Around the Grounds

Music, Performing Arts, Sport, Science and Debating

Music Notes

As Term 3 draws to a close, our music department reflects on an extraordinary term. From scenic camp rehearsals to prestigious stage performances, our students have exemplified growth and commitment at every turn. 

The term commenced on a high note with our annual Music Camp at the Oasis Camp site. Nestled in a creative environment, students engaged in ensemble rehearsals, as well as the ever-important bonding activities. The energy and collaboration fostered during this camp set a strong foundation for the remarkable performances that followed. 

On Tuesday 8 September, the Melbourne Recital Centre came alive with the sound of exceptional music as our ensembles, choirs, and VCE Music soloists took to the stage for our annual Music Gala. Performing in one of Australia’s finest acoustic venues, our students demonstrated remarkable skill, artistry and commitment. Their captivating performances were a testament to the hundreds of hours of rehearsal and preparation invested throughout the year. Congratulations to all involved on an inspiring and memorable evening. 

In addition to ensemble achievements, individual dedication has shone brightly this term. We congratulate the numerous students who sat their Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) exams this term. Preparing for these rigorous practical and theoretical assessments requires immense discipline, and we are immensely proud of everyone who sat an exam this term. 

Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and congratulations to our departing Year 12 Music students. For years, you have been the heartbeat of our music program, inspiring us with your talent. As you step into your final exams and future endeavours, we thank you for your incredible legacy and leadership. We look forward to recognising you all at our Musicians Breakfast on Tuesday 6 October. 

Congratulations to all students and staff for making Term 3 a resounding success. 

Mr Francis Blakiston 

Head of Music

Performing Arts

Behind the curtain: ACT ONE takes shape

Since the very first week of Term 3, the Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre has been humming with laughter, imagination and 'the largest firework in Devon', all in the name of comedy. Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon, our Middle Years cast has been rehearsing ACT ONE: A Series of One Act Plays, and the result is shaping up to be something special.

Across three very different one-act plays, 38 students have been working scene by scene to sharpen their comic timing and build distinct and exaggerated characters. It is detailed and challenging work, especially when two of the plays have never been performed before. Comedy is one of the hardest things to get right on stage, and this cast have thrown themselves into the challenge with real commitment.

The Big Bang reunites us with the beloved chaos of Fawlty Towers, as Basil schemes his way toward a Christmas fireworks display. Recess pulls back the staffroom curtain on a single freezing break time, finding warmth and humour in the everyday world of high school teachers. The Snow takes us somewhere entirely different: a fantastical, ensemble-driven tale of a village cut off by snow, and the small hero who sets out to find a way through it.

Rehearsals for any production take passion and dedication from our students, generosity from families adjusting afternoon routines, and the work of our staff guiding every moment to align with the directorial vision. We are enormously grateful to everyone who has helped get this production to the stage.

Now it is almost time to see the work for yourself.

ACT ONE is staged in the Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre on:

• Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm
• Friday 16 October, 6.30pm

• Saturday 17 October, 2.00pm and 6.30pm.

   

Tickets are on sale now via TryBooking. 

With four sessions to choose from, we would love to see our School community out in force to support these students and celebrate the work they have put in since the start of Term 3.

We hope to see you at the theatre.

Mr James Brown

Head of Performing Arts

Sport News

Australian Interschools Snowsport Championships

Of the 33 students who qualified for the Australian Interschools Snowsport Championships at Perisher, 24 attended to represent St Catherine’s across Alpine, Ski Cross, Moguls, Slopestyle, Snowboard and Cross Country.

St Catherine’s again produced some excellent performances on the national stage, with the Junior School finishing 3rd overall among Primary Girls schools in Australia.

A major highlight was Annabel being crowned Australian National Champion in Division 5 Ski Cross, with the St Catherine’s team finishing 4th overall in the event.

The Junior School also enjoyed a strong Cross Country Championships. Bianca finished 5th individually, helping St Catherine’s to bronze in the Division 5 Classic team event, while the girls claimed silver in the Division 5 Cross Country Relay.

Across the Cross Country program, St Catherine’s recorded further strong team results, including 4th in the Division 2 Relay, 5th in the Division 4 Relay and 8th in the Division 3 Relay.

Ms Jenny Lyons

Head of Snowsports 

GSV Track and Field

Term 3 GSV Track and Field was another success for the school, with 26 students qualifying for Finals evening out of our 66 students competing at the Division 2 Championships.

From Finals evening there were standout efforts from both track and field events. Violetta (Year 12) won the Year 12 Javelin event, throwing a PB in the process. Minnie (Year 8) competed in the Year 8 100m, claiming the silver medal in a PB. Minnie also competed in Year 8 High Jump, finishing 4th with another PB. Athletics Captain Paloma (Year 12) qualified for three events: the 100m, 200m and Long Jump. Paloma finished 6th in 100m, 6th in the Long Jump and 5th in the 200m. 

