Leadership News
From the Co-College Captains
Madeleine Palmer & Casey Dodd
It is truly surreal that we are beginning Term 3, this year of Felicity has certainly been one full of opportunities, excitement and gratitude! We feel proud to have seen countless examples of the Loreto spirit and the power of our community this year. We can’t wait to see what other joys the remainder of 2021 will bring!
We were beyond excited to see the new Loreto TVC campaign brought to life. The clip features the beautiful song ‘Rise up’ with lyrics inspired by Year 11 superstar Grace Cassells and sung by the VCE Music students. It was amazing to work alongside camerawoman and Loreto Alumni, Alyssa Baker (Class of 2012), her footage truly encapsulates the Loreto spirit. Keep an eye out for this moving and inspiring campaign!
At the beginning of Term 3, we had the pleasure of celebrating both Ms. Brodrick’s blessing and commissioning and the annual GB Day. The day was a true showcase of the Loreto spirit, diversity and compassion. We are so appreciative for Ruchi Page (Class of 2012) who spoke to the school about her journey of self-love and inclusion. Ruchi had such an incredible impact on our school community, sharing inspiring messages and words of wisdom.
The newly introduced uniform items have been warmly welcomed by the Loreto community. With the addition of a pants and shorts option and a new summer hat, we believe our uniform continues to be a representation of our school and what it means to be a Loreto girl. We hope that all students keep on displaying our uniform with pride and dignity.
The Loreto College Arts Festival is definitely a highlight of Term 3 and an event we are looking forward to! Every year, the Loreto community enjoys a festival that entails two evening concerts showcasing the best of Loreto Arts. Due to Covid, the House Choir Competition is going to look a little different this year. Our dedicated Arts Captains have organised a variety of new arts-related events for the Houses to compete in, including choir, dance, drama, art and media. We are so incredibly proud of our fellow students for approaching these new events with such enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to come together to celebrate the amazing variety of talents and passions of our creative fellow students.
As we have well surpassed the halfway point of our Year 12 journey, we take this opportunity to reflect on the year so far and look forward to our aspirations for next year. As Co-Captains our thoughts are with our whole school community, especially our fellow Year 12s as we approach our final few months at Loreto.
From the Director of Faith & Mission
Mrs Felicity Knobel
In our Loreto communities throughout the world on Thursday 12 August 2021 we begin the Jubilee Year of Teresa Ball. We are celebrating the milestone of 200 years since Teresa Ball returned to Ireland from York laying the foundations of Mary Ward’s Institute in Ireland. It is from Ireland that we know that Mother Gonzaga Barry came to Australia and ultimately began the new chapter here in Australia. Teresa Ball is very much part of our story and one that we look forward to learning more about in the coming year.
Teresa Ball was born Frances Ball in 1794 in Dublin, Ireland. Due to Catholicism being suppressed at the time in Ireland, Frances Ball was sent at the age of 9 to Bar Convent in York to be educated by the sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). On her return to Ireland when she was 16, Frances Ball knew that she was called to the life of love and dedication to God and returned to Bar Convent, joining the IBVM taking the name Teresa.
Like so many strong and determined women of today, Teresa Ball’s manner confused people around her. She was unashamedly herself, like a ship at full sail, serene and untroubled, Teresa Ball showed her courage, determination and fearlessness in her world, whilst facing prejudice, bigotry and like Mary Ward, controversy followed her. On her return to Ireland in 1821 at the age of 27, she was given the task of setting up the first convent and school in Ireland. She eventually opened 37 convents and schools in Ireland and sent sisters to India, Canada, England and Spain.
Here at Loreto Ballarat we are celebrating Teresa Ball by taking part in an environmental project of planting trees. This is something that we have had the pleasure of doing this year and look forward to further opportunities to do this in 2021 and 2022. We are also acknowledging Teresa Ball through our Arts Festival this year using one of her quotes “Go set the world on fire” as our theme. In 1612, Mary Ward believed “women can and should provide something more than ordinary”. Teresa Ball in her life showed this very much to be true and at Loreto Ballarat we are proud to honour women such as Teresa Ball.
College News
Congratulations Sarah Harrington!
The Premier's VCE Awards Honour Roll has been released and our Class of 2020 Dux, Sarah Harrington, has been recognised as a Top All-Round VCE High Achiever.
Sarah achieved an outstanding highest possible VCE study score of 99.95 and was also recognised with an individual Top Study Award for English Language.
The Top All-Round VCE High Achiever Award is awarded to students who have achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE subjects. There were only 23 students in the state who were recognised as Top All-Round VCE Higher Achievers.
A phenomenal achievement Sarah!
For a full list of Premier's VCE Awards recipients visit here.
Year 11 Leadership Day
Yesterday as an alternative to the usual Year 11 Leadership Day, our Year 11s adapted to an online version which featured some very inspiring leaders, some of who we know quite well! The Year 11s had the opportunity to hear from Indya Hayes (Class of 2017 and owner of The Minority Co.), Nyibol Deng (small business owner working within the refugee community of Ballarat), past Co-College Captains and our very own Sr Natalie Houlihan. The Year 11 Leadership Day marks the beginning of the Year 12 2022 Senate elections.
International Ethics Olympiad
Mr Peter Foord (Coach) & Mr David Barker (Coach)
On Friday 23 July, our Gold medal Victorian Ethics Olympiad team consisting of Ann Chalakkal, Ella Gudgeon, Eloise Davenport, Bridie Carey and Remi Currie competed in the inaugural International Ethics Olympiad final. The competition was run online via Zoom amongst 38 teams consisting of the State winners from around Australia and teams from Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand. Over 5 hours, the girls competed in 3 Heats against teams from Canada, Hong Kong and Western Australia. They tackled the same 8 Case Studies as the Victorian Olympiad but were faced with new ethical questions with only 3 minutes to prepare their arguments. The students in the team did an exceptional job as they both presented cases, provided commentary on other team’s presentations and responded confidently to the judges questions. Unfortunately, our team did not gain a place, however, it is a credit to the team to have been able to represent Victoria on the international stage in Loreto Ballarat’s first attempt at an Ethics Olympiad!
The Moderator/Judges were University lecturers and PhD students in Philosophy and Ethics from around the world including Canada, New York, England, New Zealand and Australia. All the judges were highly complementary of the calibre of the students in the competition.
Our team members, along with all other participating students, did a wonderful job throughout the competition. We look forward to competing again in 2022!
Library News
Mrs Sarah Lane (Library Officer)
We’ve been feeling very crafty in Book Club lately! As well as making our own Shadow Hunter Witchlights, inspired by the Cassandra Clare series of the same name, we also got tired of waiting for our Hogwarts letters - and made our own! Printed on parchment style paper, the envelopes were hand cut and featured the Hogwarts crest wax seal for authenticity! Book Club is now held every Thursday lunch time in the Library Presentation Room and everyone is welcome.
Book Week is almost here! We’ve been busy planning a fun week full of activities! With games, craft, competitions and a Read In planned, there’s something for everyone! Stay tuned as more details will follow soon.
As part of our Book Week celebrations the Library will also be opening a “Pop-up Book Shop”. This is a fundraiser for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and over the years we have been able to send over $1000 to the foundation, an organisation making a difference to the lives of many indigenous children and their communities. We are looking for donations of books and they can be fiction, non-fiction, picture books or good quality magazines or even DVDs, board games or jigsaw puzzles.
Thank you so much to those who have already brought items in. If you have items you are willing to donate to our ‘Pop-Up Shop’ they can be brought up to the Library, placed in a box in the staff room or left at Student Reception.
If you’d like to learn more about the amazing work of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation you can visit their website here: https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/
Please help us make this fundraiser a wonderful success!
Keep Reading!
The Library Team
Career News
Ms Jodie Howlett (Careers Co-Ordinator)
In this week's Career News:
- Apprenticeship and traineeship resources
- Interested in working in theatre, film or television?
- STEM career quizzes
- Year 12 tertiary dates
- Open Days
- Planning on studying teaching in the future?
- Humanities - scholarship and global programs
- Career events
Loreto Community Notices
Prospective Families:
Open Day 2021
Open Day is an opportunity for prospective families to experience Loreto College. Enjoy a guided tour of the College grounds and facilities with current students who will also share valuable insight into being a student at Loreto College.
Wednesday 13 October, 2021
Tours commence half-hourly between 9:00am - 11.30am from the Loreto College Archives Centre (just inside the main entrance on Sturt Street - Gate B)
Registration is essential
Year 7 2023 Information Evening
Join us for our Year 7 2023 Information Evening! We welcome you to come along and learn about a Loreto education, our Year 7 program, important dates and to ask any questions you may have.
This event is for all prospective families looking to enrol for Year 7 2023.
Registration is essential
Events will be conducted according to State Covid regulations at the time.
Upcoming Reunions
Tickets are now available for our 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Year Reunions! For more information or to book your ticket, please see the links below:
Saturday 18 September 2021
- Class of 1970 (50 Year Reunion)
- Class of 1971 (50 Year Reunion)
- Class of 1990 (30 Year Reunion)
- Class of 1991 (30 Year Reunion)
- Class of 2010 (10 Year Reunion)
- Class of 2011 (10 Year Reunion)
Saturday 16 October 2021
Advertise in our next edition of Verity
Advertising in Verity magazine is a wonderful way to show your support of Loreto College and promote your business! We would love some new businesses to feature in our future editions.
Perhaps you are a past pupil with a new business to promote? Our Loreto Launchpad section might be a great platform.
For more information or to book your spot please email development@loreto.vic.edu.au
To view previous editions and to download our advertising package please visit here
Finance News
Conveyance Allowance 2021
The conveyance allowance is a form of financial assistance for parents/carers to transport children to and from school in rural and regional Victoria. Allowances are available for public transport, private car and private bus.
In some locations, students are unable to access free school buses. In these instances, students may receive a conveyance allowance to assist with travel costs.
Important Dates
Due to the unpredictability of the current COVID-19 situation, please keep an eye out on PAM, the Loreto College App, website and social media for any updates to scheduled events.
For the full Loreto Events Calendar please visit via the Loreto College Ballarat app or https://pam.loreto.vic.edu.au/Login/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
Wednesday 4 August
- Postponed: Parent-Teacher Interviews Year 7 - 12
Thursday 12 August
- Parent-Teacher Interviews Year 7 - 12 (12:00pm - 8:00pm)
- Student Free Day
- G.A.T (for VCE students)
Monday 16 August
- Student Free Day