As Project Leader of Student Leadership at St Catherine’s I have the privilege of collaborating with our Senior School Student Executive on a weekly basis.  

Our Student Executive is a large component of St Catherine’s School’s VOICES Program (Voice, Ownership, Inclusion, Compassion, Empowerment, Strength). The Program focuses on encouraging and empowering girls to step forward and embrace every opportunity.  

The Student Executive consists of eight student members. These student leaders play a crucial role in shaping our School’s culture. Their regular meetings involve planning and development of weekly assemblies, discussing ideas for the Student Representative Council (SRC) and addressing other School-related matters.  

This collaborative effort ensures student ideas, celebrations, and concerns are recognised and acted upon daily.  

Below are reflections from three of our Student Executive members, providing insights into their responsibilities, highlights, and collaborative efforts.  

Scarlett Shelton: School Co-Captain  

The Student Executive is a group of Year 12 girls who are elected as representatives of the student body, to be at the centre of creating change, reinforcing culture, and supporting students in having their voice heard.    

Being in the Student Executive this year has opened my eyes to a lot of behind-the-scenes work that occurs in the day-to-day management of the School, and how essential even the smallest activities can be to foster positive change within the School environment. This year the Student Executive has eight members, which has allowed for a wide range of innovative, sometimes ambitious, ideas.   

As a group, since our Handover Assembly nine months ago, we have had some standout activities and plans. In Term 4 of 2023, we ran multiple joy-filled Christmas-inspired undertakings, including a bake sale, where we all created Christmas-inspired treats, culminating in a Gingerbread House Making Competition. It was great to see such eager involvement in all Year levels and spread some cheer in the last couple of weeks of the school year. All proceeds were donated to the Koala Kids Foundation charity.    

My favourite contribution we have made to the School was for International Women’s Day (IWD). We wanted to highlight this important event to encourage celebration and education of the achievements of women. The Student Executive planned and held activities across the week, such as friendship bracelet making – inspired by Taylor Swift’s Tour, kindness messages on the Nicholas Library windows, cards of appreciation to female teachers, a female staff vs student netball game, and wear a touch of purple day, the official colour of the IWD.   

During Monday’s Assembly for the commencement of the week, we all dressed as powerful female figures, outlining their achievements, and introduced the history of IWD and what we hope it holds for the future. Whilst these activities may seem small, a week of fun and collaborative opportunities for students centred around the empowerment, education, and inclusion of women cemented its importance and demonstrated its impact.    

The Student Executive also celebrated Harmony Day in collaboration with the SRC. Cultural Dress Day was a popular event where students could wear traditional dress of their heritage to School. We have also supported Environment Week, made encouraging messages for Years 9 to 11 going into exam preparation, and we are now planning our ‘Take a Chance, Make a Change’ Assembly for the beginning of Term 3.   

Our Team has many plans for Term 3, including a student Talent Show that we have been planning with the SRC. Personally, I cannot wait to see what we can include in Term 3, and how we finish our time as leaders of the School. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to be a part of this group, and I am incredibly proud of how we have used our platform to make St Catherine’s an even better school for our students.  

Rhea Werner, Student Executive Member  

Another key part of Student Executive is to bridge the connection between School leadership and the students! Stemming from student input from SRC and by ear, we have been aiming to inform and adapt School Policy and events to best represent our student body and their interests.   

For example, we have been intently working on updating the School’s Winter Uniform to ensure it is comfortable for all students. We worked with various School stakeholders, such as the Senior Leadership Team and the School Council to approve our idea, which hopefully will improve the happiness of the broader St Cath’s community at School!   

Olivia Hargrave, Student Executive Member  

Alongside running assemblies and organising fundraisers a key tenet of our role in representing the students’ wants, needs, and wishes arises through heading the Student Representative Council (SRC).   

Every second Thursday we convene with 20 girls from Years 7 to 11 to hear directly from the students, address any concerns they may have, and identify social areas that need attention.   

As of this year, we’ve collaborated with the SRC to brainstorm, plan and execute events such as the renowned Christmas Week, International Women’s Week, and Cultural Diversity Week. Currently, we are in the process of putting together an STC Talent Show to run in Term 3! 

SRC at work

SRC at work