Loreto student book lovers meet regularly to discuss and explore everything from classic texts through to controversial modern novels.

Recently, there was a heated exchange about Nabokov’s Lolita but, thankfully, other selections haven’t been quite as inflammatory! Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber was another popular choice; not surprising given the teenage love of all things dark and gothic.

Students interested in Media careers were given an insight into how to start out in the industry by Mike Higson, Studio Manager for Chief Productions, a Salford-based media company specialising in advertising, film and music video.

Mike explained to students about how he started out in the industry, as a runner on an Ian Brown video, and progressed to a career in production and editing.

Forty one lucky Art and Design students have just returned from a culture packed five day visit to New York City. As well as visiting the top galleries and museums, they also experienced unique sightseeing opportunities, such as the observation deck at The Empire State Building and Rockefeller Centre, a dawn walk across Brooklyn Bridge, and a choppy trip past the Statue of Liberty on the Staten Island Ferry. Bizarrely we managed to see the city in different seasons. On Tuesday you could be mistaken for thinking it was summer, and by Friday there were five inches of snow covering Central Park!

The college is gearing up for the annual charity extravaganza, which takes place on March 15.

A host of events and wacky activities have been planned and students are ready to go! From the traditional, and very popular, cake sale, to the fiercely contested staff v students netball match, students and staff will be doing their bit to raise as much money as possible.

A2 Drama and Theatre Studies students are devising a hard-hitting drama in a theatre of the absurd style about dementia for their practical performance examination. In order to help prepare for this challenge, the students have enlisted the help of specialists in the field to carry out some research.

Loreto’s sixth annual Careers Fair took place recently and was a great success. In excess of 1700 students attended and the event was busy throughout the session.

Over twenty universities were represented, as well as apprenticeship and business providers.

Forget whatever has been found in that car park in Leicester, Richard III is ’alive’ and well and appearing on the stage of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

Loreto A2 English Lit students had the rare opportunity to experience one of the Bard’s great history plays performed in an Elizabethan setting at the wonderful Globe Theatre in London.

An important event scheduled for early February is the Careers Fair. This will take place in the Sports Hall on Monday February 4th and will attract approximately 1200 lower sixth and 900 upper sixth students. 

The Fair gives students a vital opportunity to focus on their career paths and to obtain advice from higher education providers and organisations offering apprenticeships and other career options.

Loreto’s very own record label, E&K Records, continues to go from strength to strength. Embracing all modern forms of technology the second album has been released in download format and the various tracks have attracted an enormous number of ’hits.’

A competition was held for the most popular track, with the fantastic prize of a recording session at Blueprint Studios for the winner.

Staff and students came together to celebrate Christmas at the end of term in a service held in the Ellis and Kennedy theatre.

The traditional elements of Christmas were represented by the singing of carols and the familiar Bible readings but Chaplain Chris Knowles had a few surprises up his sleeve. What followed was a multi-media re-telling of the nativity story involving the use of live actors, video clips and an audio sound track.

Football coach Wayne Pybus writes: “Every year the best players from all the colleges in Greater Manchester are selected after trials to represent the county team.

Five students from Loreto have been picked this year: Jake Williams, Kirk Garrity, Rory Robinson, Kyle Davies and Cavan Gaffney. It is a great achievement for the students to play at this level. The county team opens the door to England schoolboys, Team GB and also to colleges and universities in the USA.”

Philosopher, Anglican priest and Senior Lecturer from the University of York, Dr David Efird put students through their intellectual paces on a recent visit to Loreto. Dr Efird, who has a special interest in metaphysics, was appearing at the college as part of York’s Philosophy Questions project, a dedicated programme of school and college visits designed to give A Level students a taste of studying the subject at university.

Loreto’s whole college musical production, Jesus Christ Superstar, played to full houses for three nights in December. This ambitious staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s rock opera represented a collaboration involving the Performing Arts, Media and Art departments, and used a contemporary Manchester setting to provide extra relevance to the familiar story of the trial and crucifixion of Christ.

Two magnificent events signalled the end of the autumn term as the Loreto community celebrated Christmas and the achievements of students in two of Manchester’s most famous buildings.

Loreto singers and musicians performed in a carol service at St Mary’s in Mulberry Street, better known, of course, as the ‘Hidden Gem.’ The college Chamber Choir performed Gaudete, the Coventry Carol, Bethlehem Down and Carol of the Bells; Uyiosa Uwubamwen sang Ave Maria and cellist Hannah Chappell performed a piece by J.S. Bach.

