Term One is well underway as we progress through another exciting term at Loyola College.

Mentor Conversations:

On Thursday, 20 February, the College conducted its regular evening for Mentor Conversations. Unfortunately, the attendance of parents was below fifty percent, despite the College facilitating additional sessions aimed at increasing parent engagement. The strength of our pastoral program lies in our vertical mentor system. Over the course of six years at the College, families establish a relationship with their child’s mentor teacher, enabling us to collaborate effectively for the benefit of our students. Like any relationship, this partnership requires nurturing and time. It is crucial for parents to actively cultivate this relationship and to reach out to the College not only during challenging times but also in order to build understanding and context.

One session that stood out was 'Parenting Anxious Teenagers'. Participants actively engaged in discussions and shared their experiences, creating a supportive environment among parents. Our counsellors also offered valuable parenting tips during this session.

We have observed a noticeable increase in the number of parents reaching out to our leaders in an urgent and sometimes distressed manner, seeking immediate action. This approach can be perceived as disrespectful and may overlook the broader context of the situation. It’s important to remember that students may come home from school feeling upset or concerned at times. I encourage parents to listen actively and engage in conversations that will empower students to navigate challenges independently. This process fosters resilience; each time a student resolves a situation, they develop greater strength and are better equipped to handle future adversities.

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children's ability to self-regulate. When parents escalate concerns alongside their children, it can send a message that there is reason to panic. I kindly urge parents to place their trust in the staff at Loyola College, who are highly professional, capable, and dedicated to the well-being of our students. Additionally, I suggest waiting 24 hours before responding impulsively to any concerns. This time allows students the opportunity to calm down and work through their situation on their own. Often, after reflecting on their experiences, students will feel much better the following day.

I would also encourage parents to reflect on the amount of time their children spend on mobile phones. Over the holiday period, I had the opportunity to read 'The Anxious Generation' by Jonathan Haidt, and I highly recommend this book to all parents.

In his work 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt explores the growing prevalence of anxiety and depression among younger populations. He attributes this phenomenon to various societal, technological, and cultural transformations that have occurred, particularly between 2010 and 2015. During this period, the transition from flip phones to smartphones and the rise of social media increased online interaction and self-comparison, while simultaneously reducing face-to-face communication, which has had adverse effects on mental health.

Furthermore, a noticeable decrease in children's freedom and unstructured playtime, coupled with an increase in parental supervision, has limited opportunities for experiences essential for developing resilience and self-regulation.

Widespread use of smartphones makes it difficult for people to be fully present with others when they are among others, and to sit silently with themselves when they are alone.

We want to ensure our students have the best chance of success in their learning and in developing their individual gifts and talents. We ask parents to work with us in empowering students to navigate challenge, setting some boundaries around online connection and providing opportunities for face-to-face social interaction.

In closing, a quote from Jonathan Haidt:

School Advisory Council:

We were thrilled to commission the 2025 School Advisory Council (SAC) in the Old Loyola Chapel on Wednesday, 19 February. The SAC provides a forum for parents to offer their perspectives and support the Principal in decision making. While the council does not have decision making authority, it offers valuable advice and feedback on various aspects of school life, ensuring that decisions reflect the needs and values of the community.

I thank the following parents for their commitment and support of the school community:

Matilda Zupan (Chair), Angela Rogers, Anthony Perizzolo, Matthew MacDonald, Fiona Bezkorowajnij, Jade Scibilia, Tania Micomonaco and Elly Kalenjuk.

I also acknowledge the continued support of our Custodian of Mission, Father Steve Rigo who maintains and promotes the Catholic ethos and mission of the school, ensuring that the faith and spiritual needs of the college are nurtured.

Photo
Darrin Day (Business Manager), Matilda Zupan (Chair), Fr Steven Rigo (Custodian of Mission), Angela Rogers, Jacqueline Di Stefano (Staff Representative), Anthony Perizzolo, Matthew MacDonald, Fiona Bezkorowajnij, Jade Scibilia, Tania Micomonaco, Natalie Scott and Elly Kalenjuk.

Lent: A Time for Reflection and Renewal

As we journey through the season of Lent, it is a time for us to pause, reflect, and renew our spirits. Lent, which spans 40 days leading up to Easter, is a period marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time to deepen our relationship with God and to prepare our hearts for the celebration of the Resurrection.

The Significance of Lent

Lent is a season that invites us to step back from the busyness of our daily lives and to focus on our spiritual growth. It is a time to examine our lives, to recognise areas where we may have strayed from our faith, and to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Through prayer, we open our hearts to God’s guidance and grace. Fasting helps us to detach from worldly distractions and to cultivate a spirit of self-discipline. Almsgiving encourages us to reach out to those in need, fostering a sense of compassion and community.

