Leadership News
From the Principal
Ms Michelle Brodrick
One of the most important events in people’s calendars is Easter. It is an opportunity to spend time with family or have a short holiday.
The most significant memories of Easter connect with being Christian as Easter is central to our faith. It represents rebirth and renewal, that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and that life and love triumph. Being in isolation this Easter (as a close contact), highlighted the importance of Holy Week and the special masses that are usually a part of my Easter.
This Easter period saw the return of the Rip Curl Pro to Bells Beach. Isolation provided me time to enjoy the event online and to see the finals on Easter Sunday. There is a photographic image of Tyler Wright with her arms raised on a wave after her victory. Tyler has spent the last two years recovering from post-viral syndrome and her joy is captured in this photo. In many ways it also typifies our return to ‘COVID’ normal and the need to feel triumphant after two long years of living in a pandemic. Now we are beginning to feel reborn and can reconnect with the all the opportunities that our faith in God provides.
At the end of last term we thanked and farewelled several staff who have been valued members of our community.
- Helena Spencer (after 22 years of service)
- Graham Thurgood
- Kylie Wright – Director of ICT
- Theresa Cronk – Archivist
We wish them well and thank them for all they have contributed to Loreto.
We have a number of new staff we have welcomed to the College this term
Student Counsellor Team
- Bonnie Hendrix
- Kirsty Britten
Teaching Staff
- Erin Shortal
- Lainie Howard
Maintenance & Grounds
- Rebecca Thompson
It has been exciting to return to term two with more certainty than there has been in the past two years when it comes to schooling. We began the term with many students attending the Anzac Day dawn service and the 11:00am service at the Cenotaph. College Captains Sophie Boyd and Jaime Sargent-Crowe had roles in both ceremonies including reading poems and laying a wreath with the Mayor Daniel Moloney and councillor Samantha McIntosh.
Face to face parent/teacher/student interviews and the Year 8 Captiv8 evening were held in the first week of term. For some parents/carers this was the first time they had been on the Loreto College site for a long time. Thank you to everyone who came along to participate and support these events.
From the Deputy Principal
Mrs Chris Shaw
It was appropriate that the theme for our first Assembly of Term 2 was – Aspiration. It connects us to our innate desire to be better humans. With reflection on the past through ANZAC services and thinking of the present seemingly chaotic state of our world, we want our students to see the control they have over their own futures through their individual aspirations.
I spoke to them about the idea that it is easy to think that change is just too hard and that it’s easy to plod and do the same old stuff because we’ve always done it that way, but the reality is, that we haven’t always done it that way. The last two years have been different to anything we’ve ever done before. Being aspirational doesn’t mean you have to exhaust yourself, but you do have to give yourself every opportunity to thrive.
Thank you to the students who gave up their time to represent the school at the end of last term and this term for our ANZAC Day commitments. In addition, we have many students involved in community events and achieving great things in the pursuit of their interests. Some of these are included in this newsletter and we encourage students to let their Mentor know about their achievements so we can celebrate them as a school.
With so much on this term and so many opportunities, we look forward to seeing our students thrive as they get involved and as they apply themselves. An aspirational mindset is about not settling for less than your best. In our year of freedom, we want our students to remember that a kite won’t fly without some effort!
We are also looking forward to significant College events in the upcoming weeks. These include:
- 4EK which promotes Meningococcal awareness in memory of Emma-Kate McGrath (Class of 2016), who contracted the disease and passed away in 2017.
- Chicago – High School edition that will be held in the Mary’s Mount Centre from 11 – 14 May (tickets available here)
- Reconciliation Week – 27 May – 3 June. We are excited to announce that we will visited by Senior Australian of the Year 2021, Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM.
- Reunions for the classes of 1960, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012 that will be held during the month of May.
Parent Communications - The Loreto App & PAM (Parent Access Module)
A reminder that parent communications are communicated via the Loreto App, PAM and emails.
