Staff VCE Acknowledgements

Over the course of Term 4, 17 St Catherine’s VCE teachers have engaged in the opportunity to be Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority markers and assessors. By way of example, one staff member marked up to 700 English sections of the VCE English exam. Two assessors mark every paper, and a discrepancy between allocated marks results in a third marker also assessing the paper. Consistency is undoubtedly essential with this level of marking. Whilst most teachers assess written examinations, members of our Language Faculty also contribute to assessing the oral examinations or the practical component of subjects such as the Stagecraft Examination in Theatre Studies.

Assessing VCE external examinations provides valuable professional development, interaction with colleagues at other schools and an opportunity to contribute more broadly to the VCE external assessment process. All teachers appointed as assessors receive significant training covering all aspects of the assessment process and over the course of the training, a broad range of student responses are explored to establish clear and consistent benchmarks for all assessors.

This year, the following St Catherine’s staff have contributed to this state-wide process:

Staff Achievements

As the school year draws to a close, I take this opportunity to thank all of the St Catherine’s School staff and members of our Senior Leadership Team who oversee the Educational and Business aspects of running a school. We continue to be passionate and determined in the pursuit of our vision and our mission. Undoubtedly, the true job of the teacher at St Catherine’s is to take girls and the children in our Early Learning Centre (ELC) on a journey to discover their talent and potential. In particular, I very much appreciate the lengths each staff member has undertaken in especially helping our Year 12 girls discover and unlock their individual possibilities. The level of expertise and experience is significant, as evidenced by the number of teachers undertaking the VCE marking and assessment process. We are also fortunate to have teachers who are highly regarded leaders in their field across Victoria, some examples include:

• Our Head of Arts, Mrs Brigid Weereratne, who was invited to participate in the collection of information and research for ArtC (Arts as Civic Commons) Research Project, focussing on the Arts and Civic Engagement. This project is a collaboration between Project Zero at Harvard University and Independent Schools Victoria.
• Miss Kristy Forrest, English and Philosophy Teacher, is a guest lecturer at Melbourne University in their Master of Teaching Students (English Stream) and delivers lectures at Melbourne University Graduate School of Education. Kristy is a wonderful academic and she has recently published an article exploring the interplay between technology and the classroom through a philosophical lens in a peer-reviewed academic journal, Educational Philosophy and Theory called ‘Bernard Stiegler and the Student as Consumer’.
• Our Head of Science, Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae, is an invited Member of the Education Committee of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute who held its third Chemistry conference for VCE teachers in conjunction with the Chemistry Department at Monash University. Vanessa also presented a workshop at STAVCON 2019 (Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria Conference) ‘Making Chemistry Fun, Fascinating and Accessible’ with Jenny Sharwood (Chemistry Education Association, Chemistry Educator of the Year).

Miss Kristy Forrest is a guest lecturer at Melbourne University in their Master of Teaching Students (English Stream) and the Graduate School of Education.

Staff Farewells

In our Senior School, we farewell and acknowledge the contribution of Ms Kimba Mannix and Ms Lilly Dusting from the Arts Faculty and thank them both for their significant contributions to fostering the creative minds of our students. Ms Dusting has also been a significant member of the Wellbeing Team and as Head of Years 11 and 12 in recent years, she has guided many students through their VCE programs. She looks forward to reducing her travel to work from Kyneton each day!

In the English Faculty, we farewell Mrs Anna McKenzie and Mrs Elizabeth Montanaro (also our Senior School Librarian) and thank them for their many hours working with our girls polishing draft English essays. In our Humanities Faculty, we farewell Ms Kate Fitzgerald and share our appreciation for her guidance of the fabulous Year 9 students this year. And in the Mathematics Faculty, Mrs Louise Pearson, and the Language Faculty, Ms Sandy Yao and Ms Concetta Calgaro complete their teaching contracts at the School. Ms Yao will remain a member of staff teaching Flute in the Music department.

Our Head of Year 7, Ms Kanako Yokouchi, commences her maternity leave at the close of the school year. We look forward to hearing of the safe and joyous arrival of her baby in late December.

We also farewell Mrs Nihal Kocdag who has worked in the Senior School Library since 2006. We thank her for her contribution to the School and wish her well as she settles into retirement with her family overseas.

In our ELC, we farewell Mrs Krystyna Eggers and Ms Jill Baker who are both looking forward to their well-deserved retirements. After many years of service, they will be dearly missed by the young children and their families in Campbell House. Ms Baker has served at the School for a total of 23 years and Mrs Eggers 21 years; both will remain much treasured members of our community.

After recently completing his Masters of Coaching, Mr Lloyd Knight, Head of Sport, looks to further his career coordinating and coaching the many coaches at Xavier College. And our Head of Rowing, Mr Dave Fraumano, has recently been selected as the 2020 Rowing Australian Capital Territory High Performance Head Coach, working with the ACT Academy of Sport and based from the Australian Institute of Sport. We are fortunate to have significant depth in our staffing at school and look forward to the leadership of Mr Nick Racina and Miss Brigette Carlile as they step into these specific Sport and Rowing roles.

Staff Changes

Whilst remaining at the School as teachers in the coming years, I acknowledge the contribution of our Head of Year 12, Mrs Melissa Braddy; Trips and Exchanges Coordinator, Miss Tamara Andrews; Head of Arts, Mrs Brigid Weereratne; and Head of Mathematics, Mrs Janette Matt who will step down from these specific roles in the School. Mrs Braddy, Mrs Weereratne and Mrs Matt have been recognised in recent years at Speech Night as recipients of the Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Miss Andrews was recognised with an Award for Service to the School Community in 2018. They look forward to supporting the new appointees in these positions.

Mrs Brigid Weereratne, Head of Arts.

The School finalised the recruitment for all new staff in early Term 4 and we feel excited by the level of expertise and value the new staff will bring to the School.

In completing the staffing matrix for 2020, we have also been able to make some internal appointments for staff stepping into leadership positions. In our Wellbeing Team, I congratulate Mr James Brown on his appointment as Head of Year 12; Mrs Tracey McCallum, Head of Year 11; Mrs Kelly Brady, Head of Year 8; and Miss Skye Stansfield, Head of Year 7. Miss Jennifer Molloy looks forward to transitioning with her cohort into Year 9 and Ms Vicky Spanos will continue as the Head of Year 10.

In our Academic Team, I congratulate Mrs Vicki Marinelli on her appointment as Head of Arts; Mrs Angela Klancic, Head of Mathematics; and Mr Paul Gilby, Head of Humanities.

Mr Paul Gilby (left) has been appointed Head of Humanities in the Senior School.

Final Week Events

Next week, we look forward to the Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 4 December and the much anticipated House Arts Competition on Thursday 5 December commencing at 6.00pm in the Dorothy Pizzey Hall. This exceptional event is the culmination of five days’ work, completely led by students, demanding teamwork, months of planning, sharing ideas, collaboration and leadership at its best. This opportunity involves everyone.

Finally, community members are invited to join the School for our Christmas Services:

Junior School Christmas Service
Thursday 5 December at 2.00pm
St John’s Anglican Church
Toorak Road, Toorak

Senior School Christmas Service
Friday 6 December at 11.00am
St John’s Anglican Church
Toorak Road, Toorak