Santa Maria College

Two junior students sit facing each other in a sunlit window alcove, sharing lunch and mid-conversation while classmates gather below.

When Friendships Change – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Bullying is repeated, intentional behaviour involving a power imbalance, while friendship conflict can involve disagreements, changing friendship groups or moments of unkindness without all three elements. Parents can look at how long the behaviour has continued, whether the same person is involved and whether their daughter feels able to respond. Santa Maria supports friendship conflict through skill-building, conversation and mediation, while bullying receives clear consequences, structured support and follow-up.

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Purple With Purpose For Purple Bra Day

Purple outfits, sweet treats and the annual BRAsketball showdown brought our community together for a cause that matters. See how Chloe, our Year 12 leaders and students supported Breast Cancer Care WA while putting the Mercy value of Justice into action.

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Languages Day Celebrates Culture, Connection and Community

Languages Day at Santa Maria College gives students opportunities to experience French and Italian language and culture beyond the classroom. Through food, music, dance, games and shared activities, students build cultural awareness, connect across year levels and develop confidence in using and sharing their language learning.

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Year 10 Students Discover New Skills at Try-A-Trade

The Try-A-Trade program gives Year 10 students practical experience across a range of trade occupations. Through hands-on projects and teamwork, students develop new skills while exploring education, training and career pathways that can help inform their future subject and career choices.

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Lianne Recognised for Outstanding PLEAWA Competition Entry

Year 10 student Lianne was recognised as the best entry in the Year 10 section of the PLEAWA Competition for her infographic on offshore detention in Australia. Her research explored the intersection of human rights, government policy and international law, demonstrating thoughtful analysis and effective communication.

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Investing in Our Staff, Investing in Our Students

Careers Blog, News Blog

The Parent Levy Professional Learning Grant at Santa Maria College provides funding for staff to undertake further study that aligns with the College’s Strategic Plan and Mercy values. The grant helps staff build new knowledge and skills that enhance teaching, student support and school improvement. In this story, Emma Wood, Head of Sport, shares how completing a Graduate Certificate in Education (Careers Development & Counselling) is already benefiting students and the wider College community.

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Respect. Regardless. Exploring Empathy, Inclusion and Understanding

Respect. Regardless. brought Year 12 students from Santa Maria and Aquinas together to listen, reflect and challenge assumptions about identity, belonging and mental health

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Mercy in the Past: Mercy for the Future – Jennifer Oaten

Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Mercy education in Western Australia began when Ursula Frayne and the Sisters of Mercy arrived in 1846 to educate girls and serve those in need. This week Mercedes College, St Brigid’s College and Santa Maria College continue that shared heritage through values such as compassion, justice, service and hospitality. The article reflects on a joint gathering that marked 180 years of Mercy in Western Australia and considered what this legacy calls educators to do now.

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Year 12 Geography Students Explore Sustainable Urban Planning in Perth

Year 12 Geography fieldwork helps students apply classroom learning by investigating real examples of sustainable urban planning. During this Perth excursion, students examined urban infill, renewal, transport networks and sustainable development across several locations while developing observation, data collection and analytical skills required for the ATAR Geography curriculum.

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Jennifer Oaten meeting with senior student leaders around the boardroom table over morning tea.

What Students Want From Their Education Today – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Students want an education that prepares them for life, not only exams. In this article, Santa Maria reflects on student feedback showing that young people value relationships, confidence, problem-solving, collaboration and clear learning. It also explains how the College is responding through its Connecting Learning to Life framework and emPOWER projects.

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SEEK7 Explores a World Shaped by Water

Water became the starting point for something much bigger as Year 7 students explored justice, sustainability and shared responsibility through the SEEK7 emPOWER Project. See how their ideas, teamwork and creative thinking will come to life at the SEEK7 Exhibition on 24 June.

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Sharing The Planet Through Fearless5

Year 5 spent Term 2 exploring what it means to share the planet through wetlands visits, biodiversity workshops, creative projects and student presentations. See how Fearless5 helped the girls turn curiosity into practical action for sustainability.

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Reflection Days – A Journey of Faith, Identity and Growth

Reflection Days at Santa Maria College help students explore faith, identity, relationships and purpose in age-appropriate ways. Years 7, 8 and 11 students engage in reflection, discussion and activities focused on personal growth, social justice and leadership through service. These experiences support spiritual, emotional and personal development throughout their school journey.

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The 2026 Interhouse Athletics Carnival

House pride was on full display at the 2026 Interhouse Athletics Carnival, as students from Years 5 to 12 gave their all in a full day of track, field and novelty events.

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What a Mining Excursion Can Show a Year 10 About Her Future

A visit to Hancock Iron Ore’s Remote Operations Centre gave Year 10 students a practical look at STEM careers in action, from environmental science to operations and data. It is the kind of experience that helps girls ask a bigger question: could this be part of my future?

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A group of Year 12 students gathered with Principal Jennifer Oaten in the foyer of the new Cultural Centre.

