2025 St Catherine's School Magazine

ST CATHERINE’S SCHOOL 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

What an extraordinary year 2025 has been and as we reflect on the milestones that have shaped our community, I hope you can see, as I do, that intellectual development and character formation remain the cornerstones of the St Catherine’s experience.

We were honoured to welcome Her Honour Judge Anna Robertson (Lally ’88) as keynote speaker at our annual Speech Night celebration—a reminder of the values and aspirations that unite us as a school. She spoke of the need to embrace complexity and ambiguity in our thinking whilst upholding empathy for other perspectives. It was also a privilege to announce a significant transition: Ms Jane Hodder concluded her tenure as Chair of School Council after eight years of transformative leadership. Under Ms Hodder’s guidance, St Catherine’s flourished across every metric—academic achievement, wellbeing, cultural and financial health. As she moves into the historic role as the first female Board Chair of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in its 95-year history, we warmly welcome Mrs Nina Aberdeen (Kirby ’94) as our new Chair. An Old Girl and a current parent, Nina brings a long-standing connection to our community underpinned by her professional expertise, qualifications, and lived understanding of the School. We look forward to her taking the reigns on 1 January 2026.

Another highlight was celebrating Mr Robert Marshall, who retires after 40 years in education. Since 2018, Rob has served the School in multiple roles, most notably as Interim Principal in 2024. His integrity, kindness, and tireless dedication have shaped a caring culture that will resonate for years to come.

This year also marked exciting new appointments: Ms Lisa Hanlon as Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, Dr Brendan Kean as Head of Junior School, and Mrs Vasiliki Spanos as Deputy Principal – Staff/Student Wellbeing. Together, these leaders will shape the next era—advancing teaching excellence, nurturing wellbeing, and ensuring every St Catherine’s girl thrives in a world of complexity and possibility.

It is for these reasons that we piloted our Year 9 Ethical Leadership Program through an exclusive partnership with Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. This 10-day residential immersion represents the cornerstone of our commitment to the holistic education of our students. Its aim is to help our Year 9 students think more deeply about a range of issues, sit with discomfort, and understand what it takes to make a good society. Moving into our second year of this partnership, we remain committed to ensuring our graduates are prepared for life and, most importantly, able to lead with integrity in a world that is increasingly complex.

Speaking of the future, I am pleased to report that our flagship construction project incorporating the new Music School, with its grand recital hall, rehearsal rooms and music tuition rooms, is well underway. Each day the grounds are busy with activity, signaling a school on the move. New glazing was installed in the beautiful arched windows of the Frank Osborn building, and the bluestone pavers were completed at the front of Sherren House with stones continually being laid along the length of the driveway. This redevelopment – the biggest build in our 130-year history – has only been made possible by the generosity of our community.

Beyond the extraordinary work that happens in our classroom every day, 2025 was also a year of artistic triumphs. Performing Arts soared with productions of The Little Mermaid JR., A Monster Calls, and Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR., showcasing emotional depth and theatrical brilliance. The Music Gala Concert, Raise Your Voice, featured over 325 students—a recordbreaking achievement! Individual accolades included performances at Carnegie Hall and top-tier music examinations, affirming our reputation for musical excellence. Barbreck hosted its first Junior School Art Exhibition whilst the annual VCE Arts Show drew praise for its boldness and depth.

On the sporting front, our athletes delivered outstanding results. The First VIII Rowers claimed victory at the Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta and earned a bronze at Nationals. Snowsports teams dominated National Championships, while swimmers and athletes set records and secured state and national titles. These achievements reflect the camaraderie and ambition that have long defined the St Catherine’s spirit.

We were also proud to announce the naming of the Anne Smith Junior School Library. This beautiful, dedicated library stands as a cornerstone of Barbreck’s commitment to nurturing every child’s capacity to learn and grow. The naming honours Miss Anne Smith, an inspirational educator whose passion for teaching and commitment to academic excellence left an indelible mark on generations of students. From 1979 to 2001, under her visionary leadership, Barbreck flourished as a place where young minds were encouraged to explore and to question. Through a generous bequest, Anne’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations in the very space where curiosity and knowledge thrive. The Anne Smith Junior School Library is more than a name—it is a tribute to a remarkable educator and a promise to uphold the values she championed.

I am deeply grateful to our volunteers, parents, and alumnae whose support underpins every success. And to the Class of 2025— thank you for your leadership and generosity. Our School Co-Captains, Vinuki Ranatunga and Rachel Carton, and their Student Executive gave us a masterclass in decency and civility; I look forward to seeing the mantle carried forward by Martha McKellar and Kari Prendergast and their team in 2026.

As I reflect on this year, I am reminded by our Founder Miss Jeannie Hood that our mission is to provide an education not just for school, but for life. With VCE results just around the corner and the countless invisible stories of personal growth that underpin them, the true measure of success lies, as always, in the character and values of our students.

Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum – Nothing is Great, Unless It is Good

Ms Natalie Charles Principal

FROM THE SCHOOL CAPTAINS

At the start of the year, during our leadership conference at Melbourne University, the Year 12 cohort chose the word ‘spark’ to capture not only the character we embody as a year level, but the spirit we hoped to ignite within each student. Our vision was to encourage everyone to nurture their respective sparks and, in recognising how easy it is for a flame to flicker under the pressures of School life, we set out to create moments that rekindled excitement, connection and purpose.

The School values of Empathy, Perseverance, Integrity, Curiosity and Gratitude are the oxygen to this spark. The Class of 2025 stand as a true testament to the continued vitality of these values and, throughout the year, we have strived to help them flourish across the broader School community.

CURIOSITY & EMPATHY

Starting with an action-packed Term 1, we sparked a sense of fun and inclusivity through various initiatives to celebrate International Woman’s Week and Harmony Week. With a multitude of activities ranging from trivia on powerful women to cultural dress parades, we encouraged students to spark

their curiosity by creating a culture of daring to question and discover. In doing so, we cultivated a greater level of understanding, and thereby a deeper sense of empathy, for each other and our respective backgrounds.

PERSEVERANCE

Every school year poses its own challenges. Our girls have always shown perseverance and tenacity in their ability to strive for academic excellence whilst undertaking a plethora of co-curricular activities. This year, however, our girls have shown perseverance through more than just academic pursuits. Throughout unforeseen difficulties, students remained steadfast in their determination to stand strong and maintain their position as leaders for the younger girls. This was, of course, only possible with the support of our incredible staff, and notably the involvement of Rachael Seymour. Under the guidance of Ms Spanos, we worked closely with Rachael to find attunement and balance amidst chaos and uncertainty. Practising breathwork such as the ‘fists of anger’ and ‘the ego eradicator’, we were able to maintain our ‘true selves’ and stay clear-minded throughout periods of hardship.

INTEGRITY

Integrity has never been confined to doing the right thing when no one is watching. It has instead also extended to honouring the promises made to our community. Starting this year, we pledged to protect and grow the culture of kindness and connection that thrives within our School, and every initiative we led was anchored in this commitment. A highlight of Term 1 was Galentine’s Day celebrated on 13 February (the day before Valentine’s Day), to honour female friendships with the Student Executive team delivering serenades across the day. Whilst we may have disrupted a few classes and caused a little mayhem, the love and joy spread from these small renditions was palpable. The simple act of singing, and at times dancing together, was a catalyst not only for laughter but a more cohesive sense of community.

To reinforce our message and remain true to our commitment, we teamed up with the SRC to conduct a Cross-Year Level Morning Tea in Term 4. Running two sessions with a mix of year levels, we encouraged girls to join us at recess for some fun activities, food and music, coupled with the opportunity to get to know new friendly faces. It was amazing to see the competitive and enthusiastic spirit with which girls sought to complete their

‘get to know you’ bingo cards as they interacted with those in all year levels.

GRATITUDE

As a cohort we have made gratitude a visible and habitual part of our daily lives this year. One expression of this was our Year 12 Gratitude Jar. Situated in our Common Room, we encouraged students to write small notes of appreciation, which were then read aloud during meetings. Whilst seemingly a small act, these messages created a space for love and appreciation to be voiced, rather than assumed.

So, in the spirit of gratitude, we thank St Catherine’s for entrusting us with this position; it has been an honour and a privilege to serve this wonderful community. Looking back on all the years full of memories, laughter and tears, our hearts are filled with the purest form of love: an overwhelming gratitude for the people that make St Catherine’s truly magical. We are of course beyond proud of the Class of 2025. The spark shared amongst us has never been stronger and our hope is to have shared this same spark with all of you.

Rachel

Carton & Vinuki Ranatunga School Co-Captains

Clementine Abbott 8

Camilla Aberdeen 9

Aamna Adeel 10

May (May ) Aiello 11

Alekhya Akella 10 Maya Anagnostopoulos 10 Harper Anderson 12

Kathrina Ang 11

Emma Angelis ELC

Fleur Angenent 10

Annabel Archer 7

Amelie Arnold 12

Annabel Arnold 10

Sari Arzadian ELC

Georgiana Ashby 1

Philippa (Pip) Ashby ELC

Darya Ashktorab 7

Alaa Ashmeel 12

Seeren Ashmeel 4

Diya Asthana 11

Alexandra (Alex)

Aumann 11

Eloise Avery ELC

Bridget (Brigitte) Axup 9

Heidi Axup 12

Isabella Ayre 11

Georgina (Georgie) Ayres 8

Archie Baillieu ELC

Chloe Barber 12

Catherine Barry 6

Phoebe Barton ELC

Alie Belan 9 Charlotte Bell 10

Harper Benski 3

Ivy Benski 1

Scarlett Bertalli 8

Alexandra Bevan ELC

Elizabeth (Lily) Bevan 2

Madeleine Bevan Prep

Rongxuan (Elsa) Bian 1

Sasha Bindley 12

Alice Bingham 5

Emily Bingham 5 Olivia Bingham 8

Matea Bjazevic 5

Sahra Blumenthal 11

Annabel Bradshaw 7

Brooke Brady Prep

Penelope (Penny) Brady 40

Olive Breakwell-Smith 8 Charlotte Brodie 11

Stella Brodie 11

Camille Brownjohn 11

Imogen Brownjohn 7

Hosseini 9

Hou 10

Hronopoulos 8

8

Hu 11

Hu 4

Hu 11

(Lydia) Hu 12

(Lily) Hu 10

9

(Avril) Huang 5

(Crystal) Huang 12

Bruce 10 Madeleine (Maddy)

10

Buckley 8

(Issie) Buckley 7

Buckley 10

Bukharenko 11

Butt 11 Kaanzah Butt 7 Phoebe Butterfield 10

Byrne 8 Missoni (Missy) Byrne 6

Anqi (Angel) Cai 11 Annabel Calvert 12

Calvert 10

Calvert 7

Cameron 12

(Milly) Cameron 8

Campos 5

Cao 11 Yaxing (Olivia) Cao 8 Violetta Capanni 11 Portia Carosa-Koziora 8

Carton 12

Case 2

Cashmore 11

Amabella (Amabella) Tsui 9

Tulloch 10

(Milly) Tulloch 12

Vains 8

Valluri 11

Van Aalst 6

HEAD OF ELC

Celebrating a Year of Growth and Discovery

As we reach the end of another wonderful year in our Early Learning Centre, we take this moment to reflect with deep appreciation on the incredible growth, joy, and learning that has taken place. It has been a true privilege to walk alongside your children and witness their development – socially, emotionally, and cognitively – as they have explored, discovered, and thrived.

This year, each child has brought their unique personality, questions, and wonderings into the learning space. We have seen confidence bloom, friendships form, and imaginations flourish. Whether through playful exploration, thoughtful conversations, or shared moments of challenge and celebration, your children have shown us again and again the richness of early childhood learning.

One of the cornerstones of our approach is the importance of relationships. We believe that secure, respectful connections with educators, peers, and families provide the foundation for all meaningful learning. Thank you for your openness, trust, and partnership throughout the year. Your insights and engagement have made a real difference in helping us support each child’s journey.

‘A strong imagination begets opportunity, curiosity, and courage.’ – Carla Rinaldi

This quote captures so beautifully what we have seen daily in the classroom. The children’s ideas, play, and problem-solving reflect a vibrant learning culture that values creativity, inquiry, and possibility. It is through these early experiences that a lifelong love of learning begins.

We also celebrate the many moments that may seem small but are, in fact, deeply significant: a child learning to express their feelings with words, helping a peer, solving a puzzle independently, or sharing a story with pride. These are the milestones that build resilience, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

As we conclude the year, we do so with gratitude for the trust of families, the enthusiasm of children, and the dedication of our team. Together, we have created a community where every child is seen, heard, and valued.

As we look ahead to a new year, we do so with joy and anticipation, knowing that the experiences and relationships formed this year have laid a strong and meaningful foundation. We are excited to continue nurturing curious minds, kind hearts, and confident learners in the year to come.

Ms Sarah Bethune Head of ELC

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BLUE GUM ROOM

The end of a year allows us to reflect on the many opportunities for learning, discovery, creativity and connection that have shaped the Blue Gum Room children’s experience. This year has been rich with growth in both skills and character, as children explored new ideas, built friendships and developed a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

A significant focus has been on building social and emotional competence. Children have explored big questions such as ‘What makes a community?’ and ‘What makes a good friend?’ Through group discussions, stories and play, they have learned about kindness, inclusion, and the importance of looking after one another. We also worked together to understand what it means to feel safe and developed strategies for what we can do if we ever feel unsure or unsafe.

Our program placed strong emphasis on sustainability, with children caring for the garden, reducing waste, and developing an awareness of how everyday choices can help care for our planet. Another highlight was building a connection to Aboriginal mythology, where Pallyan, a Wurundjeri Educator, shared Dream Time stories that introduced children to rich cultural knowledge and fostered respect for the wisdom of the world’s oldest living culture.

The arts also flourished, with children using paint, clay, textiles and natural materials to express their ideas in diverse ways. Whilst dramatic play settings, such as restaurants and shops, gave children the chance to collaborate, negotiate and extend their imagination, opportunities in STEM offered the Blue Gum Room children the chance to explore states of matter, magnetic attraction and measurement. Weekly specialist classes in music, library and sport gave children further opportunities to build confidence and skills in new areas.

Looking back, it is wonderful to see how the children embraced every opportunity with energy and enthusiasm. Their joy in learning, resilience in challenges, and warmth in friendships have made this a truly special year. As we celebrate these achievements, we also look forward with excitement to the next chapter of their educational journey.

Ms Julie Malvestuto, Ms Erin Jolly and Mrs Helen Nicolaou Blue Gum Room

WARATAH ROOM

The African Proverb, ‘We are together; I am because we are’, emphasises the interconnectedness and interdependence of individuals within a community. This year has seen the children of the Waratah Room play, learn and grow through respectful relationships and collaboration, in just that: a community. A central learning objective in this early chapter was for the children to understand they are part of a group who work together, in kinship, as learners. In partnership with their teachers and families, the children have discussed and learned about themselves, others, and the world that we share. A shared area of interest was an emerging fascination with diverse cultures and languages from across the world. The Waratah Room children embarked upon a ‘Me Bag’ Culture and Identity Project. In order to get to know one another better, we asked the children to bring items from home in their bag that would help us learn more about them. As a result, the group enjoyed the opportunity to connect with meaningful photographs, favourite books from cultures, drawings, and items that represent cultural or significant family experiences that the children felt compelled to share. Exploring concepts of ‘culture’ and ‘home’, the children continued to practise their turn-taking skills and were each afforded the opportunity to share their ‘Me Bag’ contents with peers.

Educators supported the children to extend this shared interest through an inquiry project inspired by the concept of the ‘Hundred Languages’. The children nurtured their innate curiosity, developing a growing sense of wonder, critical questioning, and awareness—particularly around the importance of respect, belonging, and the interconnectedness of all living things. As part of this project, the children were introduced to songs in French, Italian, Swahili, and Spanish, and engaged with embodied learning through daily exploration of the Auslan alphabet. These experiences promoted equity and inclusion, fostering a deeper understanding of how diversity can be recognised, honoured, and meaningfully celebrated.

As the children explored and celebrated their identities and environments, they formed connections with one another and engaged in a rich tapestry of learning experiences. This chapter concludes with a spirit of celebration and growth, carrying forward a sense of anticipation for the discoveries and inspiring moments still to come.

Ms Kristina Schrader Waratah Room

BANKSIA ROOM

The Banksia Room children’s learning journeyed through interwoven threads of inquiry, focusing on connection, relationships and the ties that bind us. Together, they delved into the recurring and interconnected rhythms in nature that guide life. From the changing of seasons to the cycles of time, growth, and renewal, the children explored how all living things follow natural patterns that help sustain life on Earth. These discoveries sparked deep questions and thoughtful conversations about how the world works, and how we, as humans, are part of this ongoing cycle.

Our exploration began with the life that surrounds us and the invisible life that fills the space around and within us, from life cycles of plants and animals, to our respiratory system and gastrointestinal system, and the wonderful microbiomes that live within us. In partnership with families, the children had the opportunity to learn through first-hand experiences from a Beekeeper, a General Practitioner, an Immunologist and a Nutritionist about the world around and inside of us. We explored the intricate networks of living organisms within our bodies, uncovering how nutritious foods help them thrive and keep us healthy. Our learning opened a window into ancient life, where children delved into Earth’s past with the exploration of fossils and imagined the creatures and landscapes of long

ago. These inquiries offered insights into how life has evolved, adapted, and transformed over time, highlighting nature’s cycles of change and resilience.

Throughout the year, our classroom environment evolved in response to the children’s thinking and to reflect their growing ideas. These changes invited collaboration, sustained focus, and deep respect for both the learning process and the environment and were shaped by curiosity, discovery, and care; guiding children to see themselves not only as learners, but as participants in a much larger story.

The children have developed a stronger sense of identity and place in the world through immersing themselves in cycles of nature and life. They began to see that life is not linear, but interconnected, where past, present, and future are linked through patterns of growth, renewal, and care. With each new discovery, they built a foundation for lifelong learning, where inquiry is driven by a sense of belonging, responsibility, and hope for the future.

Ms Melissa Chen Banksia Room

This year, the children embarked on a rich inquiry into the concept of a city, an exploration that fostered collaboration, imagination, and creativity. The journey began with sharing their existing knowledge about the key features of a city. Working in small groups, they created collaborative drawings on large sheets of paper, which sparked the idea of painting a cityscape together on a large canvas.

As their interest in cities continued to grow, educators offered opportunities for the children to express their understanding through various forms of media. Some children chose to sculpt individual buildings using clay, while others experimented with printmaking by drawing on printing foam and creating prints. Collage was also used to construct imaginative buildings.

Together, we explored the role of imagination in city design, encouraging the children to think about how buildings could be made more interesting or beautiful. This led to a collection of highly creative drawings, which were brought together to form the Wattle Room City.

WATTLE ROOM

As conversations about city life evolved, the idea of exploring sculptures emerged. Educators again provided a range of materials—wire, clay, and paper—allowing children to engage deeply with each medium. Over time, it became evident that the children were developing familiarity and confidence with these materials, resulting in a variety of expressive sculptures.

Throughout the year, these inquiries not only nurtured the children’s creativity but also supported meaningful connections with materials, encouraging them to express their thinking and ideas in diverse and imaginative ways.

Ms Zoe Swindells Wattle Room Teacher

JUNIOR SCHOOL

HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL

As I come to the end of my first year as Head of Junior School, I can see clearly why St Catherine’s holds such a special place in so many hearts. The community of students, teachers, parents, and the wider network has been wonderfully welcoming, and I have felt very much at home from the beginning.

This has been an incredibly busy and rewarding year. From strong academic learning in the classroom, to the creativity on display in the performing and visual arts, to the many sporting achievements, the year has highlighted the breadth of opportunity available to our girls. Just as important has been the sense of connection and genuine friendships that are at the heart of life at St Catherine’s.

Our Year 6 leaders have set a wonderful example through their service and commitment. Co-Captains Pearl Gunnersen and Cate Barry have worked hard, demonstrating leadership and leaving their mark on the Junior School.

Academically, our NAPLAN results reinforced the continued strength of Barbreck. Of particular note were the outstanding Year 5 results across literacy and numeracy, which showed impressive growth from Year 3 and reflected the dedication of both students and staff.

One of the highlights of the year in the arts was our spectacular School Musical, The Little Mermaid JR. Across three evenings, the girls dazzled audiences with their talent, energy, and teamwork. It was a production that will be remembered fondly for years to come. We also introduced our first Art Exhibition with the students’ work on display for the community. You could see the

sense of pride in each student as they showcased their visual art skills. It was a wonderful addition to the calendar that we look forward to continuing in the years to come.

In sport, our girls again excelled at both individual and team levels. Standout achievements included our swimmers, who reached the state finals and placed in their events, and our Hockey team, who remarkably reached the state finals, despite many of the girls playing competitive hockey for the first time. Snowsports also had another successful year with the Junior School girls providing many of the highlights for the season.

At the heart of all we do is the care shown for each girl’s wellbeing. While we have strong systems in place to support social and emotional growth, it is the intrinsic commitment of our teachers that makes the greatest difference. Their dedication ensures every girl feels valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

I am deeply grateful to the Junior School staff for their professionalism, care, and tireless commitment. They create an environment where every student is nurtured, learning is celebrated, and a true sense of belonging is fostered.

As I reflect on 2025, I would like to thank the entire St Catherine’s community for the warm support you have shown me in my first year. It feels very much like the beginning of an exciting new journey, and I feel privileged and proud to lead Barbreck into the future.

Dr Brendan Kean Head of Junior School

JUNIOR SCHOOL LEADERS

In 2025, our vision as Junior School Co-Captains was for everyone to love coming to school and to have fun. We wanted all girls to feel safe, supported, and confident, knowing they could always come to us for a chat. Our biggest goal was for students to take away the key lessons from our initiatives and awards while feeling encouraged by the friendships and teachers around them.

