Caitlyn McGinnes

On behalf of Clayton and I we would like to take the opportunity to address you all for the last time as your College Captains. 

Now, some of you may know I have a reputation for sneaking in Taylor Swift references into speeches, And let's just say I haven’t come up with a blank space this time.

On behalf of the Class of 2024, we would like to thank our incredible teachers and other staff members. They’ve been more than just educators—they’ve been our cheerleaders, a constant source of support and most importantly, our friends. Whether it was answering our last-minute questions, giving us that extra push when we were struggling, or simply listening when we needed someone to talk to, they’ve been there every step of the way. Their patience, kindness, and dedication have helped shape who we are today. We’re so lucky to have had teachers who cared as much about us as individuals as they did about our success. Thank you for believing in us, even when we doubted ourselves.

Futhermore, we couldn’t leave here today without recognising the unconditional love and support our families, guardians, and loved ones have undoubtedly shown throughout our entire lives. From the early morning wake-ups, and late-night study sessions, to being our biggest supporters when things got tough, they’ve been the steady presence in our lives, always ready to help us stay focused or lift our spirits. They’ve seen us at our best and our worst, and through it all, their belief in us has never wavered. Their support has been the foundation that’s helped us reach this moment. 

I want to personally thank my own family: Mum, Dad, Em and Izzy, I love and appreciate you all so much — you are the reason I've become who I am today. Thank you for always pushing me to achieve my best. We owe so much of our journey to our family’s love and patience, and today is just as much a celebration of them as it is of us. Thank you so much for everything.

To Clayton, thank you for all of the commitment and enthusiasm that you have shown over the past year. I am so grateful and couldn’t have asked for a better co-captain.

Most of all, we want to thank our classmates and friends - we’ve had the time of our lives with you these past 6 years. None of us would be where we are today without each other. It’s the small moments—the laughs and the chats —that have made this journey so special. The love and acceptance we’ve all felt, allowing us to be ourselves without judgement, is something we can always treasure. These bonds are timeless, and our friendships are endgame. Wherever life takes us, we’ll always have these moments of warmth and gratitude to look back on. The time leading up to today has been bittersweet as we think about all of our "lasts." The last Monday recess, the last lolly day at the canteen, the last time wearing our sports uniform. While this may seem daunting, I like to think of it this way: every "last" leads to a "first." The story of us is just beginning. Regardless of where we end up next year - whether at university, taking a gap year, entering the workforce, and so on - each of us will experience a new beginning and I believe that's the most exciting part of our next chapter in life. Even though everything has changed and will continue to change, I am confident that we will remember this year forevermore. 

Clayton Wing Yip

Today we finish our greatest challenge so far. Six years, 23 terms, 230 weeks and 1150 days later, here we are. Today, the class of 2024 can take its deepest sigh of relief yet and say ‘freedom’. On a more serious note, it is more than obvious that these past six years have been filled with memories of joy, relief, hard work, friendship, relaxing with mates, hard times and a pinch of fun. As such, we have lived our college’s motto; “per augusta, ad augusta” everyday. That is, we have lived with difficulty and greatness in what we do, and I’m sure every graduate before me can reflect on their time here and be content with everything achieved. 

• From entering the College gates for the first time in Year 7, we learned the ways of the College amongst threats of drought and bushfires . Year 8 saw us enter the COVID pandemic and lose time with each other, but we still managed to stay supportive of each other. 

• Year 9 and 10 had the benefits of gaining more freedom over our courses, but losing out more due to the floods, yet we faced this enormous challenge together showing our Marist spirit. 

• Years 11 and 12 have been our greatest uphill battle yet, and despite the hardest time so far, I'm proud that we have all stayed strong amidst everything. 

As we continue on our own journeys, we leave with the lessons of the Marist way, and this would not have been possible without the work of our religious leaders; Bishop Columba, Fr Barry, Father Arthur and other lay staff. Our lay religious coordinators and faith leadership have been essential to developing our Marist identity, and we have been instilled with the family spirit, love of work and simplicity that St Marcellin envisioned, which will serve us for the rest of our lives. 

