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The Roar - Issue 27 Term 3 2025

Contents

Head of College - Mr Richard Ford

One of the ways in which the College has been equipping staff of late has been the provision of Youth Mental Health First Aid training. Over the last year or two, approximately fifty staff have completed this training and feedback on what staff have gained from this professional learning has been very positive.

In Term 4, I am pleased that we are now also in a position to start providing students in Year 10 with Teen Mental Health First Aid training. During October, the Director of Health and Wellbeing, Mrs Molinari, will be delivering this training to students during the school day.

Teen MHFA is designed to equip secondary school students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to recognise, understand and respond to a friend or classmate experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, and you can read more about what’s involved on the Mental Health First Aid International site.

Next year, we will also be looking to offer Youth Mental Health First Aid training to parents in a new format that will involve an initial 5-7 hours of self-paced eLearning followed by a one-day face-to-face session. More information will go out to parents in Term 4 to allow parents to plan well in advance to take up this opportunity.

As we look to support young people with some of the challenges they face during their formative years, there are a few sources of information which as staff we often turn to. For mental health, we often turn to Mental Health First Aid International. Some other organisations and sites we find useful include:

 

This coming Monday, Senior School students will hear two stories of resilience and learning from past student Stuart Andrews and adventurer John Zeckendorf. It is good to see some parents have registered for the Leadership Lunch with Stuart Andrews. Please remember to register by Friday if you would like to attend this free event.

Mr Richard Ford
Head of College

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Chaplain

Each Wednesday at 10:00 am, I sit in front of a group of approximately 80 students from our Preparatory School, for our weekly Chapel. I learned quickly that anything can – and possibly will – happen when working with four-year-olds. They will say what they think, which is usually honest and beautiful. And sometimes downright hilarious.

This term, we’ve been speaking about promises. We began talking about the importance of them; promises are made to be kept. Our words matter.

From there, we’ve begun to examine some of the promises of the Bible. Each week, I’ve shared one promise that the Bible offers to those who have faith in Jesus. Each week as I prepare and reflect on them, I realise that I cannot imagine living a life that wasn’t underpinned by these truths. What are they? So far, we’ve covered that God promises that He loves us (which means we, along with all other people, have value – no matter what anyone else thinks about us). God promises that He listens to us (which means that no matter what we are going through, there is someone available to listen to us, through prayer). We also learned that God promises to be a friend to those who trust him (which means that, however close or distant we might feel from our other friends, there is always one who is near to us, who will never let us down).

I could go on – and we’ve got several more in store for the rest of the term. Those four-year-olds listen each week with expressions of amazement. Why wouldn’t you, if these things are true? And then they sing with joy. Why wouldn’t you, if these things were true?

Mr Daniel Odell
College Chaplain

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Senior School

Year 9 Legacy Day Volunteers

Last Thursday 5 September, Year 9 students volunteered to be part of The Legacy Week appeal, a longstanding tradition dating back to the 1940s, which holds special significance for all Australians as it offers a chance to demonstrate our unwavering support for the widows and children of those who have bravely served our country.

Volunteering embodies an essential act of service and provides a valuable opportunity for personal growth and learning. Organisers of the Bathurst Legacy Day Appeal expressed appreciation for the commitment demonstrated by our students in embracing this opportunity.

The students sold many teddy bears and Legacy pins throughout the day. They were particularly inspired by the support of a World War II nurse who purchased a nurse bear and a man currently serving in the Navy who purchased numerous bears.

Mrs Catherine Dundon
Head of Year 9

Year 9 Commerce students face the dragons!

As part of their study on running a business, Year 9 Commerce students recently entered the real world of business pitching their business ideas to a panel of “dragons”, seeking investment to expand their hypothetical businesses. Based on the popular television programs “Dragons Den” and “Shark Tank”, this group assessment task was both hard work and fun!

The twelve groups of students worked for four weeks creating detailed business plans, including marketing strategies, financial reports and product samples, before taking their place in front of the cameras and pitching to Gerarda Mader (from the Bathurst Business Chamber), Frank Inzitari (local entrepreneur who appeared on Shark Tank Australia) and Anthony Head. Students then had to face questioning from the dragons before negotiating possible investment deals.

While no real money was invested, almost all groups received “investment” offers from the dragons. It was great to see these budding entrepreneurs so well prepared and confidently performing in such a businesslike manner.

Mr Anthony Head
Commerce Teacher

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Junior School

Year 5 Experience Senior School Day
On Friday 12 September, tomorrow, our Year 5 students, along with many other Year 5 students from across the region, will be spending the day in the Senior School. This day provides the students with the opportunity to find out what Senior School is all about.

