Dear Parent and Carers,

Sacrament of First Eucharist
Congratulations to our Year 4 students who received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first-time last Sunday. A special thank you to Fr Joshy, Mrs Keough, Mr Whiteford, Mr Lowe and Mrs Hicks for preparing the students for this special celebration. During his homily, Fr Joshy shared insights from newly canonised saint, Carlo Acutis on his appreciation of the Eucharist: "The more we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven". We wish every blessing for these students.

Storyline
Next Tuesday 23 September, from 9.30am - 10.30am, all parents are invited to visit classrooms to come and see what your child/ren have been learning over the term. Each class launched a Storyline Unit to engage the students in their History or Geography units of work. I hope you can join us in this wonderful celebration of learning. I know your child/ren are very excited and proud to be sharing their work with you. 

Tournament of Minds
Congratulations to our outstanding students who competed in Canberra last Sunday in the Tournament of Minds (ToM) Regional Finals competition! The students proudly represented St Bernard’s in the second round of the competition, showcasing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. A special mention goes to Mrs Keough for preparing and supporting our students. The students have now been invited to be part of the ACT Team to travel to Sydney for the International Tournament next term which is an amazing achievement!

Planning 2026

As mentioned in my recent email, Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CECG), has provided St Bernard’s with our staffing allocation for next year. This allocation determines the number of classes based on grade enrolments and overall school numbers.

For 2026, the class structure will be as follows:

• Kindergarten: 2 classes
• Year 1: 2 classes
• Year 2: 3 classes
• Year 3: 3 classes
• Year 4: 2 classes
• Year 5: 2 classes
• Year 6: 3 classes

The classroom teachers and the Executive Team will meet to form classes for 2026 in Term 4. This process involves carefully considering social/emotional, behavioural, and academic factors. Teachers are very mindful of the importance of friendships. Students will be invited to nominate 2–3 friends they would like to be placed with in 2026. Every child will be placed in the grouping that best supports their learning and social development.

Classroom teachers will create groupings in consultation with their grade partners, paying particular attention to the factors outlined above. Draft class lists are then reviewed by the Principal, the Classroom Support Teacher, and the School Executive Team. Students will be informed of their class and teacher for 2026 during the “Step Up” session in the final week of Term 4.

Parents and Carers Workshop – Home–School Connections for Student Learning

Next term, we are offering a workshop for parents, carers, and teachers on Tuesday 21 October from 3:15–4:30pm in the iCentre.

The session will be facilitated by Sarah Rose, Catholic Education Family Engagement Officer, and will explore how working side by side listening, learning, and supporting one another can positively impact student achievement and wellbeing. Child care will be provided.
Please complete the RSVP link to secure your place. We look forward to seeing you there!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3TC6KT2

Self Preservation or a Lover of God’s Way?

In his book: ‘Quest for Life’ the historian Manning Clark talks about the difference between line-straighteners and life-enlargers, between those people who have a very narrow view of life and want to contain it and control it and those who love the banquet of life with a passion and want to share it with others.

In today’s Gospel we read about the astute Steward wanting to control and contain his life, while using the resources of his Master for his own advantage. Not content with wasting the goods entrusted to him, he went so far as to falsify his accounts. Self preservation motivates him to secure and contain his own financial future by manipulating those who are in debt to the master. Buying such ‘friends’ will secure him financially when he is dismissed by the Master. He is very astute about his own self preservation. In the end he only puts his trust in his own powers.

Unlike the Steward, God wants us to be astute about his Kingdom. All the promises about the Kingdom of God which were fulfilled in the person of Jesus become clear and visible. It is only those, like Jesus, who are willing to do what they can to support and help others, who live according to God’s plan. Jesus teaches us how to make a good servant out of what can be a bad master. God encourages us to rely on him, to draw our energy, joy and enthusiasm from his power and to use every possible opportunity to bring people to him. “Our astuteness should be expressed in our eagerness to choose good over bad and others over ourselves.” [God’s Word 2022 Grace Roclawska CSFN]

As the Glenstal Bible Missal points out: ‘When Salvation is offered every effort must be made to grasp it with as much understanding and shrewdness as the steward showed for business and his own future . As for Money the best investment is in the poor. It is important to know which master to choose, to serve God and not subject oneself to money.’ 2001, Pg 1335]

Marie Weatherall

Celebration of First Eucharist

A magnificent celebration was held on Sunday at St Bernard’s Church where 14 candidates participated in the sacrament of First Eucharist.

We thank Father Joshy for his support and preparation with the students. I know Mrs Hadly mentioned the Homily as shared by Father Joshy and its relevance. 

Also, a big thank you to the classroom teachers and our teaching staff for your support leading up to the sacrament and during the preparation. These moments really require a team approach.

Finally, congratulations to the students and their families. We truly hope that this was a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Dates for St Bernard’s Parish Church Sacramental Programme for 2026 will be shared next term.

Begin With The Heart

Congratulations to KTR, who were the winners of our Begin With The Heart class award.  They demonstrated the value A (appreciation) – I contribute my gifts and talents in the classroom. We are very proud of you!

