The students returned to School happy and positive to begin the new year in the Year 9 area within the Winter Garden. Excited to see each other, they reconnected with their teachers and were eager to embark on the electives they selected to undertake in Semester 1.

We have welcomed eight new students into St Catherine’s School and into Year 9. Each have been assigned a Blue Ribbon Buddy who has supported them with the transition into school. It is most pleasing to note the high level of inclusion and positive interactions that occur across the year level, where the girls have embraced the new students, warmly welcoming them into the circle of friends.

In 2020, the Global Exchange Program sees students going onto exchange to St George’s School Ascot, St Catherine’s School Bramley, The Royal High School Bath, Culford School, Suffolk, Shawnigan Lake School Canada, and Buffalo Seminary in New York City. In Term 1 we have welcomed five students from England, who have slotted into the routine of the School and immersed themselves in the offerings of the elective and co-curricular programs. Throughout the year students selected into the Program will either host an exchange sister or will be on exchange in either England, Canada, or New York.

The term has provided much excitement, with the restructuring of the School day, the implementation of Monday’s Wellbeing session, followed by Tuesday’s House Tutor/Academic Advisory session and a Level/House meeting on Fridays.

The focus for the Year 9 group has been on ‘gratitude and positivity’.  We are embedding these themes into the Wellbeing program ‘weEngage’ as we progress through the term. The students have been introduced to the Leadership Diploma and many are underway with organising community service activities. Each student received a copy of the Leadership Diploma Booklet. I encourage parents to look at the requirements for each component and discuss these with your daughter. Students have also been introduced to the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and have been working with Mr Brown on this project.

In the Academic Advisory sessions, the students have been setting SMART goals, working on their e-portfolios and discussing the ‘development of the teenage brain’. Mrs Hobson the Heyington 2 Highlands Coordinator introduced the girls to the Fiji program that they will participate in during Term 3. Three students from Year 10 gave an informative and heartfelt presentation about their experiences in Fiji in 2019, and reminded the group that they are a great source of information about the experience.

I am most pleased with the level of commitment to the Co-curricular Program and the lunchtime clubs. GSV sport is progressing well, with the rowing season culminating in the Head of School Girls Regatta (13 -15 March). The orchestras, bands, ensembles, choirs are all rehearsing and there has been much interest in House Chess, introduced in 2020. House Athletics will take place on Wednesday 4 March at the Duncan Mackinnon Athletics Track in Murrumbeena. We would love to see parents there supporting their daughters.

The House Tutors and I look forward to an exciting semester ahead.