Dear Parents and Carers

At St Bernard’s we believe that every student can learn. Learning is innate, ongoing and fundamental to being human. Each individual student enters the classroom with a variety of experiences including cultural, emotional, spiritual and social. As educators, it is our role to engage, challenge, affirm and support the growth of each student in our care. At St Bernard’s we facilitate many teaching and learning programs that cater for the individual needs of students.

Ms Jeni McCarthy is currently training in a Mutlisensory Structured Language Course to support students with Dyslexia. Ms McCarthy will be accredited this year to provide instruction that focuses on a phonetic, linguistics based, structured and

multisensory approach for teaching reading and spelling. Ms McCarthy will be leading in this area and support students struggling in literacy, language and dyslexia. 

Multisensory teaching is one important aspect of instruction for dyslexic students that is used by clinically trained teachers. Effective instruction for students with dyslexia consists of instruction that is direct & explicit, structured & systematic, cumulative, cognitive, intensive, emotionally sound and focused on meaningfully taking speech to print. This approach to teaching aligns with our Explicit Instruction across all classrooms.

The Classroom Support Team work to provide targeted support for individual students with additional needs that align with their Personal Plans. The Classroom Support program at St Bernard’s is based on a team approach with all relevant people and agencies working together to support our students.

Our approach at St Bernard’s is to work in partnership with our families to ensure the needs of our students are being met. I would like to acknowledge our Classroom Support Team who are highly dedicated to caring, nurturing and supporting our students in the classroom and on the playground. They truly are amazing!

Welcome… This week we welcome four new families to St Bernard’s from our local area. Evie (1M) and Indi (KB), Oliver (2S) and Jack (KB), Eve (1C) and Tahiti (KBH). We look forward to you and your family joining our St Bernard’s community. Thank you to our St Bernard's families for your support. 

Bus Transport
The NSW Government, through the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS), provides subsidised travel for eligible school students between home and school each Monday to Friday during school terms. As a school, we work closely with the bus company and are proactive in dealing with issues as they arise. We are committed to supporting the bus company to ensure the safety of all students, and above all else, disrespectful behaviour will not be tolerated. We ask for your support in speaking to your child/ren about their experience whilst travelling on the bus. Mrs Hadley and myself are in continual contact with the bus company and we expect all our students to continue to uphold the St Bernard’s values and behaviour expectations on the bus. Thank you for your support in ensuring that the students who choose to travel to and from school by bus are able to do so safely and efficiently.

Congratulations
Congratulations to Beatrix F who competed at the NSWCPS Swimming Carnival in Sydney last Monday. What a fantastic effort! We are very proud of you in your representation of St Bernard’s.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
This year St Bernard’s will be putting on a school production titled ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. All students from Kindergarten through to Year 6 will be involved in the production. All students will prepare for the musical as part of their Performing Arts lessons with Mrs Nussdorfer.

Students from Year 5 and Year 6 will be given the opportunity to audition for a lead role in the production early Term 2. The production is set for Term 4. More details will follow as students begin to prepare for their performance.

Supervision of Students
Class learning commences each morning at 8.42am and concludes at 2:40pm Mondays to Fridays. The school grounds are open to students from 8:10am each morning. No supervision is provided or responsibility taken by the school outside these hours. Where students need to be at school outside of these times for example, excursions or representative sporting events, adequate supervision is provided by staff.

We are excited to be celebrating FriYay tomorrow. Our Year 6 leaders have been busy preparing for the day and are excited to be leading their peer support groups. A reminder that the students can come dressed in mufti.

I look forward to welcoming many families to the new school year at the Barbeque and Disco this afternoon.

Blessings on the week ahead.

Kind regards

Johanna Wain
Principal 

FROM PERSECUTOR TO AMBASSADOR

Jesus was a wonderful storyteller.  Huge crowds hung on his every word. The Scribes and the Pharisees complained that Jesus spoke to all comers. He welcomed sinners - people who publicly did not follow the Pharisees' strict interpretation of the Law of Moses. And worse, he dined with them. 

Jesus could be tactful. He did not get into arguments with his critics unnecessarily. Instead he told them stories. On this occasion he told them, and anyone with ears to hear, the story of a Prodigal Father. We are all familiar with this story, so brilliantly recorded in Luke (15: 1-32 ) The father is over the top in his generosity to his second son. It was a callous act of selfishness for the son to ask for his inheritance while his father was still alive. In Jewish eyes it was an act of reprehensible filial impiety. It would have drawn gasps of "Oh no! He can't do that!" from the audience. As the son's squandering of his inheritance leads to his pitiful and incomprehensible demoralisation, the audience would have been thinking  "Serves him right!". 

But Jesus flips the coin. The son repents, sort of, and his long suffering father welcomes him back. More than welcomes; more than gives the starving lad a square meal; he throws an extravagant party to celebrate his return. "Because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and was found." Son and father are reconciled. 