What Leading a Major School Build Taught Me – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Leading a major school build requires patience, clear values, and the willingness to make difficult decisions over several years. This article explains how Santa Maria College brought its new Cultural Centre to completion, from early master planning and redesign challenges to heritage preservation, teamwork, and the leadership lessons learned along the way.

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Meet the Newest Members of our Wellbeing Team

Meet the new faces helping care for students at Santa Maria College, with warmth, experience, and a strong commitment to wellbeing. Get to know Katrina Campbell-Sloan and Milly Birchmore, and learn how their work helps girls feel safe, supported, and understood.

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Winter Appeal Brings Comfort, Dignity and Hope

News Blog, OGA Blog

The Santa Maria College Winter Appeal supports local organisations assisting people experiencing hardship during winter. Through donations from students, families, staff and alumni, the College community provided practical support to St Patrick’s Community Support Centre, St Vincent de Paul Society and The Shopfront, helping them meet growing demand for essential items and services while reinforcing the Mercy values of Compassion and Service.

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Year 12 Biology Steps Beyond the Classroom

Our Year 12 ATAR Biology students stepped beyond the classroom at Perth Zoo, observing living systems and seeing key concepts from Units 3 and 4 in action. From fieldwork to close animal observations, the excursion made complex biological processes more immediate and meaningful.

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Meet Claire, Santa Maria’s Head of Visual Arts

Careers Blog, News Blog

Santa Maria College’s Head of Visual Arts, Claire Rushton, brings deep experience, creative energy and a clear belief in the value of student voice. Read how her approach to art education helps students build confidence, skill and meaningful self-expression.

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The Pressure To Be Everything – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog, Uncategorized

The pressure to be everything can leave young women feeling that no amount of effort is ever enough. This article argues that the real issue is not simply a full schedule, but the expectation to keep adding more in order to feel successful. It suggests that choosing fewer commitments and going deeper can support confidence, self-knowledge and wellbeing.

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Designing for a Star – Year 11 MDT Students Showcase Creativity and Skill

Year 11 Materials Design & Technology students completed a design project that involved creating a garment for a celebrity client. Students researched their chosen celebrity’s style, preferences and needs before designing and constructing a wearable outfit. The project developed practical textile skills, pattern-making techniques and critical thinking while helping students understand the design process from concept to completion.

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A Milestone Worth Celebrating – Halfway Day 2026

Halfway Day gave our Year 12 students a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate how far they have come in their final year at Santa Maria College. From friendship and growth to leadership and gratitude, this milestone captured what makes the Class of 2026 so special.

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Why We Teach

Careers Blog, News Blog

Teachers choose education for many different reasons, including inspiring mentors, a love of learning, and the opportunity to support young people. In this article, experienced and early career teachers from Santa Maria College share what first inspired them to teach and what continues to make the profession meaningful. Their reflections highlight the importance of connection, curiosity, encouragement and community in education.

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Madison Pino – Can’t Stop the Music

News Blog, OGA Blog

Santa Maria College in Perth has a long-established performing arts community centred on choir, ensemble, and performance. Madison Pinto (2024) shared how the music department was a formative space for her building resilience, empathy, and confidence.

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A high school girl in a dark Santa Maria College blazer sits alone at a long table, deeply focused on writing or sketching on a piece of paper with a pencil.

Not Every Girl Needs to Be a Leader – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Not every girl needs to hold a formal leadership role at school to be growing well. This article explains that quiet, thoughtful girls often contribute in meaningful ways through friendship, study, creativity and character, and that confidence and influence may develop later in life. It encourages parents to recognise what their daughter is already doing, rather than measuring her against visible leadership roles.

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Years 11 and 12 Work Placements: Learning in the Real World

Year 11 and 12 students stepped into workplaces across education, fitness, animal care, beauty and more, putting their skills into practice beyond the classroom. Their placements offered real insight into future pathways while building confidence, initiative and professionalism.

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A teenage girl's hands hold a smartphone above a soft bed, with a messaging app open and her thumb resting near the screen.

She Would Never Say That to Her Face – Jennifer Oaten

Careers Blog, Knowing Girls, News Blog, OGA Blog

Cyberbullying among teenage girls often happens within existing friendship groups rather than between strangers. Online communication can remove the emotional cues that normally shape empathy and restraint, making hurtful comments easier to send. Group chats and screenshots also give words a permanence that can intensify conflict and damage relationships. The article encourages parents to discuss empathy, accountability and respectful communication with their daughters before they press send.

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Brilliance Under Pressure at the da Vinci Decathlon

Santa Maria College students recently competed in the da Vinci Decathlon at The University of Western Australia, a challenging academic competition involving schools from across the state. Students competed in ten disciplines including Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking and Art and Poetry, achieving the College’s strongest results to date. The experience highlighted students’ teamwork, resilience and enthusiasm for learning under pressure.

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Year 11 General Students Prepare For Work Placement

Before Year 11 General students begin work placement next week, they spent the morning hearing career stories, asking practical questions, and preparing for the move from school to workplace. It was a thoughtful, hands-on start that built confidence for what comes next.

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