Change to Uniform Shop Opening Hours and Relocation Reminder

A reminder that students are required to wear the Winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3.

Please note, the Uniform Shop is currently open to purchase items (no fittings) until Wednesday, 5 April. For Flexischool orders, Primary students will continue to collect their orders from the Primary School and Secondary Students from the Uniform Shop.

From Thursday, 6 April, the Uniform Shop will close and will relocate during the school holidays to 6 Mount Pleasant Avenue. The Uniform Shop will reopen from Friday, 21 April for any last-minute winter uniform purchases in its new location.

During the closure dates, online ordering is available via www.flexischools.com.au for winter uniform items only (winter tunic, senior skirt, senior vest, blouse, tie and tights).

If assistance is required when purchasing your Winter uniform items, our very helpful Uniform Shop staff are happy to assist you by email at uniformshop@loretonh.nsw.edu.au or over the phone on 02 9473 7391.

We look forward to the reopening of the Uniform Shop in the new space at 6 Mount Pleasant Avenue on Friday, 21 April.

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Pastoral News

Ms Marysa Boland and Mr Justin Madigan | Deans of Pastoral Care

Music Festival

We congratulate every student for their involvement in Music Festival last Friday at the Aware Super Theatre. It was a night to celebrate being together as one community from Year 5 to 12. Congratulations to the winning students on the evening:

• Best Accompanist: Rhiannon Doyle, Mulhall House
• Best Conductor: Georgia Taylor, Mornane House
• Best House Choir: Maye House
• House Spirit: Maye House

YSafe Presentations

Australia’s leading digital and cyber safety education organisation, ySafe, present to Year 7-10 each year. Our first presentation was to Year 9 on Wednesday in House time. Each year, information is layered to each group so the students’ knowledge about safe and appropriate use of social media and digital safety is increased as appropriate to their age. Term 2 and 3 sees ySafe present to Year 7, 8 and 10. Parents have access to the Loreto Normanhurst Online Safety Hub which is created in partnership with ySafe. We encourage all families to visit this site as there are many resources that can be used as a platform to discuss online safety with their daughters.

Please also ‘Save the Date’ for our ySafe Parent Information Night on Wednesday, 3 May onsite from 6:30pm. You will receive further details and all Year 5-12 parents are welcome. As the Easter holidays approach, this is a good time to discuss your family technology plan and to ensure that mobile phones are not left in your child’s bedroom overnight.

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Term 2 Reminders

Return to School

Students return to school on Wednesday, April 26 in their full winter uniform. This means that students must have their blazer with them each day at school, including at the PUDOs. Please ensure that your daughter’s winter uniform is ready to wear in terms of hem length, polished shoes and clean blazer.

Year 10 Vaccinations

Tuesday, 30 May

The following vaccines will be offered free to your daughter at school:

• Year 10 Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine

Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received. To provide online consent for your daughter to receive her vaccination please click here.

You will need your Service NSW login details along with both parent and child Medicare details. If you do not already have a Service NSW account you can create an account here.

The benefits of online consent for parents are:

• SMS notifications when vaccinations are administered
• Easy updating of your child’s details online
• Faster upload of your child’s vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form from school.

If you have any questions regarding the vaccination process and online consent, please visit the NSW Health website at www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination

Loreto Day Term 2

Year 11 are already beginning their work for Loreto Day and the announcement of the cause will take place in the first school assembly on Wednesday, 26 April.

We wish all our families and students a restful Easter break. May it be a time for reflection over the Easter days and a chance to take a well-earned break. Term 1 has been super busy for us all.

School TV

School TV is an online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies.

Click the link here to find out more.

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Community Service Opportunities

Vinnies Gift From the Heart Program

Please see here an update from Vinnies in relation to their 2023 Vinnies Gift From the Heart Program. There have been some changes and some new additions for students to get involved in and include as part of their Community Service hours.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Saturday, 17 June and Sunday, 18 June

10.00am-12:30pm and 12:30pm-3.00pm

Waitara Cathedral Parish

Students will be responsible for taking the donations from parishioners as they drop off goods and load them onto the Vinnies truck.

Click here to complete the form if you would like to volunteer.

Volunteering at St Lucy's after school Creative Arts programs (Term time)

Open to students in Year 10-12 and you need to be able to commit to one afternoon a week for a minimum of one term. Volunteers aged 16 or above are required to have had three Covid vaccinations and masks are to be worn indoors.

Monday

• Theatre (Drama) Project 3:45pm – 4:45pm
• Art Project 3:45pm – 4:30pm

Tuesday

• Dance Project (Jazz) 3:45pm – 4:30pm
• Dance Project (Tap) 3:45pm – 4:30pm

Wednesday

• Dance Project (Jazz) 3:45pm – 4:30pm
• Art Project 3:45pm – 4:30pm

Please send an expression of interest to volunteer@stlucys.nsw.edu.au.