Please ensure you have downloaded the Loreto College App. For further instructions on how to download and sign in to the app, head here.
The Parent Access Module (PAM) is also important for parents and carers. PAM enables you to access the latest details about your daughter’s progress. After logging in to the site you will be able to:
- See the College attendance records for your daughter
- View your daughter’s timetable
- Check if any homework tasks are yet to be completed
- See the results for assessment tasks and the feedback given (where applicable)
- Access the online reporting system for information about your daughter’s progress
as well as many other features of the site.
You can log in to the site with the username/password combination that has been mailed to parents earlier this year. If you need log in details to access the Parent Access Module, please contact the school by phone.
Student News
At our first Assembly, we recognised our talented students highlighting student achievements at all year levels. We have many students in our school who achieve great things. We celebrate their outstanding efforts and encourage any students to tell their Mentor what they are achieving.
| Student | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Mia Woodburn (Year 8) | State U15 Singles Sculling Championships Winner |
| Erin Almeida (Year 10) | 2022 Class Clowns National Grand Final Winner |
| Hayley Every (Year 9) | 2022 Class Clowns Regional Finals |
| Lana Dodd (Year 12) | 2022 Victorian Pathway Women's 8 Rowing Team |
| Lexi Ryan (Year 12), Eloise Davenport (Year 12), Beth Davenport (Year 8), Freyja Niehus (Year 10), Emily Lewis (Year 10), Chloe Cook (Year 10), Mollie Tigchelaar (Past Pupil) | Mount Clear Cricket U17 Premiership Team |
| Alana Bogers (Year 9) | U16 Victorian Soccer Team - National Youth Soccer Team Member |
| Anna Cronin (Year 12) | Euroa Criterium Winner - Women's C Grade Cycling |
| Grace Pennant (Year 11) | The Push's All-Ages Events Team Photographer |
| Alice Parry (Year 11) | The Push's All-Ages Events Team Master of Ceremonies |
| Eliza Ashby (Year 7), Gabriella Stanley (Year 7), Audrey Murnane (Year 7), Allie Kirby (Year 8), Keira McDonald (Year 8) | Ballarat Representative Netball Team U13 |
| Kate Aikman (Year 8), Abby Kinnersly (Year 8), Maia Murphy (Year 8), Ebony Porter (Year 9), Rylee Sheridan (Year 9) | Ballarat Representative Netball Team U15 |
| Sarah Augustine (Year 11) & Rose Murnane (Year 10) | Ballarat Representative Netball Team U17 |
From the Assistant Principal: Wellbeing
Ms Gemma McDermott
Being a New Local
It has been such a journey this year, moving to a new state, starting a new role, and being welcomed into a wonderful community. I moved to Ballarat full of excitement and I have not been disappointed. I am loving Ballarat. Last term when I was driving to school around Lake Wendouree, I had to stop to allow a couple of swans to cross the road. I made sure I told all my friends back home. At the beginning of this year, I moved from Sydney with my two cats. My husband is still in Sydney due to work and our two beautiful daughters live in London. When I saw the advertisement for the Assistant Principal of Wellbeing I could not pass up the opportunity having worked in a Loreto school in Sydney as Dean of Pastoral Care.
At Loreto Normanhurst, I led the Pastoral Team and the student leaders and therefore, spoke often about the incredible women who embodied the Loreto charism; Mary Ward and Mother Gonzaga Barry. Loreto Normanhurst was built by Mother Gonzaga Barry on the spot whereas the story goes, she saw a rainbow. Normanhurst was an incredibly enriching teaching experience. After Normanhurst, I moved to Mercy College in Chatswood to support their Pastoral Team in a new position at the school as Director of Student Wellbeing. My daughters went to Mercy, so I saw it as my opportunity to give back to the school for the wonderful education they had provided to my daughters. However, there is something about a Loreto school you can not get out of your system. I had been to Ballarat twice with the Normanhurst Captains for the Student Leaders Conference and therefore, could not pass up the opportunity to possibly return to Ballarat. I am grateful to be here and to be able to teach Maths. I have a wonderful Year 11 General class. Thank you to Leadership Team who have been very supportive and to the staff, students, and parents for making me feel welcome.
