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Dear Parents and Carers
It is my pleasure to be embarking on another year of schooling with you as Principal as we work together to provide the best learning opportunities for your children. We have another exciting year ahead with many initiatives already underway. We as a staff are looking forward to the year ahead and working in partnership with each of you to continue to foster a love of learning for all students at St Bernard’s.
Welcome to Fr Loi who has begun as Parish Priest at St Bernard’s. Fr Loi joined the staff today for morning tea and will be working closely with the school to support students in their journey to understand and experience the Catholic faith.
Our K-12 Student Leadership Teams for 2023 met in the last week of term and decided on our theme of “The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action” Saint Mother Teresa. This theme will be central to everything we do, enriching our vision to “begin with the heart”.
It is my pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to Matt Lowe. I congratulate Matt on his appointment and wish him every continued success as he undertakes his new role at St Bernard’s. This term I also welcome a new member to the Classroom Support Team, Mackenzie Turner. Mackenzie has just finished Year 12 at Carroll College and is keen to follow her passion in working in the primary school setting. Mackenzie will be working Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week.
Congratulations…
Congratulations to Trish Ellis who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division. The medal was awarded for service to the Indigenous community of the Eurobodalla Shire. Trish has contributed to the community through many ways, some of these include:
- Chair, Eurobodalla Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Eurobodalla Shire Council
- Founder, Minga Cultural Experiences
- Coordinator, Cobowra Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Former Member, Language Committee, New South Wales Aboriginal Education Consultative Group
- Co-Writer, Dhurga Language Dictionary
- Coordinator and Teacher, Aboriginal Unit, Bega Campus
We are very fortunate to have Trish working alongside us to support students and staff in learning about our Aboriginal culture and history.
Professional Learning
On Monday our staff joined with over 2000 colleagues at the Faith in Learning System Day at the National Convention Centre in Canberra. The Professional Learning was excellent and very affirming of how we are teaching at St Bernard’s. Staff participated in a variety of workshops led by Key Experts in Education. Some of these included Ollie Lovell, Senior Researcher Crowther Centre, Steplab Instructional Coaching Australia, Professor Pamela Snow, Dr Lorraine Hammond and Michael Roberts, Executive Director Coglearn and Br David Hall. The day provided us with an opportunity to continue to build on our knowledge of the Science of Learning and the Science of Reading. We left with a renewed focus on Catalyst and as a staff we will continue to focus on providing your child/ren with excellence in teaching and learning at St Bernard’s.
School Communication
Communication between home and school is both valued and encouraged. We believe it is one of the most vital elements in creating an effective and welcoming community. Emails and messages through Compass are being pushed out regularly with updates and important information to remind you of events and changes that may be occurring for your children. All classroom teachers have group emails created for their parent group. If your email changes, please advise our front office staff. Parent emails are kept private. Staff will always use Bcc when sending group emails.
Remember to check our website. Relevant curriculum information and school procedures are highlighted for your reference. There is much to communicate as we begin the new school year.
Welcome...
I warmly welcome all families new to St Bernard’s. I hope you are settling in well and feel very welcomed to our school. A morning tea is being planned next Monday morning at 8.45am in the courtyard outside the Administration Building for our Kindergarten parents and all parents new to the school. If any of our existing families are able to join us, that would be lovely.
Please know we are here to support you in every way we can. My door is always open. I wish all families a healthy and happy 2023 school year.
Kind regards
Johanna Wain
Principal
KEEP YOUR SALT FRESH
This weekend we are encouraged to examine our attitude towards the Word of God. In other words the Bible. In this regard I’d like to draw your attention to a particular metaphor Jesus uses in today’s gospel, Matthew 15: 13.
Metaphors can be tricky at times. If I were to say: “Bob Kennedy is the salt of the earth,” you’d probably take me to mean: “Bob is a great bloke.” An English Language Dictionary on the other hand might define the phrase as meaning: “Perfect, one of the Elect, the worthiest and most honest of all human beings”. The Dictionary might even quote Matthew 5:13 where Jesus told his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth.”
