San Sisto College has a house system to facilitate school based competitions and activities. The school currently has four houses, named after influential women within the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
There are a number of important inter-house events during the year, including athletics and swimming carnivals, and competitions in the performing arts.
Schools
The college is divided into three schools: Caleruega The key is the symbol of Caleruega School. A key opens doors. Learning ‘opens doors’, too, to new ideas and experiences and therefore growth. Girls who enter Caleruega School are invited to be open to and excited about learning. The young boy, Dominic, who lived in Caleruega, learnt from his parents and studied with his uncle, a priest, in a nearby town when he was the age of the girls in Caleruega School. Fanjeaux The sunflower is the symbol of Fanjeaux School. The sunflower is fast-growing, vibrant and joyful to behold. Girls in Fanjeaux School are invited to grasp life with that same vibrancy and joy as they begin to move into womanhood. The sunflower is also a reference to Fanjeaux because, in the spring, if one stands at the edge of Fanjeaux, looking down into the valley towards Prouilhe, one sees masses of sunflowers. No doubtSt Dominic enjoyed this view in many seasons, including spring. Bologna A pair of shoes is the symbol of Bologna School. Shoes speak of journey. Girls in Bologna School are invited to be reflective on their life journey so far and on where they would like that journey to lead them in the future. St Dominic’s time at Bologna was a time of reaping the fruits of his and others’ hard work in ‘setting up’ the Order of Preachers 171 and of preparing the Order for future years. The shoes are also a reference to the fact that Dominic journeyed huge distances on foot over his lifetime. He chose to do this, rather than travel on horseback, because walking was the only choice available to the average person and he very much wanted to ‘journey with’ such people in their lives. Each school has a strong identity and its focus depends on the developmental needs of the girls.
Co-curricular sport
The sport and HPE programs enables students to learn skills, develop confidence and fitness and to understand the values of belonging to a team. The programs in Years 7-10 endeavour to develop the student awareness of creating a healthy lifestyle and promoting effective use of leisure time. It is also an avenue for the development of school spirit. Structure A wide variety of sports is offered to cater for all student needs and interests. The program includes many traditional sports such as: swimming, basketball, volleyball, netball, hockey, Futsal, soccer, touch football, athletics, gymnastics etc. The subject Health and Physical Education is offered as a subject in Years 7 and 8 and an elective subject in Years 9 and 10. In Years 11 and 12 Physical Education is provided as an Authority Subject contributing to an OP. Activities include: • Athletics • AFL • Basketball • Indoor Cricket • Cross Country • Hockey • Netball • Soccer • Swimming • Tennis • Touch • Volleyball • Sport Aerobics Representative Sport: • Lytton District • Composite District • Metropolitan East. These are generally played as part of the Catholic Secondary Schoolgirls' Sports Association competitions.
Co-curricular music
San Sisto College offers students the opportunity to participate in an exciting variety of optional programs and co-curricular activities relating to music. Participation in music experiences can provide a number of benefits to the individual. Individual tuition in music can assist in the development of confidence and self-esteem, in addition to the development of specific skills and techniques pertaining to the Performing Art studied. Students also gain a unique way of understanding the world, at the same time, developing valuable ways of self-expression and communication.
Service
Service activities e.g. Rosies, St Brendan’s Homework Club, Salvin Park, B4C Sustainability Centre, GALS and Trading Circle • Support of refugee families • Monetary support for the Kopanang Community Trust • Immersion trips e.g. Cambodia and Vietnam • Support of fundraising for groups such as Caritas, Catholic Mission, St Vincent de Paul, and Dominican communities • Social action through support of groups such as Social Justice Group and Greenies and their various projects, inter-school justice activities.
