Dear Parents and Carers

I hope that you had a lovely weekend celebrating Mother's Day. The students certainly enjoyed welcoming visitors to their classrooms last Friday for a special Mother's Day treat.

Last Friday was especially significant, as we awoke to hear the news that a new Pope had been elected by the Cardinals gathered in Rome. Pope Leo, very much like the late Pope Francis, has not hesitated to express his inspired insights, seeking to connect and reach out to everyone. An excerpt from one of Pope Leo's inaugural speeches was shared with me this week. In these words, Pope Leo reaches out to those who have lost faith and calls for them to see hope in the future:

I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left. To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home. I, too, was angry with God. I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine. 

And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.

But then I discovered something: God doesn’t shout. God whispers. And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything. I don’t come to offer you perfect faith.

I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs. I’m not asking you to believe in everything. I’m asking you not to close the door. Give a chance to the God who waits for you without judgement. I’m just a priest who saw God in the smile of a woman who lost her son… and yet she cooked for others. 

That changed me. So if you’re broken, if you don’t believe, if you’re tired of the lies…come anyway. With your anger, your doubt, your dirty backpack. No one here will ask you for a VIP card. Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary. God doesn’t need soldiers. He needs brothers and sisters. And you, yes, you…are one of them.”

Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)

Welcome

It has been our pleasure to welcome two new students to our school this term, Nikki H (3W) and Mason H (6M). In addition, last week we welcomed Kathy Overend to our staff. Kathy will be working each Friday in the role of Canteen Assistant to support our Canteen Manager, Samantha Whyte on our busiest canteen day.

Catholic Schools Week

Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools’ Week. The purpose of the week is to celebrate our Catholic schools, highlighting our catholic identity and our inclusiveness. We are very fortunate to have a strong K-12 Pathway for Catholic Education on the Coast. Throughout Catholic Schools’ Week, we join together as a Catholic community. The week started with Open Day on Tuesday with pre-schoolers and their parents attending to see all that our school offers. On Friday students from Year 5 and 6 joined with St Mary's students at Carroll College, Broulee to celebrate Carroll Day and 30 years since the school opened. Our K-12 pathway activities will continue, with St Mary's hosting a Teddy Bear’s Picnic next Tuesday 20 May.

Enrolment Reminder

Application forms for enrolment are available through our school website -  https://enrolments.stbernardsbb.nsw.edu.au/nsw-schools/start

Parents are asked to complete a web-based application. Parents wishing to enrol their child for Kindergarten for 2026 are encouraged to apply during the advertised period each year, 5 May – 30 May (late enrolments are accepted subject to places being available). All new families applying for enrolment are Interviewed by the Principal or Assistant Principal. Interviews for Kindergarten enrolments are conducted in Term 2 and Term 3 and parents are advised if a place is available. To be eligible for enrolment in kindergarten a child must turn 5 on or before the 30 July in the year of admission.

Sporting Achievement

New Water Stations

We were recently very fortunate to receive the Fire to Flourish Eurobodalla - Community Resources grant. The grant will assist us in purchasing additional bubbler and water bottle refill stations for our students, which we are very pleased about.

National Sorry Day

On Monday 26th May, Aboriginal students from Years 2-6 and the school's SRC and House Captains are invited to participate in the Sorry Day Bridge Walk to commemorate National Reconciliation Week in our local community. The 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

Students will attend this significant event with Mr Maynard and Mr Nolan.

We wish all St Bernard’s students who are competing in Canberra tomorrow for the Archdiocesan Cross Country Competition all the best. We will be cheering you on from school.

I hope many of our students will be able to join us for National Walk to School Day tomorrow, where we will depart from Corrigans Park at 8:10am.

Next Thursday, I will be travelling to Bega for the Southern Region Principals’ meeting. On Monday and Tuesday of the following week I will be attending Principal's professional learning known as Siloam. This is mandatory leadership training for Principals and is held each term. There is also input at these sessions for spiritual growth, that allows for reflection and prayer.  Ms McCarthy will be acting Principal in my absence.

Blessings on the week ahead.

Warm regards,

Karen

Mrs Karen Hadley

Principal

Waiting for the ‘Billy to Boil’!

