From the Principal 

Welcome Back to the College – A New Year of Opportunities and Celebrations 

A very warm welcome to the start of the 2025 school year! It was with great excitement that we greeted our returning students and families, as well as the new students and families who are joining our College community.  

This year holds special significance for Loreto education, as we celebrate two remarkable milestones. We are proud to mark 150 years of Loreto education in Australia and Southeast Asia, and 120 years of Loreto education in South Australia. These celebrations remind us of the rich tradition of excellence, compassion, and faith that continues to guide our College and the wider Loreto community. 

Our journey through this milestone year will be filled with memorable events and opportunities to reflect on the lasting impact Loreto education has had on generations of students and families. Key events on our calendar include the Opening College Mass and Picinic on 13 February and the Acacias Ball, which will take place on 5 April at the Adelaide Oval.  

The Ball promises to be a wonderful evening of community, celebration, and fundraising. If you have not yet secured your tickets, I urge you to do so soon, as early bird ticket prices are closing shortly. We look forward to celebrating with you all at this special event. 

In 2025, our College will also be focusing on the Loreto value of Verity – truth, integrity, and honesty. It is a value that aligns perfectly with our mission to form young people who are not only academically excellent but also morally grounded and committed to making a positive change in the world. 

This year also marks the launch of our new strategic plan.  Shaping Strong Confident Futures – A Strategic Framework guided by Loreto Values:  2025-2027.  The plan sets our roadmap to maintain and strengthen our position as a school of excellence for all students from ELC-12.  At its heart the plan has 5 leading goals, with initiatives supporting the achievement of each goal.   

Goal 1: Optimise learning experiences.  

Goal 2: Commit to excellence in teaching.  

Goal 3: Enrich Formation and its positive impacts.  

Goal 4: Nurture and strengthen our school community.  

Goal 5: Continue to be a contemporary and well governed organisation.  

This plan will be shared with the community in the coming weeks.   

Finally, last week we were fortunate to welcome global presenter Yasmin London. Yasmin spoke to our junior and senior school parents about the importance of safe online practices for young people. As technology continues to play a central role in our lives, it is essential that we all remain vigilant and informed about how we can keep our students safe in the digital world. I am grateful to Yasmin for sharing her expertise and insights with our community.   

In addition, Yasmin, has shared the following resources with the community: 

1. Additional slides, including parent strategies here   On slide 3 there is a QR code for a free premium Qustodio parental control tool account for 30 days. 

2. The Next Click, What is Influencing Student Digital Behaviours in 2025 

3. The Digital Dilemma, Childhood at a Crossroads, Qustodio Whitepaper  

4. How Girls Really Feel About Social Media, Common Sense Media 2024 

5. The Online Safety Hub. 

As we look ahead to the year, I encourage all our students and families to engage in the many opportunities that will be available throughout the year. Let us continue to build on the rich legacy of Loreto, nurturing our values and striving for excellence in everything we do. 

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the year. 

Kylie McCullah 

Principal