Welcome

A warm welcome to Loyola in 2026, particularly to our new students and their families who join our community this year. We look forward to sharing many exciting events and initiatives throughout the year that connect our community with the College.

Throughout Term 1, a range of events has been planned to welcome and engage our new students and families. These include the College Assembly, where Year 7 students, along with new students in Years 8 - 12, will be formally welcomed into the student community and presented with their College pin. Families will also be invited to come together at key community events, including the much-anticipated Classic Car Show on Friday, 13 February, and the Year 7 Family Get Together on Friday, 20 March. In addition, House Masses will provide meaningful opportunities for students to gather in faith and strengthen connections within their House communities. Further details on Mass times and locations can be found later in this article.

Year 7 families are encouraged to secure their place, with bookings for the Year 7 Family Get Together now open.

Year 7 Picnic

Year 7 students and their families had the lovely experience of sharing a picnic lunch with their families on their first day of school last Friday. It was lovely to see parents, carers, grandparents and siblings enjoy the beautiful weather in our wonderful Old Loyola gardens and to watch the sharing of “first day” experiences, the reuniting of existing primary school connections and the formation of new friendships. Thank you to the PWP and LPFA members who joined us to welcome our families to the school year.

Volunteering in the Loyola Community

Working With Children Check (WWCC) Requirement for Parent Volunteers

At Loyola College, the safety and wellbeing of all students is our highest priority. In line with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and the expectations of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), all parents and carers who volunteer in the school or wider school community are required to hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Why a WWCC is Required

The Child Safe Standards require schools to take active steps to prevent harm to children and young people. One of these key safeguards is ensuring that adults who work with or around children have been appropriately screened. MACS expects all Catholic schools to apply these standards consistently, including for volunteers.

A WWCC helps to ensure that our school remains a safe, respectful and protective environment for every child.

Who Needs a WWCC?

A WWCC is required for any parent or carer who volunteers, including but not limited to:

• Presentation Ball Committee

• Friends of Performing Arts (FOPA)

• Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA)

• Partnership with Parents (PWP)

• School Advisory Council (SAC)

• Canteen, fundraising or community activities

• Any regular or occasional volunteering where students are present

There is no cost for a volunteer WWCC.

A volunteer WWCC can be accessed through the link below:

Volunteer Working With Children Check

Once your WWCC is acquired, please email a copy through to Monica Agius (College and Community Engagement Assistant)

Signing In at School

To meet compliance requirements, all volunteers must:

• Hold a current and valid WWCC, and

• Enter their WWCC registration number when signing in via the online sign in system each time they attend the school.

Volunteers will not be able to sign in or participate in activities without a recorded WWCC number.

Keeping Our Community Safe

These requirements are not about limiting involvement, they are about protecting children and strengthening trust within our school community. We greatly value the contribution of our parent volunteers and thank you for supporting these important child safety measures.

Together, we continue to uphold a culture where every child is safe, supported and respected.

Parent Involvement at Loyola

There are many opportunities for parents to be involved in various aspects of College life. Studies indicate that parental involvement in a child’s education is one of the most important factors in raising a student’s self-esteem and academic achievement by nurturing an environment of partnership between home and school. A number of volunteer opportunities are available to Loyola parents including various committees such as Loyola Parents & Friends Association (LPFA), Partnership with Parents (PWP), Loyola College Alumni Association (LCAA), Friends of Performing Arts (FOPA), Co-curriculum Reference Group (CRG), Development of Welfare at Loyola (DOWAL), Development of Curriculum at Loyola (DOCAL) and PACUR (Principal’s Advisory Committee for Uniform Regulations (PACUR). Other vital areas in which we encourage parent involvement are Working Bees, Hospitality Assistance, Canteen Duty, General Admin Support, Donations for Fundraising Activities. Parents interested in learning more about any of these opportunities can contact Monica Agius - College & Community Engagement Assistant, on 9433 0228 or at community@loyola.vic.edu.au

I look forward to meeting with parents and working together throughout this year.

Partnership With Parents

The Partnership With Parents (PWP) group plays an important role in fostering a strong sense of community across Loyola College’s six Houses, with a particular focus on supporting parent connection and engagement.

PWP meets on four Monday evenings throughout the year and is involved in planning and supporting a range of College events, including the Year 7 Family Picnic, Annual House Masses, Parent Dinner, House Eisteddfod and Year 7 Orientation Evening.

Parents are warmly invited to attend the first PWP meeting for 2026, which will be held in the Tony Chirico Staff Centre (Old Loyola Building) on Monday, 9 February at 7.30pm. This initial meeting is a great opportunity to meet other parents, learn more about PWP, and see how you might like to be involved - whether that’s helping at events or simply staying informed. No prior experience or ongoing commitment is required.

