Around the Grounds

Art

The Junior School Art Exhibition welcomed students, families and staff for an evening celebrating the creativity and artistic achievements of girls from Prep to Year 6. The evening began with a series of musical performances, with Sky D on solo violin, Ping H L, Charlotte G and Rachael H performing as a flute ensemble, and Annie V presenting a solo vocal performance.

The exhibition featured artwork produced throughout the year, highlighting the range of artistic experiences across the Junior School. From ceramics, painting, drawing and sculpture to printmaking, collage, sewing and embroidery, the girls explored different materials and techniques, developed their artistic skills and discovered new ways to express their ideas.

A special feature was the collaborative nest, created during Arts Week with our Artist in Residence, Emma Stenhouse. Students and parents worked together using natural materials to construct this large-scale sculptural piece, which symbolised the School as a home and a place of belonging. During the exhibition, families and students were invited to sit inside the nest, making the symbolism tangible and creating an opportunity to experience the artwork from within. The nest brought together ideas of community, connection and belonging through a shared creative experience.

Beyond the finished artworks, the exhibition celebrated the thinking, experimentation and persistence involved in the creative process. A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Junior School Art Acquisition Award to Audrey L. Recognised for her exceptional charcoal drawing, Audrey demonstrated careful observation, sensitivity to light and shadow, and an accomplished understanding of tonal contrast. Her artwork will become part of the School's art collection.

It was wonderful to see the girls sharing their work with such pride and to hear families' appreciation of the care, creativity and skill evident throughout the exhibition. Seeing the work of every student represented was a rewarding reminder of the importance of providing opportunities for all girls to explore, experiment and find their own creative voice.

Ms Stella Nguyen

Junior School – Visual Art Teacher

Music

Due to Year 9 – 11 exams, many of the Senior School ensembles have stopped rehearsing for the year. However, there are still many students preparing for an AMEB exam. A huge congratulations to all of our music students who have recently sat their AMEB exams, as well as those who are currently putting the final touches on their preparations! We have been incredibly impressed by the dedication and commitment shown across all year levels. 

Upcoming November Music Events 

Mark your calendars for two major celebrations taking place later this month: 

130th Anniversary Church Service St Paul’s Cathedral 

Date: Monday 16 November 

Join us as our choirs and instrumentalists celebrate this significant milestone in our School’s history. 

Junior School Concert 

Date: Tuesday, 17 November 

A wonderful showcase highlighting the remarkable talents and hard work of our Junior School ensembles and performers. 

Term 1 2027 re-enrolments 

To assist with timetable planning and staffing for the upcoming academic year, please note that formal notification of any withdrawals for Term 1, 2027 must be submitted to the Music Department by Monday 9 November: St Catherine's School - Discontinue Lessons 

Thank you to all of our students, parents, and music staff for your ongoing enthusiasm and support of the St Catherine's Music Program! 

Mr Francis Blakiston

Head of Music

Sport

Term 4 GSV has been actioned packed so far, with teams entered in water polo, cricket, basketball and touch football competitions.

For the very first time, St Catherine’s have entered touch football teams into GSV.  This has been an excellent addition to our program, with our Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams thriving!

Our Senior team finished the season with three wins and three losses, narrowly missing GSV Finals by one spot on the ladder. Finishing third overall in our first season was a great effort. Hettie D and Chloe N brought vast touch football experience, having played in Wagga and Geelong Grammar, while the rest of the team were enthusiastic and engaged all season, learning a new sport quickly and performing well.

Our Juniors are having a great season, currently sitting in equal first place on the ladder and a real chance to play in the Finals with two games remaining.  Missy B and Lola P are playing some fantastic touch football, while Samara G and Caitlin P are bringing their touch football experience to the team. 

It has been wonderful to see the students embrace touch football this term and it will no doubt become a popular and well performed sport in the years to come.

Mr Nick Brimacombe

Senior School Sports Administrator 

Netball

As we head into the final stretch of the season, the energy around the Netball Club has been dynamic. 

We have 5/6 teams still in the race to make Finals, and for most of them, it is a tight contest. All players have given their best effort each week, making every quarter and goal count. 

Our U9 and U11 teams have had a strong season, with every team showing vast improvement. With just four rounds remaining, we are super proud of their efforts. It has been wonderful to see their steady growth and connections formed throughout the season. 

What has impressed me the most across the whole club is the attitude and support from all of our members and families. Our players have supported one another, listened to their coaches and kept working on their skills when the pressure has been on. A big thank you extends to our coaches and the families who give up their Tuesday nights and Saturdays to support our program.   

