1463 Ignatian Newsletter - Friday 3 June 2022
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
It is hard to believe that we have moved so quickly through term two. Despite unprecedented levels of absence, we have continued to facilitate a wide range of activities for the Loyola community.
Reconciliation Week
The week commencing Monday 30 May marked Reconciliation Week. This has been an opportunity for all at the College to consider the shared histories of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The staff had the privilege of listening to Shantelle Thomson, Barkindju Warrior at the beginning of the week. The theme of reconciliation week, Be Brave, Make Change, was addressed at school assembly, in extended mentor and through a special examen. I thank Ms Julianne Cummins, Intercultural Perspectives Coordinator for her work in this space.
ACS Athletics
I had the pleasure of attending the ACS interschool athletics on Monday 23 May at the Lakeside Stadium. While some members of the squad were unable to attend due to illness, it was amazing to see how students offered to participate in more events than planned to ensure that Loyola was represented in each event. It was inspiring to see the team spirit, connectedness, and the united effort. While we did not rate in the top three schools in terms of performance, I rate Loyola number one for determination, morale cooperation and Loyola spirit! Congratulations to Kiera Sanchez and Daniel Crockford who both broke ACS records on the day, Keira in Year 10 shot put (11.74m) and Daniel in Year 8 shot put (13.20m). Thanks to all staff who worked with the students in both the preparation and supervision of students on the day.
LCAA Parent Breakfast
On Thursday 26 May, I was thrilled to attend the second LCAA Parent Alumni breakfast in Iggy’s on campus restaurant. Past students at the College, now parents, attended the breakfast with their sons and daughters. The breakfast food was prepared by our very own Hospitality students and was delicious. It was fun to sit around the table and hear some of the stories of times gone by. When past students choose to send their children to Loyola, it shows a strong alignment to the values and educational priorities of the College and serves to further build community.
FOPA Cabaret Night
I congratulate FOPA and Julie Boyle on the recent Cabaret evening held in the Loyola Companions Hall on Saturday 28 May. The evening was well patronised and all who attended thoroughly enjoyed the students’ performances and the fun that ensued. Over $1000 was raised at this event. The money will be put towards the college musical production, Legally Blonde.
Winter Music Concert
Audience members were treated to a musical spectacular at the Winter mid- year Music concert. A big thank you to Director of Music, Ms Jennifer Taylor, and all of our Music staff for their continue work with our Music students which has culminated in this great night of entertainment. We continue to see the Music program go from strength to strength under the leadership of Ms Taylor. Our students are showing marking improvement in their musical ability. It is exciting to watch them grow and take on new challenges.
Staff/Student Absence and Year 8/9 Exams
It has been a challenging term as we have had high numbers of staff and student absent with either covid, influenza or one of the many other circulating conditions. After much deliberation, we have decided to cancel the Year 8 and 9 exams for semester one only. Many students have had extended periods of absence, on top of not having their usual teacher in the class and therefore we decided that it was better to keep them focussed on their learning. This will give students and staff time to complete necessary assessments. Semester two exams will take place as planned.
Parents on Campus
Parents are reminded that they should not be on campus without signing in at reception. We are increasingly finding parents at student lockers or wandering the corridor. The College has child safe protocols to ensure the safety of all in our community. We ask for parent cooperation in following this requirement.
As we progress to the end of term, I urge all members of the community, to take care, to keep well and to remain focussed on the academic goals set earlier in the year.
Mrs Alison Leutchford
Acting Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
REMINDERS REGARDING ABSENCES
Due to the high volume of students absent due to illness and appointments it is very important that parents notify the school before 8.30am either via the Loyola College App or by calling the Student Absence line telephone: 9433 0248 to record the absence or by emailing absentees@loyola.vic.edu.au
Students who arrive to school after 8.25am are required to sign in late at Reception.
Students who are feeling unwell, should go to First Aid, so they can be assessed, and the Parent/Guardian will be contacted if required. Many students have been contacting their parents directly to be picked up from school if unwell, however this is not the correct procedure, and it can be very difficult to message a teacher whilst they are teaching to ask them to release a student from class to send to Reception.
Every student has permission slips in the back of their student planner or alternatively a handwritten note from the parent/guardian can be sent with the student in the morning and signed by their Head of House prior to 8.15am. Once approved the student can bring the signed note to Reception to sign out at the appropriate time.
Following these procedures is a legal requirement and is needed to ensure that the College has an accurate list of all students on campus should the need arise for an emergency evacuation.
IGNATIAN MISSION & IDENTITY
Vinnies Winter Clothing Drive and Big Group Hug ‘Coats for Kids’
This year Loyola is taking the annual Winter Clothing Drive to another level. We have partnered with Big Group Hug, a local Bundoora-based charity that supports hundreds of families by collecting, sorting and processing donations. The focus of our collection is COATS FOR KIDS. Other items that are donated we are going to pass on to St Vincent De Paul. Here is a link describing some of the work of Big Group Hug. There will be Blue wheelie bins in each House area for donations or they may be left at reception. We ask that all clothing be clean and in good condition.
