Farewell Class of 2026

This week we farewelled our Year 12 students through a series of memorable and meaningful celebrations. On Wednesday 14 October, each student was acknowledged individually at a special House Assembly, recognising their unique contribution to the life of the College. This was followed by a whole-school College Assembly on Thursday 15 October, where our entire community came together to celebrate and farewell this remarkable cohort. The week culminated in our Graduation Mass and Valedictory Dinner, a fitting opportunity to give thanks for the journey our students have shared and to celebrate all they have achieved.

As an Ignatian school, we are called to form young people who strive to be "people for and with others". The Class of 2026 has embodied this spirit through their leadership, service, compassion and commitment to the College community.

A special acknowledgement must be made of the 2026 College Committee, whose creativity, hard work and spirit of service have resulted in a lasting gift to the community. The striking mural on the far end of the Two WolvesHub basketball court beautifully captures the values that define our College and will be a vibrant reminder of the legacy this cohort leaves behind. It is a wonderful reflection of their gratitude, school pride and commitment to future generations of Loyola students.

As our Year 12 students now turn their attention to their final examinations, we hold them in our thoughts and prayers. We encourage them to approach the coming weeks with confidence, courage and trust in their abilities, knowing that they have been well prepared for the journey ahead.

We thank the Class of 2026 for the many ways they have enriched our community and wish them every blessing and success in the next chapter of their lives. They leave Loyola with our gratitude, our pride and our hope for all that lies ahead.

School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council (SAC) plays a vital advisory role in assisting the Principal with the strategic direction of the College. Participation in the SAC provides an opportunity to contribute support and guidance on various matters, including the College's Religious Education program, curriculum, enrolment, finance, school resources and facilities, and overall school improvement. The committee convenes eight times a year on Wednesday evenings. This year, we have experienced two resignations and therefore we are looking for new members to join the council. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit an expression of interest to the Principal, Alison Leutchford, via email to the Principal’s Personal Assistant, Natalie Scott, at scottn@loyola.vic.edu.au by Friday 6 November.

Activities Week Changes

In 2027, the College will move away from the traditional Activities Week format. Rather than concentrating learning experiences into a single week, these opportunities will be scheduled throughout the year.

Some dates to keep in mind are as follows:

Year 12 Retreat

Monday 22 February to Friday 26 February

Year 11 Christian Service

Monday 22 February to Friday 26 February

Year 10 Learning Pathways

Tuesday 9 March to Friday 12 March

Year 9 City Experience

Wednesday 15 September to Friday 17 September

Year 8 Outdoor Surf Coast Experience

Various days across November

Year 7 Camp

Monday1 March to Friday 5 March

Spreading these opportunities throughout the calendar we hope will minimise disruption to learning programs while allowing students to make meaningful connections between classroom learning and real-world experiences.

The new approach should also contribute to significant saving, as the new Enterprise Agreement will mean significant salary increases for staff in Catholic Schools.

Child Safety – Drop off Zone.

To help ensure the safe and efficient flow of traffic during morning drop-off, parents are asked to move as far forward as possible within the Grimshaw Street drop-off zone before students exit their vehicles. This allows multiple vehicles to utilise the zone at the same time and helps prevent traffic from backing up onto Grimshaw Street.

Parents are also reminded that vehicles must not proceed past the boom gate. This area is reserved for students and authorised vehicles, and driving beyond the boom gate presents a significant safety risk to students moving through the College grounds.

When exiting the Grimshaw Street drop-off zone, parents are asked to turn left only. Due to the high volume of traffic on Grimshaw Street, turning right can take considerably longer and often causes congestion within the drop-off area. This delays the flow of vehicles exiting the College and can be frustrating for families waiting to leave the site.

We thank all parents for their cooperation and support in helping to keep our students safe and ensuring traffic moves as smoothly as possible during peak periods.

Working Bee Gratitude

A big thank you to the parents who generously volunteered their time at our Working Bee on Saturday 10 October.

