“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours.
And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

Terry Pratchett, Author

We Empower Her Signature and Voice

The Towards 2025 Strategic Plan strengthens the Co-curricular opportunities at St Catherine’s School, providing our students opportunities to craft their own program through Her Signature Co-curricular programs.

Her Signature is designed to encourage, inspire and enrich participation for all our students – empowering them to be authentic and fearless. Our students can tailor their own program by accessing the vast array of activities St Catherine’s offers in Sport, Music, Performing Arts, Debating, Public Speaking, Global Programs, Exchanges and Community Service.

Her Signature is underpinned by three essential pillars designed to provide our students with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone in safe and supportive environments – to learn, investigate and challenge themselves:

Character – by creating resilient, persistent and responsible women

Engagement – with a community focused approach

Leadership – through inspiring the next generation of aspiring leaders.

As part of Her Signature, we have recently released the 2022 Global Program opportunities for our students in Years 7 to 12. It has been enjoyable to work with our staff and external providers to seek learning opportunities. In curating these bespoke experiences using the theme, ‘stay close, travel further’ our students can fill their school holidays with adventure within Australia and New Zealand.

In 2022, we are offering programs to students in Years 7 to 12. These include:

2022 Years 7 to 12 Global Programs

• Years 7 to 9 Tasmania Hiking – Compass Program
• Year 9 Domestic Exchange Program
• Years 10 to 12 New Zealand Expedition, Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Years 10 to 12 Duke of Edinburgh Silver and Gold Award, Adventurous Journey
• Years 10 to 11 CASE Ocean School Years Science Program
• Years 10 to 12 Northern Queensland Visual Art Tour
• Years 9 to 11 Language Immersion Experience

To find out more on the Global Programs on offer in 2022 click here.

Years 9 to 12 Opportunities

A key feature of Her Signature is the engagement of our Years 9 to 12 students in participating and learning through The Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Duke of Ed is an internationally recognised Award Program, providing students with the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, learn new skills and increase career opportunities.

Through the Duke of Edinburgh Program students are empowered to achieve their personal best, by setting goals and choices. Participants become increasingly connected and actively engaged within their immediate community, whilst making a difference to society through their positive contributions and involvement. Participants also learn to persevere and overcome barriers in achieving their goals.

Through participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, students learn essential life skills including independence, perseverance, resilience, self-awareness and self-improvement. With community service built into the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, the Duke of Edinburgh Program allows our girls to engage with the wider community through service, providing the scope for our girls to understand the needs of those less fortunate than themselves and giving their time to assist others. Universities recognise the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program in their placement of students in courses.

During the Term 1 holidays, two groups of students engaged in the Adventurous Journey component of the Duke of Edinburgh Award – the Silver Adventurous Journey Sea Kayak in the Gippsland Lakes. Whilst students completing the Gold Award took part in an eight day hiking adventure in the Bogong High Plains and Falls Creek.

Whilst this experience was preceded by unprecedented warm weather over Easter, our students in the High Plains departed just as the weather turned and encountered cold and windy conditions, waking up surrounded by snow which coated the mountainous surrounds and valleys. Two of our Year 12 students, Allegra and Sara have reflected on their experience.

“One of the most challenging activities I took part in this semester was the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Camp. We went to Falls Creek and hiked for eight days. The weather made it very difficult as it was snowing. Despite this camp being very challenging, it was my greatest achievement for the semester, in particular, the final days when we climbed Mount Bogong. I never thought I would have been able to climb up the mountain, let alone get back down, yet by working as a team and developing a strong mindset we were all able to do it.”  Allegra Dennison

“In the Term 1 holidays, I went on the Duke of Edinburgh camp with girls in the year below and my year. It was very challenging – both weather-wise and physically – but it was great fun to get to know other girls in the year below better and to have a break from studying during the holidays.” Sara Zayontz.

Allegra and Sara commenced their Duke of Edinburgh journey when they were both in Year 9, working through four compulsory elements of the Award; Service, Physical Recreation, Skill and the Adventurous Journey. Allegra and Sara’s reflections show the unique experiences, challenges and sense of achievement in their engagement in the program and Adventurous Journey.

Years 7 to 8 Opportunities

In 2021, our Years 7 and 8 students have been invited to participate in the Compass Award Program, facilitated by the Duke of Edinburgh Program. The Compass Program is designed for students aged 10 to 13 years of age and built on a similar premise as the Duke of Edinburgh Award:

• Enhancing young people’s personal development;
• Fostering positive attitudes towards learning; and
• Promotion of engagement and interaction with the community.

The Compass Program comprises of four key areas: physical activities, hobbies, volunteering and exploration.

St Catherine’s has also established an introductory hiking program on Maria Island, Tasmania for students in Years 7 to 9. This four day program will include day hikes in one of Tasmania’s best kept secrets, with a rich history of Aboriginal habitation, convict penal station, farming and national park. This program is a fabulous opportunity for students in Years 7 to 9 to experience St Catherine’s Global Programs.

Through personalised Co-curricular experiences our young women see their everyday experiences with “new eyes and extra colours,” filling their ‘toolbox’ with resilience, persistence, engagement and further opportunities to develop their personal leadership and continue their path towards becoming responsible young women.

I invite you to join us on 10 August at 6.00pm for the 2022 Global Programs Webinar, where we will provide further details on each of the programs on offer next year. To register for the webinar event please click here.