1472 Ignatian Newsletter - Friday 11 November 2022

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

How time flies!  There are only four weeks left to term four and so much yet to happen.  Term four has been action packed.  It was a delight to attend the Year 7 Character Strengths evening on Monday 7 November.  At this evening, each Year 7 Base Learning Group prepared a presentation on one or more of the VIA character strengths.  This evening forms part of our whole school approach to building resilience and a growth mindset in Loyola students.  All Year 7 students complete a VIA character strengths survey in their Personal  Development class to establish their five main strengths.  They are encouraged to work to their strengths and share their gifts and talents in service to others. 

Also showcasing their strengths are the Year 12 students who have almost completed their VCAA examinations. Our students have shown great courage and perseverance as they have navigated the challenge of exams.  We are proud of them and look forward to sharing a farewell dinner with them and their parents to mark the end of their journey at Loyola on 17^th of November.

As Years 8 to 11 students approach their examination period, we ask for parent support in ensuring that students remain calm and focused.   Students often feel nervous before an examination and this is normal.  The nerves come as a result of the adrenalin that is released, initiating the fight or flight response.   It is a sign that students want to do well and gives them an extra boost of energy.  It is important that this energy is focused in such a way as to enable them to work to the best of their ability.   

The Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA) held their Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 9 November.  The meeting was exceptionally well attended and all office bearers were appointed.   We are exceptionally fortunate to have such a committed group of parents who give generously of their time to fundraise and organise community events.  I thank all members of the committee for their hard work and support of the College.

Congratulations  to the following office bearers for 2023:

President:                                     Mark Monteneri

Vice president:                              Bryan Kearney

Secretary:                                     Priscilla Carroll

Treasurer:                                     Vicky Sartor

Assistant Treasurer:                      Des Mavridis

Maintenance Coordinator:            Brendon Carroll

I would further like to acknowledge the work of three committee members who have been awarded LPFA Life Membership, Loretta Baker, Reena Thomas and Michael O’Connell. These friends of the College will be acknowledged at our parent thank you evening on Tuesday 15 November.

Congratulations to the cast, crew and production team of Legally Blonde.  The show was enjoyed immensely by all who saw it.  We now have further validation of the outstanding performance through the Music Guild of Victoria.   The College has been nominated for seven awards and an award of excellence.   The Guild Awards take place on Saturday 10 December.

The award nominations are as follows:

              Production of the year

              Direction                                       Vanda Tolli and Michael O’Keeffe

              Music Direction                             Jem Sherwill

              Choreography                               Matt McFarlane and Gem Oktay

              Female in leading role                 Hannah Chesser

              Female in a supporting role         Rebekah Sison

              Creative Design                            Deb Bland and Maryann Pannucci

Congratulations to all involved. We are very proud of you.

We have had a few COVID cases reported in the last two weeks.   If students are symptomatic, they must stay home.   We ask for parent support in this matter. 

Alison Leutchford
Acting Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

IGNATIAN MISSION & IDENTITY

November Blessing of the Memorial Plaques and Community Memorial Mass
On Tuesday, 8 November, Father Gerry Healy S.J. celebrated a community memorial mass.

In the Catholic Church, November is the month where we pray for the dead. It commences with two important feasts, All Saints, November 1 and All Souls, November 2. These feasts remind us that we are called to holiness and to live following the example of the saints and are opportunities for us to remember our loved ones and pray for them and be comforted by Christ’s words from Matthew’s Gospel.

‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’ Mt 11:28-30

Providing this opportunity for people to remember their loved ones, give thanks for their lives and meet together in a supportive hospitable setting is an important part of living the ethos of our College.

College Community: November 2021 – November 2022

Loyola Young Vinnies – Christmas Present Drive
Each year the Loyola Young Vinnies run a Christmas present drive. Families can support others in need by leaving a Christmas present for children 12 years and younger in House areas. Presents do not need to be wrapped. The Young Vinnies will do this.

Mr Chris Lynch 
Deputy Principal,
Ignatian Mission & Identity 

TEACHING & LEARNING

2023 Orientation Period
Once again, we will run an extensive Orientation period for 2023 Years 11 and 12. Students have received a copy of their Orientation period timetable. Please be aware that the teacher or the class grouping that the student has for the Orientation period may not be the same in 2023, as there are many factors that influence this. All students will receive their holiday preparation work and commence their 2023 course.

2023 Jacaranda Book bundles Year 7 – 9 and Senior Textbooks
In 2023, Year 7 to Year 9 students will have access to a number of their textbooks in two formats, print and digital. In the senior years it will vary depending on the subjects taken.

The subjects that this option will be available for are Mathematics, Science, Humanities - Geography and History.  All bundles will be sent directly to your residential address prior to the commencement of the 2023 College academic year.

