2026 Year 7 Information Brochure
Principal Angela O’Dwyer
Starting Year 7 is an exciting and important milestone, and one which we recognise as a critical transition point for all young people.
We have a carefully planned and calibrated transition program to ensure that students and their families are well informed, engaged and excited about the year ahead.
In this brochure you will find an outline of key dates and details to assist you, with more information to follow when we meet at the Principal’s Welcome on Wednesday 15 October.
We are so looking forward to welcoming you to Year 7 in 2026.
The Houses
Loreto Toorak has four Houses, three of which are named after Loreto Sisters; Mother Gonzaga Barry, Mother Stanislaus Mornane, Mother Stanislaus Mulhall and and one after the founder of the IBVM, Mary Ward.
Our Houses have several student leaders for different activities in the School, such as Music, Sport, Drama and Debating.
The Houses are Barry, Mornane, Mulhall and Ward. These Houses compete in many inter-house events throughout the year including sport, musical arts and theatre studies.
We encourage all Year 7 students to become involved in the many activities that contribute to the holistic education we value at Loreto Toorak.
Barry Mornane
Mulhall
Ward
Transition Dates
We are looking forward to welcoming you to Loreto Toorak for Year 7, 2026. We know this will be an exciting time for your family and to assist with your planning, we have outlined the transition events for the forthcoming months below.
SUMMARY OF TRANSITION DATES:
DATE EVENT
Wednesday 15 October Principal’s Welcome to Year 7 2026 Evening Drinks, 6.00pm – 7.30pm
Thursday 16 October
Current Year 6 Students and new Year 7 2026 Students Educational Testing 9.00am – 12.00pm
Thursday 20 November New Year 7 Students and Parents only Afternoon Tea, 4.30pm – 6.00pm
Monday 24 November Student Orientation Day, Year 7: 8.30am – 3.00pm
Monday 24 November Parent Morning Tea, 8.30am – 10.00am (Preparatory – Year 7 2026)
VENUE
Mandeville Centre Gallery
Rathfarnham
Mandeville Centre Gallery
Mandeville Centre Gallery
Mansion Forecourt (weather permitting)
Thursday 29 January 2026 Year 7 Interviews and Photographs Times will be communicated in January
Friday 30 January 2026 Year 7 Interviews and Photographs Times will be communicated in January
Monday 2 February 2026 Year 7 Classes Commence, 8.20am Clendon Centre
Year 7 2026 Language Selections
We are excited to offer our 2026 Year 7 students the opportunity to study two languages as they commence Senior School.
You will have already have selected your two preferred languages out of the choice of Chinese, French, Italian, and Indonesian. If you have any questions about your language selection, please contact Adrian Flanagan.
Year 7 2026 Educational Testing (all Students)
As part of the Transition Program and in preparation for commencement you will note above that she will be required to participate in an Educational Testing session.
If your child is unable to attend this session, please email our Registrar, Teresa Mierzwa directly.
Orientation Day
Orientation Day on Monday 24 November 2025 is for all students in Year 7, 2026.
The day will commence at 8.30am in the Mandeville Centre Lecture Theatre and conclude at 3.00pm.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided by the School.
Loreto Welcomes Program
The Loreto Welcomes program focuses on welcoming new families into our School community and extending to new families the support and assistance they require initially and throughout the year.
The program is a collaborative effort between the School and parents, aimed at promoting a spirit of participation and mutual support.
The program creates a system of Loreto Welcomes families, operating at each year level from Preparatory - Year 12 and acts as a working committee of the Parents’ Association.
Your Welcome family will be in touch with you before commencement.
Learning at Loreto Toorak
At Loreto Toorak, we strive for excellence in learning and teaching in order to build individual student capacity, accomplishment and achievement. We seek to ensure that all students reach their full potential as learners.
In Year 7, we want all students to experience every subject area so that they can make informed choices as they move up through the school, selecting from an incredible breadth of academic learning opportunities across their years with us. Our vision is to ensure students are engaged and challenged and that a love of learning is fostered by expert teachers in every subject; experts who share their passion with our students.
We recognise that learning doesn’t simply take place in the classroom and isn’t limited to academic studies. We want our Year 7 students to experience the fullness of a holistic education; we seek to form well rounded, well-informed and community minded young people who make a difference.
EMPOWER
Loreto Toorak’s Wellbeing curriculum, EMPOWER, is woven into every aspect of a Loreto education to nurture students’ confidence journey. We provide a supportive space for our students to explore their emotions, develop resilience to stress, and build critical skills such as metacognition and self-regulation.
• Emotional Literacy
• Metacognition
• Positive Education
• Opportunity and Engagement
• Wellbeing Science and Health
• Environmental Connection
• Respectful Relationships and Social and Emotional Learning.
“Our approach cultivates self-care habits, fosters positive relationships, and boosts academic performance. Through our school-wide strategy, we instill a culture where confidence flourishes among our students, shaping them into empowered leaders of tomorrow.
By empowering our students to understand and prioritise their wellbeing and mental health, we aim to create a generation of confident, compassionate and capable young women.
The Value of Learning a Language
The learning of languages is seen as an integral part of a complete and well-rounded education, and is therefore given the time and resources required for students to achieve success.
In an increasingly globalised world, the likelihood of our students working or travelling overseas, or engaging with people from other countries is becoming greater. Learning a language will inevitably help them to navigate their world.
