Global Programs

GLOBAL PROGRAMS

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

In light of the challenges of 2020, we are excited to return to travel globally. am delighted to invite our Senior School students to express their interest in the St Catherine’s Global Program. believe this program provides a breadth of experiences for our students through outstanding opportunities both domestically and across the world.

The Global Programs encompass the essence of our School charter, that is at the heart of our engaged, dynamic and inclusive community, St Catherine’s School nurtures young women to be bold and creative, independent and resilient, and who are intellectually and spiritually prepared to contribute to a greater good and an enriching life both within and beyond School.

Undoubtedly, the Global Program ensures a commitment to our School Charter through the “empowerment of independent and globally responsive young women”. Our Global Program is designed to offer an extensive range of local and in-country experiences from opportunities to suit students’ needs and levels of independence, whilst learning skills through their travel experience.

I look forward to hearing of the future endeavours of St Catherine’s students gaining an educational experience abroad.

Yours sincerely,

GLOBAL PROGRAMS

Here at St Catherine’s there is a deep commitment to exploring every possibility with every student. We recognise the potential in every girl and our global programs are designed to expand a sense of themselves and their capacity for growth.

St Catherine’s School Global Programs allow girls to challenge themselves and develop resilience by stepping beyond a perceived comfort zone, to dare to be bold, adventurous, and independent.

Each program is carefully designed to encourage students to contribute to the wider community, explore opportunities and develop a deep understanding of their responsibilities within their local, national and international communities. Developing an understanding of the diversity of cultures that exists today enables girls to place their learning within a global perspective and to effectively move their learning outside the classroom.

Co-curricular programs at St Catherine’s School provide opportunities for students to personalise their learning journey through self-selecting opportunities within our exciting cocurricular program. Engaging in such experiences aim to enhance the development of the whole child by complementing skills learned in the classroom and nurturing lifelong learners. Through the co-curricular opportunities at St Catherine’s School from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12, we have prioritised six essential skills underpinning our programs in encouraging independence and globally responsible young women:

Resilience, Persistence and Responsibility

Cultural Learning and Global Citizenship

Leadership, Confidence and Aspiration

Mrs Michelle Carroll MEd, BEd, GradDipHlth, MACEL, AFAIM PRINCIPAL

The St Catherine’s Global Programs provides exceptional opportunities for students and aims to:

• offer a range of academic and cultural opportunities to place learning within a broader global perspective;

• encourage the development of resilience and taking responsibility for one’s actions;

• the opportunity to experience life in another country and develop an understanding of global citizenship;

• promote open-mindedness, leading to new thinking and the desire to effect change;

• encourage the development of respectful relationships and to value the diversity of our global network;

• nurture an appreciation of, and respect for, social, cultural and religious diversity;

• develop agency by taking responsibiity and initiative.

YEAR 9 GLOBAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Our Year 9 Global Exchange Program is designed to offer an extensive range of in-country experiences from opportunities to study in regional or city schools with our partner schools around Australia and in three different countries, a variation in the length of time participating in the Exchange and a focused appeal to specific areas of academic and co-curricular interests of our Year 9 students. We are able to offer over 25 students the opportunity to be involved in our Global Exchange program, with programs ranging from 4-12 weeks in duration.

The programs are designed as a reciprocal arrangement, whereby St Catherine’s families host a student in addition to their daughter living in the family home of their Exchange Partner; some opportunities include residing in the Boarding House of our partner schools. The Culford School in the UK has the option to be a one-way program for St Catherine’s students, with no hosting responsibilities in Australia.

St Catherine’s School has partnerships with the following schools:

United Kingdom

• Culford School, Bury St Edmonds

• St Georges School, Ascot

• St Catherine’s School, Bramley

• Royal Bath High School, Bath Canada

• Crofton House, Vancouver

USA

• Shawnigan Lake School, Vancouver Island USA

New Zealand

• Buffalo Seminary School, Buffalo, NY New Zealand

Australia

• St Margaret’s School, Christchurch Western Australia

• St Marys, Perth

The St Catherine’s Global Exchange Program aims to:

1. Support the School’s Strategy – Towards 2025 by enriching the learning experiences of our students and to encourage the development of resilience, a positive outlook and a sense of responsibility. The Global Exchange Program assists the development of confident, capable and compassionate young women who will contribute effectively to our global network and community.

