Dear Parents and Carers

I hope that you had a lovely weekend celebrating Mother's Day. The students certainly enjoyed welcoming visitors to their classrooms last Friday for a special Mother's Day treat.

Last Friday was especially significant, as we awoke to hear the news that a new Pope had been elected by the Cardinals gathered in Rome. Pope Leo, very much like the late Pope Francis, has not hesitated to express his inspired insights, seeking to connect and reach out to everyone. An excerpt from one of Pope Leo's inaugural speeches was shared with me this week. In these words, Pope Leo reaches out to those who have lost faith and calls for them to see hope in the future:

I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left. To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home. I, too, was angry with God. I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine. 

And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.

But then I discovered something: God doesn’t shout. God whispers. And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything. I don’t come to offer you perfect faith.

I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs. I’m not asking you to believe in everything. I’m asking you not to close the door. Give a chance to the God who waits for you without judgement. I’m just a priest who saw God in the smile of a woman who lost her son… and yet she cooked for others. 

That changed me. So if you’re broken, if you don’t believe, if you’re tired of the lies…come anyway. With your anger, your doubt, your dirty backpack. No one here will ask you for a VIP card. Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary. God doesn’t need soldiers. He needs brothers and sisters. And you, yes, you…are one of them.”

Robert Prevost (Leo XIV)

Welcome

It has been our pleasure to welcome two new students to our school this term, Nikki H (3W) and Mason H (6M). In addition, last week we welcomed Kathy Overend to our staff. Kathy will be working each Friday in the role of Canteen Assistant to support our Canteen Manager, Samantha Whyte on our busiest canteen day.

Catholic Schools Week

Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools’ Week. The purpose of the week is to celebrate our Catholic schools, highlighting our catholic identity and our inclusiveness. We are very fortunate to have a strong K-12 Pathway for Catholic Education on the Coast. Throughout Catholic Schools’ Week, we join together as a Catholic community. The week started with Open Day on Tuesday with pre-schoolers and their parents attending to see all that our school offers. On Friday students from Year 5 and 6 joined with St Mary's students at Carroll College, Broulee to celebrate Carroll Day and 30 years since the school opened. Our K-12 pathway activities will continue, with St Mary's hosting a Teddy Bear’s Picnic next Tuesday 20 May.

Enrolment Reminder

Application forms for enrolment are available through our school website -  https://enrolments.stbernardsbb.nsw.edu.au/nsw-schools/start

Parents are asked to complete a web-based application. Parents wishing to enrol their child for Kindergarten for 2026 are encouraged to apply during the advertised period each year, 5 May – 30 May (late enrolments are accepted subject to places being available). All new families applying for enrolment are Interviewed by the Principal or Assistant Principal. Interviews for Kindergarten enrolments are conducted in Term 2 and Term 3 and parents are advised if a place is available. To be eligible for enrolment in kindergarten a child must turn 5 on or before the 30 July in the year of admission.

Sporting Achievement

New Water Stations

We were recently very fortunate to receive the Fire to Flourish Eurobodalla - Community Resources grant. The grant will assist us in purchasing additional bubbler and water bottle refill stations for our students, which we are very pleased about.

National Sorry Day

On Monday 26th May, Aboriginal students from Years 2-6 and the school's SRC and House Captains are invited to participate in the Sorry Day Bridge Walk to commemorate National Reconciliation Week in our local community. The 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country.

Students will attend this significant event with Mr Maynard and Mr Nolan.

We wish all St Bernard’s students who are competing in Canberra tomorrow for the Archdiocesan Cross Country Competition all the best. We will be cheering you on from school.

I hope many of our students will be able to join us for National Walk to School Day tomorrow, where we will depart from Corrigans Park at 8:10am.

Next Thursday, I will be travelling to Bega for the Southern Region Principals’ meeting. On Monday and Tuesday of the following week I will be attending Principal's professional learning known as Siloam. This is mandatory leadership training for Principals and is held each term. There is also input at these sessions for spiritual growth, that allows for reflection and prayer.  Ms McCarthy will be acting Principal in my absence.

Blessings on the week ahead.

Warm regards,

Karen

Mrs Karen Hadley

Principal