St Catherine’s Girls Go Global

“Travel is still the most intense mode of learning.” – Kevin Kelly.

During the Easter break, I had the pleasure of receiving photos and updates of our Senior School students enjoying a variety of educational travel experiences offered through the School’s co-curricular program.

In the first week of the holidays, two groups of St Catherine’s students ventured into the highlands of Mount Stirling to complete the Silver and Gold Levels of the Adventurous Journey section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. These programs offered students the opportunity to hike and camp in the high country and were challenging in many different ways. Our students were supported by group leaders from the Outdoor Education Group as well as Mrs Kelly Brady and Mr Stephen Brown. The girls were visibly elated and happy to have completed this exciting adventure.

A group of St Catherine’s students in the highlands of Mount Stirling completing the Adventurous Journey section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

A group of students furthered their knowledge of the French culture, history and language through the French-History Study tour. The group visited the Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, Mont-St-Michel, Normandy D-Day beaches and the Normandy American Cemetery for Omaha Beach. Whilst the French students attended language lessons, the History students ventured to the Rouen Cathedral, Fecamp Fish Markets, beach and the palace of the Norman Kings, before visiting the Jean of Arc Museum. Our girls were fortunate to visit the Notre-Dame Cathedral before it was sadly burnt in a fire. This trip was supported by Ms Anna Curnow and Mr Chris Zuccala.

A group of Year 10 students went on Exchange to The Ethel Walker School, Connecticut, and the Tower Hill School, Delaware. Having hosted their Exchange sisters for two weeks prior to their departure, the girls travelled to New York with Ms Tamara Andrews and Ms Sally Jack before attending the homes and schools of their Exchange sisters. The Tower Hill girls even attended ‘Prom’ in the final week of their Exchange.

Twenty-one students took part in three days of training at the Cross Country Training Camp in Aireys Inlet, Victoria. The girls enjoyed varied training sessions and terrain in preparation for the upcoming Cross Country season. Thank you to Mr Lloyd Knight, Mr Nick Racina, Ms Susan Hobson and Mr Riley Shaw for attending the camp and for ensuring our Cross Country team were well supported.

The start of term will be very different for the Year 9 students travelling on Exchange to the United Kingdom and Canada. After hosting their Exchange sisters in Term 1, the girls will attend school at St Catherine’s, Bramley; St George’s School, Ascot; and Shawnigan Lake School, Canada.

St Catherine’s encourages our students to experience the diverse and interesting travel experiences on offer through the School’s Trips and Exchanges Program. The 2020 Trips and Exchanges information session for students interested in travel in 2020 will be held on Tuesday 13 August. Further information will be provided closer to the date.

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller.

Mrs Gina Peele, Director of Student Programs