Farewell

12 December 2025

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As I prepare to conclude my time as Principal of Marist College Eastwood, I write to you with deep gratitude and heartfelt reflection.

Over the past five years, it has been my privilege to lead this extraordinary community, a place where faith, learning, and compassion are lived with authenticity and purpose. Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated achievements, and remained steadfast in our commitment to nurturing young people who are thoughtful, resilient, and grounded in Marist values.

To our students, you have been the heart of my work. I have watched you grow into young men with strong minds and gentle hearts, ready to contribute meaningfully to society, guided by integrity, empathy, and a sense of service. You embody the spirit of Respice Finem—“look to the end”, as you strive toward your goals with purpose and hope.

To our parents and carers, thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your unwavering support. Your collaboration with the College has been integral to the success of our community. When families and schools work together, we create an environment where students can truly thrive, academically, socially, and spiritually. Your commitment to this shared journey has made all the difference.

As I move into a new chapter in Catholic education, I do so with great confidence in the future of Marist College Eastwood. The staff here are exceptional, deeply committed, talented, and passionate about their work. I am also confident that the new Principal, Mr David Sullivan, will lead with vision and care, ensuring that this community continues to flourish and grow.

Marist Eastwood will always hold a special place in my heart. I leave with immense pride in what we have built together and enduring hope for all that lies ahead.

May God continue to bless this community abundantly. I would like to leave you all with my final prayer for you.

With sincere gratitude and warmest wishes,

Ms Silvana Rossetti

Principal, Marist College Eastwood

A Prayer of Gratitude and Blessing


From Silvana Rossetti, College Principal 2021-2025

Loving and gracious God,

With a heart full of gratitude, I thank You for the gift of our Marist College Eastwood community. For the past five years, I have been blessed to witness Your presence in the lives of our students, staff, and families, each one a reflection of Your love and grace.

Thank You for the young men who walk our grounds with strong minds and gentle hearts. May they continue to grow in wisdom and compassion, guided by the values of simplicity, presence, family spirit, love of work, and faith in You.

Thank You for our dedicated staff, whose tireless commitment and deep care shape the lives of our students each day. May they be renewed in spirit and strengthened in their vocation to serve and inspire.

Thank You for our families, whose collaboration and support are the foundation of our flourishing. May their homes be places of peace, encouragement, and love.

As I step into a new chapter, I ask for your continued blessing upon this community. May Marist College Eastwood remain a place where hearts are formed, minds are challenged, and lives are transformed.

May the spirit of Mary, our Good Mother, continue to guide us – gentle, faithful, and full of grace. And may we always ‘Respice Finem’, look to the end, with hope, courage, and trust in Your plan.

Mary our Good Mother – Pray for us

St Marcellin Champagnat – Pray for us

St Mary of the Cross Mackillop- Pray for us

And may we always remember to- Pray for one another.

Amen.

Letter of Thanks

11 December 2025

Dear Students and Parents/Carers of Marist College Eastwood,

I wish to extend a sincere thank you to the entire College Community. 

I joined Marist Eastwood over 15 years ago and I can truly say that I have definitely been the greater benefiter of the relationship. From my first day I could sense this place is special and that feeling has not changed. 

As I reflect on my final term at the College, I am reminded that this is a special place, filled with special people. I am deeply thankful for the personal growth I have experienced, the privilege of leading such an amazing community, and the unwavering support of colleagues and parents.

Most importantly, I have witnessed our students rise to every challenge, embracing high expectations with enthusiasm and resilience. It has been through our setbacks, our challenges and failures that I have really felt privileged. How we, collectively, have managed these situations with empathy, compassion and a desire to work collaboratively is something I will always be thankful for. 

As I bid farewell, my prayer for all students is that you continue to grow in wisdom and grace, guided by faith and a spirit of service. May you always strive for excellence, rise to challenges with courage, and remain grounded in the values that make this community so special.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey. It has been an honour and a privilege.

Mr Daniel Fallico
Assistant Principal 

Marist Musings – Term 4 2025

Please click here for Marist Musings Term 4 2025

Sport Report

Week 9 Sydney Championships and Gala Days 

Futsal Gala Day 

Students who excelled during this year’s football season were handpicked to represent Marist College at the Conference 2 Futsal Gala Day last Friday 5 December. It was our Senior squad led by Mr Chasney that secured the gold and took the title as Conference Champions. Well done to all staff and students involved. 

Mountain Biking Gala Day 

On Monday 8 December, Marist College Eastwood proudly sent six students to compete in the Sydney Catholic Schools Mountain Biking Gala Day at Mt Annan.

The program began with time trials to determine seeding, followed by a demanding 5km short course. Riders faced a challenging track featuring steep inclines, winding paths, and sharp hills

Marist Eastwood student trial results notable; Seniors had  14 competitors and Intermediate a total of 63 registered. Well done to William Scully for achieving third place overall in both the senior individual short course and time trial event.

