Dear Parents and Friends,

We’re enjoying a busy week with students preparing for the Archdiocesan Athletics, participating in a football clinic, tennis clinic and preparing for Stage 2 and Stage 3 Public Speaking. Students are highly engaged in their learning this term and we are looking forward to showcasing our learning in Week 10.

Next Tuesday, 15 August, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. The feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the Christian belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven following her death. Pope Francis in 2022 reminded us that “the Blessed Mother takes each of us by the hand, and invites us to rejoice as we follow her trusting, faithful and 'radical' example”. We are all called to live our lives to be the best version of ourselves and I believe Mary is a great example for us all. 

Volunteers in the Classroom
At St Bernard’s we have some wonderful volunteers who assist us in the classroom and our library. They give their time and support to our students. Jennifer Henry and Gary Gray are two volunteers who come each week to support students. Jennifer is a retired nurse and Gary a retired teacher. The students very much enjoy their time with our volunteers and our staff are very appreciative of their support. Jen and Gary volunteer by reading with students, assisting with putting away books in the iCentre and assisting in the classroom. We also have a number of parents who assist throughout the term in classrooms and at school events. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all volunteers for everything they do. Your willingness to give your time and talent is very much appreciated and you are definitely making a difference to our school community. 

If you know of someone who may like to volunteer, please let them know to contact our Front Office. All our volunteers must hold a NSW Volunteers Working with Children Check. These can be obtained through the following website and are free for volunteers https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-for-a-working-with-children-check  

Our school canteen is an integral part of our school. It is open between 9.00am-1.15pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It is providing a service to our students and supplying a range of delicious and healthy food options. The Canteen is in need of helpers! Each week there are a number of orders to fill with limited assistance. If you have some spare time on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, Mrs Cheeseman would appreciate your help. If you are able to stay for an hour or two, we would love to see you and I know our children love seeing their parents in the school. Please contact the Front Office if you are able to assist.

Our next P&F Meeting is scheduled for next Thursday 17 August at 5.30pm. It would be wonderful to see some new faces. Our focus will be on organising a major fundraiser next year.

Enrolments
It has been my pleasure to welcome many new families to St Bernard’s this term for 2024. The Catholic Education Office is currently analysing data from school statistics regarding classes and staffing levels for 2024. If you know of someone who is considering enrolling their child at St Bernard’s any time from now through to the start of the 2024 school year, please encourage them to contact our Front Office. Places are filling up quickly. 

Keep your Child Safe
Your primary aged child is still developing an understanding of danger and safety. While they are often keen to do things for themselves, an adult must always be responsible for your child in the traffic environment. Your child is a vulnerable road user. They are continuing to develop the skills that help them to judge the direction of sound and the speed and distance of vehicles. Your child is physically small, making it harder for drivers to see them. They may be easily distracted and tend to only be able to focus on one thing at a time. This means that they find it difficult to deal with sudden changes in the traffic environment. In the afternoons, could all parents please ensure that their child/ren are not running around the Church carpark. There are cars backing out regularly from car spaces. Once you have collected your child/ren form the teacher, could you please make sure they stay with you. We appreciate that it’s a lovely time for parents to catch up but we are asking that if you are chatting, please move to the grass area with your child/ren to ensure that they are safe. 

Parent Information Session led by Andrew Fuller
The Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn Catholic Parents Association have organised for Andrew Fuller, Clinical Psychologist, to present to parents. The presentation will focus on learning more abuot ways parents can support their child/ren in their learning. The event is being held at John Paul II College in Canberra at 6.00pm. There is a live steam available. Please refer to the flyer further in the newsletter with more information on how to register. 

National Tennis Championships

Best wishes to Sebastian C of Year 6 who will play at the National Indigenous Tennis Championships in Darwin, beginning today. We will be cheering you on from here!

A reminder that all families are invited to join us for the Year 1 Assembly tomorrow morning starting at 8.45am in the Hall. Classroom Awards will be presented.

Next Monday and Tuesday I will be away at Siloam in Galong. Mrs Hadley will be acting Principal in my absence.

Enjoy a relaxing weekend. I think the weather is supposed to be beautiful!

Blessings to you and your family.

Warm regards

Johanna Wain
Principal

Dear Parents and Carers

Southern Region Public Speaking

Over the past two days the finals of the Southern Region Public Speaking have been held through video link up. The students representing our school from Stage 2 and Stage 3 have delivered their speeches with confidence, demonstrating a high level of preparation. Year 3 students Beatrix F and Alyssa D spoke for 2 minutes on the topic My Backyard. Both students impressed with their ability to speak without any palm cards. Beatrix was awarded runner up for Year 3 and will speak at the Archdiocesan competition in Goulburn in September. Mia B and Molly C of Year 4 delivered excellent speeches on the topic Sport Brings Us Together. They entertained their class members and other students viewing from their classrooms across our regional schools with well researched speeches. Annie F and Tomas C were the first to present their speeches today in the Stage 3 competition. They were both outstanding, speaking on the topic Learning from the Past. Annie was announced winner of the Year 5 category and was commended for her captivating speech about her own lived experience. Isla B and Isabella L represented our school in the Year 6 division. Both girls are experienced at delivering speeches for this level of competition and were again poised and confident. Congratulations to Isabella who was announced as winner. Beatrix, Annie and Isabella will now all progress to the Archdiocesan level of competition at St Peter and Paul's School in Goulburn on Friday 8 September. 

Mia B, Beatrix F, Alyssa D, Molly M                     Tomas C, Annie F, Isla B, Isabella L

Science Week Show

Yesterday students had a special lead up to Science Week with a show from the amazing JollyBops. The Jolly Professor and Rusty Robert had all students in awe with science experiments galore! We thank our own Science wizz Mrs Tyler, for organising the show as part of our school celebration of Science.

CPR update

All members of staff updated their Cardiopulminary Resuscitation skills on Tuesday afternoon as part of an extended staff meeting. Each year all staff complete this course through Royal Life Saving Australia, involving a theoretical and practical component. Every three years we undertake the full First Aid course in addition to CPR. Recently the school purchased a defibrilator to assist us in performing CPR if ever the need arises. We thank Kirralee for working with us this week to ensure that our qualifications are up to date.

I hope that you have a lovely weekend and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Year One class awards assembly on Friday.

Kind regards

Karen

…’Be Still and Know I am God’ (Psalm 46)…

Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God's thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for God."   - St. Augustine"Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."  - St. Therese of Lisieux

 How do we continue to stay centred on our relationship with God? As we see from the example of Jesus in the Gospel – step aside to pray – ‘he went up into the hills by himself to pray’ (Matt: 14:22). This seems simple and for some people indeed it is which is wonderful. For others of us despite the best of intent, it can be challenging. Ron Rolheiser OMI offers some thoughts:

Yuin Banaan

Last Friday our K-12 Pathway schools hosted the Yuin Banaan Cultural Day at Captain Oldrey Park, Broulee. Aboriginal students from Kindergarten to Year 12 from St Bernard's, St Mary's and Carroll College and friends from Year 3-6 attended, as well as some family members. 

We were very fortunate to receive a NAIDOC grant from National Indigenous Australians Agency to support this successful event. Highlights of the day included the opening ceremony where Melissa Ellis spoke about the significance of the NAIDOC 2023 theme, For our Elders and acknowledged elders in our local community; traditional dancing with the Muladha Gamara group; the bush tucker and medicine walks with Trish Ellis and ochre face painting; art making and soccer led by Carroll College students.

Many community organisations and service groups set up stalls on the day and many co-ordinated activities with give-aways for the students. 

It was a wonderful opportunity for community building and deepening cultural knowledge and connections for the students of our K-12 Pathway schools.

Djinama Yiliga Choir visit