Established at Milsons Point in 1901, Loreto has a selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 1,142 girls from Kindergarten to Year 12.[3]
Loreto Kirribilli was founded in 1901 following the move of the day school of Loreto Randwick (founded 1892) to Kunimbla, a house in Milsons Point. In 1907, increasing enrolments necessitated a move to Fern Hill, a house in Upper Pitt Street, and in 1907 to the current site in Carabella Street.[8]
Elamang, a home owned by early settler James Milson (1785-1872), was purchased in 1907 with the financial assistance of Sarah Heaton, mother of, Philomena Heaton (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM)), a founding member of the Kirribilli community. This purchase allowed for boarders and an increase in day students. Adjacent properties were purchased over the years, including Coreena (previously owned by Alfred Milson) in 1921, The Hermitage in 1924, Thoms in 1952, and Araluen in 1975. The Loreto Kirribilli Chapel Tower was the highest point on the Kirribilli Peninsula for many years and remains a landmark dominating the skyline when viewed from Neutral Bay. Once the junior school, The Hermitage, was demolished in 1936 to make way for a playing field and tennis courts, and Coreena was replaced in 1961 by the present junior school. Government funding in the 1960s allowed for the building of St Joseph's wing, including science rooms and a library. This was also an era of significant growth in student numbers.[8]
The boarding school began its phasing out period in 1968, following an explosion which destroyed St Mary's (Thoms). Loreto's last boarding students left in 1972. In 1980, Araluen, which had previously been a music centre, was extended to provide accommodation for the Loreto Sisters, and the community areas in the Elamang building were converted for use as staff rooms, general school administration and music.[8]
In 2010, Loreto acquired the neighbouring Tremayne Private Hotel, formerly a Y.W.C.A.[9] and renamed it the Marian Centre.
In the Loreto senior school the following subjects are compulsory:
Religion – from year 7–12
English – from year 7–12
Maths – from year 7–12 or speak to principal in year 11
PDHPE – from year 7–10
Science – from year 7–10
Technology and Applied Studies – year 7–8
Music – year 7–8
Visual Arts – year 7–8
Languages – year 7–8
Geography – year 7–8 and 10
History – year 7–8 and 10
Elective subjects
Year 8
In year 8 students choose a language from the following:
French
Italian
Chinese
Year 9
In year 9 students chose four electives, two subjects that run for two years (200 hrs) and two subjects that run for one year (100 hrs). They chose from the following subjects:
Academic Enrichment (100 or 200 hrs)
History Elective (100 hrs only)
Geography Elective (100 hrs only)
Visual Arts (100 or 200 hrs)
Photography and Digital Media (100 or 200 hrs)
Drama (100 or 200 hrs)
Food Technology (100 or 200 hrs)
Design Technology (100 or 200 hrs)
French (200 hrs only)
Italian (200 hrs only)
Mandarin (200 hrs only)
Music (200 hrs only)
Commerce (200 hrs only)
PASS (200 hrs only)
Creative Communication (100 hrs only)
STEM (200 hrs only)
Thinking and Advocacy (100 hrs only)
Philosophy (100 hrs only)
Library
The newly renovated Loreto library was opened in July 2013. The library contains over 27 000 books and resources.[10] The library is located at the top of the Saint Joseph's (J) Block. At the 2013 Spring Fair the library raised $3 000 for their sister school in Panighatta by selling handmade book related jewellery, in a stall named 'Read-Cycled'.
Extra curricular activities
Debating
Loreto currently participates in three debating competitions:
ISDA – Each year has 1 team in year 6+
CSDA – Each year has 1 team in year 7+
Archdale – 2 teams from both year 7&8, One team in year 9+
Music
Students are encouraged to join musical ensembles such as the orchestra, choir, flute ensemble, concert band, stage band or chamber strings group. Private instrumental or vocal tuition as electives, is also available.[10]
Sport
Loreto 1st VIII receiving third place medals, Head of the River, 2007
As with most Australian schools, Loreto has a house system to facilitate school based competitions and activities. House activities include Inter-house debating, Inter-house theatresports, athletics and swimming carnivals, music and drama festivals and other house activities. The school currently has four houses:
There are a number of inter-house events during the year. These include the athletics carnival, swimming carnival, drama festival, dance night and Music Festival which is held annually at the Sydney Town Hall in June.[13]
^"AHISA Schools". New South Wales. Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. November 2007. Archived from the original on 2 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
^Butler, Jan (2006). "Member Schools". Members. The Alliance of Girls' Schools Australasia. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
^ abc"Prospectus"(PDF). Enrolments. Loreto Kirribilli. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
^"AHIGS Member Schools". Member Schools. Independent Girls' Schools Sporting Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
^"Sport". Extra Curricula. Loreto Kirribilli. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.
^"Encore on Again"(PDF). Board Bulletin. 6 (1). Board of Studies NSW: 12. January 1997. Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^Crawford, Kate (20 January 2009). "Soprano by the Seaside". The Mosman Daily. News Community Media. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
^"TENNIS". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 1 February 1934. p. 21 Supplement: Women's Supplement. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
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