Dear Parents and Carers

I begin by thanking our St Bernard's community for a productive term. It is a pleasure to work in partnership with our families as we guide, nurture and support the children in their learning and daily interactions. This week we have had Jared Bussell in the school, coaching and providing feedback to teachers. Jared is an expert in best pedagogy and improving student outcomes. Jared spoke very highly of our staff, complimenting them on their teaching and commitment to Explicit Instruction. Jared was blown away by the teaching happening across the school. I am sure you will join with me in recognising the efforts of the highly skilled St Bernard’s staff. Their level of commitment to the children is exceptional. I thank them for what they do each day.

To experience Lent in hope, the Pope wrote in his Message for Lent 2022, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10). This has been a challenging term for many of our families with the uncertainty around COVID. Please know the staff and I are thinking of you and are happy to support you in every way we can. My hope for you over the Easter break is to relax and take some time to relax and rejuvenate as a family.

Next week we enter into the most important time in the Church’s Year – Holy Week. Holy Week commences with Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), the week prior to Easter. Palm Sunday will be celebrated this Sunday with a School Mass.

Today, Year 6 led us in prayer to share in the Easter story. We thank Mrs Beashel and the Year 6 teachers for preparing the students so well.

Next Thursday is Holy Thursday (The Lord’s Supper) and marks the end of Lent when the Church begins the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. This Mass begins a three-day liturgy – known as the Easter Triduum spanning Friday, Saturday, and ending with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. This three day period allows time to truly experience and appreciate this tremendous mystery. As we move towards Easter, I pray that our St Bernard’s community enjoy spending time with family and friends in faith, hope and love.

Parent Information Session - Wednesday 18 May CLAIM THE DATE
As you are aware, St Bernard’s Year 5 and Year 6 students are engaging with the Maths Pathway resources to support their mathematical learning. All classes

across the school are implementing a Daily Review in Mathematics. This is tailored to each year level. Rosenshine, a Professor of Educational Psychology, states that a Daily Review is an important component of learning new material. To support students in efficiently acquiring new concepts, teachers need to incorporate fast paced Daily Reviews so students’ knowledge is transferred from their short term to long term memory; resulting in automatic recall. As teachers, we are reducing the cognitive load on students as they are ready to learn new concepts.

I invite you to attend a Parent Information session in our iCentre on Wednesday 25 May at 5.30pm. Student Data Collection & Mathematics is the focus of this session. Our session will focus on the following:

• How is Mathematics being taught at St Bernard’s?/ What is a Daily Review?
• Why do schools collect data on student learning?
• How is the data used to inform our teaching and learning?
• What is Maths Pathway all about?

On the following morning, parents are then invited to visit your child’s classroom and they will share with you their learning in Mathematics. Classrooms will be open from 8.45am – 9.45am.

ANZAC Day
This year ANZAC Day falls at the end of the school holidays. St Bernard’s will be participating in the March on Monday 25 April. Please bring your children along for this significant remembrance day. The children are required to wear full summer school uniform. We will meet at the back of the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club at 9.30am

Our Easter Raffle was drawn on Tuesday. Congratulations to the many families who won some chocolate. Winners can be found later in the newsletter. Thank you to all our families who donated chocolate and a special thank you to Katie S-D, Melissa F, Bianca C and Shanon S who came and assisted with the wrapping!

A special thank you to all our parents and caregivers, your support and commitment to St Bernard’s is truly appreciated. I wish Mrs Metcalf an enjoyable and relaxing break. Mrs Metcalf will be on leave Term 2 and Mrs Coggan will be teaching 5D.

Please note that there is no school Monday 25 April or Tuesday 26 April. All students resume on Wednesday 27 April.

Enjoy a safe and holy Easter.

Kind regards
Johanna Wain
Principal

The liturgy of Palm Sunday portrays a most shocking contrast of experiences and emotions.  At the beginning of the Mass, we bless palms and hear the Gospel that recounts the triumphant entrance of Jesus where he was welcomed with great joy and exultation. As we progress in the liturgy this excitement soon turns to shock and horror where Jesus will cry out to the Father and take his last breath. 

This contrast is stark as it is abrupt, yet this contrast is not unfamiliar to us. How many of us have travelled along in life with joy, optimism and hope to suddenly be confounded by loss, tragedy, or illness, which has left us questioning the seemingly stable foundations on which our lives were built to that point? 

