Dear Parents and Carers

It has been great to welcome back the students for Term 3 this week. Students are already very engaged in their learning with opportunities to participate in a range of educational experiences.

Welcome to new families

It has been lovely to welcome new students to our school this week. 

• Alana M in Kinder; Ariyah M in Year 2 and Layla T in Year 5
• Chelsea G in Year 2 and Beau G in Year 3
• Divitha in Year 4

We hope you are settling in well and already feeling part of our school family!

Staffing Update

This term we welcome Mrs Kate Bellette back from maternity leave. Kate will be teaching two days a week.

Ms Sara McCluskey has taken leave this term to travel overseas and Kate and Ms Naomi Beatty will teach in 2BM on Thursday and Friday in her role.

First Eucharist

This term, our Year 4 students will receive the Sacrament of Eucharist. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for this significant step in their Sacramental journey. The Sacrament will be celebrated on Sunday 14 September at 9:00am. All families are invited to join us at this special celebration. The Enrolment Evening for parents will take place next week on Thursday 31 July.

NAIDOC and YUIN BUNAAN

In our final week of last term, our school NAIDOC Week celebrations were launched with Aboriginal Education Worker, Mr Riley Nolan teaching each grade a dance and playing the yidaki in the hall. Our celebrations of NAIDOC Week continued this week with two significant events, the Yuin Bunaan Cultural Day for our three Catholic Pathway Schools at Captain Oldrey Park in Broulee held yesterday, and the Southern Region NAIDOC Mass, taking place today at St Patrick’s Church, Bega. 

The Yuin Bunaan is held biennially and is a celebration of the incredible culture of our First Nations people. This years NAIDOC Week theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," celebrates not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities, and the legacy of our ancestors. 

This theme is certainly evident in our community, on Walbunja and Brinja Yuin land where the vision, passion and cultural knowledge of Elders and emerging leaders such as Riley Nolan, Samantha Ellis and Robert Slockee, of Carroll College is inspiring and empowering so many of the students in our schools.

The Southern Region NAIDOC Mass is being attended by Catholic Schools in our region today, with our Year 4-6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and the Student Representative Council travelling with students from St Mary's, Moruya.

We would like to congratulate Riley Nolan, Scarlett Chapman and Christopher Hebditch for receiveing the following awards.

Riley Nolan - Leadership Award

Scarlett C - Leadership Award

Christopher H - Culture and Identity Award 

I would like to share the following prayer that was part of the opening of the Yuin Bunaan yesterday, shared by Mrs Libby Goodsell, Aboriginal Education Officer at Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn.

We gather in prayer this morning with gratitude and joy in our hearts for this opportunity to connect with each other.

We pray for our First Nations children; that they are able to learn culture from Elders, and grow to be strong leaders in their communities.

We pray that they may always find their faith and hope in the future,

We pray that our students grow to feel empowered.

We pray they grow to know their voice counts.

We pray they always encounter our Holy Creator’s grace.

May we all remember to always see the land as a gift for which we are truly thankful, and undertake the privileged duty of respecting and looking after it as First Nations peoples have done for thousands of years.

We thank God, Great Creator Spirit, for all Country provides:

May we always feel our oneness with the spirit of this land and with each other,

Help silence our spirits and minds from the busyness of life,

And Be still.

May we Listen to the breath of the Spirit which has blown through this land for ages past, Today, and always;

From the mountains and the rivers to the sea, what always was will always be.

Amen

NAPLAN Results

This week, families will have received their child’s NAPLAN results in a sealed envelope.

NAPLAN provides a snapshot of student achievement at a particular point in time. The Individual Student Report outlines your child’s performance in:

• Writing
• Reading
• Conventions of Language (spelling, grammar, and punctuation)
• Numeracy

You’ll also see how your child’s results compare to the school average for each area.

