This year our word was NOW. 

At our Leadership Conference at Melbourne University, the Year 12 Cohort chose “now” to capture our commitment to living in the present, to making each day count and immersing ourselves in every moment our final year had to offer. 

Our vision was to encourage the entire School community to adopt this approach, nurturing a culture of excitement, curiosity, and gratitude for each experience whether they were big or small. We recognised that School life often revolved around counting down days and anticipating assessments, which can overshadow the richness of the present. So, we set out to inspire everyone to seize each moment. 

In our first assembly, we shared this vision with the School, encouraging every St Catherine’s student to savour each experience and make it meaningful. We even introduced a lighthearted analogy: living like a dog. Dogs embrace every moment with joy, finding excitement in the simplest things. We invited everyone to adopt this “dog’s day” mindset, releasing worries about the future to fully enjoy the present. 

Throughout Term 1, we brought “now” to life with a range of activities including lunchtime face painting, skipping, music at the Gates, and uplifting messages on the Nicholas Library glass. We celebrated International Women’s Day by creating friendship bracelets and exchanging messages of appreciation, and on International Dress Day, students proudly represented their cultural heritage, strengthening unity and pride within our community. 

As the colder months of Term 2 approached, we embraced our mission even more. Often, winter is the term we wish away, eagerly awaiting Summer Uniforms, but this time we encouraged everyone to appreciate it instead. The Hey Hey Heyington Talent Show was a highlight, with students from all Year levels performing everything from knee dancing to aerobics, bands, and bagpipes. Initially, we hoped for 100 attendees, and to our delight, the entire School turned out to support each other, celebrating the unique talents within our community.  

To reinforce our message, we teamed up with Junior School Co-Captains Nina Calvert and Samara Grinsell for the Dreams Assembly. Students from both the Junior and Senior Schools competed in activities like hula-hooping and Rubik’s cube solving. We also enjoyed performances in gymnastics, rowing, and singing, inspiring everyone to reflect on their dreams and ambitions. 

In Term 3, we shifted our focus to giving back. We sought to look beyond ourselves and see what we could do for our community. Under the guidance of Mr Paul Gilby, Head of Humanities, and guest speaker Faten Mohamad from Sudan, we gained insight into the struggles refugees face such as conflict, migration, and separation. To support UNHCR, we hosted a bake sale and organised a netball match with St Kevin’s, ultimately raising $871. This effort empowered us to use our platform and education to advocate for human rights and support meaningful change. 

Finally, as Term 4 arrived, we began counting down to Graduation, cherishing these last moments at St Catherine’s and reflecting on what we had achieved. It is time for us to pass the baton to the Year 11s and for them to make their own mark on the School.  

Thank you, St Catherine’s. Leading this School has been a pleasure, an honour and a privilege. Bringing our community together, contributing meaningfully, and nurturing in the place that has given us so much has been incredibly rewarding. As we, the Class of Year 12, look back, we are proud to have embraced each moment, fully committing ourselves to the “now” and seizing every opportunity that came our way. Our hope is to have inspired others to do the same. to grow, to learn, and to treasure everything that makes St Catherine’s so special.