Bee Houses, Black Cockatoos & Big Ideas – Our Earth Day in Action
This Earth Day, Santa Maria College came alive with colour, compassion and commitment to creating a better world. The theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Habitats for Wildlife,’ guided every conversation and activity on campus – reminding us that caring for our environment also means caring for the creatures we share it with.
From student-led conservation projects to inspiring words from our guest speaker, the day highlighted the leadership of young people in shaping a more sustainable future.
Wearing Our Values on Our Sleeves
Staff and students dressed in Earth colours – green, blue and brown – making a gold coin donation to the Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre and WA Seabird Rescue. It was a simple yet striking way to show our solidarity with environmental causes. The funds raised support conservation efforts for black cockatoos.
Lights Out, Minds On
To start the day, classrooms and offices switched off the lights during Period 1 to raise awareness of our energy use. It was a symbolic step that opened conversations about reducing our environmental impact – even in small, everyday ways.
A Buzzing Campus of Action
The campus buzzed with activity as students took part in a range of interactive and educational initiatives:
- Native bee house building – a hands-on session where students learned how to support our native pollinators.
- Terrariums for sale – showcasing student-made mini ecosystems, perfect for desks or gifts.
- Eco-themed cake stall – proving that sustainability can be sweet too.
- Habitats photography exhibition – a stunning display of entries in our environmental photo competition.
Each activity reflected the broader message of Earth Day: to protect and restore the places where wildlife thrives.
Assembly Spotlight – Creating Spaces for Wildlife
The whole-school Earth Day Assembly brought everyone together for reflection and inspiration. Highlights included hearing from our Eco Sisters, and our boarders. Our Eco Sisters spoke passionately about their new project in partnership with Perth Zoo.
“Our goal is to transform a garden bed into a native foraging space designed especially for these birds. We plan to plant native species that provide food and shelter, helping to support Black Cockatoos and other local birds,” said Eco Sister Emily.
This term, students will plant banksias, bottlebrush and other local flora that, over time, will provide habitat and food for native birds and insects. It’s a tangible way for our students to make a lasting difference, right here on campus.
Boarders shared how their families are finding ways to care for habitat outside the city, in particular building nesting boxes for black cockatoos and microbats.
Local Wisdom, Lasting Impact
We were also privileged to hear from Dr Claire Greenwell, a seabird specialist and passionate conservationist.
Claire conducted her PhD research on the Australian Fairy Tern, a vulnerable seabird that nests in areas close to home, such as Point Walter Spit. Her work provided valuable insight into the delicate ecosystems that exist just minutes from our school – and the role we all play in protecting them.
She reminded us that conservation doesn’t require grand gestures. It begins with awareness, empathy, and action in our own communities. Her talk left many students inspired and ready to make small, meaningful changes in their daily lives.
Mercy Values in Action
Earth Day at Santa Maria was a clear expression of our Mercy values, especially Justice and Service. The theme of ‘Habitats for Wildlife’ connected perfectly with our commitment to Stewardship, one of our student attributes from the Connecting Learning to Life framework.
Throughout the day, our students showed:
- Curiosity and critical thinking in exploring environmental issues
- Compassion through their fundraising and advocacy
- Initiative in leading and participating in sustainability projects
- Collaboration through peer-run activities and teamwork
How You Can Help
Looking to continue the Earth Day momentum? Here are some simple and meaningful ways you can support local habitats and be part of the change:
- Join a community tree planting day – Help restore native habitats and connect with nature.
- Become a Dolphin Watch volunteer – Monitor and protect our local river dolphins.
- House a native bee – Build or buy a bee house to support native pollinators.
- Care for your patch – Use the three-bin system correctly and reduce waste.
Every action, no matter how small, contributes to a healthier, more biodiverse world.
Looking Forward
While Earth Day is a special moment on our calendar, our commitment to sustainability is ongoing. As the Eco Sisters continue their work and students reflect on the day’s messages, we hope this celebration inspires everyday action.
Whether it’s planting a tree, switching off a light, or simply noticing a bird in the backyard, each small act is part of something bigger – a future where people and wildlife can thrive together.
- BeeConservation, BlackCockatooConservation, EarthDay2025, EcoSisters, EnvironmentalEducation, Featured, MercyValues, SantaMariaCollege, Stewardship, Sustainability
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