To Caiti, in particular, I am so incredibly lucky to have you as a co-captain through my own challenges with leadership; especially unorganization and procrastination. Your patience, enthusiasm and kindness has been inspiring, and I couldn’t have asked for a greater leader. To the 2025 College Captains; Lachlan and Ruby, we offer our congratulations - we leave the College in excellent hands. 

Now directly, I wanted to speak to the entire student body of Red Bend for the final time. Thank you for your support of us as your College Captains. We could not have been more honoured and grateful to represent a diverse, capable and strong group of young people.  We can all be proud of the achievements made so far, and always strive for more. Before you know it, you too will be taking your final steps out of high school, so I challenge you to make the most of it: do something new, be kind, and get the hell out of your comfort zone. It’s been a long time coming, but we finally made it. 

"We would like to leave you with a final thought. For our younger students, take the time to enjoy the little things, because they’re what you’ll remember most. Hold on to the memories as they will hold on to you. Embrace every challenge as a chance to grow, and never underestimate the power of kindness—both to yourself and to others, that will never go out of style. And most importantly, be true to who you are. These years go by faster than you think, so make the most of them. The future’s bright and dazzling." - Caiti

The topic of “First Light” and bringing the best out in people is something I really relate to and I have spent a lot of time as a father in my life working out how to do that.

As Mr Dwyer mentioned I have had three daughters at Red Bend, two have left the school but one is squirming in her seat right now in this room.

As a father, I have had a great experience with Red Bend and have nothing but positive things to say about it. I love the uniform, the sport, the grounds, the access to teachers and staff, the house system, the pastoral care system, the study centre, all the extracurricular activities, the discipline, and most of all the student handbook.

They are all great reasons to send my children to Red Bend but I think the most important for me was I wanted to a strong part in my daughters education and I wanted them to grow up as close friends and I wanted them at home.

I love my girls more than anything in the world and despite raising them the same, they have turned out with unique and different personalities and I am proud of them all. You can have the same flour, the same butter, the same sugar, eggs and milk, but the cake will turn out slightly different each time…and that is ok!

So, what are some of the things we can do as fathers to bring out the best in people, to bring out the best in our children, to bring out their “First Light?” There are so many, but I will give you four that I think have worked for me when raising my three daughters:

Number 1

Let them be individuals. Let them be different to each other. Let them have different hobbies, interests or sports. Be very, very careful with language around comparing such as “I wish you were more like…”

Number 2

Lead by example. Be organised. Have a strong work ethic. Be well presented. Be someone your children want to be around and are proud of. Actions are so much more powerful than words.

Number 3

Trust them, and make sure you say it all the time. Build a relationship where your children will be ok telling you anything no matter how bad it may be. They will make mistakes and will have to work some things out themselves. Guess what fathers… we make mistakes as well, so when you do - tell your child and be honest back to them.

Number 4

Lucky last. Tell them that you love them and are proud of them every day. Congratulate and praise them every opportunity you can. There is no better confidence booster, no matter what stage of life you are at, than someone saying something nice about you.

In finishing, fathers, let’s be clear, I am definitely no expert, and I am learning all the time as my daughters go through different stages of life. Each father-child relationship is different. What may have worked for me, may not work for you. But one thing I do know, being a good father is a huge investment and it takes a lot of discipline and time, but is extremely rewarding.

At Red Bend Catholic College we are committed to high expectations for student learning, uniform and personal appearance.

As we come to the end of Term 3 I ask parents/carers refamiliarize themselves with our college uniform policy to ensure your child/ren return to Term 4 according to the College expectation. I would ask families to particularly support the College in students returning with appropriate haircuts and the correct application of makeup and nail polish.

Below is the policy for college uniform/appearance for your information.

Summer Girls Uniform

• College Summer Dress (at least knee length)

• White knee-high calf length socks

• Blue College embroidered V-neck jumper

• Black lace-up, polishable leather shoes with a heel. The shoe must cover the entire foot (College approved—not boots, slides, suede-type or slipper-type shoes/ballet flats)

• The College sun protective hat for outdoors activities 

• Only white t-shirts may be worn under shirts

Girls Appearance/Jewellery

• No visible make-up or nail polish is to be worn (including noticeable fake nails, fake eyelashes or eyelash extensions)

• Hair neat and tidy, if below the collar needs to be tied up

• Hair should be a neutral tone that is acceptable

• Hair accessories should be navy or white only, No patterned scarves, headbands or bandanas

• No visible tattoos

• No facial piercings

• Students may wear a single, simple neck chain, wrist watch, simple ring and one pair of sleepers or studs worn in the ear lobes only 

• Students will be asked to remove excess jewellery.

