Frequently asked questions

St Cath’s is situated in Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. We are atop a hill and overlook the Pacific Ocean to the east and Centennial Park and the city to the west. In summer we enjoy fresh sea breezes from nearby Bronte beach.

900 girls attend St Cath’s from Kindergarten to Year 12. This comprises of 550 in Senior School & 350 in Junior School. We also have 65 boarders.

The Senior and Junior Schools are co located on 2.2 hectares. As one school we share the Sports Centre, Swimming Pool, Performing Arts Centre, Chapel and Computer Labs. See Facilities for more information.

In addition, the School has a morning and afternoon bus service which caters for girls who live south and south west of the School. In 2009 we will start a service from the Southern suburbs of Sydney to St Catherine’s. Contact the Business Office on 9828 3047 for more information. 

2009

Term 1:          Thursday 29 January to Thursday 9 April                                  

                       (Kindergarten: Monday 2 February)   

Term 2:          Wednesday 29 April to Friday 3 July               

Term 3:          Wednesday 29 July to Friday 2 October         

Term 4:          Tuesday 20 October to Thursday 10 December

The School has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of 65 girls in the Boarding House. The boarders’ home is located within the School’s grounds. Short term accommodation is also available for day girls in the boarding House.  See Boarding for more information.

Our Boarding community is a mix of girls from country NSW, some from the city and some from a variety of Asian and Pacific countries. The School is committed to maintaining a balance of students from different regions and encouraging an equally diverse international community.

The three languages offered at St Catherine’s are French, Japanese and Indonesian. French is studied from Kindergarten to Year 6. In Year 7 students can choose from French Continuers, French Beginners, Japanese or Indonesian. From Year 8 Semester 2 students can choose to study two languages through to Year 12.

St Catherine's has two sister schools relationships. One in Jakarta Indonesia and one in Osaka Japan and offers opportunities for in country experiences.

Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is part of the core (mandatory) curriculum up to and including Year 10. A number of semester-length electives in Sport Science, Physical Activity Studies and Sport in Society are also offered to students in Years 8, 9 and 10. In Years 11 and 12, 2 Unit Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, a theory-based course, is offered which can count towards a student’s UAI.

Inter-school competitive and representative sports offered include athletics, basketball, cricket, cross country running, diving, football (soccer), gymnastics, hockey, netball, snow sports, softball, swimming, tennis, touch football and water polo.  Students compete in IGSSA, IPSHA and local competitions.

Students from Year 3 upwards participate in annual House Sport Carnivals competing in athletics, cross country, gymnastics and swimming.

See also Co-Curricular.

Three important areas of music making come together to form a vibrant and busy department which presents music of the highest quality.

Classroom Music

In the classroom at the Stage 4 level, girls learn about the Concepts of Music through singing, listening and playing. In Stage 5, a selection of semester courses are completed which are designed to provide a pathway for girls to lead on to Music 1 or Music 2 at a senior level. In Stage 6, all music courses are offered from Music 1 through to Extension.

Co-curricular Music

The Co-curricular Music programme at St Catherine’s provides an array of ensembles ranging from large to small instrumental and choral ensembles, culminating in the Senior Symphony Orchestra for our most advanced performers. There are currently 19 ensembles from Kindergarten to year 12.

Peripatetic private music lessons

Thirty visiting Music tutors who provide lessons in traditional, Suzuki and jazz piano, classical and contemporary voice, traditional and Suzuki violin, viola, cello and double bass, acoustic, electric and bass guitar, all the woodwind instruments from recorder to baritone saxophone, all brass instruments, percussion, musicianship and composition.

 See also Co-Curricular.

Girls can become involved in Christian Groups and Leadership Ministry, Debating, Drama Productions, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Environment Group, Future Problem Solving, Female Executive Shadowing, Justice League, Mock Trials, Public Speaking, Science Club, SRC, Tournament of the Minds and Student Publications. See also Co-Curricular.

St Catherine's Outdoor Education Programme encourages girls to understand their identity, their community and their relationship with the natural world. Through a process of guided discovery, students have opportunities to help confirm and shape their values by undertaking appropriate social, emotional and physical challenges.

Students from Year 3 through to Year 10 participate in our Camps programme (run by Southbound Adventures) which is a sequential outdoor experience. Junior School girls may also attend the ‘Dads and Daughters’ Camp. Our Christian Ministry programme also includes a week-end camp opportunity.

St Catherine’s is a networked school and many lessons are technology based. Smartboards are extensively used. The Junior Library and Junior School classrooms all have computers available for student use. The new Integrated Learning Centre is a space for utilising technology for more sophisticated learning. The Senior School has three dedicated computer studios and a number of computer ‘Pods’ for technology based classes. In addition, all learning spaces are designed to carry wireless systems for the School’s laptops which are available for class use throughout the School. Students are not required to provide their own laptops.

Each year a number of scholarships are offered in various categories. See the Scholarships page for detailed information about the scholarships and for application processes.