Celebrating Community, Learning and Opportunity

Opening of The Ricci Centre

On Friday, 28 August, we were delighted to formally open and bless the Ricci Centre. While our students and staff have been enjoying the benefits of this outstanding facility throughout the year, it was wonderful to pause and celebrate the opportunities it provides for learning, wellbeing and community. The blessing was conducted by Auxiliary Bishop Trinh Nguyen and we were honoured to welcome Mr Ed Simons, Executive Director of Catholic Education, Mr Colin Brooks MP, State Treasurer and Member for Bundoora, along with a number of other distinguished guests. The occasion was a fitting celebration of what the Ricci Centre represents: a commitment to providing contemporary learning environments that support our students to flourish and achieve their very best.

LPFA Trivia Night

On Saturday evening, 29 August, the Loyola Parents and Friends Association hosted its annual Trivia Night. It was a wonderful evening of community engagement, fun and friendly competition, bringing together parents, staff and friends of the College. Events such as these play a vital role in strengthening the sense of community that is so important to life at Loyola. I extend my sincere thanks to the LPFA and all of the volunteers who assisted with the planning and organisation of the evening. Their generosity of time and effort ensured a highly successful event enjoyed by all who attended.

Father-Daughter Breakfast

On Tuesday morning, we welcomed many fathers and daughters to the College for our annual Father-Daughter Breakfast. This special event was followed by a beautiful liturgy during which fathers and daughters were invited to share something they admired about one another. The reflections offered were heartfelt and moving, highlighting the importance of family relationships and gratitude. My sincere thanks go to Mr Luczek, Mr Calderone, Mrs Quigley and Fr Eka for their work in preparing and leading this meaningful occasion.

Curriculum Writing Day

All teachers participated in our Curriculum Writing Day on 2 September. This dedicated professional learning opportunity allowed teachers to focus on the development of a vibrant, engaging and contemporary curriculum. The work undertaken will directly benefit student learning by ensuring that our curriculum continues to be relevant, challenging and responsive to the needs of our young people. I thank our staff for their professionalism and commitment to continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic School Improvement Survey (MACSIS)

I would also like to remind all parents about the MACSIS Survey. Every family has been sent a survey link and a unique access code. The survey is completely confidential, and the feedback provided is invaluable in informing our School Improvement Plan and helping us understand both our strengths and the areas where we can continue to grow. We are committed to becoming the best school we can be for our students and families, and parent input plays a critical role in this process. Thank you to the many parents who have already taken the time to complete the survey, and I strongly encourage those who have not yet done so to participate.

Tom Sherrington Visits Loyola College

On Monday 8 September, we are privileged to welcome internationally respected educator Tom Sherrington to Loyola College. Mr Sherrington is visiting Australia to work with Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools in supporting schools to strengthen classroom practice through instructional coaching and learning-focused classroom observation processes. His visit to Loyola is particularly significant, as we are the only Catholic secondary school selected to host him during his time working with MACS.

Staff will participate in a series of learning walks and professional conversations, sometimes referred to as "walk-throughs". These are not evaluative visits but opportunities to observe learning in action, identify effective teaching practices, and reflect on how we can continue to improve student outcomes. This work aligns strongly with the MACS Vision for Learning, which seeks to ensure that every student experiences high-quality teaching, deep engagement in learning, and opportunities to flourish academically, spiritually and personally. We look forward to learning from Mr Sherrington's expertise and sharing the excellent work that is taking place in our classrooms each day.

Principal Leave

Finally, as many families will be aware, I will be taking a period of leave during the latter part of this term. During my absence, Mrs Anna Salmic will serve as Acting Principal. Mrs Salmic is a highly respected and experienced leader who knows our community well, and I have every confidence that the College will continue to thrive under her leadership.

As we approach the upcoming holiday break later this month, I wish all members of our Loyola community a restful and refreshing break. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of the College. Together, we continue to create a vibrant learning community where every student is known, valued and encouraged to achieve their personal best.

Mrs Alison Leutchford
Principal

Child Safe Standard 8

Have Your Say – Melbourne Synod 2026

Our school community is invited to contribute to the Melbourne Synod 2026, an important process of listening and discernment that will help shape the future evangelical and missionary priorities of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

The Synod invites people across Melbourne to reflect on three themes – Young Discipleship, Missionary Leadership, and Formation and Participation – and share their experiences, ideas and hopes for the future of our Church.

As a Catholic school community, this is an opportunity for our students, families, staff and broader community to have a voice in this important conversation.
You can participate individually by reading one or more of the Synod theme papers and responding to the reflection questions through the relevant online form below. Our school may also provide opportunities for community members to participate in a facilitated discussion and contribute to a collective response.
We particularly encourage young people and families to share their voices and perspectives as the Archdiocese considers how to strengthen faith, belonging, participation and missionary discipleship for the future.

