Dear Parents and Carers,

I recently spent time with fellow Principals and personnel from Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn in Bowral, which was a time for learning, reflection and prayer.  The Archbishop, Christopher Prowse and Vicar General, Fr Richard Thompson offered Mass, providing input into the significance of Lent as a time to examine our own lives and to consider how we can come together with a sense of hope in what can be achieved in collaboration with others. A significant component of the spiritual learning was the idea of Charisms, which is the term used to describe a gift that each person has been given by the Holy Spirit to use to help others. Only when the Charism is used intentionally for the benefit of others does the gift become extraordinary and have the potential to enrich our lives and those of the people around us. We each had the opportunity to identify the Charisms that we had been given as a gift and were encouraged to develop our self-awareness ‘listening with the ear of our heart’ to really notice how we can reach our potential for happiness in community with others.

The acting Executive Director for Catholic Education, Mrs Pam Betts provided excellent insights and encouragement, inspiring many with her words of wisdom on the future of Catholic Education. In addition, the newly appointed Executive Director, Mr David de Carvalho, was also introduced. He showed a high level of interest in each person he met and communicated his eagerness to visit each school community as soon as possible. He takes on this role at the end of July this year. The Archbishop's announcement of the appointment of the new Executive Director can be found below.

By now, you should have received a copy of the St Bernard’s Yearbook, capturing the highlights and memories of 2024. Creating the Yearbook is a significant undertaking, and we extend our thanks to Mrs Theresa Hopman for her dedication and effort in producing it to such a high standard. I hope you enjoy reading it and find it to be a special keepsake of the past year.

Annual Improvement Plan

Each year, we reflect on areas for growth and set goals based on data and feedback to enhance teaching and learning across our school. This year, three key areas for improvement have been identified:

Goal 1 To improve student achievement in reading.

• Implementation of phonemic awareness program
• Explicit teaching of phonics in Kindergarten to Year 2.
• Explicit teaching of vocabulary and background knowledge
• quality literature read in classrooms
• regular reading practice both at home and school

Goal 2: To improve student achievement in Mathematics.

• Implement a Daily Review of previously taught content to support student recall
• Sequence and model concepts in small steps
• Provide worked examples
• Use concrete materials where appropriate
• Develop mathematical fluency through consistent practice of basic facts

Goal 3: Improve student achievement through the implementation of a new Scope and Sequence for Religious Education

• Deliver Religious Education lessons to explicitly teach concepts including Scripture
• To provide opportunities for social justice action linked to units of work.

Attendance at school
I would like to thank all parents and carers for making student attendance at school in 2025 your priority. Ensuring your child attends school every day is a legal responsibility for all parents and carers.

The school day starts at 8:40am and arriving at or before this time is essential to ensure your child starts every day to maximise their learning time. If your child is late by even as little as 5 minutes a day, this time accumulates over the course of the term to days and weeks of missed learning. Each morning, Years 1-6 start the day with a Spelling lesson. If your child is late, they are missing key instruction time. We understand that on rare occasions you might be late to school. If this is the case, please sign in using the Compass kiosk at the front office before sending your child to class. 

Car parking at Morning Drop off

It has come to my attention that parents are driving into the Grantham Road unit complex carpark adjacent to our school when dropping children to school in the morning. This is private property and we have been informed that this is not permitted. There are concerns for the safety of residents who live in this unit complex with cars driving into this area and people parking their cars. We ask that you instead park on the curb on Peter Cresent or beyond the bus zone on David Avenue.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Combined School’s Mass

On Tuesday 1 April our three Catholic Schools, will join together at Carroll College, Broulee for the annual Combined School’s Mass. This year the Mass will have as it’s theme Pilgrims of Hope, which is the theme set by Pope Francis for this Jubilee year. In addition, it will be an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the 30^th Year of Carroll College being established at Broulee. The Mass is always a very special occasion for our K-12 Pathway schools. Students from each of the schools take on various roles within the Mass and the wonderful Carroll College musicians provide the music. Our students will be transported by bus to Carroll College and will gather afterwards for recess. There is an option for students to pre-purchase an Easter treat pack through QkR!. More information about this will be communicated through Compass today.

