It’s the second last day of term and I was about to start writing this article for the final Blue Ribbon when I heard beautiful music coming from somewhere in Sherren House.  

I followed the sounds into the Ballroom and there were Coco and Charlotte, our two most senior violinists, playing Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Their playing was sublime, to say the least. They were rehearsing for a significant event unfolding later that day.  

On Thursday afternoon, we held a special afternoon tea to thank Mrs Lisa Cook, our Head of Strings, who is retiring after 29 years, just one month short of 30 years of outstanding service to our School.  

Lisa’s contribution to St Catherine’s has been monumental. 

There are hundreds of students who have benefited from her expertise, kindness, and unbridled enthusiasm for Music at St Catherine’s. It has been an extraordinary career. 

The farewell for Mrs Cook is but one of many happenings during this last week of term. It is always the same every term as there is the inevitable cramming of the schedule and an ever-expanding list of tasks to complete before the holidays commence. This week has been true to form. 

From the ELC, to Barbreck and the Senior School there has been a lot going on.  

For our Year 12 girls, this week is an important time in their journey through the School. Their VCE studies have virtually concluded. All formal coursework is finished and now is the time for revision and exam preparation. This time also presents an opportunity for the next generation of student leaders to emerge.  

On Monday we held our traditional Handover Assembly where the current 2024 School Captains handed over important artifacts and symbols to the 2025 student leaders. This handover heralds the commencement of their leadership.  

Handover Assembly Image Gallery

Today I also met with the 2025 Student Executive Team, and we discussed how they might approach their leadership which commences next term. I asked them to consider how they will not only lead the School next year but how they will support Ms Charles as our incoming Principal in 2025. That is quite a challenge, but one I know they will rise to, as will our Year 12 Class of 2025 who are a wonderful cohort of students. 

Another important event this week was the annual Snowsports Presentation Dinner where parents and students gathered to celebrate the recently concluded season. Snowsports is the only whole school sports event that includes girls from all levels of St Catherine’s. The Presentation Dinner was a chance to acknowledge our girls’ achievements and the contribution their parents make to support their daughters. The Snowsports Auxiliary led by parents Mrs Julia Soutter, Mr Bruce McIntosh, and Mrs Georgina Switkowski (Hinton ’99) has made a most important contribution with many, many hours of voluntary support to the cause. 

The guest speaker for the evening was Brit Cox, a four-time Olympian and World Champion mogul skier. Brit spoke about the lessons she learned from her time on the international skiing circuit which she now applies to her daily life. Brit said there were three big lessons.  

1. How important it is to find and follow your passion. For her it was skiing, and it was also important that with this passion you find ways to challenge yourself.  
2. The value of hard work and effort. She said while a mogul run only lasted about 30 seconds, behind that were many hours of gruelling training sessions and sheer hard work. To be successful in whatever endeavour you pursue hard work is essential.  
3. Valuing the importance of teamwork. Brit’s success in moguls over a long period was attributed to the many people who supported her. This included trainers, coaches, friends, and parents. They all matter. 

Snowsports Presentation Dinner

While I was listening to Brit’s speech, I found myself thinking about Mrs Lisa Cook and all she has given to our students past and present. Lisa fostered a passion for music, encouraged the girls to work hard, and was part of a strong team that supports our girls every day. The three lessons are present everywhere we look. 

As we enter the term break, I wish everyone a happy and safe couple of weeks when we can all recharge for the last term which will be very busy. Enjoy the holidays.