Matthew inserts Jesus’s metaphor straight after the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus had just described those who would be the Blessed/Happy in his Kingdom of the Spirit. They were the poor in spirit, the gentle, those who mourned, those who hungered for what is right, who thirsted for God’s merciful love and those who were peacemakers. Each one of these Beatitudes could be the subject of a sermon in itself!
Jesus knew as he enunciated these virtues he would face the opposition of those whose
vested interests he threatened. What he proposed flew in the face of what the Jewish elite sought - power, possessions, prestige. Jesus’s way of life would lead to the cross (but also to his resurrection). He asks his followers not to be deterred by prosecution. They have a mission. After He has gone they will be like salt affecting the whole of mankind.
You see this is where metaphors can be tricky. Anyone of us who has tried to be a gardener knows that salt is the last chemical compound we want in the soil.
The Greek word ‘ge’ used by Matthew occurs 250 times in the New Testament. Depending on the context it can mean; earth, soil, ground, land, region and humankind (i.e. All those who live on Earth). Because of the incompatibility between salt and soil , Jesus is not referring to agriculture. He wants us to concentrate on two uses of common domestic salt, which we practice every day. It can be a preservative and a taste enhancer.
The disciples will be like salt when they preserve the teachings of Jesus, the Word made Flesh. Before refrigeration housewives would protect fish and meat against decay by smothering them with salt, hence we still have kippers and bacon today. We try on a daily basis to keep the teachings of Jesus fresh in our consciousness.
The way we adhere to those teachings in our daily lives will act as a condiment that will make them tasty/attractive as a way of life to all those with whom we mix on any given day.
We can make Jesus’s life attractive to the whole world.
How does my saltiness measure up?
Joe QuigleyWelcome back to the 2023 school year. It was wonderful re-connecting with the students after their generous summer break.
I’m really looking forward to working alongside you as we journey through the many facets of the year. I have included Sacramental dates for you this week. If you have a child/ren baptised Catholic in Year 3, 4 or 6 this year you might want to add these to your diary.
We welcomed Fr Loi to our school community today with a special morning tea. Fr Loi is really looking forward to visiting the students in their classrooms and welcoming them at school and weekend masses.
Sacramental Dates 2023
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Enrolment |
Commitment Mass |
Retreat Day |
Celebration |
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Reconciliation Year 3 |
Thursday 16 February 5.00-6.00pm St Bernard’s church |
Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 March 6.00pm Mass 9.00am Mass St. Bernard’s church |
Friday 10 March 9.30am- 2.00pm Carroll College Broulee |
Tuesday 28 March 5.00pm St Bernard’s church |
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Confirmation Year 6 |
Thursday 11 May 5.00-6.00pm St. Bernard’s church |
Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 May 6.00pm Mass 9.00am Mass St. Bernard’s church |
Friday 9 June 9.30am- 2.00pm Carroll College Broulee |
Saturday 24 June 6.00pm Mass St Bernard’s church
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First Communion Year 4 |
Thursday 3 August 5.00-6.00pm St Bernard’s church
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Saturday 5 – Sun 6 August 6.00pm Mass 9.00am Mass St. Bernard’s church
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Friday 11 August 9.30am-2.00pm Carroll College Broulee |
Saturday 9 September 6.00pm Mass St Bernard’s church
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Virtue of Character: # Acceptance
Acceptance means treating everyone around you with equal kindness and respect, even if they look differently to you. It involves being happy with who you are as a person (both inside and out). We should accept ourselves and others, never losing sight of the fact that Jesus loves us, even with all our limitations. (My Faith Teacher Diary 2023)
Blessings on your weekend
Sharon Beashel REC
Dear Parents and Carers
Welcome back to a new school year! The term has begun very smoothly for the students in Years 1 to 6 and it was wonderful to see the many smiling faces of both students, parents and staff in the school yesterday. Teachers have worked hard to ensure that their classrooms are welcoming and happy places for learning and I know that all the children will benefit from the efforts that have been made.
