Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you have had an enjoyable week.

This term many of our Year 6 students are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Our Year 6 students are currently researching Saints and the influence they had in our society and most importantly to our lives. The Religious Education program at St Bernard’s contributes to the students' sense of identity within the St Bernard’s and wider community. We encourage the students to begin with the heart in all of their decisions, with Jesus central to their lives. In our community we nurture an understanding that we are receptive to you and that our door is always open. We encourage our families to please contact us if you have any concerns or need further support.

Walk Safely to School Day

A reminder that tomorrow Friday 20 May, students and their families are invited to join with staff members at Corrigans Beach Park at 8.00am to walk to school together. Students can also be dropped off to walk to school with staff if you are not able to come along. 

Tell Them From Me Survey

As part of our focus on school effectiveness, St Bernard’s will be participating in an online survey for students – Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®). The survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help them improve.

During the next few weeks, all students will be given the opportunity and time to participate in this survey during regular school hours. Students who agree to complete the survey will be given a random username and password to access and complete the survey online. Students’ names cannot be linked to their responses which allows it to be completely anonymous. Results will show all student scores combined together – it is not possible to single out individual students in the results.

The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey measures include such topics as emotional and social well-being, physical health, and behaviours and attitudes linked to student success. The survey also allows students to give their thoughts and feedback in open-ended question responses.

Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary. Your child will not take part if either you or your child do not wish to. If, during the survey, your child is uncomfortable answering any question, he/she should leave it blank and move on to the next one. Your child can stop the survey at any time.

If you do not want your child to take part in the survey, please complete the attached form and return it to your child's school by Wednesday 25 May. If you would like more information, please contact Jeni McCarthy or Mrs Wain.

Mathematics Parent Information

As partners in your child's education, we would like to invite you to a Mathematics Information Session that we will be holding at school on Wednesday 25 May at 5.30pm-6.30pm in the iCentre followed by a Learning Walk on Thursday 26 May in classrooms at 8.45am-9.30am. 

The Information Session will cover the topics of Catalyst and the Explicit Direct teaching pedagogy, Daily Review and Maths Pathway. The following morning, all classrooms will be open for you to walk through and learn first hand how mathematics is being taught in classrooms.

We hope that you can take this opportunity to come along to one or both sessions. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to be in contact with us.

National Sorry Day Bridge Walk

Next Thursday, 26 May is National Sorry Day, when Australian people remember, acknowledge and respect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were part of the Stolen Generation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Years 3-6, as well as all Year 6 students, will participate in the Batemans Bay Bridge Walk to represent our school community. After walking across the bridge, the students will have lunch and be part of the commemorative activites that follow at the Clyde Foreshore. 

During Reconciliation Week, from 27 May to 3 June, students throughout the school will be engaged in lessons supported by Trish Ellis around this year's Reconciliation Week theme, 'Be Brave, Make Change'.

If you would like to join us for the Sorry Day Bridge Walk, you would be most welcome.

I hope that you have a restful weekend.

Warm regards

Karen Hadley

LIVING FAITH IN THE EVERYDAY

Learning from St Ignatius Loyola

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have been very lucky to have Helen Bramanathan with us this week. Helen is a Religious Education & Faith Officer from CE who specialises in teaching and modelling Christian Meditation in our schools.

Helen led our staff meeting this week and visited all classrooms, offering sessions of Christian Meditation for students and their teachers.

As a school we have decided that all classes will use Christian Meditation as their Friday morning prayer ritual. Staff will also use meditation for their Thursday morning prayer. We will use the three S’s: Stillness, Silence, and Simplicity.

Recent statistics show that Christian Meditation assists with levels of anxiety and improves engagement and concentration in children and adults. We know that it is also a very personal way to make a connection with our God – moving from the head thoughts to those of the heart. The sacred word we will use during meditation is Maranatha which means, “Come Lord Jesus”.

Christian Meditation routine

BE STILL

• Sit upright and still.
• Breathe calmly.
• Close your eyes gently.

BE SILENT

• Silently and gently repeat the sacred word –‘Ma-ra-na-tha’

BE SIMPLE

• Let go of all thoughts and

             BE WITH GOD.

Seasons of Growth

Next week we will have a team of experienced clinicians from Royal far West with us. This visit is funded through the Bushfire Recovery Program.

Each morning from 9.00am-10.30am there will be special sessions for a small group of 10 students called Seasons of Growth. This program helps young people who have experienced change and loss in a variety of ways. It may be through family separation or bereavement, as well as changes in the community like disasters (e.g. bushfires & floods) and the impact of COVID-19.

There are 3 spaces left for Seasons of Growth. If you would like your child/ren to attend, could you contact the office by Friday 20 May.

Commitment Masses for Confirmation Candidates 

Candidates are requested to attend a Commitment Mass over the weekend. Mass time are:

Saturday - 21 May 5.00pm

Sunday - 22 May 9.00am

Staff will be at both masses to support the candidates. Please remember to bring along your Commitment script and prayer cards. 

For those unable to attend a mass this weekend, there will also be two students attending mass on Sunday 29 May at 9.00am. You are most welcome to join us then.

Reminder – All Confirmation Enrolment forms are required to be returned to school by Friday 27 May.

Thank you to those parents and carers who have already returned them to the office. 

Blessings on your weekend

Sharon Beashel REC

Welcome to a snapshot of Year 1!

On Friday, Year 6 invited Year 1 to a Games afternoon. Students played a variety of board games and drawing activities.  Although Year 6 were truly competitive, Year 1 were the big winners!

Year 1 have been learning about weather and Seasons. This week they used water colours and oil pastels to create beautiful, patterned leaves. 1M have also been creating a whole class artwork as part of religion. They created collage style hearts reminding us to celebrate each other and our own unique individuality.

Year 1 have been bringing in their favourite books from home and sharing them with the class. It has been great to hear why they have selected these books. Some were so familiar with the story that students could recite the pages without even looking.

We have been looking at different types of sentences. We have learned about statement and question sentences and this week we have focused on writing exclamation sentences. Exclamation sentences can begin with ‘what’ or ‘how’. 

On Wednesday, Helen Bramanathan visited both classes. Under Helen’s guidance, students took part in a Christian Meditation session. The students loved the stillness and quiet it brought to our school day. It is something we will be continuing in our classroom from now on. 

Term 2  

Week 3 Class Awards

Presented : Friday 13 May 2022.

Congratulations to the following children who received class award this week. It is great to see so many children working hard and receiving acknowledgment for their efforts  well done to all!