Mother’s Day
A couple of years ago I was given the honour to be the guest speaker at Mercy’s Mother’s Day Breakfast. It was an opportunity to share reflections and words of advice as a mother of two ex-students, as well as a teacher in a pastoral position. It was incredible to be part of an event full of love and joy. At the breakfast, I mentioned the importance of a mother being there for her daughter and finding a time in her hectic schedule to go out to a café together and be able to talk and listen without always giving advice.
One of the hardest things as a parent is to be able to step back. We need to allow our daughters to experience disappointment and failure, in order to improve and learn how to pick themselves up and try again, no matter if that means they have to keep practising 100 or more times. The famous American basketballer Michael Jordan said “I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed”. Remember FAIL really means First Attempt In Learning. As a parent, encourage balance in your daughter’s life, make sure she is getting out and playing sport, seeing friends as well as doing all the school work. Australian education authors John Hattie and Ken Rowe both wrote articles about the strong link between student wellbeing and student success.
Encourage your daughter to be in positive relationships with friends who encourage her and enjoys her company and not those who cause pain through hurtful words and actions. Unfortunately, we cannot escape from the fact the internet is here and reality television will not go away, therefore, it is important to talk to your daughter about what she sees and have a conversation about whether she feels pressure to look or act a certain way because of the many influences in society. Build in your daughter her capacity to thrive and be a voice of change and not one that goes along with the crowd.
At the end of the Mother’s Day Breakfast, I shared a few words and phrases that students had written about their mothers, so I would like to close by sharing these words. My mother is “nurturing, encouraging, hardworking, amazing, understanding, organised, selfless, dedicated, caring, a shoulder to lean on, she is always there for me, she calms me and comforts me when I am stressed or upset, a worried mother does better research than the FBI, thinks of others first, she loves me”.
Have a good week and a beautiful Mother’s Day
New Counsellors at Loreto
We have had the pleasure of welcoming two new staff members into our counselling team this term. We welcome Kirsty Britten who comes to Loreto with a wealth of counselling experience in particular working with students who have experienced trauma having worked for many years at Berry Street. Our second staff member is Bonnie Hendricks who is a psychologist with experience in working for many years in a high school as well as having managed her own private practice. Bonnie has a golden retriever therapy dog called Harlow. We are very excited to announce Harlow will be making special appearances at school on Fridays.
From the Assistant Principal: Faith & Identity
Ms Felicity Knobel
In my role as Assistant Principal: Faith and Identity I often tell people that my department are the ‘Bringers of Joy” to our Loreto College. Reflecting on Term 1 and looking forward to Term 2 this is very much the case. We want our community to be proud to be Loreto. We want our community to grow in understanding of being a Catholic in the 21st century. We want our community to bring these understandings and values to our world. We do this knowing that we are walking in the footsteps of strong, confident and brave Loreto women that have gone before us. We want to do all of these things with passion, confidence and determination.
Caritas Australia: Project Compassion
Our JPIC Junior students (in Year 7 and 8) again were exceptional in raising much-needed money for Project Compassion. The selling of raffle tickets, the organising of activities and the motivation and enthusiasm was simply wonderful. Through the Junior JPIC and our whole school casual day on our last day of term we raised in excess of $2000 for this worthwhile cause.
Mother’s Day Mass
It was fantastic to be back in the Loreto Chapel for our Mother’s Day Mass which was celebrated last night. We welcomed Father Ed Moloney to celebrate our Eucharist and celebrate all female role models in our school community. A special thank you to our wonderful speakers, the Year 12 Liturgical Choir for their beautiful performance and to Father Ed Moloney. We hope those who attended enjoyed the evening as we certainly enjoyed your company!