Event Time / place 
Senior Individual time trial 02:45 (3)
Senior Short course 22:29 (3)


Sydney Champions OzTag 

OzTag Sydney Championships were held at Queens Park, Randwick. To earn a spot and progress to this stage of the competition is a remarkable achievement for our Senior A OzTag team and coach Mr Brancatisano. Congratulations to our students for performing well and achieving third place overall. 

TeamVsResultScore Best Players 
Senior Marcellin College – RandwickLoss11 – 1 Angus Martin,  Archie Henry
Senior  (third place) St Aloysius College, Cronulla Win12 – 9Noah Hoffman,  Adam Ilic

Sydney Champions Volleyball 

Volleyball Sydney Champions were held at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park. Marist College celebrates our intermediate A team and coach Miss Stern for their determination throughout both matches. Congratulations on achieving second place overall. 

TeamVsResultScore Best Players 
IntermediateNorth Sydney – Marist Catholic CollegeWin2 – 1Daniel Moujalli
Intermediate (Second place) Liverpool/Casula – All Saints Catholic CollegeLoss2 – 1 Justin Chen




Sydney Champions Cricket 

On Tuesday 8 December our Senior cricket team led by Mr Armstrong and Mr Flew were up against Holy Cross Senior A team held at Ryde Oval. While the result didn’t go our way, we are proud of how they represented Marist College Eastwood congratulations for second place overall. 

TeamVsResultScore Best Players 
SeniorHoly Cross College, Ryde LossHoly Cross 8 off 119  (defeated)  MCE  46 all out Whole team

Farewell Mr Heywood

After an extraordinary 40 years of service to Marist College Eastwood, we honour the incredible legacy of Mr Heywood, affectionately known as Douggie. A true stalwart of the College’s sporting community, Douggie has been the heart and soul of Cricket at Marist, mentoring generations of young cricketers — including the likes of  Mr Breen. His presence on the strip has been a constant for four decades, and his impact stretches far beyond the boundary. Mr Heywood prepares to retire and hang up his boots. The Marist College Eastwood community wishes Mr Heywood all the very best and thank you for his dedication. As a small token of appreciation students organised a signed Marist Cricket polo to present to Mr Heywood.


Sydney Championships Badminton Gala Day 

The largest Gala Day on the SCS Sports calendar is the Badminton Gala Day Thursday 11 December with a total of 800+ students across all Conferences competing at across two venues hosted by Alpha Badminton Centre. Eastwood registered  teams across Junior, Intermediate, and Senior divisions playing doubles throughout the competition. In our Junior Division Raymond Chen and Brayden Mo won 7 of the 8 matches and achieved Top 2 rank taking silver. It was our Intermediate team Aaron Li and Jeremy Chim taking the title of Sydney Champions achieving gold. Thank you to our coaches Ms Doucet and Miss Lee for assisting with pre-season trials and coordinating with our students. 




Congratulations coaches and teams for competing in the finals. It was a nail-biting finish to an enjoyable tournament. We hope to register more teams in the future. 

Upcoming events

Term 1, Week 3 Friday 13 February Annual Secondary Swimming Carnival 

Finally as 2025 Sports draw to a close it is time to start looking forward to 2026 Term 1 sports. Please be aware that there are a number of sports on the CSNSW website open for registration that will close very early in Term 1. Please ensure your son is registered for these events if he wishes to trial for the NSWCCC team – these will then need to be approved by the school.

More details are available on thehttps://csnsw.sport 

If you are competing in your individual or team sports throughout the break we’d like to hear from you. Please email your highlights to monica.khattar@syd.catholic.edu.au 

Holiday Support Resources

12 December 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

Holiday Support Resources

As the Christmas holidays approach, we understand that this time of year can bring both joy and challenges for families. To help support you and your children over the break, we’ve compiled a list of valuable resources that can provide guidance, assistance and a listening ear when needed.

1. ReachOut Parents

What it is:
ReachOut Parents is a platform designed specifically for parents and carers of teenagers aged 12–18 in Australia.

What it offers:

  • Resources and information to help you support your teen with mental health, school, and social challenges.
  • An online community to connect with other parents, share advice, and seek support.

Link: ReachOut Parents

2. EPIC (Empowering Parents, Inspiring Children)

What it is:
EPIC is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening family relationships through education and parenting resources.

What it offers:

  • Programs and workshops to help parents manage challenging behaviors.
  • Practical strategies to improve family dynamics and foster positive connections.

Link: EPIC 

3. ParentLine

What it is:
ParentLine is a confidential telephone counselling and support service for parents and caregivers across Australia.

What it offers:

  • Free, professional counselling to navigate family and parenting challenges.
  • Practical strategies and emotional support for issues involving children of all ages.

