Head of Junior School

It is worth reflecting on what has been an incredibly busy term across the Junior School.

There have been many highlights in and beyond the classroom. Our students have embraced opportunities in music, science, literature, the arts and sport, proving to be a highly energetic and engaging term.

The term saw us celebrate Science Week, Book Week and Arts Week, each providing a different opportunity for students to engage with their learning. Highlights included welcoming parents into classrooms during Science Week, the creativity and fun of the Book Week Parade, and the work of our Artist in Residence during Arts Week. Many performed in the Music Gala and then followed up two days later in the Music Assembly.

Our Year 6 students enjoyed their Canberra trip, an important experience that helped bring their learning to life while strengthening connections with their peers.

In sport, we have seen strong participation across a range of activities, alongside some outstanding individual performances. Athletics and snow sports were particular highlights, with several students reaching regionals next term for athletics and success at both Victorian and National levels in snow sports.

And next term, we begin the opening of the new building, ‘The Alexandria’. This will be a truly memorable experience for St Catherine’s School as we embraced this building as a part of the School. All students will have the opportunity to walk through the space on the first day back in Term 4 and then followed by the Gala Evening on 10 October. We hope to see a wonderful turnout from Junior School parents.

Thank you to our staff, students and families for contributing to another productive term. I hope the break provides an opportunity to spend time with family and friends, slow down, recharge and return refreshed for an exciting Term 4 ahead.

Dr Brendan Kean

Head of Junior School

This article below is written by our Play Facilitator, Ms Sloane Quilty.

Let them play

In the words of Maggie Dent, 'Play is the fertile soil with which we grow the seeds of human connectedness – our fundamental, most primary need as a human'.

Play is a basic right of a child and is a vital part of child development. It's where discoveries are made about who they are, how they connect with others and with the wider world around them. Providing rich opportunities for play is one of the greatest gifts we can give children. 

Play provides a multitude of benefits across a variety of domains. It supports emotional regulation, resilience and flexibility, problem solving, safe emotional expression, enhanced confidence, exploring potential risk and a strong sense of accomplishment. Where imaginations can run wild and anything is possible. Where theories can be tested, questioned, and modified. Where joy and laughter are shared and people are celebrated. Play is the magic in childhood. 

This term we have witnessed first-hand the many different play styles and ideas from the children across Prep to Year 2 with the introduction of the new mud kitchen. Adding the mud kitchen to the sandpit area has reinvigorated an interest in this space of the Junior School playground. With a selection of open-ended equipment, the children's creativity has shone and the excitement in this space has been palpable. 

Some of the recent creations include rain catchers, archaeological digs, aquaducts, cafes, river systems, food trucks and buried treasure. Often the creative projects are paused at the end of the day and enthusiastically returned to the next. 

The girls have shown great growth in social development. Reading social cues, learning how to resolve conflict, understanding other's perspectives, being flexible and inclusive, demonstrating teamwork and cooperation, just to name a few. We have seen connections and friendships blossom and new friendships spark. 

It has been so pleasing to see the girls return to class with huge smiles and wet, dirty, sandy knees; a great marker of a successful playtime. The girls are growing in confidence and embracing this type of messy play. This type of play supports the development of sensory systems, which only has a positive flow-on effect to their learning back in the classroom.

With an increase in severe allergies in Australian children, a public health study into play in natural environments found there to be an increasing lack of exposure to dirt in play. This reduced exposure to microbiota showed a direct correlation to increased rates of allergy and eczema. The higher the exposure to dirt, the higher the immune markers. 

As Maggie Dent reminds us, play is the fertile soil in which human connectedness grows. Whether through friendships formed in the mud kitchen, confidence built through risk-taking, or the health benefits gained from engaging with the natural world, play continues to provide children with opportunities to flourish. By embracing messy, meaningful play experiences, we are nurturing not only happier and healthier children, but also helping them develop the social, emotional and physical foundations they need to thrive both now and into the future.

Ms Sloane Quilty

ELC Teacher and Play Facilitator

'Principal for a Day': What two students learned about leadership

Written by Junior students Alva and Alyssa Q

When we arrived at school early on Friday morning, we felt excited, curious and a little nervous. We had spent many weeks preparing for Principal for a Day, but we still did not know exactly what it would feel like to help lead our Junior School.

We thought being a principal might be mostly about sitting in an office, attending meetings, making announcements and making important decisions. By the end of the day, however, we understood that leadership is much more than a position or a title. It is about listening, serving, taking responsibility and helping other people feel that they belong.

Our day gave us opportunities to experience many different parts of school life. We welcomed students in the morning, met with School Leaders and Co-Captains, thanked teachers, visited younger students, shared the CALM Eating Project at Assembly and helped celebrate our School community.

