A Message from our Chair of the Board

Mr Gerard Dalbosco

We will never forget the year of 2020. We commenced the year looking forward to a new and innovative timetable and a significant new building project. It was going to be a busy year and we were both optimistic and energised at the thought of all that lay ahead. The challenges that then emerged with COVID-19 caused the year to play out in a very different way.

We now look back on the year, disappointed at the things we missed, but emboldened by what the School has achieved, due to the amazing strength of the Loreto Toorak community.

I thank all parents for their amazing support of the School and its staff over the course of 2020. Our parent community remains strong and supportive and this was evident in many ways during the year, perhaps no more so via the many families that elected not to take up fee concessions that were offered. This enabled us to support families that required it and not increase fees for 2021; and for that the Board is very grateful.

I congratulate our students for their resilience, their acceptance of and engagement in different learning models, and their extraordinary participation in programs. As always, our students showed their Loreto quality in doing their best and achieving much in doing so. I know that their teachers are extremely proud of them.

Anticipating a fresh start in 2021, we are already planning to return to a more normal school life for families and students, albeit with some changed operations. We have learned a lot this year and some of the changes that had to be made, ‘the silver linings,’ will certainly be retained.

The Board recently released the next iteration of the School’s Strategic Plan, Strategy 2025. Developed by the Board, in conjunction with the Leadership Team, Strategy 2025 outlines the School’s vision and strategic priorities for the next five years. It has been formulated to enable the School to continue to perform at the level of excellence that we have come to expect from Loreto Toorak, and in doing so, deliver the best outcomes for students, staff, and the broader Loreto community. We are looking forward to working hard around its implementation in 2021.

The new St George’s building, which will deliver state of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces for our junior secondary year levels, as well as offices, a lecture space for the use of the whole school and more underground parking, has progressed on time and within budget throughout the year. When students and parents return to School following the Christmas break, the construction itself will be visible, giving a real idea of what the building will look like when completed. Excitement will certainly build over 2021 and we can hardly wait until the building is ready to be occupied in 2022.

We were very excited this year to be informed of an incredibly generous bequest from the estate of Margaret Tutton, in memory of her sister Betty Ryan (Tutton). Betty attended Loreto Toorak in the 1920s and married a NSW grazier, John Ryan, who was killed overseas while serving in World War II. The Loreto community provided great support to Betty and her family at the time. Betty passed away in 2003 but Sr Ruth Winship ibvm remained a great friend to the family and her ongoing kindness inspired Margaret to leave a bequest to Loreto Toorak in honour of her sister, Betty. We expect to receive the bequest of over $3.5million by the end of the year. It will be a wonderful addition to our Give a Girl a Dream fund and will support a Loreto education for many, for many years to come. A big thank you to Peter Walsh, a fantastic Loreto Toorak supporter, for his assistance with this bequest and to Dr Stevens and Ms Judy Reid and Mrs Louise McNamara for their advocacy and ongoing focus on our bequest program, which goes from strength to strength.

My sincere thanks to all parents who served as members of the various committees, working parties, focus groups, clubs, and associations this year. I acknowledge the contribution of all volunteers and express the gratitude of the Board for all that has been contributed. Much of the success enjoyed by the School is due to the work and support of these groups and committees.

I acknowledge, in particular, our Board of Directors and members of our Board Sub-Committees, who bring great commitment and capability to our School. This year, even more was asked of them and they have made an enormous contribution. I thank: Deputy Chairman and Chair of Property, Peter Higgins; Chair of Finance, Louis Chiam and Chair of Risk and Compliance, Annette Wiltshire; and Directors of the Board, Bede Noonan, Sylvia Walton, Lesley Gillespie and Kate Collins.

Words seem inadequate in expressing our appreciation to Loreto Toorak Staff this year. Strategy 2025 states that our staff are the most valuable resource within the School, and this was demonstrated repeatedly in 2020. In a time of great uncertainty and in very trying circumstances, our staff worked incredibly hard, were extraordinarily innovative in their ability to adapt to remote learning and always had the wellbeing our students foremost in their minds. Together with the Board, I offer our sincere thanks for the contribution that they made in what was a very difficult year.

I offer congratulations to our Deputy Principal - Director of Studies, Ms Samantha Jensen, who leaves to commence her appointment as Principal of Mt Alvernia College Brisbane. In her leadership of curriculum, Ms Jensen has inspired best practice in all facets of teaching and learning and the ever-improving outcomes for students at all levels, and particularly VCE, is a credit to her. We have been fortunate to have been so well led by Ms Jensen in this area, and on behalf of the Board, I thank her for her significant contribution to the School over many years and wish her all the best as she returns to her home state of Queensland.

Each year, this report provides me with the opportunity to thank our Principal, Dr Susan Stevens. Tested this year, like no other, Dr Stevens, supported superbly by her Leadership Team, has once again led the School with distinction. On behalf of the Board, I offer my thanks to Dr Stevens for her continued, outstanding leadership and commitment to the School. 2021 heralds Dr Stevens’ final year as our Principal and we look forward to her continued leadership of our wonderful school, together with the opportunity to celebrate the significant contribution that Dr Stevens has made and the legacy that she will leave.

We are delighted that Ms Angela O’Dwyer, our Executive Deputy Principal, will succeed Dr Stevens as our new Principal in 2022. Since joining Loreto Toorak in 2017, Ms O’Dwyer has contributed significantly to the progression of student development across our academic, pastoral, co-curricular and spiritual programs. She is passionate about working in a school environment that is committed to providing programs that support positive student outcomes and has demonstrated a commitment to the provision of exceptional education for all young women, with an emphasis on strong values, high expectation, creativity, and academic challenge.

The Board will work very closely with Dr Stevens and Ms O’Dwyer over the course of 2021 to ensure a smooth leadership transition. It will be an important year for us all, as we to work together to support this exciting change.

In closing, I wish all families a peaceful, joy-filled, and safe Christmas; we look forward with hope, optimism, and enthusiasm to sharing a more normal 2021 with you.

MR GERARD DALBOSCO - CHAIR OF THE BOARD