Dear Parents and Carers

Anchored in Hope: Celebrating 30 Years of Guiding Minds and Shaping Futures

On Tuesday we joined with St Mary’s Primary School, Moruya and Carroll College, Broulee for the Combined Catholic Schools’ Mass. This annual Mass for our three K-12 Catholic Pathway Schools was particularly significant as we acknowledged and celebrated 30 years since Carroll College opened. It was wonderful to have participation from students, parents and staff of our three schools. We thank Fr George of the Sacred Heart Parish, Moruya who presided the Mass. Also thank you to the Carroll College staff and student musicians who contributed to make this a very beautiful Mass.

New students

Recently, I have had the pleasure of welcoming new students to our school. They are as follows:

• Anoop K (KTR)
• Casey O (Year 2N)
• John (KTR) and Isabel B (Year 2BM)
• Nehu (Year 5J) and Neil M (Year 5KT)
• Shiloh W (Year 1M)

We hope that you are settling well and already feeling part of our school community.

Staffing Appointment

We are very pleased to let you know that Mrs Shanon Small will join our staff in Term 2 working in a Classroom Support role. Welcome Shanon!

Catholic Schools Week

In Week 2 of Term 2 we will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week. This marks the beginning of our enrolment period. On Tuesday 6 May, we will hold our Open Day for prospective students and their parents from 9.30am- 12.00pm for Kindergarten 2026. The morning is an opportunity for preschoolers and their parents to experience life at our school, with a welcome in our hall and rotation activities led by members of our staff, followed by a sausage sizzle lunch.

If you know of anyone who might be considering where to send their child for primary school, please mention our Open Day. Enrolment packs for 2026 can be accessed online using the following link: https://stbernardsbb.nsw.edu.au/thinking-of-enrolling

Lifelong Benefits of Catholic Schooling

Parent representative of our School Community Council and board member of Catholic School Parents of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Mr Paul Penberthy, recently shared information about research conducted in Australia at the Victoria University, analysing the post-school outcomes of people who attend Catholic Schools. A large representative sample of data from participants was tracked over the course of their lifetime, enabling unique analysis of interactions between different personal characteristics and changes in circumstances over time. Economic wellbeing, personal health and wellbeing, labour market dynamics, family life, community participation was analysed, with the average effect of the school sector that a person attended, determined using the HILDA Survey. Data from the survey indicated that those who attended Catholic schools were more likely to be employed, earn higher wages, were more likely to be working in an industry or sector that directly benefits the public, have higher life satisfaction, have better general health and are more likely to donate to charity.

‘By educating the whole person, Catholic schools support the development of well-rounded individuals who will succeed and be happy and confident in the world during and after their schooling, whatever path they choose through life’.

Professor Elizabeth Labone

Chief Executive Officer

Canteen Assistant

We are currently advertising for a Canteen Assistant to support our Canteen Manager Samantha Whyte on Fridays. If you or anyone you know might be interested in applying for this role, applications can be submitted using the following link:

https://careers.cg.catholic.edu.au/en/job/505213/canteen-assistant-st-bernards-primary-school-batemans-bay-nsw

ANZAC Day Services

On Friday 25 April, we will be attending the local ANZAC Day services. ANZAC Day falls on the last Friday of the school holidays. We very much encourage all students to join us in representing our school at one of the local marches. Full summer uniform should be worn. Many of our students gather at the Soldiers Club carpark Batemans Bay for the march and service to follow at the Cenotaph in Batemans Bay. A number of staff will be in attendance. Please refer to the email sent yesterday for further details.

Mother's Day- SAVE THE DATE

On Friday 9 May, we will be celebrating Mother’s Day by opening our classrooms from 7:45am to welcome mothers and those who care for our children like a mother.

A breakfast of pastries, tea and coffee will be provided for mothers to enjoy.

Following this, our Year 5 students will lead a Mother’s Day Liturgy in the hall, beginning at 8:45am, and we warmly invite you to attend.

We look forward to celebrating this special occasion with you.

Da Vinci Decathlon

We have had a very dedicated group of Year 6 students preparing for the Da Vinci Decathlon competition under the guidance of Mrs Rebecca Keough. The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition designed to challenge and stimulate the minds of school students. Students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics, code breaking, art and poetry, science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy.

Our team of ten have been particularly dedicated in the practice sessions. Eight students from the ten will be participating in this competition on Wednesday 30 April in Week One of next term at the Canberra Grammar School in Canberra. 

