People
When a student arrives on campus on move-in day, she meets a whole cast of people that will become her friends, neighbors, classmates, and second family. Seniors line the driveway, cheering and waving to welcome the parade of new students. A senior Big Sister will help her carry boxes and get herself settled into her new room. This sense of community, of having the support of everyone on campus, is an essential part of the Catalina experience.
Meet Our Students
Meet Isabelle '17
Meet Madison '18
Meet Jenna '17
Q:Why did you choose to come to Catalina?
A: There was something that set Catalina apart when I stepped on campus. You could tell everyone really wanted to be here. The girls I met while touring were kind, intelligent, poised, and above all, fun. Catalina's atmosphere is rare and difficult to describe. Visit campus once and you will see what I mean.
Q: Why do you love being a boarding student at Catalina?
A: My friends and I have SO much fun living together. Our relationships grow deeper and more meaningful each year. I've met girls from around the world and have been exposed to new cultures I would have never found at home. There is always a friend to study with, a shoulder to cry on, and at least one person with the same Netflix series addiction. I have truly learned the meaning of sisterhood at Catalina.
Q: How have members of the Resident Faculty made your time at Catalina more meaningful?
A: They double as our coaches, advisors, dorm parents, and close friends. I regularly slide drafts of essays under my english teacher's door and stop in for tea and cookies. Their advice never fails to be meaningful, genuine, and significant. I would not be the girl I am today without many of them.
- Piedmont, CA
- Admission Tour Guide
- Lacrosse
- Sailing Club, Captain
- Tennis, Captain
Q:Why did you choose to come to Catalina?
A: I chose to come to Santa Catalina because it is such a well rounded school. Not only does Catalina have challenging academics, successful sports, and an amazing theater program, but there are long lasting traditions that build a tight knit community. The teachers here excel in their respective fields and they are extremely supportive when you have any questions or concerns. Also, the fact that Catalina is all-girls really drew me to the school because the environment is so welcoming and I really liked how there is a strong sisterhood between all of the girls.
Q: How has being a boarding student at Catalina allowed you to more fully pursue your passions?
A: Being a boarder here at Catalina has allowed me to more fully enjoy my time on the swimming and water polo teams because I do not have spend a lot of time commuting to school. As soon as I’m finished with practice, I walk up to my dorm room in three minutes instead of getting into a car for an hour long drive. This advantage has saved me a lot of time that I use on my homework and it helps me get to bed at a decent time.
Q: How have members of the Resident Faculty made your time at Catalina more meaningful?
A: As a boarder, you get to know the faculty living on campus really well. We eat all of our meals together in the dining room and it is really nice when we go to Mass on Sundays and all of the families that live on campus are there.
- Gilroy, Ca
- Lamplighter (student newspaper)
- Swimming, Captain
- TEDxSantaCatalina, member
- Water Polo
Q:Why did you choose to come to Catalina?
A: I chose to come to Catalina after I realized how much I grew as a camper at Summer at Santa Catalina. I came to camp here shy and reserved, and went home to my parents two weeks later vocal and self-sufficient
Q: How has being a boarding student at Catalina allowed you to more fully pursue your passions?
A: I am passionate about volunteering, and as a student at Catalina, I am able to volunteer regularly at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. I plan to work in the medical field and through my volunteer opportunities, I can explore different medical fields and gain a better understanding of different career opportunities in medicine.
Q: How has being a boarding student at Catalina changed you?
A: As a boarding student, I've learned about responsibilities like laundry and managing my plans. I love seeing the reactions from family and friends when I explain my daily routine. They are always impressed with how being a boarding student has allowed me to mature.
- San Rafael, Ca
- Accents (student performance group)
- Soccer
- Theatre Tech
- Track and Field
Meet our Faculty
Meet
Dr. Hunt
Meet
Mr. & Mrs. Riley
Q; What do you teach?
A: I teach English 1 Honors and Creative Writing. I love to teach freshmen because they have so much energy, and they are so open to new experiences. My students make me laugh and show me things I did not notice all the time. It is not always clear who is teaching whom. I am also Dean of the Junior class and a dorm parent.
Q: What are your favorite aspects of living on campus?
