When was the last time you were brave? Perhaps it was a difficult conversation you had with a friend or family member; A time you said no because you were overcommitted; A presentation you were required to give, or a truly honest answer you gave.
Family time is important for the emotional and social development of young people. Work, homework, and after school activities all compete for family time, but it is important to build family bonds as they can help you through the tough times.
All people are creative, the research says this. The biggest hurdle is for you to believe you are creative. Being creative takes confidence and bravery, and encouragement from educators and parents.
What is the last thing young people look at before they go to sleep, and the first thing they check when they wake? Social media
Remember, if your daughter does not get the ATAR score she hoped for, it is not the end of the world.
As an all-girls school, Santa Maria College (SMC) believes there are great benefits in a single-gender environment. Our girls are encouraged to be active learners who take risks in learning, identify, grow and celebrate their passions and develop self-confidence and self-belief.
Sleep is a miracle medicine; it is free, has no side effects and has significant power to influence our lives. Sleep has a strong influence on our happiness and our positive outlook on life.
Much learning has occurred both in and out of the classroom during Term 3. Here are some of the highlights.
Today is Mercy Day, a day when we pay tribute to the hard work, commitment, and devotion of the Sisters and people of Mercy. Mercy Day is a celebration of our charism and rich heritage. It is a time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have such wonderful facilities and opportunities compared to many girls around the world.
Anxiety is a challenge facing parents and educators, but if we all develop our understanding and work in partnership, we can support all our students to thrive.
Fathers or father figures play a significant role in the lives of young women. They can significantly impact a girl’s wellbeing, growth and journey through life.
We want our girls to be confident leaders who accomplish much, but we also want them to be true to their values and stand by what is important to them. This is the key to being a successful leader.
As parents, we often focus on the positives and achievements and don’t mention the struggles because many of us believe the success of our children determines our success or worth. We all want to be perfect parents who have perfect children. Perfectionism is a trait that we commonly see in girls.
I want every girl at Santa Maria College to believe anything is possible in regards to what she chooses for her future.
Grandparents, special friends, and other significant others are such an important part of young people’s lives and help provide a solid foundation for success in life.
Twenty buses transported nearly 1280 students from Years 5 – 12 to the venue, ready for a great day of friendly rivalry and quiet competitiveness. The Houses competed in track and field events and showed tremendous spirit working together in the team events. The carnival is a great example of our strong sense of community where students, staff and parents come together to enable athletes to demonstrate their talents.
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.
