Farewell Assembly for Mrs Alana Moor, Head of Barbreck and ELC

Our Barbreck students and staff created the most unique and beautiful farewell Assembly for our Head of Junior School and Early Learning Centre, Mrs Alana Moor, who is retiring following an outstanding career in education. Along with many parents in attendance at the Barbreck Assembly, it was a delight to watch our young girls share their stories about Mrs Moor with their portrayal providing a very honest reflection of her impact as both an educator and leader. Each class presentation revealed careful consideration, creative flair and heartfelt gestures by the girls as they performed songs, recited poetry, read quotes, enacted plays in both French and English and presented a myriad of thoughtful gifts.

Barbreck students created a beautiful farewell Assembly for Mrs Moor.

Good friend to Mrs Moor and St Catherine’s School, Indigenous Elder of the local Wurundjeri Tribe, Murrundindi, provided a very moving blessing for Mrs Moor with his didgeridoo. The girls were spellbound throughout the blessing and many in the audience were quite moved and tearful at this beautiful gesture.

Indigenous Elder of the local Wurundjeri Tribe, Murrundindi, provided a moving blessing for Mrs Moor.

The Barbreck Assembly and a gift for Mrs Moor from our Barbreck girls, provided a small insight into the impact of one person. This wave of kindness from the girls was quite literally Barbreck, and all it stands for, at its very best.

Our Senior students and Barbreck alumnae were also provided an opportunity to share their stories of Mrs Moor and her impact as a leader as well:

Mrs Moor is one of the most kind and caring people I have ever met. She has taught me many skills in life. She has helped me get the best out of myself and to reach my full potential. Mrs Moor is a wonderful role model who I look up to greatly. Mrs Moor, you have taught me so much over the years, you taught me skills that I will take on board for life. You made Barbreck feel like a second home to me. I felt comfortable, safe and happy. In Year 6, you taught me a great deal about leadership and how all the younger students looked up to us, this made me feel special. Many of the things you talked about and taught me have had a great impact on me. I would not be the person I am today if it were not for you. – Mary Kellis (Year 8)

When anyone is around you, you make them feel safe, warm and at ease and you always encourage us to strive to do our very best. I am sure everyone can remember their first days in Barbreck and ELC. From the beginning, Mrs Moor has always taught each and every one of us the incredible importance of good manners and eye contact, showing empathy and kindness and most of all, being genuine and honest. Using people’s names and looking them in the eye when you are talking to them not only shows respect but also shows that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say. Addressing people by names, not only makes people feel important it also makes them feel more respected. One of Mrs Moor’s most important lessons was for people to help out or show kindness not because someone was watching but because it was genuine. Doing a good deed out of the goodness of your heart and not for recognition means that we genuinely care. – Chloe Marshall (Year 8)

Annual Thank You Event for Volunteers

On Monday evening, the School acknowledged and thanked our many parents and community members who have been directly involved with volunteering at St Catherine’s in 2018. In attendance were members of our School Council and Council Sub-Committees, Committee Members of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association (PFA) and associated Class Representatives, Committee Members of each of the auxiliaries, members of the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA) and a number of staff who also directly work with our many volunteers.

St Catherine’s acknowledged and thanked our parents and community members at our Annual Thank You Event for Volunteers.

On many occasions this year, the success of our school activities falls to the tireless work of many parents. This commitment is so visibly demonstrated through the support provided to our sporting, performing arts and visual arts programs, this time is greatly appreciated. I provide below a brief snapshot of the contribution of all the PFA and auxiliaries generously giving of their time this year.

PFA
The re-imagination of the annual Christmas Fair, hosted by the PFA last week, was reflective of President Ann McAllister and the PFA Committee’s creative flair and high level of organisation. Ann was able to galvanise the most amazing team of St Catherine’s parents, with the end result, a spectacular evening enjoyed by all. It was certainly the largest fair to date, with over 1,200 people through the Heyington gates on the evening. Many commented on the wonderful community spirit generated and the warmth and welcome of people to our beautiful School.

The PFA’s enthusiasm to undertake the role of coordinating the Second Hand Uniform Shop is also greatly appreciated, and I personally thank Lisa James, Amanda Thompson and Lara Stocco for undertaking this weekly task, together with parent volunteers who have given up their time so willingly to assist. I am sure our families appreciate the very personal touch of repairing, washing and ironing the uniform items to be sold.

The School is enormously grateful for the very generous PFA gift of $100,000 pledged over three years for the development of the Village Green in the new Junior School. This will not only provide a wonderful play space but a wonderful vibrant hub to host PFA events.

‘Creating a team spirit’ was high on your agenda and visible through each PFA event this year: the Ruth Langley Lunch, Parent Welcome Evening in Term 1 and stalls for Mother’s and Father’s Day. As such, I wholeheartedly thank Ann and all the Committee members for their work this year: Angelina Barber, Julie Caldecott, Mandy Coupe, Cathryn Dunlop, Susie Farrer, Kirsty Gilmour, Michaela Howitt, Lisa James, Sarah Low, Renee Morton, Rowena Mytton, Danielle Podolak, Lara Stocco, Michelle Wang, Pauline Wang, Jane White, Samantha Wood and Sherrie Zeng.

I wish to also extend my gratitude to the Class Representatives for their continued support of our families and in particular, new families as they arrive in Melbourne. The work of the Representatives in creating closely connected parents for each cohort, certainly enables a community level of care for our girls. The support and strength of our parents in creating these events is greatly appreciated.

