Reminder – Parent Focus Groups

4 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

Parent Focus Groups

Developing Strong Minds and Gentle Hearts

I hope this letter finds you and your family well and your son/s are enjoying the school year to date. As we continue through the school year, I am reaching out to seek your valuable feedback and insights about our school community.

As mentioned in my communication at the beginning of the year, my first priority is to know our students, staff, and parent community. I believe that by listening to your stories and understanding what makes Marist College Eastwood special, we can honour our history and the values that set us apart while identifying opportunities for growth.

Your perspective as parents is invaluable. You see aspects of our school’s impact that may not be immediately visible within our classrooms, and your insights will help shape our path forward.

We currently provide our parents with a forum in which to support and provide feedback via the Parent Community Group (via once per term meetings). I would encourage you to attend our Term 2 meeting if you are interested. 

However, to provide an additional forum and as a way of further introducing Melinda Alvarez (Assistant Principal) and myself to the school, we will be offering parents the opportunity to meet on the following occasions in the College Learning Centre in Term 1 to help us better understand the views of our Parent community. The sessions are scheduled as follows:

• Wednesday 25 March (9.00am-10.00am)
• Thursday 26 March (9.00am-10.00am)
• Tuesday 31 March (8.00am-9.00am)

To be part of one of these focus groups, please provide your details in this Google Form. Once you have registered for a session further details will be provided. Spaces for each session are limited.

The focus of our conversations will include:

• What aspects of Marist College Eastwood do you value most?
• Where do you see opportunities for improvement?
• How can we better support your child’s educational journey?
• As a parent, what do you want to know more about to support your son?

I look forward to meeting many of you at upcoming school events. Working together, I am confident we can build an even stronger Marist College Eastwood culture that ensures all students become the best version of themselves.

Yours sincerely,

Mr David Sullivan

Principal

Harmony Week

6 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are pleased to inform you that our students will be participating in Harmony Week, a national celebration that recognises Australia’s cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.

Harmony Week will take place at the College in Week 9 – 23-27 March, and throughout the week students will engage in a range of activities in Homeroom designed to celebrate the many cultures and backgrounds within our school community. The message we want our students to understand is that everyone belongs. It’s important to recognise that sometimes behaviour intended as ‘banter’ can still hurt others. When this happens, the intention doesn’t matter — what matters is how the words or actions are received.

As part of our Harmony Week celebrations, we invite students to wear mufti clothing along with a sport jersey that reflects their cultural heritage, or they may choose to wear a touch of orange on Friday, 27 March. Orange is the official colour of Harmony Week and represents communication, meaningful conversations, and mutual respect. As always with mufti day events, students are to wear fully closed shoes, no slides/thongs/crocs are to be worn.

In addition to wearing mufti, we are encouraging students to bring a gold coin donation for Project Compassion. Donations will be collected during Flag Raising.

We encourage families to talk with their children about the importance of inclusivity, kindness, and celebrating differences. Your support helps us build a school environment where every student feels valued and included.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards

Linda Codamo
Director of Wellbeing

Year 7 – Year 7 Camp

6 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers

During Week 1 of Term 2, Year 7 will be attending an outdoor adventure camp at Sydney Academy of Sport, Narrabeen. School camp is compulsory for all students to attend and the benefits of participation are considered very valuable. The purpose of the camp is to provide an opportunity for students to:

• Participate in challenging outdoor activities, which would not normally be available, such as canoeing, archery, raft building and low ropes.
• Cooperate with teachers and peers outside the classroom environment.
• Develop independence by being away from home but still in a safe environment.

The camp will take place from Monday 20 April to Wednesday 22 April (Term 2, Week 1). The centre offers great facilities in a wonderful setting. The program is well organised and very professionally and safely executed.

Details of the camp are as follows:

Please also note that a Nurse from Kemp Recruitment has been appointed and will administer any medication students require.

