Dear Parents and Carers

What a term! There have been many highlights including excursions, the Swimming and Cross Country Carnival, Welcome Barbeque and Disco, Easter and some exciti­ng learning happening across all years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all families for the many ways that you have supported St Bernard’s this term. I would also like to say thank you to the Staff of St Bernard’s for their hard work and dedication to teaching. We have an amazing team at St Bernard’s who go above and beyond each week! I feel very blessed to part of the St Bernard’s community. Finally, I would like to thank our students for their effort and commitment to their learning at St Bernard’s.

I was talking to a couple of Year 6 students last week about their transition into Year 6 and how the year had started. Campbell R said that he loved Year 6 and his teachers. Campbell spoke about how he likes the learning and the additional responsibilities that you get once you reach Year 6. Mia S said she loves her teacher and the way he explains the learning and that you get extra responsibilities in Year 6. It is so wonderful to hear the students speak so positively about St Bernard’s. It is our students who make our school!

Tomorrow, we farewell Ms Claire Campbell. The community has been very fortunate to have had Ms Campbell’s passion and dedication to teaching and learning. I thank Ms Campbell for her commitment of service to the St Bernard’s community, she will be missed. We wish Ms Campbell all the very best with the next chapter of her life.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Congratulations to all our students receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation this evening. This is an important part of each students’ faith journey as they are strengthening their relationship with God. Fr Loi will lead the students through the Sacrament at 5.00pm at St Bernard’s Church. It is our Catholic identity that unites us. Special thanks to all involved in preparing the children to receive this Sacrament, especially Fr Loi, Mrs Beashel, Mrs Kenny, Mrs Tyler and Mr Ward. I would also like to acknowledge the time and planning that occurred at Carroll College with the retreat that happened a couple of weeks ago. A BIG thank you to Jacqui Heffernan, Anna Smart and Belle Barling. Our K - 12 Pathway for Catholic Education is so valuable and grows stronger each year.

Staff Professional Learning Day
On Monday 29 April, the staff will be meeting to participate in professional learning, focusing on the Science of Learning. We will be particularly focusing on Assessment to inform teaching and learning and the explicit teaching of writing. Our Catholic Education System continues to provide key professional learning and resources on Catalyst. The image below captures what has been occurring in Catalyst, the 8 Big Ideas, the focus on Literacy and High Impact Teaching Practice (HITP) aligned with our Bold Goals and our approach to professional learning.

Da Vinci Decathlon
Our school is committed to the enrichment of education for all. As an addition to our current extracurricular programs, this year the school has formulated a da Vinci Decathlon Team. 

This is an academic competition which is designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. It is a program that caters for highly able and gifted students across different disciplines. During the competition students will use their skills with others and present their new ideas within a set time.

All students are to be congratulated on their participation in the da Vinci Decathlon team preparation for the competition. The team for the event consists of 8 students. Whilst 10 students have been part of our training team, only 8 can compete. Mrs Keough will accompany the team to Canberra on Wednesday 1 May at Canberra Grammar School. They have been working hard for this opportunity and we wish Didier D, Annie F, Sienna B, Tomas C, Jayden B, Mia B, Lilly G & Rowan L. 

ANZAC Day - Thursday 25 March
Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most significant occasions. We are reminded of those who fought for Australia and New Zealand in the First World War. On Thursday 25 April, I will accompany the students in the ANZAC Day March. I encourage all our students to be involved. Children are asked to wear their full school Summer uniform. We will meet at the rear of the Soldier's Club at 9.30am. I look forward to seeing many of our students at this significant event.

• Batemans Bay: March: Meet at B’Bay Soldiers Club carpark at 10.00am. The march begins at 10.15am.
• Tomakin: Dawn Service/March: Meet at Rivermouth Café at 6.30am. The march begins at 6.45am.
• Nelligen: March: Meet at Mechanics Institute Hall, Braidwood St. The march begins at 10.50am

Catholic Schools’ Week
Our Catholic schools continually strive to be inclusive places and have an education model that promotes a partnership between individuals, communities and governments based on the principles of equity, needs, access, social justice and religious freedom. Our schools strive for strong partnerships with the Parishes they serve. All families are invited to discover the hope, joy and wonder of our Catholic Schools.

At St Bernard’s we have a holistic approach to educating children to become adults who personify Catholic values and serve their communities.