One of our initiatives was the Slot Box, which gave girls the chance to share their ideas for improving the School. We also introduced the Curiosity, Sportsmanship, and Shout-out Awards to recognise those who best demonstrated St Catherine’s values.

Catherine Barry: My highlight this year was when girls approached me in the yard to share ideas or greeted me in classrooms with, ‘Look, the School Captain is here.’ Knowing they felt comfortable talking to me and even knowing my name were some of the best moments of the year.

Pearl Gunnersen: My highlight was reading through the Slot Box and seeing how confident girls felt about contributing ideas. It showed that our initiatives weren’t just led by the Captains or Principal, but truly by the whole Junior School, which gave them even greater meaning.

We would like to thank Mrs Banks and Dr Kean for their leadership and guidance, as well as all the Barbreck staff for their constant support and care. Finally, thank you to our friends and every Barbreck girl for making this such a meaningful and rewarding experience.

Catherine Barry & Pearl Gunnersen Junior School Co-Captains

1. Co-Captains Pearl Gunnersen & Catherine Barry

2. Library & Music Captains

Ashley Siswanto (Music), Amelia Macrae (Music), Jennifer Xu (Music), Francesca Zappone (Library), Kayleigh Wang (Library), Julia Wong (Library)

3 Sports Captains

Elizabeth Switkowski (Snowsports), Alicia Goerlitz (Snowsports), Alexa Wong (Cross Country), Ingrid Tan (Cross Country), Lola Parker (Athletics), Arabelle Lutz (Athletics), Indi Peat (Swimming), Ellie Wang (Swimming)

4 House Captains

Ella Pattison (Langley Templeton), Charlotte Rose (Langley Templeton), Eloise Fitzgerald (Holmes Kilbride), Missy Byrne (Holmes Kilbride), Nina Steedman (Beaulieu Blair), Katie Kemp (Beaulieu Blair), Lucinda Morris (Davis), Miranda Qin (Davis)

As the 2025 Beaulieu Blair House Co-Captains, we reflect on an incredible year filled with teamwork, passion and memorable achievements. It has been such a privilege to lead this dedicated group of girls and to witness the enthusiasm they brought to every event.

Our House showed spirit and determination throughout the year, with highlights including victories in Athletics, Soccer, Netball and Volleyball. More importantly, we came together as one, supporting and encouraging each other every step of the way. Each competition gave us the chance to work in harmony and celebrate our collective effort.

One of our key goals was to ensure every girl felt supported and included. We encouraged participation in all events, and it was so rewarding to see everyone step up to challenges with confidence and pride. The contributions of each Beaulieu Blair girl played an important part in our House’s success.

We would like to thank all members of Beaulieu Blair for their commitment and energy. Your hard work has made this year so memorable, and we are incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together.

Everyone has represented Beaulieu Blair with pride and passion.

Let’s carry this spirit forward for years to come!

Katie Kemp and Nina Steedman

Beaulieu Blair House Captains

Filled with school spirit, we led Holmes Kilbride through a year of fun, teamwork, and healthy competition. This was such a great experience for girls from Prep to Year 6. Powered by lollies, teamwork, and a suspicious amount of glitter, we also had fun together, made new friends and realised we are unstoppable. It was amazing to see girls improve, try new activities and watch everyone work together. It was going to be a good year.

Everyone was super competitive. We started with House Cross-Country; it was a challenge, but every single girl tried their best. We ended up winning overall. These nice memories will always stay in our hearts forever. We hope that all this love and teamwork will stay in Holmes for years to come. We are so grateful for everyone in our House. We believe that Holmes will continue to show great support and enthusiasm in all House activities.

Missoni (Missy) Byrne and Eloise Fitzgerald

Holmes Kilbride House Captains

We are excited to reflect on all our goals, achievements and memories. This year has been filled with teamwork, determination and enthusiasm, along with friendship and togetherness. Each Davis girl participated in everything and anything she could, showing great team spirit and cooperation.

A special moment for us was winning House T-ball and seeing each and every one of the girls learn to love and enjoy team sports.

Our goal at the start of the year was to make sure that everyone felt cared for and included within every aspect of sport, as well as having the opportunity to see each one of the girls step out of their comfort zone and give everything a go. This helped to make our year even more special.

We want to say a huge congratulations to all the Davis girls for their dedication and perseverance throughout the year. We are so proud of you and want to wish you luck for the years ahead. GO DAVIS!

Yuzi (Miranda) Qin and Lucinda Morris

Davis House Captains

As the Co-Captains of Langley Templeton in 2025, we have thrived when working as a team and gave it our best in every way we could. Langley has demonstrated teamwork, resilience and perseverance throughout the year. We showed excellent collaboration and persistence in every House event.

Being able to work with the girls in different year levels has taught us patience and shown them the importance of teamwork and participation. We are extremely proud of everyone in Langley who participated in all the competitions, giving it their all and not allowing anything to stop them from reaching their potential.

One of our goals as House Captains was to make every girl feel included and to know they made a difference to the team, even if it showing up and putting their best foot forward it makes all the difference when going into competitions against the other Houses. We really do hope that Langley continues to demonstrate good team spirit throughout the years to come.

Ella Pattison and Charlotte Rose Langley Templeton House Captains

What a wonderful year it has been for the Barbreck Art Program, with Mrs Virginia Guest and Ms Stella Nguyen supporting our young artists. From Prep to Year 6, our students immersed themselves into the creative process, exploring drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and textiles to produce an inspiring collection of diverse artworks.

A highlight was our very first Junior School Art Exhibition, where we proudly showcased student creativity in the Selina Yao Auditorium. Throughout the year, our pop-up exhibitions in the Neilma Gantner Gallery Walk brought bursts of colour and imagination to our School space. We were also delighted to welcome artist-inresidence Emma Davies, who collaborated with Year 2 and Year 6 students on a vibrant textile project, transforming painted fabrics into a striking woven group basket.

Our Lunchtime Art Club thrived as well, with both our Prep to Year 2, and Year 3 to 6 groups embracing the chance to experiment, play, and create in a relaxed and joyful environment.

On behalf of the Visual Arts team, I would like to thank our students for their energy, creativity, humour, and dedication. It has been a privilege to guide and share in your artistic journeys this year.

Ms Stella Nguyen

Barbreck Art Teacher

1 Skye Roche, Year 2

2 Victoria Nguyen, Year 2

3 Ashley Siswanto, Year 6

4 Chloe Gu, Year 3

5 Foxx Robertson, Year 6

6 Abby Wu, Year 3

7 Madeleine Bevan, Prep

8 Kayleigh Wang, Year 6

9 Ashly Jholl, Prep

10 Elena Chen Year 5

11 Jasmine Liu, Year 4

12 Sophia Wang, Year 4

13 Siara Grover, Year 4

14 Charlotte Thompson, Year 1

15 Yumi Sibbison, Year 1

16 Camilla Case, Year 2

17 Isobel Thompson, Prep

18 Sasha Harris, Year 3

19 Georgette Khoury, Year 4

FRENCH

1 Elisabetta Tognon, Ashly Jholl and Eleanor Smallwood using puppets to practise their greetings in French – Prep

2 Catherine (Cate) Barry and Sophia Magennis doing some shopping – Year 6

3 Catherine Barry & Sophia Magennis – Year 6

4 Year 4 with their models of Paris after hearing the story Un lion à Paris

5 Alia van Alst and Elizabeth Switkowski doing some shopping – Year 6

6 Mia Quinn and Violet Sheldrick at the Doctors – Year 5

7 Yingu (Victoria) Liao and Liming (Limi) Sun at the Doctor’s – Year 5

This year, French classes have been full of fun, learning, and exciting discoveries! From the very beginning, students approached French with enthusiasm, eager to explore a new language through words, phrases, songs, games, and cultural activities.

Our youngest learners, from Prep to Year 3, focused on the basics of French. They learned to introduce themselves, count, name colours, and talk about their families. Through interactive songs, games, and stories, students practised listening and speaking skills while gaining confidence in everyday vocabulary. Singing French songs and playful activities helped bring the language to life.

Students in Years 4 to 6 explored more complex topics. They learned to describe their school day, talk about technology, visit the doctor, go shopping, follow a recipe, and discuss routines and pastimes. Projects such as mini-books, vocabulary posters, and role-play dialogues gave students opportunities to apply their learning in creative and collaborative ways.

All students also learned about French culture, by exploring foods, holidays, and landmarks. A highlight was celebrating La Chandeleur with a visit from the Crêpe Van in March. Year 6 students practised ordering in French, applying their skills in a real-life setting.

One of the best parts of French was the teamwork and encouragement across all year levels. Students supported each other, grew in confidence, and shared many laughs along the way.

Bonnes vacances à tous !

Mrs Susan Duffy Barbreck French Teacher

Barbreck Library has been a vibrant and dynamic space throughout the year, supporting learning, creativity, and a lifelong love of reading.

One of the major highlights was Children’s Book Week, celebrated under the theme ‘Book an Adventure’. A range of activities, including author and illustrator talks, students voting for their choices in the Book of the Year Awards, Lunchtime Lucky Reading, and a competition to match staff to favourite books, saw the week culminate in a special Book Week Assembly, making it an unforgettable experience.

In addition to our Book Week guest authors, Andrea Rowe, Jess McGeachin and Emily Gale, we also welcomed other guest authors at other times in the year, including Zoe Cottew (’92), Scotty James and Jacquleine Harvey.

Throughout the year, our Library also hosted a second-hand book stall, an initiative from the Year 6 Library Captains, promoting sustainability and encouraging students to share muchloved stories with new readers. Our pre-Christmas Book Fair was another much-anticipated event, giving students the chance to discover new titles and build their home libraries.

Our dedicated Library Captains played an important leadership role, helping with shelving, promoting various Library events, and supporting younger students at lunchtimes. They demonstrated outstanding leadership skills throughout the year. Thank you, Julia Wong, Kayleigh Wang and Francesca Zappone, for embracing your role with enthusiasm and positivity.

It’s been a year full of stories, imagination, and discovery in our Library, a place where every student could truly ‘book an adventure’.

Ms Marissa Caluzzi

Barbreck Teacher-Librarian

1 Skye Roche and Eliza Richmond –Year 2 Book Week adventures

2 Xiaoyue (Alina) Fu – Year 6 Book Week Competition

3 Amy Yao – Year 1 with Andrea Rowe

4 Ellie Wang, Sophie Sprott, Yuzi (Miranda) Qin, Eloise Fitzgerald and Adelaide Holland – Year 6 students with guest author Jacqueline Harvey books

5 Year 3 Book Characters on Dress Up Day

6 Year 6 Library Captains, Yuet Tuey (Kayleigh) Wang, Julia Wong and Francesca Zappone and Ms Caluzzi Book Week Dress Up Day

7 Hailey Rodrigo and Claire Che reading in the Library – Year 1

8 Cleo McComas and Sophia Parkin –Year 1 Book Week adventures

FRENCH

PERFORMING ARTS

This year has been filled with extraordinary moments celebrating the creativity, dedication, and talent of our students across the performing arts. Students shone in Music Recitals and Assemblies, the Year 5 and 6 Musical The Little Mermaid JR. and the Gala Concert ‘Raise Your Voice’. We finished the year with a spectacular Junior School Concert showcasing Year 2 to Year 6 performers.

Throughout the year, students also shared their talents in speech and drama eisteddfods, Barbreck’s Got Talent, and at the Junior School Easter and Carol Services. Each occasion showcased not only skill but also enthusiasm and passion for the arts.

We warmly congratulate our Year 6 Music Co-Captains, Amelia Macrae, Jennifer Xu, and Ashley Siswanto, whose leadership and confidence grew as they embraced events and persevered through challenges. In the classroom, students explored music, dance, and drama through collaborative and individual tasks that foster creativity, critical thinking, and performance. Thursday Choir rehearsals were a weekly highlight, refining vocal technique and ensemble skills while strengthening community spirit.

Our ensembles including Barbreck Ukuleles, Junior School Percussion, Petite Strings, Barbreck Strings, Chamber Strings, Barbreck Concert Band, Year 5 Band, Barbreck Flutes, and Epstein Singers thrived with numerous successful performances. Thank you to the teachers whose dedication and care nurtured each group.

As this wonderful year concludes, we look ahead to 2026 with excitement and confidence. We know that creativity and passion for the performing arts will continue to flourish at Barbreck.

Ms Kristen Hanafie Junior School Performing Arts Coordinator

FRENCH

THE LITTLE MERMAID JR.

Production year is always full of excitement, sweat, tears, and celebration, and 2025 was no exception. Year 5 and 6 students brought the magical world of Disney to life through The Little Mermaid JR., a true highlight of the year.

Directing alongside Ms Lucy Mason was an absolute joy, but this production would not have been possible without the incredible students and staff. The Shell and Coral lead casts, together with the ensemble, fully embraced the story, showcasing the remarkable talent of this cohort of actors, dancers, and musicians.

Students worked tirelessly to prepare for six performances in Term 2. Leads attended extra rehearsals after school, at recess and during lunchtimes, while the ensemble learned every song and dance with resilience, teamwork, and openness to feedback. In the final week, the Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre was alive with passion and determination to deliver the best show possible. With stunning sets, props, costumes, and seamless lighting and sound, audiences were truly transported under the sea.

Beyond performance, the musical provided invaluable lessons. Rehearsals taught discipline and teamwork, memorising lines and choreography strengthened focus, while facing stage fright built confidence. Together, the girls proved they could conquer challenges through creativity and collaboration.

Our Year 5 and 6 students stepped up as leaders, supporting one another throughout the journey. The Little Mermaid JR. is a memory we will all treasure.

Ms Kristen Hanafie Junior School Performing Arts Coordinator

FRENCH

STEM

1 Prep Students experimenting with different materials and their properties

2 Prep Students exploring surface tension with food dye and detergent

3 Year 4 Students comparing the effect of heat on water density

4 Year 6 students lowering the freezing point of water to make instant ice-cream

5 Year 5 students lowering the freezing point of water to create agar pearls

6 Year 2 students creating their own recycled paper

7 Year 5 students investigating the properties of slime

8 Year 4 students separating the DNA strands from strawberries to simulate Rosalind Franklin’s work with DNA

9 Year 1 students measuring force using Newton’s laws.

10 Year 6 students using chemical reactions to inflate a balloon

11 Year 5 students experimenting with light and angles of reflection

12 Year 3 students measuring the loss of heat through different materials

13 Year 5 students comparing the solubility of different food dyes

14 Year 3 students lowering the temperature of water to its crystalisation point

15 Year 6 students making sourdough after growing a sourdough culture

This has been another year of STEM discovery for the students in Barbreck. Our year started with a Biology unit, focusing on the intricacies of the natural world, before taking a look at how our bodies grow, move and function. As part of our scientist study, the Year 5 students followed Jane Goodall’s research to identify physical behavioural adaptations. In Year 1, we looked at the specific needs of native Australian animals and their roles in our ecosystems. With the start of Term 2, we began our Chemistry units and, in learning to follow the scientific formula to develop our skills in observation and deduction, we created experiments to test properties and chemical reactions. The Year 2 students investigated ways to change the properties of different materials as well as changing their states of matter.

As Term 3 started, we explored Physics and continued to develop our coding skills. Trialing and testing a range of forces, students built their engineering skills to create perpetual motion fans, catapults and periscopes. In Year 4, they tested levers and fulcrums to move loads and measured the forces required. The Preps designed wind-powered boats and set sail. Finally, in Term 4, we expanded our understanding of Earth and Space Sciences, from the movement of tectonic plates leading to volcanic activity and earthquakes in Year 3, to looking beyond Earth and designing solutions to survive on other planets in Year 6.

Mr Thomas Lewis

BEYOND BOUNDARIES CAMPS

Camps and outdoor experiences were once again a highlight of Junior School learning in 2025. Each year level embraced new challenges, uncovered hidden strengths, and created memories that will last well beyond the unpacking of bags.

Students in Years 5 and 6 began the year at Kinglake Forest Adventures Camp, where towering trees set the scene for three days of challenge and fun. From high ropes to mountain biking and bushwalking, the girls showed courage and persistence while strengthening friendships.

Year 6 students travelled to Canberra for their study tour, walking in the footsteps of Australia’s leaders. Visits to Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, and the Australian Institute of Sport brought lessons in government, history, and identity to life, while also giving students the excitement of travelling together.

Meanwhile, our Year 3 and 4 cohort headed to Sunnystones Camp, where they roasted marshmallows by the fire, braved the giant swing, and explored the bush on a night trail. These experiences encouraged independence and a love of the outdoors.

For our youngest girls, the Year 1 Dinner and Year 2 Sleepover provided joyful first steps into camp life. Games, shared meals, and sleeping away from home created moments of laughter and friendship.

The year closed with the Year 5 Sovereign Hill Study Tour, where students dressed in costume, panned for gold, and experienced life in the 1850s Gold Rush.

Ms Ilse Johansen Camp Coordinator

1 Ruby Lawrence and Victoria Davis all smiles as they get comfy in their tents at the Year 2 Sleepover

2 Miranda Gardiner, Jemima Grinsell and Leticia Campos making butter by hand during the Year 5 Sovereign Hill Study Tour

3 Sophia Parkin, Claire Che, Missy Mort, Sadie Feehan, Willobella (Willow) Moore and Isabella Shum having a great time taking part in the sports carnival games during the Year 1 Dinner evening

4 Annabelle Lo, Annabelle (Annie) Venter, Elizabeth Switkowski and Mia Quinn taking on the ropes challenge course at the Year 5 and 6 Kinglake Camp

5 Ellie Wang, Foxx Robertson and Iva Vickers exploring the Royal Australian Mint during the Year 6 Canberra Study Tour

6 Henrietta Switkowski and Siara Grover cooking up a chocolate orange cake at Sunnystones Camp

7 Evie Orwin-Jolly, Selina Wu and Camilla Case having fun dressing up for photos at the Year 2 Sleepover

8 Camilla Koidl, Emily Bingham, Lucienne Lovett, Amiee Zhang and Leticia Campos trying their luck panning for gold during the Year 5 Sovereign Hill Study Tour

9 Missoni (Missy) Byrne, Arabella Lutz, Lola Parker and Pearl Gunnersen enjoying orienteering at the National Arboretum during the Year 6 Canberra Study Tour

10 The Year 6 girls visiting Parliament House on their Canberra Study Tour

11 Anja Mojsilovic, Linh Chi (Chloe) Tran and Eleanor Liu try their luck panning for gold at Sovereign Hill

12 Camilla Hindhaugh, Isabella Hu, Siara Grover, Lily Jamieson, Olivia Rosham, Henrietta Switkowski, Iona Yafele and Zara Datta working together on their hutbuilding challenge at Sunnystones Camp

13 Yuzi (Miranda) Qin, Miranda Jie, Scarlett Lam and Chantelle Tan sitting in the Senate Chamber at the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House, during the Year 6 Canberra Study Tour

14 Zoe McComas, Tin Ching Mak, Aviana Dallas, Evie Mason, Charlotte Yu, Georgette Khoury and Avery Hickmott completing the Survival Games challenge during the Year 3 and 4 Sunnystones Camp

15 Meixin (Anna) Zheng, Ingrid Tan, Yujin (Sofia) Zhu and Elena Chen loving every moment of the Year 5 and 6 Kinglake Camp experience

16 Madelyn Cong, Chloe Hessell, Sophia Magennis, Annabelle Lo, Mia Quinn, Xiaoyue (Alina) Fu, Jennifer Xu and Annabelle (Annie) Venter toasting marshmallows and sharing smiles around the campfire at Kinglake Camp

1 Chloe Hessell handing the baton over to Jemima Grinsell at the GSV Track and Field Carnival

2 House Athletics Blue Ribbon Race competitors

3 SSV Regional Swimming –Catherine Barry, Adelaide Holland, Arabella Lutz, Ellie Wang

4 Ping Li competing in Discus

5 Year 6 District Tennis Players –Pearl Gunnersen, Katie Kemp

6 Alexa Wong competing at the GSV Year 5&6 Track and Field Carnival

7 Sophia Magennis with her Soccer skills on display

8 Year 3-6 Langley Templeton House Photo

The girls of St Catherine’s took to the sporting fields, courts, and tracks with determination and enthusiasm, excelling in everything they tried this year. Whether competing in Swimming, Cross-Country, or other Sports, they consistently represented the School with their best efforts, always giving their all. This year was filled with remarkable achievements and moments to celebrate. A special thank you to our parents, whose unwavering support plays a crucial role in the success of each of our Sporting Programs. As we look back on the year, we recognised the hard work, resilience, and spirit that defined our athletes and made us proud.

Swimming Co-Captains: Indi Peat & Ellie Wang

Snowsports Co-Captains: Elizabeth Switkowski & Alicia Goerlitz

Cross CountryCo- Captains: Alexa Wong & Ingrid Tan

Athletics Co-Captains: Lola Parker & Arabella Lutz

Swimming

An action-packed day for our team of 26 students as they competed in the SSV Armadale District Swimming Carnival. After three weeks of dedicated training, our swimmers arrived eager and ready to race. The team got off to a fantastic start, and from that point on, the energy remained high. Standout performances were seen across the board, particularly from our Year 5 and 6 swimmers, who rose to the challenge and delivered incredible efforts in their races. Special mention goes to Leticia Campos and Ellie Wang for their outstanding individual performances throughout the day.

Our relay teams put on an exceptional display, finishing 2nd place in the Open Medley, 12/13-Year-Old Freestyle Relay, and 11-Year-Old Freestyle Relay. These results showcased the depth of talent and teamwork within our squad.

