On Friday, 14 November, Mr David Riddington and I had the pleasure of taking some of our Year 11 student leaders to iRISE, a great day of formation designed to guide them as they step into their new roles gently. This experience was less about rules and more about nurturing their personal journey of faith and leadership.

iRISE extended an invitation to our students to be truly authentic leaders. The focus was on encouraging them to look inward and reflect on the unique gifts and kindnesses they already possess. Drawing inspiration from Jesus’ model of loving service, they were gently prompted to consider how their values can shine through in their leadership.

This formation day served as an excellent reminder that true influence flows from the heart. Whether they are leading in the classroom, supporting a friend, or navigating the digital world, the challenge is simple: to be consistently themselves—faith-filled, compassionate, and true to the Red Bend spirit. We hope this experience helps them begin their leadership year with grace and quiet confidence.

Mrs Therese Glasheen - Religious Education Coordinator

The Orientation Day for our incoming 2026 students was a wonderful experience for everyone involved. Mrs Scott, our House Coordinators, and our College Leaders warmly welcomed the students as they arrived, helping them feel right at home.

Students spent the day in their house groups, rotating through eight hands-on sessions, including woodwork, PDHPE, music, food technology, an educational scavenger hunt, library games, Science and even a visit to our farm. This variety gave them a genuine taste of the exciting learning opportunities and impressive facilities available at Red Bend.

We were incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and positive attitude shown by the whole group—they approached every activity with curiosity and confidence. Our kitchen staff added to the occasion by preparing a delicious morning tea and a BBQ lunch for everyone.

The day wrapped up with an energetic performance from the Red Bend Drumline Corps, a warm address from Mr Dwyer and a highlights video showcasing the students’ adventures.

We are already looking forward to welcoming this wonderful group of young people to Red Bend Catholic College in 2026. They have made an excellent start to their journey.

Red Bend Aboriginal students attended the Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Culture Connect Day at The Dreaming Centre on 5 November 2025.

The Idea was put forward by Red Bend student Mykel Coe, President of our JAECG  and brought to life by our amazing AECG.

Our students were split into two groups, Group A and Group B, each led by inspiring cultural leaders.

Group A had the privilege of learning from Aunty Beth Wright and Uncle John Lane, who shared their deep cultural knowledge about totems and the Dinawan (Emu) in the sky. They explained how everything in the world and universe is connected. A highlight of the session was the display of a rare Emu egg, which, when found, showed the Sun, Moon, and Dinawan/Emu in the sky on its surface — one of the rarest eggs known to this day.

Group B spent their first session with Tyrone Robison, who spoke passionately about the importance of believing in yourself. Tyrone also led the students through three powerful traditional dances:

1. The Cleansing Dance –This song was gifted  by Jordan Boney to Tyrone- the song is sung  to clear away bad spirits and let our old people know we are on Country.

2. The Dinawan Dance – showing how the male Emu raises the chicks and pay respect to the Dinawan in the.

3. The Magpie Dance –This song was gifted by Jorden Boney- to Tyrone- the song representing the spirit and movements of the Magpie.

The day was filled with connection, learning, and pride in culture.

A big thank you to  Our amazing AECG team for organising such an amazing Two days. To our amazing staff — Gillian McMillan, Josh Piggott, and Barry Merritt — for organising this opportunity for our students to reconnect with their culture. The day was a big step forward in reconnecting our youth to their culture.

Thank you to our students who represented the College at Remembrance Day events in both Forbes and Parkes.

We also held an assembly at the College where, as a whole school community, we paused to remember those who have lost their lives serving our country.  

This term, our Year 9 iSTEM students have been immersed in the Robot Revolution, a hands-on project that blends creativity, engineering, and problem‑solving. Students have designed, built, and programmed robots to tackle a series of challenges, from navigating obstacle courses to performing precision tasks.

The project has encouraged students to apply the engineering design process, test prototypes, and refine their ideas through critical thinking. Along the way, they’ve explored real‑world applications of robotics in industries such as manufacturing and agriculture. The Robot Revolution has not only strengthened STEM skills but also highlighted the importance of teamwork, resilience, and creativity.

We look forward to seeing how these budding engineers continue to push the boundaries of technology in future projects. Check out some of their amazing robots below.

A huge couple of days for 7 of our year 10 students who travelled to Blacktown Exercise and Sport Technology (BEST) centre. Here they immersed themselves in an experience hosted by Australian Catholic University, which had them completing activities from the world of exercise and sports science.

A highlight was catching up with ex-student Billy Phillips, who arrived with his Penrith Panthers team mates to use the BEST facilities as elite athletes, reaffirming what our students had learnt.

Our Year 9 and 10 students recently had the opportunity to take part in the local Forbes Agriculture Tour Days, gaining valuable insights into the wide range of agricultural industries and career opportunities within our region.

Throughout the tour, students visited a number of farm-related businesses, each offering a unique perspective on modern agriculture and the technology driving it forward.

These tours were a fantastic learning experience for all involved, offering students a real-world look at the diverse and innovative opportunities available in agriculture today. By seeing first hand how local businesses operate, students have gained a greater appreciation for the industry and a clearer understanding of the potential career pathways in our own community.

We would like to sincerely thank all the local participating businesses for their time, expertise, and effort in providing such valuable learning experiences for our students. Your support helps inspire the next generation of agricultural professionals.

At Red Bend, we believe that teaching culture every week helps our youth grow strong within themselves. Every Culture Class begins with learning and reciting the Red Bend Acknowledgement to Country, grounding our students in respect and connection to the Wiradjuri language.

The class then moves onto  Country. Our students were fortunate to receive knowledge from Barry Merritt, our Aboriginal Education Coordinator. This week, Mr Merritt guided our students in the art of boomerang throwing, sharing traditional techniques and the cultural significance behind them.

Tyrone Robinson gave valuable knowledge on traditional spear throwing using the woomera, an important tool in Aboriginal culture, along with teaching the traditional knowledge of fire making, a skill passed down through generations.

Our Culture Class continues to strengthen identity, respect, and understanding within our Red Bend community.

Recently, the following students travelled to Wellington for the Bathurst Diocesan U15’s and Opens Touch football all selection trials.

Hunter Newell, Kelsey Finnegan, Beau Wheeldon, Kaleb Schembri, Henry Rice, Daisy Rice, Hannah Terry, Ashley Terry, Rosie Hurford, Nevada Karaitiana, Ruby Coote, Sarah Price, Lennox Hurford and Jett Clarke.

All students represented RBCC well, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship.

Congratulations to these students who were selected in Bathurst Diocese teams:

Hannah Terry 

Rosie Hurford

Sarah Price

Ruby Coote

Kaleb Schembri

These students will attend the NSWCCC carnival in 2026.