Featured in our latest edition of St Catherine’s News, Mr Rob Marshall, provides insights into the importance of transition in achieving educational success for our students.

Like many in football mad Melbourne, I watch with keen interest the rise and rise of the AFLW competition. Daisy Pearce, the Captain of Melbourne is probably the number one high profile player in the game. It has been interesting to watch the role Daisy has played in not only leading the team but assisting Tayla Harris since her move from Carlton.  

Tayla, a bright young talent, burst into the spotlight beyond football after a photograph of her was published. The image of ‘That kick’ was a defining moment in women’s sport pushing back against the sexism which followed the photograph’s publication. Since moving to Melbourne, Daisy has assisted Tayla in her transition from a good, but inconsistent player, to the number one player for contested marks in 2022.  

A child’s educational journey also needs effective transition at important times. The move from Year 6 to Year 7 is arguably the most important. At St Catherine’s, commencing in 2022, Barbreck Year 6 students will be involved in an Academic Transition Program within the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and STEM, and Health. The program aims to support students as they move from the upper primary years, through to the middle years of schooling in Years 7 and 8 in the Senior School.  

For STEM classes, Ms Tori Shaw, Barbreck STEM Specialist and Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae, Head of Science in the Senior School, guide our Junior School students. It is quite unique to have a Senior School Head of Faculty conducting classes with Junior School students. Ms Jackson-McRae’s classes are held in the Senior School Science Laboratories for our Year 6 students, which also assists and readies them for their transition to Year 7.  

In addition to Science, our Year 6 teachers will specialise in their passion teaching areas, with Ms Sandra Ching teaching Mathematics across both classes, along with Senior School teachers working with our Years 5 and 6 Extension Groups, providing specialist expertise. In English, Mrs Jodie Bacon will teach across the two classes and in Health, Senior School Health and Physical Education teacher, Ms Samantha Basford, will teach the Barbreck Health program to both classes.  

This Transition Program introduces the girls to Senior School facilities, engages them with expert staff in specialist fields of study and introduces Senior School practices prior to Year 7, ensuring they experience a smooth journey and strong academic bridge to Year 7 and beyond.  

Just as Daisy Pearce made the transition of new players into the Club a priority, St Catherine’s transition program from Barbreck to the Senior School also needs to be one where the girls continue to thrive and grow – she who is well prepared, transitions well!