At the end of the carnival, our team proudly secured 2nd place overall, finishing just behind Loreto. However, we once again claimed the Population Trophy, proving that while we may be small in numbers, we are mighty in spirit and performance!

A huge congratulations to the following girls who progressed all the way through to the SSV State Swimming Championships in their respective events; regardless of their results we could not be prouder.

50m Butterfly – Leticia Campos – 2nd 50m Butterfly & 2nd 50m Freestyle – Ellie Wang – 1st Year 6 Freestyle Relay Team – Ellie Wang, Arabella Lutz, Adelaide Holland and Catherine Barry Cross-Country

The House Cross-Country Carnival kicked off the year’s first House competition in great style at Kooyong Park, with all students proudly representing their Houses. Congratulations to Holmes Kilbride, who claimed the overall win!

Our Cross-Country team was then ready to take on the SSV Armadale District CrossCountry Carnival, also held at Kooyong Park on Monday 5 May. With excitement in the air and butterflies in their stomachs, our students showed just how much this event meant to them. We always ask that they give their very best effort, and they certainly delivered.

As the day drew to a close, we were thrilled to once again be awarded the Population Trophy, a testament to the strength and spirit of our small but mighty team. To top it off, St Catherine’s placed 3rd overall, a remarkable result and well-deserved recognition of our students’ hard work.

A huge congratulations to the following students who qualified and competed at the SSV Beachside Division Cross-Country Carnival: Charlotte Gan, Anja Russ, Mia Chen, Ingrid Tan, and Kayley Lam.

Athletics

We held our House Athletics Carnival at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve—a fun and energetic day for our Years 3 to 6 students, with our House Captains leading with passion and enthusiasm. Congratulations to Beaulieu Blair, who took out 1st place!

On Wednesday 3 September, our St Catherine’s Athletics Team returned to Duncan Mackinnon Reserve for the SSV Armadale District Athletics Carnival. From our youngest competitor, Bella Tarrant, to our experienced Year 6 leaders, every student ran, jumped and threw with determination. The team’s collective effort and depth shone across all events, culminating in an impressive 4th place overall and 2nd place in the population category.

Special congratulations go to:

Lola Parker – 200m and Hurdles

Sienna Xu – Triple Jump

Year 6 District Sport Results

Year 6 students had the opportunity to trial for and represent St Catherine’s across a range of team sports throughout the year. These teams achieved outstanding success, with many close matches and thrilling grand finals against schools in our district. Winning the District competition allows teams to progress to the Division, Regional, and ultimately State Championships.

This year, our superstar Hockey team continued to go from strength to strength, advancing all the way to the SSV State Championship finals. The day concluded on a truly special note, in addition to finishing equal 3rd, our team was honoured with the School Spirit Award, a prestigious accolade celebrating positive attitude, respect, integrity, and leadership. This award, based on nominations from other schools and officials, is a powerful recognition of how our girls represented St Catherine’s: with genuine sportsmanship, inclusivity, and joy for the game.

Netball – 2nd

Soccer – 7th

AFL 9s – 2nd

Hockey 7s – 1st

Basketball – 5th

Cricket – 3rd

Water Polo – not completed at time of publication

As we reflect, we celebrate not only the dedication and achievements of our athletes but also the vital support of our parents, who have supported us throughout each event. Our small Snowsports team showed remarkable talent, winning the Primary Girls’ School Championship at the Victorian Interschools. Special congratulations to our talented snowboarders, Abby Wu, Selina Wu and Bianca Ferguson, whose outstanding performances were key to our victory. Fourteen of our Snow Bunnies qualified for the Australian National Snowsports Championships in Mt Buller, Victoria, where we finished 4th overall in the country.

It has been an extraordinary year for St Catherine’s Sport, filled with exceptional achievements and memorable moments. We look forward to another exciting year ahead. Bring on 2026!

Miss Olivia Cody

Head of Junior Sport

1 Georgette Khoury, Lily Jamieson, Seeren Ashmeel, Ingrid Tan, Millie Wilkins, Anja Russ

2 Year 6 District Netball Team

3 Students competing at the GSV Cross Country Carnival

4 SSV Division Cross Country –Anja Russ, Ingrid Tan, Mia Chen, Coach: Nana Owusu-Afriyie, Kayley Lam, Charlotte Gan

5 Selina Wu and Ruby Lawrence competing at Victorian Interschools

6 Year 6 State Hockey Team

7 Holmes Kilbride Captains celebrating at House Cross Country –Missoni Byrne, Eloise Fitzgerald

8 Year 6 District Basketball Team Chat with Mr Perry

9 Arabella Lutz taking off in Triple Jump

10 Year 6 District AFL Team

DRAMA

SNOWSPORTS

In 2025, our Junior School Snowsports program thrived. Across the season, over 40 students from Prep to Year 6 were involved in the program and competed at our House Trials, Victorian Interschools and Australian Nationals.

At our House Event, we saw five Prep students—including two students new to the School—begin their snowsports journey and join in the fun. It was amazing to see so many involved and everyone did it with a smile and a real St Catherine’s attitude. Whether it was Moguls, Snowboarding or running on CrossCountry Skis, our Junior School Snowsports athletes led the way for the rest of the School. Over the course of the weekend, many students tried new disciplines in Snowsports, and it is wonderful to see so many Junior School students being open to trying new things.

At Victorian Interschools, our Junior School blitzed the competition, finishing 1st in the Female Primary Division overall, beating Melbourne Girls’ Grammar, MLC and Lauriston. A huge shoutout to all the participants, with special mention to our Division 6 athletes (Prep, Year 1 and Year 2) for winning Division 6 Alpine. Selina, Brooke, Zuza and Annabel were superb going down the mountain and showed no fear zipping between gates.

Year 5 student Millie Wilkins shone on the mountain, finishing 5th overall in Alpine and 4th in Moguls.

We are so proud of our Junior School Snowsports athletes for their attitude and endeavour throughout all the events in the season.

Mr Nick Brimacombe Sport Administrator / Snowsports Coordinator and Sport Team Manager

2 Yingyu (Victoria) Liao, Liming (Limi) Sun and Elena Chen finding inspiration for their writing

3 Olivia Liu, Elva Jiang and Yi Wing Kayley Lam sharing their narrative stories based on the short story Alike

4 Violet Sheldrick and Mia Quinn enjoying the process of writing a persuasive text

5 Annabelle Lo and Eleanor Liu planning their story

What an amazing year it has been for our Writers’ Club! From brainstorming wild ideas to polishing our final pieces, student discovered just how powerful words can be.

This year, our writers have shown real creativity and resilience. Whether it was crafting suspenseful stories, or sharing their personal reflections, they kept experimenting, taking risks, and learning that every draft makes them stronger writers.

One of the best parts of Writers’ Club was the way the students encouraged each other. They learned that great writing is not just about spelling and grammar –it’s about finding their voice and being brave enough to share it. Their peers’ helpful feedback and encouraging words made the journey even more special. There were so many highlights too! Students loved reading their work aloud and surprising themselves with ideas they did not know they had. Each session felt like stepping into a world of imagination where anything was possible.

As Year 5 and 6 writers, students proved that words have the power to inspire, connect and make a difference. They cannot wait to see where their writing will take them next. Maybe a novel, a play, or even a published book one day!

Congratulations to all our Writers’ Club members. You made this year unforgettable. Keep writing, keep imagining, and keep sharing your writing with others!

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

This year, the Environment Club was made up with a vibrant and committed group of students from Prep to Year 6, working together to care for our School and the planet. Our mission was to make a positive difference to the grounds and the wider community.

One key initiative was to keep our grounds clean. Each week, members collected rubbish around the School to ensure our environment remains safe and beautiful. We also gathered recyclable plastics, raising money to purchase new plants for our gardens. This not only reduced waste but also helped make St Catherine’s greener and more inviting.

Under the guidance of Mr Lewis, we proudly managed the gardens throughout the year. In STEM lessons, we grew vegetables and sunflowers, and learned about plant care and sustainability. The joy of seeing our gardens flourish was matched only by knowing we were helping nature thrive.

Members also raised awareness by speaking at assemblies, sharing messages about water conservation, recycling, and reusing resources, encouraging everyone to play their part in protecting the environment.

Every Friday, we gathered for lunchtime meetings, which were relaxed, fun, and full of ideas. The Club’s achievements this year are a testament to what can be accomplished when students unite for a shared cause.

Mr Thomas Lewis and Mrs Emma Stephens Barbreck Environment Committee Coordinators

2

3

4 Aviana Dallas, Zoe McComas, Isabella Haddad weeding the garden

5 Eycie Yuan and Eliza Richmond

6 Selina Wu, Mr Tom Lewis, Riyana Grover, Skye Roche, Manda Milicevic

7 Victoria

Chess in Barbreck enjoyed a rewarding year, marked by the introduction of a Junior Intensive Program alongside the existing Monday morning Senior Intensive sessions. Participation in both programs was enthusiastic and encouraging.

The annual Barbreck Chess Tournament, now in its fourth year, brought together more than 70 players, including many experiencing competitive chess for the first time. The event gave students the chance to refine their skills, build confidence, and maintain focus across several matches.

In August, a team of 10 players proudly represented St Catherine’s at the Zonal Chess Victoria Inter-Primary School Competition at Bialik College. The girls eagerly embraced the challenges and took on a wide range of opponents with varying abilities.

Chess remaied a much-loved co-curricular activity at Barbreck, open to students from Year 1 to Year 6. It offered an engaging and supportive environment for girls to develop their strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Mr Tim Tainsh and Mrs Louise Thompson Barbreck Chess Coordinators

Gudjinna! (Hello)

This year the ELC and Junior School have been working with Pallyan to create an Indigenous Language Program at St Catherine’s and learn the WurundjeriWoiwurrung language. After our Welcome to Country ceremony in Term 1 with Murrundindi, we were fortunate to have his son, Pallyan, visit St Catherine’s several times. With each visit, our students in ELC and Junior School were able to engage in language classes, which focused on greetings, family, the seven seasons of the Kulin Nation, as well as symbols and Country. Our Year 5 and 6 students even had the opportunity to throw boomerangs. Throughout the program it was great to see the curiosity and engagement from our students; they used Wurundjeri-Woiwurrung greetings, drew their families with Wurundjeri symbols and learned how the environment changes throughout the seasons and what signs to look for. A highlight was the Welcome to Country ceremonies each Year 6 class did prior to their Canberra Study Tour. Being an active participant in these ceremonies is a special opportunity and our Year 6 students enjoyed this. We look forward to continuing our work with Pallyan next year and into the future.

Noon-gudjin and Triganin!

(Thank you) and (See you later)!

Mr Thomas Lewis STEM Teacher

PREP

The Prep girls dived headfirst into their first year at Barbreck with wide-eyed wonder, unstoppable enthusiasm, and an eagerness to try everything school life had to offer. From day one, their year brimmed with laughter, learning, and a string of firsts they will never forget.

A weekly favourite was story time with Ms Charles. Sometimes it meant a special trip to the Principal’s office; other weeks, she arrived in the classroom to share a beloved picture book. These moments made stories leap off the page and sparked an even greater love of reading.

Community spirit was at the heart of the year. The girls embraced connections across year levels through House events, celebrations, and shared experiences, building friendships, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.

Their first whole-school event, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, set the tone for the fun ahead. With bears tucked under arms and snacks in hand, students shared an afternoon of joy on the Village Green.

The highlight was the 100 Days of Prep celebration. Dressed in pyjamas, the girls moved through exciting activities, stitched a colourful felt banner declaring ‘play, learn, grow together,’ and crafted friendship bracelets with their Year 5 Buddies.

By year’s end, our girls had grown in reading, writing, independence, and friendship, and discovered the joy of being part of a supportive, vibrant school community. It was a year of curiosity, connection, and growth, memories they will carry for years to come.

Mrs Louise Thompson Prep

Teacher

1 Brooke Brady, Amelia Chen, Asha Prabhu, Ella Stanistreet, Isobel Thompson

2 Julie Lam, Aurelia Richmond, Mila Kundi, Camilla Jiang

3 Yuexi (Harper) Huang, Eleanor Smallwood, Zuza Ferguson, Grace Xie, Charlotte Tiller-Smyth

4 Isobel Thompson, Amelia Chen

5 Ilaria Lane, Brooke Brady

6 Story time with Ms Natalie Charles, Principal

7 Back Row: Isobel Thompson, Asha Prabhu, Ilaria Lane, Brooke Brady, Yuexi (Harper) Huang, Madeleine Bevan, Camilla Jiang, Grace Xie; Middle Row: Ella Stanistreet, Ashly Jholl, Sze Hang (Cheryl) Ma, Amelia Chen, Zuza Ferguson, Mila Kundi; Front Row: Charlotte Tiller-Smyth, Aurelia Richmond, Elisabetta Tognon, Eleanor Smallwood, Julie Lam

8 Asha Prabhu, Julie Lam, Ella Stanistreet

9 Aurelia Richmond, Camilla Jiang, Elisabetta Tognon

10 Grace Xie, Eleanor Smallwood,Charlotte Tiller-Smyth, Sze Hang (Cheryl) Ma, Ashly Jholl

11 Madeleine Bevan, Ilaria Lane, Elisabetta Tognon, Sze Hang (Cheryl) Ma, Ashly Jholl

12 Yuexi (Harper) Huang, Madeleine Bevan, Mila Kundi, Zuza Ferguson

What an amazing year it has been in Year 1!

Our classroom buzzed with curiosity, laughter, and lots of learning. Each student has grown in independence and confidence, embracing every challenge with enthusiasm.

This year, we explored the magic of storytelling, tackled tricky maths problems, and asked big questions about the world around us. From discovering the joy of reading to working with bigger numbers, Year 1 showed incredible creativity and determination.

We celebrated Book Week in style, enjoyed exciting excursions, and embraced all the wonderful subjects at St Catherine’s. Our School values – Empathy, Gratitude, Curiosity, Integrity, and Perseverance – shone through in everything we did.

One of the highlights was our visit to ACMI where we became movie stars for a day! Acting in front of a green screen in a real TV studio brought the story of Cinderella to life. Our movie premiere was a huge success, with plenty of proud ‘moviegoers’ in the audience and even whispers of Oscars in the air!

Year 1 has been a fantastic year. We can’t wait to see what amazing things these students will achieve in Year 2!

Mr Daniel Perry

Year 1 Teacher

YEAR 2

Our journey began with an exploration of St Catherine’s history, where the girls discovered the School’s heritage through tours and storytelling. These experiences deepened their sense of belonging and pride in the community’s enduring legacy. Creativity shone at the Easter Bonnet Parade, where carrots became canvasses for imaginative designs that brought laughter and delight to the School. Language learning also took centre stage with French studies under Madame Twomey and an exploration of the local Indigenous language with Pallyan during STEM broadening cultural awareness and understanding. A highlight was Wellbeing Day, when students dressed in pink and joined peers from Prep to Year 6. Collaborative activities fostered kindness, connection, and self-awareness, reinforcing the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing.

The second semester was filled with excitement, beginning with Snowsports at Mount Buller, where six girls demonstrated resilience and strength on the slopes in challenging conditions. An excursion to ACMI showcased creativity and drama, with plenty of stories shared and remembered. The much-anticipated Year 2 Sleepover was a magical night in fairy tents that captured every child’s dream of Fairyland, followed by the thrill of breakfast in the Staffroom.

Year 2 has completed a fabulous year of learning, adventure, and friendship. Their growth academic, personal, and social has been immeasurable.

Mrs Emma Stephens and Ms Georgina Stride Year 2 Teacher

1 Diep Hieu Anh (Victoria) Nguyen, Eliza Richmond, Taylor (Tay Tay) Hickmott, Selina Wu in a fraction lesson

2 Bell ringers Riyana Grover and Ruby Lawrence

3 Victoria Davis, Eliza Richmond and Skye Roche enjoy completing a Maths Data lesson

4 Back row: Elizabeth (Lily) Bevan, Eliza Richmond, Selina Wu, Evie Orwin-Jolly, Diep Hieu Anh (Victoria) Nguyen; Front row: Camilla Case, Miya Te, Evelyn Wang

5 Eycie Yuan, Riyana Grover, Changhua (Alva) Qian, Evelyn Wang and Bonnie O’Brien

6 Bonnie O’Brien, Eycie Yuan, Skye Roche, Megan Matuszek and Selina Wu on their way home after a day of fun at school

7 Skye Roche, Ruby Lawrence, Victoria Davis and Taylor (Tay Tay) Hickmott play a game of Pick-Up Sticks

8 Ms Sue Cooke and Evie Orwin-Jolly working together on the History of St Catherine’s School

9 Year 2 on the steps of Sherren House

10 Eycie Yuan and Miya Te collect data in Mathematics

11 Year 2 girls love playing Chess!

12 Riyana Grover, Emma Luo and Camilla Case work on map directions in Maths

13 Victoria Davis, Ruby Lawrence and Aurora Zagame

14 Yichen (Sky) Du, Emma Luo and Elizabeth (Lily) Bevan sharing a book together

15 Happy campers Aurora Zagame, Taylor (Tay Tay) Hickmott, and Riyana Grover at the Year 2 Sleepover

1 Amber Xu, Bianca Ferguson, Tin Ching Mak and Emily Wu in the halls of Barbreck

2 Greta Ip and Bella Tarrant in reading groups

3 Stella Ktenavos, Abby Wu and Akira Tuot at the Easter Bonnet Parade

4 Manda Milicevic, Stella Ktenavos, Evie Mason and Bella Tarrant at lunch

5 Sasha Harris, Greta Ip, Isabella Findlay, Chloe Gu, Juliette Ji and Aria Nguyen playing during recess

6 Zoe McComas, Emma Tien and Charlotte Yu enjoying a friendly game of chess

7 Isabella Haddad, Chloe Gu, Evie Mason, Charlotte Yu and Aviana Dallas dressed up for Book Week

8 Isabella Haddad, Amber Xu, Emma Tien and Harper Benski in Mathematics

9 Zoe McComas and Isabella Haddad on camp

10 Tin Ching Mak, Amber Xu and Manda Milicevic hut building on camp

11 Zoe McComas, Evie Mason and Aria Nguyen painting in Art

12 Bianca Ferguson, Aria Nguyen Isabella Findlay, Tin Ching Mak, Bella Tarrant, Aviana Dallas and Greta Ip at the Athletics Carnival

13 Abby Wu, Bianca Ferguson, Emily Wu and Sasha Harris in front of the Year 3 Classroom

14 Juliette Ji, Sasha Harris, Harper Benski and Manda Milicevic reading in the library

This year was filled with exciting moments for our Year 3 students in Barbreck, as they embraced new responsibilities and opportunities for growth. Wearing their blazers for the first time instilled pride and maturity; this was reflected in their approach to learning and interactions with others.

Academically, students engaged with Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. These novel studies explored themes of friendship, imagination, and perseverance, while strengthening comprehension and writing skills. In Mathematics, students worked diligently to master multiplication and division facts, building strong foundations for future problem-solving.

A particularly rewarding experience was buddy reading with Prep students. This initiative developed leadership and communication skills while fostering a shared love of reading. Special events such as the Easter Bonnet Parade, Wellbeing Day and Book Week were embraced with enthusiasm. The girls also participated in their first Cross-Country and Athletics Carnivals, showing determination and school spirit.

A major milestone was the Year 3 students’ first School Camp at Camp Sunnystones. During this experience, they were challenged physically and cognitively, collaborating to solve problems, build resilience, and extend themselves beyond the classroom.

The 2025 academic year has been one of growth, responsibility, and memorable firsts for the Year 3 girls, filled with creativity, connection, and community engagement.

Ms Taleah Pecchiar Year 3 Teacher

FRENCH

1 Finding a calm spot together: Anisha Magennis, Anja Russ, Lily Jamieson

2 Ready to run at House Cross Country: Zara Datta, Annabelle Qin, Aaliya Grover, Siara Grover

3 Enjoying our games outside together: Xiaoxuan (Lucy) Zhu, Zara Datta, Sophia Wang, Seeren Ashmeel, Georgette Khoury, Constance Ren, Isabella Hu, Jade Robertson, Iona Yafele

4 Camp smiles all around: Avery Hickmott, Anja Russ, Lily Jamieson, Jasmine Liu, Ruihua (Ariel) Zhai, Isabella Hu and Olivia Rosham

5 Millie (Camilla) Wilkins, Xiaoxuan (Lucy) Zhu, Charlotte Yu, Hannah Engelbrecht, Seeren Ashmeel and Olivia Xie, all smiles on the landing near Year 4

6 Our Book Week costumes for the parade: Constance Ren, Iona Yafele, Georgette Khoury, Jade Robertson and Avery Hickmott

7 Tasting our home made bread: Olivia Rosham, Lily Jamieson, Ruihua (Ariel) Zhai, Jasmine Liu and Isabella Hu

8 Making memories at Camp Sunnystones: Siara Grover, Henrietta Switkowski, Aaliya Grover

9 Our Easter bonnets worn at the Barbreck Easter Parade: Olivia Xie and Henrietta Switkowski

10 Our Easter bonnets worn at the Barbreck Easter Parade: Anisha Magennis and Camilla Hindhaugh

11 Our Easter bonnets worn at the Barbreck Easter Parade: Charlotte Gan, Sophia Wang, Charlotte Yu, Xiaoxuan (Lucy) Zhu, Seeren Ashmeel and Hannah Engelbrecht

12 Millie (Camilla) Wilkins, Camilla Hindhaugh, Annabelle Qin, Henri Switkowski, Charlotte Gan and Constance Ren enjoying using their laptops to research

As we reflect on Year 4, we see how much the students have grown and achieved. There have been exciting challenges, new learning, and plenty of fun along the way.

