Dear Parents and Carers

What a special time of year! There is excitement in the air as the students are preparing for Christmas and finishing up the 2022 school year. As I look back on the year, I can see how much has been achieved and how the students have grown in confidence and maturity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for their support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday. This will be our final newsletter for 2022. I would like to congratulate and thank the Staff of St Bernard’s for their commitment to teaching and learning, enthusiasm and care. We have a dedicated team of teachers who are continually growing and learning together to provide best pedagogy and optimal learning environments.

Last week St Bernard’s featured in the education section of the Sydney Morning Herald. The article recognised the excellent teaching and learning happening across all classrooms to improve student outcomes. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with you and provide your child/ren with best practice.

I extend my personal thanks to our Year 6 parents, many of whom will be leaving our community this year, having their youngest child finishing Year 6. On behalf of St Bernard’s we farewell and thank the Booth, Collins, Coulter, Cummins, Draper, Dzundza, Fish, Ford, Gorst, Hannan, Harris, Hart, Hopkins, Keys, Lovegrove, Mizzi, Nguyen, Schryver, Stewart, Walters, Welsh, Wright families. These families have made a significant contribution to the St Bernard’s community over many years. We thank them and they go with our blessings for the future.

Thanks also to School Board and P&F members under the leadership of Board Chair, Mrs Nicole Allen and P&F President, Melissa Franzen. Parent involvement strengthens every aspect of school life and St Bernard’s is richer for having the support and partnership of parents and families. On behalf of the staff, thank you!

Farewell

I’m sure you join with me in wishing Mrs Joanna Socha all the very best as she embarks on a new journey. I also thank Classroom Support Assistants Jade Delaney, Archie Hadley and Julie Davis and Classroom Teacher Ms Ann-Maree Nussdorfer who finish their contracts this year. I thank these staff for their work and wish them well. It has been a pleasure working alongside them and having their level of expertise supporting our school priorities this year.

I also take this opportunity to thank Fr Tom and Fr Eden as they begin a new step in their journeys in Canberra. On behalf of the St Bernard’s community, I thank Fr Tom and Fr Eden for their support and leadership in our parish. You will both be missed and I hope you know that you are always welcome at St Bernard’s. 

Please note the dates of the upcoming end of year celebrations. You are very welcome to join us, especially tomorrow 9 December, in the church commencing at 9:15am for The End of Year Mass and the Awards Ceremony. The Talent Quest auditions have been held, the Year 6 Big Day Out is just around the corner, Year 6 Disco and Dinner is planned for Tuesday 13 December at 6.00pm at the RSL and End of Year activities are happening in the classrooms.

• Whole School Mass and Year 6 Graduation Awards Presentation Friday 9 December 9:15am – St Bernard’s Church 
• St Bernard’s Duck Race – Corrigans Beach Friday 9 Dec at 5.00pm
• Kindergarten are leading us in the Nativity Story in the Hall on Monday 12 Dec 9.00am
• SRC are hosting the Talent Quest - Tuesday 13 Dec at 9.00am
• Year 6 Dinner and Disco – Tuesday 13 Dec at 5.30pm – 7.30pm at the Batemans Bay RSL
• Kindergarten to Year 5 students will meet their teacher for 2023 on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 Dec
• Year 6 Big Day Out and Year 6 Guard of Honour – Wednesday 14 Dec

Congratulations
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to the 2023 Student Representative Council (SRC). In alphabetical order the students are Keira Atkin, Arsh Khan, Isabella Lipovsky and Molly Ward and to Isla Blaas and Hunter Cootes as School Captains. It also gives me great pleasure to announce our House Captains for 2023:                             

Lourdes              Ruby Bindon & Lawson Melton

MacKillop            Samuel Shakespeare-Dhargan & Caprice Faganello

Tenison               Lavina Priest & Hailey Ison 

Clairvaux             Rogan Hage & Kiera O’Sullivan

These student leaders will receive their badges at the Opening of School Year Mass early in Term 1.

