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Dear Parents and Carers
I hope your child/ren have had a wonderful start to the term and you are hearing the excitement in their voices as they embark on a new year with new learnings and challenges! Over the last week I visited the students in their classrooms and spoke with many on the playground. It was great to hear that they have settled into their new classes and are enjoying being back at school with their friends.
School Board Positions
A school board position has become available on the St Bernard’s School Board. Mr Chris Grasso has resigned from his position. If you are interested in nominating another parent or yourself for this position, please consider completing the nomination form that was emailed out last Monday. A copy of the Constitution for Catholic Archdiocesan School Boards, detailing Criteria for Membership was attached to the email. If more than two parents are nominated an election will follow. On behalf of the St Bernard’s community, I thank Chris for his time and commitment to St Bernard’s school community.
Welcome...
A very special welcome to our Kindergarten students who began their first day of school at St Bernard’s. It was lovely to begin the day with a morning tea, with many new families coming together and sharing their stories. Reflecting on my own children’s first day, I remember as a parent feeling both excited and nervous but also fortunate to be part of such a beautiful community. We are looking forward to sharing in your child’s educational journey for the next 7 years at St Bernard’s.
First Day of School Prayer
Father,
We thank you for the opportunity
to begin this new school year,
and we ask that you bless
the students, staff, and student families
that make our schools a great place.
We pray that you will guide us in your ways,
and strengthen our school communities,
so that we will seek your will
in everything that we do,
and love others as you love us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
https://the.ldcsb.ca/apps/news/article/805550
2023 Student Leadership Team
Congratulations to our Year 6 students who were elected last year to the Student Leadership 
Team for 2023 and to all our Year 6 who have become leaders of our school. All parents are invited to our first who school mass celebrated by Fr Loi on Thursday 16 February at 9.15am. Year 6 will be leading our Mass and all students will receive a blessing and their leadership badges. All parents and friends are welcome.
Congratulations to the following students who have been elected to the 2023 Student
Representative Council (SRC).
Keira Atkin, Molly Ward, Isabella Lipovsky and Arsh Khan and to Isla Blaas and Hunter Cootes as School Captains.
Lourdes: Ruby Bindon & Lawson Melton
MacKillop: Samuel Shakespeare-Dargan & Caprice Faganello
Tenison: Lavina Priest & Hailey Ison
Clairvaux: Rogan Hage & Kiera O’Sullivan
I have been very impressed by their enthusiasm and commitment to their roles and I look forward to supporting and watching as they grow in their leadership roles.
Staff Professional Learning
Our learning journey continues… we have begun to feel the magic of momentum – we’ve seen tangible results, and will continue to raise the bar to ensure our students receive the best possible learning opportunities at St Bernard’s. Our goal is to continue to be a leading school for best practice. To do this effectively, we must continue to build self efficacy and our relationships with one another in a positive learning environment.
Last Tuesday, Jared Bussell from Perth, met with staff focusing on High Impact Teaching Practices. Jared is working alongside staff with the aim to support teachers and leaders to improve their practice through practical professional learning based on Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction and follow-up coaching. Jared led our Staff Meeting this week with a particular focus on differentiation in the classroom. Teachers came away feeling empowered and ready for the year ahead. We are very fortunate at St Bernard’s to have such a highly skilled team who are continually working to meet the needs of all students.
Our Catholic Education approach to teaching and learning aligns with CECG’s vision of “Jesus Christ, our greatest teacher, calls us to share and bear witness to our Catholic Faith and Tradition, build inclusive communities and deliver contemporary quality learning opportunities for every person.”
This is achieved through:
- Supporting our teachers, Leaders, and Principals to transform students’ lives through learning, by improving the quality of the education we provide
- Elevating the impact we have on student learning outcomes through quality professional learning and high-quality curriculum resources
At St Bernard’s all decisions are made in the best interest of our students. We are committed to maximising learning time and ensuring that we meet students where they are at both socially, emotionally and academically.
Tomorrow some of our Year 2 and Years 3-6 students are participating in the St Benrrad's Swimming Carnival. We are looking forward to a great day!
Blessings to you and your family on the week ahead.
Warm regards
Johanna Wain
Principal
…FOLLOW GOD’S LAW…
What does this mean in our everyday lives?
In the Gospel of Matthew this weekend Jesus proclaims:
‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law of the Prophets. I have come not to abolish them but to complete them.’
So, what does Jesus mean when he says ‘I have come to complete the Law of the Prophets?” What does this ask of us?
I have found the Readings this weekend complex to read on one level but quite straightforward on another when I got beyond all the detail and stripped them back to the key message – at the heart of the Law is ‘Love of God and of each other’. Bringing together the understanding of both love and law in relationship with each other is critical.
This leads to a conversation about the ‘letter of the law’ and the ‘spirit of the law’ – an understanding of this impacts our relationship with God and indeed how we understand God – often referred to as our Image of God. Do we understand God as a God of Love or do we understand God as a Judge?
The letter of the law can be understood to mean that we must follow all tenets of the law and obey them to be accepted in God’s sight - the
image of God as Judge. There were 613 laws referred to in the Old
Testament that were required to be followed.
The spirit of the Law which Jesus refers to at the beginning of this
weekend’s Gospel – ‘I have come to complete them’. In completing an understanding of the Law, we read countless accounts of Jesus’ ministry of healing – even on the Sabbath – the spirit of the law is about not
putting strict adherence of laws or rules above the person whom the law is meant to serve. The spirit of the law can be summarised in the
following passage from Matthew’s Gospel:
‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? Jesus said to him ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your mind. This is the greatest and first
commandment, And the second is like it ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets’.