For more information about PWP please email Monica Agius at community@loyola.vic.edu.au or call 9433 0228

Loyola Parents and Friends Association

The Loyola Parents & Friends Association (LPFA) is a welcoming group of parents, guardians and friends who work together to support community life at Loyola College through a range of social and fundraising activities. LPFA provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with one another while contributing to initiatives that enrich the College experience for students and families.

LPFA meets monthly on Wednesday evenings and supports a variety of College activities, including the Year 7 Get Together, Working Bees, Open Day BBQ, St Ignatius Day celebrations, Community Christmas events and other fundraising initiatives.

Parents are warmly invited to attend the first LPFA meeting for 2026, to be held in the Tony Chirico Staff Centre (Old Loyola Building) on Wednesday, 18 February at 7.00pm. This meeting is a great chance to meet other parents, learn more about LPFA, and see how you might like to be involved — whether that’s helping at events or simply staying informed.

Parents and Friends interested in attending the first meeting are kindly asked to email Monica Agius at lpfa@loyola.vic.edu.au or call 9433 0228

2026 House Masses

We warmly invite our students and their families to their respective House Mass, to be celebrated during Term One. As part of a Catholic community, these liturgical events offer an opportunity for students to celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist, be formed in faith, connect with Parish, and in many cases, revisit their primary schools.

Parish Priests will bless our new Year 7 students and their senior Mentor buddies as they embark on their academic journeys at Loyola in 2026. It is therefore compulsory that Year 7 students and their Senior Buddies are present at these Masses; however students and families from all year levels are welcome. A morning tea will be shared at the conclusion of each mass, and we kindly ask that you bring a plate to share.

College Musical Sponsorship Opportunity

The College is seeking support for this year’s College Musical. Families who are in a position to provide sponsorship, or who may be able to connect the College with potential sponsors, are warmly invited to make contact with Andrew Mangano at manganoa@loyola.vic.edu.au to discuss opportunities.

Working Bee – Friday, 13 March

Join us for our Twilight Working Bee on Friday, 13 March, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. We warmly welcome and greatly appreciate the assistance of our parent community to help with various tasks around the College.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved, meet other parents, and contribute meaningfully to the College by helping to beautify our grounds.

To ensure the safety of all, we kindly ask that only parents attend the Working Bee.

As a token of our gratitude for your hard work, dinner will be provided at approximately 6:15pm.

To assist with planning and catering, please let us know if you can attend by emailing Monica at lpfa@loyola.vic.edu.au at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your support—we look forward to seeing you there!

Two Wolves Coffee Co.

Introduced in 2025, the Loyola College Coffee Fundraising Program was developed following our Coffee Survey, where parents shared their taste preferences. We are pleased to partner with Two Wolves Coffee Co., offering a coffee blend crafted to suit the preferences of the Loyola College community.

Proceeds from all sales support the Loyola Parents & Friends Association fundraising initiatives, contributing valuable items and services back into the school community each year. 500g and 250g bags of Two Wolves Coffee Co. beans are available for purchase via Main Reception or by clicking the link below.

This initiative is a great way to support our school and also makes a thoughtful addition to gift hampers, particularly with Christmas approaching. Orders can be placed online at https://bit.ly/47wj7tb, with online purchases available for collection from Main Reception the following business day.

Donation of Loyola Uniform

Thank you to all the families who generously donate second-hand uniforms throughout the year to support our Good As New Uniform Sales. As we prepare for 2026, we are accepting donations of washed uniforms. If you have any items that you no longer need and are in excellent condition, please leave them with Reception. Your contributions help support families in need and are greatly appreciated.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OLD STYLE SPORT UNIFORM CAN NO LONGER BE WORN BY STUDENTS AND MUST NOT BE SENT TO RECEPTION. Parent co-operation in this matter is kindly appreciated.

For more information, please contact Monica Agius at community@loyola.vic.edu.au or 9433 0228.

Morning Tours 2026

Morning Tours for 2026 take place from 9.15am – 11.00am on the following dates:

Please visit the College website at www.loyola.vic.edu.au to book a Tour.

2026 Entertainment Memberships

Support LPFA fundraising efforts and enjoy hundreds of everyday savings!

Entertainment Guide is the easy to use App packed with incredible savings of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers, so you can save on takeaway, dining, shopping, groceries, gift cards, activities and more! And what’s more, 20% of every membership purchased via the following link goes towards supporting the College through the Loyola Parents and Friends Association (LPFA)

Digital memberships can be purchased HERE

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