Pedagogy and Academics

From the Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Academic Leadership

Leadership Season, Loreto Style

Over the past month, our Year 11 students have done something deceptively simple and quietly courageous: they have raised their hands for leadership. The process is not without its complexities - public speaking, peer scrutiny, and the possibility of a “no” at the end of it all. However, they have stepped forward with a kind of determined energy that speaks volumes about the character of this year group.

As my first leadership season at Loreto, what has been striking is not only the number of girls who have nominated themselves, but the way they have stood beside one another in the process. There’s a strength in this year group that blends ambition with generosity; an ability to want the role and still wholeheartedly cheer for a friend who wants it too.

And then there’s the word that surfaced again and again, in speeches and in interviews: love.

“I just love my school. I love my House. I really love Loreto.” In a process often defined by competition, it is rare (and telling) that the most repeated word was one of affection and belonging. That thread of love, expressed without irony, seems uniquely “Loreto” and uniquely part of this leadership season. It has been the quiet constant in the way the girls have spoken, supported, and shown up for one another.

Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that research continues to affirm that girls in single-sex schools report greater confidence stepping into leadership roles. This term has certainly been proof of that. Whether or not they hold an official position next year, every candidate has demonstrated something more valuable than a badge: the willingness to represent their peers, invest in the College’s future, and speak from a place of equal parts passion and compassion. 

At Loreto, leadership is more than a title; it’s an instinct to contribute, to take responsibility, and to leave through the Portrush Road gates having strengthened what the girls fondly call “the sisterhood.” And perhaps, above all, it’s about leaving with the same love for this place that inspired them to step forward in the first place. By that measure, this year’s candidates have already succeeded.

Mel Pedavoli

Assistant Principal Pedagogy and Academic Leadership