ISSUE 10, May 2021
THE LORETO LARK SCHOOL NEWS WRITTEN BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS
IN THIS ISSUE:
FREYA COSGRIFF
FEAR
2021 has so far brought around a lot of great things: international travel to New Zealand, the re-opening of many
PRIDE MONTH
venues, a new lot of Year 7s at Loreto, but especially Loreto’s production of A Chorus Line! After having Matilda: The Musical was cancelled last year due to
ATHLETICS DAY
COVID-19 restrictions, it was extremely exciting to perform a show as incredible as this, in front of a live audience. Hayley Every, who also helped Although the show is not very prop
backstage, describes her experience
reliant, I was helping out backstage.
as, “A new angle on the performance. I
While hiding behind a portable mirror
have learnt a lot about stage directions
isn’t the ideal spot to view from, it
and special tactics.”
gave me a great vantage point on all of the behind the scenes happenings.
YEAR 8 MEDIEVAL DAY
YEAR 9 SOCIAL
Working backstage gives a whole new perspective on how much hard work
As a backstage crew member on a show
goes into 4 days of performances. I
such as A Chorus Line, there wasn’t an
would like to take the opportunity in
awful lot of active work to do: we
this article to thank everyone who
mostly just moved around extremely
0 long hours worked for very, very
tall mirrors and brought the few props
helping in any way at all with this
on and off stage. This meant we had a
production. None of this would’ve been
lot of spare time, which was - more
possible without them, so if ever you
often than not - filled with running
get the chance, say thanks to the many
errands for people higher up in the
people who supported A Chorus Line
‘Crew Member Hierarchy.’ Even that
all the way through to the end,
had a silver lining though. The
including: Mr Stowe, Ms Canavan, Mrs
backstage crew members were able to
Phillips, Ms O’Driscoll, Mrs
meet many new people around the
Vandenberg, Mrs Jans, and especially
school (there was a close call with a
Ms Crowe, who put the entire show
janitor and a bag of chips).
together. Again, thank you!
We were also able to familiarise
I’ll be honest, at first I thought the
ourselves with the way productions
actors and crew would have very little
operate. Based on this experience, I’m
to do with each other, but throughout
quite inclined to help out in later
the many runs and reruns (and runs to
years, and recommend it to anyone
7-Eleven - shh!), I’ve made some great
who would like to be involved in
new friends. It’s really encouraging to
theatre without direct exposure to the
know even if you’re not an actor, a
audience.
dancer, or a singer, you can still get involved in productions.
YEAR 12 RETREAT
A YEAR 7 PERSPECTIVE ON 4EK
2 FEAR ANN CHALAKKAL “What are you so afraid of...”
Fear is an odd emotion, it’s both enabling and disabling. The fear of failure often stops
I’m afraid that I’ll fail …
people from trying in the first place, but adversely, it can push you to strive for
I’m afraid of not knowing who I am…
success. We give fear a negative connotation because the image we depict it as is typically
I’m afraid that people won’t accept me for
ourselves in (arguably) our worst moments.
who I am …
We never think about those triumphant moments, when we’ve conquered our greatest
I’m afraid of not being enough …
doubts, that heart-racing feeling that you get when you accomplish your goal and the
Fear is an odd emotion, in fact, every new
flooding relief when you realise that it’s over.
experience in life seems to be riddled with it.
We become so consumed by our thoughts that
Seeds of doubt sowed into your mind as you
we spiral ourselves out of control. We become
toss and turn debating whether or not it’s
engulfed in our fears when in truth, we’re
worth all the additional stress. I liken fear to
more than capable of achieving anything we
a childhood friend in that they either fade
set our minds to.
away, remaining as a shadow or become the shining sun. Either way, we’re all well
So when you do find yourself in a position
acquainted with fear. For some, that's the
where fear is blocking you, pause and
occasional jitters before a presentation whilst
breathe. The key to conquering fear is to
for others, it's full-blown panic attacks and
simply embrace it and take a step towards it.
crying at 3 am. Regardless of your initial
The only way to solve the root of the issue is
response, it’s an inevitable part of life that we
to directly confront it and trust me when I
must somehow conquer.
say it’s worth it. Don’t fret over the size or the direction of your step, just take one. Big or small, left or right, just take it one step at a time. We only realise what we are truly capable of when we push ourselves outside of our comfort. So whatever it is that you fear, take a deep breath and know that you are more than capable of achieving it.
