Middle Years Musical – The Addams Family

Last night, I enjoyed attending the Opening Night of our Middle Years Musical, The Addams Family. The Show is hilarious. This Edition of the Musical written for Schools, is described as a whacky and delightfully family friendly show with characters who hold a love of all things macabre and gruesome.  

The Addams Family has been a constant presence on our screens since the 1960s, with numerous iterations ever since. Since the Broadway production closed, many schools have been drawn to perform the school version for audiences who enjoy these fun-loving characters who care so much for each other. Many parts of the original Broadway set feature in our production! The surge of interest following the Netflix series, Wednesday, has furthered everyone’s intrigue about this wonderfully kooky, yet genuine family. 

In my conversations with parents, grandparents, family friends, and staff at the conclusion of the evening, we were all impressed by the musical talents, choreography, and acting of our girls across Years 7, 8, and 9, and the many students involved in the Backstage Crew. This is a challenging show for young students and there have been high demands on them. The Cast has excelled and worked like true artists in a comparatively short rehearsal period, committing themselves to extra practice and refinement outside of rehearsals. Their performances continue to impress us as they keep discovering more moments within this cleverly written musical.  

I take this opportunity to acknowledge all the students in their performances but highlight the lead roles whose depth of talent and skill on stage was certain. Many of the girls have engaged wholeheartedly in the opportunities provided by the Performing Arts Department over the course of their time in the Senior School, many of whom are Barbreck students, and their expertise and experience were highlighted throughout this evening. Congratulations to the ten lead roles: Olivia Grasso, Sahara Pender, Camilla Aberdeen, Jiali (Erena) Zhu, Samantha (Sam) Kudnig, Pernilla Coleman, Ava Murray, Kari Prendergast, Mia Upton, and Isabella Ayre. I am sure the girls involved will carry forward fond memories of the joy of performance and friendships formed across Year levels. 

A musical brings a community together and I thank all the staff who have worked tirelessly to provide this opportunity for our St Catherine’s girls. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work of staff members: Ms Kathyrn Lucas as Director, Mr Nick Grunden as Musical Director, Miss Kirrilly Wootton as Choreographer, and Mrs Lisa Gionfriddo as Costume Manager.  

Like participating in a sport, involvement in a musical requires a high commitment from cast members. It builds a sense of belonging and develops self-confidence through rehearsals and performances. My best wishes to all students and staff involved in the final two performances on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. 

Other People Matter – the Value of Volunteering

In a recent episode of The Imperfects, an Australian podcast from Hugh van Cuylenburg, creator of The Resilience Project, clinical psychologist, Dr Emily Musgrove discussed the pursuit of long-term happiness. 

Dr Musgrove shared the work of Doctor Christopher Pearson, a pioneer in positive psychology whose research found that what makes life worth living can be summarised in three simple words: OTHER PEOPLE MATTER. 

“There’s so much that sits underneath that statement…but it really hits at the core of what makes life worth living is our sense of connection and connectedness with other people,” Dr Musgrove shared. 

At St Catherine’s what truly makes our School special is the authentic connections between our vibrant student body, dedicated teachers, and our incredible parents who step forward as volunteers and role models, exemplifying the very essence of connected communities. 

In my Address to volunteers at our Thank You Event held last week, I shared that “in a world that often seems so disconnected, it is our parent volunteers who remind us of the enduring power of community. Our parent volunteers devote their time, squeezed between their own work and busy family schedules, to our School time and again. Their dedication sends a powerful message about the value of giving back, the importance of participating in a community, and the immense joy that comes from making a positive difference in the lives of others.” 

Mrs Roxanne Ktenavos with her daughters, Georgia (Year 4), and Stella (Year 1)

Mrs Roxanne Ktenavos, President of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association says volunteering at St Catherine’s has been so rewarding. “Making a difference at St Catherine’s is such a great feeling. It enables you to get to know staff and parents from other Year levels. I have made lifelong friends from being part of the PFA.” 

Earlier this year St Catherine’s PFA International Parent Reps, Juan Xu and Jing Zhang hosted an International Families Picnic at Como House Garden to bring together many of our School’s international families. “This experience left us with cherished memories and an enduring spirit of togetherness, motivating us to plan more gatherings in the future to nurture the bonds of friendship,” shared Juan and Jing.

2023 International Families Social Picnic

Last week’s annual volunteer thank you event provided us, as a school, the opportunity to formally acknowledge the tremendous work of our parent volunteers. We were able to pause, reflect, and express our deep appreciation for the invaluable contributions our parents make to life at St Catherine’s.” 

The work of the Creative Arts Auxiliary in supporting the VCE Art Show and Middle Years Musical – The Addams Family caps off a tremendous year for President, Mrs Irene Karas, and the many parents who ensure a smile and welcome at every key event for the Arts Faculty. In addition, the Sports Auxiliary this week hosted the Celebration of Sport Evening, in a new format at 6.00pm with refreshments served around the Fountain prior to an informative interview with three Melbourne Victory and Matildas players, Melissa Barbieri, Naomi Chinnama, and Holly McNamara. On Saturday evening, our PFA hosted the magnificent Spring Ball at Crown Aviary. Bringing together parents and staff from our Early Learning Centre through to Senior School, the Spring Ball was a wonderful occasion of friend-raising, and fundraising, by the PFA.

Through being involved, volunteering, participating, and demonstrating the importance of belonging in a community, our St Catherine’s parents actively role model and shape the values and character of their daughters through good citizenship, respectful relationships, and gratitude. There are so many ways to become involved at St Catherine’s School. If you are interested in volunteering, learn more about our parent-led community auxiliaries in the link below. St Catherine’s School Parent Auxiliaries – Learn More Here  

Care and Support for our Students and Families

This past week, the atrocities occurring in Gaza have flooded our news coverage. I am aware of a number of families who have friends and loved ones in this region and are experiencing significant worry and upset over these senseless and barbaric attacks.

We encourage parents of families that are experiencing distress to please reach out to the Heads of Year in the Senior School, or our Head of Junior School, Ms Karen McArdle, so we can best support your daughter whilst at School.  

In addition, we have been advised of the release of video footage on social media that is too horrific for words. Parents are advised to closely monitor their children’s social media use and be aware that they may inadvertently view distressing content. This serves as an important reminder that the internet is often full of content that no one should see, let alone children. 

As a School community, we will continue to provide support for all students and families affected by these tragic events.