Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome to the 2025 school year. On behalf of the staff, I extend a very warm welcome to both returning families and those who are new to our St Bernard’s community. A special welcome to the following new students

It was wonderful to welcome our Kindergarten students today for their first day. The students settled in very well this morning. Following the drop off, it was lovely to join with parents, carers, grandparents and other family members for morning tea. The first day of Kindergarten is a very significant day and we want you to know that we are here for you as you experience this milestone.

NEW LEADERSHIP

It is very exciting to begin as Principal of St Bernard’s school. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to lead what is already an excellent school and to work alongside a dedicated team, to provide a Catholic education inspired by the teachings of Jesus, tradition and the contribution of those before us.

Jeni McCarthy, Rebecca Keough and I were commissioned in our new roles as Assistant Principal, Religious Education Coordinator and Principal at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Canberra before we commenced this year, reminding us of our important undertaking.

We are highly motivated and positive for what we can achieve together. We are fortunate to have  Matt Lowe join our leadership team as Coordinator and to have Jenny Smith continue in her Coordinator role, both leading curriculum and working as instructional coaches.

As we embark on the exciting journey of a new school year, we will share updates and information in this first newsletter of the year.

THEME FOR THE 2025 SCHOOL YEAR

At the conclusion of 2024, members of the new student leadership teams and Religious Education teachers from our three Catholic Pathway schools on the coast, came together to decide on a theme for the upcoming school year.

The 2025 theme chosen is inspired by the words of Pope Francis:

“The Holy Spirit reminds us first and foremost that we are children loved by God – everyone equal in God’s love, and everyone different.”

This theme reminds us to embrace and honour the diversity within our school community, finding inspiration in our differences and fostering a deeper sense of unity and love.

STAFFING UPDATE
A special welcome to new staff joining us this year: Ella Mitchell, Jackson Keen, Riley Nolan, Susan Alexander, Amelia Guilfoyle, and Erin Domeny.

• Ella Mitchell will teach 1KM on Thursday and Friday (even weeks) and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (odd weeks)
• Jackson Keen class teacher 5J
• Susan Alexander will work 5 days a week as a relief teacher
• Riley Nolan will work on Monday and Tuesday in the Aboriginal Language/Cultural Support Worker
• Amelia Guilfoyle joins the Classroom Support Team on Monday-Wednesday
• Erin Domeny joins the Classroom Support Team on Wednesday- Friday

We also warmly welcome Therese Armstrong back from her leave last year and Georgia Veneris from maternity leave.

This year we also have some staff fulfilling additional roles. They include:

• Brianna Rosenbaum- Support Teacher Monday-Thursday and teacher in KTR on Fridays
• Matt Lowe- Instructional Leader
• Jenny Smith- Instructional Leader
• Brendan Maynard- Contact Teacher for Aboriginal students
• Rebecca Keough- Enrichment Teacher
• Jessica Guthrie- Kindergarten PE
• Theresa Hopman- iCentre Assistant

We also welcome Fr Rex Curry who is currently acting as the St Bernard’s Parish Priest until newly appointed Parish Priest, Fr Joshy Kurien arrives in Batemans Bay. We look forward to working alongside Fr Rex over the next few months.

STAFF COMMISSIONING MASS

On Saturday 8 February we will mark the beginning of the school year with a Staff Commissioning Mass at St Bernard’s Church at 5:00 pm. This is a very special way to start the year, embraced by our school and parish community. We invite all members of our school community to be in attendance at this Mass.

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Communication between home and school is both valued and encouraged. We believe it is one of the most vital elements in creating an effective and welcoming community. Emails and messages through Compass are being pushed out regularly with updates and important information to remind you of events and changes that may be occurring for your children. All classroom teachers have group emails created for their parent group. If your email changes, please advise our front office staff. Parent emails are kept private. Staff will always use Bcc when sending group emails.

Remember to check our website. Relevant curriculum information and school procedures are highlighted for your reference. There is much to communicate as we begin the new school year. I encourage all families to visit our school calendars for key dates such as parent-teacher conferences, school assemblies, and special events. Stay tuned for detailed calendars and reminders throughout the school year. Parent Introductory Meetings are planned for Week 5. Information regarding these meetings will be sent out to families in the coming week.

CLASSROOM MASTERY

We have high expectations of our students, and we are committed to ensuring that they are coming to school to learn in a safe, calm and predictable environment. To assist in creating an optimum environment for learning, we are moving into our second year of implementing the Classroom Mastery behaviour curriculum, focusing on explicitly teaching the skills and routines needed to create engaged, positive and productive classrooms.