Ball Theatre echoed to the thunderous sound of an amplified electric guitar as Loreto students were treated to a very entertaining lecture ‘Rock Guitar in 11 Dimensions’ given by Dr Mark Lewney, rock guitarist and physicist.

With reference to Jimi Hendrix and Albert  Einstein, amongst others,  Dr Lewney really brought to life with humour, and wit, how sounds are produced by vibrating strings and illustrated clearly, using his guitar to great effect, the production of harmonics and their effects on sound.

Students at Loreto are given regular opportunities to both socialise and to reflect on what is meaningful to them. Thus it was that on a lovely crisp weekend recently a group of students left college after lessons on Friday afternoon for a weekend residential retreat at Savio House in Macclesfield.

Two Loreto students, Courtney Byrne and Cameron Lowe, recently had the opportunity to visit the site of the infamous Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz in Poland. The students were chosen as part of a holocaust awareness project.

70 Loreto students recently completed their first taste of the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award when they walked 12km in the Peak District.  This was the students’ first day walk as part of their expedition training to prepare for their Practice and Final expeditions in 2013.

Undaunted by media generated negative images of young people, and of the European Community, Loreto students Georgia Clarke and Jaimeel Fenton were part of a delegation from Manchester which visited the European Parliament in Brussels.

Music Technology AS students visited Manchester’s Blueprint Studios. The internationally-renowned recording studio, famously home to the band Elbow (who happened to be in that day rehearsing for the forthcoming world tour!) has quickly developed to be Manchester’s number one recording studio since its establishment six years ago and has an impressive array of clients, including Justin Timberlake, Katherine Jenkins, 50 Cent and Mark Ronson.

Chorlton Rotary Club members were thrilled to experience the amount of sheer talent in Loreto's music department when some of the students went to perform at the annual Charter meeting at Hough End Sports Centre.

Loreto’s Music department is delighted that they will be stretching and inspiring their gifted musicians with the help of Cambridge University.

This has come about through a Cambridge initiative aimed at helping to develop potential music students of the future. They have two centres nationally, with Loreto serving as the northern point. The programme will help a number of talented music students from Loreto and from neighbouring schools, and is aimed at students who have the potential to make strong applications to research-intensive music degree courses.

BTEC Health and Social Care students working on an environmental health unit have been exploring the issue of waste disposal and its links to public health.  They have been looking at the potential health consequences of an inefficient waste disposal system. A visit to the local recycling plant at Longley Lane to find out how modern high tech equipment sorts, recycles and composts our waste was the focus of their recent studies.

Geographers escaped the rain as they went out to beautiful Edale in Derbyshire to collect and record river data for their skills exam.
 
More than 60 students went out to the Hope Valley in order to study the River Noe and its tributary Grinds Brook, which has its source on Kinder Scout.

A group of eighteen students recently attended a recording of the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Beyond Belief.’  
 
Ms Tattersall and Mr Vaughan accompanied the students, drawn mostly from Loreto’s debating club and the A level theology course, to the Imperial War Museum, where the programme was recorded. 

The college recently held it 2nd annual Rotary awards evening. Awards were made to students for Dedication and Determination, Commitment to College Life, Commitment to Study. Voluntary Work and a Positive Attitude to College Life.
31 students were invited with their family and friends to a very moving evening where their teachers spoke on film about each individual students exceptional achievements. 

Sports stars at Loreto have been honoured with a special celebration evening with awards presented by Manchester United Legend Paddy Crerand.

The sports presentation evening was a chance for Loreto College Sports Department & Enrichment staff to celebrate accomplishments over the last academic year which has included major successes in basketball, netball and football.

The Performing and visual arts exhibition was the final performance of the year for Loreto’s dancers. It has been a successful year for productions; the college musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, our collaboration project with the music students ‘Fusion’, and the annual ‘Dance Festival.'

Students from Loreto College recently took their musical skills to the international stage with a number of performances in Paris!

As part of the Music Programme, the college choir performed a programme of songs to crowds in beautiful surroundings at three venues on their short tour; at the Champ de Mars by the Eiffel Tower, in Maurice Gardette Square and the picturesque Parc Brassens.

