From the Principal

Principal - Ms Julie Di Noto

Loving God,

We thank You for the example of St Bernard of Clairvaux, whose life was filled with faith, wisdom, and love for You. As parents, help us to nurture kindness, patience, and hope within our homes. Guide us as we encourage our children to grow in confidence, compassion, and a love of learning.

Through the prayers of St Bernard, may our families always seek what is good, speak with gentleness, and care for one another with generous hearts. Help us to make time for prayer, to trust in Your presence during both joyful and challenging moments, and to be signs of Your peace in our school community.

Bless our children, our teachers, and all who support them each day. May our school continue to be a place where every child is welcomed, valued, and inspired to grow in faith, knowledge, and love.

St Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for us.

Amen.

Dear St Bernard’s Community,

It is hard to believe that we are nearly half way through term 3. The year is certainly flying by! 

Our Prep students recently celebrated their 100 Days of School, and it was a wonderful day enjoyed by all. According to Clementine, our school had transformed into a "nursing home" as students and Ms Tess embraced the fun of dressing up as 100 year olds! A highlight of the celebration was the magician's performance, which was enjoyed by our Prep students and their buddies. The show was a huge success, delighting not only our youngest learners but also their older buddies. We are incredibly proud of the growth, learning, and development our Prep students have shown throughout their first 100 days of school. They have embraced new challenges, built friendships, and developed confidence in so many ways. We look forward to watching them continue to learn, grow, and shine in the years ahead.

Last week, it was wonderful to see the excitement on our students' faces as they participated in the annual Walkathon. Dressed in a burst of colour, students enthusiastically completed as many laps as they could while enjoying the fun and energy of the day. A huge thank you to our parent volunteers and the BPC, for their outstanding organisation and support in making this event such a success. Events like these are only possible because of the generosity and commitment of our wonderful school community. A reminder that all sponsor forms and money raised need to be returned to the school by Monday, 17 August. We look forward to announcing the prize winners shortly afterwards. Thank you to everyone for your support of this fantastic fundraising event, which will go towards new playground equipment. 

Ms Tijana’s last day as our Physical Education teacher will be tomorrow Thursday 13 August. I am pleased to announce that Ms Kate Baker will be our new Physical Education teacher for the remainder of the year. Ms Kate will continue in her role with 3/4LK on Thursdays and Fridays, while also teaching Physical Education on Mondays and Wednesdays. Ms Kate brings extensive experience as a player, coach, mentor and teacher of netball, and I am confident she will be a wonderful asset in leading our sporting program. We are excited to have her sharing her passion and expertise with our students.

From next week, students in Years 1 to 6 will participate in a four-week AFL Skills Program, delivered by AFL coaches and players. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their fundamental football skills, build teamwork, and enjoy being active while learning from experienced professionals. In Term 4 we look forward to participating in ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ supporting students to improve their skipping skills, enhance their co-ordination and  fitness, whilst raising money for the heart foundation.

I am looking forward to experiencing my first St Bernard’s Feast Day celebration on Friday, 21 August. Families are warmly invited to join us for our whole school Mass at 9.30 am as we come together to celebrate this special occasion as a faith community. Following Mass, students will work in their House groups alongside cross-age peers as they participate in a range of engaging activities that celebrate our school spirit and community, with St Bernard of Clairvoux as our role model.  In the afternoon, we will host our inaugural Feast Day Talent Show. We are excited to showcase the many talents of our students, and if the event is a success, we hope it will become a cherished Feast Day tradition for years to come. Due to the Feast Day celebrations, assembly will be cancelled for this fortnight. 

A note has been shared on NPortal with details about the special hot lunch that will be provided by our BPC. Thank you once again to our wonderful parent volunteers for their support in making the day even more enjoyable for our students. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our Religious Education Leader Ms Lesa for her dedication and commitment to ensure that our Feast Day remains a meaningful and memorable celebration for our entire school community and to Father Leo for his continued work and support of staff, students and families at St Bernard’s. 

