The weeks are moving fast and so are the days left for our 2026 Graduating class. They complete their trial exams on Monday and they are already looking forward to a few days of rest and then the final summit of the actual HSC exams starting in October. Please keep praying for them each day as they prepare for the end of their time here at school and the completion of their exams.
From the Headmaster
Archbishop Fisher gave a great Keynote address last Wednesday. What an opportunity to gather and listen, to affirm a lot of things we already do, but put down a challenge, a blueprint for us as a Catholic school.
He used this wonderful excerpt from the Old Testament about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the prophet Nehemiah to get us to think about our Redfield project and our involvement as individuals and families.
The prophet did not begin with some pre-conceived model or impose ‘solutions from above.’ Rather, like with the genesis of the Pared Schools, he began with prayer and fasting, seeking divine wisdom to supplement humans. He silently and reverently examined the physical but also the cultural and spiritual destruction around him. Then he “convened the families, assigned each of them a section of wall to rebuild, listened to their concerns [and] coordinated their efforts.” Jerusalem was reborn, “not through the initiative of one man, but through the shared responsibility of all: men, women, priests, artisans, heads of households and young people all played a part.” It was “an undertaking with God at the centre,” rebuilding relationships before rebuilding walls.
We must all strive together, with God at the centre, to make our world, our country, our culture, our school, our family, ourselves, better everyday.
We are continuing our focus on building a Culture of Excellence. We are focusing this term on academics, and our attention and behaviour in class. During this term the school will turn our students' attention to turning up every day, to each lesson ready to learn. The focus is on establishing very clear expectations and high standards for focus and behaviour in class as well as homework routines and class preparation. This all starts with respect for the others in the classroom.
Subject Selections for Years 9, 10 and 11 2027 are well underway. It is a momentous occasion in your son’s development; well-informed choices are crucial to his success in HSC and beyond.
Tomorrow, 15 August, is the Feast of the Assumption (and one of only two non-Sunday Holy Days of Obligation in Australia). Remember that we are celebrating a whole school Mass here next Tuesday, 18 August for our community to celebrate our 40th Anniversary.
Matthew Aldous, Headmaster
Mr Matthew Aldous, Headmaster
Staff News
Semir Kuljanin
Semir Kuljanin
We are very pleased to welcome Semir Kuljanin to Redfield College as an English teacher.
Semir has taught English across Years 7–12 in a variety of educational settings, including government, Catholic, independent and alternative education. Throughout his career, he has developed a particular passion for English and boys' education, and for creating classrooms where students feel supported, challenged and confident to achieve their best.
Semir believes that education is about more than academic achievement. For him, building positive relationships, developing character and helping students grow in confidence and resilience are an important part of helping young people flourish. His teaching combines clear and explicit instruction with modelling, scaffolding and high expectations, while taking the time to understand each student as an individual.
Alongside his classroom experience, Semir has worked as an HSC and NAPLAN marker, experiences which have strengthened his understanding of assessment and the skills students need to succeed.
Outside of school, Semir enjoys reading, hiking, gardening and spending time with family and friends. He is excited to be joining the Redfield community and looks forward to getting to know the students, families and staff while contributing to the College's commitment to forming young men of character, confidence and purpose.
Mr. Semir Kuljanin
From Diverse Learning
Increasing Awareness of Neurodiversity
Increasing Awareness of Neurodiversity
Our school community is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of neurodiversity, including conditions such as ADHD, Autism and many others. In this and future issues of The Red we will briefly explain one aspect of Neurodiversity and link to current information.
This week, we focus on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurological variation that influences executive functioning, concentration, and impulse regulation. Far from a deficit in effort, ADHD frequently brings remarkable creativity, high energy, and innovative problem-solving when supported with the appropriate strategies. We invite our parents and students to join us in embracing these diverse cognitive strengths, ensuring every young man in our community can thrive.
For more information regarding ADHD, please visit
https://adhdfoundation.org.au/understanding-adhd
Formation Front
Wellbeing Week is Coming in Week 7
Wellbeing Week is Coming in Week 7
Wellbeing and mental health play critical roles in the lives of our young men. It is important that we equip our students with the knowledge and skills to thrive and flourish in all aspects of their lives.
In Week 7, Redfield will host Wellbeing Week across the Primary and Secondary campuses.
The theme for the week is ‘ Looking after yourself, looking out for others’ and will focus on promoting the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health of our students.
During Wellbeing Week, students will participate in a variety of activities designed to encourage healthy habits, resilience, positive relationships, and looking out for others. These activities include:
- Year-appropriate wellbeing workshops to raise awareness of and develop practical wellbeing skills to assist our students. These have been prepared by members of our College Student Wellbeing Team and will be presented by our staff.
- ‘Counsellor’s Corner’ sessions presented to our Year 5 and 6 students and Secondary students by our school counsellors, Ms Laura Fimmano (in Primary) and Mr John Soulemezis (in Secondary), on a range of issues such as friendship, kindness, coping skills, self-care and looking out for others.
