Term Three has progressed quickly, and we are nearing the September school vacation. Founder’s term is traditionally the busiest period of the school year, and this year has been no exception. In the past two weeks, we have experienced numerous reasons to celebrate.

ACS Sport

Over the past two weeks, several ACS teams have successfully qualified for Grand Finals. I would like to recognize the students who have achieved this milestone through their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to their teams. I also extend my gratitude to the sports coaches, who play a vital role in developing both sporting skills and character.

On Wednesday, 4 September, I had the pleasure of attending the annual ACS All Stars event, where forty Loyola College students were awarded ACS All Star status. It was a source of pride for me to witness these students being honoured for their accomplishments.

Next Tuesday, 10 September, Loyola College will host our inaugural 'Senior Sports Awards Evening'. I look forward to seeing our parents join us for this celebration of the outstanding sporting achievements of our students.

Jesus Good Shepherd School (JGSS)

Over the past week, we have had the pleasure of hosting staff, parents, and students from Jesus the Good Shepherd School (JGSS) in the Philippines. Some of our guests have been accommodated by Loyola families, while others resided on campus in Arrupe House. I would like to thank the families who have so generously opened their homes and shared a warm hospitality with our guests.

Sister Nelia, our Loyola College Family Liaison, is a Pastorelle sister. JGSS is a school in the Pastorelle tradition. We fully value the partnership with have with this college, which is based on shared values and faith.

The students have made a positive impact on our community by visiting classes and engaging with their peers. As an Ignatian institution, we are dedicated to fostering intercultural understanding. Collaborating across cultures provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain insights into diverse perspectives and traditions from around the world. This exchange promotes the development of global citizenship and helps challenge prejudices and ethnocentric viewpoints.

Pay it Forward Evening

On Friday, 30 August, thirty members of the Loyola College community participated in our 'Pay It Forward Evening'. Students and staff organized a barbecue for the Exodus Community, followed by a trip to the city to distribute blankets, socks, and other essential items to individuals experiencing homelessness. I am immensely proud of those who took part in this initiative, which exemplifies our commitment to being 'People for Others'.

Iggy’s Family Dinner

On Thursday, 29 August, I had the pleasure of attending a family dinner to express our gratitude to the Year 12 Hospitality students for their service at Iggy’s Restaurant over the past two years. The dinner was delightful, but what I appreciated most was the commitment demonstrated by our students and their families, dedicating their Thursday evening to support our school community. I extend my best wishes to these students as they transition from the College into the next phase of their lives, and I hope they will find opportunities to apply the hospitality skills they have developed during their time here.

Forthcoming Events

I am looking forward to attending Bogan Bingo this coming Saturday, 7 September.

Many Year 11 Students have been rehearsing on a Sunday night to prepare for the upcoming Presentation Balls. This is always a highlight of the school year for these students.

Prayer for the New Season

As we head into spring, the season of renewal and growth, let us reflect upon God’s hope as we look ahead to warmth and the light of Christ.

The Hope of Spring

God, thank you for Spring and the hope of warmer, longer, brighter days.
Thank you for the coming of growth and life and birth.
Thank you that things are coming awake in the world.
This is what our calendar says, and we do see some signs that it is real.
But we also still struggle with the residual layover of winter.
Now we ask that you bring into reality all that belongs in this season.Your word says that we will have provision, and hope, and joy, and health and loving relationships here and now in this life.
We ask that what belongs in this season would become actual in our practical lives.
We hope in you and in your promises. We hope in your gift of Spring.

- Author Unknown

Year 7 (2025) Ignatian Charism Evening

On Wednesday last week, the newest members of our College community gathered for their Ignatian Charism Evening, where we highlighted what it means to belong to our College community in the Ignatian tradition. The incoming Year 7 students spent the hour being ably led through an engaging and fun session by many of our Captains and Vice Captains. 