Year 3 History Excursion
Next week, our Year 3 students will be visiting a number of sites around Bathurst as part of their History syllabus.

Use of School Play Equipment Before School (8:30 am) and After School (3:15 pm)
Students and their younger siblings are not allowed to play on the School play equipment before 8:30 am or after 3:15 pm unless they are being directly supervised by a teacher.

Sign in for Students Who Are Late to School
Any children who are being dropped off at school after 9:00 am need to please sign in at Front Reception before they go to class.

Lego F1 Challenge
Over the past six weeks, budding engineers from Years 3-6 have joined Mr Roohan in the Innovation Centre once a week during the lunch break to design, create and program a Formula 1 racing car out of Lego. Students enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and utilise their design skills as they created some technical and aerodynamic models. Students in Years 3 and 4 used our Lego We Do kits, whilst students in Years 5 and 6 used our Lego Spike kits. Mr Roohan has been most impressed with the cars that have been produced!

Mr Chris Jackman
Head of Junior School

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Sports

Sports Draw

Last Friday, 21 Junior School students proudly represented HICES at the CIS Athletics Carnival. It was a fantastic day, and it was inspiring to see our students competing against others from across the state.

Special congratulations to Ella Hunter and Leanna Klower, who have been selected to represent CIS at the NSWPSSA Athletics Carnival on 22 and 23 October.

Leanna Klower – 1st in Shot Put

Ella Hunter – 3rd in Long Jump

Other notable achievements include:

Patrick Lenehan – 6th in 1500m, 6th in 800m

Leanna Klower – 7th in Discus

Nicholas Lenehan – 6th in 1500m, 7th in 800m, 9th in High Jump

Ella Hunter – 4th in 100m, 9th in 200m

Well done to all athletes for their incredible efforts.

All the best to the following teams playing in their finals this weekend for a chance to reach the Grand Final.

Football: U14, U12 Red

Hockey: U15

Netball: 16 Red, 14 Gold, 14 Blue

Congratulations to the following teams who have already secured their spot in the Grand Final on Saturday, 20 September:

Hockey 1sts, Netball 2nds, Netball 16 Gold

Mr Beau McClintock
Director of Sport and Activities

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Book Buzz

This week, over on the Junior campus, we have been considering the ways in which our genre preferences influence our reading habits. Students in Years 3, 4 and 6 all took genre quizzes to gain some insight into how their interests guide them to particular sections of the library shelves. There were some surprising results, and many students walked away with a determination to try something new next time they find themselves looking for something to read in the library.

A reminder to parents that the Premier’s Reading Challenge closes soon on 19 September. All entries must be submitted by this date. Certificates will be given to students at the end of the school year. Scholastic Book Club orders close this Friday 12 September. Place your orders with Mrs Mackay.

Over on the Senior campus, we had an exciting day last Thursday with two teams of students from Year 9 and 10 taking up the challenge to write a book in a day and raise money for the Kids’ Cancer Project. The charity initiative ‘Write a Book in a Day’ provides students with the opportunity to form small teams and work together for the span of a day using prompts and a strict word limit to produce an illustrated narrative.

This completed book is then published as part of an anthology of stories for kids undergoing cancer treatment in the hope that it provides some distraction during the long hours of waiting.

The teams began their day at 8:00 am and wrote until just before 6:30 pm, demonstrating impressive levels of commitment, creativity and teamwork throughout the day.

The Year 9 team of Monique Graham, Hugh Drum, Sophie O’Brien, Tess Yordanoff, Tess Lenehan, Grace Yeo, Amelia Humphries, Zali Odell, Asha Beaumont and Archie Maclean wrote a highly entertaining story entitled “The Case of Colette’s Capture” while the Year 10 team consisting of Gemma Norton, Jacob Savage, Margo Sawell, Tui Moore Bathe, Mary Romanous, Erin Taylor, Eliza Dowton and Charlotte Collins produced a high stakes caper called “Heartstrings”. Both books are on display and available to read in the senior library now.

Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition

Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition

Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition

Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition

Senior School Write a Book in a Day Competition

In the lead up to the day, our ‘Write a Book in a Day’ teams have managed to raise over $400 for the Kids’ Cancer Project. Their fundraising efforts will continue for the month of September, so watch this space for how you can get involved in this great cause.

Click HERE to read the Bathurst Library Newsletter

The Roar Recommends

Junior Campus
Younger Readers

The Day Crayons Made Friends by Oliver Jeffers

Older Readers

A World of Supercars by Paul Mason

Senior Campus
Junior Readers

Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Senior Readers

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Happy Reading!