Reconciliation Week
This year at Loreto College we will be marking Reconciliation Week. At Loreto College, we want to continue to develop ongoing relationships and respectful partnerships with Elders and communities. We know that at Loreto College reconciliation is everyone’s business and that it is everyone’s responsibility and right to create an Australia for all people.
In light of these understandings we have very special things planned during this week, with the view that reconciliation doesn’t just happen in that week, it happens all the time. We look forward to sharing our plans with you in the coming weeks.
Mentor Group in the Chapel
In conjunction with very talented Ms Mary O’Driscoll, we have begun inviting year levels into our Chapel each fortnight to learn hymns that are special to our Loreto community. Our Year 11s have now had several sessions with Ms O’Driscoll and their rendition of Queen of Loreto is something to behold. Our Year 8s are now in line to begin their time in the Chapel. They have already proven through their rendition of Lead Us on Mary Ward with Sr Deirdre Browne, that they will love their time in the Chapel with Ms O’Driscoll. We look forward to opportunities when we gather for these beautiful voices to be heard.
Year 8 Reflection Day
At the end of this term our Year 8 cohort will have their Reflection Day. Our Reflection Days at Loreto College are a time for our students to gather, experience something new, reflect and take time with their fellow students. Our Year 8 Reflection Day is a compulsory school day that we expect all students to attend. Parents/Carers will receive information and permission in the coming weeks.
Social Justice
Our social justice groups are ready to go for Term 2. We have the emphasis on action this term, where we want our students to be outside in our community being of service. If your child would like to become involved, there are regular meetings that are on our messages each day.
From the Assistant Principal: Learning & Innovation
Ms Em Shanahan
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Many years ago, learning revolved around memorising important dates, learning important facts and regurgitating knowledge in standard examination formats. Today, learning centres around how to think, rather than what to think, and this can be both liberating and incredibly frustrating.
At Loreto College, our focus is on providing each student with the opportunity to learn and grow. An essential part of that learning process involves feeling uncertain at times, frustrated at not knowing the answer, and making lots of mistakes. It’s in rising up from setbacks that students develop academic resilience and know that they can persevere to overcome challenges, not only with their learning, but also in life.
There are so many things that we can celebrate. We have students who have improved results this year. There are others who have made it to the State level for public speaking. By focusing on the strengths in each learner, students can build confidence and use their strengths to help work through their areas for growth.
If we only ever focus on providing the exact tools and instructions for students to succeed, they will only ever meet our basic expectations. By setting sights on big dreams and endless possibilities, students will tap into creativity and critical thinking, achieving things well beyond anything we might possibly have imagined.
With that in mind, I encourage parents, carers, students and all within our community, to think big and dream big. Rather than focusing only on the specific task at hand, let’s imagine what we want our students to achieve not just now, but also in the years to come. By establishing a safe place to problem solve and work towards new and exciting goals, we foster a love of learning, a joy in curiosity, and our students become young people who are ready to face our ever-changing world.
NAPLAN
From Erin Norman (Director of Studies)
Year 7 and Year 9 students will sit their online NAPLAN testing on Tuesday 10 May, Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May. This year, NAPLAN is moving to an online testing system. This allows the NAPLAN testing to be adaptive and give a more accurate measure of student progress. The schedule for this is below:
Tuesday 10 May - Reading (Period 1 & 2) and Conventions of Language (Period 3)
Wednesday 11 May - Writing (Period 1)
Thursday 12 May - Numeracy (Period 1 & 2)
There will also be opportunities for students to catch up on tests due to absence in the days following this.
The students will remain with their Mentor group and will be supervised by their subject teachers. All students require their laptop for this testing and a set of headphones.
Students who have adjustments to their usual assessments, that fit under the NAPLAN guidelines, will have the support of Learning Diversity and Learning Support staff to complete the practice and NAPLAN tests.