3 PRIDE MONTH CHLOE SIMPSON Pride month, a whole month dedicated to the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. But it is also a month to commemorate the long history of bigotry experienced by the community, to remember those pivotal in the civil rights movement, who paved the way for us to enjoy the celebration that is the month of June. So what about here at Loreto? How do we celebrate Pride, and why is it so important to do so? As many older students know, Loreto has actually never fully recognised and celebrated Pride, but this year this is changing. The Sincerity Group has been planning and preparing for June to be full of joy, as well as education about the LGBTQ+ community, so we can continue to strive towards a school community where diversity is welcomed with enthusiasm. The LGBTQ+ community is still sorely lacking in representation and acknowledgement within society. Pride month gives us the opportunity to come together and appreciate everyone for the beautiful human beings they are. We can reflect on how far we have come, but also look at how far we have to go and what we can do to get there. After all, the first ‘Pride’ was a riot, and for good reason. We are still fighting for equal rights and equal opportunities - by celebrating Pride here at Loreto, we tell all within the school community that we will continue working towards a better world for all. Why else is Pride important? There is still an undeniable excess of heteronormativity in society, so Pride month provides a reprieve from the pressure placed on the LGBTQ+ community to ‘conform’ and act as some may expect us to. This provides a sense of welcoming and acceptance assuring people that they are worthy, valid, and loved.
The celebration of the LGBTQ+ community also allows for conversations to be had, and education to occur. Many people are unknowingly discriminatory due to a genuine lack of understanding and knowledge. Pride month initiates discussion, enabling those in the community to share their voice and their story so that we can combat ignorance and misunderstanding as a united community. The month of celebration opens up the space for questions, so we as a whole community can create a more welcoming and loving world. This is one of our aims here at Loreto in celebrating Pride month: we hope to initiate a conversation that continues well beyond the month of June in order for the school to continue to progress, and become ever more supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. So how are you going to celebrate Pride?
4 ATHLETICS DAY LUCY EALES Reflecting back to Term 1, Loreto held its first Athletics Carnival since 2019. This was due to COVID-19 restrictions, including hard lockdowns, resulting in the 2020 Carnival being cancelled, along with other events and social interaction in general. The Carnival was something that I looked eagerly forward to after the disappointment of missing out in 2020. The buzz in the air was unmatchable for the
This win would prove to be temporary,
whole day, but it was especially obvious when
unfortunately, as Ward House would later
the 100-metre sprints took place. The cheers
be announced to have come out
could be heard from the other side of Llanberris as each year level took part, and watching some of the running talent on show was inspiring. I personally always enjoy running in the 100-metres and it’s a highlight of the day because everyone gets involved and wins points for their respective Houses. In my
ultimately victorious with Barry in a close second. Mornane did manage to win the spirit stick off Mulhall, who had won it previously at the Swimming Carnival early in Term 1. As a Year 9, it was no surprise to me that Milly Wakefield was deemed
race, I placed first which surprised me
champion and Rosie Hunt the runner-up
because there’s always tough competition.
for our year level. The two of them are
Even when girls didn’t place, it was clear that
always consistently fantastic competitors
they were still smiling and having a good time
and have won this great award in the
regardless. Sometimes, that’s what it’s all
past.
about- just having a go. As much as there was a focus on the formal events, the novelty events during the day were also a major highlight. The egg and spoon races were a sight to behold, and the three-legged races were arguably just as competitive as the actual sprints. The real standout however was the Year 12s Tug of War at the end of the day. Mulhall and Mornane battled it out for Tug of War bragging rights as the whole school cheered, and ultimately Mornane came out as the winners.
5 YEAR 8 MEDIEVAL DAY RUBY BRADSHAW On the 30th of April, all of Year 8 went on a
In archery we learnt about the effects of using
bus and were taken to Kryal Castle for the
a bow and arrow in the many wars throughout
day. This was for our Humanities studies on
medieval times. We also got to practice using
Saxons, The Black Death, The Battle of
the bow and arrow on bales of hay, attempting
Hastings, and so forth. At 9:00 AM we all got
to get a bullseye.
into our well designed medieval costumes and headed off for a fun day.
In the torture module it got a bit more gruesome where we learnt about how people
When we arrived we met the staff and were
were tortured for their crimes. It was much
told about the different modules. These were:
worse than today, for example in society
battle armour, calligraphy, leather making,
today, we are innocent until proven guilty.
making herb solutions in the apothecary,
Back then, you were guilty until proven
archery, learning about torture and finally
innocent and it was your word against your
nobility.
accuser’s.
