Learning Across the 

Senior School

Year 7 STEMFooty

Our Year 7 students engaged wholeheartedly in the activities on offer in Week 7. Throughout the week, Loreto partnered with the Adelaide Football Club to deliver a STEMFooty program. The week-long intensive program required students to engage in the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), through the lens of Australian Rules Football, a sport which continues to grow in popularity among young girls. The program encouraged students to identify and appreciate the relevance of STEM concepts in all facets of life, and particularly sport. Throughout the week, students completed 5 units of work ranging from and Introduction to AFL, to Statistics, Trajectory, Nutrition and Morphology, and Distance. 

The week culminated in a trip to AFLMax, where the students participated in a 2-hour long program and engaged in activities such as Rock Climbing, Trampolining, Interactive Kicking and much more.  

Ms Lydia Baccanello

Leader of Student Wellbeing and Academic Care

Year 9 Camp in Robe

On Monday morning at 7am, a bright-eyed Year 9 cohort arrived at Loreto College, hopping onto the buses to embark on the 4-hour long journey to Robe, our home for the week. The bus ride was awash with a wide assortment of lollies, long conversations and some questionable karaoke. We took a break in the township of Meningie for lunch then continued our journey to Tarooki campsite. We explored the town on foot, taking in the ocean scenery and many a good playground. Particular highlights of the site itself were the delicious meals cooked by chief chef Hajar, and late night snacks in our dorms. Furthermore, we enjoyed mini-Olympics, bonfires and free time talking in our dorms into the night. Throughout the week, we built connections with our peers, pushed the very boundaries of our comfort zones and made lifelong memories.

The following day was the expedition to the Naracoorte Caves, which are a world-heritage listed site, being over 800,00 years old. They contain some of the world’s most impressive fossil collections. Examples include mega fauna remains such as the short-faced carnivorous kangaroo and a cave snake over 7 metres long. We then became masters of the adventure caves. We squeezed and contorted through impossible spaces, caverns and possum runs. We even scrambled through parts of the cave without any lights on and saw cave bats in their natural habitat.

We then journeyed to the South of Long Beach, participating in true beach surfing. The southern wind was bitterly cold and the waves were dauntingly large but the weather was glorious. In our wetsuits, we were itching to get started with an introduction to surfboards and water safety. The two veteran surf instructors, Mr Salty and Mal, guided us to stand on the boards with real confidence. Entering the water, the shock of adrenaline urged us to return to the safety of the sand, however we persisted. Wave after wave, our skills developed and when our time came to an end, we were pleading for more. Surfing was an activity loved by all and it will forever remain a special memory from the week. 

The hike to The Gums campsite, deep in the heart of the Little Dip Conservation Park, was challenging but scenic. We beheld the sights, sounds and smells of the roaring ocean, distracting our minds from the heavy bags on our backs and ankle-deep sand. When we arrived at the campsite, we were greeted by swarms of mosquitos an inch long and a long drop toilet, 500-feet deep. However, as the sun began to set on the day, we began our culinary masterclass on the Trangias, making stir fries, Italian pasta and even sushi. After dinner, we camped beneath the stars, with some students even witnessing shooting stars. We were woken by the delicate pitter-pattering of rain on the canvas of our tents and songbirds singing joyfully. We did not take the option of the easy way out by taking the bus back to base camp. Rather, we challenged ourselves and successfully completed the arduous trek back. After the hike, everyone was exhausted and drenched through with rain but this only built our resilience and taught us to not take our luxuries such as beds, toilets and cars for granted. 

We would like to extend our thanks to the Wilderness Escape staff and to our Loreto teachers: Mrs Donnelly, Mrs Chiappin-Scalzi, Mr Baker, Ms Innes and Mr Parsons.