Together, the girls realised that never giving up helps to achieve our best. From writing adventurous narratives, solving difficult Mathematics problems, and exploring wonderful books, the girls discovered how much they can achieve with a growth mindset.

A highlight of the year was visiting Camp Sunnystones. Through a variety of activities, the students learnt new skills and understood the importance of showing empathy towards each other. Camp helped the girls create new friendships and truly understand the meaning of working as a team.

Students learnt the importance of looking on the bright side. Sharing special learning experiences with their ELC Buddies helped them to understand that when things don’t go to plan, it is important to stay positive and learn from our mistakes, and to remember that mistakes are necessary to grow as individuals.

The Year 4 girls truly showed what it meant to be resilient, positive, and kind. The exciting learning experiences and memories made together certainly provided fond memories for all the girls in Year 4. They should each be proud of everything they achieved this year!

Ms Charlotte Hoy and Miss Kirrilly Wootton Year 4 Teachers

1 Chloe Hessell, Yi Wing (Kayley) Lam, Angela Guo, Mia Tien, Leticia Campos and Harper Pi experiencing life as 1850s students at the Ragged School during the Sovereign Hill Study Tour

2 Changyi (Alyssa) Qian, Olivia Liu, Emma Li, Melody Chen and Elena Chen stepping back in time at the Red Hill National School during the Sovereign Hill Study Tour

3 Lucienne Lovett, Jessica Warzala, Elizabeth Woodruff and Madelyn Cong serving up chocolate-dipped strawberries at the Year 5 Mini Business Market

4 Yingyu (Victoria) Liao, Liming (Limi) Sun, Mia Quinn, Anja Mojsilovic, Amelie Te, Eleanor Liu and enjoying some free play time at the Sovereign Hill playground during the Year 5 Study Tour

5 Liona Wu, Madelyn Cong, Annabelle Lo and Annabelle (Annie) Venter roasting marshmallows and sharing laughter around the campfire at the Year 5 & 6 Kinglake Camp

6 Siqi (Nancy) Xu, Elva Jiang and Violet Sheldrick showcasing their creative costumes as they celebrate the magic of reading during Book Week

7 Jemima Grinsell, Camilla Koidl, Man Wen (Naomi) Chen and Rose (Rosie) O’Brien enjoying the great outdoors at the Year 5 & 6 Kinglake Camp

8 Chenxian (Alina) Zhu, Mia Deng, Ka Yee (Audrey) Lau, Parisa Leos, Era Shah and Alice Bingham enjoying the sunshine on the Village Green at school

9 Emily Bingham, Mia Chen and Arya Halid conquering the ropes course challenge at the Year 5 & 6 Kinglake Camp

10 Ping Hui Li, Amiee Zhang, Yi Jing (Karen) Kuang, Weier (Avril) Huang and Yujin (Sofia) Zhu exploring the historic Fire Brigade station during the Sovereign Hill Study Tour

11 Jemima Grinsell, Matea Bjazevic and Alleria Zhu preparing their hair-braiding station at the Year 5 Mini Business Market, ready to welcome their first customers

12 Miranda Gardiner, Annabelle Lo, Annabelle (Annie) Venter and Parisa Leos setting up their colourful carnival games at the Year 5 Mini Business Market, ready to bring fun and excitement to their customers

The Year 5 journey in 2025 has been full of curiosity, courage, and creativity. From the start of the year, classrooms buzzed with energy as students engaged in rich learning experiences that challenged their thinking and inspired new ideas.

The year began with explorations of Australia’s landscapes, focusing on natural disasters such as bushfires and floods. These studies sparked thoughtful discussions about resilience, community, and the environment. A highlight of Term 1 was the Year 5/6 Camp to Kinglake Forest Adventures, where students embraced outdoor challenges like the high ropes and flying fox, building teamwork, resilience, and lasting friendships.

In Term 2, learning focused on Civics and Citizenship. Students developed a deeper understanding of democracy, debating issues, exploring decision-making, and recognising the importance of having a voice in the community.

Term 3 saw students become entrepreneurs through the Mini Business Project, culminating in the Year 5 Business Expo. The Junior School community explored and purchased their products, celebrating creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Students also participated in a leadership incursion, reflecting on the qualities of effective leaders through the ASPIRE framework.

The Study Tour to Sovereign Hill in Term 4 offered a hands-on experience of life in the 1850s, helping students appreciate modern learning environments.

As the year closed, we celebrated the achievements and growth of our Year 5 students. They embraced challenges, strengthened friendships, and demonstrated the leadership, resilience, and kindness that will guide them into their final year at Barbreck.

YEAR 6

The girls of Year 6 have been an inspiration to all the students in Barbreck.

As the senior leaders of Barbreck, they embraced the challenges and opportunities of their final primary school year with energy and enthusiasm. This time was rich with experiences that encouraged both academic achievement and personal development, all in preparation for their transition to Senior School.

Inside the classroom, the students explored a wide variety of subjects designed to spark curiosity and deepen critical thinking skills. Their learning involved both independent tasks and collaborative projects, allowing them to demonstrate adaptability, perseverance, and teamwork. Leadership was also a key focus this year, with the girls taking on the role of positive role models for younger students. They contributed to the School community by hosting events, organising weekly assemblies, and leaving their mark as leaders who value inclusivity and support.

Memorable highlights included the School production of The Little Mermaid JR., the Years 5 and 6 Camp at King Lake, the Canberra Study Tour, the UPP (Unleashing Personal Potential) program, and a variety of sporting and leadership experiences.

For the Year 6 Class of 2025, this has truly been a year of learning, growth, and celebration, as they take confident steps toward the next stage of their education.

1 Missy Byrne, Arabella Lutz, Lola Parker and Pearl Gunnerson having fun at Canberra Arboretum

2 Annabelle Clark, Georgia Ktenavos and Alina Fu having fun outside during the Book Week dress-up day

3 Amelia Wood and Sophie Sprott playing a game of ‘Guess Who?’

4 Isabella Zhu, Scarlett Lam, Miranda Qin and Miranda Jie keeping warm in Canberra

5 Sophia Magennis, Iva Vickers, Chantelle Tan and Nina Chen outside their Year 6 classroom

6 Foxx Robertson, Nina Steedman and Cate Barry after completing the orienteering competition at the Canberra Arboretum

7 Back: Alia Van Aalst, Elizabeth Switkowski, Sophie Sprott, Ashley Siswanto; Front: Ingrid Tan, Isla Goddard – Getting ready to take on the orienteering challenge at The Arboretum in Canberra

8 Eloise Fitzgerald, Ella Pattison, Alicia Goerlitz, Charlotte Rose, Indi Peat, Sienna Xu – At the Book Week dress-up day

9 Cate Barry, Ellie Wang (Back), Amelia Macrae, Eloise Fitzgerald, Ella Pattison, Adelaide Holland and Alexa Wong in the playground outside the Dinosaur Museum in Canberra

10 Back: Rita Wu, Waah Xu, Anna Zheng; Front: Alexa Wong, Jocelyn Lam –Enjoying sport and social activities after Year 7 transition morning

11 Piper McInnes, Katie Kemp, Inneke Wright, Lucinda Morris and Sophia Hindhaugh taking a break on court

12 Rita Wu, Kayleigh Wang and Anna Zheng exploring how things work at Questacon

13 Francesa Zappone, Jennifer Xu and Julia Wong playing ball games after the Year 7 Orientation

SENIOR SCHOOL

TEACHING & LEARNING

This has been a year of honouring the rich traditions of our School, while also honouring our motto as we continually strive for that which is good. Of course, the beating heart of every school is its students, and we are reminded of this each year when we greet the incoming Year 7 cohort. To paraphrase Heraclitus, the only permanence is change; though he would not have been thinking of the modern school system when he coined this, we keep it in mind as our Year 7 students navigate the complexities of new friendships, routines, and expectations. Such a transition period reminds us that learning is as much about embracing uncertainty as it is about acquiring knowledge. In line with this, a team of our teachers have partnered with the University of Queensland to further improve and refine our practices of welcoming new students, with a particular focus on the stresses often accompanied by the transition periods. Our research focus has been to examine students’ capacity for academic buoyancy and self-efficacy, and as we scrutinise models that will develop these capacities in students, we are rightly examining key transition years.

Conversely, our recent Year 12 graduates are embarking upon the transition from St Catherine’s students to the newest members of SCOGA. Their final year of schooling was marked by joy, resilience, and a strong sense of camaraderie. As they prepared to step into the world, our girls were advised to hold onto Virginia Woolf’s edict to, ‘arrange whatever pieces come your way.’ Life beyond school is seldom linear, but it is shaped by the courage to adapt, to learn, and to create meaning in the face of change. In this sense, our students are rich, for their St Catherine’s education has prepared them for the lifelong process of learning, questioning, and growing.

Inspired equally by Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum and Aristotle’s edict that ‘educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all’ we embarked upon our inaugural Year 9 Ethical Leadership program. In many ways, this program is the embodiment of what our teachers strive to do each day: to develop not only knowledge and skills in our students, but empathy, curiosity, and character. Asking students at the critical and formative juncture of Year 9 to put away their devices and focus on others is a powerful and worthy pursuit, one that will equip them with the capacity for a life of reflective practice. Of course, it is the education of the heart that attracts teachers to this profession, and I am constantly reminded of why teachers teach: because each lesson, conversation, and challenge is part of a living process of discovery, not just for the students, but for us too.

A school’s success is built daily through the commitment and professionalism of our staff. Socrates’ adage about the unexamined life is true of education. When we examine our practice, question our assumptions, and remain open to growth, we ourselves remain students. Our teachers’ willingness to learn from one another and to embrace innovation demonstrates that great teaching is a lifelong pursuit of wisdom and understanding. I am continually inspired by the dedication of our teachers who approach their practice with both creativity and rigour.

To our students, families, and staff, thank you for your partnership, energy, and trust throughout the year. May we continue to work together for our girls as we shape a future grounded in compassion, curiosity, and the pursuit of excellence.

Mrs Lisa Hanlon Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning

ENGLISH & NICHOLAS LIBRARY

‘If you do the verb, you deserve the noun.’ Karen Comer In 2025, English, EAL, and Literature classes at St Catherine’s continued to focus on the essential skills that help our students to become confident readers and writers.

During Term 2, our Year 8 students were fortunate to spend a session with Melbourne author Karen Comer, writer of their set text Grace Notes. Karen shared inspiring insights into her creative process, including her realisation that she is a writer not simply because she has been published, but because she spends time honing her craft. Her message, ‘if you do the verb, you deserve the noun’, captures the very heart of our English program: thoughtful reading informs great writing.

At every year level, our courses highlighted the powerful relationship between reading and writing. Students explored diverse texts, analysed their themes and techniques, and then applied what they had learned to their own original work. This year, Year 7 explored autobiographical writing, first reading life stories before crafting their own. Year 8 delved into the gothic and detective genres, examining conventions before weaving them into their own narrative. Year 9 engaged with protest literature, then wrote pieces that spoke out against injustices that resonated with them. Year 10 reflected on the universal

experiences of Coming of Age; Year 11 explored themes of Surveillance in English and Resistance in EAL, while Year 12 examined the rich ideas surrounding Play in English and Personal Journeys in EAL.

In addition to their study of English or EAL, students from Years 9-12 were able to elect into Literature Courses. These courses offered rich reading experiences with texts as diverse as George Bernhard Shaw’s Pygmallion, Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock and Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale.

Beyond the classroom, our students broadened their literary experiences through wide reading sessions and collaborative activities run with the Nicholas Library. They also embraced a variety of extracurricular opportunities, from Game of Loans to Writers’ Club and Book Club, further fostering a love of reading and writing in our school community.

I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the St Catherine’s English Faculty for constantly providing our students with the opportunity to ‘do the verb’.

Mrs Anna McKenzie Head of English

Earlier this year, I was privileged to attend an author talk by acclaimed writer, Ian McEwan. When asked what his ideal reader would be, Mr McEwan replied that they would have a pen or pencil in hand and would annotate his novels as they read them. While not something a librarian could ever recommend, this brought to mind the different purposes that reading fulfils: for information, for entertainment, to learn and challenge our thinking. My understanding of Mr McEwan’s response is that he wants his readers to read with purpose, to make notes and to question what they read. In a fastdeveloping information age, these critical reasoning skills will become amongst the most important.

In the Nicholas Library, we aim to provide opportunities that will both foster a love of reading and create the next generation of critical thinkers by exposing them to a wide range of perspectives and ideas. The Year 7 and 8 Game of Loans reading challenge, now in its fourth year, is an example of

this process, encouraging students to engage with a wide range of literary genres. We may not think of reading as a sport, but it can still be competitive, and it is this competitive spirit that spurred many to persist with their reading and surpass their usual reading goals. Together, our Year 7 and 8 students read an impressive 922 books during the reading challenge.

Other activities throughout the year, such as Library Lovers’ Day, Book Week, co-curricular Book Clubs, Writers Club and orientation programs, all encourage an appreciation of literature, and improving literacy, the enjoyment of reading and the act of writing. If, through our efforts, we can produce a community of well-read young people who think critically, independently and grapple with new ideas, then the future looks bright.

Ms Anita Dammery Head of Nicholas Library

HUMANITIES

The Humanities Faculty at St Catherine’s continues to provide students with opportunities to understand and engage with the world around them. This year, our programs encouraged students to think critically about society, culture, politics, and the environment, while drawing strong connections between classroom learning and the wider community. We were delighted to welcome Ms Isabella Oddi to the Humanities team in 2025. She brings extensive experience in Humanities and girls’ education, enriching the collective expertise of the teaching staff and supporting students with her commitment to inclusive and rigorous learning. Student enthusiasm for Humanities electives from Years 9-12 continued to grow, reflecting the value of these subjects in helping students explore contemporary challenges and develop analytical skills.

VCE Humanities results again highlighted the achievements of our senior students. Karis Chan (Year 12) received a prestigious Premier’s Award for her outstanding achievement in VCE Business Management, reflective of the hard work of both students and teachers across subjects.

Experiential learning remained central in 2025, with Year 9 students visiting the Shrine of Remembrance, Year 8 students exploring urban development at the Metro Tunnel headquarters, and Business Management students examining social enterprise in practice. Students also competed nationally in the Geography and History Competitions, extending their skills beyond the classroom.

Through real-world learning and critical conversations, Humanities continues to nurture informed, confident, and globally aware young women.

Mr Paul Gilby Head of Humanities

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION

This year was one of growth, energy and meaningful learning within the Health and Physical Education Faculty. Students across all year levels embraced opportunities to build skills, confidence, and wellbeing through a wide variety of activities. In Years 7-9, students participated enthusiastically in games such as Netball, Soccer and Touch Rugby, along with racquet sports including Badminton and popular Pickleball. These activities developed ability and encouraged teamwork, communication and resilience.

The Year 9 Advanced elective extended learning by combining theory and practice. Students choreographed a dance routine to demonstrate anatomical movements and applied their knowledge of the Musculoskeletal system to sports injuries management.

Year 10 students benefited from highly valuable self-defence classes, which were well received. These sessions emphasised the importance of awareness and prevention, while providing strategies to be used only as a last resort when safety is at risk. At the senior level, VCE Health and Human Development and Physical Education subjects continue to attract strong numbers, with students showing commitment as they prepare for examinations.

Across year levels, classroom programs explored essential topics such as Digital Safety, Sexuality, Respectful Relationships, Consent, Risk Assessment and Mental Health. These critical areas help to students to navigate adolescence with confidence.

My thanks go to our dedicated teachers for providing a rich and engaging curriculum that inspired our students to embrace both the physical and theoretical aspects of learning.

Ms Debra Thompson Head of Health and Physical Education

LANGUAGES

This year, students of Chinese, Japanese, and French embraced a rich variety of cultural and linguistic experiences that brought learning to life inside and outside the classroom. From food and festivals to art, history, and friendships, our Languages Faculty once again showed how languages open doors to global understanding.

In Chinese, students welcomed the Year of the Snake with classroom activities. A highlight of the year was our much-loved Dumpling Day, filled with delicious food and laughter. The year concluded on a high note, with great dance moves and beautiful singing in Chinese. French students added their own flavour to the program: younger learners explored cuisine and storytelling with madeleines and Astérix et Obélix, while senior classes examined regional festivals and the challenges of the German occupation in World War II.

Beyond the classroom, all language students came together during Harmony Week and Francophone Day, celebrating diversity through origami, K-pop dance, food trucks, and Crêpes for Change, while French performances showcased the creativity languages inspire.

Through these collective experiences, students deepened their linguistic skills and intercultural awareness, discovering that language learning builds empathy, connection, and community.

Ms Florence Melinand Head of Languages

MATHEMATICS

The 2025 academic year was highly successful for the Mathematics Faculty, with students engaging in a broad range of activities that extended their learning both within the classroom and beyond.

Students continued to demonstrate academic excellence, developing strong study habits and refining their skills in preparation for assessments and examinations. Their commitment and determination significantly contributed to the strengthening of mathematical understanding across all year levels. A large number of students from Years 7-12 also made consistent use of the Maths Help program, which operates multiple times a week and is supported by teachers who generously volunteer their time to assist with learning, consolidation, and clarification.

Participation in external competitions was a notable feature of the year. Students from Years 7-12 elected to take part in a range of events, including those offered by the Australian Mathematics Trust such as the Australian Mathematics Competition, Computational Algorithmic Thinking, and Kangourou Sans Frontières. In addition, Year 7 and 8

students were actively involved in the Mathematics Olympiads, while a number of students competed in the University of Melbourne Mathematics Competition.

A particularly popular subject was our Algorithmics elective where Year 9 students learnt about algorithms and coding. The students learnt about different algorithms such as different sorting techniques. Time was also spent learning basic Python coding including building interactive games.

Congratulations to our students for their outstanding commitment and determination, and heartfelt thanks to the Mathematics Department for their tireless support and generosity of time throughout the year.

Ms Liana Renden Head of Mathematics

SCIENCE

This year, Science students happily engaged with the multiple opportunities presented to them. In the classroom, they were able to explore new concepts, make predictions and test hypotheses using investigations and controlled experiments.

The Unit 1 & 2 Physics class enjoyed an excursion to Luna Park, where they calculated (and experienced!) changing velocities, accelerations and the effects of gravity through the applications presented by exhilarating rides.

Irina Pan, Cadence Law and Isabelle Cao were invited to take part in the University of Melbourne and Chemistry Education Association Training Program for the Australian Science Olympiad Examination in Chemistry.

The Unit 3 & 4 Biology class used the excursion to the Genetics Lab at University of Melbourne to get hands-on experience with classic laboratory work involving Drosophila flies.

The Year 8 cohort took part in the Big Science competition. Fourteen students achieved a Credit, and four students—Kaylen Lo, Lichi Sun, Sunny Xu and Shelley Zhou—achieved a Distinction, which is commendable.

An incredible line up of scientists presented their career paths and research projects at the I-WiSH Conference. Year 11 mentors assisted Year 10 participants to creatively ‘sell the science’ to garner attention for research projects and to inspire young people to become more engaged in cutting-edge science and health research. The day was rounded out with an expert panel discussion on the importance of ethics in science and scientific leadership, which we are increasingly focused on, both in the Science Faculty and the School more generally.

A small group of Senior Science students attended a half-day Blood Synergy Conference aimed at Haematology and Transfusion Medicine scientists. It was a great experience for the students to hear real-world problems being addressed by scientists at the forefront of this field. Opal Scheele and Gladys Lam shared their experience with us in Assembly.

Science Week saw a range of fun and engaging activities across the Senior School, including a PPE Race, an online quiz, a Science Cake Bake-Off and visits from the Bad Science Show for Year 9 students and Professor Bunsen for those in Year 7.

Science and Environment Assembly welcomed a diverse range of speakers including Susie Nillsson (’86), Director of Research in Biomedical Manufacturing and SCOGA member, who inspired the School by sharing her incredible career in science. Vinuki Ranatunga and Hethushi Hapuarachchi spoke about their experience at the National Youth Science Forum, a distinguished select-entry program run by the University of Queensland for science students with leadership qualities. Aeryn Lee, our STEM Captain spoke about the Science Week theme and activities for 2025 and the fun, STEM-based activities on offer at STEM Club.

Astronomy Night was held in late August and PhD candidate, Rowina Nathan shared her knowledge of space and gravitational waves with the students. Students enjoyed an entertaining and educational presentation from Miss Haysom and Ms Nathan on how the mysteries of the universe are explored using light.

Finally, I want to thank the dedicated Science staff for their hard work and support this year.

Dr Anna Watts Head of Science

GLOBAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

The Global Programs for 2025 Exchanges

Year 9 Exchange

Global Education Travel

Year 9/10

Year 11/12

St Catherine’s School Bramley, England Cofton House, Vancouver, Canada Buffalo Seminary School, NY, USA

USA Cultural Exchange

Language Exchange, France

Year 9/10/11 Japanese Study Tour

The St Catherine’s Year 9 Exchange Program involved three highly valued partner schools in England and North America. Four students from St Catherine’s Bramley arrived in mid-January to join our Rowing Camp and participated in the program throughout the term. Our host students then enjoyed the return visit in Term 2, where they quickly settled into school life abroad. Highlights of the exchange included an excursion to the European battlefields and a Duke of Edinburgh camp.

In Term 1, St Catherine’s also hosted students from Crofton House and Buffalo. These visiting students attended Year 10 classes, reciprocating the visits our students made to their schools in Terms 3 and 4 of the previous year. The current Year 9 cohort similarly enjoyed their time in North America during Term 3 and will welcome their exchange partners to Melbourne next year.