We encourage all students to view NAPLAN tests as an opportunity to show what they know and not to allow this testing to cause any stress or concern. Schools use NAPLAN data as a reference to structure their curriculum to better suit student learning.
College News
VCAL News
Ms Jill Wheatland (VCAL Leader)
This year our VCAL camp was held against the picturesque backdrop of the Grampians at Halls Gap.
The camp gives our Year 11 and Year 12 students the chance to build friendships and develop important skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and persistence. The VCAL program focuses on the development of soft skills which are vital in all aspects of life.
On the first afternoon, the students are placed in groups and sent out to tackle the “High Ropes” course and the “Kookaburra Fly”. It was great to see the girls encourage and cheer each other on as they conquered their fear of heights. Many of the students enjoyed the challenge of stepping outside their comfort zone. The next activity was a leisurely stroll into town where we spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in the local pool. Some of the girls said that they had not been swimming in a public pool for quite a few years and were quite surprised about how much they really enjoyed this opportunity.
After sharing an evening meal together we settled into the evening session with Social Worker, Charlotte Brierley (ex-Loreto student). The students and staff started the session with a reflective letter writing task and then Charlotte led the girls in a range of team building and initiative activities.
The next morning the girls made crowns from a range of bush materials they collected from outside. They had to model their crown and share how their design reflected their identity. Some students were reluctant to part with their crowns and wore them for the rest of the camp.
We finished our camp experience with a bushwalk into town where we shared lunch together and then returned to the bus for our journey back to Loreto. An amazing two days were shared by everyone.
Year 8 Captiv8 Relationships Parent Evening
Ms Rachael McNamara (Felicitous Life Learning Leader)
The Wellbeing Science curriculum in Year 8 has a particular focus on positive relationships, teaching students effective communication skills and helping students navigate their relationships with their friends and their loved ones in a positive way. On Thursday 28 April, Year 8 students were invited to bring along a significant adult to participate in a workshop about effective communication. The evening was very practical, as adults and students worked in groups and individually to practice their communication with each other and have a laugh along the way. The evening was supported by Principal Michelle Broderick and the Year 8 Mentor Team.
This evening is held annually and enjoyed by all as time is carved out of the busyness of day to day life to sit down, ask questions and have really good conversations. The main messages in the short presentation were about:
- The importance of a significant adult in an adolescence life as a protective factor
- Empowering students in the conversations we have with them, asking questions that help them find their own solutions, rather than rescuing them
- Having empathy and using paraphrasing techniques to clarify the conversation, so the adults can understand how the young person is feeling.
It was pleasing to see many students attend with their chosen adult and practice the skills and techniques addressed in the presentation.
Thank you to all that attended and for the spirit in which you participated. A special thank you to Kay Drummond and Kasey Fletcher for their preparation and facilitation of the evening and for the rigour of the Year 8 Captiv8 program.
The Arts Faculty News
Ms Stepahnie Greet (Faculty Leader The Arts)
Cosí - VCE Theatre Studies Performance
Tuesday 31 May at 7:00 PM
Cosí is inspired by playwright Louis Nowra's own life. Amongst the backdrop of Vietnam War protests in 1971, this production follows Lewis, a young director who lands a gig staging a production with inmates from an institution. Come along and watch Lewis as he attempts to direct Mozart's Così fan tutte with a cast who can't sing, act or speak Italian.
The Theatre Studies class have worked hard to walk the careful line between respect and comedy and have delved into the light and shade of what was 1970's Australia.
This unique Australian comedy is a show not to be missed! Come along and support our VCE Theatre Studies students on Tuesday 21 May at 7:00 PM. Supper is to be provided following the show.
Adult Tickets: $5
Student Tickets: Free
Class Clowns National Grand Final!