Summer Boys Uniform

• Grey College approved shorts

• Grey College knee high socks

• Black lace-up, polishable leather shoes with a heel. The shoe must cover the entire foot

• Blue shirt

• Blue College embroidered V-neck jumper

• The College sun protective hat for outdoors activities

• Only white t-shirts may be worn under shirts

Boys Appearance/Jewellery

• Clean shaven

• Hair styles and colours are to be appropriate to a professional work environment (for example, no ‘tracks’, undercuts, mullets, rat’s tails or extreme styles

• Hair needs to be above the collar and out of the eyes

• Haircuts should be no shorter than a Number 2

• Hair should be a neutral tone that is acceptable

• No visible tattoos

• No facial piercings

• Students may wear a single, simple neck chain, wrist watch, simple ring and one pair of sleepers or studs worn in the ear lobes only 

• Students will be asked to remove excess jewellery.

Girls/Boys Sports Uniform

• College approved tracksuit pants

• College Hoodie 

• College approved Navy-Blue shorts

• Sky blue polo shirt with College emblem

• College approved white socks

• Lace-up joggers (no canvas/skate shoes)

• The College sun protective hat for outdoors activities

• College approved all-weather sports jacket
  
  Boys Haircuts

A reminder of our Bus Expectations that have been reiterated to all students. If families who make use of the Buses to and from school could please discuss these behaviours with your child/ren to support a enjoyable ride to school for all students. 

A note from our Outgoing House Captains 2024 

As we close out another term, we find ourselves reflecting on the whirlwind of the past few months - a term filled with both challenges and triumphs, a true testament to our collective perseverance and growth.

This term's exams were, as always, a formidable challenge, testing not just our knowledge but our endurance and time management skills. The days of intensive study, late-night revisions, and the anxious anticipation of results were a reminder of how much effort and dedication each one of us pours into our academic journey. For many, the exams were a significant milestone, marking the culmination of months of hard work and preparation.

Amidst the rigours of exam preparation, our class skits provided a refreshing break and a unique way to celebrate. They were not only a fun diversion but watching our classmates' in the videos was a reminder of the diverse perspectives and talents within our community, each offering something valuable.

As the term progressed, it became increasingly evident how quickly time was slipping away. The realisation of how little time we had left before the end of the school year was both exhilarating and daunting. It served as a powerful motivator to make the most of every remaining moment, whether it was diving into final assessments or simply spending time with friends. This sense of urgency highlighted the importance of appreciating the present and making meaningful contributions in every aspect of our school life.

Thank you all for a memorable term filled with hard work, creativity, and camaraderie. Here’s to a well-deserved break and an exciting new chapter ahead!

Warm regards, Jess, Georgette + Lachlan

House report from our NEW 2025 House Captains, Ellie Parker, Cooper Holloway and Lachlan Reynolds

R-U-Okay Day and wellness week

The second Thursday of every September is R-U-Okay day, a very special reminder to check on those around you and emphasises the message we do not always know what is happening in another person's life. This day targets the mental health of individuals by firstly starting the conversation and allowing them the opportunity to express how they are really going instead of the over generalised “Good thanks Mate and you?”, “Not too bad”, “Getting there”, “Pretty Good” statements that we have all used. 

The step are as simple as:

1. Asking

2. Listening

3. Encourage actions

4. Checking in 

R-U-Ok day is a response to the challenge of changing Australia's behaviours and attitudes around mental health as “it is up to all of us to look out for those we care about and start a conversation that could change a life”. 

Red Bend has encouraged these teachings during Week 8, helping to get these messages across to the students through PC activities, delicious cake and words written by students in chalk across the cement located where we first walk into school. 

House Group Activities

During Creative Arts week, our students competed with their PC’s to create the most creative album cover. McAuley was super excited about our two PC classes that placed. Congratulations!