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Dear Parents and Carers
Our term is passing quickly with only 3 weeks remaining before our Easter break. We are in the third week of the Lenten season. Lent is the season of Prayer. It is a time to reflect and draw us closer to God as we prepare for Easter - the most significant time of the liturgical year. During this season, Pope Francis reminds us to pray for peace in Ukraine. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Ukraine community.
One of the greatest gifts I believe we can give our students in a Catholic school is Faith. Our teachings and interactions with all our families and students in our care at St Bernard’s are centred on Jesus Christ. Through our faith, we make our values part of our everyday teachings at St Bernard’s. Values such as inclusivity, respect and kindness are taught and are central to everything we do.
Part of our mission at St Bernard’s is to inspire and engage our students in their head, heart and hands through spiritual formation (head), gospel spirituality (heart) and the spirit in action (hands). We have a responsibility to work in partnership with our families to have high expectations for all, encouraging academic and spiritual growth. Each child is nurtured and supported to be the best version of themsleves. The staff very much enjoyed talking with parents and carers over the past two weeks about your child, getting to know you and what works for them both socially and academically. Please know we are here to support you in every way we can. Always know, “it takes a village to raise a child”… and St Bernard’s is that village!
This week I have been so impressed with the leadership of our Student Representative Council. Anthony, John, Noah, Remi, Amy and Erica have been meeting each week, committed to school improvement and ensuring that we have some exciting activities for the remainder of the term. Claim the date for the following SRC events:
- Friday 25 March: FriYay - This involves some peer support activities on Friday afternoon and mufti clothing. Our Year 6 leaders will be running and planning the activities for the afternoon.
- Friday 8 April - Easter Hat Parade - Year 6 are preparing some Easter templates for every student to make their own Easter Hat Bonnet for the parade. Parents are welcome to send in some decorations for their child's hat. Some students may wish to make a hat at home as well. We are looking forward to celebrating the end of the term and Easter with the parade.
Today our St Bernard’s community celebrated St Patrick’s Day! The children came dressed in many shades of green. St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and many of our ancestors came from Ireland. St Patrick is said to have brought Christianity to Ireland. A special thank you to Nicole Powell, Tania Tester, Melissa Franzen, Kelly Jameson, Lara Lovegrove, Karen Cheeseman and Jeni McCarthy for making some delicious green treats and supporting in the canteen. We have had a wonderful celebration!
Congratulations to Samuel S-D who gained selection in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Boys Football Team for 2022. What a wonderful achievement. We wish you all the very best at the next stage.
Welcome BBQ and Disco
We would love all families to join us on Thursday 24 March at 5:00pm for our annual Welcome BBQ and Disco. Please see the flyer in this newsletter for more information about this special event.
PARENTS & FRIENDS AGM
The P&F AGM was held on Monday evening. I congratulate and thank the following parents who accepted leadership roles and were appointed to the P&F Executive:
President: Melissa Franzen
Vice President: Victoria Vincent
Treasurer: Nicole Powell
Secretary: Katie Shakespeare-Dargan
It was wonderful to see some new faces at our meeting. We are looking forward to a great year ahead with some exciting fundraising activities. Stay tuned for more information.
Blessings on your family for the week ahead.
Kind regards
Johanna Wain
Principal
The God of many Chances
Jesus in the Gospel today speaks of the unproductive fig tree, the patience of God and our need for time to repent and grow in our faith and prayer. This Gospel speaks powerfully of the ‘God of many chances.’
Many of us have gardens and love to potter around in the garden. We tend our plants: nourishing and watering them. We watch them grow and produce. Sometimes though, we find some plants do not flourish in our garden & we often resort to pulling them out. ‘It has had its chance and we move on!’ Yet the ‘Gardener God’ sees the process of growth differently to us.
The story of the fig tree in the Gospel is about us – we are the fig tree. Like the fig tree we grow slowly and the fruit of our life can often take time to develop and mature. Meanwhile it is God, ‘the Gardener’ who cultivates and nourishes us, patiently waiting for us to bear fruit even when troubled by many droughts and challenging years. The God of many Chances, the God of Jesus, never lets go of us, believes in us and our future.
Symbol of Hope
The fig tree offers a symbol of hope. Jesus shows the people in this story that there is urgency in the situation and what is at stake. He begs us to wake up to the opportunities he places before us, to bear fruit! He points out that God will not toss us aside immediately. Our Gardener God, will fertilise us, nurture us, and pull the weeds that are growing around and within us.
However we have to allow God to be our Gardener. As Sr. Kristine Harpenau OSB points out: ‘ the question for us is: will we bring our ‘weeds’ to God and ask God to help us uproot the weeds from our hearts? If we ask, God will gift and grace us as we work together with God to uproot the weeds from our lives. We have to hope and place our trust in our Divine Gardener’s timing. Will we trust God our gardener? Will we strive to be patient with the process?’ [Feb, 2016].