Week/s	Heart Focus
9 & 10	HEART – Respect  I allow everyone the right to learn.

Operation Christmas Child

Wow! What a great effort our students are making to ensure that those less fortunate than themselves have something under the Christmas tree this year.

It’s not too late to contribute towards this initiative. We will accept donations up until Wednesday of Week 10.

Please see below the items we are asking each class to contribute:

Kindergarten:	Year 1:
Crayons, colouring books, soft toys, small cars or small dolls.	Picture books, yo-yos, skipping ropes, or hand balls.
Year 2:	Year 3:
Tote bag, puzzles, stickers, playdough or frisbee.	Pens, led pencils, chalk, textas or small paint sets.
Year 4:	Year 5:
Short novels, notebooks, small craft sets or a small torch.	Face washers, toothbrushes, combs, hair brushes, or fun bandaids.
Year 6:
Socks, sunglasses, shorts, skirts, t-shirts or hats.

If your family would like to donate a small shoebox, please see the attached flyer on what to do, or call Mrs Keough who will be happy to send more information home for you.

More information about this initiative can be found here: https://occ.samaritanspurse.org.au/

Kind regards,

Beck

Rebecca Keough

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers, 

The term is quickly coming to a close, and it has been a fantastic period of learning. We’re excited to share the students’ Storyline with parents and friends next Tuesday. Showcasing their work is truly something to look forward to!

Social Media Age Restrictions 

Recently in the media and public forums it has been reported that from December 2025, Australia will introduce a new minimum age of 16 for using most social media

platforms. This change is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. Its goal is to reduce online harm to young people by holding social media platforms more accountable for who uses their services.

What Is the New Social Media Age Limit?

The new law will make it mandatory for platforms to take steps that prevent children under 16 from signing up or maintaining accounts. This applies to popular platforms such as:

• Instagram
• Snapchat
• TikTok
• Facebook
• X (formerly Twitter)
• Reddit
• YouTube / YouTube Shorts

Some platforms are NOT included in this law. These exemptions include:

• Messenger Kids
• WhatsApp
• Google Classroom
• Gaming platforms

5 Things Parents Can Do Right Now

1. Talk early about what’s changing
   Ask your child, “Have you heard about the new age limit for social media?” Give them time to share how they feel and what they’re worried about.
2. Review current accounts together
   Sit down and look through their existing apps or profiles. Talk about what might need to change and how they’d like to handle it.
3. Make a plan for staying connected
   Help your child choose safe, age-appropriate ways to stay in touch with friends, like messaging apps or family-approved chat options.
4. Discuss the risks of getting around the rules
   Explain why using someone else’s ID or downloading VPNs might seem like an easy fix, but can lead to bigger problems. Keep the tone supportive.
5. Keep teaching safety skills
   Even if your child is stepping away from certain platforms, continue to build their skills for privacy, kindness, and help-seeking in all online spaces.

School Uniform 

As we approach the warmer months of the year, we will start transitioning back to Summer Uniform. Students have been able to wear their summer uniform starting this week.

All students are required to wear their summer uniform from Tuesday 14 October. Our school uniform policy stipulates that the following items are worn during summer. 

GIRLS' SUMMER UNIFORM

• Blue check dress
• Navy skort/ pale blue peter pan collared shirt
• Short white socks (no anklet socks)
• Black polished leather shoes
• Navy blue jumper with school crest
• St Bernard’s navy hat

BOYS' SUMMER UNIFORM

• Grey shorts
• St Bernard’s blue short sleeve shirt
• Grey socks
• Black polished leather shoes
• Navy blue jumper with school crest
• St Bernard’s navy hat

Jewellery is restricted to the wearing of a wristwatch, religious medal with chain, signet ring, sleepers or studs for pierced ears with no more than one earring in either or both ears.

Hair is to be clean, neat and tidy at all times. Hair is to be off the face ie. fastened back with a clip or hair tie, with longer hair tied back at all times. Mullets, mohawks, patterned shaving and coloured hair are not permitted as hairstyles. The wearing of make–up and/or nail polish and fake nails is not permitted.

We thank you in supporting us to ensure that the standards of dress remain high at St Bernard's Primary School. 

Last Day of Term 

Next Friday, 26 September, is a Pupil Free Day. On this day, staff will be engaging in Professional Learning with Jamie Kemp, Teaching and Learning Officer from Catholic Education. Jamie will be guiding us through the upcoming changes to the NSW Syllabus History, Geography and Science curriculum documents. Jamie will introduce the Ochre Education units of work which staff will begin using in 2026.

Kind regards,

Jeni

Ms Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal

Year 6 Term 3 Overview

Year 6 has had a great and busy Term 3, filled with learning, challenges, and exciting opportunities. Highlights include Storyline preparation, the Science Expo, tennis coaching, the Father's Day Assembly, and many more. It has been a term full of growth, achievement, and memorable experiences as Year 6 continues to shine as role models for the school.

Storyline
Students have been exploring migration and its impact on Australia’s development. They are researching 20th-century migration policies, comparing push and pull factors, and studying personal stories of migrants. Using oral histories and family connections, and through this, they are gaining insight into the experiences of those who came to Australia.

