St Catherine’s Student Leadership 2020

Schools are remarkable places. Our School began in Castlemaine on 4 February 1896, opened by Miss Jeanie Hood and continues to flourish with the leadership of our students, many of whom journey into leadership opportunities within their own careers.

In September every year, the weather finally warms after Melbourne’s chilly winter months, and as the roses bloom around the fountain, one cannot help but feel the School steadying itself as it readies for the next chapter in its story. This is a time of the year when I feel humbled by the dimensions of the history of the School and what the people who have passed through have left as a legacy.

At the Senior School Assembly this week, we enjoyed the much anticipated ‘Handover Assembly’ that occurs every year. The Handover Assembly is an important milestone for our student leadership and Years 11 and 12 girls, as we thank and congratulate the Year 12 Captains and welcome and celebrate the incoming 2020 Captains.

On behalf of the School community, I thank both Kavina and Georgina for their leadership this year as School Captains. This is an enormous undertaking in Year 12, ensuring a balance in their studies, a commitment to co-curricular activities and the leadership responsibilities that come with such a role.

This year, their friendly approach has ensured the girls have always demonstrated school pride, school spirit and an understanding of the essence of being a St Catherine’s girl. Together with the commitment, energy and motivation of all the Year 12 girls, the leadership of the 2019 Senior cohort has inspired others to participate and to be fully immersed in school life.

It is very pleasing to announce the Captains and Leaders for 2020. It takes courage to apply for positions of leadership and we have acknowledged the cohort as a whole for their leadership in 2020.

School Co-Captains

  • Sophie Boyce
  • Alexandra Shergold

Student Executive

  • Sophie Boyce
  • Claire Hayne
  • Isabella McDonald
  • Chloe Rodgers
  • Alexandra Shergold
  • Serena Sitch

Art and Design

  • Isabel Simons
  • Lara Nattrass

Boarding

  • Yi Qian (Elena) Tan
  • Zoë Meggitt

Community Service 

  • Ella Carton
  • Penelope Drummond

Cultural Diversity

  • Kaiyue Ren

Debating and Public Speaking

  • Isobel Tanner

Drama                        

  • Serena Sitch

Music Choral

  • Indiana Wilde

Music Instrumental  

  • Julia Thompson

Spirit and Wellbeing

  • Tess Hogan

Sport

  • Thalia Barbayannis
  • Harriet Fortey

House Beaulieu Blair

  • Charlotte Murdoch
  • Emma Robertson

House Davis

  • Isabella McDonald
  • Romy Cantwell

House Holmes Kilbride

  • Millie Fraser-Smith
  • Charlotte Gough

House Langley Templeton

  • Sophie Hogan
  • Annabel Whiter

Leader of the Jorgensen Orchestra

  • Sophie Hogan

Leader of the Concert Band

  • Lucy Croft

Athletics

  • Isabella McDonald

Cross Country

  • Charlotte Gough

Rowing

  • Harriet Fortey
  • Romy Cantwell

Snowsports

  • Charlotte Murdoch

Swimming

  • Romy Walker 
Snowsports Season

The annual Snowsports season concluded on Sunday evening with a fabulous celebration of the girls’ achievements at Mount Buller again this year. The competitors across both the Senior and Junior Schools are congratulated on successfully retaining the National Championship trophies, culminating in six national titles in succession; a wonderful achievement and a brilliant team effort.

This is the single school event when both Senior and Junior School girls and their families come together. We clearly enjoy a strong St Catherine’s presence at Mount Buller with girls proud to be a team member. The blue uniform certainly is recognisable and a great symbol of our community on the mountain.

Thank you to the Snowsports Auxiliary for their time and effort in organising the celebration evening, in addition to the Snowsports Swap, and coordinating the many volunteers throughout the season who contribute to the effective marshalling of many races. It is indeed the ‘collective effort’ that makes the difference both at the Snowsports Swap – a signature event for the Snowsports community – and certainly fulfilling the duties required during competitions.

On Sunday evening, the Keynote Address was provided by world champion aerial skier, Jacqui Cooper. The audience marvelled at Jacqui’s story of a 10 year journey. Identified as a skilled and enthusiastic trampoline thrillseeker in her teenage years, Jacqui set out to learn how to ski to complement her acrobatic and aerial skills perfected on the trampoline. Cooper started skiing aerials at age 16 and was on the Australian team for 20 years. Her striking career included achieving 24 World Cup gold medals, claiming her final and fifth World Cup title in Inawashiro, Japan.

Her story was one of inspiration for our Snowsports competitors, with determination, perseverance and dedication to training underpinning her story.

Staff News

At the close of Term 3, we farewell our Deputy Head of Barbreck, Ms Catherine Samuel and wish her well as she advances her career in a new role as Head of Junior School at The Knox School, Wantirna. Ms Samuel has provided unwavering support to both Mrs Alana Moor and Ms Karen McArdle, and she was instrumental in leading the significant transition into the new Barbreck building last year. In her role as Deputy Head of Junior School, Ms Samuel is particularly skilled at analysing academic data to enhance the Junior School academic programs and she has led much of the writing and alignment of Barbreck curriculum material in conjunction with the teachers. Her calm and reassuring manner, together with her educational expertise and experience, will enable her to continue to make a significant contribution as a leader of primary education in Victoria for many years to come.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Ms Samuel has ensured the development of the annual timetable in addition to oversight of the necessary risk management processes and compliance measures that are successfully completed in a number of key operational areas of the Junior School. Her logical and strategic thinking has also enabled the early development of the School’s Strategic Plan, Towards 2025. Our Barbreck girls and parent community will miss Ms Samuel’s gentle, kind and calm approach. On behalf of the School, I congratulate Ms Samuel on her first appointment in the role as a Head and wish her well as she commences this new position at the start of Term 4.

In replacing Ms Samuel in the Junior School and the significant portfolio of work she undertakes specific to the operational and leadership needs in Barbreck, I congratulate both Ms Courtney O’Brien and Mr Luke Russell who will share the role as Deputy Heads of Junior School. The School is also currently in the process of finalising the appointment of an Educational Psychologist/Counsellor to work specifically within the Junior School to further enhance the academic assessment of students and provide an additional layer of pastoral care and support for the girls. I look forward to providing further detail of these appointments at the commencement of Term 4.

In Term 4, our Head of English, Mrs Ceri Lloyd, will enjoy her much deserved Long Service Leave and we look forward to her return next year, after an extended summer holiday. Mrs Lloyd will be replaced by experienced English teachers, Mrs Lisa Gionfriddo and Mrs Anna McKenzie, who will share the role of Head of English Faculty in Term 4.

 

I wish all our St Catherine’s families an enjoyable and relaxing break and look forward to seeing the students return for Term 4, commencing on Monday 7 October.

Michelle Carroll

Mrs Michelle Carroll