Welcome to the commencement of Term 4. Spring is certainly a beautiful time of the year on campus with the pear trees in full blossom and the buds of roses emerging around our Fountain.  

Old Girl, Miss Jessica Breakwell (’93) will officially open the VCE Art Show this evening

In celebration of Arts Week, with Assembly hosted by Arts Captains, Claudia Bryant, and Scarlett Davis, we look forward to the VCE Art Show, opening tonight, with guest speaker, St Catherine’s Old Girl, Miss Jessica (Jessie) Breakwell (‘93). Jessie has been painting for more than 20 years and is globally recognised for her quirky, abstract, and whimsical style, depicting zebras, elephants, tropical birds, serene still life and intricate landscapes.

The Art Show is a wonderful opportunity for our students to exhibit their work. I encourage our St Catherine’s community to view the outstanding pieces during the Show’s viewing times, available here. 

Our Years 7 and 8 girls are in the final preparations for their Drama Production, Curious Comedies. This production consists of four One Act Comedies, all of which have either curious storylines or characters. The sneak preview at Assembly this week with Olivia Grasso and Anna Shears suggests it will be laugh-a-minute theatre, full of big characters and hilarious antics. Further details are available here. 

This week, I also enjoyed the opportunity to share our School’s appreciation for our many parents and community members who have been directly involved with volunteering at St Catherine’s in 2022. It was a pleasure to welcome to our annual Thank you Evening members of School Council, and Council Sub-Committees, members of the PFA and associated Class Representatives, Presidents, and Committee Members of each of the Auxiliaries, members of the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association and a number of staff who also directly work with our many volunteers. 

It has been an extraordinary year for St Catherine’s, we have so much to celebrate. Re-creating a ‘culture of participation’ was defined as a key focus for our students this year, as we all emerge from the COVID haze. Over recent months, I have continually read about the declining rates in student wellbeing owing to the pandemic, across Melbourne and globally, and could not help but feel in January, the sooner we get girls participating and actively re-engaging in life, the sooner their health, collectively, will lift. 

Participation in co-curricular activities has tremendous educational importance for the positive wellbeing and all-round development of every child. Over almost a decade at St Catherine’s, I feel fortunate to witness, time and again, girls participating in Sport, performing in Music, Drama, and musicals. This participation is fuelling their learning, stimulating creative thought, improving self-confidence, and providing opportunities to lead. 

We know if girls are physically active, they will be healthier, happier, have higher self-esteem and body confidence. So too are the benefits of participating in creative activities, most notably music, which is known to reduce anxiety and significantly improve wellbeing.  

This year, I have observed so many of our St Catherine’s girls in pursuit of their dreams. Importantly, this quest is so often supported and enabled through the work of our volunteering parents who generously give of their time. With tremendous sporting success in Rowing, GSV and Snowsports, and shining performances on stage at the Gala Concert, in musicals and plays and the increasing participant numbers in Debating and Public Speaking, St Catherine’s is clearly punching above its weight, and dispelling any myths about smaller schools!  

I would like to also personally acknowledge the work of our School Council and Council Sub-Committees who generously provide their expertise, stewardship, and commitment towards the governance of St Catherine’s School.

This term, we look to the future with much excitement for the next phase of the redevelopment of the Dorothy Pizzey Centre. Commencing over the summer break, there will be a much-needed refurbishment of the School Hall, balcony, and stage to create a Sports Centre to be proud of, and fitting of the achievements of our students. This reimagined space will complement the previous high-quality work of our new Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre, completed as Stage One of the recreation of the whole Dorothy Pizzey Centre.  

This week, we acknowledged the following Presidents of each Auxiliary and PFA, with a small gift of our appreciation: 

Term 4 Community Events

We look forward to the following Term 4 community events ahead: