Ms Merran O’Connor Respect, Reflect and Connect

Name: Ms Karen McArdle Title: Head of Junior School Date: 8 October 2021 Strategic Intent: Wellbeing & Leadership

COURAGEOUS GIRLS

It is difficult to describe the many emotions our girls have experienced over the past two years. It is also difficult to list the many ways in which they may have changed. However, there is one thing I have noticed – the girls always show courage. Courage is defined as ‘the ability to do something that frightens oneself’. As a teacher and school leader, I see our girls exhibit courage every day. I have seen girls with little knowledge of devices become experts, girls not fully understanding some of the work being covered but forging ahead with determination, and girls experiencing challenges due to isolation and lack of contact with friends but making sure they are onscreen every day for their lessons with a smile (even though they may not be smiling on the inside). This week, I saw courage demonstrated when groups of girls from Prep through to Year 4 became “expert panellists” for our St Catherine’s Junior School Orientation Mornings, held to welcome our incoming 2022 students. As panellists, the girls responded wonderfully to the questions asked from the 2022 students. These young girls demonstrated such courage working within this situation as they did not know what to expect, did not know many of the questions they would be asked, they were online and away from their teachers and they were in a situation where they were being spotlighted in a very public way. I congratulate all the girls involved – whilst they were a little nervous and apprehensive of what might happen – they showed great courage and forged ahead! While the Fearless Girl statue in New York is designed to drive a conversation about elevating women in corporate roles, it has become a message for girls around the world to be fearless when facing challenges, as our girls in the lower years are demonstrating already, daring to be courageous.

Ms Karen McArdle

Head of Junior School