St Bernard's Newsletter

Dear Families,

Since we have returned to the New Year, our attention has very much been on supporting our students in every year group to start 2025 afresh with a positive outlook. This has coincided perfectly with our planning for our Jubilee Year of Hope activities which started beautifully with our House Masses. As ever, we are grateful to Fr. Alex and Fr. Victor for supporting our young people in coming to the sacraments with reverence and reflection. Having our new Chaplain on board has certainly helped with this as Mr Young is full of energy and enthusiasm for our faith and supporting the Church’s mission for accompaniment and evangelisation. Our Form Masses have been taking place and students have a variety of charitable events in which they will be participating both leading up to and during Lent.

Our year 11 and 13 students are in the process of their second set of mocks and they have been a credit to you all. Year 13 students in particular have had a very busy time with UCAS, university open days and of course, interviews so they have shown great maturity in the way in which they have approached this half term. Please keep all our students facing examinations this year in your prayers.

As we approach the end of this half term, this newsletter once again charts just some of the achievements of our students and staff. One of our areas for improvement from our last Ofsted was Literacy and Reading. We have been working on this alongside our other areas for improvement, ensuring that the needs of SEND students in the classroom are met. The impact of our work is tangible some of the fruits of which are displayed through the various articles in this newsletter. We are committed to fostering a love of reading amongst our students. Staff and students have contributed to this success but we have been ably led by our Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, Mrs Bailey who has helped the school develop its response in such a comprehensive and impactful way. Thank you, Mrs Bailey!

I know that the staff and students are looking forward to ‘a little downtime’ this half term in what has been a cold and dreary winter. However, we know that spring is just around the corner just as Lent leads us to Easter. At St Bernard’s, we know that love, light and hope always shine through!

I wish you and your loved ones a safe and peaceful half-term. We look forward to welcoming our students back at the usual time on Monday 24 February 2025.

Warmest regards

Allison Moise-Dixon

Headteacher

• Please remember to bring items for the fete after half term including raffle prizes.
• A polite reminder to parents that if their child is unwell they should go to reception.
• Children should not be using their phones in school to contact their parents.

The House Masses which took part over the first two weeks of term were a huge success. Thank you to all the readers, servers and greeters who helped them to run smoothly. And thanks to all the students for their reverence, respect and clear responses.

Looking forward to the next half-term, the season of Lent will soon be upon us, starting with the Ash Wednesday services taking place on the 5th of March.

The season of Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a time for us to reflect on our own lives and ask for God’s grace and forgiveness in preparation for Our Lord’s passion and resurrection. Let us use this time wisely to grow closer to God during this Jubilee Year of Hope.

Our school will take part in the Catholic Young Writer Award 2025. This Award is open to all young Catholics (and pupils at Catholic schools) in England and Wales in secondary years 8-11 inclusive. There is a cash prize of £50 for the best essay, plus a number of runner-up book prizes.

Your essay, no more than 1,200 words, must be hand written, scanned and posted to Catholic Young Writer Award 2025, 22 Redcross Way London SE1 1TA or emailed to info@catholicunion.org.uk.

Deadline for entries: 30th of May 2025.

We have had another busy half-term here in Sixth Form with lots going on.

UCAS

This half-term has been dominated by the completion of UCAS applications. Our offers are changing daily but as of the end of January, we had offers for just over 40 courses from over 40 different institutions including seven Russell Group universities and medical schools. We have students holding offers from highly competitive and often over-subscribed courses including law, medicine, STEM, psychology, accounting and finance.

Please remember the analysis of offers will not be complete for several weeks and offers do not necessarily translate into destination outcomes. We do however have an excellent range of aspirational next steps for our Year 13s to work towards. A huge well done to all students, we are excited to support them in reaching their next steps.

Revision Revolution and the Science of Learning

To support students to reach their goals and achieve excellent grades we have launched the Sixth Form version of the Revision Revolution booklet used by Year 11 students.

This is to help guide them more directly in their revision and is written specifically for A-level students. This codifies information that has been shared since September in students' tutor time sessions, so nothing new, but will hopefully help to provide a deeper understanding to ensure that their revision is impactful. This will create a consistent approach to revision strategies and give students methods they can apply across different subjects. We are using this booklet in lessons, and in tutor time and hope you will explore this with your children at home.

Year 11 Sixth Form Taster Day

Friday the 7th of February saw Sixth Form being taken over by our current Year 11 students. They got a feel for Sixth Form life, taking taster lessons and being able to use the Sixth Form area for the day. They experienced supervised study to get a feel for working independently and to start managing their learning. They were able to go out at lunchtime and experience some of the freedoms they have in Sixth Form.

