As parents and teachers, we can learn from our Olympians. We need to talk to our girls about managing disappointment, the worst-case scenario, and how they can move forward—reframing failure as an opportunity to grow and learn.
Ursula Frayne and the Sisters of Mercy were women of courage who lived our Mercy values and who continue to be wonderful role models for our community. We remember and give thanks to all who have been part of this heritage. This year, we celebrate the 175th anniversary of Ursula Frayne and the sister’s arrival in the Swan River colony.
Being a principal brings me much joy when I see the incredible opportunities that empower our girls in and out of the classroom. This term has been no different. Our teachers provided many experiences for our students to connect learning to life, develop personal strengths and build friendships.
The GROW program underpins our culture of improvement and our value of ‘Excellence’ at Santa Maria College. It is an integral ingredient in providing excellence in girls’ education. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible team of growth-focused teachers focussed on both themselves and their students.
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling aerosols produced by an e-cigarette or similar battery-powered device. E-cigarettes are currently the most commonly used tobacco product used by young people. As parents, it is important to understand these products, be aware of the risks, and have an open conversation with your daughters.
Even though teenagers are seeking independence, parental involvement is an important contributor to academic success. Most parents want their children to do well in school and have a desire to help their children succeed. Conversations about learning can be of great benefit.
Year 6 Camp is a highlight in my calendar each year. I love seeing the girls away from school, being brave when facing challenges, and their smiles when they overcome these challenges.
Irene McCormack was a vibrant, determined, fun-loving girl who was a boarding student at Santa Maria College from 1953 and 1954. After leaving school, she joined the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.
Academic buoyancy, just like the buoyancy of a duckling, is a balancing act and a key component of a student’s capacity to thrive at school. It is defined as a students’ ability to overcome setbacks and challenges typical of school life.
Many people have influenced my life, but one person has done more for me than anyone else, my mother. My mum is special for so many reasons.
In our lives today, we spend more time ‘doing’ and spend less time reflecting, thinking and daydreaming.
Santa Maria College is pleased to share with our community our Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which Mercy Education has now approved, our governing body.
We all expected Term 1 to be short and action-packed, given it was initially a 9-week Term. Then we had lockdown due to COVID, followed by a week of wearing masks, so many of the planned opportunities took place in the remaining seven weeks. No wonder staff and student are ready for a break!
Our world has become a more challenging place for our young people in recent years, which has led to an increase in the awareness of the need to build positive mental health at school but in partnership with parents. While some parents will be very familiar with our strategy, we encourage our new families to familiarise themselves.
Mother Ursula Frayne led the group of Mercy Sisters on a mission to Perth, arriving in 1846. She is credited with leading a group of courageous women to open the first Mercy school in Australia and for introducing secondary education into Western Australia.
We want our parents to be engaged with our priorities, be involved in their daughter’s learning and be part of our community.
I hope for a school and a world where every girl; can overcome adversity, be brave to take on challenges, speak out about injustices, and have a career in her chosen field.
Our Mercy values keep us close to the beliefs we consider essential and guide our actions, decisions, and all that we do at Santa Maria College.
Our Swimming Carnival is a key component of the McAuley Shield, and we are thrilled to have been about to reschedule due to COVID.
Many us would not describe ourselves as creative, yet we are all creative! It is a skill valued throughout the world in workplaces and in society. It is not limited to just creativity in art but encompasses creativity in many different contexts.
The College Advisory Council is a group composed of parents, a young alumni member, a Mercy Sister and individuals who bring different talents and diverse skillsets to our College management.
This week our Year 8s begin Explore8, which is part of our Enhanced Learning Program. Find out all about our Enhanced Learning Program and what makes it such a special part of the Santa Maria experience.
Today our students have many more subjects to choose from (26 ATAR courses and 13 General Courses), a fantastic array of Work Placements and Certificate Courses in the ACCESS Pathway and the option of 5 subjects in Year 12.
Congratulations to the Class of 2020.
As humans, we spend a lot of time flying blind in our own lives. Feedback is like a GPS; it keeps us pointed in the right direction.
We wish Year 12s the best in their preparation and emphasise the importance of staying active and healthy and connected during exam times. Check on each other regularly and reach out if you need support.
I write this letter to you to say thank you to you, Catherine McAuley! We are so grateful to you for what we know as Mercy today. Without your opening of the House of Mercy in Dublin in September 1827, we may not exist as a thriving school community, for educating girls in the Mercy tradition which opened in 1938.
We want our girls to go out into the world and have the skills to solve problems such as breast cancer. They may not find a cure for cancer, but there are many ways, through creative thinking and problem solving that new ideas can change the quality of life for others or the quality of our world.
Growing up on a farm, Science surrounded me as a little girl. From calves being born to our pet kangaroo, to planting vegetables, understanding the importance of the weather, firebreaks or dung beetles, the processes of preserving fruit and jams and the benefits of fixing or modifying what you have, rather than buying new.
How many words have you read on a screen in the last few days? The number of words in our lives is multiplying by the millions every day. We read words in documents, emails, social media, news updates and even online shopping. So many words!
