Her Future begins here

As a key component of the School’s future direction, the development of a purpose-built Junior School is our most significant building project in over 50 years. A powerful expression of our commitment to girls’ education in the formative years.

This building will create a new learning experience for our Barbreck girls, fostering the education, growth and creativity of young minds.

During the all-important primary years, St Catherine’s builds every girl’s confidence, to strive for high standards, meet new technological opportunities and develop core values. Exposing each girl to a broad range of activities enables discovery of her talents, her interests and her dreams; ready for a lifetime of learning. Our commitment is to provide personalised learning, explicit instruction and skills in literacy and numeracy, the promotion of creativity, self-expression and self-awareness, and the embedding of self-management and self-regulation in children’s learning.

As an educator for over 25 years, I believe a school climate that enables young girls to find their voice is vital to the success of their learning and is considered a priority to developing assured, capable and happy students. When girls feel confident, it acts as a touchstone to building confidence in other areas of their learning thus providing a seamless and successful transition into the secondary school years and beyond. It is this nurturing, yet empowering approach that epitomizes a Barbreck education.

A wealth of research reveals the crucial years for learning are the primary years; it is during this critical period that young students acquire sound literacy skills and enjoy a love of reading; develop confidence to solve mathematical problems and tease apart the mysteries of science, shaping both their independence and ability to work cooperatively with peers. This is a time to inspire a culture and joy of the Arts, a curiosity to communicate using a foreign language and to inspire a passion for sport.

“I am really looking forward to our new classrooms and spending time in the Library, because everything will be fresh and new. It is exciting!”
Lexie Hill, Year 3

In conjunction with Architects, Croxon Ramsay, the energy efficient design and ample use of natural light reflects the School’s ongoing commitment to sustainable building practice. The outdoor landscape design by ACLA Consultants ensures provision of quality external spaces for students to play and foster a love of physical activity. Green wall systems connect buildings with the outdoors and the planting theme and trees selected will ensure natural shade and a beautiful landscape to be enjoyed by all community members.

The building design was premised upon a need for flexibility, the capacity to create single classrooms or large rooms for team teaching and a shared common space for cross-grade program work. The ample use of internal glass, the flexibility of furniture and operable walls will create a visible learning environment and outstanding platform for teaching. The classrooms, with adjacent breakout spaces utilised for small group extension work and individual academic support, are designed to foster teacher collegiality, with a focus on ensuring expertise through sound professional practice and collaborative sharing of pedagogy.

As a key component of the School’s future direction, the development of a purpose-built Junior School is our most significant building project in over 50 years. This building will create a new learning experience for our Barbreck girls, fostering the education, growth and creativity of young minds. The ‘all girls’ environment in the Junior School flourishes with effective learning strategies tailored and developed for primary-aged girls. A focus on encouraging girls’ natural strengths and talents, whether in Mathematics, Writing, Science, Sport, Art or Music is embedded within the Junior School culture. A place of learning reflecting and enabling a philosophy that recognises and encourages every primary student’s ability and potential—academically, physically, creatively and emotionally. It is a powerful expression of our commitment to girls’ education in the formative years.

 

 

Mrs Michelle Carroll

Principal

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