Waiting with purpose is very different to procrastination. Procrastination refers to unduly deferring action, using delaying tactics, putting off what needs to be attended to. It is passive and often inept. Whereas waiting with purpose implies there is an intention to act. Before the action takes place there is often a period of reflection, observation and planning.

When we read about Mary MacKillop’s life we observe she had many times in her life where she had to wait…hers’ was a purposeful waiting. We know she was a very down to earth person who believed in getting things done despite the obstacles and challenges she had to face. In 1898 she wrote about her experiences with a particular community: ‘Of all the slow workers I have ever met they beat them. I should have been away from here a fortnight ago but had to remain and urge them on.’ When reading this I think of all the graced moments when I have had to learn to wait upon the needs of others: teaching children with disabilities; sitting with a sick or dying person; listening to the story of a refugee. As Sue and Leo Kane in the Little Brown Book 11 point out: ‘ Just as out in the bush we learn to wait for the billy to boil, or the damper to rise or in the long term for the drought to end – can we sit around our imaginary campfire under the Southern Cross and silently ponder Mary’s wisdom? [pg91] It is the same wisdom of the Psalmist who prays ‘My soul awaits the Beloved as one waits the birth of a child.’ [Psalm 130:6]

Waiting … Now … Soon … in a little while!

In today’s gospel {John 13:31-35] Judas has hardly left the Upper Room and gone out into the night. Jesus knows he is about to betray him. Against this contemptible background Jesus speaks to his disciples in an extraordinary way. He uses words such as ‘Now … soon … in a little while.’ What sort of time is implied here? This is the time after Easter when Jesus ‘having been reinstated in his glory at the right hand of the Father, awaits with his disciples [the Church] the full manifestation of that glory. [The Glenstal Bible Missal pg1131].

Soon, after a little while, Jesus will no longer be with his disciples. Not that he wants to abandon them or leave them to themselves but Jesus is preparing them to adjust from been accustomed to his physical presence to faith in his unseen presence in the very experience of his absence. He chooses this moment to command his disciples to love one another in the same way as he has.

May I be a living sign of God’s love in the world today. May I be the one to ‘open the door of faith’ and love those I encounter in an authentic and practical way. This is living out our Easter Faith.

Marie Weatherall

ST BERNARD’S PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2025

CONFIRMATION

Enrolment is now open for eligible students to participate in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Packs and information are available at the Parish office, Tuesday – Friday 10-5pm

The cost of the program is $40 and can be paid by EFTPOS, Cash or bank transfer.

Commitment Masses will be held on Saturday 24th May at 5pm and Sunday 25th May at 9am at St Bernard’s Church. Attendance is a requirement of the sacramental journey.

IF YOUR CHILD HAS COMPLETED OTHER SACRAMENTS, THEY WILL ALREADY HAVE A STOLE. PLEASE RETURN BY 29TH MAY SO THEY MAY BE TAKEN FOR EMBROIDERY. If not, please let the parish office know.

For further information:

Roslynne Trompp- Parish Sacramental Co-ordinator 4472 4153

Rebecca Keough – St Bernard’s Primary School REC 4472 4446

Fr Rex Curry – 0407 068 413

Pope Leo XIV

The news of the election of our new pope has made international news. 

His Holiness brings a wealth of wisdom, compassion, and a depth of commitment to faith and service to this role. We look forward to the positive impact that his leadership will have upon the church in this year of Jubilee.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is celebrated for his extensive missionary work in Peru and his leadership as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. He is the first North American and Augustinian Pope to be elected. 

We ask you to join us in praying for our new pope as he embarks upon this sacred journey of leading the Catholic Church.

Begin With The Heart

Congratulations to 4W who won the Begin With The Heart class challenge for Week 2. The class challenge was to follow the HEART Tolerance: I keep going when things get hard.

Our students will now focus on an honesty value for the coming two weeks: I do the right thing, even when no one is looking. Students will be rewarded hearts in their classroom heart jar whenever they demonstrate this value.

Sacramental News: Confirmation

Kind regards,

Beck

Mrs Rebecca Keough

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers,

Tomorrow is National Walk Safely to School Day!
Students, families, and staff are invited to take part in this fun and healthy event.

