Take a Pause from Technology Over the Easter Holidays

As Term 1 draws to a close, I wish all families a relaxing and enjoyable Easter holiday. The girls were reminded at our Church services this week that Easter is a time to reflect upon all that we are grateful for and all that we can do in the joyous service of others – our friends, families and community. It is a time to reflect on our family values and how we must live by these values each and every day. Easter is a timely reminder to ensure we continue to show empathy and gratitude for others.

Following an eventful start to the school year, Easter also provides an opportunity for our students to achieve a balance between their academic work, co-curricular activities and commitment to others, and time to enable kindness to shape their relationships with family members and friends.

With the support of their Head of Year, Ms Kate Fitzgerald, our Year 9 students, over the course of Term 1, have maintained a ‘No Phone Friday’ policy in exchange for engaging conversation and board games during lunch and recess.

Of note, our Years 7 and 8 students, considered to be very much still on their ‘P-Plates’ with managing their mobile phone use, must keep their phone in their locker over the course of the school day.

A number of studies have suggested our growing consumption of media use can have a negative effect on our health and relationships. In a typical day, children consume over three hours of media. The American Academy of Paediatrics, for example, has cautioned for many years the need to harness the amount of time children use technology. This is based on studies that show too much screen time can lead to attention problems and school difficulties. A study from the University of California also showed children who spent time ‘unplugged’ were better at reading human emotions when compared to children who spent more time with technology.

I encourage our families to consider over the Easter break their mobile phone usage in their households. Creating some clearly defined periods that are technology free in the family home is a great starting point (adults and children!). Taking a pause from the technology that can consume our lives and reconnecting with families will ensure improved communication.

Student Pursuits over the Easter Holiday

Over the course of the Easter break, St Catherine’s has many students and teachers taking part in global exchange programs, international study tours, outdoor education programs and cross country training activities. We wish all participants a safe and enjoyable time as they engage fully in their endeavours.

Duke of Edinburgh
As part of the ‘Adventurous Journey’ component of the Gold and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, students in Years 10 and 11 will complete The Great Alpine Walk from Mount Hotham to Mount Bogong, Victoria. This program is managed by the Outdoor Education Group and involves girls bushwalking and camping for the duration of the program. We thank Senior School teachers Mr Stephen Brown and Mrs Kelly Brady for sharing this journey with the students. Hopefully good weather prevails for their hiking and camping.

French History Study Tour
A group of Years 10 and 11 students will participate in the French History Study Tour commencing tomorrow, Saturday 6 April. Upon arriving at Charles De Gaulle airport, the group will travel to the Loire Valley to see the magnificent castles before continuing on to Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy Coast, Bayeux Tapestry, D-Day Landings, World War One Battlefields and finally concluding their tour in Paris with a visit to the historical monuments. We thank Senior School teachers Ms Anna Curnow and Mr Chris Zuccala for leading this trip.

Cross Country Camp
A group of Senior School students will travel to Aireys Inlet for the annual Cross Country Training Camp. This camp will provide high intensity training leading into the Cross Country Season commencing in Term 2. The camp will include an informative program for the girls with a focus on athlete care and race preparation. The groups will access beach tracks and bush trails with some hill work around Aireys Inlet for their training sessions. Our Cross Country runners will draw on the expertise of past Olympian and St Catherine’s Mathematics teacher and Cross Country coach, Ms Susan Hobson. Ms Hobson has recently returned from Aarhus, Denmark where she was the Team Manager for the Australian Cross Country Team at the International Association of Athletics Federations World Cross Country Championships. Thanks also to our Head of Sport, Mr Lloyd Knight, for training with the girls over the duration of the camp.

Global Exchange Programs

Year 10 United States Exchange
A group of students in Year 10 have ventured to the United States for their Exchange programs with partner schools Tower Hill School in Delaware and The Ethel Walker School in Connecticut. These students will spend five days visiting New York prior to embarking on their Exchange experience. The students will attend classes at their partner schools and live with their exchange families. Thank you to Senior School teacher Miss Tamara Andrews and our School Nurse, Ms Sally Jack, for travelling with the students.

Year 9 Canada and United Kingdom Exchange
After hosting their Exchange ‘buddies’ in Term 1, St Catherine’s Year 9 students will travel to Shawnigan Lake in Canada; St Catherine’s in Bramley, United Kingdom; and St George’s in Ascot, United Kingdom to commence their ‘in-country’ component of the Exchange program for Term 2. In this program, the girls completely immerse themselves in the academic and co-curricular program of our partner schools with students often citing what a life changing and personally rewarding experience the program provides. Thank you to Mrs Gina Peele for travelling to Canada and Ms Liv Cher for travelling to the United Kingdom to visit our Exchange schools for the commencement of the programs. We look forward to hearing from the girls throughout their experience in Term 2.

World Challenge for Principals
Over the first week of the Easter holidays, I feel fortunate to join 10 other principals from across Australia to participate in the World Challenge for Principals program in Cambodia. This program provides an opportunity for the World Challenge company to present examples of their risk management processes whilst in-country.

World Challenge offer education through experience where expeditions are packed with eye-opening cultural exchanges, physical challenges and meaningful service projects in some of the world’s most beautiful developing countries. The destination changes for each expedition and past destinations for our students have included Nepal, Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Borneo and Vietnam. In June and July, the St Catherine’s expedition is Sri Lanka.

Staff Information

The School wishes our Head of Arts, Mrs Brigid Weereratne, the very best and safe travels for her well-deserved long service leave in Term 2. Deputy Head of Music, Ms Liv Cher, will step into the role of Acting Head of Arts for Term 2, and Mrs Vicki Marinelli will oversee the coordination of the Visual Art Faculty.

Michelle Carroll

Mrs Michelle Carroll