College News

Parent Information Evening - Strategic Update

Join the Loreto Leadership Team for a live presentation via Zoom to hear about our areas of focus for 2022 and beyond.

WHEN:

Tuesday 15 February, 6.00pm – 6.45pm

PRESENTERS:

Dr Nicole Archard, Principal

Dr Michael Boots, Assistant Principal: Learning & Innovation

Anna Partridge, Assistant Principal: Wellbeing & Engagement

Marika Snell, Head of Junior School and Early Learning

You can access the presentation via the link on the invite which will be sent to all parents this week or here.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 2022 school year.

Co-Curricular Opportunities Across the School

At this stage we are still uncertain of what the year’s programs will look like. But our past experiences have revealed alternative ways of delivering, such as online participation in competitions. We will be able to provide more information as it becomes available.

The value of co-curricular:

• It develops skills outside of the regular classroom setting. It encourages risk taking in a safe environment, where one is not always searching for the ‘right’ answer;
• It boosts self-confidence. Being recognised for something other than academic achievements can raise one’s self-esteem;
• It can develop ‘hidden’ talents. Activities encourage students to bring out their talent in a way that the classroom may not always allow;
• It nurtures social skills. In an age where technology can dominate, students are encouraged to interact on a more personal level;
• It develops skills of time management. Students learn to prioritise and honour commitments in both the short and long term;
• It develops a sense of commitment and responsibility. Honouring one’s commitment makes a student a responsible member of society; students depend on others and they depend on her;
• It develops teamwork and interdependence. There are activities available with varying numbers of team members.
• And in our current environment, it teaches us to be flexible, and find alternative ways of doing things.

Samples of what is offered this year:

• da Vinci Decathlon (Years 7 & 9) 
• Debating (Years 5 - 12)
• Ethics Olympiad (Years 8 – 12)
• ICAS Competitions (Years 2 – 12)
• National History Challenge (R – 12)
• Philosothon (Years 8 – 11)
• Rostrum Public Speaking (Years 7 – 12)
• Tournament of Minds (Years 5 – 10)

There are also clubs and societies such as Garden, Environment, Philosophy, STEM and United Nations Youth Assemblies. Musical opportunities include Bands and Choirs … and of course, there are a multitude of sports … Covid-permitting.

Students will be constantly informed of opportunities. There is a designated noticeboard in the stairwell at the western end of the Mary Ward wing in the Senior School, and you will be provided with information through these newsletters. And of course, Loreto Connect will have information as well. Please look at our Senior School and Junior School Co-curricular sites for all you need to know about our activities.

Nominations are being taken now for students in Years 7 to 12 for the Rostrum Public Speaking competition, and for students in Years 5 to 12 we are starting to organise Debating teams. For students in Years 4, 6 & 8 we have the ACER Global Challenge, and students in Years 9 & 10 have the opportunity of entering the Premier’s Anzac Spirit competition.

David Hall

Head of Student Enrichment and Engagement R - 12

Co-Curricular Sports

Term 1 Information:

It looks like it is going to be an interesting year ahead for schools and sport with the ever changing Covid-19 situation.  As you would be aware, due to the cancellation of all inter-school sport competitions and the absence of some year levels for the first two weeks of school, all sport training has been cancelled for the first four weeks of Term 1. When sport does commence, I will make sure we have large teams to allow for the unavoidable student absences that will occur with Covid-19.   

Thank you for submitting your Term 1 sports nominations, teams have now been lodged with SA Catholic Schools Girls Secondary Sport Association. Once we have received grading from SACSSGSA, I will be able to confirm teams. Due to the delayed commencement date of Term 1 sport, grade allocations, fixtures and teams will not be available for a couple of weeks. I will keep you updated via the school newsletter, Loreto Connect and email.

Sports Trainings:

Training schedules can be located on Loreto Connect - Senior Sport - Co-curricular Trainings or by using the link: Term 1 2022 Training Schedule

In Term 1 there will also be swimming and athletics training sessions available for students in Years 7-12. These sessions are great preparation for the upcoming carnivals and there will be coaches available to support students in their chosen track or field activity. Swimming training will commence in Week 5 on a Tuesday morning at Norwood Pool and athletics training will be held at Loreto College on a Wednesday morning from Week 6. Students will receive more information about these activities through the student bulletin. 

Uniform requirements for Term 1 Sports:

Basketball: Basketball top*, bike pants or PE shorts, sports socks, good court shoes. 

Tennis: Polo top, sport skirt or PE shorts, sports socks, good court shoes.

Touch Football: Touch top*, bike pants or PE shorts, sports socks, good sports shoes/turf or touch football boots.

Indoor Volleyball: Polo top, bike pants or PE shorts, sports socks, good court shoes. 

Water Polo: Loreto College bathers*.

*Needs to be purchased from the uniform shop

Term 2 & 3 Information:

The nomination form for Terms 2 & 3 will be emailed at the end of next week so please be on the lookout for this form. The nomination form will also be accessible on Loreto Connect in the Senior Sport, Nominations section. Knockout sport information is also included in this nomination form. If your child is interested in competing in a Knockout Sport please complete this form, this information will assist us in determining which sports and teams we enter in the interschool knockout competitions. These competitions are held during school hours in Terms 2 and 3.

If you have any questions about co-curricular sport please do not hesitate to contact me at Sophie.Hage@loreto.sa.edu.au

Sophie Hage

Sports Coordinator

Library Lover's Day

Monday 14 February is Library Lovers’ Day. You can share the love this Library Lovers’ Day by entering our York Library Competition (Entries drawn 16/2/22), pop in and borrow, read or share a book, grab a snazzy LL bookmark or just tell us why you love us! 

For more details, head into York Information Resource Centre.

Ms Julie Staley

Information Resources Coordinator R-12

Nude Food in 2022

With the return to the campus next week for all our cohorts of girls, a further reminder of the Nude Food 22 campaign at Loreto as part of our wider environmental sustainability initiatives. Please check you have the right containers to achieve our ‘nude food’ campus from Monday:

• Reusable food containers for lunches, recess and snacks = no single use plastics from food packaging or zip lock bags
• Choose products with compartments to keep food separated and fresh
• Use leak proof containers for yoghurts, dips, fruit and sauces.

Currently in South Australian schools there are around 11 million zip lock bags, 3 million small tubs and 1.5 million yoghurt pouches disposed of each year, making up on average 26% of waste to landfill that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions  - that equates to 40 tonnes of landfill annually based on volumes at Loreto!

For more details and resources on how to plan for ‘Nude Food 22’ at Loreto please visit SA’s dedicated nude food site http://www.wow.sa.gov.au/nude-food.html

Find out more about Loreto College’s Net Zero by 2030 commitment at https://www.loreto.sa.edu.au/about/environmental-sustainability/

Mr Phil Kightley

Business Manager