“It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
J.K. Rowling

This week, the autumn edition of St Catherine’s News will be received by our School community. This twice-yearly publication provides a visual diary of the story of a St Catherine’s girl. From the ELC to VCE graduate and beyond.

Click on the Fearless Girl to browse through St Catherine’s News autumn edition.

As we read about the bright futures and tertiary pathways of our 2017 graduates, explore student leadership with our School Captains, commence the foundations of learning in the ELC, appreciate the digital savviness of our Junior School students and celebrate the diversity of skills and personalities within our Senior School, we are presented with an array of young women building their capacities through independent learning and positive risk taking.

As I have often commented, I believe St Catherine’s is in the business of not only educating young women in their academic pursuits but also working with parents to shape the character of the girls in our care.

The stories within St Catherine’s News highlight the importance that choice, both academically and through co-curricular programs, has in developing our fearless and independent girls.

American educationalist, and author of Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn: The Key to Student Motivation and Achievement (ASCD, 2016), Mike Anderson discusses how “offering students choices about their learning is one of the most powerful ways teachers can boost student learning…and increase intrinsic motivation.”

Anderson asserts that through the presentation of choice in learning students will:

• engage in deeper, richer learning;
• display more on-task behaviour;
• increase their social and emotional learning; and
• the learning environment becomes more collaborative.

As Principal of St Catherine’s, it is a privilege to witness the fearless nature in which our students tackle their academic and co-curricular activities.

This week our Year 8 students have challenged their thinking, developed a deeper understanding of the natural Australian landscape and the social and cultural environments in which they find themselves as part of our Central Australia Study Tour.

In the sporting arena our Senior girls are literally kicking goals with 45 students participating in the Girls Sport Victoria AFL program, a new record for our School. Last week, we celebrated the creativity of our students and staff in the Senior School Musical, Crazy For You.

Our academic programs are also providing avenues for our students to think beyond the classroom through such programs as St Catherine’s Writer’s Club and our Academic Honours Programs.

Featured in St Catherine’s News is Year 8 student and Writer’s Club participant, Angela Yu’s essay on gender equality. In response to the idea ‘Leave No Woman Behind’ Angela composed an articulate and mature essay, an extract of which is provided below:

“…everybody and everything deserves to be heard, and to be listened to, and to be understood. That, in its whole self, is the meaning of gender equality.

It is when we, as a peaceful, cooperative union of both males and females alike, leave no woman behind, and leave no man behind either.”

Through the diverse choices we, as a School and as parents provide, our girls will develop a strong sense of self, realise their passions and navigate their way through their educational journeys.