The Year 9 Wellbeing theme is weEngage which truly embodies the Cohort this year. They have participated and engaged in every opportunity on offer to them, not only within St Catherine’s but in the community and around the world.  

This year saw 23 students participate in our Year 9 Global Exchange Program travelling within Australia and abroad to the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States of America. This Program has enabled significant growth in our students, providing unique experiences within other schools and cultures. Whether it be on camp, through Sport, Music, Drama, or Debating, the Year 9s have participated with enthusiasm and drive to conquer any challenge thrown at them.  

Some of our Year 9 students provide their highlights of their year below. 

Camp 

Year 9 Camp was exciting, and we tried so many things. Our group leader knew so much about nature and the environment, and we learned so much from being with her every day.  

For those who had returned from Exchange, it gave us a chance to reconnect with our friends and create stronger friendships with girls we weren’t as close with before. The highlight of the trip was undoubtedly snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and seeing all the animals. Swimming with the turtles was such a surreal experience.  

On the trip, our group saw two wild cassowaries and a crocodile twice, and we saw three green sea turtles. At Woodleigh Cattle Station we learned about agricultural sustainability, and how to milk a cow. We also observed the processes involved in farming and food sourcing. We also learnt how to throw a boomerang and crack a whip which wasn’t as easy as it looked. As part of a First Nations hunting and gathering experience, we went spear hunting for crabs. These were things most of us had never done before.  

This trip taught us so many things. Specifically, we enjoyed learning about the culture of the traditional custodians of Mossman Gorge and discovering more about the plants, animals, and environment of Queensland. Whilst on Camp, I also felt grateful to be given the opportunity to participate in some service projects where we did things like cooking and making sanitary packages for the homeless, through a foundation called Rosie’s Friends on the Street. 

Overall, the 2023 FNQ Camp was such an eye-opening and exciting experience. We are so grateful we were able to participate in it.  

Kari Prendergast, Nell Peat, and Poppy Cashmore 

Community Service 

Near the end of Term 3 the Year 9 girls all worked together in their House groups to run a Bake Sale. They had to work together to plan what each person was baking, make posters, advertise, and organise who was running the stall. During this period, the girls planned through each step enhancing their leadership and organisation skills.

The sales raised over $1,000 in support of the Red Cross. I’m proud to say the girls’ delicious desserts were practically all sold out by recess. A massive achievement for the Year 9s who put a lot of time and effort into this.

However, the Bake Sale could not have been achieved without our House Tutor teachers who helped to supervise, and Mrs Stansfield who helped organise this event.

Overall, this was a massive success and I hope it can be continued in future years.

Isabella Wang 

Exchange

During Term 2, I was fortunate enough to go on Exchange for 10 weeks to Culford in the UK.  

For me, just boarding was a completely new experience! It was a highlight, finishing school, and walking only two minutes to get back to my boarding house, especially not worrying about a long train ride to get home. Then there was having the opportunity to leave my room, walk a couple of feet down the hall, knock on a friend’s door, and be able to spend hours hanging out in our rooms or doing homework together. Another benefit was roaming the entirely green, massive campus, and occasionally stopping by to watch or sometimes join in the weekend cricket games or tennis matches. There was also the boarding community, where I knew everyone from every Year level, the teachers in charge during the day and keeping us in control at night, having our own kitchen to cook in, and even the 9:30pm phone hand-in became part of the routine.  

These simple, but welcoming things are what made it feel like a second home for those 10 weeks. At first, I was nervous I would be behind in class, but to my surprise, I had a strong basis for almost everything I needed to know. Having teachers everywhere, constantly checking to make sure I understood in class, or the staff at the boarding house, including a matron and house mistress, checking we were okay and giving us everything we needed really helped. 

So, all in all, if someone were to ask me if I would ever consider doing it again, there would be no doubt in my mind about it, and to clarify, that is a yes!! 

Sofia Harland