As we come to the end of Semester One, I feel a great sense of pride and satisfaction reflecting on what has been a wonderful term for the Junior School. I am sure many would agree that a highlight has been the Year 5 and 6 musical. The girls worked incredibly hard throughout the term and delivered exceptional performances that did not disappoint. I received numerous comments from parents who were impressed by the professionalism of the production and the outstanding talent of the students. While it was a demanding week, the girls rose to the occasion brilliantly. The success of the musical was supported by the efforts of the entire Junior School, who played important roles in both rehearsals and the performances. A special mention must go to Kristen Hanefi and Lucy Mason, who have worked tirelessly throughout the year. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and commitment.

Just over two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of presenting, alongside Kate Banks, Deputy Head of Junior School, research from my PhD on assessment and reporting to our parent community. We explored how assessment is the bridge between teaching and learning and the most effective assessment practices are those that focus on improving student learning, not merely measuring it. This means our approach must consistently reflect the idea that assessment is a tool for learning. With the high calibre of our staff at St Catherine’s, much of this practice is already embedded in our teaching.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will be updating our reporting system to provide clearer and more consistent communication with families. We will also be introducing digital portfolios in 2026 to give parents a snapshot into their daughter’s learning at school. More detail will be provided for parents towards the end of the year.

During the presentation, we also outlined several key areas we aim to continue developing:

• Literacy and Numeracy
• Social and Communication Skills
• Home–School Partnership
• Student Leadership
• Learning Support
• Health and Physical Movement
• Collaboration and Building Teacher Capacity

Please click the link to view a summary of the presentation that outlines these areas of focus in more detail.

We wish all families a wonderful and restful holiday. It is a important opportunity to pause, recharge, and prepare for an exciting Term 3!