Congratulations to you all for being selected in our school team:

• Holly B
• Mia B
• Ava G
• Lily G
• Ava J
• Rowan L
• Molly M
• Evie P
• Reeve T
• Makenzie W

Easter- Stations of the Cross

Next Thursday 10 April all students will be contributing to the retelling of the final days of Jesus' life with the Stations of the Cross. We will begin at 8.45am in the hall. You are very welcome to join us.

Pupil Free Day

Please note that Friday, 11 April is a Pupil Free Day.

School will resume for Term 2 on Tuesday, 29 April.

I hope you have a restful holiday break and enjoy a wonderful Easter with your families.

Kind regards,

Karen Hadley

Principal

First Reconciliation 

We warmly welcome our families and children who are celebrating their First Reconciliation on Tuesday, 8 April at 5pm at St Bernard's Church.

Please arrive a few minutes early so you can find your allocated seats.

Teachers will be available for support.

For those families who have not yet returned your booklets, please have them in by the end of this week so that Fr Rex can read them and then return then to you on Tuesday.

May this sacrament be a moment of grace that allows you to grow in love, kindness and compassion each day.

Jesus said, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' (John 14:6)

Easter Story: Retold by the Students of St Bernard’s Primary School

Ms Guthrie has been working incredibly hard during Performing Arts lessons on having each class prepare a small part of our combined retelling of the Story of Jesus. 

Each class will sing a song and be involved in retelling the story of Jesus’s last 7 days on earth. The students are to be commended on their participation and preparation for this special retell.

We would warmly welcome all families and friends of St Bernard’s Primary School to join us next Thursday for this special event.

The_Easter_Story_retelling_2025.pdf

The_Easter_Story_retelling_2025 _pdf 122.04 KB

Combined Schools Mass 2025

We celebrated Mass at Carroll College on Tuesday. This annual event is a significant part of our Pathway relationship with Carroll College and St Mary’s Primary School in Moruya. This is where we come together as a faith community to celebrate what we have accomplished and to pray to the Lord for his intercession as we proceed into the year before us.

Father George Azhakath proceeded over the Mass, with students and staff from the College involved in a variety of roles. Special mention must be made of the music provided by Mrs Maher, Mrs Lomax, and the Carroll College Music students. 

The students of St Bernards Primary School are to be commended on their reverent and respectful participation in the Mass. A special thank you to Brooke who was our Kindergarten parent representative, Inalah and Janahli (Kindergarten), Scarlett, Georgina, Rowan, Mackenzie, Ava and Evie (Year 6), and Alyssa and Eva (Year 5) for representing our school.

After the Mass, we joined together to share morning tea on the grounds at Carroll College. The sun was shining upon us, and we all enjoyed a treat of hot cross buns, a popper and an Easter egg.

This event was especially significant for the team at Carroll College, with them celebrating 30 years of education in the Eurobodalla region. I am certain that you will join with us as we congratulate Mrs Jacqui Heffernan and the team at the College for their devotion and dedication towards educational excellence for all students.

I would like to thank Mrs Anna Smart, Mrs Belle Barling, Mrs Jess Afflick and Mrs Carla Durnan for their collaboration during this event. It is when we work together as schools, that we can make a bigger difference for our students through building community.

Reconciliation: Sacrament

During Week 8, all of the students participating in the sacrament of Reconciliation travelled to Carroll College for a retreat day. 

Mrs Belle Barling and the Youth Ministry Team from Carroll College facilitated the day, where the students broke into groups and participated in a variety of activities.

The day commenced with some icebreaker activities, and the students then looked at a variety of scripture passages linked to the sacrament. We were treated to a delicious lunch and then joined in prayer to finish the day.

The students had the opportunity to learn from older students and collaborate with peers from St Mary’s Primary School. All students enjoyed the day, and we would like to extend our thanks to the Carroll College team for hosting us.

Last Thursday, myself, Mr Ward, Mrs Coulter and Father Rex gathered with the families receiving Reconciliation to reflect upon the journey so far, and then to contemplate the road to come. Father Rex invited the students to participate in a roleplay to enable them to experience what the process of Reconciliation would look like and sound like. We then came together to share pizza and chat about the process to date.

The students have been preparing at home through the completion of a work booklet, they have participated in a retreat day at Carroll College and Mrs Coulter and Mr Ward have guided the students within the classroom.

We look forward to celebrating with the students who will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation next Tuesday at 5:00 pm at St Bernard’s Parish Church.

Father Rex Curry and Father Eden Langlands will preside over the First Reconciliation, and we would warmly welcome you to join us for this special event. 

