Being part of a community is of vital importance if we are to lead happy lives. Being connected with the people we spend our time alongside is what I believe helps us stay happy and fulfilled. This applies to our family, our broader community, work colleagues, and in my case especially, all the people in the St Catherine’s community. 

One of the things I enjoy most in my role as Interim Principal is the opportunity to meet with so many people. I endeavour most days to be at the Heyington Gates each morning and afternoon to greet and farewell our students. While I don’t manage to do this every day, due to other commitments, it is important for me to stay connected with our community. Being at the Gates provides me with the opportunity to have a quick chat with girls and assists me in taking a quick snapshot of the mood of our School. 

In the last week especially, our Year 12 students are deep into their academic studies with many VCE SACs occurring at this stage of the term. It is clear many girls are dealing with the pressure of these important assessments. It is important now for us all to be extra sensitive and supportive of these students’ needs. 

However, other conversations are quite different. I get to hear what students have done on the weekend, what they plan to do, how they have gone in their sporting competitions and what their plans are for the upcoming holidays. 

Apart from having a quick chat with the girls and often parents, I take the opportunity to attend to the wearing of the School Uniform. This is often a reminder to ask our students to put on their blue ribbon, fix their ties, buckle up their shoes, or take out extra earnings which is a bit of a trend at the moment. I think my presence and that of other staff at the School Gates shows we care. We care about their appearance because we care about them and our School.

Apart from the numerous functions and events I attend which enable me to connect with the community, I also enjoy being in the classroom. I always take a walk around the School every day, or as I refer to it, doing a ‘lap,’ to capture the mood of the School.  

This week I had the added pleasure of visiting a Year 9 History class. They had been studying World War 1. My contribution was to share some of my Grandfather’s memorabilia and postcards he wrote to my Grandmother from the battlefields of Belgium and France. It was a magic moment for me sharing something about my family and assisting the girls in their understanding and the human side of the terrible conflict. 

These last two weeks of term are among the busiest times in our School.  The biggest thing happening are the exams in our Senior School where staff and students are extraordinarily focused and working very hard. It is a time of stress but also of satisfaction. Maintaining connections with each other is even more important. As I stand at the Heyington Gates today and next week, I will be mindful that for everyone, there is a lot on their minds. A friendly smile and asking them how their day has been is important, but I will still be checking their uniforms are being worn correctly!