Celebrating Our Term 3 Journey – Jennifer Oaten
As I reflect on the wonderful experiences of Term 3, I am struck by how we have brought our Strategic Plan to life. Each story from this term demonstrates not just learning in action, but the opportunities our students have engaged encourage them to develop courage and compassion that will enable them to create change in our world.
Our Strategic Plan is built on five pillars: Faith, Learning for Life, Social Innovation, Community Activation, and Financial Sustainability. This term, our students have shown us what it means to live these pillars authentically.
Faith
Faith and our Mercy values remain at the heart of everything we do, providing the foundation for meaningful reflection and spiritual growth. Our Year 9 Holy Door Project invited students to explore their faith journey through creative expression and contemplation, connecting them to our rich Mercy heritage.
Our Year 12 Retreat: Looking Back to Look Forward provided our senior students with precious time for reflection as they prepare for their next chapter. These moments of pause and spiritual connection remind us that true education nurtures not just the mind, but the soul.
As a College our community celebrated Mercy Day, honouring our past, acknowledging the contributions of Year 12 cohort and raising much needed funds for those with whom we can share our gifts.
Learning for Life
This pillar comes alive when learning extends far beyond classroom walls, and this term provided many examples of preparing our young women for tomorrow’s world.
Explore8 showcased our Year 8 students as innovators and problem-solvers, using design thinking to tackle real-world challenges. Watching these young women interview community members, develop solutions, and test their ideas reminded me why this learning approach is so powerful.
Our Year 10 Geography students took their learning from classroom to coastline, engaging with environmental concepts in authentic contexts. Science Week 2025 brought the wonder of discovery to life, encouraging our students to decode the universe.
The Jurien Bay Camp Adventure perfectly captured the spirit of experiential learning, with Year 11 students developing resilience, teamwork, and practical life skills through outdoor education. Sometimes the most meaningful lessons happen when we step away from our usual learning spaces.
The arts flourished this term through Art Day 2025, where creativity, colour, and connection came together in celebration of artistic expression. Our students’ talent was further showcased through Performing with Passion at the Music Eisteddfod, where their dedication to musical excellence inspired and united our community.
Social Innovation
Perhaps nothing demonstrates our commitment to developing young women who will make a difference quite like our Social Innovation initiatives this term.
Strive9 was a standout, watching our Year 9 students research social issues, partner with charities, and pitch for real funding that would create measurable impact. Their passion for causes ranging from youth mental health to genetic research showed me that our students truly understand that they have the capacity to create change.
In Your Head, our mental health advocacy program, demonstrated how our students can lead conversations about issues that matter to their generation. When students take ownership of wellbeing initiatives, the impact is profound and lasting.
Santa Maria Goes Purple for a Cause and our environmental initiative Breathing New Life Into Our Oval showed different faces of social action. Whether raising awareness through advocacy or creating habitat for endangered Black Cockatoos, our students understand that service takes many forms.
Community Activation
Community is the lifeblood of Santa Maria College, and this term we celebrated the relationships that make our school special.
Introducing Our 2026 Student Leaders was a highlight, commissioning students who embody our Mercy Values and are ready to lead with integrity and purpose. Their commitment to creating a culture of kindness, respect, and inclusion gives me tremendous hope for our future.
Welcoming Our Grandparents and Grandfriends, celebrating Father’s Day, and honouring Year 11s Father-Daughter Connections reminded us that education is most meaningful when it includes the whole family. These intergenerational connections strengthen our community and create lasting memories that honour the important relationships in our students’ lives.
Looking Forward
As we celebrate these Term 3 achievements, I am reminded that education is not just about what happens in the classroom. It is about developing young people who think critically, act ethically, lead courageously, and serve compassionately.
Each story from this term reflects our mission to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Whether through faith exploration, innovative learning, social action, or community building, our students are preparing to be the leaders our world needs.
I am incredibly proud of what our students, staff, and families have achieved together this term.
Our Strategic Plan is not just a document; it is a living commitment that comes to life through the daily actions and achievements of our Santa Maria College community.
As we look ahead to Term 4, I am excited to see how our students will continue to grow as learners, thinkers, Â innovators, leaders and young people ready to make a difference.
- CatholicEducation, CommunityEngagement, ExperientialLearning, FaithBasedEducation, Featured, learningforlife, MercyValuesinAction, SantaMariaCollege, SocialInnovation, StudentLeadership, Term3Highlights
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.
