Sowing the SEADs of Success

From the Assistant Principal: Wellbeing & Engagement

School Operational Information 

Key Dates for Term 2 

Week 1 30 April Return to School R-12

Week 1 3-5 May Friday to Sunday Generations in Jazz Festival Mount Gambier

Week 2 7 May Tuesday Year 8, 9 and 10 Parent Teacher Conversations 4pm-8pm

Week 2 10 May Friday College Tour 

Week 2 11 May Saturday Year 11 and 12 Formal at Adelaide Convention Centre

Week 3 13 May Monday Mother’s Day Breakfast at Loreto

Week 3 National Boarders Week

Week 3 13-16 May Year 8 Camp 

Week 4 25 May Saturday PnF Gala Dinner at the Wine Centre 

Week 5 National Reconciliation Week 

Week 5 31 May Friday Year 7 and 8 Saxe Blue Social at Loreto College 

Week 7 10 June Monday Public Holiday 

Week 7 14 June Friday Performing Arts Festival (PAF); full day rehearsals and performances at Adelaide Convention Centre

Week 8 21 June Friday College Tour 

Week 9 Year 11 and 10 Exams 

Week 9 Last day 28 June Friday 

Winter Uniform Term 2 and 3 friendly reminders 

Winter Uniform for Girls R-12 

This uniform may be worn in Terms 2 and 3 of each year. 

• College blazer 

• College tunic or College shorts or long pants

• College long sleeved shirt 

• College winter long saxe blue socks, knee-high or saxe blue tights or stockings 

• College blue ribbon (for winter) 

• College jumper (optional) 

• College scarf (optional) – blue for R-11 and white for Year 12 

• College vest (optional) 

• Plain black lace-up, solid college shoe – no sneakers or canvas shoes allowed

College blazers are to be worn to and from the College every day when wearing the Winter uniform. Blazers are to be worn on days when students attend Chapel, Mass or Senior School Assembly or as directed on special occasions. Students are expected to wear their full College uniform (winter or summer) when traveling to and from the College. 

In Senior School, if students have PE or sports training that day, they will bring their sports uniform in a sports bag and change into it and then change back to full uniform to travel home at the end of the day. For instances of before school sport training, girls can wear their sport uniform to school but must change into their full Summer or Winter uniform before the commencement of the school day. Junior School students may wear their sport uniform to and from school on the days they participate in PE lessons or sport trainings.

Please note fake eyelashes and double earing (second pair) are NOT part of the College uniform.

Boarders Week – Term 2 Week 3 

Activities Bree North and Alice Tiver have organized (Head and Deputy boarders) 

• Monday – In class Kahoot Activity 
• Tuesday – Day Girl verses Boarders Netball Match at lunchtime 
• Wednesday – Homemade cupcakes for sale at recess and lunch
• Thursday – Obstacle course in the Senior School 
• Friday – Whole school Community Casuals (Country Casuals) with lunch time sausage sizzle. 

Wheelchair Basketball 

On the 3rd of April our executive team went to play wheelchair basketball. This was such a valuable experience to not only learn about the importance of respecting and acknowledging those with disabilities, but to also experience and witness how they are able to continue to flourish in society through sport. We had first hand experience with someone teaching us how to play wheelchair basketball correctly, and about their experiences as someone with a disability in society. We had a competitive but fun match with the Rostrevor prefects and by the end of the game, I think myself, along with everyone who participated, found a sense of understanding and respect for those who live with disabilities. Together, both executive teams discussed how our schools accommodate students with disability and what we can do to make our school more accessible. Overall, it was an incredible experience and we hope this will be something Rostrevor and Loreto can continue to explore and learn about for future years. 

Holly Alp 

Deputy Head Girl

Year 8 Camp Term 2 Week 3

Next term we see our 2024 outdoor education program continue with Year 8s departing for the Douglas Scrub near McClaren Flat. Ms Veronica D Angelo organized an informative Parent information evening on Tuesday this week and parents heard from Wilderness Escape. 

