At St Mary’s, we believe that leadership is a vital part of a child’s development. When our students leave the school, we want them to feel confident, independent, and ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The senior years are a time of transformation. As students move through Years 4 to 6, they are invited to grow, not just academically, but emotionally, socially and spiritually. This is where character is shaped, confidence is built, and leadership is lived. In a community that values belonging, kindness and courage, every child is supported to become their best self. We walk this journey together with families, teachers and peers ensuring each student feels known, empowered and ready for the future. At St Mary’s, we don’t just prepare students for high school, we prepare them for life.
Together, these experiences create a senior journey that is rich in purpose, grounded in values, and filled with opportunities for every child to shine and ‘Be Your Best Self Here’.
Year 4 – Foundations of Belonging
- Better Buddies Program Training: In partnership with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, students begin their training, developing empathy, inclusion, and peer support by connecting with younger students. Setting the standard, students learn to show care and compassion, this is where ‘a sense of other’ is nurtured.
- Leadership Awareness: Early exposure to responsibility and role-modelling.
Year 5 – Stepping into Leadership
- Better Buddies Program: Strengthens relationships and reinforces values of kindness and respect, based on positive role modelling.
- Leadership Development: A comprehensive program that assists in building greater awareness of each child’s personal capabilities – team building, communication, and service including an overnight leadership camp.
- Live Life to the Full Program: A parent-child values-based initiative promoting respectful relationships and positive life choices.
Year 6 – Leading with Purpose
- Senior Leaders Program: Empowers students to lead with confidence, empathy, and integrity in their successful student leadership teams.
- Transition to Highschool Program (Harrison Riedel Foundation): A transition to high school initiative that supports youth mental health and wellbeing through peer support and help-seeking strategies. This includes an overnight transition to high school camp.
- Careers Discovery Program: Inspires curiosity about future pathways fostering hope and a confident outlook about the future.
- Peer Support Program: Senior students lead structured sessions with younger peers, promoting connection and community.
- Live Life to the Full Program: Deepens emotional intelligence and resilience including consent education.
- Morning Tea & Lunch Clubs: Year 6 leaders run student-led clubs that foster connection, creativity and fun across the school.
- Playgroups: Year 6 leadership teams assist with playgroup for preschoolers each term. Role modelling to future St Mary’s students prior to them starting school and developing nurturing connections with families.