Mrs Angela Davis
Head of Library Services

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Careers

NSW Mining Careers in Mining Visit – PRIME VRy Experience

This week the NSW Mining visited the College and presented an interactive, one and a half hour session where students used virtual reality headsets to step into the shoes of up to five mining-related professionals – including a Mining Engineer, Geologist, IROC Controller, Automotive Technician, and Software Engineer. These immersive experiences bring real mining careers to life and highlight the vital role mining plays in our everyday lives – all without leaving the classroom.

The session also included a hands-on rock, metal, and mineral activity using the ’30 Things about mining’ booklet and worksheets. To track learning, students completed a short survey before and after the session to measure their understanding of the mining industry.

This was a well-planned educational experience for the students who expressed interest in Mining; it was also a great networking opportunity. Sharon Bushby (presenter) was the head recruiter for Centennial Coal for 10 years and outlined the recruitment process and what you need to do to stand out as a candidate, invaluable information for our students looking to move into this progressive industry.

Lunch and Learn – Australian Defence Force

Students from Years 7-12 spent their lunch time on Wednesday with serving military personnel from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who gave a presentation on the 200+ roles on offer in the ADF across all three services: Navy, Army and Air Force. Students were guided through the application process and the different entry programs that are on offer, including the Gap Year program and Defence University sponsorship. These programs are very popular with our students.

National Art School Bachelor of Fine Arts Online Information Session

Organisation: National Art School

Location: Online

Date: 23 September 2025

Join our webinar to find out what makes NAS different from all other Fine Art degrees.

The BFA degree is designed to impart the skills, knowledge and creative independence required to sustain a career as an artist. Our staff will talk you through undergraduate study options, the admissions process and then offer the chance for you to ask any questions you might have, so tune in.

Find out more and register

Westpac 2026 Young Technologists Scholarship Online Information Session

Organisation: Westpac

Location: Online

Date: 25 September 2025

The Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship is for talented and inquisitive high school graduates looking to strengthen their passion and expertise in technology and inspire good in the world of STEM.

Applications for Westpac Young Technologists Scholarships are open from 2 September 2025 to 13 January 2026 and are valued at up to $20,000 each. With a weeklong disruptive leaders program in Singapore and access to mentoring and networking opportunities, this scholarship is a unique opportunity to strengthen your passion and expertise in technology and inspire new ways of thinking.

Thinking of applying for a Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship, but have some unanswered questions? Register for the online information session that will cover everything from the eligibility criteria and funding guidelines to key attributes of a Westpac Scholar and tips to complete your application. You’ll also get to hear from past scholars who can give you more insight into what to expect, and there will be time for Q&A at the end.

Find out more and register

Western Sydney University Free Online HSC Study Sessions for Year 12 Students

Organisation: Western Sydney University

Location: Online

Date: 29 September to 3 October 2025

From Monday 29 September to Friday 3 October 2025, Western Sydney University will be offering a range of online study sessions to assist Year 12 students in their preparations for the HSC.

These will be delivered by highly qualified senior teachers with 24 free sessions across 15 key HSC subject areas, with sessions that include content analysis, tips and strategies, and a detailed exploration of key syllabus and curriculum areas.

Students also have the opportunity to sit a practice exam and a deconstruction, with feedback and advice from experts.

Find out more and register

Outward Bound Junior Adventure for Young People Aged 12-15 in Tharwa, ACT

Organisation: Outward Bound

Location: Tharwa, ACT

Date: 29 September to 3 October 2025

Get outdoors on a 5-day school holiday adventure with like-minded young adults, 12-15 years, from across the country.

Be introduced to authentic adventure the Outward Bound way. Embrace the peak activitie,s including overnight journeying and camping, abseiling, climbing, and high ropes. Discover there is more in you than you thought possible, and bring home knowledge and skills that will support you in your future pursuits, no matter where you go.

AOBDF Scholarships are available to individual participants wanting to attend School Holiday Adventures, Duke of Ed or for Schools seeking funding assistance for individual students.

Find out more and register

Discover Teaching and Psychology at Australian Catholic University in Strathfield for Year 10-12 Students

Organisation: Australian Catholic University

Location: ACU Strathfield Campus

Date: 1 October 2025

Are you passionate about shaping young minds or helping others thrive? Take part in hands-on workshops where you’ll gain practical insights into what it’s really like to work as a teacher or psychologist.

Tour our facilities and hear firsthand from current students about their rewarding journeys and experiences in these impactful fields.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a teacher or pursuing a career in psychology, this event will give you a closer look at how ACU can help you make a difference in the lives of others.