Father's Day is fast approaching, and we're looking forward to celebrating the wonderful fathers and male role models in our school community. Join us from 8am on Friday 4th September, outside the 5/6 Hub for a special Father's Day Paper Plane Challenge. Students and their dads or special male role models are invited to enjoy a delicious donut while working together to design and build the ultimate paper plane. At 8.30 am, we'll put each creation to the test and see which father/child team can achieve the longest flight. It's sure to be a fun morning filled with laughter, teamwork, and a little friendly competition. We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating the important role fathers and male role models play in the lives of our students. No bookings are required, just bring your creativity and your best flying skills! 

Please note: Our Fathers Day stall will also take place on this day. 

A reminder that this Friday 14 August is a School Closure Day. As part of our preparations for our upcoming School Review, staff will be working together to reflect on our achievements, identify areas for continued improvement, and gather evidence that showcases our school's ongoing commitment to excellence. Our School Reviewer will be onsite on Wednesday 14 October and Thursday 15 October, meeting with parents, staff, and students to gain valuable insights into the life of our school. This review is an important opportunity to celebrate our successes while identifying priorities for future growth. The findings of the review will be presented later in the year and will play a significant role in shaping our 2027–2030 School Improvement Plan, as well as informing our 2027 Annual Action Plan. We look forward to engaging in this process as we continue to provide the very best learning opportunities for all of our students.

Last night we hosted our Prep to Grade 2 Student Learning in Action night showcasing Mathematics. It was wonderful to see students working alongside their parents, applying mathematical concepts to solve a variety of problems and challenge their thinking. Parents experienced the importance of daily maths review highlighting how regular practice and opportunities for retrieval, helps strengthen students’ confidence, fluency, and problem-solving skills. Students enjoyed spending quality time with their family as they played engaging maths games, shared strategies, and celebrated their successes. Our 3-6 Student Learning in Action session will take place on Wed 26 August 5.30- 6.30

I am delighted to share the wonderful news that our Prep teacher, Ms Tess, is expecting her first baby! We are so excited for Ms Tess and her partner Pat, and look forward to celebrating this special time with them. Tess will continue teaching our Prep students through to the end of the current school year, ensuring a wonderful sense of continuity and stability for the children as they finish the year. I am sure everyone in our school community will join me in congratulating Ms Tess and wishing her all the very best as she prepares for this exciting new chapter!

A Working with Children Check (WWC Check) is an important safeguard that helps schools create a safe environment for children. It is a screening process that supports a culture where the wellbeing and safety of children is the highest priority.  In Victoria, volunteers who work directly with children are legally required to hold a valid WWC Check before undertaking child-related work. Volunteer checks are free. You can apply for a WWC Check here https://service.vic.gov.au/services/working-with-children. Once approved, please provide a copy to the school. Please note that certain professionals such as teachers and Police Officers are exempt from getting a WWC Check, however are required to provide a copy of their registration of the relevant profession. Alongside the WWC Check parents are required to sign the  Child Safety Code of Conduct which we keep on file. Thanks for your support in ensuring the safety of all our children. 

A huge thank you to everyone in our wonderful school community for your kind wishes and thoughtful messages for Primary Principals’ Day. I was especially touched to receive a personal card from every student across our school. Each card was incredibly special and truly filled my heart with joy. I feel so grateful and privileged to serve such a wonderful school community. Thank you for making me feel so appreciated!

We will be hosting two additional ‘Mini Bernie’s Little Scholars Taste of School’ sessions for children aged 3, 4 or 5 years old and their parents. These sessions will showcase our new STEM Lab and engage young children with the curriculum area of Science. 

Bookings are now open. 

Last week Harriet from grade 2 proved to be an exceptional Principal for the morning! 

Well done to Harriet for trading 120 ‘gotchas.’

Congratulations to Juliet T from 5/6R who was the Principal Award recipient this week. Juliet consistently demonstrates our school PBL values through her kindness, respect for others and positive attitude towards her peers and learning. She shows a commitment to achieving her personal best. Well done to Juliet for being such a positive role model and for making our school a supportive and welcoming place for everyone. 

Our Annual Report to the Community for 2025 has been completed and uploaded to our website. 

Have a wonderful fortnight. 

Warm regards

Julie Di Noto (Principal)