Parent-Teacher Interviews (PTIs):  

Thank you to all Parents/Guardians who attended our recent Parent Teacher Interviews. We hope they were meaningful and worthwhile, and provided feedback on your child’s learning and wellbeing, together with strategies to support future progress. 

As parents are aware, we have now tried two different models within our hybrid interview approach. If you have 5 minutes to spare, we would appreciate any feedback you may have by completing our ONLINE SURVEY.

Academic Reports:

The year is passing quickly, and Mid-Semester Reports are almost upon us. These reports will be distributed towards the end of the Term, from 17 September. ALL reports (both interim and end of Semester) reports will only be available for you online. Therefore, I would suggest that you either print a hard copy or save the report as a PDF.

Trial Examinations:

In response to student and staff feedback, the Trial Examinations this year will take place:

• Term 3: 20 September (last day of term) – English, English Language, Literature & EAL

• Term 4: 7 & 8 October (first 2 day of term) – All other subjects

All students will receive a timetable prior to the exams.

On completion, Unit 3/4 students and parents will receive a ‘trial exam statement of results’.  Students will then have sufficient time to address identified gaps and act on relevant strategies and interventions.

Assessment & Reporting Codes:

Thank you for your support as we aim to uphold consistency and fairness for all our students with the recent changes made to the requirements when your child is absent from an assessment. We value your input and recognise that obtaining medical certificates can be challenging. In light of this, we have introduced the acceptance of Pharmacy Certificates and Statutory Declarations in circumstances where a medical certificate was not able to be obtained.

We ask that documentation of medical absence is provided to the class teacher at your earliest convenience, either via email or hard copy.

2024 Semester One Merit Certificates:

Congratulations to all students who received Semester One Merit certificates. Merit Awards are given to students who perform at a high level. Awards are based on the student’s overall result for each subject. A student will receive a Gold Merit Award if they have achieved an overall subject result of A or A+. A student will receive a Silver Merit Award if they have achieved an overall subject result of B or B+.

Click Here to View Our List of Students Who Received a Total of 4 or More Gold Merits in Semester One, 2024.

Understanding the growing challenges related to mental health among young people is an important consideration. Anxiety, depression and self-harm - are all causes for concern. Factors like academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and societal expectations are contributing to these issues. It's therefore crucial for parents and caregivers to take action early, remove the stigma around discussing mental health, and offer accessible support to address these issues and the wellbeing of their children.

R U OK? Day is an initiative that focuses on preventing suicide by encouraging meaningful personal connections and helping informal support networks to recognise the signs of distress. We urge all families to take part, emphasising the value of genuine human relationships and reminding everyone to ask the important question, "Are you OK?"

Engaging in R U OK? Day activities goes beyond the classroom; it's a commitment to our students' overall development. By talking openly about mental health, schools create safe spaces where students feel understood, valued, and supported. As parents and caregivers, you can contribute by fostering open conversations, normalising feelings and breaking down mental health stigmas. Participating in R U OK? Day promotes compassion and shows our dedication to the wellbeing of the entire school community, reaffirming that, together, we can truly make a difference.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to talk to your child about mental health and engage in meaningful discussions.

We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report: https://loyola.vic.schooltv.me...

On Monday, 26 August, the People For and With Others Portfolio, with the generous support of Frank Ciccone from Hair by Ciccone, facilitated the World's Greatest Shave at Loyola College. 

Two staff members (Mr Sean Simpson and Mr James Eynaud) along with a total of eight students (Edan O’Dowd 12FECG, Nicholas Teh 12AAAM, Liam Hannam 12CJEM, Jack Furness 12FSKE, Max Andonovski 12KPVC, Josh Sandhu 12FJDS, Marco Parpinel 8KMLE, and Pishoy Mehany 8XJLT) put up their hands to raise awareness and funds for the Leukaemia Foundation. In Australia, approximately one person every twenty-seven minutes is diagnosed with blood cancer, making this a vital annual event.

