Welcome back to all our returning students, and to those students who are new to the school this year. We are all looking forward to working with parents/guardians and your children in 2026. We have many new positive and exciting initiatives.

Companion Learning (the Loyola College Learning Management System)

This year Parents and Students will continue to have online access to resources, class pages, assessment calendars and to their teachers for every class. They will also be able to access their timetable and the College calendar. Please ask your child to show you their ‘Companion Learning’ page.

Leaders of Learning in 2026

This year we will continue to keep our community fully informed of the learning that occurs at Loyola College. There will also be important information for you to digest concerning the different activities affecting each year level. I would like to introduce you to our Heads of Learning, important curriculum leaders who can assist you throughout the year:

Please do not hesitate to contact any of the leaders with any curriculum questions.

New Position 2026

We are excited to introduce a key addition to the Teaching & Learning Team for 2026:

• Victoria Kanicki: Gifted & Talented Coordinator

Victoria’s expertise and leadership will undoubtedly enrich our team and make a lasting positive impact on our learning community. We look forward to the contributions Victoria will bring and the positive impact she will have on our learning community.

Loyola College Homework Guidelines

We encourage our students to set goals and work towards achieving them. They should always aim high and not be prepared to accept mediocrity. Homework is an important element of supporting the learning that occurs at the College. The College expectation for the first two weeks of 2026 academic year is that Year 7 students do not receive homework. However, Years 8 – 12 will receive homework from when they return to school.

We ask that parents and guardians fully support their children and assist them in completing all set homework. The Loyola College recommended guidelines for homework are as follows:

Year Level Total mins homework per night Structure of HW time Total hours HW per week

2025 VCE Results

All our Year 12 students last year are to be congratulated on completing their VCE/VCE VM Certificate in 2025. Their results were outstanding and reflected all their dedication and the hard work they had put in during the year. Our Dux, Siena Ganter achieved an ATAR of 98.35 and Kevin Miao was our Proxime with an ATAR score of 98.

We are also extremely proud of Rachel Stanton who achieved a 50 in General Maths. For the third consecutive year, a student has achieved a study score of 50.

Y12 Destinations 2025

The following chart provides an overview of our Year 12 post Loyola destinations. We wish everyone great success in their future endeavours.

2025 Semester Two Merit Certificates

Congratulations to all students who received Semester Two Merit certificates. Merit awards are given to students who perform at a high level. Awards are based on the student’s overall result for each subject. A student will receive a Gold merit award if they have achieved an overall subject result of A or A+. A student will receive a Silver merit award if they have achieved an overall subject result of B or B+.

Attached is a list of Year 7 – 11 students who received a total of four or more Gold Merits in Semester Two 2024. Academic Merits S2 202

NAPLAN 2026

Dates for NAPLAN this year are from Wednesday 11 March to Tuesday 17 March.

Celebrating Learning in STEM Subjects and Opening Pathways

The opening of our new STEM Centre marks an exciting milestone for our school community and a proud affirmation of our commitment to high-quality teaching and learning. More than a new building, this space represents possibility — a place where curiosity is nurtured, confidence is built, and students are encouraged to imagine what might be possible.

From an Ignatian perspective, education is about forming the whole person. It invites students to be curious, reflective and purposeful in their learning. STEM subjects play an important role in this formation, asking students to question, problem-solve, learn from mistakes and apply their thinking to real-world challenges. Through these experiences, students develop resilience, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of how their learning can be used in service of others.

This vision was powerfully echoed in the recent address by Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Australia’s first qualified astronaut and 2026 Australian of the Year. Katherine spoke about the importance of curiosity, persistence and staying engaged in learning, particularly in mathematics and science. Her message is especially significant for girls, who too often step away from STEM pathways not because of a lack of ability, but because of confidence, belonging and belief in themselves.

Our new Ricci Centre has been intentionally designed to support hands-on, collaborative and reflective learning. It is a space where students are encouraged to take risks, grow in confidence and see themselves as capable learners. Here, learning is active and purposeful, helping students connect classroom learning with future pathways that may once have felt out of reach.

As we celebrate the opening of the Ricci Centre, we do so with hope and conviction: that it will inspire all students, and especially our girls, to remain curious, trust their abilities, and confidently step into STEM learning, knowing they belong and that their futures are full of possibility.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s speech: www.9news.com.au/national/australian-of-the-year-2026-awards-winners-named/dbe1d247-7606-47cb-a4fa-b9f0019b433c