You see, the story which begins on Palm Sunday is not merely a commemoration of historical events. What we participate in today and this whole week is the human drama; it is my story and it is your story. As Jesus enters his final week, he takes all of humanity with him. We are not just spectators to these events. We, as members of Christ are intimately joined to him and all of us in a unique and very personal way share in his suffering, death, and resurrection. 

I invite us all to enter more deeply into the paschal mysteries this week and allow these mysteries to speak and resonate with us in our own personal situations. This week, permit Jesus to reveal himself to you in his vulnerability; in his betrayal from friends, in his abandonment, and in his loneliness. 

Whatever our situation, let us journey into the discomfort of Holy Week together, knowing that our God, our brother and our friend, Jesus Christ, goes before us and with us and is leading us on to the joys of Easter. 

Deacon Eden

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Well, we have finally reached the end of Term 1! It certainly has been a very busy time for us with many events happening in and around our community.

First Reconciliation was held last Thursday evening. It was a beautiful night for the children and families. A very big thank you to Father Rex who officiated on the evening.

I have included reflections written by the students about the sacrament. They were asked to reflect on the following questions:

What does Reconciliation mean to you?

How did you feel before Reconciliation?

How did you feel after Reconciliation?

Reconciliation is telling my sins to God. I felt happy because I was really excited. After Reconciliation I felt great because I had fun. (Ellena)

Reconciliation means telling my sins to God. I was very nervous and happy because I had to bring the cross in and put it on the altar. (Jace)

Reconciliation means that you have all your sins taken away and you are forgiven by God. Before Reconciliation I felt a little mean but, after I felt kinder and more caring. (Makenzie)

Reconciliation means that you can tell your sins to God. Before Reconciliation I felt sad and guilty but after I felt brave and grateful because God forgave me. (Ava)

Reconciliation makes me feel very happy inside. (Scarlett)

Reconciliation means that I can say sorry to God. Before Reconciliation I felt nervous but after I felt happy. (Molly)

Reconciliation means that you confess your sins to God, and He forgives you for saying sorry. Before Reconciliation I felt nervous because I thought I was going to say the wrong thing, but after I felt calm and grateful. (Mia)

Reconciliation is when you talk to God and God forgives you. Before Reconciliation I felt nervous but after I felt good. (Lucas)

Reconciliation means to say sorry, to ask for forgiveness and to confess your sins. Before Reconciliation I felt nervous because I had to read, and I didn’t want to stuff up. After I felt happy. I liked my cupcake, and I went to Starfish. (Reeve)

For me Reconciliation means getting forgiven. Before Reconciliation I felt a bit nervous and excited but after I felt clean of my sins. I felt like a new person. (Johana)

Reconciliation is when God forgives you of your sins. Before Reconciliation I felt nervous and happy, but after I felt very calm. (Levi)

Reconciliation means telling your sins and God forgives you and loves you. Before Reconciliation I was a bit nervous, kind of excited and not that worried but after I felt happy that I had spoken to Fr. Rex. (Georgina) 

Sacramental Dates for Year 6

Catholic students who have been baptised and have received the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Eucharist are eligible to receive the sacrament of Confirmation next term.

Dates for Confirmation are:

BWTH Awards

Congratulations to the following students who have received Begin with the Heart Awards this fortnight. We are very proud of the core values that you have shown to others and the environment. As way of acknowledging your efforts your names have been added to the BWTH draw that will take place this afternoon.

Blake B, Elijah McG, Griffin H, Jackson F, Mishell F, Ryan L, Cooper Stewart, Erica S, Elyssa Welsh, Lily D, Laila C, Amy Collins, Mia S, Indi T, Oscar J, Didier D, Storm R, Rory B-S, Eve P-K, Jace T, Mia B, Holly L, Alexia V, Eli F, Connor K, Marco H, Lucas V, Sienna N, Scarlett C, Lily S, Chloe T, Parker W, Fraser S, Tahiti H, Ruby P, Arlo W, Lebron C, Emiliya S, Imogen T, Cali Z, Jack C, Jacob S, Jayla R, Amelia P, Riley N, Astrid B, Sietta G and Gianna L.

Project Compassion Boxes 

Thank you very much for the donations that you have made in your Caritas Australia Mission Boxes during Lent. Mission Boxes can be returned to the front office by Week 1 Term 2. All monies will be forwarded to Caritas Australia on your behalf.

The Way of the Cross

This morning Year 6 students led the school in a reflective prayer meditation on the Stations of the Cross. The prayer encouraged the assembled students and staff to understand that the love of Jesus is always with us especially when we feel lonely and sad. The dramatic freeze frames created by our school leaders were so meaningful that the story of Jesus' death felt so real. Congratulations to Mrs McRae and Mrs Bellette who provided the learning around the Stations of the Cross and time to rehearse the drama.

