A Publication of the Loyola Ex-Students Association Volume 20 December 2017 Opportunities for Friendships to Develop and Support Intercultural Understanding
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A publication of the Loyola Ex-Students Association Volume 20 December 2017 opportunities for friendships to develop and support intercultural understanding. As in the past, two Loyola students and In This Issue one staff member went to East Timor to Cover work with the Jesuits in Kasait and Railaco in schools there as part of the 1 From the Principal Ignatian schools immersion. These 2 LEXSA News students had wonderful faith in action 3 Graduating Class of 2017 opportunities given to them that have 4 LEXSA Classic Car Show enriched their lives through the experience. 5 Youth Ministry 2017 With the completion of MPAC, plans are 6 New Zealand Ski Trip now underway for restoration work to be 7 Space Camp carried out in the former Music, Drama Dear Companions, and Dance areas of Old Loyola. The 8 Space Camp ground floor area will be converted to a 9 Intercultural Perspectives Another school year is quickly coming to much-needed new staffroom and meeting 10 Intercultural Perspectives a close and there have been many area, and the first floor will be converted Loyola College Archives events and activities that have enriched to classrooms. We look forward to the College life. 11 Where are they now? renovations commencing. 12 Where are they now? Of significance again in this second half The new Gonski funding model has 13 Wedding News of the year has been the celebration of St been adopted by the Federal Ignatius Day, with a great fundraising 14 Baby News government, with the consequence that effort on the part of the students federal government funding to Loyola LEXSA Diary Dates supporting the six House charities. A has been reduced by a significant 15 Loyola Reunion Sunday 2017 new initiative this year has been to amount for next year. We believe the 16 Loyola Reunion Sunday 2018 provide support to a new Jesuit school funding model is flawed in a number of in Cambodia. Nathan Sia (7XLMW), ran 17 Work Placements ways and Catholic education authorities a ‘footy boots for Cambodia’ drive this have already presented this view. This is 18 Get off your seats semester which received significant very disappointing and will inevitably 19 Seat Sponsorship community support. It is essential that, mean a more-than-normal increase in 20 Acknowledging Years of in raising funds, all our students make school fees. It may be worthwhile Service to Loyola College the connection between giving to others considering what the various political and the faith that drives us as a Catholic Thank you and Farewell parties are offering Catholic Education community to want to be involved in as we approach the next Federal 21 Vale improving the lives of others, following election. 22 LEXSA Business Network the example of Jesus. It is essential that Accommodation at Loyola we continue to work hard in making that The Class of Year 12, 2017 finished the Back 2017 St. Ignatius Day connection for our young people so that year well and we now welcome them to Celebrations they can develop a genuine understanding LEXSA. We hope that they will become of service to others. active members of the Association in the future. In September we welcomed seven students and three staff from The Jesus As this year draws to a close I take this Good Shepherd School in Imus, Manila, opportunity of thanking the LEXSA in the Philippines. Amongst the staff committee for its ongoing work on behalf Loyola College was Sr Nelia Llanto SJGS, who was a of the Association during 2017. As always 325 Grimshaw St staff member at Loyola for six years. I encourage more former students to join Watsonia 3087 Loyola went on an immersion to the the committee and support the building of Victoria Australia Filipino school in 2016 and this is their community amongst our alumni. I wish all Phone: 03 9434 4466 first visit to Melbourne and to Loyola. the blessings of the Christmas season. I Fax: 03 9432 2476 The students attended classes, pray that the Christ Child will be welcomed participated in activities and were taken into your families and that they may be Email: [email protected] on a number of tourist excursions. They blessed by His presence. I look forward to a great LEXSA year in 2018. For additional information please were also involved in Christian service contact the Secretary of LEXSA: activities. These programs are of great on 9433 0297 or value to the students and the families Mr Joseph Favrin email: [email protected]. who participate, and create wonderful Principal p1 From the President 2017 is coming to an