Embedded Files
Inspiring Minds, Hearts and Spirits
Principal's Report
Principal's Report
MR STEPHEN DWYER | Term 1, Week 6
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of our College community,
Lent
As we journey through the season of Lent, we are invited to deepen our faith and renew our commitment to living out the Gospel. The forty days of Lent call us to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, three pillars that help us strengthen our relationship with God and with one another. In our busy lives, prayer allows us to find peace and guidance. Fasting is not just about giving something up but about making space for what is truly important. Almsgiving reminds us to be generous, reaching out to those in need with compassion and kindness.
Our College celebration of Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this journey. The ashes we received on our foreheads are a powerful reminder of our humility before God and our call to transformation. They remind us to turn away from what distracts us and turn towards Christ with open hearts.
At the heart of our Marist tradition is the call to serve with simplicity and love. This Lent, let us follow the example of Mary, who responded to God with humility and faith. May we open our hearts to those in need, show kindness in our daily interactions, and seek ways to bring peace to our families and communities. May this season of Lent bring you peace, renewal, and a deeper sense of purpose.
Open Day
We warmly invite you to join us for our College Open Day on Sunday, 23 March, from 10:00am to 1:00pm, where you will have the opportunity to experience life in our vibrant College community.
Open Day is a wonderful chance to explore our learning community, meet our dedicated staff and students, and discover the many opportunities available at our College. Throughout the day, you can enjoy student-led tours, interactive displays, and presentations that showcase our academic programs, faith life, co-curricular activities, and strong Marist tradition.
Whether you are a prospective family, an ex-student, or a community member, we encourage you to come along and see firsthand the welcoming and dynamic spirit of our College.
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing what makes our school a special place of learning, faith, and community.
Girls’ Boarding Expansion and Redevelopment
I am pleased to inform you that our Girls’ Boarding Redevelopment Project is well underway, marking an exciting new chapter for our College community. This ambitious project, set to be completed over the next two years, will deliver state-of-the-art facilities while maintaining a warm and homely atmosphere that reflects our Marist values.
With a project cost exceeding $17 million, we are incredibly grateful for the generous support of a $9.6 million grant from the Government through the Catholic Block Grant Authority. This significant contribution has helped bring this vision to life, ensuring that our boarding students have the very best facilities to support their learning, wellbeing, and community life.
The redevelopment will enhance the boarding experience by improving comfort, accessibility, and student wellbeing, ensuring that our girls feel truly at home. Some key features of the project include:
Increased Capacity – over 100 individual rooms will accommodate the growing demand for girls' boarding.
Expanded Social and Breakout Areas – greater communal spaces in both junior, intermediate and senior residences for connection and relaxation.
Full Disability Access – improved accessibility throughout all residences, including new accessible bedrooms and bathroom facilities for two students.
Parent Reception & Child Safeguarding Standards – a dedicated private and welcoming reception area for parents and caregivers.
Boarding Staff Facilities – the development of eight ensuite rooms for staff inclusive of a shared kitchen, dining and lounge area.
More Welcoming Entrance – a reimagined front entryway to create a safe and welcoming space for students, staff, parents, and visitors.
Student Wellbeing Rooms – dedicated spaces designed to support student health and wellbeing.
Enhanced Bathroom – an increased ratio of bathrooms and toilets to support students’ needs.
It is a very exciting time and we look forward to the completion of this project.
May St Marcellin Champagnat and Mary our Good Mother continue to watch over our community.
Stephen Dwyer, Principal
Deputy Principal | Mr Simon Martino
Deputy Principal | Mr Simon Martino
Hello families and Carers,
We have reached Week 6 and the mid term Exeat weekend. These past weeks have seen the commencement of the Lenten period in the Church. As a College community we celebrated the commencement of Lent with Ash Wednesday on 5 March. We had a beautiful liturgy led by our
students that focused on the importance of this time where we are encouraged to fast, pray and
give to others. The message to students was to look at opportunities to be kind to one another
and help others to be their best. I look forward to our students putting this into action for the remainder of the term and embracing our Red Bend Way.
📢 Important information on leave
Please ensure you read the information below which outlines key changes to our leave process and the impact on assessments and school representation/leadership. I have also included information about parent pick up/drop off and the available bus services. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Process for Leave Applications
Educational research shows a strong link between regular school attendance and achieving higher learning outcomes. We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers to
encourage and support regular attendance at school. When your child attends school every day,
they will have greater success with their learning and build stronger relationships.
As a College, we have reviewed our leave processes in line with the NSW Education Act 1990, which requires children of compulsory school age to be enrolled at and regularly attending school.
