Loreto Normanhurst is a leading Sydney, independent, Catholic day and boarding school for girls in Years 5 to 12 (boarding for girls in Years 7 to 12). Established in 1897, the school is part of a worldwide network of Loreto schools and is one of seven Loreto schools in Australia. Facilities: Flexible learning spaces, chapel, ovals, tennis courts, basketball courts, gymnasium, computer rooms, visual arts centre, ceramics studio, drama theatre, health centre, learning resource centre, aquatic centre with 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
Electives Years 9 to 10: Agriculture, Commerce, Information and Software Technology, Dance, Design and Technology, Geography Elective, History Elective, Physical Activity and Sports Studies, Visual Arts, Food Technology, Textiles Technology, French, Italian, Chinese, Music, Drama, Integrated Learning, Religious Education, Open High School.
Electives Years 11 and 12: Aboriginal Studies, Ancient History, Biology, Business Studies, Community and Family Studies, Chemistry, Design and Technology, Drama, Economics, English Extension 1, English Extension 2, Food Technology, Geography, Hospitality, Information Processes and Technology, Legal Studies, Mathematics Advanced, Mathematics Standard, Mathematics Extension 1 and 2, Modern History, History Extension, Music 1, Music 2, Music Extension, PDHPE, Physics, Investigating Science, Science Extension, Studies of Religion 1, Studies of Religion 2, Visual Arts, Visual Design, Textiles and Design, French Beginners, Italian Beginners, Chinese Beginners, French Continuers, Italian Continuers, Chinese Continuers, French Extension, Italian Extension, Vocational Educational courses through TAFE and OTEN.
Sport: Athletics, badminton, basketball, cheerleading, cricket, cross-country, recreational dance, equestrian, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, Pilates, rowing, rugby 7s, softball, snow sports, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, water polo.
Extra-curricular activities: Oratory: Debating, Mock Trial, Public Speaking; Drama: Private Speech and Drama, Shakespeare Carnival; Music: Primary School and High School music ensembles ie Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Strings, Vocal Ensembles, Private Music Lessons; Mission: Boarder Chapel and Friday Morning Communion Service Ensemble, Green Team Environment Group, JPIC Social Justice Group, Immersion Programs to Yarrabah and Dunnedoo – Loreto Rural Partnership; Primary Clubs and Teams; Sport and Activity Program including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme; Future Problem-Solving Program; Clubs and Teams: AV Student Team, Chess & Strategic Games, Coding Club, Photography Club, Science Club Student Newspaper and Tech Hub.
Welfare and personal development: An adviser works with each student, guiding and tracking her progress across all areas of a holistic curriculum. In small and large groups, students learn and practise skills of self-awareness, motivation, empathy and relating to others within the ‘house curriculum’. The development of leadership skills is an important part of the community dimension and students are presented with opportunities and occasions to develop these skills. Loreto Normanhurst’s concern with social justice is integral to the school’s definition of who we are as a Catholic community in the Loreto tradition. The school’s Social Justice Program seeks to honour and embody the richness of this tradition and is informed by Catholic social teaching. Heads of House work with students to offer appropriate support and encouragement, and the Learning Enrichment team and Careers Advisers offer assistance concerning students’ tertiary study. Boarders also receive academic support in the boarding school, and have access to tutors during the week, a counsellor in the boarding school after hours and extended midweek opening hours in the Learning Resource Centre.
Special features: Loreto Normanhurst’s holistic curriculum has four key dimensions through which the life-long learning skills critical to life in the 21st century are taught, learned and practised. The Loreto Normanhurst Student Growth Model (LNSGM) is an award-winning model of education which develops students holistically in the areas of Faith, Academic, Community and Extracurricular dimensions (FACE) — and aims to provide a learning environment that encourages the development of skills of information and critical literacy and emotional intelligence.
Principal: Ms Barbara Watkins