ISSUE 3 | Week 5, Term 1 - Wednesday 26 February 2025
PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME
Dear Families,
In my first fortnight as Acting Principal, it has been a rewarding experience at our college, filled with moments of learning, reflection and community building. I am delighted to share some highlights with you.
On Thursday, 20 February, I had the pleasure of hosting an afternoon tea for our new students in Years 8-11. Now four weeks into the term, it was a wonderful opportunity to hear about their experiences as newcomers to our college. We spoke about the joys and challenges of starting fresh in a new environment, particularly when you are one of only a few new girls in the year level. The afternoon tea provided a relaxed setting for these girls to meet one another, share their stories and build connections. It was encouraging to hear the same themes come through and to see these six girls relate to one another and begin forming bonds that will no doubt grow stronger throughout the year. We have one new student in Year 8, three new students in Year 10 and two new students in Year 11.
Later that day, we observed the World Day of Social Justice with a special lunchtime activity organised by our Mission Prefects (Celina Gregory, Victoria MacKay and Lysha Huynh). This was titled "Be the 'I' in Kind." This initiative focused on spreading kindness at an individual level, emphasising how such actions can grow into a socially just community built on compassion and care. Thank you to all the girls who participated in this meaningful event—your efforts make a difference to spreading kindness!
On Monday, 24 February, I visited our Reception Class during their mathematics lesson. The focus during this 45-minute time was learning our numbers one to ten. It was a joy to witness the girls actively engaging in counting, writing, and explaining the meanings of numbers to each other. Francine Saint was measured, methodical and patient, using the "I do, you do, we do" approach, which created a collaborative and supportive learning environment where the girls felt confident to engage. Their enthusiasm for learning was something worth bottling up. This confidence and enthusiasm has developed after just five weeks of school.
Last Friday, I joined our Year 6 students and staff at their annual Reflection Day held at North Adelaide Baptist Hall. The day was filled with meaningful moments of faith and reflection. A highlight was the opportunity for the girls to learn about the church’s historic pipe organ. Installed in 1876, it was the largest pipe organ built in South Australia at that time. Frank, a dedicated volunteer, played the organ beautifully and shared its intricacies with the students. There was much excitement and many questions for Frank about how the organ works. Before morning tea, the girls participated in a moving prayer service where each student brought a symbol of hope that contributed to creating a sacred space. As they shared their symbols and their meanings, themes of family, friendship, faith, and hope emerged strongly. It was a powerful reminder of the values that underpin our community and guide our young women. Thank you to the Year 6 Staff, under the excellent leadership of Belinda Baker (Years 5/6 Coordinator) and Joseph Catania (Director of Faith & Mission) who made these experiences of reflection and retreat, meaningful for the Year 6 girls.
Looking beyond our school, it would be reminisced of me not to mention Pope Francis. When Pope Francis made his first post on Instagram, he simply wrote “Pray for me.” We especially pray for him now, as his health presents challenges.
Heavenly Father,
We humbly come before You, the Divine Physician, seeking Your healing touch upon our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Grant him strength and courage as he endures this time of illness. Surround him with Your comforting presence, and guide the medical professionals entrusted with his care.
Amen.
These moments over the past fortnight have reminded me once again of how vibrant and supportive our college community is. From our youngest learners exploring mathematics to our older students reflecting on hope and kindness while welcoming others into their circle, I am continually impressed by their growth as individuals and as members of St Dominic’s Priory College.
As we move forward into this term together, let us continue to nurture these qualities of curiosity, reflection, kindness and inclusivity that make our college such a special place.
Ms Muriel Noujaim
ACTING COLLEGE PRINCIPAL
WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK!
During early 2025 we have a strategic planning process led by our Principal Dr Helen Steele and our College Board. The initial stage of this, is working with South Australian research agency Square Holes to gain feedback from parents, teachers and senior school students that will play a critical role in shaping our strategic priorities over the next five years. Square Holes has a strong background working with schools.
We are committed to listening and understanding your thoughts and experiences to help ensure we are ever improving. We ask for participation in a survey. The more data we can gain, the better informed with are with making strategic decisions. We welcome families to please click the following link to complete the survey St Dominic's Priory College Parent Survey.
The survey will be open until Friday 14 March 2025.
FAMILY MASS
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2025
YEAR 8 REPORT
The Year 8 students have made a smooth transition into the start of the year, settling back into their routines. We’ve spent the first few weeks focusing on our core values, which form the foundation of the College Wellbeing Framework: Relationships, Respect, Resilience, Resourcefulness, Regulation, and Responsibility. These values are helping guide us as we continue to build a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.
