Acting Principal

Activities Week

By all accounts Activities Week was once again a huge success. After a long weekend to recover, students have returned to campus with many stories to tell and experiences shared.

I would like to thank the following staff for their effort in organising the retreats. Without the hard work of the following staff, Activities Week would not take place.

I would also like to thank Lauren Hartigan (Director of Operations) and Anne Musgrove (Daily Organiser Assistant) for their overall organisation of the program. This is a mammoth task which they do with precision and meticulous detail.

Attendance During Activities Week

Attendance early in Activities Week was excellent. We were disappointed that some students on return from camp chose to stay home and not come to school. A number of outstanding learning activities were planned on Thursday and Friday which many students did not get the benefit from as they were not on campus. This is disappointing for the staff members who organised the activity. In addition, the money spent on external facilitators or resources for these days was not fully utilised as many students did not get the benefit of the activity.

Research shows daily attendance positively impacts students’ social and emotional development. School participation maximises life opportunity for all students. It gives them the foundation they need to be successful in school and life beyond school. Regular attendance builds resilience and social connection. There is no safe number of days for missing school. Each day a student misses school, is a missed opportunity to learn and to build relationships.

I ask for parent support in encouraging students to attend school regularly.

Teacher Shortage

We are currently experiencing a teacher shortage. On the whole, Loyola is placed well for teachers, however, it is becoming increasingly challenging to source teachers for short term contracts. I am very grateful for our Loyola teachers, for their commitment to our student body, passion for teaching, for building positive working relationships with our students and their hard work. We all have a role to play in supporting the teachers that are educating our young students. The best way to show appreciation is through respect. Respecting teachers as the highly qualified professional they are and trusting them to educate our student body.

LCAA Car Show

On Friday 23 February, the Loyola College Alumni Association (LCAA) hosted a car show on campus. The night was an enormous success. I thank the families who supported this event, the LCAA committee members and the parents who volunteered to assist on the night.

Volunteers are the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering is a great way to connect with community and build a cohesive and support cultures. Even helping out with the smallest task can make a real difference to our college community. If you are interested in helping out at Loyola, please make contact with Monica Agius (College and Community Engagement Assistant).

I wish all students and their families a positive end to term one. A reminder that there will be many assessments due in these last two weeks.