A St Catherine’s girl since Year 1 in Barbreck, there is much to be impressed with in relation to Allegra Dennison’s contribution to the Co-curricular life of St Catherine’s School.  

Allegra leads by example in her role as Langley Templeton House Captain and member of the Student Executive, treating all students and teachers with respect and care, including mentoring girls from the younger Year levels, passing on her accumulated wisdom. 

Allegra was also a member of the DAV Debating Team, participating in the Rotary Club Ainger Public Speaking Competition, achieving her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Leadership Award, competing in GSV Netball and Tennis and performing in the Senior School production of, Letters to Lindy. 

On top of her extensive Co-curricular activities, Allegra also received the following awards at St Catherine’s Speech Day:  

• Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award from the Australian Defence Force 
• Gold Award for exceptional service to the School 
• Dark Blue Award for Academic Excellence 
• The Sophie Borland Memorial Award for Public Speaking 
• Light Blue Award for Performance in Drama 
• Light Blue Award for Performance in Public Speaking

We wish Allegra well as she continues her study in the tertiary setting and thank her for her tremendous contribution to life at St Catherine’s. 

Allegra shares her final reflections on 2021, and her St Catherine’s journey in the profile below.   

What do you plan to study post School? 

I plan to study Commerce or Design initially and will most likely try to get into the Juris Doctor at University of Melbourne after completing an undergraduate degree. 

Where do you hope to study?  

I have received an offer to live at Trinity College so hopefully I will go to the University of Melbourne. 

 Has completing your two years of VCE within the COVID-19 pandemic changed your perspective?   

I think I put less pressure on myself than I would have otherwise. I have had more of a balanced perspective about what really matters. I have also gained a greater appreciation for the importance of social connections. 

What do you see yourself doing in five years’ time?  

Either still at University studying law, or working in a corporate job, potentially in real estate or property. 

What have been some of the highlights of your time at St Catherine’s?  

I really enjoyed the camps we did each year, especially the Gold Duke of Edinburgh camp this year at Falls Creek. Whilst at the time these camps were not always the most pleasant experiences, upon reflection I got a lot out of them. I gained a real sense of personal achievement and made so many bonds with other people from these camps. 

Despite COVID-19 what will you take away from this year? 

 The realisation that things do not always go to plan, and it is really important to be flexible and adaptable. 

What are some life lessons you have learnt from your time at St Catherine’s, and particularly from 2020-21?  

I have learnt how important social connections and maintaining a strong community around you are. Without strong social bonds with both teachers and students, lockdowns would have been significantly more challenging. 

 What has COVID-19 taught you can transfer into the next phase of your journey?  

I think that remote learning has really improved my self-motivation and independent learning skills, which I hope will set me up for success at university. 

How do you believe St Catherine’s and your teachers have helped you reach your goals?  

I could not be more grateful for my teachers, especially during Year 12. All of them have been so supportive and have gone above and beyond to provide us with the best possible education. 

As we transitioned in and out of lockdowns, my teachers remained very dedicated to our classes and without them I would have found learning from home significantly more challenging. Even in face-to-face classes they made it engaging and interesting, which helped me get the most out of my time at St Catherine’s. Not only have they helped me develop academically but also emotionally through their constant support. 

 What advice would you provide to future Year 12 students?  

Just to try their best. It is so easy to get caught up in numbers and predictions, but at the end of the day you will receive the best outcome and feel most satisfied with your Year 12 experience if you embody the attitude to consistently work towards improving your own skills and knowledge rather than reaching number targets.  

 I am also a big advocate for remaining involved in the School community during Year 12 through co-curricular activities. St Catherine’s has so many activities and opportunities available to students and I would strongly recommend that Year 12s try to make the most of their final year and embrace opportunities to show leadership.