monica worked in PR locally and then in London where she stayed six years (and met her future husband) before transferring with payments firm Visa to Singapore and then to Dubai where she has been for the last six years. In Dubai she has worked as the head of communications for Visa and Standard Chartered Bank for Africa and the Middle East. She is the head of communications for the Middle East at a large global FMCG where she sits on the management team. In the dusty sandpit which she now calls home, she is raising two girls, both of whom have been enrolled to go to Santa! Santa set the foundation for Monica to grow into a successful and independent working mother.
I loved my time at Santa Sabina and am still in touch with many from the class of ’65. From the time I was very small I was constantly reminded of the words of my maternal grandmother who encouraged me to be a ‘lady chemist’. I completed Pharmacy at Sydney University in 1968, aged 19. I was too young to be registered. I decided on an Honours year followed by a Master of Science majoring in Microbiology. My work centred around a ‘superbug’ that was the cause of serious urinary tract infections in paraplegics and quadriplegics. I continued to work as an unregistered pharmacist until I turned 21 and also as a Teaching Fellow in Pharmacy. I was approached by Ethnor Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, to be their Microbiologist. As the premises were new I also had to set up the laboratories and hire staff. In the meantime I met and married my husband of 49 years, Alan. When we were first married we enrolled in a food and wine course at North Sydney Technical College. We also had wine appreciation lectures and I heard about a new degree in Wine Science at the Riverina CAE. Thus began my love affair with wine making and appreciation. I used to give wine talks occasionally and took part in tastings for a wine magazine. I was largely a stay-at-home mum, working in retail pharmacy occasionally. After three children and moving to Brisbane I became a teachers’ aide which led to a Diploma in Education. I then worked part-time as a secondary teacher at Tintern AGGS teaching Junior Science, Agriculture and Biology! I was later offered a position as a Lecturer, and ultimately Co-ordinator of Pharmaceutical Microbiology. This was the best job ever as I ended up teaching Pharmacy students about Microbiology. I have now largely retired but still work on a casual basis for Monash in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as the School of Rural Medicine and Pharmacy at UNE. Mark Twain once said, ‘Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.’
Clare Cooper (1999)
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lare has spent two decades traveling, performing, directing festivals, co-founding two orchestras, and managing her design consultancy. Clare was based in Berlin from 20072013 which is where her daughter was born. After completing her PhD, Clare joined the School of Architecture, Design and Planning at The University of Sydney, where she lectures in design computing, interaction design, futuring, and electronic arts.
Catherine O’Grady (1964)
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atherine attended Santa for the final two years of her schooling. Yet, whenever asked where she went to school, her immediate response is Santa Sabina. She remembers those years with affection and is grateful for the independent spirit that the school instilled. Following university and six years abroad, Catherine returned to Australia with a strong interest in issues of language and culture. She began a satisfying career with the Adult Migrant Education Service teaching English and inter-cultural communication in a wide variety of workplace settings. In time, her focus narrowed to doctor-patient communication and involvement in bridging courses for overseas trained doctors seeking local registration. Much later, she completed a PhD in Applied Linguistics that examined what makes for expert communication in General Practice. A period of research at Macquarie University followed and she is now a part time clinical communication tutor with Health Education Australia enjoying zoom classes with fascinating students from across Australia and beyond. Catherine has one son, and, in addition to family and work, she has found great delight in singing with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs over the past 10 years.
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AROUND THE PLOT – WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Eleanor Tomkins (2014)
Vanessa Lahoud (1993)
leanor completed a Bachelor of Biodiversity and Conservation at Macquarie University. She went on to work with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in the North Western Sydney Area, on Dharug-Wallumedegal land. She has worked across a range of operational aspects, including park maintenance, threatened species conservation, park projects, Aboriginal cultural heritage, pest management, and as a firefighter to complete hazard reduction burns and respond to wildfires. During the 2019/2020 fire season she was deployed across NSW, from Glen Innes to the South Coast, working alongside many brave, hard-working people. In 2021 she accepted a Ranger position with NPWS, based in Bourke. As part of the role, she is responsible for the management and conservation of Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area on Kurnu-Baakandji Country. This area holds important state and federal conservation value, and rich Aboriginal heritage and continuing culture. With the challenges we have all faced in the last 18 months, Eleanor feels grateful for the responsibility to care for this spectacular country and she is looking forward to everything that is to come.
anessa studied languages and education. After teaching languages for some time, her passion for student wellbeing and child protection took her to the corporate education sector, developing policies and practices. However, she knew that being on the ground and working with students made a real, positive impact. She began to scope roles that worked directly with schools to build safe, resilient communities supported to identify and support students with vulnerabilities. She is now a Specialist Program Director with the Department of Education, working with a large multidisciplinary team that delivers the Safeguarding Kids Together program to government schools, state-wide. The program supports schools to mitigate and manage risk. She loves her multi-faceted role. She values the diverse opportunities and privilege that her education at Santa Sabina College provided her, and today provides her own three children.
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Maddy Webster (Anne-Madeleine Rabaud 1970)
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fter many travels Maddy has been living in Western Australia since 1981 and is currently in Perth. She ran a business in the clothing industry for many years before retiring and now enjoys more travels, on a smaller scale in her home state.
Sarah Peeters (2018)
S Patricia Fennell (White 1957) was one of our boarders
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fter leaving Santa she took up nursing at St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst. On completing her Registered Nursing training, she moved back to Dubbo, met her husband then moved to Brewarrina. Patricia is now back in Dubbo.