We often discuss the benefits of these camp experiences due to the complete adjustment in environment and routines that can challenge students and staff alike. Two of our encompassing SEAD values are ‘Developing Resilience’ and ‘Building Communities’ which we know camp plays a significant role in achieving. 

For the Year 8s it may be a time to connect with some girls in their year level that they many have not had many opportunities to get to know, connecting with others by having the shared goal of completing the bushwalk in the rain and/or sunshine to reach their campsite is relationship building. 

Thanks to all staff who help facilitate these exceptional learning opportunities.

Benefits of camp and challenging experiences

‘Responsibility’ is our ability to choose our responses as humans, and by being in these challenging situations, we are provided the opportunity to choose. Sometimes we can struggle but the struggle can lead to new understandings, such as when it’s raining on a bushwalk, students are tested to reflect “how can I prevent these environmental conditions rule my sense of wellbeing?”  and “In what ways can I change my thinking to take responsibility for my happiness and choose a positive response?”

The very nature of camps provides these opportunities constantly across areas of conflict resolution, risk-taking, leadership, negotiation, initiative and self-reliance. Dr Richard Harris, South Australia’s 2019 Australian of the Year, is a strong advocate for the risk-taking element of camps. He says, "You have to suffer a few bruises and scrapes along the way to grow normally………You need to find your own boundaries by getting out by yourself and making a few mistakes."

Richard Harris dives into the mind of risk-takers in new podcast series Real Risk - ABC News

Student Leaders Update

Holly Alp addressed the College community at the senior school assembly about Downs Syndrome and the celebration of World Downs Syndrome Day 21 March. Holly organized a wonderful Dance Party in the Square at lunchtime on Tuesday. Please see below some snippets from her speech:

“We need to love difference rather than fear it and ensure that everyone feels accepted. As we have learnt though this year’s theme of sincerity, we must understand that being unkind is not the Loreto way. We must encourage difference rather than fear it; whether it be in a school, a workplace, a government and globally.”

"To make this something we can all relate to, I want everyone to pause and to think about a time where you felt different. For me, it’s when I started at this school from Melbourne or for you, it could be the time you wore casual clothes on the wrong day. We remember these moments because of how we felt, most likely because of a look or a comment and other’s reactions to us. But we must remember that these small factors do not change who we are on the inside. We can use this situation to compare how we make different people feel. It is up to us and what we say and what we do."

“As I said before, World Down Syndrome Day is an event to advocate for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of individuals with down syndrome. What we can all do, is not make it about just one day. We can all encourage, be kind, be proud, be protective and celebrate difference every day.” 

Females in Leadership 

Student leaders met on Wednesday afternoon in the Boardroom to discuss shared initiatives between girls school in Adelaide. Loreto hosted representatives from St Mary’s, St Peters Girls, Walford, Kildare College, OLSH and Seymour.

Fearne Rosenbauer (Loreto College Head Girl) who organized the event shared the clip “Run like a Girl” and facilitated an open discussion around what it really means to “run like a girl” and the challenges young girls face especially in the early puberty years (School Years 6- Year 9) and the impact stereotypes, role models and social media plays in the development and growth of young women.

Run Like a Girl - Commercial (youtube.com)

Another discussion point was International Women’s Day. This clip is a very good example about equality in the workplace and the important conversations that need to happen to change cultural norms in our society.

Child Social Experiment Looks At Gender Equality (youtube.com)

There was a buzz of excitement and networking amongst the girls. We are looking forward to what new joint initiatives our powerful future leaders have in store for us in 2024 and beyond celebrating the Sisterhood.

Battle of the Bands

Old Scholar Band (Graduates 2023) will be competing in Battle of the Bands this Saturday at 1.30pm in Elder Park as part of the Gather Round. They are one of five semi-finalists and go up against two other acts tomorrow (Saturday) on the live stage. The winner of that round goes on to the finals, the winner of which, will become a support act for ’Baker Boy’ and ‘Jet’ at the Gather Round Live Concert on Sunday. Congratulations to Antonia, Charlotte, Vivienne and Bhaavya - You girls rock!

