It has been wonderful to welcome our girls back to fulltime learning at Barbreck! The sounds of laughter and giggles fill our building and playgrounds, as the girls reconnect with their friends and once again learn and play together.

This week I have interviewed a number of Year 4 students as well as our wonderful Junior School Captains on their school year so far.

Year 4 Interview with Imogen Herron, Ruby Figiel and Serena Ma

I spoke with Imogen, Ruby and Serena on their thoughts and feelings about returning to School.

Imogen has had mixed feelings, saying parts were good, while others were not so good. She has enjoyed seeing her friends again and undertaking Extension Mathematics and, when online, she enjoyed having food whenever she wanted.

Imogen’s highlights for the year have been commencing at St Catherine’s and making many new friends, “everyone is so nice and caring,” along with qualifying for District Swimming and Athletics. Imogen also commented on loving the two teachers she had this year. In the coming years, Imogen is looking forward to “trying out for House Captain, competing in Interschool Sports, doing band and hopefully learning trumpet, and one of my best friends is coming next year to St Catherine’s too.”

Ruby loved returning to School and seeing her friends “all happy again”. She found online learning affected her concentration levels, but once back at School she said she “was more focussed and could learn things more easily”. Her highlights were moving to the upper primary year levels and really exploring French this year! Ruby is looking forward to “going to Sovereign Hill, starting to learn guitar and meeting her teachers for next year.”

Serena also loved returning to school. Playing with her friends and seeing her teachers were the positives for her. She found being on screens throughout lockdown hard. She loves being in the Extension groups and particularly liked writing her own short story. She is reading The Wizard of Oz and will always remember Mr Tainsh dancing on the desktop “because he is really happy about us doing so well!”. Serena loves that they are learning how to weave in Art and is looking forward to “joining public speaking, being a leader and more girls joining the School.”

Interview with the Junior School Captains: Chloe Nash and Claudia Driver

Over the course of 2021, our two Junior School Captains, Chloe and Claudia have provided wonderful leadership within the School environment and also during Learn@Home, including organising and running some very thoughtful and entertaining Barbreck Assemblies. As the final weeks of their terms as Captains comes to a close, I discussed their final year of Junior School with them. Their reflections are provided below:

As Junior School Captains, what did you both set out to achieve?

We set out to:

• Make all of the girls get to know each other
• Be a school family
• Help girls believe in themselves
• Have girls encourage each other

What did you do to achieve this?

Through assemblies we showed videos about how to help each other and to spread positive messages.

The messages they felt were key:

Chloe: Think of ‘We’ not ‘Me’. This was key to getting girls through COVID.

Claudia: Stand up for what you believe in, even if you stand alone.

What are your highlights from 2021?

Both girls agree the highlight of the year was speaking at the 125 Year Celebration Ceremony. “We were so nervous, but after that we knew everything else we did would be easier!”

When asked what they could take from their time in Barbreck:

Chloe: A family. It is easy to make good friends here.

Claudia: It has been a really good journey, full of great experiences.

They were asked what their wish for Barbreck would be:

Chloe: For everyone to stay kind and not be judgemental.

Claudia: For everyone to continue to be supportive, be kind – you are all in this together. For Barbreck to continue to be a happy and safe place for everyone.

What makes a good school?

Chloe and Claudia: Barbreck is a safe environment. Girls are excited about school and there is nothing to get upset about – everyone is friendly, teachers are so supportive and want to help, and there is always someone to talk to.

What motto would you like to pass onto the girls of Barbreck?

Chloe: Nothing is impossible – even the word: I’m possible.

Claudia: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Be tough mentally!

What three words best describe your time as Junior School Captains?

Chloe: Connected, Exciting, Empowering.

Claudia: Amazing, Thrilling, Committed.

Out of School Hours Care – Week 6 Activities

Upcoming activities for Term 4 Week 6 detailed here.

St Catherine’s School offers an Out of School Hours Care program to all ELC and Junior School families. The program is implemented by our provider ‘After the Bell’, and operates within the ELC building. Parents are reminded that if you need to use the Before School Care or After School Care service, registrations need to be made in advance with ‘After the Bell’. Please allow up to five business days for your registration to be processed before your child can begin attending the program. Registration is free. All families are encouraged to register so that you can use this service in the event that you are unable to pick up your child.

Before School Care – 7.00am to 8.45am

After School Care – 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Registrations can be completed via the ‘After the Bell’ website.

Please phone 9758 6744 for all enquiries.