Dear Parents and Carers

I trust that you’re having an enjoyable week. As the school year progresses, we all find ourselves in the midst of the busyness that life brings. Whether it's managing homework, attending extracurricular activities, or juggling work and family commitments, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the pace of daily life. In these busy times, it's important to remember that we are all in this together. Our school community is a network of support, and we're here to help each other navigate the challenges and joys of life. Last week, we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. The Assumption of Mary, when she was taken up body and soul into heaven, is not just a celebration of Mary's unique role in our faith, but also a moment to think about the importance of family in our lives. I believe Mary’s Assumption reminds us of the devotion and love we can experience in our families. Grandparents Day was another example of this. When life becomes busy, we are all here to support each other. As Fr Loi mentioned at Mass, when we are feeling challenged or unsure, we can pray to  Mary for her help. Also, Please know at St Bernard’s, our door is always open. 

It’s Book Week!
Join us for our annual Book Week parade tomorrow morning at 9.00am in the hall. The theme this year is Reading is Magic! Children are invited to dress as their favourite book character. Thank you in advance to our SRC, Mrs Keough, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Kenny for leading our Book Parade. I know it will be a wonderful day.

Archdiocesan Athletics Carnival
Next Tuesday, twenty-eight of our students are travelling to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra for the Archdiocesan Athletics Carnival. Congratulations to all our competitors for reaching this level. We are very proud of you and will be cheering you on from school.

Staffing
We are in a difficult time of the year at present with some staff unwell and absent from work. As I’m sure you can appreciate, staffing is complex, and challenges arise when there is a shortage of relief staff. It is always our priority to have the best teachers covering classes when our permanent teachers are away. When possible, we always aim for continuity and only employ the most capable staff who connect positively with students and promote a learning environment of excellence. Our regular relief teachers are very familiar with the students and follow the teaching and learning programs prepared for the students.

Courageous Principals’ Course
Over the weekend I attended “The Courageous Principals’ ” course run by Deloitte in Melbourne. The course is designed to empower school leaders with the skills and strategies needed to drive positive improvement in our schools and how to effectively work through the challenges we face in our roles. The program was a great way to network with other educational leaders across Canberra, South Australia and Victoria. We engaged in professional learning and worked through many scenarios with peer leaders. One key message that came across was the importance of trust amongst our community. Trust builds relationships and supports us to work through challenges together. Participants engage in intensive training that covers topics such as ethical decision-making, effective communication, and building a culture of trust and collaboration. By the end of the course, principals are better equipped to lead with confidence, navigate challenges, and create an environment where both students and staff can thrive.

Parent Survey
The Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey concludes tomorrow, Friday 23 August. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Bernard’s.  

The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You can access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by clicking on the following link http://tellthemfromme.com/stbb2024  Your input is valued and appreciated. 

Key Events Term 3
Our annual Father’s Day Breakfast will be held on Friday 30 August from 7.30am to 8.30am in the Lean To. All students are welcome to invite their fathers, grandfathers, uncle or special friend to come and receive a bacon and egg roll for breakfast to celebrate Father’s Day. The breakfast is prepared by the Staff at St Bernard’s. (There is no cost involved). To assist with catering, can you please complete the survey below and indicate the number of bacon and egg rolls you would like for your family in the link below by Friday 23 August. There will be a vegan option of a sausage sandwich.     

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/STBBFathers2024 

Following breakfast, you are invited to stay for Assembly in the Hall starting at 8.45am. This will be led by our Year 1 students. The children will also have the opportunity to purchase something special at the Father’s Day Stall during the day in the iCentre. Parents are able to purchase vouchers through Qkr! Or children can bring money in on the day. A description of gifts are in Qkr and can now be ordered.

• The Sacrament of First Eucharist is taking place Sunday 22 September at 9.00am.
• Storyline Presentation of Learning will take place Tuesday 24 September, from 9.00am – 10.00am. Parents will be invited to share in the learning in classrooms.
• St Bernard’s is celebrating the end of Term 3 with a Disco on Thursday 14 September. All students are invited. Parents are welcome to drop their children off at the school Hall at 5.00pm and pick up at 6.30pm. Staff will be supervising the children.

This week is my final week at school before I take 3 weeks leave. I will be travelling to Melbourne to spend time with family. Mrs Karen Hadley will be Acting Principal in my absence.

I look forward to connecting back with families in Week 9.

Blessings on your family this week.

