1460 Ignatian Newsletter - Friday 1 April 2022
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear Members of the Loyola College Community,
This is the final newsletter for what has been a very busy term. It has been wonderful to see all activities resume across the College and students have been delighted to be able to participate in them.
Harmony Day Assembly
Harmony Day this year was held on Monday 21 March. A full College Assembly was held in the Loyola Companions Hall to mark the event. With the tragic events taking place in the war in Ukraine, we can see that now, more than ever in history, it is so important for us to all come together and appreciate and value the gifts of cultural connectedness. The assembly began with a procession of world flags representing the ancestry of our Loyola students, there was an indigenous theme with a guest presenter, a lunchtime concert in the Two Wolves Hub and many food stalls.
I thank Ms Cummins, Intercultural Perspectives Coordinator, for overseeing the organisation of the day and all who assisted.
Year 7 Information Evening
This was held on Tuesday of last week and was very well attended. It provided an opportunity to inform parents about the College and some of our wellbeing programs as well as sharing aspects of our Ignatian charism with families. Presentations were made by the Principal, the Wellbeing & Personal Development Coordinator, Mr Valentino, and the Deputy Principal Ignatian Mission and Identity, Mr Lynch. I thank all parents who attended.
Opening and Blessing of the Cardoner Building Extension
This ceremony took place on Thursday 24 March. It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate the completion of Stage 3 of our current Masterplan. Bishop Curtin, Auxiliary Bishop for the Northern Region, performed the blessing ceremony and declared the building officially opened. It is a wonderful facility and the students and staff have been very excited.to move into the building. This will also be the new home for McAuley House. I invite families to visit the building on our Open Day in May. I thank all who contributed to the success of this event and who were involved in seeing this project come to completion.
Intercultural Evening
This was held on Friday evening of last week and was organised by Sr Nelia Llanto SJGS. From all reports the evening, held in conjunction with Harmony Week, was a success.
Year 7, 2024 Enrolment Applications
A reminder that these applications, which apply to children currently in Year 5, are due on 19 August 2022. Please complete applications via our website. The first interview round will be held in June this year.
Staffing Matters
I inform our community that Mr Morgan was seriously injured in a bike riding accident last week and will not be able to return to teaching duties for the remainder of this year. I ask for your prayers for his speedy recovery.
We welcome Mrs McDonnell, who has worked at the College previously, and will take Mr Morgan’s Humanities classes for the remainder of this year, while Mrs Van De Paverd will take the Indonesian class.
We express our deepest sympathy to Ms Van Dunk on the recent passing of her father.
We farewell Miss D’Silva who will be concluding her time with us at the end of term and thank her for her contribution in the iCentre this term.
We welcome the new Head of Information Services, Ms Bourne.
We also welcome Mr Zaki who joins us as an additional LSO in the Student Services area.
Student Dress Code
It is timely to remind families that the winter uniform requirements commence next term. From the first day of Term 2 all students are to be in full winter uniform. All students in day uniform need to wear their blazer to and from the College and anywhere in public when they are in their College winter uniform.
I ask for the support and cooperation of all families with regard to this matter.
House Eisteddfod
This will be held next week and I wish all Houses the best for their performances on the night. The students have certainly been working very hard in preparation for this event.
Prayer for the People of Ukraine
We have all seen the devastation of Ukraine that has taken place in recent weeks with the war in this land. Let us pray that soon there will be peace for the people of Ukraine. So many have fled to seek asylum in other countries. May the Holy Spirit touch the hearts of those who choose war so that they may change their ways and work for peace and harmony in our world.
Easter Greetings
We are approaching the fifth week of Lent and Easter will soon be with us. At the end of next week, we will celebrate Palm Sunday when we recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem leading to the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day.
As Lent draws to a close we look for hope in the Resurrection of Christ our Saviour. Christ came to save all because God’s love is for all humankind.
Easter is the most important Christian feast in the Catholic Church and has little significance for families if we do not mark this time with our participation in the Easter services. Now more than ever we need to re-focus on prayer in our life and on our relationship with God. I encourage all families to attend the various Easter services in Parish churches.
I wish all every blessing this Easter, a safe and happy holiday break and I look forward to seeing you all next term.
Mr. Joseph Favrin,
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
COLLEGE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project
Each year we ask parents to take part in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project survey to help us gain meaningful insights into how you feel Loyola views its Catholic identity today and how such identity might be shaped for tomorrow. Your responses are anonymous and your personal data is treated confidentially.
To participate, please find the instructions in the attachment below.
The more responses we have, the more data we have to help inform our decisions moving forward.
Elite Performance Scholarships
The Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA), generously support young achievers in their pursuit of elite Sport or Performing Arts each year at the College. Students are given the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $500.00 to put towards their travel expenses and costs for major competitions in which they are competing. Students can apply for this grant at any time of the year.
