Learning Across the
Junior School
Message From the Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School
Welcome to the 2025 school year! It has been delightful to see the students return from holidays refreshed, excited, and ready to embrace all that the year has to offer. This year is particularly special as we celebrate our 120 years at Loreto College Marryatville, and the sense of excitement and community spirit is already evident across the school.
I am very proud of our new Reception girls who have already settled into school life so quickly, they are certainly bringing a wonderful sense of joy to the classrooms.
Science In the Junior School
Our students have been fully immersed in their new specialist Science lessons with Ms. Jessica Twelftree. They have been exploring a variety of engaging hands-on learning activities from investigating the wonders of the SEAD garden to having lessons in the Senior School laboratories. Additionally, the newly established Junior School Science room has provided an inspiring space where curiosity and discovery are already evident. It is fantastic to see the students embracing these learning opportunities with such enthusiasm!
Library
Our Library has been a centre of activity and creativity under the guidance of our new Library Integrator, Rachelle Kirk. Students have been enjoying their designated Library sessions, as well as making the most of opportunities to visit before school and during lunch time.
Newly Upgraded year 6 Classrooms & Digital Technology Room
The Year 6 girls have been extremely excited to move into their newly upgraded classrooms. This space has flexible learning areas for collaboration, and it is a wonderful area that they are making the most. Our Digital Technology space has also been upgraded. This facility is adjacent to the new classrooms and will certainly be a hub of activity in the coming weeks.
Exciting Changes in OSHC
I am pleased to share that our OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) facility has moved into a newly designated space adjacent to the Library. This location offers a warm and engaging environment where students can relax, socialise, and participate in a diverse range of activities after school. Additionally, Camp Australia has introduced a new OSHC option where students can attend after 4:30 pm, catering to students involved in co-curricular activities. We are thrilled to see parents making use of this service.
Important Reminder – Boarding House/ELC Car Park
Finally, I would like to kindly remind families that the Boarding House/ELC Car Park is strictly reserved for these specific communities. To ensure the safety and smooth operation at pick-up times, Junior School parents are asked to park in the adjacent side streets and walk to collect their children, or alternatively, use the designated pick-up area at Talbot Grove. Your cooperation and support in following these guidelines are greatly appreciated.
Lisa Sexton
Assistant Principal – Head of Junior School
Chinese: Lunar New Year Celebrations
We are delighted to share with you the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year that have filled our school with joy and learning over the past week. This festive season has been a wonderful opportunity for our students from Reception to Year 6 to immerse themselves in the rich traditions and customs of Chinese culture.
Our students have been actively engaged in a variety of hands-on activities that highlight the essence of Chinese New Year. From creating beautiful red pockets (红包) adorned with auspicious symbols to mastering the art of using chopsticks (筷子), each activity has offered valuable insights into Chinese traditions.
The creation of traditional lanterns (灯笼) has been a particular highlight, symbolising brightness and hope for the year ahead. Through this craft, students not only learned about the significance of lanterns in Chinese culture but also enjoyed the creativity and teamwork involved.
In addition to creative endeavors, our curriculum has included lessons on the customs and practices associated with Chinese New Year. Students have explored the importance of family reunions, the legends of the zodiac animals, and the symbolism of traditional foods, deepening their understanding of this auspicious time.
As we look forward to welcoming the Year of the Snake, we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate diversity and cultural richness within our school community. We hope that the experiences shared during Chinese New Year will continue to inspire curiosity, understanding, and appreciation for cultural heritage among our students.
We extend our warmest wishes to you and your families for a joyful and prosperous Chinese New Year!
Magdalene Kho
Language Teacher/International Student Coordinator
Year 3
It has been a lovely start to Year 3. The girls are increasingly settled and focused and embracing classroom routines. Their enthusiasm for learning is evident, and we are all looking forward to the exciting journey ahead.
This week, we began our Laser Literacy program, which will be central to our English curriculum. In writing, we are focusing on how to plan for a narrative text and the importance of writing strong opening sentences to grab the reader's attention. We are already seeing the girls’ creativity shine through as they begin crafting their stories.
In Maths, we are building on our understanding of place value by exploring four-digit numbers. A key focus is the foundational concept that ten hundreds is the same as one thousand, and one hundred tens is also equal to one thousand. This understanding will serve as a building block for more complex concepts as we move forward in the term.
In addition to our academic studies, we are also focusing on the value of Verity, learning about the importance of truth, honesty, and integrity in our daily lives. This exploration ties into our studies of Mary Ward and Mother Gonzaga Barry, two remarkable women who played pivotal roles in the history of our Loreto community. We’ve been discussing their commitment to education and their dedication to service, which inspire us all to be leaders of truth and kindness.
It’s been a busy, productive start to the year, and we look forward to the continued growth and learning that lies ahead.
Year 6 HASS
In HASS, our focus for the term is Geography. We began our inquiry with an Asia Pre-test to ascertain knowledge surrounding geographical features of the Asia region. The girls are expanding their mapping skills and will explore Australia’s relationship with Asia.
Research skills will also be a focus in the coming weeks, with the girls accessing a range of digital and print sources to hone their note-taking skills. Behind the News (BTN) is a vehicle through which we can enhance our knowledge of the world around us, in particular current events. It allows us to process factual information that is current and important as we try to develop critical thinkers and global citizens. We use this resource to explicitly teach note-taking skills.
In addition, we also focus largely on government, in preparation for our Canberra Trip in Week 7. Functions of Australian government, how Australia is governed, as well as how we were shaped as a nation during the Federation era are all key learnings in this unit.
Amanda Smith and Annelies Roe
Year 6 Teachers