In the battle armour module, we learned about
We also learnt about the nobility who had
the different kinds of armour and helmets as
power in those times and others who had to
well as the pros and cons of armour over time.
listen to the nobility, work harder and earn
In calligraphy, we had a really fun lesson
much, much less.
where we practised writing with the quills and learnt about the history of writing and
This was such a fun day and we all had such a
languages. When we worked with leather, we
great time learning more about medieval times
wetted it, marked our initials on them and
to help with our humanities work and we are
tied a knot around them so that we could use
so grateful to the Kryal Castle staff for making
them as keychains to tie around our bags and
this day so fun.
keys. We also worked at the apothecary which was great fun. We got to look at herb solutions and learned when it was needed to fight off The Black Death. We even got to make some of our own solutions using herbs. In the middle of the day we got to see a very exciting jousting match and after we got to go near the horses and give them a pat. Then it was time for some more exciting activities!
6 YEAR 9 SOCIAL BRIDIE NEWMAN “One, two, three, throw. Back, two, three. Out, two, three and new partner, two, three." After three dance lessons over the span of three weeks, the Year 9 Loreto girls partnered with the Year 9 St Patrick's College boys for the longawaited event: Year 9 Social! The event was filled with lots of fun, chatter, dancing and music, as well as a chance for students to make new friends, from both schools. The dance practices for the social were held on the 22nd and 29th of April and the 3rd of May, in the GBC from 4-5 pm after school. For my friends and I, as well as many other students, it was quite nerve-racking yet exciting in the beginning. We had to see quite a few boys from our various primary schools, whom we hadn't talked to for a few years. To start, our dance instructor, Eric, had put us into two circles with girls on the outside and boys on the inside (with a few girls in the boys’ circle, as there were a lot more of us). We introduced ourselves to our partners and began learning the dance. As the practice went on, the atmosphere became more comfortable, as people got to know each other.
Over the three dance practices, we learnt a total of four traditional partner dances: a Progressive Barn Dance, the Pride of Erin, a form of the Parma Waltz, and a form of the Heel and Toe Polka, as well as the Nutbush and the Macarena. The practices, unfortunately, involved a lot of standing on each other's feet, as we learned how to coordinate ourselves with each other. On the 6th of May, the day had finally come. We all met in a hall at St Pat's, everyone looking amazing in their dresses and suits. Throughout the night, we did a combination of the dances we had previously learnt together and also had fun dancing with our friends to the DJ's music in the background. Overall, the social was a super fun and exciting experience for all of us, and I know everyone who went had a great time!
7 YEAR 12 RETREAT GEMMA RICHARDSON The Year 12 Retreat to Amberley in Melbourne was the perfect way to end an exhausting first term. The Edmund Rice Centre is a place of peace, in a tranquil bush setting with a view of the city on the horizon. The retreat was framed around five words: reclaim, bring, go, live, and create. It was with these words that we ultimately reflected on how we would live in the world. Retreat was a time spent with friends. In our free time we created songs, friendship bracelets, and plenty of inside jokes. We even explored the centre (a fascinating mansion) from the spiral staircase to the boiler room. Connections were also made with girls I had never really talked to, and it was simply beautiful. I won’t forget standing under the stars pouring our souls out to each other and feeling a deep bond. I loved how everyone had something to enjoy. There were no obligations or restrictions on what you participated in. In the evenings, some girls played hide-and-seek in the dark, while others gathered around the grand piano or in their rooms. Some of the weak (including me) went to bed at 11. There were plenty who chatted around the atmospheric candlelight past midnight, covering a range of fascinating topics.
During the day, the activities and sessions were just as interesting, like using people as statues to model the situation of people in your life, or playing a very largescale wink-murder. Also, some girls volunteered to lead prayer. These were beautifully inclusive and thoughtful. One of the highlights of the student-led programme was the last liturgy, in which we worked together to create a series of reflections by candlelight including singing, poetry, and sending messages of love. Love was the undermining theme. Sometimes it manifested itself philosophically, as in our discussion about the meaning of love, and sometimes it was simply in thoughtfulness, in opening your heart to someone else and giving something that will last long after we leave school at the end of this year. Retreat was equally a time for the self. There were quiet times of self-awareness where we coloured mandalas or wrote letters to our future selves. The letter-writing was challenging, as they are going to be sent to us before graduation mass. But writing genuinely was irresistible: despite being coherent to only myself, it was an opportunity to be meditative and real. This was entirely a time of realness. Every student and teacher was sincerely and honestly themselves, contributing feelings, thoughts, and an overarching, beautiful kindness. For example, the first thing we pinned up on the wall were our brown paper bags. We could write notes of any kind to put in each other’s bags. Naturally this ended in my crying on the bus with my friend, because never had I received such candid and compassionate words that I will cherish forever. For me, Retreat summed up the best of Loreto. The environment where you not only feel included and cared for, but also valued and loved, and able to express yourself, your opinion, and your emotions through opportunities of self-reflection and interaction like this retreat. To go into the future beyond school with something like this as a memory is an honour indeed.
