Planting Seeds of Confidence: Why Experience Days Matter in Preparing Girls for Senior School
There is a quiet magic in the way a twelve-year-old walks into a new environment. Wide-eyed, curious, sometimes cautious, yet filled with a hunger to belong. At St Mary's DSG, we recognise that the transition from Junior to Senior School is not merely a change in grade — it is the beginning of a deeper journey of self-discovery, independence, and purpose.
Our recent Grade 6 Senior School and Boarding Experience Day was designed with this in mind. It was not simply an afternoon of activities, but rather a carefully crafted opportunity for young girls to step into the rhythm of our Senior School, to test their wings in a safe and inspiring space, and to begin imagining the young women they are growing into.
Why Experience Days Matter
As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can offer our children is the chance to explore. Schools are not only about academics; they are ecosystems of belonging, culture, traditions and values. An experience day allows both the child and the parent to see — and, more importantly, to feel — whether a school is the right environment for the unfolding of potential.
For the girls, this day created space to explore disciplines ranging from science and consumer studies to mathematics, robotics, sports, and the arts. It was an afternoon alive with curiosity: riddles were solved in the chapel, teamwork was tested in the classroom, creativity was ignited in the visual arts studio, and competition was on the sports field. For the girls who were lucky enough to board, they had the opportunity to interact with their peers in a home-away-from-home environment, where they formed new relationships and further developed their independence. Each activity offered more than a puzzle piece — it was an introduction to the way St Mary's DSG weaves innovation, tradition, and fun into the daily learning.
Preparing for High School and Beyond
At this pivotal stage, Grade 6 girls are developing confidence, resilience, and an identity that will carry them into adolescence. Experience Days provide a bridge — not only easing the transition into high school but also instilling the assurance that they belong in spaces that challenge and nurture them. When girls experience our Senior School firsthand, they begin to envision themselves within it, not as visitors, but as Filiae Regis — Daughters of the King.
A Note to Parents
For prospective families, we encourage you to view opportunities like these as more than open days. They offer your daughters the chance to engage, to ask questions, to listen to their own instincts about where they feel seen and supported. And they provide you, as parents, with the crucial role of making decisions grounded not only in brochures and reputations, but in lived encounters with a school's ethos. Your involvement is key in this process.
At St Mary's DSG, we are committed to providing these authentic experiences. We understand that choosing the right school is one of the most formative decisions for a child's future. Our prayer is that, in environments where girls are celebrated, challenged, and cherished, they will learn to believe in themselves — and once they do, they will surely fly. We want parents to feel reassured that in our nurturing environment, their daughters' growth and confidence are our top priorities.
