Dear Parents and Carers

It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through Term 2. The students remain highly engaged in their learning and are enjoying a variety of activities that continue to deepen and enrich their school experience.

Our Year 6 students are currently preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, a significant milestone in their faith journey, as they renew their commitment to the Church and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many students made this commitment last weekend during the Saturday evening and Sunday morning Parish Masses.

Fr Rex shared a thoughtful message about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how these gifts can transform our lives. When we live by these gifts, they become evident in our thoughts, words, and actions, helping us to follow Jesus more closely. In doing so, we not only grow in our own faith but also bear witness to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

As our Year 6 students prepare for this important step, we invite you to keep them in your prayers. All families are warmly welcome to attend the Confirmation Mass, which will be presided over by Archbishop Christopher Prowse on Saturday 28 June at 5:00 pm. (Week 9)

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Rex Curry for the time and support he gave to our school community over the past 5 months as acting Parish Priest. We are very grateful to you.

Fr Joshy Kurien will begin his role as Parish Priest in the coming days. We very much look forward to welcoming him to our community.

National Reconciliation Week

We are very fortunate to have Aboriginal Education Worker, Mr Riley Nolan, working with students each Monday and Tuesday. Riley also supports St Mary’s Moruya and Carroll College Broulee, providing cultural perspectives and teaching the Dhurga language, strengthening our K–12 Pathway initiative.

This week, Riley has been engaging with each class to support learning around this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, Bridging Now to Next, through art, storytelling, and music.

Thank you to our students and family members who joined together on Monday with our wider community to participate in the Sorry Day Bridge Walk, acknowledging the history and resilience of the Stolen Generations.

In the coming weeks, Mr Nolan and Mr Maynard will meet with all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Years 1–6, along with parents and teachers, to set Cultural Learning Goals. This is a highly valued process, and we know that students benefit greatly from these meaningful conversations and connections.

Reporting and Parent Teacher Meetings

Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn has communicated to schools regarding
reporting to parents and carers. CE has advised schools that general comments will
not be required on Semester 1, 2025 reports, but to prioritise Parent/Teacher
Conferences for every family. Parent/Teacher meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, their strengths, challenges and future areas of focus.

A Semester Report will be sent home as in previous Semesters, providing A-E grading, work habits and attendance information. We would encourage all parents/guardians to engage regularly with their child/ren’s learning, connecting with their class teacher/s regularly to discuss learning progress.

Semester 1 Reports will be available via Compass on Thursday, 26 June (Week 9) and Parent Teacher Conferences will take place the following week

Overnight excursions

Next Wednesday, 4 June, the Year 6 students will depart for their two-night excursion to Berry Sport and Recreation Camp. During their stay, they will participate in a variety of outdoor activities alongside their classmates. The students will be accompanied by their teachers, Mrs Elizabeth Coggan, Mr Brendan Maynard, Mr Tony Ward and myself. I am confident this will be a memorable and enriching experience for our Year 6 students.

Looking ahead, Year 5 will attend the Birrigai Camp in Tharwa, ACT, from 30 July to 1 August for a two-night stay, while Year 4 will enjoy a one-night excursion to Canberra on 11 and 12 August.

These overnight excursions provide valuable opportunities for students to develop independence, build stronger peer relationships, and engage in hands-on learning experiences beyond the classroom.

I am currently attending the Principal's Siloam retreat at Galong, and Ms Jeni McCarthy is acting Principal until my return tomorrow. Jeni will also be acting Principal next Wednesday 4 June- Friday 6 June when I am at the Year 6 camp.

Wishing you a relaxing weekend,

Warm regards,

Karen

Mrs Karen Hadley

Principal

The Value of Goodbyes

Goodbyes, especially important or intense ones, cause us to face the ultimate questions of life: Why suffering? Where am I headed? What are my most cherished values? Goodbyes create a certain space in us where we allow ourselves 

room to look at life in perspective and to gradually discover answers to some questions about life. We also learn a lot about significant others in our life: we learn who is willing to walk the long road with us, whose heart also welcomes us no matter what, who loves enough to stand with us in good times and in bad. Goodbyes, when reflected upon in faith, can draw us to a greater reliance upon the God of Love.

In today’s Readings we hear this strange unbelievable story of Jesus leaving his disciples, saying ‘goodbye’. It seems like their source of life has left them – their teacher, comforter, their ‘home’ was gone. We all can relate to the feeling of being left alone and asking ‘where do we go from here?’ These first disciples had to ‘let go’ physically of Jesus at his ascension.

A new beginning in our relationship with God.

One of the first things that strikes you about this particular ‘goodbye’ is that it isn’t an unhappy one. What do the disciples do once Jesus had said his goodbye and is gone? They go back to the temple joyous in their praise of God for this ascension is less about endings and goodbyes but more about beginnings.

It seems that Jesus had to leave his disciples if they were to get on with the task of preaching, teaching, healing and establishing the church. They probably felt inadequate, yet they got on with their lives, doing what he had charged them to do.