2. Facilitate students’ knowledge and learning from a global perspective and to promote open-mindedness, leading to new thinking and the desire to effect change as a global citizen.

3. Support the School’s goal of academic achievement through a personalised learning approach which provides opportunities for students to participate in educational environments that require self-paced and independent learning, facilitated by the integration of technology as a tool for learning and communication as students access online learning materials to enable their study abroad.

4. Offer a range of academic and cultural opportunities to enable learning within a broader global perspective. The Exchange experience encourages girls to adapt to new learning environments, thus promoting personal growth and qualities for becoming ambassadors for their family, school and country.

5. Encourage a real-world understanding of the School’s values: Empathy, Integrity, Curiosity and Perseverance by promoting an inquiring mind and an appreciation of, and respect for, social, cultural and diversity of our global network.

6. The opportunity for our students to choose their own adventure, by experiencing the unique offerings at each of the Year 9. Exchange Schools, within Australian and overseas.

CULTURAL STUDY TOURS

Ocean School Marine Biology (Years 10-11)

CASE Ocean School is an Australian based Marine Biology Study program providing students with an all-encompassing STEAM experience including marine biology, ocean ecology, cutting-edge research and technologies. CASE Ocean School inspires a new generation of STEAM-skilled leaders and is recommended to all students pursuing any career path. With a focus on ocean management for young leaders, the program will provide students will skills and confidence to further their development as innovators, future thinkers, leaders and communicators. Students participating in this 12 day program will fly into Brisbane and travel to Fitzroy Island and Cairns. This program showcases the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, breathtaking coastlines, Daintree Rainforest and rich Indigenous Culture. The CASE Ocean School Program provides three key pillars of learning: engaging ocean activities, inspiring personal and leadership development and immersive cultural experience. Students will complement their study of ecosystems and habitats, food webs, biodiversity and adaptions and human impacts. The program provides ocean ecologist fieldwork, marine life DNA analysis, marina mammal observations, organism identification and intriguing laboratory work, working alongside qualified marine biologists.

Performing Arts Cultural Study Tour: New York (Years 10-12)

Students will spend two weeks in New York City; the home of Theatre and Musical Performances. As well as visits to historical and significant landmarks, including the 9/11 memorial, Ellis Island, Brooklyn Bridge and the Rockefeller Centre, students will also participate in acting workshops and performance dance classes. Students will also have the opportunity to see Broadway Musicals and Plays. During their time in New York, they will visit New York University, the Lincoln Centre for Performing Arts, the Guggenheim Museum and the Julliard School of Music.

Italian Arts Cultural Study Tour (Years 10-12)

The Italy Study Tour travels to Venice where students spend three days in Venice visiting galleries and the islands of Torcello, Murano and Burano. While in Venice students have the opportunity to attend a concert at Tearto La Fenice. The group will visit the Scrovengi Chapel in Padua on our way to Prato. While in Prato students participate in a three day printmaking workshop at the Monash University campus, with French printmaker, Patrick Aubert. Students will visit Florence by train visiting many sites and galleries. The tour incorporates a day trip to Siena and travel to Assisi for two nights. On the way to Rome students visit the hill town of Orvieto, and visit a well-respected ceramics studio. The tour concludes its journey through Italy in Rome, where students visit St Peter’s, Colosseum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Pantheon, prior to travelling home.

Science Study Tour: NASA Space Camp (Years 10-11)

Space Camp is a program designed to promote the study of Maths, Science and Technology. Space Camp is fully endorsed by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Advanced Space Academy program sees students participate in a rigorous program that teaches them about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts face and provides leadership training as well as learning the importance of teamwork. Students are guided through the past, present and future of space exploration.

Students travel to San Francisco and visit the Intel Museum (tour and workshop), TWiT TV, National Ignition Facility and Exploratorium (the Museum of Science and Human Perception).

