Loreto Mandeville Hall
| Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak | |
|---|---|
|
While I live, I believe in the Cross | |
| Location | |
|
Toorak, Victoria Australia  | |
| Coordinates | 37°50′52″S 145°0′51″E / 37.84778°S 145.01417°ECoordinates: 37°50′52″S 145°0′51″E / 37.84778°S 145.01417°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private, Day school |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic (IBVM) |
| Established | 1924 |
| Principal | Dr. Susan Stevens |
| Gender | Girls |
| Enrolment | ~950 (P-12)[1] |
| Colour(s) | Blue & Gold |
| Website | www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au |
Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak is a Roman Catholic day school for girls in Toorak, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is one of many Loreto schools distributed over the world, established by the sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Loreto Sisters, founded some 400 years ago by Mary Ward. The school was established in 1924. It has a co-educational Early Learning Centre, a joint venture with St. Kevin's College at St Peter's Church, Toorak Road, Toorak and a junior school and a secondary school at Mandeville Crescent, Toorak.
Affiliations
Loreto is associated with Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV), Junior School Heads Association of Australia (JSHAA), Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA), Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia (AGSA), and a member of Girls Sport Victoria (GSV).
Campus
Loreto is located on a single campus. The Junior School, featuring an art centre, Multi-Purpose rooms, tennis courts, netball courts, new classrooms and more is separated by the school Oval to the senior school. The Senior School facilities include the 'Barry Centre', featuring two pools, gymnasium, photography classrooms, art classrooms, weight room, health classrooms, basketball court and more. There are also science laboratories, drama classroom, brand new state-of-the-art Library and year 12 study rooms and Cafe Mandeville, the school canteen.
Background
The Loreto Sisters acquired Mandeville Hall in 1924. It is a former goldrush mansion and the original building is on the Victorian Heritage Register and Classified by the National Trust of Australia. The sisters established a convent and a boarding school for girls. In the early days there were also some boys in junior classes. In more recent years, the sisters moved off-campus and there are no longer boarders.
Recent additions
Recent additions to the buildings include the Barry Centre 2002 which includes two pools, gymnasium, weights room, basketball/netball/volleyball/badminton courts and other sporting facilities. In 2006 the Science Centre was opened, featuring several Forensic Laboratories, General Science Laboratories, creatures, displays and more. In 2011 The Glade was opened, featuring a seating area and a statue of Mary Ward I.B.V.M., the foundress of the Loreto order. In June 2015 the Mandeville Centre was opened, featuring Staff Rooms, Reception, Prep-6 and 7-12 Library, Year 12 Study Centre and more.
Curriculum
Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak offers a range of Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) subjects, approximately 36. There are also 11 University studies that Year 12 students are able to elect as part of their VCE program.
Co-curricular Activities
Debating
Loreto enters a large number of students from Years 7–12 in the Debating Association of Victoria's (DAV) Debating Competition. In previous years, Junior Team competitions have been held at St. Catherine's Girls School in Toorak, whilst the Senior Teams (Years 8–12) have been held at Scotch College. Loreto also competes in friendly competitions against boys schools such as St. Kevin's College and Melbourne Grammar School.
Music
Prep - 3 students participate in a compulsory "Loreto Sings" programme. Year 3 students partake in the String Program, where they are able to learn a string instrument and have the option to continue. Year 5 students participate in the Brass Program, and similarly to the String Program, girls have the option to continue the instrument. All Junior School students learn the Recorder, and have the opportunity to join the Choir, Wind Band, String Band and more.
Senior School students have many opportunities to engage themselves in the musical area of Loreto Mandeville Hall. Year 7 students are able to choose an instrument to learn for a period of time; this is optional due to other commitments, however many students participate and continue learning. All girls are able to learn the instrument of their choice and join a band or Orchestra. Stage Band, Wind Band, Symphony Orchestra, Violin and Saxophone Ensembles to name a few. Late in 2008, the full Orchestra travelled around Europe to showcase their finest music. They travelled to Germany, England, Ireland and other parts of Europe. The Performing Arts Festival also invites all music students to join a House Band. All students can also participate in Choirs, such as the Junior, 7 and 8 Choir, Mandeville Melidocs, Senior Choir, Vocal ensemble and Year 12 choir, specifically for Year 12's.