Warm regards

Johanna Wain
Principal

Recognising, Decision and Choice

It's CRUNCH TIME this week in our liturgy with the last piece of John's chapter 6 before resuming with Mark next week. The last five Sundays have presented us with John's gospel, where we have come face to face with Jesus' promise of the Eucharist. A lot of talk about bread, life, Spirit, flesh and coming from the Father. It all started from the feeding  with the loaves and fishes, a real crowd pleaser that saw Jesus retreat to the hills to avoid the crowd wanting to make him their king.

Joshua (1st reading) is challenging the Hebrews to make a fundamental choice for the Lord. Recognise, decide and choose the Lord who brought you from Egypt (rather than the gods of neighbouring tribes) says Joshua. "As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord."  The people respond here at Schechem, renewing the covenant originally made there with Abraham.

The relationship/covenant theme continues with Paul (2nd reading) as he writes of love between husband and wife (perhaps with some cultural allowances), and the love of Christ for the Church, a sacrificial love. Well may we ask, is there ever love without sacrifice.

Coming now to Jesus and his followers. They've listened to him, perhaps curious, maybe impressed (miracles), a bit sceptical (after all he's only the carpenter's son from Nazareth - that backwater), wanting to hear and know a bit more. These are not his enemies, the pharisees and scribes, who were out to get him. At the synagogue in Capernaum he had been teaching those who had followed him, who wanted more. BUT, it was "over the top", just too much, intolerable. What was he thinking? What was he saying? How could this Nazarene claim to come from God, to be God's anointed one? And then to speak of eating his flesh and drinking his blood (last Sunday's Gospel).  So, even among his disciples or followers, many decided to hand in their badges. Not for them remaining on Team Jesus.

And the twelve? I see them looking at one another, perhaps heads bowed, shuffling of feet as Jesus asks them, "What about you, do you want to go away too?" What had they recognised in Jesus? Crunch time as Jesus awaits a response, a decision. Peter has chosen saying, "Who shall we go to?" Yes, not WHERE but to WHOM shall we go. It's a recognition of PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, an enhanced parallel to Joshua's fundamental choice.

Our liturgy asks us can we join with Peter's response. Can we examine our faith and say: Jesus, Lord, to whom shall I go? I recognise you as the Holy One of God, inviting me into an intimate relationship, so profoundly expressed in the Eucharist.                                                                                 

John Mackay     

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had such a fabulous week celebrating St Bernard of Clairvaux! Our celebrations started on Sunday with a special Parish Mass followed by a generous lunch! Staff and families attending enjoyed spending time in community with others.

On Tuesday we celebrated St Bernard’s Day with a beautiful liturgy led by Year 6 students. Symbols processed by Indi T, Oscar J, Jamian G, Seth W, Mia A, Isaac V, Mia S and Seth L during the liturgy included the Bible, a statue of Mary, Rosary beads, candles, a heart, flowers and the Clairvaux House Flag.

Mrs Ward organised the morning tea to perfection with offerings of chocolate mud cake, rainbow meringues and jam drop biscuits from the Batehaven Bakehouse.

St Bernard was devoted to Mary the mother of Jesus. He showed his love of Mary by praying the rosary (especially when he had important decisions to make). We are challenged to shine our light like St Bernard by reading the Bible and other important books to develop our knowledge of the world, sharing his love with others and using prayer as a way to build a special and personal relationship with God.

After the liturgy we had such fun participating in the Mini Olympics organised by Mrs Holmes, Ms Nagel, Mr Whiteford and the SRC. A special shout out to all Year 6 students who led their country through the course of activities. Their leadership and care of the younger students in their team was very special to see.

Finally, a huge thank you to our teachers and support staff who work tirelessly to support all our calendar events. These days would never be such a success without your team effort and enthusiasm.

Operation Christmas Child

Donations for our Christmas boxes can be left at our front office. Small items that can be given to children in need would be most appreciated. These small items include toiletry essentials, small stuffed toys, underwear and basic school supplies.

All donations will be collected by our Operation Christmas Child contact by the end of the term.  

First Eucharist

It was a privilege to support families attending our Family Enrolment evening last Thursday.

Please make sure that your child’s enrolment form and stole have been delivered to Roslynne Trompp (Parish Sacramental secretary) or dropped into school by the end of Week 5.