Along with the advantages when seeing future employment, the benefits of learning a language include the development of a number of both hard and soft skills, including the following:
• Knowledge of a language and its associated culture
• Enhanced ability to learn to learn other languages later on
• Enhanced cognitive development
• Enhanced communication skills
• Interpersonal and intrapersonal skills
• Cross-cultural understanding
• Adaptability and resourcefulness
• Problem solving
Before Year 7, each student chooses two languages to study across their first year of secondary school. They then continue one of these languages compulsorily through both Years 8 and 9.
“We hope that all students will discover the language that suits them best, for which they feel an affinity and will develop a passion.”
We offer four languages, Chinese, French, Indonesian and Italian, with the hope that all students will discover the language that suits them best and for which they will feel an affinity and develop a passion.
Academic Program Years 7 - 8 2026
YEAR
7
English
Health Sciences
Humanities
Languages (choose two)
Mathematics
Religion
Science
Wellbeing
CORE SUBJECTS
YEAR 8
Commerce
English
Health Sciences
Humanities
*Languages
Mathematics
Religion
Science
Wellbeing
ELECTIVE SUBJECTS
YEAR 7 YEAR 8
All students complete 1 semester of each of the following subjects:
PERFORMING ARTS: Drama
PERFORMING ARTS: Music
TECHNOLOGIES: Project STEM
VISUAL ARTS: Visual Art
* Students continue with 1 of the languages studied in Year 7
Choose 4 other Electives (semester-based):
PERFORMING ARTS: Drama PERFORMING ARTS: Music
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGIES: Bubbles & Bricks
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGIES: Design & Construction
VISUAL ARTS: Art
VISUAL ARTS: Visual Communication & Design
Academic Program Years 9 - 10 2026
Core subjects in Years 9 – 10 include English, Humanities, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Religious Education, and Wellbeing.
We offer an exciting breadth of elective subjects, several of which are noted here. Students are invited to choose from:
• History: Archaeology
• Science: Aviation
• Music: Contemporary Songwriting
• Theatre Studies: American Realism
• Technologies: Digital Technologies
• Health and Physical Education: Global Health
• Geography: Rich World, Poor World
• English: Introduction to Literature
• Music: First Steps to Music Mastery
• Science and Technologies: Chemical Science
• Drama: From Page to Stage
• Languages: Indonesian
• Visual Arts: Art Creative Practice (Multi Art Forms)
• Commerce: Foundations of Business & Economics
• Mathematics: Enrichment
Digital Devices at Loreto Toorak
Loreto Toorak’s computer program is designed to improve our teaching and learning environment, enhance security, and simplify management and procurement.
All students entering Year 7 in 2026 are issued a fully managed and supported computer. Students are offered a choice of Mac or PC for use until the conclusion of Year 9. A new device will be issued upon commencing Year 10 in 2029 to see out their schooling.
The program uses a “lease-to-own” approach, with families paying an annual lease amount over the three years. At the end of Year 9 and Year 12, families will own the device outright.
Should you have any questions, please email devices@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au
Girls’ Sport Victoria (GSV)
Loreto Toorak is a member of Girls’ Sport Victoria (GSV) which is made up of numerous all-girls schools around the greater Melbourne area.
Training is held before school one morning each week, with matches being held after school one afternoon each week. Carnival Sports generally have two to three training sessions each week. Schedules for training and matches are available on MyLoreto. It is advised that students have some familiarity with the chosen sport, to maximise healthy competition and their own enjoyment.
Participation is encouraged but not compulsory. Students are able to sign up to one Weekly Sport and/or one Carnival Sport per term.
Term 1:
Diving, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Triathlon
Term 2:
AFL, Cross-Country, Hockey, Netball, Senior Water Polo
Term 3:
Aerobics, Athletics, Badminton, Soccer, Volleyball
Term 4:
Basketball, Cricket, Junior Water Polo, Summer Athletics
New student sign-ups for Term 1 GSV Sports will take place on Orientation Day, 24 November.
Program Opportunities
Program (co-curricular) opportunities are offered throughout each year. Students can participate in the Aerobics/Gymnastics Club, Aquatics Club, with Snowsports and Rowing offered seasonally.
House Competitions:
Activities include House Swimming, House Athletics, House Cross-Country, House Public Speaking, House Debating, and House Rowing.
Voice and Speech:
Offers students the chance to develop and improve their verbal communication and interpersonal skills, which will set them apart in their academic studies and in the future.
Productions:
Students are invited to express an interest in joining the School’s Middle School Musical, and also the Year 7 and 8 Play.
Public Speaking Club:
Offers our students assistance in developing speeches to deliver at Public Speaking competitions which take place throughout the year.
Expressions of Interest and Sign-ups:
A Microsoft Form will open on Monday 24 November to allow students and families to complete sign-ups and expressions of interest for:
• Year 7 Instrumental Program (sign-up)
• Individual Music Lessons (sign-up)
• GSV Term 1 Sport (sign-up)
• Voice and Speech Lessons (expression of interest)
• Middle School Musical (expression of interest)
• Loreto Toorak Netball Club (expression of interest)
• Aquatics Club (expression of interest)
• Squad Aerobics and Gymnastics (expression of interest)
Families should carefully review the 2026 Schedule on MyLoreto to avoid clashes when signing their child up for Programs.
Sign-ups and expressions of interest will close on Friday 28 November at 3.00pm.
