St Catherine's School 2015 year in review

2015 IN REVIEW

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01 Academics 03 Innovative Curriculum and Development 04 Faculties 04 English 05 Humanities 06 Languages 07 Mathematics 09 Health and Physical Education 10 Science 12 Drama 12 Music 14 Visual Arts 15 Co-curricular 15 Debating and Public Speaking 16 Sport 20 Educational Travel 23 Wellbeing 24 Careers 26 Community 30 Staff Achievements Disclaimer The Editors have gone to great efforts to ensure the accuracy of the information compiled in this publication but cannot accept responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions.

01

Academics The significant leadership and commitment to academic excellence of our Year 12 students has been a proud and uplifting narrative for St Catherine’s School. In 2015, the Year 12 cohort continued our School’s excellent tradition of academic success with outstanding performances across a wide range of subjects. As a School, we are extremely proud of all their achievements.

The 2015 Year 12 cohort were frequently described as cohesive, creative and enthusiastic. Their outstanding academic results completed a fulfilling year for the girls. Their willingness to uphold the School Values of Integrity, Curiosity, Perseverance and Empathy has culminated in the following exceptional results: • 9.5% achieved ATAR scores of 99 and above which places them in the top 1% of the State; • 28% achieved ATAR scores of 95 and above which places them in the top 5% of the State; • 54% achieved ATAR scores of 90 and above which places them in the top 10% of the State;

• 77% achieved ATAR scores of 80 and above which places them in top 20% of the State; • Study Scores of 45 or above (top 2% of State) were attained in 60% of the subjects taught at St Catherine’s School: Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, Economics, English, English as an Additional Language, History: Revolutions, Literature, Specialist Mathematics, Mathematical Methods (CAS), Media, Physical Education, Global Politics, Studio Arts and Visual Communication Design.

• Perfect Study Scores of 50 were achieved in 24% of subjects taught at St Catherine's School: English, History: Revolutions, Specialist Mathematics, Physical Education, Global Politics and Studio Arts.

Congratulations to our 2015 Dux, Zhihui (Jennifer) Wang, who achieved a perfect ATAR score of 99.95, one of only 35 students in Victoria. Jennifer achieved a perfect Study Score of 50 in Specialist Mathematics and was placed in the top 2% in the State for Biology, Chemistry and English as an

Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) 77% 20% 54 %

10% 28% 5% 9.5% 1% % Students St Catherine’s

State

02 Additional Language. As a Year 11 student in 2014, Jennifer also achieved in the top 2% of the State in Mathematical Methods and Music Performance.

• Yunjia (Kitty) Hong (Year 11), was awarded a place in the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program, following her successful application.

The number of subjects where students achieved a perfect score of 50 is the highest in over 10 years, as was the percentage of students achieving an ATAR score of 99 and above. Their achievement as a Year group is testament to the expertise and proficiency of our teaching staff and support from our School community.

• Year 12 and 2015 School Vice-Captain, Jaquelin Cantarella achieved a perfect Study Score of 50 in Global Politics.

• Lily Razuki and Harriet Renn (Year 12) accomplished a perfect Study Score of 50 in Studio Arts.

• Ingrid Mao (Year 12) attained a perfect Study Score in English.

• Madeleine Baker (Year 11) triumphed in obtaining a perfect Study Score in Physical Education.

• Sofiya Hay (Year 11) accomplished a perfect Study Score in History: Revolutions.

• The 2015 NAPLAN results were an excellent achievement and we acknowledge the wonderful efforts of our students, their teachers and their parents. All results across every Year level which sat the NAPLAN tests, and across every category, are once again well above both the Victorian and the national averages. St Catherine’s very strong results are a reflection of both the quality of teaching and learning opportunities and the diligent work of our staff and students in maintaining a clear School-wide focus on the key learning platforms of literacy and numeracy. In addition to many excellent individual achievements, the Year level accumulations at Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9 all reveal that each cohort is operating at a level two years above government expectations.

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Innovative Curriculum and Development • Launch of unique and vital data accessory ‘Performance AND Assessment’ PANDA which tracks and collates student data enabling teachers to access current and previous assessment data and thereby aiding the ability to provide individually targeted teaching strategies.

• Every Years 7 and 8 student completed the ‘Technology, Innovation, Design and Engineering’ (TIDE) program, where they have undertaken a computer coding program designed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and run through Harvard University.

• Coding is an essential skill in the 21st Century and the TIDE program aims to ensure every girl at St Catherine’s is acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills required in our rapidly global, connected and digital world. Every Years 7 and 8 student has been introduced to the coding language SCRATCH. • Highly talented Years 7 and 8 students across the Humanities, English and Mathematics areas were involved each week in our Academic Honours Program. The

program deepens students’ knowledge and skills through fostering a culture of curiosity and the explicit teaching of 21st Century skills. After a rigorous identification process (including interviews), students in the Program have been introduced to an in-depth approach to learning where critical thinking underpins the work being investigated.

• In the Early Learning Centre, Apps on iPads have been well used to access technology (especially through the use of Apple TV) in order to maximise learning.

• Our Year 5 students enjoyed the introduction of the ‘Genius Hour’ based on the program of the same name at Google. The students enjoyed an introduction to computer coding, robotics and researching individual areas of interest.

Faculties English Senior School • 48.4% of Year 12 students achieved a Study Score of 40 or above in English, placing them in the top 7% in the State. The average Study Score for all four Year 12 English classes was 39.31.

• English as an Additional Language (EAL) achieved an average Study Score of 34.6.

• Literature continues to be a top performing VCE subject each year, with students achieving an average Study Score of 40.8.

