Learning Across the
Senior School
Lions Youth of the Year Quest
Congratulations to Emma Choi of Year 12 who represented South Australia at the Lions Club Youth of the Year Quest in Traralgon, Victoria over the weekend. Emma is the first Loreto student to represent the state in a program that has been running since 1975. The judging criteria are very rigorous:
- Initiatives taken at school: 15%
- Activities & involvement outside school: 20%
- School academic achievements: 10%
- General knowledge: 15%
- Presentation during an interview: 10%
- Public Speaking: 30%
At the State Final, held in Mt Gambier on Sunday 6 April, Emma was the winner of the Public Speaking component in addition to being the overall winner. Her prepared speech of six minutes focused on the importance of not losing touch with one’s native language. But it’s the two Impromptu Speeches that really test one’s capacity to think quickly. With no preparation time, Emma had to speak for two minutes each on topics such as:
- What should the voting age be in Australia?
- Youth mental health: a crisis or a natural part of growing up?
- Social media: friend or foe?
- Do you believe ANZAC Day is still relevant to the youth of today, and why?
While not a winner at the National Final, Emma has once again demonstrated her willingness to take on challenges. In her words, it was such a valuable experience:
I was able to meet and form bonds with the most intelligent and empathetic young Australians, and participate in diverse Lions’ workshops and initiatives. It was an incredible opportunity for cultivating youth leadership and voice.
We wish Emma well in her final stages of Year 12. She will leave Loreto at the end of this year knowing that she has never failed to grasp any opportunities that come her way, not only for personal development, but also for what she has contributed to the school.
David Hall
English Teacher
French Film Festival Excursion: Comme un prince
On Thursday, 2nd April, the Year 10 and Year 12 French classes enjoyed a cultural excursion to the cinema to see the French film Comme un prince. The outing was a wonderful opportunity to experience contemporary French cinema as part of this annual cultural event.
Students attended a screening of Comme un prince, a feel-good film that follows the journey of a former boxing champion who rediscovers purpose and community through teaching a troubled young girl. The film explored themes such as redemption, identity, and resilience — offering plenty of food for thought, particularly in connection with classroom discussions around youth issues and personal growth.
Watching the film in its original French with English subtitles allowed students to experience authentic spoken French in context and to hear a variety of accents, slang, and expressions used in everyday conversation. After the screening, students engaged in discussions about the film’s message, characters, and their personal responses to it.
This cultural experience not only supported language learning but also deepened students’ appreciation of French society and cinema. It was a memorable and enriching way to wrap up a successful term of language study.
Morgane Monpeurt
Year 7 – 12 French Teacher
Health Science: Binge Drinking
The Year 10 Health Science class are currently focusing on the seriousness of binge drinking. A tennis ball simulation demonstrated how the liver becomes overloaded when too much alcohol enters the bloodstream. Students representing the alcohol pass the tennis ball to the 'liver' student, who squeezes it, symbolising the liver breaking down the alcohol. When the tennis balls start building up, the realisation of the significance of this activity is quite overwhelming.
Patty Warrender
Biology/Science Teacher
