From the Principal

Principal - Ms Julie Di Noto

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with humble and grateful hearts, asking You to fill us with Your grace and guide us in living lives of virtue.

Grant us the virtue of prudence, to make wise decisions; justice, to treat everyone with fairness and respect; fortitude, to remain courageous in times of trial; and temperance, to practise self-control and moderation in all things.

May the virtues of humility, patience, kindness, generosity, forgiveness and compassion shine through our words and actions each day.

Lord, shape our hearts to reflect Your goodness. Help us to be examples of Your love in our families, our communities and wherever we go.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dear St Bernard’s Community,

I hope you had an enjoyable and restful long weekend. 

Today I sent home a letter informing our community about changes to classroom spaces in 2027. I understand that these changes represent a significant shift for our school community, particularly for our current Grade 4/5 students who may have been looking forward to moving into the Hub. We value their excitement and understand the importance of providing them with an alternative space they can feel proud of and connected to. Bridget and I met with the grade 4 and 5 students this afternoon to discuss the changes and that we are excited to get their input into designing a 5/6 HQ. Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to invest in creating the very best learning and wellbeing environments for all of our students. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. 

Our Prep students have had a busy couple of weeks. Recently they enjoyed their Prep camp experience sharing breakfast together, enjoying story time and watching a movie. There were plenty of smiles and giggles as friendships were strengthened and lasting memories were created. 

Our Preps also had a visit from Fire Rescue Victoria. They were super excited to use the Fire Truck hose!

Last week, Anthony Cianflone MP presented students with a range of awards at assembly. Congratulations to Isaac M (Grade 2) and Romina P (Grade 4), who were each awarded the Bob Hawke Student Endeavour Award in recognition of their positive attitudes towards learning and their encouragement of others to always do their best. Both students approach challenges with enthusiasm, courage and a willingness to give things a go. Their dedication to learning and the positive example they set make them wonderful role models for our entire school community. Isaac and Romina each received a certificate and a Palace Cinema voucher. Well done to both students on this well-deserved recognition!

Anthony also presented students who entered the Christmas card competition with certificates. Congratulations to Mila M (Grade 5) who came Runners Up from all the entries in our local area and has her drawing featured on the back of the community Christmas card. Mila received a voucher, along with other finalists from St Bernard’s.

Last Friday our staff participated in a professional learning day focused on faith formation. Staff embarked on an RE pilgrimage beginning at Mary Mackillop Heritage Centre in East Melbourne, followed by a visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Mary Glowrey museum. This was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of the Catholic Church in Australia, the lives of inspiring people of faith, and how we can live out our faith by serving others here at St Bernard’s and beyond. 

Wearing our school uniform with pride is an important way to show that our students belong to our school community. A reminder as stated in our uniform policy  that jewellery should not be worn to school (plain studs or sleepers, watches and necklaces or bracelets that have religious significance are permitted) and make-up and nail polish should not be worn during school hours. Hair ties/ribbons should be blue, white or black and hair below shoulder length should be tied back at all times.   Additionally, school shoes should be completely black in colour and sports runners are only to be worn on sports days. Our uniform helps build a sense of belonging, unity and school spirit, reminding us that we are all part of something special. We encourage all students to take pride in their appearance by wearing the correct uniform each day and representing our school with confidence and respect. Thank you for your support with this. 

Next week, we will commence the Student Leadership application process for our Year 5 students. This is a thorough and rigorous process that involves collating applications, listening to student captain applicant speeches, and conducting Principal interviews. Grades 3-6 students will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred applicants, with shortlisted candidates then invited to participate in an interview with myself and Ms Bridget. We are also excited to introduce additional leadership opportunities for our students, including Wellbeing Leaders and House Captains, providing more ways for students to develop their leadership skills and contribute positively to our school community. SRC appointments for students in Years 1–5 will take place at the beginning of 2027. 

With the beautiful spring weather upon us, it is wonderful to see so many students enjoying the ride to school on their bikes and scooters. To help keep everyone in our school community safe, we kindly remind students to walk their bikes and scooters until they reach the end of the block. We are also seeing an increase in the use of e-scooters as a means of transport. Please remember that, in Victoria, e-scooters may only be ridden by people aged 16 years and over. Thank you for your continued support in helping us keep our school community safe.

Last week, we presented our NAPLAN results to the School Advisory Council. NAPLAN provides a valuable snapshot of student achievement in Literacy and Numeracy, allowing us to celebrate successes, identify areas of strength, monitor school performance over time and inform our ongoing teaching and learning priorities. Our results continue to be outstanding, reflecting a sustained record of strong student achievement. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, the commitment and expertise of our staff, the support of families and the strong learning culture that underpins our school.

While NAPLAN provides valuable insights, it is important to remember that it represents just one source of data. We consider these results alongside a range of assessments conducted throughout the year to gain a more comprehensive understanding of student learning, track individual growth and ensure our teaching and learning approaches continue to meet the needs of every student.

We are excited to welcome our 2027 Prep students to their very first Mini Bernie’s Orientation on Wednesday 11 November. During this session, children will have the opportunity to spend time with their teacher, meet their future classmates and become familiar with their 2027 classroom. Parents are warmly invited to stay, enjoy a cuppa and have a chat as we begin building connections and getting to know one another ahead of the new school year.

Our second orientation session will take place on Wednesday 18 November, with an information session for parents in the hall. Our final orientation will take place on Thursday 26 November which will provide an opportunity for our new Prep students to meet their 2027 buddies. We look forward to meeting our newest St Bernard’s families and sharing this exciting milestone together!

Congratulations to Athena and Enzo (Prep) for trading their gotchas for Principal of the morning. It was wonderful to hear them both speak so confidently over the loud speaker! 

Last Friday was World Teachers Day. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff for the care, dedication and commitment they bring to our school each and every day. In the spirit of our Catholic faith, our staff lead with compassion, kindness and a genuine commitment to nurturing the hearts and minds of every child. Through their patience, encouragement and support, they inspire our students to grow in faith, learning and love, helping each child to recognise and develop their God-given gifts. We are incredibly grateful for the many ways our staff go above and beyond to create a welcoming, inclusive and faith-filled learning community. Their dedication, generosity and passion for teaching are truly valued and appreciated. Also a huge thank you to our wonderful parent community who provided some sweet treats for our staff and surprised them with some balloon decorations in our staff room. It was very much appreciated! 

Last week our SRC kicked off ‘Zooper Dooper Wednesday’, which will continue for the remainder of the year. There was great excitement and a very long queue! The money raised will contribute to our fundraising goal for our playground. 

Please note that in the last newsletter there was a date error. Our Jump Rope for Heart showcase will take place on Monday 16th November (not 18th) at 2.45pm. All are welcome. Our Term 4 calendar dates have been updated in this newsletter. 

Warm regards

Julie Di Noto 

Principal