Sowing the SEADs of Success
From the Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Engagement R‑12
Welcome back to the new school year celebrating together the value of Verity - may it be filled with opportunities and possibilities.
The Social, Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) program acknowledges the important integration between the social emotional and academic aspects of the girls' development.
In Term 1, our college-wide focus will center on the themes of Connections, Belonging, and Friendships, as well as Who am I as a Learner?, living our personal values, and embracing the Loreto values—especially Verity, the theme for 2025. We will also explore the questions Who am I? and How are connections formed? through a deeper understanding of others and group dynamics.
Our key focus on wellbeing is to foster flourishing within a supportive environment by:
nurturing kindness and empathy
developing social emotional intelligence
building resilience*, perseverance, and grit
cultivating authentic relationships and connectedness
encouraging responsible online engagement
and strengthening identity and sense of purpose.
*We challenge our girls this year with the concepts of Resilience and how that can be applied in their academic successes, independence, emotions, relationships and friendships. This will be further explored in our SEAD program throughout the year.
Around the College
Transport and using correct drop off zones.
Please ensure parents and caregivers are NOT using Gate one (from Portrush Road) near the Performing Arts Centre after 7.45am for school drop off. All student pick up and drop off should be via Talbot Grove or alternative, suitable side roads, near the College.
Please also be mindful of our neighbours and time limits when parking near driveways.
Student Handbooks Junior and Senior school
Please take a moment to review the recently updated student handbooks. Both the Junior School and Senior School Handbooks are available on Loreto Connect under College Policies (for Parents).
Student Attendance
Planned Non-attendance Request:
In accordance with the education Act 1972, for a student to be eligible for exemption from attendance at school temporarily (greater than 10 school days), a written request for day and boarding students for non-attendance must be forwarded to the Principal.
The written request must include the reasons for exemption, the time period the exemption is to occur and any relevant supporting documentation, for example, a letter from medical professional.
As it is at the Principal’s discretion to approve a request for non-attendance at the College, it is important that the request be provided as early as possible prior to the non-attendance date.
Common reasons for exemptions include:
• Participation in a sporting event or training required for elite sport
• Participation in external performing events, such as, musicals, film or theatre productions
• Medical or health reasons
• Disability or behaviour problems requiring part-time exemption from school
• Exchange program
Non-attendance: School Events
Non-attendance at school events, including the Athletics and Swimming Carnivals,
Awards Evening, Performing Arts Festival and Special Event Days all require written permission from the Principal.
Punctuality to start the day
Please note all students should be ready to start Lesson 1, sitting in their classrooms at 8.30am. This means that students should be arriving to school before 8.30am. Leaders of Wellbeing and Academic care will be monitoring student attendance and punctuality in classes. Senior Students should start the day at 8.30am with a 3.30pm finish.
Punctuality is not only important to learning and social engagement - it also shows respect towards other people and portrays reliability and integrity.
Uniform reminders with Hats
With the increase in the UV index with warmer weather, it is important must ensure all students are wearing their school hat when outdoors or find suitable shade when the UV index is high.
On Student Loreto Connect home page we have set up a daily UV index for all Junior and Senior School girls to access. – see below
Enjoy the sunshine but also protect yourself!
Emma Searle
Assistant Principal Wellbeing and Engagement R-12