Learning Across the
Senior School

SA Governor’s Award – Certificate of Merit awarded to Year 12 Student

Last term, three year 12 Legal Studies Students: Amber Hallett, Alyssia Taddeo and Amelia Boulden entered The Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools which is a cross-sector initiative to develop student awareness and skills as active and informed citizens in a multicultural and democratic society. The initiative involves an annual competition conducted by the Department for Education and guided by the Governor's Civics Awards for Schools Reference Group.

In the individual category students responded to a civics question proposed by each student and a 2000 word written response was submitted.

The questions our Loreto students proposed and investigated are as follows:

Amber:

How does the misuse of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases in Australian workplaces emphasise the need for legislative reform to protect the disempowered?

Alyssia:

Does the adversary system require reform in order to protect the disempowered victims of family violence in SA?

Amelia:

To what extent does the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 balance the rights of migrants with governmental responsibilities?

All three students will receive a certificate from the Governor of South Australia congratulating them on their entry and participation in the award.

Amber Hallet received a Certificate of Merit, personally signed by Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, recognising Amber’s finalist status in the 2024 Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools competition. An amazing achievement, Amber!

Well done to all three students who entered the competition and challenged themselves to investigate complex and interesting current legal issues.

Proud to be Loreto.

Ms Ruggiero-Girgolas and Ms Tennille Cobb

Australian Mathematics Competition

The Australian Mathematics Competition involves the completion of 30 challenging mathematical questions over the course of 75 minutes. The questions progress in difficulty and frequently require out-of-the-box thinking to solve.

A total of 89 Senior School students took part in the Australian Mathematics Competition this year.

A particular congratulations to the following students:

Phoebe Rohrig – Year 7 – Distinction
Clara Luppino – Year 7 – Distinction
Cleo Murray– Year 8 – Distinction
Harper Hamdorf – Year 9 – Distinction
Georgia Mastrantuone – Year 9 – Distinction
Jasmine Eldic – Year 10 – Distinction
Marrisa Clark – Year 10 – Distinction
Alice Reid – Year 10 – Distinction
Emma Choi – Year 11 – High Distinction

Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation

Jemma Meoli (Year 10) and Coco Glastonbury (Year 9) were recognized at the Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation Graduation Ceremony, with support from Giuliana Blefari (Year 11) and former Loreto student Emily Quinn.

The Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation program is aimed at students aged 15-17 from diverse backgrounds and schools, helping them grow into confident, resilient, and empowered young leaders. Through the program, participants become socially responsible change-makers, ready to make a positive impact in their communities.

Mrs Fi Donnelly

Leader of Student Wellbeing & Academic Care

Social Media Summit

Following her success in the SA Youth Parliament this year, Year 12 Legal Studies student Amelia Boulden was invited by Premier Peter Malinauskas to attend The Social Media Summit on 11 October 2024.

The Summit addressed mounting concerns among experts and the community about the adverse impact of social media, especially on children and young people and was the first of its kind, bringing government together with young people and a diverse group of experts, policymakers, academics, educators and parents to better understand how government can best provide support through its policies, programs and services.

Amelia wrote the following reflection after attending the Social Media Summit:

Attending the Social Media Summit was an eye-opening experience for me. I learned about the Governments plans to introduce a bill aimed at banning children from social media by the end of the year. The discussions throughout the day focused on the profound impact social media has on young people and society as a whole.

We heard from leaders such as the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, as well as Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Their insights, combined with those of experts in law, health, and technology, highlighted the seriousness of the issue.

One of the most powerful moments came from parents who shared their personal experiences regarding the harmful effects social media has had on their children. It was heartbreaking to hear how these platforms can negatively impact mental health and well-being. The summit also brought attention to troubling trends, such as ideological radicalism among youth and the potential dangers of AI technology being used maliciously.

Reflecting on the day, I feel a stronger awareness of the urgent need to protect young people in our digital landscape. This event emphasised just how crucial it is for us to address these challenges.