School Counsellor
Faith Cositgan is a counsellor employed by CatholicCare and works in our school three days a week. A profile on Faith is included in this week's newsletter with more information about her services. If you would like to refer your child for counselling, please contact us at school for a link to a referral form to be emailed to you. Alternatively, we will complete this referral on your behalf.
Library and Sport Days
Please find the schedule for the days when each grade will wear their sports uniform or bring their library bag to school.
| Grade | Sport | Library |
| Kinder | Tuesday and Wednesday | Thursday |
| Year 1 | Tuesday and Thursday | Friday |
| Year 2 | Thursday and Friday | Thursday |
| Year 3 | Wednesday and Friday | Tuesday |
| Year 4 | Thursday and Friday | Tuesday |
| Year 5 | Tuesday and Friday | Thursday |
| Year 6 | Wednesday and Thursday | Friday |
School Uniform
It is expected that all students wear the regulated school uniform and wear it correctly. If for some reason a student is not in uniform on a particular day, a note of explanation is required. PLEASE MARK ALL CLOTHING WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME. Lost property is kept in a container adjacent to the Canteen.
St Bernard’s observes the NO HAT ~ NO PLAY sun safe practice.
The St Bernard’s sports jumper can be purchased through the Front Office.
JEWELLERY
Jewellery is restricted to the wearing of a wristwatch, religious medal with chain, signet ring, sleepers or studs for pierced ears with no more than one earring in either or both ears.
HAIR and MAKE-UP
Hair is to be clean, neat and tidy at all times. Hair is to be off the face ie. fastened back with a clip or hair tie, with longer hair tied back at all times. Mullets, mohawks and patterned shaving are not permitted as hairstyles. The wearing of make–up and/or nail polish is not permitted.
Please find below a description of the correct Summer and Sport school uniform items.
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GIRLS' SUMMER UNIFORM
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BOYS' SUMMER UNIFORM
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GIRLS SPORTS UNIFORM
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BOYS SPORTS UNIFORM
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Safer Internet Day
Next Tuesday is Safer Internet Day, a global event that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations to consider ways to create safer online spaces.
As you know, technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.
Over the coming weeks, students will learn about being safe online in their Digital Technology lessons, with content from the e-safety commissioner website. Key ideas include:
Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.
Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others.
Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.
Tomorrow students will receive a paper note which needs to be completed for each individual child, indicating agreement that technology will be used in a responsible and respectful way at school.
Please check that both sides of this form are signed. Your child will not be permitted to access the internet until the responsible use of technology agreement form is returned to school to your child's classroom teacher.
I hope that you have an enjoyable and restful weekend.
Warm regards
Karen
Sport Dates 2023
Friday 10 February 2023
St Bernard’s Swimming Carnival
Years 3-6 (& Year 2 students wishing to compete) participate in a whole school carnival at Bay Pavilions. There will be 50m and 25m events and novelty races. A fantastic fun day.
Tuesday 21 Feb 2023
Southern Region Swimming Carnival
First four students in 50m races are selected for the competitive carnival.
Wednesday 05 Apr 2023
St Bernard’s Cross Country Carnival
Kindergarten to Year 6 whole school event on school grounds.
Friday 28 April 2023
Southern Region Cross Country
First six students from 8-13 years old selected for the competitive carnival.
Surf Lifesaving
From 27th to 29th January, Keira Atkin U/12's, Mia Atkin U/10's and Indi Allen U/10's competed for Broulee Surfers SLSC in the NSW 2023 SLSC Country Championships.
They competed in the Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Surf Swim, Board races with Keira also competing in Diamond Lady, Cameron Relay and Surfing. They all did really well over a hot and windy few days. Keira won a silver medal for surfing. Congratulations to these ladies.