8 LORETO COLLEGE- SUPPORTING GIRLS SINCE 1609 MONTANNAH RYAN Loreto is a school that welcomes girls from all
The Loreto community prides itself on its
backgrounds and cultures. That said, some of
ability to empower girls like Ebony to engage
these girls require additional help and
in their learning despite the obstacles that
support in order to give them the best
chronic illness puts in their path. This is done
opportunities for education possible. As a
through parent and student consultation,
school that prides itself in providing person-
education of the student cohort and the
centred learning for girls, Loreto delivers on
availability of services that support the
this promise. Ebony Ryan, a Year 7 student
integration of girls with additional needs into
with Type 1 Diabetes (a chronic autoimmune
the learning environment. As a student with a
condition in which an internal organ called
chronic, lifelong condition, Ebony is
the pancreas fails to produce the hormone
constantly having to monitor her diabetes and
Insulin), is one of many girls that the Loreto
keep her levels in range as it impacts her
community continues to support with their
cognitive function and therefore her learning.
learning every day.
Loreto has helped Ebony to balance diabetes with personal interests and education. As an
What does Diabetes mean for your learning?
active and positive engager of learning, Ebony
“Okay, to me Diabetes is something that takes
is now able to enjoy physical activities and
over at times, makes it hard to learn new
contribute in her classroom and we have
things especially when my blood sugar levels
people such as the First Aid Officer, Learning
(BGL) is high or low because I’m not in class.
Diversity Officer and many committed,
Diabetes can be really hard to manage at
empathetic teachers and classmates to thank
times and when it gets hard to control it gets
for it.
hard to process things and it becomes difficult to focus.”
“I’d like to thank all the staff at Loreto College for assisting and supporting my
What has Loreto done to support you and
condition and helping me to be able to do the
your learning?
things I love doing.” -Ebony Ryan
“Loreto has done so much to support me. When I’ve been low they have let me leave class to get the things that are needed. Loreto has been really supportive and helpful when it comes to school work and when I’m falling behind, they try to help me and catch me up to everyone else. So far I think I have teachers and friends that do care and that will support me when I need it.”
8 A YEAR 7 PERSPECTIVE ON 4EK AMY ROBILLARD 4EK is a very special event which raises awareness about meningococcal in memory of past student Emma Kate. We run or walk 4km around the lake, dressed in as much purple as possible, to show our support and to make people more conscious about meningococcal disease. It was great fun walking 4EK with my friends. I also liked being able to buy things such as hats and caps, which all had the 4EK logo on them. I really enjoyed the event and I also liked the fitness aspect of the walk. I asked a couple of my Year 7 friends what they thought
I think it is a really good thing that we are doing the 4EK walk because it keeps Emma’s
of the 4EK walk, this is what they said.
memory alive, it also reminds the new Year 7
“I really liked the walk and walking with my
and how being a Loreto student makes us a
friends. If there was one thing that could have made it better it would have been to have more things to buy. I knew Emma because she
students about what a good person Emma was part of a much bigger family. I really enjoyed walking 4km around the lake.
was a helper at my dance school.”
The walk was fun, and I noticed how many
Another student said,
myself but it was harder than it looked. It was
“I liked how I didn’t have to do classwork. I
4kms. Loreto also used the 4EK walk as a way
didn't know who Emma Kate was but now know some of her Story.”
people were running. I ran some of the walk really cool watching people run the whole to see who was good enough for cross country. I thought that was a clever idea. Even though 4EK is a reasonably large event at Loreto, if you were to ask a Year 7 student if they knew Emma, most of them would say no. I think the 4EK lap of the lake is a fantastic way to remember her, considering not many younger students had the chance to know her. I think the walk is a fantastic idea and is so fun to be a part of. I am really excited to do it again next year, although I hope next year I can run a bit further. I also look forward to eventually being in the senior grades so I can walk or run a further distance.