During Catholic Schools’ Week, our students will be involved in the following:

• Year 6 Leadership Day at St Bernard’s on Monday 6 May
• St Bernard’s Open Day for Kindergarten 2025 Tuesday 7 May
• Feast of the Ascension Thursday 9 May
• Year 5 & 6 visit Carroll College on Friday 10 May to celebrate Carroll Day

Moana The Musical
This year St Bernard’s will be performing a school production titled ‘Moana – The Musical’. All students from Kindergarten through to Year 6 will be involved in the production. All students will prepare for the musical as part of their Performing Arts lessons with Ms Beatty/Ms Guthrie. Over the last two weeks students from Year 5 and Year 6 have been given information on auditioning for the main roles. Auditions are set to take place on Friday 3 May (Term 2 Week 1). The production is set for Term 4. More details will follow as students begin to prepare for their performance.

Carroll College welcomes all Year 6 families to their Year 7 Parent Information Evening on Monday 13 May 2024 at 5.30pm. Enrolments are now open for 2025. I know that Mrs Heffernan is looking forward to personally welcoming you to Carroll College. Please refer to the flyer in the newsletter for further information.

This will be the final newsletter for Term 1. School resumes for Term 2 for all students on Tuesday 30 April. I wish all families a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Kind regards

Johanna Wain
Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Our first term is coming to an end. It has been a highly successful start to the year with many highlights for student learning and sporting endeavours. Our staff have worked hard to ensure that students have had every opportunity to achieve their best at school and we are very grateful to the time and efforts that they have given to support every student. The school holiday period will provide time for students and staff alike to be ready and refreshed for Term 2.

Teaching Comprehension- Novel Study

An important aspect of the English block that takes place in each classroom is reading quality literature to the students. The literature that we introduce the students to is carefully selected to expose students to content and vocabulary to support their reading comprehension and writing development. We know that explicitly teaching students using carefully chosen texts, provides them with background knowledge to be equipped to comprehend a range of factual and narrative texts with independence. This year, classes in Years 3 to 6 in all schools in Canberra Goulburn Catholic Education are following a Reading Spine of carefully selected texts. In Term 2, all classes in Years 3-6 will complete a novel study based on a book written by an Indigenous author aligning with themes of Reconciliation and NAIDOC Week. The following novels have been selected:

Year 3     Yirra and her Deadly Dog, Demon. by Anita Heiss

Year 4     Uncle xBox. by Jared Thomas

Year 5     Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler

              Dirrarn by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler

Year 6    Us Mob Walawurru by Lisa Wilyuka, David Spillman

A goal for all students this year is to read each night. Students take home decodable readers in the younger grades to practice their reading fluency. In addition we would like all children to read novels and factual texts as part of their home reading program from Years 3-6. Borrowing from our excellent school library is encouraged, with children having a weekly opportunity to visit the library with their class. School holiday time might be a good time to develop excellent reading habits.

Online books can be accessed through the SORA app for all students at our school. Instructions can be found below.

Doubt and Disbelief!

Doubt and disbelief touches all our lives, especially when, something in our life or an event occurs that is overwhelming, leaving us speechless and doubting the reality that this something is happening to us or our family and friends. Often it is only in retrospect that we can see this ‘happening’ in a different light.

Andrew Denton, in his ‘Elders’ series, interviewed Fr Des Reid in 2008. Fr Des spoke of being an alcoholic and the doubts and disbeliefs that ‘seized him in this

battle with the drink.’ He states: ‘I never understood why God would allow me to be an alcoholic. I could not see any reason, any good, ever in it. I begged Him – anything else but not alcoholism – any other disease but not this one.’

Denton goes on to ask him: ‘And what do you see as the reason now?’ Fr Des: I see the reason very clearly now ...each Monday people walk in the door and say “Father I need to speak to you  ...they never tell me outright but after awhile I am able to say to them, ‘Well you’re drinking too much, that’s all that’s wrong with you.’ ‘How did you know?’ ‘Because I was there. Because the only qualification that a practising alcoholic will accept for advice is someone who has been through it.’ [pg134]

 He opened their minds to understand

In today’s Gospel [Luke 25:35- 48] Luke gives us one of the accounts of the Risen Lord’s appearance to the Apostles. He appears among them offering them his peace. Yet we hear in the narrative the following reactions: they are in a state of alarm, frightened, and seeing a ghost! Leaving Jesus to ask ‘Why are you so agitated, why are these doubts rising in your hearts?’

Jesus has to allow himself to be touched by them, to eat before their eyes in order to convince them, it is indeed himself, the Crucified One, now restored to life – wholly different but the same.

