From Ideas to Reality – 3D Printing Sparks Student Creativity

April 10, 2025

There’s a buzz of innovation across campus, and it’s coming from two sleek new machines in our Technology Department.

Thanks to the support of our parent community through the Levy Fund, Santa Maria has added two state-of-the-art 3D printers, giving students new ways to bring their ideas to life.

A Creative Shift in the Classroom

These printers aren’t just high-tech tools, they’re changing the way our students learn.

In STEM, girls are designing and testing their own prototypes.
In Art, they’re experimenting with materials and textures.
In Humanities, they’re reimagining historical objects to deepen understanding.

This hands-on approach brings abstract concepts off the page and into their hands, sparking deeper curiosity and engagement

“Using the 3D printer was a new and exciting experience that helped with small details of my art project and brought the piece together.” Ruby, Year 9

From Screen to Real Life

The real magic is students seeing their thinking take shape, literally.

Year 9 Student Millie shared, “The 3D printer was great; it allowed me to make my art project even more detailed by making models that I wouldn’t be able to have normally. It’s fun, easy to use, and a great addition to the school all around.”

Moments like this build confidence and ownership. Our girls are stepping into the role of creators, testing ideas, refining designs, and learning from the process.

Building Skills That Matter

While students are picking up tech skills, the real impact goes much deeper. Through trial and error, feedback and iteration, they’re learning how to:

Think critically and solve problems creatively
Collaborate effectively with peers
Persevere through challenges

Dave Nelson, Head of Technologies and Commerce explains, “The 3D printers were an excellent choice for the girls at Santa Maria College” He said, “They provide an inclusive, hands-on STEM learning experience that fosters confidence in technology, engineering, and problem-solving. These are fields where women are generally underrepresented.”

These moments reflect the core of our Connecting Learning to Life framework; attributes like initiative, adaptability, and independent thinking thrive in this environment.

Acknowledging Our Community’s Support

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our generous parent community whose contributions to the Parent Levy Fund made this exciting addition possible. Your support directly fuels student innovation, helping turn creative ideas into real-world designs. Thanks to you, our girls now have access to cutting-edge tools that are shaping their learning.

Looking Ahead

The possibilities are just beginning. Teachers are already exploring how 3D printing can enhance everything from sustainability projects to wearable design challenges.

Whether it’s a Year 6 enrichment task or a Senior School innovation project, the message is clear: our students aren’t just preparing for the future, they’re creating it.

We can’t wait to see what they make next.

3DPrinting, EducationTechnology, Featured, HandsOnLearning, ParentLevyFund, SantaMariaCollege, StudentLife, TechnologyInClassrooms

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.