Phone: 1300 1300 52 (NSW and ACT)
Link: ParentLine

4. Kids Helpline

What it is:
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free and confidential 24/7 counselling service for young people aged 5–25.

What it offers:

  • Support for children, teens, and young adults on topics like mental health, relationships, and school.
  • Accessible via phone, web chat, or email.

Phone: 1800 55 1800
Link: Kids Helpline

We hope these resources provide comfort and support for you and your family during the holiday season. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s anything further we can do to assist you or your child.

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and peaceful Christmas.

Warm regards


Marist College Eastwood Wellbeing Team

Parent/Student/Teacher Meeting Dates for 2026

12 December 2025

Parents/Carers

Parent/Student/Teacher Meeting Dates for 2026

Parent/Student/Teacher meetings are an important part of us working together as a team to support your son’s learning. Attendance at these events provides an opportunity to have open dialogue about the strengths and challenges of each student and allows the students to reflect and share their learnings about the subject and themselves as learners.

As we prepare to bring 2025 to a close, I have included all relevant P/S/T meeting dates for 2026 for your calendar.

Year 12 – Tuesday 31 March 1.15pm – 7.00pm

Year 11 – Tuesday 19 May 1.15pm – 7.00pm

Year 10 – Tuesday 19 May 1.15pm – 7.00pm

Year 7 – 9 – Wednesday 1 July 3pm – 7.00pm

                 – Friday 3 July 9.00am – 3.00pm

Year 7 – 11 (Optional) – Monday 14 December 9.00am – 12.00pm

                                    – Tuesday 15 December 2.00pm – 6.00pm

Please note that for 2026, all meetings will be conducted onsite.

Sydney Catholic Schools have chosen not to renew the licence for Zoom and we will not be using Teams until we are confident that the transition can be managed smoothly.

Thank you for all your support this year and have a lovely Christmas.

Kind regards

Ms Melissa Williams

Director of Learning and Teaching

Reminder – Christmas Appeal

28 November 2025 

Dear Parents/Carers,

Spreading Joy and Living Out Our Catholic Values This Christmas

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, we are reminded of the profound meaning of the Christmas season: a time of love, compassion, and generosity. In the spirit of Christ’s teaching to care for one another, we are delighted to launch our Christmas Appeal and invite your family to participate.

Through this initiative, we hope to reflect the Catholic values of charity, service, and solidarity. By coming together as a faith-filled community, we can bring hope and joy to those who are struggling during this sacred time of year.

Each homeroom will be asked to bring in specific items to support the members of the Community who are in need this Christmas. 

01 Homerooms: Cereals & grains, e.g. cereal (no nuts), rice, pasta

02 Homerooms: Snacks, e.g. biscuits, muesli bars, chips, crackers

03 Homerooms: Drinks, e.g. poppers, cordial, long-life milk

04 Homerooms: Tinned Foods, e.g. tuna, beans, vegetables

05 Homerooms: Festive treats, e.g. chocolate (no nuts), custard, fruit mince pies

06 Homerooms: Home essentials, e.g. tea bags, instant coffee, Ziplock bags

The Vinnies team will work with Mr Formosa and some student leaders to collect items to support the Hampers but are welcome to contribute to the snack packs as well if they’d like. 

This appeal is more than a collection from the College. It is a chance to embody the love of Christ through action. As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, “May the Lord Jesus, bless and guide your efforts for the true flourishing of the human family”. 

We hope your family will join us in making this appeal a meaningful expression of our Catholic faith and values. Students can bring their donations on any day as the Student Leaders will collect them during homeroom. 

Thank you for your kindness and generosity. May this Advent season fill your home with peace, love, and joy as we prepare to welcome Christ into our hearts.

Kind regards,

Patrick Gittani
Leader of Religious Life
Thomas Boyle
Leader of Religious Life
Campbell Girke
Leader of Social Justice

Mr Colm McCaughan
Religious Education Coordinator

MCE Yrs 7-10 Academic Awards Photo Order Form

Reminder – Optional End of Year 2025 Parent Teacher Interview letter

14  November 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

The College will be running optional Parent, Teacher and Student Conferences for Years 7-11 to discuss your son’s learning. These will be held on Tuesday 16 December 2025. The College will be offering two different modes of delivery. Zoom meetings can be booked between 10.00am-1.00pm and face-to-face appointments are available between 2.00pm-6.00pm.

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. 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

assessment tasks.

  • Attend all scheduled classes and engage with the classwork in every lesson.
  • Complete all assigned classwork 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 Wednesday 10 December at 8.00am and closes Monday 15 December 9.00am. To book interviews please login to Compass, select the Community tab and then select Conferences. Zoom links will be made available closer to the meeting day.