(Mt 22: 36-40)
As we prepare for Lent we pray for the grace to seek the God of love and to strive to live according to God’s law of love in
pursuing the values of life through love of God and love of neighbour.
Phil Billington
Dear Parents and Carers,
We are currently in Ordinary time in the Liturgical Calendar. We acknowledge this season by using the colour green. We have green cloth draped on our outdoor cross, and each classroom has a green cloth on their prayer space. When we go to mass, we can also see signs of green on the lectern and altar. Scripture readings of the Sundays and weeks of Ordinary Time take us through the life of Christ. During Ordinary Time we are called to live the life of Christ. We use the colour wheel as a visual when teaching the children about the seasons of the church.
Reconciliation
What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation? In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus comforts us and strengthens us on our journey. We are reconciled with God, with the Church, and with the people we have hurt. Through this sacrament the Church celebrates Jesus’ gift of forgiveness. Pope Francis encourages all of us to celebrate God’s Mercy especially through Reconciliation.
Who is receiving the Sacrament of First Reconciliation? Year 3 is the grade when many Catholic children make their First Reconciliation.
Does my child have to be a Catholic to receive this Sacrament? Yes. If your child is not a Catholic but you would like your child to receive the Sacrament, you are welcome to speak to Fr Loi about baptism.
How will my child be prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation at school? Preparation for the Sacraments is a partnership between home, parish and school. On enrolment you will receive a package explaining the home-based aspect of the program.
How can I enrol my child for this sacrament? You are invited to attend a Family Enrolment meeting in the church next Thursday 16 February at 5.00pm. Fr Loi and staff will lead the evening. Please bring your child along. A light supper will be provided.
Prayer for Reconciliation
Loving God,
you have reconciled us in Christ Jesus
and have given us the ministry of reconciliation.
We pray for all those from whom we are estranged.
Bring healing to strained or broken relationships.
Forgive us for the times we have wronged others,
whether by ignorance, neglect, or intention.
Grant us the courage and the grace to seek their forgiveness
and opportunity to make amends.
Where others have wronged us,
grant us a gracious spirit,
that we might forgive
even as we have been forgiven in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Blessings on your weekend
Sharon Beashel REC
Dear Parents and Carers
Teaching and Learning
On Tuesday, we were very fortunate to have expert teacher Jared Bussell from 'Shaping Minds: the science of learning meets the art of teaching' work in our school with teachers and students. In an afterschool session of professional learning with teachers, Jared spoke about the importance of the Daily Review - as beneficial for all, crucial for some and detrimental for none. If your children are not new to St Bernard's, you are likely to have heard about the Daily Review and how this is a feature of all classrooms, especially in literacy and numeracy lessons. Reviewing past learning in a sequenced way, requiring students to rehearse, recall and apply information aids retention into long term memory, avoiding students forgetting information that remains in short term and working memory. We are committed to implementing the Daily Review and work to refine our delivery of this high impact teaching strategy.
Breakfast Club
Next Wednesday Breakfast Club will begin for the year. Mrs Fitzgerald, Mrs Talbot and Ms Guthrie will be at the canteen from 8.10am to provide breakfast and to supervise children as they eat together outside the hall area. Breakfast is available each Wednesday for a gold coin donation.
Lunchtime Activities
At lunch times we have a range of different activities for students to be involved in which take place in the iCentre/ library area as an alternative from playing outside in the playground. The activities are as follows:
- Monday - boardgames with Mr Maynard
- Wednesday- Chess Club with Mrs Keough
- Thursday- Maker Space with Mrs Holmes
- Friday- Drawing and Games with Mrs Beashel.
In addition, Year 6 students in the Student Representative Council meet on Mondays at lunch time with Mrs McRae, students from Years 3-6 who would like to join the choir will rehearse on Tuesdays with Mrs Smith and Ms Guthrie and Year 5 students who are members of Mini Vinnies, meet with Mrs Beashel each Thursday.
We strive to provide a range of options for the students at St Bernard's and remind students about these activities each day as they occur.
School Photos
A reminder that next Friday school photographs will be taken. Please check that you have received your child's photo envelope to complete the payment instructions. Family photos with siblings can also be taken. All children will have a class photo and an individual photograph. Information about the various photograph packages you may like to purchase are included on the envelope that we have sent home.
We ask that children wear their school uniform next Friday.
Have a lovely weekend.
Karen
Snapshot of Year 3
Year 3 are to be congratulated for their terrific start to 2023. Students have dazzled us with their high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to their learning. They have taken to the Year 3 routines like ducks to water.
Students have enjoyed the opportunity to create a T-shirt design that is all about themselves. They used their artistic skills to draw their self-portrait along with their favourite sport, animal, movie, song etc. We have discovered that we have some very creative and artistic students. We can’t wait to see what future artistic creations they will amaze us with this year.
Year 3 are working together as a well-oiled machine during our Literacy and Numeracy sessions. They are applying themselves in every session to help take their learning from their short-term memory to their long-term memory. We are refining and expanding on our ability to write narratives. Year 3 have vivid imaginations!
It hasn’t been all work and no play. Students have been able to explore new areas of our school like the Tinkering Space, top oval and playing in the Lean To.