The USA Cultural Exchange was another success, with 10 students beginning their experience on a four-day tour of New York City before splitting into two groups of five. Each group spent 10 days at either the Middlesex School in Boston or Tower Hill in Delaware. Our students later hosted their American partners for two weeks in Melbourne. The Language Department also developed a strong suite of exchanges and study tours. These include the annual French exchange during the January holidays, as well as the Japanese Study Tour, which saw us host 13 students for four days in August. Our students will complete the exchange with a visit to Aichi Shukutoku Junior and Senior High School in Nagoya this December.

Mr Jim Allen

Global Programs Coordinator

CAREERS

Our Careers Education program provided students with valuable opportunities to explore future pathways and learn from industry professionals and alumnae, which helped them make informed choices about their education and careers.

In 2025, Careers Education continued to play a vital role in supporting senior students as they prepared for life beyond school.

In May, Year 11 students visited Newman College, enjoying a campus tour and Forum dinner that offered insights into college life and broadened perspectives on post-school options. Careers Week also featured inspiring alumnae presentations, with Tess Price (’15), Emma Thompson (’14) and Dr. Alex Chung (’01) sharing their career journeys and lessons learned. Year 11 students Mila Heng and Isabelle Cao spoke to Junior School students about their own experiences.

A highlight of the year was the St Catherine’s Careers and Subject Expo in July, where students from Years 7 to 12 and their families engaged in an evening of exploration and planning. Years 10 and 11 students also benefited from a practical workshop with Claire Gifford (’14) how to manage money and build financial confidence.

In August, Years 11 and 12 students learned about global citizenship and international opportunities through AIESEC representatives from the University of Melbourne, with Amy Chen (’24) sharing her experiences. University of the Arts London also provided folio reviews and creative pathway advice for students from Years 10 to 12.

Careers Education in 2025 has encouraged students to explore, reflect and grow, foundations that will support them in navigating an ever-changing world of work.

Mrs Kristy Tine Careers Practitioner

VISUAL ARTS

1. Anna Roosenburg, Georgie

In 2025, we welcomed Art teacher Ms Chantelle Petith who brought energy and experience to our students. We also hosted Emma Davies as part of our Artist Educator program. Emma worked with students in the Junior School through to VCE, increasing student engagement and invigorating our learning spaces with innovative practices.

Wiltondale is fortunate to house a professional printmaking studio. Our Visual Arts teachers participated in professional development with renowned printmaker Bronwyn Rees. Bronwyn also presented at the October Art Assembly, where she reflected on the importance of observation in the creative process, as well as the connection to nature.

Our VCE Visual Arts students continued to push creative boundaries, approaching their final projects with passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to their practice. At the VCE Art Show, we celebrated the originality and insight each student brought to their work; a testament to a creative journey that begins long before VCE.

The Art and Design Club continued to thrive under the leadership of our 2025 Art and Design Co-Captains, Mietta Jenkins and Matilda Talbot Gibson. Students from across the Senior School gathered fortnightly to connect, collaborate, and create. Next year, we look forward to the return of the Italy Study Tour, the MUMA pop-up exhibition, and the arrival of our new Year 7 students.

Mrs Vicki Marinelli Head

of Arts

VISUAL ARTS

1 Ivy Zhu, Year 7 Art, Ceramics

2 Chloe Mirams, Year 9 Art, Landscape Painting

3 Matilda Talbot-Gisbon (Art and Design Co-Captain 2025), Unit 4 Art Creative Practice, Oil on Board

4 Elsa (Youxuan) Zu, Year 9 Visual Communication Design, Architectural drawing

5 Grace McLaughlin, Unit 4 Media, Digital Photography

6 Issy (Isabelle) Monahan, Unit 4 Visual Communication Design, 3D Architecture Model

7 Natalie Law, Year 9 Media, Photoshop Composite Photography

8 Mia Upton, Unit 2 Art Creative Practice, Drawing on Paper

9 Ellyse Buckley, Year 8 Art, Aerial Landscape

10 Isabella Yang, Year 7 Art, Oil Pastel on Paper

11 Mietta Jenkins (Art and Design Co-Captain 2025), Unit 4 Visual Communication Design, Print Publication

12 Phoebe Lock, Unit 4 Art Creative Practice, Ceramic Sculpture

13 Jennifer Evans, Unit 4 Visual Communication Design, Digital Render

14 Anqi (Angel) Cai, Unit 2 Visual Communication Design, Digital Render

15 Ava Nachmias, Year 9 Media, Photoshop Composite Photography

16 Heidi Axup, Unit 3 Art Creative Practice, Acrylic on Board

MIDDLE YEARS

YEARS 7-9

Wellbeing across Years 7, 8, and 9 is focused on building a foundational understanding of wellbeing practices and how they support students to achieve the best outcomes both in the classroom and beyond.

One of the markers for identifying the wellbeing ‘pulse’ of the students in each year level is the ‘Ready to Learn’ score, as measured by the Resilience Youth Survey completed by all students at the end of Term 1. This figure allows us to see the impact of stress and anxiety, along with a student’s help-seeking behaviour regarding their capacity to function in the classroom. Since 2021, we have been delighted to see this figure increase across the School. Whilst it can be difficult to establish a direct cause and effect, we believe that our focus on effective wellbeing strategies—delivered both through dedicated Wellbeing classes and daily interactions that shape school life—is enhancing each student’s capacity to grow and thrive.

In our weekly Wellbeing sessions, the aim is to equip all students with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to develop their resilience, independence, creativity and boldness. The seven areas of focus are:

• Social & Emotional Learning – Self-awareness & emotional regulation

• Cognitive Development – Reasoning & decision-making

• Digital Literacy – Mindful use of technology

• Community Spirit & Culture – Our beliefs, connections, values & ethics

• Partnerships & Pathways – Individual, collaborative & global

• Student Voice – Agency & leadership

• Physical Health & Wellness – Healthy habits & mindset

In Year 7, the focus is on Community Spirit and Culture. For learning to flourish, students first need to feel safe, with a

strong sense of belonging. Classrooms that foster fun, trust, and collaboration support not only academic growth but also the development of the whole student. Research shows that even the simplest feelings of belonging can significantly increase motivation, engagement, and achievement. The more connected students feel, the more they thrive. With strong participation in a wide range of co-curricular activities, Year 7 students learnt from teachers, coaches, and older peers about what it means to be a St Catherine’s girl.

In Year 8, the emphasis shifts to Social and Emotional Learning and Student Voice. At this stage of their development, students are increasingly attuned to their own emotional needs and are ready to acquire greater agency over their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The tailored experiences given to students in Year 8 create space for them to pause, reflect, and connect more deeply with their own social and emotional needs as well as one another’s, enabling them to extend themselves and gain the fullest benefit from the programs offered at St Catherine’s.

By Year 9, the focus turns to Partnership, Pathways, and Cognitive Development. Students deepen their understanding of themselves, their role within the School, and their place in the broader world. Through careers education and the Global Exchange program, students begin to consider not only the opportunities the world offers them, but also the unique contributions they can make. Their participation in the Leadership Diploma further reinforces this sense of agency and responsibility.

The St Catherine’s Wellbeing program provides the foundation for this journey. Offering a structured, holistic approach, it equips students with the resilience, independence, and confidence they need to navigate adolescence and beyond. From Year 7 through to Year 12, wellbeing remains central to their educational experience, ensuring that every student has the support they need to grow, achieve, and thrive within a strong and caring community.

Ms Freda Armstrong Director of Middle Years

SENIOR YEARS

YEARS 10-12

A Year of Growth, Resilience and Community

As we draw to the close of another remarkable year, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey our senior students have undertaken. We honour our School’s proud history and its many achievements by remaining committed to continual growth, always striving to improve and thrive. Our motto, ‘Nothing is Great, Unless it is Good,’ was more than just words—it was a daily reminder that excellence is multidimensional, extending far beyond academic success.

Our Year 10 students embraced senior schooling with enthusiasm, courage, and openness. Through our wellbeing programs, they engaged with important topics such as digital literacy, consent, body image, social responsibility, and charity work. These experiences helped them to grow into confident young women with a deep sense of community and self-awareness.

In Year 11, students showed remarkable maturity and determination. Under the guidance of Head of Year Clint Blennerhasset, these young women balanced academic demands with leadership opportunities and personal growth. Their focus on self-awareness, goal setting, and career planning prepared them well for the challenges of their final year.

Our Year 12 cohort were truly inspiring, navigating the pressures of their final year with resilience and grace. Supported by Head of Year, Ms Vasiliki Spanos, and the Senior Years team, they demonstrated a commitment not only to academic excellence but also to wellbeing and ethical leadership. Their kindness and support for one another reminded us of the strength of this community.

We know our girls are strong, focused, and deeply committed to doing well. But my question remains: what will these young women contribute to the world beyond the Heyington gates? What values, lessons, and resilience have we truly instilled to prepare them for the toughest challenges life will bring? It will not be their ATAR scores alone that guide them; rather, it will be the everyday lessons, the ethics we have nurtured, the examples they have witnessed, and the leadership skills they have developed here. Academic success is wonderful, but girls, you are so much more than that!

Our Heads of Year—Kelly Brady, Clint Blennerhasset, and Vicky Spanos—together with our VCE Coordinator, Psychologist, Careers Practitioner created a strong, united team focused on holistically supporting our students. We cultivated an environment where academic rigour and wellbeing were equally prioritised and seamlessly connected. Our comprehensive wellbeing program addressed key areas such as Digital Literacy, Cognitive Development, Physical Health and Wellness, Student Voice, Pathways and Partnerships, School Spirit and Culture, and Social-Emotional Learning. Through a deep understanding of our students and careful analysis of school data, we developed targeted programs that empowered them not only to achieve academic success but also to thrive personally.

This holistic approach was essential as we prepared our girls for a rapidly evolving world shaped by artificial intelligence. A future where human skills, ethical awareness, and adaptability will be more important than ever.

As Anna Quindlen wisely said, ‘Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them.’ My hope is that our girls carry this wisdom with them, embracing resilience and wellbeing as the foundation for a fulfilling life.

Ms Alison Cassidy Director of Senior Years

CLUBS

Human Rights Club

Throughout the year, the Human Rights Club buzzed with energy, ideas and meaningful conversations. We shared passionate roundtable discussions where members spoke of the human rights issues closest to their hearts—from refugee rights and gender equality to climate justice and access to education. The room was consistently alive with curiosity, empathy, and a shared determination to understand and act.

Inspired by these discussions, we extended our thinking to create an eye-opening ‘Dream vs Reality’ board. The Dream side showcased our vision for a world where human rights are truly universal. The Reality side, however, revealed the challenges that still exist, such as poverty, discrimination, safety concerns and conflict. This powerful visual sparked deep conversation and reminded us why our voices matter.

We watched the movie Hidden Figures, an inspiring true story of African-American female mathematicians who broke through barriers at NASA. We had rich discussions throughout the movie about racial and gender discrimination, perseverance, and systemic change. We aimed to leave students feeling uplifted, challenged, and ready to champion equality in their own lives.

The Club continued to be a space where ideas grow, perspectives widen, and action begins to emerge.

Nicole Horton Human Rights Club Coordinator

Art and Design Club

The Art and Design Club was filled with energy, imagination, and joy, as each week students arrived ready to experiment, collaborate and discover.

The year began with explorations in collage art, where layers of texture, image, and colour combined to tell unique visual stories. The studio often buzzed with conversation while magazines, scissors, and glue sticks were scattered across tables, evidence of the creativity in progress. Later, the focus shifted from paper to clay as students designed and crafted custom Tic-Tac-Toe games. This hands-on project was a favourite, blending artistic design with playful functionality, and every finished set reflected a distinct personality.

Another highlight was the creation of personal logos. Students reflected on their own identity and translated it into symbolic designs, which were then turned into stickers to keep and share. The results were striking—some bold and colourful, others minimal and refined—each a true expression of its maker.

The Club also benefited greatly from the leadership of Visual Arts Captains, Mietta Jenkins and Matilda Talbot-Gibson, whose encouragement, creativity, and initiative inspired the group throughout the year.

Looking back, Art and Design Club celebrated not only the artworks produced, but also the community and joy found in making them together.

Charlie Dyring Art & Design Club Coordinator

Writers’ Club

The Writers’ Club sparked enjoyment through collaborative writing, primarily in creative writing. Utilising clever prompts, as a group we co-produced original works through relay style writing. These works differed from satirical to tragic narratives, using various genre techniques to enhance collaborative skills and creative writing abilities.

Additionally, we analysed poetry writing, then embarked upon creating our own poems through unconventional means. Using pages from damaged books, we picked particular words or phrases to turn into blackout poetry. This allowed us to re-purpose old books that would have otherwise ended up in the rubbish.

We also explored a variety of writing competitions, such as the prestigious John Locke essay competition. Those who participated enjoyed a unique and memorable experience, further developing their writing skills in several different categories.

Writers’ Club focused on developing connections between different year levels, and taught writing skills and techniques that go beyond just the classroom environment. If you are a writer, and you wish to expand or intensify your writing skills, come along as students are encouraged to continue to develop their fundamental abilities.

Overall, Writers’ Club offers an enlightening and delightful experience for anyone interested in writing and literature, or both!

Natasha Sims Writers’ Club Coordinator

Coding Club

Lunchtime on Day Four at St Catherine’s is no ordinary break. It’s a time where laptops open, creativity flourishes, and simple lines of code transform into full multiplayer games. This is Coding Club, an initiative launched in July last year for students of all ages to experience programming in a fun, supportive space.

The idea came from Ally, who started the Club after noticing a lack of coding opportunities for girls in the School community. Now in Year 11, she says, ‘I’ve always loved coding, and wanted to create an environment where girls could discover technology, build their confidence, and see that STEM is for them, no matter their starting point.’

The Club runs fortnightly and offers a mix of short, beginnerfriendly activities and longer projects, such as recreating Pong. For many attendees, it’s their first taste of coding.

According to research, 84% of employers believe basic coding skills are essential in the workplace, and Coding Club aims to give students a head start. By introducing girls to programming early, the Club hopes to spark interest in STEM pathways and open doors to future opportunities.

With growing attendance and projects already in development, Coding Club is proving that learning to code can be both practical and exciting.

The next generation of developers might just be sitting in our classrooms right now.

Liana Renden Coding Club Coordinator

CLUBS

Chess Club

This year, Chess Club occurred during Friday lunchtimes, and on many occasions, overflowed with enthusiastic players. The click of timers and loud screeches of bewilderment when a piece was surprisingly taken by an opponent made the room exude with energy. Students came to play and received coaching from Jerome, our resident chess champion. Jerome provided tips on where to move knights and bishops and what types of opening plays were quick to lead to checkmate.

During the year, some students attended tournaments at Brighton and Camberwell Boys’ Grammar, placing in the top 10 for their category. However, it was not the tournaments nor the coaching that made this club fun, it was the students from all year levels and abilities coming together to develop this game of strategy where chance does not win.

Anita Fernando Chess Club Coordinator

Coffee and Culture Club

This year, the Coffee and Culture Club proved to be one of the most engaging co-curricular activities offered at St Catherine’s. If you are a literature lover, an enthusiastic English student, or even a wordsmith, this Club is for you.

Coffee and Culture club cultivated a welcoming space with a vibrant buzz in which students connected with peers, including those in different year levels, to ultimately explore meaningful literature beyond our classrooms.

This year we discussed Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. These stories sparked discussions focused on contemporary and historical fiction, thus allowing students to think critically as a collective.

Our conversations were not limited to just our chosen books. There were other discussions, such as the best musical artists of all time, poetry, and relevant matters in the media. Our Club truly captured all facets of contemporary culture. As a collective, these experiences have made Coffee and Culture Club engaging and inclusive, a place where students were encouraged to further expand their appreciation for literature and culture as whole.

Amelia James Coffee & Culture Club Coordinator

Mathematics Club

This year in STEM club, the girls had fun with hands-on experiments using commonly found household materials.

Colourful demonstrations of rates of reaction were shown in an experiment called ‘elephants toothpaste’ using dilute hydrogen peroxide, yeast, dish soap and food dye. The yeast acts as an organic catalyst breaking down the hydrogen peroxide into gaseous oxygen and hydrogen resulting in a foam column that sprouts out of a measuring cylinder resembling giant toothpaste.

Diffusion experiments were carried out using skittles / smarties in water creating colourful patterns. Rates of osmosis were investigated by adding gummy bears to plain water, sugary water and salty water resulting in gummy bears changing into different sizes.

Students got their hands sticky making slime using Elmers glue, Elmers magical liquid and food dye, or Oobleck using cornstarch and water. These are both great examples of non-Newtonian fluids which change their viscosity depending on the force applied to them.

Through these quick and simple experiments students developed a deeper understanding of how unique reactions and chemical properties can have applications in STEM.

Kohei Endo STEM Club Coordinator

COMMUNITY SERVICE

It has been an absolute privilege to serve as the Community Service Captain for 2025. Throughout the year, I aimed to lead with compassion and create meaningful opportunities for students to engage with causes that reach beyond our immediate community.

One of the highlights was arranging the Holmes Kilbride Bake Sale in aid of Berry Street, an organisation that protects and supports foster children across Australia. Having previously worked with Berry Street, this cause is especially close to my heart. It was truly inspiring to witness the entire Year 12 HK community come together to bake, and to see the wider School community to donate and purchase treats. From brownies and cupcakes to homemade slices, every contribution made the event a tremendous success. I am proud that we raised almost $2000, with all proceeds going directly to Berry Street to support their vital programs in child protection, trauma recovery, and education.

Beyond fundraising, we also focused on raising awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable children, sharing stories and resources through School assemblies and discussions. My goal this year was to show that small actions, when combined, can lead to meaningful change.

Thank you to everyone who supported our initiatives – you have made a real difference.

Arabella Richardson Community Service Captain

BOARDING

As boarders, we’re incredibly fortunate to live in a beautiful house on campus and enjoy a range of fun and meaningful activities each week: socials with other schools, gelato outings, and Bounce adventures. There’s never a dull moment, and these experiences have become highlights of our time here.

As Boarding Captains, it was a privilege to share these moments with such an amazing group of girls from all year levels and backgrounds. It’s a unique and special experience to call Illawarra our home. This year, we had the opportunity to represent our House at a boarding school gathering at Wesley College. Meeting other Prefects and Captains was inspiring and reminded us of the value of leadership and friendship.

We started the year with each girl decorating a name pendant flag for her door, a simple way to make the space personal. Our closed weekend finale was a board game night where everyone was grouped into random teams. What began as mandatory fun quickly turned into an evening of laughter and connection.

Even during busy weeks, the boarding staff ensured we had regular activities to strengthen our sense of community. A heartfelt highlight was farewelling our beloved Head of Boarding, Ms van Boxel, whose warmth, support, and endless snacks helped make Illawarra a true home.

Harper Anderson & Weng In (Caris) Ho Boarding Captains

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Our goal for 2025 as House Co-Captains was to create a welcoming and inspiring House atmosphere that would encourage girls to form new friendships and enjoy the year. We decided to stick with the pivotal ‘Bite the Bullet’ mantra; however, we also decided to adopt a new mantra that Megan and Scarlett introduced last year.

‘Who are, who are we?’

‘We are, we are Beaulieu.’

This thrilling chant helps to establish an uplifting vibe within the House, especially helpful and encouraging during House events. We established this vision of fostering positivity during our Year 12 Leadership Retreat at the beginning of the year. A highlight of the year would have to include the hard work that all BB members put into creating an astonishing House Arts performance. Throughout House Arts Week, the BB girls showed us the true House spirit and we were very happy with the effort and energy that each girl put into completing BB House Arts events. Although the outcome was not what we wanted, we were both incredibly proud of everyone.

We could not have been more proud to call ourselves the 2025 Beaulieu Blair Co-Captains. This experience is one we will not forget.

Amelie Arnold and Harper Anderson

Beaulieu Blair Co-Captains

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Leading Davis in 2025 was such an honour. Thrown straight into the deep end with House Arts, we found ourselves navigating rehearsals, costume crises, and last-minute run-throughs. But in true Davis style, everyone rallied together. What seemed impossible the night before became one of our proudest moments and is proof of what this House can achieve when we back each other.

It has been a privilege to cheer on every Davis girl this year, whether competing on the athletics track, belting out lines in House Arts, or attending meetings to be a part of something bigger. We were especially proud to continue traditions like supporting the Fight MND Big Freeze, our bake sale and dunk tank, all of which reminded us of the power of community and compassion.

To every Davis girl who has shown up, joined in, or cheered from the sidelines, thank you. You have made this year unforgettable.

Leading alongside each other has been an honour.

Sophie Farrer and Ashleigh Jakobovits Davis Co-Captains

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To say Holmes Kilbride in 2025 was a tight-knit and spirited family is an understatement.

We kicked off the year with House Arts, and it immediately set the tone. The Year 12 students could not have asked for a better week, every HK girl brought energy, creativity, and humour to our production. We may have narrowly missed first place, but the real win was seeing every girl involved and enjoying the experience.

That same enthusiasm carried through every House event: Athletics, Cross-Country, Debating, and Public Speaking. No matter the result, HK girls showed up, gave their all, and cheered each other on. That’s what makes Holmes so special: our commitment to each other and to having fun along the way.

Our House meetings were also a highlight, bringing everyone together for games, laughs, and connection. They made us feel like more than a House; they made us feel like a Holmes.

A big thank you to our incredible Year 12 students for your leadership and support throughout the year. And to Ms Latimour, thank you for being the heart and soul of HK. Your guidance and care have meant the world to us.

It has been a true privilege to lead this House that we have loved every moment as your 2025 Holmes Kilbride Co-Captains.

Go Holmes!