Volunteering at St Lucy’s Creative Arts (Holiday Program)

Open to students in Year 10-12 during the April school holidays. Dates for this program are Tuesday, 11 - Friday, 14 April.

The program will run from 9:00am-3:00pm and students can choose to volunteer between 1 and 3 days. Students must stay for the whole day.

Volunteers aged 16 or above are required to have had three Covid vaccinations and masks are to be worn indoors.

Please send an expression of interest to volunteer@stlucys.nsw.edu.au.

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Ag Excursion

Hannah Rodgers and Anna Roche | Year 10

During week 6, Year 10 Ag students, travelled to Vineyard to visit the White Prince growing facility. The facility is 100% Australian family owned and produces mushrooms - where they go through the stages of cultivating the compost to packaging the mushrooms. The facilities employs over 550 people. Whilst at the facilities we learnt about the composition of the growing medium and experienced first hand the conditions that the mushrooms are grown in. We also gained an appreciation for the hard work that goes into hand picking all of the mushrooms and grading them.

We also visited a hydroponic farm, that grows lettuce in a sustainable and efficient manor. The farming technique is intensive meaning the yield was maximised. The specificity of the release of chemicals such as fertiliser into the hydroponic beds was very impressive as it was targeted to the plants needs and no spare or excessive chemicals were used. This learning gave us an insight to how we can better grow our own hydroponics here at school.

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Careers Updates

Ms Katrina Smith and Ms Alexi Kayes | Careers Advisor

To view the latest Careers events, seminars, subscriptions and university updates, please explore the yellow Careers News tab on Canvas. Click here to access the Careers Canvas page. Alternatively, go directly to this week's Careers Canvas Newsletter here.

Students in all year groups can book an appointment with Careers at any time by emailing careers@loretonh.nsw.edu.au. Please put your availability into your email.

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The Australian Speech Communication Association Examinations

Ms Amanda Thomas | Speech and Drama Teacher

The Australian Speech Communication Association (ASCA) examinations are an integral part of the extra-curricular Speech & Drama program offered at Loreto. Students work towards an exam, held in November each year, and perform in front of an examiner and audience made up of peers. The exam is designed to help the development of oral communication, public speaking and critical thinking.

After a three year pause due to Covid, on Saturday, 18 March, ASCA held their annual award ceremony at Ravenswood School for Girls with four students from Loreto receiving awards for outstanding achievement. I’m pleased to announce that Eva Parratt (Year 9) and Elizabeth Peng (Year 6) were awarded the Senior and Junior Studio Medals for the highest exams results with marks of 97% and 93% respectively. Adrina Jamshidi (Year 8) and Elena Brinkmann (Year 6) also received High Distinctions in their exams and were the deserving recipients of the Senior and Junior Studio Achievement Award for consistent effort throughout the year.

Eva Parratt was also invited to perform at the ASCA ceremony and delighted the audience with her exceptional portrayal of the Grand High Witch from Roald Dahl’s novel ‘The Witches’. Well done Eva!

More information about the ASCA syllabus can be found on their website.

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Oratory News

CSDA Public Speaking

Congratulations to Inayah Absar (Year 7) who did an exceptional job at the CSDA Grand Finals last Friday, 17 March.

Rostrum – Voice of Youth

Congratulations to those students who participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth. Congratulations to Charlotte Barnett (Year 9) who has been selected to attend the next round of the competition.

Coaches and Adjudicators

If you are interested in coaching and adjudicating the various teams please contact the Oratory Team. There are several positions available. Please send through your resume if you are interested. We would love to see our team of ex-student coaches grow.

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Sport News

Mr Dave Brock | Head of Sport

2023 Edstart Rugby Scholarship Program

Congratulations to Grace Kellahan (Year 8) who has been chosen for the prestigious 2023 Edstart Rugby Scholarship Program. This program aims to promote junior rugby and help players develop their skills as well as foster their love for the game and is designed to assist players with their registration while providing support such as development opportunities and equipment for the 2023 season.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Congratulations to the following students who have completed The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award:

• Lara Wheelhouse - completed the Bronze Award
• Lily Kilmurray - completed the Bronze Award
• Breanna Ng - completed the Bronze Award
• Darcie Byrne - completed the Bronze Award
• Ava Garnys - completed the Bronze Award
• Sasha Bridges - completed the Bronze Award

IGSA Swimming & Diving Carnival

Congratulations to our Loreto Normanhurst swimmers and divers who competed at the recent IGSA Swimming & Diving Championships. All our swimmers & divers represented the school magnificently with loud cheering and fantastic team support. In the swimming we had multiple relays make finals which was very exciting, and fantastic for team spirit. Well done and congratulations to the whole team!