Below outlines the revised processes for leave applications for Exemption from Attendance at school and Extended Leave - Travel.
Type of Leave Applications
Families can apply for a Certificate of Exemption from attendance at school, under the NSW Education Act 1990 for the following reasons:
Employment in the Entertainment Industry
Elite Sports or Arts (refers to national/international sports events, elite programs run by national and international organisations, talent identification programs)
Exceptional Circumstances
These applications are either approved or unapproved. If the application is approved this will not impact your child’s attendance percentage.
Families can apply for a Certificate of Extended Leave - Travel.
This application is either approved or unapproved. Approved and unapproved applications do impact your child’s attendance percentage.
Please note that a Certificate of Extended Leave - Travel will only be approved once every two years.
Process for completing application for Exemption from Attendance or Extended Leave - Travel
The Exemption from Attendance or Extended Leave - Travel form are available on the College website.
Families complete the Exemption from Attendance or Extended Leave - Travel form and send it to the Student Services Office by email sso@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au
The Principal reviews the applications for Exemption from Attendance or Extended Leave - Travel and it is either approved or not approved.
Families will be notified of the outcome by the Student Services Office.
Links to Leave Forms
Application for certificate of Exemption from Attendance at School
Application for Certificate of Extended Leave - Travel
The Impact of Student Leave on Assessment
Attendance, School Representation and Leadership Opportunities
Students representing the College require 90% attendance at the time of selection until the event.
Students are required to attend the following College days and events:
First and last days of term
Commencement Mass
Year level retreats
Champagnat Day
Assumption Day Mass
House Swimming, Athletics, Cross Country Carnivals and House Carnival
Prize Giving Ceremony
Students who have attendance percentages below 90% and/or do not attend the College days/events outlined above will not be eligible for the following:
Leadership opportunities
Boarding Representative Council
Student Representative Council
College Immersions
College Sports/Academic/Cultural Representation
Debutante Ball
Junior Dinner Dance
Parent Pick Up and Drop Off
Red Bend has a small area allocated for pick up and drop off of students for the mornings and afternoons. This is because all students have access to bus services that can pick them up and drop them to and from school each day. This is a service that has been negotiated with Forbes Bus Lines for every student who attends Red Bend to be able to access.
We appreciate there are times when families do need to pick up and drop off their child, however, we would like to strongly encourage our families to make use of the bus service for their child/ren. This will assist with the traffic flow at the College around circular drive. If you have any questions about how to access the buses please contact Forbes Buslines on 6852 1663.
Thank you for your support.
Year 7 Parent Information Night
Thank you to our families who were able to attend the Year 7 Parent Information session. The session was recorded and can be accessed here.
Please remember to reach out to Mrs Scott or our House Coordinators if you have any questions.
Director of Students | Mr Adam Currey
Director of Students | Mr Adam Currey
House Carnival Highlights
The annual House Swimming Carnival was a great day and it was fantastic to see our new houses MacKillop and O’Connor competing, and to have our eight houses compete side by side on the day. The Basil Bull frogs proved too strong on the day, taking out the overall victory and the Loyola Lions securing the win in the battle of the house chants.
Pulse
At the College during Pastoral Care we implement a Weekly Pulse Check in. These check ins are to monitor our student wellbeing, the data received helps the College to create a better environment for students and to better understand the Impact of wellbeing with student.
Students are prompted every Monday and Friday to register how they are feeling and provide gratitude to recognise fellow students and staff.
Student Drivers
If you wish to drive to College or be a passenger in a student-driven vehicle, please ensure that all necessary forms are signed before driving. Forms can be found on the College Website or here – Driver Permission and Passenger Permission.
Students need to be at school prior to 8.45am and hand their keys into the SSO. Keys can then be collected from the SSO after 3.40pm.
Student Handbooks
In supporting your child here at the College please take the time to look through your child's handbook. You will see any homework, merits and demerits listed here. You are encouraged to sign each weekly page along with your child's pastoral care teacher. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's House Coordinator.
Many thanks, Adam
Director of Mission | Mr David Eyles
Director of Mission | Mr David Eyles
Year 12 Retreat
The Class of 2025 were literally ‘pilgrims of hope’ last week - travelling to Mittagong for the annual Year 12 Retreat. The retreat venue, the Hermitage Retreat Centre in Mittagong, is steeped in Marist history and tradition, and the beautiful park-like gardens and heritage buildings created a lovely backdrop to the spiritual experiences.
The retreat explored a text from the Prophet Jeremiah; 'how God is our potter and we are his clay', therefore we can look forward to a future of hope! The students enthusiasm and goodwill ensured a wonderful time was had by all.