Yours sincerely

Ms Melissa Williams                                  

Director of Learning and Teaching             

Reminder – 2025 Key Dates

31 October 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

End of Year Program

We continue to keep our Year 12 cohort of 2025 in our prayers as they undertake their written HSC examinations. At the same time, we acknowledge our newest HSC cohort, Year 12 2026, as they embark on a pivotal 12-month period. 

This term offers many great learning opportunities, both in and out of the classroom. We strongly encourage each student to set goals for the term ahead, develop clear strategies, and work collaboratively to achieve them. 

As Term 4 commences, please find important dates below to assist with your planning and organisation

Week 9: Monday 8 December to Friday 12 December

Learning Centre and Homework Club

Please be advised that our Homework Club will finish for the year on Wednesday 10 December 2025.  During Week 9 the Learning Centre will close each day at 4.00pm and there will be no supervision for students after 4.00pm each day during Week 9. The Learning Centre will still open at 7.30am each morning. 

Thursday 11 December – End of Year Liturgy and issuing of Years 7 to 10 Final Year Reports 

Our End of Year Liturgy will be held in the Montagne Centre during Period 2 and streamed to our College Community to give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us throughout 2025.  A link will be provided closer to the time.  

Sport will run as normal on this day. 

All Final Year Reports for Years 7 to 10 will be posted on Compass after 3.00pm on this day. 

Friday 12 December – Year 7 to 10 Academic Awards

Our Academic Awards ceremony for Years 7 to 10 will be held in the Montagne Centre. Students are required to attend school at the normal time for classes preceding the Academic Awards Ceremony in full College Summer Uniform. 

All Year 11 classes will run as per the Timetable and all students must be present on this day. 

The final day of classes for all students is Friday, 12 December.  All students will be dismissed at the normal time at 2.50pm on this day. 

Week 10: Monday 15 December to Friday 19 December 

Tuesday 16 December: Years 7 to 11 Optional Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews 

10:00am – 1:00 pm: Zoom Interviews

2:00pm – 6:00 pm:  Face to Face Interviews 

All Parent/Teacher/Student interviews will be booked via Compass.  The Compass portal will be open to make bookings on Wednesday 10 December at 8.00 am and will close on Monday 15 December at 9:00 am.  

To book interviews please login to Compass, select the Community tab and then select Conferences. Students are asked to wear their summer uniform for these interviews.  

Summary of Key Dates:

End of 2025 School Year

Thursday 11 December                      End of Year Liturgy

                                                            Year 7-11 Reports issued

Friday 12 December                           Year 7-10 Academic Awards

                                                            Year 7-11 classes as normal

                                                            Last day of school for all students

Tuesday 16 December                       Years 7-10 Optional Parent/Teacher/Student

Interviews

Beginning of 2026 School Year

Friday 23 January                               College Office re-opens

Thursday 29 January                          All students return

                                                            8.30am – 2.30pm

College Sport Uniform

Friday 30 January                               Opening College Mass


Yours sincerely 

Mr Daniel Fallico

Assistant Principal

Year 12 2025

– To sign out and collect your reference, if not already picked up

PLEASE REFER TO THE IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL YEAR 12 STUDENTS UNDER YOUR NEWSFEED IN COMPASS REGARDING ACCESS TO SCS GOOGLE ACCOUNT AND EMAIL.

Reminder – Preparing Families and Schools for the Social Media Ban

The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) asked Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a leading psychologist, author and broadcaster, to give a presentation to help families and schools prepare for the Under-16 ban on social media, which will take effect on 10 December 2025.

In his 30-minute presentation, Dr Carr-Gregg explains the questions of what the social media ban legislation is, why it is happening, what the penalties are, and what parents and schools should do now to respond. 

Parents and educators are encouraged to take time to familiarise themselves with the information surrounding this social media ‘delay’ to understand how this will impact them and their wider community. 

To watch Dr Carr-Gregg’s Webinar Video, click here

For more information, visit the Social Media Age restrictions hub on the eSafety Commissioner website, by clicking here

Reminder – 2026 Student Opal Card

Getting to school by bus in 2026

Will your child be catching the bus to school next year? Applications are now open for a 2026 School Opal cards.  As this is a busy time of year, we highly recommend applying before the end of this year. It’s also a good idea to check the bus timetable to help make your child’s journey to school as easy as possible. 

School Opal cards

  • All students catching the bus in 2026 will need a School Opal card.

Bus timetables

  1. Go to busways.com.au/nsw 
  2. Click ‘School Services’ in the navigation bar, then proceed to ‘school timetables
  3. Enter the school’s name in ‘Enter a school name’ field
  4. Select the school’s name to open the timetable. 

If you are unable to find or search for the school’s name, use the drop-down menus on the same page to find the school. Once the timetable is opened, you will be able to identify which school bus services are available in your area for your child. 

Reminder – Carols On The Common

Uniforms

New supplier Noone has started taking MCE orders from 3 September 2025.

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

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