School Newsletter

ADMINISTRATION
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Phone: (02) 9651 4066
Email: admin@redfield.nsw.edu.au

IT HELPDESK
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Email: helpdesk@pared.edu.au

CHAPLAIN
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 4.00pm
Email: fr.philip.elias@redfield.nsw.edu.au

LIBRARY
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Study Club: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:30pm to 5:00pm
Note: Study Club does not run during the first and last weeks of each term.

UNIFORM SHOP
Hours: Tuesdays from 8:00am to 4:00pm
Phone: (02) 9651 0313
Online orders: redfield@midford.com.au
Appointments: midford.as.me/RedfieldCollege
Holiday trading hours will be published via The Red newsletter and on the Redfield website under Redfield Parents .
Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, cheque and cash are accepted.

Administration Office
If provided with sufficient time, the Administration Office can relay important messages to your son(s).
Phone: 9651 4066

Teachers
Discuss any queries you may have about your son by emailing his teachers to organise an appointment.

Mentors
Parent-mentor meetings take place once a term. Mentors are available by appointment.

School Diary
Each student receives a school diary, which is checked regularly by teachers for any messages. You are expected to sign and check your son's diary for any communication from the school once a week.

Newsletter
The Red is published and emailed to parents every fortnight during the school term. Past issues are available on the Redfield website.
Link: redfield.nsw.edu.au/newsletter

Calendar
The Redfield College calendar includes a comprehensive list of important dates for the year and is published at the start of Term 1.
Link: redfield.nsw.edu.au/redfield-parents/under 'Parents Calendar'

Engage Parent Portal
Parent information, events, newsletters, e-forms and links to student resource lists can be found in the Engage Parent Portal.

For new families, log-in details will be sent via email two weeks prior to the start of school.

Quick Links:

Mr Matthew Aldous - Headmaster

Mr David Vassallo - Deputy Headmaster, Head of Pastoral Care & Service Learning

Mr Daryl Castellino - Director of Teaching & Learning

Mr Frank Romeo - Director of Administration, Head of Music

Mr Darren Corke - Head of Primary

Mr Chris Tanna - Director of Formation, Head of Secondary Religion

Fr Phil Elias - College Chaplain

Mr Jason Hatcher - Deputy Head of Primary, Stage 1 Coordinator (Year 2)

Mr Francisco Nodrid - Primary Formation Leader, Stage 2 Coordinator (Years 3 and 4)

Mr Benjamin Nolan - Stage 3 Coordinator (Years 5 and 6)

Mr Stewart Hannan - Stage 4 Coordinator (Years 7 and 8)

Mr Chehade Richa - Stage 5 Coordinator (Years 9 and 10)

Mr Stefan Drevikovsky - Stage 6 Coordinator (Years 11 and 12)

Mr Jason Ursino - Head of Curriculum, Head of Mathematics

Daily Mass
Mass is celebrated daily from Monday to Friday at 10:20am during the school term.
Note: The Mass time is subject to change depending on school events.
Mass is not available during school holidays.

Reconciliation

Confession is available most days from 8:00am to 8.30am and from 3:00pm to 3:30pm, or by appointment with the College Chaplain.

Whole-School Masses
Whole-School Masses are celebrated on the following days:

• at the beginning of the academic year;
• Ash Wednesday;
• the Feast of the Assumption.

First Friday
Solemn Benediction and Exposition is celebrated on the first Friday of each month during school terms.

Annual Celebrations

• Eucharistic Procession is held annually to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.
• The Chaplaincy hosts an annual family picnic and Rosary in May.

Morning Arrival

• No supervision is provided before 8:00am. If arriving before 8:00am, students must be supervised by an adult or older student.
• If arriving to school late, students must report to the Student Services Desk in the Administration Office to sign in and stamp their diary. Students are not to go directly to class without checking in. Students will be marked as late on the school roll.