We were delighted with the terrific turnout and the tremendous amount that was achieved throughout the morning. Volunteers painted the pagodas, sealed the sleepers on the newly planted Ricci Garden beds, painted the sleepers around the courtyard trees, and refreshed a number of other areas around the school. Thanks to their hard work, many parts of the campus are looking as good as new.

Not only did these parents make a valuable contribution to the school, they also enjoyed great conversation, had fun working together, and strengthened connections with one another and with members of the school leadership team.

We are incredibly grateful for their support and commitment to our community.

Working Bee dates for 2027 are as follows:

We encourage families to mark these dates in their calendars and join us for another great opportunity to contribute to our school community.

A Special Message from Dr Edward Simons
Executive Director, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS)

As schools communicate their fees for the coming year, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support of Catholic education and to reaffirm our commitment to keeping Catholic schooling accessible and affordable for families.

Thank you for choosing to be part of our Catholic education community of more than 120,000 young people across the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Today, one in five Victorian families choose a Catholic education, and in the past year alone almost 2,000 additional students have enrolled in a MACS school. Together, we share a commitment to providing an education grounded in faith, where every child is known, valued and inspired to flourish.

I would also like to acknowledge the significant work undertaken by principals and school leadership teams across MACS as they finalise plans and budgets for the year ahead. Their careful stewardship helps ensure our schools continue to provide outstanding learning opportunities, strong wellbeing support and vibrant faith communities for every student. 

Like many families, our schools continue to face rising costs. We know that cost-of-living pressures continue to place strain on household budgets, and we remain committed to keeping school fees as affordable as possible. At the same time, we have a responsibility to attract, support and fairly reward the teachers and staff who make such a profound difference in the lives of our students each day, including maintaining pay parity with their colleagues in government schools.

Across MACS, we continue to review the way we operate, seeking efficiencies and making thoughtful decisions so that resources are directed where they matter most: teaching and learning, student wellbeing and the faith formation of young people. Thank you for the trust you place in your school and in Catholic education. The continued growth in enrolments across our system is a sign of the confidence families place in Catholic education and the outstanding work of our principals, teachers and staff. As we continue to grow, our focus will remain on responsible stewardship, strong partnerships with families and a shared commitment to excellence. In doing so, we can ensure that Catholic education remains strong, sustainable and accessible, offering thriving communities of faith and learning for generations to come.

macs.vic.edu.au

As we farewell the Class of 2026 this week, we give thanks for the many ways these young people have enriched our Loyola community through their leadership, learning and service. One of the most powerful expressions of this has been their embodiment of the Ignatian spirit, where faith is put into action in accompaniment with others.

In the reflection below, our 2026 Christian Service Captains, Kevin Xiao (12/MSBR) and Angelique Robles (12/ATMV) share what these experiences have meant to them and how service has shaped their journey at Loyola. Their words offer a fitting tribute to a cohort that has sought to be true people for and with others.

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Year 12 has asked a great deal of us. It has been a year of early mornings and late nights, of practice exams and second attempts, of learning that effort does not always guarantee the outcome we hoped for, but always shapes the people we become. To think that in the flash of an eye, we are now clearing out lockers, signing each other’s jumpers and realising how many “lasts” we have already had without noticing.

Between it all were the moments that made it worthwhile: the laughter in the our Year 12 Retreat, the encouragement of teachers who believed in us before we believed in ourselves, and the friendships that turned a demanding year into a shared one.

As Christian Service Captains, we have been reminded that leadership is less about standing at the front and more about noticing who is standing at the edges. Loyola has taught us that our gifts are not ours alone, but are given to be shared, and that the measure of a life lies in how well we serve others. We hope our cohort leaves having made the College a little kinder than we found it, and we really look forward to watching the students who follow us carry that spirit even further, including our future captains, and the rest of Loyola's students.

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart... and He will direct your paths." To our families, teachers, and friends, thank you for walking beside us. We leave with gratitude for our time at Loyola, and hope that everyone will be able to experience a fulfilling journey in the future.