An Additional Student Report (ASR) is also included. This offers further detail, such as:

• Descriptions of the skills assessed
• How your child responded to each item
• The relative difficulty of each question

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s results, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

CLASSROOM LEARNING TIME
At St Bernard’s we always strive to focus on creating a high performing culture, enabling the students in our care to reach their academic potential. As a staff we have professional conversations focused on teaching and learning, classroom management, student wellbeing and timetabling. Educational research has confirmed that it is the teacher who has the greatest influence on improving student learning outcomes. The morning block is prime time learning for students.

Parents can assist in this matter too. Students need to arrive at school by the morning bell at 8:40am to ensure that they do not miss any element of their first lesson of the day.

Birrigai- Year 5 Camp

Next week, our Year 5 students will head off on a two-night excursion to Birrigai in Tharwa, ACT. While the main focus of the camp is exploring the Gold Rush period in Australian history, it’s also a wonderful opportunity for students to enjoy the experience of an overnight camp, strengthen friendships, and build independence. The camp will be supported by Mr Jackson Keen, Mr Brendan Maynard, Mrs Sophie Kenny, Mrs Laura Tyler, and Ms Jeni McCarthy.

We wish them all a fantastic time and look forward to hearing their stories when they return!

Blessings to you and your family over the next fortnight.

Warm regards

Karen

Karen Hadley

Principal

Lord Teach Us To Pray Luke 11:1-13

In response to the request of his followers “Lord, teach us to pray as you do”, Jesus gave them the Our Father or the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 6:5-15).

The origins of The Lord's Prayer are deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition. The Our Father is a central prayer in Christianity and an integral part of Catholic liturgy.

Seven petitions are identified in The Lord's Prayer:

Hallowed be your name

Your Kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation

Deliver us from evil

The first three petitions praise God. The remaining four petitions present to God the needs of believers.

Explicit teaching about prayer is part of the Religious Education Curriculum for students attending Catholic schools. Its explicit teaching is complimented by opportunities for staff and students to engage in prayer on a daily basis.

Year 6 students develop their understanding of prayer in the Christian tradition through an exploration of the Our Father, The Examen, and meditative prayer practices including prayer journaling.

Skill development is focused on comparing different texts of the Lord’s Prayer (including Scriptural references and traditional Christian versions) and identifying the use of The Lord’s Prayer in Catholic liturgy (e.g. Communion Rite, Baptism and Anointing of the Sick). Students also investigate the origins of the prayer in the Old Testament and in Jewish prayer and ritual.

Powerful opportunities arise when students are given the opportunity to make connections between their own experiences and the seven petitions. Questions posed for students may include:

What picture of God do I hold in my head? Where/what is “heaven” for me?

How often do I praise or thank God for all the good things that happen to me every day?

Do I recognise that God is my constant companion present in good and bad times?

If I am called to be a steward of God’s creation on earth, how am I helping God’s dream come about?

“Take away our selfishness and greed?” What is one thing I can do in God’s name to help this prayer be answered for every human on the planet?

Are there people in my life whom I have not forgiven or feel I cannot forgive? Has God forgiven them? Where does that leave me?

The Lord’s Prayer calls for a transformation of our hearts and actions, aligning our lives with God's will and with love for others. Through the intercession of Mary MacKillop we pray that God will also give us the strength to share his message of love and forgiveness with others in our community.

‘I do not spend much time in prayer, but God’s presence seems to follow me everywhere and make everything I do or wish to do a prayer.’ Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Sharon Beashel - Teacher and Parishioner

Reference: curriculum.bne.catholic.edu.au

Sacramental News: First Eucharist and Confirmation

Important Notice: Sacrament of First Eucharist - Enrolment Evening

This term, the parish is offering eligible students the opportunity to participate in the sacrament of First Eucharist.

If you are interested in having your child participate in the preparation for this sacrament, please come along to the information and enrolment session, which will be held at St Bernard’s Parish Church next Thursday (31st July 2025) from 5:00 pm.

Students who identify as Catholic, and who have completed the sacraments of Baptism and First Reconciliation are eligible to participate in the program.