All classes from Day One have been begun to practice the behaviour routines with their new class to ensure that everyone understands the behaviour routines for:

• Classroom Entry
• Classroom Exit
• Cue to Start -with attention to the teacher
• Student Movement

STUDENT LEADERSHIP PRESENTATION
Congratulations to our Year 6 students who were elected last year to the Student Leadership Team for 2025 and to all our Year 6 students who have become leaders of our school. All parents are invited to our first assembly next Wednesday 12 February at 8.45am. Year 6 will be leading our Assembly and all students will receive their leadership badges. All parents and friends are welcome

SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL

Next Friday we look forward to the St Bernard’s Swimming Carnival at Bay Pavilions for all students in 3-6 and Year 2 students who meet the criteria for participation. Information about this day can be found in Compass. We hope that many of you will be able to attend to enjoy the day with us.

Please know we are here to support you in every way we can. I welcome you to reach out to me. Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education, and we eagerly anticipate a fantastic school year ahead! 

Kind regards
Karen

   The Chipped Cup

Joyce Rupp in ‘The Cup of Life’ tells the following story: ‘One day my friend Pat told me about a bowl her mother had given her long ago. They had used it often for family gatherings over many years. The oriental design had faded and one side received a crack and several chips on it from so much use. Pat use to turn the ‘bad side’ of the bowl to the wall of the china cabinet, so the flaws would be less noticeable. Now, however, she turns the bowl’s faded chipped area to the outside of the room so all can see and enjoy the stories it has to tell. Pat explained that as she aged she began to identify with the bowl. I’ve got some definite character marks from life too.’ [pg 65, 1997].

Flaws and inadequacies come with the territory of being human. Like Pat’s bowl, we also have bumps, scratches, cracks and chips that keep us from being perfect vessels of life. We are flawed and we all have our own internal inadequacies or stains of the spirit. Being fully human is a paradox. Growing and becoming more of a person whose life resembles the values of Jesus is essential. At the same time my flaws are my greatest treasure …my imperfections keep my ‘ego’ in check. They remind me daily how much I need the grace of God.

Who does God draw to himself!

In the scriptures today do you notice the people God and Jesus his Son, called and drew to himself? They were often people who failed, people who were flawed! These very ordinary people were the ones God and his Son Jesus yearned to teach and to guide towards wholeness.

The prophet Isaiah, the disciple Paul and the Apostle Peter each acknowledge they are a sinner. ‘What a wretched state I am in. I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips’ cries Isaiah; ‘I persecuted the Church of God,  I hardly deserved the name Apostle, but by God’s grace that is what I am’ confesses Paul; and Peter falling on his knees says to Jesus: ‘Leave me Lord; I am a sinful man.’ Isaiah, Paul and Peter know their need of forgiveness but they are also aware of God at work in them.  It is in the context of their human lives and ours that God reaches out to us.

God reaches out to us in the way that God has always reached human beings - through our ordinary flawed lives. The scriptures today are very clear about God’s welcome of us, and to follow him as his Gospel messengers. In Peter, Jesus urges him to banish his fears and step out in faith to share the message of God’s goodness with others.

With Isaiah, Paul and Peter let us respond:  Here I am Lord – send me!    

   Marie Weatherall  

Psalm 84: “Kindness and truth shall meet. Mercy and faithfulness have met. Justice and peace have embraced.”

Welcome to the 2025 school year. 

For those of you whom I have not yet met, my name is Rebecca Keough and I will be acting in the role of Religoius Education Coordintor (REC) this year whilst Mrs Beashel is on leave. I am looking forward to supporting our students, staff and families during the year in this leadership capacity. I look forward to catching up with you throughout the year.

Commissioning Mass: St Bernard’s Staff

This coming weekend, we warmly welcome you to join us on Saturday at 5:00pm at St Bernard’s Parish Church as our 2025 staff are commissioned by Father Rex Curry. This is an annual event, whereby staff are commissioned to the ministry of Catholic Education in our parish. 

St Christopher’s Cathedral Commissioning Mass for CECG New School Leaders

During January, I had the opportunity to travel to Canberra with Mrs Hadley and Ms McCarthy to attend a Commissioning Mass and Leadership Induction for new leaders in our diocese. The Mass was facilitated by Father Richard Thompson (Vicar General) at the beautiful Saint Christopher’s Cathedral.