Find out more and register

University of Wollongong EmpowerHER STEM Summit Junior for Year 7-9 Students

Organisation: University of Wollongong

Location: UOW Wollongong Campus

Date: 1 October to 2 October 2025

The University of Wollongong is thrilled to announce the return of the EmpowerHER STEM Summit Junior in 2025. This hands-on, two-day event, taking place during the Spring school holidays, is designed for fierce female students in Years 7, 8 and 9.

Brace yourself for an exciting experience as we raise the STEM-bar for girls and ignite their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM)!

Students will journey through UOW’s vibrant Wollongong Campus and mind-blowing Bluescope site to witness STEM in action. Accompanied by faculty, current students, and industry professionals, this event promises an enriching yet collaborative experience.

Find out more and register

Australian Institute of Music Holiday Workshop for Year 9-12 Students – Mastering Performance, Sydney

Organisation: Australian Institute of Music

Location: AIM Sydney Campus

Date: 3 October 2025

Cost: FREE

AIM’s new school holiday workshop is designed for high school students interested in Music Performance. Created for students in Years 9-12, the workshops provide incredible opportunities to experience playing and performing music, mentored by AIM’s own accomplished musicians and educators.

Over the course of the workshop, students will work with two professional musicians, Adrianna Cicchitelli and Gian Timothy Gho, to expand their performance skills in a collaborative and inspiring environment. They will workshop communication, ensemble, chart reading, rhythm, pitch, dynamics, improvisation, stylistic interpretation, and performance. Under their guidance, they will use these new rehearsal and performance techniques to create a small set of diverse songs in collaboration with other students in the class to present a performance for family and friends.

Find out more and register

Mrs Helen Jones
Career Development Officer

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Events & Announcements

Term Dates for 2026

Term dates for 2026 are now viewable on the Parent Portal on our website under Calendar and Dates.

Click HERE to access the PDF

 

To purchase tickets click HERE

To register click HERE

To register click HERE

For more details click HERE

For more information click HERE

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From The Archives

100 Years Ago

Marsden School for Girls was founded by Dr Long, Bishop of Bathurst. The first mention of Marsden in Church records was made on the 2nd of July 1925, when a meeting of the Standing Committee and Corporate Trustees combined was held in the Diocesan Registry. At this meeting Bishop Long proposed to establish a Girls’ Boarding School in Bathurst and was looking at purchasing the Hereford estate owned by the James Rutherford’s family.

Hereford House was described as ‘a large two-storied, up-to-date building built of brick. Containing two spacious halls and thirteen rooms, exclusive of kitchen, laundry, dairy, maids’ room, etc, extensive stabling, sheds … Beautifully situated, commanding a magnificent view of Bathurst and surrounding country, standing on 100 acres, laid out in flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, lawns and paddocks.’

Having acquired a site for the school, the actual founding of a school faced the church authorities. The date set for the opening of the school was September 15th, 1925, and the person selected to guide the school through these formative years was Miss Juliet M Lyon, who was appointed by the Bishop as the school’s first headmistress.

On 15 September 1925, six girls walked through the doors of ‘Hereford’ (known as Rutherford House), and so began ‘Marsden School for Girls’, with the daily edition of the Bathurst Times reporting:

‘Amidst delightful surroundings bathed in glorious sunshine and with a wide expanse of beautiful country stretching in every direction to please the eye, the unofficial opening of Marsden took place this morning.

After a short service conducted by Bishop Long, the latter announced that they had already entered on the Foundation Roll the names of thirty-one boarders, twenty-three of whom would commence straight away. It was a wonderful beginning.’

An extract from a local chronicle gave this insight into times long past when reporting on the official opening of Marsden, which took place on 28 November 1925.

‘Miss Lyon (Principal) took her place among the speakers in a graceful frock of black crepe-de-chine with soft touches of forget-me-not blue and hat completing a tasteful ensemble. Her speech, neat and unique, stressed the point that the girls would be trained, not for the future, but that they may derive from life all that the present could give-in health, work and enjoyment. With the sound foundation of these and true Christian principles, Miss Lyon concluded, there need be no fear for the future.’

Mrs Memory Sanders
Archives

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Calendar

Friday 12 September
Year 5 Discover High School Day
Year 12 Visual Arts Major Works Exhibition, Senior Library

Tuesday 16 September
HSC Music 2 and Extension Marking Day
ISA Athletics Carnival

Thursday 18 September
Year 3 Excursion
HSC D&T Marking Day
HSC Music 1 Marking Day

The latest Term Dates can be found on our website HERE

SS: Senior School   JS: Junior School

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