Learning Across the
Senior School

Between the Lines Book Club Excursion: Adelaide Writers’ Week

On Friday, our book club had the opportunity to attend the Adelaide Writers' Week Schools Day, held in the picturesque Pioneer Women's Memorial Garden. This event was designed to inspire and engage primary and secondary students through discussions of literature and creative ideas.

The day featured a diverse lineup of authors and podcasters, including Anita Heiss, Lili Wilkinson, Amie Kaufman, and Jared Thomas. Each presenter shared insights into their writing processes and encouraged students to explore new perspectives.

Our students attended sessions "Dirrayawadha (Rise Up)" with Anita Heiss, interviewed by Jayden Thomas, an Indigenous author, playwright, poet, and academic who grew up in Port Augusta on Nukunu country.

The session after lunch was "On Writing Fantasy" with Amie Kaufman and Lili Wilkinson.

Attending Adelaide Writers' Week Schools Day was a valuable experience for our book club members. It not only provided them with a deeper understanding of the writing process but also inspired them to explore their own creative potential. The diverse range of authors and topics sparked lively discussions and reflections among our members, enriching their appreciation for literature and storytelling. Lili’s ‘List of 15 Ideas’ was an example of how she approached her writing. The students also had the opportunity to ask insightful questions of the authors.

Many books, pre-signed by the authors, were purchased on the day. Some of the students were able to talk to the authors during book signing at the end of the day.

Overall, the event was a resounding success, offering a unique opportunity for our book club to engage with renowned authors and thinkers in a beautiful setting.

Jane Densley

Between the Lines Book Club

Indigenous Social Night

On Thursday 20 February, Loreto College hosted its third annual Indigenous Social Night where we welcomed students from across 10 other schools in South Australia.

Our Indigenous students, supported by Indigenous Student Coordinator Mrs. Katie Kiosses Motlop, led a memorable evening featuring a Welcome to Country ceremony with smoking and didgeridoo playing by Senior Kaurna man Robert Taylor. Guest speaker Gemma Houghton, AFLW player from the Port Adelaide Football Club, inspired the crowd before everyone joined in Loreto’s beloved beachball game. The night wrapped up with networking activities, followed by dinner and dessert in the quad, where students connected, laughed, and celebrated together.

We hold this event to welcome and give a blessing to staff and students to the new school year. A fantastic evening and we are very proud of our Indigenous students for their continued leadership.

Theme Reflections Across Year Groups: Embracing Faith, Compassion, and Belonging

This term, students across various year groups are exploring themes that foster personal growth, faith, and a sense of belonging. The Year 7 students are reflecting on the theme of Belonging, a concept that encourages them to feel connected, supported, and integral within their school community. By engaging in activities that emphasise inclusivity, empathy, and friendship, students are learning how their unique identities contribute to the broader community. This focus aims to build a strong foundation of respect and belonging, encouraging Year 7s to understand that they are valued members of both their school and their faith community.

Year 8 students, meanwhile, are diving into Project Compassion, a key initiative that highlights social justice and the importance of giving. Through this project, they are learning about the lives of people who face adversity in Vietnam, Samoa and Congo and the impact that compassionate actions can have on the world. Students are encouraged to think globally and act locally, fostering a deep sense of responsibility to help those in need and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Year 9 students are engaging with The Good News, where they are exploring the teachings of the Gospel and how the message of Jesus can be applied to their daily lives. This theme emphasises the importance of living out the Good News with kindness, love, and justice, offering a solid spiritual foundation for navigating the complexities of adolescence.

Finally, Year 11 students have completed their first unit, Encountering the Sacred, a profound exploration of spirituality and faith. Through this theme, students were encouraged to seek deeper connections with God and understand the sacredness in their everyday experiences. It invited them to reflect on the meaning of sacred spaces and artefacts, music and ritual and moments in their lives, fostering a richer understanding of faith as they prepare for significant transitions ahead.

These themes across the year levels invite students to engage deeply with their spirituality, fostering compassion, growth, and a stronger sense of connection to one another and to God.

Nancy Rodi

Learning Leader of Religious Education 7-12

SACE Art Show

The SACE Board has announced the works of 136 students that have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 SACE Art Show.

We are pleased to announce that Lily R and Bree N have had their artworks selected for exhibition in the 2025 SACE Art Show.

The artworks including paintings, drawings, sculptures, costumes, and multimedia works showcase some amazing students who completed SACE Visual Art and Design in 2024.

We send heartfelt congratulations to Lily and Bree. We are so proud of your artistic achievements!

Jo Maycock

Visual Arts Teacher

From the Senior School College Counsellor

As we reach the halfway mark of Term 1, we find ourselves entering a time when assessments and tests start to come into play. Further, with NAPLAN approaching for our girls in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9, it’s understandable that this time can bring about feelings of pressure for our girls at Loreto College. However, this time also provides us with an important opportunity to focus on key skills such as time management, balancing workloads, and encouraging positive study habits, all of which will set them up for success in the year ahead.

Here are a few ideas that may help you support your daughter through this busy period and beyond:

Prioritise and Plan: Encourage your daughter to break tasks down into manageable chunks and organise them on a calendar or planner. Setting clear weekly goals can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed by helping them identify a focus.
Break Study Sessions into Blocks: Instead of lengthy study sessions, suggest breaking study time into smaller blocks with short breaks in between. This helps maintain focus and ensures they aren’t burning out.
Practice Self-Care: It’s crucial to ensure they’re getting enough sleep, eating well, staying active, and taking time for mindfulness or relaxation practices.

This time can feel like a pressure point, but it's important to remind them that while they can’t control every outcome, they can control how they prepare. Focusing on the preparation will help them feel more in control.

School TV has an edition on Exam Jitters, via the School Survival Series, I encourage parents and caregivers to access this valuable resource.

As always, if you have any specific concerns about your daughter, please contact your daughter’s Classroom Teacher in the Junior School, Mentor Teacher and/or LSWAC in the Senior School.

Treesa Parrish