Academic Success

English

• Top 2% in the state for VCE English and VCE Literature.

• Return of ‘Write a Book in a Day’ for Years 7 and 8 English Honours students.

• Launch of ‘The Game of Loans’ increased book borrowing for Years 7 and 8 students by 184%.

• Visits by authors including Rosalie Ham, author of The Dressmaker, and Robyn Cadwallader, author of The Anchoress. Students were also addressed by Old Girl, Katie Jones (Bartley ’00), author of Storybook House.

• Coffee and Culture Club was created for students from Years 10 to 12, who are interested in contemporary issues, books, films, and theatre to gather, discuss ideas, and build connections and friendships based on intellectual interests.

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Health and Human Development.

• Students worked with staff at the High-Performance Holden Centre (Collingwood Football Club) to gain exposure to the world of elite sport, and the use of data and testing facilities for elite athletes.

• Rowing was integrated into our Year 8 Core Physical Education curriculum. The Program resulted in an increase in Rowing uptake leading into the 2023 season.

Humanities

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Philosophy, VCE Business Management, VCE Australian and Global Politics, VCE Accounting and VCE History Revolutions.

• Year 9 Humanities students involved in innovative Critical Conversations Program.

• Over 80 students took part in the Australian Geography Competition and National History Competition, with many high achieving students in both competitions. One Year 8 student placed in the top 1% of the country.

Learning Plus

• Launched the Learning Plus Parent Resource on mystcatherines, which provides extensive resource material, videos and strategies for parents.

• St Catherine’s Learning Plus delivery recognised by Melbourne University as Gold Standard in learning intervention.

Drama

• One Year 12 student selected to perform as part of VCE Drama Top Class.

Languages

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Japanese SL, VCE Chinese SL, VCE French SL.

• Year 11 student, placed third in Japanese Speaking Competition.

• Alliance Française Berthe Mouchette Competition. Five Year 12 students reached the finals in this statewide competition.

• Growth in Chinese subject numbers, especially SLA students in the senior years.

Mathematics

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Specialist Maths, VCE Maths Methods, and VCE Further Maths.

• Increased number of students acknowledged with High Distinction and Distinction awards in Mathematics competitions.

• Competitions included the Maths Olympiad run by the Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiad as well as Kangourou sans Frontières, Computational Algorithmic Thinking and the Australian Mathematics Competition all administered by the Australian Mathematics Trust.

Science

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Chemistry, and VCE Biology.

• VCE chemists completed the International Chemistry Quiz. Five VCE students achieved High Distinctions, six students achieved Distinctions and seven students achieved Credits.

• RACI Chemistry Quiz – Year 12 student achieved perfect score in Year 12 paper. This was acknowledged by RACI.

• Participated in the Australian Science Olympiad Examinations. Ten students achieved results placing them in the top 30%.

• Years 8 and 9 students completed the Big Science Competition

• Year 8 Science Honours students constructed a hydraulic arm.

• Year 7 Science Honours students completed the ASTA Spectra Award.

• New 3D-printing centre announced.

• Online breakfast event with NASA engineer Elizabeth Blome, Australian Jet Propulsion Lab Engineer, Dr Elizabeth Jenns and Stellar

Astrophysics PhD Candidate Giulia Cinquegrana.

• STEM Professionals in Schools continues with Professor Paul Wood working with Year 10 students on ‘Assessing the Credibility of Scientific Evidence’.

Visual Arts

• Top 2% in the state for VCE Studio Arts.

• Selina Yao Gallery equipped with museum standard displays, filled on rotation, with products of creative and critical thinking.

• Nineteen Senior School students’ work was exhibited at the ISV Art Exhibition.

• Year 8 students were privileged to learn from contemporary Indigenous weaver Kathy Glass, proud Gurindi, Dagoman and Wardaman Woman, and proud mother of our Year 12 Boarding Captain, Jasmine.

• The Year 9 Signature Program welcomed textile designer Miss Sophie Yencken (’15) to share her industry experiences, Mr Stuart Parry shared the creative practice of an inventor and Year 9 Media created an awareness campaign film for the organisation RU OK?

• 2022 VCE Art Show was particularly exhilarating as we celebrated students’ artistic voice and achievements together, for the first time since 2019.

• One Year 12 student selected to be exhibited as part of VCE Top Arts.

Academic Success

CAREERS PATHWAYS & STUDENT EDUCATION

• Lunchtime sessions on Early Entry Schemes, Tailoring your Personal Statements, UK and USA applications, ANU Early Offer Scheme.

• Presentations from tertiary institutions.

• Careers Breakfast was held for the first time since 2019, giving students the chance to meet and learn from Old Girl mentors from various professions.

• As a key component of personalised academic care, Careers Counselling sessions continue to be a valuable experience for all our students.

• Careers Workshops extended to Years 7, 8 & 9 students. 73% of Year 8 students felt they had a better understanding of the values, qualities, and skills they possess following the Careers Education sessions.

• Year 10 Career Exploration Unit, Virtual Work Experience initiative allowed students to attain both soft and transferable skills. Students received a Certificate of Completion for their Careers ePortfolio and Curriculum Vitae.