December 2016 ENCOMPASSThe magazine of the Santa Sabina College community CELEBRATING 800 YEARS CELEBRATING 800 NASA TRIP 2016 YEARS OF THE REACH FOR STEM DOMINICAN ORDER THE STARS EXHIBITION ENCOMPASS CONTENT 06 VERITAS SERIES 35 DOM'S DAY A public forum for The Veritas Centre Our annual St Dominic's Day for Justice, Ethics, and Interfaith Celebrations Engagement 38 COLLEGE FOUNDATION 07 IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME The Foundation aims to generate Santa Sabina is seeking candidacy philanthropic support for the College for the IB DP 43 AROUND THE PLOT 08 MARY BAILEY HOUSE The magazine of the Exploring the Early Learning Centre Santa Sabina Dominican 20 Ex-students' Association 12 PYP IN ACTION Primary Campus authorised in 2016 46 MUSEUM OPENING NASA TRIP Circular Corridor transforms into the 16 STUDENT LEADERSHIP Mother Mary Bertrand Walsh Museum Students travelled to the US to take Our Senior leaders reflect on 2016 part in the world renowned Houston Association for Space and Science 50 BEYOND THE HSC Education (HASSE) Space School. 19 STEM EXHIBITION Careers networking evening with Year 10 students engage in STEM university experts and ex-student mentors 25 AUSTRALIAN MUSIC DAY Richard Gill OAM holds 51 WHERE ARE THEY NOW composition workshop News from our Alumni 32 800 YEARS CELEBRATIONS 60 REUNIONS Celebrating our 800 Year A snapshot of ex-student reunions Dominican Jubilee 26 JOURNEY CONCERT Follow the passage of St Dominic ENCOMPASS No. 21 · December 2016 · EDITOR Yvette Graniero · DESIGNER Mathew Guy Encompass is the magazine of the Santa Sabina College community © 2016. The entire contents of this publication are the exclusive copyright of the publisher. Written permission must be sought from the College Principal before any material for this publication, either in whole or in part, is published, broadcast, recorded, photocopied or otherwise reproduced in any way, for any purpose whatsoever. Encompass is published by Santa Sabina College, 90 The Boulevarde Strathfield 2135 PHONE: 9745 7000 WEBSITE: www.ssc.nsw.edu.au 2 ENCOMPASS PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME Welcome to the 2016 edition of Encompass This is a truly historic year in the history of the Dominican family, program has transformed the experience of classroom music, as we celebrate 800 years since Dominic’s Order of Preachers as well as the quality of performances. Students in Years 7-9 was formed. We have embraced this opportunity to proclaim our participated for the first time in a trip to NASA in Houston Texas rich Dominican heritage with enthusiasm and imagination. This to learn firsthand about the science of space. Year 5 students 800 year story of Dominic and his legacy was captured on film, in gained second place in the Sleek Geek Science competition music, in 800 Acts of Kindness by students across the College, for original research. Year 10 students had their first STEM and in the connections we made with Dominicans nationally (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) conference and internationally. What a joy it has been to celebrate this 800 held at school, and we gained four first places in the National year anniversary with our immediate and extended Santa Sabina Mathematics Problem-Solving competition. In sport we continue College family. to be an outstanding school for girls’ volleyball, and have also seen fantastic achievements in Waterpolo as winners of the We have much to be proud of in 2016. We have become an CGSSA Gold Cup. authorised school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, and are now a candidate school preparing You will read about all this and more as you turn each page of to offer the IB Diploma as an alternative credential for Years Encompass. This progress and success has grown from the 11 and 12. Our students are excelling in a range of academic, dedicated work of our staff, students and parents who work athletic and creative domains. Our amazing Music Education closely in partnership with us. We hope you enjoy this edition. Dr Maree Herrett College Principal 3 ENCOMPASS DOMINICAN EDUCATION AUSTRALIA At the request of the Dominican Sisters of North Adelaide, the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Holy Cross Congregation of Dominican Sisters in Adelaide, Dominican Education Australia was established by the Catholic Church on 28 January 2015. DEA was officially launched in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne during August, 2016. It will exercise oversight of the seven educational ministries that have previously been the responsibility of the three founding Congregations. These are: • St Mary’s College, Franklin St, Adelaide SA, R-12 school founded in 1869 • St Dominic’s Priory College, North Adelaide, SA, R-12 school founded in 1884 • Cabra Dominican College, Cumberland Park, Adelaide SA, 6-12 school, established in 1886 • Santa Sabina College Strathfield NSW, P-12 school founded in 1894 • St Lucy’s School, Wahroonga NSW, K-6 school for children with a range of disabilities