Co-curricular Opportunities

22 Co-curricular Opportunities

We Empower Her Signature, Her Voice

Empowering young women to discover through experience and find their voice in the communities and world around them through a bespoke Co-curricular program, Her Signature.

Senior School SPORT

Rowing Senior Rowers Chloe Cooper, Sarah Marriott, Bronte Cullen and Zara Bongiorno selected as Australian Junior Women’s VIII crew.

St Catherine’s Old Girl Chloe Cooper (’21) received full Rowing Scholarship at the University of Texas, Emily Sutherland (’19) selected in Australian U21 Rowing team, and attending UCLA on a Rowing Scholarship. Stephanie Ferrali (’18) Studying at University of Miami on a Rowing Scholarship, Ella Carton (’20) Brown University coxing in the Rowing Program.

Hockey Intermediate Hockey Team held GSV Premiership. Swimming Melbourne Swimming Club, led by former Australian Olympic Coach Ian Pope, provided coaching of St Catherine’s pre-squad, development squad, state and national squads. This provides avenues for swimmers to compete in Swimming Victoria events, high performance programs and pathway programs for swimmers.

Community Celebration of Sport Evening held online with guest presenter Sara Blicavs speaking about her experiences as a professional basketballer and Tokyo Olympics competitor for the Australian Opals.

Olympic Change Maker: Year 11 student, Sarah Marriott nominee for the Australian Olympic Change-Makers Program, which recognises students demonstrating the Olympic spirit – friendship, sportsmanship and striving for excellence. Sarah joined over 900 student Olympic Change-Makers from across Australia for a virtual forum, hearing from four inspiring Olympians. PERFORMING ARTS

Black Box Theatre Building works for St Catherine’s School’s new Black Box Theatre commenced in Term 3. The customdesigned performance, rehearsal and learning space will provide a sophisticated example of St Catherine’s School’s Towards 2025 Strategic Plan and our commitment to learning beyond the classroom.

As the central phase of the redevelopment of our Performing Arts precinct within the Dorothy Pizzey Centre, our Black Box Theatre will provide a home for Performing Arts at St Catherine’s School. The space will offer a spectacular venue for our Senior School and Barbreck music recitals, concerto concerts and jazz evenings, in addition to a bespoke playhouse for our musical, drama and future dance productions.

Co-curricular Opportunities

Senior School Performances Two Weeks with the Queen, Letters to Lindy and Elf Jr. The Musical were performed in 2021.

Learn@Home Music Breakfast with Epstein every Monday morning, Jorgensen Orchestra, Senior Concert Band, music recitals held online.

TRIPS AND EXCHANGES

Global Programs Throughout ongoing lockdowns small windows of opportunity presented themselves in the first half of 2021. The one-way exchange with Ascham School in Sydney went ahead, with Ascham girls arriving at St Catherine’s and spending time at School and with their host families.

Central Australia Trip Learning outside the classroom for Year 8 girls, developed their curiosity and a greater awareness of their surroundings and connections to nature, as well as generating appreciation and improving self confidence and relationships. DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING

Swannie Award Year 10 student, Flora Du (C Grade) was awarded a Swannie Award for the Hawthorn region – the highest individual award a debater can receive by the Debaters’ Association of Victoria (DAV).

DAV Women’s Competition

Two Best Speaker Awards in Years 9 and 10, Overall Best Speaker Award in C Grade and Runner Up in Year 11.

Online British Parliamentary Competition

2020 Semi-Finalists, Eloise Rudge and Pia Zayontz, brought their experience to the Senior Division. Our congratulations go to Year 10 students, Ava Colosimo and Jemima Wilcox, who made it to the Grand Final of the Intermediate Division, placing second overall.

Further accolades go to Jemima who was one of the top 10 speakers for the regional heat where 28 teams competed from 13 schools; a total of 63 students. This is a competition unlike traditional debating where speakers may ask for points of information of opposing speakers as we might see on the floor of Parliament, and senior debaters often find it to be a fast-paced and animated competition. Junior Debating 23 eager Years 7 and 8 students competed in three rounds of online debates, ably coached by their Year 11 Mentors.

Junior Debating season saw wins by almost all teams, and Team 2 remained undefeated. Three St Catherine’s students received Junior Debating Top Speakers Awards.

Victorian State Debating Team Three students received invitations to trial for Victorian State Debating Team. One student progressed through trials to the final 13 participants.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD PROGRAM

Despite COVID the Duke Of Edinburgh Award ran successfully in 2021 with Gold participants experiencing hiking in the High Country and Silver participants sea kayaking on the Gippsland Lakes.

Nineteen students completed awards with Year 12 student, Jessica Yang and Year 11 Sarah Marriott completing their Gold Awards.

Co-curricular Opportunities

CO-CURRICULAR CLUBS

School Co-curricular Clubs are an important way to promote and develop conversations and skills across the broad range of student aptitudes.

In 2021, a STEM Club and Captaincy was established with great success.

To better prepare students for the Adventurous Journey component of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award an Outdoor Education Club was established. Students are trained and assessed against important skills including cooking and navigation.

Senior Drama students provided workshops on audition techniques and processes to Years 7 and 8 girls in the newly established Drama Club. Junior School SPORT

Reinstatement of St Catherine’s Dance Program with Ballet and Jazz offered.

PERFORMING ARTS

Barbreck’s Junior School Musical, Wizard of Oz was cancelled due to COVID lockdown restrictions, however the show went on with students collecting costume packs from School and filming their songs, dialogue and dances from home. Performances were then compiled into a professional video and presented to the cast and crew. The Musical showcased a wonderful cast and exemplary teachers and families, rising to a new challenge with energy, enthusiasm and courage.

Music classes continued during the Learn@Home program, along with a number of online music recitals. The large number of attendances to the online recitals encouraged the girls considerably. DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING

Barbreck Debaters switched seamlessly between debating at School to online.

With a dedicated group of Year 10 coaches, the Barbreck debaters rapidly developed their skills in defining the proposition, planning the team line and split and rebutting the opposition in a supportive team environment.

Early Learning Centre

Reinstatement of St Catherine’s Dance Program with Ballet and Jazz offered.

Increased numbers in Gymnastics and Learn to Swim program.