Living Lent in Our Daily Lives

At Loyola College, we are blessed with a supportive and vibrant community that encourages us to live out the values of Lent in meaningful ways. Here are some ways we can embrace the spirit of Lent:

1. Prayer and Reflection: Set aside time each day for prayer and meditation. Reflect on the scriptures and seek to understand how they apply to your life.
2. Acts of Kindness: Perform small acts of kindness for others. Whether it’s helping a classmate, volunteering, or simply offering a kind word, these actions can make a big difference.
3. Fasting and Sacrifice: Consider giving up something that distracts you from your spiritual journey. It could be a favourite treat, a leisure activity, or even a negative habit.
4. Community Service: Participate in community service projects. Helping those in need not only benefits others but also enriches our own lives.

A Time for Renewal

Lent is not just about giving up; it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of our faith and our purpose. It is a time to renew our commitment to living as disciples of Christ. As we journey through Lent, let us support one another in our efforts to grow closer to God and to live out the values of compassion, humility, and love.

May this Lenten season be a time of profound spiritual growth and renewal for each member of our Loyola College community.

Blessings to you this Lenten season.

VCE Evening:

Thank you to those parents and students who attended our recent VCE Evening on Thursday 27 February. The evening was a great opportunity to meet with our VCE parents and provide an overview of VCE procedures for 2025.

Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN Testing:

Please note that NAPLAN will now take place week beginning 10 March. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.

NAPLAN Testing Dates

NAPLAN Testing Session Times

NAPLAN Testing Venue

MacKillop Building (K Block) - Upstairs

Please contact wilsonk@loyola.vic.edu.au if you have any questions or concerns

Over the past week, Loyola College had the privilege of hosting students and staff from our Indonesian sister school, St. Laurensia. Since the inception of this exchange program in 2004, our partnership has continued to strengthen, providing students with invaluable cultural and educational experiences.

During their time with us, our guests left a lasting impression on both the college and our wider community. They brought the richness of Indonesian culture to life with a captivating traditional dance performance and immersed themselves in the Loyola experience, gaining first-hand insight into student life. Embraced wholeheartedly by our community, they were welcomed into the homes of our families—many of whom found it hard to say goodbye.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Loyola staff and families whose generosity and hospitality made this exchange so special. Your willingness to open your hearts and homes exemplifies the spirit of our college community and reflects the Ignatian values of cura personalis and walking with others. Through your kindness, you have not only enriched the experience of our guests. but also deepened our shared understanding of culture, connection, and service.

As we reflect on this enriching experience, we eagerly look forward to completing the exchange by visiting St. Laurensia in Indonesia during the upcoming spring holidays. This long-standing partnership continues to foster global understanding, lifelong friendships, and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity.

2025 Co-curriculum Program

The College’s Co-Curriculum program supports and encourages active learning beyond the classroom and subject curricula. Our program is more vibrant and varied than ever this year, with approximately 60 activities on offer, including some new activities such as Knit for Good, Art Fusion, Tournament of Minds, Loyola College Magazine and Dance and Drama Club. All activities are run outside of class time, including before and after school and lunchtimes.

Students are invited to immerse themselves fully in the Co-curriculum Program to enrich the scope of their learning and experiences at the College and to make new friends. All Co-curriculum activities are supervised by members of teaching staff who act as patrons of individual activities, and our aim is to have some fun.

All students are encouraged to sign up to new experiences in our Co-curriculum program and have been sent a link to the ‘Join Now! Page on the LMS Co-curriculum page.

You are encouraged to view the Semester One Co-curriculum Timetable HERE and discuss these opportunities with your child, as new members are encouraged across all activities, from all year levels.

2025 Loyola College House Eisteddfod

WHEN: Tuesday, 1 April

TIME: Festivities Commence at 6:00pm. Show starts at 7:00pm

VENUE: Loyola Companions Hall

One of the most anticipated events on the Loyola College Calendar is nearly here – the 2025 House Eisteddfod. All members of the College community are invited to attend the evening.

There will be a Friends of Performing Arts (FOPA) fundraising BBQ from 6pm in the Two Wolves Hub area, with choc tops and soft drink for sale and a spectacular Easter egg raffle as well. Please join us to celebrate Performing Arts at the College, as well as to enjoy some remarkable performances and very robust House competition.