The Loreto History Society was formed in May 2011 by a group of Loreto students who wanted to develop their interest in historical topics beyond those of their examination syllabus. Over the last year the Society has proven to be very successful and has gained a large following amongst the student body.

On Saturday 16^th June the RE and Theology Department organised a visit enabling students to witness an event that few people would ever have believed could happen.

Loreto’s most entertaining students helped to make the college’s annual Christmas party for the homeless a massive seasonal success.

Physics students at Loreto heard how developments in nuclear fusion could provide clean energy for the future.

Budding theologians at Loreto have seen two of the world’s top scientific thinkers clash on their differing beliefs about the existence of God.

A special exhibition to remember Holocaust survivors goes on show in Loreto’s Ellis and Kennedy Building today.

Students made friends with a snake, skateboarded for the first time, mastered a circus unicycle, climbed a mountain and even went to Wales to celebrate Mary Ward Day.

Students are digging around in their wardrobes for bright pink clothes to wear on Friday for ‘Wear it Pink Day’ to support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Special scholarship awards have been given out to help Loreto students fulfil their university ambitions.

Physics students have been coming up with energy saving innovations as part of an engineering challenge at Manchester University.

After the hard work of the exam season students celebrated with a glamorous ball at one of Manchester’s top hotels.

Loreto’s showcase of artistic talent was hailed a great success as hundreds of people enjoyed a beautiful summer evening at the college.

Summer term has seen the highly successful inaugural talk for the newly established Loreto College History Society. 

The Society, created by AS students Charlotte Gleeson (ex Priestnall High School), Rosa Duffy(ex Chorlton High School) and Adam Stachniewski (ex Cheadle Hulme High School), invited Professor Peter Gatrell from the University of Manchester as its first  guest. Professor Gatrell, whose daughter is a former Loreto student, gave an enthralling talk on the Battle of Gallipoli and its meaning.  

AS Law students are celebrating winning the “Great Law Debate” at the BPP Law School in Manchester.

Last week the Loreto BTEC Performing Arts students conveyed their energy and commitment in the three groups’ performances of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The audiences of friends, family and staff were treated to an hour-long version of this classic play of love, confusion and transformation in the new Ellis and Kennedy Theatre.

Loreto’s chemists have been using forensic techniques to identify mysterious substances in a competition to test their analytical skills.

Loreto’s future medics have benefitted from university expertise to help them into their chosen careers.

Loreto College has been chosen to head a scheme to help more state-educated students into Cambridge and other top universities.

Five Loreto students, Sara Kolber, Chloe Elliot, Lavin Othman, Anton Esmail-Yakas and Adam Stachnlewski , were delegates at the first Model UN conference for sixth form colleges at Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College in Birmingham earlier this month. 

The excitement is building at Loreto in the run up to Red Nose Day Tomorrow! Today saw the drama department’s contribution to Comic Relief 2011. They performed two short, dynamic performances from John Godber’s classic comedies,“ Bouncers” and “Shakers” about evenings out on the town.

As part of the Comic Relief fundraising at Loreto Michael Gove, Alice Cooper, Michelle Obama, William Hague, Nick Griffin, Justin Beiber, Jose Mourinho, Katie Price and Ed Milliband unwisely decided to take a hot air balloon trip together.

Students have been seeing how their studies relate to the real world with an exciting trip to Euro Disney.

The Health and Social Care students travelled to Paris to see how practices they have learnt about in the classroom are applied at the theme park.

On Saturday 29 January, the AS Music group enjoyed an evening at the Bridgewater Hall to hear the Manchester Camerata perform Beethoven’s 9^th Symphony. Students were invited to attend the concert following a project run by musicians from the Camerata earlier in the year. 

AS Music students at Loreto have recently been involved in an exciting project with musicians from Manchester Camerata. The Camerata is the chamber orchestra in residence at the Bridgewater Hall and the Royal Northern College of Music. As well as playing professionally, the musicians run a number of projects in schools across the North West to inspire creativity.

Loreto students have been learning how to communicate with people with hearing difficulties and who use sign language on a daily basis.

In the first week in December, Loreto College’s new Ellis and Kennedy Theatre hosted Cabaret, its inaugural production – the first large-scale, cross-college theatre performances in many years. The show was a sell-out over three nights, bringing together an audience of students, parents, friends and staff, who were treated to a fantastically accomplished production that highlighted the talent and enthusiasm of its cast and crew.

