Learning Across the
Senior School

Manchester City Football Clinic

Loreto College students have been fortunate enough to participate in football (soccer) lessons led by one of the largest football clubs in the world, Manchester City.

Run by Manchester City Coach, Jamie Lee, and assisted by qualified coaches, the classes have provided a rare and exciting opportunity for our girls to develop their skills and be challenged in a range of technical and tactical game practices – all the while learning from the best.

The club are in partnership with Rostrevor College with registrations open for their upcoming holiday clinic for both boys and girls aged 7-15 years old.

To learn more about the holiday clinic, visit Rostrevor.sa.edu.au/man-city

CESA Thriving People Event

Last week our Indigenous Student Coordinator, Mrs Katie Kiosses-Motlop took our middle school Indigenous students, Evie, Ayla and Zahara, to the CESA Thriving People Event, where the theme was Living, Learning and Playing on Kaurna Land.

The girls were able to connect with other Indigenous students and also undertook workshops with Kaurna people and role models.

Throughout the day, the girls enjoyed weaving whilst yarning, wood carving and pyrography, painting stories through symbolism, and wrote their own rap song and produced it in the GigRig Production Van!

Year 8 Design Technology

In Design and Technology this Semester, students were given the brief to use 3D Design Technology software to create Puzzle Projects. Students undertook an extensive research and design process to program 3D software to ensure that their product would withstand industry standards. To create a real-world experience, students had to liaise with the University of South Australia to ensure their coding designs synced with current technology. In order to evaluate their prototypes, students visited the university where they had a tour of the design and technology future thinking workshops. They were able to learn from University professionals about how to adapt digital software program different tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters. Students were able to troubleshoot their designs with the support of industry technicians to ensure that their 3D Printed Puzzle Projects met the Design Brief. Overall, the students really enjoyed this experience and left the University with a deeper understanding of the importance of the Design Thinking processes, ultimately being able to appreciate how the hard work of creating designs produces high quality physical products for real world industry production.

Ms Ryley Martin

Design Technology Teacher

Happenings in Year 8 During Term 2

It has been an action-packed term for everyone at the College, and especially for the Year 8 Cohort.

No sooner had the term begun and we were preparing for our wonderful camp at Douglas Scrub. We left with 61 students with 5 staff and returned home with the same number, although some were a little worse for wear! The range of activities were designed to challenge us physically and mentally.

Abseiling

“As a team, we took part in rock climbing and abseiling off a cliff and rock face. When we were told this, we were shocked so many thoughts were rushing through our minds, both of fear and excitement to try something that takes such bravery and trust.

Rock climbing also came with team building, to participate you needed to trust your peers as they were the ones holding you, which gave us a new skill to take from the day. It definitely made many friendships stronger.

I believe to have done abseiling you needed to be mentally prepared as you need to trust the engineering behind the equipment and remember you are safe as it doesn’t look that way. Once you can get past the fact you are walking backwards down a cliff you could be overwhelmed by how picturesque the nature was below.” Georgia M

Mountain bike riding

“We looked forward to exercising while sitting down. However, with the number of mountains, not just hills, and the mud, we spent as much time pushing the bike and cleaning our faces as we did pedalling.” Isabella S

Endurance Hike and Tenting

“We embarked on our hike to somewhere in Kuitpo Forest, where we would be sleeping and cooking our dinner for the night. Just before our hike, we packed our rucksacks with everything we would need for the night. Our instructor helped us pack our rucksacks so they could be lightweight and easier to carry. Then we commenced our hike, and immediately we saw how beautiful the fauna and flora were around us. As the hike went on, we noticed that having a positive mindset helped us to keep striving with the hike; it wasn’t easy, but we were able to work together to finish the hike.

Once we got to our campsite, we went straight to setting up our Trangia and made our dinners. After cleaning up and an extraordinary bonfire, we went to sleep in our tents, where some furry animals tried to join us, scavenging for food. The next morning, we packed our rucksacks and then started our second hike. When we were finished, we were overjoyed to get back on the bus and go back to the campsite.” Maria B

In between the more robust activities, group tasks enabled the students to collaborate, cooperate and problem solve. Some groups saved the pilot, other did not. Other groups made it through the lava, while others drowned in it. The cohort also put together appreciation jars for the special woman in their lives. Being together for four days meant that we all learnt to accept the differences between us: the sleepwalkers and talkers, the snorers, the morning people, the night owls, the gigglers. The whiners, the explorers and the wilderness warriors. We had time to be, time to converse, time to appreciate the environment around us.

The Performing Arts rehearsals lead by the House leaders in Music, Performing Arts and Dance, culminated in an outstanding night at the Convention Centre. Some of our Year 8 students were spotlighted with the singing, dancing and instrumental work.

Enlighten Education

The Years 8 students participated in a half-day workshop facilitated by Enlighten Education, with a main focus on our wellbeing. The organisation has chosen to use the butterfly as its logo: it has long been symbolic of transformation, freedom, new life or the beginning of a new journey. The year level was arranged in horseshoe shaped groups of 6. This is great for discussions, with students engaged with the knowledge imparted by the wonderful speaker Rosie. The focus was on girls and their contributions. We were asked to consider how we show gratitude. It can be shown in different ways, through actions and / or words. We learned that, over time, advertising campaigns that promoted and encouraged sexism were banned. We discussed gender equality, female empowerment, action to point out societal flaws and being part of making a change.

Examples that were referenced were from real life – from marketing, stories in the media. We were urged to question and make our voices heard. We heard examples that can help us to embrace the concept that we can change the future to be a better place for all. We were encouraged to create a new language; a powerful language that celebrates who you are right now and supports you in becoming who you want to be.

Something as small as the flutter of a butterfly’s wing, can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.

Saxe Blue and Gold Social

Over 300 students from the Colleges of Loreto, Rostrevor, Prince Alfred, Saint Peter’s and Christian Brothers joined together for music, dancing, food and conversation for the return of the Saxe Blue and Gold Social! We connected with new people, socialised with the opposite gender, were open-minded, and, mainly dressed well!

Butterfly Effect

Rachel was our presenter from the Butterfly Effect and we were fortunate enough to have met her last year. This workshop focussed on thinking about how to apply the same relationship with others to us, extending these principles to our body, eating and exercise. We learned about how we can improve our body image and health:

Tip 1: Remember body size and health is determined by many factors: genetics, puberty and development, cultural background, education and economic status, lifestyle choices, people’s choices for us.
Tip 2: Tune onto your body it knows what it needs: listen – does your body need food, rest, water; avoid being tempted by diet culture; know the signals; compare and compete less; trust your body.
Tip 3: Manage feelings: tune in; positive self-talk; use body kind strategies.
Tip 4: Have a body kind relationship with eating: eat regularly; adequate fuel and nutrition; eat mindfully and listen to body’s queues; eat a variety of foods; eat socially, around people; be flexible and spontaneous around food.
Tip 5: Move in ways that are body kind.

Ultimately, be there for yourself. Be there for your friends and mates.