Around Loreto
Tristan Bancks - Visiting Author
Last term, the students in Years 3–6 were treated to a session with Australian author, Tristan Bancks. He was a very engaging and inspiring presenter, who used book trailers and videos to enhance his presentation.
He spoke with great enthusiasm and humour about the writing process, the challenges, and the enjoyment he derives from writing. He offered the girls many strategies to use in their writing. His suggestions will help them expand on their initial thoughts and experiences when creating a piece of writing. Tristan's book “Two Wolves" was a finalist in the Australian Book of the Year award for 2015.
Ms Margaret Holman
R-6 Micklegate Library
ANZAC Spirit of Commemoration Exhibition
On Wednesday 16 March, the Year 9 cohort enjoyed the experience of visiting the Australian War Memorial Anzac Spirit of Commemoration Exhibition at Wayville Showgrounds.
This important and thoughtfully constructed exhibition provided our students with much to ponder, deliberate and understand.
It was a significant learning experience in two dimensions.
Firstly, to recognise and commemorate service by a generation which would be changed forever by this cataclysmic conflict.
Secondly, and most importantly, it reinforced the tragedy of war and the need to build and maintain peaceful inclusive societies.
Mr Paul Foley
Humanities Learning Leader
IB MYP Performing Arts - Drama
This term, all Middle Years Drama students were invited to attend Gabrielliana for Two, presented by Mari and Crupi Theatre Company and starring Mariana Dias and Andrew Crupi.
The production used multiple techniques and styles of Commedia. The style of Commedia, based in the forest, is a form of ‘Boschereccia’ and the other style of Commedia is ‘Gabrielliana’, when one actor poses as multiple characters throughout the performance.
In Gabrielliana for Two, the audience was amused by the use of masks and props to help create multiple characters from only two actors. Mariana Dias and Andrew Crupi both played their roles extremely well and used their voices and body language in a very specific way for each individual character.
The production was highly enjoyable, and elicited approval with roars of laughter from the audience. It had some interesting aspects in the performance, some that many of the students had never seen in a play or drama production before.
This performance led all classes to add to their current units of inquiry; in Year 7, students are working with masks to add to their creative dance, Year 8 students compared the techniques of Commedia to those in Melodrama, and Year 9 students identified with the process of using improvisation to construct a production.
Weaving at Loreto College with Southern Elders Weaving Group
The Reconciliation Action Plan group have enjoyed weaving this term with the Southern Elders Weaving group. Janice Rigney, together with her daughter, Lorna Collinson, and granddaughter, Rebecca Collinson, have taught the girls the traditional techniques of weaving.
The girls created baskets and other objects using raffia. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the session with the very skilled facilitators, as not only did they share their craft, but the ladies were very enthusiastic and entertaining and generated a "good yarn" and much laughter. The girls were privileged to be in the company of these Aboriginal Aunties, who shared their knowledge, life and cultural traditions.
Sonia Chiappin