Meet the Boarders Who Call Santa Home
Boarding Week is a time to recognise the incredible young women who call our boarding House home. From all corners of regional Western Australia, they bring unique stories, deep friendships, and a powerful sense of community.
This year, we’re shining a light on one boarder from each year group, sharing their reflections on what boarding means to them and how it’s shaped their journey. Their voices remind us of the strength, connection, and spirit that define life in boarding.
Macey, Year 7
Where are you from?
I am from Corrigin, just under 3 hours away
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
I like spending time with my friends and getting to know different people.
What has boarding week meant for you?
I loved that the day girls got to understand us better and how we live.
Ava, Year 8
Where are you from?
I am from Dowerin.
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
I like spending time with my friends.
What has boarding week meant for you?
It has given me the opportunity to share more about where I’m from and what boarding is like
Clara, Year 9
Where are you from?
I am from Port Hedland.
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
My favourite thing about boarding is that I met my best friends; if I hadn’t found these amazing people, I wouldn’t have got help through boarding studies to better my education.
What has boarding week meant for you?
It showscases the life experience of people that aren’t from the city
Bronte, Year 10
Where are you from?
I am from Southern Cross, about 4 ½ hours east of Perth.
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
My favourite thing about boarding is being with my friends and having many more opportunities than I would have at home.
What has boarding week meant for you?
I enjoy showing other students where I am from and seeing where so many boarders are from that I didn’t realise. It means a lot to many of us because we can show that WA is much bigger than Perth.
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Bronagh, Year 11
Where are you from?
I am from Condingup, which is 65 km east of EsperanceÂ
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
You build connections all over the state. If I were at home, I would only know people from Condingup and Esperance. Here, my best friends live 2000 km away.Â
What has boarding week meant for you?
For me, it is a time where the boarders can show their friendships and connections to the whole school. It is pretty special to see so many people with so many friends across years, and the team that we are as a whole.
Sienna, Year 12
Where are you from?
I am from a small rural town called Northampton, 5 hours north of Perth.
What is your favourite thing about boarding?
When I joined boarding here at Santa Maria in Year 10, my favourite thing was how easy it was to have a place in the boarding family. I built friendships I never would’ve had if I stayed home. The girls in the boarding welcomed me like I’d been here since Year 7. Because you’re living side by side, you get to know each other on a whole different level.
What has boarding week meant for you?
Boarding Week is a chance to show day girls what makes boarding so special. Living away from home isn’t always easy, but it’s helped me grow more independent, build strong friendships, and be part of a close-knit community. It’s great to see our stories shared and recognised, and it reminds me that we’re part of something bigger, especially with so many boarders from regional WA coming together.
Whether they’re from the Wheatbelt or the Pilbara, our boarders are united by a shared experience that shapes who they are and who they’ll become. As Boarding Week comes to a close, we celebrate not just where our students come from, but the remarkable journey they’re on together.
- Belonging, BoardingWeek, Community, Featured, GirlsBoardingSchool, HomeAwayFromHome, LifeInBoarding, RegionalWA, SantaMariaCollege
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.
