From the President: October 2022
Welcome to the October edition of the OGA newsletter.
It’s a busy and very exciting time at the College, as the end of the year approaches. The College recently celebrated Mercy Day, with the coveted McAuley Shield awarded to Kelly House for the sixth year in a row! Many things have changed over the years, but one constant is the level of competitiveness and good sportsmanship shown by the girls.
The OGA’s Project of Mercy grant has continued into its second year. This award enables a past student to undertake a planned project of their choosing, with the primary focus of helping others, within the Western Australian community. We were excited to receive a number of outstanding applications, so made the decision to split the grant between three finalists: Courtney D’Mello (2008), Bridey Eggleton (2015) and Sofia Basso Betancourt (2019). We are so inspired by these incredible women and look forward to seeing their projects come to fruition.Â
I know many of you will be pleased to hear that we have now scheduled the school reunion for next year. Those who missed their reunion event at the beginning of this year will also be invited. A save the date is included in this month’s blog.
Wishing you all a wonderful month ahead.
Gemma Varone (2009), PresidentÂ
Combating The Attention Span Crisis In Our Students – Jennifer Oaten
It is no secret that attention spans have been steadily declining, especially among younger generations growing up immersed in digital technology. The average person’s attention span when using a digital device has plummeted from around two and a half minutes back in 2004 to just 47 seconds on average today – a dramatic 66% decrease over the past two decades.
With Laurissa Knowles From Valley Depths to Mountain Peaks (1993)
Laurissa Knowles (1993) has had an incredible career journey so far, from Santa Maria College Teacher to Celebrant and Councillor.
Elevating Spaces: Diana Ellis’ Signature Touch & Architecture Magic
What happens when you mix a love for art, travel, nature, and creativity with construction and building? You get the essence of Diana Ellis’ career!
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.