Thank you to the 2022 SRC and their staff mentors for their organisation of the Talent Quest. This will be held on Tuesday 13 December 2022 commencing at 9.00am. I would like to acknowledge the work of the SRC and House Captains this year. They have done everything asked of them and have done it very well.

ST BERNARD’S DAZZLING DUCK RACE – TOMORROW @ 5.00PM at Corrigans Beach

A reminder that our St Bernard’s Duck Race is being held tomorrow at 5.00pm at Corrigans Beach. There are prizes to be won. Our P&F Committee are hosting a Sausage Sizzle and treats will be available on the evening. Alternatively, please bring along a picnic dinner. This is a lovely opportunity to bring our St Bernard’s school community together and to celebrate the 2022 school year with staff, students, parents and the wider community.

Pope Francis (2022) said On the first Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis calls on us to “awaken from our slumber” and to always be aware of the presence of God and to welcome Him in our daily lives”. Advent is the time when we are encouraged to be still and present with God. May the Spirit of Christmas bring you peace and hope. I look forward to working in collaboration with you next year.

Travel safely over the holiday break.

Kind regards

Johanna Wain

Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for the level of support that you have given to the area of Religious Education during Term 4. Many of you have attended key events and generously contributed in such a positive way to the “Religious Life” of the school.

On reflection you have celebrated and supported:

• Farewell Assembly, Mass and Parish celebration of the Sisters of St Joseph
• Weekend Masses and Feast Days
• Remembrance Day Service
• The Girl Campaign
• Red Nose Day
• Mission Mass and Mission Day
• Christmas Tree Giving
• Candle Ceremony

During the term the leadership team had the opportunity to meet with Tim Smith (CE) to revisit our Strategic Plan for 2023-2025.

Religious Education is always a key part of this plan. It will be a privilege for me to be leading our dedicated staff in meeting our Key Improvements in Religious Education. Key Improvements in Catholic Identity and Culture in 2023 include:

 

Second Week of Advent

During the second week of Advent, we light another purple candle. It is the candle that symbolises Faith. It is also called the "Bethlehem Candle" reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

Mini Vinnies

A highlight for me this term has been to support our Year 5 Mini Vinnies team. I am sure that as these amazing group of leaders move into Year 6, they will maintain their concern for social justice issues locally and worldwide.

Mini Vinnies have written Christmas Cards expressing their thanks for your generous donations on the Christmas Giving Tree.

I know that Mr. Maynard, Mrs. Metcalf and all the staff are very proud of these students.

Dates for your Diary: There are so many events on the calendar. For more information, please check our Newsfeeds on COMPASS

Friday 9 December 9.15am: Graduation Mass and Awards Ceremony St Bernard’s Parish Church

Monday 12 December 9.00am: Kindergarten Nativity Play school hall

Saturday 17 December 6.00pm Farewell Mass and BBQ for Fr Tom and Fr Eden – all invited

Saturday 24 December 6.00pm Christmas Eve Family Mass – all invited 

Father Tom Thornton

Thank you to Fr Tom Thornton who has been with our parish during the year. We have appreciated his leadership and involvement in our sacramental programs and school masses. I know that the staff and students have enjoyed his visits to their classrooms. We wish Fr Tom the very best as he moves back to the ACT. I will certainly miss his thought provoking and relatable homily at Sunday Mass. 

Every blessing to you and your loved ones this Christmas. I hope that your celebrations around the birth of Jesus are special ones.

Sharon Beashel REC

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you

In this final newsletter for 2022 I would like to thank our wonderful St Bernard's community for their involvement and support of the school throughout the year. It has been a highly successful year in terms of student learning achievement and teachers continuing to build their capacity to deliver exemplary teaching and learning aligned with the Science of Learning. We are very fortunate to have a team of excellent teachers led by a highly committed principal in Jo Wain. I am sure that you would agree that the school is in outstanding hands. 