Palm Sunday Mass

Children are invited to attend Palm Sunday Mass on the 10 April beginning at 9.00am. They are asked to gather outside the church by 8.50am. Children will then process into the church waving palms. Biblical clothing (or casual dress) can be worn. If you would like your child/ren to read during the Mass, please contact either Mr Maynard or myself via email. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Many thanks for your support this term in building the religious life of our school. May the joys of the risen Lord shower your family this Easter. 

Sharon Beashel

REC

 

Dear Parents and Carers

Gurubangamba Mentoring Program

Last Friday Aboriginal students from Years 5 and 6 participated in a mentoring and transition program at Carroll College. Organised by contact teachers Michelle Katuke and Catherine Davis, with support from Indigenous student leaders and Elder and Local Knowledge Holder Trish Ellis, the day was highly engaging for our students. The theme of Relationships provided an opportunity for students from local primary schools to get to know one another better and to be mentored by the Carroll Indigenous leaders. Highlights of the day were the team building games and sharing a BBQ lunch together. The next of the four sessions this year will take place in Term 2 on 22 June. We look forward to this next opportunity.

As many of you know, this year St Bernard’s are very excited to be presenting the musical, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR on Thursday 20 October. Auditions were held today for Years 5 and 6 students interested in performing a character role, with Mrs Nussdorfer and Mrs Smith part of the audition committee. Students who were chosen for character roles in 2021 were still able to continue in the role they were chosen for. Thank you to the students who have shown an interest in being part of our school musical and I know that all students will enjoy learning a song and dance for the musical in their Performing Arts lessons. It will be wonderful to finally present Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for our school community in Term 4!

School Building Improvements

There has been a great deal of clearing out of storage areas in preparation for the building works that will take place in the school, beginning next week and continuing through Term 2. The new infants and senior toilet blocks will be an excellent update to our school environment as will the refurbished canteen. This week, Bernie Beatty, our school grounds person, arranged for a new shade to replace the damaged one at the church car park area. It looks so good! We are very fortunate to have Bernie continually monitor our school to ensure that everything is at its best. While we will have some inconveniences next term with the building works, the improvements for the students will be a great outcome!

I hope that you have a very happy and holy Easter time with your family.

We look forward to seeing everyone back for the start of Term 2 on Wednesday 27 April.

Karen Hadley 

Canberra-Goulburn Rugby League and Netball Championships

Congratulations to Floyd P and Cooper S on their outstanding achievements at last weeks Canberra-Goulburn Rugby League trials. The boys were outstanding ambassadors for our school and both thoroughly enjoyed the skills and games. Congratulations gentlemen on competing at this competition against so many students from around the Archdiocese.

Also on Friday last week, the Canberra-Goulburn Netball competition took place in Lyneham, ACT. Eight of our students travelled to compete at this event: Annie F, Molly W, Isabella L, Erica S, Amy C, Maicee D, Ruby B and Parker W. The girls had a fantastic time, playing lots of games and making friends with students from other schools. Congratulations on your success throughout the day. At the end of the competition a possible and probables team was chosen with Isabella L chosen in the final round of selections. Congratulations Isabella and we hope that all our Year 5 and 4 students come back and compete again next year. The girls all said it was a wonderful experience and so much fun.

Thank you to all the parents who have taken our students to representative events so far this year. We greatly appreciate your commitment. Attending these events is such a highlight for our students and a fantastic way for them to develop their skills in competition.

Upcoming Sport Dates

Wednesday 27 April St Bernard’s Cross Country

Friday 29 April Southern Region Cross Country

Have a safe and restful holidays

Angela Holmes

  Week 10 Class Awards

Presented : Friday 1 April 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!

We can't wait to see smiling faces in the pool at Swim School! The Bay Pavilions is now taking enrolments to their nationally accredited Swim & Survive Program.

• Lessons are $17 per class and direct debited fortnightly.
• Each lesson is 30 minutes.
• A Swim School student also has access to all aquatic facilities (except waterslide tower) outside of their lesson time – any day of the week!
• The first 500 students to enrol, receive a free swim pack (goggles, drink bottle & bag).
• Lessons start in June 2022.
• Book an appointment via the Bay Pavilions website to sign up over the phone or in person.

MORE INFO HERE: https://baypavilions.com.au/aquatic/learn-to-swim/

BOOK APPOINTMENT HERE: https://baypavilions.com.au/membership-booking/