As part of the Lenten season, Father Rex has generously offered for anyone in the Parish to come along and receive Reconciliation. This invitation is both generous and an opportunity for all of us to gather as a faith community to reconcile with the Lord during the season of Lent. We hope to see you there.

Easter Event - St Bernard’s Parish 

St Bernard’s Parish is hoping to make this year’s Easter celebration special, and as such, they are inviting the community to get involved.

During Mass, Father Rex has extended an invitation to the Parish Community to let the organising committee know which dates over Easter they might be available to support with the event. The organising committee will then be in touch.

If you are interested, please contact the Parish on (02) 4472 4153.

Begin With The Heart

Congratulations to 6M who won the Begin With The Heart class challenge for Week 8. The class challenge was to follow the value: I use my manners and actions to show appreciation to others.

Our students will now focus on a respect value for the coming two weeks: I care for the environment. Students will be rewarded hearts in their classroom heart jar whenever they demonstrate this value. 

We also have a new Begin With The Heart Mascot. Unfortunately, this adorable creature is without a name. Classes have been challenged to come up with a name for the fluffy koala. We cannot wait to see what fun and exciting names the students will come up with and we hope to reveal this information at the end of this week!

Dear Parents and Carers, 

It has been a busy and exciting fortnight at St Bernard’s School, with students participating in a variety of special events. These opportunities are a vital part of our school culture, offering students the chance to shine in different areas. Some highlights include sporting competitions and trials, STEM enrichment activities, and excursions to our local beach environment. A big thank you to our dedicated staff and parents for making these enriching experiences possible for our students.

What is bullying? 

It’s crucial that the adults supporting students in social matters are equipped with the knowledge and tools to help their child navigate and resolve social challenges.

At St Bernard’s School, we take bullying very seriously. We are committed to continuously deepening our understanding of student social concerns and integrating this knowledge into our school environment. This is reflected in our health programs, peer support initiatives, and behaviour management policy.

We firmly believe that working together as a team, family and school, is key to providing the support our students need. The following information from the NSW Education website offers valuable insights into addressing bullying.

Bullying has three key features. 

It:

• involves a misuse of power in a relationship  
• is ongoing and repeated, and 
• involves behaviours that can cause harm. 

Bullying can also occur online. This is known as cyberbullying, which is using technology such as the internet or mobile devices to bully someone. It can include sending abusive texts and emails, posting hurtful messages and putting inappropriate comments on pictures of others. 

Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools, whatever the reason. Schools are committed to working with parents, staff and students to prevent bullying and respond quickly and effectively if it does occur. What can you do if your child has been bullied? 

• Listen calmly and get the full story. Your child needs to know that they are being heard. Their feelings matter and their concerns should be taken seriously. 
• Encourage your child to talk about what happened. Explain to your child that reporting the bullying is okay. 
• After listening to their concerns, ask questions to get more details if needed: who, what, where, when. 
• Reassure your child that they are not to blame. Children may blame themselves and this can make them feel even worse. 
• Say supportive things like, ‘That sounds really hard to deal with’, or ‘I’m so glad you told me. You should feel safe at school’. 
• Ask your child what they want to do – and what they want you to do. It is important to help your child to find their own solution as this will help them feel that they have some control over the situation. 

If your child is not in any immediate danger and they feel confident, they could try these strategies: 

• Ignore the bullying.
• Turn their back and walk away. 
• Act unimpressed or pretend they don’t care. 
• Say “No” or “Just stop!” firmly. 

If the bullying happened at school, support your child to tell a teacher. If your child wants to talk to someone other than the school or you think added support would help, you could tell them to go to the Kids Helpline website. They can also call for free on 1800 55 1800.

https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/schooling-initiatives/anti-bullying/parents-and-carers/my-child-is-being-bullied

School Photos – Friday 4 April

School photos will be taken tomorrow, Friday 4 April. Both individual and class photos will be captured throughout the day, with sibling photos scheduled during recess and lunch breaks. To order photos, please follow the instructions on the order envelope. Kindly ensure the completed envelope is returned with your child on Friday.

We ask that all students wear their full summer school uniform for the photo day.

As Term One draws to a close, I would like to express my gratitude for your continued support and for entrusting us with the care and education of your children.

We hope you enjoy the upcoming school holidays! Whether you’re embarking on an adventure or spending time with loved ones, we wish you safe travels. School holidays offer a wonderful opportunity for students to reset, refresh, and make lasting memories with those special to them.

Kind regards

Jeni McCarthy

Assistant Principal

It has been such an exciting start to the school year for our youngest school members! Kindergarten students have settled well into life at ‘big school’, making new friends and embracing all learning opportunities. 