end and with I would like to thank the committee members for their assis- that it is great to look ahead and tance in my role as President. It has been an enjoyable experi- see what is in store for LEXSA in ence, being in conversation with other ex-students, though it 2018. This year, many things have would be great to see some new faces on the committee. New occurred at Loyola College. There faces bring in new ideas. has been the LEXSA Classic Car Show, the opening of the Magis I would like to wish Loyola College students, staff, the wider Performing Arts Centre, Loyola community and of course the ex students and ex teachers a Reunion and Loyola Open Day. safe and merry Christmas. I hope to see you all at the Classic The Loyola Sports Day did not Car Show at Loyola in February 2018. occur. In 2018, many more ex-students Frank Palermo (L: 91-95) are needed to assist the committee with activities. Please get in LEXSA President touch with the LEXSA secretary Monica Baron with your ideas that LEXSA can be a part of. From the LEXSA Secretary At this time of the year we At the conclusion of the final College Assembly on Tuesday celebrate many successes of the October 24, while the Year 12 students eagerly opened their year just passed. I would like to time capsules, they also enjoyed a BBQ lunch and gift from begin by congratulating the the LEXSA Committee. This was a great way to welcome our LEXSA Committee on another newest alumni into our Association and we hope to see many successful year. Loyola Reunion of them at future meetings and events hosted by LEXSA. Sunday was once again another Welcome Class of 2017. great afternoon where former students and a number of former Thank you to Troy Flores (L:08-13) for his assistance with the teachers caught up and BBQ and the time he gave to our students throughout the reminisced over their time at afternoon. Thank you also to Kim Garth, Reena Thomas, Loyola College. A huge thank you Anna Campomizzi and Dianna Alonso and Sean Simpson, to the Committee who attended, who assisted in feeding 208 students. Thank you also to Mrs welcomed guests, served drinks and made the afternoon a Fiona Devlin for the initiation of this inaugural BBQ as we success. farewell the Class of 2017. I would like to thank Jodi D’Angelis for her commitment to Finally I would like to thank the LEXSA Committee for welcoming LEXSA over the past five years and her hard work and dedica- me and for their tireless assistance. Thank you also to Mrs Fiona tion to the Committee as LEXSA Secretary. Jodi was instru- Devlin, who is a solid supporter of LEXSA. I wish the Loyola mental alongside Anthony Azzopardi in the establishment of Community, and particularly former students and staff, a very the Classic Car Show in 2015 which has become a major event safe and Merry Christmas. in the LEXSA calendar. Monica Baron While Jodi remains a Committee member, on behalf of LEXSA LEXSA Secretary and the Committee I wish her all the very best in her future [email protected] endeavours. p2 On Wednesday 25 October our Year 12 students arrived early to a cooked breakfast, prepared by a generous team of staff, to continue their end of year celebrations. Dressed in an array of colourful and some very creative costumes, the annual Year 12 Parade took place as the Years 7-11 students assembled around the Old Loyola roundabout to cheer and farewell some very excited students. p3 p4 In January, I started as the newly appointed Youth Minister. The first few weeks were a whirlwind of activity getting to know the students and staff, touring the parishes and establishing contacts with parish priests, administration staff and pastoral workers. Lunch times at school were spent with the Magis Group and Young Vinnies. Our first project was the Magis Magic Juice Bar! We only made $10 but the students had a lot of fun and learned a lot about ‘event management’ and serving others. Towards the middle of Term, I accompanied one of the Year 12 retreat groups and got to know the students on a deeper level. Coming from a youth work and industrial background, I found it quite challenging unpacking the intricacies of school timetables and bell times. However, I persisted and Term Two saw the launch of our Class Mass and Reconciliation program. This continued for the remainder of the year and I am very grateful to the priests and class teachers who supported the liturgies. One very enjoyable aspect of my role is to work with the Year 11 Youth Ministry classes. These classes ran a number of school holiday events in local parishes. Everyone involved really enjoyed these theme based activity days – ‘Friendship n Friends’, ‘Skool Holiday Zone’, ‘Amazing Race Loyola’ and ‘Seniors Lunch Club’.