One of the first things that surprised us was how many different people a Principal speaks with in just one day. A Principal may move from an important meeting to welcoming a student, visiting a classroom, listening to an idea or helping solve a problem. Every conversation is different, but every person needs to feel heard and respected.

We realised that a principal’s work is not only busy – it also carries a great deal of responsibility. Even a decision that seems small may affect many students, teachers and families. A leader therefore needs to listen carefully, think about different perspectives and decide what will best support the whole community.

One of the most meaningful moments of the day was our visit with Ms Charles. She invited us to sit at her desk in the Principal’s office and experience, for a moment, what it might feel like to be in her position.

It may have seemed like a small gesture, but to us it meant something much bigger.

Sitting there made us feel trusted, welcomed and inspired. We could imagine the important conversations, difficult decisions and exciting ideas that must pass across that desk every day. More importantly, Ms Charles helped us imagine what we ourselves might be able to become one day.

Her warmth and encouragement showed us that a strong leader does not make other people feel small. A strong leader helps others recognise their own potential and gives them the confidence to aim higher.

As girls, it was especially inspiring to see the strength, intelligence and warmth of a female principal leading our School. Ms Charles showed us that leadership can be powerful while also being kind, approachable and generous.

Alyssa: “When Ms Charles invited us to sit at her desk, I felt both excited and responsible. It made leadership feel real – not just like something we learn about, but something we might one day grow into.”

That moment taught us an important lesson. Leadership is not only taught through lessons or learned by copying what other people do. It is also passed from one person to another through trust, example and encouragement. Sometimes, another leader sees something in us before we are able to see it clearly in ourselves.

Presenting the CALM Eating Project at Assembly was another important part of our day. CALM stands for Calm, Attentive, Listening and Mindful. The project encourages students and families to slow down, pay attention and develop healthier and more mindful eating habits.

Standing in front of the Junior School was exciting, but it was also a little challenging. We needed to speak clearly, manage our time and make the message interesting for students of different ages. We had prepared many ideas, but we could not include everything.

This taught us that leadership also means making choices. Sometimes we need to adjust our plans, set priorities and concentrate on what matters most. Not achieving every idea does not mean that we have failed. It can mean that we have learnt how to adapt.

We were proud that an idea could grow from a conversation into something we were able to share with the wider School community. We learnt that students do not have to wait until they are adults to make a positive contribution. When we care about something, prepare carefully and have the courage to speak, even a small idea can begin to create change.

After School, teachers, students and families came together for the Principal for a Day Celebration. It was wonderful to see so many different members of our community talking, laughing and enjoying time together.

One of our favourite moments was watching Dr Kean join the children for a game of footy. He did not lead from the edge of the playground – he ran onto the field, joined the game and shared everyone’s excitement.

For a while, it was difficult to tell whether Dr Kean was leading the game or simply having just as much fun as the children!

Alva: “I loved seeing Dr Kean playing footy with everyone. He was still our principal, but he also became part of the children’s team. It showed me that a leader can be responsible and still join in and have fun.”

This was a simple but powerful example of leadership. Leadership is not always demonstrated through speeches, meetings or important decisions. Sometimes it is shown by being present, joining in and making people feel comfortable and included.

Dr Kean showed us that a leader does not always need to stand in front of others. Sometimes the best place to lead is right beside them.

Before Principal for a Day, we thought leadership was mainly about guiding people and making good decisions. We still believe these things are important, but now we understand something deeper.

Leadership is not only something we learn about – it is something we experience through the example of others.

Ms Charles inspired us by trusting us with her chair and helping us imagine our future. Dr Kean inspired us by listening to people, guiding the day and then running onto the playground with the children. Our teachers inspired us through the patience, preparation and care they contribute every day.

Together, they taught us that true leadership means helping others discover what they can become and growing through that service ourselves.

Our message to the St Catherine’s community is that we do not need to be principals or wear leadership badges to begin leading. Every time we welcome someone, listen carefully, include another person, thank a teacher, help a younger student or turn a caring idea into action, we are practising leadership.

A School is much more than its buildings, classrooms and facilities. Its true heart is its people. When students, teachers, staff and families contribute with kindness, courage and responsibility, everyone feels that they belong and that their contribution matters.

Principal for a Day lasted for only one day, but its lessons will remain with us for much longer. It encouraged us to dream more boldly and think more deeply about the people we hope to become.

The best leaders do more than show us the way – they help us believe that, one day, we can lead the way too.

Thank you to Ms Charles, Dr Kean, Mrs Banks, our teachers, staff, students and families for trusting us, encouraging us and making Principal for a Day such an unforgettable experience.

Together, we belong, we grow and we dream.

Alva and Alyssa Q

Year 3 and Year 6 students