St Bernadette's Primary School

NEWSLETTER | TERM 4 | WEEK 9 I 6 December 2024

Dear Families

Here we are, on the very last day of the school term for students and wow, it is so hard to believe that another whole year is ending. It has certainly been an action-packed, exciting, rewarding and fun-filled 2024 and we all have so much to feel proud of and grateful for!

In celebrating the Eucharist yesterday, we were reminded that each day of this year has been an opportunity for us all to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our relationships with one another. We are grateful for the many special moments that we have all shared together, in classrooms, in the playground, at sporting events, on excursions, at camp, on retreat days, at liturgies, special celebrations, and so much more. We are grateful for the many happy times, and we remember the sad or difficult moments as opportunities for learning and growth. A special thank you to Fr Giovanni for all his care and support throughout the year.

To our wonderful students, thank you for your smiles and laughter, your offers of help, your hard work in class, your questions, your prayers, your helpful hands and loving hearts… it has been a busy, productive and happy year and we look forward to doing it all over again next year with lots of new things to look forward to. Time now to go and have lots of fun with your families!

To our Graduating Year 6 students, we congratulate you and wish you all the very best that life has to offer! We also encourage you to take all that you have learnt and keep on growing into the very best version of yourselves that you can! Shine that light and remember, that what is popular is not

always what is right, and what is right, is not always what is popular!

To the families who leave our school this year - we thank each one of you most sincerely, for the wonderful contribution you have made to St Bernadette’s over so many years. While you will no longer physically be here, you will continue to remain in our thoughts and prayers in the years to come. Each family leaves very special footprints in the hearts of all those who have come to know and appreciate you. We look forward to hearing from you in the future as your children move on to high school and a new set of adventures!

Many, many thanks to my amazing staff, who have worked tirelessly all year to provide the very best learning opportunities and pastoral care and support for each student here at St Bernie’s. They are wished a very relaxing holiday break with their families and friends, and I very much look forward to working with them all again next year.

As mentioned at the recent Annual Community Meeting, and as happens each year in schools, there is some staff movement. Below are the staff who won’t be with us again next year. We sincerely thank each of these staff members for their wonderful contribution to our school and wish them all the very best for their adventures in 2025 and beyond!

o Teresa McFarlane Retired

o Tara Bowe Maternity Leave

o Julie Pearce Resigned

o Melanie Resuggan Principal Placement in Derby

o Ethel Murphy One year’s leave

o Nila Lemisio-Poasa One year’s leave

A very special thank you and congratulations to Teresa McFarlane, who is retiring after 30 years here at St Bernie’s! Teresa has contributed much time, care, expertise and support in her role as both a teacher and a leader over the years and we are very grateful for her wonderful contribution to student learning, staff learning and the St Bernadette’s school community. In addition to enjoying her retirement, Teresa will be doing some relief teaching with us next year which is great for us!

A special thank you to all those parents who have so generously given their time and talent to lead our P&F and Advisory Council – it has been a privilege working with you all.

A huge and heartfelt thank you to all our families who have:

- loved and nurtured their children

- been good role models

- grown as a parent

- spoken respectfully to staff, children, parents and leaders throughout the year

- expressed appreciation for staff efforts

- arrived on time

- used social media appropriately and positively, to encourage, thank, inform and build up our community

- supported and thanked our P&F

- helped out on parent rosters

- attended Community and whole school Masses

- helped out on excursions

- attended Open Nights and parent meetings

- Kept it positive

- given generously to the SVDP appeal

- prayed for the good of our whole school community

- asked questions, clarified details, listened carefully and trusted in us

- offered practical support to those who are unwell, overrun or struggling in any way and SO MUCH MORE!

Our community has much to celebrate! We have achieved an incredible amount through hard work, teamwork, cooperation, good will and generosity and as the leader of this school I am truly grateful for all our efforts.

If you fancy a pizza night this evening, please remember to order via the QR code and support this fund raising innitiative.

Please take good care of yourselves and your children over the holidays and try to step back from the mayhem to embrace the true Christmas message of sharing love, peace, gratitude and joy. May you and your family stay safe and well until we see you again early next year!

Christmas blessings and kindest regards,

Geordie

Advent Prayer Week 2: Peace

Come Holy Spirit!

In this second week of Advent,

fill our hearts with peace

as we prepare for Christ’s coming.

Lord, we pray for the peace of Your Holy Spirit throughout this week,

and especially right now as we pray together as a family.

Help us to be peacemakers, sharing Your peace in our home and beyond.

Help us to make room for You in our hearts;

to clear out all that is not from You,

so that the Holy Spirit might fill us with the fruits of eternal life and happiness.

As we prepare for Jesus’ coming,

may Your peace fill our hearts and minds and inform our words, actions, and attitudes.

Amen.

Throughout Term 4, St Bernadette's has been competing against Catholic schools and students around the state in the CEWA Primary School Chess tournament. After our very competitive qualifying event, we were able to create our team of four: Dylan Y, Koby W, Saarth K, and Xavier T. The team competed in 3 rounds of 10 matches over three Mondays in Term 4.

Each player demonstrated strategic thinking, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Their dedication to training and teamwork was inspiring, and they represented our school with pride and determination. Congratulations to our players on their efforts and achievements in this challenging competition! Here's what they said:

"I think this chess tournament was a great way to learn while having fun with your friends and doing things that you love. It was so much fun and informative, I have learned so much. Definitely recommend it." Dylan Y

"Chess club and the tournament was a great way to express your new found learning skills, and continue to develop them. It helps you think strategically in a way that can help others and have fun at the same time" Saarth K

"I feel like chess club was a great opportunity to make better connections with people and shows that determination to succeed pays off in the long run. We had the best teacher of all time, and we are grateful for him" Kobe W

"Chess is a great way to play with people all over the world and test your skill against them. I was grateful to be in the team and play against students of all ages from other schools" Xavier T

Semester 2 Reports

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