Seek7 – Developing Global Citizens
At Santa Maria College, our mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Seek7 is part of our broader commitment to providing a comprehensive education that equips our students with the skills and knowledge to address real-world challenges.
Empowering Global Citizens
Our Seek7 program is designed specifically for our Year 7 students and is a continuum of the emPOWER suite of projects students participate in during Years 5-10. The program focuses specifically on global water management issues.
Seek7 encourages students to think deeply about the various aspects of water management, including its social, economic, and environmental impacts. By examining multiple perspectives on these issues, students develop a holistic understanding of water management and its complexities.
Aligning with Pope Francis’ Vision
Pope Francis emphasises the importance of access to safe, drinkable water as a basic human right essential for survival and the exercise of other human rights. He writes, “Access to safe, drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights…” Our Seek7 program aligns with Pope Francis’ vision by educating students about the significance of water management and encouraging them to think about solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
Integrating Humanities & Social Sciences with Science
The Seek7 program specifically highlights the connections between geography in Humanities & Social Sciences and the study of liquids and solvents in Science. This interdisciplinary approach helps students see the relevance of their studies to real-world issues. They engage in various challenges that range from local to global scales, reinforcing the importance of water and its effective management for sustaining life on Earth.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
Over the course of this term, students participated in a series of hands-on learning experiences, to deepen their understanding. These included an excursion to Point Walter, where they observed water management practices in a natural setting, a special Science Super-Lab activity that provided a deeper dive into the scientific aspects of water, and a Water Corporation incursion that brought in experts to discuss real-world water management challenges and solutions.
Exhibition of Student Projects
The culmination of the Seek7 program this week, was an exhibition where students presented their projects. This event was a platform for students to showcase their creativity and innovation. Their projects addressed critical topics such as water conservation, protection of WA marine ecosystems, and improving access to clean water.
Year 6 students and staff attended the afternoon session, providing the younger students with a preview of the exciting projects they will undertake next year. In the evening, parents were invited to explore the projects, allowing them to engage with and appreciate their daughters’ hard work and creativity.
Student Reflections
The Seek7 program was a significant learning experience for our Year 7 students, and some of them have shared their reflections on the projects they undertook:
Alice: “My project was about water pollution in the Swan River. My group chose it because we thought it was an important topic that needed to be dealt with. The solution that we came up with was a chemical removal plant, similar to a desalination plant, but instead of taking out salt, it takes out bad chemicals. I enjoyed presentation night.”
Saige: “Our project was about desalination and who is affected by it, highlighting its negative and positive impacts. We chose desalination because we didn’t know much about it and wanted to find out more. Desalination kills marine life in the intake pipes, which is becoming a big problem. So, we came up with a new intake pipe design with a layer of mesh and a jet system to protect marine life. I enjoyed the learning experience of independently researching desalination, collaborating with friends, and sharing our findings at the exhibition.”
Merle: “My project was about pollution in the Swan River. I chose it because it mattered the most to me as it is a local problem. We developed a chemical removal plant to take out pollutants from the water. I enjoyed the freedom during this project and collaborating with others to create this solution.”
Justine: “My project was about Coca-Cola’s extraction of groundwater aquifer in Perth Hills. My group chose this topic because we thought it would be interesting. Our solutions included proposing changes to the contract with the Prime Minister and suggesting a licensing system for Coca-Cola to prevent over-extraction. I enjoyed the collaboration in Seek7, working with new people, and developing important teamwork skills for the future.”
Celebrating Student Achievement
We are incredibly proud of our Year 7 students for their dedication and hard work. They have shown remarkable courage in tackling the complex issue of water access. Our aim is to empower our students to be proactive in their learning and lives, and the Year 7s have demonstrated that they are more than capable of rising to the challenge. Their projects are a testament to their ability to think critically, work creatively, and collaborate effectively to address pressing global issues.
The Seek7 program at Santa Maria College is a comprehensive educational initiative that not only teaches students about water management but also instils in them the values of curiosity, creativity, and proactive problem-solving. Through hands-on experiences, interdisciplinary learning, and community engagement, our students are being well-prepared to make a meaningful impact on the world.
- Featured, GlobalCitizens, Innovation, SEEK7, Social Responsibility
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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