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2027 Memorial Mass

The Easy and Cheap Tip to Help Students Get a 40-plus VCE Study Score

As our Unit 3/4 students prepare for their final VCE examinations, recent research has identified a highly effective study strategy: the consistent completion of practice questions.

According to The Age article, VCE success: Practice questions are key to high study scores, research shows, a comprehensive study involving over 57,000 students from the 2023 and 2024 VCE cohorts revealed a strong correlation between the volume of practice questions completed and the likelihood of attaining a study score above 40. In subjects such as Biology, high-achieving students frequently completed 800 or more questions prior to their examinations.

Why are practice questions so effective?

They reinforce learning through repetition and retrieval.
They assist students in identifying areas requiring further attention.
They reduce exam-related anxiety by increasing familiarity with question formats.
They contribute to improved performance in both School-Assessed Coursework (SACs) and final examinations.

Importantly, these resources are readily available to students through Loyola College, the VCAA, and other reputable educational platforms.

Educational experts consistently emphasise the importance of deliberate practice in achieving academic growth. Structured and purposeful engagement with practice questions enables students to consolidate their understanding and build confidence.

How Parents Can Support

Parental support plays a vital role in helping students navigate the final stages of their VCE journey. Here are some practical ways to assist:

• Encourage daily practice: Support your child in setting achievable goals for completing practice questions each day.
• Utilise available resources: Explore VCAA past exams and materials provided by Loyola College.
• Promote balance: Help your child maintain a healthy routine that includes study, rest, and wellbeing.
• Celebrate progress: Acknowledge your child’s efforts and milestones to foster motivation and resilience.

Call to Action:

We encourage all families to take time this week to sit down with their child and develop a study plan for the upcoming VCAA exams. Even 30 minutes of focused practice each day can lead to significant improvement. Together, we can support our students in finishing their VCE journey with confidence and success.

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." — Robert Collier

2027 Subject Selection 

Students and parents will receive confirmation of their subject preferences for 2027 in the next few weeks. Preferences have been carefully considered, and the College has worked diligently to assign students to the subjects they requested. However, it's conceivable that, owing to timetabling constraints, some students may find themselves assigned to subjects from their reserve preferences. There is the opportunity to change a subject by completing a form (link will be available in the confirmation letter) alongside an interview with Mrs Bosco (Head of Learning Pathways). Students will have a week to compete this process. Thereafter, no changes will be allowed. 

End of Year Examinations (Year 8-11): 

The dates for all examinations can be found below.  

Further details will be issued to parents in the next couple of weeks, but a summary can be found below.  

Attendance: Students who fail to attend an exam and cannot show a medical certificate will receive 0%. This includes students on holiday. Students with a medical certificate will receive exempt.  

If a student misses an examination, they are welcome to collect the relevant examination from Ms Freeman (OL127) after the examination window.  Whilst staff are not required to mark the exam, they will provide feedback if requested by the student.  

Dress Code: All students must attend examinations in full school summer uniform (including wearing the school blazer). 

Students not in full school uniform will not be allowed in the examination and will be directed to go to the iCentre to complete revision.  These students will then be required to complete any examinations they have missed on 4 December at 8.30pm.  Failure to attend this session will result in 0%.  

Mobile Phones: Mobile phones and/or smart devices are not permitted in an exam room. If a student has a mobile phone or electronic digital device on their person in the exam, it will be removed from the student, and a 0% recorded.  

Equipment: Water bottles and pencil cases must be clear. Mobile phones will not be permitted. Any student found with a mobile phone will receive 0% for that examination (see above) 

VCE Orientation: 

Orientation for 2026 Units 1 – 4 will run from 23 November to 30 November. Further details will be issued nearer to the time. Any subject changes made by students will be reflected in the Orientation week timetable. 

Booklist Provider: 

As already mentioned in a previous Ignatian edition, the College will continue to use Box of Books as our booklist provider. Parents are able to recycle physical books from siblings or purchase second hand physical books (as long as the book has not changed).  As part of the College’s eBook levy, Year 7-9 students will automatically receive digital resources for Maths, Science, Humanities and RE and hard copies for English.

