St Catherine's School, Toorak

History

St Catherine's School was founded as Castlemaine Ladies' College in 1896, by Jeanie Hood in Templeton Street, Castlemaine.

At the instigation of Henry Langley, the first Anglican Bishop of Bendigo, his daughters, Ruth, Aphra and Nona took over the school in 1903. The Langley sisters later changed the school's name to Castlemaine Girls' College, and in 1911 to St Catherine's Girls College, Castlemaine, after the Anglican school St Catherine's School at Waverley in Sydney, where Ruth and Nona Langley had been educated. St Catherine's was a nominally Anglican school at this time in its history.

In 1920, St Catherine's School moved to Williams Road in Melbourne, where 48 pupils were enrolled. Ruth Langley had been joined in 1919 by Flora Templeton, who came as co-principal from Blair School, at St Georges Road, Toorak, with her students.

In 1922, St Catherine's Grammar School had 80 students, and in need of more accommodation, Langley and Templeton purchased "Kilbride House", formerly known as "Beaulieu", at 17 Heyington Place, Toorak. The building was ultimately renamed "Sherren House" in recognition of Ruby Lawrence (née Sherren), who was the schools matron from 1923 to 1946. Flora Templeton died in 1931, but Ruth Langley continued the administration of the school, appointing Edna Holmes as headmistress. After Langley's death in 1933, her sister, Hilda Langley, became principal.

In 1942, World War II saw the school buildings requisitioned as a residence for the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF]]. St Catherine's found a temporary home at Mountain Grand, Warburton, and returned to Heyington Place in 1943. In 1944, Sophie Borland was appointed headmistress and worked with Hilda Langley as principal until the end of 1947, when the trustee of the late Ruth Langley decided to hand control of the school to a council. The first chairman of the council was the Right Reverend John McKie, Bishop in Geelong.

In 1948, Barbreck, at 33 Heyington Place, was acquired for use as a junior school, making possible further extensions to the secondary school, and pupil numbers increased to about 400.

In 1950, Mary Davis was appointed as principal and headmistress. In 1957, Hilda Langley died, ending the Langley family's long association with the school. R. Ann Baylis served as principal from 1971–77 and her two daughters attended the school. In 1977, Dorothy Pizzey was appointed to this post.

Beginning in 2006, the school offered the IB Primary Years Programme

Campus

St Catherine's School is located on a single 2.9 hectare campus, in suburban Toorak, 6 km south-east of the Melbourne city centre. The school comprises the Early Learning Centre, the Junior School and the Senior School.

Music

St Catherine's offers a music program with an extensive classroom curriculum and instrumental program, a range of opportunities for both individual and ensemble performance are available.

Classroom music forms a part of the core curriculum from the Early Learning Centre through to Year 8. Girls of all ages are encouraged to learn an instrument and to join the choirs, ensembles, orchestras and bands which rehearse and perform regularly. In Years 7 & 8, students develop music appreciation, performance skills and explore a wide variety of music technology programs available through our keyboard laboratory. From Year 9 onwards, Music becomes an elective and VCE subject with emphases on developing performance, composition and analysis skills.

All students have the opportunity to learn a stringed instrument in Year 2, recorder in Year 3 & 4, and a brass or woodwind instrument in Year 5. These small group lessons allow students a ‘hands-on' experience including opportunities to perform throughout the year.

The school also offers a comprehensive Instrumental Program in all instrument families (including string, woodwind, brass, voice, percussion and keyboard instruments) where students learn with specialist teachers in classical and contemporary styles. Individual tuition from highly qualified specialist instrumental staff is available on the following instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba Piano, Harpsichord, Recorder, Classical singing, Jazz singing Guitar, Harp, Percussion, Theory,

The Ensemble Program provides an array of ensemble opportunities from classical to contemporary. The list of ensembles includes choirs, orchestras, concert bands, string, woodwind, brass and percussion ensembles, chamber groups and contemporary groups.

The Epstein Singers, àBeckett Strings, Junior Concert Band, Suzuki ‘Cellos, Suzuki Violins, Flute Group, Percussion & Recorder Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles, The Langley Singers – Prep to Year 2, Heyington Choir – Years 3 and 4 Choir, Barbreck Choir – Years 5 and 6 Choir,

Jorgensen Orchestra, Senior School Concert Band, Soul Power, Sherren Singers, Chamber Flutes, Years 7–12 Choir, Viva Voci, Stage Band, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Years 7 and 8 Concert Band, Years 7 and 8 Flute Ensemble, and small chamber ensembles

An extensive performance program enables all students to participate in a wide variety of concerts and recitals including the Annual Gala Concert, Twilight Concert, Instrumental Recitals, Barbreck Concert, Barbreck Recitals, Masterclasses, Jazz Cabaret evenings and music theatre performances. Students also perform at the school's church services, speech nights, assemblies and many other school events both at school and in the community.

Notable alumnae

Alumnae of St Catherine's School are known as "Old Girls" and may elect to join the schools' alumni association, the St Catherine's Old Girls' Association Inc. Some notable St Catherine's Old Girls' include: