Leadership News
From the Principal
Ms Michelle Brodrick
When the Loreto sisters moved into Mary’s Mount in 1875, two dogs came with them from the presbytery. At the time, few other houses were nearby and gas street lighting wasn’t installed in the city until 1881. The dogs were considered watchdogs as well as companions in the early days. They helped create a homely atmosphere, particularly when the College had boarding school students.
In newsletters over many years, dogs are mentioned as being part of several Loreto Convents and Colleges. Mother Gonzaga Barry, herself having grown up with ‘ponies, dogs and pets of every kind’ welcomed various pets including blackbirds and seagulls. This tradition continued for many years. A photo of Mary’s Mount Middle School in 1960 includes a dog front and centre amongst the rows of students.
At the beginning of this year, we decided to trial a new addition to the College - Twiggy. Every Thursday Christina Sofis (staff member) brings her much loved pet to visit on the day, now known as Twiggy Thursdays. Twiggy is a two-year-old female Cavoodle, a hypoallergenic dog breed that is a cross between a miniature poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Dogs in schools are known to have a positive impact on both physical and emotional health for students and staff. A dog promotes a positive mood and significant anti-stress effects. They allow students to achieve a stronger sense of belonging through interactions with the community.
We believe that when Twiggy arrives on a Thursday she has a smile on her face. When we see her interactions throughout the day, we see the smiles and joy she gives to many of our students and staff. Twiggy has delivered messages through emails, posters, videos and screens to promote COVID safe messages during lockdowns.
Twiggy visits classrooms, the Learning Hub and the Library regularly. She remains on her lead at all times, joining staff members on yard duty and walks around the grounds. Students do not have to interact with her unless they want to. Twiggy has done some puppy school and will undergo further training to improve her skills as she has become such a welcome addition to College life. We are looking forward to her continuing with Twiggy Thursdays in 2022.
From the Deputy Principal (Learning & Teaching)
Ms Linda McDonald
As we come to the end of another school year, we are busy planning for 2022. An important part of preparing your daughter for school next year is purchasing books and materials. By now you would be aware that the booklists for 2022 are available on PAM. You will need your log in to access these booklists. As you will remember from last year, we work with Campion books (which bought out Ballarat books). Please carefully read the booklists to ascertain which books can be bought second hand and which ones need to be bought directly from Campion books. On most occasions students will be able to retain materials from previous years like their Bible, Dictionary, pens and pencils, lab coats, Food and Materials Technology equipment etc.
If your daughter is completing VCE for the first time and doing a subject which requires an Edrolo subscription, it will be clearly listed on the booklist, you will need to create a separate Edrolo account. Please find the instructions to create an account in PAM. The Edrolo subscriptions are an important resource for VCE students as they provide students with practice tests, videos, quizzes, and practice exams designed to help prepare students for exams. In some of the senior Mathematics and Science courses the students will be buying their textbooks also through Edrolo.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the booklist, please contact the school and ask to speak to Ms Phillips in the library or the relevant faculty leader.
College News
Unit 2 Food Studies Past Pupils' Takeaway High Tea
Mrs Thea Mooney
On Thursday 4 November the Unit 2 Food Studies classes worked as a team to prepare two varieties of High Tea Care packages for the Past Pupils' Association. This was the culmination of a lot of hard work and planning, as students were presented with a design brief, working through the components of the design process to investigate the origins of High Tea and the possible modern interpretations of this style of eating, particularly in COVID times. They then worked in small groups to generate ideas for the menu which were presented to the class as possible prototypes. Each class then evaluated the possible options and made decisions about the menu items that they wished to include in each box.
The students spent a full day in the kitchens preparing and packaging the food items for their menu. I can honestly say that I was amazed at the skill and quantity reflected in each of the products produced, as were the recipients of these boxes. The two classes worked effectively, reflecting employability skills of teamwork, initiative and good communication. This was particularly evident when students willingly help fellow class members to clean up, finish off their food items and decorations. Some even stayed back after school to hand out Care Packages. Each box was a credit to every single class member and there was a great sense of achievement and pride evident amongst students at the end of the day. I commend all who assisted us to achieve this result and provide such joy to others.
Ballarat Inagawa Japanese Speech Contest 2021
Mrs Yoshie Burrows
It was very fortunate for us to be able to run the Inagawa Japanese Speech Contest this year after a break due to Covid in 2020. A small group of very dedicated Year 10 Japanese students worked hard and prepared their speeches for this contest. Despite the fact that there were no trips for the winners this year, the quality of the speeches the students prepared and delivered was extremely high. Five schools from Ballarat entered this contest, Ballarat High School, BCC, Mt Clear College, St Patrick’s College and Loreto. There were twenty-one students in total.