School Photos

The School Photographer company will be here on Friday 4 April to take school photos. Students will be taking home an order form today with an envelope and information on how to place an online order for individual and class photographs. Sibling photographs are also an option. There are a variety of payment options including online. Students will need to return the photo envelope on the day of photos.

Easter Story Re-enactment

Please save the date for the Easter story re-enactment which will take place on the student’s last day of school this term, Thursday 10 April in the hall. (Please note that Friday 11 April is a pupil free day). The re-enactment of Jesus’ last days, leading to the resurrection, will be presented by each grade, involving a short dramatic portrayal with narration and a song sung for each station of the cross. Students are asked to wear biblical clothing for this day. We hope that you can join us.

Cross Country tomorrow

The cross country carnival is on tomorrow, starting on the bottom oval with welcome and prayer at 9.10am. We hope that you can join us.

Kind regards,

Karen Hadley

Principal

Dear Parents,

KEY DATES COMING UP:

Wednesday 26th March

Sacramental Retreat Day at Carroll College 9.30am-2.00pm

Thursday 27th March

5.00pm at St Bernard’s Church Meeting Room

Family Catch-up Afternoon with Pizza

(please bring completed booklets)

Please note: For families yet to return either an enrolment form or baptism certificate could you please attend to this. This information is needed to prepare certificates.

The Parish Office is open 10.00am-5.00pm

Wednesday-Friday. Email: batemansbay@cg.org.au

COST for the Sacrament is $40.00. Could you please pay prior to the celebration on April 8th as money is used to cover the costs of the program materials.

Payment can be by cash or EFTPOS at the church or direct banking:

A/C Name: St Bernard’s Operating

BSB: 062-786

A/C No: 00012939

Ref: Family Name/Reconciliation

For further information regarding the Sacramental Program—please contact Fr Curry on

0407 068 413, the Sacramental Program Coordinator - Roslynne Trompp at the Parish Office on 4472 4153 or the REC—Rebecca Keough at St Bernard’s Primary School.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL.

Isaiah 1:10,16-20: Cease to do evil; learn to do good

Journey With Jesus: Year 6 Leadership Day

On Friday Week 5, Year 6 travelled to Carroll College to participate in a CSYMA Leadership Day program entitled 'Journey with Jesus'.

The day was led by Mrs Belle Barling and facilitated by the wonderful students at Carroll College. The CSYMA team from Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn, Mr Luke Maher and Mr Nathan Galea also attended and supported the students on the day.

During the day, students explored the many ways they can lead in their school community, just as Jesus did throughout his life. They were encouraged to look at their roles as leaders in the school as not a right of passage, but as a journey of inspiration to others and an opportunity to lead with their head, heart and hands.

The students reported that the day was a lot of fun, and upon return to the school, there were many smiles and stories being shared.

A big thank you to Mr Maynard, Mrs Coggan and Mrs Penberthy for their encouragement and support of the students during the day.

Whole School Christian Meditation

Just a reminder, that if you are visiting the school on a Friday, you may hear an announcement asking that the school prepare for meditation. We simply ask that you pause for the time in between the chimes. The office will also join in on this important part of our prayer formation. 

Meet our leaders for Meditation 

We are all busy, but pausing to start the day has been reported by staff and students to make a big difference to our morning routines here at St Bernard’s Primary School. Year 1 has been learning about Christian Meditation as a form of prayer during their Religious Education lessons. 

Mini Vinnies Students Recognised

During our assembly last Friday, the students of Mini Vinnies were awarded their badges by Mr Everden from the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Mr Everden spoke about the great work that the students have already commenced regarding Lent and their fundraising efforts. He also spoke about future endeavors that the students might aspire towards in order to support the underprivileged.

We were joined by a large group of very proud parents, as well as all the students and staff at St Bernard’s Primary School. 

This group of leaders meets with me each Thursday during lunch to discuss how we can work to make our school and community a better place. Watch this space for our next adventure!

Sacrament of Reconciliation

We ask that you pray for the students in Years 3 and 4 who are preparing for the sacrament of Reconciliation.

The students will be supported through their first Reconciliation by Father Curry and Father Eden Langdon. Father Rex Curry has invited all of the Parish community to join us at St Bernard’s Church on Tuesday 8 April at 5:00pm.

