Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you have had a good week. 

Congratulations to Isla and Holly B on being nominated as finalists in the Little Sellers Art Competition. The theme for this year was 'Greet the sun. Face the moon'. The Little Sellers Art Prize is supported by Mr. Basil Sellers AM and Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Creative Arts, Youth and Children’s Services teams. There are four school year categories:

• Years 1 - 4
• Years 5 - 7
• Years 8 - 10
• Years 11- 12 (eligible for scholarship)

Holly won her category (Years 1-4) and Isla was a finalist in her category (Years 5-7). Congratulations girls on your wonderful achievement.

Staffing

We are in a difficult time of the year at present with many staff unwell and absent from work. As I’m sure you can appreciate, staffing is complex, and challenges arise when there is a shortage of relief staff. It is always our priority to have the best teachers covering classes when our permanent teachers are away. When possible, we always aim for continuity and only employ the most capable staff who connect positively with students and promote a learning environment of excellence. Our regular relief teachers are very familiar with the students and follow the teaching and learning programs prepared for the students.

Toilet and Canteen Refurbishments

This week we were very excited to finally open our Infants & Senior toilets to the students. They look amazing! We are also looking forward to reopening our Canteen next Wednesday. Karen Cheeseman has started back this week, restocking and preparing food. We have a new Canteen Menu and orders can be placed through QKR. Year One will also be excited to be moving back to their classroom next Tuesday. Thank you to the community for your support and patience with this project. I am sure you would agree with me that the outcome is definitely worth it, and we look forward to showcasing our refurbishments.

It’s Science Week!

St Bernard’s is celebrating Science Week next week. The school theme for National Science Week 2022 is Glass. This year, the world is observing the UN-declared International Year of Glass, celebrating what the UN describes as one of the most important, versatile and transformative materials of history. Mrs Tyler has been busy preparing a variety of learning activities to engage the students in creative and hands-on experiences in Science this week, learning about indigenous technologies with obsidian, fibre optics and mirrors, microscopes, kaleidoscopes and glass prisms, along with having some fun with plasma balls. I encourage you to ask your child/ren about Science Week and what they                                             have learnt from this year's theme. 

Out of School Hours Care

We are excited to announce that we have been notified that OOSH will open their service for Before School Care. At this stage they are hoping to open on Monday 5 September pending the amount of applications. Operating hours are as follows:

• Monday – Friday Before school care (BSC) 6:30am – 9am school term
• Monday – Friday  After school care  (ASC) 2pm – 6pm school term
• Monday – Friday Vacation care (VAC) 8am – 6pm school holidays

Vacancies are available for Before School Care and only casually for After School Care. Families can enrol their child/ren via our enrolment link below https://www.smartcentral.net/v2/service_profile/show/703

The OOSH phone number is 0448 137 753, or please call Claire on 0448 149 736. 

A reminder that this Monday 22 August is a Pupil Free Day. Tomorrow we are looking forward to celebrating St Bernard's Feast Day. A special thank you to Mrs Beashel and the Mini Vinnies Team for their organisation. It's going to be a great fun-filled day.

Blessings to families on the week ahead.

Kind regards
Johanna Wain
Principal  

This weekend we celebrate our patron saint:  Saint Bernard of Clairvaux who was born in 1090 in Burgundy in France and died August 20, 1153 in Clairvaux Abbey, Clairvaux, Champagne, France at the age of 63 years. His feast day is celebrated on August 20 every year.

He was born into the noble families of Burgundy and had five brothers and one sister. At School, he was interested in literature, rhetoric and devotion to Mary the Mother of God. He lived a life of solitude and prayer.

At 18, when his mother died, he joined the Citeaux Monastery, near Dijon with 30 other young men and lived in community following the Gospel and the Rule of St Benedict.

Bernard’s influence on his family saw his father and five brothers all entered The Citeaux Abbey and his sister joined the Benedictine Order of Religious Sisters.

In 1128 St Bernard took a central role in Church administration matters especially during the Council of Troyes. He composed the rule for the Knights Templar, which became an ideal for Christian nobility.

Dear Parents and Carers,

The children and staff are very excited that we will be celebrating St Bernard’s Day on Friday.

St Bernard, the patron saint of our school was born in 1090 near Dijon, France. His parents believed God had special plans for their son. Bernard became a Cistercian monk and during his life helped to inspire others to seek holiness through solitude, poverty, prayer, and good works.