Lily Delaney, Jess Stute, Ruby Stringer and Jasmine Spark took part in this contest. Jasmine was awarded 1st prize and Ruby achieved fifth place. Although Jess and Lily did not win a prize their preparation and delivery of fine speeches should be commended.
みなさん、よくできました。
Return to the Shark Tank
Ms Jayne Carrigg
On Tuesday 9 November, 2021 the students of the 10 Commerce elective participated in a Shark Tank. Several lessons prior to entering the tank, the girls were given a simple household object and required to create a new and innovative product from this object. They then needed to create a marketing pitch for their new product and present it in the Shark Tank in a 2-minute pitch. Some of the common objects used included a wooden spoon, kitchen tongs, baker’s twine, spray bottle, stainless steel bucket and a headband. These objects were miraculously transformed into the Mr Mice Guy Eco-Friendly Mouse Trap, Molva Beauty Products, Fantasy Fascinators, Blind Spot Cleaning Tongs, Zap Colour, Fremta decorator bowl, My Cooking Buddy and the Costco Mini.
In the process of marketing their product, the students learnt about the marketing mix of the 4Ps (product, pricing, place, promotion), market segmentation, market research and studied successful marketing campaigns such as the 'Share a Coke' campaign and studied Starbucks failure to succeed in the Australian market. The pitches were original, entertaining and informative with the standard of presentation being high. This is the second time that we have run this project with the 10 Commerce classes this year and it continues to be a great way of tapping into students’ creativity and innovation.
Victorian Philosothon
Mr Peter Foord
After four weeks of topic preparation at Socrates Cafe, seven students competed in the 2021 Victorian Philosothon (organised and run by Wesley College Melbourne in conjunction with the Australasian Association of Philosophy AAP). The evening spanned two hours of discussions on Zoom around four philosophical questions. Professor Margaret Cameron from the University of Melbourne addressed the young philosophers and talked inspiringly about her journey into and through the history of philosophy and wrote a “Letter to a Young Philosopher”, a copy of which will be given to all participants.
Competing were Monty Ryan (Year 8), Mathilda Carli and Veronica Wright (Year 9) and Sophie Jones, Maggie Browning, Ann Chalakkal and Bridie Carey (Year 10). The topics included: Who can own the rights to property on the moon? What are the implications around digital immortality (uploading your mind)? Should vaccines be mandated for school students? What are the problems with “truthiness”?
Each of our girls did an incredible job at contributing their creative, critical and collaborative thinking to these four Communities of Inquiry. Loreto came third overall from six schools. Bridie Carey is to be congratulated for winning the Creative Thinking category for the competition and will receive a philosophy book prize.
Well done to all involved, with the biggest winner of the event being thinking itself!
Christmas Concert 2021 - Carols By Candlelight
Ms Simone Jans
Join us for the Loreto Christmas Concert on Tuesday 30 November from 7pm!
Held in the Loreto Abbey Theatre in the May's Mount Centre, our music and performance students and staff are excited to invite the Loreto community along to share some wonderful Christmas cheer.
To purchase your $5 ticket, please click on the button below:
Special thanks to current student, Remy Clarke for the beautiful original artwork.
This event will be conducted in accordance with the current State Government Covid regulations. Limited seating capacity, QR codes and vaccination entry requirements apply.
Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs
Thank you for your assistance so far we have collected over 6.5kg of Bread Tags!
Its nearly a wrap for this year so please bring any plastic tags you have been collecting into school, so we can add them to the collection. Please hand the tags into the collection tubs based in the Café area.
The plastic will be recycled in South Australia and funds raised will be used to purchase wheelchairs for those in need in South Africa.
The goals of this project were environmental, social/emotional/ numeracy and geographical - it also met Catholic Social Teaching strands.
Thanks to the team at Mulhall for working on this throughout 2021.
If you are interested in learning more about this, please read https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/
Library News
Mrs Sarah Lane (Library Officer)
Book Week is here! After being delayed due to covid we are so grateful we finally get to celebrate with everyone. We have activities, competitions and craft running all week. On Monday we enjoyed a Kahoot and on Tuesday a Read In, complete with blankets, cushions and hot chocolate! Tuesday morning we also held a special morning tea for the winner of our staff raffle. This raffle was a huge success and raised a whopping $275 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Today our Pop-Up Book Shop opens with all money raised also going to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. At lunchtime there is a Harry Potter Kahoot in the Library Presentation Room and on Thursday Ms Baird is doing a Read Aloud. We can’t wait to see what she reads!
