Farewelling The Class of 2025 – Jennifer Oaten
Last night, we had the great honour of celebrating the Class of 2025 at our Graduation Mass and Awards Ceremony. Tonight, those celebrations continue as we gather once more with our graduates and their families, a joyful and fitting end to their journey at Santa Maria College.
The evening began with a beautiful Mass celebrated by Father Phillip, made especially meaningful through the participation of our Year 12 students as readers and choir members. Their involvement reflected the true spirit of community and belonging that defines our College.
Following Mass, we recognised the many accomplishments of our graduates through Academic Excellence, Course, House and Special Awards. These accolades celebrate not only achievement but also character, effort, and growth, the hallmarks of a Santa Maria education.
While yesterday’s Mass and Assembly marked the formal farewell, tonight’s celebration is different. Tonight is about joy, laughter, and connection, a chance to reflect, share memories, and celebrate with the people who have walked this journey together.
The Cohort Respectful, Compassionate, and Courageous
If we were to describe the Class of 2025 in three words, they would be:
- Respectful.
- Compassionate.
- Collaborative.
This is a cohort rich in diversity and talent, excelling in many areas such as sport, music, art, leadership, service, and dance. They have demonstrated exceptional courage and resilience, navigating the challenges of high school with determination and grace.
I am proud of these young women because they faced challenges with strength and honesty. They supported one another, sought help when they needed it, and led when it mattered most.
Throughout the year, during exams, on the sporting field, in performances, and on retreat, they showed up. They contributed. They cared deeply for one another and for this community. They asked for help when they needed it. They led when it mattered. They were present. They contributed. They cared about this place and each other.
More than grades or achievements, that matters.
What They Carry Forward
As our graduates step into the next chapter of their lives, we hope they carry with them these guiding truths:
- This is Your Life – Be You
- Your Values are Your Compass
- Dream Big
- Choose People Over Possessions
- The Sun Will Always Rise
Here at Santa Maria, they have lived out our core values every day. Hospitality has meant welcoming others, even when it was challenging. Compassion has meant showing up for those in need. Justice has meant speaking up when something wasn’t right. Service has meant giving freely without expectation. Excellence has meant doing their best, not for recognition, but because it matters.
These are not just words, they are habits of heart and mind these students have nurtured during their years with us.
Most precious of all are the friendships and sisterhood they take with them. These are the friends who have seen them at their best and their worst, who have celebrated their victories and stood by them in hard times. These bonds endure, evident each year as our alumni return, supporting one another through life’s milestones and challenges.
Finding one’s place in the world is not about location or career, it is about knowing who you are and having the courage to be that person. Some will find their place quickly, others will take time, and some will create it themselves. Above all, it is about stepping forward with courage, knowing that a sisterhood stands behind them.
A Night of Celebration
As we gather tonight for the final celebration of our graduates, our hearts are filled with pride, joy, and hope. These remarkable young women are ready to embark on their next adventure equipped with curiosity, confidence, and compassion.
To our parents, thank you for trusting us with your daughters.
To our teachers, thank you for guiding, encouraging, and believing in them.
To our wider community, thank you for the care and support that have shaped this cohort.
And to the Class of 2025
You are ready. Not because the path ahead will always be easy, but because you have learned how to walk it, with strength, grace, and kindness. You know how to be good friends, good leaders, and good humans.
We cannot wait to see what you do next. The world needs your courage, your compassion, and your desire to make a difference.
Go well, make us proud, and remember, Santa Maria will always be part of who you are.
God bless.
- Boarding School Community, Catholic Girls' Education, Catholic School Graduation Ceremony, Class of 2025 Farewell, Empowering Young Women, Featured, Mercy Values In Action, Perth Girls School Events, Santa Maria College Graduation, Year 12 Celebration
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.
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