• The ongoing development of exceptional English teachers at St Catherine’s, combined with a rigorous cross-marking system and a consistent program across Years 7 to 12, facilitated the exceptional VCE English results.

• The development of the Year 12 English Lecture Series is a unique feature of St Catherine's School English Faculty.

The ability to lecture students as a whole group and

04 conduct assessments at the same time during the School day allows for optimal performance by students on the final exam and differentiation of the learning experience.

The Lecture Series was also Podcast for further revision and study.

• The integrated changes in the Year 10 English program ensured a strong foundation and preparation for students entering VCE English courses.

• The Academic Honours Program in English provided inspiring writers in Years 7 and 8 a unique writing journey exploring the ‘Transmedia’ narrative of Inanimate Alice.

• Gabriella Tymms in Year 8 won the Higgins Anzac Centenary School Poetry Competition for Years 7 to 9 with a beautiful and empathetic poem on the First World War. • Author, Jane Godwin, hosted a creative writing workshop with Year 8 students.

• A student-led initiative focused on raising awareness of indigenous literacy enabled students to share and donate their books to the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation.

05 • The Year 9 English course linked the study of the film Whale Rider and the Spirit of Polynesia with a guest presentation from Bernard Mangakahia.

• Year 10 Students attended the Melbourne Writer’s Festival and participated in the Urban Seed Excursion which effectively linked the study of homelessness with our Wellbeing Program.

• The Cross-Curriculum Collaborations programs included the development of the VCE Units 3&4 Literature Course with the VCE Theatre Studies, focusing on the play Anything Goes and Year 8 Art and English courses successfully linked the student’s study of novel Skellig with the etchings from William Blake and Indigenous Art. • Effective use of technology enabled the differentiated Online Grammar and Spelling units to be successfully developed and implemented at Years 7 and 8.

Junior School • To increase the opportunities of using the most current educational programs to assist Writing and Reading development, the use of iPads with educationally resourced Apps has effectively embedded the use of technology in the learning experiences of our Prep to Year 2 classes.

• Claire Gray and Mayuri Muralhdiharan (Year 6) were awarded Distinctions in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) competition for English.

Humanities • Two of five Year 12 Humanities subjects had students successfully achieve Perfect Study Scores of 50 in Global Politics and History: Revolutions.

• Four of five Year 12 Humanities subjects had students successfully achieve Study Scores of 45 or higher, placing them in the top 2% of the State.

06 • Year 9 United Nations Day was a highlight for many Year 9 students, as they represented countries on the United Nations Security Council.

Languages

• Year 8 students toured a range of local coastlines as part of their Environmental studies collecting and analysing data on the human impact on natural processes.

• The inaugural year for our Year 12 Chinese (Second Language) course at St Catherine’s with the Chinese Language program well-established from Years 7 – 12, providing another opportunity for our students to expand their language horizons.

• The Year 7 Ancient Egyptian Banquet enabled students the opportunity to dress up and participate in a range of games historically enjoyed by people in Ancient times.

The authentic experience provided a tangible activity for the girls to consolidate their studies on Ancient Egypt.

• The Business Initiative Classes created and successfully marketed and sold a range of pencils that are recycled into plants after use, lip balms, BPA free water bottles and wireless water proof speakers.

• The development of the Academic Honours Program in Humanities was offered in Years 7 and 8 and provided opportunity for extension activities undertaken through the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Senior School

• All French students from Years 5 to 12 participated in the Alliance Française Berthe-Mouchette competition, with 14 students making it to the Final stage of the competition.

• The inaugural ‘Languages Day’ was held in Term 1 for all Years 7 and 8 students; this provided an opportunity for the girls to experience a range of Chinese, French and Japanese language workshops. Students also had the opportunity to observe cultural performances and hear from St Catherine’s Old Girl, Grëtel Cannon’s (’12), experiences of studying language at a tertiary level and travelling abroad.

07 • Year 7 continuing French students had their Junior School French knowledge extended with a new curriculum in the first half of the year. This included elements of the CLIL methodology (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and promoted an immersion environment within the classroom.

• Year 11 student Yunjia (Kitty) Hong was awarded the ‘Special Top Prize for Overseas Students’ in the seventh annual Lu Xun Teenagers Literacy Prize Chinese Writing Competition.

Junior School • Angelu Yu (Year 5) was a finalist in the Berthe Mouchette French Poetry Competition and achieved a Distinction in the ICAS competition for French.

Mathematics Senior School • Year 9 Extension Mathematics students attended a Melbourne University workshop titled Working like a Mathematician. The girls were challenged with a variety of mathematical problems to solve and games to play.

Our girls were most impressive with their responses and their willingness to present their solutions to the entire audience.

• The Academic Honours Program has commenced in 2015 with great energy and excitement in both Junior and Senior Schools. The Honours Program provides students the opportunity to broaden their mathematical experiences by undertaking courses such as the Euler Enrichment Stage of the Australian Maths Trust Challenge and programs led by the University of Cambridge.

08 • Our Year 9 Exchange students exhibited great commitment to their studies of Mathematics during their stay in our Sister Schools in England. The girls maintained their studies in the St Catherine’s Year 9 Mathematics course entirely through the use of technology with lessons using Camtasia videos uploaded to the mystcatherines pages. The girls returned seamlessly into their Mathematics classes following their 12 week Exchange.

• Year 8 student Kavina Kalaichelvam and Year 10 students Yizhen (Lisa) Li and Zeyi (Zoe) Yu were awarded Distinctions in the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians (MCYA).