ISC AFL

Two AFL teams will be representing Loreto in the 2023 Independent Schools Competition AFL Grand Finals this Saturday, 1 April. Congratulations and good luck to LON01 (Opens Division 2) and LON05 (Year 9/10 Division 3) who will be playing in Grand Finals this weekend at Barker and Pymble, respectively.

IGSA Water Polo

Three Water Polo teams will be playing in finals for Term 1 IGSA Water Polo this Saturday, 1 April. Congratulations and good luck to LON01, LON03 and LON04. A special mention to LON04 who are undefeated so far this season.

CIS Cup Football Game

Congratulations to the CIS Cup Football Team who had a convincing 6-0 win against Covenant Christian School in Round 2 of the knockout Competition. It was a full team effort to get the win, however special mention to Skye Halmarick (Year 10) and Zoe Clubb (Year 12) who both scored hat-tricks! The team will play Hunter Valley Grammar School in the next round.

Rowing Head of the River

The 2023 Head of the River Regatta saw all of our crews partake in their final races of the 2022/2023 rowing season. It has been incredible to watch all the crews improve over the season and feel the love and support for the sport through our student body, parent cohort, and wider supporters.

What began as a very mild day at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, showcasing a stunning Penrith sunrise, quickly became a warm and still racing day. Our Year 8 rowers hit the course first, with the 2nd and 3rd crews progressing to the finals, unfortunately seeing our 1st crew bow out in the heat. Year 8 racing is fast paced and high octane, providing entertainment to the very end of the finish line.

The Senior Scullers, Jess Lenehan (Year 11) and Elyana Qutami (Year 11), were sent to race with the spectacular Seniors Send Off and guard of honour, a special moment to be enjoyed by the entire squad and our supporters. The Senior Quad was treated to a similar spectacle later in the day for their racing, an emotional send off for Josie Sims (Year 12) and Genevieve Bolster (Year 12), our 2022/2023 Captain and Vice-Captain of Boats, who raced their final events for Loreto Normanhurst in their Year 12 season. The Senior Quad was a highlight of the regatta, with a convincing 3rd place in their heat putting them into the Final. An expertly curated and executed race plan in the Final gave them a time showing more than a 30 second improvement between their first and last races of the season, an achievement that we are very proud of.

Our Intermediate rowers battled it out in both the Year 10 Eight division and the Year 10 Quad. The First Year 10 Eight fought hard in their race and powered through the 1000m mark racing neck and neck with Loreto Kirribilli. The First Eight stormed through the field to collect the Bronze medal in the emerging division, a fantastic result deserving of the hard work that has gone into the season. Our Second Year 10 Eight showed incredible grit, holding pace with the field and overcoming a challenging final 250m of the race to row through the finish with heads held high. The Year 10 Quad competed in Division 4 of the event and put together a strong and defined race, showcasing the improvement they have made over the duration of the season. Our Year 10 coaches were over the moon with the composure and determination our intermediate rowers showed at the Head of the River Regatta.

Year 9 rowers competed in a mix of both heats and straight finals. Our Year 9 1st crew was bested in a very strong Division 1 and despite putting down a well-deserved time, missed out on the final by one place. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th crew competed in both straight finals and qualifying heats with the 2nd and 3rd crews progressing strongly to their final. All Year 9 crews put in outstanding efforts and raced with tenacity and enthusiasm. The future is bright for these junior rowers!

Neve Tierney (Year 11) won the open Schoolgirl Singles event. Congratulations Neve on this fantastic achievement.

Overall, Loreto Normanhurst placed 11th out of 39 participating schools, a valiant effort and motivation to crack the top 10 next season!

Oz Tag and Rugby Union

Congratulations to Mia Jones (Year 12) on some of her recent selections into Rugby Union and Oz Tag teams this year.

Rugby Union

Mia played for USYD Rugby 7s - Open Women Tournaments at Charlestown, Kiama, Lake Macquarie 2023.

Oz Tag

Mia was an Australian Tagaroos Oztag U18 player 2023 and played in the Senior State Championships Oztag U20 2023.

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Community Engagement Team Updates

Mother Daughter Eucharist & Lunch

Sunday, 21 May

9:15 am

Chapel & Miramare Gardens

Make a note in your diary that tickets for this event will go on sale next Wednesday, 5 April at 11am.

Loreto Normanhurst mothers and significant women in the lives of their daughters are invited to attend the Mother Daughter Eucharist and Lunch on Sunday, 21 May.

The day will begin with the Eucharist in the Chapel at 9:15am followed by Lunch at Miramare Gardens, Terrey Hills.

Click here for booking link.

Tickets for this event will go on sale next Wednesday, 5 April at 11am.