Written by Aleeza Khan, Iris Hamilton, Alice Reid and Lucy Dachs

Work Placement

During Week 7, our Year 10 cohort headed off campus to undertake their Workplace Learning week. Students were encouraged to organise their five-day placement in a field of interest, providing them with an opportunity to experience life in the workforce, develop their capabilities, and potentially determine a possible future career. The experience is also a key part of their Personal Learning Plan, a compulsory SACE subject they have been undertaking this year.

Students returned to school this week with some very positive feedback about their workplace experiences. The week provided invaluable insight into students’ future career pathways: for some it confirmed their chosen career direction while for others it gave a useful understanding of the reality of working in particular industries. All students developed core life skills, extended themselves beyond their comfort zones, communicated and collaborated with professionals and discovered how tiring working full-time really is. 

Ms Mel McCabe

Personal Learning Plan Teacher

My week of work experience was a great insight into the different pathways that I can follow after graduating. During my week at Adelaide Oval in the Event and Functions department I was able to learn about and participate in all that goes on behind the scenes when planning and hosting functions and events. From the setting up of the rooms to the serving and dealing with clients, the whole process requires many people so that it can run like the well-oiled machine that it is. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to witness all this work, learn new skills and gain clarity on what I would like to do in the future.

Lucy Boardman, Adelaide Oval

The Monday I started my work placement at CBC’s junior music department, was the day of Student Lead Conferences. This meant the students weren’t required to be at school all day and majority of the staff were in meetings with the students and their families. Despite it being a slow day, it was a perfect introduction into what the students have been doing this semester and helped me gain a better understanding of how the department is organised. Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, I’ve worked with receptions to year 6’s on their chosen individual instruments, class bands, and online composing and arranging pieces. Aside from being in the music classes, I also helped with yard duties, junior and senior school bands, and many choir rehearsals in preparation for Catholic Schools Music Festival and the CBC Cabaret. Despite the constant challenges, work experience was an amazing experience and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Mr Heuzenroeder in the junior school music department at CBC this week.  

Bella Killen, CBC Junior Music Department

During week 7, I was given the opportunity to work at a specialist office with Dr. Onuma who specialises in gynaecology and Dr Latzel who specialises in ENT. Throughout the week I observed consults, learnt about different medical procedures such as a laparoscopy, grommets, adenoids, tonsils, and cochlear implants. I watched a hearing test and an air pressure test be performed and learnt how to read them. I found grommets quite fascinating as they are a tiny object but can have a huge impact on someone’s life. Dr Latzel explained the procedure of a grommet and how it prevents a build-up of fluid. I believe getting grommets is almost the answer to every ear problem. Not only did I work with the doctors but also the admin and office staff members Leanne, Cathy, and Monica. They showed me how all the patients documents were filed and what needed to be done to the rooms before the doctors and patients came in e.g. sterilisation of the room and equipment. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and I thoroughly enjoyed my week.

Phoebe Smith, Medical Practice  

Future Thinking Entrepreneurial Workshop

The Year 8 cohort took part in an intensive four day Future Thinking Entrepreneurial Workshop. Students were given the brief – ‘As an entrepreneur, how can we improve our local community and the lives of others?’ Students used a range of entrepreneurial skills such as project management, critical thinking, adaptive mindset, creativity and innovation to problem solve. They took part in feedback loops, created a shared market place of ideas and created start-up pitches to present to an industry panel. Congratulations to all of the students who took risks and stepped out of their comfort zone during the week. Special mention to our winning innovators ‘Kinetic Kicks’ who created a solar powered running shoe!

Thank you to our panel of industry judges who offered constructive feedback to our innovators:

• ‘When you share your skills with others, you lead the way for female innovation and change’ – Onnie Chan, Chief Entrepreneur, Thinc Lab, University of Adelaide
• ‘I love the team work on display and organised presentation - your idea is very clear and direct!’ Olivia Fuller – Agency Brand Manager, Fuller Brand Communication 
• ‘This is a game changer – why hasn’t anyone ever thought of this before?’ - Emma Howison – Industrial Designer and St Ignatius Church Community Advocate

Ms Kelly Bregantic

Leader of Technologies