Information packages will be sent home with eligible Year 4 students this week.

A Celebration of Confirmation

On the 28th of June, seventeen students participated in the sacrament of Confirmation.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse and Father Joshy Kurien led a beautiful Mass, with many family members and friends gathering to celebrate this important event with the students.

A big thank you to Mrs Coggin and Mr Maynard for their support of the students. Also to the wonderful team at Carroll College, led by Mrs Belle Barling and Mrs Anna Smart, for their contribution to the formation of the students. We would also like to thank our wonderful parent community for walking with your child on their journey. 

Finally, congratulations to the candidates! Your participation in all facets of this sacramental event was outstanding. You are now well and truly on your faith journey, and we can’t wait to see and hear what you do next!

Begin With The Heart

We will continue to promote our core school values with our Begin With The Heart Class Challenges each fortnight.

Having conversations at home with your child about these values promotes opportunities for us to collaborate in teaching our students how to contribute and to be a part of a community in a positive way. 

Kind regards,

Beck

Rebecca Keough

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been a chilly start to Term 3, especially following my warm winter break in Rome. I felt truly blessed to have been selected to attend the Pilgrimage to Rome alongside colleagues from across the Archdiocese. During this Jubilee Year, we were deeply inspired as we walked in the footsteps of some of the Church’s greatest saints.

One of the highlights of the pilgrimage for me was our visit to Siena, the birthplace of Saint Catherine. We explored her childhood home and were captivated by the beauty of the chapel dedicated to her remarkable contributions to the Catholic Church in Italy. Born into a lower middle-class family as one of 25 children, Saint Catherine is remembered for her unwavering service to the sick and poor.

After celebrating Mass in the Chapel of St Catherine, we enjoyed a short walk to the magnificent Cathedral of Siena. From its rooftop, we were treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside—an unforgettable moment that beautifully blended faith, history, and the natural beauty of Siena.

Storyline 

This week, classes have begun their Storyline learning with engaging provocations and experiences that spark curiosity. Storyline is a dynamic teaching approach that brings learning to life by allowing students to explore the perspectives of characters and, over time, develop their own unique 'storyline' as they build knowledge and deepen understanding. Families are warmly invited to join us at school on Tuesday, 23 September, to celebrate and share in their child's Storyline learning journey.

ICAS

ICAS is an academic assessment program aimed at challenging students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills across a range of subjects, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling, and Digital Technologies. Students in Years 2 to 6 are invited to participate in this online competition, with Writing available exclusively to students in Years 3 to 6. These assessments are ideal for students seeking to extend themselves academically and embrace the personal challenge of competing in an international context.

ICAS Assessments Sitting Date Schedule
Digital Technologies        Monday 4 August
Writing (Years 3-6)         Tuesday 5 August
English                          Wednesday 13 August
Science                         Monday 18 August
Spelling Bee                  Tuesday 19 August
Mathematics                  Tuesday 26 August
Cost for each Assessment (excluding Writing)- $20.95
Cost for Writing Assessment- $24.95

The Parent Payment System is a simple and secure online payment service specifically for parents to purchase ICAS Assessments. Payment can be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or credit card.

Our parent page link is:https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/TUG359

Our Parent payment system code is TUG359

Closing date for entry and the online payment system is next Monday 28 July, 2025 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch—my door is always open for a chat or visit.

Kind regards,

Jeni

Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal

NSW Cross Country Championships

Congratulations to Beatrix F of Year 5 who competed in the 3km NSW Primary Schools Sports Association Cross Country Championships Event in Sydney on Wednesday. In what was an extremely difficult race, Beatrix came in 20th position, less than a minute behind the leader, an excellent result. We are so proud of you Beatrix!

MacKillop Rugby Union Championships

Congratulations to Sion D who competed at the MacKillop Rugby Union Championships in Forbes last term. Sion was selected in the "possibles and probables" team and played the best in junior rugby from all over NSW. His play at fullback was outstanding and the selectors commended his commitment to contact and high work rate throughout the competition. St Bernards is very proud of you Sion, an awesome achievement at such a high level of competition.