A huge vote of appreciation goes to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the event possible - especially Shannon Collins, Jenny Grogan, Sandra Canellis, the maintenance team, Mission and Life Team, the Kitchen team, Health Centre, and the small group leaders.
Similarly, heartfelt thanks go to the staff who assisted facilitating the retreat. These include Tristin Nicholls and Scott Forbes - who stayed for the whole week - along with Group 1 staff Stephen Dwyer, Barry Merritt, Alex Denley, Libby Neville, Therese Glasheen, Gillian McMillan, and Group 2 staff Tiago Carmo, Casey Strong, Anne Maree Rice, Larissa Moore and Samantha Drewes.
Many thanks to all these people for making it such a special time for our Year 12s in their final year of secondary schooling.
Ash Wednesday
Director of Boarding | Mr Chris Douglass
Director of Boarding | Mr Chris Douglass
A well earned Exeat weekend for our boarding community this weekend. I wish all the boarders and their families all the very best as they get a chance to re-connect with home. As I have discussed with several parents, sometimes home sickness can creep up on us at times like an Exeat. This article is an interesting read, obviously it is a little dated and every child is different, but an interesting read nonetheless.
The winter sports season is fast approaching and it is great to see boarders who are getting excited, training in the mornings and hitting the gym. If parents are having trouble registering, please contact either myself or Jenny in the Boarding Office. Likewise, if your son or daughter would like to try a different sport, please reach out and we will do our best to connect you to a club.
Getting to know those in our boarding community
Cameron Herbert | Chef
Cameron is a popular personality in the college refectory. He has a close relationship with the boarders and staff alike. Cameron is a long-time Forbes resident and he has two cats (Rudy and Yuji). He is into all sports (Dragons fan in NRL) and is also into gaming. Cameron likes being part of the hard working team that keeps the boarders fed.
Zoe Maxwell
Zoe is in our Junior Girls Residence (Year 8) and she holds the title of the Boarder From Furthest Away! She lives on the family sheep and cattle station with 2 pet dogs, 4 working dogs, 2 pigs and many wild goats. Whilst at home, Zoe loves riding her horse called Smoky. She has 2 younger sisters and she supports Port Adelaide in the AFL and South Sydney in the NRL. The closest shops for Zoe are in Broken Hill or Tibooburra.
Director of Curriculum | Mrs Trish Martin
Director of Curriculum | Mrs Trish Martin
Assessment Policies and Calendars
You can find Assessment Policies and Calendar for each year group on our website:
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions- Years 7 to 9 Assessments
When will my son or daughter be advised that they have an assessment?
Students are initially advised at the beginning of the school year when they receive their assessment booklet. This is followed up with the specific date and details of the task at least 10 school days prior to the set date. This advice comes in the form of written notification as well as tips on how to prepare and could include a past exam paper. Students are expected to submit take-home tasks by the due date.
What if my son or daughter is absent for an in class assessment?
Normal procedure is to be followed if your son or daughter is absent. That is, you are to contact the Student Service Office (SS0), advising them of why your son or daughter is unable to attend school.
Will my son or daughter be penalised for being absent for the in class assessment?
No your child will not be penalised if they have a legitimate reason for being absent. A genuine reason could be illness, attending a family function or representing the college at a sporting or other extra-curricular event.
If your child does not have a genuine reason for being absent, they will receive zero for the assessment. On their return to school they will still be expected to complete the task.
How will my son or daughter catch up on an in the class assessment?
The Faculty Coordinator will organise an alternative date for the in class assessment. However, this does not apply to semester one and two exams. If your child is absent for the exam period, and a genuine reason is provided an estimate will be provided.
How will my son or daughter find out about the time to complete the in class assessment?
Your child will be advised by the Faculty Coordinator.
If I know in advance that my son or daughter is going to be absent for an in class assessment, what should I do?
Advise your child to collect and complete an extension form from the SSO, and return to the Faculty Coordinator. Your child will be advised of the date for their catch up assessment.
If you have any additional questions please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Trish Martin at the College.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions- Years 10 to 12 Assessments
What if I am away when an assessment is handed out?
If a student is absent when assessment information is distributed, it is their responsibility to follow up their teacher and or to access a copy of the assessment in their Year Level Assessments Google Drive.
What do I do if I am ill or have experienced a misadventure on the due date?
If a student experiences illness or misadventure on the due date of an assessment or exam, the parent/carer is to contact Mrs Martin dsc@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au. If the student’s absence is due to illness a medical certificate will be requested.
Can I claim misadventure or illness after the due date?
Retrospective misadventure and illness claims, in most cases, will not be accepted.
