Riversdale House 

Welcome to 2025 

As a new College year unfolds at Chev, Riversdale House continues to thrive, bound by the strength of unity and the warmth of family that surrounds us. Our House is built on a foundation of kindness, community and passion, embodying the warmth and values of a true home. It’s heartening to welcome so many new faces, each bringing fresh energy and bright smiles, while our senior students are inspiring all with their wisdom and care. Together, we step forward with purpose, ready to contribute to our shared journey and live out the values of the Sacred Heart.

House Shield 

Riversdale House is proud to be a part of an exciting new chapter as we unveil our House shields. As the only House not named after a person, our identity is deeply rooted in the history of our school, making home the heart of our design. Built on the values of home, passion, community and family, our shield is the epitome of who we are and what we stand for. 

Throughout this process, our House has come together to thoughtfully choose symbols that reflect our shared spirit. As House Captains, we were thrilled to reveal the result of our collective effort last week. This shield is more than just an emblem - it is a tribute to our past, a celebration of our present, and a legacy for the future! 

Swimming Carnival 

Riversdale House rode a wave at this year’s Swimming Carnival, bringing energy, enthusiasm and unwavering team spirit to the pool deck. From our bold costumes to our thunderous chants, we showed what it means to be part of Riversdale - united, passionate and full of heart. Whether diving into competitive races, working together in relays, or embracing the fun of novelty events, every student played a role in making the day a success. 

As House Captains, we could not be prouder of all Riversdale students. Their efforts, commitment, and unwavering support speak volumes of who we are as a House and what we represent. It was a fantastic day of camaraderie, determination and pride, proving once again that Riversdale is more than just a House, it’s a home. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to support Riversdale, your encouragement and enthusiasm mean so much to us. We truly appreciate it!

Year 12 Retreat 

The Year 12 Retreat was a deeply meaningful experience for all Riversdale leaders, as we embodied the theme of ‘The Heart’s Journey’. Held at the Collaroy Centre, this retreat provided us with a much-needed opportunity to step away from the demands of our HSC year, allowing time to reflect, reconnect and recharge. 

Our time away allowed for refreshing swims in the rock pools, mornings spent with sunrise walks along the beach, and plenty of quality time spent together as a cohort. A highlight of the retreat was the candle ritual led by Father John and Mr Abbey, which invited us to reflect on the values of forgiveness and reconciliation. One Year 12 student shared, “I loved the retreat; it was such a moving and powerful experience. As a year group, it was a final opportunity to appreciate our relationships, reconcile ones we've experienced trouble in, and strengthen our bond as a cohort overall.” 

Year 12 Riversdale students can all agree that this retreat was one of the most powerful and unforgettable experiences of our journey, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunities we have been given.

Buddy Leader 

The Buddy Leader Program is an integral part of the Chev experience, one that is useful, enjoyable and above all else, memorable. For Riversdale, it is a cornerstone of our House community, fostering connection and support between Year 7 and Year 11 students. This program helps ease the transition into high school by pairing our newest Riversdale members with Year 11 students who guide them with kindness, patience, and encouragement. 

Each Tuesday morning, our Year 11s have dedicated their time to these sessions, demonstrating leadership, responsibility, and a strong sense of community. One of our Year 11 Buddy Leaders shared, "The experience of being a buddy leader has been an amazing opportunity to form stronger connections with our buddies and help them as they transition into high school life." Through this program, Riversdale continues to uphold its values of home, support and belonging, ensuring every student feels welcomed and embraced from day one. 

We are incredibly proud of our Riversdale Buddy Leaders, whose dedication embodies the very heart of our House. Through their commitment, they have fostered a strong sense of responsibility and compassion, truly reflecting the values that make Riversdale a home.

Open Day 

On the 29th of March, we had our annual Open Day! It gave us an exciting opportunity to share with possible families coming to the College, the incredible campus the college is located on and our many facilities accommodating for endless opportunity! Some favourites include the agriculture plot and the VR rooms. Key learning areas were set up around the school to showcase what we do here at Chev! There were many welcoming faces around the campus emphasising the welcoming community at Chev! Many students were involved on the day, either lending a helping hand at the BBQ and KLA areas or helping as a tour guide. It was great to see so many Riversdale students there on the day, and the amount of work the Events and Marketing Team put into organising this event to become such a success!

Ash Wednesday/Project Compassion 

During the season of Lent, all Home Rooms are welcomed and encouraged to donate to Project Compassion. This year’s theme is “Unite Against Poverty” calling everyone to do what they can to support those more vulnerable. At the Ash Wednesday liturgy each homeroom collected a project compassion box to place in their sacred space in homeroom. Our goal for Riversdale this year is to raise $500. We encourage everyone to donate whatever they are able to, because EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS! There is a competition this year between the Houses to see who can raise the most money! 

The link to donate is below! Every donation is very much appreciated! 

Riversdale’s link - https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/t/team-riversdale

Chevalier College’s link - https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/o/chevalier-college-bowral 

Home Room (New System) 

We have begun this year with a new House system, ensuring everyone feels the Riversdale spirit and like they are a part of a family. We have been lucky enough for all the Riversdale Home Rooms to be in A Block, making it easier than ever for us to visit and check in with each other. We have loved working with our Leader of House, Ms Davis and Lead Tutor, Ms Smith, to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and we can further build House identity. 

Year 7 Retreat 

Year 7 started off the term with their first retreat! The first retreat at Chev is such an exciting moment. Receiving your retreat book and writing affirmations to your peers is an integral part of Chev life. The day was organised and run by Mr Abbey and Father John, with this year’s theme being ‘The Heart of Chevalier’. We attended with Ms Davis to share with the new Riversdale members a bit of the history of the House. 

The students then gathered in their Home Rooms to brainstorm what they have felt coming to Chev and being a part of the Riversdale family. They brainstormed words like 'family', 'unity', 'sportsmanship', and many more! They then turned these ideas into a symbol and presented it to other members of the House. It was great to see the buzz and energy that filled the room during this activity! It shows the House is in good hands for the coming years!

We loved getting to know some of the Year 7s better and having an opportunity to share some advice we had. It also gave us an opportunity to encourage them to participate in the swimming carnival which was fast approaching!

Our Goals 

Our goal for the rest of the year is to continue to build the House identity and ensure everyone feels a part of the Riversdale family. We are here to promote participation in house activities and get everyone involved, making sure that the students get the most out of their experience at Chev! We want to create a welcoming family, a place for students to have a home away from home. Home Room for us is the perfect way to start the day, and we want everyone to feel the same! We want, by the end of the year for everyone to look forward to Riversdale's house meetings and feel like a true family. We are privileged to work under the wisdom and guidance of Ms Davis, and continue to provide and give back, just how we have received.

Riversdale House Captains, 

Chelsea and Zara