Southern Region Athletics

The following students will compete at the Southern Region Carnival in Bega on Monday we wish them well.

Alyssa O, Emerson B, Kaitlyn D, Harper A, Georgia N, Ashton S, Vander C, Nalu G, Roland S, Harlo W, Sietta G, Sienna K, Juliette  DC, Fraser S, Lebron C, Jordan L, Hudson A, Jacob B, Indie F, Ivy G, Astrid B, Winter W, Annabelle T, Yana K, Raph C, Lehan D, William O, James P, Zaden F, Beatrix F, Charlie M, Aurelia S, Brooklen S, Addison G, Sydnee S, Avia N, Lucas VDS, Noah S, Xavier L, Levi T, Remi C, Quinn S, Lilly G, Georgina W, Indiana A, Sienna N, Scarlett C, Emie A, Paige L, Sion D, Ollie L, Liam C, Pravin V, Harper B, Finn H, Mason H.

Upcoming Sport Dates

Monday 28 July - Southern Region Athletics Carnival

Tuesday 29 July - Year 5 and 6 Brumbies Rugby Gala Day

Wednesday 30 July - Year 3 and 4 Brumbies Rugby Gala Day

Tuesday 5 August - Tennis Coaching commences in school

Looking forward to a fantastic term.

Angela Holmes

Sports Coordinator/PE Teacher 

Encouraging Mindful Consumption

A warm welcome back to all St Bernard’s families for term 3. Whatever the next term of school has in store for us, may everyone find peace, happiness and fulfillment this term.

In our culture it is increasingly easy for kids to be exposed to all kinds of questionable influences, sometimes without the knowledge of parents, whether it’s the influence of peers, something they found on Youtube or when talking to an AI chatbot. I often witness parents picking their battles – a valuable life skill – and choosing to tolerate a certain level of risk or uncertainty in the influences on their child. A parent’s comfort level will of course depend on many factors unique to each family, including cultural background and parenting style. More permissive parents are typically more comfortable with a greater risk threshold, whereas more strict or anxious parents tend to want to have more control over a child’s surroundings. There is no right or wrong here, and it certainly isn’t for me to judge what is right or wrong, because I believe the only experts in a family are those family members who are in it.

But how do parents decide which battles are worth fighting?

One way that we can approach this dilemma is through the concept of “mindful consumption.” Mindful consumption refers to remaining mindful of all the ways that a particular environment, person, or piece of online content can have an influence on our thoughts and/or feelings.

Here are a couple of quotes about mindful consumption that I like:

“The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”

Pope Leo XIV

Your mind is like a piece of land planted with many different kinds of seeds: seeds of joy, peace, mindfulness, understanding, and love; seeds of craving, anger, fear, hate, and forgetfulness. These wholesome and unwholesome seeds are always there, sleeping in the soil of your mind. The quality of your life depends on the seeds you water. If you plant tomato seeds in your gardens, tomatoes will grow. Just so, if you water a seed of peace in your mind, peace will grow. When the seeds of happiness in you are watered, you will become happy. When the seed of anger in you is watered, you will become angry. The seeds that are watered frequently are those that will grow strong.

Thich Nhat Hanh

If children are regularly exposed to words, images, or content full of hatred, fear, or violence, it is precisely these seeds that will sprout in their minds. This includes friendships that are stuck in negative or unhealthy patterns. On the other hand, if we encourage kids to choose friends that model kind, respectful and uplifting behaviour, children are more likely to grow into this kind of character themselves. Mindful consumption, while picking your battles, might also look like encouraging a child to play a non-violent video game, rather than removing their access to video games entirely for example. It might also look like taking the time to explore a child’s regular sources of joy and finding ways to promote their regular access to these “glimmers.”

Warmly,

Damian Gerber

Student & Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School

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