• Ten students achieved Distinctions in the Australian Mathematics Competition. Congratulations to Year 7 students: Romy Cantwell, Sophie Bartels, Isabella Jones and Alice Menzies-King; Year 8 students: Kavina Kalaichelvam, Athena Alexiadis and Gabriella Tymms;

Year 9 students: Madeline Chung and Siu Hang (Natalie) Chan and Year 10 student: Ruyan (Lily) Li. Junior School • The introduction of the well-researched and acclaimed Prime Mathematical Program in Barbreck provided a robust, challenging and rigorous curriculum in 2015.

An increased enthusiasm and confidence for Mathematics by students certainly resulted and, importantly, improved individual results at all levels of previous performance results.

• Distinctions in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) Mathematics Competition were received by Year 6 students Jessica Yang, Clementine Newton-Brown and Mayuri Muralidharan.

• In the Mathematical Olympiad 26 students from St Catherine’s qualified to participate, with

09 Jessica Yang (Year 6) placing in the top 2% of Victoria and Lara Anderson (Year 6), Beibei Zhang (Year 5), Chloe Joubert (Year 6), and Clementine Newton-Brown (Year 6) achieving in the top 20% of Victoria.

• ‘Morning Maths’ continues to draw large number of girls every morning before School and a new focus towards STEM has seen overwhelming enthusiasm and energy for Robotics and Coding.

Health and Physical Education • The Global Health class raised $2,400 for the Birthing Kit Foundation and packed 600 birthing kits to be sent to Cambodia.

• Years 11 and 12 students participated in the PARTY program (Prevent Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth) at the Alfred Hospital.

• Health and Physical Education (HPE) week provided opportunity for mass participation in Physical Activity across all Year levels. Physical activities ranged from Dodgeball to Bubble Soccer and two thirds of the Senior School made a healthy Bike ‘n’ Blend smoothie.

• Year 10 students all completed a Self Defence Certificate through Melbourne Taekwondo as part of their core Physical Education classes.

• Year 10 students completed a Mental Health First Aid course and Year 9 students completed their CPR certificate.

• Senior students studying VET Units 1&2 and Peak Performance in Sport Elective worked enthusiastically with Barbreck students, regularly coaching different Year levels in a variety of skills sessions.

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Science Senior School • All VCE Chemistry students, and interested Year 10 students, participated in the Royal Australian Chemical Institute’s Australian National Chemistry Quiz. Year 10 students Lydia He, Ruyan (Lily) Li, Year 11 student Madeline Mills and Year 12 student Ella vandenBerg-Pitt all received a High Distinction placing them in the top 10% of the State.

• Year 11 students Katherine Yuan and Brooke Maat were selected for the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) at Australian National University (ANU). The NYSF aims to nurture and encourage young Australians to be the next generation of leading scientists and engineers supporting a sustainable future for our nation. The NYSF offers a growing suite of programs across Australia to develop the exposure of Year 12 Science students to study, research

and consider future employment opportunities. The NYSF is proudly in partnership with the Australian government, major industry, national research institutes and universities and enjoys high-level support with the Chief Scientist of Australia as its Science Patron.

• Year 10 students enjoyed working with Loren Bruns, Astrophysicist from the CSIRO Scientists in Schools Program.

• Selected Year 10 students participated in the Epworth Surgery Workshop. The generosity and ingenuity of Mr Frank Chen and Dr Larissa Roeske, who are both current St Catherine’s parents, enabled students, interested in pursuing a career in Medicine, to participate in a surgery workshop at the Epworth Health Care, Clinical Education and Simulation Centre. The workshop involved participation in a variety of hands-on activities including basic suturing, operating a laparoscope as part of a mock operation, anaesthetising a mock patient,

11 including attempting intubation, the principles of infection control and how to prepare for a sterile environment in an operating room.

• Selected Year 9 students were invited to participate in the ConocoPhillips Science Experience. Many students undertook a variety of programs and designed a wide range of hands-on Science activities under the guidance of passionate scientists.

• Year 8 students successfully completed the St Catherine’s Pilot PECE (Propagation, Education, Conservation and Exploration) Program in conjunction with the Victorian Orchid Society and assisted by Monash University academics. Students applied scientific method to growing orchids using aseptic techniques and investigated the evolution, geographical distribution, classification, structure, pollination and their reliance on fungal symbiosis. Year 8 students travel annually to Anglesea to investigate the conservation of orchids.

• Year 7 students successfully completed the St Catherine’s Science and Sustainability through Plants Program (SSSP). In 2015 students established the St Catherine’s Rose Garden allowing them to propagate the rose and investigate optimum conditions for plant growth.

Junior School • All Years 4 to 6 students successfully completed the CSIRO CREST (Creativity in Science and Technology) Program that encourages students to design and carry out open ended Science and technology investigations.

• The Prep to Year 6 Science Program PrimaryConnections: Linking science with literacy, developed by the Australian Academy of Science, enhanced staff competencies in teaching Science and further developed students’ knowledge and understanding in Science and literacy.

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Drama Senior School • Sold out season of the phenomenal Senior Years production The 39 Steps. The VCE Theatre Studies class were heavily involved in the production of make-up, props, set design, publicity and assisting direction.

• Year 12 VCE Theatre Studies student, Alexandra Culliver, was accepted into the Australian Film and Radio School.

• Hugely successful Years 7 and 8 musical, Seussical Jr. was a highlight of the Term 4 Performing Arts Program with students also assisting backstage.

• Celebrating Australian playwrights, the Years 9 and 10 students enjoyed performing the play House on Fire.

• Years 7 to 12 Drama Club, held every week for students, successfully engaged students with texts, improvisation and developing a range of performances.

Junior School • Excellent results in the Trinity Speech and Drama programs for Years 5 to 9 students with Mayuri Muralidharan and Stella Wilson, both in Year 6, receiving Distinctions.

• The inaugural Year 3 Stage Skills and Year 4 Performance Program held after School was highly successful and will continue in 2016.

• Years 5 and 6 students performed brilliantly in their Alice The Musical performance, timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Music Senior School • Year 12 student, Alexandra Culliver invited to perform her composition Whole Lotta Soup at Deakin Edge, Federation Square in February 2015 as part of the VCE Top Class Sound Concert, VCE Season of Excellence 2015.

13 • The inaugural Sydney Music Tour provided 11 students the opportunity to participate in the Australian International Music Festival and perform in some of Sydney’s most iconic venues including the Sydney Conservatorium and Sydney Opera House.

• The highly successful St Catherine’s Gala Concert, Stories, was held at the Melbourne Recital Centre, providing musicians with a professional performance venue for the Concert.

• The annual Concerto Concert showcased the outstanding performances of our Senior Strings soloists: Isabelle Ferrali (Year 12) viola, Emma Thompson (Year 12) oboe, Emily Barrington (Year 11) violin, Emily Tanner (Year 12) French horn and Stephanie Hird (Year 11) violin. All students were accompanied by various members of the Senior Strings or Jorgensen Orchestra.

• Four St Catherine’s School Concert Bands performed successfully at various times throughout the year at the Victorian Schools’ Music Festival. The Senior Concert Band

received a Silver Award and the Years 7 and 8 Concert Band were awarded a Silver Award.

• Australia’s exemplary Chamber Music group, the Australian String Quartet, provided our Intermediate and Senior String Quartets with an outstanding educational Masterclass and opportunity to play alongside professional musicians.

Junior School • Numerous outstanding AMEB exam results.

• Years 5 and 6 students participated in the Victorian Primary Schools’ Band Festival at Federation Square.

• Epstein Singers were successfully awarded equal fourth place in the ‘Eisteddfod on the Bay’ which included highly polished and experienced choirs ranging from Years 4 to 8 in the same section.

• Years 5 and 6 Band was successfully awarded the Deakin Award at the Victorian Schools’ Music Festival.

Harriet Renn, Year 12 2015 Oil on Plywood

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Visual Arts Senior School • Visual Arts staff and Senior students worked with the Yulendj Art Exhibition and Auction committee to create a successful week-long launch of the St Catherine’s Indigenous Scholarship Program. The opportunity provided students a chance to view contemporary work and liaise directly with world renowned artists, to volunteer at various fundraising functions and to enjoy presentations from St Catherine’s School Old Girls carving extraordinary careers as artists or within the Art industry.

• Year 9 student, Georgia Macaw was awarded a Highly Commended for her screen shots at the Art Gallery of New South Wales National Competition for photography.

• Year 12 students, Harriet Renn and Sophie Ford, were shortlisted for the VCAA VCE Top Arts exhibition. Sophie Ford was also shortlisted for Top Designs.

• Harriet Renn was a finalist and will be part of the Top Arts Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2016.

• A range of student art work was selected and exhibited at the Independent Schools Victoria 10 year Anniversary Exhibition, showcasing student work from across the Victorian Independent Schools sector.

• Art and Design Clubs have worked to create posters and display boards to promote School events and the set painting for Senior School productions proved to be a collaborative effort for the students of the Art and Design Clubs.

• Students were given the opportunity to explore Art in the wider community on numerous excursions at the National Gallery of Victoria, Heide Museum of Modern Art and a number of private galleries. This exposure to the Art world develops an understanding of how important Art is to the cultural identity of a society.

Co-curricular

15 • Cross curricular activities have included links with the Humanities Faculty Medieval Day, the Language Faculty combined French and Art excursions to view Impressionism and Japanese Exchange students creating postcards to send home.

• Set painting for Junior School productions proved to be an exciting and collaborative effort of the Art and Design Clubs, staff and students.

• Artist-in-Residence and St Catherine’s Old Girl, Rowena Martinich (’97), worked with students from Prep to Year 12 to create a colourful mural on the windows of the Mary Davis Centre. Students appreciated the opportunity to learn about Rowena’s working method and enjoyed the experience working alongside one of Australia’s successful contemporary artists.

Junior School

• High levels of participation rates across both Debating and Public Speaking, particularly at House level, have contributed to a robust internal Public Speaking competition for 24 students, and 72 students in the House Debating Competition, with full support across all Houses.

• Year 6 students created a textile wreath of poppies which were laid at the Cobber’s statue at the Shrine in the presence of the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).

Debating and Public Speaking

• Strong participation in the Debaters’ Association of Victoria (DAV) competition involving 64 Senior students and 20 Junior students. 24 girls were proudly awarded Best Speaker in the DAV Competitions.

• Additional external Debating was undertaken through the United Nations Youth Association Debates with 22 Senior students participating in these rounds.

16 • A strong student mentoring system throughout the DAV Junior Secondary Program involving 17 Year 11 students who coached and mentored Junior debaters.

• Participation in four external Public Speaking Competitions with Annabel Pryse (Year 9) successfully competing and qualifying for the grand final of the Junior DAV Public Speaking Competition, and Demi Markakis (Year 9) and Samara Gill (Year 9) offered wild card entries in the semi-final.

Sport Senior School • Launch of St Catherine’s Aquatic, our competitive Swimming Club providing students from Years 2 to 12 the opportunity to compete in Swimming Victoria, Swimming Australia and internationally sanctioned meets.

