Dear Parents and Carers, 

Morning Supervision and School Punctuality

The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. We would like to remind all families that morning supervision begins at 8:15am. This is when staff are officially on duty and playground supervision is provided. To ensure your child is safely supervised, please avoid dropping them off before this time. For families requiring earlier supervision, OOSH services are available. Please contact OOSH directly on 0448 137 753 for more information.

From Monday to Thursday, students in Years 1 to 6 begin their day with the Spelling Mastery program. This structured and research-based program is part of our Explicit Teaching approach, helping students build strong, effective spelling skills — a key foundation for reading and writing success.

To get the most out of this valuable learning time, it’s important that students arrive on time and ready to start learning by 8:45am. Consistent attendance ensures students keep pace with the program and build their skills with confidence. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning by promoting punctuality and routine.

Winter Uniform

Our school uniform is more than just clothing — it represents our shared values, pride in our school community, and a commitment to creating an inclusive and focused learning environment.

We kindly remind all families of the importance of supporting our school uniform policy. When students wear the correct uniform each day, they not only show respect for the school, but also foster a sense of belonging and equality among their peers. It helps minimise distractions, reduces peer pressure related to clothing choices, and allows students to focus on what matters most — learning.

All students are required to wear their winter uniform from Tuesday 10 June (Week 7) after the long weekend. The winter uniform is as follows:

A reminder that 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 and 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 dyes are not permitted as hairstyles. The wearing of make–up and/or nail polish is not permitted. Thank you for supporting

Your support in ensuring your child wears the correct uniform each day is greatly valued and contributes to a positive school culture.

Fidget Tools in the Classroom.

Fidget tools are self-regulation devices that can increase a person’s focus and attention. These tools can provide a calming effect for a student who is feeling dysregulated. Fidget tools are items that focus on one or more of a person's natural senses to help bring them a level of comfort. An effective fidget can be anything that provides discreet movement opportunities for your child without distracting those around them.

At St Bernard’s, we understand that some students benefit from using fidget tools to help them stay focused and engaged in their learning. To ensure fidgets are used effectively and respectfully, we have clear guidelines in place:

• Fidgets are learning tools, not toys. They are used to help students concentrate — not to distract themselves or others.
  
  
• Fidgets must be quiet and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand.
  
  
• Only one fidget is allowed per student in the classroom.
  
  
• Not every student needs a fidget, and using one is not automatically granted to all.
  
  
• The teacher has the final say on whether a fidget can be used and if it is being used appropriately.
  
  

Thank you for supporting our efforts to create a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

Kind regards,

Jeni

Ms Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal