In my short time here, I have encountered the beauty of some of the St Catherine’s rituals – some formal and others less so, having evolved, no doubt, from a rich legacy of sisterhood.  While standing at the school gates on the day of the Year 7 Induction, I found myself unexpectedly having to hold back tears while I watched as the Year 12 girls rushed towards a tentative Year 7 girl, laden with a bulging, brand-new bag, filled with newly purchased books. Such an expression of warmth and care, all while the music of the Bee Gees (ironically – or maybe intentionally – playing ‘More than a Woman’ pumped from their portable speaker), was profoundly moving and was for me, a poignant introduction to the good that exists within our St Catherine’s students. 

I was heartened too to stand in the back of the Ballroom on the occasion of the new student orientation session and watch as the new Senior and Middle School students, boarders and international visitors, were paired with their ‘buddies’, existing students who had volunteered a day of their holidays to ensure that the newest members of our community felt welcomed and settled before the first official school day.  At the end of the event, I introduced myself to one of the Year 9 buddies and told her that I admired her for volunteering her time as a buddy.  “Oh no, I don’t mind” she assured me, “I like it, I want the new girls to feel happy here.” This unsolicited and casual admission of kindness is one of many I have had the pleasure to be a part of.   

Currently, our Year 11 English students have commenced with a study of Helen Garner’s Short Stories.  Garner is an astute observer of human behaviour, with a talent for gleaning meaning from the everyday, the mundane.  Garner writes about the world of women, what the New Yorker describes as, “that essential feminist concern: the politics of domestic life.” She writes too of the pleasure of observation, admitting that “It is a terrific privilege to be able to see into somebody else’s life.” Being new to this community, as too are some of our students and families, provides all of us with a chance to step in from the outside and to really see the reality.  For me, so far, the reality has included the joys of the welcome rituals, the magic that takes place within the classrooms of young women who are poised and eager to learn, and the professionalism and dedication of the teachers who are experts at their craft.   

It has been a joy to be warmly welcomed into the St Catherine’s community and see, firsthand, the magic that takes place within the grounds of this beautiful school. It is fitting that so much of what I have experienced so far is a testament to the school motto, which translates as ‘nothing is great unless it is good’, for there appears to be an abundance of goodness. I look forward to contributing to this, our vibrant St Catherine’s community.