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Parent Association Updates

Parent Association Merchandise – Back in stock!

PAL’s merchandise has been restocked and available for purchase! Get your Normo cap, umbrella, puffer vest, tote bag and socks via the NormoNetwork Shop here.

Year 12 Mothers’ Weekend Away

Friday, 28 – Sunday, 30 April

Escape to the Hunter Valley

Join us for the Year 12 Mothers’ Weekend Away. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a parent group to connect with one another, take some time for yourself and relax.

Further details can be found on the invitation here.

Click here to purchase tickets.

City Country Mothers’ Lunch

Friday, 5 May 2023

12:00 pm – 4:00pm

Aqua Luna, Drummoyne

Make a note in your diary that tickets for this event will go on sale on Monday, 3 April at 10am.

Join us for the annual City Country Mothers’ Lunch, a wonderful event to celebrate our city country connection on Friday, 5 May at Aqua Luna, Drummoyne. This event is for all mothers from Year 5-12, and all are welcome to attend!

Contact Helen Longney, longneys@iinet.net.au or Alex Oswald, alexoswald2@gmail.com if you have any questions

Click here for the invitation.

Click here to book tickets.

Tickets for this event will go on sale on Monday, 3 April at 10am.

Year 7 Dads’ Golf Weekend

Saturday, 6 – Sunday, 7 May

Leura Golf Club & The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba

Join us for Year 7 Dads Golf Weekend in the Blue Mountains. No golfing experience necessary as we will be playing in Teams (Ambrose/Best Ball). Tickets will include the round of golf and dinner, dads will need to book their own accommodation.

Click here for the invitation.

Click here to book tickets.

If you have any questions please email Peter Solomon - pasolomon29@gmail.com.

Hope to see you there!

Sportsmen’s Lunch - Save the Date!

Friday, 16 June

Dockside, Darling Harbour

Save the date for Loreto Normanhurst Sportmen’s Lunch to be held at Dockside Darling Harbour! More information will be available soon.

Term 2 Parent Rep Events – Save the Date!

Save the Date for the following Year Parent Rep events to be held in Term 2. More information about these events will be sent out at the beginning of next term.

Year 11 Parent Drinks (with the Year 11 Dinner Dance)

Friday, 5 May

Epping Hotel

6:30pm

Year 6 Family Event

Sunday, 26 May

Year 10 Parent Event

Friday, 2 June

The Verandah Beecroft

Year 5 Fathers Event

Saturday, 3 June

Waratahs vs Moana Pasifika

Year 5 Mothers Event

Sunday, 18 June

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The Women’s Night of Spirituality

Tuesday, 16 May

The Women’s Night of Spirituality will be held on Tuesday, 16 May at 7pm at St Mary’s, Ridge Street, North Sydney.

This unique event has been conducted at St Mary’s North Sydney for over 25 years. It is an evening when women, who come from diverse backgrounds, share aspects of the spiritual dimension of their lives – what gets them up in the morning, what gives them joy, hope and how they deal with life’s knockbacks and adversities. Many wonderful women have opened their inner beings in a space which is special and sacred. The evening offers strength and inspiration to woman (and men) of all ages, faiths and those who have no faith.

There will be three speakers and their talks will be enhanced with wonderful musical items from the vibrant enthusiastic award-winning choir of Marist College North Shore Primary School mothers and friends.

If you would like to know more about the evening, please do not hesitate to contact one of the committee members at
communications@northsydneycatholics.com or Emma Rossi emrossi66@gmail.com.

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Hornsby Shire Library Holiday Activities

The Hornsby Shire Library and Information Service is organising several activities over the April school holidays. They wil be hosting the Jewelz Circus Show in which kids can join Jewelz Rainbow Sparkle Heart in an interactive, hoopy loopy happy show, while Keith Whelan will be presenting writing workshops for kids wanting to learn how to write a story. Library staff will also be hosting some drop in sessions in our Discovery Space, where kids can explore their creativity or have fun with STEM.

Further booking information can be found on their website here.

Please find more information on what is offered here and here.

For further enquiries, call 9847 6107 during business hours.

For bookings, families should book at the library’s website here or visit in person at any library branch.

Sydney Writers' Festival

The Sydney Writers' Festival is coming to Hornsby Shire Library and will be hosting children’s author and Illustrator James Foley. Join James for a fun in-conversation as he talks all things Secret Agent Mole 1: Goldfish-Finger, his latest book for kids.

This free event will be popular so we recommend you book early. Please click here to book and enter your school name is the space provided.

Click here for more information.

Click here for the pre-order form.

Completed pre-order forms can be emailed to Novella Fine Books direct at info@novellafinebooks.com.au.

For further enquiries contact Penny Connelly at pconnelly@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or 9847 6107.