Whether you are a prospective student exploring the myriad offerings, an alumna “visiting” her beloved School, a current student or parent utilizing the many resources on the website or a visitor who is interested in our programs, I hope that you will see evidence on this site of the excellence and passion that are present at St. Catherine’s School.

Since our founding in 1890 by Virginia Randolph Ellett (Miss Jennie), a woman who had extraordinary vision and commitment to educating girls, the School has been a leader in all girls’ education. Miss Jennie wanted girls to have the opportunity to develop and use their intellect and talents and to grow in faith and service to others, and so the journey began.

St. Catherine’s is an extraordinary place. Our young women fully embrace life and work, and in the process, they develop skills and values that propel them into their futures. Our girls are scholars, artists and athletes who challenge themselves to achieve their best. They excel in the classics, STEM areas, arts and athletics, but you also will see them helping the hungry in Richmond and supporting children in Haiti. Our girls know the joy and inner strength that come from reaching outside of oneself and helping others. The School Motto, What we keep we lose; only what we give remains our own, is alive at St. Catherine’s.

Our world-class faculty is what makes the magic happen at St. Catherine’s. They understand how girls think and work, they follow the research and they enjoy working with girls and young women! Our expert faculty members provide a rigorous program that engages the girls. Our students achieve state, regional and national prominence, largely because of our fine teachers.

This century demands a new way of thinking and working from all of us. Many of the jobs that our students will have in the future don’t even exist at this time. We are in the business of training their minds, habits, and souls, while helping them hold onto their intellectual curiosity and determination.

I often think of the quote by William Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.” At St. Catherine’s each student is celebrated for who she is and she is supported in her quest to become her best self. We prepare girls for a world of change and for lives lived with satisfaction and pride.

I invite you to visit us at St. Catherine’s. If you are already a part of the School community, please let us help you in any way that we can.

Warm regards,

Terrie Hale Scheckelhoff, Ph.D.
Head of School