The Story of Altiora Week - The Student Leaders of Learning Recap This New Initiative

Competition was fierce in the Spelling Bee Grand Final as students took on teachers in a battle of words.

The Student Leaders of Learning summarise the very successful Altiora Week, a week full of exciting activities for students.

Some traditions are handed down. Others are built by people who see something great and think: we can add to this. That's exactly how Tayana and I felt when we stepped into our roles as Learning Leaders for 2026.

Our school already had an incredible culture of themed weeks, from Mercy Week to STEM Week to Environment Week, all events that students genuinely look forward to every year, and we were inspired by that. So we asked ourselves: could we create something new that brought every faculty together under one shared celebration of learning? And so Altiora Week was born.

The name came from the answer already in our motto. 'Altiora Quaerite', meaning 'strive for excellence' in Latin. We wanted every student who participated to feel that invitation personally: to push a little further, try something new, and take pride in what they were capable of. That became the standard we held every decision against throughout the planning process.

Year 11 Accelerated Maths students and teachers went head-to-head in the Maths Battle of the Brains.

A musical showcase was held in Mercy Square last Friday to celebrate the end of Altiora Week.

From that starting point, we built a full week of events, each day dedicated to a different learning area. The momentum had already started the week before with the launch of our inaugural McAuley Spelling Bee Heats, running from Years 7 to 12, and we carried it straight into Altiora Week, where the grand finale, Students vs Teachers, took centre stage. From academic competitions and chalk art displays to hands-on challenges and a whole-school music showcase, the week closed with an energy on Friday that we won't forget quickly.

What people didn't see was the months of work behind it. Coordinating across faculties, writing proposals, chasing logistics, troubleshooting on the day; that's what leading an initiative like this actually looks like. Tayana and I learned more about real leadership through planning Altiora Week than we ever expected. It asked us to be organised, adaptable, and persistent, often all at once.

Altiora Week was organised by the Student Leaders of Learning Majerin P. on left and Tayana H. on right.

The response from the school community meant a lot to us. Seeing students genuinely engaged, and watching the week take on a life of its own, was exactly what we had hoped for.

However, none of this would have existed without the people who believed in it alongside us. Ms Refalo and Ms Grigson, for their support and for approving the initiative. The teachers who competed in the Battle of the Brains and Spelling Bee Showdown, for setting the tone for the whole week. The Technology and Culture Leaders, whose partnership made STEM Day and the Friday Music Finale what they were. Ms Hamilton, Miss Khamo and the student media team, for capturing it all. And most importantly, Mrs Kelly. Our rock from the very first meeting to the final event. Thank you, genuinely.

We are proud of what this week became, and we hope that what we planted here grows into a tradition that future students will one day be inspired to build on themselves.

One of the many activities during the week was a STEM Innovation Challenge with students asked to use clues to solve the mystery of the missing jersey.

Written By

Majerin P., Leader of Learning, and Tayana H., Assistant Leader of Learning
Catherine McAuley Westmead

09 Jun 2026
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