Sixth Form Applications close on Friday 21st of February, so this gives students an excellent opportunity to firm up their choices as they make their applications.

A huge congratulations to our Year 7 students on their outstanding 3D cell models.

Your creativity, meticulous attention to detail and dedication have truly brought science to life. It is inspiring to see the thought and effort you have invested in showcasing the fundamental building blocks of life. A special congratulations to Jacy (7C) for being named the overall winner of the competition.

Following the student, staff and parent consultation which took place in the autumn term, we have been reviewing the feedback and developing a plan for mental health provision at St Bernard’s. In particular, we wanted to explore:

• Students, staff and families understanding of how lifestyle factors can influence wellbeing.
• The Wellbeing and Mental Health education students receive in school.
• Where and how they access support for themselves and their family and friends for mental health concerns.

In addition to identifying the strengths of the care received in school, many students and their families wanted further advice and information about specific issues (such as bereavement) but also more general advice about the types of support available.

We want students and their families to always have access to support and to have a variety of different ways of accessing it. As a result, we created a Mental Health and Wellbeing page. We also have a ‘Link tree’ which contains links to a variety of external agencies and charities which provide support for young people and their families. In addition, we now also have a dedicated email address that parents and students can use if they want to reach out for help but don’t know how to start mentalhealth@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.

Be aware this is checked daily during term time but the ‘Link tree’ offers advice about out of hours support and advice.

Exams are an important part of school life but they can also be a major source of stress. While a little bit of stress can be motivating, too much can negatively impact your performance and well-being.

The local NHS Mental Health Team have been working with students to support them in their preparation for mock and public exams. Here are some useful tips to help students (and their parents) manage exam stress effectively and perform at their best.

1. Plan Ahead

Leaving everything until the last minute can increase anxiety. Create a realistic study schedule that allows you to cover all subjects with enough time for revision.

2. Stay Organized

Keep your study materials neat and make a checklist of topics you need to cover. This will give you a sense of control and reduce last-minute panic.

3. Take Breaks

Studying for long hours without breaks can lead to burnout. Use techniques like the Pomodoro method—study for 25-50 minutes and take a short break—to maintain focus and energy.

4. Get Enough Sleep

Sacrificing sleep to cram for exams can be counterproductive. A well-rested brain retains information better and improves concentration.

5. Eat Well and Stay Hydrated

A balanced diet with brain-boosting foods, such as nuts, fruits and vegetables can enhance memory and focus. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

6. Exercise and Relaxation

Engage in physical activities like walking, stretching, or yoga to reduce stress. Deep breathing exercises and meditation can also help calm your mind.

7. Seek Support

If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a teacher, friend, or family member. Sharing your worries can help you feel supported and less alone.

Remember, exams are just one part of your academic journey. Do your best, stay positive, and take care of yourself. Good luck!

The Pomodoro Technique:

• Select your task.

• Set a 25-minute timer.

• Work on the task until the timer goes off.

• Take a 5-minute break.

• Repeat this format.

• Take a longer 15- to 30-minute break every four pomodoro intervals.

This year, Children’s Mental Health Week (3rd–9th February 2025) focused on the theme "Know Yourself to Grow Yourself." The theme encouraged children to develop self-awareness, understand their emotions, and build resilience - key steps toward positive mental well-being.

Why is self-awareness important?

Self-awareness helps children recognize their strengths, emotions, and challenges. When children understand their feelings, they can express themselves better, manage stress and develop healthy coping strategies.

How can we support children’s mental health?

• Encourage open conversations – Let children know it’s okay to talk about their feelings.
• Practice mindfulness – Activities like deep breathing and journaling can help children process their emotions.
• Promote self-reflection – Encourage children to think about what makes them happy and what challenges them.
• Celebrate uniqueness – Every child is different; embracing strengths and learning from setbacks helps personal growth.

Activities in School

We have had special assemblies and classroom discussions in PSHE, to help students explore the theme. We encourage families to take part by having conversations at home about emotions, challenges, and goals.

By knowing themselves, children can grow into confident, resilient individuals ready to face the future with positivity! Let’s work together to support mental well-being for all.

If you would like further information, please click on the link below.

Netball

The Year 7, 8, 9 and 10/11 teams have been competing in the Southend Borough leagues this term as they prepare for the Borough tournaments in mid-March.

Basketball

The U13 and U15 basketball teams have been training across the winter and are now applying their skills to matches in the Borough league. The U15 team had a narrow loss to Southend Girls in their opening match and look forward to a flurry of fixtures across February. The U13 team have won four out of four matches so far after impressive performances against Shoebury and Westcliff Girls in January.

