Dear Parents and Carers

I hope that you enjoyed the recent school holiday period with your children. I have noticed that the students have returned to school in a very happy and settled way and seem to be ready for learning. There is certainly much to look forward to this term, with special school events planned. Yesterday all classes began Hip Hop and Jazz based dance sessions with Tracy Spence as part of the physical education and performing arts curriculum. Learning a choregraphed movement routine has many benefits for our students. I hope you have saved the date to attend the dance performance on Thursday 16 October (Week 6) at 1.45pm in our hall.

On Monday this week, staff participated in a Spirituality Formation Day on the theme of the Holy Spirit, led by Luke Maher of the Catholic Identity Team at CE. This was an excellent way for us to begin the term, developing knowledge and new insights as we reflected on how the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and in our school communities. 

New students

This week we have welcomed the following new students to our school:

• Charlene M - 2J
• Chelsea M - 4K 
• Haylee T - 3D 

Noah B has returned to us into 5D after his holiday travelling around Australia with his family. We welcome you all!

Official Opening and Blessing of Refurbishments

Last year the refurbishment of the student amenities and canteen was completed. It seems like a distant memory now when the students were using the portable toilets while we waited for the building upgrade to be completed. I know that you would agree, the final results of the project certainly enhanced the facilities for the students. 

On Monday 30 October at 11.30am the buildings will be officially opened by the Member for Bega, Dr Michael Holland and Blessed by our Parish Priest, Fr Loi with a liturgy and prayers from our students. The official opening will take place in our hall. We welcome all parents and carers and other interested members of our school community to attend this special event.

Instructional Coaching for High Impact Teaching

Next week we welcome Brooke Wardana back to St Bernard's. Brooke is an awarded teacher, academic and literacy expert from the Shaping Minds team from Western Australia. She has been working with our staff for a number of years, coaching us in ways to deliver evidenced-based high impact teaching of explicit lessons in literacy. The improved student outcomes for the students in our school is the motivating factor for our teachers and classroom support team to continue to learn and practice how to implement explicit teaching methods which are based on the Science of Reading and Learning. 

Summer Uniform

All students are now required to wear their summer uniform. Our school uniform policy stipulates that the following items are worn during summer. 

GIRLS' SUMMER UNIFORM

· Blue check dress

· Navy skort/ pale blue peter pan collared shirt

· Short white socks (no anklet socks)

· Black polished leather shoes

· Navy blue jumper with school crest

· St Bernard’s navy hat

BOYS' SUMMER UNIFORM

· Grey shorts

· St Bernard’s blue short sleeve shirt

· Shirts to be worn tucked in

· Grey socks

· Black polished leather shoes

· Navy blue jumper with school crest

· St Bernard’s navy hat

We thank you in supporting us to ensure that the standards of dress remain high at St Bernard's. 

Mobile Outreach Van

Each Thursday during the term the Mobile Outreach Van will be in our school to offer a program to our Year 6 students. The program provides activities to support students to develop positive strategies so that they have the tools and language they need to express their emotions safely, cope with challenges, whilst building confidence and self-esteem. 

Prayers for Mrs Wain

As you may be aware, Jo's father is very unwell and she left on Sunday to be with him and her family in Melbourne. I know that you join with me in offering Jo your thoughts and prayers at this time. Jo will be on leave next week as well and I will continue to act as Principal in her absence.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am more than happy to speak with you.

Have a lovely weekend

Karen

…’See this is our God in whom we hoped for Salvation’ (Isaiah 25:9) …

Many years ago, Fr Richard Lennan, a friend who is a priest of the Newcastle-Maitland Diocese and who lectures in Theology at Boston College (USA), taught us that we will gain a deeper understanding of God (Theology) by having the Scriptures in one hand and the Newspaper in the other. I was poignantly reminded of this wisdom during this week when we have all been confronted by the atrocities taking place in the Middle East, the earthquake in Afghanistan, the continuing turmoil across the world and our journey as an Australian community towards the Referendum.