Chamonix Stafford and Natalie Wang

Holmes Kilbride Co-Captains

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Leading Langley Templeton has been such an honour. It started off with a bang, with a win in House Swimming, ending a seven-year drought in one of the big four House Events. Momentum carried us forward, and the triumph continued with an incredible win in House Arts. The dedication, creativity, and collaboration shown by every Langley girl was nothing short of inspiring. That week was filled with vibrant energy –fun, laughter, the occasional tear, and above all, unwavering spirit. Seeing everyone come together, support one another, and give their all for the House was something truly special. It is a memory we will carry with us, and one that each girl can proudly say they were a part of.

The girls showed their skills and speed throughout House Cross-Country and Athletics; whilst we did not come away with the win, the unwavering support, cheers from the sidelines and unity shown in every moment showed exactly what Langley is all about.

Throughout the year our fortnightly House sessions have been filled with music, games, food and spirit. These sessions brightened everyone’s week and fostered connections between each girl. Our House spirit was strongest throughout the annual Easter egg raffle initiative to raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal.

We raised over $1,000, thanks to the efforts of every single girl in Langley.

Being able to lead a passionate, spirited group of girls has been one of the most rewarding experiences, and we will truly treasure the memories and connections that have been formed.

Annabel Calvert and Jess Sibly Langley-Templeton Co-Captains

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

This has been a significant year for St Catherine’s. Most notably, the arrival of the School’s 14th Principal, Ms Natalie Charles, heralds a new era. Ms Charles made an early impact with her vibrant and energetic personality, paired with an absolute passion for girls’ education. We know the School is in good hands and will continue to be widely regarded as one of the best in Australia.

The construction of the Music School gathered pace and became a visible sign that St Catherine’s is a school on the move. The introduction by Ms Charles of the unique and groundbreaking Ethical Leadership Program for our Year 9 students is already considered in education circles as something quite remarkable. The pilot program conducted at the beautiful ‘Narmbool’ sheep station outside Ballarat was hugely successful and lived up to our expectations by being true to our motto, ‘Nothing is Great, Unless it is Good’.

The year commenced with news that the Class of 2024 achieved the highest VCE results on record with a median ATAR of 95.3. This extraordinary result reflects the dedication and hard work done by students and teachers alike over many years, is testament to our school being one of academic excellence.

It was not just our academic program which excelled at the School. Our music program with signature events such as the Jazz Night and the Gala Concert were memorable for the showcase of talent. Our drama productions Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR. for the Middle years students, and A Monster Calls in the Senior Years were superb productions.

Our girls continued to compete well in the sporting sphere with grace and spirit. Of note, our Senior Rowers won the Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta, were State Champions and finished third at the Nationals in Tasmania. Quite an achievement and it enhanced our already strong and proud tradition of Rowing at St Catherine’s.

In other areas of the School whether it be Debating, Public Speaking, the various House Competitions and the multitude of service activities available, we saw the girls of St Catherine’s engaged, participating and embracing all the good things that life has to offer. A fine example was the now-annual ‘Big Freeze’ event held in July to support Fight MND research. This year’s event saw willing participants being auctioned to the highest bidder prior to being dunked into freezing cold water.

Near the end of Term 3 our prospective School leaders for 2026 were required to deliver speeches to the Senior School at a special Assembly. Each person spoke of the underlying goodness in the School and how we all have a part to play in that. Being kind, being respectful and showing gratitude were the themes that resonated in the School Hall. Our community at St Catherine’s is special, where every girl matters, where a sense of belonging and connection is felt. This is what it means to be a part of a School that is truly good.

Mr Robert Marshall Deputy Principal – Head of Senior School

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DEBATING & PUBLIC SPEAKING

This year, the Debating and Public Speaking Program at St Catherine’s has continued to thrive, being a space where girls found their voice, sharpened their thinking, and grew into confident, articulate young women. Across all year levels, the DAV Debating season brought with it not only critical thinking and late-night speech writing sessions, but also friendships, resilience, and the joy of winning.

This year has seen some incredible achievements. We experienced wins across a wide range of debating competitions, including the DAV Women’s Debate, the Bond University High School National Mooting Competition, and the Year 9-12 Interschool Senior DAV debates at Scotch College, with multiple best speakers across these competitions. The Junior Debating program for Year 7 and 8 students at St Kevin’s College continued to thrive, as well as our Year 7-12 House Debating Heats.

Further, in the Public Speaking sphere, St Catherine’s students continued to spark. We have had speakers compete in Rostrum, Rotary, VCAA, and the DAV Public Speaking competitions.

As the Debating and Public Speaking season came to an end, we were incredibly grateful for the memories, laughter and friendship shared through the Program. We encourage everyone to participate next year, as it provides an invaluable learning experience for students’ confidence, advocacy, and articulation.

Overall, it was an amazing year of achievement, collaboration, and discovery. Well done to each of and every student who contributed to the Debating and Public Speaking Program this year!

Isha

Paithankar and Celina Wang

Debating

and Public Speaking Co-Captains

ART & DESIGN

It has been an incredible honour to be the 2025 St Catherine’s School Art and Design Co-Captains.

We spent numerous hours in the Wiltondale studios, watching as the girls’ Art, VCD and Media pieces evolved. We loved getting to know everyone across different year levels.

As the Art and Design Co-Captains, we held Art and Design Club in the art studio. Our first project involved creating small collage prints out of magazines, exploring ways that patterns and colours of magazine paper can be used to create art pieces.

For our second project, students created their own clay Tic-Tac-Toe board and pieces, enabling them to learn new methods and improve their clay techniques.

The third and final project, students learnt how to create their own monogram using Adobe Illustrator, allowing them to learn the different tools that can be implemented into their VCD and Media class.

We greatly appreciate the time and effort of the Arts Faculty, in particular Mr Dyring, Mrs Marinelli and Ms Tran who assisted us each week in organising the Club. It would not have been possible without you.

We will definitely miss running Art and Design Club and being in the Wiltondale studios; nevertheless, we hope the next Co-Captains will have just as much fun, enjoyment and memorable experiences as we did.

Mietta

Jenkins and Matilda Talbot-Gibson Art and Design Co-Captains

SPORT

As the 2025 Sports Co-Captains, we reflect with immense pride and gratitude on a year of athletic achievement and School spirit. This year has been a testament to the dedication, resilience and camaraderie demonstrated by our girls across every level of sport.

Term 1 saw incredible levels of participation and achievement across GSV Sport. With record numbers in Tennis and Softball, and strong weekly performances in a range of sports, our teams showed real commitment and enthusiasm. Several teams qualified for finals, with some going on to win premierships, and our Diving team delivered outstanding results across all divisions. In Swimming, we returned to Division 1 for the first time since 2018 and achieved our best finish in GSV history, with 19 students qualifying for Finals Night. We also had a fantastic showing in the GSV Triathlon, where several teams placed in the Top 10 and students bravely took on the individual event. The return of Volleyball after more than 15 years, growing interest in new programs like Premier League Netball, made Term 1 one of growth, success and school spirit.

In Term 2, our students consistently showed up with eagerness and determination. With another strong season across Hockey, Netball, AFL, and Cross-Country, the athletes represented St Catherine’s with pride and passion. Their dedication, teamwork, and resilience were evident in every match and meet, making it a term to be proud of. Our Cross-Country team placed 5th overall in the GSV Preliminary competition, with many girls achieving personal bests, a true testament to their hard work and perseverance throughout the season.

Terms 3 and 4 continued to showcase the depth of talent and commitment in our sporting community, with outstanding results across the Athletics track, Soccer field, Badminton and Basketball courts, and Cricket pitch. Our students brought skill, determination, and team spirit to every competition, once again doing St Catherine’s proud.

It has been a privilege to witness the development of not only individual skill and performance, but also the unwavering sense of unity and spirit that defines St Catherine’s sporting culture.

Annabel Taylor and Stella Kiriakidis Sport Co-Captains

SPORT

AQUATICS

It has been a truly amazing year for the Aquatics community at St Catherine’s.

Our Diving team delivered an outstanding performance at the Division 2 GSV Championships, securing 4th place overall – a testament to the dedication and effort of our incredible divers.

Meanwhile, our superstar swimmers competed in Division 1 Championships, finishing an impressive 3rd overall. This marks the first time our Swimming team has made it to the 1st Division since 2018. From this competition, 19 students qualified for Finals Night, competing across 29 events. In a standout moment, our Year 7 Medley Relay of Victoria, Ivy, Kimberly and Mariella, set new GSV records! The hard work and effort paid off by achieving our most successful GSV Swimming result.

We are so proud of each girl who participated in St Catherine’s Aquatics this year. We would like to extend thanks to our Sports staff who also supported us throughout the season. A special thank you must go to our inspirational Head of Sports, Mr Nick Racina, for his unwavering support and guidance, and his contribution over the years. We wish him all the best for the future.

It has been a privilege to lead this group of amazing girls through the 2025 Swimming season. We can not wait to see what next year brings!

Annabel Taylor and Chloe Barber Aquatics Co-Captains

ROWING

We could not be more proud of all that the St Catherine’s Rowing squad achieved during the 2024/25 season. Each rower showed resilience, discipline and courage, both on and off the water, rising to personal and team bests.

From the early morning rows, lunchtime erg sessions, and intense gym training, we took on every challenge on every challenge with determination. This season, our rowers worked to lift the standard of St Catherine’s rowing once again, seen through race results as well as a team spirit that sets our School apart from the rest.

We extend a huge thank you to our coaches, whose guidance and belief have shaped us all. We are grateful for their commitment to the St Catherine’s program and to the rowers.

To those in the Rowing Squad, we were so proud of not just the big achievements, but also the small moments which added up to shape the legacy to St Catherine’s Rowing and built a undeniable bond between all squads.

We are so excited to see what the future of St Catherine’s Rowing will look like!

Catherine Ross and Milly Tulloch Co-Captains of Boats

SNOWSPORTS

As the snow begins to melt and the 2025 Snowsports season comes to an end, we reflect on what has been another spectacular season for our team. As always, our pale blue shone brightly at the House Sports Weekend, the Interschools Competition, and the Australian Championships. Our dedication to the sport was on display through the dryland training, the school holiday day camp, and the countless hours spent standing on the side of a hill cheering on our friends and teammates. Our sportsmanship highlights the true value of what it means to be a St Catherine’s girl.

Our season of competition began with the annual House Events weekend, bringing many old and new families together for the first time. Whilst House points and a win was the aim of the day, courage and perseverance was on display. The Interschool Championships saw us achieve many podium finishes both individually and as a team. The Australian Championships also brought some amazing results. Throughout the season our girls supported each other every step of the way, defining who we are as a team.

To our coaches and staff, in particular Miss Liv Cody and Mr Nick Brimacombe, we thank you for your endless support and encouragement. To our parents, we also thank you for supporting our journey and standing by our side.

As we say goodbye to our race suits and waxing regime, we wish you all the best in the years to come.

Catherine Ross and Ella Derbyshire Snowsports Co-Captains

Our Senior School Snowsports team enjoyed an amazing season. The level of dedication and enthusiasm was unmatched, and we were thrilled to see the strongest participation in years. The results at Victorian Interschools and Australian Nationals were a testament to our students thriving in the program. Mt Buller, always beautiful, gave our teams the gifts of crisp weather, glorious days, and many smiles.

As the season concludes, we congratulate our Division 3 (Years 7 and 8) students, unstoppable in their events and ended the season with nine podium finishes across Victorian Interschools and Nationals. In particular, the Division 3 Ski X team won the team event at Nationals, which is an extraordinary achievement. In what was our Year 12’s final Victorian Interschools, our Division 1 (Years 11 and 12) Alpine team also managed 1st place in Victorian Interschools Alpine.

Thank you to all families and students for their dedication and support, and to our wonderful Snow-sports Auxiliary, the heartbeat of the program.

Mr Nick Brimacombe Snowsports Coordinator

MUSIC

As the Instrumental and Choral Music Captains of 2025, we have had the privilege of leading and contributing to the St Catherine’s Music community. This role has been both demanding and rewarding, providing experiences and challenges that shaped and enhanced our musical abilities and our leadership skills.

One of our highlights was the Music Camp. The preparation and planning process, creating themes and trivia questions, were all memorable experiences. Saturday night’s dress-up event was a stand-out moment for everyone, including the teachers who dressed as iconic album covers. We had an amazing experience working with other Music Captains, students and staff at the camp. The sense of community and the shared passion for music made the camp truly unforgettable.

Another stand out event was Jazz Night. This event has become one of the most anticipated in the School calendar and this year was one of our biggest, with the standard of performances higher than ever. Many talented soloists, and some firsttime performers, were able to showcase what they worked on during classes. The Ensembles and Big Bands also had the opportunity to display their talents. It was a privilege to be able to work with and perform alongside the Music staff and students to create such a magical night.

We were thankful for the opportunities and personal growth this role offered, and give our heartfelt thanks to the entire Music Department. In particular, we thank Mr Blakiston as Head of Music, Ms Juliana Kay as Head of Choral, and Ms Denmead as the accompanist of so many choirs and soloists. Their unwavering support and guidance across the year has been invaluable in developing our leadership and music skills. We will always treasure this opportunity.

Chloe Barber and Jiayi (Amelia) Chen Music Co-Captains

DRAMA

Being Drama Captain was the highlight of my final year at St Catherine’s. It truly made my senior year so fulfilling and I am so grateful to have formed close bonds will my fellow Blue Ribbon-wearing thespians.

Drama Club Original Production (DCOP) 2025

I met with the Drama Club every two weeks, and it was a pleasure to see them grow as performers. They were always enthusiastic and excited to try out new acting exercises. In Term 3, we worked together to develop our own production for DCOP. It was rewarding to support the younger students as they explored and experimented with writing, designing and acting in our first original play.

A Monster Calls

Being in this year’s Senior School Play, A Monster Calls, was life-changing. Performing with talented and passionate actors created memories which will be hard to forget. Though the themes of this play were emotionally tolling, I felt supported by the people around me. This Production will always have a special place in my heart, and I will miss this cast and crew very much.

Out and About

As a Theatre Studies student, I got to experience many live performances with my classmates. As part of our curriculum, we went to see Love and Information and Kimberly Akimbo, both spectacular productions. It is always a treat to dive into every aspect of each play with the class and hear other people’s interpretations. We also had the incredible opportunity to take part in comedy and combat theatre workshops with Matthew Flinders Anglican College and their exceptional students.

It was my honour to take on the mantle of Drama Captain in 2025 and I am thrilled to have been able to help nurture the School’s future superstars.

Zhi Sin (Annabelle)

Goh

Drama Captain

SPIRIT & WELLBEING

Serving as Spirit and Wellbeing Captain has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my journey at St Catherines. From the very beginning, I felt both honoured and excited to take on a role that allowed me to contribute to our community’s strong sense of connection, encouragement, and support.

One of the most memorable parts of this role was observing how the smallest actions, such as being a positive presence, could have a real impact. Whether it was cheering at House events or collaborating during House Arts, the spirit of St Catherine’s truly shone through. It reminded me that creating a positive community does not rely on major events, but rather on the consistent, everyday interactions that bring people together.

The enthusiasm and kindness of the other students shaped this experience. Their willingness to participate, encourage one another, and bring energy was inspiring and uplifting.

This role also made me further cherish the positive culture that exists at our School, one where people genuinely look after one another and bring a smile to everything that they do. This year, I have developed a stronger appreciation for the importance of community and the joy that comes from working alongside others. I am incredibly grateful to have worked with dedicated student leaders, staff, and students throughout this experience.

Karis Chan Spirit & Wellbeing Captain

HUMAN RIGHTS

This year the Human Rights Club, Club aimed to raise awareness and take action to defend the rights of all people, both locally and globally.

Our Human Rights Wall showcased facts about key global issues, which sparked reflection and conversation across the School. The Dream and Reality Wall invited students to share their hopes for a better world and contrast them with present challenges – highlighting both injustice and optimism.

We also introduced the Human Rights Box, where students anonymously submitted their ideas for change. This initiative gave voice to those who often go unheard and deepened our understanding of issues within our own community.

We established a monthly Rights in Focus series, hosting student-led presentations on issues such as gender equality, racial justice, disability rights, and climate justice. These sessions provided a platform for students to develop their voice while encouraging respectful debate and collective learning.

We created an inclusive space where students could connect over shared values and take ownership of the change they want to see.

Hexuan (Helena) Zhou Human Rights Captain

Year 7 is a magical time full of new beginnings, discovery, exploration and wonder. This year, each student showed a willingness to be involved and developed their sense of belonging and connection with their peers and the wider community. It is a credit to their positive attitude, inclusiveness and openness to new things that they have had such a fun and fulfilling year.

Ms Skye Stansfield Head of Year 7

Year 7 is one of the best opportunities in school to try everything and find what you love. Students can find a club or class in any subjects or areas of interest. I have found a passion for Science, learning so much throughout year. These opportunities have opened my mind to what may be available to me in the future.

Alice Sklenar

Camp

So far, the Year 7 cohort has been on camp to Phillip Island. It was such an amazing experience, as we got to take part in a huge variety of activities, from surfing to visiting the famous penguins on the beach! This camp took place right at the beginning of the year, which was a great idea because it gave everyone the chance to get to know each other. Whether it was meeting someone new to the School or learning something you never knew about a close friend, the camp really helped bring our year level together.

Samara Grinsell

Co-curricular

Year 7 gave many amazing opportunities, although, my favourite would have to be the Middle Year Musical, Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical JR. It provided me with the chance to not only develop and learn new skills, but also to make friends with people from different year levels. It was such a wonderful space to be in as everyone was extremely supportive and excited to work as a team. The musical helped me grow in confidence and taught me to communicate with others in a more effective way. The teachers and directors have been incredibly encouraging, always pushing us to do our best while making rehearsals feel like a safe and joyful environment. I am truly grateful for this opportunity as I have made many memories and lifelong friendships that I will cherish forever.

Aimee Davenport

In my time in Year 7, I most enjoyed GSV Sports as it allowed me to connect with my friends while also learning a new sport. This year I have enjoyed Swimming, Softball, Hockey and Badminton. In GSV Swimming I represented St Catherine’s at the GSV Swimming Finals Night and came first with my team in the 4x50m freestyle relay.

Abigail Chan

Music at St Catherine’s has been a truly rewarding experience. Being involved helped me develop new skills, such as working as part of an ensemble and building confidence through performing. Taking part in events like the Gala Concert pushed me beyond my comfort zone, but made the experience even more enjoyable. I found that challenges made activities more engaging, and music felt like a world where anything was possible.

Isabella Yang

YEAR 8

The Class of 2029 were always on the move, seeking guidance, and reflecting on how they can grow as individuals who challenge themselves. In the Head of Year office, our conversations have been rich and varied: subject selection, logistics for the Learn to Row program, preparations for Music Camp and Gala, rehearsals for the Middle Years Musical, the 2026 Exchange Program, carving up the snow in our new St Catherine’s blue jackets, and of course, supporting one another through homework and positive study habits. The juggle was real, the programs diverse, and yet the structure of each day remained steady. As Head of Year, my approach continued to be clear, consistent, and offered warm, relatable guidance and daily connections.

For our Year 8 group, the message remained simple but powerful: prepare for school the night before. Lay out the uniform, organise learning materials, arrive on time, and most importantly, arrive ready to learn. Routine provided the anchor, structure offered the security, and within that, a calm and consistent environment reassured each student as they began their day. I hope that these lessons extended beyond the School gates into family dinner conversations: reflections on areas of growth in learning, interest in cocurricular opportunities, the pride of wearing our uniform, and the shared legacy of belonging to St Catherine’s.

‘You don’t need to be close friends with everyone, but you should always treat people with kindness.’

– Chloe Deane-Freeman, Zoe Katsambanis

‘Get it done today and save yourself the stress tomorrow.’

– Amelie Vains, Emma Hessell, Izabella Fox

‘Be brave and apply. Even if you don’t get it, the experience and lessons you learn about what to improve are just as valuable.’

– Ms Sam Basford

Ms Sam Basford

Head of Year 8

YEAR 9

Year 9 fostered capacity and agency in cognitive, social and emotional skills. Students made deeper connections, founded on the central intent of WeBelong and WeConnect.

As students felt valued within their School community, their overall sense of purpose was enhanced and contributed significantly to their emotional and psychological resilience. Year 9 included multiple opportunities for connection and belonging. These included elective and honours subjects, enrichment through cocurricular activities, exchange and travel opportunities, including the Leadership Diploma and Duke of Edinburgh Program, community engagement through volunteering, our innovative Ethical Leadership Program exploring character and values and, of course, our recent Far North Queensland Camp. All opportunities saw our Year 9 students develop the confidence and tools to step into a variety of arenas with poise, awareness, sensitivity, intelligence, kindness and clarity, becoming an essential springboard from which to launch into their success.

It was also a pleasure to work closely with the parent community. A special thank you to Lucy Cashmore, Lisa Yazbek and Dianne Martuccio for their continued work in the PFA and their supportive relationships with other parents, teachers and the community alike.

Ms

Kathryn Lucas

Head

of Year 9

Students when asked to describe Year 9 used words like: Fun, Knowledge, Enjoyable, Chaotic, Compact, Funny, Eventful, Memorable, Friendships, Nostalgia, Exciting, Opportunities, Interesting, Joyful, Full, Excelling, Adventure, Exhilarating, Travel, Experience.

‘Year 9 is special because it is a year of growth and transition, where I gain more independence and explore new opportunities. A highlight for me has been going on camp, which was a chance to bond with others and try new experiences, as well as discovering new subjects that challenged me and helped me find out what I enjoy most for future.’

Agness Huang

‘Year 9 is about building strong friendships. As the eldest of the Middle Years cohort, we spent time establishing and strengthening friendships. Our sense of togetherness makes us unique, and Year 9 is also very inclusive towards new students.’

Lucy Lim

YEAR 10

The Year 10 cohort of 2025 has embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, compassion, and a strong sense of community. This year was marked by achievements across academic, sporting, creative, and service pursuits, reflecting the diverse talents and interests of the group.