We are also in the process of finalising the details for our Netball Club Awards, and we look forward to celebrating all students’ achievements this season. More information will be shared with families soon.

Good luck to all of our teams over the final rounds. Come along and support if you can, and we will see you on the sidelines.

Mr Jake Hederics

Head of Netball 

Rowing

It has been a busy start to the term for the Rowing Program. Term 4 has brought a full range of weather conditions and our Junior, Intermediate and Senior rowers have taken it all in their stride.

Ahead of their first regatta, our Juniors have progressed to rowing side by side, learning to hold their line and stay composed while rowing next to another crew. Meanwhile, our Senior and Intermediate rowers have taken to the single scull to supplement their training and develop their boat handling skills. We recently boated nine mixed quad combinations, bringing together all three squads for a fantastic morning out on the water. It was a valuable opportunity for our rowers to build connections and a strong team culture across the program.

Excitement has been building down at the boat shed. After months of training, our racing program commences in the coming weeks. We invite all members of the community to cheer on our rowers across a spectacular run of racing to close out the term.

• Saturday 21 November – Melbourne Head Regatta | Intermediate and Senior crews | Yarra River
• Saturday 28 November – Rowing Victoria Schoolgirls Regatta | Junior and Intermediate crews | Barwon River
• Saturday 5 December – Sacred Heart Regatta | Junior, Intermediate and Senior crews | Barwon River

Mr Charlie Goldsworthy

Rowing Coordinator

Debating

Year 7 and 8 Debating Program

In recent weeks, Year 7 and 8 debaters have been honing their skills in interschool debates. The Junior DAV Interschool Debating program, organised by the Debaters Association of Victoria, caters for beginner or novice debaters and includes training sessions, as well as three debate rounds. This year the debates have been held at St Kevin’s College, with 32 Year 7 and 8 St Catherine’s students competing against other regional schools.

The teams have demonstrated excellent debating skills, with St Catherine’s winning six of the eight debates so far. All debaters have presented speeches with confidence and composure and responded well to the challenge of rebutting the opposing team’s arguments. Seven students have been awarded Best Speaker in their debate, which is an excellent achievement. 

In addition to the interactive training sessions offered by the DAV, the Debating and Public Speaking Mentoring program at school provides a supportive and collaborative environment for the younger students to gain insight and advice from Senior students. Each year, a group of Year 11 debaters volunteer their time and expertise to assist the Year 7 and 8 debaters, as well as attending the debates to support their team. I have observed some lovely interactions between the students, including a Year 11 student supporting a Year 8 who was unable to print her speech. The calming reassurance of the mentor gave the student the confidence to trust in her abilities, and she went on the gain the highest score in the debate.

The Junior debaters have enjoyed the intellectual challenge of researching and debating topics based on current issues, including:

Round 1: That health star ratings should be mandatory in Australia.

Round 2: That standardised testing (e.g. NAPLAN) does more harm than good.

Round 3: That we should restrict the development of AI data centres in Australia.

We look forward to the final debating round in November and the continued enthusiasm and skill development of our Year 7 and 8 debaters.

Ms Merran O’Connor

Head of Debating and Public Speaking

Languages

As the VCE examination period approached, we warmly welcomed three Old Girls from the Class of 2022 back to St Catherine’s for lunch with our Year 10 and 11 international and overseas students. Over lunch, they shared stories of university life, insights into their courses, and practical tips for VCE revision and exam preparation.

Paula Chen is currently studying Medicine at Monash University; Emma Froomes is undertaking a double degree in Science and Law alongside a Diploma in Languages (Chinese); and Lara Thorn is pursuing a Master of Biomedical Engineering.

All three studied Chinese Second Language during VCE, and it was wonderful to see them connect with our current students over shared experiences of school life, learning Chinese or the teachers who made a lasting impression on them.

Our international students are intrinsically motivated to strive for their best, and hearing from these inspiring young women has helped them imagine the possibilities and opportunities ahead. 

We are grateful to Paula, Emma and Lara for taking the time to share their experiences and what has helped them along the way. The Year 10 and 11 International Student Lunch concluded on a high note, leaving our girls with fresh inspiration, practical exam advice and a stronger sense of connection within our School community.

The lunch brought to life the words of our School Ode: 'Friends we value, those who last, friends from many nations. Leaders we choose; guidance we follow, the future’s in our hands.'

Ms Song Cui

International Student Coordinator