From the Director of Teaching and Learning

‘The Santa Sabina graduating Class of 2021 has excelled despite the challenges of the past two years, with 14 students obtaining the Diploma in the International Baccalaureate and 113 Year 12 students and 23 accelerants completing courses for the Higher School Certificate.’ -

JACQUI PUGH Director of Teaching & Learning P-12

For the first time in 20 years, we celebrate two students who achieved the highest rank with an ATAR of 99.95. The success continues with 5% of students achieving an ATAR of 99 or above, 40% achieving an ATAR of 90 or above and 70% with an ATAR of 80 or above.

IBDP

● Across the world 16,860 students sat for November session examinations. In Australia, 2,644 students sat for these IB Diploma examinations. Australian students' average result was 37 out of a possible 45 with a pass rate of 98%. The global average was 32 with a pass rate of 87%.

● At Santa Sabina,14 students completed these examinations and all passed and received their Diploma. Our average result was over 39 (ATAR 97.10) with 93% of the students scoring above 34 which equates to 13 of the 14 students achieving an ATAR of over 90.

● Two students – Sophia Juarez and Anastasia Gikas – achieved an IBDP score of 45 which equates to an ATAR of 99.95, a perfect score. Rachel Frecker and Naomi Ghosen achieved 43 out of the 45 points which equates to an ATAR of 99.45. Hannah Svoboda, Clarissa Kalamvokis, Clara Elias and Sarah George all achieved 40 and above which equates to an ATAR of above 97.90.

● We saw significant growth in excellence across all subjects with 76% of candidates achieving the highest two grades (Grade 6 and Grade 7) across 25 subjects compared to 51% in 2020. In 12 subjects, 100% of candidates achieved in the highest two grades (Grade 6 and Grade 7) compared to three subjects in 2020. These subjects that warrant specific mention are Italian B SL (Standard Level), Philosophy HL (Higher Level), Music HL, Sport Exercise and Health Science HL,Business Management HL and SL, Geography SL, History SL, Biology HL,Chemistry HL and Physics HL. These outstanding results demonstrate the strength in achievement across a diverse range of subjects.

● We also saw significant growth in the number of students who achieved their three Core marks from their Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge results. In 2021 50% of students were awarded the three marks compared with 23% in 2020. This increase can mainly be attributed to the outstanding results achieved by the students in their Extended Essays. We wish to extend a big thank you to Ms Katrina O’Shea and the Santa Sabina teacher supervisors for their insightful guidance over the two years.

Dean of IB Julie Harris with the graduating IB students of 2021

93% of our IB students received results equivalent to an ATAR of over 90.

● After only our third Diploma cohort, we have now firmly established ourselves as an experienced school that excels in the Diploma Programme.

HSC

● Santa Sabina students appeared 150 times on the NESA Distinguished Achievers List, with several students appearing more than once. We saw outstanding results across many HSC subjects, with 28 courses noted on the list mentioned above, celebrating the diversity of our success. Subject highlights include PDHPE, English, Mathematics, Music, TAS, Visual Arts and Languages. PDHPE results increased significantly in 2021, with 43% of students achieving a Band 6 compared to the state average of 6.9%. In Italian Continuers, 50% of the class received a Band 6 and Loredana Leonard of Year 11 earned second place in the state. Similarly, 100% of the Italian Extension students received an E4, equivalent to a Band 6. Music students have excelled with 66% of students in Music 2 receiving a Band 6 and 50% of students in Music Extension receiving an E4.

● Other highlights came from the nominations in showcases ARTEXPRESS, ENCORE, OnSTAGE, Shape and and one selection in Texstyle.

BALANCED

● This resilient and adaptable Class of 2021 also balanced their academic study with their passions outside of the classroom. They represented the College on the sporting field, in the debating room, on stage, and in concert halls. Following Dominican traditions, many also found time to serve in the community with creative outreach programs to suit a year dominated by COVID restrictions. Packing donations of clothes and books for the people of the Solomon Islands, cooking for Night Patrol and creating new forms of digital entertainment for the locked-down residents of aged care homes were activities our Year 12s undertook to benefit the wider community in 2021.

● These outstanding results would not have been possible without the dedication and support of the teaching staff at Santa Sabina as they guided and challenged this cohort throughout their learning journey. We wish to acknowledge in particular the resourcefulness of their Year 11 and 12 teachers as they navigated the challenges of remote and hybrid learning.

JACQUI PUGH

Director of Teaching & Learning P-12