1483 Ignatian Newsletter - Friday 16 June 2023
Principal's Report
How quickly Term 2 has flown! With only one week to go, students in Year 10 commenced examinations on Thursday, 15 June and Year 9 will commence examinations on Tuesday, 20 June whilst our Unit 3 and 4 students from Year 11 and 12 recently sat the GAT. Examinations can be challenging for students. Often, students can feel nervous and unsure. Parents are asked to be encouraging and challenge students to do their best. When it comes to exams, having that positive mindset before you go into the room will help ease students - who are then, in turn, more able to approach questions productively.
School Review
Over the course of Term 2, the College has undergone a VQRA review. Thursday, 15 June marked the final day of the School Review conversations. A very big thank you to those parents, students and staff who took part in focus group discussions over the three days of our review. Consult met with the reviewers at the end of the day on Thursday for some preliminary feedback.
The reviewers were particularly complimentary of the strength of our school community (students, parents and staff), the sense of inclusion and care for each and every individual. They also complimented the breadth of our programs, both curriculum and co-curriculum and the strength of our wellbeing program.
The reviewers will now compile a report of their findings and will feed this back to Consult in August. From the report, our new strategic direction will be established.
This feedback is certainly something to celebrate and I thank all staff for their contribution to our community.
New Enterprise Agreement
On Tuesday, 20 June and Wednesday, 21 June, staff at the College have the opportunity to vote on a new Enterprise Agreement. The Agreement introduces new conditions that will hopefully reduce workload for teachers to allow them to focus primarily on their teaching. Among many things, the agreement ensures that salary increases are aligned with our Department of Education counterparts. It also offers new entitlements for parental leave and introduces Time in Lieu for teachers who are directed by the Principal to work outside a 38 hour week.
As we implement the new agreement, there will be some changes at the College. Parents will be kept informed of each change at every step of the way.
I wish all members of our restful break and look forward to Term 3 with enthusiasm and focus.
Alison Leutchford,
Acting Principal
Ignatian Mission & Identity
World Refugee Day – Tuesday, 20 June
Each year on 20 June, the world celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
Let us pray for people in our community who have known the unrest and anxiety of being displaced from their home.
The Long Walk For Reconciliation
On Thursday, 8 June, our Year 11 VCE VM students joined in a walk for reconciliation with two of our feeder primary schools, St Mary’s and St Damian’s, in solidarity with First Nations peoples and in the spirit of working together for shared understanding and harmony. The day continued at Loyola with a smoking ceremony led by Uncle Ian Hunter, reflections led by the Grade 6 students and Fire Carriers, a gallery walk of all the decorated placards and bollards and an inspiring song, dance and talk on reconciliation by Natarsha Bamblett.
I wish to thank the students and staff from Loyola and the primary schools for their wonderful participation, assistance, and input on the day.
Young Vinnies Winter Sleepout – Friday, 21 July – Save The Date!
We are pleased to announce that Loyola will once again be holding the Young Vinnies Winter Sleepout on Friday, 21 July. This will be open to all students in Years 10-12 and will involve travelling to the Exodus Community in Heidelberg West - running a barbecue dinner in the park with that community, followed by a bus ride into the city to participate in a companion walk in the streets, observing firsthand and discussing issues of homelessness in Melbourne. Students will then travel back to Loyola and sleep out in the courtyard in support of those who sleep rough on our streets every night. Students will then depart the College early on Saturday morning.
More information about this sleepout will be forthcoming in due course, but please contact myself, Mr John Tran or Mr McIlroy for further information in the meantime. We look forward to a wonderful evening!
Adam Calderone,
Deputy Principal - Ignatian Mission Identity
Teaching & Learning
Curriculum:
Semester One Examinations
Semester One examinations will only involve Years 9 and 10.
Dates:
- Y10 Exams: 14 - 22 June
- Y9 Exams: 20 - 22 June
Application for Accelerated Subjects in 2024
In Term 3 our Year 9 and 10 students will be considering their Year 10 and Year 11 subjects for next year. Please find details below:
Current Year 9:
A number of students may wish to complete a Unit 1/2 Subject (Year 11 subject) in 2024. 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 able to meet deadlines. English will be one of the subjects in which the student needs to demonstrate a consistently high level of academic ability.
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:
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.
The subject selection process takes place in Term Three for all of our students and once again students will be asked to complete their subject choices online, with your guidance.
Teaching & Learning - Gifted & Talented:
We are extremely proud of Laura and Lachie in Year 7, who have entered the Gifted Awareness Week student competition this year. Under the theme of ‘the Diverse faces of Giftedness’, Laura chose to submit a drawing (shown right) and Lachie a creative story. We wish them both good luck and have everything crossed for them. Thank you also to Mrs Di Stefano and her team for their support.
VCE VM Students - Investing in our Future
Congratulations to Joshua Makdissi and Lucas Inglis!
I would like to share an email the College has received from DeLaval, who are facilitating the SWL for two of our VCE VM students, Joshua Makdissi and Lucas Inglis. We are extremely proud of the two students and wish them every success in this very promising career. The announcement was sent to DeLaval Australia, New Zealand and India Team members, so who knows where their future lies?
“We are excited to introduce Joshua Makdissi and Lucas Inglis who are Year 11 students from Melbourne’s Loyola College.
DeLaval is delighted to be able to assist these trainees in completing their practical component of the course and will be joining us on Friday's to undertake a structured program within the Oceania Technical, and Oceania Operational Teams.