The Mass was held on the feast day for Saint Francis de Sales, which was quite fitting as he is the patron saint of educators, amongst other professions. Father Richard’s homily was both thought provoking and affirming, as it reminded those in attendance to “be in communion with God, all of humanity and creation, bringing forward the joy of the Gospel”. This particularly struck accord with me as the themes of mission, unity and relationships are at the core of what all of our educators here at St Bernard’s are about, however, it called me to consider how I will now take this forward with me into my role in 2025. 

It is exciting to be writing my first newsletter as Assistant Principal. The start to the school year has been busy and energising, with staff participating in a system-wide professional development day on Friday, followed by a school-based professional development day and planning day. Everyone has returned refreshed and ready to embark on the learning journey with their 2025 classes this week. A special welcome to all our Kindergarten students who began today, and to our new families joining us this year. I look forward to meeting all of you over the coming weeks!

I have had the privilege of working at St Bernard’s for the past 14 years, and this year, I have taken on a new role. Many parents have asked if I will still be involved with the Classroom Support Team, and I want to assure you that I remain strongly committed to this role. I’m excited to combine it with my responsibilities as Assistant Principal.

In my new role, I will be collaborating with our Principal, Karen Hadley, and the leadership team: Rebecca Keough (Religious Education Coordinator), Jennifer Smith (Instructional Leader), and Matt Lowe (Instructional Leader). Together, we will work to ensure that our school runs smoothly and that both students and staff receive the support they need to achieve their best.

Leadership and Decision-Making

A key part of my role is supporting Karen and the leadership team in making informed decisions that align with our school’s mission and values. We are always planning for future growth and progress. One of our major focuses for 2025 will be strengthening the teaching and learning curriculum in Mathematics. While we have placed a strong emphasis on literacy in recent years, this year, we will shift some of that focus to Mathematics. To kick-start this initiative, we will introduce the Early Numeracy Screening Project in Term 1, which will involve both students and staff in Kindergarten and Year One.

Classroom Support

I am deeply passionate about supporting students and families, which is why I am excited to continue my role as the Classroom Support Coordinator. I am fortunate to have an incredible team supporting me in this role, including Briana Rosenbaum and a team of 14 Classroom Support Assistants. Together, we will continue to provide ongoing support across the school for individual students, interventions, telecare, and NCCD adjustments.

In addition to this, I will be coordinating small groups for Mathematics Enrichment, in collaboration with Rebecca Keough to provide Mathematics Enrichment lessons for students in Years 5 and 6 throughout 2025.

Positive and Nurturing Environment

I remain committed to ensuring that St Bernard’s continues to be a positive and nurturing environment for all students. Like all members of our school team, I strive to know each student well and to ensure that every child feels safe, supported, and valued. I work with students to help them become ready to learn so they can achieve their best in the classroom. Over recent years, I have participated in professional development, including a study of Dr. Ross Greene's work, to enhance our behaviour management strategies and ensure we provide the right support for individual students.

Community Involvement

St Bernard’s has a Community Council made up of both staff and parents. This year, we are seeking two parents to join the Community Council. Nominations have been advertised in an email sent to all families today. I look forward to continuing to work with this committee to support our school community.

I also look forward to working with parents and carers, building a strong partnership between home and school. My door is always open, and I encourage you to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Let’s make 2025 a fantastic year together!

Jeni McCarthy 

Supporting Children at the Start of the School Year

Dear Parents,

With the return to a new school year, schedules are often getting very busy again, and families can sometimes feel overwhelmed in the daily challenge to juggle various tasks and commitments. Take this article as permission to come home to yourselves, acknowledging that sometimes it’s really hard for children and parents to keep it all together. If you are observing post-school meltdowns happening more than just occasionally, you may find it helpful to simplify their after-school routine.

Below are some tips to help make late afternoons more peaceful when your child is adjusting to the new school year.

Expect kids to fall apart – Your child might hold it all together and be on their best behaviour at school and then the minute they get home they go off the rails. This is normal behaviour, especially when settling back into a new routine. At school your child works so hard to follow all the rules and have so many social interactions. This is tiring, and they need to let it out at some point.

Plan for downtime – School days are draining and your child needs to balance the demands of a new school year with some relaxation and rest. When you notice a pattern of after-school meltdowns, clear their afternoon/evening schedule for the week where possible. Postpone the playdates, skip the supermarket visit after school, and go straight home to allow your child to unwind.

