The announcement of Sophie Boyce and Alexandra Shergold as the 2020 Co-Captains was met with warmth and applause from the Student Executive team and their Year 11 peers as they joined the group. The 2020 Student Executive will be made up of the following students: Sophie Boyce, Claire Hayne, Isabella McDonald, Chloe Rodgers, Alexandra Shergold and Serena Sitch.

Mrs Carroll reminded the girls on the Student Executive that their successful selection was a true testament to their leadership skills and the trust the school has placed in them as a team. She congratulated Sophie and Alexandra on their election to the role of Co-Captain and reminded them that they will be well supported by their peers. The formalities were followed by phone calls to proud parents.

The Year 11 cohort as a whole, whilst still in the midst of the election process for other leadership positions, was reminded that each and every one of them, badge or no badge, will be a leader of the School next year. The Year 12 blue jumper becomes a badge in itself, a symbol of accomplishment and leadership.

The potential of the 2020 Student Executive as outstanding leaders was clear as they spoke with confidence and clarity in their Senior School Assembly speeches. Each of the six candidates was given a topic to speak on for three minutes, followed by a panel interview officiated by Mr James Brown. The panel questions aim to provide a more spontaneous discussion of key aspects of leadership. Both the speeches and the girls’ panel responses offered thoughtful and considered observations, confirming their suitability for election to this leadership team.

I have included a few key elements from each girl’s speech on the topic A Signature Moment at St Catherine’s. The girls were asked to share a moment or experience that stood out as a defining moment, which impacted upon them or provided greater insight or understanding of themselves or others.

Alexandra Shergold spoke of the moment that she felt she truly belonged to the St Catherine’s community when she was greeted enthusiastically by friends to celebrate her birthday. She noted this was not just any birthday, saying “This was Year 7 – my first year of Senior School” There were knowing nods in the audience as Alexandra said, “…and we all know how excited we got in Year 7 when it came to birthdays! Alexandra remarked that those small moments of kindness have continued to feature as part of the “supportive and kind” St Catherine’s community and she remarked that ‘empathy is the most important School value as “it is key to accepting everyone for exactly who they are and encouraging confidence”.

Sophie Boyce shared her experience of moving to St Catherine’s in Year 9, recounting her first impression of the School saying, “From the moment I walked in it was already clear to me that St Catherines’s celebrated diversity and inclusiveness… it represented a sense of belonging. I still get that warm, fuzzy feeling walking through the gates each morning into a safe, supportive community offering not only an education but a sisterhood. Sophie noted the significance of  key themes of the wellbeing program reflecting that “St Catherine’s inspired me to engage, embrace, accomplish but also to connect and belong.”

Serena Sitch attributed having the confidence to apply for School Co-Captain to her experience of being challenged and encouraged at St Catherine’s from a young age. She shared her story of being chosen for the role of Mary in the Early Learning Centre play when she was just five. Describing herself as a shy child, she said, “It all started because there was someone who believed in me, when I had never even thought to believe in myself. Someone who had given me a challenge, that I thought was beyond me. This small moment of confidence allowed me to realise the potential you can unleash when the faith that others have in you is matched by a little bit of faith in yourself.”

Chloe Rodgers reflected on the power of small actions like these that foster the culture of friendship and support at our school, and have the ability to transcend just one-year level alone, and even reach beyond our school community”. She observed that, “small moments often seem insignificant in our lives and can sometimes be overpowered by the thunder of the big moments…But it is only when the end result occurs, that we look back on these moments and recognise them as “signature moments.”

Claire Hayne recalled the moment at which she was realised she can have an impact as a St Catherine’s student. She described the moment when she understood that a teacher’s encouragement and support shows that you do not just “pass through this School undetected”. Ms White’s support for Claire as a House Arts Script Captain caused her to reflect, “if an adult had confidence in my leadership qualities and believed I have the ability to undertake the role, then maybe I should too”. Claire attributes this support from teachers to her growing confidence to put herself forward for leadership.

Isabella McDonald spoke of her experience in the UK as an exchange student at St Catherine’s Bramley. Her defining moment took place on a challenging hike where she reflected, not just on the hike, but on her journey as a person. Isabella reflected on her “self-development over the three months that [she] had been living thousands of kilometres away from family and friends, saying, “Fuelled by the necessity to confront challenges outside a familiar support network, I had grown as an individual. I had developed self-confidence, resilience, independence and organisation, and most particularly, the courage to step out of my comfort zone”. To sum up her journey through St Catherine’s, Isabella concluded her speech with a quote from Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women, saying “I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning to sail my ship.”

You can listen to the leadership speeches and panel discussion here:

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