- Spiritual meditations delivered to students in Years 7 to 12 by our chaplaincy team during their regular Religion lessons, emphasising the importance of faith to our wellbeing.
- A variety of fun physical challenges and team-building activities to help foster collegiality and unity amongst our students, including chalk murals in Primary, sweet treats to share with a friend at recess, lunchtime and interhouse games, house trivia, staff-versus-student events and a gratitude wall.
Of particular importance for parents to note is:
5. “Looking Out for Others” Mufti Day on Wednesday, 2 September , when all boys in Years 2 to 12 are asked to come to school in casual clothes. On this day each students is asked to think of others by:
a) make a gold coin donation with monies raised being donated to St Vincent De Paul Society to support their valuable work helping those in need within our community AND
b) bringing donation items in support of St Vincent De Paul Homeless Appeal and the creation of snack packs for the homeless.
Each class has been allocated a specific item These are listed below. To ease with collection:
- Primary students are to bring their items into school during Weeks 4 to Week 7 and place them in the boxes in their classrooms .
-
Secondary students
are to bring their items to school on
Wednesday 2 September (Week 7)
Their donation items will be collected on entry to school by students from our Mission and Service Team.
This will provide a great opportunity for our Redfield men to give to others.
6. Lion’s Lunch barbecue on Thursday, 3 September . Nothing brings the community together better than food! On Thursday, 3 September, the College will host a sausage sizzle for all students in Years 2 to 12. There will be no cost for this.
7. Fun Thursday Interhouse Challenge on Thursday, 3 September. Years 7 to 10 students are to come to school in their Redfield sports uniform and bring their House shirt ready to compete against their rival Houses in a range of challenges and games after lunch.
The goal for the week is to provide students with the tools they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
It is shaping up to be a great event.
Mr David Vassallo, Deputy Headmaster, Head of Pastoral Care & Service Learning
Upcoming Events
40th Anniversary Mass
40th Anniversary Mass
Father's Day Stall
Father's Day Stall
Father's Day Breakfast
Father's Day Breakfast
Father's Day Raffle
Father's Day Raffle
From the Primary School
Primary Merit Awards
Primary Merit Awards
From the Secondary School
Lion Awards
Lion Awards
CSDA Debating Competition 2026
CSDA Debating Competition 2026
The CSDA debating competition of 2026 has now come to an end. It was the most successful debating season in Redfield’s history.
To begin, let’s celebrate the most scintillating achievement of this most successful season ever. When the preliminary rounds of the competition began at the start of Term 2, many of our debaters dared to hope for a journey ahead that would carry them to unprecedented achievements. For most, this meant making it to the knockout phase of the competition for the first time ever. Some may have been so bold as to dream of reaching the uncharted heights of a quarter final place, or maybe even the semi finals. But who could have been so spectacularly and quixotically far-sighted as to have foreseen their destiny lying, not only in a place at the Grand Final of this unrivalled debating competition comprising the brightest students from one-hundred-and-ten schools across the state, but a winner of everything? Who???
In the entire stretch of eighteen years during which I’ve been associated with CSDA debating at Redfield, two teams on two separate occasions came close to the ultimate prize of winning the competition. The first was the Year 11 team of
Thomas Bell, Charles De Souza
and
James Tudehope
in 2009. The second occasion was the Year 9 team of
Adrian Nader, Isaac Busch
and
Jamie Lui
in 2020. Alas, on both of those occasions those teams, after reaching the Grand Final, lost at the final hurdle. This year, however, our Year 9 team of
Leonardo Z, Joseph C
and
Daniel N
(with
John-Paul C
acting as reserve) made it all the way to the Grand Final again (and of a vastly expanded competition to boot) and they won it all!
I’m afraid I won’t be able to adequately describe how monumental this achievement is. Due to the fact that the CSDA debating competition involves the best and brightest students from one-hundred-and-ten schools from across the state, making it likely the largest such debating competition in the whole of Australasia, this is likely to be the greatest extra-curricular competitive achievement – sport or otherwise – that our school has ever experienced. It really is that staggering. I had the pleasure of watching our debaters in action on that Friday evening, 31 July, and I, like everyone else in attendance, was treated to a masterclass in persuasion and logic, and I was also privileged to be able to celebrate with the victorious trio afterwards at the award ceremony, as shown in the included photos.
Other highlights from this season that deserve mention include the stellar run of our Year 7 debating team, who were Conference Final champions and made it all the way to the semi finals of the same expanded competition before being knocked out. Nonetheless, it was an amazing performance for the Year 7s in their first participation in the competition ever, with even better things to come, no doubt. The main three participants of the Year 7 team were
Pius L, Gabriel M
and
Sayan M
. Additionally, the Year 8 team had a great run this year, making it to the second round of the knockout stage. Finally, credit goes to our Year 12 team in their final year as participants in the CSDA. A just world would have seen them progress to the elimination rounds as well after having sustained only one defeat (and a rather dubious one) in the preliminary rounds, but a quirk in the draw meant that their final season was cut short with the end of the preliminary rounds.
