13 February 2026
Dear Parents / Carers,
On Thursday 5 February, following our Opening Mass, we gathered as a school community to celebrate HSC excellence and to honour the achievements of the Class of 2025. A highlight of the assembly was the address delivered by our 2025 Dux, Amy Saw, whose speech resonated deeply with students, staff and families alike.
Amy spoke with honesty and humility, reflecting on her own learning journey and challenging some of the common assumptions about what academic success looks like. She shared that for much of her schooling she did not see herself as “academic,” having convinced herself that intelligence only took one particular form. That belief, she explained, limited her confidence before she had even allowed herself to try. Her story was a powerful reminder that growth often begins when students start backing themselves.
Central to Amy’s message was the importance of mindset. She emphasised that while ability matters, a student’s attitude toward learning, their willingness to set goals, persevere, and believe they can improve, plays a far greater role in shaping outcomes. She encouraged students to resist comparing themselves to others, reminding them that learning journeys look different for everyone. Knowing when to push forward and when to pause and rest is not a weakness, but part of learning wisely.
Amy also challenged the notion that success is determined by choosing only (supposedly) “high scaling” subjects. Instead, she spoke about the power of passion, noting that enjoyment leads to effort, and effort leads to results. Her advice to younger students was clear: choose subjects you care about, lean into your interests, and trust that commitment and consistency matter more than stereotypes.
Another key theme of Amy’s address was how students respond to mistakes. Rather than seeing errors as a judgement on ability, she encouraged students to view them as feedback — information that helps guide what to do next. She highlighted the importance of asking questions, submitting drafts, and making use of teachers’ support, reminding students that success is not about being the best every day, but about continuing to show up.
Importantly, Amy also spoke about balance. While acknowledging that academic achievement does require sacrifice, she cautioned against giving up everything that brings joy and meaning. Maintaining balance, she suggested, ultimately supports wellbeing and strengthens learning rather than detracts from it.
Amy concluded by reminding the audience that marks and ATARs are only numbers. While they open doors, they do not define a person’s worth. The most enduring gifts of a Chevalier education, she reflected, are the friendships formed, the sense of community, the life skills developed and the values carried forward. Her final encouragement to students was to strive to be the best version of themselves — not to meet external expectations, but to discover their own potential.
Amy’s words capture something essential about learning and life at Chevalier: excellence is not about perfection, comparison or constant success, but about perseverance, courage and commitment over time. When students learn to keep showing up — to their learning, to their community, and to themselves — they develop far more than strong results. They grow resilience, character and a deep sense of self-belief. It is this quiet, faithful persistence that shapes young people who are ready not just for the challenges of a HSC, but for life beyond the school gates.
Have a great weekend.
Greg Miller
Principal
Flexible Monday - Reminder
This Monday 16 February is a Flexible Monday for Years 10, 11 and 12.
Monday 23 February Week 5 is now a day when ALL students attend school. Please note that this is a change to what is printed in the Student Diaries.
As communicated in the College Statement emailed to parents and carers on 9 December, there is no flipped learning for Years 7, 8 and 9 in 2026. These year groups have a timetabled day of face to face lessons on Flexible Mondays.
McGrath Hall Redevelopment – Changes to Car Park Arrangements
Construction works will commence shortly, impacting the JFC / McGrath Hall car park. For student safety, parents and carers must use Pick-up Points A and B and should not enter the JFC / McGrath Hall car parks.
Student Address Collection - 2026
The Australian Government Department of Education requests non-government schools to provide address details for the purpose of informing Australian Government school education policy and helping to ensure funding for non-government schools is based on need.
Chevalier College is required to provide the department with the following information about each student at the school no later than Wednesday 11 March 2026:
- Names and residential addresses of students’ parent(s) and/or guardian(s)
- Student residential address (excluding student names)
- Whether the student is a primary or secondary student (education level)
Whether the student is boarding or a day student (boarding status).
The school collects the above information by generating a unique and unidentifiable student reference number (SRN) for each student record, which is also provided to the department.
What you need to do
If your residential address has recently changed and you have not yet advised us, please update your details in Parent Orbit.
Bus Information
We are currently working closely with Berrima Buses to make sure that students are able to safely and reliably catch the buses to and from school. They have shared the following information with us to help with overcrowding of buses in the afternoons.
Please read though this information with your child if applicable to help with the process.
1. ALL students that transfer to the Picton Buslines Black Swan at Bargo need to be on the PM12 Rosella Bus. Currently they’re catching 3 buses (Lion & Zebra) and this makes the transfer hard to manage.