What happens if I do not have a satisfactory reason for not submitting a task?
If a satisfactory reason for absence is not provided, a zero mark will be given for the task.
I am going to be absent for an assessment/exam, due to a school commitment (sport etc) What should I do?
If students know in advance that they will be absent for an exam/s or an in-class assessment item they are expected to see Mrs Martin and request an extension. A decision will be made on whether the absence has been approved. Exemptions will be made for any unforeseeable circumstances.
Students’ whose leave is not accepted, will be expected to be at school to complete the assessment item on the due date. If a student knows in advance that they will be absent on a due date e.g. Work Placement, Excursion, Sports event, they are to hand in the item on or before the due date.
What if I am unable to sit for an assessment item?
In exceptional circumstances, an estimate based on other tasks completed by students will be used if there is a valid reason for not completing a specific task.
If parents/carers have any questions about any of the above, don’t hesitate to contact Mrs Trish Martin dsc@redbendcc.nsw.edu.au
Save The Date | Class of 2025 Year 12 Information Evening
Director of Teaching and Learning | Mrs Deborah Wheeldon
Director of Teaching and Learning | Mrs Deborah Wheeldon
Parent as Partners Evening
Our first Parents as Partners Evening was held on Wednesday 5th March. Thank you to those parents who attended on the night. The focus was on introducing parents to some basic literacy and numeracy strategies as well as how to read assessments. Strategies to support our students wellbeing was also covered.
For those unable to attend, the link to the recording can be found HERE.
NAPLAN
NAPLAN has started this week with both Year 7 and Year 9 students completing the writing tests. Students will sit the reading on Tuesday, conventions of language on Wednesday and numeracy tests on Thursday (Year 7) and Friday (Year 9). Parents are encouraged to ensure that students come prepared with a set of headphones with a jack (no wireless headphones please) and a plastic drink bottle.
Organisation and Time Management
As assessments are now starting to be handed out, students are encouraged to start them as soon as possible, ask questions and seek support if needed. Please contact the class teacher if you have any concerns or questions.
Staff Professional Learning
Today, all teaching and diverse learning staff were involved in a professional learning opportunity. The focus being on enhancing the writing of our students through explicit teaching. The day was facilitated by the AISNSW English Consultant, Meaghan Hird. Teachers have come away with new strategies to use in the classroom to support and build writing at Red Bend.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
NAPLAN continues
NAPLAN continues into next week for Years 7 and 9, concluding on Monday, March 24.
➡️ Don't forget that students are required to bring headphones with a standard 2.5mm jack for use during NAPLAN
Harmony Day 🧡
As a College community we will celebrate Harmony Day on Friday, 21 March, to recognise and honour the diversity that makes up our school and our country. Harmony Day is a time to reflect on our Marist values of Family Spirit and Presence as we want to create a community that values inclusion, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Student leaders have been planning simple ways for us to celebrate as a community. There will be activities in PC and a variety of food from different parts of the world being sold under the boarders dining room. Everyone is also asked to wear an orange ribbon either on your wrist, pinned to your shirt or in your hair. Please listen to the notices as we head closer to the day to be prepared for the day of activities.
Grandparents Morning Tea
Red Bend is hosting the annual Grandparents' Morning Tea on Monday, 31 March 2025.
Grandparents of our current Year 7 students are invited, with students able to ask another family member or a close family friend, if Grandparents are not able to attend. Students without guests will be invited to join in with another family group.
Guests are invited to arrive at 9.20am, and the morning will conclude at 11.30am.
House Report
House Report
Chisholm House
Welcome back to Chisholm Chat! We’re excited to kick off another fantastic year with you. First, let's introduce your 2025 Chisholm House Captains Archie Daley and Macey Greenhalgh. Alongside us, we have Holly Purcival as our Liturgy Captain. We’re all looking forward to leading Chisholm this year and making it the best one yet!
A huge welcome to our new Year 7 students! Starting high school is a big step, and we hope you’re already feeling at home in Chisholm House. We’ve loved getting to know you all through our Pastoral Care classes and seeing you embrace the Chisholm spirit. Remember, you’re part of an amazing community that will support you every step of the way!
To help you settle in, we’re excited to introduce our Year 10 Peer support Leaders: Kourosh Bavafa, Camley Hapgood, Alana Finnegan, Max Hazell, Emily Harley, and Tara Higgins! These fantastic students have stepped up to guide and support our Year 7s, and we know they’ll do an incredible job!
Meanwhile, outside the college, our Year 12 students spent the past week on their annual religious retreat in Mittagong. This experience invited them to form deeper connections within their cohort, reflect on their identity, and strengthen their relationship with God through this year’s theme ‘Molded in His Image’.