All student’s 2023 subject textbooks and additional resource material can be ordered online and are available now using the link available on our Parent Portal.

The booklists close on;

• 1 December for Senior (Years 10 -12)
• 9 December for Years 7 – 9

Final Day for Submission of Work
A reminder to all students who may not have completed and handed in assessment tasks that there is a final date when all outstanding work is due. If a student does not submit work prior to this date they will not have met the requirements for that unit. The following final submission dates for each year are as follows:

• Year 9: November 18
• Year 8: November 18
• Year 7: November 29

It is important for all students to complete work even if it is late. It is also good practice to complete what is expected and students can still receive feedback on their learnings.

Mrs Suzanne Pola 
Deputy Principal,
Teaching & Learning 

AQUARIUM

In recent months there has been major changes to the school aquarium in K Block. We have recently added over 15 species of fish and multiple plant specimens.

Studies show that looking at a fish swimming, can reduce stress and anxiety. If you want to enjoy watching a large range of colourful fish, make your way down to the Science Department.

Ms Anna Barnes 
Mathematics Teacher 

ICT

Cybersafety Part 12: Back Door Threat Actors ‘Trump’ Even The Strongest Security
From the stealing of an important government official’s email account to some random person in cyberspace controlling your baby web cam, it is well understood amongst ICT security circles that almost every significant hack begins by exploiting a weakness on an end-point device.

The cyber security of personal information, banking and communication is critically important to individuals and increasingly important to corporations and governments, too. The recent data breaches of Optus and Medibank Private are testament to this fact. Despite $Billions being spent by nations on counter-cyberterrorism measures, the strength of any chain of cyber security measures is only as strong as its weakest link, and there is usually no weaker link than how the end user manages their digital device.

Four of the major weaknesses on end-point devices include:

• Weak passwords and easily guessed passwords. Worse still, using the same credentials across multiple devices;
• Not keeping the anti-virus software up to date on all home and work network devices (ie not just computers, but also security cameras, baby web cams and network/wireless printers!);
• Responding to emails that look like they come from legitimate organisations such as banks, but which direct the unwary user to fake websites where they are asked to enter their login and password, and
• Visiting pirate software/movies/music or unsecured (ie no HTTPS) websites, which have been infected with malware.

Threat Actors (ie criminal hackers) use malware (malicious software) on infected computers to ‘scrape’ personal data, which they hope to use to gain access to a home, corporation or government network. Once in they may typically take several months surreptitiously snooping around for what they want, eg information they can sell on the Dark Web, or use to steal money out of credit card accounts, or use to steal Intellectual Property or other trade secrets in order to gain a competitive advantage.

So please be alert not to undermine your own personal or employer’s cyber safety measures and efforts to keep data safe from being stolen.

Victor Dalla-Vecchia
ICT Manager

COMMUNITY

Morning Tours – 2023
Morning Tours for 2023 will take place on Monday each month.

Dates for bookings will be available late January.

As Good As New Uniform Sale – Friday, 25^th November: 5pm - 8pm
Loyola College will be holding another as good as new uniform stall on Friday, 25^th November at the LPFA Community event in the foyer of Loyola Companions Hall. Good quality clothing will be sold to families.  All money raised will go to Charity.

2022 Entertainment Books
The LPFA are very happy to continue the promotion of the 2022 Entertainment Book.

2022 Loyola College Ambassadors
It has been a pleasure to work along a great group of Ambassadors who assisted with the 2022 Morning Tours and Open Day.  It is so pleasing to receive such positive feedback from prospective families on how impressed they were about the Ambassadors. For many families one important reason they select Loyola College for their child is because of the impression given by our students who fulfil this most important role of being our true representatives of Loyola College. I bid farewell to our Year 10 Ambassadors and welcome them to assist with Open Day Tours.  All current Year 7 students are invited to express an interest in becoming an Ambassador for 2023.

A special training day will take place on Wednesday, 7^th December from 9am – 3pm.

Information can be found on the LMS or by completing the form below:

Mrs Dianna Alonso
Community Liaison Officer

LCAA

Notice is given of the Loyola College Alumni Association Annual General Meeting, to be held at the College on Tuesday 22 November at 6.15pm. 

Expressions of interest are invited for positions on the Executive.  Please find the nomination form HERE 

Former students of Loyola are warmly invited to be part of the committee.  A small commitment is involved, with only four meetings each year to discuss ways of supporting Loyola alumni and to organise events such as the Classic Car Show, Reunions, Dinners etc.   

Please contact LCAA Secretary on 9433 0767 or lcaa@loyola.vic.edu.au to confirm attendance. 

Ms Monica Agius
LCAA Secretary