that grew out of a school for children with vision impairment, founded in 1938. • Siena College Camberwell Melbourne, VIC, a 7-12 school founded in 1940 • Catherine Sullivan Centre, Strathfield NSW, an early learning centre for babies and young children with hearing loss and their families, established in 1969. The Trustees of Dominican Education Australia, in collaboration with each of the incorporated Boards, will ensure the educational ministries’ Catholicity, fidelity to the Dominican charism, formation of Board members, excellence in teaching and learning and financial stability. The Leaders of the founding Congregations are the Sponsors of Dominican Education Australia and have oversight of the work of the Trustees. They are responsible for appointing the Trustees, approving their formation program, ensuring that the sale of property complies with Canon Law, and approving the Annual Report prepared by the Trustees for the Holy See. At the ceremony for each launch of Dominican Education Australia, the courage, wisdom, foresight and self-sacrifice of the generations of dedicated Dominican women who founded and nurtured the schools were remembered with gratitude. While experiencing a certain sadness at the change, the Sisters acknowledged the call to bequeath these works to equally dedicated lay leaders, so that the mission of the Gospel will continue to be carried out in their schools. The Dominican charism is characterised by a commitment to truth explored in dialogue, a vibrant preaching of the Gospel, a critical appreciation of culture and cultures and a love of the beautiful. Our goal is to foster these values, together with a spirit of prayer and contemplation, respect for the dignity and uniqueness of each person, and the pursuit of excellence. Together we celebrate these ideals as we help to shape the future for Australian Catholic education in the Dominican tradition. Sue Fabian Chair, Dominican Education Australia 4 ENCOMPASS VERITAS CENTRE Federal member for Reid and Assistant Shukufa Tahiri, a Hazara from We need to be Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Mr Craig Afghanistan, shared the struggle, fear Laundy, addressed the audience and and hardship of her refugee journey. As is brave and say, spoke of his experience meeting and the case with so many refugees, she has helping refugees in his electorate. He found peace in Australia and is making challenged those present, but particularly a wonderful contribution to her adopted the students to be agents for change in home. Daniel Tha Nya, a Karen refugee the world. from Myanmar shared his experiences “NOT living in a camp on the Thai Burma Phil Glendenning, President of the border for 11 years. He spoke with Refugee Council was the evening’s gratitude and pride in coming to Australia keynote speaker. His background is in in 2008. IN MY education, law, political science, and overseas aid and development. Mr “Santa Sabina College has always had a Glendenning shared the human side particular commitment to the promotion of the Refugee crisis. The startling of and education for justice, as well as images and statistics he presented for academic excellence. The idea of The NAME” highlighted the plight of so many people Veritas Centre is to encapsulate the many around the world. He challenged the and varied ways that the College lives out audience to take action be that through this commitment,” said College Principal Santa Sabina College hosted a special communicating with politicians or Dr Maree Herrett. forum on Tuesday 5 April “Not in my becoming involved in practical ways with Name” to respond to the Refugee and refugee communities. Ms Helen Smith Religious Education Coordinator Asylum Seeker debate that is happening throughout Australia and the world. It presented an opportunity to listen to those who have faced unbelievable hardships and have experienced life as a refugee. Dr Maree Herrett began the evening by launching The Veritas Centre for Justice, Ethics, and Interfaith Engagement. The Veritas Centre speaks and stands for justice and is a way for the College to raise awareness and advocate for those who are so often disenfranchised in society. 5 ENCOMPASS VERITAS CENTRE JUST JOURNALISM As part of the Veritas Monica Attard is one of Australia's most wars within the borders of the old Soviet respected and acclaimed journalists. Union. Centre for justice, During her illustrious career Monica was Monica had fascinating insights into the ethics and interfaith awarded an Order of Australia for her services to journalism in 1990. In 1991 “cheque book” journalism culture of some engagement, the she scooped the pool with three Walkley media agencies and their ways of trying Awards for her work in Russia, including to get a story. College was honoured the Gold Walkley. Monica provided insights for students to welcome back Monica spoke of her experiences when interested in pursuing journalism in the ex-student Monica she was posted to Moscow as Soviet future and spoke of the use of social Communism was collapsing.