Beyond the Bell- ISSUE 1

BEYONDTHEBELL SANTA SOPHIA - 1st ISSUE

FEASTDAY SANTASOPHIA

What a day! The morning kicked off with celebrations of Saint Sophia and her daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, followed by a beautiful Mass led by Father Vince, who joined us for the first time.

The Mass helped set the tone for the day as we reflected on Saint Sophia’s story, for their story helps to remind us of the values at the heart of our Catholic journey (you know, in case we needed reminding again).

Then it was the big moment: announcing the Year 12 leaders for 2026. They got up in front of the entire school, looking calm on the outside, probably trying not to look terrified. Respect.

Most of us can’t even order Maccas without panicking.

Despite all that commotion, let’s be real. The day didn’t truly start until we got our turn on the rides. For a lot of us, the rides WERE the day.

Between the terrified screams, the fake bravado (“I’m fine, I’m not scared, promise”) and the lines of people sprinting to get back on, it was basically Luna Park if a part of it dropped onto our school. Oh and where did the rides go?

Straight into, the teachers’ beloved car park. Yep, no staff cars allowed; the price for our enjoyment, I guess. Can’t confirm, but we’re pretty sure a few teachers shed actual tears over that one (still waiting to hear how that staffroom conversation went) Add in snow cones, fairy floss, and popcorn that was weirdly good, and you had the perfect day: sugar highs, adrenaline, and just enough chaos to make it one for the history books.

Up in the hockey fields, there were hockey and NRL games where everyone suddenly decided they were pro athletes (until they started wheezing and grasping for air about 20 minutes in). For the more “ew sports” type crowd, face-painting stations had you covered. By midday, the school looked like it was hosting some sort of carnival cosplay competition.

The plaza on the other hand was a whole different vibe. The Year 10 Commerce students set up stalls and, honestly, they could make a small fortune if they opened up shop permanently.

The Glowtastic Disco held in the hall?

Let’s just say the lights were glowing, the music was bumping, and, because nothing screams “unforgettable” like

Feast Day, the teachers decided it was the perfect time to bust out some moves. We’re talking peak “dad dance at a wedding” energy. Painful. Memorable.

Both.

The real hidden gem, though, was the TAS rooms. One minute you were screaming your lungs out in karaoke, the next you were throwing shade at your friends after getting wiped out in Mario Kart. It might’ve been the unofficial VIP zone of the day.

Regardless of where you were on the day, there was something for everyone; food, music, sport, no classes. What more could we ask for?

BOOK WEEK On Wednesday, August 27th, our College celebrated Book Week!

We’re so proud of the creativity and participation that was represented on the day. We loved seeing stories come to life on a magical day of fun for everyone.

The Book Parade had to be the highlight of the day, with the crowd of students cheering on everything from evil geniuses like Gru and his Minions, to Disney heroes we all know and love. It was amazing to see so much effort put into the costumes, and the variety of characters made the day feel extra special.

A huge thank you goes out to all our teachers and staff who helped organise the day, encouraged participation, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Your support made it possible for our celebration to be such a memorable experience for everyone!

On the 2nd and 3rd of September, our College hosted a Father’s Day Breakfast as a token of appreciation for all the fathers, grandfathers and father figures of the students at Santa Sophia!!

Students were invited to bring a loved one to a morning breakfast and give our special guests the opportunity to experience our school environment.

As a daughter, this breakfast allowed me to reflect on all the things my dad has done for me and all that he has made possible. Spending quality time with my dad in an environment outside of our home reminded me how important it is to appreciate the little moments and the strong bond we share.

Hundreds of smiles lit up the plaza as students posed for photos with their fathers, using the creatively designed handmade frames and balloon art set-up. After an hour of quality time, a beautiful liturgy was held in the hall filled with prayers and intentions to recognise the impact of a father’s love and presence in our lives. A huge thank you to the Santa Sophia community for making our yearly Father’s Day breakfast one that we will never forget!!

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT LUCAS TURRELL

12/12 HSC TRIA L RESPONS E My writing process begins within myself. I draw from my own emotions and experiences, placing them unto my character, Dmitri Nomenikov, as he navigates a world set by the stimulus.

You must know your character, study them. Their reactions, thoughts, relationships, philosophies all become tools in your flow of writing.

Then the writing begins, I implement the stimulus, allegorically most often, considering how authors such as Camus, Dostoyevsky, and Kafka would have, and I write the confronting and raw experiences that we, as humans, face in our lives.

To finish the piece, I write a line that sums up the story, a powerful line that makes sense of the concept of what I have written. And it is done.

In all fairness, we are not born with the innate ability to write, but writing comes from the heart, our own experiences as people that we are willing to confront on the page.”

INTERVIEW ---- THE PILOT

YEAR 1 VS YEAR 12