We will begin our morning with a school liturgy in the hall. Our dedicated Mini Vinnies team will be assisting with the liturgy. Our scripture reading will be from Matthew 5:1-12 which is referenced as the Beatitudes or the Sermon on the Mount.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

Jesus said:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
  Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
  Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
  Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
  Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Why are the Beatitudes important? In Christianity, the Beatitudes are considered very important pieces of scripture for several reasons. Firstly, they are direct statements attributed to Jesus, giving them spiritual weight. Secondly, they provide insight into how Christians are meant to act and what they can expect in life and the life to come.

Dear Parents and Carers

Yesterday you might have received information about the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee which is a free online competition for all Australian school students in Years 3-8. Spelling bees are a lot of fun, and they have wider benefits like helping kids develop confidence and real love of words and language. Our students who have your permission to compete, will be entered into the Years 3-4 category or the Year 5-6 category. Students are required to spell 30 words and have 25 seconds to spell each word. Each student is ranked according to the accuracy of their spelling, and the time taken to spell each word.

There are great prizes to be won. National winners (one in each category) will win: 

• A return flight to Canberra + one night's accommodation to meet the Prime Minister (and their parent/carer)
• 1 x iPad
• 1 x $250 HarperCollins book pack

A number of students have already been registered to take part after consent to participate was given through Compass. We ask that you also complete the paper copy of the consent form and send into school with your child to complete the process.

Farewell to Pickles

On Monday the students of Year 6 joined with Deb and Paul O'Brien to plant a tree in and place a statue in Pickle's memory. The students said prayers and shared memories of Pickles before Deb and Paul spoke to the students, thanking them for the way they had loved Pickles at school. Deb and Paul were also able to share their news with the students that over the weekend Frankie the cavoodle pup joined their family. Other classes took time over the week to say prayers and share special memories of Pickles at the special memorial tree in the sensory garden.

Journey of Hope

The JoH program has been running in our school since 2020. The effects of experiences like bushfires and COVID can continue on for many years and it is for this reason that we want all of the students at St Bernard's to have an opportunity to participate in the excellent program that is offered. This term the students of Year 1 attend in small groups each Friday and next term Year 2 will participate.

The program has been shown to improve student social and emotional well-being, as well as knowledge and skills, by:

• Teaching children to recognise and manage their emotions, which builds confidence, self-esteem, and ‘I believe I can’ attitudes. 
• Developing positive peer relationships, which help children experience a collaborative environment based on respect and understanding. 
• Reducing disruptive behaviours, which supports more concentrated learning in class.

We are very grateful to Jaimie and her team for coming into our school to facilitate this program as we know that the students experience many benefits from being part of it. 

Book Week Character Parade

Next week we are celebrating Book Week on Friday 26 with a book character parade at 9.00am. We ask all children to come to school next Friday dressed as their favourite book character. The theme of Book Week 2022 is Dreaming with Eyes Open. We will be sure to share photos of the parade with you next week on Facebook and in the newsletter following.

I hope that you have a restful weekend. 

Karen Hadley

We can hardly believe that we are halfway through Term 3 already! Kindergarten have had an exciting and fun filled term of learning so far. They have been immersed in their learning about farming during their Storyline Inquiry. Kindergarten is particularly enjoying the Guided Inquiry stations where they are required to investigate farming. Learning experiences incorporate all Key Learning Areas and so far have included:

• Planting seeds
• Caring for animals
• Conducting experiments
• Creating art works
• Constructing shelters
• Writing sentences
• Participating in learning about farming and creation from an Aboriginal perspective
• Documenting observations and using technology

During Week 3, students enjoyed welcoming the duck eggs to our hatching program. We are very excited to welcome our ducklings and continue to count down the days until they arrive. We are currently thinking of some names for the ducklings for when they hatch.

During Literacy, students continue to participate in Daily Review and Let’s Decode lessons. These lessons are helping us to build upon our knowledge of letters and sounds. Kindergarten also participate in literacy groups, this gives students the opportunity to practice reading with an adult.

In Religious Education, Kindergarten have been investigating the Creation Story and the story of Noah’s Ark from the book of Genesis. Students have had the opportunity to explore the beauty of creation by taking part in Dadirri (Deep Listening). These experiences have allowed us to develop a deeper appreciation for nature.

We were very excited to celebrate an important milestone for Kindergarten. We eagerly celebrated 100 days of school. Children participated in cupcake decorating, making of crowns and also played some Maths games with a focus on the number 100!

Canberra-Goulburn Athletics

Congratulations to

Beatrix F, Charlie M, Addison G, Lucas V, Lilly G, Mia A,

Arthur S-D, Harper B, Annie F, Brennan C, Didier D, Chase W,

Keira A, Ruby B, Hailey I, Molly W, Caprice F, Brodie M, Samuel S-D,

Elyssa W, Ashton W, Samuel H, Jasper S.

Ang Holmes