Our long-distance runners were well-represented, with seven students qualifying for the 800m and 1500m events. Charlotte (Year 9) ran 5th in Year 10 1500m, Ingrid (Year 7) ran 6th in 1500m. Emma and Zara (Year 9) competed in the 800m and finished 10th and 11th, respectively. 

Ms Nana Owusu-Afriye

Head of Athletics 

GSV Term 3 highlights

Term 3 GSV saw huge numbers participate in Badminton, Senior Water Polo and Soccer. Badminton alone saw more than 120 students in Senior School playing each week, and more than 80 students playing Soccer. Some of the highlights included our Junior Soccer team beating PLC in both A & B divisions 12-0 and 8-0, respectively. In Water Polo, our Seniors finished 4th and competed strongly against the eventual winners Lauriston, only going down 6-4. 

St Catherine’s also had three students selected in the GSV Representative Sports Program in Term 3. Violetta (Year 12) was selected in Hockey, Ivy (Year 10) was selected in Soccer and Camille B (Year 12) was selected in Netball. Both Violetta and Camille were awarded multiple selections across their time through Year 9 – 12.

Mr Nick Brimacombe

Senior School Sports Administrator

Junior School Sport

The best of the Barbreck Track and Field athletes recently competed in the District Athletics Championships. Congratulations to the following girls and results who have progressed to Divisional Athletics on Friday 9 October. 

U10

Ivy K

100m: 1st in Heat, 2nd place overall in 15.73

200m: 1st place in 31.93

Sasha H

80m Hurdles: 2nd in 16.93

4 x 100m Relay Team in a new District record of 1.04.4

Ivy K, Bianca F, Sasha H, Annabel L

U11

Charlotte G

800m: 1st in 2.39.01

1500m: 2nd in 5.23.17 (both top two finishers broke the District record)

U12

Kayley L

Discus: 2nd in 23.09

Mr Paul McMahon

Junior School Sports Coordinator

Science

It has been a wonderful, action-packed term in Science. National Science Week's theme was Seeds of Science: Nurturing knowledge for all – a beautiful recognition of the joy inherent in scientific learning.  

The Science faculty ran events all week, including a ‘PPE Race’, where students had to don and doff a lab coat, safety glasses and gloves and carry out a technique involving beakers and water, and a ‘Mindful Maker Session’, where the students could choose from different stations that offered Lego Technic, origami paper, domino races, paper planes and card house building. 

We also organised a ‘Collaborative Art’ session, where a large picture celebrating Science at St Catherine’s was divided into squares and each student coloured in a random square before all the pieces were put together to create a whole.  The results are magnificent and the artwork had been mounted on the wall in the Science Atrium. The Year 7s were treated to an exciting new show, ‘Extraordinary Elements’, with the requisite explosions garnering squeals of delight. The annual Science Bake Off produced some marvellous creations, with Eva Li and Millie Monahan taking out the top prizes. 

This term, the Year 7 cohort visited Melbourne Zoo as part of their Classification unit and enjoyed a firsthand exploration of a variety of animal skulls, using specific features to classify them. A small group of VCE Biology students attended a morning session of the Blood Synergy Conference, where they heard researchers discussing innovative ideas and the challenges associated with transfusion medicine. 

A highlight of the term was the I-WiSH Conference. Year 10 students heard from a variety of female researchers from fields as diverse as physiotherapy, nutrition and marine biology. Assisted by Year 11 mentors, they designed and prepared a short pitch to promote each research project to young Australians. The winning pitch for the day saw the development of an app that would assist parents to understand the nutrient value of baby and toddler foods on the shelves, helping them to see beyond the colourful labels and make better choices. The students were also treated to a fascinating panel discussion on the importance of ethics in scientific leadership. The panel included three parents of St Catherine’s students, Dr Helen Mutimer (Goldstraw '90), Mrs Nicole Stoddart and Mrs Fiona Dobbin, as well as our Principal, Ms Natalie Charles.  

Dr Anna Watts 

Head of Science 

Reflection on Blood Synergy Conference 2026 

Words by Year 11 student Alyssa K

We attended the Blood Synergy Conference, which entailed hearing individuals from all around the world discuss Australia’s national transfusion priorities and how our countries compare to the transfusion units in other countries. The event was held by Monash Universities Blood Transfusion Unit at Zinc, Federation Square.  

The most interesting aspect of the event was learning about the current strategies that are being implemented in hospitals worldwide to help improve the safety of blood transfusions to patients. This included learning about the past implementation of a barcode label that was placed on all blood bags and was scanned prior to the blood being administrated to the patient, ensuring that the blood received was of the correct type. Throughout the conference they also provided an in-depth discussion regarding the use of immunoglobulins which was very fitting as we had just completed our immunity unit in our Unit 4 Biology class, where we discussed the use of both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies.  