Parents are reminded that the camp is a compulsory part of your son’s education. If your son is unable to attend camp, please contact your son’s Leader of Wellbeing Mr Stephen Flew as soon as possible. We are all looking forward to a wonderful camp experience. Thank you for entrusting your son to our care.

Yours sincerely,

Ms Linda Codamo                                                      Mr Stephen Flew

Director of Wellbeing                                               Leader of Wellbeing – Year 7

Year 12 – 2026 Parent/Teacher and Student Conferences

Letter from the Director of Learning & Teaching

6 March 2026

Dear Year 12 Parents/Carers

Year 12 Parent/Teacher and Student Conferences

The Parent/Teacher and Student Conferences on Tuesday 31 March from 1:15pm-7:00pm will provide you the opportunity to discuss your son’s progress.  Parents can support their son through an honest conversation about his learning and ensure that specific strategies from their son’s teachers are applied in the home environment.

These Parent/Teacher and Student Conferences will be the last formal opportunity to meet with your son’s teachers to discuss his learning progress and they will be taking place face-to-face in the Montagne Centre.

An important part of learning at Marist College Eastwood is feedback that will inform students on how well they are progressing with their learning goals and the steps needed to improve.  Often this will afford an opportunity for affirmation of your son’s efforts so far. Optimal learning performances will be achieved by students who:

• Reflect critically on their learning goals and lead the discussion on strategies to enhance their learning.
• Seek feedback from their teachers on ways to improve their achievement in all future tasks.
• Attend all scheduled classes and engage with the classwork in every lesson.
• Complete all assigned class work and homework and seek feedback on the quality of the work.
• Ensure that time is spent each day on exercise and relaxation, or stress-reducing activities.

All Parent/Teacher Conferences will be booked via Compass.  The Compass portal will be open to make bookings for interviews on Monday 23 March at 8.30am and closes Monday 30 March at 8.00am.  To book interviews please login to Compass, select the Community tab (2 heads) and then select Conferences.

Yours sincerely

Ms Melissa Williams

Director of Learning & Teaching

Sport Report

Please click on link below:

Sport Report – Week 6 Term 1

EVET Courses – Invitation to Southern Cross College Open Day

6 March 2026 

Dear Parents/Carers & Students,

As this is my first communication with many of you, I would like to briefly introduce myself. My name is Mr. Benjamin Nguyen, and I serve as the Careers Adviser for our students. 

My role is to provide comprehensive careers guidance, helping students explore post-school options, understand their pathways for HSC and beyond, and connect them with opportunities like the Externally Delivered Vocational Education and Training (EVET) programs outlined in this letter. I am here to support your child in making informed decisions about their future career and educational journey.

Are you interested in gaining industry-recognised qualifications while completing your HSC?

Students from Marist College Eastwood are warmly invited to the Southern Cross Catholic College Open Day. This event is specifically designed for students and families interested in EVET (Externally Delivered Vocational Education and Training) pathways.

Event Details: 

• When: Tuesday 10 March 2026
• Time: 5:00 pm–7:00 pm
• Where: Southern Cross Catholic College Campus – 17 Cromer Street, Burwood
• Details: https://sccc.syd.catholic.edu.au/visit-our-school 

Why Choose an EVET Pathway?

Southern Cross Catholic College is a premier hub for vocational excellence, offering specialised facilities and expert instruction in a wide range of industries. Whether you are aiming for a trade, a creative career, or a role in healthcare, SCCC programs provide the perfect bridge between school and the workforce.

Explore specialised training in:

• Trades & Technical: Automotive, Construction, Furniture Making, Information & Digital Technology.
• Service Industries: Hospitality, Baking, Retail Services, Business Services.
• Creative Arts: Community Dance, Theatre & Events, Music Industry, Live Production and Technical Services (Entertainment).
• Health & Education: Human Services (Acute Care & Individual Support), Early Childhood Education & Care, School-Based Education Support.

What to Expect on the Night

• Tour the Facilities: See our industry-standard workshops, commercial kitchens, and studios.
• Meet the Experts: Speak with VET coordinators and teachers about how these courses contribute to your HSC.
• Enrolment Support: The Principal and staff will be on hand to answer questions regarding the enrolment process and course requirements.

