I would like to offer my sincere thanks to our parent community, Old Girls and past parents who work in the medical profession for their expert and skilled advice, and for their ongoing support of our school and wider community as they work at the frontline in hospitals and medical clinics. They are pivotal in managing public health as we face one of the greatest global health challenges at this time.  Their honourable, generous spirit is inspiring.

I also extend my thanks to our students across the campus for their understanding and cooperation during this challenging time. In our live stream Assembly on Monday, I reminded the Senior School girls of St Catherine’s history during World War II, when students and staff were relocated to the country town of Warburton. At the time, the Defence Force acquired residence of Sherren House. Undoubtedly, a challenging school year without the technology enjoyed in 2020, that imbued a spirit at St Catherine’s that has engendered over many years. It is this spirit that I encouraged our girls to be inspired by, these courageous women, our St Catherine’s Old Girls. I thoroughly enjoy the company of our Old Girls at their School Reunions, and I am always inspired by their memories of their time at Warburton, their care for each other, and lasting friendships; what we are experiencing feels eerily similar. Our girls this week have responded to my request for their spirit, and their care and kindness towards each other.

I offer my heartfelt appreciation and thanks to our dedicated teaching Staff and ICT Teams for their preparedness to teach your daughters in a somewhat different format. Their honest and genuine commitment to the education of your children is unconditional and unequivocal. Our School leaders have taken some time to express their gratitude to our teachers for all they are doing to ensure classes continue for the remainder of Term 1. View their message here

The details of the teaching and learning environments for your daughter in both Barbreck and in the Senior School is linked here. As detailed in a separate communication to Year 11 and 12 parents on Thursday, our VCE students undertaking a Unit 3 will continue classes next week at School. Please find further this communication here.

In this unprecedented time, we all have a role to play in supporting the efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19. Following the Prime Minister’s address this week, there is a clear request to support frontline healthcare professionals, medical practitioners and others in critical services to be able to stay at work. If you work in the occupations highlighted by the Prime Minister and would like your child to attend St Catherine’s School next week as you do not have an alternative available, please contact the School Reception. We can arrange supervision, whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines and enable participation with their continued learning. As teachers will be present at School next week, families across Barbreck and the Senior School who are unable to supervise their daughters at home are encouraged to utilise the School support.

In the absence of a further government directive for all schools and Early Learning Centres, essential care and a modified program will be offered at the ELC for families who are unable to care for their children at home next week. Please contact Ms Sarah Bethune, Head of ELC, should you require this service.

The situation is changing rapidly as Australia and countries around the world take drastic steps to slow the spread of COVID-19. We remain hopeful that Term 2 may start as normally planned. However, this will be monitored and assessed constantly over the coming weeks and evaluated by the School Council, in collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team. Currently, the arrangements for the start of Term 2 will need to be flexible and the School will keep you fully informed over the weeks in the lead up to Term 2.

Our SCOGA Executive remain an active member of our School community at this unprecedented time and draw on the importance of staying connected. SCOGA President Chrissy Ryan (’79) highlights an “opportunity for all of us to take care of our inner world and deepen relationships. No doubt, as things escalate, it is inevitable that members of our community will face hardship.”

The SCOGA Executive team would love to hear from you and is currently planning lots of ways to stay connected over the weeks and months ahead. Our older Old Girls may welcome a visit for a cup of tea by a team member (at a safe social distance, of course), or need shopping done. Perhaps community members may like help with technology as a means to stay connected as we continue to curtail or postpone all our usual daily activities.

The SCOGA Babysitting Register has also been established with over 40 Old Girls registered to assist families with care of young children. Parents seeking further support are encouraged to contact the Advancement Office: advancement@stcatherines.net.au

To assist community members, the School has created an Information Page available on the School Portal to provide up to date information about COVID-19 https://myportal.stcatherines.net.au/homepage/23788. Please ensure you have the St Catherines School App on your phone to receive instant notifications on updates to this Information Page.

I wish to express my many thanks for your ongoing care and support of each other. This is an extremely challenging time, unprecedented, and I cannot emphasise enough the need to role model a calm and reassuring manner for the benefit and wellbeing of all our students. My message to our school community is to provide kindness, care and support in your engagement with each other.