• First VIII Rowing competing at Nationals successfully

finishing in an outstanding sixth place in the A Final and the St Catherine’s First VIII also won the Division 1 Melbourne Head Regatta in Term 4.

• Year 7 student, Harriet Fortey, achieved great success in her field of Modern Pentathlon. At the tender age of just 13, Harriet represented Australia at the Asia and Oceanic Modern Pentathlon Youth Championships held in China.

• Year 11 students Hannah Wentworth and Madeleine Baker nominated for GSV representative Hockey team.

• Year 7 student Claire Freeman qualified for the State finals of the Interschool Show Jumping competition, and made the Victorian Equestrian Australia State Junior Squad.

• Year 7 student, Charlotte Weir, successfully competed in the National Cyclocross Championships at the FOJCX Cyclocross course at Essendon Fields. As a 13 year old she was both the youngest female competitor of the event (by quite a margin), and the only U15 female starter.

17 Charlotte took the gold medal and is now the Australian National Under 15 women’s Cyclocross rider.

• Ruby Morrisby was selected for the Under 13 State Hockey Team. Ruby will compete in the National Hockey tournament.

• St Catherine’s Athletics Team made the Division 1 Track & Field and Cross Country Championships for the first time in a number of years. (For Cross Country it was the first time in nine years!)

• Annelise Cody (Year 8), Juliet Grant (Year 9), Eleanor Millear (Year 10) and Celia Cody (Year 8) won a silver medal in the 4x400m at the Victorian All Schools Track Relay Championships.

• Over 70 girls regularly attended early morning Cross Country and boot-camp training sessions throughout the year highlighting a desire for health, fitness and wellbeing amongst the girls.

• Juliette Cody, Captain of the St Catherine’s Track & Field Team, led by example and won the Division 1, 100m at GSV Championships.

• Year 8 students, Annelise Cody and Emily Sutherland, finished fourth respectively in the 100m and High Jump at the Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships.

• St Catherine’s School Senior Gymnastics team of 65 girls placed second out of 34 schools in the 2015 Victorian Inter School Gymnastics Championships. They were also awarded the school spirit award twice across the several days of competition.

• St Catherine’s Gymnastics Club had over 100 members participating in classes throughout the year, achieving Levels badges and culminating in a very successful week of displays. Both parents and family friends were able to see the wonderful improvements their children had achieved and saw wonderful smiles when the girls received their participation medals.

18 • St Catherine’s Snowsports Team won both the Victorian and Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships (Nationals) in the Overall Senior Girls Division for the second year in a row.

• St Catherine’s Senior School placed second in the Overall Secondary Girls Section at the Victorian Interschools Cross Country Championships.

• Particular congratulations must go to our individual medallists at the Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships Amelia Maisano (Year 8) who placed first individually in the Division 3 Alpine event and Emma Kent (Year 8) who placed second in the XC Classic event and BoarderX event.

• Year 12 student Chloe McIvor received a Sporting Champion Award from Federal Member for Higgins, the Honourable Kelly O’Dwyer, MP in recognition of Chloe’s efforts competing internationally in Snowboard Cross events.

Junior School • St Catherine’s Junior team placed first in District Swimming and won the Population Trophy.

• St Catherine’s Junior team placed second in District Athletics and triumphed with the Population Trophy.

• St Catherine’s Junior team placed second in District Cross Country.

• Junior School Cross Country Skiing Champions at the Victorian Interschools Cross Country Championships in the Overall Primary Girls Section.

• St Catherine’s Junior Snowsports Team won both the Victorian and Australian Interschools Snowsports Championships (Nationals) in the Overall Primary Girls Division.

• Particular congratulations must go to our individual medallists at the Australian Interschools Snowsports

19 Championships (Nationals): Amelia Jones (Year 6) Division 4 who placed first in the Alpine and Skiercross event and third in the Cross Country Classic event, Emily McAllister (Year 6) Division 5 who placed second in the Cross Country Classic Event and Julia Kent (Year 4) who placed third in the Cross Country Classic event.

• St Catherine’s School Primary Gymnastics team of 83 girls placed second out of 34 schools in the 2015 Victorian Primary Inter School Gymnastics Championships. The girls participated with enthusiasm and great sportsmanship.

Country and District Basketball and finished third in the 1500m at the State Primary School Track & Field championships.

• Elodie Ferrali (Year 6) swam at Regional level Swimming, ran at Regional Athletics and Regional Cross Country, and competed in A Division Inter School Gymnastics.

• Isabella Bufé (Year 6) competed in State Level Cross Country and Division Athletics.

• Madeleine Hardy (Year 6) was a Regional Representative in Soccer.

• Chloe Joubert (Year 6) reached Division level in Tennis, came third in A Division District Diving, swam at District Swimming, competed in A Division Interschool Gymnastics, Regional Cross Country, District Netball and National Snowsports.

• Amelia Jones (Year 6) was selected for the National Children's Squad by the National Alpine Selection Committee and National Alpine Selectors. She will be a member of the U14s National Snowsports Team competing at the Whistler Cup in 2016.

• Francesca Demetriou (Year 6) was selected for Division Level Netball, Division Level Swimming, State Cross

• Mayuri Muralidharan named number one Under 15 female Fencer in Australia as well as winning six Fencing gold

20 medals for the School in Primary Schools Championship Shield and Blacklord’s Championship Cup. • Jeneath Wong (Year 5) was one of a team of four Victorian Under 12 Golf team who won the 2015 National Primary School aged Golfers Championships. She was also awarded the best individual performance medal in her age group.