Loyola’s First Team at the 2026 Parliamentary Convention

At the end of Term 3, a group of Year 10 and 11 students proudly represented Loyola College for the first time at the 2026 Parliamentary Convention, held at Marymede Catholic College.

This year’s topic asked students to consider whether digital devices should be limited in schools because they cause more harm than benefit to students’ learning and wellbeing. Throughout the day, students engaged directly with expert speakers, asking insightful questions and gaining valuable perspectives on this contemporary issue.

Students also participated in small-group discussions, where they respectfully challenged ideas, explored differing viewpoints, and worked collaboratively to analyse the topic. As part of the convention, each group developed a shared position and presented its conclusions to the wider audience.

The experience provided an excellent opportunity for students to strengthen their critical thinking, communication and leadership skills while engaging in meaningful civic discussion.

We congratulate the following students for representing Loyola College: Ginevra Agliano (11MESH), Asher Bryans (11XBAM), Kai Coppolino (11AAM), Mia Fenga (10ATBR) and Marco Parpinel (10KAST).

2027 School Fee Payment Options

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Commencing January 2027, all weekly, fortnightly and monthly arrangements must be paid via a direct debit arrangement. Failure to submit a Direct Debit Request form, these arrangement requests will automatically default to an annual arrangement.

Any queries regarding this change should be directed to the Finance Department at fees@loyola.vic.edu.au

Though we may not be able to see the complete end of this school year, we have definitely experienced the ups and downs that 2026 has offered us.

From the excitement of new beginnings and the joy of celebrating achievements to the challenges that have tested our patience, resilience and determination, this year has been one of growth, learning and unforgettable memories. Each term has brought something new, giving us opportunities to step outside our comfort zones, build meaningful connections and discover more about ourselves and those around us.

With so much that has happened over the past few months, we are very proud of all the achievements each and every student has made, big or small. Whether it was being part of the amazing production of ‘Newsies,’ Athletics, Swimming or Cross-Country carnival or even the smaller House activities like e-sports and chess.

While not every moment has been easy, the challenges we have faced have reminded us of the importance of perseverance, teamwork and supporting one another. Through both our successes and setbacks, we have continued to learn, adapt and grow together as a Loyola community and as we approach the final stretch of the year, we are excited to continue moving forward, both outside and inside of the school.

Additionally, we are so proud to be part of a big year of fundraiser and charity work. Particularly St Ignatius Day, in which we raised a record breaking $70,000 dollars across all the Houses and on top of that $17,000 for the World's Greatest Shave, where we were both fortunate to take part in as well (bravo to Angie!). This year's great fundraising efforts in our opinion demonstrates the strong community spirit that lives on, and we are so grateful we can come together as a school to make a genuine difference in the lives of those who need help.

As many know, this year we decided to take on a slogan to reflect the changes we want to introduce to our school. S.U.P, as we called it, or Strive (for) Ur Passion has been our yearlong mission to bring about positive change in the attitude of students. We believed it meant being unafraid to embrace one's passion, work hard for individual goals and do it all without the fear of judgement. Whilst we know it is no small ask, we’ve tried to teach multiple lessons this year and how to execute S.U.P through our assembly speeches, roaming captains, monthly blogs, and daily life. We are proud to say S.U.P has been such a recognisable belief throughout school, and we hope students will hold to our lessons for school and beyond

It has been an absolute honour to be part of both the College Committee and the Loyola Student Council (LSC) this year. Working alongside such passionate, dedicated and driven students has been an incredibly rewarding experience, teaching us so much about leadership, collaboration and the importance of student voice. We are immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the College’s ongoing growth through the initiatives, ideas and improvements brought to life throughout the year. Seeing these efforts translate into meaningful opportunities and positive changes within the Loyola community has made this experience all the more fulfilling.

