Santa Sabina College Alumni

14/10/2026

What does courage look like when no one else sees it?
For Monica Serci, some of the greatest acts of courage are quiet and deeply personal.

In the latest episode of Exceptional, Monica reflects on the choices people make when relationships change, when something no longer feels right, and when finding your voice becomes part of moving forward.

It is a thoughtful conversation about family law, advocacy, relationships and the many forms courage takes.
Listen to Monica Serci on Exceptional, Season 3: Courage in Action.
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exceptional/id1613301850?i=1000793388320

09/10/2026

Vale Sr Mary Philippa Jones OP (1938–2026)

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Sr Mary Philippa Jones OP, who died peacefully on 7 October 2026, aged 88.

For generations of Santa Sabina ex-students, Sr Philippa was a familiar and formidable presence. A fiercely dedicated educator, Sr Philippa devoted her life to teaching and educational leadership, with a particular passion for languages includingand Religious Education. She held high expectations of her students, cared deeply about their learning and wellbeing and left a lasting impression on all those fortunate enough to be taught by her.

Revered and loved in equal measure, Sr Philippa was known for her sharp intellect, feisty spirit and unwavering commitment to education. Her influence extended well beyond the classroom, and she will be remembered with great affection by generations of students, colleagues and friends.

A proud ex-student of Santa Sabina, and the daughter of an ex-student, Sr Philippa’s connection to the College spanned generations. She delighted in sharing her memories and stories of Santa Sabina, bringing its history and traditions to life and reminding us of the enduring strength of our Dominican community.

We give thanks for Sr Philippa’s remarkable life of faith, friendship and service to Dominican education and for the lasting contribution she made to the Santa Sabina community.

Funeral arrangements
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Santa Sabina Chapel, 90 The Boulevarde, Strathfield, on Thursday 15 October at 10.30am, followed by the Rite of Committal at Rookwood Catholic Cemetery.

The funeral Mass will also be livestreamed via Unity Funerals. www.unityfunerals.com.au/obituary

May she rest in peace.

08/10/2026

Season 3 of Exceptional continues with Monica Serci.
A family lawyer, advocate and Santa Sabina alumna, Monica has built a career supporting people through some of the most personal and difficult moments of their lives.

In this episode, Monica reflects on family law, advocacy, confidence, imposter syndrome and what she has learned about trusting your own path.
There is a warmth and honesty to this conversation that stays with you.

Listen now to Monica Serci on Exceptional, Season 3: Courage in Action.
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exceptional/id1613301850?i=1000793388320

06/10/2026

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is given of the Santa Sabina College Ex-Students’ AssociationAnnual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday 27 October 2026, commencing at 7.30 pm.

The meeting will be held in person at:

St Elizabeth’s
Santa Sabina College
90 The Boulevarde
Strathfield

with the option to attend online.

All members of the Ex-Students’ Association are warmly invited to attend. If you would like to join the meeting online, please contact the Association Secretary at [email protected] and meeting details will be sent to you.

What we’ve been up to –

2026 has been a year of connection, collaboration and looking ahead for the Ex-Students’ Association.

We once again partnered with the College to deliver our International Women’s Day event, “Balance the Scales”, bringing together members of our community for an important conversation about women, work and equality.

We welcomed our new College Principal, Elizabeth Brooks, herself deeply connected to generations of Santa Sabina students, and were proud to support the College Gala Dinner celebrating her appointment. We also farewelled Paulina Skerman and acknowledged her longstanding support of the Ex-Students’ community.

This year we invested time in defining the future direction of the Association, undertaking dedicated strategy sessions to consider our purpose, priorities and how we strengthen lifelong connection between Santa Sabina and its ex-students.

Our Exceptional podcast returned for Season 3, “Courage in Action”, continuing to share the diverse stories and experiences of our alumni and wider Santa Sabina community. These conversations remind us of the extraordinary depth of experience within our community and the lessons we have to share with one another.

Members of the Association have also supported important College and community events throughout the year, including the Career Women’s Breakfast, Golden Girls, St Dominic’s Day and Veritas in the Valley and Back to the Boulevarde.

As we look towards 2027, we want to continue building an Association which connects generations, creates meaningful opportunities for ex-students to contribute and ensures the relationships formed at Santa Sabina continue well beyond the school gates.

We would love you to be part of what comes next.

Please join us at the 2026 Annual General Meeting.

29/09/2026

Caroline Smith (Class of 1994) reflects on courage in its simplest form.
Continuing to move forward. Continuing to show up. Having a crack, even when there is a chance you might fall over.

In her episode of Exceptional, Caroline shares the experiences that shaped this perspective, from career reinvention and leadership to caring for her husband Nigel through terminal illness and rebuilding after loss.
Listen to Caroline Smith in The Courage to Begin Again, part of Season 3 of Exceptional: Courage in Action.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exceptional/id1613301850?i=1000791159999

29/09/2026

Welcome to our newest ex-students - The Class of 2026. We wish you well and know you will always have a place in our community!

22/09/2026

In the latest episode of Exceptional, Caroline Smith (Class of 1994) shares a deeply personal story about resilience, love, responsibility and finding a way forward when life changes course.

Caroline reflects on where her resilience came from and the role Santa Sabina played in shaping the determination she would draw on later in life.

Caroline’s path has taken her from teaching to commercial leadership, through career reinvention, study, caring for her husband through terminal illness, and rebuilding after loss.

Today, as General Manager of Apprenticeship Careers Australia, she is helping create new pathways into work and challenging long-held assumptions about who belongs in particular careers.

Listen to Caroline Smith's episode The Courage to Begin Again: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exceptional/id1613301850?i=1000791159999

22/09/2026

The Class of 2001 will be holding a 25 year reunion on Saturday 14 November 2026 at the Belvedere Hotel in Sydney City starting at 6:30pm - all are very welcome! Tickets are $75 for canapés and drink on arrival (link to tickets in comments below). If you are in contact with members of the Class of 2001 (particularly anyone who might not be on Facebook) please pass on this information - we missed 20 years due to Covid lockdowns so hoping for a good turn out and a fun night of catching up! Any queries we are happy to help: Peta Magee/ Anna Garsia / Catherine Gascoigne

This is a link to the ticket website on humantix:
Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/santa-sabina-college-25-year-reunion-class-of-2001

21/09/2026

What a joy it was to welcome over 120 ex-students from the Classes of 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016 to the College for our Back to the Boulevarde reunion on Saturday.

Across four decades, our ex-students reconnected with old friends, revisited familiar places and shared memories of their time at the College. While each generation had its own stories to tell, what united them was their deep affection for Santa Sabina and their appreciation for the enduring value of the education they received.

14/09/2026