The prospect of moving six hours away from her family left Bella J (Year 8) feeling a little hesitant. Bella wasn’t supposed to head off to boarding school until Year 10, so to make the move to Waverley from the Central West earlier than originally planned felt incredibly daunting. But by the end of her first weekend in the St Catherine’s Boarding House, all of her doubts had melted away. “It’s so nice to be boarding with so many girls, especially coming from a family with just a brother. I feel like I have gained a bunch of sisters, which is amazing. There are so many people here in boarding who will look after you. I just love it here,” she shared. 

As St Catherine’s started as a boarding school, we like to say that our boarders have the longest history of any girls at our school. This is especially true for our country boarders, with a long history of families sending their daughters from regional New South Wales and beyond to school at St Catherine’s. This tradition continues today, with around a third of our boarders joining us from regional areas in 2025.

You have so many more opportunities here and can make so many more connections. Boarding at St Cath’s is like having a sleepover with your friends every night, just making memories. We are like a family.

Sadie C (Year 12)

Although opportunity is the word most often used by our country boarders to describe why they decided to board at St Cath’s, there are many reasons why the girls have joined our community. Some students have a long-standing connection to the school, such as Lucy H (Year 12) from near Parkes, who is the last of three sisters to have boarded with us.

Others, such as Molly A (Year 12), became St Cath’s boarders to take advantage of the elite sporting facilities available. Before last year, Molly travelled from Bathurst to Sydney to play state-level Rugby. “My mum and I would drive down, I’d do training and then we’d go back home so I couldn’t go to everything. Now, I’m boarding at St Cath’s, I can go to all the training sessions and fully be a part of the club. It’s given me more opportunities to experience high-level coaches who have helped and nurtured me,” she shared. Since joining the St Catherine’s boarding community, Molly has been named a top rising star in female rugby and the best team person for NSW in the 16s competition at the Australian Schools Championship.

But, of course, moving to the city to board at St Cath’s is a huge change for many of our country boarders. From experiencing the challenges of public transport to getting used to hearing sirens going by, there are many differences that our country boarders have to get used to. “I remember on my first day at school being absolutely shocked to see so many people in one place,” Isabella W (Year 12) from Warren explained, “but if I hadn’t come to boarding school, I would never have met them all and made such good friends. I can’t imagine my life without boarding at St Cath’s.” 

Sadie C (Year 12), who hails from a small town near Junee, also recalled the challenge of coming from a primary school of around 20 students to a high school with more than 700 students. “It’s a very big change, but it’s definitely worth it,” she said, “you have so many more opportunities here and can make so many more connections. Boarding at St Cath’s is like having a sleepover with your friends every night, just making memories. We are like a family.” 

Fellow boarder, Peta V (Year 8), from near Dubbo, agrees that St Cath’s boarding is like a family, adding that she especially values the support from the older boarders. “Even if they are busy studying, they will still always have time to give you a hug if you need some extra support,” she said. 

I remember on my first day at school being absolutely shocked to see so many people in one place. But if I hadn’t come to boarding school, I would never have met them all and made such good friends. I can’t imagine my life without boarding at St Cath’s.

Isabella W (Year 12)

This sentiment was echoed by Georgina K (Year 12), from near Scone, who also added that being a St Cath’s country boarder also greatly adds to the fabric of the entire school. “I feel like I am bringing a different perspective to St Cath’s. I grew up very differently from most of my friends. I feel like it is very important to remind people in the city that we are living a privileged life. Even being able to come to this school is a privilege. I feel like letting people know that not everyone has the things that they take for granted is very important. Being a St Cath’s boarder means advocating for and supporting each other. It means being part of a community of girls who always have your back. It’s really nice being part of a community where you have so much support.”