Music
Loreto College has a rich musical tradition and the Co-Curricular Music Program allows this tradition to flourish. The Program encourages students to study voice, speech and drama or an instrument; and compliments the classroom music curriculum.
Loreto College run a large number of ensembles, catering for all ability levels. These ensemble provide a clear pathway for students to progress as their skills develop. There is flexibility in the range of ensembles on offer to benefit the student’s needs at a particular time.
Ensembles include:
- Junior Concert Band
- Senor Concert Band
- String Ensemble
- Bijou Orchestra
- Junior Choir
- Loreto Blues (Senior Choir)
- Special Events Choir
- A Capella Choir
- Loreto Drumline
- Stage Band
- Drama Ensemble
- Flute Ensemble
- Woodwind Ensemble
- Guitar Ensemble
- Brass Ensemble
Loreto College also provides tuition on the following instruments:
- Woodwind – flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone
- Brass – trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium, tuba
- Strings – violin, viola, cello, double bass, acoustic & electric guitar, electric bass
- Percussion – piano, drum-kit, mallet percussion
- Voice – classical & contemporary
- Speech and Drama – Trinity College London in Australia
- Theory of Music – Australian Music Examination Board
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Program provides each student at the College an opportunity to explore and experience performance, whether it be music, dance or drama; in an encouraging environment. Through performance, students develop confidence and resilience and are able to share their unique talents with our Loreto community. This program is enhanced by our state-of-the-art performance facilities.
Improsports
Improsports is a variety of drama games in which students have to improvise after been given a prompt and is a lunch time favourite, as students compete against each other. The Theatre is always full as students come to watch the competition! In addition to these lunchtime sessions, the College sends teams to compete at the Royal South Street competitions each year. This involves activities such as “Death in a Minute”, “Expert Double Figures” and “Space Jump”.
School Production
The School Production is a collaborative effort between Loreto College and St Patricks’ College each year. Previous productions have included Bugsy Malone (2008), Godspell (2009), Alice In Wonderland (2010), Jungle Juice (2011), Fame (2012), Sweeney Todd (2013), The Spelling Bee (2014), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2015), Les Miserables (2016), West Side Story (2017), Beauty and the Beast (2018), Shrek (2019). A Chorus Line (2021) and Chicago (2022).
House Arts Competition
Each year, our Houses gather to form a performance. This includes a choir, a dance routine as well as a visual arts component. This competition involves all students from the school. These performances are led by the House Arts Captains.
Arts Festival
Each year the Arts Festival is the most anticipated event on Loreto’s performance calendar. There are usually over 400 Loreto girls involved in this performance. Audiences are amazed each year at the high-quality performances presented on the evening. Our Loreto Abbey Theatre provides an opportunity for students to perform in a professional setting on stage with lights and sound.
Sport
Loreto College Ballarat has an open, flexible and creative approach to sport, ensuring that the co-curricular sports program is accessible to all students. Our aim is to enrich the students’ school life by offering a comprehensive and diverse sports program through participation in competitive and non-competitive physical activity. We believe that active participation in sport enriches the students’ physical, mental and social health.
Loreto College’s Rowing Program is one of the best Ballarat has to offer, with Loreto’s location at Lake Wendouree providing a convenient and inclusive experience. Students from Year 8 and above have the opportunity to join the rowing program which runs from Term 4 to the end of Term 1 the following year (with camps and training running over the Christmas School Holidays). Trials begin in Term 3 each year.
All year levels, all sports, from beginner to senior, all year levels - every term after
school. Information will be circulated to students each term and they sign up in the
GBC or see the Sports staff. Days and times differ depending on the sport chosen.
Loreto College competes against other schools in the area.
Yearly Sport open to all students rotating over terms includes: Lawn Bowls, Rowing, Tennis, Cricket, Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Hockey, Netball, Racquetball, Croquet, Badminton, Cheerleading, Cross Country Running, Soccer, Swimming, Athletics
Held weekly, join us in the Weights Room for a SPIN Class led by a member of our P.E Team. All are welcome to join in.
Come along each week for a run during lunchtime along Victoria Park or Lake Wendouree. All are welcome!
Join us each week in the Weights Room for a CIRCUIT Class. All are welcome to join in.
International Excursions
At Loreto, there are many opportunities to travel overseas across the globe. These travel opportunities provide our students with a global perspective, an opportunity to further their interests and build their independence in the setting of a new culture.
