From the Principal's Desk

Principal - Ms Julie Di Noto

Loving God,

We thank You for the gift of our St Bernard’s school community.

Help us to let the light You have placed within us shine each day - 

in our learning, our kindness, and our service to others.

May our words and actions reflect Your love,

so that all who see us may give glory to You.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dear St Bernard’s Community, 

Welcome to our first fortnightly newsletter for 2026! It has been wonderful to welcome students back to school, greeted by so much enthusiasm and so many smiles. Students have settled smoothly into their new classes, forming connections and building new friendships. Our Prep students are a delightful addition to the school community and are settling beautifully into school life.

In 2026 St Bernard’s will have a strong focus on Literacy ensuring our practices continue to be grounded in evidence-based approaches that support strong, confident readers and writers. Through explicit teaching, regular assessment, and targeted instruction, we aim to meet students at their point of need and help learners grow in skill and confidence. Linked to our theme ‘Let Your Light Shine’, these practices empower students to recognise their strengths, persevere through challenges, and take pride in their progress. By equipping students with essential literacy skills, we are helping them find their voice and shine their light in learning and beyond.

This year we are fortunate to offer six specialist subjects for students, including Physical Education, Music, Italian, Digital Technologies, STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) and Art.  Students have had their first Art specialist classes in our brand new Art space and have had positive things to say. Here are a few reflections.

Mila G 5/6J - I loved Art. It was so good. I think it will be good this year. 

Isabel 5/6J - Art is fun and I get to be creative.

Lucy 5/6J - We did a monochrome (one colour) self-portrait.

Javier 5/6J - Art was fun. It was funny seeing everyone’s artwork. It can be challenging. 

Frankie 1/2L - Art made me feel happy.

Harriet 1/2L - We learnt about the artist Kandinsky.

Georgia 3/4P - I really like Art. 

Charlie 3/4P - I love the new Art room.

Our Junior students are thoroughly enjoying the new games installed in the Junior Playground, with Snakes and Ladders proving to be a particular favourite. In the next couple of weeks, we will also introduce three chessboard games for our Senior students. Our Grade 3 students are especially excited to have the opportunity to choose which playground they would like to use. 

We will also be offering the following lunchtime clubs throughout the year.

Mondays - Dance club (run by an external company)

Tuesdays - Coding club (Grades 5/6) (led by Ms Lisa)

Wednesdays - Choir (led by Ms Tess) and Chess (run by an external company)

Thursdays - Garden club (led by Ms Prue)

It has been a privilege to begin welcoming prospective families and guiding them on tours of our wonderful school. These visits provide a valuable opportunity to showcase our learning environments, strong sense of community, and the engaging experiences offered to our students. Earlier this week, a professional photographer visited the school to capture the vibrant learning taking place across classrooms and shared spaces, as well as the excellent resources available to our students. These images will be used as part of our school promotion and marketing initiatives, which will be a key priority this year as we continue to share the story of our school with the wider community.

It is strongly recommended that expensive or ‘treasured’ possessions should not be brought to school such as – toys, electronic devices, expensive watches, etc. We have noticed an increased number of students in the last couple of weeks, with these toys on the playground. Specifically, electronic games and electric toys such as remote control cars, are not permitted to be brought to school.  However, if a child wishes to bring a toy, book etc for ‘Show and Tell’ the item must be left in his/her bag or given to his/her teacher to mind.  I  understand that some parents require children to carry a mobile phone for safety reasons, especially if they are walking to and from school. For privacy and safety reasons, all mobile phones and smart watches brought to school must be handed in to the office, where they will be securely stored and returned to students at the end of the day. Thank you for your support with this. 

There have been a few queries regarding administering medication at school. When requesting the school to administer medication at school a Medical Management Plan and Medication Authority Form  needs to be completed, with an attached letter from a medical practitioner. Please note that a webster pack is not required, however the medication must be provided in its original box. Medication is to be kept in the first aid room in the office. A reminder to please let the school know if your child has any food allergies or medical conditions.  The Asthma and Anaphylaxis plans will need to be updated each year.

Please also email schooladmin@stbernardscoburg.catholic.edu.au of any change of contact details, phone number or address to contact families in case of illness or emergency.

Thank you to the families who took the time to provide feedback on our current reporting processes. This feedback will be carefully reviewed over the coming weeks, and any proposed changes for 2026 will be communicated as soon as possible. Any changes implemented will be monitored and reviewed at the end of the year to ensure they best support family engagement in student learning. 

This year, we will begin phasing out the Audiri app and introducing Nforma for Parents (nPortal app) to help streamline our communication processes. Nforma is already used at our school for attendance rolls and first aid notifications. Additional features of nPortal include the ability for parents to submit absence details (which synchronise with the school roll), record student medication requirements, receive notices, provide digital consent for school activities and events, and access student reports online. Over the course of the year, these features will be gradually introduced. Information with instructions on how to download and register for the app will be sent home shortly. The Audiri app will be discontinued from Term 3, 2026. Seesaw will continue to be used for direct teacher–parent communication and for sharing student learning.

Our student leaders will be presented with their new badges at our beginning of school year Mass/Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday 18th February at 9.30am. Families are warmly invited to attend. Please note our first assembly for 2026 will be held on Friday 20th February at 3pm, with a focus on Wellbeing and Religious Education. This year we will introduce a ‘Let your light shine’ Principal award given to a member of our community who consistently leads with kindness, integrity, and courage - letting their actions inspire others and making our school community brighter for everyone.  

At St Bernard’s we have a ‘Snack Attack’ where students are permitted to eat a small brain food snack at 10am consisting of one fresh fruit or vegetable. Please ensure that your child’s fruit or vegetable snack is able to be eaten within a few minutes whilst continuing with their work. 

A reminder that the leadership team for 2026 are as follows.  Feel free to contact them directly if you have any questions about their leadership area. 

After nearly a decade of dedicated service to St Bernard’s, we say a heartfelt farewell to our much-loved Administration Officer, Ms Rebecca Hoolohan, whose warmth, care and tireless support have been a constant at the heart of our school. For almost 10 years, she has been the friendly first face in the office, the calm problem-solver behind the scenes, and a steady support for students, families and staff alike.  Her kindness, professionalism and deep knowledge of our school community have made a lasting difference, and her presence will be truly missed. We thank Ms Bec for everything she has given to our school and wish her every happiness and success in the next chapter of her journey, as she takes on a new administration role in a school closer to home, St John’s Heidelberg. Ms Bec will be here for a few more weeks, so be sure to drop into the office to say goodbye. We will farewell Bec at an assembly held on Friday 6 March. Families are welcome to attend. 

I am resharing the 2026 Welcome Letter sent at the end of the school holidays for those that may have missed it. As we look forward to the school year ahead, I am excited by the many opportunities it will bring for learning, growth, and connection within our school community. Guided by our theme ‘Let Your Light Shine’, we encourage each student to use their unique gifts to make a positive difference - through kindness, perseverance, curiosity, and service to others. Together, may we support one another to shine brightly in all we do, creating a welcoming and faith-filled environment where everyone is encouraged to be their best.

Reminders

Please note there is a new email address for the Bernie's Parent Collective (BPC), berniesparents@gmail.com

School Photos

Save the Date - School Photos are on Wednesday 18th March more information will follow.

Families can register and pay online at 

www.theschoolphotographer.com.au  code : NRF3KDSN 

School fees 

The school fee accounts will be sent out today, if you have any queries please contact Bec in the office.

Families may be eligible for the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF)  if you hold a current health care or concession card. Please see the following website for more information. https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/node/1573

Warm Regards

Julie Di Noto

(Principal)