THEME 11: INITIATIVES PROMOTING RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY

THEME 11

InITIaTIvEs pROmOTIng REspECT & REspOnsIBILITy 11

The Social Justice Program, Student Leadership Program, Liturgical Program and Pastoral and Personal Development Programs are four of the main domains that promote and encourage respect and responsibility.

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM

This program allows students to address issues of social concern and respond by way of fundraising, donations, direct service and advocacy. At its core, the program is all about respect and responsibility.

The Social Justice program is made up of four parts: Religious Education, Kindergarten-Year 12 Appeals, Yearly Commitment and Annual Events.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

Within the Religious Education program, the following activities are designed to promote respect and responsibility, as students come to understand that a position of privilege must be balanced with a social contribution. The experiences are intended to be challenging, educational and deeply transformational – both now and into the future. The notions of ministry, service and accompanying others lovingly are central to our Catholic mission.

Service Ministry Retreat: All Year 10 students spent a week being immersed in social and educational Services that support the less advantaged in and around Sydney.

All students have an opportunity to participate in the voluntary community service program. As part of a student’s practical experience, they are required to complete minimum service hours which culminates with each student receiving Community Service certificates at each Stage.

KINDERGARTEN – YEAR 12 APPEALS 2020

• Term 1 – Caritas Project Compassion during Lent. • Term 2 – Annual May Day Celebration honouring Mary, Mother of God. For over 100 years, students have brought flowers to School as an offering of reverence to Mary, during 2020 Year 12 celebrated this special day in person while the rest of the School community participated online. A link to the Mary Ward International Australia page was sent to families with the pre-recorded liturgy and explanation of Mary Ward International projects. • Term 3 – St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal -snack packs for the Vinnies Night Patrol van. • Term 4 – Christmas Hampers. We celebrated our ongoing relationship with Holy Family Parish in Emerton for whom we create Christmas Hampers. The generosity from the student and parent body resulted in approximately 50 hampers being gifted to the families belonging to the School and Parish at Emerton. • The Year 6 students were unable to pack Christmas hampers for the homeless at St Canice’s, Elizabeth Bay and Easter eggs were not able to be collected for Crows Nest Meals on Wheels as they usually do due to the School being at home on lockdown prior to the Term 1 school holidays. • Benenson Society: In advocating for the needs of others, especially those suffering from an abuse of their human rights, approximately 50 - 100 students wrote letters for human rights every Thursday at lunchtime. Co-founded by St Aloysius’ College and Loreto Kirribilli, the Benenson Society has grown to include followers from national and international interest groups. In 2020, this temporarily ceased while students were learning remotely, however, as soon as there was a return to on-site learning, the lunch time letter writing returned. The focus was on our First Nations

Peoples. • Student2Student: Students from Years 8 to 11 participated in the Student2Student (peer mentoring literacy program).

Through the Smith Family, students are matched up with children in Years 2 to 8 in disadvantaged communities.

Students involved in the program read to each other for 20 minutes, three times a week, either electronically or over the phone over 18 weeks. Many of the students are up to four years behind in their reading at program commencement. Post program, 95% of participants improve with 59% demonstrating reading age gains of eight months or more. In 2020, collectively, Loreto Buddies have improved their readers’ abilities by a total of 27 years and 3 months. This is an incredible result in any given year, but especially given the specific challenges faced in 2020 due to

COVID-19. • All students in the Junior School participated in two Mufti Days to raise awareness and funds for Mary Ward

International and Caritas.

ANNUAL EVENTS

• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) breakfast for International Women’s Day: Each year UNIFEM holds a significant breakfast with a remarkable guest speaker to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise awareness of the plight of women around the world. The three Benenson Society leaders attended with two teacher representatives. • Mary Ward International Australia Appeal: Donations sought on line and through Junior School Mission Day Total raised significant funds.

SPECIAL APPEALS

• Bush Fire Appeal – In the aftermath of the December 2019/2020 Bushfires the students held fundraising for the agency

‘You Can Sit with Me”.

• The explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, in August prompted the Year 9 students to raise awareness and organise an appeal for the Australian Red Cross (Lebanon Appeal).

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

The Student Leadership Program seeks to provide opportunities for students to develop their God-given talents, appreciate that they have a responsibility to use their capacities for the benefit of others, develop their understanding of leadership and act as responsible mentors and role models to the School community.

The School prepared and facilitated a leadership day for Year 9 and Year 11.

Leading the Senior School are the School Captain, School Vice-Captain and the three First Councillors. These five students constitute the Student Executive. The next elected leaders are those who carry House positions (encompassing overall

House leadership followed by Dance, Drama and Music) and Council leadership. Of these eight student-led Councils the following three include student representatives from Years 7-12:

• The Student Representative Council (SRC) led by the Student Executive strives: to live out the School values in a practical way; to be the voice of the student body in meeting our local needs; and to raise awareness of the needs of the wider community. • The Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Council (JPIC), led by the three First Councillors, strives: “to promote the dignity and liberation of all, particularly of women and children; to challenge unjust systems and structures; to stand with those on the edges of society; to show reverent care for the earth and all creation”. • The Liturgy Council strives to engage students in the preparation of celebrations for the joy of our community and the praise of God.