Amelia Boulden, Year 12 Legal Studies student

Samantha Ruggiero-Girgolas

Legal Studies Teacher

Year 8 English - Public Speaking Competition

At the end of Term 3, we held the House round for our annual Year 8 Public Speaking Competition. Students demonstrated remarkable confidence, eloquence, and a passion for expressing their views, inspired our 2024 value Sincerity. The competition aims to nurture students' communication skills, encourage them to think critically, and help them develop confidence.

All Year 8 students are to be commended on their involvement in the Public Speaking Competition. Their ability to research, structure, and deliver speeches with poise was a testament to their hard work and preparation.

Events like this highlight the importance of building confidence in our students and equipping them with the skills they need to succeed, both in and out of the classroom.

Congratulations to Camille Borrillo (Mulhall), Amber Sherwell (McGrath), Bronte Pryor (Barry) and Tilda Pelham (Ward) who were successful in progressing to the final which will be held in Week 6.

Student reflections

Participating in the public speaking competition has been an amazing journey that tested me in so many ways, from first preparing my speech to presenting it to all of Mulhall it has truly been a roller coaster of emotions, highs, and lows. The preparation process was difficult, researching my topic, crafting my speech, and rehearsing tirelessly to ensure my message was clear and direct. My peers and I all would have faced moments of self-doubt, but what mattered is that we pushed through, and all delivered meaningful speeches. The support and camaraderie between the participants was truly admirable, at the end of my speech everyone was so supportive and encouraging, making it an unforgettable experience.

Camille Borrillo

I knew as soon as the Public Speaking Competition was announced that it was something that I was really interested in and wanted to do well in. The school’s value for 2024 is Sincerity, hence the topic for this year. The meaning of sincerity to me is being your true self and not letting anyone take that away from you and I wanted to base my speech on that. Prior to the first round, everyone was nervous because we had spent the entire term working on our speeches. I wrote on each of my cue cards to breathe slow as you can always be caught in the moment when performing your speech and easily forget the basics; this really helped me. Finally, for the House meeting it was extremely intimidating when putting yourself out there in front of your House, but after it was done, I felt so relieved and happy with my work.

Tilda Pelham

When the public speaking competition was announced by our English teachers, I was nervous but excited to see what this opportunity might hold, and I knew it was something I was interested in pursuing. After choosing our topics, we began planning our speeches by finding quotes, resources, catchphrases and other useful elements we could incorporate in our speeches. When planning my speech, I found it helpful to make a guide for each paragraph, showing what to incorporate in each section.Going through this Public Speaking process and advancing through the rounds was very nerve-racking. I often found myself doubting my abilities, but it is all about confidence. You can’t lose anything if you try in the first place.

Bronte Pryor

Mrs Fiona Griffiths

Leader of English and Languages

Year 10 Food Tech: Crafting Healthy ‘Fake Away’ Meals

This Semester, Year 10 Food Students have been exploring consumer driven food trends. Students have used primary research data to analyse food trends and eating patterns. Using the ‘Fake Away Model’ students have devised a meal plan that suits the dietary needs of teenagers to design their own food product. Through their teamwork and collaboration skills, students were under pressure to create their food orders within set time constraints. The final products were outstanding - well done, girls!

Kelly Bregantic

Leader of Technologies

Year 11s Explore Fair Trade: Tackling Modern-Day Slavery Through Ethical Choices

Currently, the Year 11 SRM students are learning about modern-day slavery and one action that an make a difference the world over. Modern-day slavery affects millions globally, involving human trafficking and forced labour in various industries. Vulnerable groups, including women and children, often endure harsh conditions for minimal pay, highlighting a critical human rights issue.

One effective way to combat this problem is through fair trade. When consumers choose fair trade products, they support ethical practices that ensure producers receive fair wages, work in safe conditions, and are not exploited. Fair trade empowers communities, enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty and break free from cycles of exploitation.

Moreover, fair trade promotes sustainable practices, benefiting both the environment and local economies. By understanding where products come from, consumers can make informed choices that reflect their values. Thus, the students are considering how their purchasing decisions can make a difference because every fair-trade product bought contributes to a global movement advocating for human rights and social justice.

Together, we can help create a world where everyone is treated fairly and with dignity, demonstrating that even small actions can lead to significant change.

Nancy Rodi

LLRE 7-12

Learning Across the Senior School