Top girls’ institution has tailor-made tours


top girls school VCE results 2021

Top girls’ institution has tailor-made tours
A historic school is offering a range of ways for prospective students to safely explore it.

With outstanding VCE results in 2021 that saw a median ATAR of 92.1, St Catherine’s School is now placed as the number one performing girls’ school in Victoria.

“St Catherine’s 2021 VCE results are testament to the academic care our teachers provide to every student, particularly during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years,” says the school’s principal, Michelle Carroll.

Established in 1896, St Catherine’s School is regarded as one of Australia’s finest independent girls’ schools.

Situated on a leafy 2.9-hectare campus in Toorak, St Catherine’s caters for 720 students from early learning to year 12, including up to 50 boarders from local, rural and international communities who call Illawarra – the school’s majestic circa 1890 National Trust-listed mansion – home during school terms.

This academic powerhouse has long been renowned for its extensive educational programs. Today, St Catherine’s curriculum encompasses 55 VCE studies and, beyond the classroom, a breadth of co-curricular activities unparalleled in Victoria, including gymnastics, snow sports, rowing, music, drama, outdoor education, debating and public speaking.

“Additionally, students may choose to participate in a range of exchanges, cultural trips and programs, and are also encouraged to engage in community service,” says Carroll.

“At St Catherine’s we are committed to cultivating a ‘thinking classroom’ that enables our students to possess an intellectual quality of thinking that prepares hem for a complex and interconnected world.”

In meeting the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, St Catherine’s has introduced innovations including the senior years learning model – a hybrid-learning framework that embraces both face-to-face learning and one asynchronous independent learning tutorial for each subject with masterclasses.

“Teaching methods need to evolve to ensure we deliver the best learning opportunities for our students,” Carroll says.
The pandemic has also led St Catherine’s School to reshape its open days and school tours.

“Selecting a school is one of the most important decisions families will make on behalf of their child, and we have ensured all guests have the opportunity to explore the school safely,” says Carroll.

“There is no better way to discover the St Catherine’s experience than taking a personal guided tour.

“Entering via the school’s historic Heyington Gates, families experience students actively engaged in learning experiences and the quality of teaching provided by staff, and gain a true understanding of the unique St Catherine’s community.”

Newly-designed principal’s tours will also be held throughout 2022 – an opportunity for families to talk to Carroll and meet St Catherine’s students.

Full and half-day ‘Experience St Catherine’s’ tours, suitable for girls in years 3-10, provide a day-in-the-life classroom experience, when prospective students are matched with a buddy for the day, providing the opportunity to gain real insights into the school’s academic and co-curricular programs.

For families considering boarding, St Catherine’s ‘Experience Illawarra’ tour sees girls matched with a ‘boarding buddy’, and experience a regular school day, participating in academic and co-curricular programs, followed by in-house dining and a night at the on-site Illawarra mansion.

St Catherine’s also provides virtual tours of the school campus, whereby online guests can view 360-degree imagery of the school’s state-of-the-art facilities and learning spaces, and comfortable, welcoming boarding facilities.

The Age, Open Days and Special Events Feature, February 12 2022

Sandy Guy

Features Writer, The Age

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