1298: Friday 20 September 2013 Dear Members of ... - Loyola College

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FROM DEPUTY PRINCIPAL(ADMINISTRATION ANDPERSONAL DEVELOPMENT)Mr Tony ChiricoDirect Line 9433 0250Personal Development Program Educates our Studentsfor All Life EncountersAlongside their subject and Mentor reports the SemesterReport of each Loyola College student includes a PersonalDevelopment report outlining key issues covered during thesemester. The report also contains a preamble outlining therole of the Personal Development Program at LoyolaCollege. Working alongside the House~based verticalMentor program and curriculum offerings the LoyolaCollege Personal Development Program seeks topromote and enhance the personal, social, physical,emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing of our students.It aims to develop in our students positive self-regard,respect for others, positive relationships, responsiblebehaviours and personal resilience through anunderstanding that each person is created in the imageand likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).Through a weeklysession at the Year11 level and afortnightly sessionat the other fiveyear levels, theProgram operateson the premise thatstudent wellbeingcontributes significantly to improved student learningoutcomes. Consequently, the Program’s activities seekto nurture positive emotional and social functioning so asto enable our students to develop a clear sense ofbelonging, meaning, purpose and growth during theirtime at Loyola College in preparation for their future life.It provides age~appropriate, behavioural educationfocusing on both individual and community wellbeing aswell as promoting a just and reasonable balance ofindividual and community rights, needs andresponsibilities within the context of our Catholic andIgnatian identity. The Program offers students a varietyof activities including small group discussions andactivities, class group circle gatherings and year levelactivities incorporating guest speakers, incursions,dramatic performances and multi-media presentations.Apart from sessions informingour students of the subjectselection process, the Term 3Program at each Year level hasfocused on issues relevant tothe ongoing development andexperiences of our students. Atthe Year 7 level the PersonalDevelopment Program hasincluded an excellentpresentation by experiencedCommerce teacher Mrs JennyMurray on the importance ofsavings and budgeting coupled with a safety program byMetro Trains representative Mr Peter Pluka.Representatives from Giddeons International also invitedstudents to take ownership a pocket~size version of theNew Testament as an aid for prayer and reflection. Ingender groups students also explored issues relating tobody image, self~esteem, confidence and maximising ourpotential through presentations by Mr Matt Thom and theButterfly Foundation. In a cross~curriculum activityshowcasing teamwork and the talents of our students, thefinal session for Term 3 provided an opportunity for asinging competition as each Year 7 BLG class presented asong which they prepared in their Music classes.The focus of the Year 8 program this term have been anintroduction to the issue of part~time work highlightingapplication processes, employer expectations, its benefitsand the importance of balancing study and workcommitments. Students have worked on developing aresume with a particular emphasis on the importance for ourstudents to make full use of leadership and co~currciulumopportunities on offer at the College.At the Year 9 level, the Personal Development Program isused to introduce students to our Work Experience Programwhich in 2014 will take place in the week commencingMonday 3 March. Students have received details of theCollege’s expectation for this important learning programand have been presented with a clear timeline that requiresall Year 9 students to secure a work experience placementby Tuesday 22 October. Students have received support inobtaining a Tax File Number, contacting potential employerspersonally, by telephone and in writing and clarifying theirpreferences for a work placement in light of their careeraspitrations. The Work Experience Program is highlyvalued at Loyola College for the invaluable hands~onlearning experience it offers our students and it is wonderfulthat it is strongly supported and implemented by thePersonal Development Program at both the Year 9 and 10levels.
The Year 10 Personal Development Program has focusedon our students’ wellbeing beyond the classroom with afocus on the negative social, emotional and physical effectsof binge drinking and the importance of responsiblebehaviour in social settings. This year the College hasmade use of the expertise of Mr Rick O’Brien from ProactiveSelf Defence to educate our students on the importance ofbeing aware of their social environment and avoidingwherever possible confrontational or aggressive situations.The Year 11 Program has alsofocused on this important issueof remaining safe in a socialenvironment with presentationson the impact of binge drinkingin such situations and a focuson the Step Back ThinkProgram with an address byProgram volunteer Mr GuyWallace. The Step Back ThinkCampaign was born out of thetragic life~changing experience of James Macready~Bryanwho became a quadriplegic as a result of a king hit oneFriday evening in 2010 in the city of Melbourne. The Year11 students have also participated in the Fit2Drive Programwhich utilises members of theVictoria Police Force includingSenior Constable AnnetteStachan Youth Resource Officerat the Greensborough PoliceStation and the local members ofthe Fire Brigade as well asuniversity presenters. It presentsa driver safety message to ourstudents by emphasising clearvalues and behaviours whichreduce the risk of injuries and road fatalities Most recentlyour Year 11 students were involved in presentations fromthe Spin Chat Program which is supported byIndependence Australia with wheelchair bound speakersaddressing our students on issues of resilience, achievingone’s goals and coping with the challenges that life offersus. One of these inspirational presenters was Mr AnthonyBatyl whose life changed forever when he was hit by a carwhilst crossing the road at the age of 6. As a quadriplegicwith movement and feeling only from his neck up, he has awonderful attitude to life having achieved a great dealincluding being qualified as a teacher and journalist.For our Year 12 students the focus of the PersonalDevelopment Program has clearly shifted on preparingthem for the final months at Loyola College with apresentation on the VTAC application process by CareersCoordinator Mrs Daniela Curcio clearly outlining theiroptions for tertiary studies and applications for specialadmission programs. Along with the Year 11 students ourYear 12 students have also participated in the ElevateEducation Program which at Loyola College is introduced toour students at the Year 9 level and is complemented withsessions at all senior levels.Both our Year 11 and 12students have also beenaddressed by Mr Rod Mills whoas a Loyola parent and memberof the Victoria Police alwaysmakes himself available todeliver presentations to ourstudents. A particular focus ofhis presentation for our seniorstudents was developingstrategies beyond LoyolaCollege to safeguard their creditrating and maintaining a responsible online profile for futureemployers.In light of our recent Federal election, Year 11 and 12students have also been fortunate to participate in apresentation on our responsibility as Australian citizens byMr Stephen Donnelly and two American political activistswho spoke of their experiences in being involved in thepolitical process at the grass roots level through their ownlife~changing experiences in both an Australian context andAmerican context post~September 11 2001.In its fifth year there is no doubt that the effectiveness of thePersonal Development Program is driven by our twoStudent Program Co~ordinators, Mr Michael Gowan (Years7~9) and Ms Shannon Staub (Years 10~12) and a verydedicated team of staff members. Our students are alsowonderful supporters of the Program through theirwillingness to actively participate and engage in theProgram and the College has invested the time andresources required to make the program a success.In my role as Deputy Principal (Administration and PersonalDevelopment) I have the wonderful privilege of teaching aPersonal Development class at all year levels and thereforehave a real sense of how it impacts on our students as asequential six year Program addressing issues relevant tothem both during their time at Loyola College and beyond.My work in overseeing this Program is one of the bestaspects of my leadership role and I look forward to ourannual review of the Program which will strengthen it andensure it remains relevant and engaging for our students.
Page 4 and 5: FROM HOME~COLLEGE~PARISH LIAISONCon
Page 8 and 9: LOYOLA SHINES AT THE ACS ALLSTARS P
Page 10 and 11: FROM COLLEGE ARCHIVISTMrs Monica Ba
Page 12 and 13: I would like to thank the students
Page 14 and 15: Nursing at La Trobe UniversityFrom
Page 16: LOYOLA COLLEGESUNDAY PARISH MASSES:

1298: Friday 20 September 2013 Dear Members of ... - Loyola College

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