Much like the AFL this week announcing 33 games to be played in 20 days, the School continues to adjust to the demands of COVID-19 to ensure events and experiences for our students are re-created virtually and still enjoyed. On Thursday of this week, we virtually welcomed the graduating Class of 2026 for their Year 7 Orientation Day. This event enabled a successful level of peer introduction and interaction in readiness for the girls’ transition to Year 7 in the forthcoming year.

The Senior School Clock Tower is well renowned as our Year 7 Hub and remains a very special place in the heart of the School. Fixed onto the front of the actual Clock Tower itself is an historic marker that may sometimes go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of Year 7 life. The Clock Tower houses one of our oldest bronze plaques. It has etched on its plate: 25 /11/ 1934.

The 25th November, 1934

The plaque is not shiny and new. The brass has darkened, almost stained black in parts with age. I have often found myself running my fingers across the etched words of the plaque – almost as if I was touching history. The Clock Tower plaque was gifted to the school by the St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association in memory of Ruth Langley, a much-loved Principal of St Catherine’s School for over 40 years.

Whilst the Class of 2026 were unfortunately unable to join us on campus, we look forward to encouraging the girls in the future and to notice the Clock Tower plaque, as it serves as a deep reminder of its purpose – a heritage marker of a time, a moment in time.

Indeed, such plaques are designed to provide a thread of our history. They are a tangible reminder that this place that the Class of 2026 will occupy next year, the Clocktower, has been filled with care and faith by others, many who have wondered about the future, just as we do today.

What were the hopes, dreams and stories of the St Catherine’s girls on that day, 25 November 1934? And today, we wonder, what are the hopes, dreams and stories of the class of 2026?

You may like to visit the Year 7 Orientation page for a glimpse into the Class of 2026 Virtual Orientation.

Term 3 Events

Despite the daily disruption to our lives brought about by COVID-19, we hope to press forward with many of the ‘normal’ school events that continue to mark milestones for each year level. Term 3 marks an important time each year, when the Senior cohort commence career conversations and inquiry about tertiary courses, and our younger cohorts start to explore their academic strengths and interests as they enter a period of subject selection for 2021.

Commencing last year, the Senior School adopted a new academic model and structure that is focused towards developing a depth of knowledge within the subjects selected. Drawing on the research of Professor Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education at the OECD, whose key criticism of the Australian curriculum refers to it being “a mile wide but an inch deep”, our remodelling of the timetable has prioritised more time in class of our core subjects in younger grades, as well as for the self-selected subjects through Years 9 and 10, to enable a successful platform in which to transition into the VCE years.

One such example is our pathway for a greater focus on Women in STEM. As such, a keen science student is able to select to study the science disciplines (Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Psychology) for a whole semester; subjects that were traditionally studied as much smaller units within a year-long generalist science course. Most notably, the girls now can study in Year 10 the equivalent of two years of science in Year 10, if four of the Science disciplines were chosen. Of course, this scenario, would mean limits on the other electives selected. We are anticipating that the majority of girls are likely to select at least one science discipline from the four: Biology, Psychology, Physics or Chemistry; with the option of VCE Biology and Psychology also available for Year 10 students. The flip side to this scenario is that some girls may not wish to pursue science in their VCE Program and therefore, are able to focus on other fields such as Pure Humanities, Commerce or The Arts. In the coming weeks, we look forward to detailing the final phase of the academic remodeling undertaken last year to ensure girls transition with an academic readiness for VCE study.

I encourage parents and students to please note the dates for the following key Year Level Information Evenings presented as Webinars. The Year 8 and 9 events will also incorporate information about the proposed Global Programs that traditionally run and the School’s preliminary planning specific to COVID-19. Links to these events will be published on the School Portal and via email on the day of Webinar.

Key Dates – Term 3

Information Evenings commencing at 6pm

Staff Professional Development

Monday 17 August        Staff Professional Development Day – Student free day

Parent Teacher Interviews

Thursday 3 September   Senior School Years 10-12 (and Boarding) Parent Teacher Interviews