Items suitable include:
- Winter coats - childrens, youths and adults
- Beanies/scarves
- Fleece tops
- Warm shirts
- Track suits
- Blankets
- Children’s winter pyjamas (new or near new)
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
On May 26th Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea was conducted in the Two Wolves Hub. This major event was co-ordinated by the Loyola Young Vinnies Group, with the money raised going to the Cancer Council to support research and other programs to assist those with the disease.
My thanks to our Youth Minister, Mr John Tran, and to all those who assisted with and supported the morning tea.
This Month’s Examens
Just before Monday lunchtime our classes pause for a few minutes and pray the Examen, the central prayer of St Ignatius’ life. It is a prayer inviting us to review our recent experiences and see where God has been present or apparently absent.
Each Examen has a theme and is presented by a different group of students and sometimes staff.
Please click here to view recent or past Examens.
Mr Chris Lynch
Deputy Principal,
Ignatian Mission & Identity
TEACHING & LEARNING
Application for Accelerated Subjects in 2023
In term three our Year 9 and 10 students will be considering their Year 10 and Year 11 subjects for next year.
Current Year 9 Students
A number of you will consider taking on a Unit 1 and 2 Subject (Year 11 subject) in 2023. Acceleration requires demonstrated consistent high academic achievement and an ability to take on the demands of an accelerated subject. Therefore, a student will need to be committed to their studies, be well organised and can meet deadlines. English will be one of the subjects that the student needs to demonstrate a consistent high level of academic ability. Semester Two reports will be checked for maintenance of consistency in academic effort.
An invitational letter, from the Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning, will be sent out to our students, who meet the selection criteria, and their families explaining the process for acceleration.
Current Year 10 Students
An invitational letter, from the relevant Head of Learning, will be sent out to students currently studying an accelerated Unit 1/2 subject. Acceptance for Unit 3/4 is not automatic. Letters will be sent to students who have been able to sustain a high level of academic ability and meet the demands of the accelerated Unit 1/2 Units. Students will need to re- apply for acceleration and depending on results acceleration may or may not continue.
The subject selection process takes place in early Term Three for all of our students and once again students will be asked to complete their subject choices online, with your guidance.
Year 9 Digital Technologies Day
On Monday June 20, all of our Year 9 students will be involved in an exciting program exploring the opportunities digital technologies can afford us. Students will have the chance to select from many workshops.
2023 Change from VCAL to VCE Vocational Major
The VCE Vocational Major (VM) is a vocational and applied learning program within the VCE designed to be completed over a minimum of two years. The VCE VM will give students greater choice and flexibility to pursue their strengths and interests and develop the skills and capabilities needed to succeed in further education, work and life.
It prepares students to move into apprenticeships, traineeships, further education and training, university (via non-ATAR pathways) or directly into the workforce.
The purpose of the VCE VM is to provide students with the best opportunity to achieve their personal goals and aspirations in a rapidly changing world by:
- Equipping them with the skills, knowledge, values and capabilities to be active and informed citizens, lifelong learners and confident and creative individuals; and
- Empowering them to make informed decisions about the next stages of their lives through real life workplace experiences.
Mrs Suzanne Pola
Deputy Principal,
Teaching and Learning
STUDENT VOICE
MUSIC CAMP
This year we visited a new venue for the first time at the Upper Plenty Conference Centre. We took 70 students across a variety of ensembles.
Though we had a bit of a trek up a dirt path (shout out to Mr Mangano), we made it in speedy fashion before starting off with some rehearsals and then later dinner and a trivia night run by our year 12s.
The next morning we continued with rehearsals throughout the day before the most memorable event of the camp: Horns of Leroy. This Brass ensemble not only gave a fantastic show with everyone on their feet dancing (including Ms Taylor, Mr Thomas and Mr Mangano), they also had some amazing information for our aspiring musicians regarding the process of starting bands and getting involved in music on a professional basis. It was overall a wonderful night that we are all incredibly grateful to have experienced this.
On the last day, Saturday, we began with our final rehearsal and mini concert where each ensemble performed a piece that they had been working on.
We ended the trip by packing the truck and buses and hustling back to Loyola. I think we speak for all of the ensembles when we say that we are on a great track for our upcoming annual music concert on June 2nd where we will showcase major talent at Loyola College.
A huge thank you to all teachers and Ms Taylor for organising this camp, and accommodating to all students so that they were comfortable.
As year 12s, this was unfortunately our last music camp, but it cannot go without saying that this was one of our favourites, with many lifelong memories formed.
Nathan List, Maddy McPhee & Alexandar McMahon-Puce
Loyola Students
LANGUAGES
Cooking in French Class
Madame Kummerle has been cooking up a storm with her French classes!
Here’s an anecdote from Kai Coppolino in 7d French:
Today in French we cooked crepes. We created these crepes by making crepe batter together and then pouring it onto a flat pan.
I learned how to use a crepe spreader to make sure the crepes were thin and flat.
I also learned how to flip a crepe.
I enjoyed learning how to cook crepes, but I especially enjoyed eating them with ice cream, jam and chocolate topping.
