“Why are their desks so different from ours, why was the pool outside, were the teachers strict, were the classrooms cold, did they like the uniforms, and where was recess and lunch?” These are just some of the questions decorating the walls of the Year 2 classroom, sparked by the girls’ visit to the School Museum this semester.

Each visit to the Museum is designed to encourage independent, inquiry-based learning, with students invited to explore at their own pace, ask questions and interact with the many objects on display. The museum is a fantastic resource for our girls, offering them a unique opportunity to learn about the past by engaging with it directly.

Visiting the museum is always something our students look forward to, with the girls excitedly lining up in the courtyard, ready for our School Archivist, Mrs Evangeline Galettis OAM (Barris, STC1969) to invite them in. Once inside, the real adventure begins, with the girls exploring the collection of artefacts on display, including school uniforms, trophies, yearbooks, original photographs and, perhaps the most popular item among the younger students, a typewriter. 

A recent Year 1 class, who were learning about the differences between the past and today, were especially fascinated by it. “The typewriter looks so cool and different. It’s so interesting that in the olden days they used to write on it and now we use computers and electricity,” Madeline G (Year 1) said.

Her classmate, Amelia B (Year 1), loved “seeing all the old photos because we get to look into the past” and Matilda A (Year 1) enjoyed “learning about who invented the school and the story of who founded all of the houses, including Hulme-Moir, which is my house”.

Older students in the junior school also gain a deeper understanding of historical thinking through their museum visits. Year 5 recently visited as part of their unit on primary and secondary sources.

After a short explanation from Mrs Galettis, the girls were encouraged to explore the museum and analyse different sources for themselves. Some students were especially excited to find photos of their mums, who had also attended St Cath’s.

“They were intrigued with learning and discovering more about the history of St Catherine’s,” Mrs Galettis said. ”The girls are hoping to visit again during the year to discover and learn more about the history of our school and the people who have come before them.”