Educational Travel • In January, five UK exchange students arrived from St Catherine’s School in Bramley and St George’s School in Ascot in time to join the Year 9 Rowing Camp. The girls were hosted by their exchange partners for Term 1 and attended school at St Catherine’s. In Term 2, the girls who hosted travelled to the UK to spend Term 2 staying with their exchange and attending her school. In all, the girls’ exchange experience is a six month experience.

• Term 1 holidays, 20 students participated in the second St Catherine’s trip to the Fijian Highlands where they were able to experience the traditional rural Fijian way of life. They were involved in sharing resources and ideas in the village school, including some time leading the classes and in playing games with the students at lunchtime and interacting with the women of the village through Netball games and discussions. It was a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship that St Catherine’s has with the village of Nasivikoso.

• In March, 11 students travelled to the USA for the American Exchange Program. Six Year 9 students headed to The Ethel Walker School in Connecticut, two Year 10 students to Kingswood-Oxford School in Connecticut and three Year 10 students to The Archer School in Los Angeles. The girls were hosted by their exchange families and spent two weeks attending

21 classes at their respective schools. In addition, the girls in Connecticut spent three days as a group exploring the sights of New York and the girls in Los Angeles spent time exploring San Francisco. In June/July the American exchange girls arrived for their reciprocal visit spending two weeks as students at St Catherine’s School.

These students also spent time with their teachers exploring Sydney.

• Term 2 holidays provided an opportunity for 11 students to participate in the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney. This dedicated group of musicians and staff were involved in a variety of rehearsals, workshops and performances during the trip. A definite highlight for the group was their performance at Sydney Opera House.

• In June/July, 30 students embarked on a four week World Challenge trip to Southern Peru, South America.

A student led trip, the girls took full responsibility to research and organise their own itineraries, book accommodation and travel, plan treks and select a community project to volunteer at while in the country.

The level of interest was so high we had two expedition groups for the first time. Some of the highlights for the students were the trek phase, community project and visiting Machu Picchu.

• In the Term 3 holidays, 15 Years 8 and 9 students attended our annual Northern Territory Experience. The group travelled to the Top End and Kakadu visiting various places of interest in the area. A great opportunity for our students to experience parts of Australia they had not seen before, and to develop the independence required when travelling with a group rather than their family.

22 • In December, 16 Years 10 and 11 students participated in the bi-annual Japanese Study Tour. The trip provided students the opportunity to put into practice their language skills enhancing classroom learning and improve upon their spoken Japanese, and at the same time explore the culture of the country they have been studying. The students also spent time in our sister school Shukutoku High School in Nagoya.

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Wellbeing • Launch of the weThrive: Wellbeing@St Catherine’s Program.

Our thematic, sequential program from ELC to Year 12 provides a holistic approach to the personal, social, emotional and physical wellbeing of our students.

• Deans have undertaken Year level programs focusing on improved wellbeing, resilience, safe partying, cyber safety, nutrition and a suite of other age appropriate topics.

• Establishment of a partnership with Swinburne University’s Emotional Intelligence Resource Unit and a coalition of emotional intelligence schools.

• Girls Talk Parent Seminars have been conducted in both Semesters 1 and 2 providing parents an ideal opportunity to understand the role of being the ‘guide on the side’ or, at times, the ‘meddler in the middle’.

• Our Student Wellbeing Committee includes staff from ELC, Junior School and Senior School. The Committee work together throughout the year ensuring success of the Wellbeing Program.

• Student ‘A Team’ Wellbeing Club established with a strong focus on developing student–led initiatives to improve health, happiness and wellbeing across the School.

• Teen Mental Health First Aid Program was delivered to the Year 10 students.

• Staff have accessed Professional Development opportunities related to Mental Health, Positive Education and Girls’ Education to improve their capacity to care for students.

• Mindfulness practice has been introduced from ELC to Year 12.

• Launch of Heyington to Highlands, a new program for our Year 9 cohort. It is a collaborative and engaging communitybased experience located in the Fijian Highlands. The program will create individual opportunity for involvement, team-work and personal reflection, and with this, evolution of a greater selfawareness, improved critical thinking skills and an enhanced understanding of one’s own personal capacity.

Careers • Year 12 Student, Manon Dennison has been offered a place in the Ernst and Young Cadet program to complement her tertiary studies.

• Year 12 student, Alexandra Culliver, was offered a place at the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School, New South Wales.

• Year 12 student, Stacey Messini was offered a Collegiate Scholarship to study at Bond University.

• 100% of Year 12 students applying for tertiary places received offers.

• Emma Thompson was successful in her application to study Medicine at Monash University.

• Ten 2015 graduates have received University offers that include Honours and Masters.

• 20 Year 12 students were offered double degrees.

24 • Interview Skills Workshop assisting Year 12 students to prepare for tertiary interviews. For the 30 girls who attended the Workshop these skills where of great use in securing tertiary places.

• Introduction of the Careers Lunch Series program involving School alumnae who are commencing their graduate positions, internships, specialisations and masters programs speaking to interested current students about their tertiary journey thus far and offering course and study advice.

• The Careers Breakfast – the second year for this event enabled 14 parents, Old Girls and community members the opportunity to host tables of Years 11 and 12 students to share stories regarding their career pathways and insights into their working life.

• Continuation of the successful Year 11 Mentor Program.