We will meet at Corrigan’s Park, Batehaven, by 8:00am, ready for an 8:10am departure. From there, we’ll walk together along the footpaths on Beach Road to school.

This is a great way to start the day and promote safe, active travel.
Students are welcome to join the walk even if a family member is not attending—just walk your child to the meeting point and hand them over to the supervising staff, who will accompany them on the walk.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome to a snapshot of Year 3!

Year 3 have made a sensational start to Term 2. The teachers would like to commend the students for the enthusiastic, attentive and cooperative attitudes they bring to school each and every day.  

Visual Arts

Students have enjoyed opportunities to explore different artistic techniques during Visual Arts this term. They successfully used oil pastels and selected warm and cool colours to create artworks of the cross. Year 3 have completed some fantastic artworks for ANZAC Day using paint and a silhouette to represent this important occasion. Students also diligently created beautiful Mother’s Day pictures. We are sure all mothers will treasure these artworks. Later this term students will create a Pete Cromer inspired bird collage.  

Literacy and Numeracy

Year 3 have continued to enthusiastically participate in our Literacy and Numeracy Daily reviews. They have been committed to moving their learning from their short-term memory to long term memory. We have been expanding on our vocabulary, identifying syllables for a given word, listed common and proper nouns and consolidated our reading fluency. In Numeracy we have been developing automaticity for times tables, identifying the numerator and denominator for fractions, used partitioning to solve addition and subtraction problems as well accurately identified time.

Science 

We made Mt Everest in Science! Stage 2 students are discovering the ways that the Earth's surface is changed and shaped by tectonic plate movements deep underground. Year 3 simulated how the tectonic pushing forces are continuing to build the Earth's highest mountain, increasing Mount Everest by 6cm every year! ⛰️ 

Performing Arts

Year 3 has been experimenting with a range of traditional instruments. Looking at the 4 instrument families in particular percussion. Students learnt to create the tune of, Mary had a little lamb using hand bells.

Sport

Year 3 have not only excelled in the classroom. Students have been developing their athletics skills in preparation for the St Bernard’s Athletics Carnival in Week 7. Year 3 have been practising high jump with Mrs Holmes. Students always love jumping onto the high jump mats. 3W have been refining their technique for discus, improving with every throw. 3C have been developing their long jump skills factoring in everything from the run up to landing. 

When Year 3 are not busy working they love spending time chatting with their mates.  It is great listening to them talk about what brings them joy. Some of the topics of conversation have included

• What they will play at recess and lunch.
• Sports they play - football, netball, soccer, gymnastics, swimming, surfing, dancing, martial arts.
• What activities they will be doing after school.
• Weekend adventures.
• Favourite foods.
• Movies they have seen.

The list is endless!

Mrs Vyvette Coulter & Mr Tony Ward 

Year 3 Teachers 

Southern Region Cross Country

Congratulations to our awesome team of students who ran 2 and 3 kilometres at the Southern Region Cross Country Championships on Friday 2 May.

Lilly G, Molly M , Indiana A, Mia B , Holly L, Leila K, Chelsea M, Harper B, Ethan S, Sion D, Reuben S, Finn H, Reeve T, Beatrix F, Charlie M, Brooklen S, Eva C, Addison G, Azami S, Lucy B, Indie A, Noah S, Lucas VD, Ben F, Xavier L , George SD, Archie P, Astrid B, Ivy G, Winter W, Kate W , Charlene M , Alice L, Raph C, Lehan D, Cooper M, James P, Will O, Toby S,Juliette DC, Alyssa O'B, Sienna K, Olivia R, Sietta G, Ivy A, Miranda S, London B, Van C,  Jacob B, Jordan L, James W, Mace M.

Beatrix F, Raph C, Astrid B and Van C were Southern Region Champions. Lilly G, Harper B, Charlie M, Brooklen S, Noah S, Charlene M, Lehan D, Juliette DC and Jordan L were also selected as the best runners in the Southern Region. These students will now compete at the Canberra-Goulburn Cross Country Championships to be held at Mount Stromlo on Friday 16 May. We wish these talented athletes all the best in their preparation.

