Principal's Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the end of another busy and successful term, there is much to celebrate across our College community.
A significant milestone has been reached with the completion of our new Auditorium. This outstanding facility was opened just in time for our school production of The Little Mermaid Jr., providing a wonderful venue to showcase the remarkable talents of our students.
Congratulations and sincere thanks to the cast, crew, staff, volunteers and families who worked tirelessly to bring the production to life. The professionalism, dedication and talent displayed by our students were exceptional and made the performances a tremendous success. I hope you got a chance to attend.
Unfortunately, educational consultant Bron Ryrie Jones was unable to attend her scheduled presentation on 21 August due to illness. As a result, the professional learning session has been rescheduled and a student free day will now take place on Friday 30 October.
Student achievement continues to shine across a wide range of areas. Our sporting teams have enjoyed outstanding success, with our Senior Boys AFL team winning the State Championships and progressing to national level competition. We also congratulate our futsal teams and our Year 7 Girls and Intermediate Soccer teams on their impressive performances and qualification for State Finals. These achievements reflect the commitment, resilience and teamwork demonstrated by our students, as well as the dedication of the staff who support them.
The Sports Academy continues to be a highly successful program, with students maintaining an average attendance rate of 90%, which highlights the positive impact that participation, engagement and a sense of belonging can have on student success.
Similarly, the Lowanna Institute of the Arts (LIA) continues to provide outstanding opportunities for students to pursue their passions and develop their talents. Attendance rates remain particularly strong, with Year 9 students attending at 93% and Year 10 students at 92%. These results demonstrate the value of specialised pathways in increasing engagement, motivation and achievement.
Book Week was once again a highlight of the term. It was fantastic to see so many students and staff embracing the celebrations, with record numbers participating in dress up activities and joining friends in creative themed costumes. Our annual parade was one of the biggest yet, with participants showcasing an incredible variety of characters, each accompanied by a fitting theme song. The library team transformed the library into Hogwarts, creating an immersive and magical experience that generated excitement throughout the week. We thank our library staff and English faculty for their efforts in fostering a love of reading and making the event such a success.
Students and staff also enjoyed a range of engaging activities as part of National Science Week, which provided opportunities to explore, investigate and celebrate the important role of science in our everyday lives.
Community support has also been evident through our recent fundraising efforts. Doughnut sales proved extremely popular and contributed valuable funds towards the Deb Ball, helping to offset increased costs associated with a change of venue. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative. We look forward to the Deb Ball on Wednesday.
We also recently recognised Wear It Purple Day, an important opportunity to celebrate diversity and reinforce our commitment to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students. The day promoted a strong message of belonging and support and was embraced by many students and staff across the College.
The achievements and events highlighted throughout this term reflect the breadth of opportunities available to students at Lowanna College. Whether through academic pursuits, specialist programs such as the Sports Academy and Lowanna Institute of the Arts, sporting competitions, performing arts, leadership opportunities or community events, our students continue to demonstrate excellence, pride and engagement. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and thank our staff, families and wider College community for their ongoing support in helping every student thrive.
Have a wonderful holiday and rest well.
Bernadette Cropper
Acting College Principal