Delicieux!
Prof. Maitilasso and her classes have been using a familiar song to revise family members in Italian: Have a look!
Mr Jason van Leest
Head of Languages
YEAR 12 MEDIA
Year 12 Media Students recently attended the 2022 Top Designs Exhibition where exemplar works are display for viewing.
The opportunity allows the Media students to examine the codes and conventions that are employed to create an engaging product for a specific audience.
Mr Mark Cuddon
Media Teacher
ICT
Cybersafety Part 6: Cyberbullying
Dear parents/guardians, if you are aware of your child’s online activities and you provide guidance as they navigate their online world, studies have shown that your child is far less likely to be involved in risky online behaviour.
Note this: The Internet offers us powerful search, sharing and collaborating opportunities, but also bestows on us an enormous responsibility.
In this edition we’ll be looking at Cyberbullying, focussing on two aspects.
Aspect 1: True story – this could be your daughter, or son
It was the start of the school year and students were keen to catch up with their friends and talk about what they did over the holidays. It was also an opportunity to make new friends. Two particular Year 11 girls became friends and started hanging out together, and became quite close. So trusting did they become of each other that they revealed to each other their email and Facebook passwords. After a while, however, their friendship cooled somewhat and they started spending more time with their other friends.
One morning one of the girls arrived at school only to find that certain students, some she knew and some she didn’t know, seemed to be looking at her strangely and whispering things about her to each other. Her usual friends started finding excuses for not spending time with her. She did not understand why this was happening. A short time later she went onto her Facebook and found, to her horror, that people, including her friends and even strangers, were posting hate messages directed to her. It was then she realised what had happened. The ex-best friend must have logged in as her on Facebook and posted some very personal stuff about her, some true and some lies, but all very personal details she would never have posted herself.
She also started getting hate emails and mobile phone texts, messages that made her feel very upset, very angry and even depressed. She changed her password. Eventually she confronted the girl about it, who in turn posted messages on her own Facebook denying that she was the author of the offensive content. But the hate messages kept coming. She cancelled her Facebook, cancelled her mobile phone contract, but it was too late. The damage had been done. Most of her former friends now kept away from her. Only one or two remained, but things were never the same again.
Aspect 2: Cyberbullies, be warned: you may be prosecuted!
Under Commonwealth legislation it is an offence to use a ‘carriage service’ (eg mobile phone) to menace, harass or cause offence, which covers cyberbullying (s474.17 of the Criminal Code Act 1995). For more information please refer to the Parent Guide on Cyberbullying and Sexting Laws.
In recent years courts around the world, including Australia, have successfully prosecuted cyberbullies.
In Conclusion
What can your child do to prevent Cyberbullying?
- If the abuse happens on a social networking website, use the report abuse link to have offensive content removed.
- If the abuse happens on media broadcast sites such as YouTube, use the ‘inappropriate’ flag to register a complaint.
- If the abuse happens on email, you can usually block content coming from the offending email address.
- If the abuse happens on a mobile phone, contact the telecommunication carrier or the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to have the known numbers blocked. You may also call Crime Stoppers Victoria.
- Don’t respond to Cyberbullying; it only escalates. Instead, save the content as evidence and tell a trusted friend/adult.
- Finally, never give out your personal details or your passwords to anybody, no matter how much you think you can trust them.
If your child is concerned about any of these issues and wishes to discuss them with a trusted person at school, please encourage them to talk to their Mentor teacher, Head of House or School Counsellor. For more information on eSafety visit The Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner. Complaints about general content on the Internet can be made through its Complaints and Reporting link.
Victor Dalla-Vecchia
ICT Manager
COMMUNITY
Morning Tours – 2022
Morning Tours for Semester 1 will be take place on the following date from 9.00am – 11.00am:
- Monday 18th July
A Day at the Yarra – LPFA Winery Tour
Bright and early on Saturday 21st of May, 50 very excited attendees were ready to jump on board by 8.30am.
Laughter and chatter soon filled the bus as we headed to our first stop at Sutherland Winery. Games explained, the competitive ones were out to win (perhaps that would include myself). An open fire met us as we gathered for wine tasting and morning tea. Then we were off to Fergusons and the bus began loading with wine purchases and noise levels increased. It was then the big stop at Rochford’s Winery which commenced with some wine tasting, a delicious lunch and concluded with a very insight gin tasting. Last stop … Coldstream Brewery, raffles drawn and big thank you to Loretta Baker, the Winery tour co-ordinator and Mark Monteneri for being our MC on the day. Clark McEvoy did a great job as our bus driver for the day.
With lots of laughter on the way, the bus drive home was a little more solemn with discussions of the 2023 Winery Tour.
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.
Please feel most welcome to attend:
2022 PWP Meeting
Monday evening – 18th July 2022 at 7.30pm
2022 LPFA Meeting
Wednesday evening – 20th July 2022 at 7.30pm
Next Working Bee
Saturday 24th July from 9am – 12noon
Dianna Alonso
Community Liaison Officer
CANTEEN PRICE LIST
LOCAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
