Our wonderful, The Girl, sculpture in Barbreck, is dedicated to all the girls who pass through our Junior School. Generously donated by Mrs Sonia and Mr Wayne Kent to acknowledge their family’s association to Barbreck, and St Catherine’s.

Proudly sitting at the entrance to Barbreck, The Girl is a gift with immense meaning. She is a symbol of what it means to be a Barbreck Girl, representing knowledge, confidence and character. The presence of the wise owl, Sapientia, represents wisdom, and the chessboard symbolising challenge.

Every Barbreck girl, along with our Barbreck teachers and families will associate different meanings to The Girl. For me, I love many things about her, including:

• She is a girl involved in her school and all that it has to offer.
• She is a keen learner, with her set of books by her side.
• She is a lover of sports, with her sports shoes on.
• She loves a mental challenge, with her chess piece in hand, ready for a game.
• She has pride in herself and her school, sitting proudly in her uniform.
• She is caring and kind to animals and the environment, with her owl, Sapientia, by her side.
• She is strong, with a face of quiet confidence, a knowing of what it means to uphold values and good character.
• She is a leader, sitting at the front of Barbreck, setting the benchmark for Barbreck girls, and encouraging others to follow her example.

Within Barbreck, many of our girls often tie their St Catherine’s blue ribbons in The Girl’s hair. They sit beside her, sharing friendships and conversations around her, together feeling a shared security, and love for the warmth and care of our Junior School.

I encourage every girl to approach their time in Barbreck with the characteristics of The Girl. I encourage them to pat Sapientia’s head as they pass each day, thinking of all they have learnt and will learn at Barbreck. As each girl pats her head, a little of the dark patina will be removed and soon her head will shine golden – a tribute to all that The Girl stands for.