Focus on leadership builds strong futures
Article from The Weekend Australian Boarding Feature
Published on 14-15 November 2015;
DURING Years 9 and 10 at St Catherine’s School, in Toorak, Melbourne, students have the opportunity to strengthen their school community and perfect their own leadership skills by studying a Leadership Diploma.
Unique to St Catherine’s, the diploma incorporates all components of the Years 9 and 10 curriculum, recognising students’ involvement in, and achievement from, their academic and co-curricular program.
Students must successfully complete a list of criteria that includes developing positive relationships, involvement in mentoring programs, community service and environment programs, performance and public speaking, outdoor education and being a positive role model.
“The leadership Diploma is designed for students to become more independent,” says 2015 participant Madeleine leggo.
“The diploma drives us to be organised, proactive, altruistic, insightful and empathetic. We have the opportunity to make a tangible difference in our school and local community through the diploma.”
The diploma encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and become involved in different activities, both within and outside the school.
“The journey provides us with a strong insight, not only into our school and wider community but into ourselves through the diploma’s personal reflections requirements,” Madeleine adds.
Who we are
St Catherine’s School for girls from Prep to Year 12 is centrally located in Toorak, Melbourne. We also welcome girls and boys into our on-campus Early Learning centre.
As a non-denominational Christian school, with boarding for rural and international girls, our students, staff, families and past students are involved in the life of the school.
What we’re most proud of
As a leading girls’ school in Australia, St Catherine’s empowers independent and globally responsive women, enabling them to approach endeavours with integrity, curiosity, perseverance and empathy.
Our key strengths
To know and value each of our students, St Catherine’s maintains small year levels and class numbers. Our size, along with our one-campus advantage, ensures all students learn in one central community. We enjoy a reputation for outstanding VCE results. In the past five years 5.5 per cent of Year 12s have achieved an ATAR of above 99 and more than 51 per cent have achieved 90 or above.
Our facilities
Set on one campus our school’s historic buildings and modern refurbishments create a magnificent blend of past and present. With open space, playing fields and manicured gardens, students enjoy a beautiful learning environment. There’s a science atrium with an observatory, refurbished research and learning centre, a sports and aquatic centre, music school, gym, visual arts centre and our boarding house, lllawarra.
School history
Established in 1896 St Catherine’s has the unique mixture of a proud history combined with contemporary thinking. We are fortunate to be custodians of longstanding traditions, however our reputation as a leader in girls’ education is based on our ability to embrace innovation.