Congratulations to Year 10 student Erin Almeida who won Class Clowns at the Melbourne International Comedy Festiva recently! Class Clowns is a national comedy development program in which hundreds of secondary school students participate. Erin had recently progressed to the Class Clowns Grand Final after taking out the State Final. Well done Erin on stepping outside your comfort zone and making the most of this incredible opportunity.
English Faculty News
Ms Kerryn Boyko (Faculty Leader English)
Term 1 Wrap Up
During Term 1, there was much to marvel at in English classes. Wonderful poetry has been written by Year 7 students, whilst Year 9, 11 and 12 students critically examined media texts understanding that authors were trying to manipulate an audience. What a good life skill! Also aiming to persuade an audience, Year 8 students have been busy preparing a speech, presenting their points of view about issues ranging from allowing therapy dogs and food in the classroom to dealing with global warming. Year 10 students engaged with George Orwell’s classic text Animal Farm. Year 12 English Language students have enjoyed reading and writing about the informalities in language while the Year 11s learnt about child language acquisition.
This term the Year 9s are looking forward to a live performance of Romeo and Juliet. In the coming weeks, Year 12 Literature gets to showcase their creative writing skills, writing from the point of view of animals caught up in human conflict!
English Help Sessions
We would like to remind you about the English Support Sessions on offer. For Years 7, 8 and 9 students there is a weekly help session on Wednesdays at lunchtime. Similarly, Years 10, 11 and 12 students are invited to seek assistance at Friday lunchtimes.
There are additional VCE support sessions:
Tuesday 8.15am for English Language
Tuesday 3.30pm for Unit 3 English Consolidation
Library/Year 12 English collaboration
In Station Eleven, one of the key questions posed is: what makes life worth living? The author, Emily St John Mandel, would argue that The Arts add value to life. Throughout this dystopian fiction, Mandel conveys that art, performance and music are essential for humans to make sense of the world and thrive.
At the end of Term 1, the Library created a pop-up Art Gallery to stimulate Unit 3 English students’ consideration of the diverse forms of art. Students were invited to think about how art offers value and meaning to lives, firstly by noting their personal responses to a selection of artworks. Students then engaged with Mandel’s view that art has universal themes that connect humans through time and place. Art is also celebrated as having the power to sustain the spiritual well-being of people.
Thank you to Meghan Douglas for creating this engaging learning experience for our VCE English students.
Humanities Faculty News
Ms Jayne Carrigg (Faculty Leader Humanities)
Unit 3 Sociology Excursion to the Ballarat Art Gallery
Last term the Unit 3 Sociology class has had both an incursion and an excursion that has focused on Australian Indigenous Culture. For the excursion, the class went to the Ballarat Art Gallery to gain a deeper understanding of how artwork can develop a viewer’s understanding of Australian Indigenous Culture. The students were shown around the Ballarat Art Gallery by Education Officer Kate Gorman who explained how the artworks have been created and the intentions of the artists including creating awareness of Australian Indigenous Culture in the past and present. The incursion also had a focus on Australian Indigenous Culture and we were fortunate to have Emma Leehane come and speak to the class. Emma focused on the material and non-material aspects of Koorie Culture which complimented the artwork we had seen at the Ballarat Art Gallery. These experiences have helped the students gain a greater understanding of Australian Indigenous Culture.
Co-Curricular Debating & Public Speaking News
Ms Tammy Vandenberg (Co-Curricular Leader Debating & Public Speaking)
Rostrum Voice of Youth
Sunday was a wonderful experience for our public speaking students. We had ten junior and four senior students participate in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Public Speaking Competition. It was a highly competitive day with schools from around Ballarat coming again to Loreto to participate.
Laine Ballinger, Eliza Dodd, Olive Lanyon and Jemima Knobel won their first heat and moved forward to the finals of the day in the Junior division. Jemima Knobel was the winner with a speech titled ‘Blue Skies’ which discussed happiness and the need for a range of emotions to exist. Her impromptu speech entertained the audience about why she loves ‘Summer’ (it was mainly due to the gluten-free fish and chip shop in Cobram). The ‘Runner up’ was Olive Lanyon who passionately spoke to the audience about the need to educate women in her speech titled ‘Changing the Narrative’. Her impromptu speech had everyone laughing as she outlined why she hated ‘Summer’.