On Friday 7 February, Wellbeing Day, an annual school-wide event was enjoyed by all. The girls participated in a yoga workshop in the beautiful Cloister Courtyard, which provided a peaceful start to the day. They also had the chance to get creative during a friendship bracelet-making session, where they interviewed a partner and designed a bracelet just for them. Another highlight was the mindfulness bingo activity, which encouraged the students to slow down, reflect on nature, and notice the little things around them. The day wrapped up with a guided painting session where the girls created beautiful silhouettes of palm trees against a sunset. The final pieces reflected the girls’ creativity, attention to detail and willingness to have a go. They were certainly a point of admiration for passersby.
We wish all our Year 8 students a wonderful rest of the term and look forward to the year ahead.
Anastasia Markou
YEAR 8 COORDINATOR
MICROSTORY COMPETITION
As is tradition in the English faculty, we like to kick off Term 1 with the Microstory Competition run by the Adelaide Festival Writers Week. Unfortunately, the competition did not run this year, so St Dom’s decided to run its own Microstory Competition. Using the theme of 'Hope', students were asked to write a 50-word story with this theme. Judged by a panel of English teachers - myself, Ms Limgenco, and Ms Norman - we were all equally impressed by the creative breadth of our students.
Winners from the Year 7-9 and Year 10-12 Categories were decided, with a shortlist of highly commendable entries also acknowledged. Please enjoy reading the winning entries who will be recognised at an Assembly later this term. All students will receive a prize for their excellent achievements. All stories will be published in the next edition of the student-run St Dominic’s newspaper.
Winner (joint) Year 7-9: Shivani Ramalingam 7B and Katika Russo 9W
Shortlisted: Isabelle Goh 7B, Liv Carpio 7G, Summer Nguyen 7G, Alyssa Nguyen 9G and Helena Huynh 8G
Winner Year 10-12: Anita Huynh, 12B
Shortlisted: Kiva Gunson 10G, Celina Nguyen 11W, Yuanyuan Ling 11G, Lily Donnellan 11B and Isabella Bauer 12G.
Ms Sara Nigro
LEARNING AREA LEADER - ENGLISH
BRIDGE AT DUSK
An old wooden bridge stretched over the river. I clutched its rails, eyes closed as the water carried fragments of my life; past mistakes that couldn’t be erased. Turning back was impossible, and the future felt distant. Yet, I smiled. I hadn’t moved but something else had.
- Shivani Ramalingam, 7B
Beneath the weight of sorrow, Ella knelt, planting a seed in the frozen earth.
Winter scoffed, the wind howled, yet she waited.
Days stretched, skies wept—then, at dawn’s hush, a green whisper broke the soil.
She pressed a hand to her heart. Even the coldest nights surrender to spring.
- Katika Russo, 9W
PAPER CRANE
A tiny bird, weightless yet burdened drifts into the wind.
It unfolds without certainty, without promise, but delicate hope; trusting it’ll soar,
but it knows it will tear.
Not anxious
or blind,
simply aware,
for hope is not optimism.
Hope is the paper crane that dares to fly.
- Anita Huynh, 12B
YEAR 1 REPORT
Tes Rodrigues & Mel Lehmann
The Year 1 students have enjoyed a fun and exciting start to 2025! We have welcomed four new friends, Averie, Aoife, Violet and Vienna-Marie, and have enjoyed getting to know them and making new connections.
Some extra-curricular activities to begin our year have included Swimming Week and Wellbeing Day. Both activities challenged our students' bravery, resilience, cooperation and positive attitudes! They all did an amazing job in both experiences and we are proud of their achievements.
KINDNESS
In Year 1, our class theme is ‘Kindness’. We talk about how we can be kind to ourselves and others, kind learners and kind to the environment. For the first few weeks at school, we discuss examples in our everyday classroom life where we are following these ideas. For example, kind to others is including people in our games. Kind learners are those who take turns and contribute their ideas, and being kind to our environment is taking care of the property and resources in the classroom, making sure our rubbish goes in the correct bins.
PALS
Our PALS sessions are a class favourite. Play and Learn time helps us build confidence, creativity, and relationships. We work together to improve our negotiating and teamwork skills to solve problems and be inclusive. This term, our classroom includes a Vet Clinic where we make appointments for owners to bring their pets to be cared for. Bandaging, looking at x-rays and wearing the doctor’s coats are some of our favourite things to do in the clinic.
MATHS
We have enjoyed our first unit of work in our Maths lessons so far – Patterns. We created patterns, learned how to find the unit of repeat and then labelled the patterns according to this. Some of us made a two-unit repeat pattern called an AB pattern, some made a three-unit repeat pattern, an ABC pattern and some made a four-unit repeat pattern, an ABCD pattern.
We look forward to continuing a great year of learning ahead.