I am pleased to announce that due to the generosity of staff, students, families, and friends, Loyola College has raised a MASSIVE $12,483.38! This is an incredible result which will greatly assist those in need.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and donated as this would not have been possible without everyone's support.

Cybersafety Part 9: ILLEGAL Downloading

Few can resist the lure of a bargain, especially when it is free. But when it comes to the Internet, few things are genuinely free, especially highly sought-after products such as music, movies and computer games.

Unless the product has a price tag, there is a good chance it is illegal, and may also be infected with malware. If it is illegal, that makes the downloading of that product an act of ‘Internet Piracy!’ People may think they are saving money, or perhaps they are too impatient to wait for the official release, but it is still breaking the law when content is downloaded illegally.

Cybercriminals try to bait bargain hunters or impatient, enthusiastic users by setting up illegal download sites on which sought-after products are deliberately infected with trojans which, once downloaded onto a person’s computer, are designed to find passwords, email addresses and bank account details, and then send those details back to the cybercriminals. The cybercriminals may then seek to trade them on the Dark Web.

Music companies, themselves, may even supply deliberately virus infected MP3 files in order to dissuade would-be pirates and encourage them to buy legitimate products, instead.

The bottom line is: if it’s free, it most probably is not safe to download. The old adage holds true: “You get what you ‘pay’ for”, and when it’s free content from the Internet, you may indeed “get ‘a lot more’ than what you bargained for!”

So be cybersafe: pay for a legal copy and protect your privacy. Do not succumb to the lure of piracy!

We have loved watching Mannix build pride in our close-knit community!

2024 may not have been the year we initially hoped for, but we can look back and see how much we grew as a House. Starting off with Swimming Carnival, we didn’t achieve the result that we would have liked but, nonetheless, we are proud for those who stepped up and got in the pool that day. We know that putting yourself out there can be difficult, so we are proud of those who were able to rise to the challenge.

Continuing on with the year we had our House Eisteddfod. After working tirelessly with our House committee on deciding on which musical to choose, we decided with ‘Gnomeo and Juliet.’ While we sometimes went insane over the long rehearsals, we were able to pull it all together in time for the performance. After our big win last year, we had very high hopes of maintaining our title. While we may not have won that first-place trophy, we can proudly say that it was a breakthrough performance! Watching all of the students working together throughout rehearsals and putting in all of their time and effort was very satisfying. We know next year that you will all be able to bring home a victory for us!

Athletics was one of the better results that we achieved this year. Mannix was hungry for a win this year and it showed as we had a pretty good day out on the track and field. This day was filled with lots of excitement and encouragement from both staff and students. We want to give a shout out to the staff and students who participated on this day, your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed.

Finally, none of this would have been possible without the endless support from Mrs Paino. We thank her for her support and her enthusiasm towards all things Mannix. While Mrs Paino hands over the torch to Ms Kummerle, we know Mannix is in safe hands. Without our Heads of Houses, none of these achievements would have been possible. We thank them both for their time and dedication, we know Mannix is going to do great things next year.

Mannix House Captains
Isabella La Rocca & Jack Metcalf

Student of the Fortnight: Cooper Ackland (7/MYKS)

Cooper is a delightful presence in Mannix House; as a year 7 who has just entered the school, he always greets people with a smile and a chat, making him a cherished member of the community. His positive attitude brightens the days of those around him, and he consistently shows respect and kindness to others. Because of this Cooper Ackland has been chosen as student of the fortnight, as we acknowledge his friendly nature and ability to act as a role model for others.

This year has proven to be a great year for MacKillop House. We have consistently been a competitive House, never giving up without a fight. We illustrated our determination in the very first week of school, swarming to the library to declare our summer reading for the Summer Reading Challenge.

Although we were not able to grasp first place in the Athletics and Swimming Carnival, the participation in our House this year has been amazing to see, from Year 7s putting their hands up to fill in for older year levels events, or our Year 12s making the most of their last carnivals.