Afternoon Departure

• Supervision ends at 3:20pm. After this time, students are to be collected from the Library area.
• Car pick-up: Students are to wait at the front of the school outside the Administration or Primary buildings.
  • Pick-up line: There is a maximum time limit of three minutes in the pick-up line. Do not leave your vehicle unattended.
  • Parking: If staying longer than three minutes, please park in the designated parking area and use the pedestrian crossings.
• Students travelling by bus should go directly to the bus stops after classes.
  • Once a teacher on duty arrives, students may access the Old Northern Road bus stop through the pedestrian gate. Students are to use pedestrian crossings when accessing the Old Northern Road bus stop.  

Food Guidelines

Crunch & Sip (Primary only)

• Primary students are to bring fresh fruit or veggies (cut into bite-sized pieces) and a bottle of water each day.

Lunch

• Redfield College does not provide canteen facilities. As such, students must bring a healthy packed lunch each day.
• Occasionally, food is sold at lunchtime to raise funds for various causes. Details will be communicated for each event.

Nut-Aware School

• While we cannot eliminate all allergens or claim to be nut-free, we are a Nut Aware School. We have implemented practical, age-appropriate strategies to minimise exposure to known allergens.
• Students are asked not to bring nut products like peanut butter, Nutella or muesli bars with nuts to school.

Medical Care Guidelines

Redfield staff prioritise student health and wellbeing. We partner with parents to ensure the best care for students.

In case of illness

• If your child feels unwell during the school day, we will monitor him closely.
• We will contact you if necessary, so please keep your contact details updated .
• We will inform teachers if your son is upset or unwell to help us provide personalised care.

Medication

Guidelines for Requesting an Absence

• All absence requests must be submitted via Engage.
  • Absentee Form
  • Extended Leave Form (for holidays, weddings, etc.)
  • Exemption From School Form (for external activities, medical appointments, funerals etc.)
• For tutorials on how to use the Engage Parent Portal, please visit our Parent Portal Resource Site .

Decision Process for Extended Leave and Exemption From School Applications

• The Headmaster will review applications and decide whether to grant the leave.
• If approved, you will receive a Certificate of Exemption or a Certificate of Extended Leave .
• If denied, you will receive a note stating the absence will be marked as Unjustified Leave on your son's record.
• Note: Student absences during non-holiday periods are now automatically recorded as absences unless under extraordinary circumstances.

Parents must review and update all details for each of their sons before the start of each year .

Accurate information is crucial, especially in emergencies, as the school relies on these details to contact parents quickly.

Change of Contact Details

As part of the NSW School Vaccination Program, the following vaccinations are available to students free of charge at school each year:

• Year 7: Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTpa) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV);
• Year 10: Meningococcal ACWY.

Online Consent

• Consent for school vaccinations must be given online through Service NSW.
• Parents/carers will need their Service NSW log-in and Medicare card.
• Benefits include easy updates, SMS notifications and quicker vaccination record uploads to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Support for Parents/Carers:

Guidance for parents/carers on the online consent process is available at NSLHD-PHUSchoolVaccinationProgram@health.nsw.gov.au or by calling (02) 9485 6971 .

For more details, visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination .

Redfield aims to work in partnership with parents to form each student's character, educating for personal and academic excellence. The College is committed to a strong culture of mutual trust and support among parents, teachers, mentors, all staff members and students.

The Parent Code of Conduct has been developed so that parents and those with parental responsibilities are aware of and meet the College's expectations with regard to their interactions with the school, its teachers, mentors and all staff members, other parents and students. Adherence to this code is important to promote positive and productive relationships within the College community.

To view all details, click here: Parent Code of Conduct .

At Redfield, each year group has a set of Class Parents .

• Their role is to create a family spirit within the College by fostering friendships amongst the families.
• They also aim to promote unity and communication between the parents and the College .
• Class Parents coordinate support for families in need.

