From the Deputy Principal

By Sue Hinchliffe

The Opening of St Anne’s Wing Lift and Sensory Garden

On 20 February we proudly celebrated the official opening and blessing of the St Anne’s Lift, made possible through the generous support of the Federal Government. This important re-development improves access to learning and office spaces, enhances amenities, and strengthens the heart of our College, known as the Quad, creating a vital link to our learning areas and supporting our growing community. We are deeply grateful to the many staff, leaders, architects, builders, and contractors whose dedication brought this project to life.

We were also honoured to officially open our sensory garden alongside the Learning Diversity Hub. This calm and thoughtfully designed space supports student wellbeing, regulation, and inclusive learning, offering a place where every student can feel grounded and ready to learn.

A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors who made the sensory garden possible. Your support will make a lasting difference for our students.

This marks the beginning of new opportunities for learning, connection, and growth.

https://www.loreto.vic.edu.au/.../st-annes-lift-and...

International Women's Day Breakfast

On Friday 6 March, we proudly celebrated International Women’s Day with our annual Women in Time – Inspiring Alumni induction. This special event highlights the remarkable and diverse journeys within our alumni community, inspiring today’s students just as the Loreto sisters have inspired generations before them.

In 2026, we were delighted to induct two outstanding past pupils:

Genevieve Lacey (Class of 1990) – Arts & Cultural Excellence
Recognised for her extraordinary contribution to music and the arts as an internationally acclaimed recorder virtuoso, musician and artist. Genevieve has performed and collaborated with artists and organisations around the world, and is widely respected for her work championing creativity and the power of the arts within communities.
Dr Catherine Gay (Class of 2014) – Young Achiever
Honoured for her service to history and cultural heritage. Catherine’s passion for art and history has led to doctoral research exploring the overlooked stories of Indigenous and settler girls and young women, during Australia’s colonial period.

Our speakers beautifully complemented one another, sharing their journeys across different fields but united by a shared passion for the arts and culture. Both reflected on the impact of their Loreto education in shaping their paths, and the strong sense of community that has supported them during their time at Loreto and beyond.

We were also proud to present our Women in Time – Student Award to Idaho J, a Year 11 student who demonstrates the qualities and potential to personify Mary Ward’s vision. This award recognises a student who shows great promise and encourages them to continue their path of leadership and service. Idaho’s achievements reflect not only academic excellence, but also leadership, compassion and a strong commitment to community.

It was a wonderful morning with past pupils, families, staff and students from all year levels coming together to be inspired by these remarkable journeys.

Communication With the College

As per our letter at the beginning of the year and as mentioned at all Year Level introductory in person sessions, we ask that you work through our levels of communication to ensure your enquiries are addressed promptly, consistently, and by the staff best positioned to assist. Please also note that our staff are often teaching or in meetings most of the day and cannot respond immediately to your request.

To support clear, respectful, and efficient communication, we ask that all parents follow our established communication channels mindful that compliance with the Loreto College Parent Charter (available here) is an enrolment agreement.

Classroom matters should be directed to your child’s teacher as the first point of contact or the Mentor. For broader school or wellbeing concerns, please contact the relevant Year Level Coordinator in the first instance, which, if required will be followed up by the Directors of Years 7-9 or Years 10-12. If your enquiry is an operational matter, please contact our Director of Operations.

Using these appropriate channels ensures that enquiries are addressed promptly, consistently, and by the staff best positioned to assist.

Embracing the New

At the beginning of the year our students were challenged to ‘strive for excellence’ and aspire towards their personal best. Whether in the classroom, in the swimming pool, on camp or on the rowing course, seeing our students push their own boundaries has been a highlight.

A new school year is always marked by ‘new’ things and we have all navigated ‘new classes’, ‘new teachers’, ‘new friends’ and ‘new challenges’. We recognise that encountering the unfamiliar can be daunting, yet it is precisely in these moments of transition that we expand our skills and capacity. By stepping outside of our comfort zones, our students have shown incredible resilience, proving that growth happens when we meet new challenges with an open mind. While we have seen many moments of outstanding excellence we are very proud of every student’s quiet determination to strive for their personal best.