All students will participate in a retreat day at Carroll College on Wednesday 26 March, and then a family catch-up evening on Thursday 27 March. These events are aimed at supporting the students and families to prepare for this important part of their child’s faith journey.

Begin With The Heart

Congratulations to 6M who won the Begin With The Heart class challenge for Week 6. The class challenge was to follow the rule: I use kind hands and kind words.

Our students will now focus on an appreciation value for the coming two weeks: I use my manners and my actions to show appreciation to others. Students will be rewarded hearts in their classroom heart jar whenever they demonstrate this value. 

We also have a new Begin With The Heart Mascot. Unfortunately, this adorable creature is without a name. Classes have been challenged to come up with a name for the fluffy koala. We can not wait to see what fun and exciting names the students will come up with.

Beck Keough

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome Barbecue and Disco

It was wonderful to see everyone at the Welcome Barbecue and Disco last Thursday! It’s always a privilege to be part of a school community that comes together with such positivity and energy at these events. A special thank you to the families who generously donated bakery items and to the parents who volunteered their time to help sell items at the disco. Your support made the evening a great success!

Fundraising Working Party

As they say, many hands make light work, and we would love your help with upcoming fundraising events.

The Fundraising Committee will be meeting next Wednesday 26 March at 4:30 p.m.

All parents and grandparents are invited to attend and share ideas for raising funds this year while adding a bit of fun to the St Bernard’s community. We hope to see you there!

NAPLAN 

NAPLAN has come to a close for another year, and we are proud of the fantastic effort shown by our Year 3 and Year 5 students. They settled into the NAPLAN schedule with focus and dedication, and we congratulate them all for their hard work. A big thank you to our staff for their support in preparing students for the assessment and providing emotional support throughout the testing period. NAPLAN results will be available later in the year.

Walkers Carpark Afternoon Pickup

The afternoon pickup at the Walkers Carpark is a busy time for students, staff, and parents. To ensure the safe and smooth collection of students, we would like to share the following procedures:

• Student Groups: Students are led to the top gate in groups based on alphabetical order. Kindergarten students are in the first group unless they have an older sibling. This helps reduce congestion in the carpark.
• Walking to the Gate: Students are asked to walk to the gate where teachers are stationed and inform them of where their parent/carer is located before entering the carpark.
• Parent/Carer Arrival: Parents and carers are asked to approach the gate to meet their child. This ensures that no child is left to walk alone through the carpark for an extended period.
• Staying with Your Child: Once reunited, please remain with your child and move directly to your parked car.
• No Gathering in the Carpark: For safety reasons, please do not remain in the carpark to gather with others. Unsupervised children in this area can pose safety risks.
• Car Access: The best entry to the carpark by car is from the northern entry, away from the pickup gate where students are walking towards their parents/carers.
• Avoid the Southern Gate: Please avoid driving your car past the pickup gate at the southern end of the carpark.
• Uncollected Students: Any students not collected by 3:00 p.m. will be walked by staff back to the Front Office.

Parent Webinar

Catholic Care Sydney are offering online Parenting and Child Development courses to support families learn new strategies for parenting. Courses being offered this month include three week courses in Emotion Coaching, helping parents gain an understanding of their parenting style and Anxiety Coach, supporting strategies with anxiety. If you are interested in participating in these courses, call 131819 or visit catholiccare.org/pcd. An outline of the courses offered can be found below.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping to ensure a safe and efficient pickup process for everyone. We appreciate your continued support!

Kind regards

Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal

Exciting Developments in AI and STEM

I am thrilled to share some updates from the recent ICTENSW DigiTLL conference at the ACU in Sydney. I was fortunate to be granted a scholarship to join Mrs Keough in her work with this organisation in exploring the cutting-edge intersection of AI and education. Mr Maynard was also a participant, connecting virtually with the excellent and informative sessions and keynote addresses from Brett Salakas and Mr Tim Kitchen, leaders in the education sphere. 

We discovered powerful ways AI can enhance and personalise learning, making science even more engaging for our students. We also focused on the responsible use of AI, ensuring our students are equipped to navigate this evolving technology safely and ethically. 

Other facets of this excellent conference were our explorations with new technologies and STEM programs to bring to the classroom! Get ready to hear more about some truly hands-on, immersive learning experiences, such as ‘Home on the Moon,’ where Stage 3 students will be embarking on a project to design and construct a simulated lunar habitat. Imagine exploring lunar geology, designing sustainable living systems, and even creating your own lunar rovers!