Our seniors were equally as successful with Lucy Eales winning and moving through to the state final with her speech ‘Practice makes Perfect’ which dealt with her struggles with being a perfectionist. Annmary Chalakkal was the ‘Runner up’ with a wonderful speech titled ‘Changing the Narrative’ which discussed the complexities of being an activist via social media.
Jemima and Lucy will present another prepared and impromptu speech on June 19 at the State Final in Melbourne. We wish them every success.
Co-Curricular Performance News
Ms Lindy Crowe-Procaccino (Co-Curricular Performance Leader)
NEXT WEEK: 2022 School Production - CHICAGO
Co-Curricular Sports News
Ms Whitney Beseler (Co-Curricular Sport Leader)
2022 Athletics Carnival
BAS Term 1 Results
Congratulations to the following premiership teams who represented Loreto in Term 1 BAS sports:
- BAS Junior B Volleyball - Winners
- BAS Intermediate B Volleyball - Winners
- BAS Senior A Tennis - Winners
- BAS Senior Cricket Team – Runners Up
Outstanding Athletics Results - Charlotte Cross
Library News
Ms Meghan Douglas (Director of Library Services)
We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a Writer’s Group during Monday lunchtimes in Term 2, with a focus on writing Flash Fiction. This is a fun genre that focuses on very short stories, focusing on crafting brief but compelling stories that capture a moment, a mood, or a memory. Students can come and speak with Ms Douglas for more information.
The CBCA Book of the Year shortlist for 2022 was eagerly anticipated in the Library. We are excited to report that we now have all of the shortlisted books in both the older and younger reader categories (and a smattering from the other categories, too!) available to borrow and reserve. Our Shadow Judges have been eagerly working their way through the Younger Readers list over the holidays, and are now preparing to respond creatively to each text in turn, under the enthusiastic guidance of Mrs Lane.
We are looking forward to an exciting term offering new experiences to our students and supporting the vibrant life of the school. Look out for displays and activities related to IDAHOBIT (17 May), the Federal Election (21 May), and National Reconciliation Week (27 May - 3 June).
We have some fabulous new books to share!
The Wolf Girl series is a fun, illustrated Adventure/ Dystopian series for upper primary and younger high school students from beloved comedian Anh Do. When disaster separates Gwen from her family, she must fend for herself, all alone in the wilderness. Will Gwen fulfill her destiny to become the one and only ... Wolf Girl?
Six Crimson Cranes is a beautiful and immersive YA fantasy retelling of the Grimm brothers' The Six Swans fairytale, set in an East-Asian inspired world. It was a viral hit on Tiktok, and it’s now available to borrow from our Library.
First Nations writer Evelyn Araluen’s Dropbear is a breathtaking collection of poetry and short prose which arrests key icons of mainstream Australian culture and turns them inside out. This is the 2022 winner of the Stella Prize.
Get in touch with us for more!
Library Website: https://libguides.loreto.vic.edu.au/Loreto-Library
Our email: library@loreto.vic.gov.au
Our eBook and audiobook collection: https://loreto.wheelers.co/
Instagram: Follow us @loretoballaratlibrary
Career News
Ms Jodie Howlett (Careers Coordinator)
In this week's Career News:
Year 12 students
- ADF Gap Year
- Apply for university now!
- Interested in applying for medicine or dentistry?
All students
- Competitions
- Career Expos
- Tutoring
- Research your university and TAFE course options
- National Security Careers
- Interested in construction?