However, a major highlight was placing second in House Eisteddfod with our spectacular The Lion King displaying what our House is capable of. It was such a great display of the talent in our House, all the way through Year 12 to 7. Seeing the confidence in our performance excel beyond any other year, and the fun that came with every Friday night, 2024's edition of The Lion King will go down as one of our best shows!

We would like to thank Alyssa Denni (12/KPBA) - along with the MacKillop Committee who helped create the beautiful story. Your talent is remarkable and your motivation to make the show the best you possibly could is a major cause to our show being so amazing. Our House will miss your continued support in House Eisteddfod next year!

Our fundraising efforts for MacKillop Family Services through our walk for others campaign cannot go without mention. We have raised over $12,000 dollars which is an extremely impressive effort. We would like to congratulate the outstanding efforts of Harrison Gagovski (9/KDJD) who single handily raised over $7,000, as he has for years on end. Our fund will aid mothers and children who are dealing with misfortune - aiding them to get back on their feet.

We would also like to express how proud we are of the continuous efforts and contribution of our House. Thank you to every student who jumped in for their peers and challenged themselves to get involved in areas of co-curriculum they wouldn’t normally be involved in.

On behalf of MacKillop House, we would also like to congratulate Mrs. Driessen on her first year as Head of House. Your tireless effort to support everyone in the House and keep us thriving is admirable. We are so grateful to have your leadership in 2024, there is no doubt that without your organisation our House could not have achieved the success we have this year. Joining our House you have continued to display the MacKillop mindset - you are a beacon of light for many students in our House challenging us all to try our best and give it a go.

Thank You!

Finally, thank you to the House Committee. Your organisation this year also plays into our success as a House, and you have become role models that every MacKillop student should aspire to be like. Your commitment this year has been paramount in ensuring our levels of participation rise and providing us with House Spirit and pride that our house is known for.

Thank you to the students and Mentors who aren’t part of leadership but still aid our House in one way or another; your help doesn’t go unseen, and we thank you for your support! We would like to wish everyone good luck for the reminder of the year, especially our fellow Year 12s. The countdown has started! Enjoy the last few weeks of high school and good luck with all your future endeavours.

MacKillop House Captains
Luvshul Sodhi & Mikayla Marino

Student of the Fortnight: Harrison Gagovski (9/KDJD)

We would like to name our student of the fortnight as Harrison Gagovski! Over the course of our fundraising efforts you have continued to exceed student donation expectations!

Without doubt you raise the most donations for MacKillop Family Services and our House.

In a world where it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges that surround us, your actions remind us of the profound difference that compassion and commitment can make. The funds you’ve raised are not just financial support; they are a lifeline, providing not only immediate relief but also opening doors to brighter futures and endless possibilities for these children and mothers.

Your selflessness and drive have created ripples of positive change that will resonate for years to come. It’s people like you who inspire others and ignite a collective spirit of giving and kindness. Please know that your generosity is appreciated beyond words and that you’ve truly touched many lives in ways that words alone cannot fully express.

Thank you!

Bogan Bingo (Loyola Parents and Friends Association Major Fundraiser)

A final thank you to the following businesses who have generously sponsored prizes for raffles and entertainment at this year's LPFA Major Fundraiser - Bogan Bingo (Saturday, 7 September 2024):

2024 Entertainment Guide

Support LPFA fundraising efforts and enjoy hundreds of everyday savings!

Entertainment Guide is the easy to use App packed with incredible savings of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers, so you can save on takeaway, dining, shopping, groceries, gift cards, activities and more! And what’s more, 20% of every membership purchased via the following link goes towards supporting the College through the Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA)

Digital memberships can be purchased HERE

For Your Calendar:

For more information about the above dates, please contact Monica Agius at community@loyola.vic.edu.au or 9433 0228