Through a culture of academic excellence and a rich selection of co-curricular activities, girls grow and thrive. Strong, resilient, empowered — at Strathcona, these are more than just words.
A Strathcona girl is balanced in mind, body and spirit. Her robust sense of self is founded upon respect, integrity, compassion, courage and genuine community spirit. In essence, Strathcona affords its girls the opportunity to discover who they really are and to pursue their life’s potential by being themselves.
Facilities: Strathcona is by no means a “big” school. But its modest footprint boasts an impressive array of facilities in support of students’ development. These are spread across three campuses — the ELC, Junior School and Senior School in Canterbury, and the Year 9 Tay Creggan in Hawthorn. All campuses have well-serviced public transport close by. From ELC to Senior School, spaces have been purpose-built to suit student needs at each year level. These include state-of-the-art smart classrooms, seminar rooms, quiet study spaces, halls and galleries, kitchens, social areas, outdoor spaces (including learning spaces), art rooms, music studios and media rooms. The redeveloped Year 7 and 8 centre connects both year levels while providing dedicated media booths for students to record work and create podcasts.
Of particular note is the 1893 home Tay Creggan, the dedicated Year 9 school on the banks of the Yarra River. Within its Heritage-listed walls students enjoy spacious classrooms, science laboratory, library, commercial kitchen and art space. Alongside the sports ground and basketball court outside, the river affords plenty of water-based activity, including canoeing, kayaking and rowing.
The Senior School campus also offers great sporting facilities including tennis, netball and basketball courts. There is also an Aquatic and Fitness Centre which consists of an indoor gymnasium complex, indoor heated 25m pool and weights and training room. The Creative and Performing Arts Centre has music and drama facilities including a performance area, four art rooms, a multimedia centre with a soundproof recording studio and a food technology facility.
Curriculum: Early Learning at Strathcona aims to instil a sense of excitement and natural curiosity about the world, giving children the courage to explore, investigate, experiment and wonder. A progressive approach to education is influenced by Howard Gardner’s concepts of learning and the Reggio Emilia approach, in which children are recognised as capable and resourceful, and have many different ways to learn, know and communicate. Junior School is a time for your daughter to lay the foundations of good learning habits and life skills. Combining the advantages of both a standalone campus and the proximity of the Senior School facilities, the Junior School is the ideal environment for students to develop a strong sense of belonging and purpose.
The Senior School provides a broad range of challenging and rich learning opportunities across academic, pastoral care and co-curricular programs. The Senior School curriculum covers English, Mathematics and Science but also offers Art, Drama, French and/or Mandarin Chinese, Food Technology, Humanities, Music, Health and Physical Education, Pastoral Care and many more opportunities in the senior years. Across all year levels, there are many leadership opportunities so that girls can develop their talents, skills and confidence. Through guided research and individual consultation with staff and study skills advice, the senior year girls gain independence in their learning, preparing them for tertiary study and the challenges of a future career. Students are challenged to explore their individual learning styles and thinking strategies. For our Year 9 students, Strathcona has developed the TC Envision Program specifically tailored for Year 9 students at Tay Creggan. Woven together with the Australian National Year 9 Curriculum, the TC Envision Program teaches important entrepreneurial and life-ready skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, design capability, intellect, collaboration, communication and resilience.
An active sport and outdoor program contributes to the health and wellbeing of our students. Caring, passionate staff are experts in the emotional, social, physical and cognitive stages of development of teenage girls. Strathcona offers French and Mandarin Chinese as languages starting in Prep through to Year 12.
ICT: Strathcona is a technology-rich environment. Information and communications technology is fully integrated across the curriculum. Students in the Junior School have access to School owned iPads and computers, Years 7 and 8 students purchase a school-specific laptop, whereas Years 9-12 students bring their own device. The school has outstanding computer facilities including iPads, interactive whiteboards and the online learning management systems all supporting a 21st-century learning environment. All students are encouraged to utilise interactive technology to communicate effectively.
Sport: Physical Education is part of the core curriculum from the ELC to Year 10 and is available as a VCE subject in Years 11 and 12. Students are encouraged to participate in inter-house, inter-school and other state and national events. Strathcona is a member of Girls’ Sport Victoria.
Co-curricular activities: Strathcona’s diverse extra-curricular program encourages the social development of the students and allows participation in a wide range of activities including drama, music, sport, debating and public speaking. Compass (Years 5 to 8) and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (part of the Curriculum in Year 9) provide students with a variety of challenging, non-competitive, voluntary activities that encourage personal growth, enterprise and a broad range of life skills. To extend students global awareness, there are many opportunities for international exchanges and tours.
Student welfare programs: Strathcona’s commitment to pastoral care and wellbeing underlies all programs, the curriculum and co-curricular activities. Personal, social and spiritual development is nurtured and there is a strong sense of family within the school community, with many cross-age links among the students and close ties between home and school.
Principal: Mrs Marise McConaghy.