Have a healthy snack ready – Your child might not eat enough at school. Drinking and eating are social in nature, and children just tend to snack until they are comfortable. Be prepared for their end of school day HANGRY side to come out and be ready with a nutrient-dense snack.

Don’t take it personally – You’re probably so excited to see your child/ren at the end of the day to give them a hug and find all about what they got up to at school. Then you pick them up and they are tired and limited in what they want to share, making you feel disappointed or rejected. It’s not about you. Give them space, time, rest and food.

Sensory play – Draw a bath with lots of bubbles and their favourite bath toys. Or put on some calm music and let them relax with a puzzle, play dough or kinetic sand play. They may really enjoy it, and it will help them unwind.

A popular book for those in junior primary school at the moment is by author Jane Godwin and illustrator Anna Walker. They have created a delightful picture book all about families’ busy lives. It’s called Today We Have No Plans – ‘a busy week, a slower day brings time to dream and time to play’.

Ongoing concerns about back to school anxiety – If your child is showing signs of difficulties with adjustment beyond the first few weeks of school term, such as:

– physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches or nausea;

– trouble sleeping;

– changes in appetite;

– changes in behaviour;

– expressing not wanting to go to school;

They may be experiencing anxiety.

If you have concerns about your child experiencing back to school anxiety:

– Remember to make some quiet time together and ask open-ended questions – for example, “How are you feeling about starting/going/being back to school?” This gives your child a chance to share their thoughts, feelings and anything that’s worrying them.

– Listen closely and acknowledge your child’s feelings. For example, “I can see why you would be worried about starting in a new class. I know that lots of kids feel anxious about making new friends.”

– Remember, school is a major part of your child’s life, so try to see things from their point of view. Don’t dismiss their worries, even if they seem small or silly to you. You don’t need to have all the answers or be able to fix things. Instead, the most important thing is that your child believes they can overcome their feelings of anxiety and knows that you’re in their corner to help them through it.

– For more information on how to support your child through back to school anxiety and where to go for professional support, talk to your child’s class teacher as the first point of contact or see the following article on the Emerging Minds website: 

https://d2p3kdr0nr4o3z.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2024/01/29163457/8-tips-to-help-your-child-manage-back-to-school-anxiety.pdf

Anxiety Group for Years 3 to 6

Lastly, for parents with a student currently in year 3 to year 6 that have any concerns about anxiety, I’d like to let you know that I am currently in the process of setting up a small group for strategies to manage anxiety. Key information is as follows:

– I am anticipating running the group weekly from weeks 4 to 9 of term, and if successful, re-running the group in term 3.

– The group will be facilitated by the school counsellor in tandem with a Classroom Support Assistant (CSA).

– Written consent from a parent is required for a student to attend the group (and in the case of separated parents, written consent from both parents is required). Consent will need to be returned by week 3 of this term.

– A brief phone discussion with parents, conducted by the counsellor, will be required to assess suitability for the group.

– If the counsellor assesses that the group is not the right fit for your child at the present time, we can still consider an alternative referral, such as individual (one-on-one) school counselling or external counselling.

– The group is likely to be run on a Wed or Thurs (to be confirmed).

– Groups are a great way for children to tackle a shared emotional problem (like anxiety) with validation and support from their peers.

If you believe that your child/ren might be a good fit for the group, please contact the school principal Karen Hadley, or email myself directly at   damian.gerber@mccg.org.au to discuss further.

I wish you and your children a wonderful 2025.

Warm regards,

Damian Gerber

Student and Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School

With thanks to MCCG School Counselling resources and Emerging Minds website.

Happy Birthday to all of our students that celebrated their birthdays in January.

We hope you had a wonderful day.

Isadora C, Scarlett K, Indiana L, Lola R, Gianna L, Elliot W, Deric B, Louie S, James G, Kye M'N, Ashton S, Kyla L, Evie P, Nova N, Emma W, Macy L, Addison G,  Harrison L, Brody B, Levi C, Raph C, Brooklyn M, Evanna R, Alfred M, Angelo M, Imogen R, Oliver L, Stella F, Naiara B, Taj M, Alexander B, Casey M'N, Lennea H, Chelsea S, Remi C, Lehan D, Riley N, Archibald McG, Rocco M, Thomas A.

VOLUNTEERS - SCHOOL CANTEEN 

Our school canteen is looking for volunteers to assist on Fridays during the school term.

Please contact our Assistant Principal, Ms Jeni McCarthy by email:

jeni.mccarthy@cg.catholic.edu.au for further information.