Tes Rodrigues and Mel Lehmann
YEAR 1 CLASS TEACHERS
GROWTH MINDSET
PROMOTING THE BENEFITS OF GRIT, RESILIENCE, AND A GROWTH MINDSET - PT 2
Key Practices to Support Your Child’s Growth in the development of a Growth Mindset. Nurture a Growth Mindset at home through:
- ENCOURAGE REFLECTION AND ACTION: Encourage your child to reflect on their learning process—what went well, what could be improved, and how they can continue growing.
- FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE: Help your child understand that learning is a journey, not a race. Encourage them to focus on long-term goals and see challenges as steppingstones to growth. This mindset helps them stay motivated, even when they encounter difficulties.
- PROMOTE TIME MANAGEMENT: Support your child to manage their time effectively. When students develop strong time management skills, they can break down large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps—making it easier to achieve their goals.
- SET GOALS: Help your child set realistic and achievable goals. Whether it’s mastering a new skill or improving a particular area of study, goal setting gives them something to work toward, which reinforces their belief in their ability to grow.
- DREAM BIG AND TAKE SMALL STEPS: Encourage your child to dream big about what they want to achieve, but remind them that success comes through small, steady steps. Every challenge they overcome builds the foundation for reaching their big dreams.
- ESTABLISH ROUTINES: Consistent routines that incorporate regular practice—whether for academics, sports, or other activities—help students make steady progress. Practice reinforces the idea that growth is a gradual process and encourages resilience over time.
Fostering a Growth Mindset in your child at home and in school helps them develop the resilience and persistence they need to face challenges head-on. When students understand that effort, grit, and a willingness to learn from mistakes are key to success, they become motivated learners who are equipped to navigate the complexities of their academic and personal lives.
SPORT NEWS
Chloe Dhillon (L)
+ Rosie Welden (R)
SWIMMING NEWS
Congratulations to Chloe Dhillon (7B) and Rosie Welden (8G), who have achieved commendable results in Swimming this month. Both girls competed in the SA State Swimming Relay Championships on Sunday 9 February and were awarded a Silver Medal in their respective 4x50m Freestyle race (Chloe in the 8-12 Year division, and Rosie, the 10-14 Year), and a Bronze (Chloe) and Fourth (Rosie) placing in the 4x50m Medley. Congratulations, girls!
In addition, Rosie is to be commended for her dedication to competitive swimming. On Sunday 2 February, she competed in the Brighton Jetty Classic - her first open water competition - and finished third in the 400m Jetty Swim for her age group, with an impressive time of 5:20:90. She will soon go on to compete in the South Australian Age Swimming Championships between Thursday 6 and Monday 10 March, and later, represent SA in the National Age Championships in Brisbane this April, with her National Age Qualifying Time of 28.91 seconds (for a 50m Freestyle).
Well done, Rosie!
Mrs Lyndall Pratt
SPORTS COORDINATOR
WATER SAFETY PROGRAM
Students from Years 1 through 6 had a fantastic time at the Thebarton Aquatic Centre during Week 3, learning essential water safety skills. We encourage parents to reinforce these lessons at home by discussing water safety with their children.
Comments from the Year 1 and 2 classes:
"I enjoyed going in the deep end with life jackets." - Hana Nguyen, Year 1
"We liked going in the deep end and doing the dance-off." - Balen Tassone, Bridie Thompson, and Aoife Jacobs, Year 1
"Everything!" - Alice Le, Year 1
"I liked being on my back." - Scarlett Aboughattas, Year 1
"The swimming teachers were kind and taught us bubble breathing." - Emily Pham, Year 2
"I liked when we did a stroke called 'Solider, chicken, star'." - Mischa Gregory, Year 2
"I liked wearing the life jackets." - Caela Tan, Year 2
"The water safety lessons were fun and interesting as we learnt how to save people who are drowning by pulling them into the wall using a pool noodle." - Eva Vovos, 6B
"We learnt safety survival techniques, which will help us if we are ever in a dangerous situation. I thought it was lots of fun and loved that everyone could learn something from the lessons." - Emily Cutri, 6B
The Year 2s would like to say a big thank you Mrs Richter for organising water safety, we loved it!
SWIMMING TEAMS
During Water Safety Week, we held trials to determine the swimming teams competing in two carnivals during Term 1. Students who have qualified to attend these carnivals have received an event list and program, and a Consent2Go has been sent home. Please look out for this.
THUNDERCUP NETBALL
The Thundercup Netball Competition commences in Term 2 for Years 3-6 students. The competition is held at Netball SA Stadium on Thursday afternoon from 4:30-5:30pm. Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students will receive a Consent2Go within the next two weeks to enable them to register to play in a St Dominic's team. Please accept the invitation if your daughter would like to join in.
SPORT INFORMATION ON SEQTA ENGAGE
Please ensure that you check SEQTA Engage (Primary PE and Sport) for updated sporting opportunities on offer for primary students.
Mrs Michelle Richter
CO-CURRICULAR TEACHER (JUNIOR SCHOOL)
COMMUNITY NOTICES