A standout contribution has been their fundraising efforts for important causes, including student-led initiatives such as Canteen Money for Canteen. Through these activities, students demonstrated social awareness, and empathy, highlighting the values they developed as individuals and as a collective.

The Wellbeing Camp in Marysville was a major highlight, offering students a chance to step away from routines and focus on personal growth and relationship-building. Over the camp, they connected on a deeper level, forming bonds that will carry them through their senior years. They also embraced new experiences, including learning to crochet, fostering creativity, patience, and a willingness to try new things.

Sport continued to be a vibrant part of Year 10 life, with students participating in a wide range of activities, from Rowing to GSV Hockey, Soccer, Athletics, Netball, and Water Polo. Through sport, they demonstrated teamwork, resilience, and school spirit, proudly representing St Catherine’s.

In the arts, the cohort left a strong impression through the Senior Play A Monster Calls, as well as musical events such as Jazz Night and the Gala Concert. Their creativity, dedication, and collaboration brought performances to life, andinspired audiences across the School community.

The i-WISH program provided another avenue for growth, allowing students to explore ways to bring STEM to the public. This initiative encouraged innovative thinking and strengthened the application of classroom learning to real-world contexts.

Throughout 2025, Year 10 students approached every challenge with curiosity and determination. Their readiness to embrace new experiences and support one another has been inspiring. We look forward to seeing the contributions they will make to their community and beyond.

Mrs

Kelly Brady

Head

of Year 10

YEAR 11

This has been a year of achievement and connection for our Year 11 cohort. As they stepped further into their senior years, the students balanced the demands of VCE with their many co-curricular passions, consistently displaying energy, resilience, and support for one another.

The year began with the Year 11 Wellbeing and Leadership Retreat at Iluka Retreat, Shoreham. Glamping by the coast offered a refreshing change of pace and an opportunity for students to reflect on their leadership styles and set a vision for the year ahead. Paddleboarding, yoga, and team activities allowed them to strengthen friendships while also building the skills needed to thrive as leaders within our community.

Sport has continued to be an area of excellence. The Rowing season was a highlight, with our First VIII achieving a memorable victory at the Head of the Schoolgirls’ Regatta and strong performances at Nationals. Beyond Rowing, students were actively involved across a wide range of GSV Sports and athletics, representing St Catherine’s with determination and pride.

Creativity has also shone brightly. Many Year 11 students played an important role in bringing the Senior Production A Monster Calls to life, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. Their musical talents were also on display at Jazz Night, the Concerto Concert, and numerous other events that highlighted the artistic depth within the cohort.

This year also saw Year 11 students develop significantly as leaders. Many embraced opportunities to contribute to the life of the School and applied for 2026 leadership positions, demonstrating a willingness to serve, inspire, and make a difference in the community.

Perhaps most impressive, however, has been the everyday culture within the year level. Whether preparing for SACs, supporting each other in study sessions, or winding down over discussions of The Summer I Turned Pretty, the students have created a positive, inclusive, and uplifting environment.

As they prepare for the final year, the Year 11 cohort can take confidence from their achievements in 2025 and look forward to making their mark as the leaders of the School in 2026.

Mr Clint Blennerhassett Head of Year 11

YEAR 12

Where does one begin to share the experience that has been the 2025 school year for Year 12 students? We have grown together both in the classroom, in the art studio, in our music rooms, in the pool, on the sporting field and on our beautiful grounds here at Heyington Place. Starting Year 7 in 2020, at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and having been educated online for the majority of their first two years at secondary school, the Class of 2025 have been extraordinary in their tenacity and capacity to push through challenges, to try their very best and to strive to be better every day. Led with energy and care by our 2025 School Co-Captains, Rachel Carton and Vinuki Ranatunga, our cohort stepped up and embraced the many opportunities that Year 12 offers.

Our school year began with a Parent-Daughter Breakfast in the Jamie and Rebecca Gray Theatre, where we came together to celebrate our scholars at the commencement of their VCE journey. That sunny morning held so much promise and indeed, we welcomed our new Principal, Ms Natalie Charles, with much excitement in the air. From the outset, we felt that 2025 would

be monumental in every way. Kindness and leadership were central to Leadership Conference which took place over the next two days in the hallowed halls of Ormond College. Then, the trajectory towards excellence was set, and the Class of 2025 forged ahead.

Whilst we can spend time here lauding the many victories and successes that inevitably accompanied this group, regardless of the arena, we appreciate and applaud the efforts of every single student in the year level. As we farewelled you on Speech Night, we thank you, again for your joy and passion for life.

In years to come, we will remember this cohort as the group who chose to ‘spark’ through their final year, seeking a sense of hope and promise in a world where their potential and talents shine.

Ms Vasiliki Spanos Head of Year 12

YEAR 12

YEAR 12

YEAR 12

YEAR 12

VALEDICTORY AWARDS

GOLD AWARDS

Exceptional Service to the School

Sophie Farrer

Vinuki Ranatunga

Natalie Wang

GENERAL AWARDS

Outstanding Service to the School

Rachel Carton

Asha D’Souza

Mietta Jenkins

Isha Paithankar

Catherine Ross

Jessica Sibly

Annabel Taylor

Emily Tulloch

Principal’s Award for Co-Captains of School

Rachel Carton

Vinuki Ranatunga

The Australian Defence Force Future Innovators Award

Aeryn Lee

The Australian Defence Force

Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award

Rachel Carton

The Ampol Best All Rounder Award

Sophie Farrer

The Parents’ and Friends’ Association Citizenship Award

Annabel Calvert

The Jeanie Hood Prize

Arabella Richardson

The Langley Family Memorial Award for a Boarder

Harper Anderson

Weng In (Caris) Ho

The Margaret Mulder Award for International Citizenship

Hexuan (Helena) Zhou

DARK BLUE AWARDS Awards for Academic Excellence

Jiayi (Amelia) Chen

Xiting (Christine) Chi

Lilly Fogarty

Hethushi Hapuarachchi

Ella Ingram

Ashleigh Jakobovits

Ching Yan (Jade) Kam

Jiaqi (Amy) Liu

Isha Paithankar

Vinuki Ranatunga

Arabella Richardson

Annabel Taylor

Celina Wang

Natalie Wang

The Sue Bell Humanities Prize

Celina Wang

LIGHT BLUE AWARDS

Performance in Debating

Rachel Carton

Sophie Farrer

Isha Paithankar

Vinuki Ranatunga

Performance in Public Speaking

Sophie Farrer

Performance in Music

Chloe Barber

Performance in Rowing

Rachel Carton

Emma Hibbins

Sophia Perton

Catherine Ross

Performance in Swimming

Annabel Taylor

Performance in Snowsports

Catherine Ross

Chamonix Stafford

Performance in Drama

Zhi Sin (Annabelle) Goh

CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS

The Margaret Woodlock Award for Outstanding Sporting Achievement

Annabel Taylor

The Sports Auxiliary Sports Citizenship Award

Harper Anderson

The Catherine-Nellijke

Verstoep-Hilford Drama Prize

Zhi Sin (Annabelle) Goh

Music Citizenship Award

Chloe Barber

Sofya Vainer School Pianist Award

Jiayi (Amelia) Chen

St Catherine’s School

Debating Award

Vinuki Ranatunga

Sophie Borland Memorial Award for Public Speaking

Sophie Farrer

CO-CURRICULAR COLOURS

Debating Full Colours

Rachel Carton

Sophie Farrer

Isha Paithankar

Vinuki Ranatunga

Debating Half Colours

Asha D’Souza

Hethushi Hapuarachchi

Debating Contribution Colours

Rachel Carton

Karis Chan

Xiting (Christine) Chi

Asha D’Souza

Sophie Farrer

Hethushi Hapuarachchi

Weng In (Caris) Ho

Aeyrn Lee

Isha Paithankar

Vinuki Ranatunga

Celina Wang

Natalie Wang

Drama Performance Full Colours

Zhi Sin (Annabelle) Goh

Drama Production

Contribution Colours

Grace McLaughlin

Music Full Colours

Chloe Barber

Asha D’Souza

Music Half Colours

Jiayi (Amelia) Chen

Jiaqi (Amy) Liu

Grace McLaughlin

Vinuki Ranatunga

Selina Yao

Wanjia (Joy) Zhang

Music Contribution Colours

Chloe Barber

Asha D’Souza

Jiaqi (Amy) Liu

Grace McLaughlin

Vinuki Ranatunga

Celina Wang

Wanjia (Joy) Zhang

Public Speaking Half Colours

Sophie Farrer

Public Speaking Contribution

Colours

Sophie Farrer

Weng In (Caris) Ho

Service Colours

Rachel Carton

Sophie Farrer

Lilly Fogarty

Emma Hibbins

Vinuki Ranatunga

Arabella Richardson

Catherine Ross

Jessica Sibly

Emily Tulloch

Natalie Wang

Sports Full Colours

Rachel Carton – Rowing

Emma Hibbins – Rowing

Zahra Hoban – Rowing

Sophia Perton – Rowing

Catherine Ross – Rowing, Snowsports

Chamonix Stafford – Snowsports

Annabel Taylor – Swimming

Sports Half Colours

Harper Anderson – Athletics

Amelie Arnold – Tennis

Chloe Barber – Rowing

Annabel Calvert – Tennis

Emily Cameron – Tennis

Asha D’Souza – Tennis

Sophie Farrer – Rowing

Meli Gelbart – Tennis

Jemima Heughan – Tennis

Emma Hibbins – Triathlon, Hockey

Samantha Hine – Rowing

Phoebe Lock – Tennis

Poppy Maling – Tennis

Grace McLaughlin – Rowing

Isabelle Monahan – Hockey

Arabella Richardson – Tennis

Catherine Ross – Hockey

Harriet Syme – Tennis, Hockey

Annabel Taylor – Triathlon, Hockey, Swimming

Emily Tulloch – Rowing, Triathlon, Hockey

Celina Wang – Tennis

Sports Contribution Colours

Harper Anderson

Sophie Farrer

Hethushi Hapuarachchi

Emma Hibbins

Sophie Knight

Sophia Perton

Catherine Ross

Jessica Sibly

Annabel Taylor

Emily Tulloch

Natalie Wang

Visual Arts Contribution

Colours

Mietta Jenkins

School Colours

Sophie Farrer

Vinuki Ranatunga

Natalie Wang

House Colours

Harper Anderson

Amelie Arnold

Chloe Barber

Sasha Bindley

Annabel Calvert

Emily Cameron

Rachel Carton

Karis Chan

Xiting (Christine) Chi

Ivy Cockerell

Ella Derbyshire

Mackenzie Doyle

Asha D’Souza

Jennifer Evans

Sophie Farrer

Lilly Fogarty

Kenzie Forsyth

Callista Galanopoulos

Mali Gelbart

Hethushi Hapuarachichi

Emma Hibbins

Samantha Hine

Weng In (Caris) Ho

Zahra Hoban

Saachi Hogerhorst

Ella Ingram

Ashleigh Jakobovits

Mietta Jenkins

Helen Karas

Stella Kiriakidis

Sophie Knight

Aeryn Lee

Charlotte Leeton Watts

Jiaqi (Amy) Liu

Phoebe Lock

Millicent Mailer

Poppy Maling

Grace McLaughlin

Isabelle Monahan

Ella McMahon

Martha Officer

Isha Paithankar

Sophia Perton

Sophie Powell

Alison Prendergast

Vinuki Ranatunga

Arabella Richardson

Catherine Ross

Jessica Sibly

Chamonix Stafford

Harriet Syme

Matilda Talbot-Gibson

Annabel Taylor

Emily Tulloch

Celina Wang

Natalie Wang

Selina Yao

Yichen (Lydia) Zhang

CURRENT STUDENTS OF OLD GIRLS

Child

Mother Grandmother Great Grandmother

Clementine Abbott Anna Nieuwenhuysen (’91)

Camilla Aberdeen Nina Kirby (’94)

Maya Anagnostopoulos Melissa Meredith-Smith (’85)

Fleur Angenent Emma Stanley (’97) Susan Connor (’61)

Archie Baillieu Victoria Myer (’08) Gillian Woods (’72) Pamela Sallman (’44)

Olive BreakwellSmith Jessica Breakwell (’93)

Charlotte Bell Sue Catchlove (’59)

Annabel Calvert Fleur McKay (’94) Sarah Baillieu (’68) Margaret Cox (’35)

Clara Calvert Fleur McKay (’94) Sarah Baillieu (’68) Margaret Cox (’35)

Nina Calvert Fleur McKay (’94) Sarah Baillieu (’68) Margaret Cox (’35)

Violetta Capanni Anna Foley (’92)

Poppy Cashmore Lucy Olsen (’97)

Ruby Cashmore Lucy Olsen (’97)

Holly Catchlove Elizabeth Woodruff (’06)

Pernilla Coleman Kirsty Gilmour (’86)

Madeleine de Fina-Nash Geraldine de Fina (’89)

Ella Derbyshire Amanda Barrett (’89)

Alice Dobbin Fiona Goldstraw (‘90)

Willow Douglas Elizabeth Gillon (’67)

Ebony Elshaug Sarah Moffatt (’93) Betty Journeaux (’30)

Jessica Elshaug Sarah Moffatt (’93) Betty Journeaux (’30)

Amelia Esposito Suzanne Davies (’91)

Holly Farrer Susie Cook (’93)

Sophie Farrer Susie Cook (’93)

Rosie Fink Viva Tremayne (’96)

Arabella Foote Sarah Scambler (’93) Margaret Drummond (’62)

Isabella Fox Lauren Hewitt (’96)

Miranda Gardiner Michelle Robertson (’94)

Giselle Gill Maree Rutledge (’91)

Elle Goorjian-Taft Gemma Goorjian (’02)

Anoushka Graham Sophie McSweeney (’93)

Madison Grey Georgina McConnell (’88) Margaret Lemmon (’61)

Mini Gronow Brett Gronow (Old Boy ’95)

Pearl Gunnersen Annabelle Peters (’99) & Thomas Gunnerson (Old Boy ’99)

Olivia Harris Annabel Ballantyne (’07) Samantha Pratten (’79) Jill Markby (’53)

Tania Hay Sophia Canet (’00)

Imogen Herron Prue Lording (’96)

Child Mother Grandmother Great Grandmother

Chloe Hessell Amy Lawford (’01) Sarah Wilson (’73) Ethne

Emma Hessell Amy Lawford (’01) Sarah Wilson (’73) Ethne Hartnett (’49)

Zahra Hoban Minnie Law (’83)

Colette Hooper Skye Dixon (’05)

Amelia Hyams Ann Pisterman (’64)

Isabella Jamieson Emily Stephen-Daly (’98)

Lily Jamieson Emily Stephen-Daly (’98)

Juliette Ji U-Fhern Chang (’03)

Mimi Johnstone Sally Neate (’92)

Sophie Jones Katie Bartley (’00)

Lucy Kennedy Georgina Field (’96)

Ava Kerr Amanda Nickson (’06)

Rob Kimpton Xenia Hammon (’01) Barbara Boynton (’73) Jill Warnock (’46)

Charlie Krumins Elizabeth Fry (’02)

Evie Joseph Jonathan Joseph (Old Boy ’95) Louise Strauss (’62) Shirley Ellinson (’42)

Sophie Knight Constance Vanston (’22)

Amelie Lane Lisa Tarasio (95)

Ilaria Lane Lisa Tarasio (95)

Mackenzie Lee Leila Anderson (’03) Julia McKinley-Wilson (’69)

Sophie Lovell Sarah Leahey (’82)

Lucienne Lovett Amity Jarvis (’97)

Arabella Lutz Rebecca Paranthoiene (’97) Robin Richards (’74) Jill Sargood (’48)

Coco Lutz Rebecca Paranthoiene (’97) Robin Richards (’74) Jill Sargood (’48)

Poppy Maling Jean Cameron (’49)

Camilla McCarthy Chloe Planinsek (’97)

Cleo McComas Phoebe Hammon (’04) Barbara Boynton (’73) Jill Warnock (’46)

Zoe McComas Phoebe Hammon (’04) Barbara Boynton (’73) Jill Warnock (’46)

Skye McIntosh Kate Correll (87) Brenda Pulling (’49) Phyllis Rowell (’31)

Piper McInnes Lisa Kelly (’92)

Sophia McKinnon Anna Tracy (’87)

Chloe McMahon Caroline Morgan (’95)

Ella McMahon Caroline Morgan (’95)

Charlotte McNaughton Anastasia McNamara (’07) Victoria Dowd (’77)

Phoebe Messum Catherine Stoney (’97)

Willow Moore Camilla Fox (’11)

Maxi Moore Camilla Fox (’11)

Charlotte Morris Claire Simm (’97)

Lucinda Morris Claire Simm (’97)

Missy Mort

Zara Mort Jill Tolley (’44)

CURRENT STUDENTS OF OLD GIRLS

Child Mother Grandmother Great Grandmother

Aria Nguyen Amy Burr (’03)

Mikayla Pajouhesh Victoria Guin (’90)

Charlie Paranthoiene Charlotte Holberton (’05) Robin Richards (’74) Jill Sargood (’48)

Emma Peele Elizabeth Gillon (’67)

India Peters Melissa Kavals (’00)

Mark Peters (Old Boy ’94)

Alexandra Pitt Fleur Forsyth (’99) Patricia Loveless (’66)

Hollie Pringle Marnie Ross (’92) Victoria Jacobson (’65)

Willow Rice Sophie Pelman (’97) Richard Rice (Old Boy ’88)

Ellie Rodski Maggie Harrison (‘99) Jane Morris (’71) Julie Davey (’51)

Anna Shears Penny Roysmith (’81) Betty Shields (’51)

Jessica Sibly Lucinda Langdon (’88) Janet James (’58)

Ava Silk Annabelle Sizeland (’07) Amanda Hopkins ('77) Wendy Edwards (’48)

Isabella Soutter James Soutter (Old Boy ’92) Prue Macnaughtan (’62)

Violet Stephens Emma Millis (’89)

Lily-Belle Stephens Emma Millis (’89)

Rosette Stephens Emma Millis (’89)

Elizabeth Switkowski Georgina Hinton (’99)

Henri Switkowski Georgina Hinton (’99)

SALVETE

Emma Angelis

Annabel Archer

Philippa Pip Ashby

Darya Ashktorab

Eloise Avery

Phoebe Barton

Harper Benski

Ivy Benski

Alexandra Bevan

Alice Bingham

Emily Bingham

Sahra Blumenthal

Madeleine Maddy

Brunton

Daanika Butt

Kaanzah Butt

Leticia Campos

Holly Catchlove

Wilhelmina Minnie

Champion de Crespigny

Alistair Chen

Wing Zoe Chiu

Molly Cozean

Ivy Craig

Florence Cramond

Clementine Crowe

Amelia Dadon

Maeve Danda

Victoria Dang

Janhvi Das

Elizabeth Davis

Clementine Dee

Mia Deng

Gabriella Dixon

Yichen Sky Du

Henrietta Hettie Dunn

Abigail Abby Effeney

Amelie Favaloro

Rosie Fink

Madeline Goh

Piper Goodfellow

Sophia Greig

Ai Xuan Stephanie Gu

Weiqi Wendy Guan

Isabella Haddad

Aleksandra Sasha Harris

Yu Hedy He

Rumi Hickmott

Camilla Hindhaugh

Adelaide Holland

Colette Hooper

Isabella Hu

Child Mother Grandmother Great Grandmother

Harriet Syme Angela Tait (’59)

Annabel Taylor Melissa Sweetland (’86)

Camilla Thomas Julia Hammon (’00) Barbara Boynton (’73) Jill Warnock (’46)

Charlotte Thompson Margaret Peterson (’30)

Isobel Thompson Margaret Peterson (’30)

Ander Thomas Amelia Jalland (’02)

Coco Thomas Ineke Hay (’98)

Mirabelle Thomson Rebecca Jockel (’98)

Charlotte Tiller-Smyth Justine Tiller (’90)

Natalie Tran Ling Ling Fung (’10)

Camilla Tulloch Jacki Palmer (’97) Mary Calvert (’38) Beth Paxton (’34)

Giselle Upton Lisa Hinrichsen (’83) Jill Smith (’55)

Mia Upton Lisa Hinrichsen (’83) Jill Smith (’55)

Lily Van der Venne Susannah Guy (’96)

Pippa Van der Venne

Max West Liz Sahhar (’96)

Sophia West Liz Sahhar (’96)

Suzanne Holden (’50)

Suzanne Holden (’50)

Coco Williams Jean Weatherly (’29)

Inneke Wright Alana Moore (’93)

Zhiyu Esther Hu

Zimo Felicia Huang

Greta Ip

Xinyu Yuki Jiang

Sophie Jones

Chloe Jreissati-Davaris

Sebastian Kairouz

Persia Kartel

Isabel Kimpton

An-Jie Angelina Ko

Yi Jing Karen Kuang

Jocelyn Lam

Julie Lam

Ka Yee Audrey Lau

Lok Yee Ella Lau

Kloe Law

Natalie Law

Mang Kei Mavis Lee

Yingyu Victoria Liao

Lucy Shi-Ling Lucy Lim

Meishuo Olivia Liu

Lucienne Lovett

WanTong Mia Luo

Arabella Lutz

Sze Hang Cheryl Ma

Anisha Magennis

Amelia Man

Alessandra Ally Mariani

Arabella Marmur

Madeline Martin

Matilda Martin

Camilla McCarthy

Lachlan McLeod

Vincent Vince McMillan

Elizabeth MikkelssonPlain

Pippa Miller

Grace Moolman

Imogen Murphy

Sophia Nachmias

Yihan Mia Peng

India Peters

Beatrice Quilty Suffield

Mia Quinn

Nalanda Nala Rayleigh

Foxx Robertson

Jade Robertson

Hailey Rodrigo

Amira Roe

Olivia Rosham

Anja Russ

Saavya Saggar

Camilla Sahhar

Charlotte Salt

Chloe Santosa

Celine Shadroo

Era Shah

Violet Sheldrick

Frances Junxi Frances

Sheng

Yuyao Chloe Shi

Alice Sklenar

Indira Smith

Charlotte Sprott

Tia Stefanovic

Zara Stevens

Yiming Julie Sun

Rynn Tanthuwanit

Amelie Te

Miya Te

Aurelio Tognon

Natalie Tran

Andrew Tsoi

Qian Wen Amabella

Amabella Tsui

Alia Van Aalst

Ellie Vega

Iva Vickers

Ellie Wang

Evelyn Wang

Gianna Wang

Xiaomo Adele Wang

Persia Wells

Clementine Widdup

Claire Wong

Cheuk Lam Kadie Kadie

Wu

Liona Wu

Qiaoxi Rita Wu

Yukina Wu

Oliver Wyles

Baien Waah Xu

Yi Wen Eva Xu

Leya Yang

Eycie Yuan

Yujun Nicole Yun

Chenxian Melody Zhang

Yuyang Shelley Zhou

Hengyue Julia Zhu

Yujin Sofia Zhu

ST CATHERINE’S COMMUNITY GROUPS

ST CATHERINE’S OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION

This year we have seen a myriad of celebrations, and a new chapter for our entire community, welcoming St Catherine’s 14th Principal, Ms Natalie Charles. Whilst the School has a new rhythm, so too does SCOGA. These chapters are rarely linear and SCOGA has embraced the shift in pace, vision and pathway for St Catherine’s and its future.