Students enjoy a San Francisco city tour including Alcatraz. After three nights in San Francisco, students travel to Alabama and participate in the Space Camp Academy and then to Orlando. Whilst in Orlando, students will visit the Kennedy Space Centre, enjoy Youth Education Programs at iFly and Universal Studios and experience the wildlife and eco-systems of the Florida Everglades.

CULTURAL STUDY TOURS

Japan Cultural Study Tour (Years 10-11)

The Japan Study Tour is an excellent opportunity for Years 9-11 students studying Japanese at St Catherine’s School as the tour will enable an authentic experience unable to be replicated on a family holiday. The tour will take participants to various parts of Japan and is designed to provide a rich experience, both linguistically and culturally. It includes a visit to Shukutoku High School, our sister school in Nagoya and a short homestay where students will be provided with many opportunities to interact with their host families. Japan is renowned for its beautiful art forms and the fortunate participants in this tour will take part in various workshops while gaining further experience in Japanese language. This tour has a strong focus on language aquisition and practice. Students will be encouraged to speak Japanese during the tour and will be required to complete daily language tasks appropriate to their level of study.

During the tour, there will be a short homestay component at a host sister’s home in Nagoya. It is a reciprocal arrangement and as such, St Catherine’s students going on the tour will host a Japanese student for a few days.

French/History Cultural Study Tour (Years 10-12)

The French and History Study Tour is suitable for students studying French and/or History in Years 10, 11 and 12. This tour offers both linguistic opportunities and the chance to visit several sites of historical significance. French students will enjoy the benefit of being immersed in both the French language and culture, whilst History students will be able to visit key sites that are relevant to the French Revolution and the First and Second World Wars.

Following the tour group’s arrival in Paris, the study tour will begin in the Loire Valley where students will visit historic castles and other sites in and around the city of Tours. The group will then spend a day at the Futuroscope Theme Park in Poitiers before heading to the island of Mont St Michel where students will be able to explore a medieval abbey.

The tour group will then travel to the Normandy coast where students will visit the D-Day landing beaches of World War Two and will also see the Bayeux Tapestry. The tour will then proceed to the city of Rouen where French students will have French language lessons whilst History students will have lessons on the French Revolution and the First and Second World Wars. The stay in Rouen will include a visit to the First World War battlefields. The group will then head to Paris and will visit key sites such as the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. The stay in Paris will also include a French Revolution walking tour. During the tour group’s final day in Paris, students will enjoy a Bateaux Mouches River Cruise down the Seine River, before the group proceeds to Charles de Gaulle Airport for the journey home to Australia.

CULTURAL STUDY TOURS

Chinese Cultural Study Tour (Years 8-10)

The Chinese Cultural Study Tour is a part of a broader Chinese Cultural Tour, where our students visit Beijng, Xi’an, Hangzhou and Shanghai. On the tour, students and staff visit important historical landmarks, including the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta warriors. Whilst in China, students experience Chinese food and culture, supported by St Catherine’s staff.

During their trip, the students spend a day at the Olive Tree International Academy, immersed in a vastly different educational experience.

The Olive Tree International Academy is a private international school for primary and secondary school levels. It is designed around water saving techniques with beautiful gardens. The school greatly values its connection to St Catherine’s School and since 2018 we have shared study and tours and exchange programs. The students from Olive Tree International Academy, then arrive in Australia in July, where they immerse themselves in St Catherine’s classes and activities for a few days, before then continuing to see other parts of Australia.

Global Young Leaders (Year 11)

Global Young Leaders (GYL) runs leadership development conferences for young adults in China, Europe and the USA. Students at St Catherine’s School have an opportunity to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in the United States of America in the June July school holidays. This conference provides students with the chance to meet world leaders and exchange ideas with people including business leaders, diplomats, politicians and journalists as well as experiencing a range of social and cultural activities. Students attend the conference as an independent traveller, making their way to and from the conference without an accompanying teacher. Students who would like to attend the Global Young Leaders Conference require a high degree of independence, initiative and a willingness to participate and engage with people from all over the world, while learning and working diligently through the program.