2. Students that transfer to the Rabbit or Kookaburra bus at Bowral Public School should be on the PM03 Frog Bus from Chevalier. Some students are currently overloading the Zebra to make this connection. These students will be asked to load last as they have other options.
3. Students going into Bowral to shop, for music lessons, appointments etc, should be on the PM03 Frog. If this is overloaded, they have the PM11 Lion and PM07 Owl close behind. We ask them to use these options, as they are traveling outside of the SSTS conditions (school to home / home to school) and are not being charged a fare.
Berrima buses would like to continue to offer this service as a support to our community but if it causes issues with students travelling within the guidelines this may change.
If you have any concerns about bus routes, please contact Berrima Buses.
SKODEL - Digital Wellbeing Platform
As part of our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, we are continuing Skodel access for all students at Chevalier College. Skodel is a wellbeing assistant for students, and is supported by leading psychologist, Andrew Fuller. It helps students unpack their feelings and provides action steps they can take to improve their wellbeing. Following the successful implementation in 2024, we are commencing Skodel across the College starting Term 1.
How it works
We will use Skodel to send students a check-in message up to 3 times per term. Each check-in gives students an opportunity to reflect on and share how they are feeling at the time. Skodel will guide them through this process, and at the end of the check-in it will suggest action steps they could add to their action plan. It also includes links to wellbeing resources that can be accessed by students at any time.
If for any reason you have concerns about your child participating in the wellbeing check- ins, please contact Kelly Walker, Assistant Principal – Wellbeing and Growth by midday Wednesday 11 February via email - walkerk@chevalier.nsw.edu.au
For more information on Skodel, you can visit their website www.skodel.com.
Kelly Walker
Assistant Principal - Wellbeing and Growth
Good Shepherd House
The Leaders of House have moved office. They are now where Student Services used to be and their office has been named "Good Shepherd House”.
Student Services and the College Reception are now co-located. Please go through the College Reception for any appointments.
Welcome Letters
Please check your emails for welcome letters from our Leaders of House and upcoming letters from our Home room Tutors.
E-bikes and E-scooters
We have been contacted by our Youth Command Officer with some important information for Students and Parents.
Young people in the Southern Highlands are being detected utilising illegal E-bike and E-scooters, placing themselves and other community members at risk of being hurt.
In addition there is an increased risk of the illegal bikes/scooters being confiscated by Police.
Please read the information below.
Natalie Lagarde
Dean of Students
ISA Round 9 - Saturday 14 February 2026
We’re seeking parent volunteers to help make our home game hospitality a success by assisting at the Sports BBQ.
BBQ will be located next to the CHED. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Click here to view the BBQ volunteer roster.
Click here for the Basketball Scoring Volunteers.
College Swimming Carnival - Friday 27 February
Registrations are now open
PLEASE BE AWARE: We have been advised that many students have not received their email with username and password. We are working with Sports Tracker to resolve the issue and will update students next week.
- The Swimming Carnival is a compulsory school event, and all students are expected to be in attendance.
- Students who wish to participate in events in the 50m pool MUST register online via Sports Tracker.
- All students have been emailed their Sports Tracker login details directly from Sports Tracker. Students who did not receive the email are to see Coach Phillips in C1 during B1 or 2 Tuesday or Thursday.
- Students cannot register for 50m events on the day of the carnival.
- Novelty events will be held in the 25m pool. Students do not need to register for novelty events.
- Sports Tracker registrations will close 12:00pm Friday 20 February.
- Relay Teams will be selected by House Captains on the day.
- Students can access Carnival Rules via the link provided in the Student Daily Notices.
- Students can access the Sports Tracker user guide via the link provided in the Student Daily Notices.
Coach Phillips
Extra Curriculum Coordinator
Welcome Evening
Year 7 parents/carers and parents/carers of any students who are new to the College are warmly invited to our Welcome Evening on Thursday 19 February. Come along and meet other families and learn a little more about life at Chev. Enjoy a drink and canapés and hear from our Principal and Student Leaders.
Please book your complimentary tickets below:
- Flexible Monday - 16 February
- Year 10 VET Concreting Incursion - 16 February
- Year 12 UOW Discovery Day - 16 February
- Year 12 Art Gallery of NSW excursion - 16 February
- Youth Council Excursion - 19 February
- Welcome Evening - New Families - 19 February
- Year 7 and 11 Buddy LeaderProgram - 20 February
- Year 11 and 9 VET Course Induction - 23 February
- ALL Students Attend School (not Flexible Monday) - 23 February
- Japan Information Evening - 24 February
- CDSA Public Speaking Preliminary Round - 27 February
- College Swimming Carnival - 27 February