Any year 7 to 11 students interested in applying must complete the application form below:
Mr. Michael O'Keeffe,
Director of College & Community Engagement
TEACHING & LEARNING
Subject Specific Conversations April 28 and 29
Just a reminder that our first round of Subject Specific Conversations will take place on April 28 from 2:15pm to 8:30pm and April 29 from 1:00pm – 5:30pm. Communication will be sent out over the next fortnight.
Term One Interim reports will only be available for you online. Therefore, I would suggest that you either print a hard copy or save the report as a PDF if you would like to refer to it during your Subject Specific Conversations.
The purpose of these Subject Specific Conversations will be to discuss the learning that has occurred in Term One and, in particular, look at the academic successes and challenges that your child may have encountered in Term One.
Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN
These tests provide a snapshot of the progress that individual students, and the cohort as a whole, are making in comparison to state and national standards.
This year we will be completing the NAPLAN tests online. This will require all students to make sure that their digital device is fully charged for each session, and that they have their non-wireless headphones with them each day.
Our students have taken a practice NAPLAN already, so that they are familiar with the format and type of questions used. The tests are from May 10 - 13, with time allowed for student catchups, if required.
Further details are available from the NAPLAN website. ‘NAPLAN is not a test of content’. Instead, it tests skills in literacy and numeracy that are developed over time through the school curriculum. Excessive test preparation using previous tests is not useful. NAPLAN tests identify whether all students have the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for their learning, and for their productive and rewarding participation in the community. Students are assessed using common national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. For more information please look at the NAPLAN website
Parents and guardians will receive results for each child as soon as they become available, usually in September.
Semester One Examinations
College exams are coming up in June. Studying and preparation is key for success. Below are some early tips to help exam performance.
1. Start your revision early
- Given yourself enough time to review everything learnt so far.
- Start studying at least 3 weeks earlier - so the end of NAPLAN is a good time to start
2. Organize your study time
- Take time to plan your revision and consider how much time you need to go over each subject
- Think about how much revision time you can handle in a day
3. Organize study groups
4. Take regular breaks
The Semester One examination period will take place on the following dates:
- Year 10/11: June 9 to June 16
- Year 8/9: June 14 to June 16
Friday 17 June is a Staff Planning Day and students are not required on campus.
Year 7 Kircher Inquiry
This new course will introduce students to the theory behind water as a resource and how it is managed around the world, in different conditions. Kircher Inquiry will include shared topics from Humanities and Science courses. Please ask your learners about what they have been doing.
Mrs. Suzanne Pola,
Deputy Principal
Teaching & Learning
STUDENT VOICE
NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS DAY
How we lead ourselves and others in any kind of situation reveals a large part of who we are as people. On Wednesday the 23rd of March, some of our Year 12 leaders went to the National Young Leaders Day, and we left as not just better leaders, but better people. Held in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the day’s program was designed to benefit our leadership abilities and to better develop our leadership potential. Alongside Mr Moore and Miss Veis, we took a train into the city and walked to the centre, where we were swiftly surprised by the number of students attending the day. When we entered the auditorium, we had entered a room with 4600 people, made up of the best young leaders in Melbourne and its greater suburbs, so it was a completely engaged and enthusiastic audience we were a part of.
The day was broken up into multiple sessions, with each session consisting of celebrity speakers, question times, short videos, learning exercises, student involvement, music, and student interaction. Our leaders were captivated by the speakers in Cate Campbell, Olympic swimmer and Tokyo flag bearer; Lachie Smart, the youngest person to fly around the world solo; Damian Fleming, cricketer and commentator; and Guy Edmonds, an award-winning writer, director and actor.
While there were multiple ideas and new concepts drawn from the day by the entire student body, something I personally found interesting was the question posed to us: What does it mean to lead well? I was fascinated by the multiple different answers, all valid, but completely unique. Ultimately, the excursion was a huge success and it was amazing to see the next generation of leaders who will burn bright on behalf of those they lead.
Daniel Lay,
College Co-Captain
WELLBEING
SPECIAL REPORT: The Conflict in Ukraine
Around the world, people are saddened and devastated by the events unfolding in Ukraine. Both adults and young people alike are feeling the stresses of war from afar as they experience fear, frustration and helplessness. The 24 hour news cycle has shown us upsetting images raising many questions, especially for our young people, about what is happening.
Parents and caregivers need to be guided by their child’s curiosity. There is strong evidence to suggest that having a supportive discussion about a stressful event in a developmentally appropriate way, can actually decrease distress. It’s best to “name it, to tame it.” This will also combat any misinformation to which they have most likely already been exposed through social media, pictures or video clips.
Children need to know that they are being taken seriously. So it is recommended that you don’t avoid the difficult questions. Ensure you address their questions honestly and sensitively. With less life experience than adults, young people may need help navigating news about this crisis. Use this is as an opportunity to model and encourage compassionate views towards fellow humans, regardless of distance or circumstance.
This Special Report offers guidance on how best to discuss the conflict in Ukraine. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.
