From the Principal

From the Principal

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

This year’s National Reconciliation Week was a very busy one for us at SAC. It began with a whole school assembly and Welcome to Country by Ngangki Warra, and this kick-started a week of action to raise our awareness, understanding and acknowledgment of First Nations’ cultures. Some of these actions were visible, such as our attendance at the National Reconciliation Week Breakfast and the Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration.

Other actions happened around the school in classrooms, engaging students in activities and learning experiences across subjects and year levels. For example, one Year 9 Science class spent a lesson learning more about how we might close the gap in First Nations’ health outcomes by addressing the issues around preventable blindness. This included linking in with the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation and learning about trachoma and cataracts. As always, our teachers (in this example, Ms Sandra Eustace and Ms Rosie Hicks) are leading the way in designing lessons that build understanding and create meaningful change.

9JV students reflect on The Fred Hollows Foundation:

“The Fred Hollows Foundation made me feel as if there is hope in the world for those who can’t experience the beauty of vision.” Gabriela Ribeiro

“Fred Hollows is an inspiration; 14 people with the right determination made huge changes to the world.” Balsar Mosleh

“It is shocking that this disease (trachoma) is so easily prevented and treated, but many people don’t get the access to these methods.  It is amazing that Fred Hollows was able to set up his Foundation so quickly and that it has been able to help so many people, now worldwide.”  Rose Hurley

“Fred Hollows had a commitment to doing good things that will work and showed that one person can make a big difference.  He treated every patient the same. The Foundation makes sure that First Nations Australian people trust their work .”  Lara Spokes

“Seeing people like Fred Hollows gives me a sense of hope that not everyone expects to earn money from helping others and that there are people out there who are willing to do anything they possibly can to help the disadvantaged.”  Precieuse Aniella

“I wish I could say I was shocked to learn of Australian authorities’ ineffectiveness in actualizing their pledge to eradicate trachoma in Indigenous communities by the end of 2020.”  Sophia Vnuk


To close NRW, we created a sea of yellow last Friday to raise funds for Children’s Ground through our Wear it Yellow Day. All of these activities aim to raise community awareness so that we continue to take steps towards reconciliation action throughout the year ahead.

Wear it Yellow Day – A sea of yellow last Friday to raise funds for Children’s Ground

Camps and excursions provide some of the most memorable learning experiences for our students, so we have welcomed the return of these activities over the last few weeks. All Year 7 students have been on camp, giving them the chance to build new friendships and get to know their teachers in a different setting. Almost 60 Years 8 and 9 students took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Camp this week, led by our Dukes Leaders Alan Brown and Libby Butterworth. The growth and development that happens when students push beyond their comfort zone and try new things is significant and we are grateful to all the staff who brave the elements to make these trips possible.

At the recent Whole School Assembly assembly, 3 Gold, 11 Silver and 33 Bronze Awardees received their respective certificates – Congratulations to this wonderful group of girls!

It’s been a cold week for swimming, but thankfully the indoor setting at Thebarton Aquatic Centre made our Reception students comfortable to take the plunge. These lessons are an important part of ensuring that all of our students develop an understanding of water safety. Nicole Wedding coordinates this program each year, and our primary teachers and support staff ensure that each student is encouraged to participate.


The Drum Corps, accompanied by some brass players, brought the courtyards to life with a conga line to launch Arts Week on Monday. A celebration of the Visual Arts, Music and Drama, teachers and students have planned this week together as a reminder of the power of the arts in education and in life. This was a subject dear to the heart of educator and academic, Sir Ken Robinson. In a TED Talk, he spoke of the importance of celebrating the gift of the human imagination: “We have to be careful now that we use this gift wisely… The only way we’ll do that is by seeing our creative capacities for the richness they are and seeing our children for the hope that they are. Our task is to educate their whole being, so that they can face this future.” I am so proud of and grateful to the wonderful teachers and support staff at SAC, who engage our students in the Arts and ensure that we educate their whole being. In Arts Week, we witness the creative talents of our students and staff and give thanks for the gift they are to this community.

Ms Paddy McEvoy
Principal

A Glimpse into Arts Week 2022!

WE ARE proud and grateful to the wonderful teachers and support staff
who engage our students in the Arts!


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