Xavier College Maytime Fair – Saturday, 4 May

In contrast to last year’s cold and wet weather, Xavier College were blessed with a beautiful morning which drew in great crowds at the annual Maytime Fair. In addition to the many stalls including books, jam, candles and craft, to name a few, the grounds were filled with amusements and food stalls. Loyola College once again supported this event, which raises funds for Jesuit Mission, with a hot jam donut stall. In addition to the steady queues at the stall, the spectators supporting student football matches on the ovals eagerly purchased what was described as “the most delicious hot jam donuts”.

The staff and volunteers at Xavier College and Jesuit Mission are extremely grateful for the generosity of time given by Loyola College; and I would personally like to thank staff and parents: Matthew Luczek, Sean Simpson, Mark Monteneri, Ornella Monteneri, Pinella Lo Presti, Lisa Grant, Loretta Baker, Brendon Carrol; and students Olivia Di Girolamo, 12/XJAR; Laily Aalders, 8XEJS; Charlotte Brookes, 11XTJP and Luca Mao, 8XBAM who happily cooked, coated and sold donuts on the day. A special thank you to Chris Doumbalis and Mario Calvitto from our Facilities & Property team who kindly delivered and collected marquees, fryers and donuts during a very busy time at Loyola.

Open Day – Sunday, 5 May

The annual Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the facilities and programs available at Loyola College. This year we welcomed 247 prospective families who wandered through our beautiful grounds, visited the various curriculum areas and listened to the Acting Principal’s Address. The day provided opportunities to speak with our teachers about our programs and to participate in activities such as cup cake decorating, Giant Scrabble, Trilingual Tag, Codebreaker and Fitness Testing Fanatics. The main cast from the upcoming College Musical, Mamma Mia! also held their rehearsals and gave guests a glimpse of what audiences can expect to see in July.

A very big thank you to all who contributed to making this day a success in providing our community with the opportunity to see what the College has to offer. Thank you to staff and students who assisted with the preparations and delivery of the program for the day. Thank you to our Student Leaders and Student Ambassadors who did an excellent job in providing guided tours to our guests; and to the Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA) who cooked and served the free BBQ enjoyed by all.    

Mother & Son Breakfast

This year we celebrated the mothers in our community at the Mother and Son Breakfast held on Tuesday, 7 May. With a very early start to the day, mothers and their sons enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared and served by our Hospitality students who were ably assisted by their teachers, Fiona Chapman and Elizabeth Gartland, as well as our Catering Assistant, Alex Marinelli.

We were extremely fortunate to have a beautiful presentation from Benjamin Grasso (L: 18-23) and his Mum Monique, both recipients of the Jesuit Medal and the St Ignatius Medal, respectively in 2023; each for their dedicated service in a pastoral or leadership capacity, showing loyalty and commitment to the College. The duo shared ways in which they have navigated the mother/son relationship – including communication and shared experiences, the challenges faced in parenting and being a teenager/student/son, how they have supported one another and ways in which they strengthen the bond between them.