Mr. Sal Valentino,
Wellbeing & Personal Development Co-ordinator
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The Year 9 Media students and Year 10 Religious Education students have taken up the challenge of attempting to represent/portray or send a message about bullying, discrimination, racism and prejudice. Through the medium of photography, they have constructed images that attempt to tell a story or convey a message through symbolism.
Their work is part of the ‘Upstander Photographic Competition’ co-ordinated by the ‘Courage to Care’ organisation. The intention is for an audience to see meaning behind the images and consider the harm such behaviours can have on the individual. Beyond the competition, the submissions allow the students to see the importance of one’s actions, which in turn fosters empathy and deep understanding.
Mr. Mark Cuddon,
Religious Education Teacher
HEALTH STUDIES
The Year 11 Health class have recently been learning about healthy eating, so we made chicken souvalaki. It is great to apply these skills, so students can enjoy cooking and then eating their delicious meals.
Mr. Michael Gowan,
Health & Physical Education Teacher
RIDE TO SCHOOL DAY
Ride to School Day is not just one specific day at Loyola, as it happens everyday. We had fourteen bikes at the college and some amazing stories of travel. Julia, one of our year 7 students, rides everyday and another student rode from University Hill. Congratulations, bike riders!
Mr. Michael Gowan,
Health & Physical Education Teacher
ICT
Bringing your data Back to the Future
Thursday March 31 is ‘World Backup Day’. It is an opportunity to ask yourself whether you are doing enough to protect your data, whether it relates to school, personal, or business.
Backing up your data makes it faster and easier to restore your files if they become lost, stolen or compromised. So, to ensure your documents are secure, it is vital to backup your data.
Loyola College provides 1 Tb worth of OneDrive backup space for each student. But what about your home computers or phones?
The ACSC has developed three Step-By-Step guides to help you learn how to backup the data on your personal computers, phones or tablets to the cloud, or external hard drives. These include:
- Backing up and restoring for Microsoft Windows
- Backing up and restoring for Apple iOS
- Backing up and restoring for Apple macOS
Take the ACSC Backup Quiz to test yourself on your knowledge, and view their learning resources to understand how to back up your files and protect yourself from data theft or ransomware.
If you want to be able to bring past data Back to the Future, you need to regularly back it up.
Mr. Victor Dalla-Vecchia,
ICT Manager
COMMUNITY
Morning Tours – 2022
Morning Tours for Semester 1 will be take place on the following dates from 9.00am – 11.00am:
- Thursday 28 April
- Monday 9 May
- Monday 6 June
- Monday 18 July
Year 7 Get Together – Friday 18th March
It was great to see almost 200 attend this fun filled night. With warm up games, door prize, raffle and as much pizza and ice-cream as one could eat, families had a wonderful opportunity to meet other families from the Year 7 cohort. A couple of songs sung by cast members of Legally Blonde added to the excitement of the night. I would like to thank all LPFA and PWP members who contributed to the success of the night. As I have always firmly believed, Loyola College is truly blessed to have such a community so willing to contribute to the vibrant community spirit at our school. It was wonderful to see the connections between families, some who knew each other and some who had just met on the night. It can be a little challenge to have families depart and I always have a smile on my face as I see families continue their connection in the car park long after the conclusion of the event.
2022 House Degustation Dinner - Thursday 24th March
With just on 40 people in attendance, the Hospitality students and staff had their first opportunity to showcase their expertise in both service and food preparation / presentation. Our expectations were far exceeded, as we were in awe at being served a total of 15 professionally made dishes. Families from Mannix, McAuley and Chisholm houses were able to connect and be entertained with background music by CJ McLeod and Christian Pannuci, organised by Jennifer Taylor. Fiona Chapman and Liz Gartland are to be so highly commended on their great ability to create a Degustation Dinner of such a high standard.
Donation of Loyola Uniform
If you have any Loyola uniform items that you no longer require, please leave them at Reception. They are great to have for families in need, student accidents and our Exchange students. Donation of blazers and girls school dresses would be much appreciated.
2022 PWP Meeting
Monday evening – 9 May 2022 at 7.30pm
2022 LPFA Meeting
Wednesday evening – 27 April 2022 at 7.30pm
Mercy Centre in Bangkok
Lusinda Cleary is an ex-student of Loyola College and in her adult life she has continued to try and foster the values of assisting others in the world through volunteering and charity.
Lusinda has regularly gone (usually each year) to visit the children at the Mercy Centre in Bangkok. It is an orphanage that provides school education for the community in the slums of Klong Toey, Bangkok Thailand. The place is inspirational. There are many dedicated staff. It is overseen and was founded by jovial and ever patient Catholic priest Father Joe. It is verified and recognised by the Thai Royal family and government.
On a previous trip, they asked Lusinda to take some aprons and bags back to Australia to try and sell them to raise money for the children.
Lusinda and the Mercy Centre will greatly appreciate the communities support, they have 2 bags and 10 aprons on offer to help raise money for the orphanage children. The products are excellent quality and are selling for $35 each.
If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, please email Lusinda at lusindacleary@gmail.com
Mrs. Dianna Alonso,
Community Liaison Officer