We had the pleasure of inducting the two students into the DeLaval Port Melbourne office on Friday, 19 May 2023. Every Friday, Lucas and Joshua will be travelling to various sites and locations within Victoria in conjunction with their allocated supervisor for the day.
It’s our hope that Joshua and Lucas will grow a passion for Dairy and stay with us beyond their schooling years.”
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
Please read the relevant information in the Parent Communications tab on your Parent Portal regarding our Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) requirements. Names of all students identified are forwarded to the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) at the beginning of August.
Our priority is to consult, and work in collaboration, with parents, wherever possible to ensure that we are supporting each individual child with additional learning, medical or emotional needs to ensure the best outcome for them at school.
If you have any questions or concerns about the NCCD process, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Hussey via husseyk@loyola.vic.edu.au
Kathryn Wilson,
Deputy Principal - Teaching & Learning
Student Voice
Colour Run
On May 3 , Year 10, 11 and 12 students demonstrated their commitment to health and happiness as they took part in the College’s first ever Colour Run. Organized by our student leaders within the Wellbeing Portfolio, the event saw a vibrant display of unity and enthusiasm.
Throughout the run, participants were met with bursts of vibrant colours at designated stations with clouds of powdered pigments transforming the runners' once-white attire.
The Colour Run aimed to encourage a sense of togetherness and foster a supportive community, whilst raising money and awareness for Beyond Blue. Ultimately, a lot of fun was had by all whilst contributing to this worthy cause.
Chris Badawi,
Wellbeing Service Portfolio
Exodus Visit and Dinner at Iggy's
On the 23 May the Social Justice Service Portfolio went on an excursion to the Exodus Community in West Heidelberg with the aim of further developing our relationship established in 2022. During the visit, one of the volunteers, Kerry, took us on a tour of the Olympic Village. With the suburb having one of the highest crime and poverty rates in Melbourne, the group found the history and Kerry’s experience living in the village deeply insightful.
A week later, a group of students from the Social Justice Service Portfolio invited seventeen members of the Exodus Community to share a meal at Iggy’s. In addition to the delicious meal, students and guests were blessed in catching the year 11’s theatre performance dress rehearsal.
Students were also fortunate to hear and learn individual stories throughout the evening and as a result, were able to reflect on how privileged they are whilst being challenged to consider what they can to do to change the cycle of disadvantage. At the end of the night Ms Leutchford, on behalf of the school, offered a check of $1000 to help raise awareness of the struggles of poverty. The students from the Social Justice Portfolio are grateful for the opportunity to have strengthened their relationship with the Exodus Community.
Giuliano Frisina & Ewan Ross,
Social Justice Service Portfolio
Wellbeing
SPECIAL REPORT: Social Media Influencers
Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today's fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.
However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.
Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.
It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.
This Special Report provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections. 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 consider seeking medical or professional help.
Click on this link to view the Special Report https://loyola.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-influencers-au
Sal Valentino,
Wellbeing & Personal Development Coordinator
Sustainability
Hello Loyola Families,
You may remember in 2020 and 2021 there were stationery recycling cages that were on campus for 2 weeks for students, staff and the community to put in their used stationery/e-waste and other hard to recycle items. These were recycled by Green Collect.
These cages are back for the last two weeks of this term (June 13 – 23). One cage will be located around the iCentre and the other will be near the Flynn House area at the bottom level. Start gathering your items now for recycling. A list of items that can be put in the cages is below, along with what the cages look like if you haven’t seen them before.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Happy Recycling,
Elise Mezner,
Sustainability Coordinator
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 2023
Morning Tours for Semester 2 will be take place on the following dates from 9.00 am – 11. 00 am :-
- 17 July
- 14 August
- 11 September
- 9 October
LPFA Trivia Night – Saturday, 12 August
The LPFA are very excited to announce the opening of this fun night. The event will be held at the Olympic Hotel. Book in early.
If you are a business owner or know someone who is and would be willing to donate a good or voucher that could be used on the night to raise funds, please contact me.
2023 Entertainment Books
The LPFA are very happy to continue the promotion of the 2023 Entertainment Book.
If you are interested in purchasing a digital copy (no hard copies) of the Entertainment book, please visit –
Homestays Needed – Italian Students
We are still looking for 2 families to host a student from Liceo Levi in the Veneto region in Italy. The students will be here for 12 nights from the 2ndAugust and departing from Melbourne on August 13th. There will be both male and female students and all attempts will be made to match students regarding age and preference. As this is a short-term visit, this is a voluntary homestay. All families will be invited to a dinner at Iggy’s.
All persons living in your household who are over 18 years old will require a Working With Children Card.
If you have any questions or if you are interested in being a Homestay family, please contact me via email – alonsod@loyola.vic.edu.au or call – 9433 0128.
Grandparents’ Mass and Morning Tea – Tuesday 25th July
This special event is for Grandparents and their grandchildren. Students will be required to wear their full winter school uniform. Free tickets are available on Thursday, 22nd June at 9 am – loyola.vic.edu.au/tickets
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 overseas students. Donation of blazers and girls school dresses would be much appreciated.
Please feel most welcome to attend -
2023 LPFA Meeting
- Wednesday, 19 July 2023 7.30 pm
2023 PWP Meeting
- Monday, 17 July 2023 7.30 pm
2023 Working Bee
- Saturday, 22 July 9 am – 12 noon
Dianna Alonso,
Community Liaison Officer