Exchanges and Trips
Passport to learning
St Catherine's School offers students many opportunities to extend their learning by travelling overseas.
Language Exchange
St Catherine's has a well established program of study abroad for Senior students (Year 10 & 11). During the Christmas vacation, selected students travel to St Catherine's international sister schools, staying with host families and attending school. They improve their language skills and experience the culture of the country through 'immersion'.
The exchange partners receive hospitality from Australian families and St Catherine's when they visit Australia in their summer vacation between June and August.
St Catherine's language exchange partner schools are:
- Otsuma Gakuin, Tokyo, Japan
- Shukutoku College, Nagoya, Japan
- Lycée Privé Sainte-Marie des Champs, Toulouse, France
- Collège Sainte Catherine de Sienne - Aix-en-Provence, near to Marseilles, southern France
Enquiries for French Exchanges to Mrs Jane Torii and for Japanese Exchanges to Mrs Fiona Pensabene.
Cultural Exchange Program
United Kingdom
St Catherine's School has developed strong links with Queenswood School and St Catherine's School in England over recent years. A most successful component has been an exchange program for our Year 9 students where girls spend Term 2 as boarders at one of the schools. Prior to that, they act as host sisters to the girls during first term at St Catherine's.
North America
St Catherine's School has also established exchange programs with schools in the USA and Canada.
Last year students visited the Ethel Walker School in Connecticut, USA and Havergal College in Toronto, Canada.
These programs are generally available to students from Years 8 to 10 and girls who participate are expected to host girls from these schools at St Catherine's during return visits.
Enquiries to Mrs Sue Collister, English Exchange Coordinator.
School Trips
Overseas trips are offered every year to enrich the study of areas such as History, Art, Languages, Geography and Science.
Trips planned for 2009 include the Italian Study Tour for Senior students studying Art and History, the Burke and Wills Historic Trail for Years 8 to 10 girls, a camping study trip to the Earthwatch Institute on Kangaroo Island and the World Challenge Vietnam Expedition, which gives students the opportunity to learn and develop teamwork, communication and leadership skills in a challenging environment.
Enquiries to Mrs Sue Collister, Chair, Trips Committee.