Boarding

At the start of the boarding year, we celebrated the return of our international boarders, who had left the Boarding House in March 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic and had been unable to return to St Catherine’s until 2022. We also welcomed several of our other boarders who had commenced their studies online. It was a wonderful afternoon and really highlighted the value of relationships and the importance of staying connected. The theme for our Year 12 boarding leaders in 2022 has been one of inclusion. We have welcomed new boarders this year from country Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, and China. In Term 4 we also welcomed an exchange student from Belgium. Activities in early Term 1 encouraged our boarders to get to know each other during events like the Closed Weekend and the Charity Dress Up Night. Boarding teaches many life skills including resilience, time management, appreciation of diverse cultures, the skills of sharing and helping, and learning to be responsible for both yourself and your belongings. Our boarders from Year 7 develop study skills though the nightly homework program and by the time they reach their VCE years they are working towards being independent and organised learners. Together, with the assistance of the boarding staff it is a pleasure and privilege to support our boarders through their secondary years of schooling.

Head of Boarding Services

This year as the Boarding House Captains of 2022, we have had the privilege of living with a friendly and charismatic group of girls. Emerging from two years of COVID, where we were separated from each other and the Boarding House, it has been our aim this year to facilitate the return of the warm and welcoming culture that Illawarra is known for. During the year we have joined together for many activities including the Closed Weekend at the beginning of the year, which is a chance for girls to get to know one another whilst settling in, and consisted of cooking yummy Nutella pizzas, a movie night, a fashion runway show, and much more. With such a diverse group of girls, we have had the privilege to honour multiple cultural celebrations, including a festive Easter egg hunt, Chinese New Year, and NAIDOC Week. Through these events, we were able to learn about, and embrace, the many backgrounds that make Illawarra so unique. The organisation of these events and our day-to-day lives would not be possible without the support and generosity of the devoted Boarding House staff and Mrs Collister. After both of us living at Illawarra for over five years we are sad to leave but know that the sisterhood we have gained will continue to support us on our journeys beyond Illawarra.

2022 Boarding Captains