Please see below for an outline of the remaining activities this week:
All week
Try your hand at making a magic map, or cut out a snowflake to add to our display.
Celebrate your unique traits with a post-it on the windows.
Enter the raffles and the map-matching competition.
Wednesday
Harry Potter Kahoot Quiz – Lunchtime in the Presentation Room.
Book Sale starts – prices as low as 20c for ex-library books!
Thursday
Read Aloud with Ms Baird in the Reading Area at lunchtime. What will she read to us??
Book Sale continues.
Friday
Book Sale continues.
Happy Reading!
The Library Team
Career News
Ms Jodie Howlett (Careers Coordinator)
In this week's Career News:
- Year 9 and 10 students: university early admission programs
- Year 9 and 10 students: Santos Science Experience
- Year 11 students: National Youth Science Forum – applications closing soon
- Three amazing sports programs
- Competitions – photography, art, writing
- TAFE – free and low cost courses
- Articles on fashion and psychology
- The University of Melbourne – Fine Arts and Music
- University rankings
- Australian Jobs 2021
- Tourism and travel course at the Whitsunday Islands
- Upcoming career events
Federation University Info Day and Change of Preference Information
The info day will be an opportunity for Year 10, 11 and 12 students and the public to explore our beautiful campuses, receive personalised advice about our degrees and services.
Find out how you can join the university ranked #1 for Graduate Outcomes* at our upcoming Info Day on Thursday, 16 December, 10 am- 3 pm.
Attend one of their on-campus events, and you will:
- Receive individual study advice
- Receive advice on adjusting VTAC preferences after Year 12 results are released
- Tour our campuses
- Find out about our scholarships
- Immerse yourself in student life and get a feel for the vibe on campus.
Can't make it on the day?
Register for the virtual event here.
The virtual info session will be held Friday, 17 December.
https://federation.edu.au/future-students/study-at-federation/info-day
Our admissions team will be available on the phone with extended hours over the VCE results and the Change of Preference period in December:
- Thursday 16 December, 9 am – 5 pm
- Friday 17 December, 9 am – 5 pm
- Saturday 18 December, 10 am – 3 pm
- Sunday 19 December, 10 am – 3 pm
- Monday 20 December, 9 am – 5 pm
Loreto Community Notices
Canteen Volunteer Opportunity in 2022
We are excited to welcome back volunteers to support our Canteen in 2022!
Shifts will be available Monday-Friday from12:30pm-2:00pm with two volunteers scheduled for each shift.
All volunteers are required to be double vaccinated and have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC)
If you are interested in volunteering, please register your details here or via the button below.
(please ignore where it says 'Canteen - not currently available due to COVID-19 restrictions')
Academic Award Sponsorship Opportunity
Although COVID has continued to challenge our graduating students this year, they have stood up to the challenge and we look forward to celebrating their academic achievements.
With a variety of different subjects to sponsor for $100 each, your sponsorship can be in your personal or business name and may also be an award that aligns with a subject of your special interest.
If you are interested in supporting an academic award, you will give a Loreto student the recognition and acknowledgement they deserve. Your gift may go towards purchasing textbooks, university fees, living or travel costs.
Please contact us by emailing us at development@loreto.vic.edu.au if you wish to sponsor the 2021 Academic Awards.
Uniform Donations
If any families have any spare uniforms that they no longer need could they please donate these to Carly at Student Reception.
This will support students in need and provide changes of clothes for sickbay.
2022 Shoe Guide - The Athlete's Foot
Please click on the button below to download The Athlete's Foot 2022 Shoe Guide which includes shoes that meet the school uniform policy. Each time you buy a pair of shoes $5 is donated back to the school through their School Rewards program.
Faull's Shoes - Back to School Brochure 2022
Please click on the button below to download the Faull's Shoes Back to School brochure which features 20% off Clarks and Harrison school shoes.
Loreto College Policies
The College is in the process of updating and publishing a range of relevant policies and procedures. The policies most applicable to families are accessible on the Loreto website.
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
Thursday 25 November
- Year 12 Graduation Celebration
Friday 26 November
- Year 11 Final Day
Friday 3 December
- Year 7 to 10 Final Day
