A Parents' View
An interview with current St Catherine's parents, Lisa and John Steven
Why did you choose St Catherine's School?
We chose St Catherine's for its strong academic results, the breadth of opportunities offered to girls and because of its committed, supportive and close-knit community.
The teaching staff, girls and parents we first met at the School were very welcoming and approachable. We continue to enjoy the friendships made over the years. St Catherine's smaller size was also attractive - every girl gets the opportunity to shine and the class sizes ensure that our girls get the best education possible.
How did you find the whole process of choosing a School and what made it helpful?
Everyone has a view on which school new parents should choose! Choosing the best school for your child can be daunting. We talked to parents from a number of schools and visited all of those schools. At St Catherine's, we talked to a large number of current parents and visited the School to gain a feel for the campus. We found that meeting staff and talking to current students was really helpful.
Having met many of the new Old Girls (who were babysitters for our then small children!) made our decision reassuring too - their confidence and down to earth, approachable manner gave us a really positive impression of what St Catherine's girls were like. We still keep in touch with many of these girls.
What do you think are the greatest strengths of St Catherine's?
St Catherine's has always achieved outstanding academic results for its girls, which is important. Also, because of its size, St Catherine's is able to provide real opportunities for our girls to participate in a large number of sporting and cultural co-curricular activities. It is a myth that only large schools can provide such opportunities.
The class sizes throughout the School are also a real strength - small enough for individual attention but large enough that all girls of varied talents and abilities are accommodated and appreciated. The leadership group at the school is outstanding and the teaching staff put in extraordinary efforts to ensure our girls receive the very best education. Their enthusiasm and ongoing support for all co-curricular activities is terrific!
How did your girls find the ‘settling in' process at the School?
Our girls all joined St Catherine's at ELC level. The settling in process was easy and smooth, as was the transition from ELC to Junior School. The transition from Year 6 to Year 7 is often a stressful time for students but St Catherine's does an impressive job at making this as stress free as possible. Perhaps that comes with a smaller school environment. Kate, our current Year 7 daughter, was delighted that she was able to meet and get to know the incoming students before the completion of Year 6 and then again before the school year commenced in Year 7.
What ways can parents be involved in the life of the School?
There are a myriad of ways that parents can be involved - through the various auxiliaries, the Parents' and Friends' Association or in more informal ways, like School excursions, sporting, musical or drama events or exchange programs.
Whatever passion your child has, there are ways you can become involved if you choose to. Our involvement spans a number of different areas - Council, the PFA, Snowsports and more. We have enjoyed the opportunity to be actively involved in the School community, given it is such an important part of our girls' lives.