St Catherine’s School offers a supportive and balanced environment for students. The school’s commitment is to nurture and empower students through its richness of academic, wellbeing and co-curricular programs.

For girls who are boarding at Illawarra, the Boarding House, it is a ‘home away from home’. Their emotional, physical and academic wellbeing needs are supported, and at the core of the boarding
experience.

Charlotte Rowe, who has been boarding for three years, loves the environment. “Coming from a small country town, I was quite daunted by the change,” she said. “However, the ease which I settled and felt comfortable in a completely different setting, and the ability to gain many friendships due to the small size is amazing.”

This was never more evident than during last year’s COVID-19 experience and online learning, where the girls not only pushed through their comfort zones but thrived. “At the commencement of online learning, my teachers were very proactive, almost as if they had prepared months in advance,” Charlotte said. “I quite enjoyed learning via Microsoft Teams, from the comfort of my own home. I was able to learn at my own pace and develop an insight into alternative schooling techniques.”

Charlotte’s parents, Rosie and Mal Rowe, agree. “In our view, St Catherine’s did an amazing job with online learning,” they said. “They kept on with much of the cocurricular activities. We felt the school showed a deep understanding of what the students were experiencing.

“You could tell there was a strong team behind the scenes. The IT team, in particular, was always so helpful and responsive.”

As a result of last year’s online learning, St Catherine’s has adapted its educational platform to cater for the students’ needs. This year the school is embracing a hybrid learning model for Years 10 and 11, where both face-to-face teaching and online delivery are part of the learning process.

The Rowes like the “small size of St Catherine’s, the many opportunities offered and the leadership of the school”.

“Seeing Charlotte flourish and grow into a confident, open-minded and independent young woman reflects the true value of her education,” they said.

“We have been so impressed by the quality of the teachers and excited to see their approach to learning.”

Prospective students and families are invited to tour St Catherine’s School and meet existing boarders. To find out more please contact Registrar Ms Jeanette Boehm on (03) 9828 3917,
email admissions@stcatherines.net.au