Involving all Year 11 students the Program provided

25 students with contacts and with extraordinary mentors across a diverse range of industries including: –– Zana Bytheway, CEO, Jobwatch –– Dr Nina Eikelis, Biomedical Scientist, Baker IDI –– Sean Lockwood, Finance Manager, Coles –– Anna Kopinski, Head of Bequests, National Gallery of Victoria –– Pam Lamaro, Hospitality, Lamaro’s Restaurant –– Phillip Mariette, Director, Sierra Delta Design –– Dr Sonny Palmer, Cardiologist, St Vincent’s Hospital –– Lee Boyd, Associate Professor Nursing Care, Cabrini Health.

• Opportunity for the Careers Practitioner, Mrs Pauline van der Poel to visit the UK and meet with university representatives from Oxford, Cambridge, King’s College London, University College London and the London

School of Economics and Political Science as well as past students who are studying, or have studied, in the UK. • St Catherine’s continues to host the Admissions Testing Service for a number of UK tests for entry into a range of courses throughout the UK. Cambridge University held their interviews and testing at St Catherine’s.

• All students from Years 7 to 12 now have an eportfolio to compile a comprehensive and enduring digital platform showcasing their academic, co-curricular and community service achievements, as well as personal goals.

• A comprehensive Careers program ensures all Year 10 students have individual subject interviews to aid in VCE subject selections and at the conclusion of the year, all students in Years 10 and 11 have individual/parent review meetings in December to assess results, School participation and confirm subject selections prior to commencing VCE.

Community • All Year 10 students also complete the Morrisby profile, a sophisticated careers guidance tool, to assist students, parents and teachers form a more comprehensive understanding of student strengths, attributes and learning styles.

• Introduction of the MyCareerMatch careers quiz and resumé builder for all Year 9 students in preparation for careers guidance in Year 10.

• Ongoing and reciprocal relationships with exchange Sister Schools across the world to establish opportunities for gap placements for St Catherine’s students following Year 12.

• Participation in information sessions relating to studying in Canada, the UK and the USA. • Participation of students during each term holiday break in the Work Experience program.

Senior School • In a first for the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia, 21 of our Years 11 and 12 students joined the Captain Starlight and Starlight Express Room programs at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, helping to provide a medical-free respite for sick kids and their families.

• Fifty Year 10 students completed their Light Blue Leadership Diploma involving committing to leadership, involvement, reflection and community service over two years.

• Thirteen Year 10 students were awarded a Dark Blue Leadership Diploma as a result of initiating a program to support the community.

–– Collecting clothes for Orange Sky, a charity which provides clothes washing facilities for the homeless of Melbourne (Alexandra Garrett).

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27 –– Collecting resources and educating the School community regarding the needs of women in Africa related to personal hygiene (Esther Teow).

–– Aboriginal Literacy Foundation Book Drive (Sophie Seng Hpa).

–– Collecting Christmas toys for distribution by the Smith Family (Georgina McNab).

–– Collecting boxes of gifts for distribution overseas through ‘Operation Christmas Child’ (Jessica Walsh).

–– Collecting toiletries for Sacred Heart Mission (Lucy Church).

–– Planning and conducting a quiz challenge to bring students from different Year levels together (Mackenzie Leyden).

–– Collecting baby clothing for St Kilda Mums charity (Phoebe Edwards) –– Raising awareness of White Ribbon Day through the

distribution of ribbons at School (Sophie Sitch).

–– Creating a ‘Maths Club’ were Senior School students participated in a range of fun Mathematics games and activities at lunchtimes (Zeyi (Zoe) Yu, Jing yan (Annabeth) Zhang and Ruyan (Lily) Li).

–– Collection of toys for distribution to children at the Royal Children’s Hospital through ‘Heart Kids’ (Sabrina Reinke).

• Senior School students have supported numerous charities throughout 2015 raising a total of $31,376. The list includes: –– 40 Hour Famine $5,082 –– Australian Red Cross Door Knock $1,317 –– Australian Red Cross Earthquake Appeal $1,186 –– Birthing Kits $2,056 –– Cancer Council (Beaulieu Blair) $420

28 –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– –– ––

Cancer Council (Years 7 & 8 Morning Tea) $1,136 Destination Dreaming $990 Destination Dreaming (Easter Service) $1,987 Destination Dreaming (Year 10) $253 FareShare (Casual Clothes/BBQ) $2,722 FareShare (Year 9) $1,280 Jeans for Genes (Holmes Kilbride) $2,104 Legacy (Badge Sales) $1,100 Luke Batty Foundation (Staff Fundraising) $875 Pink Ribbon Day $895 Royal Children’s Hospital (Langley Templeton) $1,020 –– Salvation Army Door Knock $834 –– World Challenge (Peru) $4,284 –– Robert Connor Dawes Fund - Murder Mystery Night (General Committee) $948

–– Christmas Bowl (Christmas Service) $731 –– Red Poppy Appeal $156 • Year 9 students have volunteered at Blue Cross Nursing Home visiting and spending time with the residents.

• Ruby Smith (Year 11) and Charlotte Webster (Year 12) organised a collection of pens for schools in Cambodia, collecting 3,468 pens.

• Year 9 students continued their dedication to FareShare volunteering 320 hours and helping prepare over 4,000 meals.

• Students knitted 100 blankets for victims of the Nepalese earthquakes.

• Years 7 and 8 collected food items for Malvern Emergency Food Collection.

29 Junior School • Dr Edward de Bono spent a morning in Barbreck and spoke to all students about his works, in particular, the area of ‘Thinking’. He instilled the need to use different thinking skills for different challenges and also the understanding that we must always be very flexible in our thinking and never approach anything with a closed mind.

• Junior School participated in Cancer Council’s Biggest Morning Tea raising $964.75 for the charity.