The joy is overwhelming, they are speechless. Like on the road to Emmaus he explains the mystery of the Cross and opens their minds to the wonders of the Scriptures.

During this week may we grow in our own understanding of what God has allowed in ourlife - our own life challenges-  as we renew our trust in our ‘Good God’s’ plans and guidance for us.  

Marie Weatherall

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our St Bernard’s Student Behaviour Matrix supports and encourages students to develop the key understandings of: Honesty, Empathy, Appreciation, Responsibility and Tolerance - HEART values.

For the past three weeks students and whole class groups have been rewarded for, “wearing their correct school uniform with pride.” Wearing a school uniform creates a sense of community and belonging. This value is found on the matrix under Responsibility.

Congratulations to the following students who have been recognised for wearing their uniform with pride. The following names will go into our Lucky Draw at Friday’s assembly.

KB: Maxwel M, Abigail T, Nathaniel O'S, Louis B, Allirah H, Frankie C and Elijah M

KD: Eden M, Lexie L, Seanna S, Ella J, Lika D and Bentley S

KM: Naiara B, Bethany B, Lourdes N,  Ace W,  Elliot W

1K: Korra T, Jane T, Elijah D

1M: Alexa K, Beau L, Emerson L, Emerson B, Aida C, Valentina D, Lexi B, Miranda S, Emma W, Wyatt H, Harlen R, Kye MN, Oisin M M, Logan H, James G, Daniel M and Rolly S

1R: Harper A x 2, Alvey A x 2, Thomas A x 2, Liv B x 2, Rylan B x 2, Phoebe B x 2,Amelia B x 2, Neve B x 2, Isabella C x 2, Vander C x 2, Kaitlyn C x 2,Jasper G x 2, Hudson L x 2, Violet L x 2, Eleanor P x 2, Hendrix P x 2, Oliva R x 2, Lucas S x 2 & Colby S x 2

2NB: Layla V, Ruby P, Ellie-Rose M, Fraser S, London B, Charli H, Harrison L,

Hudson A, Annabel H and London B

3KT: Harlo P, Charlene, James P, Cooper M, Hendrix C, Gianna L and Bridget K.A

3W: Grace R x 2, Yana K x 2, Anabel D, Indie F, Evie M, Raph C, Sienna K, Mason L, Elsie W, Eve P, Johann D and Bexley B

5C: Willow B, Charlotte F, Chelsea M, Ava J, Georgina W, Molly M, Makenzie W, Reuben S, Taj B, Emie A, Elsie F, Lilly J and Mia B

5M: Ava G, Scarlett W, Taj P, Jace T, Paige C, Ben T, Nate K, Indiana A, Sienna N, Eva H and Holly L

6C: Flynn A, Mia A, John B, Isla B, Romy B, Sienna Bu, Jayden B, Tomas C, Brennan C, Jamian G, Jayden G, Dayton J, Emerson K, Sebastian L, Seth L, Gemma M, Matthew S, Dante T, Indi T, and Annabelle W

6W: Oliver B, Noah B, Maddison B, Sienna B, Amaya B, Didier DC, Jayden E, Annie F, Ava GN, Oscar J, Lucy JP, Gurnoor K, Dusti-Rae L, Tyler McD, Joshua M, Golden P, Logan P, Campbell R, Storm R, Arthur SD, Joshua S, Mia S, Korban S, Isaac V, Seth W and Casey W.

Mini Vinnies         

Congratulations to our Mini Vinnies students who will be presented with their 2024 membership badges at Assembly on Friday 12 April. Assembly begins at 8.45am.

Mini Vinnies is a social justice group who use their Heads, Hearts and Hands to help others and the environment. Mrs Phil Billington who will present the students with their badges has said that being a witness for God to others is a very special gift.

The latest Catholic Voice has a wonderful article about our St Bernard’s Mini Vinnies team.

These Mini Vinnies members have spent their lunch time volunteering to pick up rubbish to help keep our school tidy.

Our Mini Vinnies students led our Project Compassion fundraising this term. With donations from Mission boxes and Class Coin lines we raised a total of $711.90 for Catholic Mission. This money will go towards supporting families in Samoa, Malawi and the Philippines.

As always, we thank you for your generous support of our social justice events which enhance the Religious Life of our school.

First Reconciliation

Reconciliation (officially called the Sacrament of Penance, and also known as Confession) is a Sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy to offer us forgiveness for the times we have sinned and turned away from God.

Every time we sin, we hurt ourselves, other people and God. In Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and the Church. We express our sorrow in a meaningful way, receive the forgiveness of Christ and his Church, make reparation for what we have done, and resolve to do better next time.