Meet the Teacher

Next Tuesday afternoon students will move to their new classroom to meet their teacher for the 2023 school year with their new class members. As previously communicated, classes are formulated in a very considered way, taking student friendships and learning into consideration. We go to great lengths to ensure that groupings will create the optimum learning environment. Students will bring home a Meet the Teacher sheet on Tuesday afternoon with the name of their new teacher and their email address for contact.

Student Leaders

Congratulations to the students of Year 6 on their graduation from primary school. We are very proud of you all and I look forward to celebrating this special time with you at the Mass tomorrow morning and the Dinner and Disco on Tuesday evening.

The members of the Student Representative Council have been a highly organised and cohesive group and I thank them for the initiatives that they have led in our school and for the way they have embraced their role to lead our school assemblies.

Today the new student leaders for 2023 were announced at the Candle Ceremony. These students have excellent role models to emulate.

Nativity

On Monday morning the students of Kindergarten will present the nativity play to our school community. We are very much looking forward to this very special reenactment, starting at 9.00am in the hall and hope that you can also be there.

                                  A memory from last year's nativity play.

If your child is able to participate in the parish Christmas Eve Mass nativity in the church at 6.00pm, we would love to hear from you! Please contact Sharon Beashel to let us know of your child's availability to be part of this very special Christmas mass.

Talent Quest

There is a buzz in the air as students prepare to showcase their talent in the SRC led Talent Quest, which will take place at 9.00am on Tuesday morning in the hall. Well done to the number of children who nominated for the Talent Quest. There is a diverse range of performances to look forward to. Another event not to be missed!

I wish you a very happy and peace-filled Christmas and hope that the holidays are an enjoyable time for you and your family. I look forward to seeing you all again in the new year.

Warm regards

Karen

We can hardly believe that we are almost at the end of kindergarten! We have had an exciting and fun filled term of learning. Kindergarten have been immersed in opportunities to learn about communication and family. We have continued to enjoy the Guided Inquiry stations where we have investigated Bible stories, created artwork, written family stories and friendship cards, while also exploring the significance and importance of a yarning circle.

A highlight for this term was the excursion to Red Gate Farm at Carroll College. The bus ride was a particular highlight for students. This was an adventure filled with many learning experiences including:

• Planting seeds
• Learning about and caring for animals
• Trisha leading us in a walk and talk about bush tucker
• Exploring the many plants and learning how to care for them

In Religious Education, Kindergarten have been learning about Advent and the significance of the advent wreath and candles. We have been listening to and acting out the Nativity Play and are very excited to present our learning to you in week 10.

Mrs Ward had a special delivery for us! We were very excited to learn that Santa had sent an Elf on the Shelf to Kindergarten. He came with a note from Santa and has been getting up to all sorts of mischief. We cannot wait to see the antics each morning. Our writing focus for this week has been all things elf!

Congratulations to four of our students who have been selected in the 2023 Canberra-Goulburn Tennis team. Annie F, Sebastian C, Ruby B and Beatrix F. They will play against students from Catholic schools across NSW in February for a place in the MacKillop team. Well done to these talented players.

Term 4

Week 8 Class Awards

Presented : Friday 2 December 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!

Summer Reading Club 

Ready, set, read! Your summer reading is sorted with Eurobodalla Libraries’ Summer Reading Club. 

Drop into your local branch in Batemans Bay, Moruya or Narooma to receive instructions, challenge sheets, bookmarks, and a Fred library bag. Read books and complete challenges to enter in our weekly prize draws. Read 20 books over summer for the chance to win some fantastic prizes from Horizon Bank, including a Samsung tablet and JBL headphones. 

Our Summer Reading Club runs Thursday 1 December 2022 to Tuesday 31 January 2023 and is open to children aged 12 and under. 

Winners will be announced in early February 2023. 

Adventure awaits – happy reading!