Pioneered in Australia by PARED, mentoring fosters a partnership between parents and Redfield College to ensure all students receive a holistic and effective education.

Educational Philosophy

• Redfield’s core belief is that parents are the first and most important educators of their children.
• A close and constant link between the school and parents is crucial.
• This link is embodied by the student's personal mentor.

Mentor-Mentee Relationship

• Mentors meet with students every two weeks.
• Mentors focus on developing the student's independent thinking, virtues and good habits needed for life.
• Mentors build rapport and friendship with students, offering personal examples, guidance and advice.

Parental Involvement

• Both parents are strongly encouraged to attend parent-mentor meetings and work as a united team.
• Preparation for meetings involves noting discussion points and identifying the student's areas for growth.

Additional Support

Mentors are always available by appointment to discuss any concerns parents may have.

Redfield's Character Education program involves students learning the meaning and practical application of virtues in their studies, play and family life.

Virtues: At Redfield, developing human virtues is a priority for fostering self-direction and strong character. Virtues are essentially good habits. Sincerity and generosity are key virtues emphasised at Redfield.

Motto: Each fortnight, classes adopt a motto to try to live by. The Redfield College motto, Veritas Liberabit Vos ('The truth will set you free'), reflects our focus on truth and freedom.

Mentorship: Mentors help students set goals to reinforce strategies for living out the virtues.

Family Environment: Families are encouraged to nurture virtue at home by reinforcing the messages and lessons taken from school.

Father & Son Camps are important events at the College, and it is expected that dads attend each year.

• Father & Son Camps are held for students in Years 2 to 8.
• These camps provide a wonderful opportunity for fathers and sons to spend quality time with each other and are the perfect occasion to meet other fathers.
• College mentors and teachers also attend these camps.
• Attendance at Father & Son Camps is strongly encouraged.

Father & Son Camp Dates 2026

Year 2 - Saturday, 21 March to Sunday, 22 March

Year 3 - Saturday, 7  March to Sunday, 8 March

Year 4 - Saturday, 17 October to Sunday, 18 October

Year 5 - Saturday, 28 February to Sunday, 1 March

Year 6 - Saturday, 7 November to Sunday, 8 November

Year 7 - Saturday, 14 March to Sunday, 15 March

Year 8 - Saturday, 14 November to Sunday, 15 November

Dates are also included in your son's Student Diary.

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• Students are expected to complete homework every night.
• Homework diaries require a parent's signature and are countersigned by Years 2 to 6 Class Teachers weekly.
• Students in Year 8 and above are expected to study nightly in addition to set homework.

Suggested Nightly Time Allocation for Homework and Study

PRIMARY

Year 2: 20 minutes + 10 minutes reading

Years 3 & 4: 30 minutes + 15 minutes reading

Year 5: 40 minutes + 20 minutes reading

Year 6: 45 to 60 minutes + 20 minutes reading

SECONDARY

Year 7 & 8: 1.5 hours

Year 9: 2 hours

Year 10: 2.5 hours

Year 11 & 12: 3 hours

Study Club provides a quiet, supervised and supportive environment for Redfield students to complete homework, assignments and study.

Support
Students can receive assistance from Study Club Coordinators and senior student volunteers.

Availability
Study Club is open to all students at Redfield College.

Schedule

• Study Club is held in the Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm, except for the first and last weeks of each term.

Attendance
Students must present their diary to receive an attendance stamp during Study Club sessions.

Contact
For questions, contact the Study Club Coordinator by calling (02) 9651 0327 or emailing studyclub@redfield.nsw.edu.au.

Redfield encourages a supportive study environment by prioritising face-to-face interactions and minimising digital distractions. Our policy aims to guide students in the safe and responsible use of mobile devices, with the support of parents.

The Mobile Devices Policy applies to all students at Redfield College, and covers the use of all mobile devices, including phones, smartwatches, portable music devices and tablets on College grounds and during off-campus activities (sports days, excursions, camps).

