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Unforgettable experiences
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EVELYN DRINIAS Year 11 student
Love was in the air!
Early 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.
It was marvellous to be back in live performance mode and share the talents of our performing arts students with the Santa Sabina community.
ENCOMPASS READERS CAN ENJOY THIS BRIEF VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS:
Canoeing for Gold
Undertaking 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 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
Welcome
Our new Student Leaders
Our 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.
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.’
Student Executive Leadership Team
TERM 4 2021 TO TERM 3 2022
CLARE MOSES
COLLEGE CAPTAIN
SIENNA TERS
COLLEGE CAPTAIN
MOLLY BARRY
FAITH & MISSION PREFECT
ZARA KEARNS
SERVICE & SOCIAL JUSTICE PREFECT
ISABELLA XIAO
ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY PREFECT
BELLA MERLINO
ARTS PREFECT
DARCEY BABBAGE
SPORT AND WELLBEING PREFECT
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.