Football

The U13 and U15 teams have been competing in the Southend Borough leagues. The U15 team competed well against Westcliff Girls but couldn’t make the breakthrough needed to avoid a loss, whilst the U13 team also playing Westcliff Girls enjoyed a comfortable victory with Enada scoring four and Chloe three, Iona, Sophia and Iris also on the scoresheet to stay unbeaten in the league this year.

It all started in Summer 2024, during the campaign for our local MP.

Politics consistently surrounds us. You see it in the news, at home, and in life.

However, my story starts when David Burton Sampson was campaigning to be MP for my constituency. He was on my road, and although I had something to say to him, I wasn’t quite sure what. My mum convinced me to run out of the house, down the road, and talk to him (I still don’t quite know how). He was pleased to talk to me and asked me all sorts of questions such as, "What do you want for Southend?", "How can we make the future better for young people?".

I didn’t know what to say. He told me to contact him whenever I felt the need to and gave me a few posters and his email. This has always been at the back of my mind. Unsure of what my answer would be, still. That is until very recently. On 3rd January 2025, I emailed Mr David Burton Sampson with three main points:

● Could I join a Youth Labour Party?

● My ideas on how Southend could be better for teenagers.

● How can I make a change despite my age?

My ideas were:

● Launching a campaign called the "Your Ideas Matter Campaign" where people under 18 can submit their ideas via an online form or on paper, accessible in local libraries and schools for those without easy access to technology.

● Working with local authorities to create Safe Commuting Zones for students, as it can be dangerous with many cars pulling up at schools all at once and students blocking the road for civilians. We could also implement safe ways for students to travel to school via bike, like temporary bike paths during certain hours (e.g., Mon-Fri 8-9 & 3-4), decreasing carbon emissions from cars and increasing safety for those already travelling by bike.

Within a week, I received a response from David's office. He told me that he was pleased to hear from me and that when I turned 14 (the minimum age to join a political party), he would love to have me volunteer in the office. But most importantly, David has asked me if I would like to visit his next constituency surgery, which will be 3.30pm - 5.30pm, to discuss my ideas with him in person. I, of course, replied with a yes and we arranged a suitable time.

I am very excited to meet David and hope we can create a plan to make Southend better for me and my friends.

Written by: Effie - 9C

Our upcoming Careers Fair will take place on Wednesday 23rd of April 2025. This event is designed to inspire students from Year 7 to Year 13 to explore their career aspirations and offers an excellent opportunity for students to:

• Connect with providers offering Post-16 courses, apprenticeships, and vocational training.
• Engage with representatives from universities and employers.

If you are a parent/carer with business connections and want to participate, we would like to hear from you. Please reach out to our Careers Coordinator, Mrs. Liza Phillips at lph@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.

We look forward to your support in making this a valuable experience for our students!

• Friday 28th February - Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge for Year 10
• Tuesday 4th March - Year 9 Taster Day for GCSE options subjects
• Wednesday 12th March - Oedipus trip for A-Level Classics Students
• Wednesday 26th March - Friday 28th March - School Production - We Will Rock You
• Tuesday 1st April - Y10 Graphics and Textiles trip to Hyde Hall

We currently have exciting opportunities for passionate teachers and experienced senior leaders to become part of our school community.

If you are interested in applying for one of these roles, please complete the relevant application form and send it to us at recruitment@stbernards.southend.sch.uk.

We are excited to announce that St Vincent’s Centre Southend is bringing their Market to St Helen's Catholic Church, Westcliff (27 Milton Road, Westcliff-On-Sea, SS0 7JP) every Thursday, starting Thursday the 27th of February.

Market Opening Hours:

1. Morning: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

2. Afternoon: 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Thank you so much for your support in spreading the word and helping us make a difference in the community.

We are inviting all families to come and join St Vincent’s Centre as we celebrate together St Patrick's Day on the 21st of March 2025, while raising funds to support the most vulnerable in our community.

Your support in spreading the word would be greatly appreciated.

Help us to show kindness and understanding through open hearts. Help us to continue to flourish and grow in Your love and support those in need of Your friendship.

Prompt our learning today using our talents and gifts so that we may serve You more faithfully. Prompt our actions with Your grace and complete them with Your help, so that we may truly love one another as You have loved us.

St Bernard, pray for us

Amen

Email: office@stbernards.southend.sch.uk
Website: stbernardswestcliff.org.uk
Location: Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7JS UK
Phone: 01702 343583