Oxbridge (Year 11)

Cambridge and Oxford Universities provide academic programs for academically able students to attend the residential program, enabling them to extend their knowledge in areas of special interest to them. Programs includes Medical Science, Literature, Philosophy and Robotics, to name a few. Students can choose their course to study at a time that suits their travel schedule during the June/July holidays. Students who would like to attend the Oxbridge Program require a high degree of independence, initiative and a willingness to participate and engage with people from all over the world, and work with the academically stimulating courses. More information can be found at www.oxbridgeprograms.com

GLOBAL EXCHANGES

French Language Immersion (Years 10-11)

The French Cultural Immersion is designed to be a reciprocal exchange for the linguistic benefit of both students from the immersion and interaction during the hosting and return visit to France. The Cours Fénélon students visit Australia for six weeks, including the June/July holidays. Our students benefit from the relationship developed with their exchange, prior to the return journey to France. The St Catherine’s students travel in early December and stay for up to six weeks. Reciprocal exchanges are effective in creating a mutual trust which is engendered by both parties hosting and offering an authentic family experience to a young person from another culture. Our association with Cours Fénélon has been uniformly successful. Monsieur Emmanuel Tilmont leads a very caring community at Cours Fénélon. The association between families has been warm and enriching and the matching of Australian and French students has resulted in new and lasting friendships. Cours Fénélon is located in Toulon, in the South West of France, approximately 2 hours by train from Nice. It is a Prep to Year 12 co-educational school founded by the Marist Brothers. School hours are different to Australia’s and there is no uniform.

USA Cultural Experience (Year 10)

The USA Cultural Exchange is a three-week overseas program including a 4-night stay in New York City and two weeks attending our partner schools, Tower Hill, Delaware and Ethel Walker School, Connecticut.

This program provides the opportunity to have a taste of New York, supervised by St Catherine’s staff in addition to a staff facilitated exchange in country. Students will either stay with a family or in the boarding house (depending on which school they attend). This is a reciprocal program where you would host a student for two weeks. This program is designed for students who wish to have an opportunity to attend an English-speaking school overseas.

GLOBAL EXCHANGES

Chinese Language Immersion (Years 10-11)

The Chinese Cultural Immersion is a reciprocal exchange to enhance linguistic development, personal learning and intercultural understanding. Our partnership with the Olive Tree Academy began in 2018 and our first exchange took place in 2019. This is a newly built school with State of the Art facilities. Learning English is compulsory until Year 12, so these students have excellent English speaking skills, which assists in a rewarding experience when staying in Melbourne. Our students have been warmly welcomed to this sophisticated city with many green spaces. St Catherine’s students are able to produce pottery from the school’s own kiln, participate in customised Chinese-language lessons, and the after school Rowing program. The hosting family generously shared the sites of Hangzhou with visiting St Catherine’s students. Our students have found the Olive Tree students to be exceptionally friendly and welcoming. The St Catherine’s students were particularly impressed with the level of their Mathematics classes. An immersion exchange is above all an experience of cultural difference which builds understanding and tolerance between nations.

Japanese Language Immersion (Years 10-11)

The Japanese Cultural Immersion is a reciprocal exchange to enhance linguistic development, personal learning and intercultural understanding. The Shukutoku Junior and Senior High School is a private girls’ school with which we have a longstanding association. It is a prestigious school with excellent academic standards. Shukutoku has a strong co-curricular program, including Baton Twirling, Guitar or Mandolin Club which enables St Catherine’s visitors to experience Japanese life in an authentic manner. A linguistic exchange is suitable for students keen to improve their spoken Japanese and their aural comprehension. Students need to be sufficiently independent to live with another family for three to four weeks, adapting to their cuisine, daily routine and way of life. Students will benefit from participating in many traditional cultural events, such as visiting shrines and Near Year’s Day celebrations. An exchange can make a significant difference to their language skill. Their motivation and commitment to studying Japanese are also enhanced as a result of experiencing another culture first hand. An immersion exchange is above all an experience of cultural difference which builds understanding and tolerance between nations.