8 LORETO LARK GEORGINA NASH AND SIENNA NEWMAN The Loreto Lark is our school newspaper. A group of students from Loreto meet every week and write articles involving things around the school, including sports, special events and lunchtime and after school activities. Every term a newspaper is published for others to read. The Lark allows parents and students of Loreto to stay connected to the school and aware of what is going on inside the gates of Loreto. Coming to Loreto we both enjoyed writing and were hoping to find some sort of writing group at Loreto. When we found out about the Lark, we were excited to attend the first meeting of the year. When we arrived everyone was very welcoming and open to new ideas. There is a lot of hard work throughout the term leading up to producing the article. For the first term, we didn’t write an article, just so we could see what it was all about. But this term we are writing a joint article together.
The Lark is filled with a creative group of students varying from year 7-12. Even though there is a range of different age groups everyone has one thing in common, we all love to write! If you enjoy writing you should definitely come in and check it out. If you’re interested in coming to the Loreto Lark next term we meet every Thursday at recess in room SF125. If you have a school event that you would be interested in writing about, the Lark is for you.
8 CROSSWORD - WINTER
Across:
Down:
1. Grandma will knit you one to keep you 2. No two are alike warm
5. Tuxedo with feathers
2. Winter vehicle for off-road travel
8. Light a fire here to keep warm on
3. Some animals do this all winter
chilly days
4. White teddy
9. Winter's favourite colour
6. Covers for cozy hands
10. Twelve sticks and one puck
7. Strap two sticks on your feet and
11. Frost fellow with a carrot nose
swosh down a hill
QUIZ
What's the biggest animal in the world? Which country is brie cheese originally from? What is Queen Elizabeth II's surname? Who did Anne Hathaway play in Les Miserables? What does He stand for on the periodic table?
9 WORDSEARCH - PRIDE MONTH
Wordbank: Acceptance
Equality
Identity
Aromantic
Fluid
Lesbian
Asexual
Gay
Non-Binary
Bisexual
Gender
Orientation
CIS
Hetero
Pansexual Pride
Coming Out
Homosexuality
Queer Rainbow
Demisexual
Human Rights
Transgender
Drag Queen
10 STRANGER THANKS Stranger Thanks is a page dedicated to thanking someone who may have brightened your day, helped you through a tough time or simply opened a door for you! Send through your submission for the next issue of Loreto Lark to newspaper@loreto.vic.edu.au. Please keep submission length to no more than 2 or 3 sentences.
Thank you Mrs Crowe for all the time you put in to ensuring the production could happen this year! Chloe
Thank you Lockdown for cancelling the Year 11 exams:) Zoe
Thank you Year 12 VCE students for your Theatre Studies performance. Steph
Thank you Mr Nan and Mr Walsh for organising the Year 9 Dance Lessons. So glad COVID did not stop us! Emma
Thank you Year 11 students who continue to volunteer around the school. Can't wait until its my turn! Emily
Thank you girls for the beautiful rainbow heart in the last week of term! Mary
Thank you Mr Stow for all the behind the scenes work you did for the Production! Alyssa
Thank you TikTok for the hours of entertainment. Charlotte
Thank you Year 8 staff for putting on a movie at lunch the last week of term. Was very nice to get out of the rain. Ella
11 THE LORETO LARK TEAM Chief Editor - Gemma Richardson, and Ava Connally Chief Digital Editors - Olivia Jones A special thanks to all girls involved with articles and editing for this edition: Zoe Bartrum, Gemma Richardson, Chloe Simpson, Lillian (Lilly) Tolfrey, Bridie Newman, Olivia Jones, Lucy Eales, Charlotte Kent, Ruby Bradshaw, Ava Connally, Freya Cosgriff, Sophia Dalton, Ann Chalakkal, Georgina Nash, Sienna Newman, Amy Robillard, and Montannah Ryan.
Do you have a story to share in the next Loreto Lark? Come along to our meetings on Thursday Recess in SF 125
Crossword Answers: Down:
Across
1. Sweater 2. Skidoo 3. Hibernate
2. Snowflake 5. Penguin 8. Fireplace
4. Polar bear 6. Mittens 7. Skiing
9. White 10. Hockey 11. Snowman
Quiz Answers The Blue Whale France Windor Fantine Helium