Year 5 Reflection Day – A Day of Faith, Friendship and Reflection
What does it mean to truly appreciate the opportunities in front of you?
For our Year 5 students, Reflection Day was a chance to pause, connect and recognise the privilege of learning in a Mercy school like Santa Maria College. It was a day filled with laughter, faith, friendship and thoughtful learning that extended well beyond the classroom.
Building Connection from the Start
The day began with icebreaker games that quickly expanded friendship circles as all Year 5 classes came together for the morning. There is something powerful about stepping away from the usual timetable and sharing uninterrupted time as one cohort. It taught the girls activities that allowed them to work and communicate as a team, strengthening their collaboration skills and building confidence in one another. Moments like these reminded the girls that belonging is not accidental. It is built through shared experiences, laughter and mutual support.
A Colourful Way to Pray
One of the most memorable moments of the day was the Skittles Prayer.
Each student picked a Skittle from the bag, with every colour linked to a different prayer intention. Red was for someone they love. Orange was for a friend or neighbour. Green invited them to thank God for one good thing in their life. Yellow encouraged prayer for a leader or someone in charge. Purple was a quiet moment to pray for themselves, perhaps something they were worried about or needed help with.
What began as a fun activity quickly became a thoughtful and reflective experience. The girls demonstrated emotional intelligence and compassion as they shared their prayers, listening respectfully to one another. It was a beautiful example of how faith at Santa Maria is both accessible and meaningful for young students.
Billie from 5.4 shared:
"I really enjoyed spending the whole day with my friends and saying the Skittles prayer. I had never thought to pray that way before and it was so fun. Being with my friends for the whole day, gave us more time to be together rather than just at recess and lunch. The pasta was great too!"
Walking in the Footsteps of Catherine McAuley
A key moment of the day was watching a video about Catherine McAuley and learning more about the Mercy Sisters. The girls explored how Catherine used her inheritance to build the House of Mercy and dedicate her life to those in need.
Carla from 5.5 reflected:
"I really enjoyed the video about Catherine McAuley because it was interesting and I love history. I like the detail of the video and how we saw that she lived in different households. Also, I liked how she was left money in a will and used it towards helping those in need. This shows that she is kind, compassionate, has a sense of justice and shows service and hospitality to others."
Through this learning, students created Circles of Mercy, where they drew a self portrait amongst the Mercy values. They learnt how to connect Catherine’s actions to our Mercy values of Hospitality, Compassion, Justice, Service and Excellence.
Music and Creativity
With Paul Kinsella, Head of Music, the girls experienced the joy of singing together as one voice. They learned the College anthem, Soli Deo Gloria, and sang the Australian National Anthem, building both school pride and a sense of unity.
Paul also offered students the opportunity to perform short solos in front of their peers. It takes courage to step forward in moments like that, and a couple of girls did so with confidence. Just as importantly, their classmates demonstrated deep respect and encouragement as they listened attentively. It was a beautiful example of Hospitality in action.
The day concluded with a stained-glass window activity. Through colour and design, the girls expressed what gratitude means to them. Creativity, collaboration and respect were on full display as they supported one another and proudly shared their work.
More Than Just a Day
Reflection Day nurtured every aspect of the girls’ development. They left with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of a Mercy community. Days like this remind us that education at Santa Maria is not just about academic learning. It is about connecting learning to life.
- Catherine McAuley, Catholic primary education Perth, Community and belonging, Faith formation, Girls' Education, Mercy Values In Action, Santa Maria College, Student Wellbeing, Year 5 Reflection Day
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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