Entry is free; however, a limited number of VIP tickets went on sale on Wednesday 26 February. VIP tickets are limited to a maximum of five per family and include an allocated seat in one of the front rows, a snack and guaranteed great time! They can be purchased by clicking on this link: https://events.humanitix.com/2025-loyola-house-eisteddfod

In advance, I would like to thank all House Eisteddfod staff patrons, students and in particular, our student leaders for their support of this year’s House Eisteddfod. May the most entertaining House win!

It has been a positive and productive start to the year! Our VCE students have hit the ground running, drawing on the valuable skills and knowledge they gained during orientation. It's wonderful to see their enthusiasm and dedication as they embark on this important stage of their educational journey.

The year has begun on a high note, with students already engaging in their first School-Assessed Coursework tasks (SACs). These assessments are crucial in preparing them for the final exams and ensuring they are on track to achieve their best.

Our Vocational Major (VM) students are also making impressive strides in their Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) and VET programs. Their hands-on experiences are not only enhancing their practical skills, but are also providing them with a solid foundation for their future careers.

We are proud of all our students and look forward to celebrating their continued successes and working with our students’ families throughout the year.

This year has seen an incredible start for Xavier House! We have seen outstanding participation from all students and remain committed to reaching even greater success in the future.

Starting off the year we got to welcome in all our new Year 7's. We hope you have all settled in into our school well and are enjoying all the activities we have to offer. Our first event for the year was the Summer Reading Challenge. We ended up in 2nd place reading 78 books! A huge thank you to everyone who participated. We were so impressed by everyone’s determination and effort to read and log a book.

The Swimming Carnival saw Xavier House in 1st place, and we could not be prouder! We thank the efforts of every single person who helped us achieve this great win, whether it was racing in the pool (sometimes filling in at the last minute) or cheering everyone on from the sidelines. It was so rewarding to see the smiles on all the kids' and teachers' faces. Win or lose, we couldn’t be happier with all the students getting involved and having fun.

We have also been keeping super busy in the afternoons with rehearsals for the Eisteddfod which is coming up soon. We can’t wait to bring our vision of The Little Mermaid to the stage.

Finally, a big thank you to our Head of House, Ms Manna! We are so lucky to have you back in Xavier House this year. Bringing much energy and enthusiasm, Ms Manna has provided us with opportunities and unique ideas that have greatly improved Xavier House. Without her we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all we have so far this year.

We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year holds for Xavier House; we just want everyone to give it their best efforts and try their hardest.

Go Xavier!

Your Xavier House Captains,
Layla Dusting and Sebastian Murone

Student of the Fortnight

We would like to award this fortnight's student of the week to Maja Romic (11/XTJP). Maja is new to Loyola this year and in such a short time she’s already made such a positive impact on Xavier House. Her commitment and dedication to House Eisteddfod and the Swimming Carnival was nothing short of amazing. Maja went out of her way to compete in races that were unfilled by other students of her year level, as well as encouraging other students to get involved. Hard work does not go unnoticed, and we want to thank Maja for her dedication to the house.

Working Bee – Friday, 14 March – REGISTER NOW

Join us for our Twilight Working Bee on Friday, 14 March, from 4:00pm to 6:30pm. We warmly welcome and greatly appreciate the assistance of our parent community to help with various tasks around the College.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved, meet other parents, and contribute meaningfully to the College by helping to beautify our grounds.

To ensure the safety of all, we kindly ask that only parents attend the Working Bee.

As a token of our gratitude for your hard work, dinner will be provided at approximately 6:00pm.

To help us with planning and catering, please let us know if you can attend by emailing Monica at community@loyola.vic.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your support—we look forward to seeing you there!

Good as New Uniform Sale

The Loyola Parents And Friends Association will be holding another “Good As New” Uniform Sale at the Twilight Working Bee on Friday 14, March from 4.00pm – 6.00pm. This is a great opportunity for parents to pick up items of second hand uniform as discounted prices. Please note that stock and sizes are limited. All proceeds from the sale assist the LPFA in supporting the College through their fundraising efforts.

Year 7 Family Get Together: Friday, March 21 – BOOK NOW

The LPFA once again look forward to welcoming all Year 7 families to a fun filled Year 7 Family Get Together. This is a great opportunity to meet other Loyola families. Both students (siblings included) and parents are welcome to attend.

WHEN: Friday, 21 March

TIME: 6:00pm – 8:30pm

WHERE: Loyola Companions Hall

Bookings are essential at www.loyola.vic.edu.au/tickets

Tickets $15 per family – includes pizza, drink, ice-cream, games and entertainment (free entry to door prize draw and raffle tickets available for sale)

Canapés With Class: A Parent-Only Event

Loyola College invites all parents to a special evening of Canapés With Class – an exclusive parent-only event designed to bring our school community together while supporting our talented Hospitality students.