Sport
Loreto Mandeville Hall girls are known for their strength in Rowing and Aerobics in previous years. The Rowing Program begins for the Year 8 students in September/October. They participate in a 2-week Learn to Row program and then a Development Program. Girls who continue after the Development Program are expected and encouraged to commit to the full season which concludes with the Head of School Girls. In 2012, Loreto placed first overall and in the same season won a National title in the Schoolgirl Coxed Quad Division 1 event.
The crews are separated into year levels, with the Year 11s and 12s combined to form Senior Crews. Aerobics is a strong field of sport for Loreto Mandeville Hall, with many students placing first, second and third in State and National Competitions. A large number of the Squad travel to Sydney for the Nationals where many teams and individual competitors achieve excellent results. The Aerobics Squad work closely with the Specialist Dancers. The school is affiliated with Girls Sport Victoria (GSV), sporting activities includes Water Polo, Snowsports, Diving, Swimming, Tennis, Hockey, Netball, Cross Country, Athletics, Soccer, Basketball, Cricket, Softball, Volleyball, Surf Lifesaving, Triathlon, Badminton and AFL. Secondary Junior School Students are also involved in an inter-school program.
Drama
All girls participate in the compulsory Performing Arts Festival early in the year. This incorporates Music (instrumental and Choir), Dance and Acting, as well as Technical (sound effects and lighting) in which Student Leaders run. This is performed at the Melbourne Convention Centre. Interhouse Drama is also another aspect of the Theatre at Loreto, in which girls are encouraged to partake in. Lunch time music concerts, interhouse drama and interhouse aerobics are examples of the in-school activities that students are encouraged to participate in if afterschool or beforeschool activities are inconvenient or impracticable.
House system
As with the majority of Australian schools, Loreto features a House System (see below). An important part of the School, Loreto has four houses, three of which are named after Loreto sisters, and one after the foundress of the IBVM. The Houses have several leaders for each Area of the School, such as Music, Sport, Drama and Debating.
Barry (gold)
Mornane (green)
Mulhall (red)
Ward (blue)
The above houses compete in several Interhouse events, including interhouse athletics, cross-country, swimming/diving and aerobics. In the fields of Music and Drama, interhouse drama and the annual Performing Arts Festival are two events on the School Calendar. The PAF is compulsory for all students and this encourages girls to participate in the Music and Drama throughout school life. In Year 12, girls are separated into their house groups for Homeroom classes.
Crest and Motto
It is thought that the Loreto Crest was developed by Mother Teresa Ball in the 1850s. There are six parts to the Crest which are of significance.
- Maria Regina Angelorum- Latin meaning Mary, Queen of Angels.
- Cruci Dum Spiro Fido- Latin motto meaning While I live, I believe in the Cross.
- The Cross
- The Sacred Heart of Jesus Sermounted by the Cross
- The Anchor of Hope
- The Loving heart of Mary
Notable alumnae
- Janet Whiting first woman President of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria
- Veronica Brady, academic, writer [2]
- Carmen Callil, writer, critic, published (founded Virago Press); she also attended Star of the Sea College.[3]
- Elizabeth Curtain, a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria since 2006; previously County Court of Victoria judge (1993-2006)
- Natalie Hunter, presenter on Network Ten children's television series Totally Wild
- Clare O'Neil, federal member for Hotham in the Australian House of Representatives; former Mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong; youngest female mayor in Australian history
References
- ↑ Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak – Our School (accessed:21-06-2007)
- ↑ Famous alumni on Latham's hit list (accessed:26-04-2006)
- ↑ Suzannah Pearce, ed. (17 November 2006). "CALLIL Carmen Therese". Who's Who in Australia Live!. North Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content Pty Ltd. Check date values in:
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