St Catherine's School

Three year old Early Learning Centre (ELC) to Year 12. Boys are accepted in the ELC (3 year old and 4 year old).

4. What religion is the School?

St Catherine's School is a non-denominational Christian School. We welcome girls from all religions and backgrounds.

5. How old is the School?

The School was founded in 1896 in Castlemaine with Miss Jeannie Hood as Principal. It was taken over in 1903 by Ruth and Nona Langley, daughters of the Bishop of Bendigo. The School moved to Williams Road in Toorak in 1920 and, as numbers increased, moved to the present site in Heyington Place in 1922. The School celebrated its 110th Anniversary in 2006.

6. What is the School’s policy on class sizes?

The School has a policy to ensure small class sizes are maintained. Where students select courses for study such as at VCE level, the class sizes can be smaller.

7. How many classes at each level?

St Catherine's is a small school and sees one of its many qualities as its ability to cater for and nurture its girls within a small caring environment on one campus. Due to increased interest in the School, St Catherine's has introduced new classes at the Junior levels reflecting the increased intake of girls. In the Senior School the numbers of groups range from three to four at each year level.

8. How many boarders?

The School has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 50 girls in the Boarding House. The boarders’ home is the recently restored, National Trust-listed Victorian mansion, Illawarra.

9. Where do the boarders come from?

Our Boarding community is a mix of girls from mainly country Victoria, some from interstate and some from a variety of overseas countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and China. The School is committed to maintaining a balance of students from different regions and encourages an equally diverse international community.

10. How many teaching staff?

The School employs more than 100 teaching staff, together with more than 80 coaching, instrumental and support staff.

11. What languages are taught?

French is the language other than English (LOTE) taught in the Junior School. Tuition commences within a cultural framework from Prep and expands in the middle and upper Primary levels to encompass greater structural language study. Japanese is introduced in Year 7 and in Year 9 LOTE becomes an elective. 2009 will see the introduction of Chinese Mandarin. St Catherine's also offers a range of overseas study trips and exchange opportunities with schools in Japan, Europe, North America and Canada.

12.What sport and physical education are offered?

Physical Education is part of the core curriculum up to and including Year 10. The more theoretical based course, Physical Education (Units 1 -4), is offered to students at VCE level. A number of semester-length electives in Sports Science, Sports Psychology and Human Development are offered to students in Years 9 & 10. At a co-curricular level the sports offered include Athletics, Australian Rules Football, Badminton, Basketball, Cross Country Running, Diving, Equestrian, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Newcombe, Rowing (from Year 8), Snowsports, Soccer, Softball, Surf Life Saving, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis and Volleyball. Through Girls Sport Victoria, students compete with 24 other schools throughout the year. Major Carnivals in Athletics, Diving, Cross Country Running and Swimming are contested annually by girls from Years 7 – 12. Students from Year 2 upwards participate in House Sport Carnivals held annually, competing in sports including Athletics, Basketball, Cross Country, Gymnastics, Handball, Netball, Snowsports, Soccer, Swimming and Teeball. Junior School students compete at Interschool level, and many go on to District and State level competitions.

13. What Music program does the School offer?

St Catherine's offers a dynamic and exciting Music program, with an extensive classroom curriculum and thriving instrumental program which provide opportunities for both individual and ensemble performance. All students have the opportunity to learn a stringed instrument in Year 2, recorder in Year 3 and a brass or woodwind instrument in Year 5. The School also offers a comprehensive Instrumental Program in all instrument families (including string, woodwind, brass, voice, piano and harpsichord) where students learn with specialist teachers in classical and contemporary styles. The Ensemble Program provides a fantastic array of ensemble opportunities from classical to contemporary with the full range of choirs, orchestras, concert bands, string, woodwind, brass and percussion ensembles, chamber groups and contemporary groups including the Jazz Vocal Ensemble and Funk Band.

14. What clubs are on offer to students?

The School runs a variety of clubs including Social Service, Junior Joggers, International and Environment.

15. Does the School offer outdoor education?

Outdoor Education at St Catherine's School encourages students to understand their identity, their community and their relationship with the natural world. Through a process of guided discovery, students have opportunities to help confirm and shape their values by undertaking appropriate social, emotional and physical challenges.

With this in mind, all students from Year 1 through to Year 10 participate in the Beyond Boundaries program, which is a sequential outdoor experience; each program actively building upon the next. The program aims to develop the girls' skills and knowledge over a 10 year period (Junior & Senior School), culminating in a final expedition at Year 10. At this point students are offered a choice of four programs ranging from eight to twelve days, for which most of the organising and execution is undertaken by the girls themselves.

16. What Scholarships are available?

Academic for Years 5, 7 and 9 entry
General Excellence for Years 7, 9 and 10
Boarding for Years 8, 10 and 11 entry
Music for Years 5 - 9 entry

17. What is the School's computer policy?

Personal notebook computing is an integral part of the St Catherine's learning environment from Years 5 to 12. Our girls develop extensive skills in the practical application of the latest software programs. Resource materials are available to our students electronically. Our high speed fibre optic network facilitates collaboration and communication. Strict guidelines are provided to ensure adherence to the Schools' computer policy and the correct and appropriate use of the Internet and email facilities provided.

18. Does the School have a bus service?

St Catherine's School operates two private buses for students living in Williamstown, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle Park and St Kilda (Williamstown Service) and Brighton, North Brighton, Caulfield South and Armadale (Brighton Service). The Service also picks up at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in the morning. Places on both bus services are still available for 2008. For all School Bus Service enquiries please phone the Business Office on 9828 3047.

19. How can future parents be involved in the School?

St Catherine's has developed an inclusive School community where parents and grandparents are able to participate in school life. The School's extensive network of support committees encourages our parents and wider School community members to become involved. Our active Parents' & Friends' Association, our various auxiliaries and the Old Girls' Association provide invaluable support to the School and extend the range of experiences available to the students and their families.

The Parents' & Friends' Association is a committee dedicated to furthering the sense of belonging to the community at our School through a number of social events, with several special fundraisers including the Ruth Langley Lunch and the annual Christmas Party. Parents are able to participate actively in the School and develop friendships alongside those of their daughters.

The School also has a number of auxiliaries. Each auxiliary has a convenor and committee and works with and under the direction of the Head of the relevant School department. The auxiliaries provide logistical support at school functions and fundraising for specific projects. Membership is voluntary and open to any interested parents, regardless of their daughter's involvement.

The Junior School encourages parental participation through its parent support group, the Barbreck Parent Education Group, as well as seeking volunteers for support in the Library and with special Art projects.

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