Saul (later Paul) of Tarsus was a zealous Pharisee. He was appalled when he first heard what Peter and the other apostles were preaching about their executed leader. In Saul's eyes they equated this person, Jesus the Nazarene, with God. This imposter had been rightly condemned as a blasphemer. Saul approved the stoning of a follower of Jesus called Stephen, so much so he got a writ from the Sanhedrin to hunt down some of Stephen's followers who had fled to Damascus. Saul hated followers of The Way of Jesus with a vengeance. 

In Acts 9: 1-9 we have the most amazing conversion story in history. As Saul and his Temple guards approached Damascus. there was a great flash of light (lightning?). Saul fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying: "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? He asked: "Who are you, sir?" The voice said: "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise, go into the city and you will be told what to do." He who had intended entering Damascus like an avenging fury was led in by the hand, blind and helpless. But his ears had been opened to the voice of Jesus. 

In 2 Corinthians 4: 15 & 20  Paul describes the psychic change he had undergone. Using the authoritative plural he writes. "From now on we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we no longer know him in that way." ... "So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you through Christ to be reconciled to God." 

Let us all take advantage of this season of Lent to be reconciled to God our merciful Father. May we all, like St Paul become ambassadors for Christ by the way we go about our daily lives.     

                                                                                                                                       Joe Quigley

6PM SATURDAY MASS WILL BE HELD AT 5PM STARTING ON 23rd APRIL

UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST.  WE ARE TRIALLING AN EARLIER MASS DURING THE COURSE OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND YOUR FEEDBACK IS APPRECIATED

APPRECIATED.

Dear Parents and Carers, 

For the last three weeks of term our Heart focus is on, “Responsibility of the Environment”.

Catholic tradition insists that we show respect for the Creator by being good stewards of creation.

The Earth is sacred, and creation has its own intrinsic value. We have a responsibility to protect and to cherish the earth's ecological diversity, beauty, and life-sustaining properties.

The goods of the earth are gifts from God and intended for the benefit of everyone. How we treat the environment is a measure of stewardship.

As stewards of creation, we are entrusted with caring for the gifts of creation and preserving them for future generations.

Being a good steward means safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly.

Being a good steward also means being generous with your time and talents.

As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to God. 

Our Heart focus is extrinsically linked to the Religious Education Content Descriptors called: Christian Life and Mission and Justice. I have included some information about these descriptors from the Brisbane Religious Education Curriculum which we use at St. Bernard’s.

Prep (Kinder) Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Prep, students have an understanding that they can communicate their ideas, feelings and thoughts about God, the goodness of God’s creation and God’s plan that people help each other to live safely and happily together for the good of all.

Year 1 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Year 1 students have an understanding that Christians believe God is creator and sustainer of life and all people have a responsibility to care for creation. Morality is about living in accordance with God's plan for creation. God's gift of the freedom to make choices is to be used responsibly.

Year 2 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Year 2 students have an understanding that humans are called to acknowledge the sacredness of God and all creation, especially human life. The world is God's gift to all generations; therefore, care for all creation (stewardship) is a moral duty.

Year 3 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Year 3 students have an understanding that Jesus' great commandment requires Christians to respect basic human rights and acknowledge responsibilities. Concern for the poor and disadvantaged is a key message in Scripture (including Luke 4:16-21) and church teaching. 

Year 4 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Year 4 students have an understanding that Christians are called to be responsible stewards, caring for all of God's creation. Caring for the environment is a moral issue for Christians.

Year 5 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding

By the end of Year 5 students have an understanding that Jesus makes charity (love) the new commandment: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love....“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15: 9 - 17). Charity is the source and goal of Christian practice. Christian charity calls people to go beyond existing laws to care for the well-being of others. 

Year 6 Religious Knowledge and Deep Understanding.

By the end of Year 6 students have an understanding that the Spiritual and corporal works of mercy are foundational for understanding the Church's teaching about concern for the common good. Works of mercy are charitable actions at the service of others.

BEGIN WITH THE HEART

Congratulations to the following students who have received BWTH Awards this fortnight.

The school community is very proud of your efforts. All names will be added to the lucky draw on Friday.

Maddison B	Mia A	Sienna B	Noah B	Brennan C
Remi C	Zaden F	Casey MN	Mason L	Lachlan J
Alex H -Responsibility	Reuben S - Tolerance	Laycie E - Responsibility	Elsie F- Responsibility	Taj P- Responsibility
Paige L - Responsibility	Charlotte F,	Cruze W,	Finn H	Lilly G
Cooper S	Noah O’S	Jackson F	Lucas C	Maicee D
Mack P - Kindness	Jacob B - Kindness	Charli H - Determination	Lebron C - Resilience	Auroralise C N - Kindness
Bradley G - Determination	Bronte K - Honesty	Rohan M - Respect	Quinlan C	Remi C x 2
Alex McD	Lachie B	Sienna B	Isla B	Sebastian L

JOURNEY WITH JESUS RETREAT

Yesterday, Year 6 were very fortunate to have the CSYMA team of Nathan Galea, Luke Maher, Caitlyn, Ella and Michael come to lead the Journey With Jesus retreat for them.

The day was packed with games, activities, dramas, videos and talks that explored the Gospel messages of God’s love, salvation, and forgiveness.