NSWPSSA Tennis Championships

Congratulations to Beatrix F who competed at the NSW Primary School Sports Association Tennis Championships in Bathurst from the 6 - 9 of May. Beatrix won a bronze medal with her team finishing third in the John Ferguson Cup for Girls; a wonderful achievement. Beatrix had a huge program with multiple games each day and she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We are very proud of your commitment and dedication to your favourite sport.

MacKillop Netball and Rugby League Championships

On Friday 9 May, MacKillop Netball and Rugby League Championships were held in Canberra. The best students from Catholic Schools across NSW were chosen to compete at this prestigious event. Georgina W played with the Canberra Goulburn team at in the Netball Championships. She had a fantastic time displaying great expertise and sportsmanship. Her coach spoke highly of her efforts. Raph C played in the 11yr Rugby League Championships playing up an age group Raph displayed great skill and determination. Taj P, Jace T and Ollie L played in the 12yr Rugby League they were all excited to share their awesome experiences and recall the great tackles and line breaks from throughout the competition. Congratulations to these students on their selection and their efforts during the competition. You should be very proud of competing at this level.

Canberra Goulburn Touch Football Trials

On Tuesday 14 May Raph C played in the Canberra Goulburn Touch Football trials- another outstanding effort and display of amazing athleticism. Congratulations on your hard work Raph.

Upcoming Sport Dates

Friday 16 May Canberra Goulburn Cross Country Championships

Tuesday 27 May Canberra Goulburn Rugby Union Trials

Friday 30 May MacKillop Soccer Championships

Wednesday 11 June NSWCPS Cross Country

Friday 13 June St Bernard’s Athletics Carnival

At school we are all practicing for our Athletics Carnival and enjoying all the different skills.

Have a wonderful week,

  Mrs Angela Holmes

Being There For Children Means Being There for Yourself

One of my role models, Dr Gabor Maté, says that “Safety is not the absence of threat;
safety is connection.” This poses a problem in our modern culture for parents,
because so many of us are disconnected from our children, through no fault or desire
of our own. Whether it’s that we’re too financially stressed, too stressed from our job
or running a business, too depressed, grieving the loss of a loved one or struggling with
some kind of addiction, or whether too much technology is getting in the way, there
are all kinds of things that can get in the way of being there for a child. Is it any wonder that in our culture so many children struggle to feel seen and heard?

Dr Maté writes, in his book Hold on to Your Kids:

“To be attuned to your child, you must be non-depressed and non-stressed. Parents
facing stress and depression struggle to attune to their children, not due to lack of
love but because they can’t connect. This, unfortunately, makes the child suffer. As
adults, we can relate to the feeling when a partner or friend doesn’t see or understand us. Now, imagine the experience for a child who is entirely dependent. Making mistakes as a parent is inevitable; we all do. The crucial point is how we handle it. Children are resilient, not fragile. If I recognize that I’ve made a mistake, it’s my responsibility to repair it. Instead of telling the child to return only after an apology, we can say, ‘You can come back and talk to me anytime.'”

In other words, to be truly there for our child, we must first be truly there for ourselves. When we model healthy self-care to children,which may be as simple as booking in for a massage, taking the family for a regular walk on the beach, setting aside sometime to be in nature or in your garden after work. We are role modelling something of value to kids. Children primarily learn habits by watching their parents and following their example, so this is something worth bearing in mind. Do we push our depression and stress aside, in the belief that our own mental wellbeing isn’t important?

Children may be watching and picking up these habits towards their own mental health, so consider that. Or do we model to our kids that depression, stress and anxiety are things all human beings struggle with from time to time, but when we do XYZ to get help, we feel better?

I believe that every parent does the best they can within the limits of the resources
available to them. If your child is giving you signs that they’re feeling disconnected
from you, take it as an opportunity to reflect on what resources you’re lacking to be
at your best as a parent. It may be worth revisiting your routines, the workload at your job/s, support circle/s and self-care habits to ensure you have everything you need to be present for, and inviting of, connection. You will then be in a place where you can confidently tell your child, “You can come back to me and talk to me anytime.”

Warm regards,
Damian Gerber (MSW)
Student & Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School

Term 2

Week 2 Class Awards

Presented: Friday 9 May 2025.

Well done to all!