A: It’s fun to know students so well. When I speak to students in class, I often know about some of their interests, their family background, their roommates, and even if they had enough sleep the night before. I think it helps me to see the whole person when I teach.
Also, the food is delicious. Seriously.Q: In your experience with resident students, what is the biggest benefit of boarding at Catalina?
A: My girls are so confident and polished. They are polite, kind, and they feel a responsibility to do good in the world that is born from being a member of a close community. When I see the seniors at graduation and remember them as freshmen moving into the dorm, I am so impressed with the remarkable women they have become.
- Simon Hunt, also an English teacher at Catalina
- AnnaRose, a junior at Catalina
- Colin, in grade 6 at Catalina
- Sky, our diva black cat with extra toes on each paw
- Traveling
- Baking
- Reading
- Gardening
What do you teach?
Mr. Riley: I currently teach World Religions to the sophomores. This is my 10th year at Santa Catalina, and over the years, I have taught Church History and Peace and Justice. I also share campus ministry responsibilities with my colleagues in the Religious Studies department. Together, we organize retreats, chapel services, and service opportunities on Journey Days.
Mrs. Riley: I am a member of the resident faculty but do not teach any classes.
Q: What are your favorite aspects of living on campus?
Mr. Riley: What I enjoy most is living with the energy and spirit of the students. It’s very satisfying and meaningful to watch students grow each year more and more towards their adult identities. Each student girl arrives here with a set of strengths as well as areas for growth. A student who is strong academically may need to grow in her social skills or in her confidence to follow her own path and lead others. Every year, I witness students as they progress and transform into empowering young adultswomen. They grow in their wisdom and integrity towards life itself. Living in the midst of this is very inspiring, and it’s what motivates my wife and I to live here with our two daughters.
Mrs. Riley: Living on campus allows us live in a safe, beautiful, community that is very special and has a long history and strong mission. Living on campus I am part of a community whose purpose is educating young women and supporting their growth to become the person they are called to be. Living with others dedicated to the same ideals nourishes some of my deepest values (community, growth, sense of the spiritual) and adds depth, meaning and purpose to my life and the life of our family.
Q: In your experience with resident students, what is the biggest benefit of boarding at Catalina?
Mr. Riley: Boarding means you are living with other students who are also very motivated and responsible. They are going to support you and celebrate your successes. Students tell me that they feel the competitive drive to do well, but it’s not at the expense of one another. In this environment, everyone strives for high achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts, but it’s rooted in kindness, dignity, and civility towards one another. It’s not by accident either. The attributes of kindness, care, and dignity are instilled in everything we do. From the administrations on down, we articulate this. It’s written about in our mission statement, and we reflect on kindness multiple times throughout the year in chapelChapel, community dinner, and in the Journey program.
Mrs. Riley: I witness the growth of the individual students as they grow in confidence, academic abilities, and independence. I certainly desire those qualities to develop in my own daughters’ and see Catalina as a place that supports that. But what is most amazing to me is that no resident student remains isolated, unseen or alone. There is a place for everyone and the adolescents who come in as awkward, self conscious, perhaps even judgemental, deepen in their acceptance of others. Friendships develop across lines that previously separated one from another, and authentic relationships develop. In our ten years living here, that is what I witness year after year.
- Miriam, in grade 5 at Catalina
- Judith, in Kindergarten at Catalina
- Puff, our dog
Roommates & Resident Faculty
Since 16 percent of our student body is international, a new student might find that her roommate is from China and her neighbor down the hall is from England. Every day she’ll be able to learn something new about a different country and culture, opening her mind to new customs and perspectives. Resident faculty members will become her mentors, offering advice and homework help in and out of the classroom.
Classmates &
Peers
Fellow students, boarding and day alike, will be her companions over the next four adventurous years of inquiry and discovery. Many of them will also be just down the hall if she wants a study partner, has a question about an assignment, or just feels like chatting with a friend.
Teachers &
Coaches
Santa Catalina teachers and coaches are devoted mentors to their students. Striking a balance between challenging and nurturing, they guide each student toward success in classes, interscholastic sports, clubs, and college applications. The steady support of this community of instructors builds each student’s confidence in her abilities.