From the speakers we discovered the importance of data collection throughout the research process, including the use of this data to determine the success of a new blood transfusion strategy or to compare data across multiple different hospitals and countries. 

Additionally, we learned that scientific research is essential for maximising patient health outcomes and minimising potential adverse consequences throughout the treatment process. We began to understand the constant thinking that individuals working in the healthcare industry have to do regarding patient care and safety.   

Alyssa K

Year 11 

Reflection on Year 7 Zoo excursion 

Words by Julia (Year 7) 

Recently, Year 7s journeyed to the Melbourne Zoo, with all students set to complete their booklet provided, and (maybe) see the new baby snow leopards. Each class would have a tour of an animal exhibit, to revise their knowledge of their current biology topic, covering classification, food webs, and ecosystems, otherwise it was free reign.  

The exhibits included the Australian Bush animals, which featured echidnas, koalas, kangaroos, and giant cassowaries. There also was the Lion Gorge, which contained the snow leopards, lions, and dingoes. The Frogs and Reptiles exhibit, which displayed frogs, snakes and tiny turtles – they are so cute! Another exhibit was called Growing Wild, which featured meerkats, cockatoos, and a dinosaur trail. Some other exhibits included the Forest of Wonder, which displayed monkeys, otters, and butterflies, the Gorilla Rainforest with lemurs, hippos, and gorillas and the Wild Sea, which featured penguins, seals, and various fish. 

For each class, a session was held, covering our classification unit. We had the opportunity to look at (and hold) the skulls of many different animals, as well as look at some of the evolutionary features of some animals like lemurs and meerkats. 

Ultimately, it was an unforgettable, and educational experience, that was so much fun. 

Julia W

Year 7

STEM

Friday 4 September saw many of our Barbreck parents and families join us for a special STEM-themed open morning. Following on from National Science Week, we welcomed the all Junior School families to partake in some STEM activities in areas of science that the students had been focusing on. Parents were transported back in time to their own science journeys at school through a range of activities across the different year levels.

In Prep, there were wind-up and jumping rabbits running rampant as part of our ‘Moving Things’ unit. Whereas the Year 1s were listening intently as they constructed stethoscopes and compared the soundwaves of different materials. Parents had to remember their own ways to make the best paper aeroplane to compete with the aeronautical engineers in Year 2, this led to an outdoor competition on the Village Green. As part of their study of famous scientists and inventors our Year 3 families sort out to recreate Leonardo Da Vinci’s bridge.

In Year 4, catapults illustrated our work on levers and fulcrums as part of our study of forces. Moving up the years, our Year 5s illuminated their parents’ knowledge of light through an experiment on the different wavelengths of light and also by making kaleidoscopes. Finally, our Year 6s were fortunate to have some helping hands from their parents in making and testing their Roux Goldberg machines, drawing upon some pivotal ideas and construction strategies.

It was a fantastic morning across the Junior School and we look forward to doing it again in the future! A very special thank you to all that attended, we hope you had as much fun as we did!

Debating and Public Speaking 

Spirited debating and House spirit combined this month in the House Debating Heats and Finals. This event is not only a celebration of the thorough research and sophisticated debating skills displayed by students from Year 7 to 12, but the final House event contributing to the overall 2026 House Cup results. The House Cup results will be announced in Term 4, but the House Debating Cup was presented to Davis House in Assembly this week. Every House was well represented in the Finals, but Davis emerged as the winning House for their debating prowess in both the Heats and the Finals. 

1st Place - Davis

2nd Place - Holmes Kilbride

3rd Place - Langley Templeton 

4th Place - Beaulieu Blair

The following students are congratulated on being awarded Best Speaker in either the Heats or Finals:

Year 7

Olivia B (Beaulieu Blair)

Cate B (Davis)

Charlotte C (Beaulieu Blair)

Year 8

Soraya L (Beaulieu Blair)

Darya A (Langley Templeton)

Aimee D (Holmes Kilbride)

Year 9

Anna R (Davis) - Heats and Finals

Camilla T (Holmes Kilbride)

Year 10

Amber L (Holmes Kilbride)

Miley T (Langley Templeton) - Heats and Finals

Year 11

Isla M (Davis)

Phoebe B (Beaulieu Blair)

Angelica K (Langley Templeton)

Aamna A (Holmes Kilbride) - Heats and Finals

Year 12

Martha M (Langley Templeton)

Isabelle C (Davis)

Isabelle P (Langley Templeton)

The Term 4 House Public Speaking Competition will be another hotly contested event, with the results going toward the 2027 House Cup. The Co-curricular Debating and Public Speaking program continues throughout the term, with the Year 7 & 8 Interschool DAV program currently underway. 

Ms Merran O’Connor

Head of Debating and Public Speaking