A Note for Students: This is your chance to see exactly where you’ll be training and to ask the “tough” questions about workload, industry placements, and career outcomes.

I  look forward to seeing you there and helping you take the first step toward your professional future.

Yours faithfully

Mr Benjamin Nguyen
Careers Adviser

2026 Address Collection Notice for Parents

2028 Enrolments/Open Day

6 March 2026

Dear Parents/Carers

2028 Enrolments/Open Day

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Open Day! It was a pleasure meeting you and sharing what makes Marist College Eastwood such a special community.

For those ready to join us, enrolments are now officially open for Year 7 2028 (current Year 5 students). You can submit your application here:

Enrol Now – Marist College Eastwood

To assist you with the online process, both Instructions and FAQs are available on the portal. If you missed our Open Day or have any outstanding questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Enrolment Office directly – enrolments@maristeastwood.catholic.edu.au

Don’t miss out, enrolments close on 27 March 2026. Apply now!

Kind regards

Mrs Varteny Khoudesian

Enrolment Secretary

Happy Families – Dr Justin Coulson

Artists’ Evolution: Unleash your Voice

All Years – 2026 Term 1 – Artists’ Evolution – Unleash Your Voice – from Sydney Catholic Schools

School Student Travel Information for Parents & Students

Youth Week Events at City of Ryde Libraries

Reminder – Illness & Misadventure Application Process

27 February 2026

Dear Parents/Carers of Years 7–12 Students,

Illness and Misadventure Application Process

This is a friendly reminder about the Illness and Misadventure Application process for assessment tasks. As shared previously, the application is now available through an online form, making the process more accessible and efficient. This applies to any student in Years 7–12 who is unable to complete or submit an assessment task on time due to illness, misadventure, or other approved circumstances. 

To assist with navigating these procedures, we have developed a clear, question and answer style Assessment Procedures Guide for Years 7–12. This one-page resource outlines common scenarios, what action is required, and the consequences of not following the process. We encourage all families to review this document to ensure they are familiar with the expectations around assessment tasks.

Key information to remember;

• If a student is absent or unable to submit or complete an assessment task, an Assessment Illness/Misadventure Form must be submitted by a parent or carer using the online form.
• Documentation must be submitted when completing this form:
  • Years 7–8: A signed parent/carer note is required.
  • Years 9–12: A Doctor’s Certificate or official documentation must be submitted.

• The form must be submitted within five school days of the task due date.
• Students must be prepared to submit or sit the task on their first day back unless advised otherwise.

We thank you for your support in ensuring that all students are given a fair and consistent opportunity to complete their assessments. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

 Ms Monique Brame
 Director of Curriculum and NESA Accreditation

Reminder – Years 7 & 9 – 2026 NAPLAN Testing

27 February 2026 

Dear Year 7 and 9 Parents/Carers

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy 2026

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2026 for Years 7 and 9 students will be held in March. NAPLAN tests assess student knowledge and skills in Writing, Reading, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. 

All students are expected to participate in the NAPLAN tests. During the test window, catch-up tests will be available for individual students who are absent on test days. 

NAPLAN will be run in an online format. NAPLAN Online will provide better assessment, more precise results and faster turnaround of information. NAPLAN Online features ‘tailored testing’ which gives students questions that are more suited to their ability – resulting in better assessment and more precise results. Support can be arranged for students with disabilities if the student regularly uses similar support for classroom assessment tasks. 

The College will administer NAPLAN in Week 7 and 8 of this term. The testing will start on Wednesday 11 March to Tuesday 17 March. Below is our  timetable for this testing period. 

To ensure test security and to prevent student access to the internet and spell-check applications during NAPLAN Online, your son will install the NAPLAN Lockdown Browser on his laptop on the first day of testing. All students are required to have a fully charged laptop and bring headphones for each of the tests. 

