As we reach the end of another term, it is an important time to pause—not only to celebrate our achievements, but also to reflect on the challenges we have faced and the many things we can be proud of.

Our three qualifiers for the International Standards Olympiad, Isaac Schembri (8/AAAM), Sebastian Parisella(8/FJDS) and Noah King Barrabas (8/FHPL), have been preparing well for the forthcoming competition. This week they received their team t-shirts.

The boys carry the hopes of our entire community. We are so proud of their work and what they have achieved to date.

Our squad for the JACSA Girls’ Sport Carnival has been training diligently and will compete across the first three days of the holidays. This year, Loyola is hosting the event, and families are warmly invited to come along and support the girls as they take on St Ignatius Adelaide in AFL, soccer, netball and volleyball.

We wish our Loyola team every success and look forward to seeing their hard work and team spirit on and off the field.

We also wish our JACSA Debating team well as they travel to Sydney to compete in the annual debating carnival. Debating is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop confidence, critical thinking and the ability to articulate their ideas with clarity and respect.

We are proud of their commitment and preparation and wish them every success as they represent Loyola.

Very sadly, one of our Year 7 students, Winter Borres (7/MSBR), was involved in a serious accident on Grimshaw Street on Thursday 25 June. We are pleased to report that she is recovering well and remains in good spirits while receiving care at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Winter’s strength and positivity have been truly uplifting, and we hope to see her return to school in the new term. As a community, we continue to keep Winter and her family in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish her a gentle and full recovery.

This has been a challenging term for our community, particularly with the passing of Sammuel Maddela. During this difficult time, we have also witnessed the strength and compassion that exists within our school, as students, staff and families have supported one another with care and kindness.

As your family moves into the holiday period and routines change, you may notice your child experiencing moments of sadness or reflection. This is a natural response to loss, and it is important that they feel supported. We encourage you to check-in with your child, listen openly, and remind them that it is okay to talk about how they are feeling.

We hope that part of Sammie’s legacy will be a continued commitment in our community to looking after one another. Reaching out for support, whether from family, friends or professional services, is an important step in caring for wellbeing.

A webinar is being provided for parents at 5pm on Wednesday 30 June on how parents can support their children through grief and loss. A flyer containing more information can be found later in this Ignatian.

Should parents need support of the school holiday period, the following contacts may be useful.

• Lifeline - 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

• Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 (24/7)

• Griefline - 1300 845 745 or www.griefline.org.au (support for people experiencing grief and loss)

• Headspace - 1800 650 890 or www.headspace.org.au

• Emergency Services - 000 (if you or someone else is in immediate danger)

As we conclude the term, I wish all members of our community a safe, happy and restful holiday. May this time provide an opportunity to recharge and enjoy time with family and friends. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for the start of the new term.