It’s not often that boys get encouraged to wear pink nail varnish but at Loreto it’s helped raise nearly £200 for cancer charities.

The College Charities Group ran its Pink and Blue Day to fundraise for Breast Cancer and Everyman Prostate Cancer, two very worthy causes working to help cancer sufferers around the country.

Recently all students and staff took part in Mary Ward day: a chance to try something new and different and celebrate the values of the Loreto Sisters. Each activity gave an insight into one or more of the five gospel values of freedom, justice, truth, sincerity, and joy associated with Loreto founder Mary Ward 

Loreto students have won praise and prizes for their oratory skills after taking part in the prestigious Debating Matters competition for the third year running.

Run by the Institute of Ideas the national competition encourages students to argue about controversial and important topics such medical ethics and freedom of speech.

On Wednesday the 20th October, the new Chaplaincy Area at Loreto College was officially opened by the Principal Ms. Clynch. Over seventy students and some members of staff visited the Chaplaincy during their lunch hour to enjoy complimentary food and drink and to see what the new area looks like.

Budding scientists have been undertaking real scientific research alongside top professionals in their field.

Three students from Loreto took part in this year’s Nuffield Bursary scheme to apply what they’ve learnt in the classroom to the real world.

It’s all-go for physics students at Loreto with hi-tech electronic challenges and special events to help explain big questions about the universe.

Five teams from Loreto teamed up with other Greater Manchester sixth-formers to solve various real-life problems including traffic management and managing water shortages at Manchester University.

Chemists at Loreto have been seeing how they could use their lab skills in the world of work.

Not only have they been separating and analysing the active ingredient from a pharmaceutical drug at the University of Liverpool but they have visited the world-class research labs at AstraZeneca.
 

In the chemistry master-class at Liverpool students built on the practical and theoretical skills they have learnt in AS chemistry and were introduced to new concepts relevant for their A2.
 

Students have been warming up for the next stage in their academic careers with a trip to Leeds University.

Four hundred Loreto students headed off to sample the Leeds City Centre campus in a special higher education day that will help them decide what university they want to go to and what course they should choose.
 

It was a glittering night for Loreto students celebrating the end of their A level and BTEC studies with a glamorous ball at one of Manchester top hotels.

More than 300 students and staff dressed up in fabulous ball gowns and evening suits for the end of year prom at the historic four star Midland Hotel.

Students started the night with a sophisticated fruit cocktail reception in the beautiful listed building which is regarded of one of Manchester’s architectural treasures.

Space may be the final frontier but students from Loreto are off to get a taste of life as an astronaut in Belgium.

Sixteen maths and physics students are off to Space Camp where as well as experiencing zero gravity they will take part in a simulated shuttle launch and be taught the skills needed to design and launch their very own rocket!

Skateboarding is helping students with learning difficulties to greater independence and a healthy lifestyle.

Sport is an important element of the Pathways to Independence Course at Loreto College. The two year course, for students aged between 16 to 21 years, promotes independence in all areas of the learner’s life in preparation for the ‘real world’.

Students are getting crafty and creative in an effort to recycle and help reduce climate change.

The Loreto Climate Change Group is working with community artist Alice Brierley to make jewellery from recycled materials and scrap. Using sustainable methods the students are also exploring traditional crafts.

A trip to a brewery meant Loreto chemistry students had the opportunity to see their subject in action.

Chemistry students from Loreto College visited the neighbouring Hyde Brewery to help in their study of the fermentation process. Fermentation is the conversion of a carbohydrate, such as sugar, into an acid or an alcohol.

Classical Civilisation students enjoyed an exciting trip to the Lowry Theatre focusing upon a Greek Tragedy.

Students have been unravelling the mystery of the Classical world by studying pottery and artefacts at the British Museum.

During the spring term, professional theatre company Ten Ten Theatre, performed two plays to a number of upper and lower sixth R.E. groups at Loreto. The plays are written specially for teenage audiences and concern love, relationships, sex and marriage. “Chased” deals with sexual relationships and contraception and “Babies” deals with unplanned pregnancy and abortion.  The plays are very balanced, open-ended and provoke great thought and discussion. The performances took place in the Chapel and were aimed at RE groups and other subjects areas, such as Health and Social Care, Sociology and Theology and Ethics were also involved. The students found the plays interesting and thought provoking, with many contributing to the discussions afterwards.