Ms Emma Searle

Assistant Principal: Wellbeing and Engagement 

Psychological and Health Services

As Term 1 draws to an end it is important to continue to support your child’s and young person’s wellbeing during the holidays. Please see this handy sheet from Headspace which outlines useful information and strategies.

As always, if you have any specific concerns about your child or young person, please contact your daughter’s Classroom Teacher, or Assistant Principal: Head of Junior School in the Junior School, or the relevant Leader of Student Wellbeing and Academic Care, or Mentor/Subject Teacher in the Senior School. You can also contact the Psychological Service or engage with external mental health support. 

Monica Bignold 

Leader of Psychological and Health Services

Positive Body Image Awareness

We are thrilled to be partnering with The Butterfly Foundation who will be delivering positive body image awareness and education workshops to our Year 5-12 students. These sessions will provide practical strategies to support body confidence and empower young people to reach out and seek help.

The Butterfly Foundation’s team will cover a range of topics, which will be age and developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed, and will address the modifiable risks and protective factors that underpin the development of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. Topics will include:

• Strategies to build resilience and improve self-esteem
• Understanding the various influences on body image and ways to manage these positively
• Media and social media literacy skills to develop critical thinking to challenge body and appearance ideals, messages and language.
• Protective Factors which include the role of friends and the importance of healthy relationships with their body.
• The importance of help-seeking if they are worried about themselves or a friend

The first workshop will take place on Tuesday 9 April for Year 11 students, during SEAD. Further information will be emailed to parents prior to the session.

Ms Lydia Baccanello

Director of Wellbeing Programs (R-12)

Year 9 and 10 SEAD

Research shows that students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, social connections, and classroom behaviours. Higher physical activity and physical fitness levels are associated with improved cognitive performance, particularly concentration and memory, among students. Young people aged 13–17 years need at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. For these reasons, our Year 9 Leaders have been working closely with Ms Baccanello and Mrs Donnelly to create new initiatives during lunchtimes. Every week A on Fridays at lunch time, Bench Ball games will be hosted in the gym for specific year levels. Every week B Fridays, girls will have the opportunity to participate in various sports on the oval with equipment provided. This allows girls get active whilst developing new friendships and connections with students from different classes and year levels.  

Thanks to our Year 9 Leaders: Georgia Mastrantuone, Coco Glastonbury, Elise Desteno, Olivia Grbin, Maria Barbaro, Elisha Minicozzi and Isabelle Ryan

Our Year 10’s will engage with Year 7’s in ‘Big Sister/Little Sister’ activities next Thursday during SEAD. This initiative was created by Carla Griffiths and the informal activities align nicely with our Loreto Values and the work our girls are doing in SEAD – forming and building stronger connections.

Mrs Fi Donnelly

Leader of Student Wellbeing and Academic Care – Years 9 and 10

Wellbeing Boost Funding

The College would like to acknowledge the support of the MP Blair Boyer, Minister for Education, Training and Skills following the Wellbeing Boost funding received for the 2023-24 period. The boost funding from the Commonwealth has enabled us to increase our dedicated human resources for wellbeing programs this year, further supporting the SEAD program at Loreto.

Boarding Life

On Wednesday, the Year 12 Boarders put together a special Easter egg hunt for the boarding students as a send-off before the Easter break. The girls were feeling quite competitive as it was made as a house team competition between Poyntz and Wigmore. It was a mad rush of excitement with lots of giggling around the boarding house gardens in search of chocolate! The activity was great at bringing all of our boarding sisters together for the holiday event before the long weekend. In the end, Wigmore took the lead in collecting the most eggs gaining house points that will contribute to the overall winning points at the end of the year. The Easter eggs were shared among the girls before having a happy Easter long weekend.

Bree North

Boarding House Leader