Marie Weatherall
LIVING FAITH IN THE EVERYDAY
‘Come back to Me with all your heart’ (Joel 2:12)
THE LENTEN JOURNEY … SURRENDER
Nearing the mid-point of Lent this weekend, we still have the opportunity to renew our relationship with God – to surrender and to touch in to God’s Presence and Grace in our lives.
A reflection from the celebration of the 400th anniversary of canonisation of St Ignatius of Loyola founder of the Jesuits builds on this theme of surrender:
Many of us give up something as part of a Lenten fast. Fasting helps us in our almsgiving
in having more to give away to others, serves as a penitential offer for past wrong doing,
and unites us in solidarity to those who are hungry. Fasting is good, especially if we keep
in mind it is a means and not an end in itself. But as we move through these days and
weeks of Lent, we are called to give even more deeply: to give up aspects of our lives and
even ourselves to God…we are being asked to consider where we have not yet
surrendered our lives to God, not so much by way of great, romantic gestures, but rather
in concrete and practical way – some examples:
* Can I make do without some material goods, so that I can share with others who lack even the basics?
* Can I stop dwelling on past hurts so that I can give generously here and now?
* Do I listen for others’ voices and perhaps dissenting opinions rather than speak?
Let us take time to nurture our souls through stillness…to surrender to God’s
presence…to be nourished so we can be a witness in all aspects of our daily lives by
growing more fully into the person God calls us to be.
Reflection
The soul needs love as urgently as the body needs air. In the warmth of love the soul can be itself. All the possibilities of your human destiny are asleep in your soul. you are here to realise and honour these possibilities. When love comes into your life, unrecognised dimensions of your destiny awaken and blossom and grow.
(Anam Cara: Spiritual Wisdom from the Celtic World – John O’Donohue)
Dear Parents and Carers,
Our Year 3 students and staff are really looking forward to attending their Reconciliation Retreat at Carroll College this Friday 18 March. It will be a fun day filled with activities led by the Year 9 Catholic Youth Ministry team.
The bus will depart school at 9.15 am and arrive back at St Bernard’s by approximately 2.20pm. Students need to wear their sports uniform and bring along their morning tea. Lunch will be provided.
| First Reconciliation will be held on Thursday 31 March at 5.00pm in St Bernard’s Parish Church. |
Journey With Jesus Retreat – Year 6
The Journey with Jesus retreat is a faith-filled experience for our senior students. The day is packed with games, activities, drama, videos and talks that all explore the Gospel messages of God’s love, salvation, and forgiveness.
Year 6 will spend the day learning about what they need in life for our journey with Jesus. Using a backpack full of items, they learn that on a journey we need a water bottle, which represents the essential and unconditional nature of God’s love, a torch which represents salvation and the light of Jesus in our lives and a first aid kit to represent healing and forgiveness when things go wrong.
Event: Journey with Jesus Retreat
Date: Wednesday 23 March
Time: 9.15am -2.30pm
Venue: School Hall
Clothing: Mufti
Recess: Bring along your own
Lunch: Sausage sandwich, popper, and iceblock
Cost: Complimentary
Memorial Mass for Father Henry Byrne
A Memorial Mass for Father Henry Byrne will be held in St Bernard's church on Tuesday 22 March at 5.30pm. Father Byrne was a visionary who was inspirational in establishing both St Bernard's and Carroll College schools.
On the back of Father Henry’s Memorial card is a beautiful prayer dedicated to Mary MacKillop which I would like to share with you. We have shared this same prayer as a staff during the week.
ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP
God of all blessings, you revealed
in Mary MacKillop a sensitivity to
the rights and dignity of every
person, regardless of race or creed.
May we learn from her to overcome
obstacles of prejudice and fear.
Help us to value the goodness
of each person and all the
blessings of unity and diversity.
We ask this through the depth
And unity of you, our bountiful God,
Who holds all things in being.
Amen
Blessings on your weekend
Sharon Beashel REC
Dear Parents and Carers
Noah A
Ryan L
Gurumbangamba Mentoring and Transition Program
Carroll College’s Gurumbangamba Mentoring and Transition Program for Indigenous students in years five and six is scheduled to take place on Friday the 1st of April. This will be the first of three sessions that the College will offer for students, providing an opportunity to become familiar with the high school learning environment and to engage with some of the staff and students who attend. The theme of ‘Relationships’ will be the focus of the first session. Our students are very fortunate that they already know Trish Ellis who works between the schools to teach language and culture. She will be an extra support for our students in their transition to Carroll College.
The Fabulous Fantastic Fives
Sprinkles
Year Five’s 2022 started off with a wonderful bonding session. We have enjoyed playing some American sports, watching some of the NFL Superbowl. We celebrated the moment with a lunchtime Hotdog and a Dr Pepper drink! Many of them even went out of their comfort zone, took a risk and tried adding ‘sprinkles’ to their hotdog. For some it was even a first time in having a hotdog!