Loreto College conducts in-country study tours with Sacred Heart, Obayashi and Shibuya Kyoiku Gakuen to enhance the study of the Japanese language.
Loreto College in-country study tour to New Caledonia Loreto College conducts a country study tour to New Caledonia, where students may immerse themselves in the French Language and culture.
Students in Years 11 and 12 have the opportunity to travel to England and Ireland on the biannual Loreto Pilgrimage during the Term 1 and 2 break. Over the course of almost three weeks, students visit Loreto schools in Ireland and sites of significance to our Loreto story in England, as well as many amazing tourist attractions and historical landmarks.
The highlights of past trips are numerous and varied. The girls were able to build significant links with some of their fellow Loreto students in Ireland when they experienced a two-night homestay with a family from Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan. They met some of the Loreto sisters at the Bar Convent in York and learned more about the story of Mary Ward when visiting her grave at Osbaldwick. Whilst travelling the English countryside, the pilgrims visited Shakespeare’s grave in Stratford upon Avon, danced around the massive rocks at Stonehenge in a bitterly cold wind and experienced the opulence of the state apartments at Windsor Castle.
This Pilgrimage experience has proved to be the experience of a lifetime! Students look forward to experiencing friendly guides and hosts, wonderful learning experiences, and thoroughly enjoyable things to do and sites to see along the way.
The Loreto College NASA Space Camp takes off biannually in September. This trip is offered to Year 9 and 10 students. The inaugural trip took place in September 2016 and our students and staff loved it!
The trip is held in the two-week term break between Term 3 and 4 and visits Washington, Florida and Alabama. The trip is designed to promote an understanding and love of the study of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects in the students; showing students the possibilities open to students who pursue study in these areas at a senior and tertiary level.
Itinerary
Huntsville, Alabama – NASA space camp
A five day live-in program where the students undertake training in:
- The history of the exploration of space including the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs
- Astronaut training
- Mission training
- Specialist mission training as a pilot or extravehicular activities (EVA) such as spacewalks.
At the end of the program, the trainees carry out a simulated mission followed by a graduation ceremony.
Orlando, Florida
The students spend four days in Orlando visiting a number of local attractions with the highlight being the visit to the Kennedy Space Centre.
At the Kennedy Space Centre, the students will tour the facilities, possibly witness a shuttle launch (dependent upon launch dates), have lunch with a current astronaut and tour the shuttle facility.
Washington DC
Finally, the students spend two days in Washington DC where they visit the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Washington Monument, Arlington, the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall.
-> download NASA Camp details (pdf)
Other Co-Curricular Opportunities
Loreto College Ballarat has an open, flexible and creative approach to sport, ensuring that the co-curricular sports program is accessible to all students. Our aim is to enrich the students’ school life by offering a comprehensive and diverse sports program through participation in competitive and non-competitive physical activity. We believe that active participation in sport enriches the students’ physical, mental and social health.
We have a proud Public Speaking and Debating program with this opportunity available to all students. Students participate in a range of competitions and work together in a supportive environment. Students from Year 7 to 12 are invited to be involved in this program.
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is a group for those passionate about social justice, environment and fundraising. This group welcomes students from Year 7 - 12 with a dedicated Junior and Senior JPIC groups. Meetings are held weekly.
A group for those who enjoy great philosophical conversations. All are welcome to come along and join in. Tea, coffee, milo and biscuits provided. Meetings are held each Friday.
All welcome, all year levels - A student-run diversity group who offer support for
LGBTQI+ students, their allies and friends. The group meets each week. Anyone is welcome to come along.
All are welcome to come along to weekly sessions in the College Art Rooms where you can work on your own art projects and school art projects and develop new skills.
The Loreto Lark is a student newspaper where you can have your work published for the Loreto community to read. If you are interested in writing, editing, digital editing and working with a team to create a publication for Loreto you are invited to join the Loreto Lark. All are welcome.
Do you have an interest in books? Then Library Book Club is for you! Come along each week to participate in a range of fun activities in the Library. All are welcome.
3D Printers and Robotics
All welcome. 3D printers and robotics are available for student use on Fridays in ICT at recess and lunchtime – come along and try!
Software Workshops
All welcome. Students who would like advice on using the Adobe Creative Suite, Sharepoint, Tinkercad and 3D printing software are welcome to come along to workshops in ICT on Wednesdays at lunchtime. Each software product has it’s own session date, so keep an eye out for more information. Contact the ICT team for more information.