- Dates for your diary
Squirt's Birthday
Mr Peter Foord (Ward 4 - Year 11 Mentor)
Squirt, our resident turtle in the Science Department, had her birthday on Thursday 31 March. Our Ward 4 Mentor Group decided we should celebrate her birthday, so on Friday Milly Ridley brought in a cake she had baked for Squirt’s party and along with some other party snacks, Ward 4 had a short party in the hallway. Squirt joined us as we lit candles and sang Happy Birthday to her. Try as she might, she struggled to blow the candles out, so we helped her. The cake was delicious and Squirt thoroughly enjoyed the love and attention (as she does every morning from our group who happen to meet in the room she lives in). May she live a long, fulfilled and wonderful life – bringing joy to so many!
Loreto Community Notices
Canteen Roster Term 2 - Volunteers are back!
Thursday 12 May 12-2pm
Julia Pannan
Kerri Glenton
Friday 13 May 12-2pm
Wendy Grant
Thursday 19 May 12-2pm
Kim Sims
Jacqui Howlett
Friday 20 May 12-2pm
Julie Boyd
Sharyn Kennedy
Thursday 26 May 12-2pm
Claire Walsh
Friday 27 May 12-2pm
Sharon Janson
Thursday 2 June 12-2pm
Kim Sims
Friday 3 June 12-2pm
Lisa Vowles
Bernie Wise
Thursday 9 June 12-2pm
Julia Pannan
Kerri Glenton
Friday 10 June 12-2pm
Cara McLoon
All volunteers must have current working with children’s check and the 3rd vaccination status (all info must be provided when requested)
Please contact Jacqui Lamb (Canteen Manager) for any inquiries at jlamb@loreto.vic.edu.au
Inclusive Ballarat - Have Your Say
The City of Ballarat Council is in the process of developing a range of inclusion-based plans and want to hear from students and young people about how we can be a more inclusive organisation and city.
Here is the link to more information https://mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/inclusive-ballarat
BRMC - Youth Intercultural Music Workshop in April and May
BRMC is going to host four intercultural music workshops for ages 12- 25 years old in April and May. The workshops will be run by two wonderful musicians:
Valanga Khoza: a consummate storyteller and musician, shaping tales of his life into captivating presentations. Stella Savy: A professional musician for over 20 years. A multi-instrumentalist, and renowned percussionist and vocalist. Together, they will teach African drumming and some singing. Participants will hear the story of Valanga’s journey from South Africa all the way via refugee camps around the world to Australia.
Why: BRMC believes that one of the ways to combat racism is for people to have positive intercultural experiences. this opportunity is valuable for the youth in the community to have a meaningful and fun time, and to embrace the sense of community and multiculturalism through storytelling and music.
Cost: Free sessions.
When: 5:30 – 7:00pm. Saturday 23, 30 April and 14, 21 May
Where: Ballarat Welcome Centre, BRMC.
*Registration*: you can book online at https://interculturalworkshop.eventbrite.com.au
Our Diocesan Community Magazine
Please click on the button below for the April 2022 edition of “Our Diocesan Community”
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 2022
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.
To be eligible for a conveyance allowance, a student must reside 4.8km or more from the College.
Application forms are available at Main Reception or click on the following link, which also provides additional information.
Please note that in 2022 parents who successfully applied and received the Conveyance allowance in 2021 are not required to complete a new application form unless their details have changed – address, mode of transport, etc.
However, to submit a claim Myki receipts or statements or other bus company receipts must be received by the end of each term.
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/conveyance-allowance/resources
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)
The Victorian Government introduced this fund for the following purpose:
“Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund will ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities.”
If you hold a valid means-tested Health Care card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF ($225 per secondary school student). The allowance will be paid to the College to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions, or sporting activities for the benefit of your child and deducted from your school fee account. Applications close at the end of Term 2. Please complete the attached CSEF and return to the College.
Any enquiries please email accounts@loreto.vic.edu.au
Important Dates
Please keep an eye out on PAM, the Loreto College App, website and social media for any 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
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A reminder that our newsletter is now published twice a term.