Later in the year, you will receive your child’s personal NAPLAN report. The report will describe your child’s particular skills in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and Numeracy. The report will also show how your child performed in relation to national minimum standards. More information about the tests is available NAPLAN Online – information for parents and carers 

Kind regards

Ms Monique Brame

Director of Curriculum and NESA Accreditation

Reminder – Year 10 – Year 10 Vaccinations – 18 March 2026

20 February 2026 

Dear Parents/Carers

Year 10 Vaccinations

NSW Health will offer the following vaccinations to Year 10 students at our College.

–         Meningococcal ACWY on 18 March 2026

If your child is in Year 10 you can provide online consent for their routine school vaccinations. Vaccination will only be provided at school if consent has been received. 

How to provide consent:

1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://engage.health.nsw.gov.au/engage and login using your ServiceNSW details. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s licence. Refer to Service NSW to create an account if you don’t already have one.

2. Update or confirm your personal details in ServiceNSW as required.

3. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child. 

Read a step-by-step guide on how to provide consent online. Translated guides are available in Arabic, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese.

If you or your child do not have a Medicare card or access, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form. Please contact the office if you require a paper form.

The benefits of providing consent online:

• Easily update your child’s details
• Receive SMS and/or email notifications when vaccinations are given
• Faster upload of vaccination records to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/schoolvaccination .

If you require information in your language, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/immunisation/Pages/school_vaccination_language.aspx

Kind regards

Ms Melinda Alvarez
Assistant Principal

Reminder – Year 11 – Week 8 Alternate Program 2026

27 February 2026 

Dear Parents/Carers

Year 11 – Week 8 Alternate Program Information 2026

As your son now settles into the workload of the Preliminary course of the HSC, the College has developed an alternate program for Week 8 for all Year 11 students. The goal for this program is to provide students with a variety of different skills, learning experiences and preparation time for their first upcoming assessment tasks. 

This program will include seminars to cover challenging course content, specific skill requirements of HSC courses. individualised feedback from class teachers in preparation for upcoming assessment events, the completion of assessment tasks as well as class work set for students to complete. 

This program has been designed to develop independent learners capable of managing their time and requirements. It provides structure for students while also offering the flexibility for students to explore areas of need and priority. These sessions are all compulsory and require students to attend in full school uniform and continue to uphold the College grooming expectations.

During Week 8 students will be afforded flexible timetable privileges, which allow students to leave the College once they have completed their scheduled session for the day. However, students will need to stay on College grounds if they have a scheduled session in the afternoon.  It is expected that students will go straight home at the completion of their sessions and use this time to complete set tasks or to prepare for upcoming assessments. If any student behaves in a manner not aligned with College expectations, their privileges can be revoked. If a student does not have a session scheduled on a particular day, he can stay home to study. 

The College has organised an area for students to conduct private study, before or after timetabled sessions in the library. A detailed timetable of the Week 8 program can be found here. Students will resume regular scheduled lessons on Monday 23 March.

Kind Regards

Ms Monique Brame                                                               Ms Emily Mattick

Director of Curriculum & NESA Accreditation                   Leader of Wellbeing – Year 11

Careers

MCE Careers Website Link mcecareers.com

Uniforms

2nd Hand Uniform Shop – Next open: Thursday, 26 March (Week 9) from 1.30pm-3.00pm. Cash & EFTPOS accepted.

Please note:

• As the school has changed uniform suppliers, uniform sizing has changed and is no longer consistent with previous sizes
• We strongly encourage parents to bring their own measurements when purchasing from the second-hand uniform shop
• The second-hand uniform shop is not responsible for sizing issues, and all sales are final — no refunds or exchanges are available

Donations to the Second Hand Uniform Shop can be dropped off to the College Front Reception during normal school hours. Year 12’s your blazers would be very much appreciated after you graduate.

For more information, please refer to Compass > Community tab (2 heads) > School Documentation > Parent Information and Forms > Uniform Price List & Second Hand Uniform Shop Information