EXPEDITIONS

Three Capes (Years 10-12)

The Three Capes Walk is designed as an introductory expedition providing students with the opportunity to visit the Tasman National Park. The trip is four days in duration and involves daily walks on the coast, learning about convict history and a visit to the Bonorong National Wildlife Sanctuary. Students will fly into Hobart and visit the Port Arthur Historical Site, walk to Cape Hauy and Cape Raoul and on return to Hobart explore Bonorong National Wildlife Sanctuary before returning to the airport to fly home to Melbourne. Students and staff will stay in cabin style accommodation and be accompanied by professional Wilderness Guides from our program partner, World Expedition Tours. This program is an introductory expedition to other experiences on offer to students at St Catherine’s School, including Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous journey, World Challenge.

Maria Island, Tasmania (Year 7-9)

This introductory expedition, provides students will the opportunity to travel to Maria Island for four days, staying in cabins for three nights. Maria Island is one of Tasmania’s least visited locations with a rich history of Aboriginal habitation, convict penal station, farming and a National Park. Students will experience day hikes to Mount Bishop, Mount Clerk, and Mount Maria exploration. Students will fly into Hobart and travel to Maria Island by Mini bus and ferry. This program provides students will the opportunity to engage with the natural surroundings, whilst exploring Maria Island and undertaking day walks with the group. This is the ideal introduction to expeditions experienced through St Catherine’s Global Programs, World Challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh Compass Adventurous Journey Programs.

World Challenge (Years 10-12)

World Challenge is a pioneering educational organisation with 28 years of experience in delivering personal development expeditions for students. Their expeditions range from 14-28 days and have a student led focus that begins between 12-18 months prior to embarking on this life enriching experience. These expeditions help students to tap into their own potential, whether it’s within the group or leading it (usually both), with a focus on leadership, resilience and teamwork.

Students will experience a range of challenges, from venturing out into barren landscapes, boldly tackling treks, handling budgets, booking accommodation, taking care of logistics right through to contributing to community led initiatives. The group is supported in setting and achieving individual and team fundraising goals to help cover the cost of the expedition program, where on average, students raise over half of the total program cost. These are the kinds of life changing experiences that students walk away from with an enriched view of self and a new-found confidence to take on the world.

St Catherine’s has been involved in World Challenge

Expeditions since 2009 in Vietnam, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru, Nepal, Borneo, Vietnam and Cambodia.

EXPEDITIONS

Duke of Edinburgh (Years 10-12)

Students who are completing the Duke of Edinburgh awards are encouraged to participate in these programs for the adventurous journey, to complete their award. Choosing one of these adventures, complies with the respective adventurous journey of the Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Compass Adventurous Journey.

Silver Adventurous Journey (6 days) Gold Adventurous Journey (8 days)

Bushwalking: Great Alpine Walk

The Great Alpine Walk program offers students an opportunity to journey on foot through the beautiful Victorian Alps, from Mt Hotham to Mt Bogong – with the chance of summitting the highest mountain in Victoria. The journey will wind through majestic Snow Gums, and across grassy alpine plains where students could catch a glimpse of wild brumbies. Campsites are found near historic High Country huts and clear flowing mountain streams.

While the ups and down terrain of this journey will be challenging, the rewards and feelings of self-satisfaction of having reached the summit, or having helped someone through a difficult time as part of a group, will form memories and teach lessons that can be carried forward in life.

The group for this journey will be made up of a maximum of 16 students who will be supported by a staff member from St Catherine’s and an OEG Group Leader for the entire eight days.

Sea Kayak: Whitsunday Islands, Queensland

Beginning and finishing near Airley Beach this program offers students an opportunity to explore the pristine waters and sandy beaches of Australia’s famous Whitsunday Islands, including the iconic Whitehaven Beach. Carrying all they need onboard their boats the students may choose to journey to a new campsite each day or base somewhere to allow for a greater exploration of the scenic landscape.

Working with the environment on a journey like this is key to overcoming challenges the students will face.

While sitting in their sea kayaks students will feel a very close connection to environment they find themselves in, and they will learn how to be flexible and adapt to conditions in order to achieve a successful outcome.

The group for this journey will be made up of a maximum of 14 students who will be supported by a staff member from St Catherine’s, an OEG Group Leader and an OEG Sea Kayak Support, for the entire eight days.