We're incredibly excited to bring new enriching and innovative programs to our students, with experiences that will ignite curiosity, foster critical thinking, and inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

Enjoy these photos of the learning fun that has bubbled along in the Science room so far this term, with another fascinating year of incredible student discoveries with STEM and Science ahead of us in 2025!

Laura Tyler

Science Teacher 

Happy Birthday to all of our students that have or will celebrate their birthdays in March.

Aida C, Sally S, Sai G, Evie M, Astrid B, Levi T, Lucas V-D, Indianna L, Mikayla K, Taj P, Brent G, Anoop K, Isabella C, Ivy A, Aiden B, Caitlyn P, Hudson W, Logan H, Mack P, Ruby P, Noah S, Makenzie W, Skylah W, Bexley B, Piper B, Finn H.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

Term 1

Week 6 Class Awards

Presented: Wednesday 14 March 2025.

Well done to all!

 Responding to Power Struggles at Home

As we progress through the school year, we might find some children challenging the boundaries of parents or testing limits at home.  Comments like “You’re not the boss of me” are a common way that children challenge parental authority.  If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of comments like this as a parent, it’s normal to feel a bit lost.  Or maybe you find yourself reacting in ways that only add fuel to the fire. 

Canadian physician and co-author of Hold On to Your Kids Gabor Maté says comments like “You’re not the boss of me” aren’t just about how to respond as a parent. Dr Maté suggests that a parent must look much deeper at the relationship with the child, and ask why there is such a rift:

“Hierarchy is automatic in nature. No baby bear says to Mother Bear, ‘You’re not the boss of me.’ That doesn’t happen…Now, when a child is repeatedly challenging that hierarchy, it means they’ve become disconnected from the parent. It usually means that they’ve become too connected to their peers. And that means they’re actually looking at their peer group now for their values and their how-to-be and how-to-walk and how-to-talk. And it seems unnatural to them that their parents should be telling them what to do. The problem is not in the statement. [‘You’re not the boss of me.’] The problem is in what it implies, which is, ‘I’ve become disconnected to you, and I no longer accept the natural hierarchy between us.’

“The solution, then, is not to be authoritarian and force the kid. The solution is to actually investigate: ‘What happened to the relationship? How come the kid is disconnected? Why isn’t he looking to us for a sense of direction and values and how he ought to be? What’s happened?’ It usually means that the parents have been too stressed, too distracted, and the child has found other attachments, usually in a peer group. It’s not a simple question of, ‘Here’s what you say.’ It’s more — going back to what Krishnamurti said — ‘understanding the relationship.’ Because without understanding the relationship, ‘any plan of action will only breed conflict’.”[1]

If any of this describes the current dynamic with your child, they may be feeling disconnected from you.  In our frantic, busy and technology-saturated culture, it is increasingly common for children to become disconnected from parents and gravitate towards their peers.  The good news is that the disconnection doesn’t have to be permanent.  By taking intentional steps to schedule in quality time, we can create opportunities for reconnection.  This might look like:

• Creating a routine where you have at least one hour per day of “tech free time” to reconnect as a family. Invite kids to come up with a list of low-effort playful activities that can be done as a family after school.
• Clearing non-essential appointments off your schedule to prioritise quality time with your child. Plan and cook a meal together or do some baking together.
• If you have a younger child, engaging them in story time before bed, and discussing the feelings and experiences of the characters together after the story is over.

 Lastly, when you encounter the dreaded phrase “You’re not the boss of me,” here are some responses that set a warm, but firm boundary:

[1] Full article:  https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/behavior/parenting-tips-you-are-not-the-boss-of-me-gabor-mate/

• “Some things are non-negotiable.”
• “Here’s a decision you get to make.” (This expresses empathy for a child’s desire for power and gives them a choice over something else, while emphasising your limits are not negotiable)
• “You’re right. But…”  (This can help to soothe the child’s emotional brain)
• “Let’s talk about what you think is unfair.”
• “I’m keeping you safe.”

With thanks to:  ideas, quote and resources from greatschools.org.

 Warm regards,

Damian Gerber

Student & Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School