Year 7 Embrace – Firsts, Friendship and Finding Your Feet
There is something pretty special about being in Year 7 and starting your boarding journey at Santa Maria College. This year, we welcomed 24 new girls into our boarding community, and for many, it’s been a term of doing things for the very first time.
Washing clothes, plating up dinner, organising homework, and heading to bed without Mum or Dad checking in – it is a big shift. And while there have been a few teary nights, there is also been a whole lot of laughter, growth and new friendships.
Settling In - The Embrace Program
Before the school year even begins, our Embrace program helps ease the transition. It is not a one-off orientation day, it is a series of visits, activities, and shared experiences that gently introduce students and families to life at Santa Maria.
The girls attend a “sit-in” day at school, have a sleepover in the boarding house, and take part in games and get-to-know-you activities. Families are invited too, because here at Santa Maria, we enroll the whole family, not just the student. That sense of connection makes all the difference when the big move-in day comes.
Sunday Nights in PJs
To help our youngest boarders adjust during Term 1, we run the PJ Series, a relaxed set of weekly workshops led by our Director of Boarding, Jane Murray, and the College Health Services Team.
Held on Sunday evenings in the Rec Room (yes, in pyjamas!), these sessions cover real-life challenges in a simple, supportive way:
- Settling in and managing homesickness
- Soothing sleep routines
- Personal hygiene and self-care
- Eating well and fueling your body
- Staying safe and smart online
- Respecting boundaries in shared spaces
The goal? To give girls tools they can use, and to show them they are never alone in what they are feeling.
Colour Me Home – A Creative Connection
Every Year 7 boarder is gifted a hand-drawn Colour Me Home booklet, a personalised colouring book featuring all the girls in their year group. It’s part mindfulness tool, part keepsake, and it helps create calm during those wobbly moments.
Parents receive a copy too, so while their daughters are colouring in with new friends, they can be doing the same at home. It’s a small gesture that bridges the distance in a meaningful way.
What Our Girls Had to Say
Here’s a little glimpse of what some of our new boarders shared about their first term:
“I love how everyone helps each other, and it’s like we have a lot of sisters! We all get to live together. We have already made some amazing memories and it’s so much fun!” Lacey
“At the start of the term, I got homesick, but I eventually got over it when I started to play sports. I wasn’t homesick anymore because I made new friends and connected with others.” Khloe
“I love that there are so many new opportunities and that having so many friendships will be lifelong.” Sofia
“I love boarding because I have many new friends and the housemothers are lovely.” Macey
“One thing I love about boarding is spending 24/7 with all my friends. I got homesick at the start of the term, but now I am confident and not homesick.” Charli
“I love the recs and opportunities and everyone you meet.” Zoe
A Home Away From Home
What stands out most from first term is not just the new skills or routines the girls have mastered; it is how they have looked after each other. Whether it is sharing snacks, helping with laundry, or sitting side-by-side during the PJ Series, our Year 7s have shown kindness, courage and a sense of belonging beyond their years.
And that is what boarding at Santa Maria is really about. It is not perfect, it is real. It is messy, funny, brave, and full of heart. We are incredibly proud of our newest boarders and the beautiful community they are already helping to shape.
- BoardingLife, BoardingSchool, ColourMeHome, EmbraceProgram, Featured, NewBeginnings, PJSeries, SantaMariaCollege, StudentTransition, Year7
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.
