Wellbeing & Leadership

Allows young learners time to adjust slowly to their new learning environment and requirements of the educational program.

Girls moving from the Early Learning Centre into the Junior School received guided tours by the Head of Junior School and Prep teacher. Throughout the final semester our Prep teacher joins the 4YO class in the ELC for story time to build rapport and familiarity with the transitioning students.

Extensive individualised support is being provided to children where teachers have identified areas of need, particularly following on from extensive COVID lockdowns.

Our skilled educators guide our students to achieve deeper understanding of their personal capabilities and leadership potential. In 2022, St Catherine’s School worked Towards 2025 with the following leadership opportunities across our Senior School, Barbreck and Early Learning Centre:

Senior School Voice Ownership Inclusion Compassion Empowerment and Strength (VOICES)

Commencing in 2021, the Use Your VOICES Program provides opportunities for students in Years 7 to 12 to step forward and embrace leadership positions within the SRC, Student Executive in Year 12 and the Leadership Diploma offered in Years 9 to 11.

Student-led initiatives within VOICES included:

• Establishing The Stentorian, student monthly newsletter. The title means ‘loud’ and ‘powerful,’ and the success of this student led initiative is the stamp of bold, creative, independent, and resilient students.

• Student Commitment to Online Safety document within the SRC.

• Involvement in Child Safety Policy development for St Catherine’s School.

A student-led approach to Senior School assemblies saw the 2022 Student Executive organise numerous guest speakers and issue-based presentations throughout the year, including:

• Guest Speaker, The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp.

• Recycling Clothing Market, raising funds for Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots Program.

Light and Dark Blue Leadership Diploma endeavours to showcase the breadth of talent and interests within our student body.

Dark Blue Diplomas demonstrate the ability to lead community service events in 2022, including:

• Supporting Old Girl, Toni Joel (Silver ‘82), and her charity ‘Off Your Back’ with a Coats on the Catwalk Parade, providing coats and jackets to rough sleepers across Melbourne.

• Climb it for Climate initiative raised $4,400, through students calculating the elevation they walk/run each day

• Book Drive for a new charity – the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation which is in alignment with the Child Safe Standard 1’s goal to increase student awareness of and support for the cultural safety for indigenous students.

Along with staff and parents, the students formed an important part of the consultation process undertaken regarding St Catherine’s School’s Child Safety Policy creation and review. Students contributed via the Student Representative Council, the student survey and in Year Level sessions, and a group of Year 12 students comprising a Child Safety Focus Group. This student voice was instrumental in ensuring accessibility and relevance of new policies, including the creation of child friendly versions. The inclusion of students in such discussions emphasises their empowerment regarding their rights, as well as their responsibilities.

St Catherine’s vibrant House System provides opportunities for students from across Year levels to enjoy House-led activities across a wide range of co-curricular activities. In 2022, House events included:

• House Swimming

• House Arts

• House Athletics

• House Cross Country

• House Meetings led by student House Captains

• House Debating

• House Chess

• House Public Speaking

• House Snowsports

School co-curricular clubs are an important way to promote and develop conversations and skills across the broad range of student aptitudes. In 2022, initiatives and activities from Clubs included:

• The Year 12 Cohort helped to knit blankets to assist people affected by the fires in Australia.

• Church Service collections donated to Mission Australia and Save the Children.

• 40-hr Famine fundraising.

• Annual netball game against St Kevin’s Year 12s raised funds for the Cancer Council.

• Human Rights Club increased student awareness of real-life, global issues by ensuring everyone is ‘part of the conversation’.

• GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) ran sessions which brought different Year levels together to discuss various topics surrounding the LGBTQI+ community.

• The Sustainable Easter Egg Hunt, promoted the importance of ethical and sustainable consumption. of chocolate and the effects of chocolate production on the environment.

• The Recycling Market inspired conscious consumerism.

• STEM Club provided students with opportunities to learn new skills and software, such as 3D modelling using Tinkercad.

All Years 5 and 6 students meet with the Head of Junior School to discuss ideas on improving Barbreck, to ensure the student voice is heard.

Our 2022 Barbreck student Captains provided leadership and guidance to the Barbreck student body throughout 2022. The 2022 School Captains selected the theme of Courage to “inspire Barbreck girls to be brave enough to have a go at new things and to build a supportive culture where we recognised and supported courage in others.”

Captaincy positions were:

• Junior School Captains

• House Captains

• Library Captains

• Music Captains

• Snowsports Captains

• Swimming Captains

• Cross Country Captains

St Catherine’s vibrant House System provides opportunities for students from across Year levels to enjoy House-led activities across a wide range of co-curricular activities. In 2022, House events were:

• Regular House meetings, run by student House Captains

• House Tee-Ball

• House Volley Stars

• House Netball

• House Soccer

• House Athletics

• House Handball

• House Snowsports

• House Swimming

• House Cross Country

• House Flags

Co-curricular Clubs

In 2022, a student-based Environment Committee was established to help Barbreck girls form a genuine interest in helping their environment, both at a School level and within the wider community.

The Barbreck Chinese Club was launched in 2022.