Sowing the SEADs of Success
From the Assistant Principal: Wellbeing & Engagement
Junior School Disco Week 9
On Friday 22 September we hosted our Junior School Disco with the theme of crazy hair!
The girls from reception to year 6 arrived to the senior campus, with excitement and
It was delightful to watch every student participate in the Nutbush (learning the steps for the first time) and watch a giant conga line snake around the square. This community event also enabled our older students (Year 11 new leaders) to help with set-up, food and drink on the night.
Many thanks to the Junior school teachers who helped with the supervision especially key staff Ms Jo De Angelis, Martina O’Connell, Christina Fabbian and Brittany Warren.
A special shout out to Ms Dettore who was very popular with her glitter face painting 😊
Making connections outside the classroom.
Friendships give school-age girls a sense of belonging. They also build children’s self-esteem and develop their social skills. At Loreto we acknowledge it is important to provide students with opportunities to create new friendships and establish new connections within a safe school environment. Cocurricular activities, musicals, sport, playdates, camps, and excursions can enhance these connections.
Our SEAD Value of Friendships in the Junior school include:
- Making Friends R-2
- Being a good friend 3-4
- Being inclusive of others 5-6
For further information visit our SEAD tile on Loreto Connect and resources for student and parents
Friends & friendships: school-age children | Raising Children Network
Bring on Summer….
Summer Uniforms
Summer Uniform for Girls R-12 This uniform may be worn for Terms 1 and 4 of each year.
• College summer dress or College shorts
• College blazer
• College short sleeved shirt (if wearing shorts)
• College straw hat
• College jumper (optional)
• College summer socks
• College white ribbon (for summer)
• Plain black lace-up, solid college shoe – no sneakers or canvas shoes allowed
All Girls’ Uniforms - Length of Winter Tunic and Summer Dress The winter tunic, summer dress and shorts must be below the knee.
Summer uniform is to be worn in Term 1 and 4 along with the College straw hat to be worn when travelling to and from the College. If an outer layer is required when travelling to and from the College, then this must be the College blazer, jumpers may be worn as an outer garment whilst at school.
College Straw Hats (or Sports caps if in sports uniform) are to be worn outside throughout Terms 1 and 4. This includes recess, lunch, physical education lessons and after-college play. Outdoor co-curricular activities also require students to wear a College hat to suit the sport or activity.
SEAD in the senior school
Our Year 12’s have completed their SATAC applications this term and are preparing for their transition from secondary to tertiary studies. Events supported by Mr Henry Jones including university guest speakers and defence force recruitment providing our Year 11 and 12s with the various options after high school.
SEAD Value Future Pathways
- Investigating Future Pathways Year 7-8
- Broadening my identify and understanding my future Year 9-10
- Planning for my career and tertiary pathway.
SEAD Values in classrooms
In our classrooms, in homeroom and in SEAD we have been focusing on Empathy. Empathy allows us to connect with others on a deeper level and to build stronger relationships. It also makes us more creative and innovative. 8 Steps to Empathy
- Be Mindful
- Walk In Their Shoes
- Seek Positive Examples
- Be Grateful
- Be an active Listener
- Embrace Diverse Perspectives
- Practice Acts of Kindness
- Go off Grid
See poster below:
“We do at Loreto” and “8 ways to practice empathy”
Ms Emma Searle
Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement
From the Psychological Service
The Mental Health Continuum is a guide to increase understanding of mental health, assist in determining the level of concern and inform appropriate follow up actions.
Mental health and mental health conditions are different and exist on a continuum.
At one end, Flourishing represents optimal functioning in which a child or young person feels good, functions well, relates well with others, and approaches their learning with purpose, curiosity and optimism.
Next are children and young people who are Going OK. They experience good mental health and an absence of frequent or significant feelings of distress.
In the Struggling range are children and young people who may come to the attention of others due to more noticeable but generally time-limited periods of distress which have a mild impact on their behaviour, learning and relationships. These experiences may either be a) an expected part of development and growing up, b) an expected emotional reaction to challenging life circumstances, or c) the early signs of an emerging mental health condition.
Finally, children and young people at the far right-hand-side of the continuum have thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are distressing and have a severe impact on everyday activities.
Children and young people shift back and forth along the continuum. Mental health changes over time in response to different stresses and experiences. There are many factors, both internal and external, that affect where someone generally sits on the continuum, and also where they sit at any given point in time. Most children and young people sit at the positive mental health end of the continuum, most of the time.
In your everyday role as parents and carers, you help nudge them towards Flourishing and reaching their full potential in the way you promote their social, emotional and academic development. As key adults in a child or young person’s life, noticing these changes and acting to get things back on track can make an enormous difference to their mental health and improve their educational outcomes.
As always, if you have any specific concerns about your child or young person, please contact your daughter’s Classroom Teacher, or Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School and ELC, or the relevant Leader of Student Wellbeing and Academic Care, or Mentor Teacher in the Senior School. You are also encouraged to seek professional or medical help, if required.
Monica Bignold
Lead College Psychologist R-12
Women in STEM Event: Why We Need More Women in STEM
Student leaders from our neighbouring girls’ schools joined us on Monday 18 September at the Women in STEM event which featured a panel of high profile key figures in the STEM world including Old Scholar and Senior Manager in Information, Technology and Governance at the City of Playford, Elena Casciano, Course Coordinator: UniSA, Rachael Zeuner, Scientist in Residence, Sophie Dolling, Chief Information Officer SA Government, Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk, Civil Engineering Student, Susie Greco and Clinical Geneticist, SA Health, Dr Shannon LeBlanc.
After arrival and afternoon tea in the Performing Arts Foyer where our students and staff could gather and catch up, students listened to a panel discussion on why we need more women in STEM, before breaking out into small groups for further discussions.
Mission Day 2023
Today our community embraced the annual Mission Day, with colour, laughter and lots of fun! The day started with a whole school liturgy from R-12, where the girls were reminded about the meaning of Mission Day, before enjoying the much-anticipated Talent Show. Following the hype of the Talent Show, our students made their way to the Acacias lawns to participate in fun activities and see what was on offer at each class stall, from sausage sizzles to craft stalls, lolly stalls to lucky dips , there was plenty to do! – take a look at the wonderful colourful and creative costumes on display!
Thank you to our Loreto community for your support in this much anticipated annual fundraising event, with all donations supporting the work of Mary Ward International Australia’s project the Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub in WA.
If you would like to learn more about this project please visit mwia.org.au.