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Volume 29 - 15 September, 2015 Dear Parents & Students TIMOR LESTE IMMERSION Earlier this year, Mrs Hamilton shared with you the news from our Loreto Sisters working in Timor Leste that they had opened the first Loreto Pre-Primary School in the remote area of Gari-uai. The Pre-Primary school opened on 1 June in a refurbished community building and will later this year move to a new building, currently under construction. The full Primary School is planned to open in 2016. Timor Leste, located over 400 kilometres north of Australia, is one of the least developed countries in the world, with basic health, literacy and income levels similar to sub-Saharan Africa. According to UNICEF two thirds of the population are under the age of 25, approximately 40% of children are malnourished and more than 58% of the population is illiterate. With so many young children in need of education the school system is simply under-resourced. (Source: www.mwia.org.au) The Loreto Sisters are committed to addressing the lack of educational opportunities facing the Timorese people in the remote area of Gari-uai. On 21 September, a group of 12 senior Loreto students, accompanied by Mrs Di Hanson and Ms Emma Beach, will be travelling to Timor Leste as part of a Catholic Mission “Getting Involved Globally” international immersion experience. This group, along with Mr Kieran Donnelly, have spent much time in preparation this term. Whilst in Timor Leste, the students will visit the Loreto Sisters in Bacau, Dominican orphanages in Dili and community programs in Laleia. They will also spend some time sharing the games and beautiful resources they have prepared with the children at the Gari-uai Loreto Pre-Primary School. I hope this experience is richly rewarding for the girls and the staff and, of course, for the people in Timor with whom they will engage. May God bless them and keep them safe. Mobile Phone & Electronic Devices Policy The following link will take you to the revised Mobile Phone & Electronic Devices Policy http://www.loreto.qld.edu.au/assets/General-PDFs/About-Loreto/Mobile-Phone-PolicyVer3.pdf Please take some time to read this and discuss it with your daughters. Staff News I would like to thank most sincerely Ms Annie Diamond who has acted as Deputy Principal – Pastoral Care this term, and Mrs Rosemary O’Neill who has been Acting Year 12 Coordinator. Each of these wise, capable and hard-working women have provided wonderful care and leadership to the girls in their charge. We wish Mrs Barb Davies and Mrs Cathy O’Donoghue a very enjoyable extended holiday. Mrs Davies will return on 26 October. Ms Mary Hardie will be working with Dr Mulherin in the counselling area during her absence. Mrs O’Donoghue will return on 2 November. Mrs Rosemary O’Neill will be acting as Curriculum Leader - English and Mrs Anne Heathcote will take Mrs O’Donoghue’s classes until her return. Finally, we extend our best wishes to Ms Tania Gallen who will be on leave during Term 4. We look forward to all of these people returning to us refreshed and energized.
Justice
Freedom
VERITY
Sincerity
Felicity