 Commitment Masses

As part of their Eucharist Enrolment all candidates are invited to attend a special Commitment Mass this coming weekend. Weekend Masses are: Saturday evening at 5.00pm or Sunday morning at 9.00am. Parents are asked to familiarise themselves with the Commitment Script and have their child bring along their Prayer Cards. These cards will be distributed after the Homily to members of the congregation.

Excursion Permission

All Year 4 students will be attending a Eucharist Formation Retreat next Wednesday 28 August. Parent permission is required, and can be found on the Compass portal. Please be in touch with Mrs Coulter or Mr Lowe if you have any questions or difficulty giving your online permission.

Mini Vinnies

Our Mini Vinnies team met last week to prepare prayer cards for the Grandparents and Grandfriends who attended our special liturgy last Friday. This group of dedicated volunteers from Year 5 work each week to make our community a better place to be. They have also spent time cleaning the playground of rubbish, serving at the Breakfast Club and preparing our Vegetable and Flower gardens for Springtime planting.

Today some of the Mini Vinnies team visited Year 1 with me to speak about how they live out Jesus’ mission and ministry.

For My Family

Lord God,
I give you all the members of our family. You know them all so well and love them all. I ask that you cover us with a rainbow of hope.
Hope that draws us together to work out our differences.
Hope that helps us to celebrate together and care for one another.

Hope that rides like a banner in our lives and watches over us wherever we go.

Hope that overcomes adversity and gathers strength to overcome.                 

Hope that guides us and gives us vision for our future alone and together.

Hope filled with love.                                                                  
Hope that fuels faith.
Hope that breathes peace.

May our family live in you
Underneath your promises 

( Author Unknown)

God’s Blessings on your weekend

Sharon Beashel 

Religious Education Coordinator

Year 5 are totally immersed in their Storyline unit, Off to the Diggings. Our camp to Birrigai was such a valuable experience, where the children lived the life of a digger in the 1850’s. They learned how to spot alluvial gold, pan and crush gravel, assay their gold, pitch tents, make damper and they participated in a morning in an 1850’s classroom. Additionally, for them to experience independence, and to spend 3 days with peers, was an invaluable learning opportunity.

We have continued our Storyline throughout the term. The children are currently learning about bushrangers and they play the Gold Game several times a week. During the game, they find and assay their gold and write a diary entry. Auctions for businesses will take place in the next few weeks. We have named our gold town Spirit Tree Gully.

The children have commenced the Rocket Maths program which focuses on times tables. We are already seeing growth and improvement in their recall of number facts. In Visual Arts, the children are creating a painting of Ned Kelly, while learning about the role of bushrangers during the Gold Rush times.

We are very much looking forward to presenting our Storyline to you at the learning journey day in Week 10.

Southern Region Athletics

On Thursday 8 August Ms McRae and I were lucky enough to accompany our Athletics team to the Southern Region Athletics Carnival in Bega. 

Congratulations to all of our students named below. It was due to your efforts that St Bernard’s were awarded the trophy for Champion School. 

Alyssa O,Harlo W, Tahiti H, Sietta G, Hudson E, Lebron C, Ashton S, Indie F, Astrid B, Kate W, Charlene M, Annabelle T, Winter W, Yana K, Raph C, William O, Lehan D, Zaden F, Beatrix F, Charlie M, Aurelia S, Ruby H, Addison G, Lucas V, Noah S, Xavier L, George S-D, Remi C, Lilly G, Georgina W, Storm R, Sienna N, Indiana A, Chelsea M, Scarlett C, Paige L, Tomás C, Ollie L, Arthur S-D, Ethan S, Sion D, Liam C, Annie F, Teagan W, Romy B, Jayden G, Mia S, Gurnoor K, Matthew S, Tyler M, Brennan C, Didier DC, Korban S, Casey W, Oscar J.

We had many students selected to attend the Canberra-Goulburn Athletics Championships on August 27. We wish these students all the best at this high level of competition. Congratulations to our relay teams who were absolutely amazing and had us all clapping and cheering as they all won their events. The school spirit was fantastic. Junior Champion was Beatrix F and the runner up was Charlie M. In the Junior boy category Lucas V and Raph C were joint runner's up and Arthur S-D was runner up as the 11yr Champion.

An enormous thank you to the amazing parents and grandparents who supported the students. We would not have done as well without your encouragment and support at all the events.

 Angela Holmes

Term 3

Week 4 Class Awards

Presented: Friday 16 August 2024.

Congratulations to the following children who received a class award in Term 3, Week 4. It is great to see so many children working hard and receiving acknowledgment for their efforts.

Well done to all!