Though we may not be able to see the complete end of this school year, we have definitely experienced the ups and downs that 2026 has offered us.

From the excitement of new beginnings and the joy of celebrating achievements to the challenges that have tested our patience, resilience and determination, this year has been one of growth, learning and unforgettable memories. Each term has brought something new, giving us opportunities to step outside our comfort zones, build meaningful connections and discover more about ourselves and those around us.

With so much that has happened over the past few months, we are very proud of all the achievements each and every student has made, big or small. Whether it was being part of the amazing production of ‘Newsies,’ Athletics, Swimming or Cross-Country carnival or even the smaller House activities like e-sports and chess.

While not every moment has been easy, the challenges we have faced have reminded us of the importance of perseverance, teamwork and supporting one another. Through both our successes and setbacks, we have continued to learn, adapt and grow together as a Loyola community and as we approach the final stretch of the year, we are excited to continue moving forward, both outside and inside of the school.

Additionally, we are so proud to be part of a big year of fundraiser and charity work. Particularly St Ignatius Day, in which we raised a record breaking $70,000 dollars across all the Houses and on top of that $17,000 for the World's Greatest Shave, where we were both fortunate to take part in as well (bravo to Angie!). This year's great fundraising efforts in our opinion demonstrates the strong community spirit that lives on, and we are so grateful we can come together as a school to make a genuine difference in the lives of those who need help.

As many know, this year we decided to take on a slogan to reflect the changes we want to introduce to our school. S.U.P, as we called it, or Strive (for) Ur Passion has been our yearlong mission to bring about positive change in the attitude of students. We believed it meant being unafraid to embrace one's passion, work hard for individual goals and do it all without the fear of judgement. Whilst we know it is no small ask, we’ve tried to teach multiple lessons this year and how to execute S.U.P through our assembly speeches, roaming captains, monthly blogs, and daily life. We are proud to say S.U.P has been such a recognisable belief throughout school, and we hope students will hold to our lessons for school and beyond

It has been an absolute honour to be part of both the College Committee and the Loyola Student Council (LSC) this year. Working alongside such passionate, dedicated and driven students has been an incredibly rewarding experience, teaching us so much about leadership, collaboration and the importance of student voice. We are immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the College’s ongoing growth through the initiatives, ideas and improvements brought to life throughout the year. Seeing these efforts translate into meaningful opportunities and positive changes within the Loyola community has made this experience all the more fulfilling.

This year wouldn’t have been the same without the countless emails and meetings with all the teachers who have supported us and guided us along the way. Thank you to Mrs Salmic, who constantly dealt with our non-stop ideas and helped us achieve them. To Mr Rizzi, thank you for being our hype man when others doubted us. Mr Luczek, for making our assemblies run smoothly. To Mrs Paino, for running our LSC meetings, and teaching us how to lead the younger students. To Mr Braiser, who led the VCE coordination and all the SACs we undertook. Ms Solomon, for being the best scribe in our meetings and keeping everyone on track. Thank you to Mr Tran, who filmed our ‘Roaming Captains,’ and the many outtakes of the Examen. And finally, thank you to Mrs Leutchford for believing in us to lead the school with Ignatian values.

We would also like to thank our families and friends who have been by our side during our lowest and highest of days. Nothing that we achieved this year could’ve happened without the support of you all.

Lastly, we would just like to welcome the next year's College Captains Ava Reckerman and Patrick Quinn! We are most definitely rooting for them and wish them good luck for their leadership next year. We certainly know that we can expect only great things from them and the College for 2027!

As we look towards the future, we wish the entire Loyola community the very best for the years ahead. May 2027 bring new opportunities, lasting memories and continued success for everyone. Thank you for making our time as College Captains so memorable. It has been a privilege to serve this community, and we look forward to seeing Loyola continue to thrive.

And remember, S.U.P stays with you. Not just in school, but in your everyday lives. It’s about carrying these values, passions and memories you’ve built here into whatever comes next, remembering that the little things you do can make a big difference.

Simon Adi-Purnomo & Angelina Badawi
2026 College Captains

Student of the Week: Xavier (8/FFCH)

For always being positive diligently and never forgetting to smile!