This year wouldn’t have been the same without the countless emails and meetings with all the teachers who have supported us and guided us along the way. Thank you to Mrs Salmic, who constantly dealt with our non-stop ideas and helped us achieve them. To Mr Rizzi, thank you for being our hype man when others doubted us. Mr Luczek, for making our assemblies run smoothly. To Mrs Paino, for running our LSC meetings, and teaching us how to lead the younger students. To Mr Braiser, who led the VCE coordination and all the SACs we undertook. Ms Solomon, for being the best scribe in our meetings and keeping everyone on track. Thank you to Mr Tran, who filmed our ‘Roaming Captains,’ and the many outtakes of the Examen. And finally, thank you to Mrs Leutchford for believing in us to lead the school with Ignatian values.

We would also like to thank our families and friends who have been by our side during our lowest and highest of days. Nothing that we achieved this year could’ve happened without the support of you all.

Lastly, we would just like to welcome the next year's College Captains Ava Reckerman and Patrick Quinn! We are most definitely rooting for them and wish them good luck for their leadership next year. We certainly know that we can expect only great things from them and the College for 2027!

As we look towards the future, we wish the entire Loyola community the very best for the years ahead. May 2027 bring new opportunities, lasting memories and continued success for everyone. Thank you for making our time as College Captains so memorable. It has been a privilege to serve this community, and we look forward to seeing Loyola continue to thrive.

And remember, S.U.P stays with you. Not just in school, but in your everyday lives. It’s about carrying these values, passions and memories you’ve built here into whatever comes next, remembering that the little things you do can make a big difference.

Simon Adi-Purnomo & Angelina Badawi
2026 College Captains

Student of the Week: Xavier (8/FFCH)

For always being positive diligently and never forgetting to smile!

Community Carols & Market Night

Loyola College, in conjunction with the Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA) will be hosting the annual Community Christmas Market & Carols Night on Friday, 27 November 5.00pm – 9.00pm.

As in previous years, this wonderful family event will include food trucks, children’s entertainment, Christmas performances by our students, the Good As New Uniform Sale and a festive Christmas Market - offering families the opportunity to purchase unique and handmade gifts. The evening attracts approximately 1000 people from both the College and local communities.

Community Christmas Market & Carols Night – Call for Market Stall Holders Expression of Interest
Loyola College, in conjunction with the Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA) will be hosting the annual Community Christmas Market & Carols Night on Friday, 27 November 5.00pm – 9.00pm.
We are seeking expressions of interest from small businesses wishing to holding a stall at the event. A $25 stall fee applies, and stallholders are requested to provide their own trestle table/s. Please note that all stall holders and their helpers must hold a current Working with Children Check.
Enquiries can be made at lfpa@loyola.vic.edu.au

Return of Unused ACS Player Uniforms
Parents are requested to return any unused ACS player uniforms to the Sports Office as soon as possible.
If your child has been issued a uniform and no longer participates in the program, returning the unused items helps us maintain accurate stock and ensures availability for future teams.
Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Donation of Loyola Uniform
Thank you to all the families who generously donate second-hand uniforms throughout the year to support our Good As New Uniform Sales. As we prepare for 2027, we are accepting donations of washed uniforms. If you have any items that you no longer need and are in excellent condition, please leave them with Reception. Your contributions help support families in need and are greatly appreciated.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OLD STYLE SPORT UNIFORM CAN NO LONGER BE WORN BY STUDENTS AND MUST NOT BE SENT TO RECEPTION. Parent co-operation in this matter is kindly appreciated.
For more information, please contact community@loyola.vic.edu.au or 9433 0228.

Morning Tours 2026
Morning Tours for 2026 take place from 9.15am – 11.00am on the following dates:
Tuesday 24 November
Please visit the College website at www.loyola.vic.edu.au to book a Tour.

For Your Calendar:
Memorial Mass Thursday, 29 October
Student Free Day Monday, 2 November
Melbourne Cup Public Holiday Tuesday, 3 November
Arts & Design Show Friday, 6 November
Year 7 2026 Parent Information Evening Thursday, 5 November
LPFA Carols & Market Night Friday, 27 November

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