NOVEMBER 2020 EncompassTHE MAGAZINE OF THE SANTA SABINA COLLEGE COMMUNITY Encompass 2020 Contents Principal’s Welcome 01 Principal’sWelcome This issue of Encompass reflects a most unusual first year for 02 AnewCollegePrincipalforSantaSabina me as College Principal. Touched by tragedy, loss and chaos, it has brought untold challenges to our school. At the same time, 04 Frontandcentre–GioiaHouse it has also revealed the strength of our community to face the 06 Queen’sBirthdayHonours future with optimism and hope. Every day I gain strength from a leadership team and teaching fraternity who share a common 08 OurGardenofGratitude 02 NEW COLLEGE PRINCIPAL goal to see our students and our school flourish. Like the early 10 MermaidsbanishedthewoesofCOVID Dominican Sisters, we continue to offer an educational program 12 RememberingVeronique broad in content, rich in human spiritual values and aspirational in reach. As I stand on this beautiful campus and reflect on the 14 Don’tstopbelieving–Dom’sDay community I have joined, I agree with the founding Sisters that 16 Embracingremotelearning Santa Sabina is ‘very spacious, gladsome and fragrant, a most delightful garden’. 18 RejuvenationatTallong 19 SpenderCupwinners! Paulina Skerman 19 CASunderCOVID College Principal 20 Throughthewindow 21 1000hearts 08 GARDEN OF GRATITUDE 22 CollegeLeadersfor2020/21 24 #lightupthedawn 25 KopanangCommunityTrustupdate 26 P&FAssociation 28 AroundthePlot ENCOMPASS No. 25 · November 2020 EDITOR AND COPYWRITER Victoria Harper DESIGNER Mathew Guy 12 REMEMBERING VERONIQUE Encompass is the magazine of the Santa Sabina College community © 2020. 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 from this publication, either in whole or in part, is published, broadcast, recorded, photocopied or otherwise reproduced in any way, for any purpose whatsoever. CONTRIBUTORS Evie Andersen · Margaret Beck · Marisa Black · Caitlin Boyd · Isobel Burkhard · Grace Campbell · Belinda Civitarese · Helen Clarke · Odette Don · Julia Furlong · Santina Gambrill · Emma Graham · 21 1000 HEARTS Yvette Graniero · Victoria Harper · Sr Elizabeth Hellwig OP · Belinda Hogan · Sr Mary-Clare Holland OP · Isabella Huang · Sophia Juarez · Danielle Lee · Maria Mackenzie · Margaret Rice · Bridget Sakr · Sandra Samuel · Sr Diana Santleben OP · Sharon Sirris · Paulina Skerman · Natarsha Stuart · Jane Sulis · Aimee Sutton · Kelly Tomasich · Melanie van der Meer · Brian Walker Encompass is published by Santa Sabina College 90 The Boulevarde Strathfield NSW 2135 PHONE: +61 2 9745 7000 ssc.nsw.edu.au 28 WHAT SANTA GAVE ME SSCommunicate santasabinacollege 1 The commisioning was followed by a reception in the College gardens surrounding Dom’s Plot. A new College Ms Skerman is a dynamic and innovative educator who has taught across all educational sectors over the past 30 years Principal for including as a senior leader in large independent schools with national reputations for strong academic and pastoral outcomes. She has come to Santa Sabina from Queensland Santa Sabina where for five years she was the principal at an independent Ms Paulina Skerman, Santa Sabina College’s new College Catholic girls’ secondary day and boarding school in the Mercy Principal, was formally commissioned into the role by tradition. She led a culture of growth and improvement across Most Rev Bishop Richard Umbers in a special Mass in the every facet of the school community. Santa Sabina Chapel on 5 February to the sound of trumpets, pipe organ and the College choir. In 2017 she was named as a Finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award for leading growth and inclusivity through Bishop Umbers introduced Ms Skerman to the community innovation. and thanked her for taking on the responsibility of leading the students and guiding them to live their Christian lives to the full. She has completed the Australian Company Directors Course and is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent With her family and friends looking on, Ms Skerman pledged to Schools of Australia and the Alliance of Girls’ Schools lead the Santa Sabina community with integrity, compassion Australasia. She completed her initial education studies at the and courage, relying on God’s grace. University of Queensland. Ms Skerman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Marketing, a Postgraduate The congregation, which included the Leader of the Opposition Diploma of Education, a Master’s of Education and is currently and our local Member of Parliament Jodi McKay MP, completing further studies through the Australian Catholic Board members, Dominican Sisters, the Chair of Dominican University. Education Australia, staff, students and parents, pledged their trust in Ms Skerman to lead their community. ‘We will journey together as people of faith and hope, united in learning’, the community pledged. ‘We will willingly work with you to foster the growth of all members of this College Community. May Veritas light our Paulina Skerman is pictured above with Bishop Umbers and way.’ College Captain 2019-2020 Isobel Burkhard 2 ENCOMPASS 2020 3 FRONT AND CENTRE In 2021 a new learning program aspects of the NSW curriculum, the IB for the girls of Years 5 and 6 will be Primary Years Programme framework established within the Martin de Porres and the Sydney Catholic Schools Centre on the Secondary Campus at program integrated with the Dominican 90 The Boulevarde. charism will provide them with rigour and will also cater for individual Gioia House, named to honour the interests. joyfulness exuded by St Catherine of Siena, is a unique space just for The ‘Action Girl’ wellbeing program Years 5 and 6, as they prepare for their will guide the students to be people of secondary years. Leaving behind the action for themselves and for others. co-education of their Del Monte years They will gain skills and understanding on the other side of The Boulevarde, to act with integrity, and to engage in the girls of Gioia House will build respectful communication with peers confidence and independence, and teachers. The resources and forming friendships and becoming facilities of the Secondary Campus will more immersed in Santa’s Catholic be at their disposal while their home Dominican community that values base in the Martin de Porres Centre prayer, study, community and service. will offer safe, secure, updated learning areas designed specifically to meet the Led by Gioia House Head Stella Azizian needs of young girls. and Assistant Head Elise Kent, Years 5 and 6 will benefit from a specialised From 2021 the Martin de Porres Centre education and wellbeing program will also be home to Santa Sabina’s which will promote curiosity and a College Reception, a more convenient love of learning. The best pedagogical location where Santa Sabina meets The Boulevarde. Bottom left: Stella Azizian and Elise Kent YEARS 5 AND 6 Gioia House WHERE GIRLS ARE FRONT AND CENTRE 4 ENCOMPASS 2020 5 Queen’s Birthday Honours There was great excitement and pride Professor Georgina Long – was made Jill Emberson – College Vice-Captain amongst the Santa community in an Officer of the Order of Australia (Class of 1976) – was a fearless June when we learnt that three of our for distinguished service to medicine campaigner for finding a cure for ovarian ex-students had been recognised for particularly to melanoma clinical cancer, a brilliant journalist, broadcaster, their services in this year’s Queen’s and translational research, and to beloved wife, fierce mother, friend to Birthday Honours List – Dr Cathy Foley, professional medical societies. many. She worked tirelessly all her life Professor Georgina Long and the late Ms to call out injustice and make the world Professor Georgina Long (Class of 1988) Jill Emberson. a better place. Jill put ovarian cancer is currently the Co-Medical Director firmly in the mind of Australians and Dr Cathy Foley PSM – was made an of Melanoma Institute Australia and is the her successful advocacy will save the Officer of the Order of Australia for first woman and the first Australian to be lives of countless women in the future. distinguished service to research President of the prestigious US-based She started the social movement Pink science, to the advancement of women Society for Melanoma Research (SMR). Meets Teal which lobbies for cancer in physics and to professional scientific According to MIA Co-Medical Director, funding fairness. Jill was awarded organisations. Professor Richard Scolyer quoted at Newcastle Citizen of the Year in 2019 Dr Cathy Foley (Class of 1975) is melanoma.org.au: ‘This is well deserved and Newcastle Local Woman on the Year 3 currently the CSIRO Chief Scientist and recognition of Professor Long’s lifesaving in 2020 (posthumously). over her illustrious career has earned work and ground-breaking research. In February 2019, Jill gave a keynote many awards, prizes and accolades She has changed the face of melanoma speech in Canberra to launch Ovarian for her work and ‘is a world-renowned treatment around the world and many Cancer Awareness Month. Two months physicist and science leader’ according thousands of people are alive today later, the Federal Government announced to the CSIRO. thanks to her intellect, determination $20 million for research with a focus on and passion. It is due to her research ‘Not only is she one of Australia’s leading early detection (there is no screening and thought leadership globally that