[babygirl03]

Hi Everyone

We're thinking of putting our dd into Loreto for Yr 5 next year. We've booked into their Open Day Tour and also the College Tour for next month but in the meantime, wondering if anyone here has any experience with this particular catholic school? Both positive and negative comments welcome and if prefer, feel free to pm.

Thanks!

[babygirl03]

No one knows about this school at all??

Our dd is keen in the performing arts. She currently does dance (ballet, contemporary, tap) and rhythmic gymnastic and we've been told that they are quite good in supporting children in this department (drama and dance).

Thus, would love to hear from anyone who knows or have involvement in the school. We've had no trouble finding schools who support music but trying to locate one in dance (and/or rhythmic gym, not artistic) is an entirely different story.

[nlman]

I actually taught in the high school many years ago but it was too long ago for it to be any use to you - sorry!

[howdo]

I thought Charles Campbell College did dance? I know they have a performing arts program. Norwood Morialta has a performing arts focus as well. I don't know about private schools though although I would guess the Westminster School would they have a large auditorium/performing space.

I have no direct experience with Loreto apart from someone I went to uni with did their prac experience there in the primary school and enjoyed her experience.

[bikingbubs]

No info on Loreto, but Pembroke & Scotch have fantastic performing arts programs.

[babygirl03]

Thanks for the responses!

Yes, I've been looking at Charles Campbell and am considering it for secondary possibly. My reluctance has been that I've not heard anything positive about it so am very unsure. Does anyone have more info to share about the school?

Was not aware of Norwood Morialta having a performing arts focus. I had not look into that as my understanding was that it's quite tightly zoned. Also, knew of a couple of people (acquaintances) who had moved schools due to bullying issues.

Didn't know about Westminster at all, so had a look at their school site and it sounds perfect if not for the fact that it's located in Marion. We're out east so the daily commute would be really hard for us. In the past year, we would have gone down that way twice!

We've looked into Pembroke too but again focus appears to be more on music and pretty much zilch on dance. We specifically enquired about it during our school tour and there wasn't much info forthcoming except that they do have a small number of students that pursue dance as part of the curriculum which is done outside of the school grounds under private arrangement. So, our understanding is that there are no dance lessons / a dance curriculum offered in house and we, as parents would be responsible for arrangement and transportation of child to attend the lessons externally. bikingbubs - am I misinformed?

Any other suggestions? I'm open to both public and private or independent schools. DD is in public primary at present. It's quite a good school but she's been flying under the radar in the last couple of years as she's a well-behaved child and teachers' attention have been diverted to support needier kids in her class, hence us wanting to look at other options a bit earlier.

[bikingbubs]

I know that pembroke are very accommodating of students who have outside interests/talents but not sure in relation specific to dance.
Scotch have dance as part of their performing arts academy (as well as music/drama) and its not too far away.

[librablonde]

I went to Loreto back in the 1970's! I actually hated that school and was there for 1.5 years (Grade2 and 3). I expect my dislike was due to the fact that I'd come from a very relaxed school in Darwin where hardly anyone wore shoes and large proportions of the student population were on walkabout at any given time. I moved to Loreto and entered a whole new world of summer uniforms, winter uniforms, hats and gloves and thick stockings.... it freaked me out and I was ripping all the clothes off me as Mum was driving me home each afternoon!

So I guess my review isn't a reliable one

[babygirl03]

Yes, I do believe Pembroke is quite accommodating in terms of allowing dance to be taken as an elective. The shortfall for us I guess is that it will have to be done / taken externally. That aside, we do like the vibes and feel of the school.

LOL librablonde, my sister went to Loreto in the 70's (boarded there) as well and she hated it too! However, she concedes that things may well have changed since her time.

[bikingbubs]

It's a fantastic school