The Year 2 class have been busy with their HASS studies. The unit of work ‘Our past and present connections to people and places’, has taken the girls on a historical journey of their school. We started our learning journey with a sketch of Sherren House from outside. The girls thoroughly enjoyed this, analysing and focusing on details they had never noticed before. Observing the size and age.

We continued our investigations with weekly lessons from Ms Sue Cooke, Sue attended St Catherine’s as a day girl, and her mother (an Old Girl) was Vice Captain of the School in 1945. Sue’s mother’s aunt by marriage, Nancy Chambers (nee Lay) was also a past student who attended St Catherine’s at Williams Road (before it moved to Heyington Place). After completing an Arts degree at Melbourne University, Sue became a primary teacher, working for the Education Department and Geelong College. She then returned to Melbourne, accepting a position as Prep teacher in Barbreck. She remained teaching at St Catherine’s for 37 years. Sue was well equipped to share her vast knowledge of the School and its history with us. From old uniforms to pictures, and many stories, our girls were given a clear insight to days past at St Catherine’s. Sue proudly remains a blue-ribbon girl.

Our first building tour was of Sherren House, built in 1858. The tour was kindly conducted by our Archivist Melissa Campbell. Melissa showed us the grand old rooms and discussed their prior use and function. Immersing the girls in the rich history of St Catherine’s School, the girls delved into the archives, uncovering tales of the old uniforms that once adorned the corridors. Comparing them to the sleek designs of today, they reflected on the evolution of tradition and fashion, bridging the gap between the past and the present.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the spaces and seeing where the girls boarded once in the grand house. The staircase with its height and grandeur leading from the grand entrance hall was exciting to see, however the highlight was seeing Ms Charles in her office and seeing through the secret doors and pathways leading us to the historical view of the past Headmistresses was thrilling, after learning about these remarkable people and how they helped St Catherine’s to be the school it is today.

Year 2S

St Catherine’s Lane

History on the walls

Ms Sue Cooke in the 2S classroom

Eycie Yuan 2S – Sherren House

Evie Orwin-Jolly 2S – Sherren House

Finding the school crest

Finding the St Catherine’s School Crests

Year 2 returned to class and studied the school crest and its origins. Learning the meaning of the Latin words ‘Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum-Nothing is Great unless it is Good’. The girls enjoyed exploring the buildings and the grounds of St Catherine’s to hunt for the school crest. They were amazed to find it displayed on doormats, the main gates, the school bus, etched on windows, on their uniform and more.

Ms Sue Cooke sharing her uniform

Tour with Head of Boarding, Ms Claire Van Boxel

Illawarra, the ornate National Trust house was our next school building to explore. The tour of the boarding house was led by Claire van Boxel (Head of Boarding). It was interesting to hear the history of this grand house and to be able to compare it to Sherren House. To see where the boarders live now, in contrast to the verandas of Sherren House, where the boarders once slept.

Through their history studies of St Catherine’s School, the Year 2S girls have developed an immense pride and deeper connection to their school. They are Blue Ribbon Girls!