• The Fundraising Day ‘Heart to Heart’, supported Heart Kids Organisation (Victoria) and raised $2,755.75.

• Junior School also raised $1,006.65 for Motor Neurone Disease (Research).

• As well as knitting blankets for Nepal, Junior School raised $248.45 for the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

• Prep to Year 2 students continued the tradition of raising money for the Barbreck World Vision sponsored child, Etenesh Birhanu.

• Barbreck families generously donated new goods to Heart Kids (Victoria) to contribute to the 2015 drive led by Year 11 student Sabrina Reinke to assist with goods for Boredom Buster gifts suitable for all age groups up to 16 years.

• The ‘Smith Family Christmas Project’ initiated in Barbreck

by Year 11 student Georgina McNab saw numerous boxes of new toys and gifts donated by Junior School girls and families. These were distributed at Christmas to disadvantaged Australian families.

• The Environment Committee organised, from Junior School families, contributions of used and unwanted clothing, shoes and toys and donated these to the Red Nose Bag Appeal.

Staff Achievements • Students from Years 2 to 6 elected to perform, sing, play music, recite poetry and entertain elderly citizens at lunchtimes at the John Macrae Elderly Citizens Centre (connected to the Toorak Uniting Church) throughout the year. A very popular event for all involved.

• Easter Service collection raised $995.75 for Fiji Building Assistance.

• Christmas Service collection raised $934.75 for the Christmas bowl.

Early Learning Centre • Highlights of the year were the special events (Mother’s Day, Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day and ‘Light Up My World Lantern Walk’) and the Year 4 Barbreck and 4 Year Old classes Friends’ Program.

• End of year Concert performance opportunities for every learner in the ELC.

• Mrs Jane Torii, French Teacher, received the St Catherine’s School Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.

• Mr Paul Cross, Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School 2015, received the St Catherine’s School Award for Service to the School Community.

• Mrs Vicki Marinelli published an article in Art Education Victoria periodical which highlighted the Year 8 ceramic project which explored contemporary sculpture through geometric forms.

• Mrs Brigid Weereratne, Head of Arts, co-authored the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Studio Arts study design and advice to teachers. She also wrote two articles for the Herald Sun, providing advice to students and teachers about examination preparation and development of School Assessed Tasks.

• Ms Sarah Bethune, Early Learning Centre Coordinator, article ‘Tiny Technology highlighting the use of technology

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31 Teaching and Learning. in early childhood’ was published in MAMA Mag, August 2015.

• Mr James Brown, Head of Performing Arts, article ‘Have No Fear Teaching Shakespeare’ was published in Australian Teaching Magazine, August 2015.

• Ms Merran O’Connor, Director of Student Wellbeing highlighted student wellbeing in her article ‘Girls Talk Seminars Widely Beneficial’ which was published in Australian Teaching Magazine, November 2015.

• Mr Paul Cross, Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School wrote an article on ‘ICT and apps – enhancing spatial analysis’, for Interaction (Geography Teachers’ Association of Victoria Inc.).

• Mr Alex Borlenghi, Head of Digital Practice and Learning, Ms Merran O’Connor, Director of Student Wellbeing and Mrs Jenny Mathers, Head of Music presented workshops to teachers from visiting schools at the Festival of Better

• Director of Curriculum Innovation and Development, Mr Adrian Puckering spoke at K–12 Australian National Curriculum Conference, Melbourne, International Conference: Education: Beliefs and Cultures, Timisoara, Romania and EDULearn15, Barcelona, Spain.

• Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School, Mr Paul Cross, presented at the Geography Teacher’s Association Annual Conference.

• Director of Business, Mrs Geraldine Ilott, facilitated the New Business Manager’s Program, a joint venture with Association of School Bursars and Administrators Victoria (ASBAV) and Independent Schools Victoria.

• ICT Manager, Mr John Toulantas presented at the ASBAV New Business Manager’s Program and Trident Annual Conference.

• Head of Science, Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae invited

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by Dr Lawrence Ingvarson, Principal Research Fellow, to be a member of the ACER panel, responsible for reviewing assessments that authorities and professional associations use as a basis for giving recognition or certification to highly accomplished Science teachers.

• Head of Science, Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae involved in writing the VCE Chemistry Study Design as a member of the VCAA Chemistry Review Panel.

• Director of Boarding Services, Mrs Sue Collister, was Chair of Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), Victoria and a National Board member of ABSA. • A number of Senior School teachers were extensively involved in the examination marking of VCE assessments.

Selected from teachers across the State for the examination marking, the process enables an outstanding professional learning opportunity for VCE teachers and provides intimate knowledge and considerable depth

in understanding the course requirements at this level.

Ms Loretta Carter – Further Mathematics, Mrs Janette Matt – Specialist Mathematics, Miss Jeanette Gunn – Mathematical Methods, Mr Matthew Bolzonello – History: Revolutions, Ms Fiona Ganino-Day – Psychology, Mr Brad Hicks – Physical Education, Mrs Tracey McCallum – Accounting, Mrs Amanda Ladbury-Webb – Mathematical Methods, Miss Kristy Forrest – English, Ms Vanessa Jackson-McRae – Chemistry, Ms Lee Brandt – Physics, Ms Asuko Okumura (Japanese), and Ms Corinne Buzza (French) – Language oral exams.

• Thirty-seven St Catherine’s staff members have a Masters degree, with a further nine studying at Masters level and another three staff members currently studying for their Doctorates.

St Catherine’s School

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17 Heyington Place Toorak VIC 3142 Telephone +61 3 9822 1285 Email info@stcatherines.net.au www.stcatherines.net.au CRICOS 00574F ABN 90 004 251 816