Students are highly engaged during ‘Let’s Decode’ phonics lessons, and they approach ‘Daily Review’ in both English and Maths with enthusiasm! Students particularly enjoy playing ‘sentence hoop jumping’ in English and counting forwards and backwards from a given number in Maths. 

Students enjoy the opportunity to share their whiteboard work with peers and teachers during Explicit Instruction lessons, using the ‘chin it’ and ‘turn and talk’ strategies to showcase their work. Kindergarten teachers have been so impressed by the way students have adapted to these classroom routines.

Mondays and Thursdays are always fun in Kindergarten, as students venture around the school to attend Science, Information Technology, Performing Arts and Physical Education lessons with specialist teachers. Students also enjoy their weekly visit to the library with Mrs Hopman, where they choose their own book to borrow and participate in a class Read Aloud. We are also very fortunate to have Riley Nolan (Aboriginal Language/ Cultural Support Worker) sharing his cultural knowledge and supporting students in Kindergarten every Monday and Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday, Kindergarten students enjoyed their first adventure to Carroll College for our Combined Schools Mass. We were very impressed by the reverence and participation the students demonstrated during this time. The bus trip to Carroll College was certainly a highlight for our Kindergarten Students. 

Of all the exciting events to date, nothing has compared to the joy of meeting Kindergarten’s Year 5 buddies! Kindergarten students are so proud to have made friends with an older student. They have attended Mass, a shared reading session and enjoyed a special lunchtime picnic with their buddies. The classes have plans for many more fun times together in the near future. 

Kindergarten students are to be commended on the levels of growth and achievement they have already demonstrated during this term at St Bernard’s. It is such a joy to see the happiness and pride on the children’s faces as they master new skills and form new friendships. The staff and students of St Bernard’s feel very privileged to welcome these amazing little people into our school community and can’t wait to see what the next weeks and months will bring!

Mrs Therese Armstrong & Mrs Sarah Davis

Kindergarten Teachers 

Cross Country

Our St Bernard’s School Cross Country was run on Friday 21 March, thankfully the rain clouds parted and it was a fantastic fun day with the grounds looking immaculate. Thank you to all the parents who came to support our students, your encouragement is always greatly appreciated. Thank you also to Mr Ward, Mr Whiteford and our dedicated staff for all their help, I could not have done it without their support.

Our community were very impressed with the leadership, encouragement and sportsmanship shown by our senior students. Congratulations to the students who completed the course. At St Bernard’s our motto in sport is try our best, have fun and encourage others and that was very evident with those who participated.

Listed below are the top five places:

12/13 year Girls Race – 3km Lilly G, Molly M, Indiana A, Mia B, Holly L.

12/13 year Boys Race – 3km Harper B, Ethan S, Sion D, Reuben S, Finn H.

11 year Girls Race - 3km Beatrix F, Charlie M, Brooklen S, Eva C, Addison G.

11 year Boys Race – 3km Noah S, Quinn S, Lucas V-D, Ben F, Xavier L.

10 year Girls Race – 2km Astrid B, Ivy G, Winter W, Kate W, Charlene M.

10 year Boys Race – 2km Raph C, Lehan D, Cooper M, James P, Will O'C.

8 and 9 year Girls Race -2km Juliette D-C, Alyssa O'B, Sienna K, Olivia R, Sietta G.

8 and 9 year Boys Race -2km Van C, Jacob B, Jordan L, James W, Mace M.

Year 2 Girls Race - Kaitlyn D, Jane T, Georgia N, Valentina D, Bridey C.

Year 2 Boys Race - Nalu G, Lucas F, Rhylan B, Daniel M, Elijah D.

Year 1 Girls Race - Indi L, Laci M, Frankie C, Shiloh W, Frankie H.

Year 1 Boys Race - Louis B, Elliot W, Lynkin H, Javier D, Ollie L, Lennox B.

Kindergarten Girls - Lily B, Marese T, Amara G, Gabrielle A, Mali F, Koa S.

Kindergarten Boys - Taj M, Noah C-L, Vance B, Sabre P, Darcy L.

A large team of students from the 8-13 year races have been selected in the St Bernard’s team who will compete at the Southern Region Championships at the Wolumla recreation ground on Friday 2 May. Congratulations to these students and good luck with your training over the Easter break.

 The winning house team was Clairvaux, over Lourdes, MacKillop and Tenison. Congratulations to everyone in our house points competition!

Archdiocesan Netball and Rugby League trials

Congratulations to Charlie M, Beatrix F and Georgina W who attended the Archdiocesan Netball trials on Thursday 27 March. The girls were asked to play multiple games in various positions and were outstanding athletes. Beatrix and Georgina have been selected to attend the MacKillop trials next term to compete against Netball teams from Catholic schools across NSW.

