It seems as if Term 2 has been going on for a long time, doesn’t it?   

With the advent of winter and 21 June being the Winter Solstice marking the shortest day of the year, it has been hard work for us all to get to the end of the term.  

An article which appeared in The Conversation this week made me realise it isn’t just me who has noticed the impact winter has on our mood. Is your child experiencing ‘winter burnout’? Here’s what to look out for (theconversation.com) 

The last few weeks of term are always a very busy time, especially so in Term 2. For teachers and students, it heralds major assessments whether it be VCE SACs, exams or tests and major assignments. The marking load for everyone has been very high.  

Exams for Years 9, 10 and 11 students were completed this week. These results will be placed on our mystcatherines portal shortly and will complete the assessments for Semester 1. 

For our VCE students, apart from the completion of various SACs over the last few weeks, on Tuesday every student enrolled in a Units 3&4 subject undertook the General Achievement Test (GAT). The GAT is a pen-and-paper test of general knowledge and skills taken by students in the course of completing their senior secondary studies. The GAT plays an important role in the quality assurance of VCE assessments. This Test added another layer of stress for our students. However, immediately following the test session, we provided pizza for every girl in the Mary Davis Café. This little treat certainly lightened the mood for our girls. While the morning was a very busy time for them the mood in the Café was very buoyant. It’s amazing how a little food treat can lift people’s mood. 

Teachers in the ELC and Barbreck are no less busy with the compilation of all-consuming assessments and creation of reports while still teaching full-time right up to the end of term! 

This week, we farewell our Deputy Head of Barbreck, Mr Luke Russell. Luke has given outstanding service during his time at St Catherine’s. He is well liked and respected by staff and students alike. He is cheerful and always conducted himself with the best interests of the girls first and foremost. We wish him well for whatever comes next and also the extra time he can devote to his family.  Recruitment to find Luke’s successor as Deputy Head of Barbreck is underway. 

We also say farewell to Mr John Saunders who has been the First Eight Rowing Coach for over a decade. John transformed St Catherine’s Rowing Program into an elite and highly successful program. Along the way his crews won State and National titles, our first ever Head of the Schoolgirls and the extraordinary success at the Henley Regatta in the UK a couple of years ago. To say he has left a legacy is an understatement. We wish him the best as he pursues his legal career in London. 

Planning for St Catherine’s new Music School is gathering pace, and I shall report in some detail on the status of this major project in Term 3. 

Many people have asked me how I have coped with the role as Interim Principal this year. I say to them honestly, that it does not feel that hard to do. The simple reason for that is the sheer quality of staff in our School gives me absolute confidence in the numerous events and learning activities which take place every day. It is a privilege to work with our talented team.  

It is not just the staff at St Catherine’s who contribute to making our School great. It has been a pleasure working alongside all the various Auxiliaries and the numerous parent volunteers who take such an interest in our School. The time and commitment shown by these people is an essential part of our beautiful community. In addition, our Alumnae organisation SCOGA, headed by the ever bubbly and enthusiastic President Ms Anna Foley (‘92), is vital for the connections that are maintained for our past students. Working with Anna and others in SCOGA has been an unexpected joy for this year. 

When we return to School on Tuesday 16 July, the days will have more daylight hours which will undoubtedly lift our moods. The end of July and start of August always have some wet and chilly weather in store and while this is good news for those who love the snow, for the rest of us, we will just have to endure it until spring arrives.  

I trust all members of our community will take the opportunity over the next three weeks to refresh and clear the mind. Whether you are heading for a warmer place or staying at home with a good book by the fire, I hope you relax.  

Whatever you do over the break, stay safe and I look forward to seeing our students return for the start of Term 3.