Rottnest Island Bound
Rottnest Island is said to be a snorkeler’s paradise with its large number of sheltered and protected bays, and an abundance of fish and coral to explore.
Our six Year 9 Outdoor Education classes ventured to Rottnest last week to explore the beautiful snorkelling locations for themselves!
Outdoor Education Coordinator Rosie Brady said the students participated so well all day. “It was so awesome for the staff to witness them using the skills and knowledge that they have learnt in their Outdoor Ed lessons.”
The 117 students were broken into eight small groups. Four groups visited bays on the southern side of the island, and four groups visited bays on the northern side of the island.
The groups rode bikes to and from each bay, with all groups meeting at the Basin in the early afternoon before heading to the Settlement for afternoon tea!
The girls will all be working hard in class this week to put together iMovies, showcasing everything they have learnt throughout the snorkelling unit and on the excursion.
Here’s what some of the staff and students thought about the excursion.
“Parker Point was really fun as we got to see many different species of fish and a stingray. The water was really clear and beautiful on such a hot day.” Emily Murphy & Caris Garnsey
“Our highlight was running down the sand dunes with our friends at Parakeet Bay.” Ella Patching & Ella Ackinclose
“I had the most amazing and fortunate time connecting with friends and teachers at Rotto. Surprisingly I overcame my fear of the ‘bottom’ of the ocean. The water was so clear and blue, which made this day so much more interesting as you could really see the animals and coral!” Scarlett Forzatti (Corbett)
Mother Teresa said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” This is what Rottnest does to people and I think that each of the girls lived and demonstrated this. I saw so much laughter, excitement and genuine enjoyment, a wonderful bunch of ladies that represented Santa Maria well. Natasha Clutterbuck, Parent Supervisor
“What a wonderful opportunity for the girls to get back to nature and enjoy all that Rottnest has to offer… they were actively learning about the environment without even realising it! The teachers did a fantastic job coordinating the day, and it’s a credit to them that it ran so smoothly.” Melanie Leighton, Parent Supervisor
“It was a great day, and the girls were all so well behaved.” Vance Thompson, Parent Supervisor
“My highlight from the day was when a group of girls ran up to me and said ‘Miss Laurino, a fish with big lips just chased us!’” Melissa Laurino, Teacher (Group 4 Leader)
The Power of Expectations in Shaping Student Success – Jennifer Oaten
Discover the transformative impact of expectations on student success. Learn how belief shapes outcomes in education and beyond.
Weekly Wrap Up: Term 2, Week 1, 2024
Term 2 has kicked off with a bang! We enjoyed the Year 11 Father-Daughter evening, celebrated Earth Day, and welcomed Dr. Mark Williams.
Inspiring Change: Earth Day 2024
Our Earth Day celebration this week was a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect our planet for future generations.
- Collaboration, Confidence, Featured, Learning4Life
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.