Tonight eleven of our Year 3 students will make their First Reconciliation. We acknowledge their parents, our Year 3 teachers Mrs Kenny, Mrs Tyler and Mr Ward for the time they have given to prepare the children for this sacrament.

Congratulations Charlie O, Emily G-B, Natalie N, Alice M-M, Elsie W, Grace R, Indie F, Zaden F, Johann D, Mason L and Raph C on receiving this special sacrament of forgiveness. (Emily missing from photo)

 Confirmation Term 2

If your child has been baptised Catholic, received the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist they are invited to enrol for the sacrament of Confirmation next term.

Please add these key Confirmation dates to your calendar

Enrolment Evening: Thursday 16 May 5.00-6.00pm St Bernard’s church

Commitment Mass: Saturday 25 May 6.00pm or Sunday 26 May 9.00am St Bernard’s church

Confirmation Retreat: Wednesday 12 June Carroll College

Sacrament of Confirmation: Sunday 23 June 9.00am Mass St Bernard’s Church

 Best Wishes Ms Campbell

“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” – Malala Yousafzai

As a staff we gathered on Monday afternoon to celebrate and acknowledge the gift of Claire. She is an exceptional teacher who has been an integral member of our staff family. Claire has generously shared her curriculum knowledge and planning across Key Learning areas for the improvement of student outcomes. Her generosity of time and spirit in attending school and parish events is a testament to her commitment to the St Bernard’s community and her Catholic faith. We wish Claire nothing but happiness as she moves to new and exciting adventures.

 Blessings for a safe and happy holiday

Sharon Beashel

Religious Education Coordinator

Digital Technologies can be incorporated to all aspects of students learning. This term students have used their knowledge and skills in the iCentre in a variety of ways. I am amazed by the creativity and ingenuity of our students.

Highlights of the term include:

Kinder- learning to use a mouse, create pictures and draw images

Year 1 - creating Powerpoints incorporating 3D models of toys from the past

Year 2 - learning to move robots in different directions North, East, South and West

Year 3 - creating our first online game using Scratch block code

Year 4 - designing in Canva and coding using block code to create our own projects

Year 5 - programming Microbit mini microchips using block code

Year 6 - using engineering and design to create prototypes of celectrical circuits using Little Bits

Mrs Holmes

Representative Sport Trials

This week we had Raph C, Beatrix F, Arthur S-D, Brennan C and Campbell R attending Canberra Goulburn Football (Soccer) trials, we look forward to hearing about their experiences.

We also have Arthur S-D competing at the MacKillop Hockey Championships in the Canberra-Goulburn team this week. He will play against students from Catholic Schools across NSW. Congratulations and enjoy the competition, Arthur.

NSWCPS Swimming

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the NSW Primary School Swimming Championships in Sydney. Congratulations to Charlie M, Annabelle T, Addison G and Beatrix F who swam personal bests in the Junior Girls 4x50m Freestyle. I was so proud of our young swimmers Arlo W, Hudson A and Annabelle T who did so well in their first competition in the Olympic pool. As always Beatrix F was fantastic swimming a huge program of events displaying her amazing fitness and sporting talents. Congratulations to all our swimmers and thank you to their families for supporting them throughout the season travelling to and from training and events. We could not have been so successful without your dedication and encouragement.

AFL Gala Day

Congratulations to our Year 3 and 4 students for a fantastic AFL Gala Day on Monday. Their skill development was fantastic. Thank you to our wonderful sports coaches from Carroll College who supported the teachers and students learn to play a full game of AFL. Finn, Zane and Charlie your assistance was outstanding.

Cross Country

Good Luck to our Cross Country team who will compete at Wolumla Recreation Ground on Thursday 2 May

Congratulations to these students and good luck with your training over the holidays.

Upcoming Sport Dates

Thursday 11 April MacKillop Hockey Championship in Goulburn

Wednesday 1 May RESCHEDULED K-2 AFL Skills Day at school

Thursday 2 May Southern Region Cross Country

Friday 10 May Mackillop Rugby League Championships

Next term we will be starting our Athletics season. Our Athletics Carnival will be held on Thursday 27 June. We would love to invite all our families to attend.

Have a wonderful week.

Angela Holmes

St Bernard’s Breakfast Club will be back in Term 2

Wednesday Mornings-8:10 to 8:30 am

Starting Week 2-Wednesday 8 May 2024

Please bring a gold coin donation.