It’s all aboard at St Catherine’s
Article from The Weekly Times Boarding Feature
Published on 14 October 2015:
STAFF and senior boarders ensure every girl is known and valued at Illawarra, St Catherine’s School’s boarding house. St Catherine’s, in the inner Melbourne suburb of Toorak, offers day and boarding school education for girls. It has 740 students from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12, with up to 50 local, rural and international students living in the boarding house.
As a relatively small school with a single campus, all students learn in one central community. There is a strong focus on routine at Illawarra, but boarding students also enjoy outings in Melbourne as part of organised weekend activities including visits to galleries, markets and beaches. Boarders have access to the school’s study areas, sports and aquatic centre, gymnasium and tennis courts.
“Boarding house life at St Catherine’s provides an opportunity for our girls to further develop their character, self-discipline, organisational skills and leadership, all while nurturing lifelong friendships,” director of boarding Sue Collister said. “Our boarding girls have such a positive impact on life at St Catherine’s.
“They contribute fully to their academic classes and enjoy the co-curricular activities on offer in our sporting and cultural programs including rowing, snow sports, debating competitions and music performances.”
Year 12 student Poppy Frances, from Deniliquin, started boarding at St Catherine’s in Year 10 and enjoys the camaraderie and support of fellow boarders.
“The aspects of boarding life that I most enjoy are the relationships and bonds you create with the other girls, no matter what year level,” Poppy said. “Another aspect I appreciate is the routine, it is such a good environment to be in while studying.”
Boarders are provided with academic care and career guidance that, when combined with university enhancement courses offered in Years 11 and 12, help to establish an easy pathway into tertiary studies.
St Catherine’s has a reputation for outstanding VCE results. Over the past five years, more than 71 per cent of Year 12s achieved an ATAR score of 80 or above, and 5.5 per cent achieved above 99.