Heyington Club
Throughout the Rowing season, the Heyington Club, under the leadership of Lucy Fortey, welcomed supporters to the St Catherine’s tent at each regatta, including the Head of Schoolgirls (HOSGs) and enduring somewhat inclement weather! The successful fundraising HOSGs Dinner is also a significant event on the Rowing calendar with generous donations raised to purchase an Empacher VIII and new quad.

Sports Auxiliary
This year the Sports Auxiliary, under the leadership of Jodie Cody, have enjoyed a number of Auxiliary hosted events. Namely, the annual RUN 4 FUN around The Tan in April was a great community event attended by many students, parents, brothers, sisters and dogs! The event also raised funds for the Monash Children’s Hospital.

Creative Arts Auxiliary
The newly formed Creative Arts Auxiliary, a collaboration of the Music, Drama and Art Action Auxiliaries, continues to provide a high level of support to many functions across the Performing Arts Calendar. I wish Alison Dennison the very best in this inaugural role as President and look forward to the presence of this wonderful new committee in the School next year.

Snowsports Auxiliary
The Snowsports Auxiliary, with President Tamsin Greig, were instrumental in coordinating the much admired community based event, the annual Snowsports Swap in May. The Committee worked hard to tag over 1,600 recycled items of ski gear with the profits going to support the training sessions at Mt Buller.

Past Parents’ and Families’ Network
For the Year 12 parents departing this year, you can look forward to your membership of the Past Parents’ Network (PPN), kindly coordinated by new Co-Chairs of this Committee, Lisa Steven and Anna Field. In recent weeks, the PPN have hosted a warm and welcoming event in the beautiful grounds of Cranlana. This highly effective network enables the friendships and engagement with St Catherine’s to continue. I extend my gratitude to Scott Reinke for fostering wonderful friendships and initially establishing the PPN. His work has been greatly appreciated by many.

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA)
This year, under the continued strong leadership of Chrissy Ryan (Graham ’79), and her fabulous committee, SCOGA has engaged our alumnae to a whole new level. The Committee under Chrissy’s leadership, is young, vibrant and full of ideas and preparedness to roll up their sleeves while balancing university and/or new careers. This group is balanced beautifully with older, wise, ex-committee members who are also excited with the developments and keen to contribute in a different way.

Auxiliary Liaison Committee and School Council and Sub-Committees
With the guidance of Jane Newton-Brown, Chair of the Auxiliary Liaison Committee, the School has endeavoured to strategically align the work of our auxiliaries, streamlining some of our processes and events for next year.

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, and we look to the future with much excitement with the official opening of the new Junior School – the School’s most significant undertaking in over 50 years.

I also wholeheartedly thank the ‘Her Future Begins Here’ campaign team, chaired by Sally Joubert and Cameron Bertalli, who were assisted by Lachlan Armstrong, Sherrie Zeng, Jim Shergold, Claudette Passon and the Chair of the Foundation Board and School Council Member, Wayne Kent. It is with much excitement that students, parents and staff have witnessed the development of the new Village Green in recent months. The project is on schedule with the intention of the Barbreck girls enjoying the outdoor spaces in the new year.

Volunteering is a two-way exchange. The skills, experiences, friends, or the feeling of knowing your contribution has made a positive difference to the community are just a few of the rewards that volunteering offers. The efforts have far-reaching consequences, well beyond the ‘here and now’ that help transform communities like St Catherine’s  in a positive way.

Thank you to all our volunteers who have given so much and helped shape and enrich life at St Catherine’s in 2018.

Final Blue Ribbon for 2018

This will be our final Blue Ribbon for 2018, although, I shall communicate the VCE achievements of our Year 12 students next week. In the coming days, I look forward to the House Arts Festival on Tuesday evening and the Church Services for both Barbreck and the Senior School on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Over the past weeks, the ELC Concerts have also been a joy for parents to attend.

This year, it has been a privilege to witness the growth and development of each St Catherine’s girl and the children in our ELC. All students have experienced the opportunity to discover their individual passions, interests and talents in the classroom and in their co-curricular pursuits. In my role, I am acutely aware of providing each student with a network of support and care as they navigate their way through their adolescent years, their ‘tween’ years and their childhood years. The significance of establishing a strong community to support our students can never be underestimated and with our careful guidance and nurturing of all students, our School remains enduringly steady and strong to its mission.

I wish to also thank our teaching staff for their wisdom, dedication and passion for teaching and our general staff for their continued support of

the School. I believe it is the inspiration, encouragement and energy of all staff that enables our students to flourish. In an earlier Blue Ribbon this term, I acknowledged the work of staff departing the School and I wish to again farewell and thank those staff members retiring from their most significant careers in teaching: Mrs Alana Moor, Mr Paul Cross, Ms Sue Cooke, Ms Lee Brandt, Mrs Mary Karvounaris and Mrs Glenda Lingard and teachers departing St Catherine’s who have accepted roles in other schools: Ms Kathryn White, Miss Tessa Dunstan, Mr Alex Borlenghi and Mrs Amanda Ladbury-Webb who is returning to the UK. Ms Fiona Barker is also leaving to take up other pursuits. We also wish Ms Louise Adams, Miss Claire Martin and Mrs Laura Neary all the best as they near the end of their contracts.

I wish to thank the School community for their generous support at St Catherine’s this year, and I look forward to 2019 with much enthusiasm and eagerness. I wish the St Catherine’s School community a relaxing and joyous Christmas, a time when friends and family spend some precious, valuable time just being together. Merry Christmas.