Evening of Eminence

What a wonderful night the Primary School community enjoyed on Thursday for the annual ‘Evening of Eminence’! It was a glorious celebration of the learning and dedication of our Year 6 students for whom this event was the culmination of weeks of hard work.

The project students had been working on highlighted not just the incredible and compassionate achievements of women whose names we know well, but the admirable qualities in the students themselves, which the Loreto Normanhurst community seeks to build in all our students, such as dedication, creativity, confidence and much more.

Students came dressed as the women they had researched, from Queen Elizabeth II to Frida Khalo, Amelia Earhart and Nancy Grace Roman, an American Astronomer.

The evening began with a welcome we enjoyed together in the learning common, capably led by a group of Year 6 students. This included some beautiful and very fitting prayers prepared by our Acting School Chaplain, Anne Muirhead. Parents then moved into their daughter’s classrooms where students presented the creative feature of the evening and the result of their dedicated research. There was much laughter and applause as parents and teachers heard witty and clever bio-riddles from each student. Some were easy to guess, others needed some extra hints.

We were blessed with a gorgeous Spring evening that allowed all in attendance to enjoy one another’s company and spend time sharing in the learning of our students. The evening allowed us to be inspired by the talent and generosity of woman around the world, which was very evident in the gratitude expressed by students, parents and teachers. The completion of this task by Year 6 students has certainly demonstrated the confidence and skills they will take with them as the move to the Secondary School in 2023.

Principal’s Spelling Bee  

Throughout Week 2, Year 5 and 6 prepared for the highly anticipated Principal's Spelling Bee. 

During preparation we never knew if we had done enough, when to stop, what level we should be practicing to. However, we gave it our all to achieve our personal goal. 

For Lizzy and I (Alannah), we were audience members on the finals day. We felt nervous seeing our friends up on the stage, we felt as though all of us were up there with them feeling anxiety, pressure and little slivers of optimism.  

The moment I (Mel) had sat down on the seats as a finalist in front of the large but supportive audience we felt the colossal tidal wave of pressure wash over us. When we walked up to the stage our legs quivered and our hearts pounded faster than ever. When you found out the word was correct our faces lifted and we felt accomplished and greatly relieved, until we realised we had to spell another word. 

By Mel Moorcroft, Lizzy Peng, Alannah Mouawad, Year 5 Students

Going where the need is greatest! 

Last month I participated in Caritas' Walk for Women fundraiser initiative. The purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money and awareness for women and girls to have the equal rights and opportunities that they deserve. I first heard about this event from an email I received from Mrs Wells, Social Justice Coordinator, who invited me to participate. I signed up to the challenge and set myself the goal of walking 100km for women during the month of September. I set up a fundraising page and reached out to family and friends to support me with this great cause. I was overwhelmed with the generosity of people who were willing to donate to my fundraising campaign. Each day I would update my supporters with the number of kilometres by tracking my steps with my smart watch. During the fundraising challenge I learnt that: 

• $50 can build an energy-saving stove for a family in Malawi that uses less firewood conserving the natural environment. 
• $100 can provide 15 female farmers with vegetable seeds in Nepal enabling them to sustainably grow food. 
• $200 can provide healthy lunches for a week at a dialysis clinic providing health care for Indigenous women in Australia 
• $300 can provide 30 days of food for a woman staying in a domestic violence shelter in Timor-Leste. 

At the end of the fundraiser, I found out that I was one of the top 20 fundraisers in Australia raising a total of $700. A challenge I faced during this event was the rainy weather, but it did not stop me! I put on my raincoat and gumboots and walked in the rain. 

By Eloise Whitfield, Year 6

Celebration of Student Growth 

Every fortnight at our Primary School Assembly, girls are recognised and celebrated for their growth in the areas of Approach to Learning, displaying a Growth Mindset, displaying the value of Freedom, House Spirit and Miss Manners. Congratulations to the following girls: 

5P 

Positive Approach to Learning: Anya Gupta & Daisy Zhang 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Charlotte Jenkins 

For showing excellent House Spirit: Ella Pattie 

5R 

Positive Approach to Learning: Holly Macphail & Amelia Visevic 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Evangeline Ruming 

Displaying the value of Freedom: Melanie Moorcroft

5S 

Positive Approach to Learning: Elizabeth Bowe & Cleo Knispel 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Eliana Foote 

Displaying the value of Freedom: Sophie Doyle 

6B 

Positive Approach to Learning: Ella Tegg 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Anna Ward 

Displaying the value of Freedom: Tenuli Ravindran 

For showing excellent House Spirit: Eliza Dale 

6J 

Positive Approach to Learning: Sophie Mejia & Adele Sperlby 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Lyla Dooley 

Displaying the value of Freedom: Jamiee Ho 

6S 

Positive Approach to Learning: Genevieve Rizk 

Displaying a Growth Mindset: Stella Thomson 

Displaying the value of Freedom: Ivy Kalcher 

For showing excellent House Spirit: Chiara Michael  

Miss Manners: Chloe Granelli 

Birthdays 

Hip, hip, hooray and happy birthday to the following girls. We hope you had a wonderful day! 

Grace and Melanie. 

Dates for the Diary