What these early disciple discovered from Ascension Day on was that Christ was within them; His presence was there to be found in them and in the world. They were now the Body of Christ, and they would find him and know him present again within their experiences, as they left their comfort zone and went to Samaria and to the ends of the earth - that’s where they would find and see him. In all our life experiences I believe that God is there with us, within us and in the world ready to do more with our lives than we ever thought possible. 

Do we believe this?                                                                   

Marie Weatherall   

Sacramental News: Confirmation Commitment Mass

We gathered at St Bernard’s Parish Church on Saturday and Sunday to witness the students who are participating in the Sacrament of Confirmation participate in their Rite of Commitment.

Thank you to Father Rex Curry for welcoming the families and ensuring that the Mass was memorable for the students.

Key Dates: 

Mini Vinnies News - Winter Appeal

We are very proud of our Mini Vinnies team for 2025. They have been working very hard to think of ways to support other people in our community.

Our fundraising focus for Term 2 is the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal.

You can purchase a student-designed ‘snowflake’ on QKR for $5, $10 or $20, and these funds will be used to purchase items to support families during the winter months. Items might include warm blankets and gloves. 

As part of our fundraising efforts, we are inviting students to come to school on Tuesday 3 June with ‘crazy’ hair that is inspired by our winter theme and to bring a gold coin donation.

If you could support your child to choose a hairstyle that is appropriate and in the spirit of raising awareness around those people who need our support during these winter months. 

This may include wearing a hair accessory, a hat, a beanie or adding a little bit of temporary coloured hair spray. Please be mindful that the students will be required to be able to wash out or remove the ‘fun’ hairstyle or colour ready for school on Wednesday. Prizes for the best hair will be awarded.

We will also have a cupcake stall on this day. Cupcakes will be $1:00 each.

Contact Mrs Keough if you have any questions.

Begin With The Heart

Congratulations to 4LH who won the Begin With The Heart class challenge for Week 5. The class challenge was to follow the HEART Honesty: I do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Our students will now focus on an empathy value for the coming two weeks: I treat others how I would like to be treated. Students will be rewarded with hearts in their classroom heart jar whenever they demonstrate this value.

Kind regards,

Beck

Mrs Rebecca Keough

Religious Education Coordinator

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Morning Supervision and School Punctuality

The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority. We would like to remind all families that morning supervision begins at 8:15am. This is when staff are officially on duty and playground supervision is provided. To ensure your child is safely supervised, please avoid dropping them off before this time. For families requiring earlier supervision, OOSH services are available. Please contact OOSH directly on 0448 137 753 for more information.

From Monday to Thursday, students in Years 1 to 6 begin their day with the Spelling Mastery program. This structured and research-based program is part of our Explicit Teaching approach, helping students build strong, effective spelling skills — a key foundation for reading and writing success.

To get the most out of this valuable learning time, it’s important that students arrive on time and ready to start learning by 8:45am. Consistent attendance ensures students keep pace with the program and build their skills with confidence. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning by promoting punctuality and routine.

Winter Uniform

Our school uniform is more than just clothing — it represents our shared values, pride in our school community, and a commitment to creating an inclusive and focused learning environment.

We kindly remind all families of the importance of supporting our school uniform policy. When students wear the correct uniform each day, they not only show respect for the school, but also foster a sense of belonging and equality among their peers. It helps minimise distractions, reduces peer pressure related to clothing choices, and allows students to focus on what matters most — learning.

All students are required to wear their winter uniform from Tuesday 10 June (Week 7) after the long weekend. The winter uniform is as follows:

A reminder that 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 is to be clean, neat and tidy at all times and 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, patterned shaving and coloured hair dyes are not permitted as hairstyles. The wearing of make–up and/or nail polish is not permitted. Thank you for supporting

Your support in ensuring your child wears the correct uniform each day is greatly valued and contributes to a positive school culture.

Fidget Tools in the Classroom.

Fidget tools are self-regulation devices that can increase a person’s focus and attention. These tools can provide a calming effect for a student who is feeling dysregulated. Fidget tools are items that focus on one or more of a person's natural senses to help bring them a level of comfort. An effective fidget can be anything that provides discreet movement opportunities for your child without distracting those around them.

At St Bernard’s, we understand that some students benefit from using fidget tools to help them stay focused and engaged in their learning. To ensure fidgets are used effectively and respectfully, we have clear guidelines in place:

• Fidgets are learning tools, not toys. They are used to help students concentrate — not to distract themselves or others.
  
  
• Fidgets must be quiet and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand.
  
  
• Only one fidget is allowed per student in the classroom.
  
  
• Not every student needs a fidget, and using one is not automatically granted to all.
  
  
• The teacher has the final say on whether a fidget can be used and if it is being used appropriately.
  
  

Thank you for supporting our efforts to create a focused and respectful learning environment for all students.

Kind regards,

Jeni

Ms Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal

Open Day

During Catholic Schools Week, we joined prospective 2026 Kindergarten students and their families to showcase our amazing school. Our very responsible Kindergarteners helped their new friends through a variety of stations, including Sport, Music, Literacy, Science and Technology rotations. 

