Around the Grounds

Performing Arts

ACT ONE: One week to go

The countdown is on for our Middle Years production, ACT ONE: A Series of One Act Plays, opening next week in the Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre.

After a term of rehearsals, our cast of 38 students is now putting the finishing touches on three very different one-act plays: the chaotic comedy of The Big Bang, the staffroom antics of Recess and the imaginative, ensemble-driven world of The Snow.

In these final rehearsals, the focus has shifted to refining timing, transitions, character work, tech, costume and the many small details that bring a production together. The students have worked with great energy and commitment, and we are looking forward to sharing the result with our School community.

ACT ONE: A Series of One Act Plays will be presented on:

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

• Saturday 17 October – 2.00pm and 6.30pm

   

We would love to see a full house across the season as we celebrate the work, creativity and enthusiasm of our Middle Years' performers.

We hope to see you at the theatre next week!

Mr James Brown

Head of Performing Arts

Visual Arts

Families are warmly invited to attend the VCE Art Show in the Dorothy Pizzey Hall.

The official opening will be held from 6.00pm to 8.00pm tomorrow, Friday 9 October. The exhibition will also be open on Saturday and Sunday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. We are delighted to welcome educator and artist Brigid Weeraratne as our guest speaker. Mrs Weeraratne taught at St Catherine's for 36 years, including 10 years as Head of Arts. Her remarkable contribution to the School across more than a quarter of our proud 130-year history is an extraordinary achievement.

Students undertaking VCE studies in Media, Visual Communication Design and Art Creative Practice will proudly exhibit work that represents the culmination of years of learning, experimentation and creative development. In the days leading up to the exhibition, students devote considerable time to curating and presenting their artworks to further communicate their ideas and intentions.

Visitors are also encouraged to explore the Unit 3 and 4 visual diaries on display. These provide a fascinating insight into the generation, refinement and development of individual concepts, revealing the depth of thinking and creative problem-solving that underpin each finished work.

The exhibition offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the passage of time and to celebrate the continued strength of the Visual Arts program at St Catherine's. We are incredibly proud of the professionalism, creativity and dedication demonstrated by our students and look forward to celebrating their achievements with families and the wider community at this special event.

Entry to the school on Saturday and Sunday is through the main gates and the Music School entry into the hall. An elevator is available. Anyone with concern about mobility can enter through the underground carpark at Gate 4.

Ms Vicki Marinelli

Head of Arts

Music Notes

Welcome to Term 4! We kick off the final term with excitement as our Music department officially moves into its brand-new home inside The Alexandria. 

Our new facilities in The Alexandria offer the dedicated space our musicians truly deserve. With light filled studios and purpose built rehearsal rooms, this space has been designed from the ground up to spark creativity and collaboration.

Opening this space in the week of International Day of the Girl Child (11 October) reminds us why purpose-built environments for girls matter greatly. When we give young women spaces to match their potential, we show them that their work, their voices and their creative pursuits are valued. 

We invite our School community to celebrate the talent of our performers at these upcoming key events: 

• VCE Music Recital: Wednesday 7 October 
• Chamber Ensemble Concert: Thursday 8 October 

Term 4 is always a poignant time as we prepare to say goodbye to our Year 12 cohort. I would particularly like to recognise and thank our departing Music Captains, Kathrina A and Chiara L. Kathrina and Chiara have left an indelible mark on the St Catherine’s Music program. Their incredible energy, generosity and commitment will leave an enduring legacy on our music community. 

To Kathrina, Chiara and all of the Year 12 musicians, thank you for all you have brought to our School. Just as The Alexandria will serve future generations of students, the legacy you leave behind gives our younger girls a strong foundation to build upon. We wish our Year 12s the absolute best in their final weeks, and we look forward to a vibrant and inspiring term ahead. 

I am absolutely thrilled to share that Elaine L (Year 8) has recently achieved her Licentiate Diploma (LMusA) in Clarinet, an extraordinary accomplishment, and the first time a St Catherine’s student has passed this examination since 1993! To put this into context, the Licentiate is the highest level of examination offered by the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB). Candidates must perform a concert-standard program of up to 50 minutes – with at least one piece played entirely from memory – while demonstrating an advanced technical and historical understanding of their instrument and repertoire. What makes this milestone even more remarkable is that over the past two years, Elaine has earned her Associate Diplomas (AMusA) in both clarinet and piano alongside this latest Licentiate result. To achieve all of this while still in Year 8 is an exceptional feat. 

Mr Francis Blakiston

Head of Music

Sport

On Monday 5 October, the Sport Department and Sport Auxiliary hosted the 2026 Celebration of Sport Evening.  The St Catherine’s Sporting community was able to gather in the newly refurbished Wintergarden for light refreshments before the event, giving them the chance to reflect on what has been an outstanding 12 months in sport at St Catherine’s.  

