Stepping Up Early – Meet Our New Year 7 Leaders

May 16, 2025

Starting high school is a big deal. There are new buildings to navigate, new teachers to meet and about a million new names to remember. So, imagine taking all that on, and putting your hand up to lead your peers.

That is exactly what 30 of our Year 7 students did this term. They bravely applied for leadership roles within their Houses, and we are so proud of their courage and willingness to get involved so early in their Santa Maria College journey.

Introducing Our 2025 Year 7 Leaders

After thoughtful applications and speeches, we are excited to announce the 16 students who will be helping guide their Houses throughout the year:

Byrne: Anya and Ella
Corbett: Skyla and Mila
Dillon: Ava and Jorja
De la Hoyde: Matilda and Emerson
Frayne: Pippa and Michaela
Kelly: Pollyanna and Matilda
O’Donnell: Macey and Noreen
O’Reilly: Ella and Sherie

The group consists of a mix of boarders and day students, all ready to bring energy, ideas and a big dose of kindness to their leadership roles.

What Makes a Great Leader in Year 7?

It is not about being the loudest. It is about being the kindest. It is the student who checks in on someone sitting alone. The one who puts up their hand to help run an activity or gives a quiet word of encouragement to a friend. These are the small but powerful acts that show true leadership.

Our Year 7 leaders will have the chance to help with House events, support their peers and grow in confidence. Along the way, they’ll be putting our Mercy values, hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Service and Excellence, into practice every day.

More Than Just a Badge

For us, leadership is about growth. These students will develop essential life skills like resilience, initiative, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. It’s a great starting point for bigger things, not just at school, but well beyond.

Claire Newton, Dean of Year 7, shared, “I was impressed by the enthusiasm and thoughtful ideas expressed in the students’ applications. It reflected a strong commitment to personal growth and a sincere desire to contribute to their peers and to be positive role models within our community.”

A Final Shout-Out

To every student who applied, thank you. Whether or not you received a badge this time, putting yourself forward is something to be proud of.

And to our new leaders, we are so excited to see what you bring to your Houses. You have a team behind you and a College community cheering you on.

Let’s get started!

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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.