Join us for an elegant night of delicious finger food, prepared and served by our senior Hospitality students as part of their training and industry experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with other parents in a relaxed and welcoming setting while celebrating the skills and dedication of our students.

WHEN: Thursday, 1 May

TIME: 6.00pm

WHERE: Iggy's Restaurant

Don’t miss this wonderful evening of fine food, great company, and community spirit. Secure your spot today at www.loyola.vic.edu.au/tickets

LPFA Winery Tour – Save the Date!

The Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA) invites you to join us for a delightful, scenic Winery Tour in the Macedon Ranges on Saturday, 24 May. Gather your friends for a relaxing day exploring some of the region’s best wineries, enjoying great company, and supporting our school community.

More details, including itinerary and booking information, will be available soon. Mark your calendars—we look forward to seeing you there!

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 2025, 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 Monica Agius at community@loyola.vic.edu.au or 9433 0228.

2025 House Masses

We invite students and families to their House Masses in Term One, celebrating the Eucharist and fostering faith and connection within our Catholic community. Parish Priests will bless our new Year 7 students and their senior Mentor buddies as they embark on their academic journeys at Loyola in 2025. It is therefore compulsory that Year 7 students and their Senior Buddies are present at these Masses, however students and families from all year levels are welcome.

Each Mass concludes with a shared morning tea, and we encourage families to bring a plate to share. Join us for this meaningful community celebration!

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

2025 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

School Fees

The Annual Fee Account was emailed to all families on or after 31 January 2025. There is only one account issued for the yearly tuition fees and levies, regardless of the Fee Paying Arrangement selected. Accounts are also available to view on the Parent Portal under the Finance tab. If you require assistance with accessing the Portal or have not received / have misplaced your login details, please contact ICT Support on 8548 9499 or via email at iCentre-ICT@loyola.vic.edu.au.

Please note that the due date for the Annual Account is Friday, 28 February 2025. Where an account is paid in full by 5:00 PM on 28 February 2025, an Early Payment Discount (EPD) of $300 per student will apply. Where an account has been split, the EPD should be calculated on a pro-rata basis. No extensions will be granted.

Fee Paying Arrangements

Confirmations of the arrangement applied to accounts were emailed to families on or after 25 November 2024. Please take a moment to check this email and confirm that the arrangement listed is your preferred payment option.

Parents and guardians who do not have an active Fee Paying Arrangement in place, are automatically listed for an annual payment, due 28 February 2025.

If you wish to change your listed arrangement, please complete the relevant forms and email your request to fees@loyola.vic.edu.au. For any queries, please contact the Finance Department via email at fees@loyola.vic.edu.au.

It is the expectation of the College that all arrangements are adhered to, or immediate contact made if there is any concern. Where arrangements are not adhered to, the College will be bound by the Fees & Charges Policy. It is encouraged that all parents/guardians take the time to read the policy and familiarise themselves with its contents.

Any additional charges incurred throughout the year (eg music, library charges, specialist camps and/or excursions), may not be included in your arrangement and should be paid by the due date of the account issued. Alternatively, please contact our Finance Department at fees@loyolal.vic.edu.au to adjust your arrangement accordingly.

Families that have selected the Semester or Quarterly Arrangement must pay their first instalment (as noted on the Fee Paying Arrangement confirmation email) by 28 February 2025. Reminders will be issued prior to the due date for all subsequent instalments. Where the Direct Debit option has been selected, the instalment will be automatically drawn on the listed dates or if a date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the following business day.

As noted in the Schedule of Fees, an Administration Fee of $30 per child, per term will be applied if payment arrangements are not adhered to.

Parents or guardians facing hardship with payment of fees are asked to make a time to meet with the Business Manager by calling 9433 0292.

Financial Assistance – Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund (CSEF)

The CSEF offered by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families by reducing the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities included in the Loyola fees, has been increased to $256 annually.

Families that hold a valid means-tested concession card such as a Health Care Card or Pension Card, temporary foster parents as well as asylum seeker and refugee families may be eligible for the CSEF payment.

If you applied for the CSEF in 2024, you do not need to complete an application form in 2025 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances such as:

• new student enrolments; this is your child’s first year at Loyola College and you hold a valid means-tested concession card.
• changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new sibling commencing at Loyola College in 2025.

Please click here to access the CSEF application form or contact the school office to obtain a copy. For queries regarding eligibility, please call 9433 0292.

Parents are encouraged to check out our school's Learning Pathways page - accessible via the Schoolbox LMS - which will be regularly updated with information about in-school programs for Years 10-12. 

It will also feature the release of our Careers Newsletter.

You can access this page by CLICKING HERE.