All that’s left is the special thanks I wish to extend firstly to the staff members who have come along to support our students at various times throughout the season. Particular thanks goes to
Mr Bradley McDonald
and
Mr Christopher Cullen
for their dedication throughout the season, because they gave up a great many evenings and lunchtimes to help with the adjudication of debates and with training.
Mr Joshua Martin
also helped out with lunchtime training.
I’d also like to thank all of the parents for their support over the course of the season. In particular, I wish to extend very warm thanks to
Mr and Mrs Busch
for their extremely generous support of Redfield debating throughout the many years their sons were involved in the activity. Few people know how selfless the Busches have been in particular by provisioning the many debating teams with equipment at the start of every season. The school is highly indebted on account of this and the other many manifestations of their generosity. Mr and Mrs Busch, we are eternally grateful for your kindness and support.
Jakov Pavlovic, Debating Coordinator
Year 8 Science
Year 8 Science
The Year 8 science classes were very honoured to welcome a special guest speaker to explain the circulatory system and the equipment used in their profession. They have given up their time to share their knowledge and experience for us and we are extremely grateful for that. The guest speaker talked about the human heart, labelling the different parts (left ventricle, right ventricle etc.) and its functionality in the body. They also informed us about pacemakers, devices that help a heart beat at a normal rate and rhythm. Not only that, the guest speaker also talked about how to install these pacemakers in the body, sharing with us the experience they have doing it. We thank them for giving up their time to share valuable insight and knowledge into the circulatory system and we highly appreciate it.
Oliver F, Year 8
Dr Caroline Atalla visited our Year 8 science class and delivered an engaging and informative lecture about heart conditions, the structure and function of the human heart, and the role of pacemakers and defibrillators in supporting patients with heart related diseases. Her talk gave us greater insight into how the heart works and why surgically implanted devices are so important in the medical world. She also brought in real wires that would be used to connect a pacemaker or defibrillator to the heart, which made the presentation all the more captivating. We really appreciated her time and effort to come and talk to us about this topic.
Daniel F, Year 8
Assessments Calendar for Term 3
Assessments Calendar for Term 3
Music
Redfield On Stage
Redfield On Stage
Library
Bookweek 2026
Bookweek 2026
Community
Chapel Flower Donations
Chapel Flower Donations
Announcements
2026 Parent Communications
You can view correspondence from the College here
Student Forms and Documents
You can view Student documents and assessment booklets for Years 7 to 12 here
College Counsellors
Secondary School - John Soulemezis - john.soulemezis@redfield.nsw.edu.au
Primary School - Laura Fimmano - laura.fimmano@redfield.nsw.edu.au
Engage Counsellor Referral Form - https://tinyurl.com/Hills-Counsellor-Referral
Redfield 2026 Term Dates
Term 1: Monday, 2 February - Thursday, 2 April
Term 2: Tuesday, 21 April - Thursday, 25 June
Term 3: Tuesday, 21 July - Friday, 25 September
Term 4: Tuesday, 13 October - Thursday, 10 December
Redfield 2027 Term Dates
Term 1: Monday, 1 February - Friday, 9 April
Term 2: Wednesday, 28 April - Thursday, 24 June
Term 3: Tuesday, 20 July - Friday, 24 September (Pupil free day - Friday, 6 August)
Term 4: Tuesday, 12 October - Thursday, 9 December
Midford Uniform Shop
Midford is the appointed agent for uniforms at Redfield. To access Midford's online store, please go to https://www.midford.com.au/ and use the school passphrase
Redfield1986.
Home delivery is available for a fee of $15. You will receive an email once your order has been
processed. Online orders will only be processed on Tuesdays. Phone 9651 0313. Click on this link for the
current price list.
Bus and Route
Redfield has a private bus and route travelling between Baulkham Hills and Dural, via Kellyville, Beaumont Hills and Glenhaven every morning and afternoon. Find out more and book your son a spot here.
For the latest CDC NSW Travel Advise, click on this link.
Engage Quick Links
Click here to access Engage
Click on the links below to complete
the relevant forms in Engage:
● To update your contact
details
● Submit an Absentee Form
● Submit an Extended Leave Form(for holidays, weddings, etc.)
●
Submit an Exemption From School Form (for external activities,
medical appointments, funerals etc.)
For more information on how to use the Engage Parent Portal please
visit our Parent Portal Resource Site
Redfield Staff Directory
Click on this link for staff roles and email addresses.
Parent e-Handbook
Click here for information on College Administration (School Uniforms, Student Attendance, Communication with the School, Transport Options and more)