All sporting activities and sports representation are conducted under the authority of the Head of Sport.

There are four College Houses: Altair , Castor , Hydrus and Sirius .

New students are allocated to a House when they start at Redfield College and remain with that House for the duration of their enrolment.

For information on House allocation, please enquire with the Enrolments Office.

• Email: enrol@redfield.nsw.edu.au
• Phone: (02) 9651 3060

Clipboard Overview

Clipboard is a software platform the College has engaged to help our community manage our co-curricular program. This software enables students and families to sign up for activities including sporting teams, music tuition and music ensembles.

Login: Redfield Clipboard Portal

Resources from the Parent Portal Resource Site :

• Using Clipboard for Redfield Sport and Music
• Logging in for Parents and Carers
• A Guide to Activity Selection

At all times, the College reserves the right to determine and enforce the following parameters:

Hair

• Hair must be neat, tidy, clean, not excessively long and off the face.
• Hairstyles should be moderate, without sharp contrasts between shaved and longer sections.
• Hair colour should be natural.
• Students must be clean-shaven.

Shoes

• Students must wear polished black leather school shoes.
• Boots and black joggers are not permitted.

Jewellery

• Bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings and any piercings are not permitted.

Timetables for buses transporting students to Redfield are available direct from the bus companies:

• CDC NSW for Hills District school buses
  • cdcbus.com.au
  • Redfield College Bus Timetable
• Buses via Transport NSW for State Transit Buses and State Rail operating in numerous areas
  • www.transportnsw.info
  • Routes for Redfield College Bus Bay, Old Northern Road
  • Routes for Old Northern Road opposite Redfield College

Written Notice

• A full school term’s notice of the withdrawal of a student from the school must be given to the Headmaster in writing.
• The date that contact is made with the Headmaster regarding a student's withdrawal is regarded as the official date of notice.
• If this notice is not given, one term’s fees will be charged in lieu of notice.

Balance of Fees

• The fees owing will be calculated from the fee schedule immediately following the date of notice.
• If a student is withdrawn, any balance due to the school must be paid in fullon or before the student’s final day of attendance.

A copy of our Withdrawal Policy can be found in the following documents:

1. Redfield Enrolment Policy
2. Letter of Offer upon enrolment
3. Terms and conditions in the Annual Fees Letter.

Our student management system is called Engage.  The Engage Parent Portal is where you can access term calendars, timetables, forms, school reports, the absentee system.

You will receive a separate email with your family's portal login details after Term 4, 2025 .

New parents will receive a username and password for the Engage Parent Portal .

This portal provides access to vital information such as:

• parent and student contact details;
• medical records;
• attendance;
• academic results; and
• feedback.

For any issues with logins or passwords, please contact the school by calling (02) 9651 4066 or emailing admin@redfield.nsw.edu.au.

1. Set up your Edstart Plus account by visiting www.edstart.com.au/pared .
2. You can select the frequency of your fee payments (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, termly or annually), as well as the date you would like to be charged and your preferred payment method.
3. Edstart will contact you to finalise the setup for your Edstart Plus account.

The School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) provides eligible school students with free or subsidised travel between home and school on public transport.

More information: Transport for NSW PDF

School Opal Cards

School Opal Cards are only valid for use between home and school on the transport operators specified in your original application (only one approved return journey per school day) and can only be used between the hours of 6:30am and 7:00pm for school students. For personal travel, children aged 16 years and under should use a Child/Youth Opal card (see below).

To apply for a School Opal Card, go to transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply . School Opal Cards will then be sent directly to the student’s nominated address.

Child/Youth Opal Cards
Senior students will need to have their own separate Child/Youth Opal Card for excursions. These can be purchased at a train station or applied for online.

More information: School Student Travel

School Term Bus Pass
If a student does not qualify for free school travel, you may be able to buy a School Term Bus Pass.

Minimum distance
Free school travel is available to students who live outside of the following distances from their school.