Mother's Day Morning 

We had a lovely morning in May welcoming our Mums, Grandmas and special women to our Mother’s Day Pamper Palace. With coffee and pastry in hand our visitors enjoyed a pamper session fit for a queen. Nails were painted, hands massaged, hair styled and for the brave, makeup applied! It was a lovely opportunity for Kindergarten students to show their immense appreciation for the wonderful women in their lives. We hope all the mothers and motherlike figures were spoiled.

Teddy Bear's Picnic 

It was wonderful to see the excitement of the students as they participated in the Teddy Bear’s Picnic on last Tuesday at St Mary’s. This was a great example of our connection with our Pathway schools, as St Bernard’s Kindergarten students met up with students from St Mary’s for a fun-filled day. We are very grateful to the Carroll College SRC students for the leadership and engagement they displayed whilst participating in activities. From dancing to decorating and everything in between, there was something for everyone and every bear to enjoy. The day was finished off with a lovely sausage sizzle, healthy snacks and of course some tiny teddies before our bus ride back to school. It was a bear-y good day!

Buddies

At St Bernard’s, one of the important ways we build community relationships is through our ‘Buddies’ program. Each Kindergarten student has a ‘buddy’ in Year 5. These very special friends support our newest school members as they settle into life at big school. So far this year, our amazing Year 5 buddies have joined us for picnic lunches, school masses, craft and reading activities. Kindergarten students always look forward to our time with our buddies. Thank you, buddies, for making our start to big school such a positive experience!

There is never a dull moment in Kindergarten at St Bernard’s, and the remainder of Term 2 will be no exception to this! We are looking forward to participating in our first school Athletics Carnival, crazy hair day and Pyjama Day later this term. 

Mrs Sarah Davis, Mrs Therese Armstrong & Mrs Brianna Rosenbaum

Kindergarten Teachers 

Canberra Goulburn Cross Country

Last week Lilly G, Beatrix F, Charlie M, Brooklen S, Noah S, Astrid B, Winter W, Charlene M, Raph C, Lehan D, Juliette D'C, Van C and Jordan L competed at the Canberra Goulburn Cross Country Championships at Mount Stromlo. A wonderful achievement to be selected to compete at this event. Beatrix F and Van C were first and awarded Canberra Goulburn Champions. Jordan L finished fourth and these three students will now compete at the NSW Combined Primary Schools Championships on Wednesday 11 June. Congratulations to all these athletes on their very quick times.

Rugby League Gala Day

On Wednesday 28 May Year 3-6 attended the Weyman Cross NRL Gala Day in Moruya. It was a superb day with three tackle teams and eleven touch teams competing. I am very proud of the positive comments and outstanding effort displayed. It is great to see so many students choosing such healthy lifestyle choices.

MacKillop Soccer Championships

On Friday 30 May Lucas V'D and Beatrix F will compete at the MacKillop Soccer Championships in Sydney. They will play the best players from Catholic Schools across NSW. We wish you well and hope you enjoy this wonderful experience.

Upcoming Sport Dates

Friday 30 May MacKillop Soccer Championships

Tuesday 3 June Canberra Goulburn Rugby Union trials

Wednesday 11 June NSWCPS Cross Country

Friday 13 June St Bernard’s Athletics Carnival

At school we have finished high jump practice and are developing our shot put technique preparing for our Athletics Carnival.

Have a wonderful week,

  Mrs Angela Holmes

It's important to note there are also some situations in which children are genuinely not responsible for the problems they are dealing with. For example, a parent or sibling with anger management problems, taking out their anger on a child as a scapegoat, is not the kind of situation where it would be fair to place any blame on a child for being upset.

However, in other cases, we can see that a child’s attitude could be contributing to the problem. The statement, “My friends are so mean to me” may be hiding a deeper problem: the child has not yet learned how to communicate feelings to friends, how to be respectful, supportive and encouraging of others, or how to make healthy friendship choices. In such cases, teaching children how to first examine how they are contributing to the problem is doing them a massive favour for the rest of their life. This is a lifelong skill that can benefit all their relationships.

How do we go about this? I like the suggestions of child psychotherapists Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. They put it like this:

Your child’s attitude toward her family, for example, may be that “the family exists to meet my needs” rather than “I’m on a team in which everybody’s needs are as important as mine.” Show her how her attitude hurts her and others. Teach her the value of being in community and how her needs can be met there.

Cloud and Townsend use Jesus’ teaching about the log and the speck to provide a framework for curious questions we can ask of children, whenever they come to us with the sort of complaint that deflects from their contribution to the problem. The basic thrust of this principle is: before you look at another person’s speck, take the log out of your own eye (Matthew 7:1 –5).

Cloud & Townsend (1998) give the following four examples of questions we can
encourage kids to ask themselves:

Reference: Cloud, H. & Townsend, J. (1998). Boundaries with Kids. Zondervan Publishing, p. 90.

Warmly,
Damian Gerber
Student & Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School

Term 2

Week 4 Class Awards

Presented: Friday 23 May 2025.

Well done to all!