The students spent the day learning about what they need in life for a journey with Jesus. Using a backpack full of items, they learnt that on a journey they might need:

• a water bottle, which represented the essential and unconditional nature of God’s love
• a torch, which represented salvation and the light of Jesus in our lives and
• a first aid kit, representing healing and forgiveness when things go wrong.

At the end of the day the students were given the opportunity to reflect and respond about their journey so far. Luke challenged the students to consider how they could open their hearts to invite Jesus more fully into their lives.

Thank you to Mrs McRae, Mrs Bellette, Mrs Day and Mrs Cheeseman for making the day a success.

LISMORE FLOOD APPEAL

This evening at our Welcome BBQ, SRC members will be helping collect donations for the Lismore Flood Appeal. I have been in touch with local Catholic schools in Lismore that are in need of our help. As well as suffering extensive school damage, many staff and families have lost their homes.

Thank you in advance for your support of such a worthy cause. All monies collected will be used to purchase vouchers from Woolworths/Coles. School leaders of Trinity Grammar and St.Carthage’s Primary school felt that this would be the best way to support their communities.

St. Carthage’s Catholic Primary School Lismore lost 9 classrooms and their school hall in the recent floods. Many staff and families also lost their homes.

Compassionate God, source of all comfort,
We pray for the people whose lives have been devastated by rain and flood.
Bring them comfort, we pray.
Protect the vulnerable.
Strengthen the weak.
Keep at bay the spread of disease.
Have mercy on all those still working to rebuild and to feed the hungry.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Dear Parents and Carers

'Begin with the Heart' is a key element of our school vision statement and is directing our positive behaviour focus at school. The students of S1J were very happy to be the recipients of the class who won the most heart tokens over the last two weeks, as they worked towards showing kindness to others. For the next few weeks students will be learning about the importance of taking responsibility for their environment, and will be rewarded with heart tokens when they put their rubbish in the correct bin and help keep the classroom clean and organised.

Nude Food

Learning about stewardship of the environment and sustainability is a re-occuring theme in the school curriculum. Students learn about reducing their waste and the footprint that they make on the environment.

One way that students might be able to actively contribute to the reduction of waste is to consider the food wrapping that they bring to school. Nude Food is food without excess packaging. This reduces the amount of 'stuff' that needs to go in bins to be sent to landfill. Durable, reusable containers are a great way to bring food, as they may last from pre-school through to high school and beyond, providing long term cost savings and environmental benefits. We would like to encourage students to bring Nude Food to school each Tuesday. The Student Representative Council will assist with this initiative, to remind the students about Nude Food and of the benefits to our environment.

Some ideas about Nude Food, are contained in the following Youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN4pdClNsdM

Maths Pathway

The Maths Pathway program is the key resource for the Mathematics curriculum of students in Years 5 and 6 at St Bernard's and then continuing into Year 7 and 8 at Carroll College. This highly effective digitalised program uses individual student data to design a pathway of learning to meet the needs of each student. Students learn the key information that they need to move on to the next step of their learning and can practice at the pace and level that they require to achieve mastery. Teachers are able to track the progress of each student in their class and plan mini-lessons for small groups and individuals to cover a specific topic in order to move students forward.

Our school has invested significantly in this excellent program because we know that it works. Next term we will be holding an Information Evening and Learning Walk in the classrooms for parents of Year 5 and 6 students as an opportunity to learn more. Save the date in your calendar:

Maths Pathway Information Evening 25 May @ 5.30pm

Maths Pathway in the Classroom: Thursday 26 May 8.45am

School Photos

The School Photographer company will be in our school next Thursday 31 March to take class and individual photographs. There is also an opportunity for sibling photographs to be taken on the day. Please complete the order form envelope and return to school with your child. Payment can be made for the package of photographs you would like by following the directions on the envelope or by including cash within the envelope provided. 

We ask that all children wear their full summer school uniform next Thursday for the photographs, even if it is a usual PE or Sport day for the class. 

We hope that many of you can make it to the Welcome BBQ and Disco this evening at 5pm. At last an opportunity to meet together in the school!

Have a great end to your week.

Karen

Assistant Principal

Year 6 have thoroughly enjoyed their Week 8 Art task - embossed string, foil art. Students created stunning artworks using string, foil, and permanent-coloured markers. Students enjoyed the whole process - design, apply and create. 

We were thrilled to have our Year One Buddies come and visit for a lunch catch up on Tuesday. This was the first time in a long time!  It was fantastic to see the vibrancy and happiness when they met. They are looking forward to spending time with them on Friday. 

On Wednesday we took part in a Journeying with Jesus program run through the Catholic Youth Ministry. Year 6 enjoyed the engaging program and had an opportunity to build on their individual faith formation. 

CPSNSW Swimming Championships

Congratulations to Beatrix F on a fantastic swim at the NSW Catholic Schools swimming event held at Sydney Olympic Park on Tuesday. I was officiating on pool deck for the day so I got to see her fantastic race. Beatrix we are so proud of how hard you have worked to get to this level of competition. Finishing with a PB and 5^th overall is an outstanding achievement. 

Upcoming Sport Dates

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 8 Class Awards

Presented : Friday 18 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!