We celebrated our sporting achievements, with a particular focus on our teams and athletes who competed in the Girls Sport Victoria competition across Term 4 in 2025 and Terms 1 to 3 in 2026, along with those students who had achieved outstanding results in national and international events in 2026. 

We welcomed guest speaker Sarah Billings, an Australian middle-distance runner specialising in the 800m and 1500m. Sarah won a bronze medal in the 800m at the recent 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She is also the Australian record holder over 800m.  Sarah went to Ruyton Girls School and competed in the GSV.  It was wonderful to hear her story leading up to the bronze medal, including her enjoyment of participating in the GSV, the influence of her family and how she overcame numerous injury setbacks along the way, including the advice she would have for her younger self.  The speech was very well received, with students having a number of thoughtful questions for Sarah following her speech.  

Our Sports Captains, who played a significant role in the evening, delivered sincere and well-researched speeches on their seasons throughout the year.  They have all done a terrific job, and a big thank you goes to our 2026 Sport Captains Alice D and Violetta C, who have been great role models in sport through widespread participation and taking the lead on a number of ideas and initiatives. 

There were two awards for each sport that were selected by the coaching staff of each GSV sport.  There was an Excellence Award for an outstanding performer and considers physical ability, performance consistency and resilience to perform under pressure. There was also a Coach's Award for an outstanding team contributor and considers attitude, enthusiasm and leadership towards establishing a positive environment within their team.  Congratulations to all our award winners.

St Catherine’s sporting teams were also recognised, with the Premier League Netball team receiving medals as the first St Catherine’s Premier League title winning team, going through the season undefeated.  A massive congratulations to our GSV Senior Softball team, who were awarded the St Catherine’s Team of the Year Award for winning the GSV Premiership and then going on to defeat Haileybury in the State Final.

The Sport Department would also like to thank the Sports Auxiliary, led by Presidents Mary Jesudason and Marnie Pringle. They put in a huge amount of work in coordinating the evening and have been a great support of our student athletes and programs in 2026.  

We look forward to seeing our students back involved in sport this term.  

Go St Catherine’s!

Mr Scott Dacy

Acting Head of Sport 

Rowing 

The rowing season officially begins this term, and we look forward to an exciting few months ahead. 

At the end of Term 3, the rowing community gathered at Mercantile Rowing Club for our Season Launch, celebrating 40 years of rowing at St Catherine’s. As part of a panel discussion, Sarah Marriott ('22) spoke about her experience of the US college system and representing Australia, while Emma P (Year 12) reflected on representing Australia at the Under 19 World Rowing Championships this year. 

The highlight of the evening was the christening of two new quad sculls, named in honour of two inspiring figures in our rowing program: Annie Anezakis ('16), who rowed for Princeton University and Oxford University Boat Club, and Brigette Carlile, who oversaw the golden era of rowing at St Catherine’s as Head of Rowing and co-coach of the winning Henley crew in 2022. 

Our Year 8 rowers also took to the river to showcase their newly learned skills, marking the conclusion of the Learn to Row program. 

Congratulations to the Heyington Club in making the launch such a memorable celebration. With new boats on the water and a proud history behind us, we are excited for the season ahead. 

Mr Charlie Goldsworthy 

Rowing Coordinator 

Science

Junior Science Olympiad and Big Science Competition results

The Junior Science Olympiad (JSO) is a staged science enrichment program for highly motivated Year 7–10 students in Australian secondary schools.

The program is designed to challenge young science enthusiasts as they complete an examination with questions based on biology, chemistry, Earth and environmental science, and physics. This experience is designed to inspire and prepare students to participate in the Australian Science Olympiad Program in their Senior school years. High achievers in the JSO may be invited to attend the Junior Science Olympiad Spring School and may even be selected to represent Australia at the International Junior Science Olympiad.

This year, 23 students from Years 7 to 10 volunteered to compete in the JSO and we congratulate each and every one of them for displaying courage and dedication to their scientific and academic development in doing so.

The following students are to be congratulated for their outstanding results in the JSO:

Alexa W for achieving a High Distinction, which places her in the top 10 percent of the country.

Aimee D, Chelsea L, Elva Z, Ingrid T and Julia W achieved Distinctions, placing them in the top 20 percent of the country.

Charlotte C, Ivy Z, Kitty H, Mia P, Renae C and Cindy C achieved Credits, placing them in the top 30 percent of the country.

This year we also entered our entire Year 8 cohort in the Big Science Competition so that every student could experience the thrill of competing in a challenging, nationwide competition.

The following students should be congratulated for their impressive results:

Emily W and Chloe W both achieved a High Distinction.

Samara G and Stella N both achieved a Distinction.

Abigail C, Zoe C, Amelia G, Kitty H, Sophie J, Emilia K, Amelie L, Chelsea L, Mia P, Charlotte S, Alice S, Julie S, Elva Z and Ivy Z all achieved a Credit.

Thank you to all staff and students for their involvement in these fantastic competitions.

Dr Anna Watts

Head of Science