Now, let's talk about the House Swimming Carnival - what a day! The energy, enthusiasm, and most of all, the Chisholm spirit were absolutely incredible. We gave it everything we had, both in the pool and on the sidelines, and our effort paid off- we came 2nd in the chants! After years with our house chants, we made a massive comeback with incredible volume, passion, and unity. Seeing everyone come together to cheer, support, and represent Chisholm with pride was truly special. And the excitement didn’t stop there - we took home the win in the Senior Relay! 🏆🎉 A huge congratulations to our incredible team: Archie Daley, Brandon Dos Santos Hall, Sophie Hopkins, and myself Macey Greenhalgh!
This carnival was also a memorable moment for us Year 12s, as it was all of our last Swimming Carnival. It was amazing to see them giving it their all, whether in the pool or cheering from the sidelines. Their energy, leadership, and passion for Chisholm have been truly inspiring, and we know they’ll carry that same enthusiasm into the rest of their final year.
Beyond the competition, our participation was outstanding! Whether you were racing in the pool, cheering from the stands, or getting involved in the fun activities, everyone contributed to making the day a huge success.
Getting to know our Chisholm students
Peter Elias, Year 7
PC class? Chisholm 1
Favourite NRL team? Wests Tigers
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Either farming or playing rugby league
What year do you think Chisholm will win their first Carnival? Next year
Hobbies? Rugby league, cricket and swimming
Best part about Chisholm House? That the spirit is high
What would you do if you won a million dollars? Save it up until I can buy an even bigger farm, invest into a NRL team or own a company
Favourite movie? The Blind Side, Rudy and Home Team
Tilly Martin, Year 12
PC Class? Chisholm 4
Favourite NRL Team? NQL cowboys
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? No idea
What year do you think Chisholm will win their first Carnival? 2040
Hobbies? Rugby union
Best Part about Chisholm House? Friendships
What would you do if you won a million dollars? Never work again
Favourite movie/TV show? Kath and Kim
Favourite food? Avo toast
Academics
Academics
Agriculture
Our Cattle Team have been busy preparing for the showing season!
Creative & Performing Arts
Over the last few weeks, our Year 11 and 12 students in both Visual Arts and Music have attended excursions.
In week 4, our senior music students attended an excursion to Sydney, accompanied by Ms Bailey-Hough, Miss Cairney and Mr Grierson. Students toured the Australian Institute of Music and the Sydney Conservatorium, showcasing the facilities available as well as courses on offer at these Universities. Students also attended “Encore”, a concert at the Sydney Opera House of outstanding HSC performances from 2024. Students were blown away by the variety and skills of the performers.
“The excursion was very worthwhile in showing us the requirements to excel in HSC Music, as well as the common stylistic choices with the compositions that achieve top marks.” - Kade Mikita
Year 11 and 12 visual Arts students had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Shoyoen Japanese Gardens and the Western Plains Cultural Centre in Dubbo, accompanied by Ms Axton and Ms Boshoff. They enjoyed the chance to create ‘en plein air’ - outside. They were inspired by other artists and immersed themselves in the gallery experience.
English
Our Year 12 Advanced English students travelled to Orange to the Civic Theatre. As part of the module, Textual Conversations, students study the Shakespeare text, The Tempest. We were given the opportunity to watch professional actors from the theatre company, Sport for Jove, perform excerpts from the play and provide detailed analysis of the key themes. It was a great opportunity for our students to see how a Shakespeare play is performed on stage.
HSIE | Ancient History
Taking Year 11 Ancient History class on a mock archaeological dig was an exciting, hands-on experience to bring history to life. Students had the opportunity to dig into the past as they unearthed an arrowhead and a Spartan helmet, allowing them to connect directly with the artefacts they have studied. This immersive activity not only sparked curiosity but also deepened their understanding of ancient civilizations, demonstrating the practical challenges and rewards of archaeology. Short of being able to take them on an excursion to Greece, the sand of the Beach Volleyball court was an adequate stand in.
Mr Josh Piggott- Year 11 Ancient History teacher
Diverse Learning
As part of our Life Skills program, Jock and Bridie attended Forbes Public School - NSW DEC to help in the canteen.
While Bridie participated in this initiative last year, this was Jock's first time and he had a fantastic day! He assisted Bridie with stocking the fridge, then helped with lunches, served students at recess, packed lolly bags and restocked the freezer with lots of goodies. He can't wait to go again!
Sport
Sport
House Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to Basil House, for winning the 2025 House Swimming Carnival 💚
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