Religion
Students have been exploring the Church as a worldwide community connected through faith. They have been learning about the “Communion of Saints,” the spiritual bond uniting all believers, past and present. Through stories of self-giving love, students reflect on how faith offers hope and inspires others to live with compassion.

English

In English, we read Once by Morris Gleitzman and explored powerful stories of migration and survival. We analysed characters and themes, discussed the challenges faced by people who move to new places, and wrote our own narratives, focusing on correct punctuation and careful editing. The students enjoyed the book so much that we have begun reading the sequel, Then.

Mathematics
In Maths, Year 6 students have been exploring fractions and percentages, learning to convert between them, solve real-life problems, and apply their understanding to everyday situations.

Science
This term, Year 6 has been working hard preparing for the St Bernard’s Science Expo, it is an event where students showcase their science projects, experiments, and innovations to our student and parent audience, fostering a scientific attitude and enthusiasm for science and technology. Students research and develop projects, then present them by creating models, conducting live experiments, or displaying research findings to demonstrate their practical skills and creative understanding of scientific concepts. It was a huge success and we commend and congratulate all students on their amazing effort. 

Sport and Physical Education

In class, students have been exploring the “Dance Through the Decades” unit, learning popular dance styles from each era, practising choreography, and performing routines that showcase their rhythm, coordination, and creativity.
In Physical Education time with Mrs. Holmes, students have been practising their serving, rallying, and match-play skills while building teamwork and strategy as they prepare for the Tennis Gala Day.

Mr Brendan Maynard, Mrs Elizabeth Coggan & Miss Jessica Guthrie

Year 6 Team 

‍MacKillop Athletics Championships

Next Wednesday, the NSW Combined Primary School Athletics Championships will take place in Sydney, and St Bernard’s will be proudly represented by three relay teams and a number of talented individual athletes.

Beatrix F, Charlie M, Raph C, Ollie L, Noah S, Lilly G, Lebron C, Lehan D, Sion D, Finn H, Jordan L, Lucas VD, and Georgina W.

We wish each of you the very best in your final preparations. We’ll be cheering you on from afar and tuning in via the live TV stream.

Todd Woodbridge Cup Tennis Competition

A huge congratulations to our Year 3 and 4 students who took part in the Todd Woodbridge Cup Tennis Competition on Tuesday at Broulee. Ten teams from St Bernard’s competed against schools from across the region in a modified format that focused having fun while still trying to score points.

Our students showed incredible sportsmanship, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the game. The staff were especially proud of their positive attitudes and eagerness to grow their skills throughout the day.

Special congratulations to Amelia P, Tyler H, and Beau G who each received recognition awards from Tennis NSW for their positive participation and outstanding skill.

One of our teams emerged victorious and will now advance to the Illawarra and Southern Highlands final next term. Congratulations to Winter W, Astrid B, Raph C, Harlo P, Yana K, Juliet D, Lehan D, and Lebron C.

Upcoming Sports Events

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead.

Kind regards,

Angela Holmes

Sports Coordinator/PE Teacher 

Term 3

Week 7 Class Awards

Presented: Friday 5 September 2025.

Well done to all!

Supporting Kids to Develop Boundaries

“…Only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.” – Dostoyevsky

One of the most important, but often overlooked, relationship skills in our culture is developing boundaries.  A boundary is a social or emotional red line that it is not appropriate for others to cross, much in the same way we have physical boundaries between rooms or residences. 

Communicating a boundary to others requires two ingredients. The first is sufficient self-respect to know that we deserve to be treated with kindness and consideration by others. The second is the strength/courage to express (and follow through with) a request or consequence when the various colourful characters in the world do not treat us with the respect we deserve.

One way I like to introduce boundaries to kids is by asking them how a family feels if the neighbour’s dog gets into their backyard and does its doggy business there, and why mums/dads may feel the need to talk to the neighbours when such a line is crossed.

Consider all the ways that a child might have their boundaries crossed during a single week:

• Another child at home/school pinches, pushes or grabs them without consent.
• An intruder in their personal space bubble.
• Receiving unkind words or name-calling.
• Inappropriate requests from other children or adults.
• Other children or adults pressuring them to do something they don’t want to do.
• Dealing with the annoying human tendency to give advice which wasn’t asked for in the first place.

Is it any wonder that some kids end up dysregulated by the end of the week, exploding with big feelings like sadness, anger, or worry towards the end of the day?

For this simple reason, I believe that children fortunate enough to have developed healthy boundaries tend to have a lot less emotional problems. 

An easy way to role model boundaries to children – other than developing and expressing good boundaries in your own daily life, which is so important – is to rehearse with them, and praise them whenever you hear them using, boundary setting sentences like the following:

“I’ll think about it.”

“You’re a little too close to me.  Could you please back up?”

“I’m not comfortable with that.  Please stop.”

“That isn’t funny to me.”

“I will end this conversation if you keeping speaking to me that way.”

“I’m not looking for advice currently.” 

Warmly, 

Damian Gerber

Student & Family Counsellor