 So, when reflecting on the Readings for this weekend, I followed Fr Richard’s advice and I found solace in the wisdom of the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah which carries messages of both warning and hope. In his 1980 talks on the prophets, Franciscan priest, Richard Rohr delves into the message of hope found in the book of Isaiah:  When the prophet Isaiah is writing, it’s to people who are still in the midst of unbelievable pain and suffering. The ancient Israelites are still exiled and enslaved in Babylon, and they have been for decades. I imagine they would be overwhelmed by hopelessness. Yet in the midst of their exile, Isaiah writes what biblical scholars call the “Book of Consolations.” Isaiah says that injustice and evil are not the final reality. Instead, the final reality is the comfort and compassion of God. The prophet stands in that place of trust. Isaiah becomes the prophet of hope because he knows God is not neutral but is involved in history. 

 Rohr continues:  

Hope is not primarily for the future. It’s for now! Hope is a way of seeing time and understanding the present. It’s a way of tasting and receiving the moment. It gives us the capacity to enter into the future in a new way. In that sense, we can call hope true realism, because hope takes seriously all the many possibilities that fill the moment. Hope sees all the alternatives; it recognizes and creates an alternative consciousness. That’s the hope of the prophet…and that’s the power of the prophets—to recognize that there is always another way for the promise to be fulfilled, another way for Divine Love to reach us. (Prophets – Rohr. 1980) 

 This weekend’s Reading from Isaiah is often chosen for funerals and when mourning the passing of a loved one – the reassurance of hope and trust in our God. Let us reflect on these words as we pray for Peace – remembering those who have died and praying for the safety of those in danger – every human life is precious so let us light a candle in hope for all humanity…

 ‘…the Lord of hosts will prepare for all people a banquet of rich food…on this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, the shroud enwrapping all nations, the Lord will destroy Death for ever. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every cheek…that day it will be said: See this is our God in whom we hoped for salvation; the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.’ (Isaiah 25: 6-9).                                            

  Phil Billington

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to our final term for the school year! Looking at our calendar it is going to be a very busy term, but one that I’m sure will bring a lot of joy and excitement to our community.

Next Tuesday 17 October Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Students will be participating in singing workshops with Andrew during the day. Session times will be:

• 9:00am -9.45am  Kinder - Year 2
• 9:50am -10.35am  Year 3- 4
• 11:20am -12.05pm Year 5-6
• 12:05pm -12.35pm Choir 

Workshops will culminate in a Whole School Concert between 1.20pm -2.25pm. Andrew welcomes parents to workshops and of course the afternoon concert. We hope to see many of you enjoying the musical entertainment provided by our students.

Mission Week Fun

On Thursday 19 October we will be holding our annual Socktober Penalty Shoot Out for Mission Week. If you haven’t already had an opportunity to sponsor your child or our school team it’s not too late to make a donation. Go to the following link to make your donation https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/stbernardsprimaryschoolbatemansbay

Infants will be on the oval from 11.15 am and Primary will follow at 11.55am. Students are asked to wear their Sports Uniform with their favourite socks for the event.

We're participating in Socktober for Mission Month to make a difference for children in need in Timor-Leste. We'll be learning about a community in Venilale this year and kicking goals to support children's health and wellbeing needs. By sponsoring your child or our school team in our Socktober goal kicking event, we look to make a difference.

Our Mission Week will culminate with a Mission Mass and Market Day on Friday 20 October.

Mission Mass will begin in St Bernard's Church at 9.15am. This will be followed by Mission Markets in the school Lean To and surrounds from 11.30am -12.30pm.

Children are encouraged to wear Mufti Clothing (covered shoes and shoulders).

Each class will host their own stall or activity for the Markets. Please see the flyer attached for further information.

All funds raised will support the community needs of children in Timor Leste.

“May the attacks and weaponry cease. Please! And let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people.” Pope Francis

Our prayers and thoughts go out to all families in our community whose loved ones are unwell. We especially remember Mrs Wain and her family at this time.

Blessings on your weekend

Sharon Beashel REC

St Bernard’s Representative Clothing

Thank you to our amazing Parents and Friends committee who have enabled us to purchase new representative sporting attire. We have singlets and dresses, with the style chosen by our Year 6 leaders. They are very happy with the result!

Representative Sport 2024

If your child would like to try out for a Representative sporting team in 2024, nominations are now open. Please visit https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations and choose the sport you wish your child to play.

Tennis

Next week Xavier L, Quinn S, Beatrix F, Lucy B, Lucas VD, Ollie L, Georgina W and Indi A from Year 3 and 4 are competing at the South Coast Finals of the Todd Woodbridge Cup. We we wish them safe travels and an enjoyable day.

Angela Holmes