On Monday 31 March Levi O, Taj P, Ollie L and Jace T played in the 12yrs Rugby League competition. It was a fun but very tiring day and the boys are to be congratulated on the high level of skill they displayed throughout the day. Unfortunately, Levi sustained an injury and was not able to continue playing. Taj P, Ollie L and Jace T played extremely well the selectors commenting on their tackling and ball movement. They have now been chosen to play Rugby League for Canberra-Goulburn at the MacKillop trials on Friday 9 May. A fantastic achievement to be playing against the best in their age group. Thank you to the wonderful families who supported the students throughout the day.

NSWCPS Swimming Championships

On Wednesday 2 April we had nine outstanding swimmers competing at the NSW Combined Primary Schools Swimming Championships. Annabelle T, Beatrix F and Taj P competed in their individual events racing to the best of their ability. Then at the end of the day our two relay teams,Junior Girls Astrid B, Cali Z, Winter W and Annabelle T and Senior Boys Ethan S, Harlo P, Isaac R and Taj P, swam their hearts out. Our school, families and teachers are so proud of their achievements. Thank you to the wonderful team of supporters who travelled to Sydney to cheer the students on, we all appreciated your efforts.

 Upcoming Sport Dates:

Monday 7 April Canberra Goulburn Soccer trials

Friday 2 May Southern Region Cross Country

Tuesday 6- Friday 9 May PSSA Tennis Championships

Friday 9 May MacKillop Netball and Rugby League Championships

Tuesday 13 May Canberra Goulburn Touch Football trials

Friday 16 May Canberra Goulburn Cross Country Championships

Next term we will be starting our Athletics season. Our Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday 13 June. We would love to invite all our families to attend.

 Have a wonderful week,

  Angela Holmes

Helping Children to Identify and Express Feelings  

Sometimes children have big feelings, and it is difficult to know how to respond as parents. Behaviour is communication, and big feelings can often lie underneath the surface of big behaviours.  As a parent you can play a powerful and valuable role in developing your child’s emotional skills and helping them to learn healthy ways to express their feelings. Children who learn to cope with and express their feelings are more likely to have good mental health and wellbeing, be more resilient and able to cope with change and setbacks, display less behavioural problems, become more confident and have a positive sense of self.  

 Below are some strategies from the Kids Helpline that can enhance emotional literacy skills.

• Tune into cues - Sometimes feelings can be hard to identify. Tune into your child’s feelings by looking at their body language, listening to what they’re saying and observing their behaviour. Figuring out what they feel and why means you can help them identify, express and manage those feelings better. 
• Behind every behaviour is a feeling - Try to understand the meaning and feeling behind your child’s behaviour. You can help your child find other ways to express that feeling once you know what is driving the behaviour. 
• Name the feeling - Help your child name their feelings by giving them a label. Naming feelings is the first step in helping kids learn to identify them. It allows your child to develop an emotional vocabulary so they can talk about their feelings. 
• Identify feelings in others – Provide lots of opportunities to identify feelings in others. You might ask your child to reflect on what someone else may be feeling. Cartoons or picture books are a great way discuss feelings and helps kids learn how to recognise other people’s feelings through facial expressions. 
• Be a role model - Kids learn about feelings and how to express them appropriately by watching others. Show your child how you’re feeling about different situations and how you deal with those feelings. 
• Encourage with praise - Praise your child when they talk about their feelings or express them in an appropriate way. Not only does it show that feelings are normal but it reinforces the behaviour, so they are likely to repeat it. 
• Listen to your child’s feelings - Stay present and resist the urge to make your child’s bad feelings go away. Support your child to identify and express their feelings so they are heard. When feelings are minimised or dismissed, they will often be expressed in unhealthy ways. 

For more information, you can visit the Kids Helpline website for additional resources. 

https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/helping-kids-identify-and-express-feelings

Lastly, I’d like to share that I’m planning to run an emotional regulation group for students in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 in Term 2, 2025.  If you think your child may be a good fit for this group, please reach me at damian.gerber@mccg.org.au for further information.

I would like to wish all St Bernard’s families a safe, happy and rejuvenating Easter break.

Warm regards,

Damian Gerber

Student & Family Counsellor, St Bernard’s Primary School

Term 1

Week 8 Class Awards

Presented: Friday 28 March 2025.

Well done to all!

Happy Birthday to all of our students that have or will celebrate their birthdays in April.

We hope you enjoy your special day.