Feedback for this stage of consultation closes at 5.00 pm on Saturday 5 September 2026.

For More Information:
Melbourne Synod 2026

Provide Feedback on the Three Themes:

Young Discipleship

Missionary Leadership

Formation and Participation

Raising Fathers Seminar: 'Fathering from the Front Line':

Subject Selection 2027: 

As you are aware, the portal for submitting subject preferences closed on 18 August. I would like to thank all students and families for taking the time to approach this process with care and thoughtful consideration. 

Prior to the deadline, every Year 9 and Year 10 student participated in a 1-1 Learning Pathway conversation. These discussions were designed to provide as much support as possible, helping students make informed and confident choices about their academic pathways. 

We are now in the process of constructing the timetable for 2027, and consequently we are unable to accommodate any subject change requests. Students will receive confirmation of their subject preferences next term.

Thank you once again for your engagement and cooperation. 

Booklist Provider:  

The College will continue to use Box of Books as the booklist provider. Further details will be sent to families once subject preferences have been confirmed.  

PAT Testing: 6 and 7 October (Years 7-10)

We would like to inform parents and carers that students in Years 7 to 10 will be participating in the annual Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October. This year, we are streamlining the process: students will complete both the Reading and Numeracy assessments on separate days, rather than across multiple lessons. All testing will take place in the LCH as per the schedule below:

These assessments help us better understand each student’s learning progress and support their academic development. Thank you for your continued support.

Trial Exams (21 – 23 September)

The VCE Unit 3 & 4 Trial Examinations are scheduled to take place from Monday 21 September to Wednesday 23 September 2026, during the first three weekdays of the Term 3 break.

All students studying VCE Units 3 & 4, including accelerated Year 11 students, will have a trial examination for each of their subjects.

Attendance at all scheduled trial examinations is expected.

These examinations form an important part of Loyola College’s VCE examination preparation program. They provide students with valuable feedback about their learning and help guide their preparation for the VCAA end-of-year examinations. The trial examinations are also designed to replicate, as closely as possible, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) examination experience, providing students with valuable practice completing examinations under similar conditions.

Students are required to attend their trial examinations in full school uniform, including their blazer, as this is the standard of dress expected for the VCAA examinations.

Students who do not attend a trial examination at the scheduled time will not be able to sit the examination at a later date or submit a completed examination for feedback.

Please contact Mr Stephen Brasier (Head of VCE) if you have any questions.

Loyola College proudly celebrates the achievements of the year 11 and 12 French students who recently competed in the Berthe Mouchette Poetry Competition, showcasing their impressive French language skills and dedication to their studies.

A special congratulations to Laura Greig (12/XJGA), a Year 10 student, who is currently undertaking Year 11 French, on being selected as a finalist!

This is an outstanding achievement, and we are incredibly proud of Laura’s commitment, confidence and passion for French.

Well done, Laura, and congratulations to her teachers Andrew McDonnell and Irena Pavlovska for supporting and encouraging her throughout the competition.

ACS GRAND FINAL RESULTS – WHAT A SEASON, LOYOLA!

What an incredible finish to our ACS Winter season!

Loyola cleaned up this term, bringing home 10 PREMIERSHIPS across Year 7, Intermediate and Senior Sport! 🏆

A massive congratulations to our Grand Final winners:

YEAR 7 PREMIERS

🏀 Basketball B

🏐 Netball D

🏐 Volleyball B

INTERMEDIATE PREMIERS

🏀 Basketball A

🏀 Basketball B

🏀 Basketball C (White)

🏑 Hockey

⚽ Soccer B

SENIOR PREMIERS

🏀 Basketball A

🏉 AFL – PREMIERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 13 YEARS!

That is an outstanding 10 premierships in one season!

A huge thank you also goes to our coaches, staff and supporters who helped our teams throughout the season.

And a special shout-out to our Senior AFL team for breaking a 13-year premiership drought – an incredible achievement and a piece of Loyola sporting history!

10 PREMIERSHIPS. ONE HUGE WINTER SEASON.

#GO LOYOLA! 🐺💙🏆

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 2027, 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 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:

Wednesday, 16 September

Wednesday, 14 October

Tuesday 24 November

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

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.

2026 Entertainment Memberships
Win 1 of 5 $1,000 Woolworths Supermarket Gift Cards
From 1 July to 31 July, when you purchase an Entertainment Membership you will receive an entry into the draw to win 1 of 5 $1000 Woolworths Gift Cards. *Terms & Conditions Apply. Please visit www.entertainment.com.au/promotions to view.

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