Art Works
The creative vibes have been flowing in Year 5 as the students enjoy creating and making incredible works of Art. So far, they have made a pastel portrait based on Picasso’s works, drawn pictures based on cyclones and painted the silhouette of pelican at sunrise. They sure do enjoy their Art time!
Loving Maths!
This year, Year Five have been introduced to Maths Pathway – a platform, that after diagnosing where students are at in their skills and knowledge, creates an individual learning program for each student. Along with Mini-lessons in small groups with a teacher, Rich Task Investigations as a whole class and learning basic skills in a Daily Review, Mathematics has taken on a new life with our 2022 Year Fives!
Sport, Sport and More Sport!
This Term, Year 5 are having a wonderful time honing their physical skills with a circuit of activities based around catching and throwing, skipping, dribbling and shooting. One of the new activities they have been introduced to is Spike Ball. This sport is a lot of fun and uses their handball skills in such a different way! They have improved their skill over the Term and it is amazing to watch them at play!
Storm Boy
Colin Thiele’s novel Storm Boy is our Year Five ‘Book Study’ for the Term. The students are enjoying listening to this classic text and delving into the world of the Coorong and the lives of Storm Boy, Hide Away Tom and Fingerbone, making connections to their own lives here on the South Coast.
Thanks to Mr. Maynard’s mum, Mr. Percival has also made an appearance in our classrooms! We even had an interview session with Storm Boy himself!
Smoking Ceremony
On Ash Wednesday, Trish joined Year Five in the afternoon to introduce and celebrate a Smoking Ceremony with the students and staff. She spoke about the importance of the ceremony and its significance in cleansing and purifiying for the journey ahead, be it beginning negotiations, entering country, or beginning special ceremonies in the community. In this way the students were able to make connections at a deeper level between our own Ash Wednesday ritual and the rituals of our First Nation people. Thank you, Trish, for this very special moment.
Yay, we can meet our Buddies!
It took some time, but after being so patient and understanding of our need to maintain rules and procedures to be safe and healthy, cohorts were given permission to once again be able to meet and mix. This meant our Year Five students could meet their Kindergarten Buddies for the first time. And so, last Wednesday they came together to meet and greet and spend some time reading stories. It was a very special moment and one they will never forget! Our Year Fives are now looking forward to the next opportunity to be with their buddies!
Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese Soccer trials
Congratulations to Lukas C, Alex M and Samuel S-D who competed at the Archdiocesan Football trials on Monday. It was a very hot day in Canberra and the boys had to complete a round of skills and fitness tests followed by multiple games. The boys said it was fantastic, lots of fun and even though they were exhausted at the end of the day they would definitely recommend it to their friends. Samuel S-D was selected in the Canberra-Goulburn team to play at the MacKillop Championships on May 27 in Goulburn. We are very proud of all the boys for their efforts at the trials and wish Sam every success at this prestigious event.
MacKillop Tennis Championships
Good Luck to Ruby B who competes at the MacKillop Tennis Championships in Wollongong today we are very excited for you and look forward to hearing all about your matches.
St Bernard’s Cross Country
Our students have begun training for our annual Cross Country to be held on Wednesday 6 April. Your child will wear a coloured t-shirt to match their team colour. Tenison is Red, Clairvaux is Green, Lourdes is Yellow and MacKillop is Blue. Have a look in the cupboard and see if you have something already to save buying something new.
Year 3 and 4 AFL Gala Day
Year 3 and 4 had a fantastic time at their first Gala Day. Check out the joy in these photos.
Upcoming Sport Dates
Thursday 17 March MacKillop Tennis Championships
Friday 25 March MacKillop AFL Championships in Wagga- Henry A and Jackson M are competing
Friday 1 April Archdiocese Netball and Rugby League trials
Wednesday 5 April St Bernard’s Cross Country
Thursday 7 April Archdiocese Cricket trials
Have a wonderful week.
Angela Holmes
Week 7 Class Awards
Presented : Friday 11 March 2022.
Congratulations to the following children who received class awards this week. It is great to see so many children working hard and receiving acknowledgment for their efforts - well done to all!
| KB: Gracie H, Rohan M, Cali Z. | KBH: Alyssa O'B, Joseph O'S, Ashton S. |
| 1C: Gursanjh K, Casey M'N, Annabelle T. | 1M: Ella A, Winter W. |
| 2S: Remi F, Addison G, Macy L. | 2T: William M'N, Annie W. |
| S1J: Ruby H, Alice M-M, Natalie N, Matlida R. | 3DH: Alexander H, Levi O'S,Makenzie W. |
| 3W: Emie A, Harper B, Holly L, Alexia V. | 4C: Seth B, Jayden G, Ava G-N. |
| 4K: Flynn A, Isla B, Oscar J. | 5D: Bailey B, Alice McD, Samuel S. |
| 5M: Mikinley B, Ella-Maree G, Kiera O'S. | 6F: Henry A, Elyssa W. |
| 6M: Shaun F, Alexander McD. |