In the Junior School, students are given a number of leadership opportunities, including School Captain, Vice-Captain, House Captains, Liturgy Monitors, IT Monitors, Library Monitors and Music Captains. Our Student Representative Council (SRC) comprises two members from each class, elected by their peers. In addition, Year 6 attended the National Young Leaders’ Day.

LITURGY

The Liturgical Program is integral to the School and fosters the spiritual development of the girls. Involvement in liturgical events focuses on respect for self, God and others and the responsibilities shared as community members. During 2020, liturgies were adapted to cater for COVID-19 restrictions. For example, liturgies such as Friday morning Mass, May Day Liturgy and Year 12 Graduation Mass were all live streamed to the Loreto community and recorded as video presentations. It was pleasing to note that many students in Year 12 continued to accept the calling to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion playing a key role in all religious / liturgical events. As restrictions eased during term 4 parents were given the opportunity to attend Friday morning Mass at the School.

The spiritual development of students is further enhanced with the compulsory Years 11 and 12 three-day residential retreats which are facilitated by Loreto Kirribilli staff. Due to COVID-19 restrictions residential events did not take place

in 2020. Year 12 were offered a reflection day and spiritual formation day in place of the retreat with revised activities including reflection, discussion and meditation.

In place of the five-day Service Ministry retreat (Emmaus Retreat), Year 10 were offered an alternate program consisting of a day of listening to guest speakers and reflecting on what they heard in line with Catholic Social Teachings and the Emmaus story. The second day of the alternate program was a day of Socktober with Catholic Mission. A third day consisted of outreach activities at School, eg. The Birthing kits, Days for girls and wrapping our Christmas Hampers. Mass was celebrated at the end of the day reflecting on the Journey to Emmaus from Luke’s Gospel which creates the backdrop to bringing about a deeper understanding of the mission of the Church.

Throughout the year, prayer and liturgies celebrate the School’s history with a focus on days special in the IBVM calendar. In 2020, there was a significant focus on the year of Verity, highlighted by the May Day online liturgy. Year 12 were the only students on the School site and formed part of the online liturgy zoomed to Loreto Kirribilli family homes. To support families with their faith life, a Prayer page was designed on the School’s collaborative hub which included prayer and meditation resources and links to online Mass services.

In the Junior School, prayer is also integral to daily life. The School year began with a K- 6 Opening Mass held at Star of the Sea Church, Kirribilli. This special Mass was well attended by parents, family and community members. All other Junior School Masses were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and our Sacramental Program included First Reconciliation for Year 2 and First Eucharist for Year 3 was also postponed until 2021. With restrictions easing, the Junior School Students attended Masses in the Chapel with Senior School students.

Loreto Kirribilli recognises the importance of being well connected to other Loreto Schools. Considering this, the School ensures links are fostered with fellow Loreto Schools through staff and student activities, programs and contacts. During 2020, the following COVID-19 adapted events took place:

• Mary Ward Justice Lecture via zoom through Loreto Ministries • Ex-Students’ Association online discussion regarding spirituality and music

PASTORAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The Pastoral and Personal Development program draws broadly from the key document ‘Quality Relationships at Loreto Kirribilli’. Focus areas are: respect for the sacred, respect for the School, respect for self, respect for others and respect for the environment. 2020 saw the Drop Everything and Reflect (DEAR) initiative and Thankful Thursday continue weekly in the Senior School within the allocated Circle Class time and with the addition of a dedicated book of resources developed by staff members. Guest speakers also supported the pastoral program. Beyond the intended mental health benefits, an evaluation from the students also indicated that there is respect for this prayerful and reflective practice. This practice is gaining momentum and is predominantly student-led.

More specifically, the Pastoral and Personal Development Program runs from Kindergarten to Year 12 and emphasises focus areas dependent on the girls’ stage of development. It can overlap with the Health and Physical Education curriculum area in certain domains. Focus on rights and responsibilities is covered in the following units and activities:

K – Year 6

• PDH Health

• Wellbeing and Relationships • Healthy, Safe and Active lifestyles • Movement, Skill and Performance • UR Strong Language of Friendship program • Student and parent workshops • Cyber Safety Week • Grow your Mind program, teacher familiarisation and workshop for parents • Wellbeing week activities (Year 5 Wellbeing Warriors, lunchtime activities, mindfulness, music) • Outdoor Education Day • Yoga Term 1 • Positive Detective (Professor Lea Waters) - Years 4 and 5 • Leadership Days - Years 5 and 6 Years 7 – 12

• Big Sister / Little Sister program • Protective Behaviours • Cyber Safety • Healthy Relationships and Safe Lifestyle Practices • Sincere Relationships • Police Presentations

• Adolescent Health Issues

• Young Drivers on the Road • Drugs and alcohol talk • Wellbeing Week • Mindfulness • Student wellbeing forums • Academic Care Program - Years 7 and 8.