The committee has been toiling diligently to create opportunities for Old Girls to connect and whether it was catching up with friends at the reunion, attending one of the glorious musical performances at the School or more recently, attending the Spring Drinks at Kay & Burton, celebrating our community and including those newly joined has always been a key driver for what we create.

In the calendar, October is when SCOGA is graced with new graduates and this year we celebrated with the students in their final assembly. A new tradition, created by Ms Natalie Charles, Principal, where SCOGA joined the final Year 12 Assembly and gifted the students with a silver necklace with SCOGA and their final year date engraved on the back.

This moment became an opportunity to welcome them, to share and explore in the potential of 7000 Old Girls, dispersed all over the world, which may not sound like a large number, however when these SCOGA women connect, empower, collaborate with those around them, their capacity to affect change in the world becomes a reality.

Whilst we know this position is a privilege, it is never lost on our members that as past students, we stand on the shoulders of giants, women before us who have paved the way for these future opportunities for old girls.

The address given to the Year 12s is an offering for all SCOGA members as the year draws to a close, may you continue to be guided by the School's Motto Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum, to walk the path of what is good and true, and be open to those ‘everyday’ moments, as it is within these moments of good, where greatness can lay its roots.

Ms Anna Foley (’92) President, St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association

PAST PARENTS' AND FAMILIES' NETWORK

As you know, at St Catherine’s, our community spirit extends far beyond the classroom, and I am continually reminded of the special role our past parents play in keeping that spirit alive.

As President of the Past Parents’ Auxiliary, it is a privilege to see firsthand how friendships, connections, and shared experiences continue to flourish long after our daughters have graduated.

Membership of our Past Parents’ group is automatic for all families once their daughter has completed her studies at St Catherine’s. This means no matter when you joined our community, you will always have a place here. The Auxiliary exists to ensure those bonds endure, offering a warm and welcoming way for parents to keep a connection with one another and with the School itself.

We hold a series of informal Year Level reunions that we help to coordinate. These gatherings, generously hosted in the homes of past parents, are always relaxed, free of charge, and organised on a simple ‘bring a plate or a bottle’ basis. They are wonderful occasions to catch up, share stories, and reflect on the many memories that connect us to St Catherine’s. In 2025, every year level for the past 10 years out held a gathering.

Beyond these reunions, the Auxiliary is committed to fostering a sense of belonging for all past parents. Whether it has been a short time since your daughter left the School or many years, we hope you will continue to feel part of the broader St Catherine’s family. Your involvement ensures that our community remains strong, vibrant, and connected across generations.

Next year, 2026, we will once again be holding our all-years reunion gathering. This will be held in March, so please look out for further details.

On behalf of the Past Parents’ Auxiliary, I warmly encourage you to join us at our events and to stay engaged with the friends you’ve made during your time at the school. Together, we celebrate not only our daughters’ journeys but also the enduring friendships and community spirit that make St Catherine’s such a special place.

Mr Scott Reinke Chair, Past Parents’ and Friends’ Network

ST CATHERINE'S SCHOOL FOUNDATION

St Catherine’s School Foundation continues to support our young women of the future through the generosity and vision of our giving community. In 2025, the Foundation delivered a variety of philanthropic opportunities through our Scholarship, Bequest, Library and Building Programs. Every gift makes a lasting impact, helping ensure that each student can learn, grow and thrive within an environment defined by excellence and care.

This year marked a milestone in the life of our School with the commencement of the most ambitious capital works program undertaken in the past decade. The creation of the Music School, the redevelopment of the Wintergarden and Frank Osborn buildings are extraordinary projects that will enrich every student’s experience. These dynamic new spaces are designed to inspire creativity, encourage collaboration and a strong sense of belonging, reflecting our shared belief in the power of education to transform lives.

The impact of these works extends far beyond buildings. They remind us that education is the most important investment any family can make. As one parent recently shared, ‘If education fails, all other investments lose their meaning.’ By providing our students with outstanding facilities, we are not only enhancing their learning today but also equipping them with the skills, confidence and values to embrace the future with courage and purpose.

I wish to express heartfelt gratitude to all who have already contributed to the Music Matters Campaign. Together, we have raised just over $2.4 million, an inspiring achievement. Yet, there is still more to be done. Your continued philanthropic support is essential in helping us reach our $5 million target and realise these world-class learning spaces. Every donation, large or small, brings us closer to creating a legacy that will inspire generations of St Catherine’s women to discover their voices, share their gifts and lead with strength and confidence.

On behalf of the Foundation, thank you for joining us on this journey. Your generosity and belief in our mission is helping to shape the future of St Catherine’s, leaving a lasting impact on every student who walks through the gates. Together, we are creating more than facilities, we are building futures.

Ms Sally Joubert Chair, St

Catherine’s School Foundation

PARENTS’ AND FRIENDS' ASSOCIATION

The PFA have hosted a number of events this year, each with the purpose of building connection within our community and helping to raise funds for School projects.

The year began with the much-loved Junior School Twilight Picnic, held on the Barbreck grounds. This year included a cake-baking competition, which provided the opportunity for many Barbreck students to showcase their creativity and baking skills.

The Mothers' Day Breakfast featured Alumni speaker Celia Cody (’19), and the Fathers' Day Breakfast hosted a fantastic panel of St Catherine’s dads sharing stories from their diverse professions and perspectives on fatherhood. The Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day stalls are a treasured school tradition and are always very well supported by both Junior School and Senior School girls.

The Ruth Langley Lunch was a sell-out event this year held at the picturesque Quat Quatta in Ripponlea. Guests were treated to an inspiring conversation between Old Girls and sisters, Anna Robertson (Lally ’88) and Genevieve Brammel (Lally ‘89), who reflected on their time in the Boarding House and how St Catherine’s helped shape their esteemed careers. The School Viva Voci choir and string quartet added to the atmosphere with beautiful musical performances. The event raised close to $40,000 for the School through the Mystery Envelope Fundraiser and Live Auction items, which was an incredible achievement.

The Christmas Fair remained a highlight of the year, bringing the entire community together for a night of fun, celebration, and connection.

Special mention to the role of the PFA Second Hand Uniform Shop in supporting the School community. Not only does this service provide a cost-saving alternative to purchasing new uniforms and encouraging sustainable practices, all funds raised through the sale of second hand uniforms and textbooks are reinvested to support School projects. This year, the PFA Second Hand Uniform Shop pledged $100,000 to the Music School development. This achievement would not be possible without the generous donations from families and the invaluable contribution of our dedicated volunteers.

The PFA also provided $10,000 worth of kitchen equipment for the boarders at Illawarra House, and contributed $50,000 for the ongoing support of the Sports Centre.

We would like to extend special appreciation to outgoing PFA committee members, Year 12 parents Angelina Barber and Michaela Kiriakidis. Many thanks for your years of service on the PFA. Thank you also to our current PFA Committee members, Class Representatives, and all the volunteers who have generously given their time and energy throughout 2025. The achievements of the PFA would not have been possible without your involvement.

Mrs Camilla Byrne and Mrs Lisa Yazbek Co-Presidents, Parents’ and Friends’ Association

HEYINGTON CLUB

The St Catherine’s auxiliary for Rowing, the Heyington Club, continues to support our rowers with an active series of events from Term 3 to the end of Term 1. This intense commitment requires many contributors and this year we had an enthusiastic committee of 14 led by Co-Presidents Megan Peat and Andrew Tulloch, Treasurer James Ross and Secretary Sarah Ross.

The season launch took place at Mercantile Rowing Club with a great event for all 97 girls and their families. It was a joy to christen a new scull and bittersweet to farewell Deputy Principal Gina Peele who was involved with the St Catherine’s Rowing Program for over 20 years.

The highlight of the Heyington Club program was the first ever St Catherine’s Rowing regatta, hosted on the Barwon River for Year 9 and Year 10 rowers from 24 schools. As Regatta hosts, the Heyington Club was responsible for liaising with Rowing Victoria and providing volunteers for a range of tasks such as timekeeping, the race registration desk, safety officials and car park marshals. In addition, the Heyington Club had the rights to provide all food tents at the Regatta.

The Heyington Club committee planned the event for three months, and 72 rowing parents volunteered for shifts. We were delighted to be supported by new Principal Natalie Charles who at the end of her first week at the School stayed all day to officiate the medal presentations. Although the St Catherine’s senior crews were not competing in the Regatta, the senior girls travelled to Geelong for an early training row on the Barwon River, and afterwards supported our junior crews as they set out for their races.

Other Heyington Club events included the crew presentation BBQ at the School in Term 1, the annual Parents' Dinner in Barwon Heads during the three-day Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta, the St Catherine’s marquee on the banks of the Barwon River during the Regatta, and the End of Season presentation night at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club.

The Heyington Club plays an important role in providing memorable events for our rowers, fostering goodwill and engagement amongst the parent community, and fundraising for rowing boats and equipment. We thank the 2024/25 committee for their contribution to this tradition and wish the Heyington Club continued success in 2025/26 under the leadership of President Scott Favaloro and Vice President Amy Hessell.

Mr Andrew Tulloch and Mrs Megan Peat Co-Presidents, Heyington Club

CREATIVE ARTS AUXILARY

The Creative Arts remain a cornerstone of life at St Catherine’s, nurturing imagination, discipline, and confidence across Drama, Music, and the Visual Arts. The Creative Arts Auxiliary (CAA) is proud to support and celebrate the rich creative life of the School, advocating for the arts while fostering community through our activities. In collaboration with staff, parents, and Old Girls, we continue to sustain opportunities for students to discover their artistic voices and talents.

The Drama and Performing Arts Department, under the leadership of Mr James Brown and in collaboration with Mr Francis Blakiston, Ms Kathryn Lucas, Ms Lucy Mason, and Mrs Kristen Hanafie, provided an inspiring program. This year’s productions, A Monster Calls and The Little Mermaid JR., showcased the talent, courage, and creativity of our students, offering audiences deeply moving and joyous performances. The Middle Years musical, Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical JR., similarly was another outstanding production. The dedication of staff and students ensured each performance not only entertained but also built teamwork, resilience, and artistic confidence.

The Music Department, directed by Mr Francis Blakiston, continued to enrich the School community with a vibrant program of rehearsals, concerts, and events. Jazz Night was a highlight, bringing together musicians, families, and friends to celebrate student artistry. Preparation for the Gala at the Melbourne Recital Centre included intensive rehearsals at Music Camp, a much-loved tradition. The Gala showcased the exceptional talent of our musicians and reaffirm Music’s central place in School life.

The Art Department, led by Mrs Vicki Marinelli, remained a canvas for expression and growth. The annual VCE Arts Show was a culmination of vision, skill, and creativity, and a proud moment for both artists and their families.

Fundraising efforts this year focused on the new Music School, with generous contributions already making an impact. Looking ahead, the Auxiliary will launch a Piano Fundraising Drive into 2026 to further equip this space with instruments of the highest quality.

Through the commitment of staff, parents, students, and community members, the Creative Arts flourished at St Catherine’s, enriching every corner of our School.

Mrs Irene Karas President, Creative Arts Auxiliary

SNOWSPORTS AUXILIARY

As I write, the 2025 Ski season is slowly coming to an end. Whilst there is still snow on Mount Buller, the apple tree blossoms in the Delatite valley are blooming and our St Catherine’s snow families are returning to life in the city. At our place, we have packed away the gorgeous new light blue St Catherine’s Snowsports jackets until next season and have put aside our outgrown items to sell at the Snowsports Swap next year.

It was another incredible winter for our St Catherine’s Snowsports team. In late July, over 75 St Catherine’s girls from Prep to Year 12 participated in our annual House Snowsports Weekend. Their enthusiasm for skiing with their friends translated to a highly successful team of 55 athletes who competed in the Victorian Interschools Snowsports Championships, and a further 32 girls who represented St Catherine’s at the National Championships at Mount Buller. Our Barbreck girls retained the Victorian State Championship title and our Senior Team were a strong fourth in an extremely competitive field. Both teams ranked in the Top 5 nationally. Congratulations to every girl who represented their House or St Catherine’s this winter – we are so very proud of you all. Off the snow, we enjoyed an action packed pre-season that included an ice skating social for our junior girls, a delightful and well attended cocktail party hosted by Julia and James Soutter, and our Annual Snowsports Swap. The 2025 Swap, held for the first time in the cavernous St Catherine’s underground carpark was a tremendous success. We are very grateful for our incredible community who volunteered their time to make this event possible.

This level of participation and engagement would not be possible without the support of our amazing St Catherine’s staff and Old Girls. We are deeply grateful for the hard work of Meredith Taylor, Liv Cody and Nick Brimacombe, whose combined wisdom and energy drove the success of our Snowsports program in 2025. Further thanks to our amazing teachers and Old Girls who travelled to Mount Buller across the season to help keep our girls safe and happy on the mountain.

Finally, Julia and I would like to express our gratitude to every member of the Snowsports Auxiliary, for all their hard work this season.

Mrs Georgina Switkowski (Hinton ’99) and Mrs Julia Soutter Co-Chairs, Snowsports Auxiliary

SPORTS AUXILIARY

The St Catherine’s Sports Auxiliary proudly recognises and celebrates the effort, participation, and excellence of our girls in sport.

Comprising senior school parents from Years 7-12, the committee volunteers its time to organise and support all House and GSV sporting events throughout the year.

This year’s calendar was filled with exciting events and outstanding results. Term 1 opened with the Junior and Senior House Cross-Country, with the committee providing fresh fruit and icy poles for participants. Results from this event determined the Cross-Country Squad for Term 2 Interschool competition. The squad trained diligently, with their commitment rewarded through excellent personal and team performances.

The annual Huntingtower-Heyington Cup Football match against Lauriston, held at St Kevin’s College oval, was once again a highlight. While the scoreboard was not in our favour, our School spirit shone, supported by students, families, staff, and the Auxiliary, who kept the team fuelled with fruit and lollies.

Term 3 focused on House and Interschool Athletics, another strong season for St Catherine’s competitors. Their dedication and achievements shone through all events.

The annual Celebration of Sport in the first week of Term 4 was a social evening around the Clocktower with drinks and canapés. We were honoured to host Ms Tess Lloyd Oly as keynote speaker, sharing her inspiring sporting journey with our community. The evening concluded with the presentation of Sports Awards, recognising the achievements of our GSV athletes.

Finally, the committee wishes to acknowledge the remarkable contribution of Meredith Taylor. Her dedication, commitment, and generous support of the Sports Auxiliary are deeply appreciated.

Mrs Maryann Jesudason & Mrs Marnie Pringle Co-Presidents, Sports Auxiliary

SCHOOL COUNCIL OFFICE BEARERS 2025

Chair

Ms Jane Hodder, BA (Hons), LLB, GAICD

Deputy Chair

Ms Becky Hyde, BA

Hon. Treasurer

Mr Peter Marriott, BEc (Hons) Monash, FCA

Council Members (in addition to Office Bearers)

Mrs Nina Aberdeen (Kirby ’94) BCom/BA, LLM (LP), GAICD

Ms Rebecca Brodie

BAcc, Grad.Dip CA, Grad.Dip AppFin (Company Secretary/ Director of Business, St Catherine’s School)

Mr Phil Dreaver BComm GDipAppFinInv

Rev Dr Peter French, BA, BTheol, PhD (St John's Anglican Church Nominee)

Mr James Gray

Mrs Sally Joubert, BA (Hons), MA (Applied Psychology) University of Melbourne

Mr John Steven, LLB (Hons), BEc, Grad Dip Com Law (Mon)

Ms Natalie Charles BA(Hons), GDE, GAICD (Principal)

AUXILIARY PRESIDENTS & CLASS REPS

Creative Arts Auxiliary

Mrs Irene Karas (Semester 1)

Mrs Jane Pender & Mrs Jackie Grasso (Semester 2)

Heyington Club Co-Presidents 2024-2025 season

Mr Andrew Tulloch

Mrs Megan Peat

Parents’ & Friends’ Association

Mrs Camilla Byrne

Mrs Liza Yazbek

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Mrs Cynthia Li

Snowsports Co Presidents

Mrs Georgina Switkowski (Hinton ’99)

Mrs Julia Soutter

Sports Co Presidents

Mrs Maryann Jesudason

Mrs Marnie Pringle (Ross ’92)

St Catherine’s Old Girls’ Association (SCOGA)

Ms Anna Foley (’92)

Past Parents’ and Families’ Network

Mr Scott Reinke

PFA CLASS REPS 2025

ELC – 3 Year Old

Mrs Katherine Ashby

Mrs Rebecca Swinden

Dr Julie Stevens

ELC – 4 Year Old

Mrs Leila Lee

Mrs Katherine Milliken

Mrs Erin Pitney

Ms Deb Webb

Prep

Ms Deb Webb

Mrs Samantha Farber

Year 1

Mrs Katherine Ashby

Mrs Erin Pease

Year 2

Mrs Caroline Davis

Ms Olivia Sparks

Year 3

Ms Vanessa Barcellona

Ms Amy Nguyen

Year 4

Mr Mark Switkowski

Mr Riaan Engelbrecht

Year 5

Mrs Emma Leos

Ms Heying Liu

Year 6

Mrs Pooja Magennis

Mrs Becky Clark

Mrs Lucy Zappone

Mrs Georgia Goddard

Year 7

Mrs Fleur Mckay Calvert

Ms Mandy Coupe

Mrs Lucinda Foote

Year 8

Mrs Catherine Roosenburg

Mrs Kristyn Gronow

Mrs Katie Buckley

Year 9

Mrs Lucy Cashmorer

Year 10

Mr William Lu

Mrs Emma Angenent

Year 11

Mrs Susannah Van der Venne

Mrs Alex Harland

Mrs Susie Sutton

Year 12

Mrs Jay Gunawardana

Mrs Jennifer Irwin-Persson

SENIOR SCHOOL ELECTED CAPTAINS

Co-Captains

Rachel Carton

Vinuki Ranatunga

Student Executive

Rachel Carton

Lily Fogarty

Vinuki Ranatunga

Sophie Powell

Jess Sibly

Natalie Wang

House

Beaulieu Blair

Harper Anderson

Amelie Arnold

Davis

Sophie Farrer

Ashleigh Jakobovits

Holmes Kilbride

Chamonix Stafford

Natalie Wang

Langley Templeton

Annabel Calvert

Jess Sibly

Art & Design

Mietta Jenkins

Matilda Talbot-Gibson

Boarding Captains

Harper Anderson

Caris Ho

Chess

Helena Zhou

Community Service

Arabella Richardson

Cultural Diversity

Selina Yao

Debating & Public Speaking

Isha Paithankar

Celina Wang

Drama

Annabelle Goh

Duke of Edinburgh

Poppy Mailing

Environment

Zahra Hoban

Human Rights

Helena Zhou

Music Choral

Chloe Barber

Music Instrumental

Amelia Chen

Music – School Pianist

Amelia Chen

Music – Captain of Bands

Amy Liu

Spirit & Wellbeing

Karis Chan

Sport

Stella Kiriakidis

Annabel Taylor

STEM

Aeryn Lee

Sport – Athletics (Track and Field/Cross Country)

Amelie Arnold

Emma Hibbins

Sport – Rowing

Catherine Ross

Milly Tulloch

Sport – Snowsports

Ella Derbyshire

Catherine Ross

Sport – Aquatics (Swimming and Diving)

Annabel Taylor

Chloe Barber

JUNIOR SCHOOL ELECTED CAPTAINS

Co-Captains

Catherine Barry

Pearl Gunnersen

House

Beaulieu Blair

Nina Steedman

Katie Kemp

Davis

Miranda Qin

Lucinda Morris

Holmes Kilbride

Missy Byrne

Eloise Fitzgerald

Langley Templeton

Ella Pattison

Charlotte Rose

Music

Jennifer Xu

Ashley Siswanto

Amelia Macrae

Library

Julia Wong

Kayleigh Wang

Francesca Zappone

2026

St Catherine’s School 17 Heyington Place Toorak VIC 3142

Telephone + 61 3 9822 1285

Email info@stcatherines.net.au www.stcatherines.net.au