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arah started her career a few weeks after her last HSC exam and has completed her first year as a Childcare Trainee. She told Around the Plot: ‘Getting paid to study while training is a plus but it has pushed me to my limits, but I have mostly enjoyed being with children, as they tell me the funniest stories. I work full time, nine hours a day, which only gives Friday nights and weekends to hang out with my friends and family. But this has helped me so much in getting through this past year.’
Elizabeth O’Sullivan (Johns 1976)
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Susan Skehan (Ricketts 1970)
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usan trained at St Vincent’s Hospital after leaving Santa and pursued a nursing career. After her early married years in Sydney she and her husband John and four children moved to Bowral for 30 years. About 20 months ago she and John moved to the Central Coast and now reside on St Huberts Island. The saddest thing for her was missing out on her 50 year reunion. She was so looking forward to catching up with old friends.
lizabeth from Port Moresby was a boarder at Santa Sabina but once our boarding closed she spent her final two years of school at St Vincent’s Potts Point. Elizabeth shared some school memories ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the life of a boarder. We were a close knit group of girls from a variety of towns and properties around NSW and other countries too. I only went home for the May and Christmas holidays and friends and relatives looked after me at Easter and in the September holidays here in Australia. Dom’s Plot was always out of bounds so we never put a foot on that bit of grass! I loved swimming and playing tennis, softball and netball…anything to have the opportunity to go out on a weekend to play against other girls from other schools.’ Elizabeth attended the Sydney
Lescinka Fernandez (2015)
L
escinka is a lawyer at the Department of Home Affairs in the Migration and Citizenship Legislation team. She is working on legislation that addresses the exploitation of migrant workers in Australia. She has also accepted an offer to study a Master of Laws, specialising in International Dispute Resolution, at Kings College London. She will be moving to the United Kingdom in September, to pursue her passion for international human rights law.
Kindergarten Teachers College at Waverley from 1977-1979. She then taught at Tumut Pre-school from May 1980-1982, and then at Toormina Pre-school near Sawtell from 1984-2000. She retrained as s high school teacher in 2003 and taught at Wee Waa for three years from 2004-2006. She then returned to the coast and taught at Macksville High from 2007-2019. Elizabeth took unpaid leave at the start of 2020 and has just decided to retire this year. She is living with her husband Terry on a three-acre property in Boambee, which is between Coffs Harbour and Sawtell. She has five grown up children and five grandchildren, with another due at Christmas.
Joanne Eniko Drogitis (Gulyas 1979) writes: ‘My rich Hungarian
heritage led me to be a part of a dance group, performing around Australia and at the Sydney Opera House for many years as well as a member of the Hungarian Girl Guides. I completed a BA and a Diploma in Information Management at UNSW in 1983. In 1984, I attained a professional position at the State Library of NSW as a librarian in the Cataloguing Department. I have been there ever since and today I am a Specialist Librarian in Collection Access & Description. My main role is to build the collection of NSW material and make it accessible for current and future generations. Married for 35 years, I have three adult children and love to travel around Australia, when possible. I have fond memories of my high school years and great pride in Santa Sabina’s excellence.’
ENCOMPASS 2021
49
AROUND THE PLOT – ANNOUNCEMENTS
Births
BORN 23 January 2021
BORN 4 March 2021
BORN 16 June 2021
BORN 22 June 2021
WELCOME Marcus Luther Jeyanandarajah
WELCOME Landon James Stevens
WELCOME Marco Cavasinni
WELCOME Harvey Michael Flintoff
FAMILY Janani Hallock (2005) and Vithiyan Jeyanandarajah
FAMILY Isabella Stevens (Galassi 2011) and Nicholas Stevens
FAMILY Christina Cavasinni (Caltabiano 2009) and husband Daniel. A brother for Arianna and Alessia
FAMILY: Adriane Whiley (2008) and Jesse Flintoff
Jubilees
We congratulate the following Dominican Sisters who celebrated the anniversary of their profession during 2021 Sr Helen Rankin OP 75 Years Sr Joan Winter OP 60 Years Sr Anne Ryan OP 50 Years
Sr Jacquiline Kubebatu OP 25 Years Sr Teresa Tebaia OP 25 Years
Deaths
We remember DOMINICAN SISTERS Sr Janet Ryan OP 24 May 2021
Sr Bernadette Murphy OP 10 July 2021
Marriages
DATE: 6 March 2021
COUPLE: Tanya Chodasewicz (2010) and Coel Gould LOCATION: Santa Sabina Chapel
Sr Denise Allen OP (1942) 18 October 2021
EX-STUDENTS Aileen McRae (Savage 1944) 6 September 2020 Nyree Counsel (Little 1946) 17 December 2020 Marjorie (Betty) Campbell (Burford 1942) 6 August 2021
50
ENCOMPASS 2021
Confidently shake the world!
CALENDAR DATES FOR 2022 TERM 1 2022
TERM 2 2022
TERM 3 2022
TERM 4 2022
FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY
FRIDAY 29 APRIL
FRIDAY 22 JULY
FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER
FRIDAY 4 MARCH
WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE
FRIDAY 29 JULY
WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER
JANE OF AZA RHYME TIME
DISCOVERY TOUR FRIDAY 18 MARCH
JANE OF AZA PLAYGROUP
JANE OF AZA RHYME TIME
DISCOVERY TOUR FRIDAY 10 JUNE
JANE OF AZA PLAYGROUP
JANE OF AZA RHYME TIME
ST DOMINIC’S DAY WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST
DISCOVERY TOUR FRIDAY 19 AUGUST
JANE OF AZA PLAYGROUP
JANE OF AZA RHYME TIME
DISCOVERY TOUR FRIDAY 18 NOVEMBER
JANE OF AZA PLAYGROUP WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER
ADVENT FESTIVAL OF READINGS AND CAROLS
